WOAH! | JOEY LAWRENCE

For those of us that grew up in the 90s, many of us remember watching Blossom and Joey Lawrence with his "whoa" catch phrase. He appeared in a number of series throughout this time as well as maintaining a music career, going on Broadway and of course being The Walrus on Season 8 of Masked Singer!

We wanted to take some time to catchup with him to find out about his career, the importance of oral care, his podcast with his brothers Matthew (Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Mrs Doubtfire, Hawaii Five-O) and Andy (Bean, NCIS: Los Angeles, Hawaii Five-O) as well as his upcoming movie and other projects!

ATHLEISURE MAG: You've had a great career that has included Gimmie A Break!, Blossom, being on Broadway in Chicago as Billy Flynn, The Masked Singer, and more! What do you love about being an entertainer?

JOEY LAWRENCE: It's always been sort of my calling and I was very lucky at a young age to have an opportunity to explore that passion of mine. My mom was just influential in seeing that love that I had for the arts and just going, alright, let's see if we can make this happen. It just came about in the most amazing way, and then being able to go to New York and audition for commercials at the age of five years old, and get a lot of those commercials and then go on the Johnny Carson Show and have the reaction be what it was on that and lead to a deal with NBC, which led to give me a break and all the other shows that I ended up doing. It was just sort of an amazing thing that happened and 43 years later, to be able to still doing it, is truly a remarkable thing, quite a journey.

AM: What have been three of your favorite moments in your career that made you smile?

JL: The explosion of the whole WHOA thing on Blossom and the whole Teen Idol thing was an amazing moment. I know a lot of people sometimes look back on that stuff as not so great when they experienced it, but for me, it was really amazing. The fact that I'm able to still work even past all that is great. It was that explosion, and still to this day, all these years later, two decades later, people still walking around saying that word and how it still has transcended time. It's seen all over popular vernacular today. That was a pretty cool moment to have that happen to a character that I played become so iconic like that. Being on Broadway was great. The whole different world of being able to utilize my love for singing and acting at the same time was really great. Also, having a number one record was really cool, writing a song at 16 - having a hit number one on the charts. Experiencing that was great and the other top moments are hopefully yet to come.

AM: Achieving a great smile means that you make your oral care a priority. Why did you partner with LISTERINE?

JL: Well, to me, LISTERINE truly is the benchmark of oral care. I actually use LISTERINE – it's been in every medicine cabinet in my house growing up, and now is in my home and used by kids.

AM: What is your oral care routine and how did you turn your woes into "Whoas"?

JL: I have red, irritated gums, so I religiously care for my whole mouth. I use an electric powered toothbrush and I floss basically almost after every meal, but certainly in the morning and at night. Then I follow it up with my favorite LISTERINE mouthwash – Clinical Solutions Antiseptic Gum Health from their newest line of superpowered products. It is actually incredible and it really works. Truly, I used the Antiseptic Gum Health mouthwash for one week and I started to see a difference – it literally made me go “WHOA!”

The LISTERINE Clinical Solutions line was developed with dentists to tackle and help prevent top oral care issues, and so I’m very excited to see what other people think because I think they're gonna feel the way I do.

AM: It seems like you and your brothers - Matthew and Andy continue the good vibes, smiles, and fun conversations with your podcast, Brotherly Love. Why did you want to launch it in this format and what can we expect when we're tuning in?

JL: That's what we do. I mean, our thing is just escapism, right? We want people to come in and just have some fun, take your mind off of things. I feel so many times people forget the the true essence of entertainment, which is to entertain, and we get bogged down in making it mirror exactly what's going on in our lives. But so many times, I don't want to watch something that's mirroring exactly what I'm going through, because that's life. I want to have a little bit of escapism. People have never really seen us like this, which is kind of cool. When we've worked together in our careers, it's always been with scripts. This is no scripts. This is actually how our inner dynamics are and we're dinner table conversation, we're not a specific podcast based on a certain idea or ideology. We talk about anything and everything that friends and family would talk about over a dinner table. I think that's what's really been the reaction so far and why people have enjoyed it so much. We never really thought it was going to turn into this. We really did it during the COVID lockdowns to just have something to do because like everybody, we thought the world was ending, and we got to do something. The reaction to it has been incredible. To see the rise of this little baby pod, the pod that could as we say, has been humbling. It's been really, really neat. I think we're like the 45th ranked pod overall, which is really crazy. There's like 5 million pods out there. So, you know, this little pod that me and my bros do to have this much love thrown at it, it just really feels great. We're just so thankful the community that supports us is pretty dope.

AM: Tell us about your upcoming film, Heart Attack.

JL: We’re doing it with Fox and Tubi. Big action movie, which I'm excited about. I haven't done a lot of action - I did a little bit on Hawaii Five-O and CSI New York, but I really haven't although I've loved that genre so much. Big fan of Die Hard and these movies growing up as a kid so to be able to jump into this sort of genre is going to be really, really cool. It's a nonstop juggernaut from page one with a clock that ticks – your classic action movie stakes, but it really is cool. it's all set in the hospital. It's going to be a lot of fun. My baby brother, Andrew, is actually going to direct it, which is gonna be fun because he's a great director. We're gonna have a lot of fun. We're going to shoot that later this year, and really looking forward to it.

AM: How do you take time for yourself when you're not focused on projects, navigating personal and family schedules, etc?

JL: You just have to make the time, right? Life is about making time for things, that's what you got to do. It's easy to say we don't have time, right? It's easy to say, Oh, I don't have time to get that workout in, or I don't have time to floss. You have to figure out a way to do it. There's always time. I feel like where there's a will, there's a way. I live my life like that - we'll figure it out. There's a way to figure something out, I don't ever feel like nothing is, you know, can't be accomplished if we put our minds to it, just figure it out. So I try to live my life that way every day and you know, I fail sometimes, like everybody, but I also succeed sometimes. When you succeed, it feels good and that motivates you to continue to work hard and try to fit everything in. That's what I try to do.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for that you would like to share?

JL: There's a lot of exciting stuff going on. We have a sequel to our Christmas movie that we did together, the brothers and I, Mistletoe Mixup, which was actually the number one Christmas movie on Amazon in 2021. The sequel is coming out later this year, so we're excited about that. It's actually funnier than the first one, it really is, so we're very excited because he first one again, we did it sort of as an independent project, and Amazon picked it up, and then it just did so well. It was their number one movie for Christmas a year and a half ago. So, then we were like, wow, well, we got to try to make it good now. So, you know, the sequel, we had a lot more time to do it and we're excited about it. So that's coming out. We're actually working on a scripted series together for the first time, since like the early 2000s, which is crazy. That is something that is in the late stages, so we're excited about that. There's a couple other exciting things that will be on tap soon, but you know, and I'm working with LISTERINE, so that's like top of the top and super excited.

IG @joeylawrence

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | LISTERINE Clinical Solutions

Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see WOAH! Joey Lawrence in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

SHELTER

Prime Video Series

Prime Video

Bestselling mystery and thriller author, Harlan Coben brings his book Shelter as a series as we find out the connection between a family, town, and whether death is as finite as we believe it to be.

We get to know about Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael) who goes back to his father's NJ suburban town after his death. Although there is something nostalgic about having his aunt, Shira Bolitar (Constance Zimmer) take care of him, playing basketball in the same school as his dad and making friends. There is something idyllic about this quaint town. Through a series of strange events, disappearances and secrets, he works with his friends Ema (Abigale Corrigan) and Spoon (Adrian Greensmith) to figure out how his dad's death is connected to the unease that continues to grow within him.

SURVIVE THE RAFT

Discovery

Max

We enjoy a good reality competition show that shifts the social experimentation paradigm! The premise of Survive the Raft is inspired by the 1973 Acali Experiment by Mexican anthropologist, Santiago Genovés. He curated a group of people from varying backgrounds to see how they would come together, live, work, and accomplish goals. The experiment had a lot of conflict and tensions.

With this experiment and the studies that resulted from it, this competition builds on that and is hosted by Nate Boyer (US Army Green Beret, NFL Seattle Seahawks, Mayans MC) who announces the challenges to the contestants who live on the raft and work together in order to win money for the group. The contestants do a series of challenges, navigate conflicts and even have opportunities to win money for themselves without the group knowing or to stay true to the assignment to build the pot for everyone to share equally. It's a game of the ultimate believe in unity as well as questioning whether those you came in with should stay or be swapped with those that are a better fit!

PAINKILLERS

Netflix Originals

Netflix

Painkillers, a Netflix Original Series focuses on the opioid epidemic that we have been navigating for the last few decades. The availability of these drugs comes with immense consequences and this series follows all who are involved from the companies that make the drugs, the victims that use it, those who are related to users who are also caught up the effects and the investigation of how all of these elements converge together.

Read the AUG ISSUE #92 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #77 MAY 2022

In this month’s issue, our cover story is with international superstar EDM DJ/Producer duo Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike. We talk about their love for music, how they got into the industry, their creative process and upcoming projects that span Dimitri appearing in Jurassic World: Dominion and the latest collab with Mike in his BLACK BANANAS X GREEN ROOM. We catch up with Emmy Award winning comedian, actor, animation voice actor and host of his podcast – May I Elaborate? JB Smoove. We talk about how he got into the industry, how he honed his craft via improv, being on SNL for 3 seasons, the upcoming 12th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm and more! Apple TV+’s Physical will drop it’s 2nd season next month. We talk to 2 of its stars, Rose Byrne and Dierdre Friel about what we can expect. STARZ’s P-Valley is also back for its 2 second season and we caught up 4 of the castmembers (Elarica Johnson, Parker Sawyers, Shannon Thornton and J. Alphonse Nicholson) to talk about how they got into the industry, catching us up on season 1, what we can expect for season 2 and additional projects coming up. Mark Indelicato is back for season 2 of HBO’s Hacks and Prime Video’s With Love. We talk about the impact of the success of his character in Ugly Betty, his process to approaching his roles, his shows and more. We also talk with swimsuit model and Netflix’s Grace and Frankie star, Brooklyn Decker. We talk about how she transitioned from modeling to acting, the final season of this iconic comedy and more.

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from EDM DJ/Producer Hardwell as well as Lost Frequencies. Our 9DRIP comes from our cover, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike and Curb Your Enthusiasm’s JB Smoove. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from WTA tennis star Ajla Tomljanovic and celebrity hair stylist, Andrew Fitzsimons. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from EDM duo SOFI TUKKER.

Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack shares Indian restaurant, aRoqa in NYC’s Chelsea. This month’s Athleisure List comes from Pikes Hotel in Ibiza and Pause Studio in LA. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.

Read the MAY ISSUE #77 here.

THE LEGACY CONTINUES | TITUS WELLIVER

We've been fans of Prime Video's Bosch where we follow along as Harry Bosch solves a number of cases regardless of how many feathers he ruffles in the process. On May 6th, the story continues on Amazon FreeVee with Bosch: Legacy. We see how Bosch continues to fight for victims as his daughter Maddie Bosch continues to walk in her father's steps and how he will reconnect with former nemesis, Honey Chandler.

We enjoy the way Titus Welliver leans into his characters and draws us in. Whether it's his work in ABC's Lost, FX's Sons of Anarchy, HBO's Deadwood and countless other TV shows and movies, we know that Titus is going to leave quite a memory with us in the characters that he plays.

We talked with him about becoming an actor, working in the industry and taking on Bosch which comes from a series of books written by Michael Connelly.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to be an actor?

TITUS WELLIVER: Oh boy, you know, I think I was born acting. I don’t know about that, I think it’s difficult or I can say, it was right after I realized I didn’t want to be a firefighter or a policeman anymore like all little boys do.

Actually, there was a filmmaker named Rudy Burckhardt and he made some films and he asked me to be in a film of his when I was about 5 and it was a very simple little bit where I played a little boy that had a shiny penny in his pocket and he was walking down a road. He had a hole in his pocket and he lost the penny and the penny was stolen from him by this stingy old man. I remember sort of thinking that it was kind of fun, but I didn’t really consider it any further than that. I did some little bits in school plays and things like that.

I really was initially trained to be a painter – a fine artist, that’s really what I wanted to do. But I always had an interest certainly in film and I watched a lot of television. I was spending a summer with my mother – she was living in Boston, but I didn’t go to school there so I didn’t have any friends there and I didn’t know any kids there. She was living in an area where there just wasn’t that kind of accessibility and I was sort of left to my own devices which meant I was just going to the Cineplex – to the movies all day long. She signed me up at a place called The Actors Workshop in Boston and I was 14 years old. I was reluctant, I wasn’t a camp kid, I liked sports camps and things like that. I went and after the first day, I came back to my mother and asked her if I could do more days of that. I ended up doing 5 days a week and it was a professional school for both adult and kid actors. I did that and I spent the summer doing that, but I still stayed on the trajectory that I was going to go to art school and I painted and I studied and studied.

I did a few productions in high school and enjoyed doing that and after a year of art school, I was left kind of cold to a certain degree and I had a conversation with my father who very directly said to me, “you know, when you’re not thinking about girls and drinking beer, what do you think about?” I said, “I think about acting.” My father said, “so not painting?”and I said no. He told me that I needed to be an actor. That was kind of it!

AM: What’s your process like when you’re thinking of attaching yourself to projects? We’ve enjoyed seeing your in Deadwood, Sons of Anarchy and of course Bosch – what are you looking for?

TW: Well, when you’re starting out, it’s about paying your bills, but also gaining experience. I mean, I did a lot of teeny tiny parts in plays, in short films and things because I was just trying to learn and gain that experience. So there’s that, but I think that more then anything, it starts with the writing. I've read a lot of bad scripts and I have acted in a few. But when the material is good, then it’s on! Then you realize that you’re in the presence of some material that’s going to challenge you and also that it will hopefully teach you something. Because I always say, I like to be in a constant state of learning and getting better. I think that with time, age and experience, the hope is that we evolve and certainly as artists, otherwise, you get kind of bored and you go and do something else. I’ve been extraordinarily fortunate that I have worked with great writers, producers and directors over the years – David Milch (Deadwood, NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues) and Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue, Doogie Howser, M.D., Brooklyn South) to name a few and here I landed with Michael Connelly (The Lincoln Lawyer, The Dark Hours, The Poet) and Eric Overmyer (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, The Affair) and Tom Bernardo (Bosch, Bosch: Legacy) – a very gifted and dynamic group of people. To be given the opportunity to play this very iconic character, he’s kind of like Santa Claus for an actor, he goes down the chimney every time that I go to work and it’s nice.

AM: We’ve been a fan of Michael Connelly books for a number of years so when Bosch went to Prime Video it was exciting and then that you were going to play the title character, we knew that it was going to be so good. How did that come together for you to be part of this?

TW: Well, I was initially sent the script and I read it very quickly. I had only read one of the Bosch books many many years prior to. Unbeknownst to me, my younger brother had read and re-read the books and to this day possesses a kind of encyclopedic knowledge of Bosch as well as everything that Michael has written.

Through a series of mishaps, I kept trying to meet with Michael and the meetings kept getting pushed off and I was shooting Transformers: Age of Extinction which had me traveling all over the place in Chicago, Michigan and then Hong Kong. We just kept missing. I got a call a couple of months later from my manager who told me that I had a little window and Michael Connelly was in town and I would be able to meet with him. At that point, I thought that that boat had sailed as it had been a couple of months that had passed. I went in and met with him and the producers and the director and I was – as my grandmother would say, I was blessed at that moment. I left that audition feeling good, but you know, I have been doing this long enough and have enough humility to know that that’s all you can do. I got the call from my manager that I had been cast as Bosch and to say that I was thrilled was an understatement. It was just more realized after the first day of shooting that I knew I was part of something that was different. I’ve played other cop characters and I’ve done lots of procedural cop shows. Look, when you’re doing something from the ground up, it’s tricky but, when you have source material, like Michael Connelly’s books, you have to work really hard to mess it up. You know, in less capable hands, it could be very very messed up. The temptation to sex things up for a lack of a better word – to have him wearing Brioni suits, driving a fast car and jumping in and out of bed like James Bond, I was relieved that there was never any kind of consideration to do anything because I have always felt that if it ain’t broke, there’s no need to fix it.

Because of the ways that Amazon and the executives work which is at the beginning of the studios, they have a prime directive which is to get the material, but then to delegate the process to the creative people and not to micromanage. They delegated to people that they knew that they trusted. They really did that and they stood behind the show. When we needed things, they always showed up. Because we had such a great group of writers and producers, we were excited by the acceptance and the invitation into people’s homes for the show and the success of the show. But I think that we always felt that it speaks back to what I said in evolving and learning. I felt that the show just continued to get better and better and here we are now in Bosch: Legacy which is a continuation of the work we have been doing for all of these years.

AM: For those who might need a refresher, where did we leave Bosch in season 7 and where do we pick up with him again as we continue his saga in Bosch: Legacy?

TW: Well, Harry’s you know in the last season of Bosch, he’s so completely fed up and disenfranchised that he gives his badge to the Chief of Police and says he’s done. There’s a great line that Irving (Lance Reddick – Bosch, John Wick franchise, The Wire) says to him in that moment, he says, “who are you gonna be if you’re not a cop and you don’t have a badge, who are you going to be?” Harry says, “I guess we’ll find out.” In the final scenes for a little Easter egg scene, we find Harry filling out his paperwork to become a private investigator.

We pick up a little over a year later after that season and Harry is working as a private eye, but he’s doing divorce cases and things here and there. It’s not like he’s got this bustling business and Maddie (Madison Lintz – The Walking Dead, Bosch, Bosch: Legacy) has joined the force and has been on the force for awhile. She’s still working with a training officer, so she’s a boot and she’s trying to find her own legs, but she’s Harry’s daughter and it’s really in her DNA, she carries a lot of the work ethic and the same characteristics and has the same moral compass as well as independent thinker which places her at odds, but she’s out there doing it. We find Chandler (Mimi Rogers – Mad Men, Bosch, Bosch: Legacy) sort of reeling from the very serious PTSD from almost being killed and the person who orchestrated her attempted assassination and Maddie’s looks like he’s going to go free.

You find that everybody is in these states of being kind of fractured and broken. You know, Harry is untethered, he's kind of wandering and he's always been a kind of an isolated character, but he's more isolated than ever now. Maddie, as she’s navigating it, she’s also trying to come into her own because Harry’s legacy has cast a very, very big shadow and that’s not all great! Harry’s reputation was one of being a closer and a great detective, but he pissed a lot of people off because he was a very direct guy and not exactly user friendly. The name Bosch on her uniform is not necessarily a great thing and she doesn’t use her father’s reputation as commerce within the department. So we find these characters really navigating things at the same time and interacting so it doesn’t necessarily feel like it’s a triptych, everything intertwines. But it’s also not like you have Maddie, Chandler and Harry having dinner at the house together – it’s not contrived like that. They’re all living their different lives and they’re all finding their way.

AM: How excited are you in being able to continue this story?

TW: I’m very excited and the idea when we were shooting the final season of Bosch, there was a heaviness for everyone involved. We had become very very close like a family as productions do and we were all invested and were very, very connected and committed to our characters and to the show and so when the opportunity presented itself that we would continue, obviously with a smaller ensemble cast and the ability to focus more on 3 central characters, but still bring in the characters that people know and love that populate the Harry Bosch universe – it’s a thrill! I’m very excited for the show to come out there because the fans of the show that have been so incredibly supportive over the years are really eager and hungry and they want to see what it’s going to be like. I have confidence that we will meet and surpass their expectations.

IG @tituswelliverofficial

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | PG 46 - 51 + 55 Prime Video/Bosch | PG 52 Amazon FreeVee/Bosch: Legacy |

Read the APR ISSUE #77 of Athleisure Mag and see THE LEGACY CONTINUES | Titus Welliver in mag.

IF IT AIN'T ON THE PAGE, IT AIN'T ON THE STAGE | SOSIE BACON + JOE MANTEGNA

Premiering on Jan 21st, Prime Video dropped As We See It which follows 3 neurodiverse 20-somethings who are roommates as they navigate getting their lives together and figuring out what they want to do. Played by actors who are on the autism spectrum, we see them go to work, push past their fears, have relationships with family and friends and more. In addition, we also see how their friends and family navigate their independence as well as the importance of having guidance by their aide. If you have yet to see this 8 episode series that is out now, there are spoilers in this interview that we had with Sosie Bacon (13 Reasons Why, NARCOS: Mexico, Mare of Easttown) who plays the life coach aide Mandy and Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds, The Simpsons, The Godfather: Part III) who plays Lou, a father to Jack who is autistic. We talk about the importance of representation as well as diversity. We also talk about the themes that are discussed in this comedic drama.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What attracted you to wanting to be in As We See It?

SOSIE BACON: It was a great pilot script at a time that there were so many scripts coming in, but none of them was something that I was connected to – but I was auditioning for all of them. When you find a good one, you just hope that it’s randomly the one that you get. In this situation, it actually worked out that way as it never does. I think that the relationships are just so clear and so funny as well as touching. Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, Roswell) has such a way with writing and every scene has such an arc and it’s a dream for an actor to be able to work with him because it’s easy. It’s all there, it’s all written and all you have to do is be in the character and be in the moment and play. So dream job!

AM: How did you prepare for the role of being Mandy?

SB: Originally, we shot the pilot 2 years before we shot the rest of the show because of COVID and all of that stuff. So with the pilot, I think that there were a lot of things with Mandy that were very similar to me – it’s actually the closest to my personality that I have ever played. I thought that that would be easy, but it was actually more difficult! I did my normal process of preparation which I will spare you, but I observed Elaine Hall who was our on set rep – their life coach like my character Mandy for Rick Glassman (Barely Famous, Undateable, Nobodies) Albert Rutecki, Sue Ann Pien (Ballers, Hellraiser: Revelations, Morgan Spurlock Inside Man). She has a program called The Miracle Project which is at the Wallis Annenburg Center for the Performing Arts adults on the spectrum do theater and write plays and they have aids there with them. I watched and observed and it was great. It was super informative and I was interested in finding out how they talk to each other, what’s the communication like, how much do they teach versus guide and that was so helpful. I learned a lot from that. Elaine was also on set all the time so I could ask her.

AM: Was there an additional person besides Elaine that told you about aides? I had never heard of this or knew that there was someone who was involved in that way.

SB: Yeah, Elaine told me about some people Mandy’s age who had that job sort of right after they graduated college and I talked to one girl who does this. It’s a job that people have and I wasn’t fully aware of it either. Elaine was just an amazing resource for all things about autism and aides. She has dedicated her life to it and I could just ask her questions all of the time and it was just incredible.

AM: One of the things that was interesting was that we see the 3 roommates, they have their own lives, they’re together and we see them with their families, but you’re character is the only one who truly integrates and sees the birds eye views with the highs and the lows - what was it like to be involved in this show that shares the diversity of what autism is?

SB: I think that that’s one of the great things about this show is that every person with autism is different. I think that sometimes people get wrapped up in these medical diagnoses that’s just a set of options that if you check off enough – you’re autistic – you know what I mean? There are things on there that I have, you know what I mean? It’s such a mathematical science with a lot of medicine, but everyone is completely different – like meeting me and then meeting my brother. I don’t think that there is one kind of mold to talk to any person in this world and I think that the beauty of the character that Jason wrote in Mandy is that she is adaptable. She is a person, open and non judgmental – she can navigate all of it. Elaine will tell you too – there are no sets of rules. Everybody will surprise you. Did I answer your question?

AM: Yes. To be honest, as someone who was not well versed in this topic, watching the series and the characters really opened up this world of what it means to be on the spectrum as the abilities are as varied as the goals, they are various focuses and needs/interests. There are some things that they can do that are easier than others and seeing it across 3 people really reflected that there hasn’t been a show showing autism like this in its varied forms and it was eye opening.

SB: Totally and everyone is different. It’s like what I said, it’s a diagnosis. I mean if you look at ADD this person has it and that person has it, but I feel like when you’re saying learning differences this term is kind of a joke. I don’t know what we’re weighing it against – who has the normal brain – I don’t know if I have ever met someone with that. What does that mean?

I like that they’re showing people at different levels and how everyone is experiencing life differently.

AM: Truly after watching the 8 episodes, I wanted there to be more and to go deeper into these stories! If there was a second season, what would you like to explore with Mandy and the clients that she has if you were able to give some notes?

SB: Well I certainly don’t want Mandy to quit – ha!

AM: That’s for sure!

SB: I think that there are so many different ways that it could go! I will leave that up to Jason, but I would want them to be able to stay together. I love all of the things that have happened. Things happen and we watch how they process them. To me, that’s my favorite stuff. I like to see friends and family deal with real life issues. Every single person in this show is dealing with real life issues they have so much room to have so many things happen. I want to see how they all deal with it!

ATHLEISURE MAG: What drew you to As We See It and why did you want to be involved?

JOE MANTEGNA: Well, I’ve said this before, but one of my sayings in my career is, “if it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage.” In this instance, it was on the page. So when I read that first pilot script, I thought to myself that this was one of the best pieces of television writing that I have read in my career. Also having a personal connection where I have a daughter with autism who is 34 years old now. That and the quality of the script resonated with me very strongly. My initial feeling was, I want to meet with this Jason Katims regardless – even if I end up not being able to do the show because I want to talk to him and let him know how good I think that this is and how successful that I think that it should be. We’ll see where it goes from there. As it turned out, where it went from there was that I ended up being able to play the role and wound up doing all 8 episodes and I think it came out the way that I hoped they would. So it was all that I hoped that it would be.

AM: What was your process like in being able to play Lou?

JM: Part of it was being a father of a 34 year old daughter with autism. I did a lot of that preparation just in my life. Not that it made it easier, but it made it something that I could certainly relate to aspects of it as it’s not all the same – because it’s not. You know, people in the autism spectrum are going to run the gamut just like people who are not on the autism spectrum. People are people – people are different.

But in terms of prep, you know I have been doing this a long time. I’ve been an actor for over 50 years and I have been on the planet for 70 years. So if nothing else, I have a lot of life experience going for me. I think that all of those things come into play and sometimes it’s hard to point to one thing or a couple of things, but I was just happy to do something that I thought had humor, had pathos, was serious and yet could laugh at itself, make people laugh and be very honest.

It made it easy. I think you have to prepare harder for things that need the attention and needs the work. This didn’t need to be fixed.

AM: In watching the storyline between your character, Lou and his son Jack, there were two themes that kept jumping out. Advocacy – how Lou was with his son and how the son was trying to be so with Lou. The concept of passing was also evident here. Typically when this term is discussed it has a racial construct around it but here the story shares that you character wants to live his life and to pass as someone who doesn’t have cancer so he can just live his life and with Jack, we see him wanting to live his life in a way that no one knows that he has autism. Why was it important that these 2 themes needed to be explored?

JM: Because I think that that’s what happens in life. Again, it’s an honest portrayal in that life itself is not one dimensional. I’m always amazed by the fact that you can read a story and you figure that that person has the world by the tail and then you read a week later that that person committed suicide and then you wonder what was going on there. Because on the surface, it looked like everything was hunky-dory. That’s what I mean and I think it’s just that. Everyone has more complexities than are sometimes apparent on the surface. That’s what’s explored here as well between myself and Rick’s character.

AM: You know, after watching the 8 episodes, I was hoping that there was more! It was really good! How do you think that your character Lou felt about his son and all of the progress that he made?

JM: Well I mean, obviously it’s still a work in progress as it should be. In other words, if all is right with the world, we will get the opportunity to move onto episode 9 and beyond to be able to continue and tell the story. Where we end it is like, “ok, this is where we are at this point in the story.” If people want to see it badly enough, we will just keep on as we do in life. You know, we don’t know and no one has a roadmap of what their life is going to be. You don’t know what tomorrow is going to be and so you just take each day as it comes and play it by ear and see where it takes you. So that’s the story that we told in 8 episodes now let’s see if we have the opportunity to keep expanding on top of that to see where it takes us.

AM: I hope so! A few years ago, we had the opportunity to go to Autism Speak’s Chef Gala that they held here in NY and it was really amazing to be at that event and to hear from those that are driving awareness as well as to hear from those in the culinary world who have a personal connection. What I was struck by in this series was learning about the diversity of those that are on the autism spectrum and to be able to show it across 3 different characters. I hope that there are more episodes and seasons because it was beautiful and truly educational.

JM: Thank you and I agree. Without question, it’s very high quality and I think it deserves to be continued.

AM: If there are additional episodes and seasons, what would you like to tackle?

JM: I’d like to tackle Lou going into remission so that Lou is still around for awhile!

AM: Um right?

JM: Beyond that, let’s cross that bridge first and see where that takes us!

IG @sosiebacon

@joemantegna

PHOTOS COURTESY | Prime Video

Hear Sosie Bacon and Joe Mantegna on our show, Bungalow SK - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Read the JAN ISSUE #73 of ATHLEISURE MAG and see IF IT AIN’T ON THE PAGE, IT AIN’T ON THE STAGE | Sosie Bacon + Joe Mantegna in mag.

MAKE IT WORK WITH TIM GUNN

Tim Gunn is known well for his career at Parsons School of Design which started in 1982, he served as Associate Dean from 1989 - 2000 and would go on to becoming the Fashion Design Department Chair in August 2000. He is noted for retooling and invigorating the curriculum for the 21st century. His mentorship went mainstream as we watched him and supermodel Heidi Klum for 16 seasons on BRAVO's Project Runway. Last year, this fashionable duo debuted Amazon Original's Making the Cut and its 2nd season premiers this month. We chatted with Tim about his career, the show and how we "make it work."

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have been such a fan of yours for years. Looking at the depth of your career and how you have helmed the careers of so many people in the fashion industry, did you ever think that you would be doing what you are doing now?

TIM GUNN: Oh, never in a million years, never! This entire television phenomenon didn’t happen to me until after I turned 50. I had had a very satisfying career as an educator. I never dreamed that this would happen, it’s completely and totally surreal. I still pinch myself!

AM: It’s absolutely amazing and it’s also great to see how you have been such a powerhouse in the industry by sharing your insights. How important is it to you to be able to be such a mentor to so many designers that you’ve dealt with directly as well as to those that you may not have known that you have?

TG: I have to say that it’s a great honor and it’s a role that I take very very seriously. As a teacher for many many years, the greatest satisfaction for me was watching my students bearing witness to them having that kind of epiphany for what they can achieve, what they can do and having that “ah ha moment.” To be able to nurture that and to cultivate that and then to be able to actually see that happen, it’s just hugely satisfying and rewarding. I have the same thrill when I’m working with the Making the Cut designers. I don’t take any credit for their successes and I also don’t blame myself for things that go awry, but I do take great pleasure and honor in being a kindred spirit of sorts and kind of an angel on their soldier that’s there to tell them the truth, to be a cheerleader and to be a shoulder to cry on if necessary. It’s extremely satisfying for me and it’s a huge honor.

AM: We enjoyed the inaugural season of Making the Cut last year. What initially drew you to the format of this show and what did you want viewers to take away from it?

TG: Well, the concept of the show, the format is a concept that Heidi and Sara Rea, uber Executive Producer and I have had for a very long time. We had been forming it, we had been developing it – owing to the success of the other show that Heidi, Sara and I had did – Sara was the showrunner the last 10 seasons of Project Runway. We couldn’t do this, we couldn’t execute this vision. So when Heidi, Sara and I decided to leave, we shopped the show and our dream was to be with Amazon because of the creative flexibility that Amazon provides and the potential of the shoppability aspect. So we wanted first of all, to show a broader view of what the fashion industry is like rather than just showing the making of clothes.

We wanted to talk about branding because without that aspect, it’s just a pretty dress, who cares? For the viewers, we wanted them to be able to shop that look immediately as opposed to, “well you’ll get it in 6 months.”

All of that came into fruition and it was rather miraculous! I still pinch myself when I think about it. We’re just savoring this experience. It’s been phenomenal.

AM: It’s really great to hear that as my background was in Visual Merchandising as well as in Wholesale and I have worked corporate at a number of brands including Lacoste. What you shared is exactly what I love about this show - that perfect balance between creating something beautiful, but also understanding the business behind it which is so important!

TG: Yes!

AM: How do you decide the cast that’s on the show? Last season there were those that I was familiar with and others that were new to me. What are you looking for in terms of that dynamic?

TG: Well, we’re looking for people that have that vision, that have something to say visually, spiritually and practically! We’re looking for – in terms of the group of designers, we’re looking for diversity and points of view. We don’t want a sameness as that wouldn’t be very interesting for the viewers. We’re certainly looking for people who are hungry and really know that this is an amazing experience for them whether they win or they don’t - because of the exposure and because of the profound link of being a part of the Amazon family.

At the same time Kimmie, I have to say that you don’t know, you’re throwing the dice. You don’t know how exactly people are going to perform on the show. You don’t know how they are going to respond to the intensity of the environment and the fact that there are no breaks, we just keep go-go-going. You don’t know and when things do go awry, you hope that you’re able to pick people up and help them along so that they can self-correct in some kind of way. It’s never a dull moment I’ll say that!

AM: With the second season, what are you excited about as I’m sure it was challenging in terms of filming during a pandemic. Here at Athleisure Mag, we went to virtual photoshoots and found a different way to continue. So what are you excited about?

TG: I’m just excited to get the show out and up and to get people watching it! I want to learn things from their feedback. As we know, Season 1, we traveled around the world. Season 2, we stayed put and we were on a ranch in Malibu, California, but the venues that that ranch presented were all so incredibly different, it looks as though we had traveled. It’s hard to believe that we didn’t. We knew that we had to be very diligent and responsible in how we conducted ourselves during that very intense COVID period and we were successful I’m thrilled to say! But it took a lot of diligence and very responsible behavior.

AM: We’re definitely looking forward to seeing you and Heidi as we love your dynamic together. What is it like working with her and having that synergy that you guys naturally seem to have together?

TG: You know, working with Heidi, she’s like a safety valve for me. I relax when I see her, I know that everything is going to be ok, I know that we’re going to have a lot of fun and laugh a lot. She’s like my great antidote to everything that’s bad or unhappy in the world. She brings happiness, she brings light, she brings her incredible spirit – she’s a joy! I’m the luckiest guy in the world!

AM: Tim, it’s been such an honor to be able to talk with you and to hear your insights. I know around Athleisure Mag, whenever there are a number of projects going on from a photoshoot, releasing an issue, organizing schedules etc, I do think about you saying, “make it work” and it just kind of begins to organize the priorities as we approach deadlines.

TG: Absolutely, get that issue out and make it work!

IG @TimGunn

@MakingtheCutTV

@AmazonFashion

PHOTOS COURTESY | Amazon

Read the JUL ISSUE #67 of Athleisure Mag and see Make it Work with Tim Gunn in mag.

THE VERSATILE STORYTELLER WITH PETER FACINELLI

This month's cover and feature story is with actor, producer, director and writer, Peter Facinelli. We've enjoyed his body of work which spans movies such as the Twilight franchise, Can't Hardly Wait, and The Vanished as well as television series that include Showtime's Nurse Jackie, Fox's Glee and Fastlane. We caught up with Peter to find out about how he got into the entertainment industry, his work in front of and behind the camera as well as how he has optimized his time during the pandemic and what we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be in the entertainment industry?

PETER FACINELLI: That must have been when I was around 12, I saw a movie called Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and I just really enjoyed it and I kind of thought that Paul Newman and Robert Redford were having the best time and having so much fun. I thought, “man, I want to be able to do that!” It would be fun to be able to pretend to be a cowboy one day. Then I kind of mentioned it to my parents and they kind of laughed at it because we didn’t know anybody in the business at the time. I put it on the back shelf for a while. I was very shy when I was younger. I didn’t really do a lot of school plays or anything like that. Then, when I was in college, I took an Acting 101 class and I fell in love all over again with it. It helped me overcome my shyness actually. I transferred over to NYU and I studied theater there and started working before I graduated.

AM: We would have never pegged you tobe somebody that was shy.

PF: Oh yeah, I was painfully shy. In high school, I was too shy to get into the lunchline to buy hamburgers. So I would go to the opposite end of the cafeteria where this little old lady sold pretzels so I would get a pretzel and an orange juice and would sit down so that nobody would look at me. I went to a school with 3,500 kids so it was intimidating to be in a lunchline with kids and those that were older than me. For the first few years, I just had pretzels for lunch and in my senior year, I said, “I’m a senior, I’m going to have a burger!”

AM: Well there you go! Treat yourself!

Creatively, how do you decide whether you’re going to take on a project? Do you have a certain kind of criteria that you look for and how does that process look like to you?

PF: You know, I have boxes that I would like for it to check like, have I played this role before? Who else is involved in the project?

I learned a long time ago that I might like a script, but it’s a team effort. So if there isn’t anybody behind it or if their track record is bad, it’s more likely than not that it will be bad because of the people behind it. I kind of look at the track record of the people behind it, who’s involved, who I’ll be working with as well as the character – to see if I have played it before. But sometimes, gut instinct takes over and you feel like you have to play this or that you want to play this. At that point, all the boxes get thrown out.

AM: Once you are attached to that project, how do you immerse yourself in that role and how do you take on these great characters that you do?

PF: I would say that every project is different. Some take more research than others, but I would say that if there is a common theme, it’s using my imagination a lot to deep dive into the world to imagine what that person’s life would be like. I mean, I have done character journals on some characters, just because I feel like if you can get their history and understand where they came from, then you can understand where they are. Sometimes when you’re playing characters, you’re picking them upon the midpoint in that person's life so the more information you have, the more you’re able to feel like you can go deeper with the character and the more things come out you know that makes sense to you of how you would respond or certain character traits or the way that they speak or the way that they move. All of that information informs me on how I want to play certain characters. Some of them require more and some of them require less. You know, if I feel like that I may be connected to this person because I know that part of them, then I need to do research on what I don’t understand or that I’m not as familiar with.

AM: When you’re finished playing a role, is it hard for you to leave that character depending on how long you have played it?

PF: It’s always hard. I always go through this couple of days grieving process and sometimes a week. You come home and you kind of shed that character because that person kind of feels like a part of you and there’s that mourning process in letting that person go. When you’re living in this world of make believe and you’re playing that character and then all of a sudden you’re home and that character is no longer with you, there’s a little bit of a grieving process and that’s ok. I have found that it’s normal to mourn that character for me and to let it go and within a week, you start to get back into that routine of things and then that person’s traits begin to come less and less or that energy is less and less with you.

AM: One of the first movies that I remember seeing you in was Can’t Hardly Wait and I was in college when it came out and I was like who is this guy? He’s great. Since then I’ve enjoyed seeing you in Nurse Jackie and other films and movies. It would be impossible to talk to you and not ask you about Twilight because literally, every person I talked to as we were in prep for the shoot said they were excited so, how did that come about, how did you get to be in this huge franchise and what was that like?

PF: Well to be honest, the first time that they called me, they said, would you be interested in being in a vampire movie and I said no. At the time when I was thinking about it, the vampire cycle had been over so there was like Interview with the Vampire and there were vampire movies that were good, there was a slew that were bad and then there were a bunch of vampire movies that were horror movies with blood and guts. They weren’t at the time popular or deemed quality or good. They said, "this one is based on a book and has a small following.” So I read the book and I enjoyed it immensely. I thought it was more of a love story with a vampire backdrop and I liked the way it kind of romanticized the vampire world and took it away from the whole blood and guts kind of goriness. It had some grit to it and danger and I liked the family aspect and so I read the book in one sitting.

So I said yes and I really enjoyed it and they said that Catherine Hardwicke was directing and I loved her work so again, it’s one of those things where you look to see who’s work is involved and Catherine’s is well done and I thought that she may do something really interesting with it. They said that Catherine wanted to see me in a day or two and so I went in and read with Catherine and then I ended up getting the part.

AM: If they were to come back with another movie, would you still want to do it?

PF: I mean, I don’t know how they would do it because vampires aren’t supposed to age. But, if they could figure out a way to make it work, I would. I loved that character. It’s so fun to play.

AM: Personally, I’m not a person who likes vampire movies personally, but it’s like what you said, there was a huge story and it was so well done that the vampire and the werewolf part fell away and you had this love story which was really nice.

So last summer, we enjoyed watching The Vanished which you’re in, you directed and wrote. How was it for you to play so many parts in the same film and how did this come about?

PF: Well, I directed Breaking and Exiting and I was looking at what I wanted to direct next because I was interested in directing as well. I like telling stories so whether it’s acting, directing, producing or writing, it’s all different forms of telling stories. I was looking for a follow-up and I had written The Vanished. Originally, I was going to play the lead and I was going to have someone else direct it. Then I thought, that maybe this would be a good one for me to direct, but I didn’t want to take on too much by playing the lead and directing as this would be my second film, so I reached out to Thomas Jane which I thought would be perfect for it and Anne Heche came on board as well as Jason Patric.

So we went out and shot it. For me, I thought that I could play the small role of the deputy because I thought that would be fun. The first movie that I directed, all of the actors looked like they were having so much fun. I felt like I was missing out. So I thought, I’ll put myself in this one in a smaller role. I have to say that I have a whole new respect for actors that can direct themselves as leads! I had a small role in this film and every time I had to show up to play the role, it was like juggling. When you’re on film and you’re acting in the scene yet you’re also directing, you’re worried about the shot, making sure that you’re lit, that the other actors are lit, making sure that the shot is correct that you want, making sure that you’re performance is good, that the other person’s performance is good and all of these things are happening when you’re in the middle of playing your character and doing this scene.

So, I had to show up camera-ready because I didn’t have time to go to hair and makeup so I kind of threw on a hat and powder right before we went! I showed up in costume as the sheriff and wear it all day while I was directing which was uncomfortable, but it was a small enough role that I could do it. But it was kind of a pain on the days that I was doing it. It was a heavier load and I also had to memorize my lines the night before. I mean, I wrote it so you think it would be easier to remember my lines, but I was also preparing my shot list the night before, checking footage from the dailies and I was doing so many things the night before that memorizing my lines was kind of at the bottom of the list for me to do! Then I have to show up to know all of my dialogue, but it was quite a bit of a juggle. But I was happy that I did it.

AM: It was a great film and such a fun one to watch and had some great twists in it. It’s interesting to hear the dynamics of being in the film while also having to be involved in it as a whole.

You have a new project called The Unbreakable Boy. Can you tell us about this and why this is such an important project for you to helm?

PF: Well, The Unbreakable Boy was a book that I found that I just thought was a beautiful story and is based on a true story. It’s about Scott LeRette and his family. Scott has an autistic son and it’s about raising an autistic child and the bond he has with his son and how lucky he feels to have that bond with him. I thought it was a beautiful story and I met with the writer, Scott who it’s based on and I just wanted to help get this story told in whatever way that I could help out. I ended up producing it and I gave it to a company called Kingdom Films and they ended up liking it and they have a deal with Lionsgate so they came on board. I play a smaller role in it again. I didn’t feel quite right for the lead and Kingdom had their own in-house director/writer, Jon Gunn who had a great take on it. For me, it’s always about where do I fit in the best to service the story. In this one, it was being the producer and connecting all of these dots to get made. Zachary Levi (Shazam, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Chuck) is fantastic in the movie as I have been watching the dailies and I’m proud of this one. I hope it strikes a chord with people who watch this movie and I think it’s what we need at this moment in time.

AM: In April on Amazon, The Ravine is coming out. I’ve heard good things about that as well. What should we expect?

PF: That one I just acted in! I have to say it because people think that I directed or wrote it – but I just acted in it. I found this script and it was a very touching story. Hard to read at first, but it’s based on a novel about a guy who ends up killing his whole family and the residue it leaves off on the people that knew him. He wasn’t a bad person and he wasn’t a bad guy, but he ends up snapping one day. Eric Dane (X-Men: The Last Stand, Grey’s Anatomy, Euphoria), plays my best friend and the effect that that has on Eric Dane and his family. Honestly, it was a beautiful movie about forgiveness.

AM: This past year, we’ve all kind of taken a pause on how we have lived our lives with the pandemic. We really like this quote that resonated with you saying, ”If you come out of quarantine unchanged, you didn’t lack time, you lacked discipline.” How have you utilized that quote by optimizing your time as you have been moving and grooving over the past year?

PF: Well, you know, I try to do the best to make the most out of my days. At the end of the day, I always remember to give some kindness towards myself if I don’t get everything done at the end of the day. Now I have more time so there’s no reason to not get things done that I want to do. So if I haven’t worked out or done some things for myself that day, there’s no excuses. With that said, sometimes it’s ok to have days where you do nothing. But just don’t let those days add up to where you’ve done nothing for a lot of them. You have to find balance too.

In the beginning, I was beating myself up that I didn’t get things done during the day and I realized that I had to be kind to myself because I may not get everything done that I want to do in a day, but if I can get a few of those things done, then great! It all adds up.

AM: Is there anything else that you're working on that you would like to share that we should keep an eye out for?

PF: I did a movie called13 Minutes. It’s a film about a tornado that comes through this town in the Midwest and the devastation that it does in 13 minutes. It kind of follows different families and how it all kind of ties together. This one tragedy of this tornado that comes into this town is something that I found interesting because it’s tornado season and people lose their homes, their families, and their family members and it just comes in and goes.No one really talks about the devastation that it leaves behind. Anne Heche is in that one too and that’s really interesting because we didn’t have any scenes together as our storylines were kind of separate.

Then I have a film that I would like to direct that I wrote called El Chico Blanco that I am hoping to direct later on this year.

AM: Is there a project, topic or actors that you have always wanted to work with but you haven’t but it’s on your vision board?

PF: I mean there are always people that inspire me. I could never close the door and say, “I have worked with everybody that I have ever wanted to work with.” I would say that there are more people that I haven’t work with than I have. I have worked with some fantastic people. The list of people that I would like to work with and that I have on my vision board is so many people that inspire me – it would be a very long answer!

AM: When you look at the body of work that you have created in front of the camera and behind the camera, what do you want your legacy to be?

PF: That’s a good question. I have always taken some pride in the versatility of my career. If you take Mike Dexter and put him right next to Carlisle Cullen and put him next to Dr. Fitch Cooper on Nurse Jackie and put him next to the Donovan Ray in Fastlane they’re all so different – each one of those characters. I take pride in that versatility. I hope that my legacy is that I was able to tell versatile stories and play versatile characters. I always want to surprise people. When people start to expect something of me, it’s more fun for them to come see something that they haven’t expected.

AM: For #TRIBEGOALS, we like asking those that we think inspire others about 3 people that they find inspiring to them whether it’s personally or professionally. These can be people that you know or follow but who are 3 people that have inspired you to be where you are now?

PF: Well I would have to say Paul Newman for sure because he’s the reason why I be-came an actor. I’d love to say Marty Scorsese because I love all of his movies and I think he’s such a genius director. Then, I’d like to say my dad because he inspires me all the time because he’s funny, he charming and he’s full of life. He’s 80 years old and he’s bouncing around like he’s in his 20’s – I hope to have those genes!

IG @PeterFacinelli

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's virtual editorial was shot by Co-Founder + Celebrity Photographer Paul Farkas. Throughout this shoot, Paul used an iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPad Air 2, and Clos.

IG @PVFarkas

STYLE CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's Celeb Fashion Stylist, Co-Founder, Creative + Style Director Kimmie Smith shares what she used to create the cover editorial for Peter Facinelli.

IG @Shes.Kimmie

LOOK I | WFH STYLE

PG 16 + 19 | MUNICIPAL Arrival Track Jacket + Pant |

LOOK II | FITNESS

PG 20 - 25 | TRACKSMITH Stadium Jacket Pioneer Club, Pioneer Singlet + Van Cortland Grand Short | ATHLETIC PROPULSION LABS Techloom Wave |

LOOK III | OUT & ABOUT STYLE

PG 26 - 29 | 34 HERITAGE Travis Jacket + Courage Denim | MAVI Rio Deep Brushed Shirt |

GROOMING CREDITS

Kim Verbeck/The Wall Group provided the grooming for the cover editorial for Peter Facinelli. She used Kevin Murphy products for the shoot.

IG @KimVerbeck

FRONT/BACK COVER CREDITS

| PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Cope | STYLIST Kaylee Jackson | GROOMER Candice Birns |

Hear actor, producer, director and writer Peter Facinelli on an upcoming episode of our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is apart of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts

Read the Feb Issue #62 of Athleisure Mag and see The Versatile Storyteller with Peter Facinelli in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

BEHIND HER EYES

Netflix Original Series

Netflix

Last holiday, we all heard how there will be at least 1 new movie or series brought to Netflix. Since we're all navigating being at home and staying entertained, we suggest this very bingeable show that is based on the book of the same name.

Behind Her Eyes is a psychological thriller that takes dreaming, love triangles and the sins of the past to new levels. We're introduced to 3 main characters whose lives are intertwined in a way that even they don't completely understand. This limited series is filled with twists and turns and is definitely worth paying attention to so that you don't miss the clues.

FLACK

Amazon

We all have a celebrity that we enjoy catching up with as we scroll through our social feeds. It's interesting to see what they're up to. FLACK looks at the world of celebrity through the lens of PR and specifically, Crisis Management. We follow Robyn, an American who works at a British firm who ensure that their clients navigate their messy lives. In each episode of the first season, we seethe firm spring into action at each disaster that comes their way.

In addition to watching how they're able to keep their clients from completely spinning out of control, we see that their lives are just as messy and complicated as the ones that they are trying to take care of.

The balancing act of celebrities misbehaving and juggling their own lives make this an easy sea-son to watch while we wait for the 2nd season to come to the platform later this year.

WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY

Pineapple Street + Gimlet Media

Spotify

Chippendales is part of our pop culture lexicon. Whether you have attended a show or not, you're familiar with this male revue that took the industry by storm. Welcome to Your Fantasy is a podcast that explores the origins of this well known show, how it took elements from the Playboy Bunnies and how they were able to create and tweak a show that resonated with viewers. This is only part of the story as episodes peel back the layers of the founders, greed, treachery and ultimately a murder! First hand accounts by the dancers and others who worked for this show share how it all went down and where things began to take a turn.

Read the Feb Issue #62 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

HOLIDAY DEALS 2019 | BLACK FRIDAY, SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, CYBER MONDAY, GIVING TUESDAY

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

DATES | (11.25-12.3.19)

DETAILS | Up to 30% off selection of products and bundles and an additional 10% off will be added on Cyber Monday.

PURCHASE | Charlotte Tilbury

DIPTYQUE

DATES | (11.29-12.2.19)

DETAILS | The Iconic Baies Black Friday Limited Edition Candle ($74) has been reinvented in very limited edition packaging and will be available on their site.

PURCHASE | Diptyque

TATCHA

DATES | (11.28-12.1.19)

DETAILS | Visitors will be invited to “pick a card” and reveal their mystery offer that they can unlock (but can only play once per day). Visit the site during this time period for more information. This excludes gift cards.

PURCHASE | TATCHA

REVO

DATES | (11.25-12.2.19)

DETAILS | Save 30% on any purchase from the 1985 Collection, a unisex assortment of sunglasses.

PURCHASE | REVO + Amazon

FRESH CHEMISTRY

DATES | (11.29-12.2.19)

DETAILS | Save 20% off sitewide with the code GIVETHANKS.

PURCHASE | Fresh Chemistry

SKIN RESEARCH LABORATORIES

DATES | Black Friday; 11.29.19

DETAILS | Various deals are on the side

• Save 25% off individual products plus a free neuEFFECT liquid eyeliner pen ($24 value)

• 30% off ALL kits

• First 25 customers buy one item and get a 3.2ml neuFLASH free ($95 value)

• The following 50 customers: buy one item and get a Beauty on the Go Kit free ($98 value)

DATES | Cyber Monday; 12.2.19

DETAILS | 25% off everything sitewide plus a 10g neuREFLECTION complexion perfecting polish (approx. $20 value) and a neuEFFECT liquid eyeliner pen for free ($24 value)

PURCHASE | Skin Research Laboratories

EMPREINTE

DATES | (11.29.19)

DETAILS | All Empreinte pieces including new items (like the Norah Underwire Bra and the Carmen Embroidered Tulle Bra) will have a 20-25% discount.

PURCHASE | Her Room.com

BANDELETTES

DATES | (11.22 - 12.3.19)

DETAILS | Buy 1 pair of Bandelettes and get 40% off the 2nd pair. PROMO CODE: THANKS19.

PURCHASE | Bandelettes

HIPDOT

DATES | (11.25.19)

DETAILS | Pre-Black Friday deal for 25 hours for 25% off sitewide.

DATES | (11.28 - 12.2.19)

DETAILS | 25% off sitewide.

PURCHASE | HipDot

ALEX WOO

www.alexwoo.com 20% off everything including custom orders with code THANKS

DATES | (11.29 - 12.2.19)

DETAILS | 20% off everything including custom orders with PROMO CODE: THANKS.

PURCHASE | AlexWoo.com

DERMAFLASH

DATES | (11.27-12.2.19)

DETAILS | Dermaflash Luxe 30% and Dermapore 15% off.

PURCHASE | Nordstrom, Sephora + Ulta

LILAH B.

DATES | (11.29-12.2.19)

DETAILS | 30% discount on your order

PURCHASE | Lilah B

LADDER

DATES | (11.29-12.2.19)

DETAILS | 30% off sitewide.

PURCHASE | Ladder

AETHERA BEAUTY

DATES | (11.20-12.2.19)

DETAILS | Save 20% sitewide with no code needed.

PURCHASE | Aethera Beauty

PHYSICIANS GRADE PRIME

DATES | (11.29-12.2.19)

DETAILS | Save 20% off sitewide plus a free CBD bath bomb (25% value) with a purchase of $100 or more.

PURCHASE | Physicians Grade Prime

TAKE MY FACE OFF

DATES | (11.29-12.3.19)

DETAILS | Save 25% off all black, white, and red products (includes black and white Mitty Minis, white Makeup Mittys, and Vlada’s Mitty Pouts) on Take My Face Off’s site.

PURCHASE | Take My Face Off

DATES | (11.29-12.3.19)

DETAILS | The following deals are offered on Amazon:

• 20% off single Black Mitty Minis (was $10; now $8)

• 25% off a five pack of Black Mitty Minis (was $42.50, now $31.90).

PURCHASE | Amazon

IT COSMETICS!

DATES | (11.29-12.1.19)

DETAILS | Use Promo Code: THANKFUL

• 20% off everything, including select sale items

• PLUS FREE Primer and Mascara samples when you spend $50

DATES | (12.2.19)

DETAILS | Use Promo Code: LETITSHINE

• 20% off everything, including select sale items

• PLUS FREE 4-Piece Gift Set when you spend $70

• Plus FREE full size Superhero Mascara when you spend $100

DATES | (12.3 -12.8.19)

DETAILS | Use Promo Code: ITCYBERWEEK

• 20% off everything, including select sale items

• PLUS FREE full size Je Ne Said Quoi Lip Treatment when you spend $60

• Plus FREE full size Superhero Mascara when you spend $100

PURCHASE | It! Cosmetics

CTZN COSMETICS

DATES | (11.21 - 12.1.19)

DETAILS | 30% off sitewide.

DATES | (12.3.19)

DETAILS | 30% off + BONUS OFFER - free Globalm GWP for any order $50+

PURCHASE | CTZN Cosmetics

 TOUCHLAND

DATES | (11.29 - 12.2.19)

DETAILS | 25% off sitewide.

DATES | (12.3.19)

DETAILS | 30% off + BONUS OFFER - free Globalm GWP for any order $50+

Black Friday Deal: 25% off sitewide

PURCHASE | Touchland

BEAUTYBLENDER

DATES | Black Friday/Cyber Monday

DETAILS | $52 (value $140) for the Mystery Bag filled with 7 FULL size products AND 2 blenders as well!

PURCHASE | Beautyblender

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Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

SPORTS WARS

Wondery

Spotify

We have been a fan of Wondery's Business Wars, hosted by David D. Brown who shares the history and battle between businesses through serial episodes to dig into what made them great and in some cases who was unable to continue to compete.

With the success of this show, they recently dropped Sports Wars which is hosted by SB Nation's regular contributor, Dan Rubenstein. This looks at the rivalries that exist in sports and not just those by opposing teams! In its inaugural season that dropped this month, they started with the rivalry between Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre - quaterbacks on the Green Bay Packers. They highlight where this rivalry began, the backstory of both players as well as what was taking place as this feeling of contention continued to grow.

YOU VS WILD

Netflix Originals

Growing up, the Athleisure Mag team enjoyed reading Choose Your Own Adventure books which allowed you to select an array of choices that led you through a journey that was either successful, perilous or somewhere in between. The beauty of it is that you could continue to read this and have a number of endings that had various levels of satisfaction.

This concept has been brought into a new interactive show with Netflix and Bear Grylls . We know Bear as an outdoorsman that is military trained who goes into a number of situations in the wild whether solo or with such celebs and personalities as former president Barack Obama, Ben Stiller and Vanessa Hudgens just to name a few.

In this new series, a series of episodes focus on a mission from getting medical supplies to a remote village, sustaining yourself in a survival mission and more. As Bear goes along his journey he gives you a choice between two different situations and outlines the pros and cons of each. You select what happens and go along for the ride. You can always go back to change the ending or see all possible outcomes.

BOSCH

Season 5

Amazon Prime Originals

Season 5 of Bosch starts April 19th and this season he puts himself in the mix in order to uncover crimes of abuse and manipulation. With his need to bring those to justice, he also has to balance his purpose of his work with the fact that he is the sole surviving parent to his daughter Maddie.

As always, there are multiple story lines each season that take place as he continues to bring a bit of law and order in LA! If you have yet to catch up, you can binge the previous seasons in prep for the upcoming dynamic season.

Read Athleisure Mag’s April Issue and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

FYRE

Netflix

Debuts 01.18.19

It seems like at any given point, there is a festival of some sort. Groups plan on attending these music events from where they will stay, what attire they will bring, enjoying performances and of course, to capture the perfect Instagrammable moments. When the Fyre festival hit the Internet, everyone saw a number of the world's top models and influencers who rocked swimwear and enjoyed a number of activities that were on an island estate formerly owned by Pablo Escobar.

What was built as a luxury festival ended up being an epic disaster that left guests stranded and confused. Netflix's Fyre documentary shows how Billy McFarland looked to launch his musical booking app with the festival and partnered with Ja Rule. In addition, we see other vendors and team members that worked with him to bring his vision to light.

Throughout the documentary, viewers watch the mounting problems that forced the venue to change, push decision makers to consider unsavory decisions to bring water to the event and more. Billed as, "The Greatest Party That Never Happened" - you get the benefit of a bird's eye of all the details that led to this avoidable disaster.

LIFE ITSELF

Amazon Prime Original

Fans of NBC's, "This is Us" are aware of Dan Fogelman, who also directs this Amazon Prime movie, Life Itself. This film focuses on a young couple (Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde) that begins as a college romance, to marriage and the birth of their first child. With unexpected twists along the way, this story is a multigenerational love story that spans decades as well as continents that includes NYC in the US and the Spanish countryside. Interestingly enough, everything is connected by a single event throughout various lifetimes.

THE ROAD TO TOKYO 2020

Spotify

Athleisure Studio

Our avid readers have enjoyed reading our previous 36 issues. Over the holiday season, we launched Athleisure Studio, our multimedia podcast network for Athleisure Culture which has a number of shows within its slate. Our programming focuses on the inspirations, stories and shared moments with athletes, designers, artists, celebrities, entrepreneur changemakers creating dynamic impact.

What does it take to be an athlete that dedicates years to making a national team and to compete on a global stage for the coveted medal that defines their career. We all enjoy watching the Olympic Games whether it’s a sport, a specific athlete or just getting into the competitions. Before they hit the stadium, there are years of work, drive and focus that take place with countless training session, coaches, and qualifying competitions. Athletes come from various backgrounds and walks of life. They sacrifice their lifestyle, homes, jobs and personal life to prepare for and win these monumental moments and leave a lasting legacy.

The Olympics is a registered trademark of the International Olympic Committee.

Read more from the Jan Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

VANITY FAIR

Amazon Prime

Season 1; Debuts 12.21.18

This classic novel created by William Thackeray comes to Prime Original as a 7-part miniseries that focuses on an orphan girl that climbs the social ladder of English society in the Georgian era.

Her mobility takes place in a post Napoleonic defeat. Becky Sharp is focused on rising above her station regardless of the consequences and social implications that may take place in doing so.

Every movement that drives her forward creates an entrance into King George IV's court as she breaks the hearts and fortunes of those that happen to fall between her and her ultimate ascension.

REMASTERED WHO KILLED JAM MASTER JAY

Netflix; Debuts 12.07.18

Musically speaking, there are a number of mysteries involving the deaths of great artists, musicians and performers. In 2002 at the age of 37, Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC) was added to this list. Friends and family of this artist have toiled over the DJ's unsolved murder. In Netflix's docu-series, ReMastered, each episode analyzes these deaths and in the latest installment (the first episode looks at Bob Marley's attempted assassination and the second looks at the political evolution of Johnny Cash) they investigate, "Who Killed Jam Master Jay?"

This show looks at his rise in the music industry in the 80s with Run-DMC along with interviews of those who were impressed and inspired by his work. But it all comes to a head when the series focuses on his murder when his individuals were buzzed into his Queens recording studio and moments later, they opened fire killing the hip-hop legend.

Theories of how this happened includes, looking at witnesses that were intimidated, security cameras that were tampered and more. As someone that was known as a peaceful force in the industry, the idea of having so many unanswered questions that have resulted in a lack of justice for his friends and family and no convictions is perplexing.

GLADIATOR

Spotify

Wondery

The Boston Globe's Spotlight Team sits down and investigates football's Aaron Hernandez as he climbed the ladder from high school sports in Bristol to playing with the New England Patriots and hitting the stage of the Super Bowl. But as quickly as he moved closer to his epic dream, he found himself a convicted murderer years later.

The investigative team looks at the story of Anthony Hernandez's life through the crimes he committed and how football via brain damage may have contributed to his violent behavior. Were his sexual interests in a masculine football culture also an element to how he approached his life? Did elite coach interests trump his needs when he wasn't ready to participate as a mature adult despite his skills? The podcast shares new documents as well as audio about his life, death and what has taken place since.

See more from the Dec Issue of Athleisure Mag and read Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

GOLIATH
Season 2; June 15th
Amazon Prime Originals

If you haven't caught up on Goliath, we know you're marking your calendars to catch up as the new season will release on June 15th on Amazon Prime. Season 2 continues with Billy McBride (Billy Bob Thorton) continuing to fight new giants (just like last season)! He finds that the client he is meant to defend has an issue that involves a mayorial candidate. In addition, there is a new villain in town that makes the season interesting and creepy.

GLOW
Season 2; June 29th
Netflix Originals

You know that the team at Athleisure Mag is a fan of wrestling (just check out some of our previous covers) so of course when the first season of GLOW came our last year we were hooked! With it's 80's nostalgia as well as focusing on the beginnings of the "Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling", this dramedy is an easy one to binge if you need to catch up.

The second season focuses on the launch of GLOWs' late-night cable television show which was taped in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel and Casino (which was demolished in 2016).

This season focuses on activities that take place around the show from Debbie wanting to be a producer but finding it difficult to break through the boy's club, another wrestler has a flirtation with a camera man, another character has a sexual epiphany while another has their version of a #MeToo moment.

NO OFFENCE
Season 1
Acorn TV

From the creator of Shameless comes an exhilarating, ballsy and funny police comedy-drama with dynamic female characters and a unique take on police procedurals mixed with cutting edge humor. Joanna Scanlan and Elaine Cassidy star as Manchester detectives working in a crumbling cop shop who hunts for a serial killer. The series focuses on how these women got here on this side of town while also working to keep the

streets clean. This close knit teams works on the toughest cases given to them. If you enjoy this season, the second will air on Acorn TV this fall and the third season is currently in production.

Read the June Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

JOHN MULANEY: KID GORGEOUS AT RADIO CITY
Netflix

Standup Comedian and SNL writer John Mulaney takes his comedy to Radio City Music Hall to share a series of stories from his childhood and “SNL”. He talks about the value of going to college while also reflecting on his age as he continues to get older in this anticipated special.

ALL NIGHT
Hulu Original

When you think back to your high school graduation, there is that moment when you realize that this is the last night that you will
feel as you do at that moment and in many cases, the final time that you will be with your classmates.

After graduation from high school, the class of 2018 celebrates this milestone at a rec center for "Grad Night", an all-night party filled with games. Once you're in, you can't leave during the 12 hours of this event.

This night is not only fun, but allows the graduates to tackle dreams that they didn't accomplish during high school like making a mark, losing their virginity, find ways to do a little entrepreneurship in order to pay for tuition for school and to share feelings that have yet to do during their tenure.

The individual goals of the students begin to intersect with one another. Whether they embark
on their interests - it begs the question of what would do during your last night in high school?

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK
Amazon

Picnic at Hanging Rock was written in the 60's and focuses on the Australian novel that examines the mystery of a disappearance of 3 school girls and their governess that takes place on Valentine's Day in 1900. In the 70's this was adapted into a movie and now it has been
remade into a 6 part series.

Although the series tackles the disappearance, it also focuses on the impact of the events on the students and the staff as they develop theories on how this could have taken place and why this has happened to these women.

Along the way, secrets begin to emerge as they attempt to put the pieces together to understand what happened.

Read more from the May Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

CONFIDENCE CREATOR
Heather Monahan
Preorder on Amazon

When you've shattered glass ceilings as a C-Suite executive in Corporate America and are faced with the reality that you are unexpectedly terminated, do you find another job or do you decide to be your own boss? These decisions are not uncommon and author, Heather Monahan faced this very situation and decided it was time to start fresh on her own and to empower others to be their best selves with the tools that they needed.

Confidence Creator shares Heather's triumphs in making a Boss in Heels and shares these tips with those who are looking to trailblaze in their careers. Readers will find her personal stories to obtain the confidence they need.

THE WIFE
Alafair Burke
HarperCollins Publishing

When a woman has to make a choice between defending her husband and herself - the choice seems to be an impossible one in this domestic thriller.

Angela met Jason Powell when she catered a dinner party in East Hampton and thought that the romance would be nothing more than a fling for the summer. But their romance led to a marriage the next summer which also gave her son a stepfather and stability.

6 years later Jason has a successful bestselling book and is in the limelight and places Angela in the public eye - where she has worked so hard to be out of. When women come out accusing Jason of serious allegations and another one emerges, although she initially believes him until one woman disappears. This makes her re-evaluate her husband and regret not believing the allegations that she chose not to believe.

MAGNOLIA TABLE
Joanna Gaines
HarperCollins Publishing

Fans of HGTV may miss seeing Joanna and Chip on the network; however, they still have a number of projects that will give you your design fix. Out this month, Joanna released Magnolia Table which focuses on her love of all things family. This lifestyle cookbook focuses on preparing and serving dishes in her home. The recipes are inspired by Gaines family favorites and classic comfort selections from the couple's new Waco restaurant, Magnolia Table. The book shares 125 classic recipes— from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to small plates, snacks, and desserts— American classics. As Joanna loves her garden, rest assured that dishes incorporate seasonal produce.

Read more from the April Issue and see Bingely Books in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

ELECTRIC DREAMS
Amazon Prime Original Series

Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams is available via Amazon Prime Video app. This show is based on 10 standalone episodes set in a different and unique world. Some exist in far away portions of the universe and others that are closer to home. The show  is on the importance of humanity that spans from 5 From to 5000 years in the future.

Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams features an all-star cast, including Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Greg Kinnear (Heaven is For Real), Maura Tierney (The Affair), Janelle Monáe (Moonlight), Mireille Enos (The Catch), Anna Paquin (True Blood), Terrence Howard (Empire), Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner), Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), Holliday Grainger (The Finest Hours), Mel Rodriguez (Last Man on Earth), Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), Jack Reynor (Macbeth), Essie Davis (The Babadook), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), Geraldine Chaplin (A Monster Calls), Juno Temple (Vinyl) and David Lyons (Revolution), among many others.

MY NEXT GUEST NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION WITH DAVID LETTERMAN
Netflix

David Letterman returns to the interview chair in his new Netflix monthly talk show with notable global figures. His first guest, is former President Obama and upcoming guests include George Clooney, Malala Yousafzai, Tina Fey, Jay-Z and more. Each interview is an indepth conversation that peels back the layers of what the audience wants to know more about with David's signature style that makes each conversation seem like a casual chat.
 

GRACE AND FRANKIE
Netflix

And we're back with Season 4 of Grace and Frankie which shows the evolution of family, friendship and that age is nothing more than a number! If you have yet to watch this phenomenal show, you need to go back and binge the previous seasons to play a bit of catchup! 

We left off with Grace and Frankie continuing to grow as friends from picking up the pieces after their husbands divorced them (and married one another) as well as going into business with one another. These frenemies have truly become friends who know how to patch up the bumps along the road.

The only constant is change and our favorite duo has a new bump in the road that they will have to figure out - a new friend (Lisa Kudrow) who could upset their cozy applecart. Of course, we'll still get to see their ex-hubby's, their kids and a cast of characters that keeps this show so fresh and relevant!

Read more from the Jan Issue and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

BRIGHT
A Netflix Film; Streams Dec 22nd

Humans and creatures (orcs, elves and fairies) co-exist together in the world of Bright which focuses on a veteran cop played by Will Smith and his orc (goblin) cop who is his partner. These partners go out on a typical night patrol that changes the future of their world as they know it. Battling both their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a young female elf and a thought-to-be-forgotten relic, which, in the wrong hands, could destroy everything.

This Netflix film is the network's second blockbuster formula film to launch on the platform.

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JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON
Amazon

It's nearly impossible to say that you have never seen a Jean Claude Van Damme film. Known for blockbuster films where he gets the bad guy, has epic fight scenes and of course, he always gets the girl and the respect of those he works with. But what if
the man he was actually, was a secret agent, and the way we have known him as always been his alias?

Jean Claude Van Johnson explores this alternate reality through this comedy. The series begins with him coming out of retirement as an actor and agent as well as following him as he pursues his former flame. Hilarity ensues as he tries to step into his old life and inevitably messes everything up.

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HUMANS SEASON 2
Amazon

lf you missed the second season of AMC's HUMANS, now you can binge this on Amazon. Artificial Intelligence blends effortlessly with humans in the series that showcases the depth of its AI characters and its impact on human lives. These synthetic (synths for short) beings have become fully integrated into a number of roles that allow
humans to focus on other tasks. This integration is made palatable due to the natural look of the synths (although there are slight differences that separate them from their human counterparts.

The series focuses on the sociological
element of this symbiotic relationship
which includes how a troubled marriage
survives when a synth is in the home, when a human mother is unable to cook for her children like her AI, and how those entering the work force feel resentment towards a synth population that is taking their jobs.

In addition to these concerns, there is the overarching one that focuses on what synths are, how they became conscious and how their relationship changes with the people they interact with. Do they turn on humans, do they begin to have interpersonal relationships and how they are linked with
one another?

In the second season, viewers will continue to follow the journey of the synths as they gain more awareness and navigate an ever changing modern world that continues to understand how to balance the relationships and realities between these co-existing
groups.

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Read more the from Dec Issue and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

LOVE, LIES & RECORDS
Acorn TV

If you enjoyed Ashley Jensen in  Agatha Raisin and a number of her roles in an array of films and series, you will enjoy seeing her in Love, Lies & Records. 

The series begins with her character, Kate landing her dream job promotion to Superintendent Registrar (marriages, deaths and births). Not only does she have to balance the needs of being a mom as well as working a position that had a number of demands - she also has to navigate co-workers that are less than pleased with her success. She is acutely aware of the jealousies as well as secrets from her personal life that could take her from the life that she has just recently embraced.
 

GODLESS
Netflix Originals

There's nothing new about shows that focus on the Old West where there are outlaws, good guys and those that may have a secret or two that they would rather not be known by others. These motifs are turned on their head when you realize  that the town in Godless, a Netflix Original limited series, is populated by women only! The classic ruthless outlaw terrorizes the West to seek out a former member of his gang who has found a life in this quiet town! This show stars Jeff Daniels (The Sinner), Michelle Dockery (Good Behaviour) and Jack O'Connell (Money Monster).
 

THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
Amazon Original

In The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, we are transported to 1958 in New York where we see a woman whose life is exactly what she wants to be. She has a great husband, kids, and makes upscale Yom Kippur meals at their Upper West Side apartment. With such a great life, it only takes a surprising turn to have her life shift. This shift makes her evaluate her life as a housewife to a standup comic, which is not surprising to Mrs. Maisel herself.

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

STRANGER THINGS 2
Netflix Originals

It's been awhile but now it's time to return to 1984 and he world of the Upside Down with supernatural forces that come to affect the town. We're joined by our favorite characters from last season as well as new ones that continue the storyline.

If you've yet to binge last season's Stranger Things to see how all of this took place in the town of Hawkins with a band of friends and a strange little girl that shows up along with a few unexplained happenings that includes a missing boy, it's time to do so before Oct 27th with the second season.

RIVIERA
Sundance Now Original Series

Living the life of the rich and famous seems pretty easy; however, after a year of marraige - the perfect life that Georgina (Julia Stiles) is turned on its head when her husband, Constantine is killed. Her art collector husband was killed on a yacht of a Russian oligarch. 

She quickly realized that there is more then meets the eye and she wants to know what happened.Along the way, she realizes that the closer that she gets - she learns more about ugly truths that involved his dealings that are morally questionable, criminal and beyond.

To survive as well as to maintain the lifestyle that she has inherited, she learns to operate within this world. 
 

CHANCE
Hulu Original

The psychological thriller based on Kem Nunn's novel is back for a second season that focuses on Eldon Chance (Hugh Laurie), a San Francisco based forensic neuropsychiatrist who gets involved into a world of violence, mistaken identity, mental illness and police corruption. It's an interaction with his patient that brings him to the attention of his patient's abusive spouse who is also a ruthless police detective. As he continues to descend into the city's darker side, he is also grappling with his own life. Eldon is in the midst of a rocky divorce and dealing with issues surrounding his daughter. 

He finds that he has begun to descend into navigating the depths and intricacies of the human mind.

Read more from the Oct Issue and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE STUNT | JESSIE GRAFF

Think back to your favorite movies and we guarantee that there are some action sequences. Although there are some actors that do their own stunts, most enlist a stunt person to make the scene truly look and feel as next level as possible. This month's cover girl is celebrity stuntwoman and athletic personality, Jessie Graff.

Jessie has been in a number of movies and TV shows. In addition, if you're a fan of NBC's American Ninja Warrior, then you have seen her crushing courses on this TV show as well while donning a Wonder Woman costume. We spent an afternoon with her shooting her for our
cover and this energetic woman showcased her athletic ability while also sharing anecdotes how she got into the business, where we have seen her as well as how she has honed her craft over the years.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was your journey to becoming a stunt woman from childhood to actually selecting this career?

JESSIE GRAFF: I wanted to be a super hero, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena Warrior Princess. I loved the physical part most, but didn't know that stunts were a separate job, so I always thought I'd be an actress. After majoring in theatre in college, I learned that the actors don't usually get to do their own stunts, so I immediately researched everything I could about stunt people. I read every article I could find, studied the stunt player’s directory, and found
out where stunt people trained. Then I got photos, made a demo reel, moved to LA, and signed up at every gym in where I could find stunt people. Then I copied everything they did, learned everything I could, and eventually, earned my place in the community.

AM: What type of training does one engage in order to become a stunt woman?

JG: Fights, falls/wipeouts, weapons, parkour, gymnastics, rock climbing, every style of martial arts, wire work, rigging, trampolines, bicycles, air rams, Russian swing, high falls, scuba, sky diving, cars, motorcycles, fire burns... There's so much to learn!

AM: Obviously, you're in great shape, what workouts do you suggest for great abs, glutes and arms?

JG: I organize all of my workouts into a 3 day cycle of push day, pull day, and leg day. It allows me to push each muscle group to the limit, and give it 2 days to recover, while I'm training the other 2 main muscle groups.

I suggest FORGETTING about how you want your body to look, and choosing workouts based on what you want to be able to do, and how you want to feel. If you want great arms, get hooked on rock climbing, gymnastics, or calisthenics. Set goals like climbing at a certain difficulty level or learning to do a kip on bars. Then do all the drills, progressions, and strength training to get those skills, and make a new goal 1 level higher. Want great glutes? Work on, bounding agility obstacles, improving your vertical jump, or learning parkour. When you get passionate about a hobby that requires those muscles, every workout is more inspiring, and there is no end. If you want an 8-pack, and you get there, how do you stay motivated to work out and eat healthy? How do you maintain it? But if you succeed in your goal of 10 pull ups, great! New goal: get 12, or 15 or 20.

AM: What are your go to foods between your travels, working out etc?

JG: I always carry B-up protein bars and roasted seaweed with me, because fruit/carbs are easy to find, but protein and vegetables are harder to grab on the go. Basic structure of any meal is 1-2 servings protein, colorful vegetables, 1 serving of carbs or fruit, all on top of a huge pile of dark leafy greens.

AM: What's on your playlist when you're in the gym?

JG: Jessie Graff's Wonder Woman Playlist on DC Comics and "Try Everything" from Zootopia.

AM: What movies have we seen your work in?

JG: Look for me with purple hair in Future Man on Hulu, and Bright on Netflix. Other projects are Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Transformers, The Dark Knight, Marvel's Agents of Shield, G.I. Joe, Die Hard...

AM: What is the process like in terms of casting when you are going into being a stunt person in a film?

JG: If there are lines, we go to auditions as actors. We send demo reels or they are submitted by the stunt coordinator, so that they know we are qualified to do the stunt required for the role. We are given lines anywhere from the day before to at the audition, read for camera,
maybe have a call back, and are booked for the acting role. The auditions to be the main stunt double on a big action movie are the most fun. It's often a whole group of us in a gym, learning
fight choreography, and showing off kicks, flips, weapons, and any other applicable skills for a couple of hours.

AM: How do you prepare for the roles that you participate in?

JG: I rarely get more than a week's notice for a job or big audition usually 1-2 days. I have to guess which skills are most likely to come up, and prepare for EVERYTHING, so that no matter what comes up, I can be prepared (hopefully). Training constantly in so many different disciplines, improves my ability to learn brand new movements faster, so that even if something totally new comes up, I can adapt.

AM: What is the thinking behind wearing the Wonder Woman costume during your American Ninja Warrior run?

JG: My first year, I dressed as a chicken to advertise my short film 'Epic Chick Fight,' but a parent messaged me on Twitter about her 6-year-old daughter, who had never been very physically active. After watching me, she said 'I like her. I like her outfit' then promptly dressed her Barbie like me, and went outside to climb the jungle gym with her. It made me realize how much impact my clothing choices could have on kids. Now, I choose outfits that seem most likely to inspire kids to be healthy and strong.

AM: When you're not training, what is your personal style when you're out and about versus when you're in the gym?

JG: My personal style is pretty much Under Armour shorts and sports bras, or maybe a tennis skort to shake things up. The world is my gym, so I dress for workouts at all times.

When I'm at work, I wear whatever the costume department puts me in. For super fancy red carpet type events, I require that the mid-section be fitted, and stretchy, with a full circle skirt that allows for full range of motion. I always wear shorts under my skirt, so that I can flip and kick without wardrobe malfunctions. Other than that, I don't understand why I would ever wear anything other than workout clothes or swim suits.

AM: We love your videos on Instagram with your pup and your pig, it's a great way to show your physique and to get to know your personality, how long does it take to do them?

JG: It takes about 30 seconds to toss spinach around the floor, to keep @SammoHog occupied and in frame, and 20 seconds to 5 minutes to shoot the video...well... up to 1 min for Instagram,
but Facebook videos allow for longer workout clips. It rarely takes more than one take. Unless it's a compilation of multiple attempts. Those may take 30 min or so of trying and failing 20 times before I succeed, and another 5 minutes to edit.

AM: Are there any charities or philanthropy that you are a part of that you would like to share?

JG: I really want to do more to help educate people of all ages about healthy eating and exercise habits, and how to make them feel fun and effortless. I currently do that by sharing my own tips, tricks, and experience on social media, but would love suggestions on specific charities that deal with those topics.

AM: What advice would you give to a girl that is looking to get into the world of stunts?

JG: Don't pursue stunts unless you REALLY love it. You will get beaten up. You'll be cold and wet, falling down concrete stairs at 3am, or sweating in a full leather suit on an overheating motorcycle, on a 110 degree day in the desert. They will constantly throw crazy and unusual
challenges at you, and you'll have to think on your toes, to figure it out on the spot.

If working out 5-8 hours/day, and fighting to achieve seemingly impossible feats sounds like a dream job, do it. Work your butt off. Learn everything. Be smart. Be humble. Listen. Pay attention, and be helpful. If you are talented, work really hard, and have a great attitude, you will have an amazing career, a lifetime of adventure, and become friends with some of the most incredible people on the planet.

We get to be the unknown heroes of the film industry.

Our photoshoot with Jessie Graff took place at Henry Hall in NYC's Hudson Yards. We took a moment to find out more about the interesting concept of this residential property that also makes you feel like you live in a hotel as well.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What are the amenities offered at Henry Hall?

HENRY HALL: Henry Hall features a unique amenities package focused on the building’s club and lounge areas and elite food and beverage offerings. As part of its innovative programming,
Henry Hall will debut Delicious Hospitality’s new restaurant, dubbed Legacy Records. The restaurant, bar and lounges will be spread over the building's first and second floors.

In addition to the restaurant and second floor lounge, Henry Hall residents will have access to an array of sought-after amenities, including a “jam room,” resident’s club room, private dining rooms and wine room, roof-deck, state-of-the art training center as well as exclusive access to Henry Hall Concierge for 24-hour service.

Henry Hall will also provide residents with Echo Dots connected to Amazon Alexa. The posh rental has equipped each of the 225 residences with an Echo Dot and created an Alexa skill tailored specifically for Henry Hall residents. Building Link, the leading online residential
management system, has developed a custom skill that gives Alexa the ability to answer numerous requests that pertain specifically to residents. Voice commands that residents can make include the following: “Alexa, ask Henry Hall if I have any packages”; “Alexa, ask Henry
Hall if there are any events in the building today”; and “Alexa, ask Henry Hall when the gym will be open.”

AM: What is the concept behind the design of the building?

HH: Developed by Imperial Companies, on behalf of the joint venture partnership with Shorenstein, and with interior design by the renowned Ken Fulk, Henry Hall is Hudson Yard’s newest destination rental. In contrast to the glass towers dominating the Hudson Yards neighborhood, Henry Hall gives a thoughtful nod to ‘Old New York’ with its brick and steel
façade. The 33-story building includes 225 studio to two-bedroom units with prices starting at $3,350.

Henry Hall is a new wave residential experience inspired by boutique hotel culture. Eric Birnbaum, Co-founder of Imperial Companies, and the vision behind Henry Hall, says his imagination was sparked by stays at The Bowery Hotel and The Battery SF, among other properties. “At Henry Hall, we take design and programming cues from boutique hotels. I fell in love with the idiosyncratic charm of their lobbies - the design elements, the way people move through them,” Birnbaum says.

Henry Hall creates social programming for like minded people, communal spaces to relax and recharge, exquisite meals & beverage, all with grand décor and a rooftop view.

AM: There is a distinct boutique hotel vibe to this residence - why is that and what offerings does the property provide to those who are not residents?

HH: Henry Hall will offer a residential option that merges New York’s nightlife and boutique hotel experience with luxury residential living. The residences were outfitted as a modern take on traditional grand hotels and in keeping with that theme the private lounges, jam room, rooftop deck, gym—were all created to extend the holistic experience of a boutique hotel. Launch programming features a summer music series, “Tuesdays at Henry Hall,” which
welcomes residents and friends to enjoy a rotating cast of notable and socially influential DJs.

AM: Within the space that was included within our photoshoot, who decorated it?

HH: Ken Fulk, who has been dubbed “Silicon Valley’s creative disruptor,” and whose credits include The Battery SF among other high-profile residential and hospitality projects, worked with Eric Birnbaum to design the resident experience throughout all aspects of Henry Hall, from the eclectic lobby to the elegant lounges to the custom finishes in each residence.

Design elements in Henry Hall's grand lobby include a floor made of three different types of marble set in a herringbone pattern; a 10-foot-diameter custom brass chandelier retrofitted
with 24 cut-crystal globes from the 1930s; hand-scraped teak wall paneling with brass accents; a salon-style installation of vintage oil paintings and frame photography; tribal rugs; and antique furnishings.

AM: What are other selling points in this building?

HH: Henry Hall is truly a first of its kind: a destination and a community similar to a boutique luxury hotel or a members’ only club.

The residences include finishes such as ash hardwood flooring throughout and oversized windows that flood the residences with natural sunlight and provide sweeping city views. Gourmet kitchens are equipped with stark white quartz countertops and backsplashes,
premium brass fixtures by Waterworks and stainless steel appliances by Bosch and KitchenAid. Custom hexagonal tiles line the bathroom floor and are accompanied by a medicine cabinet with integrated vanity lighting and polished nickel fittings. Each unit is equipped with a Bosch washer/dryer.

"Every space, however unique, public or private, is considered an essential part of the Henry Hall story. They become a defining element of the residential experience,” said Eric Birnbaum,
Co-Founder and Partner at Imperial Companies. "So many people would love to live in their favorite hotel or have the City’s newest restaurant be just downstairs - Henry Hall makes that a reality.”

For more information about Henry Hall, please visit www.henryhallnyc.com.

AM: For those that are residents, what are the neighborhood selling points?

HH: Located at 515 West 38th Street, the site of the former Legacy Recording Studio, Henry Hall is at the epicenter of Hudson Yards and is redefining luxury for a new generation of New
Yorkers. Hudson Yard’s close proximity to the major transportation hubs of the recently completed 7 train extension, Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal provide an array of convenient transportation options. Henry Hall is in close proximity to the city’s finest shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural venues and is surrounded by Chelsea and The Meatpacking District to the south and the Hudson River to the west.

AM: Is there anything that we should know about the Hudson Yard area?

HH: Hudson Yards is just north of the Meatpacking District and Chelsea, adjacent to Hell’s Kitchen, stretching along the High Line and the river, and close to Midtown; an electric atmosphere in which you can work, play and live. A convergence of parks, public space, haute
cuisine, shopping, easy access to transportation and stunning views of the river and cityscape make it easy to see why the neighborhood is booming.

Read more from the Aug issue and see For the Love of the Stunt | Jessie Graff in mag.