While many people know Lena Waithe through her accomplishments as an actress and screenwriter for films and shows like Queen & Slim and Master of None, host Jian DeLeon taps into Lena’s equally prominent identity as a sneakerhead by discussing her new Quibi show ‘You Ain’t Got These’ along with the kicks she has on her current isolation rotation.

During this quarantine, Lena is appreciating a need to respect other people’s time and maintain boundaries while everyone is working from home. Of course, listening to music, FaceTiming, and revisiting old movies and shows like Boomerang and High Fidelity are just as important (3:35).

Lena speaks on the relatability of her characters, their stories, and how people are connecting to her material overall. These elements shine through her newest Quibi show as well, which Jian commends for its cultural authenticity (6:29).

Lena is embracing the unique connections that each generation has with sneaker culture, including the booming resell phenomenon and the introduction of new hype sneakers like Travis Scott’s Jordans with secret stash pockets being acts of public service (8:50). 

Even though people aren’t wearing their kicks out right now, Lena sees herself as a semi-purist who can keep a pair of sneakers in a box or glass case and simply appreciate their craftsmanship. At the same time, she’s not a believer in taking away the functionality of sneakers as someone who has worn out a pair of Yeezy Red Octobers. Lena has been leaning towards the former practice of appreciating her collection while putting wear and tear on her Balenciaga slides and other selects that are a part of her isolation rotation (15:10). Meanwhile, she’s waiting on the right time to flex her kicks, even if it means getting her hands on Pharrell’s Chanel NMDs and wearing them once in a blue moon.

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ released every Tuesday and Thursday.

Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz are the cofounders of Malin + Goetz, a modern apothecary that creates luxury skincare and fragrance products for ecologically and design-conscious individuals. Matthew brings his expansive background as a cosmetic buyer and his management experience to the brand while Andrew’s expertise in design can be seen from various aspects of his life, down to his house containing a collection of books and their equally impressive shelving. On this episode of ‘Vibe Check,’ host Jian DeLeon chats with Malin + Goetz on balancing work and leisure as well as the proper way to use scented candles.

After sharing their recent quarantine reads, Jian and Andrew evaluate the journey of Barneys beginning with the department store’s move to Uptown Manhattan (2:37).

A$AP Ferg is a rapper and songwriter who needs no introduction. Even now, the artist has been keeping busy through music and recently put together a playlist of his favorite tracks on Pandora. During the day, Ferg finds time to perform his workout routine which includes 300 pushups and has been a daily part of his quarantine life. Host Jian DeLeon speaks with Ferg about his Instagram Live with Dr. Sampson Davis on Covid-19 and the importance of music during the crisis for the latest episode of ‘Vibe Check.’

While things are getting twice as bad back in Hawaii with stricter lockdown enforcement and a tsunami warning, skater, model, photographer, and designer Evan Mock has been spending the past two weeks in Connecticut. On this episode of ‘Vibe Check,’ Evan talks to host Jian DeLeon about the projects he has lined up in the pipeline, including his brand Sorry in Advance, and discusses the need to show love for local businesses and people during these trying times.

Life has been moving on an upward trajectory for Nicole McLaughlin. The upcycling designer attended Jacquemus’ show for Paris Fashion Week and was involved in workshops at Highsnobiety before the Covid-19 outbreak put everything put on hold. Now that quarantine life is everyone’s reality, host Jian DeLeon catches up with Nicole who checks in from her studio, which has always been a work-from-home situation. Nicole talks about supply runs, working on furniture pieces, and maintaining connections during a time of social distancing on the newest episode of ‘Vibe Check.’

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, small businesses including Asian restaurants have been facing setbacks. Danny Bowien, chef and founder of Mission Chinese Food, closed his restaurants in Bushwick and the Lower East Side earlier this month. Now, he’s bringing his skills to the home kitchen, offering easy recipes and focusing on his upcoming vegan cookbook, which he talks about with host Jian DeLeon on this episode of ‘Vibe Check.’

Mission Chinese Food is in solidarity with other neighborhood Asian restaurants like Nom Wah and Woo’s Wonton, all of which experienced a considerable drop in business during the month leading up to the outbreak (2:00).

Self-isolating at home has allowed Danny to spend more time with his six-year-old son, who’s motivating him to learn Korean. Still, Danny can’t help but worry about how things will change for his son and other Asian families in the aftermath of the pandemic. The transition from working up to 90 hours a week to becoming a home teacher and work-from-home chef has also been difficult, even grievous for the drop in productivity (9:24). Despite a lack of culinary epiphanies, Danny is recontextualizing his daily meals to discover ways of incorporating them into his upcoming cookbook.

Danny runs through the recipe, one of his son’s favorites, which has taken on different forms since its conception (13:45). In addition to being the ideal breakfast soup, it’s also the perfect opportunity to sneak in all kinds of vegetables for picky eaters:

Remove seeds from the kabocha before dicing into large pieces

Chop up either Japanese leeks or scallions into one inch pieces (use scallions in a 3:1 ratio with the kabocha)

Warm up a pot containing olive oil

Add scallions, one peeled and diced potato, and kabocha into the pot

Pour in Korean kelp soup stock or a vegan bouillon alternative

Cover the ingredients with water and bring to a boil

Add in two quarts of water, 1 1/2 tablespoon of red miso, and 1 1/2 tablespoon of Korean miso or white miso

Continue to boil until potatoes and kabocha are thoroughly cooked and soup turns into an orange color

Skim the top to remove foam

Add a handful of chopped white kimchi, and serve with rice

While it’s important to eat healthy, Danny ends by talking about his frequent indulgence in ice cream during the quarantine, staying optimistic, and as Jian puts it, approaching the new lifestyle as a blessing in disguise.

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ every Tuesday and Thursday.

It’s hard to say with confidence that business is moving forward as usual. ‘Vibe Check’ host Jian DeLeon calls up Brendon Babenzien and his partner, Noah cofounder, and designer Estelle Bailey-Babenzien to hear how independent labels are faring during these trying times. Recently, the couple posted on Instagram about why consumers should be spending their money now more than ever, and how they should do so while supporting small businesses.

As a global brand, Noah has its supply chain dispersed across the world. But with the coronavirus taking on an equally global scale, international suppliers and factories have reduced their deliveries and businesses have taken the hit. Brendon speaks on the plans that need to be put into place after everything is taken into consideration: seasons in the fashion cycle will be pushed back, inventory will be static, and consumers will lack incomes (5:26). To make matters worse, tourism is a big source of customers in large cities like New York and Tokyo. While Noah’s new store is scheduled to open in Osaka in May, nothing is set in stone at this time as Brendon and Estelle voice their worries for a situation that could unfold either way (7:53).

On this episode of ‘Vibe Check,’ host Jian DeLeon catches up with stylist and consultant Taylor Okata. The work grind never stops for a freelancer: even when faced with cancelations and postponements, he’s continuously putting together pitches and mood boards for the right opportunity to come around. Taylor recently shared his home workspace for our WFH Office Tour, unveiling a minimal and streamlined setup. For Taylor, the quarantine is a moment to reevaluate his business, including the role he plays in his family business.

In Hawaii where there’s no notion of winter and T-shirts are a wardrobe staple, Tyler has integrated the custom into his family’s restaurant business and found a way to merge the best of both worlds by designing merch (5:07). Everyone loves to rep their favorite local hole-in-the-walls, and tourists are no exception. Most of the confirmed coronavirus cases in the state of Hawaii have been due to the arrival of individuals on vacation. While tourism is still crucial for the economy in an immediate sense, it could risk livelihoods in the long run (6:18).

The global pandemic is truly putting things into perspective, including America’s flawed healthcare system. Given their personal experiences, Taylor and Jian are both acutely aware of the importance of health insurance and benefits (10:37). They recollect not-so-great memories as freelancers but also moments of inspiration and long distance intimacy via FaceTime (12:04).

Look out for new episodes of 'Vibe Check' dropping every Tuesday and Thursday.

While most people are daydreaming about vacation plans in a few months, Bianca Valle is tackling life day by day (or quarantini by quarantini as she calls it). On this episode of ‘Vibe Check,’ host Jian DeLeon checks in with the certified holistic nutritionist and model to hear about the pandemic from the perspective of someone thriving with the slower lifestyle. Bianca drops specific advice from diet management to how needs differ from person to person, just as it should be with the quarantine life in general.

While things are really picking up for Bianca’s nutrition book, her project has also been hit with cancelations. Meanwhile, Bianca’s seeing clients approach her for advice during a time when people are stocking up on everything they can get their hands on.

Bianca shares tips on implementing theory into practice, including bringing new foods such as quinoa and black rice into your diet to introduce different nutrients for strengthening your immune system even more (7:04). Cutting down on carbs, protein, and processed foods while loading up on greens is the way to go. Remember: greens, beans, nuts, and seeds. Rather than completely adopting new dietary practices, Bianca suggests that every individual does some personal introspection.

From HIIT, Kirsty Godso, and Joe Holder workouts to matching Ricky Thompson’s dance moves, Bianca is all for taking advantage of the at-home solutions offered via IGTV and YouTube. Look on the bright side, embrace the comfort of your own home, and listen to lots of Janet Jackson (11:30).

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ dropping next week on Tuesday and Thursday.

This week’s guest is Sandrine Charles, a consultant, publicist, and all-around communications expert who has worked with names like Noah, Aime Leon Dore, Kith, and Daily Paper. Sandrine shares some insight for maintaining steady productivity before an unpredictable future and the ever-present influence of e-commerce and retail therapy.

Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for ‘The Dropcast’ which will be back on regular programming next week with a special pitchfest. In the meantime, make sure to catch up on the latest episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ where Jian checks in with guests from the Highsnobiety world to provide glimpses into their lives and how they’re adapting to the global coronavirus pandemic.

For Sandrine, shopping doesn’t end with clothing — she’s setting aside time and money ($100 at Whole Foods) for fruits and vegetables and getting extra uses out of her Vitamix (7:26). Sandrine is aiming for comfort inside and out by eating healthy, waking up at five o’clock in alignment with her body clock, and dressing herself in presentable but cozy sweatpants. In between work and seven o’clock Zoom calls, she’s checking off her watch list and catching up on shows (9:51).

SC: Yes. Yes. Exactly. I’m rewatching that entire series. I watched High Fidelity yesterday. I also watched Grace and Frankie. I watched Friends From College. I’m definitely diving into… Oh, Living Single, the whole series. Family Matters, the whole series, and then a couple of movies. So I’m keeping myself busy in between. And even in the office, we always have something in the background, so I’m keeping it as normal as possible.