For the very first time on the last episode of the season, I record the podcast from home and zoom in Daniel Martin from his place in NYC! We talk about our similar paths to finding our creative outlets - starting at MAC, loving the Pacific Northwest, and finally creating our homes in cities surrounded by our chosen families. Daniel shares some deep personal experiences like his 9/11 story and doing a client’s makeup for the last time for their memorial. We discuss how Daniel sets professional and personal boundaries - including turning down a potential client who happened to be a member of the Trump family. I am so grateful to have a friend like Daniel, and I think you’ll understand why by listening to this week’s episode!

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Lavern Rushin is so much more than Matthew Rushin’s mom—she’s a veteran, a government worker, an advocate, and leader in her community, locally and now also online. Lavern never thought that being a mother would mean becoming an advocate for her wrongfully incarcerated son, but that’s what happened. Her son, Matthew, is Black and Autistic, and after a seizure-induced car accident was tried and wrongly incarcerated. This week, we talk about getting justice for Matthew, which is an ongoing process, and what true justice for all could look like with significant reforms to our policing and legal systems. We talk about the problems in policing as it stands today, and what defunding the police really means to people like Matthew, Lavern, and now to me, as well. Lavern’s tireless advocacy and legislative work will mean that fewer mothers are in her place in the future, and that - together - we are able to make reforms that keep our Black men and neuro-divergent family safe from police brutality and mass incarceration. This week’s episode hits home, and I hope you listen so that you can learn about Lavern’s work and what you can do to help—not to mention where Matthew is today and what his bright future has in store for him!

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I cannot believe I finally met Crystal Anderson IRL after following each other on social media forever! She is the co-founder of an event production & creative company called A Very Good Job, along with her talented and kind partner, Kiesh. They have been killing it during the pandemic by elevating Black voices and working with Black creatives to develop gorgeous, uniquely creative campaigns on social media and beyond. Crystal is truly inspiring to me—I am so impressed by her work ethic, attitude, and of course, what drew me to her originally, her fashion sense! Tune in as Crystal shares her story (including a crazy ride over to the recording studio) and how she plans on working towards her goals today, and in the days, weeks, and months to come.

Want your game question to be featured on the next episode? Write in your best Truth/Dare, Never Have I Ever, or Would You Rather Question, to Tess@kastmedia.com for your chance at a shout out!

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This week, editor in Chief of Elle UK, Farrah Storr, joins me from London! Farrah and I talk about her experience as a journalist in the fashion world, where she finds compelling and transformative stories and tells them beautifully using the UK’s top fashion magazines—like when she put me on the cover of Cosmopolitan UK! We spoke about how Farrah’s editorial work grew out of her background as a writer, and why she believes that using fashion to tell stories is a powerful tool for creating social change. Farrah doesn’t aim to be controversial, but she definitely doesn’t shy away from the difficult conversations happening on social media and beyond—learn about her perspective and how to broaden your own with me in this episode!

Want your game question to be featured on the next episode? Write in your best Truth/Dare, Never Have I Ever, or Would You Rather Question, to Tess@kastmedia.com for your chance at a shout out!

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This week I got the chance to hang out with fellow queer femme, Kirsten Vangsness, who you might recognize as Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds! We got to hang out in-studio to talk about friendships new and old, following your passion, and how to use our privilege to amplify the voices of people who belong to marginalized communities. We go deep about being part of the LGTBQ+ community, dating, being plus-sized in Hollywood, and how to multitask within the industry and build an empire - including Kirsten’s incredible distillery!Put on your sexiest PJs with us and join me for an episode where I literally cannot stop laughing!

Want your game question to be featured on the next episode? Write in your best Truth/Dare, Never Have I Ever, or Would You Rather Question, to Tess@kastmedia.com for your chance at a shout out!

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You might know this week's guest as Alex Vause from Orange is the New Black or Donna Pinciotti from That 70s Show, but I got to know Laura Prepon as the multi-talented mama and home chef behind PrepOn Kitchen! Laura joined us from NYC to talk about how she got started in the industry, what it's like to negotiate your boundaries on social media and beyond when you're in the public eye, and how being prepared actually makes your life MUCH easier. She also dishes on the details of her brand new line for the home chef in all of us, PrepOn Kitchen! This week, Laura inspired me to take moments for myself and invest in planning ahead to be more centered in my everyday life - I hope she does the same for you!

Want your game question to be featured on the next episode? Write in your best Truth/Dare, Never Have I Ever, or Would You Rather Question, to Tess@kastmedia.com for your chance at a shout out!

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Isaac Mizrahi, top fashion designer, stage performer, and talk show host, joins me via zoom from his home in New York. It was an honor to talk with him about his career trajectory from childhood puppet theater to runway fashion icon and now top-selling QVC mogul. I still own one of his original Target collection blazers and have been a huge fan ever since that teenage purchase! We talked about everything from growing up in, and breaking out of, conservative households and communities, to finding ourselves through the arts and now having an impact through social media. It’s not everyday that you get to meet someone who literally made your career possible and I was so grateful for the opportunity to talk about our shared experiences with Isaac. I hope you tune in for this special episode!

Want your game question to be featured on the next episode? Write in your best Truth/Dare, Never Have I Ever, or Would You Rather Question, to Tess@kastmedia.com for your chance at a shout out!

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Today, my dear friends and classroom heroes, Erin Gruwell and Debbie Fernandez, talk about restorative justice through education, how individual attention can transform lives, and doing the right thing when you're in a position to be helpful. You may know Erin because Hilary Swank portrayed her in the Freedom Writers movie in 2007, but her work goes well beyond the confines of the classroom. Debbie is also a real life Freedom Writer, who during the pandemic worked directly with students to make sure their needs were met in the classroom and well beyond its limits. Erin and Debbie talk about why they are called to do this work, how they change lives through the power of education, and the many ways that we each and all can do the same in our everyday lives. I hope this episode inspires you to reach out to your community the way these women have inspired me!

Want your game question to be featured on the next episode? Write in your best Truth/Dare, Never Have I Ever, or Would You Rather Question, to Tess@kastmedia.com for your chance at a shout out!

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