The Recovering Elitist

Nikki Ogunnaike is the Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire and one of fashion media’s most respected voices—known for her ability to blend substance with style, intellect with joy. Over her career at Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, and now Marie Claire, she’s championed diversity, women’s voices, and cultural critique while still celebrating the beauty, humor, and pleasure of getting dressed. Her work reminds us that caring deeply about the world and caring about what we wear aren’t mutually exclusive.

In this episode, we talk about the art of balance—between activism and aesthetics, between truth and delight. Nikki embodies the grace of living in the grey, mastering the duality so many of us are still learning: staying awake to the world’s realities while still finding beauty and meaning within them. She’s proof that embracing contradiction isn’t hypocrisy—it’s deeply human.

xxWilliam

Candace Bushnell is the bestselling author, journalist, and cultural provocateur whose writing gave rise to Sex and the City—a phenomenon that reshaped how women talked about love, money, friendship, and ambition. Long before the show became an emblem of cosmopolitan aspiration, Bushnell was holding up a mirror to New York’s power dynamics and the illusions of having it all. Her work continues to interrogate the line between fantasy and reality, glamour and grit.

In this episode, Candace shares her thoughts on the now-cancelled And Just Like That reboot while slinging hard truths about aging, reinvention, and dating in your 60s.

Later that night, I couldn’t help but wonder... “what remains when the glitter settles and we’re left with our voice, our choices, and our truth?”

xx William

Liza Treyger is a stand-up comic, actor, and host known for her razor-sharp wit and fearless honesty. You’ve seen her on Netflix, Comedy Central, and late-night stages across the country—always tackling taboo subjects with disarming humor and heart. Her comedy refuses to separate the funny from the painful, proving that sometimes the only way to face life’s absurdities is to laugh at them.

In this episode, we shift tone—less therapy, more play. Liza reminds us that growth doesn’t always have to be heavy; it can be irreverent, loud, and wildly human. We talk about the fine line between comedy and coping, why truth-telling is an act of freedom, and how laughter can be its own form of healing.

xx William

Richard Christiansen is the founder of Flamingo Estate, the beloved creative sanctuary and regenerative lifestyle brand nestled in the hills of Los Angeles. Once a fast-paced creative director for the world’s biggest luxury brands, Richard walked away from burnout and built a cult empire rooted in sensuality, sustainability, and slowness. What began as a personal act of restoration—reviving his garden and himself—has become a movement redefining how beauty, business, and pleasure can coexist.

In this episode, we talk about the cost of ambition, the hunger that drives us, and what it takes to truly come back to life. I was drawn to Richard because his story mirrors my own pivot—from speed to stillness, from achievement to intimacy—and his work pokes at the fear I think we all share: if I’m not hustling, do I still matter? (Hint: you do.)  xx William

The Recovering Elitist, a new podcast hosted by William Graper, explores the tension between aspiration and authenticity, social status and self-knowledge, refinement and realness. We’re not here to flatter egos—we’re here to peel back the layers and laugh at ourselves along the way.