Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky: Episode Featuring Cindy Crawford
Podcast Information:
- Title: Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
- Host: Monica Lewinsky
- Guest: Cindy Crawford
- Release Date: July 22, 2025
Introduction
In this compelling episode of Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky, Monica welcomes iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford to the show. The conversation delves deep into Cindy’s journey of reclaiming her identity beyond the modeling world, navigating personal challenges, and embracing her evolving role as a mother and entrepreneur.
Embracing Age and Identity (00:20 - 06:20)
Ageism in the Public Eye Cindy opens up about the daunting experience of turning 50 as a woman in the public eye. She reflects on the pressure to either "run from this or embrace it" in an ageist society.
- Cindy Crawford (00:23): “Turning 50, I think for a woman is scary and daunting... I either, you know, do I run from this or do I embrace it?”
Initial Meeting and First Impressions Monica shares her initial intimidation when meeting Cindy, highlighting the challenges of forming genuine connections under public scrutiny.
- Monica Lewinsky (03:20): “Is someone gonna like me or not like me? And so I wasn't sure if you would like me.”
Modeling Perceptions The discussion shifts to the misconceptions surrounding modeling, emphasizing that Cindy has always been more than just a face on a magazine cover.
- Cindy Crawford (06:20): “I have a scholarship for chemical engineering, right. To Northwestern. So, you know, excellent school.”
Navigating Personal Loss and Grief (24:31 - 32:17)
Coping with Tragedy Cindy shares the heartbreaking story of losing her brother at a young age and how it shaped her understanding of grief.
- Cindy Crawford (24:49): “I think it's weird. Cause I don't know if they're real memories or they're memories of stories. Do you know what I mean?”
Teaching Children About Loss She discusses the challenges of communicating loss to children, emphasizing the importance of clear and honest conversations.
- Cindy Crawford (28:02): “You say first you say, I have some very sad news... then you say, our dear friend died in a car accident...”
Healing Through Communication Cindy reflects on how conversations with her mother later in life provided healing and closure.
- Cindy Crawford (32:17): “We just thought it was normal that your mom, you know...”
Building a Personal Brand and Entrepreneurship (32:17 - 43:37)
Transitioning from Modeling to Branding Cindy explains her decision to transition from being a model to building her own skincare line, Meaningful Beauty.
- Cindy Crawford (34:25): “Turning 50... I either, you know, do I run from this or do I embrace it?... and it was a way.”
Authenticity in Branding She emphasizes the importance of authenticity in her brand, ensuring that products are genuinely beneficial and not just for profit.
- Cindy Crawford (40:58): “I'm not a makeup artist. My job is to take care of my skin.”
Challenges and Growth Cindy discusses the challenges faced while launching her brand and the strategies employed to compete with larger companies.
- Cindy Crawford (42:49): “How do we compete with that? And I felt like we had a story. So infomercial seemed to be the right choice.”
Personal Relationships and Marriage (55:56 - 58:19)
Reclaiming Coupledom Cindy shares insights into maintaining a strong marriage post-children, highlighting the conscious effort to prioritize their relationship.
- Cindy Crawford (55:56): “I think one of the answers is my coupledom with my husband. We're finding a different rhythm of life now that's just different.”
Balancing Life in Different Locations She discusses the benefits of living in Miami versus Malibu, focusing on social interactions and a different lifestyle rhythm.
- Cindy Crawford (58:17): “We're finding, like, a different rhythm of life now that's just different. And we have time for it, and we're really enjoying that.”
Reflections on Media and Public Perception
Impact of Media Exposure Both Monica and Cindy reflect on how media portrayals have influenced their public personas and the challenges of managing public perception.
- Monica Lewinsky (46:33): “So I think that year, I think that was sort of the Rachel Dolezal story...”
Navigating Public Image They discuss the complexities of maintaining authenticity while managing a public image, especially in the context of modeling and media appearances.
- Cindy Crawford (43:37): “What works for you or a recipe... but I had to be authentic.”
Final Thoughts and Personal Growth
Reclaiming Personal Spaces The episode concludes with Cindy sharing her current focus on reclaiming her personal and marital life, emphasizing the importance of self-care and mutual respect in her relationship.
- Cindy Crawford (58:19): “We're finding, like, a different rhythm of life now that's just different. And we have time for it, and we're really enjoying that.”
Monica’s Closing Remarks Monica wraps up the episode by highlighting the profound insights shared by Cindy, emphasizing the theme of reclaiming one's identity and personal narrative.
Notable Quotes
- Cindy Crawford (00:23): “Turning 50, I think for a woman is scary and daunting... I either, you know, do I run from this or do I embrace it?”
- Cindy Crawford (06:20): “I have a scholarship for chemical engineering, right. To Northwestern. So, you know, excellent school.”
- Cindy Crawford (24:49): “I think it's weird. Cause I don't know if they're real memories or they're memories of stories. Do you know what I mean?”
- Cindy Crawford (34:25): “Turning 50... I either, you know, do I run from this or do I embrace it?... and it was a way.”
- Cindy Crawford (55:56): “I think one of the answers is my coupledom with my husband. We're finding a different rhythm of life now that's just different.”
Conclusion
This episode of Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky offers an intimate look into Cindy Crawford's life beyond the runway. From grappling with ageism and personal loss to building a successful skincare brand and nurturing her marriage, Cindy exemplifies the essence of reclaiming one's narrative. Her candid reflections provide valuable insights into maintaining authenticity, overcoming societal pressures, and fostering personal growth.
Production Credits:
- Host: Monica Lewinsky
- Production Services: WTF Media Studios
- Theme Song: Ben Benjamin
- Music Supervisor: Scott Velasquez
- Story Producer: Elna Baker
- Senior Producer: Megan Donis for Wondery
- Development Producer: Eliza Mills
- Managing Producer: Taylor Snow
- Senior Managing Producer: Nick Ryan
- Senior Producers: Candace Manriquez Wren and Emily Feldbrake
- Executive Producers: Dave Easton, Erin O' Flaherty, and Marshall Louie