In this episode of Naked Beauty, I dive into the ongoing battle for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as it relates to beauty. This conversation is multifaceted, so I knew we had to talk with some industry experts who have been championing inclusion throughout their whole careers. I talked with my mother, Jerry Devard, to gain her insights from a corporate viewpoint, as well as Sir John, global artist and advocate for multicultural beauty, and Kendra Bracken Ferguson, a venture capitalist committed to supporting black founders. Together, we explore the rollback of DEI initiatives, the significance of mental health as we live through unprecedented times, and actionable steps for supporting black-owned brands and businesses.Shop this episode on ShopMyShelfLearn more about BEAMRate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on AppleThanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi beauties! It feels so good to be back from maternity leave. So much has changed since our last episode of 2024 – my daughter Jade has made her arrival and we’re all adjusting to being a family of four. When I went on maternity leave, I chose to take a 6-week break from social media so I could really soak in this chapter in our family’s life. I learned so much in my time away from social media, and I wanted to kick off the first episode of 2025 on the six biggest benefits I experienced from being offline. After a career spent on the internet, it was amazing to see what being offline did to my sense of creativity, my ability to engage with more long-form media, and my relationship to time. I’m excited to be back on Instagram and TikTok with some new limits, but most of all I’m excited to be back behind the mic.Support Austin and John, who lost their home in the LA fires Shop my recommendations from this episode Find Naked Beauty at Credo Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last episode of the year, I was the Naked Beauty interviewee. Our incredibly talented producer, Mbiye Kasonga, and I sat down to reflect on the previous two years we’ve spent working together. She asked me about my interest in storytelling and my experiences after a full year of working for myself and taking creative risks. It gave me a chance to talk about my early interests in audio storytelling and the inspiration I drew listening to Wendy Williams after school every day. We also talked about our professional partnership and how committing to decisiveness and rejecting perfectionism helps us get our work into the world. Of course, none of this hard work would be possible without great support, and we dove deep into how respect and support in our romantic lives make it easier to chase our dreams. Thank you so much for an incredible year of Naked Beauty, I’m excited to welcome my baby into the world and take a break, but I’m even more excited about the great beauty stories we’ll get to tell in 2025. Tune in as we discuss:How to build and lead a strong teamWhy consistency and transparency are the most vital tools for early podcastersHow the podcast industry has changed over the past eight yearsOur predictions for the future of beautyRate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Mbiye: @mbiye_kFollow Mbiye’s Podcast Production Company: @moyo__mediaListen to Mbiye’s Podcast: Unbound Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“For me, my flaws are what make me and I've learned through years to embrace that, and I like them now.”Issa Rae, actress, producer, and serial entrepreneur talked about all things beauty and self care on this week’s episode. Issa shared what it was like growing in L.A. and how a trip to Senegal reaffirmed her beauty when she was still in high school. We talked about her iconic looks on Insecure and she underscored how exciting it was to have collaborated with the talented crew who built the worlds so many of us love. Talking about her successful projects led us to an interesting discussion about why she has avoided most cosmetic procedures and embraced what others in the industry might perceive as flaws. When we talked about her many businesses, including her stake in a sailing team, she reiterated that her collaboration with other brilliant people is what has made these ventures so successful. Tune in as we discuss:How she navigated not feeling beautiful as a childHer Stanford days, including unique campus traditions The hairstyle and role that transformed her life What informs the unique visual aesthetic fans know and loveHer latest project ‘One Of Them Days’ - a buddy comedy featuring SZA and Keke Palmer How she manages boundaries and privacy in her personal lifeProducts Mentioned:Hair: Sienna Naturals: Dream Curl Mousse, Dream Curl Cream, Shampoo, Untangled Conditioner Skin: Ole Henrickson DewtopiaFragrance: Chloe Atelier Des Fleurs Cedrus Eau De ParfumFenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Eau de ParfumRate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Issa and Hoorae Media: @issarae @hoorae Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode of Naked Beauty, I spoke to three writers from top beauty brands: Glossier, Dieux, and Sol de Janeiro for a deep dive into all things beauty copywriting. In the crowded landscape of beauty, tone, and voice are key ways for brands to break through the noise. I’ve been wanting to do an episode on this topic for so long - tune in for conversations with Laura Casciola of Dieux Skin, Hardeep Gill, formerly a copywriter for Glossier, and Janell Hickman of Sol de Janeiro for an in-depth discussion of what it takes to translate brand personality into copy that sells. We discussed the collaborative efforts it takes to write copy, the importance of intentional messaging, and how to customize copy for social media. We also got to dive into what it takes to become a copywriter and how artificial intelligence might change the field. Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Cyndia: @cyndiaharvey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir John and I had a fascinating conversation with Dita Von Teese, the Queen of Burlesque. We talked about her childhood and the Hollywood starlets that inspired her to transform into the pinup girl of her dreams. Dita shared with us how her start dancing in the rave and strip club scene empowered her to always be her unique self. We also got the inside scoop on her Vegas show, a compilation of her life's work that includes original and iconic Bob Mackie costumes and of course her incredible beauty and skincare routine. Our chat illuminates Dita Von Teese’s lasting ability to give people permission to be their full and eccentric selves.Tune in as we discuss:Why what you build is more important than what you’re born withDefining feminism as one that allows women and lgbtq+ people to embrace their eroticism and powerBurlesque’s surprising American roots and eccentric historyThe beauty rules she’s learned from incredible older womenHer skincare secretsHow the history of perfume inspires her scents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another Beauty Rant/Beauty Rave, and this time I had to dedicate an entire episode to the beauty cycle I’m currently in the grips of: lash extensions. What started as a simple birthday set of lashes has turned into a whole lash journey and I unpack it all, lash blindness included. I go over some practical advice on maintaining extensions, discuss the importance of communicating effectively with lash techs, and suggest alternatives like lash serums and my favorite strip lashes.Shop all of the products mentioned in today's episode here: https://shopmy.us/collections/927424Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Shop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our follow-up conversation Elaine and our mothers discuss the many lessons that motherhood teaches us about ourselves before and after giving birth. Elaine talked about the Birth Fund, and what spurred her to provide midwifery care to families across the U.S. She explained some of the differences between the traditional medical model and midwifery, which can provide lifesaving care that mends our maternal health crisis. This conversation illuminates how birth choice is critical for expecting mothers.Tune in as we discuss:What inspired Elaine Welteroth to start BirthFundWhy the midwifery care provided by Birth Fund is urgentElaine’s powerful home-birth storyHow Elaine learned that giving birth could be transformative and empowering if one is supported effectivelyLearn more about BirthfundRate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Elaine: @elainewelteroth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description: In this heartfelt episode of Naked Beauty, I sat down with Elaine Welteroth, an acclaimed journalist and founder of Birthfund, along with our iconic mothers for an intimate conversation about motherhood. Elaine and I are deep into our second pregnancies, a time that sparks a lot of reflection, so we thought it’d be great to reflect with the women who influenced us the most: our mothers. We explore the profound wisdom and self-care habits passed down from their mothers and hear their perspectives on what it takes to build a decades-long marriage. This episode is full of black maternal wisdom about love, identity, motherhood, and the invaluable support systems in our lives.Tune in as we discuss:The significance of choosing strong partners The challenges and rewards of balancing work and family Our mothers’ approaches to raising mixed-race and Black childrenHow parenthood has changed since our mothers had us Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Elaine: @elainewelteroth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I think self-love and happiness are habits” - Law RoachIn this episode of the Naked Beauty podcast, Sir John and I spoke with the one and only Image Architect Law Roach. We explore his remarkable journey in transforming celebrities into fashion icons, delving into his path from the south side of Chicago to styling stars like Zendaya, Celine Dion, and Megan Thee Stallion. We also discuss his new book, 'How to Build a Fashion Icon,' and emphasize the pivotal role of confidence. Law opens up about his creative process, the importance of building a personal brand and overcoming challenges within the fashion industry. He shares personal insights into his self-love and confidence journey, the mental health impacts of his career and when he feels most beautiful.Tune in as we discuss:Law’s new book, How to Build a Fashion Icon, and his key tips on cultivating confidence Law’s creative process and vision for his clients How Law approaches building his own personal brand Law’s top beauty favorites Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Sir John: @sirjohn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.