Podcast Summary: Fashion People – "As Goop As It Gets" Release Date: July 29, 2025

Hosts:

• Lauren Sherman: Correspondent for Puck and writer of Puck's Fashion and Beauty Memo Line Sheet.
• Amy Odell: Author of Gwyneth: The Biography and fashion industry insider.

1. Introduction to the Episode

The episode titled "As Goop As It Gets" delves deep into the intricate worlds of Anna Wintour's potential succession at Vogue and Gwyneth Paltrow's business ventures through GOOP. Lauren Sherman and Amy Odell explore the evolving media landscape, the personalities driving these iconic brands, and the challenges they face in maintaining their influence.

2. Anna Wintour Succession Speculation

Lauren Sherman initiates the discussion by addressing the ongoing speculation surrounding Anna Wintour's succession at American Vogue. Recent developments include the creation of a new position, Head of Editorial Content, raising questions about whether this role is a stepping stone for a future successor.

Notable Insights:

• Eva Chen's Potential Candidacy:

  • Amy Odell expresses skepticism about Eva Chen's move from Meta to Conde Nast, highlighting the disparity in compensation and influence. “I would have a hard time imagining it would be similar in size to her, to her pay package” ([07:06]).

• Amy Astley's Role:

  • Amy Odell suggests Amy Astley, now the editor of Architectural Digest, as a possibility. She praises Astley's business acumen but questions whether her current role might keep her away from Vogue’s top position. “If she's doing a great job at Architectural Digest, maybe Kanass would like to keep her there” ([10:11]).

• Selby Drummond as a Contender:

  • Amy Odell introduces Selby Drummond as a smart and capable prospect, aligning with the next generation of Vogue's leadership. “Selby is such a great idea. I think there's a generation of Vogue people...” ([07:50]).

Key Quote:

Amy Odell: “Maybe someone like Selby Drummond or Chloe Mal would really love to do something like this.” ([09:00])

3. GOOP and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Business Ventures

The conversation shifts to Gwyneth Paltrow and her lifestyle brand GOOP, examining its rise, challenges, and future prospects.

Notable Insights:

• GOOP Magazine Collaboration with Conde Nast:

  • Amy Odell recounts the collaboration between GOOP and Conde Nast, highlighting the friction over fact-checking and editorial standards. “GOOP would suggest an article and the Conde Nast researchers would try to substantiate and fact check it.” ([13:20])

• Challenges and Failures:

  • The duo discusses the unsuccessful launch of GOOP's print magazine, citing issues like poor ad sales and inability to resonate with the target audience. “They couldn't sell ads. So it wasn't a business success.” ([14:55])

• Gwyneth’s Influence and Authenticity:

  • Amy Odell praises Gwyneth as a pioneering influencer who leveraged her celebrity to build a brand with owned equity. “She really believed in that first Goop newsletter and her vision for sharing valuable information.” ([26:54])

Key Quote:

Amy Odell: “Gwyneth has been the original influencer, using her image to create a brand she owns and has equity in.” ([26:54])

4. Evolving Media Landscape and Book Promotion

Amy Odell contrasts the current media environment with three years prior, emphasizing the shift from traditional platforms like morning shows to podcasts and digital media for book promotions.

Notable Insights:

• Amy Odell notes the increased importance of platforms like Substack and podcasts for authors to reach audiences, diverging from the past reliance on television and NPR. “Substacks are also important... it's totally changed.” ([05:17])

• Lauren Sherman reflects on personal experiences promoting books, highlighting the challenges and differences in media engagement over time.

Key Quote:

Amy Odell: “When you promote a book, you want to be on a podcast now, whereas three years ago, it was Good Morning America.” ([04:35])

5. Personality Traits and Leadership Styles

The hosts explore the contrasting personalities of Anna Wintour and Gwyneth Paltrow, particularly in their interactions with the press and management styles.

Notable Insights:

• Anna Wintour’s Journalistic Integrity:

  • Amy Odell attributes Anna's respect for journalism to her upbringing, with her father being a respected newspaper editor. “Anna was taught to respect journalism from her father.” ([19:59])

• Gwyneth Paltrow’s Hollywood Mentality:

  • Amy Odell describes Gwyneth as having a Hollywood approach to business, where her celebrity status allows her to manage press interactions uniquely. “She has a Hollywood mentality about controlling her press.” ([22:21])

• Founder and Celebrity Syndromes:

  • Lauren Sherman and Amy Odell discuss Gwyneth’s blend of founder syndrome and celebrity syndrome, impacting her business decisions and interpersonal relationships. “Founder syndrome and celebrity syndrome together make for a complex leadership style.” ([22:25])

Key Quote:

Amy Odell: “She's extremely smart and has good instincts, but also has a mix of founder syndrome and celebrity syndrome.” ([22:26])

6. Future of GOOP and Business Strategy

The discussion turns to GOOP's strategic decisions, including scaling back wellness content and focusing on fashion and beauty.

Notable Insights:

• Shift from Wellness to Fashion and Beauty:

  • Amy Odell explains that GOOP struggled financially due to overexpansion and high expenses, suggesting that a more focused approach on beauty or fashion might have been more sustainable. “They did too much... it was too expensive to build out all those different teams.” ([37:31])

• Licensing and Brand Longevity:

  • The conversation highlights the importance of creating a brand that can outlast its founder. Amy Odell expresses concern that GOOP remains too closely tied to Gwyneth’s personal influence, unlike brands like Skims that diversify their brand ambassadors. “GOOP has to create a brand that can stand apart from herself.” ([42:18])

• Potential Future Directions:

  • Lauren Sherman suggests that GOOP might benefit from licensing its name to expand without overextending its resources. “She could sell the company to ABG or another licenser and start over.” ([52:08])

Key Quote:

Amy Odell: “GOOP needs to create a brand that can stand apart from itself, but currently, it's too intertwined with Gwyneth’s personal influence.” ([42:18])

7. Concluding Insights and Reflections

As the episode wraps up, Lauren Sherman and Amy Odell reflect on the complexities of managing powerful brands in the fashion and wellness industries, emphasizing the delicate balance between personal influence and sustainable business practices.

Notable Insights:

• Authenticity vs. Business Growth:

  • Both hosts acknowledge the importance of authenticity in building a loyal customer base while also addressing the challenges of scaling a business without losing its original essence.

• Future Biographies:

  • Amy Odell contemplates future subjects for her biographies, suggesting figures like Kris Jenner but acknowledges the saturation of celebrity biographies in the market. “Maybe someone like Kris Jenner would be interesting.” ([56:10])

Key Quote:

Lauren Sherman: “GOOP can be a hard place to work because people worry about being favored or replaced.” ([36:46])

Conclusion

In "As Goop As It Gets," Lauren Sherman and Amy Odell provide an insightful analysis of two pivotal figures in the fashion and wellness industries. Through their conversation, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics between personal influence, business strategy, and the evolving media landscape. The episode underscores the challenges of maintaining authenticity and sustainability in high-stakes, image-driven industries.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the moments in the provided transcript where notable discussions or quotes occurred.