A life’s dream was realized when Abigail Cook Stone’s company, Otherland candles, was acquired in June 2023 by Curio brands---the umbrella company behind Anthropologie’s famed Capri Blue candle with a fierce following. The founder and CEO of Otherland is as passionate about candles as it gets, and her success since 2017’s launch reflects that. On the podcast she shares just how she was introduced to candles, and how she went from a round of roles at Ralph Lauren to pitching her brand and starting up. Abigail explains how she gathered her research for how she was going to make her mark in an oversaturated space, creating candles that would look and feel like luxury, yet weren’t too precious to burn.  We get into the olfactive creative process, some little- known details around candle making and manufacturing, and of course, scent. We do a deep dive into story and scent, and Otherland’s most popular and most interesting ones. Abigail describes how a collection comes together, the one place that she gets all her best ideas,  her arts-immersive upbringing, talks about her own scent memories, and that it’s not necessarily about replicating scent memory, but about reinterpreting it.  We talk Otherland’s distinct artwork and how Story + Rain and Otherland share part of their brand build story. The entrepreneur lets us in on her biggest learnings, talks trends, candle culture, “me time”, and plans for brand expansion.  This, #Obsixed obsessions, and much more. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain talks to Abigail Cook Stone of Otherland. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

Otherland.com 

Otherland Crisp Cornflower candle 

Otherland Fallen Fir candle 

Otherland Extra Hour candle 

Otherland Canary candle 

Body vodka 

Tarka Oil Spicy Organic Ghee from Paro Foods 

Verilux Happy Light 

DRMTLGY sunscreen 

Supergoop Resetting Mist 

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

This week we’re catching up with Whitney Tingle, a trailblazer in clean eating and the power of food as medicine. She’s, of course, Cofounder of Sakara. It’s eleven years from launch, and today Sakara has culled a community of dedicated clients. In fact, on the podcast, Whitney reads one of the many notes she receives from customers who share just how Sakara has been life changing for them. Known for their plant-rich meal plans, innovative supplements, superfood snacks, and cookbook filled with the brand’s signature rainbow of recipes, Whitney shares special details around some of Sakara’s meal favorites, their best-selling metabolism super powder , our personal favorite—Sakara’s beauty and detox water drops---and more. We talk growing up with gardening and in Sedona, and here, Whitney lets us in on the depth of severity in her early health struggle story. She calls out the Big Apple for what she describes as a “catalyst” city, explaining that there couldn’t have been any other place where she and cofounder Danielle could have built their brand with a cult following. She shares her perspective on building a business and being an entrepreneur, hashes out the how in how many people’s diets are filled with what Whitney calls “one hundred versions of pizza”. We get into the specifics behind how the Sakara cookbook was established, and the brand’s visually stunning, plant-rainbow meals based on their 9 Pillars Of Nutrition. And speaking of stunning, we get into how Sakara has come to be a stand-out in terms of visual branding, a brand where fashion meets food, as Whitney says. Then there are the out-of-the-box (pun intended) ways in which Whitney uses Sakara meals in her own life that you’ll want to follow yourself. We know we do. We discuss some cool collabs with KORA and Erewhon, and how science is addressing the power of the mind and mindset when it comes to health and nutrition. Lastly –we’ve got 12 items from skin and hair care to meal prep shortcuts and what Whitney’s wearing for you---discussed in detail and shoppable in show notes, on StoryAndRain.com, and on Instagram, as always. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain talks to Whitney Tingle of Sakara. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Sakara.com and 9 Pillars Of Nutrition

Sakara Beauty Water + Detox Water Drops

Sakara Metabolism Super Powder 

Sakara Metabolism Protein Super Bar 

Sakara Complete Probiotic Formula

Sakara Eat Clean Play Dirty Cookbook
Maya Kaimal Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce

Maya Kaimal Coconut Korma Mild Simmer Sauce

Living Libations Best Skin Ever Cleanser Moisturizer

Living Libations Shampoo

Living Libations Conditioner

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum

Vintner's Daughter Active Treatment Essence

Vintner's Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser 

Le Prunier Plumscreen SPF 31

The PureLift Lab Pure Lift Face

Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress

Magnesium Citrate

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

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

This week we talk to a couple of tastemakers who built and are growing a brand that is changing the game in personal care products, creating a new era in self care. Known at their fragrance house for choosing to spend ten times more than Tom Ford Fragrances on raw materials, co-founder and Head Of Creative, Phil Wong, and Creative Director Taylor Okata of Hawthorne talk pouring style, love, and also respect for their customer, into each and every product they design. Hawthorne was founded when Phil and Co Founder Brian Jeong were sick of overusing outdated products made with cheap ingredients that pushed an outdated version of personal care products for men. With shared values and aesthetics, longtime friend and stylist Taylor joined the team, and on the podcast we talk all about their collaborative creative process---a process that includes the constant pulling of references, the building of moodboards, and tons of daily discussions. We discuss the Hawthorne trio’s experience with the products that had existed in the space before they got there, how the brand has culled their modern point of view, and the responses they receive when their customer discovers Hawthorne has multi-racial and Asian owners. We ask them all about how they roll deep in the candle game with their seven-candle offering, we get into their gifting customer, and working with Target and Nordstrom. The team talks about their love of and the importance of scent, having the best of testers in their friends, and they talk being in talks with a celebrity investor. We discuss diversity, category and gender, bravely breaking into the market, and more. As always, we wrap with what tops these trendsetters #Obsixed lists of current obsessions, but not before doing a deep dive into all the Hawthorne products, including greatest hits and personal faves. Trust me, after listening you’ll find yourself adding to cart and buying their bundles. Our conversations with creatives continue, as Story + Rain Talks to Phil and Taylor of Hawthorne. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:

Hawthorne.co

Hawthorne Mineral Wave Cologne

Hawthorne Gentle Sensitive Face Cleanser

Hawthorne Stain-Free Deodorant

Hawthorne Exfoliating Bar Soap

The Five Minute Journal

Silk pillowcase

Nike by Shygirl on vinyl

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

Enduring in everything from TV to film, on this week’s podcast, Story + Rain  cover star Jordana Brewster talks twenty-two years of Fast + Furious,  as the franchise motors through a milestone with billions at the box office, and latest film, Fast X. The beloved beauty and talent shares where she is at 43. She shares her thoughts on the crop of plum roles for females in their forties that interests her, how the entertainment industry has evolved, and who and what she loves to watch herself, specifically. She takes us on her long, wild ride as an actor, from starring in 1990’s favorite The Faculty to finding her way into the Ryan Murphy American Crime Story family. We discuss the corral of confidence she had as a kid that landed her those very first, life-changing roles, who she was as a student at Yale, posing for magazines then and now, and dating Mark Wahlberg in the days before social media. We talk wild days and nerdy days, and not dimming one’s light. Describing herself as a girl’s-girl, Jordana explains why it’s worthwhile to be friends with other working moms, dishes details about her relationships with her longtime Fast family, what she’s proud of most in making the Fast films, and she also shares stories about recent and upcoming projects, Who Invited Charlie?, and Neon, in which she plays a lesbian drug lord. She talks about what it’s like to be globally famous, what she wants for Mia and for Fast’s all-female spin off, what it means to practice self-care, how she maintains balance, and her favorites in everything from fashion to fitness, and more. Our conversations with creatives continues as Story + Rain Talks to actor and our stunning cover star, Jordana Brewster. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Watch Fast X
Fast + Furious 9 Movie Collection
Watch Who Invited Charlie?
Watch + own The Faculty
Watch + own American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson
Denim skirt and Elena Linen Two piece from Reformation
Foam roller

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

Take a ride through the actor’s life and listen to our latest episode. Lily Rabe, who can currently be seen in David E. Kelley’s Love + Death on HBO Max, and on Shrinking on Apple TV +, is the daughter of prolific playwright David Rabe and celebrated actress, Jill Clayburgh, and we begin our conversation with her childhood spent near the stage. Watching the world’s greatest talent in rehearsals for her father’s masterpiece, Hurlyburly, Lily was bitten by the performance bug early on. We discuss her time as a dancer and how that turned to acting, life at Northwestern and her very fancy degree, and how life almost imitated art when she played a restaurant-employed actor for the film No Reservations. She describes why her heart belongs to theater and the “religious experience” that is performing Shakespeare In The Park. We discuss being a part of the Ryan Murphy American Horror Story family, and in a quick fire round, Lily talks playing Liz Cheney, the sheer joy she felt during The Undoing, why George Clooney is the happiest person, and why her role in his The Tender Bar opposite Ben Affleck was a favorite, and why George and Ben are, too. We discuss crafting the complicated relationship her character Meg has with Harrison Ford’s Paul in Shrinking, and we talk in detail about why embodying Betty Gore for Love + Death sometimes meant taking her home with her, for better or worse. Having worked with her husband Hamish over many years, Lily tells us why co-directing the soon-to-be-released film Downtown Owl whet their appetites for much more. And on the subject of  "more”, Lily tells us why she’s feeling so fulfilled…. so will simply take some more of that, please. We touch on Presumed Innocent, ahead for her on AppleTV+ and co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga. We talk about how paying attention to saying no helped build her brilliant career, and why she looks to feel compelled to play a part. And lastly, Lily shares her great taste with a long list of her most favorite obsessions. We hope you love our conversation with everyone’s favorite, Lily Rabe, just as much as we do. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Watch Lily Rabe as Betty Gore in Love + Death  on HBO Max
Watch Lily Rabe in Shrinking on AppleTV+
See Downtown Owl, co-directed by and starring Lily Rabe
Cranberry-Lime Pie
Khaite The Danielle jean
Khaite The Evi sweater
Khaite The Jo sweater
Khaite The Mae sweater
Shani Darden Skincare LED Mask
Shani Darden Skincare Triple Action Signature Peel
Shani Darden Hydration Peptide Cream

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

For this week’s podcast, we sit down with Mina Stone, the chef, cookbook author and restauranteur who mashes up fashion and art, with food. What could be better? Mina got her start working in fashion and at our friend Claude’s legendary magazine, Trace, and on the podcast, Mina discusses her early years, and how fashion turned to food when she was introduced to New York City’s art world. She tells us all about her first big gigs, what fueled her confidence, and the blind faith of youth that proved to be life-changing for her. We also talk about the early influences of home-cooked food and her Greek heritage on her cooking, her years of cooking for artists (and the title of her first cookbook) and how artists approach, perceive, value, and enjoy food. We get granular with Urs Fischer’s cuisine deep-dives, discuss the discovery of a list of Elizabeth Peyton’s loves and hates (tzatziki, yes; mesclun greens, no). And Mina recounts the details and impact of her work in recent years, working with and telling stories of food through the artists of MoMA PS1. She shares what she’s learned through her restaurant there, what she likes to wear in the kitchen, and her latest obsession with Caribbean culture and flavors. We get into the importance of color…in everything from food to her personal style, some tips and dishes for entertaining, and her brilliant list of favorite things. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Mina's NYC at MoMA PS1
Cooking For Artists by Mina Stone
Lemon, Love + Olive Oil by Mina Stone
Daphnis and Chloe Greek Tea Gift Set
Alex Mill jumpsuits
Vacation SPF 30 Chardonnay Oil
Motherland: A Jamaican Cookbook by Melissa Thompson

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 Sophie Thatcher is an artist through-and-through. The Yellowjackets star immerses herself in acting, music, art, writing, and fashion. On episode 128 we discuss the importance of connecting to art, how it can be transformative, and Sophie’s vision for being as vulnerable and as chameleon-like as possible in her work. We discuss her being intense as a kid, how she’s been influenced by music, and also by growing up Mormon. We talk about the special relationship she has with her twin, a fellow artist, and their matching tastes. We get into the first time she was on set, her feelings about theater, and the things that inspire her very strong artistic and visual sensibility. We chat about finding home on the road, planting roots in Silver Lake, and falling in love with having a sense of place. Listen in for an intimate BTS discussion on all things Yellowjackets, the hit Showtime series currently streaming on Hulu, in which Sophie has the unique experience of playing the younger version of the older version of a character played by Juliette Lewis. Thatcher shares how sharing the role with Lewis has given her more confidence as an actor and fuel for pursuing all her artistic interests. She tells us about the impact a serious scooter accident had on how she played Natalie, and we dive into all the details of her season-two story lines. Sophie weighs in on the show’s discussions of belief system. And then there’s the cannibalism. Sophie  talks about the panic, out-of-body experience, disassociation, and “weird day” on set involved in shooting the season’s much-anticipated key scene, and more. You’ll hear about the June release of the Stephen King movie, The Boogeyman and her role in it, opposite Chris Messina, the music she paints to, how she makes music, and walks us through her home for her #Obsixed list of current obsessions. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Stream Yellowjackets on Hulu
Novation Synthesizer
Sam Shepard: Seven Plays
Dior Forever Couture Luminizer in Pink Glow
Yazuaki Shimizu Kakashi CD
Exuma's Life on vinyl

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

With solid footing in television, including her breakout role in beloved Netflix Series,13 Reasons Why, actor Alisha Boe intrigues in Jesse Eisenberg's recently released indie film, When You Finish Saving The World, begging the question: what's next? Here, our latest cover star discusses what it was like working with the actor who wrote and directed his first film, and playing Lila. She explains what drew her to the part, her initial thoughts on playing opposite Finn Wolfhard in the film, how she's both similar to and different from her character, and why stories about the parent-child relationship move her.  We discuss her early start as a performer at age 7, life in Norway, doing cartwheels in the airport upon touching down in LA, growing up as a young actor in the Valley, and being home-schooled, because she was picking up so much work. Alisha names the shows, films, and actors who helped stoke her interest in her career, how simultaneously working on series' like Ray Donovan and CSI  taught her to be comfortable on set, and what it's like to collaborate with crew. Having not discussed it for some time, Alisha revisits and reflects upon 13 Reasons Why in an exclusive conversation here, and talks about her life-changing role as assault survivor, Jessica Davis, and how Jessica's story provoked and still provokes constant conversation in her life.  We get into the series' serious topics that she describes as 'personal', how the experience made her 'less naive', and how playing Jessica made her feel more connected to people.  We talk her feelings about social media, what's important when picking projects, and work-life balance. We go behind the scenes on Alisha's photo project with our episode 59 guest, artist Sarah Bahbah, and get into when she feels most comfortable in front of the camera, and how she feels about fashion. We discuss her values of friendship and home, the push-and-pull of inspiration, the beauty of a well-worn t-shirt, and the other items that make up her #obsixed list of 6 current obsessions. Discover more:

Watch When You Finish Saving The World on Prime Video
Watch 13 Reasons Why on Netflix

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

Netflix's Ginny + Georgia has been viewed a total of over 504 million hours, and at the crux of all that success, is actress Brianne Howey, who delivers a one-of-kind, head-turning performance as Georgia Miller, the sweet cherry on top of this two-season-to-date series that is defying demographics. Since appearing in Fox's The Passage, Hulu's Dollface, The CW’s Batwoman, Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, Horrible Bosses, and more, Howey was meant for the role of Georgia: single mother with a deeply dark past, abundance of personality, endless energy, slew of survival skills, back pocket wit, gorgeous smile and spot-on Southern drawl that has people believing it's her own. (It's not). On episode 126 we go behind the scenes with Brianne to talk about ALL the Ginny + Georgia things. We discuss Georgia's "performative" personality and powerful voice, what makes her character one that's filled with the kind of contrasting traits that makes fans of all kinds fall in love with her,  and those "sticky subjects" and "social and cultural blinders" her character is known for. We talk her beloved relationship with her co-star Antonia. Then there are the details of the show's idyllic town, inclusive cast of characters, and serious subject matter--- all served alongside a serious dose of humor---that Brianne gives backstory to. She shares how cast, crew, and creators feel and first felt while making Ginny + Georgia, how it's touched lives, and the the two important entities the show relies upon in order to tell their stories responsibly.  We get into Ginny + Georgia's secret sauce, how Brianne transitions in and out of her sometimes "exhausting" character, how she landed the part just as her husband was about to propose, and working on a show she pridefully deems  "art and argument". We head back to childhood and early years, when she favored the stage while her siblings favored sports, her time as an acting student in New York City, how television inspires her, how reading grounds her, and we of course get into a list of some of her most favorite things. Discover more + Shop The Podcast:
Watch Ginny + Georgia on Netflix
Read The New Wilderness by Diane Cook
Roses candle by Diptque
Candles by Le Labo
Candles by Salt + Stone
Watch Amazon's Good Night Oppy
Listen to Etta James
Listen to Otis Redding

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