On this week’s podcast, hear Martha in a revealing conversation with one of her closest friends and teachers. Charlotte Beers broke the glass ceiling of the “Mad Men” advertising industry as the head of two global advertising agencies. She served as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for Colin Powell. She and Martha met as divorcees, single women carving their paths in a demanding New York City business environment. Their friendship grew as they built brands, sharing ideas and learning from each other, and celebrating their successes together. Martha trusted Charlotte’s business expertise so much that she asked her to join her company’s board. Here, the two talk about pioneering the concept of brand stewardship, why women need to keep their own scorecards, and stories they usually share only with each other.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael S. Smith began his career in interior design in his 20s, and quickly rose to prominence with projects including the White House residential quarters for Barack and Michelle Obama and Shonda Rhimes’ stunning  NYC apartment. He has been named to Architectural Digest’s “A-D 100” seven times. Here he talks with Martha about how the home has evolved through pandemic changes and beyond, the things to do - and not do - when embarking on design projects, and the building project Martha was scared to take on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where disasters strike - José Andrés is there, with his army of chefs and volunteers dedicated to combatting hunger worldwide. His culinary career started in Spain, took root in the US, and has expanded to an empire of restaurants that spans the world. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he funneled his ferocious energy into creating the World Central Kitchen. Here he gives a report from the frontlines of Hurricane Ian and the Ukraine and shares his passion for uni in this conversation with Martha.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The architect David Rockwell has had tremendous impact on the way that many people encounter spaces. Anyone who has walked through the restored Grand Central Terminal, eaten at a Nobu restaurant, or watched the 81st and 82nd Oscars, has experienced his work. He designed the original Nobu and helped expand that brand globally, shifting the look and feel of luxury dining in the process. Martha has visited many of the hundreds of restaurants David has designed, and talks to him here about about her favorites, his Tony-award winning theatrical set design work, and David's secret to creating a terrazzo ceiling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to bring a respected 2-star brasserie to the top of the “World’s Best Restaurant” list? According to Will Guidara, former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, the key is “Unreasonable Hospitality,” also the title of his new book. Here, he talks to Martha about that meteoric rise, being mentored by restaurant royalty Danny Meyer and Daniel Boulud, and about where to find the best hot dogs up and down the East Coast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly thirty years ago, chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson met in the kitchen of Daniel Boulud’s Restaurant Boulud. Since then, their names have been synonymous with superlative French bistro dining in New York City. After years helming the kitchen at the iconic Balthazar, they opened up their own restaurant, Frenchette, to great acclaim. Their latest project, Le Rock, a beautifully-designed 4,000-square-foot restaurant, is part of an ambitious re-imagining of Rockefeller Center. Martha, a fan of theirs from the beginning, catches up with her old friends to hear how these chefs are continuing to interpret and reinvent classic French dishes in their new dining room.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As bandleader for David Letterman’s late-night shows, Paul Shaffer has played with a constellation of musical stars, and played the walk-on music to bring Martha on-stage for nearly 50 appearances. Listen as they trade stories about near-disasters, James Brown’s hairdryer, and what it’s like to be “the greatest sidekick in television.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When two inquisitive minds get together, it’s hard to predict where the conversation might go. Martha interviews Malcolm Gladwell, the influential, best-selling author of The Tipping Point, Outliers, and more. One of the most prolific podcasters, his 7th season of Revisionist History returns this week. Listen to them talk about everything from forecasting a pandemic, Russia’s chances in the war against Ukraine, their favorite spots in Tokyo, and his latest book, The Bomber Mafia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thirty years after creating the magazine that inspired millions and launched her namesake brand, Martha reunites with the two women who helped her birth it: Founding Editor-in-Chief Isolde Motley, and Founding Art Director, Gael Towey. Relegated to the least desirable spaces of Time, Inc, and facing a chorus of doubters, the trio set about creating a magazine that broke the mold. Hear how they crafted each shoot by hand, with Martha doing her own hair and make-up, while also adopting technology early on. This special episode reveals the inside stories behind Martha’s start-up: Martha Stewart Living.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Algiere and Eliot Coleman are giants in the US organic farming revolution. Eliot, inspired by the pioneering Scott and Helen Nearing, followed their lead into organic farming in Maine 56 years ago. His work, in turn, has influenced scores of other farmers, including Jack Algiere, who developed the agricultural systems at the famed Stone Barns Center for Agriculture. Martha follows their farming practices in her own gardens, and talks to them about the importance of a sustainable, regenerative growing system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.