My Mission Is...

Today, Mission is joined by author and New York pioneer Owen Levy. From growing up in Brooklyn to being mentored by poetry vanguard Marianne Moore and working a variety of jobs in the arts, Levy’s life is full of stories, some of which he shares with us today. His first novel, A Brother’s Touch, which came out in 1982, was a smash-hit, detailing his life as a young Black African-American male in New York post-Stonewall. It became the first mass-market, best-selling gay novel after a favorable review by the New York Times and still lives on as a literary favorite, among his other work.

Tune in as Owen Levy talks to us about publishing a novel about the gay experience in the midst of the HIV crisis and his experience with receiving reviews from different audiences. The author also talks to us about his relationship with his mentor Marianne Moore while growing up in Brooklyn. Levy additionally delves into his experience moving to Germany and living both the European and American experience.

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Joining us this week is musical artist and all round innovator Dr. Kate Stone. From her time exploring Australia to her college success stories to her sensational electronic performances, Kate Stone has used optimism and a thirst for new ideas to fuel her adventures. Among her accomplishments is her 2018 TED Talk, “The press trampled on my privacy: Here’s how I took back my story” which now has over 1.4 million views. She heads electronic gadget company Novalia, spreading appreciation for and the sensation of electronic music to music lovers everywhere.

Tune in as Dr. Stone takes us on a tour of her life, telling us about her love-hate relationship with higher education, the importance of travel, and the DIY-essence of online entertainment.

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Instagram: @drkatestone

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Karina: @missionmagazine

In this week’s podcast, Mission sits down with ‘model mogul’ and president of IMG Models Ivan Bart. Bart’s illustrious career has seen placements at talent powerhouses such as Ice, Wilhelmina, and Ford Models, before finally settling at IMG. In his time with the agency, Bart has overseen the management of a fleet of A-List models, including Gigi and Bella Hadid, Joan Smalls, and Hailey Bieber, as well as signing new talent, including the likes of Ashley Graham and Millie Bobby Brown.

In his discussion with Mission, Bart explains the ins and outs of model management, from supporting models through hard times to his favorite city to visit on the job.

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Instagram: @ivanmbart

IMG Models Worldwide: @imgmodels

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Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

For this week’s Mission podcast we got the chance to virtually chat with Anita Bitton, casting director extraordinaire who has worked on campaigns and runway shows for big-name fashion brands like Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu. Born and raised in London, Bitton first interned for stylist Edward Enninful at i-D magazine before landing a job at Next Model Management in New York. She later went on to work at Ford Model Management and then had a quick stint as a fashion-show producer for Kevin Krier. In 2001 she decided to go freelance. With over 25 years of experience, the casting director now resides in Brooklyn where she works as the founder and creative director of her own New York-based agency, Establishment Casting Inc.

Tune in to hear about Anita's years in an ever-changing industry, from her early days in modeling to the satisfactions and challenges of her current casting work.

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Instagram: @bitton

Establishment Casting Inc.: @establishmentny

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Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

Trailblazer Christina Adane exists at the forefront of England’s youth climate movement. The 16-year-old is co-chairwoman of the Bite Back 2030 organization which aims to “achieve a world where all young people have the opportunity to be healthy,” by urging the government to feed vulnerable children. In addition, Adane is a creative and speaker, writing poems pertaining to the Black Lives Matter movement and sitting on the panel at numerous events, including The First London Children’s Food Summit, and Mission’s very own Youth Climate Change round table at Soho Works, London.

In this edition of My Mission Is, Christina talks to Karina and Sharleen about finding her voice as a young activist for racial and social equity, from her childhood activism to her current position in the London #BLM Movement.

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Instagram: @christina.adane

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Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org

In this episode, hosts Sharleen Spiteri and Karina Givargisoff sit down with LA-based makeup artist Kate Lee. Throughout her illustrious and evolving career, Lee has garnered A-List clientele, working with the likes of Dakota Johnston, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain. Her work regularly appears in publications such as Vogue, ELLE, and Vanity Fair, as well as in campaigns for industry giants including Givenchy, Gucci, and Calvin Klein. In addition to said accolades, Kate recently assumed a role as Chanel Celebrity Makeup Artist.

Episode 17 sees Kate get candid about the modern-day beauty industry, where she feels the business heading post-pandemic, her love-hate relationship with Instagram, and why she wouldn't trade her current path for anything.

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In episode 16, hosts Sharleen Spiteri and Karina Givargisoff talk with Glasgow-born Faye McLeod, the Visual Image Director at LVMH. With a degree in fashion design from Glasgow Clyde College, McLeod started her career working in both window and set design for the likes of Selfridges and Topshop. In 2009 she became the Creative Director of Visual Merchandising for Louis Vuitton and later advanced to her current role in 2012. Her job includes dreaming up striking window displays for Louis Vuitton’s global storefronts.

Tune in for a discussion on creative freedom, cultural diversity, and childhood influences, as Faye tells us about her maximalist tendencies, her dream collaboration with NASA, and the significance of the shop window as a democratic, underappreciated art space.

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Instagram: @fayedreamsalot

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Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

Daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney, Mary McCartney is an accomplished photographer and filmmaker. When she’s not taking portraits she’s advocating for the environment and a vegetarian lifestyle. Alongside her father Paul and sister Stella, the three launched Meat Free Mondays, a non-profit organization which aims to raise awareness about the environmental determinants of animal agriculture and industrial fishing. Mary is also an ambassador and global advisor for Green Monday.

Hosts Sharleen Spiteri and Karina Givargisoff got the chance to (virtually) sit down and have a chat with Mary about family life and her creative process. The photographer talks to us about everything from horseback riding as a kid in Scotland to how she is finding meaning during this time in isolation. We also got to hear about the various photography and cook books she’s published over the years. Tune in for inspiring words about food, art and friendship from innovator Mary McCartney.

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In our 14th episode, Sharleen and Karina speak to social activist and founder and CEO, Fereshteh Forough. Fereshteh moved from Afghanistan to Germany in childhood and eventually settling in the United States. She has a degree in computer science and a Masters from the Berlin Technical University. In 2013, Fereshteh presented a TED Talk on digital literacy. In 2015, she founded Code to Inspire, an organization that empowers women in Afghanistan by teaching them how to code. Code to Inspire has taught 200 female students to date. An advocate for gender equality, Forough works tirelessly to empower women through digital literacy, education, and financial independence.

In this edition of #mymissionis, we chat with Fereshteh about her childhood as an immigrant, how Afghanistan is more than a war zone, and her mission to build Afghanistan 2.0, “hopefully we will have a generation that will code for peace rather than war," she remarks.

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FIND FERESHTEH

Twitter: @f_forough

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Instagram: @codetoinspire

Twitter: @CodeToInspire

Website: codetoinspire.org

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

Phillip Lim is a world renowned fashion designer born in Thailand and of Chinese descent. He and his business partner, Wen Zhou, debuted their label 3.1 Phillip Lim in 2005 at New York Fashion Week and have been creating stunning designs for the global modern citizen ever since. Since the brand’s inception, 3.1 Phillip Lim has gone on to receive numerous accolades for their work, including 3 CFDA Awards for Womenswear, Menswear, and Accessories. The brand currently has six stores in New York, Tokyo, London, Los Angeles, and Miami.

In this episode, Karina Givargisoff and Sharleen Spiteri chat with Phillip about growing up watching MTV, the perfect pair of trousers, and the ugly and beautiful sides of the industry. We also get to hear about the designer’s collaborative work with One x One: The Conscious Design Initiative where he had the opportunity to partner with researcher Charlotte McCurdy to promote scientific innovation in fashion design.

Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media.

FIND PHILLIP LIM

Brand: @31philliplim

Personal: @therealphilliplim

Website: 31philliplim.com   

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Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org