Wednesday · 38 min
SL
Business
Second Life
Second Life
Hosted by Who What Wear co-founder Hillary Kerr, Second Life spotlights successful women who have made major career changes. Guests share lessons they've learned through fearlessly daring to pivot, and how they've used skills from their "first lives" to navigate their winding career journeys.
- 711 episodes
- Updated Wednesday
Episodes711
- SL
Monday · 57 minSecond Listen: Claudia Sulewski: Founder of Cyklar
This week, we are giving a second listen to our very special episode with Claudia Sulewski. Sulewski is the founder of Cyklar, a bodycare brand that bridges the gap between luxurious self-care and efficacious formulas. Before becoming a beauty founder, Sulewski was one of the original beauty YouTubers. She started her YouTube channel when she was just 13 years old, under the name BeyondBeautyStar, posting makeup tutorials, vlogs, and other lifestyle content. By the time she graduated high school, she’d grown a massive following that allowed her to monetize her content as an official YouTube partner and make her hobby her full-time job. Sulewski’s status as an internet sensation reached new heights when Teen Vogue tapped her to host the publication’s YouTube channel as a red carpet correspondent. Her years of experience shooting and editing her own content and using herself as talent for her creative vision were also crucial when she expanded into traditional acting and directing. She’s gone on to lead a successful career on and off camera since getting her start on YouTube, booking roles for hit shows like Shrinking and directing music videos for her fiancé, Grammy Award–winning artist Finneas O’Connell. Her career has now come full circle with Cyklar after years of filming GRWM videos and self-care routines for her millions of loyal followers. Since Sulewski was on the show, Cyklar has officially launched in Sephora and gone viral on social media several times over. Be sure to check our Instagram, @secondlifepod, for updates on our return date.
- SLJuly 22 · 25 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: Celebrity Stylist Molly Dickson on Dressing the New Elle Woods
This week on The Who What Wear Podcast, Hillary Kerr chats with celebrity stylist Molly Dickson, whose client roster includes the likes of Lana Del Rey, Sydney Sweeney, Sadie Sink, and, most recently, Lexi Minetree on her Elle press tour. Today, Dickson’s giving us the rundown on everything that went into dressing the new Elle Woods—from paying homage to Legally Blonde on the red carpet to pulling inspiration from early 2000s Reese Witherspoon. Plus, she shares the perfect Y2K pieces she pulled from Witherspoon’s personal archives. Listen to Molly’s previous episode here! Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!
- SL
July 20 · 55 minCassandra Morales Thurswell: Founder and CEO of Kitsch
Cassandra Morales Thurswell is the founder and CEO of Kitsch. However, before starting her haircare and accessories brand, she founded several entrepreneurial endeavors: She opened a restaurant and boutique with her mother, launched a jewelry business, worked at a clothing store, and managed a cupcake shop. She then transitioned to running a series of small businesses, including a spray-tanning company and an inspirational-quote scarf brand, before taking a job designing jewelry for retailers like Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters. At age 25, she started Kitsch with $30,000 in savings and a handmade hair tie. The brand gained traction, and today, Kitsch generates over $500 million in annual revenue, is in 32,000 retail stores across 92 countries, and is the largest self-funded, female-owned beauty brand in the world.
- SLJuly 15 · 20 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: Everything You Need From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale With Fashion Director Linda Cui Zhang
This week on the Who What Wear Podcast, Who What Wear Shopping Director Bobby Schuessler sits down with Nordstrom Fashion Director Linda Cui Zhang to talk about Nordstrom's 125th Anniversary Sale. Cui Zhang and Schuessler give the full rundown on everything from the trends in the 9 to Know section to the 50 new brands debuting in the sale. Plus, Cui Zhang is sharing the one item she would recommend everyone buys from this year's sale. Make sure to shop Nordstrom's 125th Anniversary Sale, starting July 18. Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!
- SL
July 13 · 55 minLauren Wang: CEO and Founder of The Flex Company
Lauren Wang is the CEO and founder of period-product brand The Flex Company. Before even graduating college, Wang held several positions. At just age 15, she freelanced as an HTML website builder. Then during college, she took classes at night while working for IBM and Coca-Cola on their respective marketing teams. A couple years after graduating college, she moved to San Francisco to work in tech at companies such as Autodesk and Upwork. In 2013, after many years of struggling to find period products that worked for her, Wang came up with her initial idea for a better period product. She spent the next year researching the menstrual-hygiene industry, and in 2015, she quit her corporate job to found Flex. In October of 2016, the company began shipping its first product: the Flex Disc. As the company continued to grow, it released its Flex Cup product line and expanded into new categories, and Wang was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Los Angeles region in 2023.
- SLJuly 8 · 29 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: "Elle" Costume Designer Sara Byblow on Storytelling Through Shades of Pink and the Legacy of Elle Woods's Style
This week, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with Sara Byblow, the costume designer of the new Legally Blonde prequel Elle. They discuss keeping the legacy of Elle Woods's iconic style alive, sourcing more than 70 looks for young Elle's wardrobe, and the meaning behind different shades of pink in the show. Plus, Byblow shares which wardrobe staples carried over from Legally Blonde. Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!
- SL
July 6 · 57 minBeatriz de los Mozos: Founder and CEO of Flabelus
Beatriz de los Mozos is the founder and CEO of the shoe brand Flabelus. Before founding her own brand, de los Mozos earned a law degree and a master's degree in comparative politics. She began her professional career in law in London and then transitioned to a legal startup, where she took on the role of sales manager and senior legal expert. However, after her doctor told her that she could no longer wear her favorite shoes due to scoliosis, she came up with an idea for a shoe that would be both comfortable and stylish. She set up a Kickstarter campaign, found a Spanish factory to produce her Italian furlane and Spanish espadrille hybrids, and Flabelus was born. Within five years, the brand expanded from an online-only model to selling in over 700 stores across 54 countries, as well as establishing a growing network of flagship boutiques.
- SLJuly 1 · 28 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: The 2026 Who What Wear 100 Beauty Awards
For the third year in a row, the Who What Wear beauty editors have tested nearly 1000 products and tools and whittled them down to a list of their top 100 items to shop. The team tested for efficacy, innovation, and lovability across seven categories: makeup, tools, fragrance, hair, skincare, nails, and body. Beauty Director Erin Jahns is back on the pod to share her team’s findings, including four new special-recognition categories: Timeless Classic, Social Media Sensation, Worth the Investment, and High Impact, Low Price. Read the full 2026 Who What Wear 100 Beauty Awards story here! Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!
- SL
June 29 · 46 minLeigh Batnick Plessner: Chief Creative Officer of Catbird
Leigh Batnick Plessner is the chief creative officer of Catbird. Before landing at Catbird, Plessner graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in English literature and anthropology, and she worked at various DC coffee shops and as a cocktail waitress before landing a job in the children's room at renowned DC bookstore Politics and Prose. At the bookstore, she was eventually promoted to sidelines buyer, selecting everything for the store other than books. While in this position, she had the opportunity to go to various stationery shows, which prompted her to start a stationery brand of her own called Jezebel. In 2005, she met the founder of jewelry brand Catbird, Rony Vardi, at a stationery trade show. Soon after, she started working at the brand's storefront in New York. Eventually she transitioned out of running her stationery brand and into working full-time for Catbird. She grew with the company and now holds the role of chief creative officer, where she's responsible for the visual identity of the brand, including Catbird's partnerships with talent like Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers.
- SL
June 24 · 35 minThe Who What Wear Podcast: Special Episode! Stylists Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald Put Their Partnership to the Test and Share Met Gala BTS
Wayman + Micah are one of the most sought-after styling duos in the business, and their clients include Colman Domingo, Chase Infiniti, and Regina King, to name a few. In today's very special episode, the iconic duo sits down with Hillary to play a series of games related to their partnership and creative vision, from breaking down the behind the scenes from your favorite red carpet looks to dissecting sketches of their best Met Gala outfits. To get the full experience, watching the full-length video on our YouTube channel is recommended!
- SL
June 22 · 47 minIrene Chen: Cofounder of Parker Thatch
Irene Chen is the cofounder of the functional luxury brand Parker Thatch. Before founding her own brand, Chen graduated from UCLA with a degree in political science and began her career in financial consulting. After a couple years in this field, she decided to pivot to fashion, an industry she'd always been drawn to. She first worked for Calvin Klein in its licensing department before transitioning to Donna Karan, where she worked her way up to become the director of product development. Upon meeting, she and her business partner and husband Matthew Grenby decided to start a business of their own, an e-stationery brand called iomoi. This brand went through multiple iterations—from e-stationery to physical stationery to homeware—before they landed on something that stuck. After the success of their first bag, Chen and Grenby decided to focus on functional luxury handbags and rebrand the company to what it's known as today: Parker Thatch.
- SL
June 17 · 41 minThe Who What Wear Podcast: Tibi Founder Amy Smilovic on Why Creatives Should Make "Almost Reckless" Decisions in Fashion, Business, and Life
This week, Amy Smilovic, founder and creative director of Tibi, returns to speak with Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings about her new book, Almost Reckless. The last time Smilovic joined the pod in 2024, she gave us a guide to her design philosophy: creative pragmatism. This time, she's here to share the "almost reckless" framework that helped her uncover creative pragmatism and how you can use this framework for your own creative pursuits. They discuss everything from how to make sense of your current closet to taking fashion risks that pay off, and Smilovic gives us a BTS look at her design process at Tibi. Plus, learn how to make the most of your suitcase space when packing. Watch this episode here on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe! Listen to Smilovic's previous episode here!
- SL
June 15 · 54 minRose Previte: Restaurateur and Entrepreneur
Rose Previte is the restaurateur and entrepreneur behind acclaimed DC restaurants and bars such as Maydan, Medina, and Sook as well as a new food concept in Los Angeles. However, Previte started her career in local government after graduating with a master's degree in public policy. Her first life was interrupted when her husband became NPR's Moscow correspondent, and they moved across the world, visiting over 30 countries in three years. Inspired by her travels, she decided to open a restaurant in DC, and in 2014, her first restaurant, Compass Rose, opened to much success. She then went on to open additional restaurants and a bar in DC, and she recently expanded to L.A. with a food hall, Maydan Market. Previte has also written a cookbook, launched a CPG brand, started a wine company, and founded the restaurant group No White Plates.
- SL
June 10 · 37 minThe Who What Wear Podcast: The Summer 2026 Shopping Guide
This week, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down in studio with Executive Editorial and Style Director Lauren Eggertsen and shopping editor Chichi Offor to give you the rundown of the best pieces, trends, and brands to shop in summer 2026. They discuss staples that never go out of style and how trends from last summer have evolved (is taffeta the new linen?) and name-drop the exact pieces to snag to update your wardrobe. Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe! To shop products mentioned in this episode, click here!
- SL
June 8 · 53 minLauren Harwell Godfrey: Founder of Harwell Godfrey
Lauren Harwell Godfrey is a jewelry designer and the founder of the brand Harwell Godfrey. But before she started her own jewelry brand, she began her career in advertising. Her advertising career spanned 15 years, working with clients like Adidas, Levi’s, and Ray-Ban. However, she didn’t feel artistically fulfilled and decided to enroll in culinary school. After graduating, she worked in Bay Area restaurants Chez Panisse and Bar Tartine. She also contributed to cookbooks and started her own vegan food blog. Ultimately, she decided that the culinary world was not the right fit and pivoted back to designing jewelry. She started making jewelry for herself and her friends before launching her fine jewelry brand in 2017. Today, she remains the sole designer, and her pieces have been worn by everyone from Kamala Harris to Rihanna.
- SL
June 3 · 40 minThe Who What Wear Podcast: The Summer 2026 Swim Report With Natasha Oakley and Lauren Chan
This week, Who What Wear Executive Editorial and Style Director Lauren Eggersten sits down with three swimwear experts to talk about everything 2026 swimwear style. Our guests include Natasha Oakley, a model and the CEO and cofounder of Monday Swim, Lauren Chan, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, entrepreneur, and former Glamour editor, and Sierra Mayhew, one of our fashion editors and the writer of our annual Swim Report. They discuss everything from this year's trendiest swim styles to the best accessories to pair with your bikini (or tankini), plus how to find the perfect swimsuit fit. Watch this episode here on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!
- SL
June 1 · 38 minBrooke Averick: Content Creator, Podcast Host, and Author
Brooke Averick is a content creator, cohost of Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast, and the author of the new novel Phoebe Berman Is Going to Lose It. But before she was a content multi-hyphenate, she began her career as a preschool teacher at a Quaker school. Then, in 2020, she downloaded TikTok and began sharing videos of herself reading from her childhood journals. The videos went mega-viral, and she soon pivoted from teaching to full-time content creation. Since then, she’s continued to create vulnerable and hilarious videos and podcasts, and now she’s embarking on her latest venture as an author with her debut novel, which hit shelves this May. Order Brooke Averick’s new novel here!
- SL
May 27 · 30 minThe Who What Wear Podcast: It-Girl Stylist Dani Michelle on the Impact of a Simple Look, Sourcing Archival Vintage, and Summer Accessories
Celebrity stylist Dani Michelle is known for creating looks that set trends and often ripple through the entire fashion industry. She works with some of the most influential tastemakers in the business, such as Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Daisy Edgar-Jones. This week, she joins Hillary Kerr in the studio to discuss how some of her simplest looks have become so impactful, why she loves to use a mix of runway pieces and vintage, and how she gets her hands on some of the rarest archival designer pieces in the world. Plus, she shares her favorite sunglasses, bags, and color combinations for the season. Watch this episode here, on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!
- SL
May 25 · 55 minJen Hamilton: Nurse, Content Creator, and Author
Jen Hamilton is a labor and delivery nurse known on the internet for her informative (and often hilarious) videos about healthcare. But before entering the world of content creation, Hamilton was an emergency room nurse. After working her way up to assistant director in that department, she realized she needed a change from the chaotic nature of the ER and pivoted into labor and delivery. During the pandemic, she began making content about nursing and providing insight into healthcare on social media, and since then, she’s created a community of over 6 million followers across platforms. This past May, she also added author to her extensive résumé when she released her first book, Birth Vibes, which quickly became number one on the New York Times Best Seller list.