QUESTION EVERYTHING

Rainesford Stauffer is an accomplished author and journalist, contributing to renowned publications such as the New York Times, The Cut by New York magazine, WSJ Magazine, Teen Vogue, Vox, and The Atlantic, to name a few. In her latest book, “All the Gold Stars,” she explores how the cultural, personal, and societal expectations around ambition are driving the global burnout epidemic.  Speaking to Rainesford inspired me to share my own experience with burnout. I hope this conversation sparks your reflection on your own ambitions.Today we chat about: Where the attachment to ambition comes from How ambition manifests and why ambition is deeply personal The connection between burnout and exhaustion Why ambition is a privilege Why you can do less work and still be ambitious The ebbs and flows of ambition The link between loneliness and ambition Why the term “self-made” is a fallacy When ambition can become harmful Why it’s difficult to have unconditional self-worth and self-esteem  Follow Rainesford on Instagram @rainesford_stauffer and grab her book here!

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context).  I think about gratitude like this: Grace is an extension of gratitude and the more grateful we are the more grace we lead with.  Gratefully, today Kimberlee Soo shared a beautiful gratitude meditation with us. Kimberlee is a writer and private yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. Kimberlee has practiced yoga and meditation for over thirty years and began teaching in 2021, taking on private clients shortly thereafter. She is passionate about walking alongside those who wish to dynamically evolve and expand their knowledge of self through mindful modalities and dedicated to humans finding their authentic voice.   She recently executive produced her first film short, The Model and  one of her first short stories can be found in the anthology Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck which just celebrated its 10thanniversary in print (Elephant Rock Books). Kimberlee collaborates as an editor and story developer, primarily with memoirists. Kimberlee’s teachings have personally helped me find gratitude in the present moment. Not for what I have or how I feel, but for what I am. My hope is that through this meditation she can help you find what it is you’re seeking. 

Ever wonder why your work environment is toxic? Or why your boss is such a terrible leader? Do you know what to look for or ask in a job interview to understand a company’s culture? Social psychologist Susanna Kislenko is the authority on leadership, red flags and toxicity in the workplace. She’s a Doctor of Philosophy who focuses on leadership, researching, and supporting founder leadership in the startup environment and currently serves as the Skoll Centre Postdoctoral Fellow, specializing in Leading for Impact at Oxford University's Saïd Business School. Today she shares: How to determine leadership style Why highly sensitive people make great leaders Why great leaders have a strong mind-body connection The #1 complaint people have about their jobs What makes a workspace safe and the qualities of a great leader How to determine the type of leader someone will be Which red flags to look out for when interviewing at a company How to assess a company’s culture The right questions to ask to land the job Her unfiltered thoughts about people online sharing their leadership philosophies The biggest red flag that you should be wary of Love bombing at work and why sometimes you should be wary of the company’s perks Follow Susanna on Instagram @susannakislenko Find your forever pieces @jennikayne and get 15% off with promo code PRETTYSMART at jennikayne.com/PRETTYSMART! #jennikaynepartner     Get up to 50% OFF @honeylove by going to https://www.honeylove.com/PRETTYSMART #honeylovepod

Jenni Kayne is the founder + designer of her namesake brand Jenni Kayne: a California lifestyle brand that inspires women to live well every day. Her clothing, home decor, accessories (her candles are amongst my favorite) and overall aesthetic has become known amongst celebrities as one that never goes out of style. Today she shares: Launching her business as an ambitious and naive 19-year-old How making decisions quickly (discernment) is her superpower How to create your own aesthetic The first thing you should do when you move to a new place + her design principles that can make your space more beautiful The one piece of furniture you should invest in Why hiring a CEO allowed her to take the brand to the next level Why small details are important Her first meeting with Anna Wintour - and what she really thinks about her! The challenges of being a working mom Why she created her new skincare line Oak Essentials Follow her on Instagram @JenniKayne and @JenniKayneHome

Cleo Wade is the New York Times bestselling author of “Heart Talk.” Cleo knows we are living in a tender time. Her new book “Remember Love” offers words that she hopes will help people find light in periods of lostness and love after heartbreak. Cleo joins Danielle today for a heartfelt conversation. She shares:  What it was like growing up in New Orleans and how she carried the city’s sense of mysticism into her work  How her experience with postpartum depression led her to write “Remember Love” Why she thinks “soul contracts” are a great way to rethink the relationships in our lives  The power of studying your own life and defining love on your own terms Why loneliness is a uniquely human experience  What she’s learned from her biggest heartbreaks  Why she thinks an apology is the “blessing of all blessings”  How you can find out what your traumas are by exploring your belief system  What does it mean to love sacredly?  Follow Cleo on Instagram @CleoWade and check out her new book “Remember Love: Words for Tender Times” out now!

Va$htie Kola is known as “downtown’s sweetheart.” What does that nickname mean? It depends on who you ask. She’s a New York-based DJ, Director, Filmmaker, Designer, Creative Consultant, DJ and style icon whose influence has been felt far and wide. She has emerged as a role model for young tastemakers.” In other words, she’s kind of like the OG influencer. And she broke barriers  in 2010 when she became the first woman ever to craft a collaborative Air Jordan sneaker! Today she shares: What it was like to direct music videos for stars like Justin Bieber and Kendrick Lamar.  Her initial foray into film + how she kick-started her career Seeing her first video treatment for Common air on MTV The challenges she faced as a female director in the mid-2000s Why she is a good representation of culture in this digital era + has a love for everything analog How a birthday cake led to her becoming the first woman to create a colorway for the Jordan brand Her entry into sneaker culture  The tastemakers she loves Balancing life as a mom and DJ Navigating a cross-cultural relationship with her Danish husband Follow Va$htie on Instagram @Va$htie Get 15% off OneSkin with the code PRETTYSMART at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod  Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code PRETTYSMART at OSEAMalibu.com.

Taryn Delanie is a content creator, comedian and beauty pageant winner! She holds titles! She was crowned Miss New York 2022 and was the first runner-up in the 2022 Miss America competition. Her viral TikTok sketches as heaven’s receptionist caught the attention of millions. Today she’s sharing:  How delusional confidence has served her well in life Why your dreams should only matter to you The importance of listening to your gut Her favorite and unexpected dream realized When she experienced the most joy in her life The hardest day she had in New York Where the inspo from her hilarious skits came from What she has learned about grief  The biggest change in her life since becoming Miss New York Insights into beauty pageants The myth of soulmates Follow @taryndelaniesmith on Instagram and @taryntino21 on TikTok!

If you’re someone who doesn’t cook or doesn’t know how, you might think that the kitchen is the most intimidating place in the world. But today’s guest, food personality, former chef, former food editor at Bon Appétit, and NYT bestselling author Molly Baz says it doesn’t have to be. Her entire goal is to inspire a new generation to find joy in the kitchen and take pride in putting a home-cooked meal on the table. In her new cookbook “More is More,” Molly is helping us learn the foundational tools to become a better cook. Danielle + Molly discuss: The one ingredient that will change your food! Why Molly dropped the “Chef” title The unique way Molly hustled + trained to be a chef in fine dining establishments  Why she chose trial by fire over a traditional education when preparing to be a chef  Her pivot into the word of food media, working for Bon Appetit and Epicurious  Her views on how someone can refine their palette through their mindset (and what it means to be a curious eater!) Why she worries about modern conveniences like UberEats or Postmates making the art of cooking obsolete  How she learned to say “YES” versus “NO” by identifying her purpose in life The ability that sets an amateur cook from a professional one What she sees as her biggest failure Her journey to becoming a bestselling cookbook author with her 2021 book “Cook This Book” and her new release “More is More” How to build the perfect sandwich  Her favorite restaurant in the world Follow Molly on Instagram @MollyBaz and grab her book here!

In the past 20 years, the Internet has developed a culture of its own. And one woman who has been at the forefront is Taylor Lorenz, a Tech Journalist, Content Creator, and the Author of the new book “Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet.” With the distinction of being recognized as one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40 leaders in Media and Entertainment, Taylor possesses a deep understanding of how digital culture has shaped our lives. Today, she shares:   Starting out as a female tech reporter (one of the ONLY ones) Online Harassment + navigating a male-dominated landscape The most impactful influencers (and how they changed culture) Predicting digital trends + platforms  TikTok and her vision for the app's future evolution Addressing and dispelling a popular TikTok conspiracy theory The pivotal moment when the unique culture of the internet became evident How Tumblr (an OG social media platform) exposed her to a new community of people Dissecting the power and misconceptions surrounding influencers Unpacking the profound impact of AI-driven algorithms Her predictions about the trajectory of AI technology and what users want Her thoughts on Threads - is it here to stay? Reclaiming autonomy from the grip of social media platforms Her thoughts on the idea of content creators uniting in a collective effort   Follow Taylor on Instagram @taylorlorenz and preorder her book Extremely Online, here!

Elaine Welteroth is many things, including inspiring. She’s a New York Times Bestselling Author, Award-winning Journalist, former editor-in-chief of “Teen Vogue,” TV host, mother and wife. We dive deep into her book “More than Enough,” and today Elaine shares: What does greatness entail? How to maximize the mountain climbing phase of life Why celebrate the little wins can make all the difference Why she struggled with feeling not enough and too much Being a deep-end friend (versus a shallow end friend) Having big expectations of friendships + being let down sometimes How to tap in to your ‘zone of genius’ The importance of community and the solo journey (seasons) Her experience with the urgency on the call of her life Leaving her dream job because she was being called to pursue something else (and how she knew) Having the courage to ask for more money The scariest and smartest things she did in her career Giving herself a promotion  The importance of creating boundaries from naysayers Where her most creative ideas come from More insight into one chapter in her book that she’s NEVER talked about Her light and the relationship that dimmed her big/bright aura! Recognizing when love is not love Follow Elaine on Instagram @elainewelteroth and check out her book More Than Enough!