Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike

Content creator Cyrus Veyssi has built a community of over 3 million followers across platforms and is known for their hilarious and heartfelt videos. Now, they’re bringing their positive message to a new medium: an affirmations journal titled Honey. In this episode, they discuss their favorite affirmations for the beginning of the year—including “I will not let people mistake my kindness for stupidity”—and discuss the realities of being in the public eye, the origins of their “bougie gay uncle” character, and the story behind the title of their new book.

In 2012, Daniella Kallmeyer began her eponymous brand with $7,000 and a goal to create a line of elevated wardrobe staples. Fifteen years later, her ethos remains the same and she’s getting her flowers for the brand she’s built—in fact, this year Kallmeyer was nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. On this episode, Daniella discusses bootstrapping her brand, what it was like in the room at the CFDA awards (hint: Rihanna was sitting next to her), and why she credits so much of her scrappiness to her time spent ghost-designing for QVC.

Jeanelle Teves is the Chief Commercial Officer of Bugaboo and the founder of the career growth resource Work Lunch. In 2021, after a decade running teams at Nike, Teves joined the Dutch stroller company Bugaboo, and with her at the helm, the company has become one of the fastest-growing stroller companies in North America. On this episode of Nice Talk, she shares all the lessons she’s learned throughout her career—including why she views being a manager as a privilege, the surprising mentors she’s met along the way, and the journaling method she recommends to help build confidence at work. Plus, she gives us all the details of her workwear closet, from blazers to barrel jeans.

Meredith Koop is the stylist responsible for Michelle Obama’s style evolution over the years—from her days as the First Lady to beyond the White House. This November, the duo teamed up to document the details of that journey in the new book The Look. On this episode of Nice Talk, Koop delves into her journey to becoming Mrs. Obama’s stylist, the surprising elements she had to consider when crafting an outfit (podiums were a big deal, for example), and what life post–White House has meant for Mrs. Obama’s style.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph is an Oscar-winning, Tony-nominated actress, best known for her roles in projects like The Holdovers and Only Murders in the Building. Yesterday, her newest project, A24’s romantic comedy, Eternity, hit theatres. On this episode, Randolph discusses her relationship with money, power, and style, including why her family prioritized education, when she admitted to herself she really did want to win an Oscar, and why she aims to be “stylish” rather than “fashionable.” Plus, she shares behind-the-scenes details of filming Eternity and where she would choose to spend her own personal eternity.

Bobbi Brown is one of the most legendary names in beauty. Not only is she the makeup artist responsible for introducing no-makeup makeup, but she's also an author 10 times over and the founder of both Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Jones Road. On this episode, she reflects on her career through the lens of money, power, and style while discussing her recent memoir, Still Bobbi. She shares how she dealt with the difficult emotions she felt after being fired from her own company, the wise financial advice she got from her father, and how she found her personal makeup aesthetic.

In this live-recorded episode, we’re talking about money, power, and style with actor, producer, and founder of Personal Day Lili Reinhart. She first rose to fame in 2017 as Betty Cooper in The CW’s Riverdale and since then has gone on to star in countless other projects, including the recent Mubi release Hal & Harper. In addition to her work as an actor, she’s also a producer (a role she says makes her feel powerful) and has founded her own production company, Small Victory Productions. Outside of the entertainment industry, Reinhart launched the award-winning skincare line Personal Day last year, which was inspired by her personal struggles with acne. In this episode, she discusses being a romantic, why she sometimes feels “unstylish,” and the important money conversations she had with her fellow Riverdale castmates.

This episode, we're focusing on power with the founder and CEO of Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment Laura Correnti. In 2019, she witnessed the crowd chanting "equal pay" when the U.S. Women's National team won the World Cup, and at that moment, she knew she had to leverage her background as an advertising-industry powerhouse to expand the commercial investment in women's sports. Today, Correnti discusses the correlation between being an athlete and being a C-suite executive, why she teamed up with Sue Bird to create her company, and what the future of women’s sports looks like.

This episode, we’re focusing on the topic of power with Crooked Media VP of Political Strategy Shaniqua McClendon. With the special “odd year” elections coming up on November 4, she’s here to break down what’s at stake this Election Day. She’s also offering advice on how to stay engaged in politics when cynicism creeps in, what to expect in next year’s midterms, and how to build a robust media diet without being constantly overwhelmed. As the creator of Vote Save America and a longtime political organizer, McClendon has so much important information to share, so be sure to tune in.

On this episode, we’re focusing on the topic of money with financial translator and author of the Broke Millennial book series Erin Lowry. In 2013, Lowry began sharing money advice on her blog, Broke Millennial, and quickly became a trusted source for personal finance advice. Today, she’s sharing how to approach money conversations in romantic relationships, why you might need a financial therapist, and the helpful scripts you can use when declining invitations to dinners that you just can’t afford. Plus, in case you missed it, Nikki got engaged recently! So Lowry shares all her wedding and future planning advice with her. Tune in to hear Lowry’s expert financial POV on everything from prenups to trad wives.