Second Life

Amanda Kloots is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. She is the founder of AK! Fitness, where she has developed her signature fitness method; is co-founder of the give-back apparel company Hooray For alongside her sister; and is a co-host on CBS’s The Talk. As of June 15, she is also a published author with the debut of her memoir, Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero, in which she shares her 95-day struggle and love story with her husband, who tragically passed last July due to COVID-19. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Kloots’s 17-year career as a professional dancer on Broadway and as a Rockette gave her the perseverance and grit to build the multifaceted career she has today.

On this episode of the show, Drew Elovitz, our director of content strategy and senior managing editor, takes us behind the scenes of our June cover story with three of the cast members from the upcoming Gossip Girl—Zión Moreno, Jordan Alexander, and Emily Alyn Lind. As a superfan of the original show, Drew asks the talented cast everything you want to know about this new era of Gossip Girl, including what to expect from the elusive characters and how their world has changed over the 10 years since the original.

Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, co-founders and co-CEOs of trusted news source TheSkimm, completely changed the way millennials consume news by creating a platform that delivers digestible current content. Since its launch in 2012, TheSkimm has expanded its offerings through producing two top-rated podcasts, multiple events, countless videos, TheSkimm app, Skimm Well, and Skimm Money. Its initial product, the Daily Skimm, remains the fastest-growing newsletter on the market with over seven million subscribers. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Zakin and Weisberg’s early careers in major news organizations like MSNBC, The Daily Beast, and NBC led them to disrupt traditional news media forever.

Jenny Beavan is a prolific costume designer, having won her first Academy Award in 1987 for A Room With a View, and again for Mad Max: Fury Road. Most recently, she’s responsible for the works of art in the live-action feature film Cruella, starring Emma Stone. In this episode, Jenny tells us about her inspirations for the stunning fashion throughout the movie and takes us behind the scenes of creating a visual world for a major motion picture.

With the launch of her first show alongside Dax Shepard in 2018, Monica Padman became one of the biggest podcasters in the game. That year, Armchair Expert was the most-downloaded podcast of the year and won iHearts Radio’s Best New Podcast Award. Today, the Armchair Umbrella Network hosts a slew of other successful shows (Monica and Jess Love Boys, Nurture vs Nurture, Experts on Expert, etc.), most of which Padman co-hosts and all of which she produces. But back before Padman’s insightful and charming voice was living in our heads rent-free, her idea of success was to land a job acting—specifically, on the next Friends. On this episode, hear how Padman found herself on a path beyond her wildest dreams by embracing what unfolded in front of her.

Katie Sturino is a digital influencer, body-acceptance advocate, and entrepreneur empowering women of all sizes to find their confidence and celebrate their style through her regular content series #SuperSizeTheLook and #MakeMySize. Her personal-care brand Megababe invents genius products such as Bust Dust for boob sweat, Thigh Rescue for thigh chafe, and the Le Tush Butt Mask, and on May 25 she published her first book, Body Talk: How to Embrace Your Body and Start Living Your Best Life. On this episode, Katie and Hillary talk about finding self-acceptance within the fashion industry, Katie’s favorite size-inclusive brands, and why Hillary needs a pair of crocs.

Tiffany Masterson, the founder of renowned beauty and skincare brand Drunk Elephant, built a skincare empire around her philosophy of ingredient elimination for a total skin reset, avoiding six ingredients she believed were at the root of her skin issues. Since the launch in 2013, Drunk Elephant now offers over 30 products, has signed an exclusive U.S. distribution deal with Sephora, and was acquired by leading global beauty company Shiseido Americas for $845 million dollars—one of the biggest acquisitions for a skincare brand to date. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Masterson’s many career lives—from real estate agent to production assistant to mother of four—led her to extensive ingredient research that not only changed her skin, but also thousands of others.

If for some reason you don’t know celebrity stylist Sophie Lopez, you definitely know her work. With a client list that includes Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Ashley Madekwe, and Yalitza Aparicio, Lopez has an expertise that's coveted within fashion. On this week’s episode, hear how she hustled her way from working in menswear at GQ and freelancing for bands such as Muse to styling dazzling looks for the red carpet and beyond.

Meena Harris is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. She’s a New York Times Best-Selling Author for her children's book, Kamala and Maya's Big Idea, a highly-esteemed attorney, and the founder of the groundbreaking lifestyle brand Phenomenal. Since its launch in 2016, Harris has evolved the Phenomenal brand into Phenomenal Media and Phenomenal Productions—a female-driven media brand and creative agency that supports underrepresented communities through activism-focused campaigns and products. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Harris's impressive past career at major tech companies like Facebook, Slack, and Uber, combined with her experience as an attorney in consumer protection, data, privacy, and cybersecurity lead her to build her own brand making a positive impact.

From Hollywood to high fashion, there are few names in the beauty industry that garner as much respect as makeup artist Pati Dubroff. In this episode, Pati takes us through her career—from working with ’90s supermodels including Christy Turlington to photographers Peter Lindberg and Annie Leibovitz to red carpet glam for Margot Robbie and Priyanka Chopra. Plus, find out her expert tips, tricks, and beauty must-haves.

Vanessa Dew has always loved science (especially when it comes to helping the body’s overall health), which is why there is no surprise she is the co-founder and chief sales officer behind wellness brand Health-Ade Kombucha. Since its launch in 2012 at a local Los Angeles farmers market, Dew has expanded the brand into 35,000 stores, including Whole Foods, Target, and Trader Joe's, with ever-expanding flavors and products. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Dew’s past career at massive pharmaceutical companies—including Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline—led to introducing the nation to the probiotic tea we’ve come to know and love.

This week, actress and best-selling author Busy Philipps brings us behind the scenes of her new show, the Tina Fey–produced Girls5eva, where she plays one of four members of a girl group making a comeback in their 40s. Philipps dishes on her favorite looks from the show as well as her personal style IRL, including the brands that contribute to her whimsical wardrobe and next-level necklace game. 

Laura Modi, mom, entrepreneur, and CEO and co-founder of Bobbie—the only female-founded and mom-led infant formula company in the United States—is changing the industry for parents and their children for the better. Modi launched Bobbie nationally in January of 2021 and was determined to destigmatize the use of formula, something that 83% of parents will turn to. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Modi’s positions at mega tech companies such as Google and Airbnb equipped her with lifelong lessons that eventually catapulted her into creating the first FDA-approved organic, European-style infant formula the U.S. has ever seen.

Wayman and Micah are among the most powerful and influential stylists in Hollywood with a client roster including Regina King, Tessa Thompson, Mary J. Blige, and Kiki Layne, and a coveted spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of Top 10 Stylists of the Decade. On this week’s episode, Wayman and Micah tell Hillary about their meet-cute at a house party in 2008, how they strategized for Regina King’s stunning awards show season, and some of their favorite looks of all time.

Rachel Rodgers is a prime example of someone who is  breaking the glass ceiling. She is the CEO and founder of Hello Seven, a female-run company dedicated to teaching women of all backgrounds how to increase their income and build wealth without sacrificing their sanity in the process. Through her podcast and online club, We Should All Be Millionaires: The Club, Rodgers reaches over 50,000 women a week, empowering them to change the systematic cycle of overworking and underearning. On May 4, she releases her highly anticipated book, We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman's Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power. Hear how Rodgers’ first life as a lawyer propelled her to become a business coach, CEO, and self-made millionaire, on this episode of Second Life.

First up is the Nigerian American sister duo VanJess from our annual Ones to Watch in Music portfolio, a curated spotlight of the rising female artists to know. Ivana and Jessica Nwokiki tell Hillary about finding their unique sound (think ’90s R&B meets house meets soul), creating their beloved EP Homegrown during the lockdown, and how they use fashion in their work. Then, brow guru Kristie Streicher breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to ask an expert about brows—from treatments to products to the 411 on lamination.

Known and loved for its range of delectable spice flavors and aromatics, Diaspora Co.’s mission goes beyond highlighting indigenous spices. Founder Sana Javeri Kadri set out with the intention to work toward a radically equitable, sustainable, and modern spice supply chain by fostering integral relationships with farmworkers in India. Since its launch in 2017, Diaspora Co. now works with 150 farm partners and 1000 farmworkers, with the goal to provide health insurance for every farmworker by the end of 2021. Born in Mumbai, Javeri Kadri has always been at the intersection of food and culture, working in various roles within the food industry, from waitress and farmworker to photographer and marketing consultant. On this episode of Second Life, find out how each of those career experiences led her to make a lasting impact on a broken system.

This week, Hillary passes the torch to our senior beauty editor, Erin Jahns, who interviews our April cover star, the singer, songwriter, and Golden Globe–winning, Oscar-nominated, Andra Day! Andra has been stirring our emotions via her deeply soulful music since her debut album, Cheers to the Fall, in 2015, but in her recent role in The United States Vs. Billie Holiday, she has shown the world a new side of her creativity entirely. Andra tells Erin about entering a profound new phase of her career, her personal connection to Billie’s story, and the beauty and fashion influences throughout history that she draws upon in her personal style.

Leigh Davenport is the ultimate creative multi-hyphenate. She is a talented director, writer, and producer creating modern content at the intersection of woke and whimsical that shifts the narratives surrounding women of color. After spending 15 years in the entertainment and editorial industries, holding impressive positions like producer at BET and VH1 and editorial director of the leading lifestyle site HelloBeautiful.com, Davenport is releasing her own scripted series, Run the World, on Starz this May that is inspired by her own life in New York. On this episode of Second Life, find out how Davenport found the courage to move to L.A. to pursue a career in writing and producing and has since become a modern voice in television.

In the latest episode of Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr, Hillary speaks with actress Rachel Bilson about her iconic fashion throughout her career, the best style lessons she learned from her notorious character, Summer Roberts, and everything we can expect from her upcoming podcast, Welcome to the O.C., Bitches. Then, she chats with the celebrity esthetician behind Hollywood’s most flawless faces, Shani Darden, who dishes on the best way to take care of your skin (underneath your mask), her favorite products for every skin type, and the latest beauty hype.