Second Life

Emily Henderson is proof that when you're passionate about something, you can turn it into a thriving career—no matter what you studied in college or where you started out. “I learned on the job and I think it’s a very good way to start and build your career," she tells Hillary Kerr. Find out how Henderson went from being a prop stylist to running a design blog and getting her own show on HGTV without any traditional design or business education.Originally broadcast on August 27, 2018.

There are two ways to tell Mandy Moore’s career story. While we’re familiar with the highlight reel—Moore was a breakout singer at just 15 and is a Golden Globe nominee—the real story is far more complex. In this episode of Second Life, Moore opens up about self-doubt and setbacks and how they helped shape the woman and actor she is today.Originally broadcast on May 21, 2018.

Tyler Haney knows activewear. She was raised in Boulder, Colorado—a town known for its outdoor activities—and grew up running track and field. With a few courses in business and design under her belt paired with the desire to create a sporty uniform for recreational activity, Haney eventually became the CEO and founder of her own brand, Outdoor Voices. However, her journey was filled with challenges and missteps that she looks back on as lessons learned.Originally broadcast on November 26th, 2018.

Before Christina Tosi started Milk Bar—the trendy bakery known for its covetable, playful desserts—she was studying math and Italian in college with dreams of becoming a mathematician, a UN translator, or a perhaps a truck driver (yes, really). "I like to be uncomfortable," the entrepreneur tells Hillary Kerr on this episode of Second Life. Drawn to restaurant life with a passion for baking, Tosi moved on from her mathematical endeavors to pursue cooking at culinary school and (with a lot of hard work) went on to found her very own wildly successful bakery. Here's how she made it happen.Originally broadcast on November 19, 2018.

Eva Chen's résumé reads like the front row of a well-stocked magazine stand. She's held jobs at publications like Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Teen Vogue, and Lucky (where she was editor in chief, no less). Although landing a job as editor in chief of a major publication sounds like the peak of one's career, Chen was just getting started. Now, she's catapulted to director of fashion partnerships for Instagram, has written her first book (a children's story called Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes), and is trying her hand at design with the launch of a capsule collection with Janie and Jack in conjunction with her book.Originally broadcast on November 5, 2018.

Lauren Conrad ended up on one of the world's first major reality TV shows at the tender age of 17. Since then, she's grown into the cunning, experienced entrepreneur you know today. According to her, she wouldn't be where she is now—a New York Times best-selling author eight times over, designer of her own fashion line LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's, and philanthropist behind the non-profit The Little Market—without the mistakes she made along the way. Originally broadcast on June 25, 2018.

Emma Grede is the CEO and co-founder of Good American, the hugely successful, size-inclusive fashion brand that she started with none other than Khloé Kardashian. But starting this business wasn't the first time Grede struck out on her own. She'd long been making a name for herself in the fashion and entertainment industries on the business side of things and had already checked starting a company off her list. "I am a person who can sell anything, and I think I just had that naturally," she tells Hillary Kerr on today's episode of Second Life. Originally broadcast on September 24, 2018.

If anyone has mastered the art of the hustle, it's Ellen Bennett. The entrepreneurial powerhouse behind Hedley & Bennett, a Los Angeles–based chef wear and handcrafted apron company, started her own business at age 24 while working as a line cook at not one but two prestigious restaurants in L.A. "I was permanently running on adrenaline, and I loved it," she tells Hillary Kerr. Now, she's outfitting top chefs around the world, including the likes of Martha Stewart, Jamie Oliver, Jon Shook, and Vinny Dotolo.Originally broadcast on September 10, 2018.

There was a time when Aurora James never thought she'd have a seat at the proverbial table. Now, after dipping her toes in multiple industries, she's at the helm of the sustainable fashion company Brother Vellies and is proof that if you have a goal, you can make it happen, even if that means finding a new way of getting there. "I always knew that I wanted to work in fashion. I just knew that fashion wasn't working for me in a way that I needed it to," she tells us. Originally broadcast on August 8, 2018. 

In an updated and extended interview from our very first episode, Hillary sits down with Jen Atkin, celebrity stylist and founder of cult haircare line Ouai. Dubbed the "most influential hairstylist in the world" by The New York Times, Atkin counts Bella Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, and Kendall Jenner as clients. Here, she gets candid about the power of social media, reflects on her journey from salon apprentice to CEO of a thriving business, and explains why mental toughness is the most underrated quality.This extended episode has an additional 20 minutes of previously unreleased audio from when it first aired on February 19, 2018.

Anine Bing launched her successful clothing and accessories line in 2012, but her days once revolved around modeling, music, and blogging. Listen to the story of her career pivots on this week's episode. 

Jennifer Meyer’s career has taken a non-linear path that went from psychology to fashion editorial to PR before she founded her now wildly popular jewelry brand. Listen to her story on Second Life.

Lauren Kleban started out as a professional dancer and now runs L.A.’s popular LEKFit workout studio. Hear about her career journey and what’s next for her company on Second Life.

When Anastasia Soare immigrated to Los Angeles from her native Romania in the early ’90s, she had no idea she’d someday change the way we collectively groom our brows. But after attending aesthetician school and getting a job at a salon on Melrose Place, she noticed that her facial clients weren’t taking proper care of their brows. Sensing a white space, she eventually launched her own salon where she dedicated herself to shaping brows of A-list clients. On this episode of Life Lessons, she’s talking us through how she ended up launching a full-on empire complete with a best-selling product line you’ve definitely heard of: Anastasia Beverly Hills.

Paige Adams-Geller was a fit model and actress before founding lifestyle and denim brand Paige in 2004. The brand now has a global presence and a slew of celebrity fans.

Laura Vassar has spent most of her life crafting beautiful ready-to-wear, a passion that began in high school when she learned to sew and designed her own prom dress. She met her future husband (and business partner) Kristopher Brock while studying at Parsons in New York City, and the rest is history: Their brand Brock Collection is now stocked at fine department stores and on big-time sites like Net-a-Porter and Moda Operandi. On this week’s episode of Life Lessons, she’s offering up advice for aspiring designers and explaining what it’s really like to work in fashion.

Nancy Twine went from working at Goldman Sachs to becoming the founder and CEO of clean, buzzy haircare brand Briogeo. Find out how she did it on Second Life.

When Molly McNearney arrived in Los Angeles and landed an interview to work as an assistant producer at Jimmy Kimmel Live, she jumped at the chance (although she admits she had no idea who Kimmel was at the time). The job wasn’t glamorous, but the initiative she showed in those early days led to other opportunities on the show. She worked her way up the ranks and into the writers’ room, eventually earning her current status as head writer. On this week’s Life Lessons episode, McNearney offers up advice for aspiring writers.

Whitney Tingle went from working on Wall Street to co-founding Sakara Life, the go-to meal-delivery service of celebrities like Chrissy Teigen. Hear about her journey from finance to wellness on Second Life.

Mercedes Abramo, president and CEO of Cartier North America, has never been one to avoid taking risks or making moves. In fact, her career as a businesswoman has taken her all over the world, from the Ritz Carlton in Maui to business school in Paris to a stint at Tiffany & Co. in New York City before landing her at Cartier, where she worked her way all the way up the ladder. Tune in to this week’s Life Lessons episode as she chats with Hillary and offers up insights on expanding your skill set, learning how to be a manager, and learning how to decide when it’s time to move on to a new opportunity.