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Back Row with Amy Odell
Back Row with Amy Odell episodes
- The Real Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
Amy Odell sits down with Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio, authors of JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography, to discuss the real romance between Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr. that inspired the FX show Love Story, executive-produced by Ryan Murphy.
Terenzio assisted JFK Jr. in the 90s at George magazine, and McNeil covered him as an editor for People. For their book, they interviewed more than 150 people who knew him. They share personal encounters with the couple and people in their inner circle, talk about what John would have made of the frenzy over his style today, and explain what in 'Love Story' is pure fiction.PART TWO, including discussion of how the Kennedy family deals with relentless press and the REAL reason for that famous fight in the park, is available to Premium subscribers of Back Row. Sign up at backrow.net for full podcast and newsletter access, or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.CHAPTERS00:00 Why everyone is talking about JFK Jr. and Carolyn again01:25 What the FX show “Love Story” gets right (and wrong)06:10 Why Gen Z is suddenly obsessed with them07:10 The truth about JFK Jr.’s style12:10 What drew John and Carolyn together21:00 What Carolyn Bessette was really like29:30 Carolyn’s struggle with paparazzi35:30 The iconic wedding dress39:15 What the show said about the famous park fightLinks & Resources:Partner message: Go to beehiiv and use the code AMY30 to get 30 percent off a subscription.
Get RoseMarie and Liz's book: JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography
Sign up for the Back Row newsletter
Follow Amy Odell on InstagramFollow Liz McNeil on InstagramFollow Rosemarie Terenzio on InstagramThis episode was produced by Amy Odell, with audio editing by Joyce Ciesil and video editing by Jonathan Voytko.
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43 min - Dior Review: Can Jonathan Anderson Cure the 'Luxury Ick'?
Paris Fashion Week is off and running. Jonathan Anderson's fall 2026 Dior show kicked off the week — and Amy liked it a lot more than she expected! She reads her review of the show from the Back Row newsletter, which discusses how fashion has become mass culture and why designers like Anderson need to reach aspirational shoppers. She ends with the "Loose Threads" news roundup, featuring Condé Nast offloading 'Them,' and more.
PLUS, a teaser from Monday's interview with JFK Jr.'s biographers (8:45), inspired by the FX show Love Story.
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10 min - The Secret Rules of the Hermès Game: Who Actually Gets a Birkin?
Amy sits down with Noëmie Leclercq of luxury news outlet Glitz Paris to debate the "Hermès game" (aka everything customers allegedly have to do in order for boutiques to offer them the chance to purchase a Birkin or Kelly bag). They discuss pre-spends, background checks, and Hermès’ apparent alliance with Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Noëmie also talks about why superfakes have become a big problem; how the class action lawsuit in the U.S. has affected Hermès sales practices; and the secret “grey market” where billionaires buy the most exclusive bags.
In Part 2, Noëmie and Amy discuss whether or not the Birkin bubble has popped, why the market for "superfakes" is booming, and the (grim) outlook for Birkins on the secondhand market.
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers of backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Chapters
00:00 — Introducing Noëmie Leclercq of Glitz Paris
01:10 — Is Hermès really stalking their clients?03:00 — Breaking down the Hermès game05:40 — Hermès locations: US vs. France06:00 — Who is the ideal Hermès customer?07:40 — This French law requires Hermès to background check clients12:10 — The pre-spend: does Hermès really need to sell furniture?19:00 — What is the grey market for Hermès products?24:40 — The Hermès lawsuit: how did it change the game?28:40 — Can the Birkin be overexposed?30:20 — Listen to part 2 for Noëmie’s take on if the Birkin bubble has poppedLinks & Resources:
Back Row newsletter
Amy Odell — Instagram
Noëmie Leclercq — Glitz Paris
This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Joyce Ciesel, and Jonathan Voytko.
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33 min - Marina Larroudé on Anna Wintour, Barneys, and Building a Multi-Million Dollar Brand
Amy Odell talks with fashion director-turned-entrepreneur Marina Larroudé about why she left Teen Vogue for Barneys -- and then started her own brand. Marina recalls Style.com's earliest days; how top brands really weren't on board with the internet; what it was really like to work for Anna Wintour; and what she saw from inside the industry that convinced her there was a big business opportunity in footwear.
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at BackRow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Marina talks about how she makes walkable heels; what it was like for Taylor Swift to wear her shoes on the Eras tour; and her plans for the future of Larroudé.
Products mentioned in this episode:
Boat shoes
Fuzzy lined ballet flat
Dolly platform sandal (the same style Taylor Swift wore):
Stella sneaker
CHAPTERS:
00:00 — Introducing Marina Larroudé
03:00 — Why are people so fascinated by Anna Wintour and the Condé Nast world?
05:30 — What does the fashion director at Teen Vogue do?
09:00 — Marina's experience at Style.com
13:30 — The Bella Thorne photoshoot disaster
16:30 — Marina's experience working with Anna Wintour
18:40 — Why Marina left fashion media to work at Barneys
25:10 — On founding Larroudé: "No one was making high-quality shoes for drop-off"
35:00 — How Marina makes Larroudé's shoes comfortable
38:30 — Listen to part 2 for Marina's take on what makes a walkable heel
Back Row newsletter
Amy Odell - Instagram
Marina Larroudé:
Instagram
Larroudé:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Jonathan Voytko, and Joyce Ciesel.
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41 min - Why Big Fashion Doesn’t Dress Olympic Figure Skaters
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published February 17, 2026.
Why don't fashion designers view Olympic figure skating the way they do red carpets — as a forum to exploit for brand impressions? The sport is fabulous, glamorous, and awe-inspiring, after all. Amy digs into how figure skating costumes are made and why the world's top ready-to-wear designers generally don't want anything to do with making them — and why the athletes also aren't clamoring for brands to step in.
Plus, a special New York Fashion Week report (6:00).
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9 min - Confessions of a Luxury Sale Whisperer (with Madison Avenue Spy)
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
In Part 2, Amy and Lila debate the Saks Fifth Avenue bankruptcy — detailing the brand's fraught relationship with Amazon, the possibility of government intervention, and what it all means for the future of the department store.
On this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy talks with Lila Delilah, THE Madison Avenue Spy, about the current unhinged state of luxury retail — from the "Very Important Client" system to how luxury brands deal with all-out frenzies over once-secret sales. They also discuss the Hermès game, brands that have threatened to sue Lila, and more.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Introducing Madison Avenue Spy
5:10 – Were there VICs in 2010?
7:00 – How have luxury sales evolved?
13:10 – The lines are getting out of control
15:00 – What are the most legendary sales right now?
16:10 – Will The Row do invitation-only sales?
20:00 – Hermès shoppers are begging for appointments
27:00 – The brands that threatened to sue Madison Avenue Spy
31:10 – The bag-buying experience at Chanel vs. Hermès
34:40 – Reacting to the “Great Reset”
37:45 – Was Hermès ever really a fashion brand?
41:00 – What could break the spell Hermès has on shoppers?
Links & Resources:
Back Row Newsletter
Amy Odell - Instagram
Madison Avenue Spy:
Substack
Website
Instagram
TikTok
Telegram
This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
46 min - Are Awards Shows Just Luxury Marketing Now?
Are awards shows still about movies — or are they now luxury fashion marketing disguised as cultural prestige? And who’s actually funding all these celeb red-carpet appearances — the studios, the stars, or the brands?
Amy Odell is joined by Debra Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief of awards season news outlet Gold Derby, to break down how modern awards campaigns actually work and why the fashion is so important. Amy and Debra talk Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme press tour and if it was too annoying to win (23:10); who really pays for all the glam (14:30); and how the Met Gala came to overshadow the Oscars (33:30).
Subscribe to Amy's Back Row newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/
Follow Amy on Instagram
Follow Debra Birnbaum on Instagram
Check out Gold Derby for more awards season predictions.
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39 min - How the Bravo Look Took Over Fashion and Beauty (with Watch What Crappens)
Part 2 of this episode is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
After years of quiet luxury, opulence is back in fashion.In this episode of the Back Row podcast, Amy traces the origins of fashion’s current obsession with excess — all the way back to… Bravo?Joined by Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam of the wildly popular Watch What Crappens podcast, they discuss how Real Housewives culture shaped today’s luxury landscape, even as the fashion world distanced itself from reality stars. Lauren Sánchez may be one of the most talked-about attendees at couture week — but Bravo stars have been doing her look for 20 years! They also talk about how much Bravo helped get Gigi and Bella Hadid's careers going, Rachel Zoe's debut on RHOBH, and more.CHAPTERS00:00 – Introducing Ben & Ronnie of ‘Watch What Crappens’01:20 – Lauren Sanchez’s style is just the Bravo look05:00 – Breaking down the Bravo aesthetic10:40 – Are Sky tops coming back?16:50 – Will fashion ever accept the Real Housewives?24:30 – Would the Hadids have happened without Bravo?27:30 – What’s up with Mauricio’s Chanel blanket?30:40 – Is Rachel Zoe too confident for the Real Housewives?37:10 – Bravo misidentified a Kelly bag40:20 – The Birkin that costs $1,000,000 (before you can buy it!)44:30 – Is plastic surgery the new Birkin?Links & Resources:Back Row newsletterBack Row Podcast:AppleSpotifyYouTube
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52 min - Celebrity Brands: What Works, What Doesn’t (Goop, Rhode & More)
In Part 2, Ana Andjelic and Amy Odell break down Meghan Markle’s new brand As Ever, how The Row quietly built one of the most powerful luxury brands in fashion, and what's next for Chiara Ferragni after her acquittal.
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Celebrity brands are everywhere—but what separates the ones that thrive from those that fail? Can fame alone turn a celebrity idea into a lucrative enterprise?In this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy Odell sits down with branding expert Ana Andjelic (former Chief Brand Officer of Esprit & Banana Republic, author, and the voice behind the newsletter The Sociology of Business) to break down the secret formula behind the most successful celebrity businesses.From Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop to Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty and Hailey Bieber’s billion-dollar sale of Rhode, they explore why fame alone isn’t enough, how authenticity clashes with marketing hype, and what it really takes to turn star-power into a lasting cultural phenomenon.CHAPTERS00:00 – Introduction: Why some celebrity brands succeed while others fail03:20 – What is Gwyneth Paltrow even selling at Goop? And with the relaunched Gwyn clothing line?09:10 – The death of quiet luxury: where does Gwyn fit?10:50 – Apple Martin and Gwyneth’s viral Calvin Klein moment11:30 – What’s kept audiences captivated by Gwyneth for 30 years18:00 – Predicting the future of Gwyneth’s brands21:10 – Alex Cooper and Unwell Hydration is more than just trendy water29:00 – The key to Hailey Bieber’s $1 billion brand deal32:45 – Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is playing the long game35:00 – Shay Mitchell and Toddler Face Masks: rage bait or reputation ruin36:00 – Meghan Markle’s brand As Ever: “Last time I talked about her, I got raked over the coals”Links & ResourcesBack Row NewsletterAmy Odell - InstagramAna Andjelic:InstagramThe Sociology of Business (Newsletter)The Business of Aspiration (Book)Hitmakers (Book)This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
38 min - Retail Confessions: Inside Harrods — Demanding Shoppers and the Rules of the Ultra-Rich
On this holiday episode of The Back Row Podcast, Amy Odell shares a special installment of Retail Confessions, featuring an anonymous interview with a former Harrods sales associate.
The interviewee discussed what it was really like working on the shop floor at one of the world’s most famous luxury department stores — from intense sales pressure and demanding clients to the unspoken rules of the über-rich. To preserve anonymity, the interviewee’s responses are read by Amy’s husband, Rick.
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12 min
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Fashion, style, celebrity and culture. Insider knowledge. Outsider honesty. Humor included.
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