Second Life

Our very own Anna LaPlaca is back on the pod this week, bringing us inside her new series, Who What Wear Travels. Think of this as your summer travel report through the lens of a fashion insider, featuring the coolest destinations the style set is heading to this year and, of course, what they’re bringing along for some truly unforgettable getaways. Plus, Anna dishes on the most Pinterest-worthy hotels, highly rated travel products, and the must-pack resort trends you’ll be seeing all over your timeline.

As the co-founder and CEO of Material, Eunice Byun is modernizing the cooking experience through high-quality, thoughtfully designed tools for the kitchen. Since its launch in 2018, Material has been featured in publications such as NYT Cooking and Forbes and featured on GQ’s Best Stuff list. Behind the scenes, Byun uses Material's growing platform to amplify AAPI voices. But before she became a brand founder of her own, she actually had a career in corporate America at Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst. She then went on to help launch and advise several startups in the consumer space and eventually became the VP of global marketing at Revlon. On this episode of Second Life, find how Byun decided to make the pivot—and take a big leap of faith—to start her own company rooted in integrity in and out of the kitchen.

Do you have more weddings than ever on your calendar this summer? You’re not alone. We’re calling in the experts—Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings and senior market editor Nicole Eshaghpour—to chat through decoding wedding invites, what to wear where, and the TikTok sensation that’s been deemed the perfect wedding guest dress. Plus, they're offering their two very different takes on where to save money when preparing for an entire wedding season and what is and isn’t appropriate to ask of guests when you are the bride yourself.

You know Kelly Mi Li from the beloved Netflix show Bling Empire, which she is a star and executive producer of. But prior to her reality-show fame, the Chinese American serial entrepreneur, film and television producer, and investor had built an empire of her own. Mi Li has created her own production company, Wet Paws Media; established one of the first and most successful tech incubators in Los Angeles; worked on major food and beverage projects in Los Angeles; and even tapped into real estate development. Prior to creating a name for herself as an entrepreneur across multiple industries, Mi Li actually worked in life insurance in Chicago. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Mi Li has pivoted not once, not twice but about six times throughout her ever-evolving career.

Fashion and culture journalist Amy Odell has just released the highly anticipated definitive biography of Vogue Editor in Chief and cultural icon Anna Wintour. Anna is a highly researched and detailed account of everything you’ve wanted to know about the powerful woman behind the blunt bob and sunglasses. But when writing a book about the most influential woman in media, how do you get her closest confidants to agree to speak with you? Do you reveal your intention to Anna herself? How do you decide which personal encounters to trust? Amy’s here to answer all those questions and more.

Paula Sutton is the stylist and creator behind Hill House Vintage, where her English-countryside style comes to life through whimsical imagery of her home and garden. Sutton has garnered an audience of over half a million followers on Instagram and has become an author, debuting her first book, Hill House Living: The Art of Creating a Joyful Life, just last year. While Sutton has found her stride in slow-paced, thoughtful content creation, her early career looked quite different. After starting off as a press officer for Elite Premier model agency in London, she worked in fashion PR and as a model agent before landing at Elle, where she was the bookings director. If that sounds like a lot to squeeze in, that’s because Sutton was moving at a mile a minute for many years. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Sutton’s transition from city living to the countryside actually foreshadowed a synonymous career evolution that led her to build a brand that sparks true joy.

Gab Waller—known as celebrities’ secret shopping weapon—is an Australian entrepreneur and personal shopper. Growing her business via the Instagram account @gabwallerdotcom, Gab sources sold-out or in-demand items for high-profile clients like Hailey Bieber, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and the Kardashians, often within 24 hours or less. On this episode, Gab is bringing us inside her world—one many folks don’t know exists—and revealing the most sought-after items of the moment, plus tips for tracking down the one that got away.

Jessie Inchauspé is the brilliant biochemist, best-selling author, and founder behind the massive Instagram Glucose Goddess. With over half a million followers, Inchauspé has created a movement to help people reconnect with their bodies through an awareness around the effects glucose levels have on everything from sleep to energy levels to skin—AKA glucose monitoring. In just a few years, Inchauspé has made the importance of glucose health more mainstream through her practical, tangible hacks in order to live one’s best life alongside her first best-selling book, Glucose Revolution. But before Inchauspé set out to start a health revolution, she began her career in Silicon Valley after receiving her master’s degree in biochemistry. There, she worked with the personal genomics and biotechnology company 23andMe, where she would become a senior product manager. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Inchauspé’s career path unexpectedly catapulted her into finding a niche field of health research that feels like a calling.

Kate Young is a legendary and prolific stylist with clients such as Selena Gomez and Natalie Portman. She’s also a Met Gala expert, having dressed celebrities for over a decade for the event, and she even worked it herself back in her days as an editor at Vogue. Young is here to break down all things Met Gala, including how she interpreted this year’s theme and a look at how she styled Dakota Johnson (Gucci), Julianne Moore (Tom Ford), and Sophie Turner (Louis Vuitton) for the event.

Pati Jinich is a food extraordinaire. Not only is she an acclaimed chef known for exploring the rich culture of Mexico through food, but she is also the creator and host of the Emmy-nominated and James Beard Foundation award–winning PBS series Pati's Mexican Table. She is the author of New York Times best-selling cookbook Treasures of the Mexican Table, and she is the creator of the culinary program at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C., where she teaches classes rooted in Mexican history and tradition. On this episode, learn how a first life as a political analyst at a think tank in D.C. unexpectedly led Jinich to food, where she found her ultimate calling in contributing to a shared understanding between her two home countries, Mexico and the U.S.

On this episode, we have a real Chantecaille party with mother Sylvie and daughters Alex and Olivia, who are the beauty experts—and family—behind the plant-powered botanical skincare and cosmetic line Chantecaille. Known as an innovator within clean beauty for over 20 years, Chantecaille creates high-performance products beloved by celebrity and makeup artists alike, but that’s not where it ends. Since 2006, the brand has helped raise awareness for the oceans, coral reefs, and endangered animals such as gorillas and elephants with over 53 conservation-inspired products, 31 philanthropic partners, and $3 million donated. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, the Chantecailles are here to talk about some of their absolute favorite products for various skin types and aesthetics as well as plenty of gift ideas for all the moms in your life.

As an environmental scientist and head of sustainability at fashion brand Rothy’s, Saskia van Gendt works to develop strategies that minimize the environmental impact of the company’s supply chain through innovations in materials, production, fulfillment, and beyond. In March of 2021, she led an initiative committed to achieving circular production by 2023, pioneering a closed-loop footwear system and recycling over 20,000 pairs of shoes by the end of 2021 alone. But before Rothy’s and before she began working with consumer goods altogether, she worked on a very different side of sustainability in her seven-year career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On this episode of Second Life, find out how van Gendt was able to transition her expertise into a consumer-facing role and foster real growth and change within an industry that needs it the most.

Zoey Deutch is an actress and producer known for starring in major projects such as The Politician, Set It Up, and Before I Fall. On this episode, she discusses her most recent film, The Outfit, in which she plays the receptionist and confidant to a British suit maker in Chicago who must outsmart a dangerous group of criminals to survive one fateful night. Deutch explains that from red carpet to date night, her favorite outfits tend to be—fittingly—suits! She also dishes on her off-duty personal style and the beauty and skincare products she can’t live without.

Garcelle Beauvais is an absolute powerhouse. After immigrating to the United States from Haiti at just 7 years old, she sought an early career as a fashion model in New York. Her career in modeling eventually led to her first significant career pivot to acting, including roles in movies and shows such as Coming to America, The Jaime Foxx Show, NYPD Blue, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She is also on the hit Bravo reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as the first-ever Black castmate of the show. Aside from her time in the Hollywood spotlight, though, Beauvais has evolved her career as an author. On April 12, she released her highly anticipated memoir, Love Me as I Am, detailing her life from Haiti to Hollywood and all of the emotions in between. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Beauvais persevered through multiple challenging industries and how she continues to learn invaluable lessons along the way.

On this week’s episode, Who What Wear fashion editor Eliza Huber is sitting down with our April cover star, actress and producer Dakota Fanning. With an impressive two decades under her belt as an actor (she’s only 28, by the way), Fanning is well seasoned in navigating both her career and personal life within the spotlight. In this episode, she talks about striking that balance and her latest role in Showtime’s The First Lady, in which she plays Betty Ford’s daughter Susan Ford. Plus, she’s sharing her favorite red carpet looks of all time, nighttime rituals, and current TV obsessions.

We’ve known Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jewel since her 1995 debut album, Pieces of You, which went 12-times platinum and includes hits such as “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “You Were Meant for Me.” Now, she is gearing up to release her first studio album in seven years, Freewheelin' Woman, on April 15. Throughout her career in music, though, Jewel has added a few more accolades to her name, including New York Times best-selling author and mental health advocate. As the latter, she’s worked alongside her Inspiring Children Foundation for two decades, providing mentorship and mental health resources to at-risk youth and equipping them with a mindfulness tool kit she discovered herself during her most trying moments in life—and there were plenty. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Jewel has navigated the highs and lows of her entire multifaceted career and how, by prioritizing her happiness above all else, she’s making her life her best hit.

Brett Alan Nelson is a genius creative director and stylist who’s worked with megastars like Karol G, Lizzo, and Nicki Minaj. On today’s episode, we’re here to talk about his longstanding and prolific relationship with Grammy Award–winning Doja Cat. Brett is here to bring us inside creating the imaginative worlds he’s been cooking up for Doja’s latest album, Planet Her—from live performances to red carpets to all the music videos we can’t get enough of. Plus, hear about how Doja's Versace looks came together for Sunday night’s Grammys and what the pair have in store for Coachella and the rest of festival season ahead. Check out the music videos we discussed in this episode below: Kiss Me More: https://youtu.be/0EVVKs6DQLo Need to Know: https://youtu.be/dI3xkL7qUAc Get Into It (Yuh): https://youtu.be/9Ko-nEYJ1GE

Whitney Beatty and Ebony Andersen, the pair behind the L.A.-based dispensary Josephine & Billie’s, are completely shifting the cannabis narrative. They are setting a new industry precedent with a mission to bring first-in-class cannabis education, access, and community to women of color through an elevated retail experience. Yet before they set out to transform the cannabis industry, their careers looked exponentially different. Beatty had a highly successful career in entertainment, eventually ending up in the unscripted space at Telepictures, where she was the SVP of development. Andersen served as an urban planner for Riverside and Ventura counties in California before starting her own land-use consulting firm. On this episode, find out how Beatty and Andersen made their way to cannabis, and persevered through a harrowing path to create a seismic impact on their community.

Adir Abergel is the creative director of innovative haircare line Virtue Labs and hairstylist to the stars. He is behind the locks of celebrities such as Jennifer Garner, Charlize Theron, and longtime client Kristen Stewart. This week, Abergel is breaking down what went into preparing his clients for the Oscars this year. He styled two nominated women for Hollywood’s biggest event, Jessie Buckley and Kristen Stewart. Plus, he offers a window inside his extensive research, his creative process, and, of course, his favorite products, including everything new from Virtue Labs.

Chances are you're familiar with the top online luxury fashion retailers—Net-a-Porter, The Outnet, and Mr Porter. At the helm of those premier shopping destinations is the president of luxury and fashion, Alison Loehnis. Since joining Net-a-Porter in 2007, Loehnis has evolved the business through major moments of strategic growth, including the launches of The Outnet in 2009 and Mr Porter in 2011 and a merger with Italian online fashion retailer Yoox in 2015. However, before Loehnis was spearheading the world’s leading luxury retailers for men and women, her career was quite dynamic. From working at advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi to joining the team at perhaps the biggest luxury corporation in the world—LVMH—to becoming a creative executive at Disney, Loehnis has truly done it all. On this episode, find out how Loehnis’s past career experiences have led her to become one of the most influential women in fashion retail.

Shilpa Yarlagadda is a 24-year-old Harvard senior whose ethical fine jewelry line is worn by some of the most influential women of today, including Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman, Amanda Gorman, and Serena Williams. With her company, Shiffon, Shilpa aims to empower women by donating profits from the sale of the signature Duet Pinky Ring to other female entrepreneurs. Tune in to hear everything from how she launched the company out of her dorm room back in 2017 to what it was like breaking into the diamond industry of New York. Plus, she breaks down what “ethical” jewelry really is.

Victoria Beckham is unstoppable. She has become a style icon—both with her influential personal style and her eponymous ready-to-wear line—and, most recently, a beauty connoisseur with the launch of the clean, inclusive, high-performance beauty brand Victoria Beckham Beauty. With Sarah Creal as the CEO and Beckham as the creative director, the brand has grown tremendously into retailers such as Net-a-Porter and Violet Grey while maintaining unparalleled standards. But both women have quite the backstory. Creal started in product development for some of the biggest brands in the industry, such as Tom Ford, Prada, Estée Lauder, and Bobbi Brown, and as I’m sure you know, Beckham spent her early career touring the world with the Spice Girls. The group produced three studio albums, selling over 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling girl group of all time—iconic. She then went on to put out her own album as a solo artist before launching into a fashion career with the acclaimed success of her clothing line. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Beckham and Creal made major career pivots that landed them at the helm of a successful beauty empire.

Spring is upon us, and we’re ready to dress the part. This week, Hillary is joined by Who What Wear Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen, Market Director Bobby Schuessler, senior editor Kristen Nichols, and Editor in Chief Kat Collings to discuss all of the emerging trends for the season ahead, including the accessories that are sure to become Instagram famous, the miniskirts that have already gone viral, and the sneakers that keep selling out.

Alli Webb is back! When we spoke with her back in 2018, premier blowout destination Drybar had become a household name with over 100 locations nationwide and a beloved line of products and styling tools sold at major retailers. In her first episode, Webb detailed the journey of her career from fashion and PR to creating the blowout empire. Since then, a lot has changed. The line of products and tools was acquired for $225 million, and Webb stepped away from the business in a major way, freeing her to launch an additional three companies, including the innovative massage concept Squeeze, talk therapy company Okay Humans, and jewelry brand Becket + Quill. Her most recent pivot, however, is taking on the president role at Canopy, the world’s cleanest humidifier for beauty and skincare. On this episode, find out how Webb went through a personal and professional transformation that’s left her more fulfilled than ever.

Danielle Hirsch is the brilliant bridal designer behind Danielle Frankel Studio. Her designs are fashion-person favorites, and she is known within the industry for driving the entire bridal category forward with her ability to marry nostalgia and tradition with modernity. In 2019, she was chosen as the first bridal designer to participate in the annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. In this week’s episode, Hirsch talks about designing custom gowns in her New York atelier, drawing inspiration from the brides themselves, and all of the things to consider when searching for your perfect dress.

Robin Arzón, head instructor and VP of programming at Peloton, is a force to be reckoned with. She has built a devoted community through her loyal riders at Peloton and 960k followers on Instagram who are drawn to her high energy, intense drive, and unwavering encouragement, and she’s a two-time best-selling author, writing Shut Up and Run and her most recent children’s book, Strong Mama. But before Arzón was running ultramarathons and training the masses, she had a seven-year career as a corporate lawyer. And that’s not the surprising part: Arzón didn’t even grow up as an athlete. In fact, as a kid, she’d say she was “allergic to exercise.” So how did she become one of the most celebrated trainers today? It started when Arzón found healing from trauma through movement in her 20s, and eventually, her love for athletics eclipsed her career goals as a corporate lawyer.

On this episode, Who What Wear editor Jasmine Fox-Suliaman speaks with our March cover star—actress, singer, producer, and writer Keke Palmer. From starring in movies such as Akeelah and the Bee and Hustlers and playing Cinderella on Broadway to creating her beloved TikToks, hosting the Met Gala, and co-authoring a series of short stories, Palmer continues to expand her groundbreaking career in every direction. She’s here to talk about finding her way through success, celebrity, and her most fulfilling work; the power art holds in shifting perspective and culture; and her highly anticipated upcoming projects, including Alice, in theaters March 18, and Jordan Peele’s Nope, out this July.

As the co-founder and CEO of Womaness, Sally Mueller is determined to shift the menopause narrative through a high-performance collection of modern products created by women for women and a community that provides unlimited inspiration. In less than a year since its launch, Womaness has generated over $2 million in sales via its website and partnership with Target and has sold over 11,000 units of its top-selling neck cream, Let’s Neck. But before Mueller began revolutionizing the art of aging for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, she spent over two decades of her career working her way up at Target, from merchandising analyst to senior marketing executive. She then left to help other companies create strategic partnerships to build their brand presence, including at Who What Wear, where she launched the activewear line JoyLab and incubated the skincare line Versed. On this episode of Second Life, find out how her past experiences culminated in the launch of her own successful brand that is changing the game for a previously ignored demographic of women.

Doniella Davy is the creative genius behind the beauty looks on HBO’s Euphoria. This week, she takes us inside her creative process and the techniques she uses to evoke symbolism, drama, and emotion through the character aesthetics. She’s pulling back the curtain on the show’s glam and gore, from Maddy’s sharp winged eyeliner to Cassie’s sparkling tears to Nate’s prosthetics after getting beat up. Davy also shares her favorite products used on the show and where to get them while you wait for her own Euphoria-inspired line, Half Magic, to drop in May.

At the heart of the massively successful Netflix docuseries Selling Sunset is actress, reality television star, and luxury real estate agent Chrishell Stause. Recently, Stause added author to her impressive list of accolades, as she just released her new memoir, Under Construction, in which she reveals the intimate details of her life and career prior to becoming a reality star and real estate agent. The memoir also includes never-before-told stories about her first career in daytime soap operas. Stause made a name for herself within the industry, acting in successful shows such as All My Children and Days of Our Lives. On this episode of Second Life, find out how she has continued to evolve—both personally and professionally.

This week, Sarah Staudinger, co-founder and creative director of Staud, is giving us an inside look at the inner workings of her celebrity- and fashion girl–beloved brand. Sarah tells us about the Japanese philosophy that’s inspiring her upcoming collection, her predictions for the next It bag on the horizon, and the now internet-famous reaction of Larry David at her spring 2022 fashion show. Plus, she’s sharing her weekend edit of must-pack items for a variety of getaways.

Gabby Bernstein’s mission is simple: to encourage people to become the happiest person they know. The motivational speaker, podcast host, and New York Times best-selling author has written nine books to date, including The Universe Has Your Back, Super Attractor, and her latest, Happy Days (out on February 22). She is also the host of a weekly podcast, Dear Gabby, and has a coaching subscription, the Miracle Membership, where she offers grounded advice. Plus, she was featured on Oprah’s highly esteemed SuperSoul Sunday as a “next-generation thought leader” and as a part of the SuperSoul 100. However, before she was paving her own path in the self-help space, Bernstein’s career looked entirely different. She spent her 20s working in public relations for nightclubs and restaurants in New York, and she even built her own PR firm. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Bernstein found her way from burnout and addiction to enlightened spirituality. Pre-order here: http://www.deargabby.com/happydays

Nyakio Grieco is the entrepreneur behind two game-changing brands within beauty—her eponymous skincare brand Nyakio and, most recently, the platform Thirteen Lune. Founded in 2020, Thirteen Lune is a beauty retailer highlighting Black- and Brown-founded and allied brands. In addition to the beautiful online destination, you’ll be able to find the brands in over 300 JCPenney stores by the end of 2022. Grieco is here to tell us all about her favorite products to add to our beauty routines. Plus, she’s giving us a sneak peek at a new line she has on the horizon. We talk about a lot of good products in this episode, and you can find them all in the story linked here: https://www.whowhatwear.com/who-what-wear-podcast-nyakio-grieco

Steph Hon is the founder and CEO behind Cadence, a brand created to provide a sense of organization and ease no matter where you may be, through endlessly refillable, durable, magnetic containers for personal care items. Its signature product, the Cadence Capsules, are TSA compliant; customizable by color and label; sustainable; and made from recycled and ocean-bound plastic—and are repeatedly sold out online. But before Hon designed the ultimate travel solution, she worked as a video editor and creative at Reel Rock, the production company behind some of the biggest rock climbing documentaries of all time like Free Solo and The Alpinist. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Hon shifted her frustrations into a burgeoning brand, making adventure accessible and easier for everyone.

This week on the podcast, editor Anna LaPlaca interviews actress, model, and breakout Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira. Barbie tells us what it’s like to return to the show after more than two years between seasons and lets us in Kat Hernandez's inner world. She also takes us inside her February Who What Wear cover shoot (inspired by Virginia Woolf's Orlando), chats about her favorite brands at the moment, and shares how she embodies characters through fashion on and off set.

Sunny Hostin is a force to be reckoned with—she is a television host, a multi-platform journalist, a New York Times best-selling author, and an attorney, after all. In 2016, Hostin joined the Emmy Award–winning daytime talk show The View, for which she’s won three Emmys as a co-host. Hostin is also a best-selling author of two books: her memoir I am These Truths and her fiction novel, Summer on the Bluffs, which is now evolving into a trilogy and television series. She is also at the helm of a new production company in partnership with ABC, committed to uplifting diverse story-telling. Hostin’s career is nothing short of monumental as she continues to accomplish major milestones within the media industry, but before she was a key change-maker in the space, she was known as an attorney who worked her way up from the Maryland Court of Appeals to becoming a federal prosecutor.

Kate and Laura Mulleavy are the brilliant minds behind the fashion label Rodarte. Since 2005, the sisters have been creating some of fashion’s most coveted looks, and their work has been seen on stylish women such as Kirsten Dunst and Lady Gaga and in museums around the world, including in the permanent collection at the Met. On this episode, they bring us inside their spring/summer 2022 collection, discuss how their showstopping Mushroom Dress came together, speak to the influence film has had on their work— including costume designing for Black Swan—and reveal just how those epic photo campaigns come together.

Dana Ward, the founder and president of Barefoot Scientist, has brought premium footcare products to the mainstream. After years of extensive research and product development, Ward created a brand nourishing the feet with the same level of luxury we give our face, hair, and body, with best-selling products such as PreHeels+ Blister Prevention Spray and Reboot Exfoliating Foot Peel. But before she was building a brand carried everywhere from Ulta to Rite Aid to podiatry offices around the nation, Ward was experiencing the need for footcare solutions firsthand. In her first life, Ward hosted, produced, and wrote over 7500 segments for outlets including E! Entertainment, NBC, Sony, and Clevver Media—the latter was where she was responsible for content strategy and production at the single most-viewed entertainment news network on YouTube. Who would have thought working those long hours on the red carpet in Hollywood would lead Ward to a footcare empire?

Best known for her work with Beyoncé as both her personal stylist and the costume designer for Emmy Award–winning Black Is King, Zerina Akers is showing no sign of slowing down. Recently, her work with Megan Thee Stallion has been nothing short of superb; the collections she designed for Macy’s have almost completely sold out; and she’s continually building her e-commerce marketplace called Black Owned Everything, which seeks to incubate, amplify, and empower a community of brands to reach diverse and engaged audiences. On this episode, get a peek inside her brilliant mind—including the behind-the-scenes stories you don’t want to miss.

In 2011, a new brand launched that would soon rewrite the minimalist’s playbook: Cuyana. Co-Founders Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah built a brand centered on intentional design and buying, establishing Cuyana’s ethos as “fewer, better.” Today, Cuyana has grown to eight stores nationwide and is known for timeless collections of premium leather accessories and luxe wardrobe essentials, from alpaca and cashmere. Yet before Gallardo and Shah began setting a new standard in the industry, their early career lives were shockingly different. Gallardo worked at Goldman Sachs as an investment banking analyst, and Shah began her career in interaction design, where she gained over 15 years of experience designing web and mobile interfaces for companies such as Disney, AT&T, and Sun Microsystems. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Gallardo and Shah came together to create a dynamic, strategic brand without losing sight of their mission.

If you’ve downloaded the app The Pattern, you already know that founder and astrologer Lisa Donovan’s knowledge of the stars runs deep. On this episode, we take a break from our regularly scheduled fashion programming to hear what the stars have in store for 2022. Hear about the intense energies you might have been feeling in December, a breakdown of what eclipses and retrogrades really mean, and the massive astrological event in the birth chart of the U.S. happening on January 22.

Pastry chef, entrepreneur, and author Amirah Kassem is the genius behind the Instagram-famous Explosion Cakes and her vibrant pastry brand Flour Shop. Since the brand’s founding in 2012, her one-of-a-kind creations have gained the attention of millions globally, including celebrities such as Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Kassem has also written multiple books—The Power of Sprinkles: A Cake Book and two children’s books—and has product collections with everyone from Williams-Sonoma to Pottery Barn and an apparel collaboration with Vans. Most recently, she joined the Disney+ food-art series Foodtastic as a judge. But before she began paving her own pastry path, she worked in quite a different creative industry: fashion. She held a plethora of positions in the NY fashion scene, including at Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine and Johan Lindeberg’s beloved denim and leather label Blk Dnm. On this episode of Second Life, hear how Kassem turned her passion for pastries into a celebrated multi-vertical brand.

From her days modeling for Chanel to countless stunning movie premieres, actress Diane Kruger has been dressing the part for years. On this episode, fashion editor Eliza Huber chats with Diane for our January cover story about her upcoming film, The 355; her favorite items in her wardrobe; and the best places to shop, from Paris to New York.

Chrissy Rutherford has become the ultimate multi-hyphenate. She is a writer, entrepreneur, digital creator, and brand consultant. This year, Rutherford launched her own newsletter, FwdJoy, where she shares her unique perspective with her audience and covers a vast range of topics, from her relationship with therapy to tarot card readings. In 2020, alongside Danielle Prescod, Rutherford co-founded 2BG Consulting—a company dedicated to educating fashion and beauty brands on how to create actively anti-racist brand identities from the inside out while fostering inclusive and diverse values. Rutherford has become a passionate, authentic voice in the industry, but before she manifested her own unique path, she spent 12 years in the fashion media space, working her way up at Harper’s Bazaar as one of the first members of the digital team. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Rutherford found the faith to take the leap toward a new career path—on her own terms.

Jing Gao is the brilliant chef and entrepreneur behind Fly by Jing, the first premium Chinese food company that has turned into a foodie phenomenon, bringing thoughtfully crafted pantry staples to the modern kitchen. Inspired by the flavors of her hometown Chengdu, China, Gao launched the brand with the hero product Sichuan Chili Crisp, which became the highest-funded food project on Kickstarter and, subsequently, the top-selling hot sauce on Amazon. Prior to Fly by Jing, Gao founded an award-winning restaurant in Shanghai, Baoism, and even started an international roving supper club. But before Gao found her calling through food and flavor, she actually worked as a brand manager at Procter & Gamble and in tech for Blackberry and the global design firm Frog Design. Is your jaw on the floor now? Just wait until you’ve heard Gao’s entire story.

Susan Matheson is responsible for costuming some of our favorite blockbuster movies, from Step Brothers and The Town to The Big Short and Friday Night Lights. She has been leading teams in creating sartorial worlds for over two decades, and her latest project is the highly anticipated Netflix film Don’t Look Up, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, that is debuting on December 24. But before Matheson established herself as a major player in the industry, she actually started her career working for Mattel, where she designed clothing patterns for Barbie and Disney toys. On this episode of Second Life, hear about the catalyst that made Matheson leave what she describes as a “dream career in fashion” to follow the truest form of her passion within film.

Frustrated by the lack of women in the luxury watch world, creative consultant and writer Brynn Wallner created Dimepiece, an Instagram account and complementary website aimed at empowering women to become smarter consumers of their own luxury timepieces. On this episode, Brynn breaks down and demystifies the shopping experience, gives us the history behind a few particularly iconic models, and dishes on the upcoming trends to be on the lookout for.

With over 30 years in the industry, Meagan Good, an actress, producer, director, and entrepreneur, has created her own path throughout Hollywood. Good made her debut into the world of acting when she was just 4 years old, appearing in shows such as Doogie Howser and Amen. By the time she was an early teen, she was in movies such as Eve’s Bayou and the Nickelodeon show Cousin Skeeter. She has also starred in major box-office films Think Like a Man and Anchorman 2. In her latest role, Good leads the new Amazon series Harlem, produced by legends Amy Poehler and Pharrell Williams, from Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver. As if her extensive list of acting accomplishments and features wasn’t monumental enough, Good has taken a step behind the scenes into producing and directing. In fact, her co-directorial feature debut, If Not Now, When?, was released last January. Good has also tapped into her entrepreneurial side and founded Good Girl Wraps, a line of multifunctional satin hair wraps. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Good has navigated many career pivots and continues to carve out space for herself in whatever arena she enters.

Image architect June Ambrose has been creating culture-defining work for the past 25 years. Throughout her work on over 200 music videos with artists like Missy Elliott and Jay-Z to styling celebs for the red carpet to her newest role as the creative director for Puma Hoops, June’s fiercely imaginative mind amplifies any projects she touches. On this episode, she’s here to talk about her first collection with Puma out this December, as well as her current fashion obsessions, outfit formulas, and styling tips you don’t want to miss.

In 2018, Éva Goicochea changed the sexual-wellness industry forever with the launch of Maude, a line of thoughtfully crafted intimacy essentials. Along the way, Dakota Johnson joined the team as an investor and co–creative director, and Goicochea is now one of 10 Latinx female founders to raise over $10M in venture funding. But before Goicochea became a trailblazer in the sexual-wellness industry, she spent her early career as a legislative aide in healthcare and then a decade working in marketing and branding with forward-thinking companies such as Everlane and Josie Maran Cosmetics. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Goicochea was able to use her past career experiences to build a brand that pushes industry boundaries and encourages a healthy, everyday approach to intimacy—for everyone.