Lunch Break

Jalil Johnson

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SOCIETY & CULTURE
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A podcast where you’re not just a listener, but part of a lively conversation among friends. It's authentic, engaging, and the only thing better than the dialogue is the delicious lunches that accompany it! consideryourselfcultured.substack.com

10/06/2024

The season that was: Recapping SS25 with Alexandra Hildreth

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1h 5m
09/17/2024

Lunch Break with Noah Rinsky at Zabar's

In a way, Old Jewish Men brought me back to Judaism. I first came across it when I saw Liana Satenstein post an Instagram story promoting a “Speed Schmoozing” event. Knowing she’d be there, along with the chance to engage in one of my favorite activities—meeting new people—I decided to buy a ticket. On the day of the event, I had no idea what to wear, so I threw on an Alaïa skater dress that I’d bought and resold about three times. After seeing a picture of myself in it recently, I thought, "Maybe I should buy it again?" But that’s beside the point. At the event, I met Rabbi Matt Green, who would eventually become the rabbi I converted with, and the rest is history. I’ve since attended several OJM events, including one that was even covered by The New York Times. (Unfortunately, that was also the party where my vintage white leather Dior gloves were tragically ruined by cotton candy.) What I’ve noticed at these gatherings is a lively mix: a gaggle of old-timers, some of whom have been featured on the OJM account, and a wave of younger Jewish folks seeking new ways to connect—not just with people their own age or slightly older, but with their faith as well as the broader community, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. When I sat down with Noah Rinsky, I shared a shorter version of this story. Over the course of our conversation, I learned so much about the Old Jewish Men universe and its quirky cast of characters: Dave, whose wife emailed Noah because she thought her husband needed something to do; Aaron, who responded to a Craigslist ad in 2021 and has stuck around ever since; and the latest addition, Bob, known for his love of Hermès ties. Noah started the account in 2015 under the name dadaroundthehouse, chronicling the antics of his father. Later, the account evolved into Old Jewish Men, and it has since grown into a thriving business. Along with social media, they now have a website selling clever merchandise that reflects the humor of the account—and recently, they’ve added a book to the mix. The Old Jewish Men’s Guide to Eating, Sleeping, and Futzing Around is a comprehensive handbook, written by Noah and illustrated by Dick Carroll, that humorously covers everything you need to know to consider yourself an OJM. I had the pleasure of chatting with Noah about the book and more, and where better to do it than over bagels (or in Noah’s case, a bialy) at the counter of Zabar’s? Jalil Johnson (00:00): So, thank you so much, Noah, for joining me. Can you introduce yourself and tell everyone who you are, what you're doing, and what you do? Noah Rinsky (00:08): Why I'm here? JJ (00:09): And why you're here? NR (00:11): My name's Noah Rinsky. I am the curator of an Instagram account called Old Jewish Men, and I wrote a book called The Old Jewish Men's Guide to Eating, Sleeping, and Futzing Around. JJ (00:24): Yes. NR (00:25): So, Jalil was nice enough to have me on his podcast to chat about the book and probably ask me other questions. JJ (00:32): Yes, I'm very excited. I'm just taking out the book right now. It was really a fun read. It was really fun. And I think... NR (00:40): You read it straight through? JJ (00:41): I did. NR (00:41): Wow. JJ (00:42): I kind of... NR (00:43): Sure. I mean, if you read it straight through, great. But it's a toilet book. JJ (00:49): There are a lot of lessons in there. There's a lot that I want to talk about with the book, but I guess the natural start would be to ask you about Old Jewish Men. I kind of know about where it is, but just to give a synopsis to everyone that might not know Old Jewish Men and where the origins of it are. NR (01:07): Wait, what's that? JJ (01:08): I guess to give context to people that are not necessarily familiar with Old Jewish Men, what made you start it? When did it start? NR (01:17): Oh, the account and stuff? Yeah, sure. So, the origin is, I was visiting my parents in the great state of Israel, Tel Aviv. I'm not Israeli—my parents retired there about 12 years ago. Anyway, my dad was trying to get some exercise and was downstairs in our basement kicking this cardboard box. I just started recording him and thought it was funny, so I made an account called Dad Around the House. I posted the video of him kicking the box, and a couple of other things—him napping and stuff. These were the early days of Instagram, but I still had people being like, "Whoa, what is this?" (02:10): When I got back to New York, I was living on the Lower East Side with my brother on East Broadway. I just changed the account to Old Jewish Men because that seemed to be what people were thirsty for—not just my dad, but guys like my dad. I was living at that point in the epicenter of Old Jewish Men country in lower Manhattan. Yes. I would have to ask somebody who still lives there if it really still exists like it did, like the old Jewish men in that neighborhood, East River people. It's the other side of Dime Square. JJ (02:48): Yeah. Yes. Is there still a high population of Jewish people there? NR (02:54): Yeah, if they didn't die out. It was a really old community even when I was there. We were going to shul and stuff, and yeah, it was a really elderly community. JJ (03:05): Were you born and raised in New York? NR (03:06): I'm not, actually. I was raised in Colorado. JJ (03:09): Really? NR (03:09): Yeah. JJ (03:10): Colorado. When did you move to New York? NR (03:12): 2011. JJ (03:14): What made you want to move to New York? NR (03:16): A series of mistakes, I'd say. JJ (03:19): Do you want to talk about those mistakes? NR (03:21): No, I don't have any big plans to move here or anything. My brother was already living here. He invited me to come share this studio apartment with him, and I didn’t have a whole lot else going on, so I moved here kind of on a whim. I’d seen a lot of—well, we don’t have to keep talking about Woody Allen movies. I’d seen enough Woody Allen to want to move to New York or be intrigued by it. JJ (03:47): What do you think are the qualities of an old Jewish man? I guess this naturally leads into the book, because I think the book lays out a more analytical way. But just the heavy hitters—five points—what are the qualities you need to be an old Jewish man? NR (04:09): Well, nothing's ever good enough, except what you're saying in that moment. You’ve got to know how to tell a story, and you don't really care. It's not even that you don't care who's listening; you're going to tell the story no matter what. I think being an old Jewish man means you don’t even care enough to try to read the room. What’s the point? You’ve got something to say. Old Jewish men are going to interrupt you, talk over you. If they don’t think you're listening, they're just going to talk louder. They're not going to change course. They don’t negotiate—it’s their way or the highway. They prioritize comfort. Comfort is a huge, huge thing. I think comfort is something that really powers that... definitely powers me. But you're always kind of fighting against comfort too, because my dad used to say, "Make the decision absent of fear. Do the thing you’re going to do. Try not to let fear enter the calculation." Dave, the guy that's kind of the mascot of Old Jewish Men... JJ (05:21): Yes. How did you meet Dave? NR (05:22): Dave? His wife actually emailed me. We were doing a lot of stuff in the New York Post, and I think Dave’s wife saw it, caught wind of it, and she emailed me and said, "My husband just sits around all day watching baseball. You should get him involved." Take my husband, essentially. But Dave... he's very zen. It's weird. Then he'll say stuff to me. I was hanging out with Eli the other day, our intern, and he said to us, "I usually don't fall asleep until three in the morning. I'm always worried." I said, "Worried about what? It doesn't seem like you worry about anything." But I think he’s just sort of—everyone's got their things, anyways. JJ (06:12): Are you worried about anything? NR (06:14): Everything. JJ (06:14): Everything. NR (06:15): Everything. JJ (06:16): What are you excited about? Let’s make it positive. What are you excited about? NR (06:19): Well, the other thing about old Jewish men is the hypochondria. Which is classic. You're not an old Jewish man unless you're a hypochondriac. JJ (06:29): That’s very true. NR (06:31): Or at least, not even hypochondria—you just have to get off on talking about it. It’s like a pills-on-the-table sort of mentality. JJ (06:38): Yes. NR (06:39): You put your pills on the table and let people know what's wrong with you. JJ (06:41): Yes. NR (06:42): And you don't care about talking about the kidney stone that you passed 20 minutes ago or whatever. JJ (06:47): Well, that's funny you said that. I was talking to Larry Schlossman, who was a guest on Lunch Break, and I talked about Judaism. What I really love about it is that there is that acknowledgement of the reality of life. It’s not afraid of the bittersweetness of life. And I think that’s very much that "pills-on-the-table" vibe—like, why hide it? This is what's happening in real life, and we're going to talk about it. And I think that also fights against the fear in a way. NR (07:19): Yeah, I think that's true. JJ (07:21): Yes. NR (07:22): And there’s really... there's that chapter in the book about the archetype that’s "possibly Gentile." JJ (07:28): Yes. NR (07:29): And to me, it's such a gentile characteristic to pretend like this isn't happening. JJ (07:34): You’re like, a W.A.S.P.? NR (07:35): If you’re not discussing the thing that’s happening, you’re not really living. I think... why are we both sitting here pretending that you’re not 400 pounds? You know what I mean? JJ (07:47): I’m currently not 400 pounds. NR (07:52): Why is this not a thing? You know what I mean? I think that old Jewish men are willing... it’s like Kramer in Seinfeld. He’d be like, "Well,

53 min
09/07/2024

Lunch Break with Daphne Seybold at Thai Diner.

During my first season at Saks, Vogue released an article titled “Fashion Week’s Coolest Street Style Stars are Behind-the-Scenes.” That piece marked the first time I laid eyes on Daphne Seybold. Although I had previously met her virtually while interning at V Magazine, and even made several trips to the Comme des Garçons office for pickups and drop-offs, I never managed to catch a glimpse of her in person. But there she was in the Vogue article, wearing what I can only assume was one of her many Comme des Garçons pieces. With one hand tucked casually in her pocket and the other tousling her hair, she exuded a serene aura, no doubt influenced by her idyllic surroundings. One line from the piece that truly captivated me was her description of her signature style: "Katherine Hepburn à la Comme des Garçons. Oversized, layered, and easy, with vintage jewels from my mama, and always a flat: slippers, brogues, or creepers." The phrase 'Katherine Hepburn à la Comme des Garçons' immediately captivated me—how could I resist? I rarely use this word, but in this case, it's the only one that fits: chic. So, when I had the opportunity to sit down with Daphne to discuss her current role at Sky High Farm Universe and her 14-year tenure at Comme des Garçons, I knew I would walk away feeling even more inspired and enriched. After leaving CDG in 2022, Daphne transitioned to Sky High Farm Universe as their Co-CEO and also serves as co-founder and CMO. In our conversation, we delved into her remarkable career at CDG, including the all-important question: what does one wear when meeting Rei Kawakubo for the first time? And perhaps even more critically, how does one leave a lasting impression. As is my usual style, I won’t delve too deeply into my guest’s background here—I encourage you, dear reader, to listen to the episode or read the transcript for the full experience. Sky High Farm’s mission is incredibly close to my heart, and I find Daphne to be so intelligent and insightful that it would be a disservice not to make this episode accessible to as many people as possible. (After listening to this episode, I highly recommend going back to my conversation with Danielle DuBois of Sakara Life, where we also explore important topics about the food landscape.) On a side note, as i mentioned yesterday I’ve extended the discount promotion through tomorrow. So if you enjoy listening to or reading these full-length interviews and don’t want to miss a single moment, consider becoming a paid subscriber. One more thing before we dive into Daphne’s episode: Sky High Farm Universe just launched their F/W '24 collection, co-created with Jen Brill of Homme Girls, and they’ve also released an all-purpose tallow balm that is simply divine! I’ve been obsessively rubbing it into my hands, and it’s an absolute must-have. Jalil Johnson (00:00:00): Alrighty. Daphne, would you please introduce yourself and what you do? Daphne Seybold (00:00:07): Okay. I'm Daphne Seybold. I am the co-founder, co-CEO, and the CMO. We're a startup called Sky High Farm Universe, which is a brand that we built to generate advocacy and revenue for the food equity work of the nonprofit Sky High Farm, which is a farm that's based in the Hudson Valley. JJ (00:00:29): Amazing. So the first time I met you—and we didn't even really meet, it was over email—was when I was still assisting in the styling world, and you were at Comme. So it was probably when I was assisting Scott Shapiro when he was at V Magazine. That was my first encounter with you, and I think the first time I actually got to meet you in person was via Sidney Munch, who I used to work with as well when she was in the styling world as well. And so it's been really amazing to see the growth of Sky High Farm; it has been really fantastic. And so before we get into Sky High Farm and what you're doing right now, I would just love to know where you came from, what brought you here, and what were you doing before Sky High Farm? DS (00:01:16): So I consider myself to have a pretty intersectional identity. I was born in Canada, grew up in Hong Kong, was educated at British schools in Hong Kong, then went to UCLA for undergrad, and then eventually moved to New York because it was always my dream. Just having lived in all of these different places, it's really informed, I think, not only my identity but hopefully my ability to empathize with people of all different stripes wherever I go. I want to be in places that are densely populated, surrounded by people that are different from me, but also eat different food, look different, dress differently. And so eventually, when I moved to New York, which was, I think, 2005, I thought I wanted to be a fashion journalist. At the time, I was really inspired by Cathy Horn, and I just loved the sort of frankness of her delivery. I thought, okay, maybe I should—I had an English degree—and I was like, maybe I should try to get my start out there. So I moved. JJ (00:02:31): Were you writing when you were in school? Were you writing fashion critiques or...? DS (00:02:35): No, I was just reading. And most of our friends and peers in fashion, I devoured magazines. And growing up in Hong Kong, it wasn't always clear what would get imported, but also you’d get the latest issue of Vogue or Self Service or whatever months and months later. They'd come out when the next issue was hitting over here in Europe. So I really kind of clung to what I saw in those issues, and they really kind of informed me of what the industry could look like or what kind of role I could have in it. When I came out here, I decided that in order to convincingly write about fashion, I needed to go to school to learn how clothes were made. And so I did a degree at Parsons—a Fashion Design degree—just to understand construction and hopefully some of the history. And during that time I interned like crazy. I think my first internship was at Mayle, which is Jane Mayle's brand, but I also interned at Alexander McQueen. I did a wholesale internship there, I did a knitwear internship at TSE, I did a brief internship at V Magazine, and I interned at Comme des Garçons. (00:04:05): I made it sort of my business to try to understand every facet of the industry because I don't really think you can figure out what you don't want to do without having actually tried it. So it's funny because a lot of those experiences were formative, and they ended up bleeding over into the job that I would take on at CDG, which at the time I sort of landed there as an intern in the press department, and it was only a press department of one in the U.S. We were still communicating with faxes. It was crazy. JJ (00:04:37): Oh, in 2005 or what year? DS (00:04:40): 2007. Shop my At Present Edit JJ (00:04:44): Wow. But I think that's another interesting thing too, in terms of during the internships and terms are very important. And it's also funny that you interned at V because I was at V as well, but when you were interning, were you also working another job, or how were you able to intern? Because I think that's another thing people often think about. I have questions about, it's like, okay, you're interning. And especially, I think pre-2000—I don't know when the lawsuit happened—a lot of interns weren't paid. You’re just really just unpaid labor. DS (00:05:18): That all happened, that stuff at Harper's Bazaar and elsewhere, happened when I was at CDG. And I'd been there for a long time. It's interesting because I actually interned while I was at school because I knew immediately when I graduated that I had to get a job because I was Canadian. And so I really kind of hustled and did as much as I could and then very quickly realized that it was actually going to be much harder than I had expected. And I remember this acutely. I was sitting in Parsons at their computer lab, and I applied to Vanity Fair thinking, okay, now's the time for me to really start building those journalistic credits. And I ended up getting an email from the then fashion director, Alexis Bryan Morgan, and she calls me in, she's like, listen, I know you applied for an internship, but you could in theory become our new fashion assistant. I was so excited I even contemplated dropping out of Parsons to do that. I was like, when is this going to drop in my lap? I knew how competitive it was. Those jobs open up only when someone actively decides to leave. (00:06:37): No joke. The first question I was asked when I sat down was, you are a Canadian citizen, right? An American citizen? And I was like, actually, I'm not. JJ (00:06:48): Oh no. DS (00:06:49): And it's no knock on them, but I realized right then that despite being qualified, there was a bit of an uphill battle then. So I really spent a lot of time trying to prove my worth in these internships so that they could then hopefully take the leap on someone who I sort of had to prove that there was more value add than just a person that already lived and worked here. JJ (00:07:16): Because they would've had to pay for you to... DS (00:07:21): They would have to sponsor me. JJ (00:07:23): Sponsor you. That's what—so Vanity Fair, so I'm guessing it didn't happen? DS (00:07:28): No. So I finished my degree, and then I went to intern at CDG, and my predecessor left, and they said to me—and I remember I'd been kind of interning there for an extended period of time—they said, do you want her job? Which they referred to everyone as the head of. So I went from being an intern to being the head of the US PR effort very quickly. JJ (00:07:54): Wait, that's because of the size of the team at the very, yeah. DS (00:07:57): They're headquartered in Tokyo, headquarters in Paris, but Europe was very much a satellite, and so they only had one person doing the entire US market. JJ (00:08:10): Wow. And then also too, so going back briefly when you were in Hong Kong and you were getting those

1h 14m
08/29/2024

Lunch Break with Marc Bridge at Le Gratin

Long-time readers know that I've been working with At Present since May and that I was named their Stylist in Residence back in June! It has been an absolute joy working with the team, but more than that, it’s been a real pleasure getting to know them personally. I’ve learned so much—not just about the world of jewelry, but also about the art of creating something meaningful as a team. I’m thrilled about a special project we've been working on, which will debut soon. I’ll share more details during fashion week, so be sure to stay tuned! As a bit of a teaser for what's to come, I had the opportunity to sit down with Marc Bridge, the founder of At Present, to talk all things jewelry! As you'll discover in our interview, jewelry truly runs in his veins; it's something he lives and breathes. His passion for the industry is evident in the way he discusses what’s exciting him in the market and what keeps him motivated in this business. We enjoyed a delightful light summer lunch at Le Gratin (I had a refreshing summer salad with a side of fries, and Marc had a fantastic chicken dish with a few vegetables to complement it.), Chef Daniel Boulud’s Bouchon Lyonnais (for those curious, a “Bouchon Lyonnais” is a type of restaurant unique to Lyon) located on the ground floor of The Beekman Hotel. If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don’t, you’re missing out!), you might remember me mentioning Le Gratin in my most recent Q&A as one of my favorite spots in the city, especially for its perfect atmosphere for a bit of gossip. The restaurant was buzzing with energy that day, but thankfully, Marc and I found a quiet corner. I’m especially happy to report that the audio quality is great (hooray!); you’ll still hear some clinks and chatter, but overall, it sounds pretty crisp. I hope you all enjoy this episode, and don’t forget to check out my August Edit for At Present! Jalil Johnson (00:00:00): Let's begin. Please introduce yourself to the audience—who you are and all that jazz. Marc Bridge (00:00:05): Yeah, my name is Marc Bridge. I am the founder of At Present. We are a marketplace for extraordinary jewelry, and we like to think of ourselves as matchmakers between the best jewelry artists in the world and people who are looking for unique things to celebrate where they are in their personal journeys. JJ (00:00:29): Fantastic. Well, thank you so much for joining me on Lunch Break. I am really excited to talk to you. We've had dinner before and exchanged emails and whatnot, but it's been quite an honor to be a part of the At Present family. This is the first big gig that I've been working on since leaving Saks. It has been such a pleasure to be a part of this, and it's taught me a lot about jewelry, so I'm excited to talk about jewelry with you, of course, and to teach the audience about it. MB (00:00:57): Few things are better to talk about than that. JJ (00:00:59): The best thing to talk about. So I know that you come from a jewelry family, so how about you just tell us about your family and where you come from in that background? MB (00:01:09): Yeah, geographically, I come from Seattle, which has been home to me and my family for about 115 or 120 years. That's a long time. And particularly out at the end of the world in Seattle, which is, in so many ways, such a new place and has transformed so many times in just the last couple of decades. My great-great-grandfather was a watchmaker who was originally from Poland and came to the United States in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in the late 19th century. He then followed the railroad out to the end of the line and ended up in Seattle in 1912. This was really a frontier town—this was the aftermath of the Klondike Gold Rush and pretty much the end of civilization. He set up a little watch shop on First Avenue in downtown Seattle in 1912. And so began a five-generation family jewelry business that I spent the first 35 years of my life working in and around. MB (00:02:22): And that business was very much the classic family jewelry business. We sold engagement rings and diamond earrings, Rolex watches, and Mikimoto pearls. I spent all of my summers and school holidays—and I think anytime my parents wanted to get me out of the house—on the floor of the jewelry store, which in the 1920s moved four blocks up the hill to the corner of Fourth and Pike, where it was until, I dunno, about a year and a half ago. Some of my earliest memories are of being thrown out onto the sales floor in an oversized suit. Nobody told me it was strange for a 14-year-old to be selling engagement rings and expensive watches, so there I was. JJ (00:03:16): In a big suit. Well, I mean, I have several questions about the clothing. First, who was the suit made by? Were you rocking a huge Armani-esque suit? MB (00:03:26): I think this was probably... JJ (00:03:28): What year was this? MB (00:03:29): So, if I was 14, this was the mid-nineties, probably right after my bar mitzvah. JJ (00:03:38): What was your bar mitzvah theme? MB (00:03:40): My bar mitzvah theme? All I remember from the theme was that we had pop-a-shots, like the game where you play with the little basketball hoop. JJ (00:03:51): Oh, like an arcade? MB (00:03:52): Yeah, exactly. JJ (00:03:53): Fantastic. MB (00:03:55): But I was thinking about that in terms of clothes because, for whatever reason, my mom was morally opposed to children dressing like adults, which is sort of funny when you get to the later part of this story. But for her, the bar mitzvah was the moment when you could get your first suit. I don't know why—maybe because I saw my dad getting dressed in a suit and tie every morning—I wanted a sport coat, and my mom was like, "Nope, that is something you get at your bar mitzvah." So I got my first blue blazer for the Friday night ceremony and my first green suit—it was sort of an olive color—and I even remember the woven tie that I wore for the Saturday morning service. JJ (00:04:42): That's quite a bold fashion choice—a green suit. MB (00:04:46): I don't remember. I assume that was not something that I picked at that point. JJ (00:04:51): Did your mom say that you needed to be in a green suit? MB (00:04:52): I imagine I was just sort of handed this when we went to the store. "This is what you're wearing." JJ (00:04:59): Oh, fantastic. Okay, a green suit. I love that. So... MB (00:05:02): I don't know. By the time I was working in the store, did I still have the green suit? Maybe. But where... JJ (00:05:07): Where is that green suit now? That's the... MB (00:05:09): Somewhere deep in the archives. It's going to be in the Marc Bridge Memorial Museum someday. My mother has tried for years to get rid of all of the things, and I don't know where she is in that process of purging, but I think the green suit has probably gone on to greener pastures by now. JJ (00:05:27): I hope it's still alive and well. MB (00:05:28): I hope somebody's enjoying it. I hope there are generations of bar mitzvah boys who have worn that same drag ball of a suit. JJ (00:05:35): It's a rite of passage. It was a suit of passage. MB (00:05:37): Exactly. So I'm trying to remember... I remember that the first thing I got really excited to buy, I found a Hugo Boss Blazer on sale. There was a Barneys store in Seattle at the time. JJ (00:05:54): RIP. MB (00:05:55): Yeah, of blessed memory. And to go in there and find something that was probably 70% off or something at the time was still way beyond what any 14-, 15-, or 16-year-old should be wearing. But I thought that was pretty cool. JJ (00:06:13): That's a big moment. Yeah. So at 14, you're in your big suit, your big green suit. Where do you go from there? MB (00:06:21): Where do I go from there in terms of the jewelry business? JJ (00:06:23): Yes, in the business. MB (00:06:25): So I spent from 14 through, I mean, really through 25, 26, sort of working in between school, graduated from high school in Seattle, went off to college in St. Louis, went to graduate school in London, spent a couple of years in London, which was fabulous. I came home and went to law school, all to do the same thing I would have done had I dropped out of high school, which was to go into the family jewelry business. And so I joined in a full-time capacity after I passed the bar in 2009 and then spent a decade as the minister without portfolio in a family jewelry business. JJ (00:07:10): Oh, I like that—a minister without portfolio. And so what made you feel like that? MB (00:07:14): Because you do all of the things that either no one knows how to do or is willing to do. And so they go, "All right, we have this problem. Who do we have to solve it? Give it to Marc." "Okay, here's this other thing. Here's this thing that we should be doing." So I was corporate secretary and corporate counsel and head of visual merchandising and head of marketing and head of e-commerce and store construction and real estate and legal and all of these bizarre things, some of which I had qualifications for, others of which I had absolutely no business doing. They throw you in, and you go, "Alright, now you're going to figure it out." So that's those sort of sink-or-swim moments, and I had a lot of fun with it. JJ (00:08:03): Then there was a moment, though, when you kind of took a step back, correct? From the business, and you went out on your own, right? Or not went out and started At Present, but you took a step back to think about what you wanted to do. MB (00:08:15): Yeah. Well, the thought had always been that my sister and I would run that business when our father retired. And he came to us one day and said, "Alright, it's time." The family actually sold the business during that period to Warren Buffett, to Berkshire Hathaway. And so it was a family business in some ways, and in other ways, it was not. And Dad said, "Alright, put your business plan together. We're going to go to Omaha to see Uncle Warren and effec

1h 2m
08/15/2024

Lunch Break with Danielle DuBoise at La Mercerie

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit consideryourselfcultured.substack.com Hello! In today’s episode of Lunch Break, my podcast where I chat with fascinating and stylish individuals over lunch, we've got another exciting conversation for you. As a paying subscriber, you’ll have access to the full interview along with today’s complete newsletter. To ensure you never miss a moment of Lunch Break, consider upgrading to a paid subscription. This not only unlocks full-length episodes but also gives you access to exclusive letters and the entire newsletter archive. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Danielle DuBoise, co-founder of Sakara Life, which she started with her friend Whitney Tingle back in 2011. Before our interview, I had the privilege of trying out their meal delivery service. It’s a treat to have someone else do the cooking, but what really stood out to me was how the meals made me feel—this might sound odd—but I didn’t feel bad. We all know food is essential, but for many of us, eating can sometimes feel more like a burden. Danielle and Whitney’s goal with Sakara Life is to remove the guilt associated with eating. Instead of focusing on cutting portion sizes, they emphasize the quality of ingredients, ensuring every meal is packed with healthy, whole foods. Beyond just meals, they offer a variety of supplements, and they've recently introduced a Fiber Powder (which I absolutely love!) to address what Danielle calls a “fiber epidemic.” It was a pleasure to sit down with Danielle over a meal to discuss her journey, the launch of the fiber supplement, and more! You can find Danielle DuBoise here and you can check out Sakara Life here.

34 min
08/01/2024

Lunch Break with Kate Hundley at Cafe Sabarsky [Preview]

Hello! Welcome to the free preview of today’s episode of Lunch Break. If you're a paying subscriber, you should have received an additional email with the full episode. To ensure you never miss a moment of Lunch Break, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This not only grants you access to full-length episodes but also provides additional letters and full access to my entire newsletter archive. Today's episode of Lunch Break features the talented designer Kate Hundley. I first met Kate while I was still at Saks, and I have made it a priority to follow her latest collections ever since. She is part of a new wave of designers making a significant impact in the industry, and I am thrilled to see where her journey takes her next. Rather than giving a lengthy introduction, I'll just say this: if you're looking for a new cape, the perfect dress for a gala, or a new bag, Kate’s pre-order is still open! I've accumulated a considerable number of interviews, so instead of releasing them every other week, I'll be sharing them with you weekly from now on! And if you have a moment, please take this survey. Your feedback helps me improve the newsletter and podcast for all of you. Now, let's dive into today's episode. You can find Kate Hundley here and her website here. Jalil Johnson: Hi. Kate Hundley: Hi. JJ: Could you please introduce yourself and who you are? KH: I am Kate Hundley. I am a designer and I have my own collection, Kate Hundley. JJ: Oh, fantastic. We are at... I am going to butcher how to say this. KH: Me too, probably. It's okay. JJ: Kate, how about you try? KH: I'll give it a shot, and then please tell me when I'm wrong. Café Sabarsky at the... Someone told me it's Neue Galerie. JJ: I always thought it was The Neue (no͞o). KH: Me too. And then I got the, "Well actually, if you want to say it like..." So, either. JJ: Either, okay. KH: All right. JJ: I'm not going to attempt to say it, but it's beautiful. It's a beautiful... KH: It's incredible. JJ: ... wood- JJ: Oh, hi. That was me, thank you. Wait Staff : No, thank you. JJ: Thank you. Such a beautiful setting. There is a table full of desserts. It's really gorgeous. KH: Yeah. JJ: Usually, sometimes what happens when I'm having guests on, I sometimes pick the restaurant or sometimes the guest picks the restaurant. In this case, you decided on the restaurant. KH: Yes. JJ: I'm very curious, what was it about this restaurant that... KH: Total voyeuristic interest of, we've walked past a hundred times, it looks so beautiful. It's a really special place. Like going to The Met, you are escaping on your way out and you walk past it and one day you're like, "Oh, we got to go there." And we just never make it. So, here we are with you. JJ: I'm so excited. Well, thank you for having me. KH: Yeah. JJ: You're a designer. I'll also tell the audience how we first met, because there's also been a transition from when I first met you to now, in terms of your collection. When I first met you, it was The Beekman Hotel. KH: Yeah. JJ: I think it was 2022. KH: I think so. JJ: The collection was very... It made me think of Nudie suits. KH: Yeah. That was very much part of that season, yeah. JJ: It was very rhinestone-cowboy, which we love. KH: Yes. JJ: But now it's taken on a very cosmopolitan look and feel. KH: Yeah. JJ: My first question is, (A.) What made you want to start this brand? And then I definitely want to talk about also this transition and where you see the progression of the brand going. KH: Yeah. JJ: My first question is, (A.) What made you want to start this brand? And then I definitely want to talk about also this transition and where you see the progression of the brand going. KH: Sure. My background is in a bit of both apparel and accessories. I went to SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design, and did fashion, started doing accessories, and then built more of an interest as time went on. As soon as I left, I interned at Zac Posen for a summer, which was incredible. JJ: Amazing. KH: And to see that level of workmanship, I got to work in the atelier, I was working with the pattern maker, it was insane. Working with the sample makers was such a good experience. And then I got more into accessories and I went to Coach. So, I had these balanced ends of what the industry can be. Going from the atelier, the super high level of craft to a bit more commercial but a bit more real in terms of what people are wearing and getting that leather experience. But interestingly, we still had an atelier in the building, we had a workshop, so you still got to be hands-on with these people who've been making stuff for decades, who are passionate about getting the thickness of the leather just right, getting a stitch just right. It's a really special, unique experience to have in New York. And there's less of that now, but it definitely influenced wanting to create that in the future, keeping those kinds of crafts alive, keeping those jobs and those people's livelihoods alive, and the practice of doing that hands-on here. I was at Coach for a few years and then I went over to Ralph Lauren, also doing bags. And at some point, I just really missed beautiful clothes, honestly, selfishly. And I love making things, so I started making things on my own time, making what I wanted, what I felt like was missing. That's where the collection has started. But then, to your point of evolving from the Nudie stuff, it became a bit more of wearing the collection myself out in the world, what am I actually reaching for? And I love that crazy stuff as almost that special, one piece, but then it gets a bit tricky to wear it in real life. JJ: Yeah. KH: An interesting evolution. I think that stuff will come back at some point in little drips, but maybe not so full on. JJ: Are you originally from the South? KH: Yeah, I'm from Memphis originally. JJ: Oh, amaz...... KH: But we moved around and I lost the accent. I kind of wish I still had it. When I talk to my mom on the phone, it comes back. JJ: Oh, yeah. I- KH: It's buried in there, somewhere. JJ: It just needs a family member to bring it out of you. KH: Yeah, some drinks. JJ: Some of that too. I'm from the south. I'm from Virginia. KH: Yes. JJ: And I feel like I have done a great job of not having an accent. KH: Oh, my gosh. JJ: But in your same vein, when I talk to family, it comes out. KH: Yes. JJ: Which is quite amazing. KH: Yeah. JJ: From there you're now designing a collection. KH: Yes. JJ: Especially in the time that we're in, how does it feel to be putting pieces in the world? KH: It's exciting, it's terrifying, but it's really gratifying. JJ: What's terrifying you? KH: Oh, my God. Department stores are in flux. Everyone's like, "Are we on fire?" The world, global war, there's so many things. But I think at the end of the day, we're all seeking beauty and seeking things that make us feel more like ourselves, and how to project what we want for our lives and our future on ourselves every day into the world. JJ: My question to that is, as a young, emerging designer, do you still feel that the department stores are important to your growth? Where does that feel? KH: It's important in terms of discovery, especially when... You meet people in New York and you find people to support you in this space, but stepping out of New York, I think it's still a great way for people to find you. I'm hoping that we are headed towards something that's a bit more cultivated and personal for the clients to find things. We're missing that point of view. When I first moved to New York, Barneys was it. And you knew that if you went there, you were going to find something so interesting and so new, and you might learn something about yourself from it, of like, "Oh, my God. I can't believe I love this. Why do I like this?" It could send you on a discovery. But I haven't felt that way at the minute. There are some smaller stores that are doing that, which is really exciting. Like ESSX, I feel is doing that. JJ: Yeah, for sure. With the Barneys of it all, I feel like I have to ask you, what was your first buy at Barneys? What was the first thing you bought? KH: Oh, my gosh. I bought this Yves Saint Laurent ring. I love a big cocktail ring. JJ: Oh, I love a cocktail ring. KH: I think that's the Tennessee of it all, potentially. My mom used to sell antique jewelry. JJ: Oh, man. KH: She would drag me to all these flea markets and estate sales and just dig through piles of treasure. I have a little soft spot for a dirty flea market and some jewelry. JJ: You design jewelry, right? Have you designed? KH: A little bit. We've made some pieces for seasons, but I haven't really looked at making it for real for people to buy. But I want to, absolutely. JJ: Oh, that's amazing. I'm so into jewelry right now. KH: Yes, and you have excellent taste in jewelry. JJ: Oh, thank you. Thank you. I try. I am obsessed with jewelry. It's my favorite thing right now. Because I feel like it can add such character to an outfit. KH: Yes, and it becomes this little trail of where you've been... JJ: Yes. KH: ... of the things that you've collected at some point. Did that mean something? It's a gift. It becomes a little history. JJ: Going back to the collections, I would love to talk about the last collection that you did. It was really beautiful and as always- KH: Thank you. JJ: ... an inspiration. It was really fantastic. What's the inspiration behind that? Also, as a designer with inspiration at your... Where do you go? I mean, you don't have to gatekeep where you're going. KH: I'm definitely a homebody, so the starting point is typically Pinterest, and then we go to the Met or we go to the gallery. JJ: That's amazing. Was that the inspiration for the last collection? What- KH: This last collection, Peggy Guggenheim was the starting point. …………………… JJ: Yes. I should have asked this question at the top of the podcast, but there is this question that I am taking from Plum Sykes.

35 min
07/25/2024

Lunch Break with Larry Schlossman at Gemma [FREE PREVIEW]

Hello! Welcome to the free preview of today’s episode of Lunch Break. If you're a paying subscriber, you should have received an additional email with the full episode. To ensure you never miss a moment of Lunch Break, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This not only grants you access to full-length episodes but also provides additional letters and full access to my entire newsletter archive. When it comes to men's fashion, Lawrence Schlossman is undeniably one of the leading voices. He co-hosts the podcast Throwing Fits with his partner-in-fits James Harris , which has become a significant part of the podcast zeitgeist and has transformed how many men think about fashion and how they dress. I first discovered the duo during the pandemic when I had exhausted all my favorite music and rewatched my favorite shows to the nth degree, needing something new to fill the silence of lockdown. Initially, I was taken aback by their language and the somewhat crass way they discussed not only fashion but…well everything. However, despite that, their sincerity in appreciating the medium of fashion was evident. Throwing Fits is not the duo’s first venture into a fashion show. Back when they were both working for Complex, they achieved early success with Fashion Bros, which has the look and feel of an SNL skit. Needless to say, their humorous style is not new—it’s authentically them! So, when I was coming up with the list of people I wanted to interview, Larry was at the top. We had attended an event together and shared similar feelings about the industry, which I thought would be interesting to discuss. I must admit, I do love a bit of chaotic energy from time to time as well! We cover a lot of ground in this conversation. We talk about how we met at the J.Crew holiday party and how BFA did us quite dirty (if you scroll through the transcription, I have linked the photo). We discuss the state of fashion and my former workplace, Saks. I should mention that Saks provided me with probably the best education I could have received in fashion. I honestly think that if you’re interested in working in capital “F” fashion, a stint in the retail space is invaluable as it brings a real sense of reality to the whole situation. Additionally, near the end of the podcast, there is some criticism in regards to my former workplace. I think it is important to say that whenever my former employer is brought up, it’s about the institution, not individuals. Without further ado, here is my interview with the Jawn Legend himself at Gemma! You can follow Larry on Instagram here and listen to Throwing Fits here. *Disclaimer: Strong language is used in this episode.* JJ: So to I guess set the stage for everyone too, the first time I met you was at the J. Crew holiday party. LS: Oh, shit. I was f*****g hammered. JJ: Yes. LS: The worst photo that has ever been taken of me ever was with you. JJ: Yes. Which I was... LS: And what's her name? JJ: Tchesmeni. LS: Right. Who knows my wife. JJ: Yes. LS: But yes. Yes, that was, what a bad first impression. I guess it's not so bad that we still like each other. JJ: No, I thought it was fantastic. LS: Dude, it's so bad. JJ: I know. LS: It became like a running joke on the podcast. And for, you probably don't know this, or maybe you do know this, it's a BFA image, right? JJ: Yes. I know James bought it. LS: James bought it and gifted it to me. And I think I had it for a while. And then I will admit that it was eventually thrown out. JJ: That was my perspective, where is the photo? LS: Well, yeah, it was in the tubing, whatever, the shipping tube, and it was just in my office. I just accumulate and accumulate. And then I think I was like, my wife probably had forced me to do some type of inventory or spring-cleaning, whatever. And I was like, what is this? And I pulled it out and I was just so viscerally appalled. I literally, not only am I with two beautiful people, melanin rich people, I look so drunk, and so pale, and so sloppy and disgusting, that I was like, it just needs to be destroyed. But I mean, it lives forever on the BFA website. JJ: Yes. LS: It's attached to my name. JJ: Yes. Which I wonder if BFA on purpose, they take very bad... This sounds terrible, I probably should not be like... LS: I mean, I don't give a f**k if you want to shit on BFA, go off. JJ: Because I feel like there are several photos of me on there where I'm just like, why would they put this? I look terrible. LS: Harsh lighting, a lot of these parties where it's dark. That was at the Odeon, right? JJ: Yes. LS: So it's like the flash is going to be flashing, and if you get caught in the cross-hairs, you could look like shit. ………………………………………………………. LS: So the picture is destroyed. Confirmed. JJ: It's destroyed. LS: It's gone, dude. JJ: Okay. LS: I understand the idea of framing it as a bit and keeping it around. I'm so repulsed by it, and it's not even a thing where I think anyone who would see that picture would be repulsed. JJ: Yeah. I... LS: You guys look good, I just look like such dog shit. JJ: In preparation for this, I went back through all those photos. LS: There's like two of them, I think, and the worst one is the one that was gifted. JJ: Yes. I think there was actually three, if I'm not mistaken. LS: It's a lot lesser of evils thing, to be honest. None of them are good. I was banged up. JJ: That was my first time meeting you in person, but I have been following you for a while. LS: Thank you. JJ: I discovered your podcast during the pandemic. The first one I listened to was your interview with Rachel Tashjian. LS: Oh, of course. The prophet. JJ: The prophet. LS: Herself. JJ: Loved it. And then, I just found it very funny. LS: Thank you. That's my goal is to be, I think, entertaining and funny, first and foremost. I don't always... Or we, I should say, don't always succeed. But when someone is, if anyone was like, this was so thoughtful, or informative, or funny, or imaginative, or funny, or entertaining, I'll take funny and entertaining all day versus anything even remotely construed as serious or whatever. JJ: Why I thought what was so refreshing about you and James's take is that I think everyone, with fashion is taking, people take it so serious. It's like, it's stuffy, it's stuffy, it's stuffy, but it's like hilarious. But I think it's sometimes ridiculous about things I have stressed over where it's like, before my job at Saks I was in styling world and stressing over, we didn't get look 21. It didn't come. Where is it? Where is it? In reality, it's just a skirt. It's just….. LS: Yeah, no one really gives a shit. JJ: But it's funny. It's actually terribly funny. But because of I think the structure around it with the capital F, everyone thinks it very, also, there's money involved, so whenever there's money involved. So needless to say, when I found your podcast, I thought it was extremely funny, entertaining, and I think you all have amazing guests. LS: We try. We book everyone ourselves. There's no booking agent. I don't know if people think that there is, but we just do it all organically. Sometimes with someone like Rachel, it's like a friend, someone we know. And if it's like a celeb, sometimes that stuff is inbound, they have someone to promote. But I don't know if people, I don't think the average person or even the average podcast listener probably thinks about the process of booking talent. JJ: I did actually. LS: But it is just, we just do it ourselves. We just had on the guy West [Wilson} from Summer House. I don't know if you're a Bravo watcher. JJ: I am, to a point. LS: Right. Well, that's my favorite show on Bravo. But that was the thing where I'm like, oh, this dude is following Throwing Fits. I'm just going to DM him and be like, would you want to come on the podcast? I don't think he knew that there would, I think he assumed he was following some meme account, which a lot of, which is fine. I'll take, beggars can't be chooses if that's how people want to follow on social or why they would follow social on content. Yeah, but anyway, it's not a fun part of the job, the logistical bookings that you have to do, at least at our cadence basically every week. With that said, we do do it all ourselves. JJ: So what goes into finding a person to bring onto the podcast? LS: I just think we like a mix. There's always a certain type of guest that over indexes and does really well in terms of true just numbers and downloads. And that is always someone that professionally, in some capacity works in men's wear. To use a political thing or political term that's like playing to the base. That is what majority of our listeners want. With that said, I personally, as someone who has to do this job for a living, and I think I can speak for James, even though I will say, let me just say this whole interview, I'm speaking for myself individually. I don't want to talk to that kind of guy every f*****g time. I already talk to those people enough as it is. So for me, I like a mix. And I'm personally somebody who has a variety of interests. I'm not saying that that makes me smart, or esoteric, or anything. I'm just like, I like men's fashion, I like music, I love film. And if I can have an opportunity at television, whatever. I would not say the arts, and I'm not going to lie to your listeners. But for me, I just would like to talk to a variety of different people and again, hopefully have some type of entertaining conversation. Obviously some pods are better than others, but I usually... If I'm agreeing to a booking, it's like, okay, do I think this person is someone who I would like to talk to? That's really that simple. Which I think is a pretty foundational bar for the art of podcasting. But yeah, for me it's like, I like to joke and I'll talk to anybody. That's not true, there's certain people that we turn down. The one thing I'll say about booking that's alw

42 min
07/11/2024

Lunch Break with Olympian Laurie Hernandez at the Mara in the Four Seasons Hotel

Welcome to Lunch Break, my exciting interview series where I chat with fascinating people over lunch! Today's episode is available to everyone, but starting with the next episode of "Lunch Break," we'll return to our regular schedule. To ensure you don't miss a single moment, consider becoming a paid subscriber. I release new episodes of this series every other week, and our next guest is a true jawns enthusiast—you won't want to miss it! 😊 If you listened to last week’s episode of “Lunch Break” (and if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!), you know that a few weekends ago, I had the honor of attending the US Olympic Gymnastic Trials in Minneapolis! The day after the trials and the team announcement, I had the pleasure of speaking with gold medalist and member of the Final Five, Laurie Hernandez. Talking to Laurie felt like chatting with an old friend, and I know we could have talked for hours (I also left the conversation fully obsessed with her mom!). Here’s a little background on Laurie before we dive into the interview: Her breakthrough came in 2016 when she made the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, known as the "Final Five." At the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she won a gold medal in the team event and a silver medal on the balance beam. That same year, she competed on and won the 23rd season of “Dancing with the Stars,” further showcasing her versatility and talent. Laurie is now channeling that same energy into her studies at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (NYU), my alma mater (Go Violets!)! She is also the author of the book “I Got This: To Gold and Beyond,” which details her journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist, the role her family plays in her life, and her advocacy for mental health and body positivity, among other topics. It was truly an honor to speak with her about the gymnastics trials, her time at NYU, and Mamma Mia! P.S: In the transcription below you will not only find pictures, but also links to items mentioned. Jalil Johnson: So with Mamma Mia! ... I guess we're just going to get started. With Mamma Mia!, I watched it on the plane- Laurie Hernandez: Well, yes. JJ: I saw it on your Instagram that you did a rendition of one of the songs with a headstand. It was- LH: Oh. Yeah. JJ: Also, I have not seen Mamma Mia! in years, and I literally was crying on the plane. LH: Oh. That movie. Every time I hear Meryl Streep sing “Slipping Through My Fingers,” immediately, the instinct to call my mom and be like, "Mom, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be grown up so fast." That movie makes me weep. JJ: I didn't realize the impact of so many of the songs, and so it's a really fantastic movie. LH: Yeah. I mean, it seems like a lot of fun, and it seems like everyone on set was having a good time. But when you actually listen to what's going on, even though the plot is ... There's a little bit of suspending your own belief for it, but that's also just theater and musicals in general. JJ: Did you watch Mom Mamma Mia! 2? LH: Heck yeah, I did. JJ: I've never seen it. How was it? LH: I personally loved it. I mean, Lily James was just phenomenal as young Meryl, but it just, I liked it. I liked it. I prefer the first one, but I did love the second one. JJ: Was the second one more of like a campy, "We're just doing it for the fans." LH: They're like, "We're going to give her some background story. We're going to give the trio a little bit of history. We'll see them as youngins," and I thought it was worth it. JJ: Oh. Fantastic. LH: Yeah. JJ: Well, before we dive any further into the Mamma Mia! lore, could you please introduce yourself and tell everyone where we are? LH: Heck yeah. Hello. My name is Laurie Hernandez. I am an Olympic gold medalist and part of the Final Five women's gymnastics team in Rio 2016. Currently, we are in Minneapolis and are at Mara. JJ: Oh. Thanks. Fantastic. Well, I'm so excited to talk with you. Last night was amazing, wasn't it? LH: Oh. Last night was just, it was thrilling, and in my head, the team that I had for Paris this year at the beginning of the week was just a complete shift come day two. But it also just goes to show the experience and the courage that it takes to show up as a team when you see your teammates getting injured and whatnot. To have a repeat team, to have four out of ... Well, at the time, the teams, it was a long story, but to have pretty much a repeat Tokyo team come on back and to hit the routines as best as they could ... Sure, there were some mistakes, but they showed up on the events that they needed to. It was really a thrilling launch. JJ: It was an amazing ... That was my first time also seeing a gymnast perform in person. LH: Oh my gosh. Yeah. Very different than TV. JJ: Very different than TV, but also, so emotional. We were sitting down, and we were all kind of crying. No. We were literally crying, actually. LH: Yeah. No. I was on air, and into my mic, I can hear my own sniffles for broadcasting. I was like oof. JJ: So for the audience, could you just describe, what does this moment mean, and how do these gymnasts feel? You were in their shoes. LH: I mean, each athlete has their own goals and aspirations for this coming games, but if we look at everyone's individual journey, we could start with Simone, recognizing her journey of not only dominating in 2016, but then also the competition that she had in Tokyo, having to pull out of team finals due to the twisties. Now, she gets to come back with those same teammates and almost have a bit of a redemption in a sense, not that she necessarily needs one, but I think a lot of her feel for coming back is that feeling of, "Let me go out there, and let me prove to myself what I can do." So that's a really fun energy and also someone who's the best in the world. JJ: Also, somewhat, she's shepherding this new group. LH: She is. Yeah. JJ: She's like your mother. LH: She is mother. She's mothering. JJ: She's mother. LH: She's serving mother. Absolutely. She is absolutely serving, and then we look at Suni Lee, who has been through two kidney issues, is currently in remission, has been working so hard, and just, at the end of the competition, sobbed into the mic, saying, "A year ago, I did not think this was going to happen for me." JJ: I broke down, and yeah. It was really- LH: Yeah. That was a lot. With Jordan Chiles being, already, teammates with Simone, I'm sure it feels really good to see someone that not only she looks up to, but she once again gets to be a part of that team with her. For Jade Carey, she had a really big mistake on individual vault finals. Not only is it exciting that she gets to go back and hopefully compete vault again, but as a part of Tokyo, she was invited onto Team USA as an individual specialist. This is her first time being a part of the team itself. So now, she gets to go ahead, and compete, and hopefully get that team medal with the squad. I have full faith they'll be able to do that, and then Hezly Rivera, new, up and coming, 16 years old, from New Jersey. This is her first Olympic Games, first World Championships, because she'd be too young to compete anytime before this year. Oh. Thanks. I just got my little... ASMR my little oat milk latte. JJ: We love all the sounds, as many sounds as you ... LH: Thanks. JJ: And so you were saying the newcomer on the block? LH: Yeah. JJ: From New Jersey. LH: She's kind of like a little puppy coming in, and it's, especially when you have four athletes who have already been to either ... well, have already been to an Olympic Games and World Championships ... All of them have, except for Hezly. I do believe that they are the best ones to walk her through the experience and to let her know, "Yes. It's scary. We've all had our first times before, and the first time for anything can be scary." But if anything, Hezly Rivera's performances these last two competitions have just shown that she can show up when it counts, and that's huge for a 16-year-old. JJ: It's amazing. It's like really, this new class of girls is really fantastic, like women. LH:Yeah. JJ: Do you get to go to Paris with them? LH: I do get to go to Paris, not with them, but with NBC Sports and the broadcasting team. I'll be doing live coverage out there, which will be so much fun. They've never done live before. It's always been prime time. So everybody gets both. We get double the amount of gymnastics everyone gets to watch. JJ: Oh. That's amazing. Well, I have two questions for Paris. The first question, selfishly, are you going to be doing any shopping? LH: Absolutely. I'm not even sure where, but the goal is to just go out there and serve, as per usual. JJ: Serve. Serve. Serve mother. LH: Serve mother. Thank you. JJ: Well, because you're also going, I think, during the best time, which is sales season, which- LH: Oh. I didn't even realize. I've never been to Paris before. I was hoping to sneak in for a competition or two back in my day. Apparently, I'm retired now, whatever that means. Me, 24 years old, retired the same year as my father. That was so Draco Malfoy of me. Sorry. Anyways. JJ: Are you a Slytherin? LH: It depends who you ask. I think I'm Gryffindor, but some people were like, "Oh. You're Hufflepuff," and I was like, "You're a silly goose." But to each their own. JJ: Do you feel like a Gryffindor? LH: I do. I think, well, I have the word brave- JJ: Did ever you ever take that test on- LH: I did, and I got almost an equal amount for all of them, but Gryffindor was my highest. JJ: Got it. LH: So I have the word brave tattooed on me, which is a little bit millennial of me, even though I'm Gen Z. But that's very Gryffindor. JJ: It is very Gryffindor. You're a leader. It makes sense. LH: Yeah. Yeah. I also think there's a lot of bravery and courage, and I'm like, I'm scared all the time, but I still do scary things anyways. So that feels very- JJ: It feels- LH: ... feels very Potter of me. JJ: So with Paris, you're going to

21 min
07/05/2024

Lunch Break with Jordon Chiles at the Lofton Hotel

Welcome to Lunch Break, my exciting interview series where I chat with fascinating people over lunch! Hello Dear Readers, for those in the USA, I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful day off, soaking up some sun and devouring some delicious food! Today’s letter is especially exciting because I had the opportunity to interview Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles just one day after she was named as a part of the the USA Women’s Olympic Artistic Gymnastics team heading to Paris! This was such a special opportunity, so this edition of Lunch Break will be available to everyone, as well as next week’s with Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez! Last weekend, I had the pleasure of joining Nike in Minneapolis for the USA Women’s Gymnastics Trials. Calling it thrilling feels like an understatement; it was exhilarating!!! Being in a stadium with over 16,000 enthusiastic fans cheering on these incredible athletes as they executed squat turns, leaps, twists, and other breathtaking feats was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I cannot thank the Nike team enough for including me in this experience (Thank you so much Lynne and Chloe!)! Witnessing these athletes, who have dedicated their lives to this moment, achieve their dreams was beyond inspiring and motivating . Additionally, I must highlight the remarkable diversity of this year’s women’s gymnastics team, which adds another layer of significance to their achievements. When the team was announced (Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera), the athletes emerged wearing their stunning new jackets. These jackets were designed in collaboration with Nike and Sami Miro, a former competitive gymnast, making this a full-circle moment. The jackets pay homage to the Greek Goddess Nike—the goddess of victory. The jacket is cropped and rendered in white silk with strong shoulders. The coloring of the jacket calls to mind marble statues, while the shoulders and the Olympic emblem on the back evoke images of Nike’s wings. And hopefully, those wings will carry these incredible athletes to victory! Shop my At Present array here! Now, I am thrilled to share my interview with Jordan Chiles, one of the extraordinary athletes aiming for gold. This will be Chiles' second time competing in the Olympics, her first being the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Her performance was buoyant and energetic, and you could feel the electricity radiating from her even from a distance. I only had a few minutes to speak with her, but we managed to discuss her performance, the bespoke jackets, and of course Beyoncé. Jalil Johnson: Hi. Jordan Chiles: Hello. JJ: Could you just start off by saying who you are and everything like that? JC: Yes, I am Jordan Chiles. I am part of the Team USA Gymnastics Team, and I am a 2021 and now 2024 Olympian. JJ: Fantastic. Well, we have to start off with last night. It was amazing. That was my first time seeing gymnasts perform in person, so it was such an honor to see you and the whole team perform. So just tell me how you're feeling about last night. JC: Honestly, I'm still on a high, y'all. This has been a crazy ride. My journey has been crazy. I've had losses within my family, with my aunt and my grandpa, and injuries that have happened. So being able to finally be in this position to say I did it and I made it and I was able to put everything aside and just be me, that's how I felt last night. Really, everything is just beyond words. This morning, I was like, "There's no way I'm going to Paris. There's just no way I'm going to Paris. I am representing Team USA in Paris." That's just crazy to say, so I'm really excited and can't wait to see how everything turns out. JJ: And you're going to Paris your way, which is really amazing. And so of course, I think we have to talk about the fashion, because you're a fashion girl. And so let's start off with the jackets, the Sami Miro jackets, which are so special. As you probably know, this is the first time they've done a custom collaboration, and there's so much meaning behind the jacket. So just tell me: What were your first reaction to the jacket? JC: Oh, my gosh. So they had told us. After we got told who was going to be on the team, they were like, "Okay, guys, you're going to go change into this outfit that we got you." And we were like, "Outfits? What do you mean?" We're not just going to walk out like, "Okay, it's fine by me." The moment that we walked in and I saw the jacket, I didn't even see the pants or the shoes; I just saw the jacket. I screamed like I was two years old. I really was just in awe. I was just so impressed. Nike, they did they thing, and I get it. I get it 100%, because me being a Nike athlete and me being in fashion is the best thing. But man, that jacket, I could have slept in it, I kid you not. I wanted to take it with me that night, but I had to wait till today. JJ: It was fantastic, and when I looked at the jacket, I saw so much in there, but of course, when my first thoughts came to Beyonce, it feels very of her, especially Renaissance. And so I was reading that you've declared that this is the I'm That Girl. That's your motto, mantra of the season. So can you just tell me: What is Beyonce to you? What does that mean to you? How does that help you show up in your performance? JC: Well, obviously, Beyonce is a queen herself, and why wouldn't you want to look up to a queen? I feel like I'm a queen half the time. I wake up, and I'm like, "Woke up flawless, okay." But having somebody who has not only gone through a lot within her life, and you've seen it with the Renaissance tour, her shows, her going through a bunch of stuff within her family and all that stuff, it's really cool to really find out what it is that person has done to become who they are. Because Beyonce, she's not just Beyonce. She made a name for herself, and that's something that my parents have always told me: "Try to make a name for yourself because it's only one you. You can try to be somebody else, but it's not going to be the exact same." So with knowing that she put effort in her life and all that stuff, I think it is something that really inspired me, and I just wanted to do the same thing. So the motto, I'm That Girl, actually came from her song. I mean, if you listen to the lyrics, it makes a lot of sense and everything like that, but I don't use it in a cocky way. I use it in an inspirational way. It's an affirmation for a lot of people, and I feel like if you have that confirmation all the time, and you can just look at yourself in the mirror and be like, "Yes, I am that girl" then you can go into your life and go into everything that you're doing and feel confident as much as you can. JJ: And I feel like I have to ask you. I won't ask you to name your favorite Beyonce era, because that's like choosing your favorite child, but can you give me your top three ranking of Beyonce eras? JC: Oh, my gosh, Beyonce eras. It's hard to choose my Beyonce eras because she did R&B so good. She doing country so good. She did pop so good. She's a rapper. At this rate, Beyonce is just Beyonce, so I can't choose. But I think besides Lemonade, besides Beyonce, besides 4, besides all those albums, I think the biggest one that really caught my eye was Cowboy Carter, because you never knew that that was a side that she wanted to embrace. And she is a country girl, and I think a lot of people take that for granted. She's from Houston. She's a Houston hottie, mixed with a cowgirl era in her. You got to let that girl be her at this rate, so Cowboy Carter definitely is an album that I'm just like, "Okay, she really changed the game and what music can be." JJ: Well, I'm running out time, but I have to wrap up this with every question I always ask guest on my podcast. My newsletter is called Consider Yourself Cultured, so I have three kind of rapid-fire questions, all about culture. Don't worry. JC: Okay, let's see. Okay, okay, okay. JJ: Who is the most cultured person you know? JC: Oh, I'm going to have to say Beyonce. JJ: No explanation needed. Beyonce. What is your latest cultural obsession? JC: Cultural obsession? Cultural obsession? I don't know. JJ: Is there anything on TikTok? JC: No, okay, I got it. I've been in this bow era, like the Coquette Bow era. Yeah, I've been in that era. Yes, I can say that. JJ: Where are you getting your bows? JC: I get my bows from Amazon, or if I see them in a store like PacSun or something like that. I got mine off of Nike, actually. JJ: Oh, fantastic, Nike. JC: Bows on Nike. JJ: Oh, we love that. And the last question is: What should everyone read, watch, and listen to, to consider themselves cultured? JC: Oh, you should watch BET. You should listen to, I think, any R&B artist or any female rapper. Sorry, I'm not coming at the men. The men are very cultured as well, but I feel like female rappers need to be recognized a little more. What was the third one? JJ: Read. JC: You should read affirmation books. JJ: Do you have any recommendations for affirmation books? JC: No, I really don't. I think honestly, every single time I go into Barnes & Noble or just a grocery store, I find just an affirmation book and kind of just read my life away. JJ: Well, thank you so much, and congratulations, and then have a fantastic time in Paris. JC: Thank you. I may earn some commission if you make a purchase through one of the links above. Follow me on Instagram here! Shop my Dora Maar closet here! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit consideryourselfcultured.substack.com/subscribe

8 min
06/27/2024

Lunch Break with Somsack Sikhounmuong at Il Buco

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit consideryourselfcultured.substack.com Welcome to Lunch Break, my exciting interview series where I chat with fascinating people over lunch! There have been some exciting developments, thanks to my discovery of new features on Substack! I'm thrilled to announce that everyone can now listen to the podcast (yes, we can officially call it a podcast now, haha!). Paid subscribers will enjoy the full interview, while free subscribers will receive a portion of it. Additionally, I’ve taken steps to enhance your experience by providing a complete transcript of each interview. Within the transcript, you'll find embedded links and photos related to the discussion. Paid subscribers will gain access to even more exclusive links and photos! By popular demand, “Lunch Break” will now arrive in your inbox every other Thursday at noon, perfectly timed for your lunch break. Now, enough with the logistics—let’s dive into today’s guest! I won't dive too much into somsack sikhounmuong ‘s background, as we explore that in-depth in today’s episode. However, I will mention that he is currently the Creative Director of Alex Mill and previously served as the Chief Design Director at J.Crew, and when he is not at work he is at the ceramic studio, and when he’s not there you can find him working on his Substack "Somstack.” Somsack is so eloquent and inquisitive, that at one point during the interview it felt as if we had switch roles of “interviewer” and “interviewee!” ( Oh, and I should mention that this interview took place on my last day at Saks, and paid subscribers will hear a bit more about that.) Somsack’s curiosity extends beyond his expertise, and I could have easily talked with him for hours but lunch breaks are only so long. Still, within that hour, I left feeling truly inspired. I hope you all enjoy the episode. Please let me know your thoughts—the response to “Lunch Break” has been fantastic, and I want to ensure it remains the best it can be. Leave your comments and DM me with suggestions for improvement and guest recommendations. (And if you or someone you know has audio expertise, please reach out—I have some questions, haha!) This interview has been edited and condensed. Jalil Johnson: Thank you so much, Somsack, for joining me. Are you ready to get started? Somsack Sikhounmoung: I'm ready, yeah. I'm all ready. Yeah. JJ :Thank you so much for joining me for lunch break. SS:Of course. JJ:So we're at il Buco. SS:Yes. JJ: Why are we at il Buco? SS: I'm a huge fan of il Buco. I guess the main restaurant is on... Are we on Bond Street or Great Jones? JJ: We're on Great Jones. Shop my At Present array. SS: Great Jones. So the original one is on Bond Street, and I just love going there. This is the sister one, and I just love how... I love the food, obviously. But I come here for lunch because it's just a little more casual, pop in, pop out, the dish or the menu is a little more concise and edited, which I always love. JJ: Yeah. SS: Yeah. So it's just great food, easy, casual, and quick. JJ: Great. Well, I'm really excited to do this with you because one of your posts is all about food and then Rose [Anderson] has told me too, that you love to eat. So I was really anxious... Not anxious, that's the wrong word. But I was really excited to see where you picked, because I really trust your food picks. So I'm going to say the way that I discovered you first was through Five Fits, which I will be joining you in that group. So Chris just shot me too. SS: Oh, amazing. JJ: And then from there Jenny [Olson] reached out to me about being a correspondent for Alex Mill and they told me about you, and then I get to meet you, at Jess Graves’ party to celebrate Alex Mill. And since then I've been looking at your Substack, it's really exciting. I want to talk about what made you want to get on there, but also just who you are, your interests, and how did you get here. SS: Definitely. JJ: So my first question, which I am taking from Plum Sykes, is what is your first experience with clothing? Wait, do you know this question? SS: Did you just listen to her podcast with- JJ: Lauren Sherman? SS: Yeah. JJ: Actually I was in person when she did the conversation with Liana Satenstein , and said it and I was like, "Oh, that's actually a fabulous question." She said this three times because she also said it in the podcast that Vogue does. Then she said it at Liana's, and then she said it at Lauren's. So this is the reoccurring... But it's such a good question. SS: Oh, yeah. I'm a huge Plum fan. I was listening to Lauren's podcast with her, and I just told Lauren, I was like, "I can listen to Plum all day long." Just because she has so many crazy stories, and the way she tells them, the words she uses, I just love. My first experience with clothes... I was born in Thailand and I immigrated to Canada when I was four, and I don't really remember clothes until I got to Canada. I do remember my mom telling me that when we got off the plane, it was April in Toronto, and April in Toronto, it was February. JJ: Oh, that's terrible. SS: So it was freezing. And we were coming from Thailand, so it was palm trees and beach and stuff like that. So I think I only had a T-shirt on, and that was it, because I had wet my diapers on the plane. JJ: Oh, wow. SS: Hi, how are you? Waiter: Good. Can I grab you something to drink? JJ: I'm fine with just water. SS: Yeah. JJ: And then I have to take a look at this menu. SS: So we were sponsored by a group of church people in Oshawa, the little town that we came to. And so a lot of the clothes I had were given, they were hand-me-downs. So I remember there was this really great yellow T-shirt with Big Bird on it from Sesame Street and I just loved it so much. I had never seen anything... It was my first graphic tee, and I just loved the color of, it was a really buttery yellow, and it was big bird on a seesaw with the birds on the other side. And the funniest story is I still have it today. JJ: Oh, fantastic. SS: And it's in my bedroom on a teddy bear. It fits the teddy bear now. And so it just sits in my bedroom and I see it every morning. So it's just almost like a funny reminder of not where it came from, obviously, but how small I used to be, maybe, as a child. Yeah, I still have it. I just loved it. I think it's probably one of those things I just kept. Every time we got rid of clothes, I just kept it. JJ: And has that been with you with every place that you've lived? SS: Yeah. Yeah. When I moved to New York, I took it with me. It was in my Parsons dorm, probably folded up, and everywhere. Yeah, it's always been with me on this teddy bear. JJ: That's amazing. And then also in terms of the graphics, something else I find where you have a great tattoo collection. And do you think the graphics right there tie back to your love of tattoos, of also you have the Snoopy on your tote - SS: Yeah. Yeah. I think that definitely has something to do with it. An attention to sort of the visual elements in design. JJ: And did you study graphics at Parsons? SS: Fashion design. Fashion design. But I remember too, just growing up, there was the revamp of Bazaar, Harper's Bazaar came out and it was Fabien Baron and the graphics on those pages, some of the layouts were just as beautiful as the photos. And I just remember seeing those. I was like, "Oh, wow." I've never seen a page that was just dedicated to a big 'H' or a big two. I think rarely were magazines, up until then... It was all photos, photos, photos and ads and all that stuff. But this was literally just one page, the header or if there was a title about the story, it would be a big 'S' or a big... To start off the story. JJ: Yeah. And so what got you into fashion? So also, were you always interested in fashion when you were in Toronto, and what made you want to move to New York? SS: I knew I wanted to do something artistic. I was always drawing, I was always sketching little doodles here and there and painting and all that stuff. But I also knew I didn't want to be in fine arts because I liked making money and surviving and eating and all that stuff. And I think fine arts just didn't... For some reason I knew that would be a little harder with fine arts. And I think with design, I didn't know it was going to be fashion design right away. I knew it was going to be something creative. I was initially interested in architecture, but I knew that I liked having a problem to solve. I think with design, you're given a problem versus fine artists are put into a studio and you can do whatever you want. I knew that I wanted to, whether it be build a house or design a room or design a spoon that someone would use, but it had to be within these dimensions, and clothing was the same way. I was always interested in clothes. I didn't know I wanted to be a designer. My mom used to make us clothes. My grandma was a seamstress. She had a huge business. I was a huge fan of just watching them get dressed. JJ: What were they always drawn to in terms of getting dressed? SS: It was funny. It was more when they would go out on occasions and stuff. So they would bring out their traditional Thai outfits and put on the makeup and the earrings. It was very often the day-to-day was very basic, jeans and stuff. But when it was time to go to a wedding, I could sit there and watch them for hours and I would help them pick out stuff. So I think it was the transformation, maybe, that was the most fascinating to me. Like, "Wow. That's what you look like, mom, with your makeup?" JJ: Yeah. SS: When you go out, when you really give yourself a little attention. And then my sister was a huge influence too because she had always wanted to be in fashion design. And I remember the two of us as kids in the back of our classrooms, there would be old Vogue's that our teachers would bring in, to chop up, to cut and paste, to

28 min

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Jalil Johnson
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Lunch Break

Lunch Break

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