Fashion People: "Phil’s New Playmate" (April 10, 2026)

Host: Lauren Sherman
Guest: Philip (Phil) Picardi, Editor-in-Chief of Playboy

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid conversation, Lauren Sherman welcomes Phil Picardi, newly minted Editor-in-Chief of Playboy, to talk about his prolific career in fashion and media and, most notably, the high-profile relaunch of Playboy magazine. Touching on the rapidly evolving intersections of sex, culture, and fashion, Phil discusses Playboy’s new editorial vision, creative direction, gender and sexuality in publishing, the sex recession, and what it means to “make magazines” in the digital era. The episode also delves into the making of the first new issue, art direction, contributor selection, and how the brand aims to reflect (and shape) what's happening right now in youth culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Phil Picardi’s Career Journey & Editorial Philosophy

• Background:
  • Started at Teen Vogue, rising from intern to Chief Content Officer by age 25.
  • Pivoted Teen Vogue’s content beyond fashion to include politics, wellness, sexual health, and social movements, making it one of the fastest-growing women’s magazines.
  • Launched “them,” Condé Nast’s first LGBTQ brand and later became Editor-in-Chief at Out—an experience described as “ill-fated” due to internal scandals.
  • Left media to study at Harvard Divinity School, then worked briefly at Weight Watchers, before being recruited to lead Playboy’s relaunch.
  • Quote: “I led an editorial revolution at Teen Vogue...pivoted content strategy away from just fashion & beauty and towards covering politics, wellness, sexual health and social movements.” (05:09)
• Editorial Values:
  • Deep commitment to progressive, culturally-aware journalism.
  • Magazine as both a journalistic and aspirational space: “You have to make sure you are taking...fiber is the macro that is like probably the most important macro for overall health and wellness.” (03:59) [Light-hearted but reflects practical, wellness focus]

2. Playboy’s Business Model & Modern Identity

• Current Ownership:
  Playboy is a publicly traded lifestyle brand, with a strong presence in licensing and consumer goods—especially with Gen Z. (07:01)
• Media's Role:
  The magazine is now a “top-of-funnel strategy to drive cultural awareness and conversation for the brand.”
  • Focus on renewing Playboy’s literary tradition and relevance for contemporary audiences.

3. Editorial Vision for the Playboy Relaunch

• Target Audience:
  Primarily men aged 25–45, but with the clear inclusion (and celebration) of women and queer voices.
  • “Women have always been a part of the Playboy universe, and I would argue they've always been the center of it.” (13:06)
• Purpose in Culture:
  • Reviving the magazine as a provocateur at a time when society is paradoxically both more prudish and more pornographic.
  • Sees Playboy leading important conversations about the “sex recession” and male loneliness epidemic.
  • “At a moment when we are more alone than ever...this is a magazine that is saying, please go touch each other. Like as in don't just touch grass, but like, please fuck. You know what I mean? And enjoy it. And also, make sure the woman that you're having with it enjoys it too.” (08:36)

4. Creative Direction: Imagery, Contributors & Art

• Visual Approach:
  • Photography primarily by women; all Playmates in the issue are photographed by female photographers.
  • Images balance sensuality and respect: “There was a desire to be sexually free...and there was also a desire at the same time to be treated respectfully and taken seriously while you do it.” (17:05–17:45)
• Artistic Touchstones:
  • Editorial approach seeks to be both fashion-forward and connected to digital culture—“Felt like you were on the Internet in a print publication.” (14:44)
  • Features art by John Casseri and connects to current Instagram visual trends.
• Editor’s Challenge:
  • Combating both prudishness and numbness to explicit imagery: “You can get sex anywhere...the reason you buy this magazine, it has to be a different view of sex that you can't just find by tapping on your phone...” (17:55)
• Notable Quote: “We wanted to be careful about the line between objectification and adoration. And I wanted it to lean more into adoration.” (25:31)

5. Features & Journalism: Top Stories in the New Issue

• Editorial Team Structure:
  • No full-time staff; built through a “small army” of freelancers and contract workers.
  • Senior contributors include Magdalene Taylor (“substack pseudo-celebrity”) and Jesse Will (“Esquire and Rolling Stone background”).
• Key Pieces:
  • “Playboy Guide to Meeting Women in 2026” – a phone-free, women-led advice package for men. (20:46)
  • “Vanished in Venezuela” – in-depth investigative journalism about an American kidnapped abroad.
  • “AI and Intimacy” – examines impacts of artificial intelligence on sex work and digital intimacy.
  • “Zombie Law Threatens the Right to Choose” – connects Playboy's historical battles to current abortion law discussions.
    “The law that nearly killed Playboy is back and is now it’s targeting abortion pills by mail.” (22:57)
  • “Dust Bunny” column asks writers to mine the Playboy archive for new relevance; artists are pitching to the brand to participate.

6. Cover Story: Carol G

• Why Carol G?
  • Culturally resonant, at the peak of relevance, and artistically bold.
  • Shot by Grace Sorrenti—intimate photos with minimal crew to ensure safety and true expression.
• Editorial Philosophy:
  • “We wanted her to feel safe. So I think that was also a part of what made it special...We did say we didn't—we wanted to be careful about the line between objectification and adoration. And I wanted it to lean more into adoration.” (25:26)
  • Interview by Paola Ramos, conducted in Spanish, deepening authenticity and connecting to issues like Latina identity and recent personal changes.

7. The State of Fashion Media

• On Vogue’s Meryl Streep/Anna Wintour Cover:
  • Phil was "shocked" but feels Anna is having fun with her public persona now. (32:20)
• Nostalgia vs. Innovation:
  • Phil notes that nostalgia feels comforting (“a warm blanket...puts you to sleep”), but his goal as editor is to push forward and innovate.
  • “I think it is very daring...to be making something that looks forward and...imagine what's forward...that is the role of an editor.” (37:22)

8. The Future of Playboy: What’s Next?

• Publishing Cadence:
  • Aim for three more print issues (summer, fall, winter).
  • Increase digital and multimedia production, expand into podcasting and video with sex and dating as major themes.
• Notable Upcoming Projects:
  • Planning a big editorial package on the sex recession for the fall issue, involving Julie Schott. (39:46)
• Brand Synergy:
  • Licensing and in-house creative, e.g., Playboy bathing suits shot to fit the new editorial universe—“didn't feel weird that it was in there.” (40:09)

9. Sex, Gender, and Ethics in Modern Playboy

• Depiction of Men:
  • There have historically been naked men in Playboy. Future issues will continue to show diverse representations: “We want to show images of straight people in the throes of it...the women are the centerpiece, but the men are there.” (41:39–42:07)
• Religion and the Sex Recession:
  • Phil draws a direct correlation between the decline in church attendance and the decreasing rates of sex and relationships among young people:
    “Church used to be a community gathering place...definitely church is a really important social and cultural fabric. And with that declining, it makes sense that people are farther away from each other.” (42:26)

10. Phil’s Upcoming Book

• Tentatively titled “Is Jesus Kind of Hot?”—a memoir/essay collection exploring the eroticism of faith and his personal journey. (43:08)
• “It opens with me, unfortunately, getting an erection because I was looking at the crucifix. You know, the crucifix is a pretty erotic image.” (43:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Editorial Direction:
  “You can get sex anywhere. The reason you buy this magazine—it has to be a different view of sex that you can't just find by tapping on your phone.” — Phil Picardi (17:55)

• On Cultural Context:
  “We live in both a prudish right and pornographic era, where on the one hand, we're rolling back abortion...and on the other hand, you have never been able to access a naked body being penetrated more easily than you can right now.” — paraphrasing Salon 94’s curator (12:50)

• On the Relevance of Playboy Today:
  “At a moment when we are more alone than ever...this is a magazine that is saying, please go touch each other.” — Phil Picardi (08:36)

• On Nostalgia in Publishing:
  “Nostalgia is actually very anesthetizing. You said it was a warm blanket. It puts you to sleep. It's like a nap.” — Phil Picardi (36:52)

• On Artistic Collaboration:
  “There was a tenderness and I think a sensuality to the images that still conveyed fantasy, but...invite you to think about sex differently.” (17:31)

• On Identity & Target Audience:
  “Playboy has to be unabashed about wanting men to own their desire and at the same time...to understand what that feels like for women has always been a part of Playboy's moat, right?” (11:45)

• On Faith and Desire:
  “Church is a really important social and cultural fabric. And with that declining, it makes sense that people are farther away from each other. But I also think [church] is a very horny place if you're Catholic, especially. That's what I'm writing my book about.” (42:26)

Key Timestamps

• 03:29 – Phil’s strict protein diet and its relation to fashion/fitness demands
• 05:09 – Phil’s career journey, from Teen Vogue revolution to Out and beyond
• 07:01 – Playboy’s business model and current position in the market
• 08:11–09:21 – Rationale and goals behind the Playboy media relaunch
• 13:06 – Discussion of Playboy’s target audience and gender inclusion
• 17:05–17:55 – Insights on photography, casting, and the problem of making sex “special” in an era of easy access
• 20:46 – Building the contributor list and stand-out features in the issue
• 22:57 – Highlight on “Zombie Law Threatens the Right to Choose” piece
• 25:26 – On the Carol G cover and balancing art vs. objectification
• 32:20 – Reaction to Meryl Streep/Anna Wintour Vogue cover
• 37:22 – Role of nostalgia vs. innovation in magazines
• 39:46 – What’s next for Playboy in print and digital
• 41:39–42:07 – Will there be naked men in the magazine? Shifting depictions of sexuality and gender
• 42:26 – Connection between religion, community, and the sex recession
• 43:08 – Phil’s upcoming book about eroticism and religion

Tone & Style

Candid, fast-paced, self-aware, and unafraid to challenge taboos. Phil Picardi combines highbrow (art, literature, politics) with the playful (direct sex talk, jokes), and Lauren Sherman creates a warm, knowing, chatty atmosphere that invites deep industry insight.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking an in-depth understanding of the episode without spoilers or extraneous details.