Story + Rain Talks

We open 2022 with such a good one. Episode 91 of Story + Rain Talks brings you Danielle LaPorte, a member of Oprah’s Super Soul 100, creator of The Heart Centered Membership---discussed here on the podcast---and she’s of course the author of The Desire Map, The Fire Starter Sessions, and White Hot Truth. Her own podcast, With Love, Danielle ranks in iTunes’ Top 10 for wellness with over 1 million downloads. On the podcast, we open with a question based on a quote from Danielle about the lines between work and life being blurred, an interesting and timely concept to consider. A pioneer and pillar in wellness and self help, we talk about Danielle’s innate go-getter attitude, if deadlines freak her out, and the common thread she’s seeing in the people she connects with in her membership community and at large. We talk about her serious expertise in creating a strong brand. Speaking of brands, we discuss her full circle moment and experience with the Oprah brand, which is where Story + Rain founder, Tamara, was first acquainted with Danielle, when she was looking to feature the book that she co-authored, Style Statement, in Oprah Magazine. Well that business fell apart, Danielle flew solo, and it changed the course of her life; Danielle shares all the details here. Danielle says these are the times for collaboration. We discuss how she chooses people to work with, how she hires a team, people who are red flags, The Tolerance Trap. We discuss more on entrepreneurship, motherhood and leaving room for imperfection and building community, how she wants people to meditate and how she can see disruptions coming. We talk about the practice of "reflective living;" living a reflective life and not a reactive one, also the subject of her next highly anticipated book.  We loved talking to Danielle about her creative process, how she collects and hones ideas, and burning notebooks in ritual. We get into social media, its pros and cons, and how it contributes to what she calls “unease.” There's a conversation around mental illness and how more content needs to be about the SOLUTION. Then there's Danielle’s #obsixed list, filled with great tips, items, and tools for kicking off this year with health and high vibes, that you can discover and shop here:

• DanielleLaPorte.com
• Heart Centered Full-Year Membership
• Heart Centered Monthly Membership
• Guided Meditation Bundle: The Complete Healing Collection
• Daily Ritual Deck Bundle
• Relationship Nourishment + Releasing: Guided Reflections Bundle
• Attunements: The Virtues Class Series
• The Fire Starter Sessions Audio Course

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

Our final podcast of 2021 is the perfect treat. We caught up with actor, singer, and Story + Rain wellness contributor Lea Michele, to cover it all during the end of what she calls “her intense year of growth, reflection, and softening”. We discuss how she’s recently relocated back to the east coast, and how being in the New York City area is helping her in motherhood---a topic she is deeply passionate about---and also the unspoken loneliness in motherhood. Then, we talk New York versus LA, and the cherished wellness circle she found on the west coast. Lea gets candid about the extreme blessing it’s been to have worked so much, but how it's also taken its toll. On this podcast, Lea explains that this year she’s felt the most herself she’s ever felt in her entire life. Of course we talk theater, theater prep, all things Spring Awakening, including its recent revival, and her special friendships there. In fact, we talk in great detail about the many relationships Lea’s had with creative friends and collaborators, and the flip side that exists. As you listen to episode 90, you’ll be a fly on the wall as Lea’s asked for fashion advice during this very recording, you'll hear her thoughts on the nostalgia trend in entertainment, and what it was like learning to be professional at such a young age.  Lea shares the important life lesson she’s learned about perfectionism and not forgetting to connect with those around her. And then there's Glee. Lea explains how working on Glee was like being in the Olympics, and the specific story behind meeting Ryan Murphy for the first time. She dishes about how she was so nervous to shoot with Ashton Kutcher in an elevator for the movie New Year’s Eve, kissing him in Times Square in front of a ton of people, and how he convinced her to join Twitter. We talk in depth about how she manages her relationship with and presence on social media, and before we end our chat, Lea fills us in on the wellness practices she’s focusing on during the winter. We’re excited to share that at the top of 2022, Lea will be back on Story + Rain with her column: Beauty Body Baby. We’ll also be bringing you two of her exclusive recipes in our Recipe Box. Lea shares the back story for her amazing new lullaby album, and the #obsixed items she’s currently obsessed with, including the pieces that make up her current chic go-to look. This is a joyous chat filled with good stories, great insights, lots of positivity and hope--- the best conversation to wrap up the year with. And for you incredibly lovely and devoted Lea fans whom we talk about on this podcast, this one’s especially for you. We’d love to hear from you, so be sure to rate and review. Episode 90 features one of our favorite people, a wellness warrior, our guest editor, and one of the world’s most beautiful voices and talented performers. Discover + shop Lea Michele here:

• Apple AirPods
• Organic Italian Red Wine
• Natural Epsom Salt
• Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets
• Once Upon A Farm Organic Snack Pouch
• Anine Bing Leather Pant
• Watch Lea

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 story of healer Deborah Hanekamp is both inspiring and miraculous.

Profoundly affected by the experiences of two powerful water rituals in her life---her baptism, and during a moment while studying plant healing---have led her to what she calls her artistic medium, her beautiful and unique healing modality: ritual baths. Another source of inspiration is travel, and it’s part of what's contributed to her richly colorful life. She loves putting herself through intense culture shock and seeing what connects us all. On episode 89, Mama Medicine, as Deborah is called, talks about her treasured time in Thailand and life-altering days in the Amazon. But it’s been her willingness to find the good in difficult experiences that has not only carried her through life but propelled her higher, and towards her life’s work. At age 17 she was working four jobs and found herself living on her own. When she was told she had a tumor in her ovary that would prevent her from having children, she refused to accept it, and embarked upon a deep dive into becoming her own healer. Forever led by the strong sense that she had no option to ever give up, today Deborah helps others see the bigger picture in life through her medicine readings, and is a guiding conduit of healing through her signature ritual baths. On this podcast, we discuss her gorgeous book of the same name, and we talk about how, at age 12, she recalled talking to friends about the auras of color she sees around people and around certain inanimate objects, including the Statue Of Liberty! Mama Medicine’s mission is to encourage and empower people to become their own healers, like she, by seeing their own auras, and creating mindset shifts. You’ll also listen to a discussion on the commonality she’s seeing in people these days; how we’re taking accountability, and looking to go deeper. We touch on the pandemic, and how grief can be a spiritual activator while providing a wider view of the world.  We get into the specifics of color aura, and how she sees rainbow color, for example, around her celebrity clients. Deborah shares how she accesses her most creative self, her journal ritual, her love of writing, and her desire for how writing will play a role in her future. We talk charlatans, motherhood, religion, and how her interest in and view of psychedelics and plant medicine (a big topic these days) has changed. A powerful and thoughtful soul, and a beauty from the inside out, discover and shop more Mama Medicine here:

• MamaMedicine.com 
• Follow @MamaMedicine on Instagram 
• Shop the Mama Luna Ritual Bath Collection designed for Mama Medicine's "Be Your Own Skin Healer" Course

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

Story + Rain cover star Chloe Fineman is gifted. Achieving viral popularity and success in both comedy and drama, the Saturday Night Live Breakout star is the whole package. With memorable roles on Search Party, Apple TV+'s Dickinson, and Zoë Kravitz’s series adaptation of the film High Fidelity, up ahead for Fineman are roles in the film version of the book White Noise adapted by critically acclaimed Writer-Director Noah Baumbach. She’s also a part of the mega all-star cast of the film Babylon, and we’ll wait anxiously to see her rock the role of the wedding planner in the latest remake of Father Of The Bride, co-starring Andy Garcia. Chloe grabbed inspiration for the film’s ever-memorable roles of planner-flanked-by-assistant, based on a combo of Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods and design assistants from the popular series, The Home Edit. This season Chloe returned for her third season of Saturday Night Live, where she’s made a serious impression. Literally. Britney Spears; Drew Barrymore; Timothée Chalamet---are amongst the characters she nails, with just that perfect bit of extra flair. On this podcast we talk to the Berkeley native about her “quintessential bohemian hippie doodle”---as she calls it---artistic upbringing, her training at Tisch and Stella Adler, how her time at Upright Citizens Brigade and Groundlings prepared her for SNL, and what weekly prep for the show is really like. We discuss collaborating with the SNL's exciting hosts, how she gets her best ideas, how social media has contributed to her career, and her funniest friends. We talk comedy versus drama, and how she favors an intertwining of the two. We got the details behind her upcoming film roles, past appearances on a few popular series, and her creative process. Listen to this conversation with the smart, funny, and talented modern master mimic we love to watch, with so very much ahead of her. We love Chloe’s great taste and looked forward to hearing about her current obsessions, that you can discover and shop here:

• Follow @chloeiscrazy on Instagram
• Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream
• 6397 Skater Jeans
• Labucq Shoes

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

Patricia Field is a visionary in fashion with legendary status. The entrepreneur, stylist, costume designer, consultant, and Art Fashion gallerist has made an indelible mark on style. Between 1966 and 2016, the style-conscious flocked to her one-of-a-kind fashion and beauty retail store that was something of a New York City landmark. And then there’s Sex And The City. Fashion was changed forever when Pat paired ballet tutus with tank tops, and curated covet-worthy shoes and handbags for the show’s stars like delicious candy. As years went by, fans couldn’t get enough of the style she served up, devouring her decadent costumes just as much, if not more---than the smash hit series’ weekly plotlines. Pat has taught the world to embrace the mix and match and embrace vintage. She’s taught people to find their fashion in an array of out-of-the-box places, and she’s taught us how to accessorize, all by making on-screen magic with her eclectic, high-low, savvy style. Ugly Betty; The Devil Wears Prada; Emily In Paris and more---we just can’t get enough of her courageous costumes that both honor creative expression and create trends. On this podcast, Tamara sits down with her fellow native New Yorker to talk the cyclical nature of fashion, and New York and fashion across the decades, including the club scene---for which Patricia Field has had a front row seat. She shares the incredible story of her start, and how she bloomed because of blouses. We of course talk all the details behind her legendary boutique, and the ins and outs of her eclectic life and style that celebrates diversity. We discuss what it's like to have the shared experience of being both a retailer and a costumer. We get granular discussing her biggest projects: Sex And The City, Emily In Paris… and she dishes about Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty. We get into cultural appropriation, her latest projects and a lot more. Tamara first interviewed Pat when she was a fashion editor at Cosmo, reporting in the early days on Sex And The City style. Our Story + Rain Talks podcast series would never be complete without picking up where we left off with Patricia Field those many years ago. Enjoy this in depth conversation with the lady whose legacy has changed and continues to change fashion in such a significant way.

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Celebrity Stylist Wouri Vice has twenty years of fashion experience, creating memorable looks for memorable performers and creators like Andra Day, H.E.R., Alicia Keys, and Kerry Washington. The Harlem native is a New Yorker through and through. He became interested in fashion early on, and has sharp memories of his own signature look over the decades: down to the exact way he likes his clothing to fit. Inspiration came from a vast array of sources from the songs he was listening to, to his very own grandmother. Wouri tells stories through clothes, and we saw that firsthand on location, poolside, at our Andra Day cover shoot earlier this year. His clients have a deep appreciation for the way he approaches their style and the projects that he works on. Wouri brings diversity in vision to the table, his creativity a perfectly seasoned soup of a little of this and a little of that, that produces one-of-a-kind outfits that have a magical quality to them. On this podcast we talk New York street style, an early job at Giorgio Armani, and being inspired by and learning from style legends like Patti Wilson and Misa Hylton. We talk his eye for star quality, first seen in school friend Alicia Keys, his longtime love of and nose for fragrance, and the interesting story behind why he launched his candle line, by Vice. We discuss creativity under pressure in a fast-moving industry. We ask him what he’d like to see both more and less of, in fashion, and about his relationship with social media. Wouri also shares his sage advice for people interested in becoming stylists, and the accessories, clothes, and trends that are exciting him right now. And there’s so much more. You'll hear about everything from how Wouri sees himself as a culmination of every relationship he’s had with his clients, to his excellent #Obsixed list of favorite things.

1. by VICE Candles by Wouri Vice
2. VICE NO. 6 Candle
3. Serge Lutens Nuit De Cellophane
4. Trufflin NYC
5. Energized Aminos from Strength 4 Nutrition
6. Aglit Italy Shoelaces
7. NIM Sports Odorless Underwear 

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

Born and raised in Los Angeles, makeup artist Denika Bedrossian grew up painting. She's worked with photographers like Patrick Demarchelier and Ellen Von Unwerth; her work has been featured in publications like Vogue and Rolling Stone. Denika developed an interest and love for paint textures early on, refining her blending expertise via her medium of choice at the time: oil paint. She’d also grown up watching her mother expertly apply her makeup, and still does to this day. At the age of 18 she told her traditional parents to give her two years to start a career in makeup work before going back to school. And in the two years that followed, things took off for her. Hustle met big opportunity, and Denika realized her dream of being a cool MAC Cosmetics girl; the brand and its colorful and artsy team members a benchmark for the era in makeup. Working at the Mac Pro store on Robertson Boulevard, Denika became known for the brand’s signature face charts, creating a set of charts for the series leads of Desperate Housewives, which was then published in a top magazine. At MAC on Robertson, she also created connections with the buzzy and popular stores' celebrity clientele, working with the Pussy Cat Dolls and Paris Hilton. Over the years she’s created memorable faces for clients like Miley Cyrus, helping to transition her from her Hannah Montana persona. Forever finding inspiration in film and music herself, Denika’s has worked with Halsey, Hailey Bieber, and countless others in entertainment. The looks she’s designed define a core part of pop culture. Known for her signature red lip, cat eye and bold brow, Denika has come to be known for creating flawless skin. Fans and followers die for the glowing and dewy skin she creates for client Hailey Bieber---Story + Rain’s launch cover star, and Denika was on set designing our look for Hailey at the time. A notable figure in beauty on social media, recently she announced that she has skin disorder vitiligo, and on this podcast we discuss why she decided to share, what the response has been, and how her expertise in blending makeup both to cover up her own skin condition and for the famous faces she works on--- has come to be her super power. We talk Miley’s iconic looks, what it takes, beyond creativity, to do what she does. We talk about her Bare Minerals brand ambassador status, collaboration, and creative fulfillment. Listen in for her sources of inspiration and a deep-dive into her #obsixed obsessions that you can discover and shop here:

1. Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes from Lavant
2. Strength & Length Serum-Infused Brow Gel by BareMinerals
3. Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter by Saie
4. Cream Barrier by Biba
5. Un-Believe-Able Restorative Stretch Mark Oil from Love by Jade
6. IMAGE Skincare Sunscreen
7. Reading Manifest Now by Id

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

Tracy Romulus is a fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment executive who started her career at age 20. She’s worked with brands from Vivienne Westwood to McDonalds, and talent from Lil Kim to Ice Cube. Today, over twenty years later, she combines it all in her role as Chief Marketing Officer for KKW Brands. Tracy oversees global marketing and communications for KKW Beauty, Fragrance, and also for underwear, loungewear and shapewear brand SKIMS. You may have caught her at work doing her thing on that little show called Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Tracy is scrappy, savvy, hardworking, and filled with integrity. She came to the U.S. as a child with her Vietnamese mother who fled her home country after the fall of Saigon. Tracy later headed to New York City to study fashion design at FIT, and landed a job at famed PR agency People’s Revolution, which is when Tamara first met her. Over the years Tracy went on to build up 5WPR into a multi-million dollar business in five years, and she built her own company from the ground up, working with clients like YEEZY and Universal, and with a number of high profile individuals in film, music and sports. These days she often gets DM’s from aspiring publicists (so this one’s especially for you). Tamara was in LA for our Andra Day cover shoot when she sat down with Tracy for this talk, and you’ll feel like a fly on the wall during our very intimate and exclusive conversation, as Tracy really doesn’t do interviews. This dear Story + Rain friend and industry insider is generous with tips, stories, and insights. On this podcast we talk about the art of PR, building a career, being a workhorse, having a thick skin, the importance of being kind and being responsive, her love of connecting with people and maintaining those connections, how no job is too small, what it’s like to work with Kelly Cutrone, wearing many hats, enjoying a melting pot of clients, the business---then and now, and we take a ton of trips down memory lane. Tracy shares two recipes from her husband and from Kim that she loves to cook, and her MAJOR #Obsixed list of favorites that you can shop here:

1. KKW Fragrance
2. Skims by Kim Kardashian
3. Nude Lipstick by KKW Beauty
4. Fits Everybody Long Sleeve Crew Neck Bodysuit by Skims
5. Fits Everybody Cami Bodysuit by Skims
6. Soft Lounge Sleep Set by Skims
7. Yeezy Ankle Boots
8. Levi's Ribcage Ultra High-Rise Straight Jeans
9. Nike Air Force 1 ‘07
10.

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

Beauty founder, entrepreneur, and makeup artist Trish McEvoy has always been forward-thinking. And she absorbed that spirit early on, watching and being inspired by her grandmother’s perfume and restaurant businesses. She eats, sleeps, and breathes the transformative nature of beauty. In the mid 1970’s, she had the foresight to revolutionize makeup brushes; she saw an inviting gap in the market for this important tool which at that point, had been completely overlooked in the United States. Then, she revolutionized the makeup application process. With her patented Makeup Planner, Trish McEvoy single-handedly took the mystery out of how to apply a full face of natural makeup, delivering it in a shrewdly designed, compact case, forever unrivaled by decades of copycats. Today, the Trish McEvoy brand continues to meet its treasured customer where they are, evolving the brand accordingly and remaining go-to beauty for generations of families. On this podcast, Trish shares her years of wisdom, her gutsy road to success, her view of today’s beauty industry, her love of scent and her unique scent-sibility. She talks about which makeup artists and brands excite her, and the current clean beauty revolution. The latest iteration of her famous makeup planner is, once again, back, and we discuss more new launches. She shares her contagious zest for life, and what she calls “the beauty cascade”: the transformative power of beauty from the outside, in. Discover and shop her go-to items from the Trish brand and her #obsixed list of obsessions here:

1. Trish McEvoy
2. The Power of Makeup: Looking Your Level Best at Every Age by Trish McEvoy
3. The Makeup of a Confident Woman: The Science of Beauty, the Gift of Time, and the Power of Putting Your Best Face Forward by Trish McEvoy
4. Correct and Even Full-Face Perfector by Trish McEvoy
5. The Power of Brushes Collection by Trish McEvoy
6. The Power of Beauty Collection by Trish McEvoy
7. The Oura Ring
8. Tonal
9. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
10. Cassandra The Flared Jumpsuit by Donna Ida 

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

When we first interviewed Sydney Sweeney for Story + Rain in 2019 we quickly learned that the rising star is one serious actress. Season one of HBO’s most streamed show to date, Euphoria, had just begun, and in our offices we sat down to talk about how she’s able work with such heavy material in her role as Cassie Howard. That’s when we learned that Sydney creates intricate and elaborate books for each character she plays. The unique artist makes an interactive timeline, a journal, and a diary of her characters’ entire lives-- from the day they were born to the first page of the script. Since that first conversation, Euphoria has had tremendous success, becoming a phenomenon of sorts, with people recreating its makeup looks and its fashion and waiting, with baited breath, for much-anticipated season two. On this podcast Sydney gives her own perspective on that phenomenon, and she shares how she thinks being a teenager and coming of age is dark. We also talk about what it’s been like working with Hollywood’s heavy hitters so early on in her career…people like Quentin Tarantino, Jean-Marc Valée, Mike White, and more. Speaking of Mike White, we get into all the details of her experience and her role in this summer’s acclaimed series, The White Lotus, and how she’s learned a great deal about comedy. We talk her expansion as an artist and as a creative, but we also talk the hardworking actresses’ downtime…her friends, her family, her dog, and her #Obsixed list of favorite things. We discuss the notion of self-care, the way that she was raised, and the pro’s and con’s of being in the spotlight. This year, after a hurtful experience, Sydney took to social media to share her views on the pervasive negativity there. Here, she gives insight into why she decided to address comments that were being made about her, and what was going on for her on the day that she spoke out. Sydney shares the details of her upcoming film and series, Amazon’s The Voyeurs, and The Players Club--- the exciting first project to be produced by her very own production company, Fifty-Fifty Films. A self- proclaimed avid reader, Sydney has always had an active imagination and has put that imagination to work--- hard work. Sydney Sweeney’s future is bright; just watch her as she takes it next level by producing her own projects. Shop Sydney Sweeney’s #obsixed obsessions here:

1. The White Lotus on HBO
2. Euphoria on HBO
3. Nestle Kit-Kat Ice Cream Cone
4. Fluff Yeah Slides by UGG
5. Beeswax Lip Balm from Burt's Bees
6. SolaWave Wand
7. Fendi Baguette with Embroidery Kit
8. Contaxt T2 Point + Shoot Film Camera

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