Story + Rain Talks

What was working with Sistine’s face like, as an artist? Talking supermodels of the 1990's. What was the makeup of the 1990’s, and what were some of the most popular products?  What did MAC do that turned heads at the time? 1990's browns in makeup are popular again, how does one wear browns? What do you look for in a makeup brand? Talking clean makeup and keeping clients safe, MOB Beauty, Charlotte York's makeup look on And Just Li...

The Stories: What it takes to be successful at creating good reality TV. Deciding how candid to be on TV and on her podcast.

The Backstory: “There was always some form of artistic expression, whether it was that we were standing on a kitchen table and singing or reciting Edgar Allan Poe, or my dad pulling us into the garage to paint on these massive canvases. I truly learned how to read by lying on my dad's office floor and re-read...

The Stories: “They wanted me to sign that I would be nude. How do you sign something and not know the scene? That's when you kind of laugh and think, this is crazy.” “When I was younger, and I don't know if it was because cancel culture wasn't so much of a thing, you didn't have this daunting chip on your shoulder telling you to be careful about what you say, because anything could be twisted, and you could be done. ”

The Backstory...

Meet the set decorator whose rooms you’ve fallen in love with for years. With over 35 years in the industry under her belt, Beth Kushnick diligently deals in the details with expert precision. Transforming blank slates into authentic spaces that can reveal an entire life in seconds, Kushnick did that and then some when she spent seven seasons as decorator for CBS’s huge hit, The Good Wife. Her work generated so much viewer interest...

This week we release our conversation with costume designer and stylist, Paolo Nieddu. Best known for the impact he made working on the hit series fabulously filled his colorful costumes---Lee Daniel’s Empire, we dish about details from the set: from key moments and how he dressed Taraji, to little-known secrets and the BTS nitty-gritty of how a stylist organizes and works with wardrobe. Paolo’s latest work can be seen on CBS’s sma...

We’re excited about all the newness from one of our favorite writers and podcast hosts, (and reluctant actor), Jenny Mollen. She’s launching her new podcast, All The Fails, and added a new Substack, The Best Friend Experience. On this week’s episode we discuss everything we love about the one-of-a-kind Substack she shares with Diablo Cody, Can I Ask You A Personal Question? and get into all the details behind her can’t-put-it-down ...

The red carpet has one thing in common these days, and that’s Tyler Ellis. The daughter of iconic fashion designer Perry Ellis seems to be fulfilling her destiny by taking Hollywood by storm and with the expansion of her luxury handbag line. On this week’s podcast, we sit down with Ellis, raised in LA by her TV writer and executive mother, her famous father tragically dying in under two years after her birth, to talk the trajectory...

On our latest Story + Rain Talks podcast, our cover star, Cleo Wade, details the freedom that comes with being a poet. She’s someone who has always had a notebook with her, or napkins she’d write on, napkins with notes she’d often share with friends. Releasing two long-awaited books within one year, Cleo shares how she came to birth her November 2023 release, Remember Love. Feeling moved to write for this moment in time, the author...

This week we're talking to the superyacht captain with 33 years of experience who became a public figure in a flash when she began starring in Bravo's beloved Below Deck, the series that's famously found fans far and wide. We sit down with Sandy Yawn to talk about how she is creative in her work, and how she's built a stellar career on the sea. We discuss her early story and what led her to sobriety, and how the bef...

We talked to the designer who, eighteen years ago, established and nailed an aesthetic that’s since soared in popularity. Exploding onto the scene with her leaf design made popular by Jennifer Aniston’s character in the film The Break Up, Jennifer Meyer creates and has created countless collectible pieces that define the day-to-day when it comes to modern iconic fine jewelry. Jen tells the story behind the leaf, how exactly she nab...

This week has us sitting down with the food expert whose recipes are splashed all over NYT Cooking. You'll hear about her three most-made meals, and her popular pasta hashtag and its collection of dishes. You'll also hear about how she went from cabaret singer to bartender to publicist, to working on actor-turned-vintner Kyle MacLachlan's Pursued By Bear wines. We talk about exactly when it was that Colu Henry took her ...

If you don’t know, now you know. James Alsop, a one-time contestant on Bravo’s Step It Up And Dance, is now one of the entertainment industry’s most sought-after choreographers doing some of the most interesting work. James began her career as co-choreographer of Beyoncé’s videos, tour, and promotional materials for the multi-platinum selling records Who Run the World, Dance For You, and Love on Top. And we get into how she made he...

You will love this conversation about the latest and the best of the beauty industry with our next guests. We're talking to Violet Grey’s Founder, Cassandra Grey, and Sarah Brown, Executive Director of Violet Lab at Violet Grey, formerly of Vogue. This is a unique chat and a special treat, getting to talk to the esteemed experts together. VioletGrey.com, of course, is a content and commerce destination (we know a little somethi...

This week we sit down with actor and artist Jemima Kirke to talk creativity, collecting, painting, inspiration, and more. With our latest cover star, we discuss her deeply artistic upbringing and how her experiences at schools, St Anns and RISDE, have shaped her. Jemima talks about the time when she learned to make art for different reasons, and why dreams shouldn’t be trusted. She shares deeply personal insights into her sisters L...

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...

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, in...

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...

Take three deep breaths, and join our conversation with one of the most exciting creatives today, and it all starts with abundant appreciation. In an exclusive interview, we sit down with #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Podcast Host Of On Purpose, Chief Purpose Officer of Calm, and Story + Rain Cover Star, Jay Shetty. This is a favorite, must-listen Story + Rain Talks episode, not only because Jay shares the spo...