Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay

Stephanie Rado Taormina & Jay Schweid
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Arts

Welcome to Pickles & Pasta, a podcast about living creatively, loving boldly, and staying grounded in a world that often feels anything but.Steph and Jay met (or as Jay says “reconnected”) just before the pandemic and have been building a life, and a creative partnership, ever since. Together, they live, work, and support each other’s ventures while navigating the messy, beautiful chaos of modern life.No agendas. No sides. Just real conversations,sometimes deep, sometimes hilarious, always honest. This is their space to talk about creativity, connection, relationships, and everything in between. Pull up a chair. Let’s dig in. About StephStephanie Rado Taormina is the CEO and founder of Have Some Fun Today, a lifestyle brand inspired by her late father's mantra to live boldly and joyfully. With over 25 years of experience in branding, fashion, interiors, and entrepreneurship, she brings a sharp creative vision to everything she touches. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Stephanie has reignited her fine art career since 2021, creating emotionally driven abstract work and building a growing marketplace for contemporary art. While integrating her artistic voice into the evolution of HSFT, she also maintains an independent studio practice focused on exhibitions, fine art prints, and creative collaborations. As co-host of the podcast Pickles & Pasta with Steph & Jay, she brings thoughtful, unscripted insight to conversations about creativity, culture, and navigating modern life. About Jay Jay Schweid is a native New Yorker, creative entrepreneur, and cultural shapeshifter with a career that’s anything but conventional. From launching JCS, a bespoke racket service trusted by tennis icons like McEnroe and Agassi, to co-founding The Spot—a legendary South Beach lounge with Mickey Rourke, Jay has always lived at the intersection of bold ideas and real-world impact. He went on to create high-touch concierge and event services for celebrity and HNWI clients, and in 2012, launched ephelants, a media company focused on streamlining film and commercial production. Built to challenge industry inefficiencies, ephelants fuses creativity with technology to empower storytellers at every level. Now, Jay is building Village, a visionary entertainment platform that will revolutionize how projects move from concept to distribution. By bringing together creators, fans, and investors,Village is designed to democratize the entire entertainment ecosystem and give everyone a seat at the table. On Pickles & Pasta, Jay brings sharp insight, unapologetic creativity, and a relentless curiosity for what’s next.

  1. 2d ago

    Is Quitting the Ultimate Failure, or the Smartest Move You'll Make?

    Is quitting truly the ultimate failure, or could it be the smartest decision you'll ever make? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay explore "the right kind of quitting," discussing how stepping away from a job, business, or even an identity can be an act of bravery rather than defeat. Drawing from years of experience in fashion, interior design, professional tennis stringing, and hospitality startups, they share candid insights about recognizing when it's time to move on. Steph reflects on the emotionally exhausting, years-long process of stepping back from manufacturing her brand, Have Some Fun Today. She shares how deeply her identity was intertwined with the business, making quitting feel like losing a part of herself. Meanwhile, Jay revisits his own journey of walking away from a thriving tennis-stringing business he built from scratch. He highlights how outsiders often misinterpret why someone leaves and how the public narrative rarely aligns with the private reality. The discussion becomes more personal as Steph opens up about leaving a stable fashion career in New York and, later, stepping back from client work to care for her sick father. These moments spark a broader conversation about timing: quitting too soon can mean missing a breakthrough, while quitting too late can lead to unnecessary suffering. And there's rarely a clear, universal rule to tell which one applies. Throughout the episode, Steph and Jay challenge the idea that quitting equals weakness. Instead, they frame it as a transition, a renewal, or a strategic shift toward something that aligns more closely with your evolving self. They wrap up with practical advice for anyone facing a hard decision: stop overthinking, tune out external opinions, and trust your instincts. This episode dives into: Why quitting can be a strategic pivot rather than a failure Untangling your identity from your career or business, and why that's so challenging The risks of quitting too soon versus too late, and why there's no simple rule to follow How the public narrative about a big decision often differs from the private truth behind it Reframing quitting as a rebirth or redirection, not a defeat Why external perception should never dictate such a deeply personal choice Takeaway: Quitting isn't the opposite of success. When done for the right reasons and at the right time, it can create the space you need to embrace what's next. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode of Pickles & Pasta, and share this with someone who has been overanalyzing a difficult decision for far too long. 0:00 Intro: The Right Kind of Quitting 1:27 Even If You Love It, It's Still Work 2:25 When Quitting Makes Sense: Personal & Societal Shifts 6:52 Quitting Interior Design for Family 10:01 Identity: When You ARE the Business 14:31 The Agonizing Two-Year Decision for HSFT 18:10 Jay's Tennis Business Exit & False Narratives 26:07 I'm a Maker of Things: Reframing Identity 29:48 Quitting an Idea: The Effluence Hospitality Story 34:44 Reframing Quitting as Rebirth 36:00 Advising Others to Quit: Steph's Daughters 40:33 Final Advice: Trust Your Gut 42:50 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Sep 10

    Why Being Good at Your Craft Isn't Enough Anymore

    Has everyone become their own publicist? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay tackle a question that every entrepreneur, artist, and professional grapples with: why excelling at your craft is no longer enough, and why skills like storytelling, authenticity, and self-promotion are now essential in today's attention-driven world. They kick things off by exploring the differences between PR, marketing, and advertising, and how these boundaries have blurred for everyday individuals—not just celebrities or big brands. Steph shares how her background in visual design and advertising gave her a natural advantage in personal branding long before the word "influencer" became commonplace. Meanwhile, Jay reflects on conversations with clients who often misunderstand or undervalue the role of publicity. Together, they emphasize that every post, photo, and event contributes to shaping public perception, whether intentional or not. The episode dives deeper with a case study of Steph's recent art event in Pennsylvania. She breaks down how she curated the food, music, atmosphere, and overall guest experience to authentically reflect her identity as an artist, transforming a private gathering into a powerful storytelling moment. Jay ties this back to their broader marketing philosophy, highlighting how showcasing the messy, real creative process—like converting a garage into an art studio—fosters deeper connections than polished advertisements ever could. Things take a personal turn as Steph opens up about the emotional challenges of building a brand in the public eye, including the vulnerability of evolving Have Some Fun Today into its next phase. She and Jay candidly discuss the discomfort of feeling awkward or exposed when stepping into social media and video content, reminding listeners that this discomfort is part of the growth process—not a sign of failure. The episode wraps up on a fun note, with a playful tangent about social media's role in dating, including how Steph and Jay met on Facebook—proof that your online presence can have real-life consequences, both professionally and personally. This episode explores: Why talent alone isn't enough without shaping its perception The blurred lines between PR, marketing, and advertising for individuals Steph's Pennsylvania art event as an example of intentional storytelling How sharing the "real" creative process creates authentic connections The vulnerability of publicly evolving a brand—and why it's worth it Social media as a first impression tool for dating, networking, and business Why building publicity is a long-term strategy with delayed rewards Key takeaway: Talent isn't enough to get noticed anymore. Consistently and authentically shaping how your work is perceived is just as important as the work itself. Subscribe to Pickles & Pasta so you never miss an episode, and share this with someone who still believes their work will speak for itself. 00:00 Intro — Has everyone become their own publicist? 02:00 Why "just doing your job well" isn't enough anymore 04:20 Advertising vs. marketing vs. PR, explained 06:16 You don't *have* to participate — but there's a cost to opting out 09:00 Storytelling through experience: the art party case study 14:10 Turning an event into publicity without "selling" 17:20 Why gallery openings feel stale (and what's missing) 18:25 Studio vs. home: crafting an authentic setting for your story 22:00 It's okay to opt out of posting personally — delegate instead 23:35 Everyday moments as publicity (the NYC photo habit) 20:45 PR as a long game vs. instant-result advertising 39:15 Using social media as your "PR team" — even for dating 27:00 On personal image, authenticity, and not being phony 31:00 Learning to be on camera: trial, error, and cringe 35:45 Finding your groove and telling an authentic story 37:45 People connect with people, not just brands 40:40 Publicly reinventing a brand — Steph's "Have Some Fun Today" shift 44:10 PR as a slow drip: measuring the immeasurable 46:20 Final thoughts: managing your perception on purpose 41:20 Closing and sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Sep 3

    Can Taste Be Taught, or Only Noticed?

    In an era where everyone with a smartphone claims to be an expert, what actually separates real taste from confident noise? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay dig into the psychology of taste, style, and confidence, unpacking why social media "expertise" isn't the same as discernment, and why AI still can't replace a genuinely trained eye. The episode opens with Jay's observation that social platforms, whichever one you pick, have flattened the idea of expertise into whoever speaks with the most confidence. That sets up the central question: in a world of self-declared authorities on everything from makeup to coffee, what does "taste" even mean anymore? Jay and Steph agree confidence and taste get confused constantly, but true taste, they argue, is something else entirely: an earned, human capacity for discernment that can't simply be downloaded or prompted into existence. Steph traces her own taste back to childhood, describing vivid visual memories of her grandparents' homes, the fabrics, colors, and room layouts that shaped her aesthetic sensibility decades before she ever formally studied art and design. Her theory is that taste isn't taught so much as noticed. It comes from a curious eye absorbing color, texture, and proportion long before those details consciously register as "style." She connects this to a recent research analysis of her own paintings, which revealed a throughline of continuity across ten years of work, evidence, she says, of an internalized taste that shows up consistently even when she isn't trying to force it. Jay pushes the conversation toward taste as something adjacent to "cool," a quality you either have an instinct for or don't, though he insists it can still be cultivated by paying close attention to the world around you. He shares his own path, from noticing car design as a kid to his own idiosyncratic personal style, framing taste as less about being trendy and more about trusting your own eye even when others don't get it. Steph pushes this further: taste requires the courage to make a choice and stand behind it, whether that's a clashing color palette, a vintage dress with combat boots, or an unconventional life in a town that expected conformity. The conversation takes a sharp turn into AI's role in shaping, or undermining, taste. Steph is direct: AI is a powerful research tool for surfacing examples or refining a sentence, but it can't manufacture taste itself, because taste requires human reference points and lived experience to remix into something new. She references a recent interview with designer Bella Freud featuring Kate Moss, who made the striking point that once something becomes a trend, it's no longer cool, a line that becomes a turning point in the episode and reinforces the hosts' shared belief that real taste is about individuality, not imitation. This episode covers: Why confidence on social media gets mistaken for expertise, and why they're not the same thing Steph's theory that taste is noticed, not taught, and where her own taste traces back to childhood What a recent research analysis of Steph's paintings revealed about consistency in her creative eye Why AI can research taste but can't manufacture it, and what that means for creative work Kate Moss's line, via the Bella Freud podcast, that once something becomes a trend, it's no longer cool Why owning a personal aesthetic, even an unconventional one, is what makes it read as taste instead of a mistake How old or "uncool" references become stylish again through confidence and creative reframing And more! Takeaway: Taste isn't confidence, and it isn't something you can prompt your way into. It's an earned, human capacity for discernment, built over years of noticing, that AI can support but never replace. Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Pickles & Pasta, and share this with someone who still thinks having an opinion is the same thing as having taste. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 0:44 - Taste is the New Superpower 5:01 - How Taste Is Formed in Childhood 8:03 - Can You Teach Cool? 14:45 - Confidence and Personal Style 23:42 - Taste, Rebellion, and Seeing Things Early 31:10 - Using AI to Build Your Taste 35:06 - Kate Moss and the Trend Trap 42:45 - Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Aug 27

    Why Great Ideas Get Laughed Out of the Room (Until They Don't)

    What does it actually feel like to be right before anyone else agrees with you? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay dig into the emotional and creative reality of being ahead of the curve, from Steve Jobs pitching a buttonless iPhone to Steph's own handbag design that turned up on a luxury runway years after manufacturers told her it couldn't be made. Jay opens with the now-legendary Steve Jobs story to set up the bigger question underneath the whole episode: why does an idea get dismissed as impossible from one person, and hailed as genius from someone else with the credibility to back it? That tension between innovation and credibility runs through everything they talk about. Steph shares one of the sharpest examples from her own career: a bag she designed for Have Some Fun Today that manufacturers said couldn't be produced. Months later, a strikingly similar design showed up in a Loewe flagship store. It becomes a jumping-off point for a bigger conversation about originality and resistance, and how the gap between a great idea and a market-ready product often comes down to budget and marketing muscle as much as vision. They also get into Steph's background in interior design, where she pushed past convention early, lacquered ceilings, slab marble walls, and found the real pushback wasn't coming from clients who hired her for that exact instinct. It was coming from craftsmen unfamiliar with the techniques. That leads into a genuinely useful exchange about budget constraints in creative work, and why limits sharpen ideas instead of shrinking them. The conversation turns more personal near the end. Jay opens up about being an introspective, idea-driven person who reads as confident despite feeling shy, and Steph reflects on her recent decision to step back from juggling multiple creative ventures to fully commit to her art practice. Both agree that being early usually means sitting with criticism and isolation before any validation shows up, and that the healthiest version of innovation was never about chasing money or ego. It's about following a genuine belief that something isn't working yet and needs to be built. This episode covers: The Steve Jobs "no buttons" story and why the same idea lands differently depending on who says it Steph's handbag design, the manufacturers who said no, and its eventual echo on the Loewe runway Why great ideas often fail from a lack of capital and marketing power, not a lack of vision How budget constraints push creative decisions toward more inventive, resourceful solutions Facing resistance from craftsmen and collaborators, not just the market or the client Why you can't execute a hundred ideas at once, and what it means to consciously narrow focus Jay on being perceived as confident while feeling shy, and staying mission-driven anyway Steph's decision to step back from product design to fully commit to her fine art practice And more! Takeaway: Being early often looks identical to being wrong, until it isn't. The ideas that last aren't the ones chasing money or being first. They're the ones built from a genuine belief that something isn't working yet and needs fixing. Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Pickles & Pasta, and share this with someone who's ever been laughed out of a room for an idea that turned out to be right. Chapters 0:00 — Cold open: the Steve Jobs "no buttons" story 0:49 — Welcome and opening banter 1:31 — Introducing this week's theme: being right too early 3:20 — Steph on confidence and creative originality 5:04 — The handbag design story and the Loewe connection 9:11 — Revisiting the Steve Jobs/iPhone example in full 10:35 — Steph's return to her art practice post-COVID 13:30 — Being ahead of the curve in interior design 16:08 — Pushback from craftsmen vs. clients; lacquered ceilings and marble slabs 19:39 — Why budget constraints spark more creativity 23:35 — Jay on seeing ideas clearly before others can 27:07 — Confidence, shyness, and being mission-driven 30:23 — "It's incubating": why you can't execute every idea at once 36:35 — Steph's conscious shift toward focusing on art over products Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Aug 20

    What "Making It" Actually Looks Like (And Why It Never Feels Like Enough)

    What does "making it" actually feel like once you think you've arrived? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay dive into one of the most misunderstood aspects of creative and entrepreneurial life: the disconnect between how success looks from the outside and how it feels on the inside. Steph shares her journey, from graduating from Parsons to working as a designer at Andrew Marc, launching Have Some Fun Today—a brand that unexpectedly caught the attention of A-list celebrities like Halle Berry and Mila Kunis—and transitioning into fine art, with her paintings showcased in public works at the GoggleWorks. Despite magazine covers, celebrity endorsements, and gallery recognition, she reveals why none of it has ever truly felt like "making it." Instead, she discusses why she defines success by financial independence and staying true to herself. Jay offers a different perspective, recounting his own career highlights, from earning a spot on the U.S. Davis Cup team through sheer determination, to working with Andre Agassi, to being featured on HBO and in Sports Illustrated. He reflects on why external recognition rarely aligns with the internal satisfaction of achievement. Their conversation takes a philosophical turn as they explore whether "making it" is defined by financial milestones, public perception, or quieter achievements like raising great kids, doing meaningful work, or helping others in small but impactful ways. Along the way, they examine Taylor Swift's billionaire status as the ultimate case study, how people's behavior shifts once you're perceived as successful, and Jay's long-term vision for Village. This episode explores: The "moving goalpost" phenomenon and why dedicated creatives constantly redefine what "making it" means The difference between feeling successful and being seen as having "made it" by others Why financial success, more than critical acclaim, is often the cultural marker of "arriving" How people's attitudes toward you change when you're perceived as successful, even if you feel the same The Davis Cup story: earning a spot on the U.S. team through an unplanned trip to Mexico Why Steph considers raising her daughters her greatest accomplishment, more than any career milestone Why Jay doesn't see Village as his "making it" moment, even as it reshapes the industry The idea that helping others in simple, unglamorous ways might be the truest form of success And more! Takeaway: "Making it" isn't a fixed destination—it's a goalpost that keeps moving for those who are passionate about their work. True success might not be about accolades at all; it could be about showing up for others in small, meaningful ways every day. Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Pickles & Pasta, and share this with someone who's still waiting to feel like they've "made it." Chapters 0:00 Cold Open 0:33 Welcome to the Show 1:16 What Does "Making It" Really Mean? 3:16 Steph's Career Journey & the Moving Goalposts 10:53 Is Money the Real Measure of Success? 15:05 Why Overachievers Never Feel Done 17:03 A Friend Who Truly "Made It" 19:55 How Fame Changes the Way People Treat You 21:40 Taylor Swift & Undeniable Success 22:50 Steph's Real Proudest Achievement 26:40 Single Motherhood & Authentic Art 32:22 Jay's Tennis World Milestones 34:53 Building Village: Redefining Success 40:50 The Power of Helping Others 45:32 Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Aug 13

    Creative Identity Isn't Built Alone: The Relationships Behind the Work

    How much of your creative identity is shaped by the people in your life? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay explore the ways relationships—family, romantic, professional, and social—influence an artist's confidence, identity, and body of work. Steph reflects on her artistic roots, growing up as the eldest grandchild in a large Italian family, where early encouragement for her creativity became a cornerstone of how she viewed herself. She and Jay discuss a pattern many creatives will recognize: being praised for artistic talent as a hobby, but subtly discouraged from pursuing it as a career—often by family members who equate responsibility with financial stability rather than creative risk. The conversation deepens as Steph shares how embracing a more public and evolving creative identity on social media after her divorce came at a cost—some relationships she once relied on became strained. She talks about the impact of being confined by others' expectations and the personal and artistic transformation that followed when she broke free of those constraints. Jay offers an outside perspective, highlighting Steph's resilience and her unwavering commitment to painting, regardless of external validation, as key to the growth evident in her recent work. Together, they delve into the role of environment, physical space, and community in shaping an artist's process, and why gratitude—even if it takes years to emerge—can profoundly impact both the art and the artist. This episode explores: How early encouragement in childhood can shape creative identity for a lifetime The family dynamic of celebrating art as a hobby while discouraging it as a career Reinventing yourself creatively and navigating public scrutiny after a major life event, like divorce Why true self-worth comes from knowing yourself, not from likes, followers, or external approval The influence of environment and physical space on an artist's work How to identify relationships that fuel your creativity versus those that drain it The connection between resilience, gratitude, and long-term creative growth And more! Takeaway: Creativity doesn't happen in isolation. The people in your life either nurture your creative work or hold it back—and learning to tell the difference is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Subscribe to Pickles & Pasta so you never miss an episode, and share this with someone who might be limiting their creativity to meet the expectations of others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Aug 6

    The Internet Isn't Your Therapist

    Is sharing your creative journey online an act of courage, or a cry for help? This week, Steph and Jay dig into one of the most debated questions in the creator economy: should you build in public? Steph traces her own start back to 2008, posting as an interior designer, painter, and newly single mother in a small town, years before "personal brand" was even a phrase, and talks about the early community pushback that taught her to pull back before she knew how to lean in. Jay, a self-described private person, pushes on the harder question underneath all of it: are you inspiring your audience, or are you using them as a therapy session? They get into why sharing your process isn't the same as oversharing your wounds, how the gatekeepers who used to decide which artists the world got to know are gone, and why Steph's rule for the comments section comes down to three phrases: block freely, engage genuinely, follow no one's rule book. This episode explores: The difference between authentic sharing and using social media as unprocessed therapy Steph's path from 2008 early adopter to visual artist building a brand before the term existed Why early pushback from her small-town community taught her about resilience and knowing your audience The artist's case for transparency: when someone buys the painting, they're buying a piece of the person who made it Jay's Life Magazine and Jackson Pollock parallel, and why the gatekeepers of discovery no longer hold the keys Building a personal content framework before you hit publish, so you know what's in and what's off limits Steph's philosophy on trolls and the block button, and why she believes creepy interactions have become rarer The Permission Effect: how one person's openness quietly gives everyone else around them permission to be brave Whether radical online transparency deepens human connection, or eventually pushes everyone back toward privacy Key takeaway: Pushback is part of the game. If you're not prepared for criticism, you're not ready to build in public. You can't eat ice cream all day and expect not to gain weight. Pick your lane, know your boundaries, and let your openness do the rest. Subscribe to never miss an episode of Pickles & Pasta, and share this episode with someone still deciding what they're willing to let the internet see. Pickles & Pasta is hosted by Steph and Jay presented by ephelants & Have Some Fun Today 00:00 Introduction – Is Building in Public Brave or Broken? 00:55 Steph's Early Social Media Journey (2008, Divorce, Small Town) 05:05 Getting Pushback for Being Ahead of the Curve 06:30 Don't Pull Back Due to the Pushback 07:30 Being Brave vs. Using Social Media as Therapy 09:49 Think Before You Post 11:10 Sharing Your Work as an Artist – Building a Personal Brand 19:53 Social Media Changed Everything for Artists 22:10 Setting Boundaries on What You Share 26:13 If You Want to Grow, You Have to Think It Through 28:21 Advice for Getting Started as an Influencer/Content Creator 33:20 Engaging with Your Audience & Handling Creepy Comments 42:35 Forming Real Bonds Through Online Openness 45:35 Accepting People Who Think Differently 43:06 Wrap-Up – Think Before You Post, Be Authentic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Jul 30

    Every Path Not Taken Still Shaped You

    What happens to the version of you that never became reality? This week, Steph and Jay dig into a question most people avoid asking themselves: do you honor the person you used to want to be, or do you secretly resent them? Steph traces her path from advertising at Penn State to fashion design at Parsons to interior design and eventually to Have Some Fun Today, and makes the case that her core identity as a designer never actually changed, only its form did. Jay talks through his near career as a professional tennis player and the nightclub he almost opened before the funding fell through, and explains why neither path left him with any real regret. They get into the difference between regret and reflection, why creative energy is a finite resource worth protecting, and why the same piece of advice can bounce off you one year and land completely the next. Steph shares where she is six months into a self-imposed two-year plan to build a new body of work, and what it took to trust that timeline instead of rushing it. This episode explores: What it really means when a dream, career, or identity does not pan out the way you planned Steph's path from advertising to fashion design to art, and why the throughline never broke Jay's near career in professional tennis and why he has zero regrets The nightclub deal that fell apart in one conversation Why creative identity does not have to stay fixed to stay intact The difference between regret and analysis, and using the past as data instead of a wound Why the timing of advice matters as much as the advice itself Jay's ongoing tension between building custom tools and using what already exists Protecting finite creative energy while developing new work Trusting a two-year timeline instead of chasing faster, more visible output Key takeaway: The version of you that didn't make it was not a failure. It was a contributor. Every path you left, sprinkled a little magic into who you are now. Subscribe to never miss an episode of Pickles & Pasta, and share this episode with someone still figuring out what to do with the dream they let go of. Pickles & Pasta is hosted by Steph and Jay presented by ephelants & Have Some Fun Today 00:00 – Intro: The Version of You That Didn't Make It 01:30 – Do You Honor or Resent Who You Used to Be? 07:00 – Steph's Journey: From Advertising to Fashion to Design 12:00 – Not Getting "Permission" to Be an Artist 18:00 – What If the Brand Had Taken Off? (CEO vs. Creative) 24:00 – Jay's Athletic Dream & the Nightlife Path Not Taken 30:00 – Learning from Every Business & No Regrets 35:00 – Setting Timelines & Giving Yourself Grace 38:00 – Resisting Advice & Knowing When to Listen 40:30 – Closing: Letting Dreams Sprinkle Magic Into Your Journey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Pickles & Pasta, a podcast about living creatively, loving boldly, and staying grounded in a world that often feels anything but.Steph and Jay met (or as Jay says “reconnected”) just before the pandemic and have been building a life, and a creative partnership, ever since. Together, they live, work, and support each other’s ventures while navigating the messy, beautiful chaos of modern life.No agendas. No sides. Just real conversations,sometimes deep, sometimes hilarious, always honest. This is their space to talk about creativity, connection, relationships, and everything in between. Pull up a chair. Let’s dig in. About StephStephanie Rado Taormina is the CEO and founder of Have Some Fun Today, a lifestyle brand inspired by her late father's mantra to live boldly and joyfully. With over 25 years of experience in branding, fashion, interiors, and entrepreneurship, she brings a sharp creative vision to everything she touches. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Stephanie has reignited her fine art career since 2021, creating emotionally driven abstract work and building a growing marketplace for contemporary art. While integrating her artistic voice into the evolution of HSFT, she also maintains an independent studio practice focused on exhibitions, fine art prints, and creative collaborations. As co-host of the podcast Pickles & Pasta with Steph & Jay, she brings thoughtful, unscripted insight to conversations about creativity, culture, and navigating modern life. About Jay Jay Schweid is a native New Yorker, creative entrepreneur, and cultural shapeshifter with a career that’s anything but conventional. From launching JCS, a bespoke racket service trusted by tennis icons like McEnroe and Agassi, to co-founding The Spot—a legendary South Beach lounge with Mickey Rourke, Jay has always lived at the intersection of bold ideas and real-world impact. He went on to create high-touch concierge and event services for celebrity and HNWI clients, and in 2012, launched ephelants, a media company focused on streamlining film and commercial production. Built to challenge industry inefficiencies, ephelants fuses creativity with technology to empower storytellers at every level. Now, Jay is building Village, a visionary entertainment platform that will revolutionize how projects move from concept to distribution. By bringing together creators, fans, and investors,Village is designed to democratize the entire entertainment ecosystem and give everyone a seat at the table. On Pickles & Pasta, Jay brings sharp insight, unapologetic creativity, and a relentless curiosity for what’s next.

Information

  • Creator
    Stephanie Rado Taormina & Jay Schweid
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay