How Monday Swimwear's Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman Are Re-Imagining The Swimwear Industry and Helping You Find Your Perfect Fit

Summary

Podcast Summary: Let’s Get Dressed – Episode: How Monday Swimwear's Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman Are Re-Imagining The Swimwear Industry and Helping You Find Your Perfect Fit

Release Date: January 20, 2025
Host: Liv Perez
Produced by: Dear Media

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1. Introduction and Personal Stories

Liv Perez opens the episode with a heartfelt message addressing the recent Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles. She shares her personal loss, including the destruction of her family's 15-year-old home—"a magical house and was one of my favorite places in the world" (00:06). Liv extends her support to listeners affected by the fires, emphasizing community strength and togetherness.

Notable Quote:

“The hurt is big, but togetherness is bigger.” – Liv Perez (04:45)

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2. Introducing Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman

Liv introduces her friends and collaborators, Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman, co-founders of Monday Swimwear. She highlights their journey from running the swimwear blog A Bikini a Day in 2012 to establishing their renowned swimwear brand. Liv expresses admiration for their community contributions, particularly their swift response to the recent fires by donating and volunteering.

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3. Origin and Evolution of Monday Swimwear

Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman delve into the genesis of Monday Swimwear. They explain how their extensive experience with swimwear—"we tried on thousands of bikinis" (09:03)—led them to identify gaps in the industry, particularly regarding fit and comfort for diverse body types. This realization drove them to create their own brand focusing on adjustability and inclusive sizing.

Notable Quote:

“We know exactly what is missing from this industry. And we were like, let's do it ourselves.” – Devin Brugman (09:17)

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4. Partnership Dynamics

The conversation shifts to the unique partnership between Tash and Devin. Despite being geographically separated and having different aesthetic styles—Trendy 90s vs. Classic Elegance—they maintain a harmonious working relationship. They emphasize the importance of complementary strengths and mutual respect in running their business.

Notable Quote:

“What we have is very special and unique. So very unique.” – Devin Brugman (05:58)

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5. Design Philosophy and Process

Tash and Devin discuss their design philosophy, which blends timeless elegance with modern trends. They focus on creating cohesive accessories that complement their swimwear, such as the Paloma beach bag and styled sarongs. The duo emphasizes intentionality in design, ensuring that each piece not only looks good but also feels comfortable and functional.

Notable Quote:

“We never do anything that we don't like. If we're not comfortable wearing it, it won't sell.” – Devin Brugman (13:20)

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6. Focus on Fit and Customer Experience

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the importance of fit. Tash and Devin explain their commitment to adjustable designs to accommodate various body shapes and sizes. They highlight their focus on supportive features for larger cup sizes without compromising on style.

Notable Quote:

“Our bikinis are not bras. We want them to feel like a bikini and swimwear—light and comfortable.” – Devin Brugman (23:49)

They introduce their V Range, catering to voluptuous figures, and discuss their high return customer rate as a testament to their successful fit and design strategies.

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7. Empowerment and Confidence in Swimwear

The discussion transitions to the empowerment that comes with wearing well-fitted swimwear. Tash and Devin advocate for confidence and self-expression, debunking societal norms that pressure women to balance sexiness with professionalism. They stress that feeling good in swimwear is as much about mental comfort as it is about physical fit.

Notable Quote:

“Sexiness is not just about what you wear. It's about how you feel and who you are as a person.” – Devin Brugman (18:38)

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8. Swimwear Trends for 2025

Looking ahead, Tash and Devin share their excitement for 2025 swimwear trends. They highlight the enduring popularity of two-tone designs and the integration of hardware details for a more elevated and luxurious feel. Additionally, they express enthusiasm for the upcoming silver accents and the mixed metals trend within their collections.

Notable Quote:

“The two-tone trend is definitely going to continue, and it’s such a Chanel classic—very chic and feminine.” – Devin Brugman (38:28)

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9. Design and Styling Tips

Tash and Devin offer practical styling tips for achieving a cohesive beach look. They emphasize the importance of natural makeup, adequate SPF protection, and coordinated accessories. They also discuss the significance of quality fabrics that are both stylish and practical for beach settings.

Notable Quote:

“Keep your SPF doing this and maintain a dewy balm for that glowing look.” – Liv Perez (26:49)

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10. Closing Remarks

In their final moments, Tash and Devin reflect on the success of Monday Swimwear, attributing it to their passion, hard work, and unwavering commitment to quality. They express gratitude for their loyal customers and share their excitement for future collections.

Notable Quote:

“Next summer is gonna be crazy. Crazy.” – Devin Brugman (40:24)

Liv closes the episode by reiterating her support for her community and expressing her deep appreciation for Tash and Devin’s friendship and business partnership.

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Key Takeaways

• Community and Support: The importance of coming together during crises and leveraging community strength.
• Inclusive Design: Monday Swimwear’s focus on adjustable, comfortable, and stylish swimwear catering to diverse body types.
• Partnership and Collaboration: Successfully running a business through complementary strengths and mutual respect.
• Empowerment Through Fashion: Encouraging women to feel confident and express themselves through well-fitted swimwear.
• Trends and Innovation: Embracing timeless elegance while incorporating modern trends to stay ahead in the swimwear industry.

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This episode of Let’s Get Dressed offers an insightful look into the swimwear industry through the lens of Monday Swimwear’s founders. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on design innovation, the significance of fit and comfort, and the empowering role of fashion in boosting confidence.

Transcript

[Liv Perez]

The following podcast is a Dear Media Production.

[Tash Oakley]

Hi everyone. Welcome back to another episode of let's Get Dressed. It's your host, Liv Perez. I hope you're all well and safe, especially to those of you who are tuning in from Los Angeles and are dealing with the effects of the Palisades and Eaton fires. It has been probably some of the craziest weeks of my life and I know I'm not alone in that sentiment. There is so much devastation and so much loss and I'm sending all of my love and strength to anyone who has been affected and is listening to this pod right now. If there is any way that I can be of service, whether it's boosting a fundraiser, donating, volunteering, or even just being an ear for you to talk to, please know that I'm here to support in any way. I shared last week that my family lost our family home to the Palisades fire. It's a house that we've lived in for 15 years. My mom and little sister lived there and it truly was the nucleus of our family in so many ways. It felt like a magical house and was one of my favorite places in the world and had so many memories that feel core to who my family is. We've had weddings there, engagement parties, welcomed nieces and nephews, birthdays, holidays, you name it, we're in this house. So it just feels like truly a massive loss. My family has lived in Malibu for 35 years before I was born, and to see that beach that we grew up on just almost wiped off the map has been really hard to process and I know I'm not alone in that feeling. There is so much devastation across Los Angeles that I know we're all collectively grieving together. I have to say a huge thank you to so many of you because I have received so many messages from this community of love and support and prayer and it's really held me up during this challenging time. And there were also so many of you that sent me so many great anecdotes that I've shared on the pod over the years of moments where I've talked about that house. Even, you know, three months ago I was talking about my family being there for Thanksgiving and all of our traditions and my Oreo banana cream pie, and I still can't fathom that it's not there anymore. But just being reminded of all those good memories has been so helpful. So thank you again to all of you. I love this community so much and I'm really, really grateful to all of you that have reached out to hold my hand. It has meant the world. Lauren Ireland, who's the co founder of Summer Fridays, shared something recently that felt so right and she said the hurt is big, but togetherness is bigger and LA has become a different city in so many ways. Over the last few weeks, I've seen people come together in ways that I could have never imagined. I've seen brands that I love donate goodie bags, I've seen friends out and about every single day collecting donations, buying essential goods, running donation drives and really making a difference in their communities. I had the opportunity to volunteer a few times last week at Baby2Baby and they were packing hygiene kits for so many people that lost their homes. There is so much going on in the fabric of LA right now that gives me so much hope for how we're going to rebuild. For those of you who are looking for ways to get involved and help the relief from the wildfires, there is a wildfire relief highlight on my Instagram page. It has a lot of different options from donation opportunities, volunteer opportunities, donation drives, GoFundMes, you name it. Big or small, LA needs so much help right now. I've also always said that being of service is truly the best medicine and in these really hard times the only thing we have is community again. The hurt may be big, but the togetherness is bigger and I've just held that so close to my heart this week. I love you guys. Thank you again for all of the love and support and if there's anything that I can do, please don't hesitate to reach out. Releasing today's episode feels a little bit kismet because not only was this recorded pre fires and we actually talked about my mom and Malibu, but these are two girls who I'm so inspired by who give back to their community and are the ultimate beach girls. For those of you who don't know Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman, they founded the swimwear blog A Bikini a day back in 2012. They were probably all over your Instagram feeds at the time and are still all over your Instagram feeds because they took their passion for swimwear and turned it into their expertise and launched Monday Swimwear, which is of course everyone's favorite swimwear brand. In today's episode we talk about their mission to reimagine the swimwear industry, swimwear trends, working with your best friend, building your community, and so much more. Also, I just have to shout out Tash and Dev because they have truly been pillars of the community. They were two of the first people that I was talking to when the Palisades fire broke out. Finding ways to give back to help their community and just spark a little bit of joy during a really hard time. I am truly honored to be a fan of theirs and love Monday swimwear. But I'm also even more honored to be a friend of theirs and call them family. I hope you guys love today's episode as much as I do. Be well. Stay safe. I here if anybody needs anything, let's go get dressed with Tash Oakley and Devin Bregman.

[Devin Brugman]

Hello.

[Tash Oakley]

This is so fun.

[Devin Brugman]

I know this does not feel like lynching.

[Liv Perez]

I know.

[Tash Oakley]

Devin walked in the room and she was like, I'm so happy we're doing this.

[Liv Perez]

No, you don't understand. I'm always nervous for podcasts and I was like, it's Liv's. I'm not nervous at all.

[Devin Brugman]

First one together.

[Tash Oakley]

Yay.

[Devin Brugman]

That we can be. Which is comfortable together.

[Tash Oakley]

Crazy. I actually was doing prep for this pod and I was like, okay, Devin, there are Devon pods and then there are Tosh pods, but there are no Devin and Tosh pods.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. It's ridiculous. I don't know how that's happened.

[Devin Brugman]

We came together for you.

[Tash Oakley]

I'm so honored.

[Devin Brugman]

What a trio.

[Tash Oakley]

What a trio. But I mean, I get why you're on the other side of the world.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

No one can ever tell me that they have issues with their co founder or whatever. Because I'm like, if these two can run a business from around the world on different time zones, I don't want to hear about your complaints.

[Devin Brugman]

I will say though, what we have is very special and unique. So very unique. Yeah. It's understandable when others, you know, partnerships don't work out the way ours do because I think it's a very rare thing.

[Liv Perez]

It really is. But that being said, the daylight savings this time of the year I actually like because she wakes up. I know I'm probably the only person that's ever said that, but because I get an extra hour with the Australia team, so it's not like it goes so deep into my afternoon.

[Tash Oakley]

The daylight saving things I'm not gonna forgive you for. Because as an adult who like goes to bed at like 9:30 now and like, it's healthy. Like it starts to get dark at 4:30 and I hate life.

[Liv Perez]

No, that's great. I'm advising you.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah, I'm happy for you. Like, I'm really, really happy for you. You two do have something very special, that's for sure. And I actually remember when I first met you guys. My mom was literally your biggest fan.

[Devin Brugman]

No way. I love the mom band.

[Tash Oakley]

My mom is. I like to call her Malibu Barbie. She'll probably hate that if you heard it. Mom, don't listen to this episode. She lives in Malibu. Blonde, surfer. Like, so hot. And so.

[Liv Perez]

She's the hottest. Ching Everett.

[Devin Brugman]

She's the Monday girl.

[Tash Oakley]

She is the Monday girl. And I, when you guys were doing a bikini a day, she was like, have you seen these girls?

[Devin Brugman]

Oh, that's Mom.

[Tash Oakley]

I actually just met them. Like, had a night out with them in New York.

[Devin Brugman]

Oh. Oh, my God. I love that story.

[Tash Oakley]

It's amazing. But you guys really, to me, were the original girls. Girls. Two best friends who, like, came together, built a business, were kind of each other's, like, opposites almost, in a way, aesthetically, like the blonde, the brunette.

[Devin Brugman]

I know sometimes I want to do the brunette for a minute. I'm like, I just can't.

[Tash Oakley]

No, you can't.

[Devin Brugman]

And not you cannot, because I'm the blonde and Devin's the brunette. I think I would, like.

[Tash Oakley]

I would have an earthquake.

[Devin Brugman]

Everyone would just unfollow me.

[Liv Perez]

It's so funny because we're opposites, but we're exactly the same in a lot of ways. Like, we're the same height, we're the same shoe size. We're the same pant size. We're the same.

[Devin Brugman]

Everything's the same.

[Liv Perez]

And then, like, our features are also weirdly similar. I know it's. It's hard to tell, but in photos and stuff, I think that's a.

[Devin Brugman]

We have the same kind of big smile and, like, the. The symmetry of our faces or something is really. A lot of people always think we're sisters, even though I don't really understand that. But because we're the same height. Yeah. Kind of same hair, you know, like, it's all kind of anyway, but completely different.

[Tash Oakley]

Platonic soulmates.

[Devin Brugman]

Yes.

[Tash Oakley]

100%.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

What I loved about that era was. And what I love the most about what you guys do, you guys, to me, are the blueprint of two people who became experts in something and started a brand from it. Like, I have so many friends and peers and colleagues who will come and tell me about this brand idea that they have. But the one thing I say now is not, like, what's your marketing plan? Or, like, is it a niche thing? Or, like, is there a white space for. It's not that. I say, what's your experience that will make me believe you to buy it from You. And I think that was and is the success of Monday. Like, you guys have tried on every single single bikini. So what was it after that era that made the two of you come together and be like, it's time to start a brand?

[Liv Perez]

It was so organic for us. We literally lived in swim every day. Like you said, we tried on thousands of bikinis, and at a certain point, we were like, we know exactly what is missing from this industry. And we were like, let's do it ourselves.

[Devin Brugman]

And there was a lot missing at that time. Oh, yeah, the swim industry. You know, 12 years ago, when we started a bikini a day was. There was nothing you would know. Like, it was. There was a couple of brands that we loved, like our girls from Hawaii, Acacia and Miko. And those girls were doing it right. But at that time, unless you were getting the Brazilian brands and not just for the small cuts, but just for the fabrics and the fits and all those things. But none of them still, you know, had the things that would fit the right cup size or different body shapes or really, truly be comfortable.

[Liv Perez]

A lot of them weren't even selling suits separately.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah, they were coming together, so I.

[Liv Perez]

Needed an extra large top and an extra small bottom. So I'm like, I'm gonna spend 400 on a bikini just to get this. You know, it was so wrong. And you would go into Diane's in Santa Monica to shop for a bikini, which we loved Diane's. But, yeah, the industry has definitely changed.

[Devin Brugman]

A lot, and it just really came from what I love about our story so much. And what I think is becoming, like, one of the biggest mistakes these days is people are really in it for the wrong reasons, as you'd know. And a lot of the time, it's like, I want to own my own business. I want to make a lot of money. You know, there's all these reasons that I'm like, I personally do think are the wrong reasons. I think that we were just so obsessed with this entire industry and this topic and swimwear in general, and it just made sense for us, and we were just having so much fun. And for us, it was like, if something comes of this, that's great, but if not, we would never have, you know, missed a day that we spent building it because. Because it was just so much fun for us and that we always said, some girls have bags, some girls have shoes. We love bikinis, you know, and it was, like, just so cute to us that this even turned into what it is now. And we're still shocked to be Honest. We're always.

[Liv Perez]

Every day, we're like, who would have.

[Devin Brugman]

Thought that this would turn into this? But that's what comes when you just stick to something you're so passionate about and you really just work really, really hard, which is. We did.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. And we also never cared what anybody thought, which was such a beautiful thing. At that time. There wasn't so much pressure with Instagram, and we just went for it.

[Tash Oakley]

There's a video that Tinks posted, I think it was this summer, that I remember watching and being like, yes. And she was putting on the green knit dress from you guys.

[Liv Perez]

Yes.

[Tash Oakley]

And literally got on there and was like, tasha and Dev know how to make clothes that women want to wear.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. I remember that.

[Tash Oakley]

They know how to fly to the body, and they know what I want to wear to the beach. And, like, it just was so 100% true. And, yes, swimwear is one thing, but the clothing that you put on over swim feels like a whole other world. And both of you have always had. Again, we're going back to this, like, twin flame moment where, like, esthetically, you're in a similar world, but you both have very distinct styles from each other.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

How does that work when you're designing a collection? Like, how much of your own personal style are you bringing to the table?

[Devin Brugman]

It's so great that we are different, because I definitely think that Devon has more of the, you know, trend 90s kind of cool girl aesthetic. And then I'm definitely more of the.

[Tash Oakley]

Trend in her min jacket. Yeah.

[Devin Brugman]

You know, classic. Like, I'm wearing the Chanel sneakers, she's wearing the new balance. Like, that's always us, you know, describes us so well. And I think you're a lot more maybe New York, and I'm a lot more probably Europe. And it's so nice when we're designing the collections, because we don't want our collections to be trend based. We want you to be able to wear the swim summer off to summer. We. We think that, you know, the European woman is a big influence to us because they're so timeless and so chic and elegant. And, you know, I feel like when we started Monday, the look at the beach was, like, denim cutoffs and a really ugly tank top. And then you've got, like, the fluoro bikini underneath.

[Liv Perez]

Yes.

[Devin Brugman]

And the whole look. Sometimes we still go to the beach and we're like, if only we could dress her head to toe in Monday. Like, she would just look amazing. And I think that, you know, I always bring in the more Classic, kind of timeless, kind of inspiration and chicness to it. And then Devin will bring in, you know, like, our viral xisuma hat. That's that little bit of a cowgirl moment that I wouldn't have designed, but brings in a little element of, like, you know, something a bit more trendy and cool, but still timeless.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, we never do anything that we date exactly.

[Devin Brugman]

Every accessory that we add to the collection. It's really important to us that the materials feel cohesive. Nothing feels junky. Everything has a lot of thought behind. It's very intentional. Everything matches back to one another. And I think that there, we call it kind of the Monday look, where we don't want our customers to just buy the swimwear. We really, genuinely want them to have that head to toe Monday look where you have the oversized. It's called our Paloma beach bag, you know, foldable beach bag that you can bring in your suitcase, but it matches back to the straw of our hat. And then you've got the sarong and the open shirt. And, like, the whole look is very, very obvious and very Monday. And I think a lot of brands are now kind of replicating that look, but that's okay because we. We always find a way to stay ahead of, you know, of everyone else in that way. And we have so many ideas all the time. We could be designing for this brand for the rest of our lives. And just that Monday look is what we love. And sometimes we. We go to the beach and we see someone that's like, I don't know, gotten one of the knit dresses, but paired it with something that we don't think it should be paired with, and we're like, oh, my God, I know.

[Liv Perez]

It drives us.

[Devin Brugman]

Like, please just buy the look, Please. Because the look is just, like, so put together and chic and monochromatic, chromatic, and it's matching back and it's just like, makes everyone look so elegant.

[Liv Perez]

But also, we design this stuff for us. We are our main customer. So Tasha and I have lived this beach travel lifestyle for so long that we know exactly what we need on vacation.

[Devin Brugman]

What will you be hot in? What will you be comfortable in? What do you want covered? What? You know, when you're walking along at the pool in front of everyone, feeling exposed, like you're on a, you know, Victoria's Secret Runway, and with overhead lighting, you're just not feeling great. You want your sarong and your little slides and, like, what is it that you.

[Liv Perez]

We've had all these moments for so many years. That now we're like, we know exactly what it is. And then even going into the active, it's all these things. What are you bringing on vacation? We've got it all for you. Down to the mini mirrors that go in the. In the bag.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah. And the gouache.

[Liv Perez]

And the gouache.

[Tash Oakley]

I'm actually thinking back to an episode that I did a few months ago with an influencer model. She's absolutely stunning, and she just became a mom. And we were talking about this idea of, you know, motherhood making her feel like she can't dress as sexy as she used to. And I think about all these cultural norms and, like, expectations that we put on women when it comes to dressing sexy. And in this conversation, I've been thinking a lot about, like, your style evolution, but also what it must have taken the both of you as businesswomen to, like, yes, still have this, like, sex appeal bathing suit, swimwear brand, but then also, like, sit in an office with people you're, like, almost trying to wholesale to.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

So do you guys have any advice for women who, like, maybe straddle that line of, like, hey, I love dressing sexy because I can, like, I want to. I love my body, and it shouldn't be deeper than that, but then also maybe feel like they can?

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah. I think that while we're all young and just gorgeous and like, my mom always says that you'll look back at one day and just be like, God, look how young and gorgeous I was. And we pick ourselves apart so much. And in my head, I always have her in the back of my head, and she was Miss Australia, and she was a businesswoman and had her own real estate agency. But she always strikes the balance between being really sexy and feminine, but also being an absolute boss. And I just looked up to her so much. It's kind of like an Elle woods, but Kim K. But I don't know all these women that, like, I think you can be smart and I think you can be, you know, respected, but also be super feminine and sexy and all of those things. And I think there's something so beautiful about a sexy, elegant woman who has brains and is just the whole package, you know?

[Liv Perez]

And, oh, my gosh, you're, like, blown away. You know, people impact.

[Tash Oakley]

That's how I feel when you guys walk in the room. I'm like, wow, your mom being Miss Australia makes a lot of sense.

[Devin Brugman]

It makes perfect sense.

[Tash Oakley]

No, no, no. I feel like I just.

[Liv Perez]

That's all you had to say. Podcast over.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah, Love it. There we go.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah. I just feel like that's. That is such a thing that I wish I could change about fashion right now.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah. I think a lot of women as well, with larger cup sizes particularly get really insecure about their chest and having their boobs out and having their breasts out, and what will people think of me and all these things? And some people are like, oh, mine are as perky as yours and all these different things. And we keep all of that in mind when we design Monday because, you know, we want to show skin, but not too much. So, like, if we're. If we're doing something that's, you know, doesn't have a sleeve, then it's long, or, you know, if it's got a very low front, then it's long with a sleeve. And, like, we want to just show the right amount of skin balance. Yeah. Where it still is elegant and, you know, beautiful. And I think also where you wear those things is obviously, like, we're not going to go wear that to Chateau Marmont here in la, but, you know, you could. When we're in St. Barts, everything goes. And we're, you know, basically wearing, like, T strings under our, like, beach wear, and no one cares. We're having, like, a Lily rose dep moment.

[Liv Perez]

It's also so much about confidence, you know, and when. When you see somebody on the beach, and I know this is so cliche, but anytime we see a beautiful woman on the beach rocking some thong bikini or something, she's just looking so hot and she's feeling herself. And there's something special when you're on a beach in that environment where you're glowy and, you know, you really feel the salt on your skin.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

It's a really.

[Devin Brugman]

And we're just obsessed with women. I just have. We are like. Women are just such a force, you know, they really can be the whole package, and they're so inspiring and, like, they can do it all. Like, we're just like. Since we started, it's no secret that we're just obsessed with women. I mean. Well, because we always. As long as you're beautiful inside, I genuinely believe that you are beautiful on the outside. And you find that thing inside someone, and then all of a sudden you look at them and you're like, oh, my God, you're just so beautiful, you know, like, and it's really to do with what's within and that confidence and where you're at on your own journey. And it really, like, you know, resonates with people. I Think so. I think that sexiness is not just about what you wear. It's about how you feel. It's about who you are as a person and all of those things. And I think that's what I love about, you know, you being so much about style and doing a podcast about style is because it is something that like, shows someone's personality so much and it is something that's fun and it makes people happy. And it's like, it's something that in a world where everything has become about how everyone looks all the time, I still think it's important to remember that it's not about feeling, like intimidated by the fact that someone looks beautiful or likes expensive things or wants to wear a designer bag. Sometimes it is just again, like, let's go back to that Carrie Bradshaw thing of just like expressing yourself or like feeling excited about something that you've worked really hard for or, you know, just those little motivations that it doesn't have to be materialistic or, you know, self obsessive. It's just about being a girl and having fun and all those things.

[Tash Oakley]

It's how you move through life. I had someone. One of my favorite things said on the podcast last year was a friend of mine saying that personal style is not just what you put on every day. It's how you treat your friends. It's how you move through the world. It's like inspired by a relationship with your mom or a great co worker. It's so deeply tied to your beliefs and your morals that it's so fun for me to dive deep into what people are wearing and how they're wearing it because it's not just the material, it's so much deeper. Yeah, you touched on cup size a little bit. And I want to dive into that because I often send people to your guys's platforms when they're asking me about finding the right fit.

[Devin Brugman]

Yes, I am tiny, but we have things for you too.

[Tash Oakley]

Yes, I know.

[Devin Brugman]

I actually that's a common thing that we don't want people to think just because we have the larger cup size, like we are designing for the small, smaller cup sizes while we always have you guys in mind.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah, no, I have my style from you guys and I have it in every color.

[Liv Perez]

I have the Barbados you like.

[Tash Oakley]

And then I also. I'm actually quite specific of swimwear. I don't like strings. They look funny on me. I'm almost such a petite frame that the strings I feel overwhelm me a little bit.

[Liv Perez]

That makes sense.

[Tash Oakley]

I like the one that you guys have with the adjustable.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, Capri.

[Tash Oakley]

The Capri, Yeah. I have all the Capri bottoms and the Barbados top, and that's my set.

[Devin Brugman]

Perfect.

[Tash Oakley]

And I think. I think it was such a important journey for me in finding that, as cliche as it sounds, because it's how I have now felt good on the beach, being so petite. I've, like, found my shape that works for my body.

[Devin Brugman]

We actually have a little, like, slogan for that that we call the Monday moment.

[Tash Oakley]

Because it was my Monday moment.

[Devin Brugman]

We really feel like you unpackage it and you try it on at home. You're not in a store, you're not feeling weird in weird lighting. You're in the comfort of your own home, and you try on the swimsuit and you just go, oh, my God, finally. And you just actually feel good. And you're like, oh, my God. Now I get what Tash and Deb have been talking about. You know, like, I do feel really good in this. I feel comfortable and sexy. And that's the Monday moment.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah, that's how I found mine. But you are. Both of you talk about fit a lot. So what's your best advice if there are people listening right now who feel like they haven't had their Monday moment yet?

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, well, we. So for me, I grew up literally having to have a woman in Hawaii hand sew my bikinis for me because literally nothing fit me.

[Devin Brugman]

And.

[Liv Perez]

And the swim that did fit would look like some hideous maternity bra, and I'd always look at suits that everybody else was wearing, being like, I could never fit that. You know, their extra large wouldn't fit me. It would look like a medium. So we talk a lot about fit for a larger cup size because it's really something that we're proud of and we're still working to perfect, but we have so many incredible styles that suit a larger cup size, that are supportive and that are adjustable at the back and over the shoulder, which was a big thing, because, you know, I need to tie it as tight as I can around the back and then still have the support.

[Devin Brugman]

Whereas you're a 32 bust, I'm a 34, and you're a double D. I'm basically. We're basically almost the same size double D. And so we need it to be completely adjustable everywhere. Like, a lot of people will just go for with a larger cup size. Our Palmer, which is a tie bikini, because they're like, that's the only thing that works for me, because it's an over the Shoulder. It's adjustable. Yeah, you know, it's fully adjustable. But we always encourage people to try new styles because everything is so adjustable. And keeping in mind that just because you're, you know, a large cup size doesn't mean that you're a large around the bust. Or you might be a medium cup size, but an extra large around the bust. And we just don't understand how people make clasp bikinis. And, you know, every single one of our bikinis is a tie back. And some people will be like, will you ever do clasp ones? And I'm like, no.

[Liv Perez]

Why?

[Devin Brugman]

Because not everyone is the same size, and you need adjustability. And like Devin said, we're always working on perfecting the fit. Like, we're never ending fit fittings in our office with all different cup sizes. And we don't want the swimwear to feel like bras. We do still want it to feel like a bikini and swimwear and feel light and also just like, feel comfortable on you. Because when you have underwires digging in, it all adds to your mood at the beach. It's, you know, when you've got things hurting your neck and all of those different things or digging in on your side, it makes you. It affects your mood.

[Liv Perez]

It also starts from the shopping experience itself, which is how our V range came to life, because the size extra large just sounded so bad.

[Tash Oakley]

And your V range is voluptuous.

[Liv Perez]

The V is for voluptuous. It goes V, double V, triple V. So very voluptuous and very, very voluptuous. So I think having that mentality from the beginning that you're. You're not an extra large.

[Devin Brugman]

You're.

[Liv Perez]

You're voluptuous.

[Devin Brugman]

And also, it's sad to think that anyone would, like, feel bad about themselves just because someone has poorly designed something to make them not feel comfortable in their body. Like, I think so many times women are uncomfortable, you know, at the beach or within themselves because they don't realize that they, you know, the digging in and all of those things. It's not just about you not feeling comfortable physically. It's like, mentally, you actually are also like, why do I look like shit today? Or, like, why am I, like, feeling like I have a huge muffin top? And it's like, you don't have a huge muffin top. You're wearing a bikini that is digging into what are your beautiful curves that are actually really beautiful and something to be celebrated, but unfortunately, you're just not feeling it because the things that you're wearing are not accentuating those Things in the right way. So.

[Liv Perez]

And on the beach, we're half naked, so that's when it's the most important to have everything, you know, fit right, fitting and feeling great, supported, unsupported.

[Devin Brugman]

The most vulnerable place you'll ever be is at the beach in a bikini. Because even with lingerie, we can turn down the lights and light some candles. You know, at the beach, you have no control, so you need your sarong, you need all your things to just feel really comfortable and beautiful. And, yeah, we also do always say, like, and since a bikini a day, we've really been about, like, going to the beach shouldn't be this big thing that makes you feel stressed. It's actually meant to be, like, really a beautiful, relaxing, happy place. And, you know, we're putting all this, you know, emphasis on how you look and what's going to make you feel comfortable, but the truth is, you should just be running around and swimming and having fun. And when we go there, we're just getting the salt on our skin and the sun on our face and we just feel happy. You know what I mean? It's a happy place for us. It's all about that moment. And I think we love that that comes through with the brand, you know, like, we love that people sense that.

[Tash Oakley]

I think you guys do, and I mentioned this earlier in the episode, you guys do beach styling so well.

[Devin Brugman]

Thank you.

[Tash Oakley]

What is some of your advice? Or if you guys have little ticks and trips, tips and tricks. There we go. Or like, is it a. Is it a way you're styling your hair? Is it a glam tip? Like, what is it that gets you beach ready?

[Liv Perez]

There's a lot.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah. I think, like, the hair and makeup for us, we really try to keep it natural at the beach. We're like, really? Even in our Monday campaigns, we just do our own makeup. Very minimal. It's basically comes off throughout the day. Like, no one's wearing a lot of makeup. I think you really just need to keep it natural and keep your SPF doing this.

[Liv Perez]

Nice. Yeah, SPF base and like a dewy balm.

[Tash Oakley]

What's your go to spf, both of you?

[Devin Brugman]

It depends.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, mine, I use it every. I'm using it now as foundation. I just use the elastin do, you know? Yeah, they're great.

[Devin Brugman]

And then for body, we like, we love kopari.

[Tash Oakley]

Oh, wow. I've seen that. And I feel like I used to use their lip balm, but I have.

[Devin Brugman]

To get that outspf. Shimmer.

[Liv Perez]

It's beautiful.

[Devin Brugman]

Which that is a very big part of why we look good. Yeah, you cannot go to the M. Like, dry, crusty.

[Liv Perez]

No, honestly, that's. That's like, maybe people are always like.

[Devin Brugman]

You'Re so glowing and golden. But we, like, moisturize twice a day. We're always oil oiling, and, like, we're like little babies that are oiled up at all times. So. But we. We're very strict about the spf. So when I say oil, we're not, like, sun tanning with oil.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, it's like SPF oil.

[Devin Brugman]

But then I think from a really young age for us, you know, when we first started traveling to Europe, or even before then, we were just so inspired by the European woman and how effortless, but relaxed, but put together. You know, there's all these things about kind of how they dress that are opposing ideas. You know, they're so put together, and the linens just look so beautiful, but then they're very relaxed and effortless and very natural, but, like, elegant and, like, just all these things that combine. That's really our inspiration when we get dressed for the beach is just like, yeah, balancing all of those things. And we do like to make a statement. We don't just like to, like, go to the beach wearing whatever. We love to, like, put a look together, and we have a lot of fun with it. And we're very specific about the fabrics we use for beach wear, too. Like I said, everything is really, really intentional. And we're like, anything we bring out, we're gonna have to be wearing it. And we hate wearing something that we don't like. Like, I cannot tell you how much.

[Liv Perez]

We won't wear it.

[Devin Brugman]

Even if sometimes we do something and then we realize we didn't like it as much as we thought, we'll immediately nip it from the line because we'll be like, this was not what we thought it was going to be. And we put in so much effort, and every now and then, something will get through that. We're talking to our design team and, you know, and our buyers and stuff. We're like, no, this is not it. Get rid of it immediately. Like, it's not. If we're not going to be comfortable wearing it, it actually just won't even sell. So we're really, really specific about the linens. Because what people don't realize about linen is there's very structured linens that crease really easily, and they're beautiful to wear. Like, I feel like reformation and brands like that have beautiful linens that you steam it and you wear the linen dress out and it looks amazing.

[Tash Oakley]

Yes.

[Devin Brugman]

And you'll wear it to a wedding, but you are not going to want to wear that same dress to the beach.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Devin Brugman]

So with our resort wear and beach wear, we actually want it to be resort and beach where we're not bringing out things that are like, you know, some people will be like, why are all these dresses sheer with all of our beautiful crochet lurex knits? Because we're like. Because it's beach wear. You know, you're meant to wear a bikini under it. It's meant to be a bit fun and sexy and beachy and we do a little bit that kind of leans towards the more ready to wear side. But you still should always be able to wear it to the beach. And with the linens and our cottons and all of these different fabrics, it's very, very important that if you pack it in your suitcase, a lot of the time you can pull it out without steaming it and just shake it off, put it on the songs and everything. But if you've got really structured, like stiff linens, they, they're not going to look good. They're going to be so creased and.

[Liv Perez]

Horrible looking so impatient. When we travel, there's no way you're.

[Tash Oakley]

Like me, the beach now.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, exactly.

[Devin Brugman]

You just need to pull it straight out of the suitcase, walk down. So everything's really with that in mind. And we're really, really picky with our fabrics.

[Tash Oakley]

But I do think that's like such an interesting kind of white space that you guys filled, I think about before Monday swim. Where was I looking for beach wear only specifically, not a knit dress that I was buying from somewhere else and repurposing it for the beach. There was the Missoni of the world. There was the vitamin A of the world. But like nothing that felt younger, affordable and exciting.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah. And I think that there's a lot of brands that you can find a piece from that you love, but it's rare. You know, I have a few brands in the ready to wear category that I know I can go and find 10 things from at any time that I'd happily take home. But a lot of the time you'll see, you go shopping and you are lucky to find one thing in a store that you like once. And if and when we do have Monday stores, people are going to go in and we've. Even when we've had like pop ups at the Grove, people go in and cry because they go in and they Try. They don't even know what to do because there's so many things they want to buy. Because everything goes.

[Tash Oakley]

That was me so well with the girl pop up. That was me.

[Liv Perez]

I was like somebody else actually cried and then made us cry.

[Tash Oakley]

So sweet.

[Devin Brugman]

Like finally finding something. You're just like, I love everything. I feel so good. But it's just so nice that like we actually wear every. I always say if we didn't own the brand, all my money would be gone to the brand.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Devin Brugman]

Because I would just have to buy everything. I wouldn't know what to like, I wouldn't know how to choose. Do you think it's also good?

[Tash Oakley]

Do you think that's why Monday, the success of it has been so prominent? Because people just find that Monday moment for themselves of like, oh, I can go on the beach and I can feel really good.

[Devin Brugman]

We have a really high return customer rate. So our return customer rates like 50 to 60%, which is extremely. And for people that don't know, that's not the amount of returns that we get, that's the customers that keep coming back for more. And we've always had this intention with Monday where we want it to be the Calvin Klein of swim. Obviously Calvin Klein has their own swim, but when you're a Calvin Klein guy or girl, you just keep buying the Calvin Klein's the underwear, you know what I mean? Like, the guys just buy the same box. Not every year. And we want it to be like every summer. Okay, I'm going on my trip. What has Monday got for me? And we really want it to be something that 20 years from now, you're still coming back to Monday. And I think what's made it so successful is that I think we have done a good job at striking the balance between a commercial Instagram brand and something that feels a little bit more elevated and aspirational. And we are very, very intentional with everything we do with marketing to make sure that, you know, we're appealing to all customers in that way. We don't want to pigeonhole ourselves as being too Instagram. You know, like, we show a little bit about the behind the scenes, but we're not constantly editing reels of everything we do and uploading on the brand. You know, and then we have our more high end, really, you know, special marketing moments that are very, you know, elevated and branded really beautifully. And we, we spend a lot of money and put a lot of time and effort and our teams work very, very hard to create those moments. And I think, I think that that's what's made it successful. Apart from the fact that no brand can survive unless the product is genuinely good.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, exactly. The quality. I mean, I still have suits from our first collection we ever did.

[Tash Oakley]

My favorite marketing PR moment for you guys was, what was it like seeing Martha Stewart on the COVID of a magazine in Monday? I think I would have passed out.

[Liv Perez]

Marvels.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah.

[Devin Brugman]

She's an icon. And now I watched her Netflix thing, and now I'm even more obsessed.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, my God, they showed it.

[Devin Brugman]

I was like, yeah, I literally have.

[Liv Perez]

It printed in my home office.

[Devin Brugman]

But isn't that also a testament to, like, how everyone can wear Monday? You know, like, some we run in, like, let's say your mom, for example. We run into so many moms, and they'll be like, I want it for my daughter. And then I'm like, what about you?

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Devin Brugman]

I'm like, we have so many things for you. You would look stunning in Monday, you know?

[Tash Oakley]

So good.

[Liv Perez]

She looked incredible. She's just such an icon. We were so happy. I was like, I don't care about any of the Super Bowls, Martha.

[Devin Brugman]

Even when Margot Robbie wore it when she was pregnant, we were like, oh, my God.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, my God.

[Devin Brugman]

Like, just. It's. We never get over seeing these iconic women wearing the brand. It's really cool.

[Tash Oakley]

I remember seeing a few years ago, you were organizing your closet.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

And all of your bathing suits. I remember you opening your door one day, and they were all perfectly packaged, and it was like this beautiful rainbow. And I was like, okay, I'll get there eventually, maybe. And both of you are actually in renovation process right now.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

You just redid your closet. You're building your dream home in Australia, which I'm going to make a trip over.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, my gosh. Dream House is going to be crazy.

[Tash Oakley]

But tell me, as like, designers and as people who obviously have insane swim collections, like, what's in those closets right now that you're like, how did I live with? How did I survive without?

[Devin Brugman]

I'll let you just answer this one.

[Liv Perez]

I don't.

[Devin Brugman]

You're an organization freak.

[Liv Perez]

I am. Well, firstly, I wasn't allowed.

[Devin Brugman]

Whenever she does, I do. So that's. You're the same.

[Liv Perez]

There's this incredible girl named Kelly.

[Tash Oakley]

Okay. In la.

[Liv Perez]

In la.

[Tash Oakley]

Okay.

[Liv Perez]

So I can't take credit for this.

[Tash Oakley]

Okay.

[Liv Perez]

She did it.

[Tash Oakley]

Okay.

[Liv Perez]

Thank you, Kelly. But I had the vision. I redid. I had the room, and it was one of my favorite rooms in my house because it overlooks my backyard and it's you can see all the trees, and there's all these beautiful old Spanish windows that open up. And I was like, something has to happen here. So we built the closet around the windows, and it's. For me, it's all about the dividers and the labels. I'm a big label girl. So the sunglasses divider, all of the jewelry dividers. Then I have.

[Tash Oakley]

Do you have the felt down on the drawers that everything doesn't.

[Devin Brugman]

I think the baskets are a big thing too.

[Liv Perez]

Yes. Baskets.

[Devin Brugman]

When she did my LA closet, because she came and did mine, which just changed my life. What's nice about mine and your closet is that we're not sharing them with guys.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, my God, you guys.

[Devin Brugman]

My house I obviously share with Theo, and I'm like, why do you have so much stuff in here? You should have none. And then our LA closets are just our closet. So it's, like, all. Just the girl.

[Liv Perez]

It's a dream.

[Tash Oakley]

I asked a family friend who's been married for, like, 50 years. I was like, what's the key to marriage? And she looks at me and she goes, honey, separate closets, separate bathrooms.

[Liv Perez]

Yes. That's. I mean, honestly, true. I don't know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna be like, you're gonna have to.

[Devin Brugman]

There's no room for a closet.

[Tash Oakley]

Take the guest room for your closet.

[Liv Perez]

The shed outside home.

[Tash Oakley]

Something else.

[Devin Brugman]

When she redid my LA closet, she put baskets, like, at the tops of the closets in any open voids that things were just kind of hanging around in, and then put labels on the baskets, and it made everything look so neat and so clean. And just all our little bikini drawers and accessories and things are just not out and about everywhere. It just looked really.

[Liv Perez]

I will say, if you're gonna redo your closet, just make sure. Extra. Extra room for shoes, because I've already filled mine up.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah, for sure. I actually think the one thing that drew me to your closet and something that I'm struggling with with mine right now that I'm about to redo, which is insane, because I just did my closet lighting.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, yeah, the LED strips.

[Tash Oakley]

LED strips.

[Devin Brugman]

In case you didn't notice, they love lighting these girlies.

[Tash Oakley]

Even if it's lighting up shoes. Anything but, like, the LED strips that light up each shelf and also the lighting that you, like, put in the room. Like, it should be warm. Yes, it should be nice. And, like, even if your closet is in your bedroom, you have the smallest closet in the world. Doesn't matter. Like, even get An LED mirror that maybe brings warm light into your room.

[Devin Brugman]

Changes your literal self esteem, everything. You have bad lighting in your house, you will never be happy.

[Liv Perez]

I tell you how you're designing your overhead light.

[Tash Oakley]

I changed the light to be like the lighter, more yellow tone. We have like fluorescent lights. And I was like, alex, I think I'm dying.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

Like, yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

No, go up, take a ladder and change the 30 light bulbs.

[Liv Perez]

Driving mad.

[Tash Oakley]

It did. It drove me mad. I felt like I was in hospital.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

Now we have like a warm.

[Devin Brugman]

Oh, no. I'm even like, when we're designing our house right now, and I've worked with the architects and interior designers, I've been like, I don't want one light over someone's head in front of a mirror or like anywhere that someone's saying, I'm going to put the light behind them. You don't want that. I don't want my guests coming over and they go into the bathroom and look at themselves and go, oh, my God. I look like, you know, I want.

[Tash Oakley]

Them to go like, sexy.

[Devin Brugman]

I'm in such a good mood.

[Tash Oakley]

Makes me like, so hot. I'm going to go there again.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Devin Brugman]

And we will definitely be replicating that concept in anything we do in the future with Monday Love. Yeah, I love.

[Tash Oakley]

Don't worry. That's fine about that.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

Okay. I want to close out the show by getting both of your ideas on some fun swimwear trends for 2025. What are you guys excited about for this year?

[Devin Brugman]

Okay. Well, I think that the two tone trend is definitely going to continue, which I'm excited about, because our Clovelly Top and Clovelly One piece, which was one of the first designs we ever made, has literally gone viral. Every single fast fashion brand is now copying it, which I'm just flattering.

[Liv Perez]

And we can spot the replica mile away.

[Devin Brugman]

I know don't tag us in dupes, but anyway, if you want the dupe, get the dupe. But nothing's as good as the real thing. Anyway. The two tone is continuing and that's a major moment. I love it. It's such a, like Chanel classic. Very chic, very feminine, but, you know, very put together look. I feel like hardware is really something that people are. I think people are just wanting their swim to become more elevated, more luxurious feeling and a little bit more accessorized. Whereas in the past it was really, really like no hardware at all, really. And a lot of our styles are seamless with no hardware. And that was really a trend. And now people are Wanting more hardware and that kind of Chanel esque look.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

I think we're like getting dressed up. That was kind of always my pain point was like, I like to dress up. I'm always like kind of in a look and then I go to the beach and I'm like, well, here I am in my.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

Swimsuit.

[Devin Brugman]

Feeling a bit awkward.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah. Feeling a bit underdressed.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

Yeah. It's like, how can we spice it up a bit? Love that.

[Liv Perez]

So much of the swimwear industry is now really going for the beautiful swimwear dresses and the crochets and all of that is so much fun to see. So I'm really looking forward to seeing, you know, what other brands are doing and then I'm really excited about the silver that's coming out. Yes. Next year it's going to be bananas.

[Devin Brugman]

I can't even.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. I'm really in a silver moment right now.

[Tash Oakley]

Silver is having its moment. It really, it really is.

[Liv Perez]

So here for it.

[Tash Oakley]

I never owned it, so you know.

[Devin Brugman]

That the mixed metals. So our silver is coming out with the gold hardware. So we're mixing, you know, and we love the mixed metals look beyond.

[Tash Oakley]

So fun.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah. But 2025 is going to be like literally insane. We've designed up until the end of the year and I, I. It's hard to like always be excited about what we're doing right now because we're always in two minds where we're like, oh, my God, I can't believe what's coming out now. And we're so excited. But we also know what's going to come out. And we're like, it's just killing us. Next summer is gonna be.

[Liv Perez]

It's a good problem.

[Devin Brugman]

Next summer, I guess, is gonna be crazy. Crazy.

[Tash Oakley]

I'm so excited.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

Yay.

[Tash Oakley]

I can't wait to see it, guys. Thank you for doing this. I always feel so much gratitude when I have friends that come on the show.

[Devin Brugman]

Yeah.

[Tash Oakley]

It just feels like such a fun moment and it's such a great conversation and I have admired both of you for so long.

[Liv Perez]

Well, same to you. And you're always family to us, so we love you so much.

[Tash Oakley]

Thanks for doing the show.

[Devin Brugman]

Thank you. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.