A Note From The Host: I’ve been keeping an eye on Beanie Feldstein and how she’s been steering her career since Lady Bird. Now, in her early 30’s, when I discovered she was to be one of the latest guest stars on season five of Hulu hit, Only Murders in the Building, I knew it would be great. The television and Golden-Globe nominated actor is also known for her work on Broadway and her singing chops, and I loved hearing her ardently and assertively align herself with her musical side (and how dance has chased her all her life), hear about just how long she’s been singing (since a small child), and how a grave problem with her once-gravely voice actually left her speechless---then, propelled her to patiently pursue the passion and skill of hers. On the podcast, Beanie’s so passionate about the love she’s found and also candid about who she was before. One of the most interesting and delightful things about the conversation you’re about to listen to, is Beanie on how much she loves people, and that its central to her creative process. Most known for playing a best friend, how uncanny (or perhaps not at all) when you hear where, and how, and why--- friends and the importance of friendship have occupied her life. Beanie really knows who she is, and its almost thrilling to hear her how she does it. We discuss so much about fashion, a lot about family, working with one brother, and losing another. We talk in great detail, about the many inspiring actors and artists she’s gotten to collaborate with. Her future projects are superstars themselves, and there’s a charity that many of you might choose to donate to after giving this talk a listen. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
watch Only Murders in the Building season five on Hulu
Alex Mill The Perfect Daily Tote
Alex Mill The Perfect Weekend Tote
Sea New York Carolyn Cape Jacket
Stine Goya crochet collar sweater
listen to Honeymind by Ben Platt
It's the making of one of R+Co's latest and most important products with celebrity hairstylist Ashley Streicher, where we discuss everything from how Sun Catcher revives 2nd, 3rd, and 4th day hair---to how it boosts hair health for the long term with it's hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, and five other master ingredients. Streicher, known for "putting a bow on it", shares the two accessories and two ways to effortless summer hair and beyond. And there's much more. Giving hair what it needs to look best in its own natural state. In terms of California living, what comes to mind and what are you feeling for hair? What are your chic-est, most in-the-know clients looking for in their hair these days? Sun Catcher Nourish + Refresh Spray was created because you kept reaching for a product that didn’t exist. What were you needing, and when did you find yourself needing it? We often hear about vitamin C in skincare. What do you know and love about vitamin C for hair? Not only does Sun Catcher nourish, it also resets texture and brings hair back to life. How to use. Is Sun Catcher Nourish + Refresh layerable, even for fine hair? Protecting hair against pollution. The trend is all about embracing one's own texture, and there's a new knowing when it comes to the consumer and self-styling. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Nourish Refresh Styling Spray
R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner
R+Co Zig Zag Root Teasing + Texture Spray
R+Co Dreamhouse Cold-Pressed Watermelon Wave Spray
R+Co Labyrinth 3-in-1 Texturizing Shampoo + Conditioner + Styler
Machete Midi French Hair Pin in Gold
Unleashing some really important facts about men’s facial skin. Blowing little-known---but hugely important facts---wide open on Story + Rain Talks with Freddie Sheridan, CEO + Founder of The Y Code skincare for men, who is also a global retail expert. When you started the journey into skincare you were---and are--aiming to redesign mens skincare from the ground up, because you recognized that many men’s skincare lines were ultimately women’s products disguised in masculine packaging. How so? How are you also changing the way that men look at pigment for the face, in that your eye cream is tinted? It’s no secret that people have become more savvy about what they put on their skin, and brands have wisened up too. The why of Y Code's ingredients: algae, green coffee, wild ginger, wild yellow gentian root, and sea salt. Well Kept eye cream was released by The Y Code in January 2025. The consumer. What has feedback been like? Has anything surprised you or delighted you, in particular? Product roll-out and things get exciting for The Y Code in the fall. Can you talk a little bit about what’s next for the brand? Knowing all that you know about men’s skin, what would you encourage men to focus on in terms of facial care routine? Discover more:
The Y Code and Freddie Sheridan https://theycode.com/blogs/journal/founders-story
A Note From The Host: As we settle into summer, we’re talking about the cozy life with Heather Taylor of Heather Taylor Home: the home furnishings brand known for its tablecloths and more, a brilliant West Elm collab, and Heather's fresh and wise ways to modern entertaining, and elevating the every day. From star party planner Mindy Weiss, home décor curators Nicky Kehoe, filmmaker Nancy Meyers known for her inviting and covet-worthy movie set interiors---to what topped the tables in Busy Phillips’ home for our October 2020 cover story, Heather Taylor Home is an LA-based brand that has become a go-to for those with an eye for great taste and the the je ne sais quois perfection of the brand's casual vibe. Heather Taylor Home celebrates the classic but look twice…and see the twist. Heather shares the build to her brand from its blog roots, the ways in which her very bedroom as kid was the inspiring springboard for her aesthetic, and how she’s never been afraid to ask and go for it. We discuss the media and the importance in the way in which one presents, and I get all the tips and picks for entertaining---outdoors, and otherwise---and all those elements of cozy, down to the music that makes things sing. Heather discusses favorites from her line, being her own muse, how people are now cool with coordinating and are looking towards color, where home décor trends are headed, and what she’s turning to in fashion and accessories. Listen to this most delightful chat that is sure to bring you LOTS of ideas. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Heather Taylor Home Glen Plaid Tablecloth
Heather Taylor Home Gingham Napkin Set
Heather Taylor Home Soho Two Toned Indigo Moon + Stars Garland
Gap High Rise VintageSoft Relaxed Joggers in Neon Pink
Gap VintageSoft Wedge Crewneck in Neon Pink
Clare V. Polka Dot Heart Charm
Martha Stewart Gardening: Month By Month
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
A Note From The Host: This week’s podcast dives into fashion, one of my favorite subjects, as I speak to a founder who is changing the face of kidswear. No dinosaurs and trucks; no unicorns and rainbows---the Young Days brand is way out of the box in a sea of homogeneity that is the children’s clothing market. Young Days comes right out and tells you, ‘We are the cool kids on the playground emulating the effortless street-style cool of our parents.’ Co-founder Jeremy Fischer tells the story of one of my favorite brands, one that he launched with his father. And while his family has had 50 years of experience in the business, you’ll listen to Jeremy’s passion and mission for doing things his own way, and on his own path. For example, he found one of his key creative employees on LinkedIn, an apparel and textiles designer with a quilting background who brings the keen sense of color and pattern to the brand. You’ll hear Jeremy state, ‘I don’t want to be a 100-million-dollar brand’. With a longtime front row seat to how garments are often produced, Jeremy and Young Days keep sustainability top of mind. You’ll hear how a deep love of children and family is at the core of this business, which brands inspire Jeremy personally, the learning curve he experienced in photographing corrals of kids as the face of his brand, and the unique Young Days unisex vibe that makes these clothes pass-downable, kid-to-kid. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Young Days Chapel Hill San Fransicso Set
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
A Note From The Host: This is one of my favorite conversations with a behind-the-scenes fashion insider. I love this discussion for its niche and unique perspective. Megan Ryley is Senior Vice President of Product Development + Production at Aimé Leon Dore, the luxury streetwear brand that everyone is talking about, but that Megan tells me---has a much wider audience than what that category actually evokes, in words. The longtime textiles expert and fashion production veteran tells us what it’s like to work in the industry of fashion, which she describes as ‘chaos’; every single day there’s going to be something unexpected that happens. From owning her own factory and working across cultures, to what women are REALLY up against as bosses in the workplace and how fabric sourcing plays an incredibly important role in the expression of a garment---Megan shares her experience and fashion’s fascinating backstory. Episode 170 of Story + Rain Talks also delivers some great advice: cutting out the ‘fluff’ and being very direct with her expectations is what has made Megan truly successful in her work… and if you are planning to start a brand? The most important thing that you can do, is be very connected to your customer base. Hear Megan’s perspective on how we're entering into a unique part of history when it comes to fashion, where people are so uniquely attuned to their own sense of style and how, in turn, creatives and designers are given so much more space to do their thing. It was lovely to listen to the juxtaposition in how she lives and does life, juggling her high power and high pressure job, and of course---hear all about how cult brand Aimé Leon Dore approaches storytelling and delivers a lifestyle. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
A Note From The Host: April Gargiulo has done something revolutionary and extraordinary in skincare. Listen ahead to hear all about the ingredients in, and unparalleled and intricate processes of--- Vintner’s Daughter---the, what’s now a 3-product, 3 step routine for skin ‘nutrition’---with the recent launch of their cleanser. April’s beautiful brand has long been a favorite of mine ( I find myself running out of serum, and rushing to replenish it) for many reasons, so it was a treat to talk to April about it all. The intangible, intoxicating scent of her serum; the way that repeated use TRULY transforms skin…are just some of what I, and many, love about Vintner’s Daughter. On the podcast you’ll learn about what it means to really take care of your skin. When most skincare companies are concerned with revenue, April’s strictly focused on what’s best for skin. And to hear April talk about how gratitude is built into her brand and built into her life’s outlook? It's so incredibly uplifting, and deeply inspiring. We talk about life in Napa, her definition of luxury, and how, coming from a family of winemakers, she was taught at a very early age that cutting corners and taking shortcuts would mean not being able to make the best product. April talks the beginnings of and the trajectory of the brand, explains it’s ‘G to G’ recipe for growth, and shares the rituals and favorites in her day-today routine. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Vintner's Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser
Vintner's Daughter Active Treatment Essence
Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum
Maria McManus Oversized Shirt in White
Dries Van Noten Amethyst Shadow Graphic Ochre Lipstick
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
A Note From The Host: Our next guest is a one-of-a-kind creative who just so happens to be someone who crafts the world’s most elevated and unique cocktails. Alba Huerta is a Houston-based bartender + owner of Julep – who won a James Beard award for her work. She’s a cocktail educator, author, and longtime business owner – inheriting that drive from her parents, and who ploughed head-on into her purpose. What is so interesting about Alba’s story, is that while she’s made a serious mark in technique and flavor, it’s people and the hallowed aspects of hospitality that have driven her since the age of 18 to be the celebrated creator and entrepreneur she is today. Here, Alba humbly shares her unique story of cocktails that tell a story, with a lot of advice for business owners and fans of food and drink along the way.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Julep: Southern Cocktails Refashioned by Alba Huerta + Marah Stets
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
A Note From The Host: Years ago when I found her first book in our Oprah Magazine offices books section, I discovered that Aimee Raupp is an NYC-based acupuncturist and women's health specialist. I began seeing her instantly, and have continued to do so to this day. It was back then that I learned about the details of really clean eating. I learned about bone broth before it became a health and wellness buzz phrase. These days, Aimee's practice has evolved to include a focus on guiding women through fertility and pregnancy. In this episode, we're talking nutrition: for fertility and egg quality, for baby, and for general optimal health.
The Egg Quality Diet – what is it? How is this diet good for other aspects of health? What else can it help? Eating for egg quality. Eating for general fertility. How to feed baby once they've transitioned to food. What to focus on feeding baby for brain health and general optimal health. What does Aimee as a health professional, choose to eat, and what does she always avoid? The 3 Avoids. How Aimee chooses food when she lacks the ability to make the meal: the way to cleaner foods and what to order when eating out.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Chill Out And Get Healthy: Live Clean To Be Strong And Stay Sexy by Aimee Raupp
Yes, You Can Get Pregnant by Aimee Raupp
The Egg Quality Diet by Aimee Raupp
Super Nutrition For Babies by Katherine Erlich, MD
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
The Stories – “The first dress that I ever draped was the dress that got on the cover of Women's Wear Daily, for my first collection. That was life changing. It was a dress that Zoe Saldaña wore. It was also the version of a dress that I made for Oprah for her magazine cover. The dress that Michelle Obama wore to a White House Correspondents' Dinner changed my trajectory.”
The Backstory – "It was at Bill Blass that I did my Phd; my Masters." “I grew up in a household where we could talk about fashion, love, music, dance – everything – at the dinner table. Nothing was off limits. And when I came to America, especially in the fashion world, when I would ask questions, people would say, ‘No, I don’t want to talk about that.’ I was shocked.” “You have to figure out what is happening around you, and survive it. In order for me to survive and really live my dreams, I had to be my own cheerleader. I allowed myself to feel things, but then also to move on.”
Wisdom Rains – “'Too much' and 'too little' are words that have been hurled at me ever since I was little and I've learned to brush it off.” “I've learned that you can't please everyone, all of the time.” “If you’re living your life as part of a marginalized group, you’re in constant fight-or-flight mode and you don’t even realize it. Then that gets amplified with what’s happening politically, culturally.” “In watching my mother I realized that elegance isn’t a posture; it’s a practice.” “Early on, I learned that I was never going to get any validation, I was seen as a ‘cautionary tale’; and what that did was, it freed me from ever needing any.” “I think it’s very important for all of us to live in the world exploring what we want to do in life, and having that encompass joy, purpose, and impact.”
On Inspo – “My mother is my blueprint for strength.”
On Writing His Memoir – “Editing down was really challenging. I made sure that it was done with grace. This is not a salacious, take-down book. That's not my being. I wanted to tell a story. While writing, it was really challenging to relive things. But it was also cathartic.”
On The Fashion Industry – "What I love about the fashion industry, which often doesn't get shared, is the camaraderie that we have. There's a genuine sense of support and understanding amongst all the creatives and entrepreneurs. It's not easy. It might look fabulous and wonderful, but the hard work is real hard work. I always say five percent of it is glamour, the rest is sheer hard work.”
On Anna Wintour – “I know she can be polarizing, but the industry is better because of her.”
On Cynthia Rowley – “She had an independent brand and she worked really hard. What I really loved about her, and I'm inspired by her constantly, is that even in the hardest times she was always joyful. She was always optimistic.”
What Else – “Towards that time, we started the foundation and that’s where I would say everything shifted for me. We started with twelve girls, and we’ve gone to more than three hundred children. These are streetworker’s children; inmates’ children; these are children who have no access to education and a livelihood”
Obsixed – A collection of Prabal’s current lifestyle obsessions.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Walk Like A Girl by Prabal Gurung
Prabal Gurung Polka Dot Brocade Flounce Minidress
Proem Eau de Parfum by U Beauty
Prabal Gurung: Style and Beauty with a Bite
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
The Stories – “I was out of a job for the first time in my life. During the pandemic I went from someone who was upbeat, to someone who was clinically depressed. Ricardo said to me, ‘Why don’t we do something together, to get out of this state of sickness.” “There is a huge opportunity out there for high quality footwear that has some fashion element to it, but it’s not necessarily runway pieces. Shoes need to address everyday women’s lives.” “Because we make everything in house, we’re able to play with some crazy fabrics. At the end of the day, you have a fashion director giving direction on the product. Think about it: who is running Stuart Weitzman?
The Backstory – Went after her style.com job by approaching legendary editor Candy Pratts Price, who lived in her building, with a note and flowers. Wore her lucky Altuzzara dress twice on interviews with Barneys New York. “Our plaids and velvets… all come from the suppliers for Alaia, Gianvito Rossi, everyone else. We go to the best; we want the best – and we give that to our customer.”
Wisdom Rains – "I have the grit to continue on, every day, and I believe that it has been instrumental in my career.” “The business needs to evolve; the technology is evolving. You have to keep moving. I’ve used that a lot in my career. When I thought I was so comfortable, I then thought… now it’s time to move. It’s key: you need to learn, and you need to move very fast.”
On Inspo – “Those pages, for me, were a dream and the biggest inspiration. The time that I have the most nostalgia about were the years with Claudia, with Cindy, in Chanel pastels. They were happy, they were gorgeous, they were there to inspire you.”
On Authenticity – “It came organically… how we wanted to market the product, how we wanted to pass joy. And we never wanted to be a cookie-cutter brand.”
What Else – “We're adding other creative directors into the fold. We'll take care of your business. So if you want to launch a shoe collection, give me a call."
Obsixed – A collection of Marina’s current obsessions.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Larroudé Miso Platform Clog in Dijon Plaid Shearling
Larroudé Verona Macrame Ballet Flats
Larroudé + Jonathan Cohen Flat Lo Sneaker
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
The Stories – “The model to succeed is tough unless you are backed by a conglomerate, or LVMH.” “The place that was smaller, at that point, was Michael Kors. I interned there for two years. It was a dream. Michael Kors showed me how to be a boss – he was nice, kind, funny, and personable.” “My mother would require us to make dinner one night a week so we could learn some basic cooking.” “I wanted every recipe to have a photo. When I look at a cookbook and there’s no photo representing a recipe, not only do I not know what that recipe’s supposed to look like, I also feel like, this author must not think this is an important recipe.”
The Backstory – “I sat at family dinner one night, when I was in the fifth grade, and made the announcement that I wanted to be a fashion designer.” “In 2006 I was working with two different design teams. It was crazy busy; I was fully in the mix. It was full minestrone!” “Cooking was something I’d been doing the whole time. When I was a fashion designer, I was always coming home and cooking, having dinner parties… it was something that kept my feet on the ground in what can be a crazy industry at times.”
Wisdom Rains – “All the focus that began for me in the fifth grade, had turned into blinders. Then I allowed myself to have another dream.” “There’s a point when you’re on the diving board and you need to take that leap of faith, and know that hard work and some level of talent will yield a soft landing. Once you start doing something, your heart catches up with your mind.” “It's almost like the protein is the Little Black Dress. Now how do you accessorize it?"
On Inspo – “Growing up in the Bay Area in San Francisco, in the 70’s and 80’s, it was a really amazing time for creativity and for self-expression, and I felt like I was in the right place at the right time.”
On Tommy Hilfiger---“Tommy, as a person himself, was an amazing mentor, in terms of him really seeing that I had the potential.”
On recipes and putting together his cookbook, Family Style – “I would wake up at 7, 8 in the morning and get to recipe testing. My refrigerator was a Jenga set from hell.” “Five Spice Chicken is one of those Tuesday meals that you can just throw into the oven.” “Knowing it was inspired by my heritage and Cantonese roots, I felt it would be amazing to find an Asian photographer; there’s a common language and experience.”
What Else – “I have a couple of things coming down the turnpike that are in the fashion world."
Obsixed – a collection of Peter Som’s current obsessions.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Family Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage by Peter Som
When The Going Was Good by Graydon Carter
Todd Snyder Italian Wood Block Paisley Neckerchief
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
The Stories — "I dyed the bottom of it Manic Panic raspberry-red. I had a belly button pierce. I wore a lot of midriffs. I was a kind of Jewish Shakira, trying to have some influence from Erykah Badu or something, but I was not cool in that way at all.” “I really wanted to be in that movie. I just love Sofia Coppola so much. At the time I didn't have a child. I didn't know much about mothering, and because the writing was so good, I think I knew what to do.” “I want Ida to know that the world is a field of relations. It's cause and effect. Things don't come from nowhere. People don't come from nowhere. Everybody has a heart. It means that she has the ultimate safety in me and in Ben, my husband.”
The Backstory — “When I started doing improv and excelled, it was like realizing that you could run really fast or something.” “[SNL] was a necessary opportunity for me to take. I saw a lot in myself that I didn't expect to see. Though challenging, it completely pointed me in the direction of my own natural success.”
Wisdom Rains — "Every time we love a piece of art, that's our achievement. The original creation is the achievement of the artist and the people who may have helped them, or made them feel encouraged or inspired… the beauty and offerings of their world at that time.”
On Inspo — "When something is ready to be expressed outside of my personal life, there tends to be no hesitation in terms of either putting it in standup or putting it on the page.”
On playing the best friend in both It Ends With Us and Dying for Sex — “Other than me playing them, I think it's totally two different pieces of work, two different writers… totally different. I'm often cast as people who are 'the funny person,' but in Dying for Sex, what was offered to me was such an incredible combination of character traits.”
On Dying for Sex — “It was a real moment in understanding my own self-defined legitimacy… backed up by Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock writing it. They're so incredible. I thought, Michelle wants me to be here, and she sees me. She's not like seeing hope for what I will be. She's watching my work. She's connecting with me. We're glad we're here. It felt so good. I felt really enrobed in my character.”
On her latest book, Lifeform — “I'd found it really hard to write anything that felt like it could breathe and progress. I found it hard to say something interesting, and that wasn't just me having a tiny little shit fit. That's cruel to say about myself, I know, but sometimes it's just that way. Then, in the summer of 2023, my daughter was two-and-a-half, and I could suddenly just catch a wave.”
What Else — “I really want to write another kid's book, not a Marcel book, but another picture book. And I'm writing a screenplay right now. I would also like to write a theater piece for myself. There's always a lot that I'm trying to do all at once, in small doses, and then something will overtake everything else.” At The Sea, an upcoming film with Amy Adams.
Obsixed — A collection of Jenny Slate’s current lifestyle obsessions.
Discover more + Shop the podcast:
About The House by Ron Slate + Jenny Slate
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: Things About Me by Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer Camp
Marcel the Shell: the Most Surprised I've Ever Been by Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer Camp
Chani Nicholas and the Chani App
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
The Stories ---
Strecker: “I hadn’t had a partner who was socially savvy until I found Taylor.” "Taylor has a quiet, calming confidence that’s really important when you are working with people who are talent. It’s nerve wracking to be in front of a camera.” “I spent so many years doing morning radio. I would just wake up, roll out of bed. I didn’t even have time to think about what went into getting energized for a show. I didn’t have time to get nervous.” “The entertainment industry is very dramatic, and for a really long time I was addicted to the drama.”
Donohue: “You could tell by talking to her for two seconds that the things that come out of her mouth are insane. We became friendly and I learned that she had this amazing job at Sirius XM. I was this 26-year-old kid, and I started working for her more and more. We’re total opposites of the spectrum, because I’m behind the camera.” “It’s being proactive versus reactive. And she’s talent, I can only push her so far as her wife and co-worker if she’s exhausted after two or three shows a day and an event.” “Something I’ve learned about myself is that my body needs to recharge. I used to give, give, give, all the time.”
The Backstory --- The Taylors met while filming a food video for a chef friend.
Wisdom Rains --- Donohue: “Celebrating the small wins with your partner is huge.”
Who Inspires? --- Strecker: “Ironically, because they would all say I was their inspiration for getting into podcasting or some form of audio, Stassi Schroeder, @girlwithnojob, and Hannah Berner – all of my best friends.”
On Working Together Every Day --- Donohue: “It can be 24/7 so it’s hard to stop. Tay is usually making dinner while I’m wrapping up. And then we love to watch a show at the end of the day. The beautiful thing is we can work from anywhere. The terrible thing is we can work from anywhere. But the thing too, is that a lot of our work is fun.”'
What’s It Like To Have Your Creative-Creator As A Partner, In One Word? --- Donohue: “Lucky.” Strecker: “Kismet.”
What Else --- Live shows, writing a book, and building The Taylors brand.
Obsixed --- A collection of Taylor Donohue and Taylor Strecker’s current lifestyle obsessions.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Coleman Saluspa inflatable hot tub
Free People We The Free Good Luck Barrel Jeans
Discover the episode and more on storyandrain.com
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Instagram
follow @storyandraintalks and @storyandrain on Threads
all about the host
The Stories: “The class is very methodical and purposeful and scientific in the way that it's designed. The hour is not, ‘I worked out for an hour because that's going to bring me to the body shape that I want.’ It's, I'm committing the hour to self with no phones and with movement in my body. My communication is deeply healing on a lot of levels.”
“Fake it ‘til you make it? That didn't work for me. Faking it ‘til I make it just evokes too much imposter syndrome. I study until I’m confident. I was thrust into a position where, all of a sudden, I had a successful studio and I was hiring more people. I became focused on reading, learning, taking my own classes, and discovering how I could be better.”
The Backstory: "Shackles on, shackles off." After landing in Hollywood, and a lot of soul searching, the one-time actor from Canada stepped into her purpose when she tapped into teaching and what made her feel whole.
Wisdom Rains: “I believe that carving out sixty minutes of focusing on self, body, and being, is a type of neurological healing that is also a nervous system healing.”
“Ten minutes of moderate movement after you eat is more effective than thirty minutes of moderate movement at another time of day.”
On Inspo: “Allow yourself ebb and flow. That's really important. The concept that we have this schedule that's going to last through every life shift and change, and when we fall off, we're bad? We have to remove that thinking because it puts us in a constant state of distress. Where is your space to achieve? Where is your space to explore? Where is your space to have a victory? Those are the things that get us out of bed.”
On the Fitness Industry: “We've had our own little industrial revolution from 2014 until now. Boutique fitness hadn't had the boom it has had now.”
On Drew Barrymore: “She's trained with every famous person you can imagine, and she kept being drawn back to the way that I work because of the conversation I ask clients to have with their bodies.”
What Else: Marnie shares the details for how she does life: sleep and morning routines, weekend routines, skin rituals, what she eats, how she detoxes, the self care and body treatments she believes are worthwhile, and how it’s all about waterwaterwater.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Heritage Store Organic Cold-Pressed Hexane-Free Castor Oil
The Stories: “Usually we'll hear from folks when they're having a big life event, like leaving the city. People will say, ‘you've been a part of my life for the past 11 years.’ Or, ‘I’m moving to LA. Can you recommend something for me there? Do you have any plans of opening there?’ The love is really wonderful."
“Am I doing a good job? What does competition look like? Are we telling the story as good as we used to? I used to pack a lot of the boxes; I cared about the quality. How do we make sure that those quality standards are maintained?”
The Backstory: “No doubt, the pandemic was this real accelerant for what we were doing. It really changed people's habits overnight. We had been trying to get press for years, then, suddenly, press was flocking to us.”
“My father is a lifelong natural products and natural food entrepreneur. That was what I grew up around. I saw him building out these small-footprint, pre-Whole Foods kind of grocery stores, filled with natural products.”
“The nice thing about being young and naïve is that I was like, ‘how can I make a million dollar business? The foolishness of that was what made it so fun, the possibilities so endless.”
Wisdom Rains: “What this is doing, at a minimum, is getting people to think about how their health is connected to how they feel and what they eat. We've become very disconnected with it, because people are no longer growing up in the kitchens of their grandparents, learning how to cook.”
“Customers drive the innovation. Listen to the people you're delivering to. What do they want? That’s kept me busy for the past 11 years.”
On Inspo: “I always come back to and try to remind myself about why I’m doing this. What's really exciting and fulfilling to me, especially being a young founder in an industry where a lot of competitors raised a ton of venture capital and we really have no right existing, it’s been fulfilling to me to go back to the mission of, how do we take the food that I was selling myself at the farmer's market and seeing the issues of customers who would come to the farmer's market. I felt like if there was a few of them, there were many, many more out there who would want this kind of product. And my mission was how do we create this and make it something that is sustainable and profitable.”
On Farmers: “Our farmers are incredible. I think people forget this, but the farmer's job is one of the hardest. There are no days off. Food is something that is highly perishable, growing all the time.”
The Stories: “Literally no one would know who I was in Australia at all! It wasn't until very recently that it changed. It's not something I focus on. I'm quite a private person and quite protective of my life. It's funny to finally feel embraced by the country that you always wanted to work in. I can't say that I haven't had some of those earlier struggles, where there was a juvenile resentment for not feeling important enough in your own country.”
“I think I have a healthy relationship with wellness and balance where I want to be as healthy to myself as I can, but in terms of more tangible wellness practices, I think moving your body is always a good thing. I do pilates, yoga. I think trying to take care of your mental health is important. I’m someone who has my own struggles with anxiety and trying to manage that in a healthy way. I do a lot of journaling. Art is also really helpful for me.”
The Backstory: “I had very early exposure to the arts growing up. My mom was a children's television writer and my dad was a musician. So that definitely reinforced and encouraged a lot of creative pursuits from a very early age.”
Wisdom Rains: “What I’ve learned in my work, is that so much is out of my control, creatively. There’s something to be said about learning to embrace the wave; the flow of things.”
On Inspo: “I always go in with this idea that you’re always trying to be as honest as you can; you’re finding the essence of truth. My process and my style is to make sure I’m doing the best job and justice to the character – and that means working from a place of real honesty and truth.”
On Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar: “People are drawn to the complexity of the wellness and medical industries, and we all know someone who has been affected by cancer or a serious illness. Not only are we constantly bombarded by new information about health and wellness all the time, the chase for eternal youth and wellness is everywhere and so pervasive in our lives. Apple Cider Vinegar really touches on the complexities of conventional and nonconventional medicine.”
What Else: “Creativity has been so imbued in my life, and I feel like I have a strong idea of my taste, so directing is something I'm wanting to explore more. Obviously, it's quite hard to get your foot in the door, so I'm going to try to write – in order to facilitate it.”
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Christopher Esber Gondola Mini Tote
Flower Box French Kiss Dutch Tulips
We’re ranting live from Industry City in Brooklyn and from The Female Founder’s Collective’s annual Female Founder’s Day. Tamara sits down with Sarah Beth from the team to answer some questions she has about career and building a brand. We grab FFC Co-Founder Rebecca Minkoff between sessions at the gathering of 500+ plus founders for this episode on out-of-the-box thinking and career paths, risk-taking, having perseverance, and sticking to your vision as a founder.
Tell us a little about your early career and how you’ve navigated career moves over the years, to get to where you are now? What was the catalyst for creating Story + Rain? Can you tell us how the name ‘Story + Rain’ came about? With decidedly differing answers, Tamara and Rebecca answer one of our favorite questions: What is a story about your career that you’ve never had the opportunity to share before? Is there a moment in your career when you found yourself having to stick to your vision and it paid off in spades, in terms of authenticity and your brand? What kind of creativity goes into putting together an event like Female Founder’s Day?
Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Rebecca Minkoff wears West Booties in black
Tamara carries the Dior Changing Bag
Spanx Booty Boost Active Leggings
Beautybio Get That Glow Glowpro Facial Microneedling Discover Set
On this episode, we go BTS and talk with filmmaker Edward Burns' go-to costume designer, Rosemary Lepre Forman to discuss tricks-of-the-trade and working on his latest film, Millers In Marriage with its star-ensemble cast. She shares details around their longterm collaboration, how she's learned to be resourceful and creative in her work, and how she leaned into the 1990s and a 'quiet luxury' look for the Millers cast of stylish, complex characters living between NYC and upstate New York. Tamara and Ro dive into the creative heartbeat of a 20-day shoot, how accessories bring a character to life, and why fashion is a powerful tool in storytelling.
What’s the look and feel of Millers In Marriage in four words? Where did you get crafty and resourceful in terms of pulling wardrobe for Minnie Driver, Gretchen Mol, Julianna Margulies, Patrick Wilson, Campbell Scott, Benjamin Bratt, and more? How did you learn to become resourceful, did the job teach you? How can people make the Millers look their own? What is your personal take on quiet luxury for the film? Wrapping a project + letting go of the creative process.
Discover more:
The Stories: “On my first day as a CFDA member, I stood up in front of then-president Diane von Furstenberg and Steven Kolb and I asked what our industry’s plans for sustainability was. I remember the Olsen twins sitting in front of me and turning around, staring at me. Everyone was staring at me. ‘Who is this girl?’ Diane and Steven looked at each other and said, ‘We have none.'"
The Backstory: Grew up with two creative grandmothers and aunts; one grandmother who was an award-winning quilter and who had hand-selected the rocks that her grandfather built their house with. Her mother is an ‘overachiever,’ former lawyer who creates watercolor art and who spent hours with Melissa as a child making food for her Barbie refrigerator. “My dad, although he isn’t crafty, is very intellectually creative.”
Wisdom Rains: “I tend to look at the shifts and the circularity of my business – marked by what some people might call ‘trauma’ – as opportunities to rebuild better. Even though they’re really challenging to go through at the time, you really learn what’s important, and what you want.”
On Inspo: “The way that we make jewelry is so influenced by traditional Mexican silversmithing techniques. I don’t do a lot of casting. We hand-make, hand-form, hand-hammer using a lot of the same tools that are used in Mexico. I really appreciate their craft and attention to detail.” Names her mother as ‘super-inspirational’ for how she’s reinvented herself to achieve many different things over the years.
On Community + On Her Store: “People really enjoy getting together and talking about things, trying stuff on and having fun. I’ve only been in business for as long as I have, because of my community. I’ve built really strong relationships that have carried me through really challenging times, so I feel like nourishing those, intentionally. My wholesale partners have become a strong focus, so has creating the same type of partnership and energy within my store.”
What Else: “There is a lot of technical detail within what we do that doesn’t scream, ‘look at me.’ It’s an understated elegance that allows each person to put their personal stamp on my jewelry when they wear it.”
Obsixed: A collection of Melissa’s current lifestyle obsessions and brands.
Discover more + Shop The Podcast: