SheSez with Linda Grasso

Beauty industry journalist and critic Jessica Defino shares what she has uncovered interviewing scientists about the long-term effects of using anti-aging products including two of the most highly touted: retinol and hyaluronic acid. The clean beauty proponent and minimalist also shares the four products she routinely uses on her own skin.

Jessica's articles have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Allure.

Jessica's career was born out of her experiences working as an app content creator for two of the Kardashian sisters. The job required Jessica to frequently sample products sent to the sisters, and she believes all the skincare products—loaded with chemicals and other harmful ingredients— caused her to get a terrible case of dermatitis that topical steroids couldn't even heal.

An enlightening conversation with two women who will make you less afraid of getting older: 63-year-old Susan Feldman and 53-year-old Wendy Euler. Both women unabashedly put themselves out there as the face of their brands—both of which aim to stop age shaming. Both women experience life to the hilt and are constantly taking on new, challenging experiences—undaunted by age. In this episode, we learn the how and why—plus some things they truly love about being in their 50s and 60s.

Susan Feldman is the co-founder of One Kings Lane, which she sold a few years ago, the founder of her current passion: In The Groove. It is a platform for shining a light on age-defying women, while offering advice on how to stay current on everything from tech to fashion.

Wendy Euler is a self-described "age activist and style enthusiast" and the founder of the Goodbye Crop Top platform. Wendy keeps followers entertained on Instagram with her aspirational advice on creating your own person style, regardless of age or trends. She is also a host of the 5-minute podcast, Cropped: A Midlife Minute.

An enlightening conversation with two women who have made it part of their life's mission to give people a better understanding of women who choose not to have children—and to dispel some of the myths that surround those decisions (Gosh, she must have had a terrible childhood...)

Dr. Amy Blackstone is Professor of Sociology at the University of Maine. Her book Childfree by Choice (Dutton, 2019) offers a definitive investigation into the history and growing movement of adults choosing to forgo parenthood.

Meghan Daum is the author of five books, including the New York Times bestseller, Selfish, Shallow & Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers On The Decision Not To Have Kids. She has written for magazines including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic. Meghan also hosts The Unspeakable Podcast.

10-time Emmy nominee Jerilynn Stephens, who heads up the hair department for The Voice (NBC) and Legendary (HBO Max), doles out advice on that thing we care so ridiculously much about: our hair. Topics include styles and remedies for thinning hair; advice for coloring your own hair; the best non-dye products for covering up grey; the latest in weaves and extensions; and the most comfortable, natural looking wigs. Jerilynn, who is a cancer survivor, also shares what she hopes will be a cautionary tale. When Jerilynn's health began to fail, she (and her doctor) thought she was just experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, when her symptoms were actually due to ovarian cancer.

Photographer Sherry Rain Barnett has captured some of the most iconic legends in music— from rock to pop…from disco to punk: Prince, Sting, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor, Judy Collins, Janis Joplin—the list is endless.

In this episode, Sherry shares some of the stories of behind the images she's taken at live music venues over the past 50 years, and about her new book Eye of the Music: The Photography of Sherry Rayn Barnett: New York to LA, 1969-1989. A visceral trip down memory lane, it is a stunning collection of more than 200 images of performers, all shot on film, some of which have never been seen.

Relationship expert Liz Pryor joins Linda for an exploration into the notion of having and being with a soul mate. Is there such a thing? How do you know if you are with yours? And: how to find one. Plus how to cultivate a soul mate-like relationship with your partner.

Everyone, it seems, is using powdered collagen these days. Jennifer Aniston, the face of one of the more popular brands, glows in the ads. Nutritionists and social media influencers wax about its merits. But where is the proof—the research—that says edible collagen works for anti-aging? In this episode, Linda tries to find out, journeying from the National Institute of Health all the way to the University of Washington, where she discovers an expert in the field of collagen as it relates to the human body: scientist/biochemist David M. Hudson. Also discussed: topical collagen.

Tips and coping strategies for The Sandwiched Generation— middle-aged adults who are caring for both their aging parents and their own children—from Laurie James, author of Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding on and Letting Go. Laurie shares about her journey of raising four teenagers, while at the same time, caring for her mom who suffered from dementia. Laurie touches on the importance of support groups; how to choose a caretaker (and let one go); that delicate task of helping your parents get their affairs in order; dealing with siblings who have different opinions—and more.

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For most of her life, actress Shannon Kenny Carbonell was on a mission: trying to become a famous actress. Though she underwent extensive training and education and ultimately became a successful working actress, she never quite achieved the status that she envisioned. And when, as the wife of actor Nestor Carbonell (Lost), she had two kids, everything changed. Shannon essentially lost her career drive. In this episode, Shannon candidly shares her struggles—the juggle of motherhood vs. career, the regret over taking herself out of the career game and how she finally came to terms with her decision, crafting a new story for herself—with new dreams—as a devoted wife and mother and an author.

Shannon has written a new book based on her experiences: All is not LOST: How I Friended Failure on the Island and Found a Way Home.

Five-time Emmy award-winning costume designer Marina Toybina shares about her journey as the child of Russian immigrants who taught herself to sew at the age of 8—to becoming one of the most sought-after behind-the-scenes professionals in Hollywood. Marina dishes on everything from designing dazzling couture ensembles for the likes of Carrie Underwood and Britney Spears to her current gig: creating the elaborate, celebrity-concealing costumes for the FOX reality TV show The Masked Singer.