Unleashing some really important facts about men’s facial skin. Blowing little-known---but hugely important facts---wide open on Story + Rain Talks with Freddie Sheridan, CEO + Founder of The Y Code skincare for men, who is also a global retail expert. When you started the journey into skincare you were---and are--aiming to redesign mens skincare from the ground up, because you recognized that many men’s skincare lines were ultimately women’s products disguised in masculine packaging. How so? How are you also changing the way that men look at pigment for the face, in that your eye cream is tinted? It’s no secret that people have become more savvy about what they put on their skin, and brands have wisened up too. The why of Y Code's ingredients: algae, green coffee, wild ginger, wild yellow gentian root, and sea salt. Well Kept eye cream was released by The Y Code in January 2025. The consumer. What has feedback been like? Has anything surprised you or delighted you, in particular? Product roll-out and things get exciting for The Y Code in the fall. Can you talk a little bit about what’s next for the brand? Knowing all that you know about men’s skin, what would you encourage men to focus on in terms of facial care routine? Discover more:

The Y Code and Freddie Sheridan  https://theycode.com/blogs/journal/founders-story

A Note From The Host: As we settle into summer, we’re talking about the cozy life with Heather Taylor of Heather Taylor Home: the home furnishings brand known for its tablecloths and more, a brilliant West Elm collab, and Heather's fresh and wise ways to modern entertaining, and elevating the every day. From star party planner Mindy Weiss, home décor curators Nicky Kehoe, filmmaker Nancy Meyers known for her inviting and covet-worthy movie set interiors---to what topped the tables in Busy Phillips’ home for our October 2020 cover story, Heather Taylor Home is an LA-based brand that has become a go-to for those with an eye for great taste and the the je ne sais quois perfection of the brand's casual vibe. Heather Taylor Home celebrates the classic but look twice…and see the twist. Heather shares the build to her brand from its blog roots, the ways in which her very bedroom as kid was the inspiring springboard for her aesthetic, and how she’s never been afraid to ask and go for it. We discuss the media and the importance in the way in which one presents, and I get all the tips and picks for entertaining---outdoors, and otherwise---and all those elements of cozy, down to the music that makes things sing. Heather discusses favorites from her line, being her own muse, how people are now cool with coordinating and are looking towards color, where home décor trends are headed, and what she’s turning to in fashion and accessories. Listen to this most delightful chat that is sure to bring you LOTS of ideas. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

heathertaylorhome.com

Heather Taylor Home Glen Plaid Tablecloth

Heather Taylor Home Gingham Napkin Set

Heather Taylor Home Soho Two Toned Indigo Moon + Stars Garland

The Company Store bedding

Gap High Rise VintageSoft Relaxed Joggers in Neon Pink

Gap VintageSoft Wedge Crewneck in Neon Pink

Clare V. Polka Dot Heart Charm

Clare V. Nautilus Charm

Martha Stewart Gardening: Month By Month

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A Note From The Host: This week’s podcast dives into fashion, one of my favorite subjects, as I speak to a founder who is changing the face of kidswear. No dinosaurs and trucks; no unicorns and rainbows---the Young Days brand is way out of the box in a sea of homogeneity that is the children’s clothing market. Young Days comes right out and tells you, ‘We are the cool kids on the playground emulating the effortless street-style cool of our parents.’ Co-founder Jeremy Fischer tells the story of one of my favorite brands, one that he launched with his father. And while his family has had 50 years of experience in the business, you’ll listen to Jeremy’s passion and mission for doing things his own way, and on his own path. For example, he found one of his key creative employees on LinkedIn, an apparel and textiles designer with a quilting background who brings the keen sense of color and pattern to the brand. You’ll hear Jeremy state, ‘I don’t want to be a 100-million-dollar brand’. With a longtime front row seat to how garments are often produced, Jeremy and Young Days keep sustainability top of mind. You’ll hear how a deep love of children and family is at the core of this business, which brands inspire Jeremy personally, the learning curve he experienced in photographing corrals of kids as the face of his brand, and the unique Young Days unisex vibe that makes these clothes pass-downable, kid-to-kid. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

youngdays.com

Young Days Bolinas Pant

Young Days Marin Pant

Young Days Davis Sleeper

Young Days Chapel Hill San Fransicso Set

Young Days Mammoth Sleeper

Young Days Juneau Cardigan

Young Days Santa Fe Tee

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A Note From The Host: This is one of my favorite conversations with a behind-the-scenes fashion insider. I love this discussion for its niche and unique perspective. Megan Ryley is Senior Vice President of Product Development + Production at Aimé Leon Dore, the luxury streetwear brand that everyone is talking about, but that Megan tells me---has a much wider audience than what that category actually evokes, in words. The longtime textiles expert and fashion production veteran tells us what it’s like to work in the industry of fashion, which she describes as ‘chaos’; every single day there’s going to be something unexpected that happens. From owning her own factory and working across cultures, to what women are REALLY up against as bosses in the workplace and how fabric sourcing plays an incredibly important role in the expression of a garment---Megan shares her experience and fashion’s fascinating backstory. Episode 170 of Story + Rain Talks also delivers some great advice: cutting out the ‘fluff’ and being very direct with her expectations is what has made Megan truly successful in her work… and if you are planning to start a brand? The most important thing that you can do, is be very connected to your customer base. Hear Megan’s perspective on how we're entering into a unique part of history when it comes to fashion, where people are so uniquely attuned to their own sense of style and how, in turn, creatives and designers are given so much more space to do their thing. It was lovely to listen to the juxtaposition in how she lives and does life, juggling her high power and high pressure job, and of course---hear all about how cult brand Aimé Leon Dore approaches storytelling and delivers a lifestyle. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

www.meganryley.com

aimeleondore.com

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A Note From The Host: April Gargiulo has done something revolutionary and extraordinary in skincare. Listen ahead to hear all about the ingredients in, and unparalleled and intricate processes of--- Vintner’s Daughter---the, what’s now a 3-product, 3 step routine for skin ‘nutrition’---with the recent launch of their cleanser. April’s beautiful brand has long been a favorite of mine ( I find myself running out of serum, and rushing to replenish it) for many reasons, so it was a treat to talk to April about it all. The intangible, intoxicating scent of her serum; the way that repeated use TRULY transforms skin…are just some of what I, and many, love about Vintner’s Daughter. On the podcast you’ll learn about what it means to really take care of your skin. When most skincare companies are concerned with revenue, April’s strictly focused on what’s best for skin. And to hear April talk about how gratitude is built into her brand and built into her life’s outlook? It's so incredibly uplifting, and deeply inspiring. We talk about life in Napa, her definition of luxury, and how, coming from a family of winemakers, she was taught at a very early age that cutting corners and taking shortcuts would mean not being able to make the best product. April talks the beginnings of and the trajectory of the brand, explains it’s ‘G to G’ recipe for growth, and shares the rituals and favorites in her day-today routine. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

vintnersdaughter.com

Vintner's Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser

Vintner's Daughter Active Treatment Essence

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum

Maria McManus Oversized Shirt in White

Dries Van Noten Amethyst Shadow Graphic Ochre Lipstick

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A Note From The Host: Our next guest is a one-of-a-kind creative who just so happens to be someone who crafts the world’s most elevated and unique cocktails. Alba Huerta is a Houston-based bartender + owner of Julep – who won a James Beard award for her work. She’s a cocktail educator, author, and longtime business owner – inheriting that drive from her parents, and who ploughed head-on into her purpose. What is so interesting about Alba’s story, is that while she’s made a serious mark in technique and flavor, it’s people and the hallowed aspects of hospitality that have driven her since the age of 18 to be the celebrated creator and entrepreneur she is today. Here, Alba humbly shares her unique story of cocktails that tell a story, with a lot of advice for business owners and fans of food and drink along the way.

Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

Julep

Julep: Southern Cocktails Refashioned by Alba Huerta + Marah Stets 

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A Note From The Host: Years ago when I found her first book in our Oprah Magazine offices books section, I discovered that Aimee Raupp is an NYC-based acupuncturist and women's health specialist. I began seeing her instantly, and have continued to do so to this day. It was back then that I learned about the details of really clean eating. I learned about bone broth before it became a health and wellness buzz phrase. These days, Aimee's practice has evolved to include a focus on guiding women through fertility and pregnancy. In this episode, we're talking nutrition: for fertility and egg quality, for baby, and for general optimal health.

The Egg Quality Diet – what is it? How is this diet good for other aspects of health? What else can it help? Eating for egg quality. Eating for general fertility. How to feed baby once they've transitioned to food. What to focus on feeding baby for brain health and general optimal health. What does Aimee as a health professional, choose to eat, and what does she always avoid? The 3 Avoids. How Aimee chooses food when she lacks the ability to make the meal: the way to cleaner foods and what to order when eating out.

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aimeeraupp.com

Chill Out And Get Healthy: Live Clean To Be Strong And Stay Sexy by Aimee Raupp 

Yes, You Can Get Pregnant by Aimee Raupp

Body Belief: How to Heal Autoimmune Diseases, Radically Shift Your Health, and Learn to Love Your Body More by Aimee Raupp

The Egg Quality Diet by Aimee Raupp

Super Nutrition For Babies by Katherine Erlich, MD

Brodo bone broths

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The Stories – “The first dress that I ever draped was the dress that got on the cover of Women's Wear Daily, for my first collection. That was life changing. It was a dress that Zoe Saldaña wore. It was also the version of a dress that I made for Oprah for her magazine cover. The dress that Michelle Obama wore to a White House Correspondents' Dinner changed my trajectory.”

The Backstory – "It was at Bill Blass that I did my Phd; my Masters." “I grew up in a household where we could talk about fashion, love, music, dance – everything – at the dinner table. Nothing was off limits. And when I came to America, especially in the fashion world, when I would ask questions, people would say, ‘No, I don’t want to talk about that.’ I was shocked.” “You have to figure out what is happening around you, and survive it. In order for me to survive and really live my dreams, I had to be my own cheerleader. I allowed myself to feel things, but then also to move on.”

Wisdom Rains –  “'Too much' and 'too little' are words that have been hurled at me ever since I was little and I've learned to brush it off.” “I've learned that you can't please everyone, all of the time.” “If you’re living your life as part of a marginalized group, you’re in constant fight-or-flight mode and you don’t even realize it. Then that gets amplified with what’s happening politically, culturally.” “In watching my mother I realized that elegance isn’t a posture; it’s a practice.” “Early on, I learned that I was never going to get any validation, I was seen as a ‘cautionary tale’; and what that did was, it freed me from ever needing any.” “I think it’s very important for all of us to live in the world exploring what we want to do in life, and having that encompass joy, purpose, and impact.”

On Inspo – “My mother is my blueprint for strength.”

On Writing His Memoir – “Editing down was really challenging. I made sure that it was done with grace. This is not a salacious, take-down book. That's not my being. I wanted to tell a story. While writing, it was really challenging to relive things. But it was also cathartic.”

On The Fashion Industry – "What I love about the fashion industry, which often doesn't get shared, is the camaraderie that we have. There's a genuine sense of support and understanding amongst all the creatives and entrepreneurs. It's not easy. It might look fabulous and wonderful, but the hard work is real hard work. I always say five percent of it is glamour, the rest is sheer hard work.”

On Anna Wintour – “I know she can be polarizing, but the industry is better because of her.”

On Cynthia Rowley – “She had an independent brand and she worked really hard. What I really loved about her, and I'm inspired by her constantly, is that even in the hardest times she was always joyful. She was always optimistic.”

What Else – “Towards that time, we started the foundation and that’s where I would say everything shifted for me. We started with twelve girls, and we’ve gone to more than three hundred children. These are streetworker’s children; inmates’ children; these are children who have no access to education and a livelihood”

Obsixed – A collection of Prabal’s current lifestyle obsessions.

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parabalgurung.com

Walk Like A Girl by Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung Polka Dot Brocade Flounce Minidress

Proem Eau de Parfum by U Beauty

Tracie Martyn Spa

Prabal Gurung: Style and Beauty with a Bite

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

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Take three deep breaths, and join our conversation with one of the most exciting creatives today, and it all starts with abundant appreciation. In an exclusive interview, we sit down with #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Podcast Host Of On Purpose, Chief Purpose Officer of Calm, and Story + Rain Cover Star, Jay Shetty. This is a favorite, must-listen Story + Rain Talks episode, not only because Jay shares the spot-on words of wisdom he’s known for, but because we take on topics you might not have heard Jay tackle. We get into his brilliance for branding, how his extensive study of public speaking serves him today…and the time in his life when it hadn’t yet served him. He lets us in on the intimate ritual he shares with his guests before each of his podcast recordings, and the four pillars of intentionality embedded within all the work that he does---pillars Jay created when he first started his work---hidden and not publicly known, but that he shares in this intimate conversation with us, here. Jay gets granular about the different aspects of his brand, and the importance in individualizing each of his projects in look and feel and tone, for all of his vast and dedicated audience. When it comes to those On Purpose podcast episodes that we all can’t get enough of, Jay allowed us to pick apart his process, and on the podcast you’ll learn how his candescent conversations take shape. Here’s a hint: you might be surprised to find out that it’s way less polish, so much presence…and all about the "50|50".  We chat with Jay about his lifestyle, and about how and why he learned to pay more attention to his health. We discuss his routines and practices, and the things that top his list of current obsessions in the health and wellness space. Story + Rain, of course, makes them shoppable here, and in our shop on Instagram. Then there’s the sage advice: the book he recommends highly, a message to content creators about substance over form, one of the things that allows him to achieve laser-like focus, and why building relationships slowly is the way to work it. We take a large look at how Jay Shetty took his talent for talk on his recent Love Rules tour, a show peppered with all his personal loves, and where worldwide audiences felt his meticulously-assembled and powerful demonstrations of the magic in growth. We dissect his definition of creativity. And because he’s delightfully curious to the depths, we had to ask Jay to take us through exactly what his research process looks like, and it all starts with something he’s struggling with. This, and so much more on this very special episode. And hopefully more to come, when we catch up with our favorite creator next. He’s a true treasure for how he has and continues to transcend and transform wisdom and wellbeing, and because he puts more beauty and love into our world. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Jay Shetty. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

Subscribe to the Jay Shetty On Purpose Podcast

8 Rules Of Love book

Think Like A Monk book

Jay Shetty Book Bundle

40% on Calm App subscription to receive The Daily Jay daily meditations

The Culture Code book by Daniel Coyle

Broc Shot

Rae Wellness Pre + Probiotic 

Omni-Biotic Microbiome Restoration 

Clothing by Bode 

Sony 1000XM5 Headphones in black

follow @storyandraintalks on instagram for our very latest drops + more pod content HERE | follow @storyandrain magazine on instagram HERE | follow our host + founder @tamarararappa HERE | discover, read, shop: fashion, beauty, wellness, tv + film, food, travel, interviews, + more on storyandrain.com

The Stories – “I was out of a job for the first time in my life. During the pandemic I went from someone who was upbeat, to someone who was clinically depressed. Ricardo said to me, ‘Why don’t we do something together, to get out of this state of sickness.” “There is a huge opportunity out there for high quality footwear that has some fashion element to it, but it’s not necessarily runway pieces. Shoes need to address everyday women’s lives.” “Because we make everything in house, we’re able to play with some crazy fabrics. At the end of the day, you have a fashion director giving direction on the product. Think about it: who is running Stuart Weitzman?

The Backstory – Went after her style.com job by approaching legendary editor Candy Pratts Price, who lived in her building, with a note and flowers. Wore her lucky Altuzzara dress twice on interviews with Barneys New York. “Our plaids and velvets… all come from the suppliers for Alaia, Gianvito Rossi, everyone else. We go to the best; we want the best – and we give that to our customer.”

Wisdom Rains – "I have the grit to continue on, every day, and I believe that it has been instrumental in my career.” “The business needs to evolve; the technology is evolving. You have to keep moving. I’ve used that a lot in my career. When I thought I was so comfortable, I then thought… now it’s time to move. It’s key: you need to learn, and you need to move very fast.”

On Inspo – “Those pages, for me, were a dream and the biggest inspiration. The time that I have the most nostalgia about were the years with Claudia, with Cindy, in Chanel pastels. They were happy, they were gorgeous, they were there to inspire you.”

On Authenticity – “It came organically… how we wanted to market the product, how we wanted to pass joy. And we never wanted to be a cookie-cutter brand.”

What Else – “We're adding other creative directors into the fold. We'll take care of your business. So if you want to launch a shoe collection, give me a call."

Obsixed – A collection of Marina’s current obsessions.

Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

larroudé.com

Larroudé Miso Platform Clog in Dijon Plaid Shearling

Larroudé Verona Macrame Ballet Flats

Larroudé Salma Sandal

Larroudé + Markarian Mule

Larroudé + Altuzarra Pump

Larroudé + Jonathan Cohen Flat Lo Sneaker

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