Too Niche?

I sit down with beauty culture critic Jessica DeFino, creator of Flesh World on Substack, for a deep dive into the forces shaping beauty right now. We cover Skims’ face shapewear marketing, this summer’s facelift discourse frenzy, Goop’s lasting influence, and the politics behind today’s beauty standards. Club Artist's Way Fall 2025 enrollment is now open! Use code EARLYBIRD for $50 off at clubartistsway.com. Sponsored by OSEA — use code NICHE at oseamalibu.com for 10% off your first order. I’m especially loving their Hyaluronic Lip Booster right now.

From the end of And Just Like That to Taylor Swift making podcasts cool again, I catch up on the current cultural rollercoaster before sitting down with my close friend Brittany Jackson, a two-time breast cancer survivor. We talk women’s wellness, early detection, creativity as a healing tool and her advocacy to fund research through Pink on the River (happening in Chicago on Sept 7). Plus, this week’s Niche of the Week brings us to a carb-forward Erewhon find. Sponsored by OSEA — use code NICHE at oseamalibu.com for 10% off your first order. I’m especially loving their Hyaluronic Lip Booster right now.

A dive into my current wellness icks, quitting cannabis, creative resets, financial lessons — and a brief answer to the question I still get most about That’s So Retrograde. Plus: a double Niche of the Week. For more things Too Niche? --> check out the Too Niche Mood Board on Substack (it's free!). For clips of the show follow @this_is_tooniche on Instagram and TikTok, + I'm on instagram @elizabethkott <3

Introducing Too Niche?’s unofficial book club—today we’re talking The Ambition Trap by Amina AlTai. I’m joined by Amina to explore what it really means to move from burnout to purpose. We get into the post-girlboss reckoning, the zone of genius vs. the zone of “meh,” and how redefining ambition can reshape our work, creativity, and everyday lives. Follow me on socials @elizabethkott and @this_is_tooniche | For notes and links and more from the Too Niche Universe sign up for the Too Niche Mood Board for free on Substack!

I’m joined by my favorite pop culture historians Matt Harkins and Viviana Olen of THNK1994 for a special Summer 2025: Niche or Sheesh? We get into everything from And Just Like That hot takes to Toner Wars on skinTok, Tracy Anderson’s baguette-gate, and the frozen yogurt renaissance. We also talk real-life housewife run-ins (hi Phaedra! hi Kenya!) and their upcoming Gallery Girls live show in NYC. For notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, check out the Too Niche Mood Board for free on Substack.

Erica Taylor, a makeup artist and TikTok sensation specializing in beauty for women over 40, shares her transformative journey from retail to online fame. She highlights common makeup mistakes that age the face and offers her favorite product recommendations. The conversation explores embracing creativity and vulnerability on social media, while also providing essential tips for flawless makeup application and skincare for sensitive skin. Erica's insights empower women to enhance their confidence and embrace beauty at any age.

Kelsey J. Patel joins me to finally share the true story behind her infamous Vanderpump Rules appearance as “Jax’s Reiki Master.” We get into what really happened behind the scenes, how reality TV editing twisted her words, and why the internet couldn’t let it go — even years later. Plus: how The Artist’s Way helped her reclaim her creativity, her thoughts on Jax’s recent rehab storyline, and what it’s like to go unexpectedly viral in the Bravo-verse. Thank you to our sponsor OSEA use code NICHE for 10% off at Oseamalibu.com For notes, links and other matters if importance in the Too Niche? universe, visit the Too Niche Mood Board on Substack.

Creative technologist and early AI adopter Taryn Southern joins me to explore how creatives can use AI to enhance their process. We get into what’s helpful, what’s scary, and what’s next. Full AI tool list + links on the Too Niche Mood Board (Substack)!

I'm kicking off a new era of Too Niche? and joining me is the Internet’s favorite scent expert, Sir Candle Man. We dive into his origin story, spring/summer fragrance trends, and the power of brand storytelling—plus his top recs under $30, $50, and beyond. Recs links from this episode here and show notes and more over on the Too Niche Mood Board. Thank you to OSEA and their new Ocean Wave Cleanser for supporting today's show, use code NICHE for 10% off at OSEAmalibu.com.

Wrapping up our wedding-core era with one last round of listener questions—how to handle plus-ones, what I actually spent, and dealing with tricky family dynamics. Plus: registries, rings, and my biggest takeaways from the whole thing. Cleaned out my closet this week and so thankful for being able to recycle the clothes I can't re-sell with Trashie Take Back Bags, Get 10% off your order at Trashie.io with code NICHE10 Thank you to HigherDOSE, my current favorites are their Sauna Blanket, Bath Soak, and Red Light Mask - NICHE15 for 15% off at HigherDOSE.com Next Club Artist's Way session begins May 15, get $75 off with code: NICHE Book an Office Hours session here Next Mood Board Workshop: May 4th, sign up here Here's and updated list of all my current promo codes Stay niche. ✨