Story + Rain Talks

Meet the set decorator whose rooms you’ve fallen in love with for years. With over 35 years in the industry under her belt, Beth Kushnick diligently deals in the details with expert precision. Transforming blank slates into authentic spaces that can reveal an entire life in seconds, Kushnick did that and then some when she spent seven seasons as decorator for CBS’s huge hit, The Good Wife. Her work generated so much viewer interest that she was able to collaborate to create the first home décor license in television history with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and eventually created her own label, BAK Home, using her expertise to make the aspirational look she’s known for, attainable to customers. “Being fiscally responsible is maybe the biggest part of my creativity” Beth explains on our 146th episode, and she shares specifics around the thrill of when it all comes together. Many a client have counted themselves lucky to have the out-of-the-box thinker and deadline-driven design vet work on their homes; and on the podcast we discuss the differences between building a set and furnishing for real life. We run through her robust resume, going behind the scenes on Howard Stern’s famous biopic, Private Parts, to how she created upper crust culture for Reversal Of Fortune starring award-winning Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, as well as many more projects. We talk Kushnick’s intimate connection to the city of New York and how its spaces and places have evolved, her greatest influences and mentors, being the best when it comes to budget, and the ardent advice she bestows upon the listeners of her podcast. We rake through recent work, from how Beth served up the supernatural for Patrick Wilson’s Insidious: The Red Door to how she applied authenticity to Yvette Lee Bowser’s Run The World, and when she worked on Katie Holmes’ Rare Objects. We go back to her start in theater, and on the iconic and original Little Shop Of Horrors. Then there’s the author she turns to when it comes to her craft, what’s world-class when it comes to wallpaper, and some for her favorite Amazon finds. Come along for this close look into the life of an artist who creates the vivid visuals we savor on screen. Our conversations continue as Story + Rain Talks to most talented most interesting, Beth Kushnick. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

Run The World on Prime Video

Insidious: The Red Door on Prime Video

Rare Objects on Prime Video

The Good Wife on Prime Video

The Good Fight on Prime Video

Reversal Of Fortune on Bluray

Private Parts on Bluray

Art Is Life by Jerry Saltz

How To Be An Artist by Jerry Saltz

Clinique Aromatics Elixir

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

Zibeths Velvet Cane Back Dining Chairs

Lands Downunder Italian Herringbone Throw

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper

Persimmons

This week we release our conversation with costume designer and stylist, Paolo Nieddu. Best known for the impact he made working on the hit series fabulously filled his colorful costumes---Lee Daniel’s Empire, we dish about details from the set: from key moments and how he dressed Taraji, to little-known secrets and the BTS nitty-gritty of how a stylist organizes and works with wardrobe. Paolo’s latest work can be seen on CBS’s smash The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah, the action series where the fashion is as fierce as its episode plot lines. On the podcast Paolo shares what he does to create the show’s eclectic style and exactly how he conceives of each character’s look----and we’ll be publishing that into a story you can shop on StoryAndRain.com. Then there’s an intimate deep-dive discussion about the magazine industry, being a fashion assistant and intern, and what it’s like to work at Interview. Paolo and our founder Tamara share the unique experience of having gotten their start at Andy Warhol’s iconic publication. Paolo traces back to his first days in New York and working at fellow Story + Rain Talks podcast guest Patricia Field’s legendary boutique, and how he first caught the style icon’s eye. He takes us on his career journey that begins with assisting Pat on a DKNY fashion show, to then working on a Sex And The City film, Confessions Of A Shopoholic, The Other Woman, and more. He talks working with Story + Rain cover star Andra Day on the award-winning Billie Holiday film, shares his take on what makes for a successful fashion assistant, how he researches and preps his projects, how he describes his signature aesthetic, being all about accessories, what he’s watching, collecting, and more. Our conversations with creatives continue as Story + Rain Talks to Paolo Nieddu. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

The Equalizer on Paramount+  

Lee Daniels' Empire, season 1 

Lee Daniels' Empire, season 2 

Lee Daniels' Empire, season 3  

Lee Daniels' Empire, season 4  

Lee Daniels' Empire, season 5  

United States v Billie Holiday  

Baccarat champagne glasses 

Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask 

Casa Dragones tequila

Apple AirPods 

We’re excited about all the newness from one of our favorite writers and podcast hosts, (and reluctant actor), Jenny Mollen. She’s launching her new podcast, All The Fails, and added a new Substack, The Best Friend Experience. On this week’s episode we discuss everything we love about the one-of-a-kind Substack she shares with Diablo Cody, Can I Ask You A Personal Question? and get into all the details behind her can’t-put-it-down bestselling book, City Of Likes. We get Jenny’s take on the state of social media, and she gets specific about how it’s affected her own life. And it’s not surprising how funny she is when we ask her what it takes to find a following, and about the “vicious cycle” of her voice. We cut right into the openness and honesty at the core of her work, and its origin, and talk about the time when she was rallied to become a writer. Jenny shares what it takes to get the big ideas, the book she’s planning next,  and when to share and be vulnerable, and when to zip it. We discuss her book, Dictator Lunches, how she became The Lunch Lady, and what it’s like cooking in the kitchen with her husband Jason (involves lots of 90’s tunes). Pardon the cliché, but Jenny’s a girl’s-girl, so we ask her what she looks for in a friend and she talks about the kind of women who inspire her. We chat about Chelsea Handler, Jenny’s dear friend and our May 2021cover star, talk where to live, the best salad, seeking out seed oils, and dish about a designer’s dinner party. We’re gonna be honest, there was so much chatting, we had to cut things up and edit things out…talk about a best friend experience. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Jenny Mollen. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

All The Fails podcast

Jenny Mollen on Substack

Jenny Mollen + Diablo Cody on Substack

City Of Likes by Jenny Mollen

Shop vintage + donate @theshirtsoffmyback

Dictator Lunches by Jenny Mollen

Live Fast Die Hot by Jenny Mollen

I Like You Just The Way I Am by Jenny Mollen

Jason (Biggs') Red Sauce

Juna Nightcap Sleep Gummies

Bonberi
Bonberi Mart sweatshirt 
Bonberi Body Harmony cookbook by Nicole Berrie 

Vintage army shirt

The red carpet has one thing in common these days, and that’s Tyler Ellis. The daughter of iconic fashion designer Perry Ellis seems to be fulfilling her destiny by taking Hollywood by storm and with the expansion of her luxury handbag line. On this week’s podcast, we sit down with Ellis, raised in LA by her TV writer and executive mother, her famous father tragically dying in under two years after her birth, to talk the trajectory of the brand she’s proudly built. Tyler shares the major message she received, loud and clear, from the one and only Michael Kors, when and why she felt ready to take on her last name professionally, and the importance in understanding every aspect of business. You’ll hear Tyler’s perspective on the Perry Ellis legacy and learn more about the incredible story behind her birth and brand logo. We get into the intricate attention to detail found in every Tyler Ellis handbag and meanings behind it all, what she aims to deliver in her designs, and talk seasonless sensibility. Tyler shares details around the momentous moment when she purchased her own factory outside of Florence and embracing life as an “Italiano”. Tyler shares what it’s like to compete with other luxury brands, takes us behind the scenes in loaning her line to all those famous faces, and she explains nitty gritty behind exactly how a handbag hits the red carpet. We talk the art of the handbag and working with artisans, the importance in choosing brand partners that feel special and who understand her brand, charity work and life with balance, what six things she’s most into these days, and when it comes to carrying her bags, which celebrity poses positively perfectly. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Tyler Ellis. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

Tyler Ellis Veronica Clutch

Tyler Ellis Stella Wicker Handbag

Artist  Gregor Hildebrandt

Sisley Eye Contour Mask

Ginori 1735 handmade porcelain

100% Capri clothing

On our latest Story + Rain Talks podcast, our cover star, Cleo Wade, details the freedom that comes with being a poet. She’s someone who has always had a notebook with her, or napkins she’d write on, napkins with notes she’d often share with friends. Releasing two long-awaited books within one year, Cleo shares how she came to birth her November 2023 release, Remember Love. Feeling moved to write for this moment in time, the author and activist tells us she was interested in the ways in which we can claim and reclaim ourselves to live at a pace that she describes as deeply human, and NOT at the speed of wifi. We discuss her May-release children’s book, May You Love And Be Loved, and how the most important thing she aims to convey in her books for children is that we raise a generation of kids that asks them to go see the world and to know that “we’re all in this together”.  Along with a discussion about her artist parents and first intro to poetry, the New Orleans native says she was raised in part by the city itself, a place where its bon vivant inhabitants work in order to pay their bills, so that they can go to Mardi Gras. On the episode, Cleo describes her dedication New Orleans’ really specific way of living, a way of living she follows everywhere. We get into friendship, and how it has been the “gold” of her life. We talk about the importance in not living in idea-phase, about what work in the world of fashion has taught her, why her husband has been a huge source of inspiration. We tapped Cleo for her some valuable thoughts on social media and what her role on her platforms has been. We discuss favorite things, how to be a friend to yourself, and much more.

Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes For Your Life by Cleo Wade

Remember Love: Words for Tender Times by Cleo Wade 

What the Road Said by Cleo Wade

Heart Talk: The Journal by Cleo Wade

Where to Begin by Cleo Wade

Heart Talk by Cleo Wade

House of Harlow 14k Gold Plated Thick Earring Huggie Hoop Set

Wilder Mind by Mumford + Sons On Vinyl

Goop Beauty All-In-One Super Nutrient Face Oil

Rivet Utility Worker Stretch Short Sleeve Jumpsuit

The Edna Lewis Cookbook by Edna Lewis and Evangeline Peterson

G.Label By Goop O’Neill Silk Boy Button Down

This week we're talking to the superyacht captain with 33 years of experience who became a public figure in a flash when she began starring in Bravo's beloved Below Deck, the series that's famously found fans far and wide. We sit down with Sandy Yawn to talk about how she is creative in her work, and how she's built a stellar career on the sea. We discuss her early story and what led her to sobriety, and how the before and after of getting sober has contributed to her success. Sandy shares so many stories---from the biggest moments in her career, to behind the scenes on the series and with her crew, and we discuss production, whom Sandy sees as the client, when she's filming. She shares what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated industry, and we ask her about her relationship with the vessel: the huge piece of intricate machinery that she is the boss of. Known for her nurturing, Sandy breaks down the hallmarks of an excellent leader, talks setting boundaries, resilience, her management style, and more. We talk bucket-list travel, and how she finds a sense of place in a life on the move. Sandy gets candid, 8 years in, about whether she was prepared for turning the cameras on and into her professional life, and the oversharing that the cameras beg for. This week's podcast gives you a look into Sandy's joy-filled heart, a peek into her plans for a new home, what her wedding will look like, and the boat she's eyeing for herself. We chat about why she wakes up each day filled with positive energy, but not before getting her to explain exactly how she does it: balancing being kind and generous and empathetic with commanding such respect. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain talks to Captain Sandy Yawn. Discover more:

Captain Sandy Yawn

Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo

We talked to the designer who, eighteen years ago, established and nailed an aesthetic that’s since soared in popularity. Exploding onto the scene with her leaf design made popular by Jennifer Aniston’s character in the film The Break Up, Jennifer Meyer creates and has created countless collectible pieces that define the day-to-day when it comes to modern iconic fine jewelry. Jen tells the story behind the leaf, how exactly she nabbed a much-coveted spot at Barneys New York, and making a gift for Alber Elbaz. We discuss how her father helped instill her strong work ethic from the day she stepped foot off Syracuse’s campus, and how one $500 a week PR job turned into a major magazine stint, and roles at Armani and Ralph Lauren. Jen shares her brand’s most game-changing moments, why slow and steady wins the race, and how staying in one’s lane can create success. She shares how she blindly chased the design ideas she’d had in her heart and soul… and also shares her philosophies for living life and building a brand with heart and soul. We get into the symbolism that’s core to the Jennifer Meyer collection and to Jen personally--- and her necklace that truly makes magic. There’s the Jennifer Meyer secret sauce as she describes it; you’ll hear Jen share her vision for being one with one’s jewelry. Also on the podcast, we dive into the waters of Malibu to discuss her newly-released fragrance collection, where even scent tells a story. We get an intimate peek at her Vogue Fashion Fund times, and her relationship with mentor Diane Von Furstenberg. We also talk connecting with her multigenerational customer, and how the people she surrounds herself with inspire her. Jen gives great advice for entrepreneurs and shares life lessons, words to live by, and why success means being at peace. Jen’s got a fantastic obsixed list of favorite things, including the key pieces she turns to in her own collection. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Jennifer Meyer.

Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

Jennifer Meyer Large Leaf necklace  

Jennifer Meyer Large Leaf earrings 

Jennifer Meyer Good Luck necklace 

Jennifer Meyer Diamond Wishbone necklace

Jennifer Meyer Mini Wishbone bracelet 

Jennifer Meyer Large Hammered Heart necklace

Jennifer Meyer candle 

Jennifer Meyer fragrance

Jennifer Meyer rollerball fragrance

Jennifer Meyer hand + body cream 

C + The Moon Malibu Made Body Scrub

Roe caviar

U Beauty The Super Hydrator

U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound

Favorite Daughter Jamie sweater in black

Sp5der hoodie

Sp5der sweatpants

This week has us sitting down with the food expert whose recipes are splashed all over NYT Cooking. You'll hear about her three most-made meals, and her popular pasta hashtag and its collection of dishes. You'll also hear about how she went from cabaret singer to bartender to publicist, to working on actor-turned-vintner Kyle MacLachlan's Pursued By Bear wines. We talk about exactly when it was that Colu Henry took her deep dive into the culinary world, and her extensive background in creating and editing recipes. We get into the look, the feel, the food of Colu's two cookbooks to date, and how her romantic and robust storytelling sets her apart from the rest. Listen in to hear all about spending quality time with friends, a favorite restaurant to add to your list, and an Instagram memes account to go to for laugh. Discover where Colu buys her crab, and how an air compressor became a terrific tool in the kitchen.We talk being cozy and cooking on vacation, and why doing so tests one's creativity. On the podcast Colu shares stories around her writer-roots, and the future she's got waiting for her in the 1800's Nova Scotia farmhouse she and her husband are restoring themselves. Colu shares what it's like working with a spouse, a surprise discovered deep amongst the pages of one of her years of notebooks, and her Italian grandmother's influence. Get a candid and firsthand account about what it's like to be a woman working in food, and the pressure that exists to be a "bon vivant", but to look a certain way. We discuss stepping into her voice, and the details around her beloved Substack that make it worth reading and why it feeds Colu's own soul. We talk meat as an accessory, how turkey is the chicken that keeps on giving, and the tastemaker shares what tops her list of favorite things from books to condiments. Of course, we break down the best and chicest ways to feed a crowd including the masterful menus she has and is putting together for her birthday and for the holidays. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Colu Henry. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

ColuHenry.com
Colu Cooks cookbook

Back Pocket Pasta cookbook

Rona Inao/Iso Tasting Wine Glasses

FLY BY Jing Chengdu Crunch Sauce

Pike Place Market Fresh Wild Dungeness Crab Meat

Ilia Color Block Lipstick in Flame

Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza

Girls They Write Songs About by Carlene Bauer

Bread Toast Crumbs cookbook by Alexandra Stafford

Pizza Night cookbook by Alexandra Stafford

House + Garden A Year in the Kitchen cookbook

Sezane Gaspard Cardigan

Sezane Otto Sweater

Sezane Basil Cardigan

If you don’t know, now you know. James Alsop, a one-time contestant on Bravo’s Step It Up And Dance, is now one of the entertainment industry’s most sought-after choreographers doing some of the most interesting work. James began her career as co-choreographer of Beyoncé’s videos, tour, and promotional materials for the multi-platinum selling records Who Run the World, Dance For You, and Love on Top. And we get into how she made her way into dancing with Beyonce, here. She also assisted in choreographing the huge hit  music video Booty by Jennifer Lopez. James has worked with Paul Thomas Anderson for the Haim music video Just A Little of Your Love, and after choreographing the entire season of Maya Rudolph and Martin Short’s variety series Maya + Marty, she was asked by Tina Fey to choreograph season three of the Emmy nominated series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. A truly incredible body of work, and there's more. She most recently choreographed the Peacock musical TV series Girls5Eva starring Story + Rain cover star Busy Phillips, and UnPrisoned, the Tracy McMillan series starring Kerry Washington.  Then there’s Pose, the superbowl, the Dahmer series, Emily In Paris; the Gossip Girl reboot; and it was a dream come true when James worked on the Whitney Houston biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody. There are so many more projects to name. On the podcast we talk about that experience as well as her vision for The Devil Wears Prada musical, and being inspired by the ways people walk, for it. We discuss working through her feelings and her skillset to choreograph the upcoming A Transparent Musical, based on the Emmy award winning series from Amazon Prime. We talk living by the rule of rising to the occasion to be the best you can be, the time she surprised Beyonce, and the time she was at a party that changed her life, and that was shortly before Story + Rain's Editor in Chief and Founder, Tamara, met James. James loves to teach; we talk about her teaching style and philosophies, and her dancing style---"intricate, sexy, and groovy” is how she describes it. We talk all about sticking with the dream, and the opportunities that opened up after she decided to  “wake up and see who I really am every day”. Tired of hiding, James transitioned in 2015. From stories about mornings in the kitchen with her siblings singing and dancing with her mother blasting Luther Vandross, to when Tamara met and dressed James in LA on a Bravo ad campaign set and when she knew there was a superstar before her---you’ll be inspired. One of our favorite people, a one-of-a-kind talent, our conversations with creatives continue as Story + Rain talks to James Alsop. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Folllow James Alsop on Instagram
I Wanna Dance With Somebody 
Above And Beyonce Video Collection + Dance Mixes
Spare by Prince Harry The Duke Of Sussex

You will love this conversation about the latest and the best of the beauty industry with our next guests. We're talking to Violet Grey’s Founder, Cassandra Grey, and Sarah Brown, Executive Director of Violet Lab at Violet Grey, formerly of Vogue. This is a unique chat and a special treat, getting to talk to the esteemed experts together. VioletGrey.com, of course, is a content and commerce destination (we know a little something about that) for all things beauty, that so many of us love, known for its supremely-vetted, highest-quality product; product that Violet Grey helps to make most coveted. Go behind the scenes with us here, as you get an intimate peek at how Cassandra and Sarah collaborate and complement one another. We discuss the before and after of acquisition by Farfetch in 2022. You’ll learn all about exactly what Violet Lab and The Violet Code is, how it works, what makes for a great committee member, and how (and why) it was established. From Cassandra and Sarah, you’ll hear about their deeply cared-for customer, the Hollywood influence on Violet Grey content, and how celebrity beauty has evolved over the years. Cassandra tells her story of starting up, and Sarah shares what she gets to experience at Violet Grey that she hadn’t experienced previously in her career. Cassandra and Sarah share how they know when a new-to-market brand is doing something special, and we do an extremely deep dive into all the products, tools---and the artists and entrepreneurs behind them---that are making the biggest impressions on each of them…including what’s in their own current personal beauty and wellness routines today. Get a glimpse ahead at the future of beauty with some interesting insight into what’s set to start taking off and trending. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Cassandra Grey and Sarah Brown of Violet Grey.  Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

violetgrey.com

Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops ⁠⁠

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick ⁠⁠

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick ⁠⁠

Westman Atelier Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer ⁠

Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tint ⁠⁠Chanel No 102 Foundation Blending Brush ⁠⁠

Brodo bone broth ⁠

Dr Loretta Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40  ⁠⁠

R + Co Bleu Essential Shampoo ⁠⁠

R + CO Bleu Essential Conditioner ⁠⁠

Eighth Day Regenerative Serum ⁠⁠

U Beauty Resurfacing Compound ⁠

U Beauty Resurfacing Body Compound

Lyma Laser