← Aspire with Emma Grede
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- [00:10]
A
Today's guest isn't your typical founder. She's a creative force who has built a global brand around her taste and her point of view. Kelly Wearsler is one of the most influential interior designers in the world, but we're not here to talk about her taste alone. We're actually going to get into the brand and the business behind it. From working an unpaid apprenticeship in New York to waiting tables to a 60 person studio and a business that spans interiors, product, creative direction and media, Kelly is the epitome of scaling with intention and precision. In my conversation with her today, we're going to talk about risk, reinvention, motherhood, money, failure and how she's evolved and continues to push boundaries. With the introduction of AI in a largely creative led company, Kelly built a successful business and one that's designed to last and my loves. Before we get into the episode, please don't forget to like and subscribe and subscribe what does it mean to live a brave life as a working woman? It's about showing up, staying grounded and having the physical and mental energy to handle the pace of life. And that is one of the reasons to love Ancient and Brave and their pure, potent, powerful supplements. Ancient and Brave has been an iconic wellness brand in the UK for years and now they've launched in the us. It feels like the perfect moment to talk about the two products you can integrate into your daily routine that change the game. They're True Creatine and True Collagen. Called the Power Duo, emerging research explores creatine's role in supporting women's strength, cognitive health and energy. Ancient and Brave's True Creatine plus is the one you need to try. Just load it into your water to support peak performance and vitality, then stack it with their best selling, clinically studied True Collagen. A single ingredient collagen sourced from the EU herds, free from growth hormones and routine antibiotics. This is a daily habit that supports healthy aging post exercise, recovery and skin. They come in gorgeous jars or on the go sachets for wherever you're off to. Ancient and Brave is a certified B Corp, a member of 1% for the planet. They offer tools that genuinely support and nourish your brain. Backed by scientists and experts. Right now Ancient and Brave is giving my listeners an exclusive offer. Head to ancientandbrave.com and use code EMMA for 20% off. Your first order. That's ancientandbrave.com, code EMMA for 20% off get give your body a little daily bravery. It adds up as someone who spends a lot of time talking into a microphone. I've learned the old adage is absolutely true. It isn't just what you say, it's how you say it. To truly make an impact, you need to set an example, take the lead and adapt to whatever comes your way. And when you're that driven, you need to drive something equally determined. The Range Rover Sport. The Range Rover Sport is designed to make an impact, blending pure power, poise and performance. The design is distinctly British, with the capability to take on roads anywhere. Free from unnecessary details, the Range Rover Sport lets its raw power and agility shine, delivering a truly instinctive drive. Its assertive stance hits an equally refined performance. This is true modern luxury. The latest innovations provide new levels of quality, comfort and control. You'll feel it with the cabin air purification system and active noise cancellation. And when the roads get challenging, terrain response tune fine tunes the vehicle with seven different terrain modes. This force is powerful inside and out, created with a choice of engines, including plug in hybrid with an estimated range of 53 miles. Like you, the Range Rover Sport was designed to lead. It combines that dynamic sporting personality with elegance and agility in a way that truly sets it apart. Explore Range rover sport@range rover.com us that's range rover.com ussport. Kelly, thank you so much for being here today.
- [04:21]
B
Thank you for having me. This is like such an honor and so happy to be here with you.
- [04:27]
A
Honestly, I couldn't be more happy. I'm telling you, when I said that I was gonna have you on the show today, so many people were excited around me. They were like, oh my God, I follow her on Instagram. She's so cool. I was have no idea. But to start us off, I think so many people know you. Obviously you're an AD100 interior designer. A lot of people will know you through your various commercial projects or maybe they've stayed at a hotel that you've designed. But I would love for you, in your own words, to just talk a little bit about exactly what it is that you do and this kind of incredible business and the scope of the business because there's so many different facets of what you do that I'd love it to come from your own mouth.
- [05:09]
B
I am a designer and I basically have six verticals within my company. And it all started with design and architecture and we design residential projects, we design hotels. I also have licensing, we do creative directions for brands, we have brand partnerships. I also have a media business, Wurstler World, that I launched last year and it's on Substack, and it's so much fun.
- [05:38]
A
We love your substack. Everyone in this office is following you on Substack. I can't tell.
- [05:43]
B
It's so much fun, like, just sharing it. Like, I share, like, the tips and things that I'm loving, things I want to buy, and it crosses over, like, beauty and fashion and design and travel and architecture and, like, cool places to stay and the sky's the limit. Like, I really want to, like, push that forward. And then also, I launched a gallery last year, Side Hustle. And this is, like, really, like, about the art of collaboration and working with different artists, which is also something that I'm really so passionate about. And, you know, really looking at how they think and creating unique works with them.
- [06:17]
A
Unbelievable. And you also have a product business, right, that's in the licensing arm, I'm guessing?
- [06:21]
B
Yes, but we also produce. We design and produce our own products. So we have workshops, we have our own production team. We do our own sales and distribution. We have E Commerce, and then we also have the licensing division.
- [06:35]
A
I mean, it's wild. It's a big old business. It is crazy. It is crazy. What do you think it is that's allowed you to kind of have this business where you're kind of. You know, you. You have this obviously unbelievable creative brain, but you have a real commerciality to what you do as well. What is it in your personality that's allowed you to have, like, this kind of crossover and the breadth of business that you have?
- [07:01]
B
Well, it's just being curious. And I love designing, and so much comes out of our projects that we design, whether it's for residential designing, something proprietary, everyone wants something unique, or it's for a hospitality project. And really looking at. Everyone wants something unique. And good design is paramount. And the quality, the craftsmanship, and everyone wants something really that's functional, something that does something for them. And it has a unique point of view, but it's also somewhat down the middle of the road, so it appeals to more people.
- [07:37]
A
Yeah. And you're masterful at doing that, because I know the research and the stories and how brilliantly kind of you think about things, but to somebody else, they just look at an object and they're like, I need that. Like, we all were very, very lucky that we stayed at the Santa Monica Hotel and we were dying, because everything that we looked at is something that you just want to buy and take home and have in your house.
- [08:01]
B
And it's just, you know, it's a mix, like How I design is like contemporary works and a lot of things we design that go into our projects, but it's also like vintage and classic pieces that really, like create a really interesting tension in our projects.
- [08:15]
A
I feel like that crosses over so much into like the way that you present yourself from a fashion point of view as well. Because I follow you on Instagram, like so many of us do, and you've got like a bit of old, a bit of new, something that you've collected, something that's not even supposed to be clothing. It's like so incredible the way you put things together.
- [08:34]
B
Yeah. And it's like I dress how I design. Like there's always something that is vintage, this very soulful, and it has a story and it has patina and interest and soul. Like that's something that's so important. But then there's something that is contemporary that creates this perfect friction, this beautiful friction.
- [08:56]
A
Can I ask you what changed for you from I guess the beginning of your career when you were more servicing clients to this part of your business that's more about your own lines and collections? Is it something, Is there a big shift in the way that you see your business today?
- [09:12]
B
You know, starting out, like I'm in a service business and I. It's all about creating unique projects and being a good listener, you know, really like loving that. I love, basically I create. We design someone's love story, whether it's for a brand or it's for a client. In doing that, we, you know, are. There's only so far we can go. Like, I want to stay a boutique size studio. I'm there every day, I'm there all day long. I'm providing the creative leadership to the team, which is so important. And I also want to scale my business. And so this is where like the licensing and the design was able to be a big part of our business. And this is where I can scale hiring really talented team, collaborating with them, also working with these amazing brand partnerships, the best in class who we're partnering with. And so we create interesting energy. We do something new. Our partners push us to do something new. We push them to work in something, maybe another material they haven't worked in before. So the business is constantly feeding each other. There's a lot of cross pollination that goes on, no doubt, which is great. And design is the foundation of the business and there's so much that comes out of that.
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A
Can you tell me a little bit about your origin story? Like how did you even get into interior design?
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B
I Grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. And I was really curious. I came from, like, a lineage of women that were really strong and worked. Like, both of my grandmothers worked. My one grandmother worked in a factory. My other grandmother worked 50 years as a legal assistant for an attorney.
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A
And.
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B
And I had a very young mom. She was 18 when she had my sister and I.
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A
Right.
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B
We grew up in a city that there wasn't a lot of culture. But my mother was so curious, and she was always about, like, you know, you and your sister have to take care of yourselves. You have to be your own independent person. Nobody's gonna take care of you other than you. I mean, that was, like, what these women were always saying in my life. And so that came at, like, a very young age. And then my mother, who is, like, incredibly cur. Loved design. And so she was constantly. I was going to thrift stores, I was going to flea markets. I was going to auctions everywhere with her. And I can just remember going into these. Some were, like, these, like, smelly little holes in the wall and, like, digging for the treasure. And I was so excited to go. And I just remember opening up these magazines and, like, seeing fashion and seeing graphic design and opening up all these incredible books that were taking me to another place. Cause I was in Myrtle Be. Like, there was not a lot.
- [12:06]
A
It was, like, escapism for you at all.
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B
It was escapism, and I was absolutely loving it. And I just kind of dreamed of, like, you know, just doing something creative.
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A
And when was the first time you sort of understood that this need to have beautiful things and be in these thrift stores and find, like, little treasures? When did you understand that that could parlay into a career, you know?
- [12:29]
B
So I went to. I left when I was 18. I went to school in Boston. Like, I just wanted to get out and school in Boston. And I was waiting tables while I was in school because, you know, I paid my way through college, and I was going to school. I was going to work and then going to my studio space at night. And, like, I just knew I wanted to, like, at some point, like, have my own business. Like, I didn't know exactly. I was studying graphic design. I changed my major to architecture in college.
- [13:03]
A
Oh, wow.
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B
And then I was just, you know, just working really hard. Like, you know, all the students were going to Europe for vacation, and I was working, and I loved it. I was doing, like, internships and things like that. Then I ended up. After I graduated, I moved to New York, and I ended up getting a Job working with a very famous, like, graphic designer, Milton Glazier. He actually designed the I Love New York logo. No.
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A
Oh, wow.
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B
He's, like, iconic. Iconic.
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A
That's really insane.
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B
He's amazing.
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A
That's insane. What training ground that must have been for you.
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B
And I also had visibility to. He was also designing restaurants, and he was, like, really a multidisciplinary. It was my first kind of visibility.
- [13:46]
A
So what are you at this. How old are you at this point?
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B
I was, like, 21.
- [13:50]
A
Oh, wow. So, like, super formative. This is your first job out of college, and you're, like, really in the thick of it with somebody. Was he iconic at the time?
- [13:58]
B
Yes, yes, he was iconic. And he was doing, like, a lot of, like, album covers and, like, restaurants and things like that. But I was working for free. Cause it was an apprenticeship, as we
- [14:07]
A
all did back in those days.
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B
And so then I was also waiting tables, which is, like, one of the best jobs that you could do.
- [14:16]
A
I think the combination of waiting tables and working for free could be for almost like, I don't know, like, nine out of 10 of the really successful people I know.
- [14:27]
B
And you know what? It's like, things go 360 because, like, I know how to design a restaurant because I know in depth how they operate. Like, I just know so well because I worked at EM for so long.
- [14:39]
A
Well, also, it's that combination of, like, understanding how to service people, right? Like, what matters to somebody as they come into a place and what the graphic design layout of a menu is and how people feel comfortable in a space. How long do they stay in it? It's all very formative. Like, I always say that I am a good host because I worked in a delicatessen and I really understood, like, if you did a good coffee, you could get someone and have, like, a piece of cake, and then they'd buy something off the shelf. But the whole thing was like, you know, like, you're learning, you're picking up all of these signals if. If you're smart enough to do that. So when you come. So you're in New York, you're working this unpaid apprenticeship, I guess. How long do you stay in that job?
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B
I stayed in that job for, I think it was, like, 10 months.
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A
Okay.
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B
And then I knew, like, and living in New York when you have no money is so tough, as you know. And also, like, I grew up on the beach and I wanted to be in nature, but I also wanted to. Wanted to be in an urban setting where there was, like, culture. And I Could learn. And a friend of mine from Boston said, you have to come to LA and check it out. So I came to la and he actually had like a place in Malibu where I stayed. He was like, there was an apartment. There's actually apartments in Malibu. And by. Yeah, by the pier.
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A
That's insane.
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B
And so I stayed with him for like three days. And I was like, hooked. I was like, oh my God, I have to be here. And then I went back and like, packed my shit up and then I moved to la.
- [16:06]
A
That's unbelievable. That's unbelievable. So take me back to the moment where you decided to strike out on your own. Because again, this business that you've created, like, I always talk about you as having like this one of one career. You've got all of these verticals. They're all so kind of like inextricably, like you, like. They feel like it's like such a. You're the person that created these things. You've created this business in your own likeness. But I guess it didn't start that way. So I'd love for you to take me back to the beginning and tell me what it was like as you decided to go out on your own.
- [16:40]
B
Well, it came. It kind of happened unexpectedly because. So I came to LA and I was like, okay, I gotta find a place to live. And I had no money. Cause I also had credit card debt. Cause I was like working for free. And it was just, you know, the whole thing, moving out. And so I got a job working at a restaurant in West Hollywood. It was like a lot of people from the film business came to this restaurant. And I became friendly with this couple. And we would talk design and go to museums. And I would tell them I was going to the flea market. And they were like, hey, why don't, like, do you want to help us with our house? We just got a house in Venice in the canals. And we'll give you the living room and you work on that. And there was no budget. So I'm like, yes, I'm going to do this. And I was doing everything. I was painting. I was going to the paint store in the morning, finding the painter, painting, going to the flea market with a flashlight in the morning. At five in the morning, we find all the good stuff. And having a cart, putting things in my car. I was doing everything. Cause I wanted this project so bad to just be amazing.
- [17:48]
A
Did you think about it as like a formative project or were you just doing your mates a favor? Like, was there a point in Your mind where you're like, oh, this is gonna be like some kind of showroom for me. Or like a, you know.
- [17:59]
B
No, I wasn't. I was just doing what I felt in my heart. Like I wanted to make the clients happy. It was kind of like the perfect storm. So I did the one room and then I ended up doing the entire house. And then, you know, they had friends over and I ended up getting other projects. And so I was like, like, shit, I have my. My own business. But I was still working out of my apartment. I was doing. I was still waiting tables, like. Cause you're nervous. It's like, what is the next job I'm gonna get? Like, I didn't know. And so then I started getting a couple calls, and then I was like, this is amazing. And I ended up hiring an assistant who actually worked at a vintage store that was like, so great. And he.
- [18:42]
A
So this really was born out of a passion and you just like, throwing yourself in and then word of mouth. Yes, that was it. That was the beginning.
- [18:51]
B
There was no Instagram, There was no, like, advertising.
- [18:54]
A
So there's no way of publicizing your work. It was like, if you got invited to that couple's house and was like, oh, this is like a lovely living room or a lovely home, they would say, oh, Kelly, did this. Was it a scary decision? Because again, I speak to so many young founders and I think that people that are sitting here listening to this at home that are dreaming of, like, jumping into something that they really love, but it's not quite. Like the thing that they dream about is not quite matching their, you know, day job. If you, like, was there trepidation from you, like, giving up waiting tables or like, yes.
- [19:27]
B
Oh, my God, I would have nightmares. I'm like, oh, my God, I still have dreams. I'm not joking. That I had to go back to waiting tables. Like, is that crazy? I still have dreams like that.
- [19:36]
A
I'm sure you'd be really good at it. You're a great hub. There you go. You've always got that to fall back on.
- [19:41]
B
I do, exactly.
- [19:42]
A
You've always got that to fall back on. All right, so you start. And I want to fast forward a bit because I feel like I want to dig into the business that you run today. But how did you go from you and this assistant that came from the vintage shop to having like a 60 people studio now?
- [19:59]
B
So when I finished my apartment and it looked amazing, I'm like, I'm going to get a photographer and we're going to shoot it, and then I'm going to submit it to a magazine. Because that was like, like how we all the people operated there to have their work in a magazine. And so I did, and I got a call, I remember from Elle Decor. I was like, oh, my God, I was so excited. And they published it and it was the up and coming new designers. And then I also started working with this developer who's now my husband, on, like, he was buying all of these historic apartment buildings in la, like, really cool ones. And I met him through a friend and he was like, hey, can you help me with, like, designing the lobbies and the corridors and, like, some of the common areas?
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A
And did you immediately go like, yeah, I can design a, like, corridor or a lobby area? Yeah, always.
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B
Like, I always would say yes, obviously.
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A
No fear. There's nothing in you that feels fear. Imposter syndrome. Like, anything that would stop you from just going for it?
- [21:00]
B
No. Cause I take risks. Like, that's like what I'm about and how. That's how I grow. I continue to do things that are tough and I'm scared, but you just do them.
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A
Where does that come from, Kelly? Where does the ab to just, like, take a risk?
- [21:14]
B
Because I want to become better. I always want to be better. I always, like, want to one up myself. Right. I always want to just get better. And I'm curious and I'm determined. I'm ambitious. I love what I do. Like, absolutely live and breathe what I do.
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A
It's just. It's amazing. I mean, it's amazing to me because you would have been such a young woman at that time, and I'm guessing that the competition, like, here in la, there would have been so many options and fabulous people that were doing, like, big celebrity projects. And you're just like.
- [21:46]
B
And it was scary. I asked a lot of questions. Like, I can remember my first big project was in Brentwood. It was actually new construction. And they, you know, the contractor. There was like, budgets, there was timelines, and it was like, very structured. And, like, there was a lot of things I didn't know. And so I asked. I remember the contractor was like, amazing. And I just. I wasn't afraid to ask questions and not. Not let people know. I didn't exactly know the answer or how to operate. And I just watched a lot. I spent so much time at all of our sites and I really watched, like, the plumbers and the electricians and everyone pouring the foundation and really understanding construction and design, because I didn't come. I wasn't working at a studio. I wasn't working in an architectural office before. So a lot of it, you know,
- [22:38]
A
you, like, you had to learn on the job.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Do you think that that still happens to you now? Because obviously you have a lot of different parts of your business. Do you still start a new thing or go into a new category and feel like you can ask a lot of questions, or do you feel like you need to have all the answers at this point?
- [22:55]
B
No, I still ask questions. I mean, because we still get presented with challenging projects and we work on, like, really large projects and some of them are historic renovations. And there's just a lot of questions. You're always presented with something new. When I was working on the residential projects, and then I had this opportunity to work on a hotel. It was my first hotel project. And I got an office on La Brea, a very small office. I had like two people. And the developer, who is now my husband, he now had investors to buy a hotel. So there was a hotel, the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills. And we had a platonic relationship at that point. He liked me. I had one.
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A
You knew he liked you?
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B
Yeah, for sure. He would tell my friends. It was sweet.
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A
He was like, ah, okay, that's sweet.
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B
I was like, I have to do this hotel. Like, I really want to do it. It's like this cool 1950s, like, boomerang shaped building. Like Marilyn Monroe lived there. It had all this history. Unreal. And so he's like, I don't know, I have investors. And I was like, well, let's just see what you can do. I really want to do it. So he went back and they said, well, if Kelly does the model room, every hotel you do, you have to do a model room and outfit it. Like, we actually. You sleep there. You want to make sure everything is perfect before you, like, you know, do
- [24:10]
A
200 rooms or something. Yeah.
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B
So I did the model room. I actually moved from my office on La Brea with my team of only like three people. We actually took a room at the Avalon and we like, just lived and breathed it. Cause it was a new beast. It's a completely different animal. Like just where all the vendors, where things are made, fabricated. Like, it's just a very more complex business designing a hotel. And so I did the model room and that was the deal. You have to. To do the model room if we love it, and then you find an architect who's actually done a hotel before. And I did that, found amazing architect. They helped and it was a huge success. So this is like my big moment where I, you know, it was a very sexy project and it got a lot of, like, global press. And I got another hotel after that, Maison140, this hotel in Beverly Hills. And like, things were getting like, that's
- [25:02]
A
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- [26:29]
B
I mean, I do. It's the same. Like, I'm present, I'm there. There's like, structure, I'm organized and I still let curiosity lead me. And I'm so open to many possibilities. And after we finished those hotels, I got a call from a big publisher in New York and she was like, I've seen your projects. I've been watching you. And I wanna do a book. And so I did a book I never thought in a million years. And it's so funny. Like, I look at it, it's called Modern Glamour and it looks like Instagra. Like, there's photos of me shopping. It has, like, quotes on, like, pages. And it was like, it was a bestselling book. It was, like, really exciting.
- [27:15]
A
That's crazy. So how are you thinking at that point? Right? You've done a beautiful and very like, revered hotel project. You've got your next big project that's coming down the pipe. You're asked to do a book. How are you thinking about structuring your business at that point? Because I feel like you're kind of like obviously in this moment where you know, like the spotlight's on you. There's a lot of different ways that that can go and obvious, obviously you've taken it so far as to like build this business. But like I also think like when you have a business that's rooted in design, fashion, like they go in style and they go out of style and yet you've got this incredible thing that feels that it's like got a lot of longevity. So did you have a thought about I'm building this type of business that's going to get me to here. Like, I just, I'm curious about the thinking and how the whole thing kind of gets shaped up and comes together.
- [28:04]
B
Like I had no playbook, like honestly nothing. And I wasn't like, I honestly never dreamed I'd be working on the stuff that I'm working on now.
- [28:13]
A
Really?
- [28:14]
B
No, never. And it's like I just like I always say like, you're just like surfing the wave and you're just like getting on the opportunity. That feels good. Like that's so important. Like things that feel authentic and things that really feel like meaningful to me and that there'll be an end result. I mean, granted, when I started it was like I was taking any job.
- [28:35]
A
Yeah.
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B
You know, I just make sure like that the projects we're taking, you know, our partners. But there really wasn't. I just was like slow and steady and it's still that way. I mean, this is like I've had, you know, an amazing, you know, career and it's just like it's a hard work. It's like being there. I am literally at my studio every day.
- [28:56]
A
You are?
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B
Yes. And I'm in like I don't have a separate office. It's an open air studio and we have like these big work tables in the middle of the studio and it's constant cross pollination. I'm like talking to the furniture department, I'm talking to the marketing department, the sales, the finance, the architects. It's just constant chess game really.
- [29:19]
A
I'm curious about what type of leader you are because it does feel like you're very hands on. And I wonder what decision making looks like for you. How have you figured out what type of leader you want to be within your studio?
- [29:32]
B
It's still a work in progress. Like I show and I set an example through passion, through hard work, dedication. Also, like working well with my team, like collaborating and being open to new ideas and, like, all of that is, you know, just, like, a big part of what I do. And I'm always, like, I'm constantly learning how to lead better. Like, I don't like confrontation. Like, I had a long time of, like. Like, this person is not performing. Like, I have to talk to them. Like, I had butterflies in my stomach. I hated it, really.
- [30:08]
A
You do?
- [30:09]
B
Like, I just never liked it. Like, I just don't like telling somebody they're not performing.
- [30:15]
A
So what do you do in that case?
- [30:17]
B
Like, I mean, sometimes you just, like, you just let it go and it turns. Like, it just turns sour. Like, you can't. You have to like this book, this Radical Candor, which has been, like, an amazing book. I've gotten better, for sure, but I still have to continue to work on that.
- [30:36]
A
No, and first of all, I love that you say that because I think it's a very female trait, actually, specifically in leadership. But it's one that I think so many people have, right. They don't want to be seen as someone that is mean or bitchy or not saying, like, you know, like, you know, just not being kind, not being empathetic. I mean, I don't have a problem with that. I always feel like I'm totally fine telling you what you don't wanna hear, but it isn't something that comes naturally to a lot of people. But obviously, to be as successful as you are, you've had to figure that out. Like, you've got no choice. Otherwise you'd have an office full of people that aren't doing what you need them to do.
- [31:16]
B
Yeah. And now you're like, just. Over the years, you learn certain things to look for when hiring people. And the questions ask. And I hold myself to such a high standard that I want the team that I surround myself every day to be as hardworking, as passionate, as excited we're working fun stuff. Like, amazing projects. Like, we every. We should just be like, you know, like, I feel so blessed that I have these, like, great projects I'm working on. And I put in the time, I put in the effort and the creativity, and, you know, you want to surround yourself with those people totally.
- [31:54]
A
What are the qualities that you look for in team members or team leaders that come and work with you?
- [32:00]
B
Somebody that, like, like, really is passionate. Like, that's the first thing I look for. And somebody, obviously, that has great taste level and they're good at their skill set. So if they're a furniture designer or they're an architect, or like, you know, our salesperson, like, have. They are like the top, you know, really like, passionate about what they do. And I want somebody that wants to be there. Like, I don't. It's like, you know, people like, I want to work remote. I want to like, no, like, we're here, I'm here every day. You're not working, Remot to work together. I want everyone to sit around a table because that is where amazing ideas happen. That is where, like, the shared passion and the unexpected, unique qualities of a project appear.
- [32:49]
A
Can it work remotely in your business?
- [32:51]
B
So I always was about, if you want a job at the studio, you have to be there. It's very difficult to find great talent, top performers, talented people, people that want to work hard. There's many different skill sets there. And so I started looking at. We just hired somebody, an architect from Paris. He's going back and forth where ours also are bringing in some other outside team. But they actually are all very like, senior.
- [33:24]
A
Senior. Yeah. I think there's a difference, actually. And I think there's such a benefit of early in your career having that proximity because a, you need visibility for. With your boss, right? It's like you need to be in the room and you need to be seen so that you can be promoted. But there is just no, I don't know, there's just no replacing proximity. Like, especially in the creative businesses where, like, I need to be around you, I need to hear what's like, informing your decisions and I just need to, like, watch how you move. Like, there's just nothing, especially in the early part of your career. There's nothing that can replace that kind of proximity.
- [33:58]
B
No. And as. As the kind of the creative leadership, I wanna have everyone there. So we're all learning from each other. I love continuing to learn from a junior designer in my studio to a director. And everyone has something to offer. So now we're bringing in people from other parts of the world working remotely, but they still will come and they'll stay a month with us. They'll go back. So it's like kind of back and
- [34:29]
A
forth, back and forth a little bit. I'm curious to talk to you about money and how your relationship with money might have changed, like, from when you started to now.
- [34:39]
B
You know, I always, like, invested in myself. I had no money. I had to work hard for everything I had. And I love that it's given me so much opportunity. I love to spend. I'm not a saver. And I. I leveraged, like, my credit cards. To build my business and get me where I am now. And I don't want to get in debt again. That was not fun. And I got a financial advisor that helped me just, I mean, who knows, you could have 10 credit cards, why not?
- [35:13]
A
Totally. And it sounds like you knew. Did you get yourself into a tricky situation?
- [35:18]
B
Yeah, but it was so liberating when I was able to like pay that off.
- [35:22]
A
It's very usual because I think that like the options for capital are really, you know, reduced. When you're a woman, especially when you're a woman in a creative business, it isn't so easy to go out and raise or to get people to understand what you would have done. So you probably just had to do what you could do to get the money to, you know, do a very expensive business.
- [35:42]
B
Yeah. Now I would say like I, I reinvest it. I reinvested in team, like hiring like the best team. And like over the years, like you can't hire like these like director level people. And so it you, it takes a long time to build a business when you have team that isn't maybe as like skilled as you'd want them to be. But now I like invest in my team, I invest in hierarchy. Like having the right hierarchy in every department is so important because I don't have to be in the weeds. We obviously have bottleneck. It happens at a studio. But having directors now really helps. I tell everyone I'm always available. You can text me anytime, call me on the weekend, like I'm available, always come grab me. I'm at the studio all day, so you know, you can interrupt me. I'm totally fine with that. And so really investing in the team and in technology, investing in that is
- [36:40]
A
what I've written a little bit about this you'd spoken a lot about. I wanna make sure we cover. I'm gonna get back to money, don't worry. Because you know, I love that. But I did read a lot about what you're doing in AI because you're really like, I think I must have read about it on Substack or something like that. But you've really embraced AI in your studio.
- [36:58]
B
Yes. And we were early adopters. I was so interested in it. It was like during the NFT when all that was happening.
- [37:06]
A
Oh really? That went chat?
- [37:08]
B
Yeah, like four years ago, super early. And I remember learning and reading about AI and just starting to listen to every podcast, educating myself. And I still do. I listen to podcasts on it all the time.
- [37:20]
A
Is that what you mean? When you say you invested in yourself like you invest in your, your own learning and understanding. Yes.
- [37:26]
B
And then we're investing in team to help us implement AI and strategies in the studio. So when I first used AI, it was probably like three and a half years ago in the studio. And I started it in a very like, kind of like small department and really started working with the team who was really interested in it. And now we use it. It's like company wide. Every department is creating the most incredible efficiencies. It enables us to be more creative because we have more. And it is a new creative spirit on our team always.
- [37:59]
A
Did you have any pushback from your staff who feel like, wait a minute, I came here to do a different type of job. This is replacing me, I won't be needed at this place anymore. What does that look like?
- [38:09]
B
No, I think people are open, especially in the creative realm. We use so many different tools and it is so like, it's like so exciting. Like I would say I'm like, I'm a tech enthusiast and now there's like open clothes. Do you know openclaw?
- [38:25]
A
I know a little bit about it, yeah. Which is how are you guys using it?
- [38:28]
B
Well, we're just starting. We're actually investing in a team member that's gonna help us. But openclaw is like this new platform or it's this new tool that basically will be an agent. It will operate for you, it will work all night. It's like having an assistant. There's some security ramifications. Right now it's so new. It's only like two weeks new.
- [38:50]
A
So what would you use it for? To create a new project or how does it it work?
- [38:55]
B
Like, we're looking at it to like the use cases that we're doing now is okay, we're looking for art for project and we want the. Cause this is a big, big time consuming effort, is like curation.
- [39:10]
A
Absolutely curating.
- [39:12]
B
Like we curate globally for our projects, but it takes a lot of time.
- [39:15]
A
Oh my good. So you can use it for something like this?
- [39:18]
B
Yes. Yeah. So we're so with the use cases that I have right now are abstract art. Art and you know, we want like, you know, pastel colors and we want it about like 48 inches by 48 inches. And then like fill a folder, scour the globe. But this is also the price and these are maybe the galleries. And then it will work like 24 hours a day.
- [39:42]
A
That's insane. Cause you could pay somebody to do that for weeks or a month to Find you the right pieces.
- [39:47]
B
That's how long it takes. So we have some other use cases that we're doing right now. Now. And so this is, like, such a game changer. And I'm so excited. I'm so fired up for this.
- [39:59]
A
Is there any part of it that worries you or scares you for the future of your business? Because I understand, certainly for us, we have really embraced AI, But I think by the same token, there's an awareness that so many more people in the business become redundant, and yet we keep them in the business because there's nowhere else. Where else are people going to go? But is there any kind of worry for you that some of the kind of human and the tactile element of things that you do gets lost or.
- [40:29]
B
No, because everyone, at the end of the day, everyone wants something that's comfortable and how's technology? Everyone wants something that is emotional and has the hand, the craft, how a chair is fabricated, how it's assembled. And it's like so much of it is in the execution. Like, you can have a great idea on paper and come up with the most amazing design. And with. With AI, but it's all in the execution. Like, what is the assembly, what is the material, what is the hand? And that's never gonna replace. Yeah, AI will pack boxes and things like that, but is it really going to create this emotional response, this experience that leaves a lasting memory, like what a human can do?
- [41:16]
A
And do you think. No, no, no. Can't replace you.
- [41:21]
B
Although I haven't had the massage by the robot. We'll see.
- [41:24]
A
My trainer had a massage by robot the other day. He said, no, I'm going back to. I'm going back to Cecile, our lady. I was like, I could have told you that, bro. That's crazy. I just couldn't deal with the malfunction thing. I'll test anything in the business, but not on my body. No, thank you. Although I kind of liked the idea of that manicure thing. Have you seen the little robot manicure? It's not really AI, but it's a robot manicure. I was like, well, that would save us a lot of time.
- [41:48]
B
I know for sure.
- [41:50]
A
Although that would be really handy. All right, let me take you just back to this money question, because, again, you're in such a creative business. Is there ever a time when you. I have to take this project because the money would just be too goddamn good not to.
- [42:05]
B
No, because I feel financially secure, and now I want to work on projects that I'm so passionate about and that I'm going to learn from. We have the opportunity to work on this, like, really small, tiny, little hole in the wall restaurant by very passionate chef. And there's no budget, but it's like, I'm going to do it, like working in Mexico City, working with a creative partner that's so passionate. Like, things like that I love. And then I'm going to learn from. I'm working in, like, you know, an interesting culture. And so it's so exciting and.
- [42:41]
A
But there's no part of you that has to balance that and say, oh, my God, like, I really need this massive hotel thing to come forward so I can do that little thing in Mexico City.
- [42:48]
B
Yeah, I mean, there. There is a balance. Like, part of our licensing business helps to afford us to make smart decisions. Like, we're, you know, our licensing business is. Is like about 200 million a year.
- [43:01]
A
Unbelievable.
- [43:03]
B
In retail. And we do very well in our interiors and architecture. And we do creative direction and brand partnerships for many different brands. Airbnb, Chase, Lancome, like, all these, which are also really fun. So there's many different arms of the business that are exciting and I love all the opportunities.
- [43:23]
A
How much do you care about the money piece of it? Was there ever a part of you that's like, I wanna build like a billion dollar something like, does that ever come into play in the way that you sing?
- [43:33]
B
Yes. I still, like, I'm actually working on fragrance. You are?
- [43:40]
A
Is that your billion dollar baby? I wanna smell like you when I look at you, I'm like, I wanna smell like her. Definitely. That's it. That's the one.
- [43:49]
B
Yeah. I'm so excited. So we're working on that.
- [43:52]
A
That's a whole different.
- [43:53]
B
And like, I've dreamed of doing this for so long, but you have to do things in sequence. Like, sequence is such an important word. Like, you have done it, you know, 10 years ago, 20 years ago. I, you know, have now so much more knowledge on. On so many different aspects of launching, like, a new business. I did fashion. Oh, my God. I did fashion at one point. It was a disaster. It was, like, so stressful in my life. It was a very, like, kind of wrong road to go down. But you learn and I. I just feel like it's like the.
- [44:29]
A
I so appreciate you saying that because I really believe in this idea of chapters and having, like, you don't always get your opportunities at the time that they'll necessarily work, but sometimes you just gotta shoot your shot and, like, do them anyway. Yes. But there Is this kind of preconceived idea, especially for women in business, that if you mess something up, that it kind of messes everything up. Like, you get your one chance, and if you don't get it all perfectly right, then, you know, it all kind of goes up in a poof of smoke. When the reality is, we know for so many men, they make huge mistakes and lose lots of money and have a lot of failure, and they just kind of, like, dust themselves off and go to the next thing. So I appreciate you saying that you've made mistakes and there were things in your business that didn't work out. What did you learn from that situation, like, with the failure of fashion?
- [45:17]
B
Just that, like, you know when it's time to, like, wrap it up. And I so remember, like, a friend of ours who had a fashion business and very successful, sold it. I can remember being with my husband, Brad. We were Earth Cafe. I so remember. And he came in, he was like, you guys just have to stop. And I just knew. I was like. And I've been thinking about it. And so we just did it. And it was not fun. Cause we had to let people go who I really loved. And they worked hard. We all worked really hard. And so it was just tough, but it was humbling. It was like, one thing that you have to be able to. Going back to what my mom said, like, you have to be able to rely on yourself in any circumstance. And now, like, I can be presented with anything that fits under my umbrella. I'm confident, yes, that anytime anyone can leave, like, I can figure it out.
- [46:12]
A
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp International. Women's Day is this month, and it's an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the women in our lives and everything that they carry. The visible responsibilities are one thing, but the emotional load is. Is another. Between work, relationships, families, and expectations, a lot gets managed quietly and often without much space to process it. Celebrating strength matters, but so does support. And therapy can be a place to set boundaries, sort through pressure, and create more balance. Not because something is wrong, but because carrying a lot deserves care. BetterHelp connects you with fully licensed therapists in the US who follow a strict code of conduct. You complete a short questionnaire, and with over 12 years of experience and more than 30,000 therapists on the platform, they'll match you with someone aligned with your needs. And if it's not the right fit, you can switch at any time. BetterHelp has served over 6 million people worldwide with an average 4.9 out of 5 rating for live sessions based on more than 1.7 million reviews. Your emotional well being matters. Find support and feel lighter and in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com aspire that's B-E-T-T-E-R-H-E-L-P.com aspire Spring is less about starting over and more about adjusting the dial. Refinement, not reinvention, should be the goal. By March, you've already lived a little in the year. You know what you're reaching for. You know what you're tired of. And that's usually when I start thinking about about what needs to shift. Not everything, just enough to feel current. If you're in that mindset, Macy's is pulling together a strong mix of brands shaping the season. Right now, it's less about one trend and more about a range. Structured pieces, softer silhouettes, elevated staples, directional denim all in one place. Now. Denim is obviously foundational, and good American continues to lead in fits that are strong and super wearable. Wide leg cuts, updated proportions and denim that actually holds its shape. Those are the kind of pieces that do the heavy lifting in your wardrobe. You change the jeans, you change the outfit. It's simple, but it works every time. Now, beyond denim, what I'm noticing this season is balance. Relaxed tailoring that doesn't feel oversized dresses that feel fluid but still intentional, and layers that feel light enough to move with you into instead of weighing you down. Spring is also where proportion becomes important, swapping out heavier winter layers for pieces that create shape. Again, a little lighter jacket instead of a coat, a soft knit instead of a big, thick sweater. Even subtle changes that lift how you carry yourself. And what Macy's does well is centralize all of it. Instead of bouncing between multiple sites or hunting down brands individually, you can see how the season is evolving in one fun place. Establish names next to newer discoveries, classic staples next to pieces that feel slightly more directional. That's helpful, because spring isn't about replacing your closet. It's about editing it with intention. Maybe it's one new denim silhouette. Maybe it's introducing a softer color palette. Maybe it's finding pieces that move more easily between work and the weekend without feeling like two different wardrobes. Fashion doesn't have to be dramatic to be effective. Sometimes the most powerful update is subtle and strategic. Find the standout brands that define this season style both familiar favorites and some hidden gems at Macy's shop now, @macy's.com or in store. I wonder if you have any advice for, like, young creatives about how they can both protect their ideas, but also, like, take feedback in, because it's such an important thing when you're coming up that you hear feedback and that you use it in a useful way, but it can sometimes be really hard to hear it. How have you dealt with that?
- [50:16]
B
I think you just have to be open and be a good listener and just run everything through your filter. And, like, during the time when I was starting out and it was like, this is trending. Like, this is what you should be doing. And, yeah, I can, like, do that and follow the herd, but how are you going to stand out? Like, you're not. Like, you have to follow, like, what is in your heart and what, like, you believe in. As a young designer, I think it's important to obviously know what's going on. Like, I know what's going on in pop culture. I know what's going on, what's trending. You just have to, like, kind of take that. But also you have to have your own voice. Like, that's so important. Or you're just going to be part of.
- [50:59]
A
You're a mother, obviously, which I love, because, you know, you've got these wonderful kids. And I wanted to ask you about having children and what part of. I always think that they. My kids somehow did something to me as it relates to my ambition. And I wonder if you had any. Like, you know, did your ambition sharpen? Did it soften? Like, what happened to you as a businesswoman when you. You had kids?
- [51:25]
B
Well, growing up, like, I wanted to just, like, be something, love what I do, be my own boss. Like, that's what I wanted to do. And so I never felt like kids were in the equation. Like, I really. I wanted.
- [51:42]
A
You didn't grow up, like, really wanting children.
- [51:44]
B
No, no. And I knew, like, that I wanted to just. I was ambitious.
- [51:52]
A
Yeah.
- [51:52]
B
And I just didn't think that you could do both. And I, you know, met my husband, and it was really important to him, and I was curious about it. Like, I'm just a curious person. And I was like, well, do I see myself with kids? Like, maybe. And it was. I love my husband, and it was, like, important to him. So I'm like, okay, let's. We'll have one. And I got pregnant unexpectedly, because I probably would have been pregnant, pushing it, continuing to push it. We were engaged, and I had Oliver, my first son. And, like, everything changed. It was, like, the most magical, beautiful, like, how you can love something so much. And I'm so vulnerable with them, and it's, like, the best thing. I have Oliver and Elliot, who are 21 and 22, and I have Crosby, who's 3.
- [52:45]
A
Love the Gap.
- [52:46]
B
The gap.
- [52:46]
A
What was going on there, babe?
- [52:48]
B
Same husband.
- [52:49]
A
Love that. Just a bit of a gap. You say, I'm imaginating nothing.
- [52:54]
B
It is the best thing in the world. And so having my family, you know, and my husband, I take them on my journey with me. I take them everywhere. I go to museums. Like, trust me, they are like, I don't want to go like this. And I'm like, no, like, like. And it brought me back to my mom. I was educating my eye. Even though, like, you know, you don't know what's going on, you're still educating.
- [53:17]
A
No, you're taking it in. You're taking it in, you're taking it in.
- [53:19]
B
And we travel together as a family. I include them in, like, everything I do, having my family involved. And it helps that my husband and I, we have separate businesses, but, like, we help each other. So there's, like, a great kind of family interest in, like, everything we do.
- [53:38]
A
So there's two entrepreneurs in your house.
- [53:40]
B
Yes.
- [53:41]
A
That's amazing. So as your business is accelerating and
- [53:44]
B
you work with your husband too. I listen to your husband, yeah.
- [53:48]
A
Very similar story, actually.
- [53:49]
B
I know. I was really like, he's great, you guys. Like, great energy. And it's fun, but it's definitely challenging.
- [53:56]
A
It's fun, and it's challenging. And we had a similar situation that having kids was very, very important to me and to him, I should say. And I was like, oh, okay. Like, you know, I've got just kick the can down the road. And then I had a kid, and I was like, oh, my God, that's the best thing that's ever happened to me. But it's interesting. I wanted to ask you, as your career was accelerating, like, what part of. Of motherhood were, like, the most challenging
- [54:21]
B
for you was probably during that time, I would say when my business is really growing is I would work on the weekends a little, and they would come to the studio, they would paint and do different things, but, you know, just the amount of work that it takes to be your, you know, to be a founder and to have your own business and really wanting to push. And obviously, obviously, I missed certain things, but one thing I did is I was so focused on work and family, and it was very focused. I'm at home. I didn't go out at night. I didn't go to parties. I was Home with my kids. And that's one thing that I made the conscious decision. And people are like, you never go out. You're never at these things for work. And it's like, well, I have a family, and that's the most important, important element of my life. Family comes first, always.
- [55:23]
A
But that was your trade off. It was work and the family, and then there ends up being very little for social and friends and, you know, other stuff.
- [55:31]
B
Yes. Something has to. Yes. So you have to. You have to give. You can definitely do both. I think I'm an amazing mom. I have an incredible relationship with my kids, and I'm there for them. Like, you know, you can have both. You just have to know how to manage your time.
- [55:45]
A
Yeah. Do you think that motherhood has changed anything in the way that you lead or the way that you think about
- [55:51]
B
building your business as a mother? I would say just especially, like, with the junior team, like, just more, like, compassionate and more communicative and very, you know, I try and be very warm. Like, I feel like I'm a warm person and, you know, really want to include our junior team at my studio. And just knowing, like, they're just starting out, you know, my older boys, they're just starting new businesses. You want to push them. I push them. I hold them to a high standard. Like, I hold myself. My husband and I both do. We hold our entire family to a high standard. And it's how I operate at my studio as well.
- [56:36]
A
Totally. I mean, I'm guessing that your kids are growing up with a very different life than you did in North Carolina. Yes, a little bit different.
- [56:45]
B
So different. Like, so different. But they see. And that was something that we really had to, you know, just make sure, like, they had jobs. They, you know, you say, no. Like, we were strict parents, and they see how hard Brad and I work for what we have. And that obviously, always, like, sets a good example. And I think including them, really giving them visibility to what we're doing. And they see that we're happy. They see that we're happy in our career. And, like, that's what I want. For them to do what they absolutely love. It's so important, because to succeed, you have to work 247 and have that grit and determination and passion.
- [57:30]
A
I love that you say that, because I read somewhere that you've kind of, like, reframed this idea of back balance as integration rather than separation. And when I read that, I was like, does she mean with the family? I wonder if, like, how does that show up? Like, in the way that you structure your days and you, you have your family and your business. What did you mean by that?
- [57:49]
B
Well, just in terms of like I, I get up super early in the morning so I can work like 4:35. Cause I like to have like time. It's the only time I have to myself and I have to answer the emails that I didn't get to during the day. And then I work out and I always have woken up my kids every morning and spend time with them in the morning and drive them to school and they would come to my office, I mean they still crossy comes to my office, you know, in the middle of the day on his way home from preschool and you know, he sees, he sees what's like going on and happening. And then I'm at home, I go home and I, you know, in the car I'm still on calls and like doing everything I have to do and I get home and have dinner and I'm focused and hang out, you know, with my family, my husband and the kids. And then when they go to sleep and put them to bed and I go back to work for a little bit.
- [58:50]
A
By March, the new year energy is settled. This is usually the point where things either slow down or they get real structured. Now what I've chosen to do time and time again is put the right infrastructure structure in place so you're not rebuilding the plane every single week. That is why I use Shopify. It's the platform we run Good American on. And it's the same platform I trust anytime I'm building something new. What I value most is how everything lives in one place. Online sales, social channels, pop ups. In person, it's all centralized. I can open the app and immediately see what's moving, what's trending, and where customers are coming from. You don't need a big team to look polished either. The templates are clean, customizable, and the AI tools help with things like product descriptions, content planning, reporting. It's like adding operational support without adding complexity. So here's the real question. What's one system you could set up this month that would make the rest of your year so much easier? Whether you're testing a new idea or building the next big thing, Shopify is where you start. Visit shopify.com aspire to launch your brand. Weight management conversations can feel complicated. There's a lot of noise, a lot of opinions, and it's hard to know what's actually credible or medically grounded. If you're exploring weight loss as One of your health goals this year. Weight loss by hers is one option to look into. Through hers, you're connected with a licensed medical provider who determines if treatment is appropriate for you. If prescribed, your plan is personalised and can include options like oral medications, medication kits or GLP1 injectables. What stands out is that it's not just about medication. Hers also offers ongoing care dosage adjustments, lifestyle and nutrition guidance, and tools to track movement, hydration and sleep, all designed to support steady progress over time. Everything is 100% online and plans can start at $69 per month with a 10 month plan paid upfront in full. If you've been considering a short, structured, medically guided approach instead of trying to navigate it alone, this is maybe worth a try. Feel like your best self again? Visit fourhers.com aspire to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. That's F o r h E-R-S.com aspire forhers.com Aspire Weight Loss by hers is not available everywhere. Compound drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness or quality by the fda. Prescription required. See website for full details, important safety information and restrictions. Actual price depends on product and plan purchased. I want to hear the rest of the routine. If you're up at 4:30 in the morning and you're waking this little kid up and you're back home for dinner, like what are the non negotiables? Like give me an idea of the things that you have to do to keep yourself sane and productive and like just in the life that you want
- [61:55]
B
to live, like you want to hear all the details.
- [61:57]
A
I want to know that. What you got? Like, yeah, give it to me.
- [62:00]
B
I mean, so I get up, I look at my aura ring, I get up very early, look at my aura ring, I go, I do my, my red light cap and how good is
- [62:12]
A
the red light cap?
- [62:12]
B
Yeah, it's so good. I know. I was just told today I have a lot more new growth.
- [62:16]
A
Yeah. Yeah. Every time I go to the hairdresser I'm like, dude, I have new. They just tell me now just to shut me up.
- [62:23]
B
And then I go downstairs and I make my triple macchiato and I go through like emails like that want to make sure I get back to everyone and then I go to the gym. Like that is a non negotiable. I work out every single day, twice a day. Yesterday.
- [62:43]
A
Shut up.
- [62:43]
B
Yesterday. Yesterday at three.
- [62:45]
A
No you don't, you psycho. You work out every single seven days a week. Every single day, twice A week, Twice a day.
- [62:50]
B
So I'll do, like. I have a weight trainer who we lift, like, really heavy weights.
- [62:56]
A
Hold, hold, hold, hold, hold. You work out every single day? Twice a day and sometimes three times.
- [63:05]
B
Yeah. Yesterday was unusual. Like, on the weekends sometimes. Cause I play, paddle, and my schedule, like a meeting in the morning. I work out super early.
- [63:14]
A
What time?
- [63:14]
B
And then I do my sauna. Like, it's like, 5:30.
- [63:18]
A
Oh, my gosh. She's like the longevity queen who was showing me up. I thought this was me. All right, she's up. She's emailing. Triple macchiato. The red light cap's on. She's getting in her workout kit. You're doing a workout sauna after or.
- [63:32]
B
And the workouts at home?
- [63:33]
A
The workouts at home, yeah. You don't have time to do it
- [63:35]
B
because I, for 20 years, went to Barry's boot camp, like, every single day. But now it's, like, amazing being at home. And then I do my workout, and then I go directly to the sauna, do my sauna. How long do my. I do 20 minutes.
- [63:50]
A
Okay.
- [63:51]
B
Yeah, 20 minutes. And then I do Hawaii.
- [63:53]
A
Is it a wood sauna or is it an infrared sauna? I need to know.
- [63:55]
B
It's just hot sauna coals.
- [63:57]
A
The cold coals. Okay.
- [63:59]
B
And then I take a, like, really cold shower, which is, like, so amazing. You just feel. We have the cold plunge. But, like, I don't know. I hear it's not great for.
- [64:09]
A
I know I'm little on the fence. Like, I can do it, like, around my cycle, but, like, there's certain times when that I'm just not getting it.
- [64:16]
B
Yeah, it's a lot.
- [64:17]
A
I'm just not getting it.
- [64:17]
B
It's a lot. But I do the cold shower. I feel great. Then I go get a car. Crosby. And then I read books to him. We hang out, like, have quick breakfast, and then he gets ready. Like, we have amazing nanny who helps I get ready for work. Like, super fast shower.
- [64:33]
A
Like, you're putting that whole look together.
- [64:35]
B
I have my green juice. Like, I have my green juice. And then go downstairs.
- [64:39]
A
Who's getting your clothes? Wait a minute. You have to go back for me because you've always got a look on. It's not like you put jeans and a T shirt on. You're just, like, throwing something together. Or you've got your outfits, like, ready.
- [64:49]
B
No. Like, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
- [64:53]
A
I mean, I like it. I always think they. Even if they don't work, they kind of work because you're you. And it's like. Oh, it's a weird, like, furry shoe. It just like, kind of happens. Okay, fine. Outfits on. Taking the kids to school.
- [65:03]
B
And then I go to school. And then as soon as I drop Krausi off and then I like, I'm on a call. Like, just like on the call.
- [65:11]
A
Work.
- [65:12]
B
Zoom call. Like, I mean, I'm not watching, but I'm listening. Zoom call. And then go to the studio. And then I'm like. Goes directly to a meeting. And it's like one after the next. Like, go to meeting. Meeting. Being in a. You know. You know?
- [65:25]
A
Yeah, you're like back to back to back all day.
- [65:27]
B
And then it's like 10 to 1. And then I leave. I'm going now to my. My second workout. I do my second workout and, like, it's a reset.
- [65:37]
A
What's the difference between the first workout and the second workout?
- [65:40]
B
They're very different.
- [65:41]
A
Training one and then cardio and then some are Cardio.
- [65:44]
B
Summer Zone 2, Summer Zone 5. Pilates.
- [65:47]
A
With a trainer. Without a trainer?
- [65:48]
B
No, with a trainer. Some days I do myself. I do car by myself, but I do heavy weight training.
- [65:54]
A
On a reformer or Matt Pilates.
- [65:56]
B
No, on a reformer. And then I'll go there. And I started doing jump rope. Like, I really want to get good at jump roping. So I started jump roping and, like, doing, like, tricks. Cause it's really good for your body. And then I do, like, farmer's walks there. And then we do regular Pilates. So I do all that. And then she's my Pilates instructor. Super close to the studio. So then I go back to the studio and, like, eat at the desk. Yeah. In a meeting.
- [66:19]
A
What are you eating?
- [66:20]
B
And then, like, usually it's salmon and a green salad.
- [66:22]
A
Okay. She's disciplined. This.
- [66:24]
B
Yes.
- [66:24]
A
Okay, Got it. So salmon and green tea.
- [66:26]
B
And how I eat. Like, I'm so laser focused on eating healthy and, like, knowing what I put in my body. I think I have a smoothie. I forgot about the smoothie.
- [66:33]
A
Oh, you have a smoothie? A protein smoothie.
- [66:35]
B
Yeah, protein smoothie. On the way to taking Krausi to school. I have, like, the smoothie and the macchiato.
- [66:40]
A
Yeah. Because you need this energy, otherwise, like, you would just fall apart.
- [66:44]
B
Yes.
- [66:45]
A
Wow.
- [66:45]
B
And I have nuts. I have, like, snacks and things. Like, I'll have to drink a lot of water.
- [66:49]
A
Is there like some. When you're doing the meetings, do you have rules in work? Like some kind of meeting hygiene or a time? Like, how does it Work. Work in the studio, or are you just more like, free and easy?
- [67:00]
B
No, just free and easy.
- [67:01]
A
Free and easy.
- [67:01]
B
Yeah. Okay, so free and easy.
- [67:03]
A
Free and easy. And then, like, home, dinner. You must, like, what time do you go to bed?
- [67:08]
B
And then I go to bed. Actually, I go to bed at, like, 9:30. I go to bed la Ish. Yes. Okay. And especially, like, after just everything that I've done, like, and then, like, we read to Crosby, and I'm just, like, also, like, getting tired.
- [67:21]
A
Okay, now I've got your whole routine down, and that was a very important part of this interview, and I'm extremely happy about it. We're going to shift gear a little bit, so I want to understand, like, what matters to you most? Like, when you start to think about your legacy and almost, like, the body of work that you've created, what becomes most important to you? To be able to, like, kind of look back on.
- [67:43]
B
For my legacy, I would say that I, like, created great and beautiful environments that people have had memories in, and that made them feel good and made them feel happy, because that's what I want to do is I want people to feel good and nurtured in their spaces and represent them. Also, like, we design hotels, and I have people coming up to me like, oh, my God, I was at your hotel, and I got married, got inter gaged. I had a party, and I just had, like, such an incredible weekend, and it was such an amazing memory for me, and. And that is so meaningful. Like, I love hearing that. And then we design a lot of product and designing product that people can pass down to, you know, their. Their kids and just continue to use. And having these pieces in the world are, like, really, you know, just mean a lot.
- [68:38]
A
Yeah, it makes a lot of sense. What are you most intentional about preserving in both kind of the brand and the business as you continue to evolve,
- [68:48]
B
to just continue to get better and to continue to learn and to produce, like, really great designs and grow? Like, I want to evolve. Like, I really want to. I see myself doing this until I'm 100. Hopefully all this shit's gonna pay off. I'm like. And, you know, I just.
- [69:18]
A
Listen, if it ain't paying off for you, it's not going to pay off for any of us. I hope it works out.
- [69:24]
B
And you see, I was just with Martha Stewart, and it's like, she's telling about her day, and I'm just like, shit. Like, she is such an inspiration.
- [69:34]
A
First of all, beyond. I couldn't agree more.
- [69:37]
B
She's beautiful.
- [69:38]
A
Toxic. Yeah. Like, she really does.
- [69:40]
B
Like, she's such an inspiration. And when you, you know, love what you do, like, you want to just do it till the end.
- [69:50]
A
Totally. I really understand that. What projects are you, like, most excited about now?
- [69:55]
B
Designing the torch and cauldron for the LA28 Olympics.
- [70:00]
A
Like, first of all, we need you to do that.
- [70:03]
B
There's never been a female.
- [70:04]
A
What?
- [70:05]
B
Yes. There's never been a female.
- [70:07]
A
Oh, Is there, like, a voting booth or something? I can get involved.
- [70:10]
B
I don't know if we need a.
- [70:11]
A
That has to happen. I'll tell them.
- [70:12]
B
I'll tell those.
- [70:13]
A
I'll tell my friends over at Team USA or, I don't know, like, some sporty thing that I do.
- [70:17]
B
But I so want to do it. I know.
- [70:20]
A
First of all, we need you to do it. There's never been a woman.
- [70:22]
B
No. No. And it's like, I'm, like, synonymous with, you know, design in Los Angeles, and I'm so well suited for it. No.
- [70:31]
A
If not you, then who? I need you to do this. I think that that would be so major.
- [70:36]
B
I would be so excited.
- [70:37]
A
Yeah, that's a pretty kind of, like. Like, you know, being.
- [70:41]
B
I know. That's all. Yeah.
- [70:42]
A
I just have a few more questions left for you. These ones are rapid fire.
- [70:46]
B
Kelly, get ready.
- [70:48]
A
Don't worry. I'm crap at rapid fire. I just, like, go on for 15 minutes so the team know when I say rapid fire, it means nothing. Okay. What is one interior decorating rule that applies to every room in the house?
- [71:01]
B
Do not buy all your furniture in one place.
- [71:04]
A
Oh, I love that one. Is that, like, the basic bitch of interior design if you have one?
- [71:10]
B
Yes. Because it's about curation. It's about also, like, you want things to surround yourself from travels and things that take time to curate everything that you're surrounding yourself with, because then it's more soulful and it's meaningful.
- [71:24]
A
Damn right. What is something that you used to aspire to that you no longer aspire to?
- [71:30]
B
It's tough, but it's perfectionism. Like, I'm working very hard. My husband's like, just get it done and get it out there. Like, you can't make it perfect, and you can't. You have to set things free, and you, like, tweak it and massage it, you know, as it's been set free.
- [71:48]
A
Fair. What's the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night? I think I know the first day.
- [71:55]
B
Aura ring. I gotta get my sleep score.
- [71:57]
A
And then does it affect your day if you have a bad sleep score?
- [72:01]
B
Like, you feel it? Like, it's so right. Like you do feel it. Wow. But I just, like forge through. I just. And then the last thing I do is I kiss my husband. Like, we always, like, even if we're pissed off at each other, it's like you still kiss.
- [72:15]
A
Damn right. What is a book that's changed your life?
- [72:19]
B
The book that changed my life is a book by Rick Rubin, the Creative Act. And like, I design from a place of creativity, emotion, and things that feel so, just so natural and I'm not connected. Like, I can envision something visually in my brain and like, it's not like I'm thinking philosophically about how I got to the solution of a design problem. And so it really helped me to think a little deeper.
- [72:50]
A
I love that. All right, my last question for you, Kelly. What are you aspiring to right now in your life?
- [72:57]
B
I'm aspiring to just continue to learn and to inspire. Inspire people along the way and being just a great mom and just myself, I guess.
- [73:14]
A
I love that. Just yourself. There she is. 1 of 1. Kelly, thank you so much. I love this.
- [73:19]
B
Amazing.
- [73:20]
A
Thank you. If you're loving this podcast, be sure to click follow on your favorite listening platform. While you're there, give us a review and a five star rating and share an episode you loved with a friend. You'll be so grateful. Aspire with Emma Greed is presented by Audacy. I'm your host, emma Greed, Ashley McShan, Derek Brown and me. Our executive producers from Audacy, Leah Rees Dennis, Asha Saluda, Lauren Legrasso. Producer, KK Sublime. Stephen Key is our senior producer. Sound design and engineering by Bill Schultz. Angela. Jilla Peluso is our booker. Original music by Charles Black. Video production by Evan Cox, Kirk Courtney, Andrew Steele and Carlos Delgado. Social media by Olivia Homan, Kathryn Bale. Special thanks to Brittany Smith, Sydney Ford, my teams at the lead company and wme. Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Hilary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Kate Hutchinson, Rose, Tim Meeko, Shaun Cherry and Lauren Vieira. If you have questions for me, you can DM me at Aspire with Emma Greed. Greed is spelled G R E D E. That's Aspire A S P I R E with Emma Greed. Or you can submit a question to me on my website emagreed me. You know you need fiber for a healthy gut, but do you actually know how to get it? Quaker's been serving UP fiber since 1877 with over a hundred great tasting good source of fiber. Options to choose from. Whether you like old fashioned oats, instant oatmeal granola or oatmeal squares, Quaker makes it delicious. Mmm. So good. Get your fiber with Quaker Shop Quaker's good source of fiber products at a store near you.