Podcast
Shorts: Beyond Measure w/ Tara, Caroline & Allison
Hosted by Tara West, Caroline Balz, Allison Goldberg · EN
A bite-sized podcast where fashion stylist Tara and interior designers Caroline & Allison—each with a background in psychology—unpack the deeper layers of style, design, and mindset. From fashion and interiors to psychology and culture, they deliver short, sharp, and stylish insights that make a lasting impact.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Hostile Architecture Shapes Behavior
1w ago00:12:48Tap to summarizeAllison and Caroline discuss heavy pollen before recapping Sparkle in the Park, a longtime Emerald Necklace Conservancy fundraiser. They describe multiple last-minute pivots: switching from a perceived-privileged luncheon to an evening tented dinner, then losing the City of Boston tent permit and relocating the event to board member Georgia Lee’s private home. They highlight the home reveal and the dramatic design transformation by David DeCicco Designs and Julie Freed/Freed Events, and note the event raised significant funds and may return as a May 5 lunch next year. The episode topic shifts to hostile architecture—design choices that manipulate behavior (e.g., anti-sleep benches, airport armrests, uncomfortably cold restaurants)—and briefly connects the idea to “hostile fashion,” including restrictive skirts and high heels. Topics 00:28 Pollen And Missing Host 01:02 Sparkle In The Park Recap 02:13 Event Backstory And Pivots 03:56 Swing Mishap And Next Year 05:02 Hostile Architecture Explained 06:22 Everyday Examples And Comfort 07:45 Designing Atmosphere On Purpose 08:46 Hostile Fashion And Met Gala 10:46 Clothes As Social Signals 12:17 Wrap Up And Sign Off
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Executive Presence & Purpose with Rachel Wexler
2w ago00:18:20Tap to summarizeThe gang welcomes back Rachel Wexler, a leadership development partner who helps leaders and teams get unstuck and build new ways of operating aligned to their goals. Wexler discusses executive presence as showing up with confidence and conviction by knowing strengths and development areas, clarifying the gap between identity and reputation, defining a bigger “why,” and understanding needs and boundaries. She describes working with both women and men, including executives with egos, and using data-driven tools like the Hogan Assessment to ground “soft” topics in statistically reliable insights about how people are perceived. Wexler shares her career pivot from education product development and workforce development work at Penn Foster (2015–2023), deciding to leave as she approached 50 to avoid regret, and learning resilience and iteration through social media. She outlines her business focus on coaching/consulting and sharing ideas about humanity, authenticity, trust, and high-performance teams. Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlwexler/ Instagram: @ RWexlerLeadership https://www.rachel-wexler.com/ Topics 00:32 Rachel Is Back 01:52 Executive Presence Basics 03:02 Identity Versus Reputation 05:05 Handling Ego With Data 07:52 Friendship And Business Plans 08:58 Pivoting Into Entrepreneurship 12:15 Turning 50 Leap 12:46 Social Media Growing Pains 14:34 Where The Business Goes Next 16:15 Presence Tip Before Meetings 17:11 Socials And Farewell
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Building Trust at Work with Rachel Wexler
3w ago00:16:01Tap to summarizeThe guest is Tara’s longtime friend Rachel Wexler, who recently launched her own business after 20 years leading product and strategy teams. Rachel describes her evolving role as a “leadership development partner,” working with leaders and teams through coaching, leadership programs, small-group work, and team offsites to help organizations use internal talent well, build trust, and create environments where people can be authentic. She explains using tools like 360 feedback—speaking with peers, direct reports, senior leaders, and sometimes people in a client’s personal life—to identify key themes and “name what’s really going on” beneath the surface. Rachel shares an offsite example that began with a personal question to humanize teammates and shift focus from deadlines to connection. She says her favorite part is helping people, especially women, see their strength and value. Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlwexler/ Instagram: @ RWexlerLeadership https://www.rachel-wexler.com/ Topics 00:29 Meet Rachel Wexler 00:48 Friendship Backstory 02:10 Launching Her Business 03:01 What She Actually Does 05:24 Why Leadership Work Matters 06:54 Reading the Room Skills 09:34 Inside a Team Offsite 12:51 Favorite Part of the Job 14:53 Where to Find Rachel 15:35 Wrap Up and Thanks
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The Rule of 7: Decision Fatigue in Fashion and Design
4w ago00:14:12Tap to summarizeThe gang celebrates Tara’s recognition as one of Boston’s best dressed and discusses how professional wins support business. They pivot to cultural and health conversations around Ozempic, including reports of bone density issues, differing medical opinions, social pressure to use it, and observations about shrinking size availability and plus sizes “going away.” The main topic is Miller’s “rule of seven,” explaining how too many choices create decision paralysis; they apply it to styling and design by limiting options (e.g., a few mood boards or samples) rather than overwhelming clients. They describe how knowing a client’s taste, budget, and closet helps narrow choices, how shopping together can educate clients, and how expanded design options have increased complexity while COVID-era constraints encouraged creativity. Topics 00:29 Best Dressed Win 02:33 Ozempic Culture Talk 03:58 Sizes And Fashion Shift 07:39 Rule Of Seven 09:17 Styling Without Overwhelm 12:48 Design Choices Explosion 13:51 Wrap Up And Requests
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Bad Apples: How One Negative Person Spoils the Bunch
May 500:11:11Tap to summarizeThe topic: the “bad apple effect,” or how one negative person can permeate and drag down an entire group. After chatting about missing each other and Tara’s rainy, windy weekend in Pensacola for a friend’s 60th birthday, they compare the concept to removing a bad strawberry to keep the rest fresh and to group dynamics where a “Debbie Downer” demands attention. Caroline describes how a difficult subcontractor’s attitude can create client and brand issues, requiring calm, professional conversations and rules like routing all client concerns through the designers. Tara shares a styling incident where a high-end store sent a $2,500 blazer with a sensor still attached and a loose button, then blamed her, reinforcing the value of accountability and apologizing. They note research suggesting negative peers can reduce student achievement and emphasize choosing better company with age. Topics 00:30 Catching Up Derby To Pensacola 00:52 Pensacola Stories Waffle House 01:48 What Is Bad Apple Effect? 02:45 Bad Apple In Groups 03:05 Workplace Subs And Boundaries 04:48 Opposite Action Staying Calm 05:09 Stylist Horror Story Sensor Tag 07:13 Accountability And Owning Mistakes 08:04 Comic Detour Dave Dating Update 09:06 Theory Explained Social Contagion 09:42 Choosing Your People And Parenting 10:35 Wrap Up And Goodbye
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Of Breakups & Dating Apps…
Apr 2800:14:57Tap to summarizeTara, Caroline & Allison turn the episode into an informal therapy session about Dave’s recent breakup. They discuss loss, identity, and redefining life post-relationship. Topics 00:37 Dave Breakup Talk 04:04 Dating Apps Reality 06:10 What Dave Wants 07:26 Age Range Debate 11:07 Divorce Dating Vibes 11:31 Wrong Car Horror Story 14:19 Wrap Up And Plug
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Remy Stressenger, Launch to Life & Preventing Suicides
Apr 2200:13:35Tap to summarizeTara, Caroline and Allison welcome back Remy Stressenger, owner of the women’s boutique Remy in Nantucket and on Charles Street in Boston, and founder of Launch to Life. Remy explains the nonprofit grew from her father’s suicide when she was seven and later suicides involving friends’ sons, and describes how the name “Launch” connects to family and the goal of helping kids thrive, noting bipolar disorder in her family. The group discusses stigma around suicide and mental health, the semicolon symbol representing “your story’s not over,” and a cashmere sweater sold in Remy’s store with proceeds benefiting Launch to Life. Remy’s core goal is certifying adults in Mental Health First Aid to help communities recognize warning signs, and she shares fundraising efforts like Nantucket’s “Paddle With a Purpose,” plus ways to donate via launch2life.org and remycreations.com. Topics 00:29 Meet Remy Stressenger 02:18 Launch to Life Origin 03:39 Semicolon Sweater Meaning 05:36 Mental Health First Aid Goal 06:20 Generational Stigma Today 07:28 Finding Her Voice 11:12 How to Support Launch 12:29 Resources and Farewell
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Remy Stressenger on Building a Boutique by Saying Yes
Apr 1400:16:32Tap to summarizeTara, Caroline and Allison welcome longtime friend and boutique owner Remy Stressenger. Remy shares how she opened her Nantucket store 11 years ago without a lifelong dream or business plan, driven by a desire for independence during her divorce and after starting a creative concierge business. She explains learning retail by jumping in, attending the Coterie trade show, and refining her buying eye over time, focusing on small international brands and dropping them once they become widely carried. The group discusses differences between Nantucket and Boston retail, seasonal challenges, and Remy running nearly every aspect of the business, including inventory and POS. Remy recounts the origin of her bestselling shark sweaters from a COVID-era T-shirt, plus a new octopus design, and describes pricing based on what she’d personally pay. Find Remy at https://remycreations.com/ Topics 00:28 Meet Remy 01:44 Nantucket Store Origin 04:16 Buying Without A Plan 05:11 Unique Brands Strategy 06:26 Shark Sweater Story 08:22 Collabs And Two Stores 10:15 Retail Reality Check 11:11 Doing It All Solo 12:12 Boston Style Culture 13:33 Just Start The Business 15:29 Pricing And Value 16:40 Wrap And Tease
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What is the ‘Red Car Effect’?
Apr 700:15:34Tap to summarizeTara, Caroline & Allison discuss Tara’s experience adjusting her hormone replacement therapy patch, including intense short-term side effects like anxiety, brain fog, emotional swings, and increased libido, and how she recognized she needed HRT based on mood changes, irritability, and body changes despite lab levels initially appearing normal. They talk about perimenopause timing, advocating for testing (including a Dutch test) and care, and alternatives as patches are sold out. The conversation shifts to the “red car effect” and how professional lenses can overgeneralize, applying it to interior design and styling—avoiding repetitive go-to choices (like the same carpet or camisole trend) to preserve client individuality—while also noting how algorithms can reinforce beliefs and device use can fuel distraction and addiction, prompting discussion of phone limits and tools to reduce app use. Topics 00:38 HRT Dose Update 01:20 Side Effects Talk 02:19 Knowing You Need HRT 03:48 Patch Tips Menopause 04:18 Perimenopause Timing 06:41 Red Car Effect 07:28 Design Trend Traps 09:12 Fashion Styling Parallels 11:47 Algorithms And Attention 13:35 Phone Boundaries Hacks 14:17 Sourcing Workflow 15:11 Wrap Up Goodbye
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Aging Well & Career Pivots with Lacy Garcia
Mar 3100:15:12Tap to summarizeTara, Caroline and Allison welcome back Lacy Garcia to discuss her beauty and wellness routine—prioritizing sleep, movement, hydration, supplements, meditation, infrared sauna, protein, breathing, and self-grace amid busy midlife responsibilities. The conversation shifts to entrepreneurship and nontraditional career paths: Garcia, a liberal arts graduate with an MBA and a master’s in education, explains how she moved from teaching into finance, emphasizing that financial advising is largely psychology-driven and that life experience can matter as much as formal training. She describes founding Willow to help women feel comfortable and empowered with financial advice, notes early skepticism from the industry, and shares that BlackRock became a client and strategic investor. Willow also trains advisors—many of whom are men—to better serve women with empathy and clearer communication. Garcia supports using AI for efficiency while relying on human quality assurance for personalization, and announces a partnership with Jean Chatzky’s HerMoney to match audiences with financial advisors and planning. Topics 00:28 Meet Lacy Garcia 00:43 Beauty Routine Secrets 02:23 Breathing and Stress 03:13 Career Pivot to Finance 05:47 Nontraditional Paths Win 08:45 Disrupting Finance Industry 10:43 Advisors for Women 11:11 AI and Human Touch 12:21 Big Partnership News 13:21 Know Your Finances 14:27 Where to Find Willow 14:58 Wrap Up and Goodbye
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