This week's episode features Ami Silverman, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Consumer Channel Sales and Marketing. Listen along as the FIDM Merchandising & Marketing Grad talks about how her two-decade career in the apparel industry prepared her for a career in technology. Tom Henkenius, Director FIDM’s Bachelor’s Degrees in Digital Marketing and Graphic Design, returns as our special guest host.

Like so many creatives during the pandemic, Samantha Jones found herself in the unfortunate situation of being furloughed from her place of employment. Turning lemons into lemonade, she used the time to launch her own business in the luxury swimwear market. With the purpose of selling high-quality fabrics and fits to women everywhere, she created Beau Swim. Samantha graduated from FIDM with a degree in Merchandise Product Development and a Bachelor’s in Business Management. Caitlin Benson talks with her about her FIDM experience, finding inspiration, and being featured in Miami Swim Week.

Merchandising & Marketing Graduate Niki Shadrow Snyder is the Life & Style editor of Hollywood Weekly magazine and the co-founder of Project Pop Drop, the idea of which she conceived on her first date with her husband, John Snyder. In collaboration with Emmy Award-Winning producer Gary Reeves, Niki and John launched The Givefluencer Network, redefining what it means to be an influencer, or as they call it, a "givefluencer". Listen along as Caitlin Benson chats with Niki and John about Project Pop Drop, as well as Niki's experience at FIDM and her career.

Prior to his position as Creative Director for FIDM, Paul Olszewski was National Director of Windows & Flagship Visual Marketing for Macy's Inc., famously designing the iconic holiday windows at Macy’s Heralds Square on 34th Street in New York. With a B.A. in Studio Art from California State University, Long Beach, Paul has worked in the field of Visual Presentation for over 25 years. After a 15-year career at Neiman Marcus on both coasts, he worked for New York industry leaders including Bergdorf Goodman and Prada. During this special holiday episode, Caitlin talks with the award-winning designer about his illustrious career and his experience designing the holiday window displays at Macy’s.

Marina Toybina has won six Emmy awards as a costume designer, two of which were for her work on FOX’s The Masked Singer, making her one of the most decorated FIDM Graduates of all time. At eleven years old, Marina moved from Moscow to Phoenix, Arizona. After high school, she decided to chase her passion and moved to Los Angeles to study Fashion Design at FIDM. Before she had even graduated, she launched a fashion line with fellow FIDM Student Ashton Hirota. Her drive and talent led her into developing relationships with notable celebrities including Taylor Swift, Usher, Pink, and Selena Gomez, and she now frequently collaborates with Carrie Underwood. Marina soon ventured into Hollywood, working on television shows such as The X Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, and World of Dance. In 2015, she created the costumes for the critically acclaimed Katy Perry Super Bowl Halftime Show, including the famous Left Shark costume. In this week's episode, “Your FIDM Story” Producer and “The Art of Costume” Lead Editor Spencer Williams talks with Marina about her life and inspiring career.

Growing up, Lauren James always had an interest in art. After community college, she became the third person in her family to attend FIDM, following her sister, Visual Communications alumna, and mother who studied Interior Design and became a set decorator on the hit television sitcom Friends. While at FIDM, Lauren’s curiosity for art and art history, as well as a desire to begin a career in Museum and Gallery Education, inspired her to begin docent work at the J. Paul Getty Museum as a Gallery Teacher. After graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Industry Studies with a focus in Interior Design, Lauren moved to London to pursue her Master's Degree in Fine and Decorative Art and Design at Sotheby's Institute of Art. In the season two premiere of the “Your FIDM Story” podcast, Caitlin Benson catches up with Lauren to talk about her incredible career and grand aspirations.

San Diego native Tristan Detwiler studied Fashion Design at FIDM after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Southern California. The artist, model, and surfer is the Founder of Stan, a Los Angeles-based clothing brand of unique pieces crafted from antique textiles found around the world. Currently on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,, the label prides itself on detail-oriented techniques such as quilting and appliqué. In this episode, Caitlin Benson chats with Tristan, whose mother is also a graduate of FIDM, about his journey as an artist and business owner.

Hailing from Bloomington, Indiana, Taylor King came to FIDM in 2015, and later graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in Digital Cinema. A Social Ambassador for FIDM while she was in college, Taylor now has 124,000 followers on both YouTube and Instagram for TK’s Juicy Polls. The producer for YouTuber Alisha Marie, Taylor has been featured in the New York Post and photographed by Tyler Shields. In today’s episode, fellow grad and FIDM Senior Social Media Coordinator Fanny Ramirez chats with the content creator to explore her FIDM story.

Kimberly Rodriguez was already managing AllSaints stores in Orange County, California, when she earned a degree in Merchandise Product Development from FIDM. She planned to transition into product development within the company, but then the pandemic hit, and the position was eliminated. So Kimberly turned inward and focused on herself. After realizing that candles were selling out in the Covid era, she decided to launch La’ F.E.M., a collection of minimalistic and eco-friendly vegan candles designed to create bliss and harmony. In this episode, Caitlin Benson chats with Kimberly about her journey from retail to entrepreneurship, mental health, and how fragrance connects to memories.

LA native, Krystle Krueger earned a Fashion Design degree from FIDM in 2015. After working in the industry since graduation, she decided to strike out on her own as an entrepreneur. Her new children’s wear collection, Fashion Is Art, celebrates cultures from around the world while also serving to encourage children to be independent learners. In this episode, Caitlin Benson chats with Krystle about her creative journey, from spray painting muslin and acing her flat sketching class at FIDM to becoming a fashion designer and launching her own brand.