Second Life
Second Life
Second Life
Hosted by Who What Wear co-founder Hillary Kerr, Second Life spotlights successful women who have made major career changes. Guests share lessons they've learned through fearlessly daring to pivot, and how they've used skills from their "first lives" to navigate their winding career journeys.
The Who What Wear Podcast: WWW Weddings: Unpacking The Plus-Size Bridal Dilemma, the “Fat Tax,” and the Designers Getting it Right
How size-inclusive is the bridal industry? In this episode, Associate Features Editor Ana Escalante breaks down her recent piece about her search for the perfect wedding dress as a plus-size bride. She and Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen unpack the unfair dilemma that plus-size brides often find themselves in: either shopping for a mass market dress that doesn’t suit their style, or paying tens of thousands for a custom gown because the demi couture boutiques don’t offer their size. Ana shares clips of her interview with plus-size bridal stylist Alysia Cole about the bridal “fat tax” — as well as her interviews with bridal designers Alexandra Grecco and Jenny Yoo about what brands can do to make every bride feel beautiful. Plus, Ana and Lauren give their advice to any bride looking for the dress of their dreams.
Aug 27
34 min
Katlin Smith: Founder and CEO of Simple Mills
Katlin Smith is the founder and CEO of Simple Mills, a food company that makes a wide array of delicious gluten-free, grain-free, paleo-friendly, and non-GMO foods. Before starting her own company from scratch, Smith was a strategy and operations consultant. After years of relying on processed foods because of her demanding job, she switched to a Paleo diet in hopes of reaping the health benefits. Disappointed with the lack of store-bought options for her new lifestyle, Smith started making recipes of her own using healthier ingredients like almond flour and coconut sugar. With no background in food production or distribution, Smith reached out to her local Whole Foods when she was ready to sell her now-famous Almond Flour Muffin Mix. When the chain agreed to sell it on its shelves, Smith was eager to grow her business. She went back to school to build on the skills she acquired as a consultant and develop new ones so she could expand her line of products and distribute them widely. Today, Simple Mills is sold in over 30,000 stores nationwide, and Flowers Foods recently acquired the business for $795 million, marking one of the biggest female-founder exits in recent CPG history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 25
54 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: Celebrity Hairstylist Chris McMillan on Creating “The Rachel,” Going Viral Before Social Media, and Launching His Haircare Line
Chris McMillan is a celebrity hairstylist with more than 30 years of experience behind the chair. He’s worked with everyone from Michelle Williams to Cindy Crawford to Kim Kardashian. This week, McMillan joins Who What Wear Senior Beauty Editor Jamie Schneider to look back on his career—from styling Farrah Fawcett curls for his mom to creating the now-famous “Rachel” style for Jennifer Anniston in Friends to Leslie Bibb’s cunty little bob on The White Lotus. They get into his favorite cuts he’s done over the years, upcoming hair trends, and the inside scoop on his new haircare line. Plus, McMillan shares all his tips and tricks for re-creating his signature looks at home with his products.
Aug 20
30 min
Alyson Stoner: Author and Founder/CEO of Movement Genius
Alyson Stoner is the founder and CEO of Movement Genius, a mental health platform designed to support child performers. Stoner started their career as a child star, acting in hundreds of projects as an actor, singer, and dancer. They got their big break as a dancer in Missy Elliot’s “Work It” music video and went on to star in Disney Channel’s Camp Rock, Cheaper by the Dozen, the Step Up movies, and many others. At age 17, after a decade of nonstop work and growing up in the spotlight, Stoner stepped away from performing to take care of their mental health. In rehab, they questioned whether they would have chosen to be an actor after realizing how much it affected their well-being—and wondered what their life would have been like if they had felt more supported as a kid in the entertainment industry. After realizing that their true passion was psychology, Alyson left Hollywood behind to study it. After gaining multiple certifications in the field, they founded Movement Genius with the goal of making mental health support more accessible and affordable online. They also created the Artist Wellbeing Essentials—a digital tool kit designed to support children performers. Today, Stoner is a fearless advocate for mental health, whether it’s on their podcast, Dear Hollywood, or in their new memoir, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything. Order the book here!
Aug 18
1 hr 11 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: Too Much Costume Designer Arielle Cooper-Lethem on Maximalism, the Power of a Pioneer Nightgown, and London vs. NYC Style
Arielle Cooper-Lethem is the costume designer for Lena Dunham’s hit new show, Too Much. The hilarious and heartfelt rom-com, led by Hacks star Megan Stalter as Jess and The White Lotus star Will Sharpe as Felix, debuted on Netflix in July. This week, Cooper-Lethem joins Who What Wear Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen to tell us what it was like curating Jess’s maximalist wardrobe of vintage nightgowns and lacy bloomers, as well as how Kurt Cobain inspired Felix’s grungy, androgynous Londoner style. Plus, Arielle tells us about If Only If, the independent British brand behind Jess’s iconic red, frilled nightie that fans bought en masse. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 13
28 min
Jess Jacobs: CEO of Coterie
Jess Jacobs is the chief executive officer of Coterie—a premium, high-performing diaper essentials brand. Before Coterie, Jacobs spent years making a name for herself in creative advertising. She got her professional start as a copywriter for an ad agency, working on campaigns for noteworthy brands like Saks Fifth Avenue, LG, and Revlon. She continued her work at Kettle as a Creative Director, partnering with big names like Apple, Nike, and Glossier. Jacobs then transitioned into the personal care industry when she became vice president of creative at Lola, a women-owned feminine care brand that promotes transparency and clean ingredients. Jacobs appreciated Lola’s mission, especially after becoming a mom. Having a baby made her more aware of the ingredients in and efficacy of the products she used in her everyday life, such as diapers. When she tried a diaper from Coterie, she fell in love with the product and the brand’s mission to make parents’ lives easier. She then joined Coterie as its senior vice president of brand, creative, and product management, using everything she’d learned over the years to build the brand into something worthy of its superior product. It wasn’t long before she was appointed chief brand officer and later CEO.
Aug 11
51 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: Author Amy Odell on Chronicling the Life of Gwyneth Paltrow, From '90s Fashion Icon to Wellness Mogul, in Gwyneth: The Biography
Three years after authoring the incredible biography of Anna Wintour, fashion and culture journalist Amy Odell returns to the pod to discuss her newly released biography of actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow. Through hundreds of interviews and countless hours of archival research, Odell chronicles Paltrow's life of cultural influence—from '90s fashion icon to polarizing wellness mogul. She tells us who she talked to in order to paint a full picture of a public figure who's been in the spotlight for three decades. Plus, she reveals what she would have asked Gwyneth if she'd gotten the chance to speak with her for the book. Order a copy of Odell's book here! Shop our editor's eBay picks here!
Aug 6
37 min
Samina Virk: U.S. CEO and Chief Marketing Officer of Vestiaire Collective
Samina Virk is the U.S. CEO and chief marketing officer of Vestiaire Collective, a global luxury resale platform. As a young girl, Samina loved fashion. She grew up making her clothes, thinking she might break into the industry on the creative side. Instead, she started her career in tech, working in e-commerce during the dot-com boom. She eventually went back to school to study business in hopes of merging her love for fashion with her tech experience. She joined Target’s MBA merchandising program before scoring a full-time job on the company’s marketing team. It was there where she dipped her toes into retail, overseeing Target’s designer collaborations before taking an interest in the resale market. Samina followed her curiosity to eBay, where she launched the platform’s new fashion vertical team, before she ended up at Vestiaire Collective. She helped launch the Paris-based brand in the U.S. market before going on to serve as the U.S. president and global chief marketing officer at Threads, a social-first styling service. She then realized her time at Vestiaire Collective wasn’t over and decided to return—this time as North American CEO and CMO.
Aug 4
57 min
The Who What Wear Podcast: WWW Weddings 2025: The Definitive Guide to This Year’s Bridal Fashion and Wedding Planning Trends
This week, Associate Director of Special Projects Kristen Nichols and senior fashion editor Anna LaPlaca are giving you the definitive report on all things weddings. Kristen runs through the biggest trends from 2026 Bridal Fashion Week, where she saw chiffon capes and voluminous skirts in full force. And Anna has the scoop from experts in the wedding industry about everything beyond dresses—from unique destinations to wax-sealed invitations. They’ve got everything you need to know if you’re walking down the aisle anytime soon. Plus, the pair break down the relationship between bridal fashion and the fashion industry at large. Shop our editor's eBay picks here!
Jul 30
26 min
Ali Mejia: Cofounder of Eberjey
Ali Mejia is the visionary and cofounder of elevated sleepwear brand Eberjey. Although she’d always had a soft spot for pajamas (getting ready for bed was a self-care ritual in her home growing up), Mejia began her career on Wall Street. After graduating from Princeton, she followed many of her peers to New York City and got a job as a financial analyst. When her bank unexpectedly closed, she was laid off and left to confront the nagging feeling that she should be exploring her creativity. She used her severance package to fund a trip to Florence, Italy, and being immersed in the arts and culture inspired her to make a change in her career. Upon returning home, she took one more short-lived finance job and then landed a fashion internship at Cynthia Rowley that energized her. She moved back home to Miami and took a direct marketing job to pay the bills while quietly working with a local patternmaker and learning how to design sleepwear. Once she had designed a few prototypes, she told her coworker at the direct marketing company about her business idea. This coworker, Mariela Rovito, became Mejia’s cofounder in Eberjey. In 1996, they left their day jobs, put $10,000 each into this new venture, and set off on a brand-building journey with no business plan. Today, almost three decades later, Eberjey remains a leading international sleepwear brand with five brick-and-mortar shops and products sold in over 500 retailers, from Neiman Marcus to Nordstrom.
Jul 28
53 min
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