QUESTION EVERYTHING

Atsuko Okatsuka is a standup comedian who was named one of the Top 10 Comics to Watch in 2022 by Variety. Her hilarious videos on social media have garnered her millions of views and her HBO special premieres on December 10th. Today she joins the pod and shares:   What it was like living immigrating from Japan and living in a garage with her mom and grandma from age 10-17. How an earthquake helped her rise to fame. Why she feels the things we didn’t like about ourselves as kids are really our superpowers (and how to harness them).  Why she thinks comedy is a part of the service industry. How she started the viral #Dropchallenge.  Her special relationship with her grandmother (and how she got to 18,000 Twitter followers!) Why she believes getting married is more “childlike” than being single. Why she thinks the key to life is knowing what you’re not into.

Marcy Blum and Jess Conroy have each revolutionized the wedding industry in their own exceptional ways. Marcy is an internationally sought-after event planner and entertaining expert with 30 years of experience throwing innovative and ground-breaking events. Jess is the founder and CEO of Carats & Cake, a financial operating system created for the events industry. These women each have tackled a different piece of the $60 billion-a-year wedding industry pie, but their creativity and uniqueness have earned them both respect in their field. Today we cover:  Wedding/Party/Event Do’s + Don’ts  The biggest waste of money when it comes to weddings  Why you shouldn’t be a chill host  How to create meaning at events and parties (weddings) Setting the right tone for a party  Over 2 million couples get married a year. A wedding can be one of the largest purchases a couple makes in their life…how can we make it more meaningful?  How Marcy + Jess transformed the events industry  Building a brand and noticing the white space in your industry  Advice for seeking investors  Raising money as an entrepreneur and the power of storytelling 

The Kardashians are in the business of “getting us talking”— also known as the business of being famous. How have they impacted our society + culture? Has it been a net positive or net negative? And is that ‘power’ waning? Writer and cultural critic, Kimberly Nicole Foster joins the podcast to break it all down with me. We discuss many aspects— race, gender, greed, parenting, business, hair + makeup + fashion trends. We discuss: Why she believes the cultural power of the Kardashians is waning  The impact the Kardashian’s have had on the beauty industry Why she thinks Kim and Khloe are now trying to slim down after years of embracing their curves. Why she thinks the Kardashians tried to appeal to Black men - and why that’s changing now.  How white Americans and Black Americans view the idea of the Kardashians getting us to embrace our curves differently Why the Kardashians are a representation of American culture and where it is going.  Her thoughts on how Kim is using her children to expand her brand and keep herself in the culture zeitgeist. The problem with the mentality of always needing more, more, more. 

Olivia Culpo and her sisters Aurora and Sophia are about to become America’s newest reality TV family, in their TLC show “The Culpo Sisters.” Today they’re sitting down together to share:  The hardest moments to watch each other go through. Why Sophia and Aurora decided to make their lives public after seeing Olivia do it. Why Olivia thinks pageants are empowering (and what Aurora hopes pageants will change in the future). Who has the best taste in men - and the worst! Why they decided to do a reality show with their family and what they hope to show people. Their must-have beauty products of the moment. Their favorite wellness trends that are worth the hype.

Sami Miró went from a tech startup to founding her own vintage brand, Sami Miro Vintage - a black female-owned clothing company whose ethos was founded on eco-consciousness. SMV has been featured as the “it” sustainable brand in numerous publications such as Vogue, CFDA, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and more. In 2021, Miró was one of five designers recognized and awarded a grant by the CFDA and Fashion Trust US. Today’s she’s sharing: Her journey from tech startup to launching her own fashion brand. Why it was so important for her to take the leap to launch her own fashion line. What it really means to be sustainable in fashion. Tips to help make your own closet more sustainable.  How to make better choices for the environment when shopping for clothes.  How she handles self doubt. How she allows the doubts of others to fuel her success.  What it was like having 48 hours to design for Selena Gomez’s world tour (and what it taught her about herself).  How she learned to empower herself to make her dreams come true.

Gabrielle Bernstein is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker. She was once named a “new thought leader” by Oprah and says her mission is to help us all be more spiritually connected and live more fulfilled and happier lives. Today she’s shares:  Why a Miracle Mindset will change your life. Why we need to get back to the truth of who we really are in order to manifest the life we want.  Gabrielle’s tip for how to go from despair to joy.  How to recognize and ask for signs from the universe. What a “Manic Manifestor” is and why it won’t help you attract what you want. What the true definition of manifesting is and how it really works.  Why fear isn’t always a bad thing. How we all have an Inner Parent that can help guide us in life. Get 2 free manifesting meditations from Gabby here: deargabby.com/freemeditations

Fortune is a comedian, writer and actor. Her new comedy special, Good Fortune, just released on Netflix (it was filmed in Chicago!) You have seen her previously on Chelsea Lately, The Mindy Project, and her stand-up debut on Last Comic Standing. She also hosts a podcast, “Sincerely Fortune,” with her wife Jacquelyn Smith. Fortune is so funny and sincere. We spoke about: The story behind her name “Fortune” Her Hollywood MIRACLE MOMENT (this is wild!) Why Chelsea Handler believed in her and others who traditionally didn’t get a chance in Hollywood How she handled red carpet interviews with celebrities (she used to be a reporter) Her advice on finding love (it’s beautiful).  How her time living in Spain gave her courage to do anything How the first time she performed on stage she realized what she was meant to do Why it’s crucial to bet on yourself in showbusiness How her mother feels about being in her stand up, loves Hooter’s, and is such an ally to Fortune and the gay community in North Carolina. WATCH: Fortune's Netflix Special 'Good Fortune' out now Follow Fortune: https://www.instagram.com/fortunefeimster/

Model, Actress and Certified Life Coach, Nazanin Mandi is opening up about her personal journey and what led her to become a life coach.    She shares: How she recently learned to choose herself first, and how liberating that has been.  How she was discovered as a kid while at In-N-Out with her mom. The difference between being sexual and being sexualized and why she always chooses to embrace her sexuality. What she learned about herself during her separation from her husband, singer and songwriter, Miguel What led her to become a certified life coach Her new online community, You Bloome and why she wants to help others find their happiest and most fulfilled lives. Her advice on finding your passion, dating and relationships, navigating friendships and more. SIGN UP FOR YOU BLOOME: https://www.youbloome.com/   FOLLOW NAZANIN: https://www.instagram.com/nazaninmandi/

Jemele is an Emmy-winning sports journalist, who spent 12 years with ESPN. She’s a contributing writer for The Atlantic, host of the Spotify podcast, “Jemele Hill is Unbothered” and her memoir “Uphill” will be released on October 25th. Today she’s sharing: Why she never wanted to write this memoir in the first place (and the lessons she hopes people learn from it)  Why she really wanted to call her memoir something else.  How her childhood traumas and Detroit shaped her and why grit is infused in her DNA.  How reading the newspaper as a kid is what ultimately led her to where she is today. Why women need to get over the “I’m just happy to be here” mentality. Why she became a better journalist when she became a better businesswoman. Why we need to all be more transparent about our salaries. Why it’s so important to her to write about the intersection of race, class, gender and sports. Why we can use sports as a mirror to what’s happening in America. Why empathy is so important in writing. 

“Think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.” Tembi Locke is the New York Times bestselling author of her memoir From Scratch, and an actor, producer, and screenwriter. From Scratch is a Reese’s Book Club pick, an Audie Awards Best Audiobook Finalist, and a Goodreads Best Books Finalist. Along with Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine, Tembi serves as an executive producer and co-writer for the Netflix limited series inspired by her book. Tembi shares: How to put one foot in front fo the other when your life changes forever How she met her late husband Saro in Italy + the story of their romance How do you parent and caregiver while living with grief? How can you help and support someone who is grieving? One piece of advice for cross cultural relationships  What it’s like to see Zoe Saldana play her on screen!