BINGELY TV/STREAMING

THE NIGHT AGENT S2

Netflix Originals

Netflix

Over the winter holidays, we decided to catch up on our favorite shows (hello Squid Games) as well as watch series and films that were new to us (such as Black Doves, Carry-On, and Subservience to name a few). The platform suggested that we watch The Night Agent and we enjoyed S1 which takes us into the world of espionage and shows us what happens when a phone call changes the lives of so many people as well as to see the innerworkings of complicated connections. With a satisfying S1, we're excited that we can now watch S2 to see how Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) navigates his new role as he gets deeper into the Night Action program. Who will be his allies and who are the adversaries this season? What happened to those that we met last season? We're excited to find out and know that these episodes will be full of twists and turns!

THE PITT

Max Original

Max

We love a good medical drama and if we're honest, it was programs like ER that let us see the inner workings of a hospital and the staff that makes everything roll along! It created our love for shows such as Grey's Anatomy, The Resident, and so much more.

In The Pitt, we meet Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) in a hospital in Pittsburgh. Over the course of 15 episodes we get to see a shift - so essentially, all of the shows this season are seen in "real time" hour by hour! We're met with a range of patients, understanding the dynamics of staff as they navigate their personal lives as well as their working relationship, and so much more.

The Pitt is a progressive build where you're very invested in the residents, patients that span over a series of episodes, and the flashbacks that we continue to be privy to of Dr. Robby who is dealing with the angst that took place during the pandemic. We're excitd to see what this shift will look like and we hope that they are renewed for another season so we can see what new topics will be tackled.

THE PRESTIGE TV PODCAST

A Spotify Original + The Ringer

Spotify

A number of the series we watch has companion podcasts which tend to be in partnership with the show or network that they are on. We listen to them in our feed, but we also enjoy checking in with The Prestige TV Podcast. We're able to hear their thoughts on Severance, The Agency, Yellow Jackets and more. Depending on the show, it will either be broken out with an episode per podcast show or they will be groups.

The hosts will talk about what took place in the show, how it ties into source material if it is adapted from a book or a movie, fan theories, what they expect to see in upcoming issues, and they stay away from spoilers. We suggest listening to the episodes after you have watched the show to get the most out of them and to prep for the next episode of your favorite series.

Read the JAN ISSUE #109 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY TV/STREAMING in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

MUSIC BOX: YACHT ROCK: A DOCUMENTARY

Max

HBO

Who doesn't love Yacht Rock? We all have our favorite songs and artists within in this genre. The team at Music Box tells us the ins and outs of this style of music in Yacht Rock: A Documentary. We learn how the term was coined, who is in and out of the genre, it's rise as well as decline and its enduring impact on the music industry as other artists sampled it such as Hip-Hop artists Warren G featuring Nate Dogg's Regulate which came from Michael McDonald's I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).

NO GOOD DEED

Netflix Series

Netflix

Netflix's No Good Deed is a perfectly twisty series that continues to unfold like an onion as we see the intersectionality between a diverse series of characters that have interesting connections with one another that you continue to learn about. For those that love perusing real estate with a side of sardonic comedy crime, this is for you. We meet Paul (Ray Romano) and Lydia (Lisa Kudrow) who are looking to sell their home. We also meet the potential buyers who have their own backstories.

Over the course of 8 episodes we learn about the trauma, suspense, and hopes that bring the characters and the communities that they are intertwined into. We also solve a mystery that has loomed over specific character's lives while also having a resolution that places other characters into the exact place that they want to be in!

With a number of shows vying for attention over the holiday season, we can't say enough about how good this series is. It's even worth watching again with those that may not have seen it as you ended up bingeing ahead to know what took place. We're definitely hoping that there will be a second season as we feel that there is plenty of room for other storylines!

TRUTHLESS

A Spotify Podcast + The Ringer

Spotify

We enjoy a number of podcasts in The Ringer universe as they tend to be our go-to when it comes to delving into some of our favorite prestige shows. A few weeks back, we happened to catch an episode of Truthless which explores a story that involves a lie with a central figure which could be an everyday person or a celeb. This person tells the story and host Brian Phillips examines these stories, why they took place, what insecurity it highlights, and what drove the guest to do it. We truly enjoyed hearing Jesse Tyler Ferguson's (Ugly Betty, Modern Family, Cocaine Bear) episode where he shared his struggles when he was a young and unknown actor in New York who gets a life-changing audition. At that time he realized that he would need to create a new resume in order to secure the role that would take him to the next level.

Read the DEC ISSUE #108 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

EMILIA PÉREZ

Netflix Original

Netflix

In Emilia Pérez, we follow 4 amazing women in Mexico that are on the path to finding what makes them happy. Throughout this movie, you'll enjoy songs, dancing, and vibrant visuals. We meet Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) who is a cartel leader and brings on Rita (Zoe Saldaña) who is a lawyer that feels that she is unappreciated as she is stuck in a job that is going nowhere. She is asked to work with her to fake her own death so that the cartel leader can finally lead a life where she can be her true self. In addition, the cast also includes Selena Gomez (Selena + Restaurant, LOUDER: The Soundtrack of Change, Only Murders in the Building), and Edgar Ramirez (The 355, MaXXXine, Borderlands).

CRUEL INTENTIONS

Prime Video Original Series

Prime Video

Growing up, many of us enjoyed seeing the original Cruel Intentions film that starred Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Clerks III, Dexter: Original Sin), Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde, The Morning Show, Big Little Lies), Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Shooter, Big Sky), and Selma Blair (The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy franchise, American Crime Story: Monica Lewinsky) which focused on elite highschoolers in NYC in a modern retelling of the 1872 novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Throughout this movie, we see how a pair of step siblings create havoc through their circle and social scene by manipulating others, having sex, and their use of drugs.

With the cult success of this movie, it's not a surprise that it has come back with the same focus in an updated way on Prime Video. This iteration of Cruel Intentions takes us to another elite social scene in college with a number of the antics and scenarios that appeared in the film.

Do you need to see the film in order to enjoy the series? No as the two can be enjoyed independently. Of course, if you have seen the film, you'll see certain iconic shots in the film, you'll enjoy the modern updates that have been included in this one and you can see how the plot has a bit of a different look and feel as it applies to the collegiate set versus when it focused on those in highschool. It's still a great watch that you can enjoy especially as we head into the holiday season.

THE BINGE CRIMES: LADY MAFIA

Sony Music

Spotify

We always enjoy a great true crime podcast and this is one that really lets you have an indepth look into the female Bernie Madoff as well as the Anna Delvey of the OC. We get to meet Sara King, who is known as Lady Mafia. We get to know more about how she got into this world of crime, her historic rise, and her inevitable fall as a loan shark. We get to hear how she made quickly and deals that were seen as shady at best in The Binge Crimes: Lady Mafia presented by SONY Music Entertainment.

Read the NOV ISSUE #107 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

THE PENGUIN

HBO Original

HBO + MAX

We always love watching a good DC Comics and this limited series of The Pengiun definitely had us enthralled from the ffirst episode as we get to see Oswald "Oz" Cobb (Colin Farrell) who is navigating his current role and takes the next steps into his destiny to control Gotham City. We see the city in a bit of a state with seawall's collapse that Joker implemented. With a power vacuum that took place when Carmine Falcone died he must figure out to deal with his childrenSofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) and Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen) as well as dealing with the Maroni family who is helmed by Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) who is in prison!

We also watch as he puts his empire together and we get to know more about his origin story! We're excited to enjoy the remainder of the season and we also enjoyed the companion podcast, The Penguin Official Podcast which drops new episodes every week immediately following the release of the TV series.

THE CIRCLE

Netflix Original

Netflix

Alert! S7 of The Circle, a social media competition is out now - send message! We have loved every episodes where we meet an array of contestants who come to the game without seeing one another and that only have the ability to communicate via Circle Chats. Whether they play as themselves, are catfish or are a hybrid of the two, they must interact with one another, build alliances, figure out how to navigate the game, rate one another, and eventually make it to he final round where one winner will be awarded $100,000 for their efforts! As is the case each season, we see our favorites, we enjoy seeing who connects with who, and it's always fun when they come together for their reunion to see the players put a face to the name of the people that they have interacted with.

THE PRESTIGE TV PODCAST

The Ringer

Spotify

We watch a number of shows and we love when it's prestige - these are shows of high quality that are known for their high production value as well as complex plots. Shows such as The Bear, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and more would be examples. What we love about The Prestige TV Podcast by the team at The Ringer is that they have a number of episodes where they break down some of the hottest shows to talk about what is taking place in the show, fan theories, interviews that include actors or creative teams that are involved and more! It's a great way to ensure that you're on track with what is going on in the series. It's always great to see if the show you're watching is being covered by their ever growing team.

Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

CATCHING UP WITH ALYSIA REINER

It's always great to circle back to our faves and in this month's issue we sit down with Alysia Reiner who was our cover for our JUN ISSUE #18 in 2017 where we talked with her about Netflix's Orange is the New Black and we also chatted with her in our JUN ISSUE #78 in 2022 talking about Ms. Marvel ahead of the show dropping on Disney+ as well as becoming a volunteer fire fighter!

This month, we find out what she has been up to from joining the cast of Netflix's DIPLOMAT (which we loved the 1st season), to additional shows we can look out for, how she is staying in shape, traveling, and of course, sharing some of her must-haves with us in terms of sustainable style!

ATHLEISURE MAG: It's always fun catching up with you to find out what you were working on. Last time we talked, it was ahead of Ms. Marvel and you were in Shining Vale! Are there any projects coming up that you're able to share with us that we can see you in or keep an eye out for whether it's on the stage, in front of the camera or behind it?

ALYSIA REINER: I’m currently filming the Netflix show THE DIPLOMAT, season 2 comes out Oct 31st! I am also now filming a new independent film called OUR BODIES & OTHER SHAMES, and a film I did called GOING PLACES will be in theaters in the Fall. Also look for the short I made WE SHOULD EAT on the festival circuit!

AM: This year has definitely been interesting! We had an earthquake here in NY, an eclipse, some of us saw the Northern Lights, and we're only halfway through the summer. What have you been up to this summer?

AR: Its a wild world right?? I have been filming in London playing secret service (shhhhh), on fun adventures in Amsterdam and Paris, and relaxing and on duty as a volunteer fire fighter (yes really!) in Fire Island.

AM: You have always been one that enjoys a good workout! This summer, what have been some of your favorite studios that you have been working out at?

AR: I always love RUMBLE IN NYC, and tried RUMBLE in the UK which is a HIIT gym I loved! I also went to Camden Boxing in the UK. AARMY is my go to for cycle both in person and on-line when I am away - I LOVE AKIN so very much as a human and coach - he is magic - the perfect balance of pushing us all to greatness - but with KINDNESS and LOVE.

Here in Fire Island I also train and do BOOTCAMP with Jim - a former marine who kills us!

I just got the META QUEST for workouts with FITXR and cannot wait to try it! I hear such great things!

AM: Do you have any foods or drinks that you like to incorporate into your workouts whether it's for energy or recovery?

AR: YES YES YES! I love to make my own protein smoothies - I keep it very simple but delicious - people say it tastes like ice cream but super clean and sugar free!!!

I LOVE MY SODA STREAM and to add yummy/healthy drops to it - my favs right now are JING and PURE INVENTIONS - both sugar free, zero calories, no chemicals and lots of amazing health benefits from vitamins, electrolytes and adaptogenic mushrooms!

When I am out & about I love a GORGIE or COVE soda, both zero sugar, zero artificial junk and so yum.

MORTAL HYDRATION, CURE, as well as PURE BOOST are my favorite energy/electrolyte packs to throw in my purse or carry on bag for travel - all have yummy and fun flavors - again no crap and lots of health/hydration benefits!

I come from a family of diabetes, so I have to be super careful with sugar - My favorite protein bars are MISFITS and N!CKS - both super low sugar, high protein and taste like CANDY!! NIcks also makes THE BEST (healthy!!) ICE CREAM ON THE PLANET.

AM: What do you do in terms of stretching or relaxing your muscles post workout?

AR: The #1 thing I do is meditation - changes my life daily - so helps me not hold stress in my body. And here is a special discount link to MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE MEDITATION APP - it is THE BEST !!! I also love YOGA WITH KASSANDRA (free on you tube!), and I try to roll on a roller every night before bed (and also use my red light face mask at the same time - multitasker)

AM: In the next few weeks, we have Fashion Week coming up and you're known for rocking sustainable brands. Are there 3 designers that we should have our eye out for?

AR: I am still mourning Mara Hoffman closing her doors - she is so incredible, a real game changer in Sustainable fashion. I love love love Gabriela Hearst, and I just found Lauren Altman Studio - all repurposed & up cycled and hand painted - I get more compliments on her dress than anything I have ever worn! Check out https://www.instagram.com/remakeourworld for more truth about sustainable fashion!!

IG @alysiareiner

CREDITS | PG 104 PHOTOGRAPHY Laurie Bailey MUA Nova Kaplan | PG 106 PHOTOGRAPHY Anthony Rhoades MUA Brian Dean HAIR Damian Monzillo |

Read the AUG ISSUE #104 of Athleisure Mag and see CATCHING UP WITH ALYSIA REINER in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

ELIZABETH TAYLOR: THE LOST

TAPES

HBO Documentary

HBO + MAX

We enjoy a great documentary and in HBO's Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes we got to hear from this stunning star herself via taped interviews where she talked about insights into major moments in her life, and how she approached living her life as a star that was constantly in the spotlight with her films, relationships, and advocacy.

These tapes give the raw and unfiltered thoughts of Elizabeth Taylor. In addition, we have access to videos and pictures that allow us to have a better understanding of who she was and how people that were close to her felt about her.

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUIDLING

Hulu Original

Hulu

If you have yet to catch up on the previous seasons of Hulu's Only Murders in the Building, now is the time to do so as S4 just kicked off on Aug 27th. Our favorite true crime trio is always in the thick of solving some sort of a crime and this season is bound to be no different! As they solve their cases, they let us in on their podcast, those that they interact with, and notable areas on the UWS!

We're excited to see not only those who have come into the series from earlier seasons, but additional guest stars that will make their debut in this one.

After each episode, you should also check out the OMITB Companion Podcast to know more about each episode and to hear the theories that come up!

EMILY IN PARIS

Netflix Series

Netflix

Like many of you, we couldn't wait to binge the first half of S4 of Netflix's Emily in Paris! We pick up where S3 left off. Who doesn't love seeing Emily (Lily Collins) and her friends navigating their lives, love triangles, clients, and more with Paris as a backdrop? Of course, in addition to seeing all of that, the amount of outfits that become scene stealers, is always another reason to watch this show. Part I dropped on Aug 15th and the remainder of S4 will be released on Sept 12th.

If you're like us, you're wondering how it will all play out and you'll begin thinking about what's on deck for S5 or will rewatch all the seasons for the perfect escapism on your next long weekend!

Read the AUG ISSUE #104 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

SPRINT: THE WORLD'S

FASTEST HUMANS

Netflix Originals

Netflix

We enjoyed watching Sprint: The World's Fastest Humans which lets us follow elite Sprinters as they are on the road to the Olympics and making a statement with their talents. This docuseries follows some of your favorite Track and Field stars including: Sha'Carri Richardson (USA), Noah Lyles (USA), Shericka Jackson (Jamaica), Zharnel Hughes (England) Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Italy), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica), and Elaine Thompson (Jamaica). It's a great series and one that will connect you to what's going on in the world of Track & Field for Sprint athletes to be ready for Paris 2024.

CHARLIE HUSTLE & THE MATTER OF PETE ROSE

HBO Original

HBO

When you talk about scandals that took place in the history of MLB, Pete Rose is one that comes to mind. In Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose, we look at his journey that spans over 60 years in this four part series. We get to know more about his rise to stardom in the league, his banishment from the game in 1989 due to betting, and his bid to be reinstated and placed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Throughout the series, we get to know about his career and being baseball's all-time hits leader. We also dig into why he is a polarizing figure in sports. We hear from him as well as interviews he held and commentary from luminaries in the league. It gives us more insight into who this man is beyond what we have known and what he has learned as he has navigated the past decades.

CHAMELEON: DOCTOR MIRACLE

Campside Media, Sony Music + The Binge

Spotify

Chameleon is an investigative podcast that takes us into interesting worlds each season whether it was Gallery of Lies, Wild Boys, Dr. Dante Master of Deception, High Rollers, and Hollywood Con Queen. This season, Doctor Miracle is focused on a wellness canter, Miracle Ranch which is in SoCal.

The center promotes itself as a luxury escape that will allow you to navigate life through clean alkaline living. Led by Dr. Robert O. Young, he has acquired a clientele of wealthy people who followed his "groundbreaking" methods of living well. By staying at his facility, he promised that everyone would live well; however, those who did got worse and didn't live an optimized life.

Through legal documents and candid interviews with former patients and employees, law enforcement officials, and affected family members, this series unravels the chilling true story of one man who convinced scores of people that cancer is not a cell but an “acidic, poiisonous liquid”, and how his popular “alkaline diet” turned deadly.

Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

THE ROOT OF IT | MARIA CAMILA GIRALDO

We always enjoy watching our favorite shows and the actors that portray characters that are memorable. In addition to enjoying their creative pursuits, it's always interesting to see when their life experiences initiate an entrepreneurial endeavour based on issues that they may have come across.

We sat down with Maria Camila Giraldo who we recently enjoyed watching her in Netflix's Griselda. We wanted to know more about how she came to acting, how she approaches her characters, how she came to this series and to find out about her wellness brand, Fungiments. Co-founded by her and her fiance, Cole Garson they set out to create this brand that uses mushrooms and adaptogens.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first film or TV show that made you realize the power of acting?

MARIA CAMILA GIRALDO: The first film that made me realize the power of acting was V for Vendetta. The performances were so compelling and intense that they truly demonstrated how acting can convey deep emotions and complex ideas, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?

MCG: I think I was born an actor. Ever since I was a baby, I would grab the camera and perform different characters. As I grew older, I started producing my own short films and homemade talk shows. This passion for performance and storytelling has always been a part of me.

AM: How do you approach playing your characters as we know everyone has their own process.

MCG: My approach to playing characters depends on the character and the story. Currently, I'm very influenced by Ivana Chubbuck's technique. It's an amazing method that helps me connect my own reality with the character's reality, allowing for a more authentic and powerful performance.

AM: We enjoyed watching Netflix's Griselda - how did you become attached to the project and what drew you to this series?

MCG: I started auditioning for Griselda in October 2021. It was a lengthy process. Initially, I was considered too young for the original role I auditioned for, but they eventually called me in for a different role. I didn't hear back until the end of November 2021 – that’s when I received the exciting news that I had to move to LA for the project. I had always wanted to be in LA, having visited on and off for the past three years, so it was a perfect opportunity for me.

AM: The storyline and telling Griselda's story was amazing. On your IG, you shared that you had a vision board where you noted that you would be on a top show and Sofia Vergara (Modern Family, Chef, This is Me ... Now: A Love Story) was also on there and of course we saw that come to pass this year! What was your biggest takeaway from doing this show?

MCG: My biggest takeaway from doing this show is the importance of dreaming big, working hard, and preparing for the opportunities you want. If you do, the moment you’ve been waiting for will eventually show up. Having a vision board was a constant reminder of my goals, and seeing it come to fruition was incredibly rewarding.

AM: You're going to be in a film with Al Pacino (The Godfather, The Irishman, Serpico), is there anything that you can tell us about this?

MCG: Initially, I was hesitant because I didn't like horror movies. However, my managers insisted I take a look at the project. When I did, I realized it was more than just a horror film—it was a psychological thriller that delved into mental health, a topic very close to my heart. After my concussion and personal struggles with mental health, I felt deeply connected to the story and its significance.

AM: You were recently at the Cannes Film Festival and we loved seeing your look on the red carpet. What was it like attending this festival and were you there promoting a film?

MCG: Attending the Cannes Film Festival was a dream come true. We were there for private screenings of The Ritual (Editors Note: This is her upcoming film with Al Pacino). The experience was incredible - the magnitude of the event, the glamour, and the sheer amount of talent present was amazing. It was an honor to be part of such a prestigious event and to witness the global celebration of cinema.

AM: As someone who has been playing a number of roles, you are also an entrepreneur in the wellness space! What led to your wellness journey to becoming an entrepreneurial aha moment?

MCG: When I went through a concussion, I realized that there weren't many natural alternatives for managing my anxiety or improving my focus and concentration that didn't involve medications, and I didn't want to go that route. So, I tried everything and looked everywhere. I found a lot of relief in mushroom supplements and adaptogens. After searching through pharmacies and supermarkets and not finding anything similar, I saw a big opportunity to create a fun brand that people can connect to. That's what led me to create Fungiments and become an entrepreneur.

AM: Tell us about Fungiments and its use of mushrooms and adaptogens.

MCG: Fungiments uses mushrooms as the hero ingredient, blending them with other adaptogens to enhance their targeted effects. This approach allows us to create products that truly work, unlike other mushroom supplement brands that often include mushrooms in low milligrams, leaving you unsure if they are effective. Our formulations ensure that each product delivers tangible benefits for your specific needs.

AM: Tell us about your assortment and although you just launched, do you have plans on additional items to add to your offerings?

MCG: Our body is like an ecosystem, and our goal at Fungiments is to create products that support each system within it. For example, we have Super Prune gummies which support digestion with Turkey Tail mushrooms along with other functional ingredients. Super Bouncy is for those lacking energy and focus, made with Cordyceps, ginseng and more. We recognize that we are holistic beings, and one issue, like lack of energy, can often be connected to another, such as poor sleep. Although we just launched, we already have plans to expand our offerings to cover a wide range of needs, including sleep, energy, and overall wellness, ensuring that every aspect of your health is supported.

AM: When you're not working on your next project or working on Fungiments, how do you take time for yourself?

MCG: When I'm not working on my next project or Fungiments, I take time for myself by exercising. I have chronic pain, so movement helps to alleviate my symptoms and keep me feeling better. Additionally, working out has a positive impact on my mental health, and I also focus on skincare to take care of myself both physically and emotionally.

IG @maria.giraldo

PHOTOS COURTESY | Fungiment

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ROOT OF IT | Maria Camila Giraldo in mag.

IT STARTS WITH THE CHARACTER | ALLYSON FANGER

When you're watching a series or a film, there are a number of elements that draw you in and provide additional context beyond the dialogue that is being spoken on the screen. Costume design is one that we're always watching as it adds that element of visual texture.

We sat down with Costume Designer Allyson Fanger who has brought her creative approach to a number of series and films including Wild Things, 10 Things I Hate About You, 80 For Brady, Grace & Frankie, Shrinking, Apples Never Fall, and Mack & Rita to name a few. We wanted to know more about how she chose this field, how she got into the industry, iconic looks that really delve into and drive the story forward, and how she approaches these projects.

ATHLEISURE MAG: I have been such a fan of your work and it’s such an honor to be able to talk with you!

ALLYSON FANGER: Oh, thank you so much!

AM: I have been a fan of your work since Wild Things and 10 Things That I Hate About You! I remember being in college and watching 10 Things That I Hate About You and just watching the images and how the characters were dressed and it really stuck with me! It was seared into my mind so personally, I have been a fan for awhile.

AF: I love it! It’s having a moment!

AM: Right?

AF: It’s so great!

AM: It’s really a testament to your approach to your work. As you’ve said, it’s still super relevant!

I’m a fellow Midwesterner myself and I live in NY now. I’m always intrigued by how those of us who come from that area of the country and then we end up leaving to go to the East or the West Coast. I find it interesting. How did you get your start in this industry?

AF: Well, I mean, that’s a big question. I got a degree in Anthropology actually and I started getting into photography and visual media towards the end of college. I have always been a very live in the moment type of person in general. In school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do and didn’t know that this was a career path that was possible to me. As you know, I lived and grew up in Minneapolis and went to college, then I came back after college, and I traveled a ton! I went to South East Asia, I went to India, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia – you know I, did that whole South East Asia thing. That really was very formative I think in my interest in culture and society and people! The difference in people in different areas and cultures, socioeconomically, geographically, how they grew up in a certain area and how things defined them from a costume perspective – from a look perspective, I was really attuned to the different colors, especially in India! Like the beautiful pigmented colors that have to do with not only skin tone of the people in the area, but also the light. The way the light hits and what looks well and the way that they use pigmented dyes and plants to make their colors.

All of those things were not lost on me and it was hugely formative to me on all of my work today. That is why I am able to find the various details and nuances in character and all of the elements that feed in to making a person, an individual full and defined and different and unique in their own way. Every single person is.

When I was doing Anthropology and Social Anthropology, the study of people – so that kind of tied into that and I came back to Minneapolis, and I wondered what I was going to do. I started hanging out with a lot of artists in Minneapolis just because those were my people. I had this very good friend at the time whose name was Gus. He was a big commercial photographer in Minneapolis. I was talking with him and I was starting to have a crisis on what I was going to do with my life. I went to live in London for a year and then I came back and I asked him what would I do with my life as I was 26 and he said, “honey, you should be a stylist.” He said it right away and I asked him what it was as I didn’t know anything about it. He told me to come work with him as he was a big commercial photographer and that I should work with his stylist Molly. I worked with her for 1 day and I got it. I knew that that was what I should be doing. So I started working on commercials in Minneapolis and I was making good money doing that, but then I got much more interested in doing character. I was like, commercials are fun, but at that time, especially with where commercials were – they wanted their people in Gap khakis and that was the mode of that very average look. It was like a great place to be in to learn the nuts and bolts, but I was really interested in character and at the time, I was very fortunate to also see that there were a lot of films that were coming to Minneapolis so I just hustled and got myself hired as a PA on a couple of features there and then I met Sharen Davis (Westworld, The Help, Fences) who is a Costume Designer and she is like my mentor. I don’t know if you know her.

AM: Oh yes!

AF: She did Dreamgirls and Watchman series, she is one of my dearest, dearest friends and I love her so much! She was like, “oh, you have to move to LA,” and she hired me on projects and she got me in the union and she kind of put me on my way and so here I am!

AM: That’s amazing!

AF: I mean, I did take 7 years off because I did have 3 children.

AM: Your body of work is amazing! Before we start delving into that. I want our readers to understand the difference between a Costume Designer and a Stylist?

AF: Oh that’s such an interesting question because there really is quite a difference! I mean, a Costume Designer and it’s funny because it comes up all the time, because my actors will always ask if I will style them for an event. I’m always like, “I definitely could,” but costume design is really about character development and informing character through look choices right and storytelling and that is what I love about it so much. It’s about intention, propelling the story forward, giving the viewers a kind of intimate relationship visually with characters and helping them to relate to the people that are on screen and that is what I love so much about what I do. It’s about finding pieces and I always try to have very personal pieces on people that hopefully get recognized by viewers. When I am doing a TV series especially, you watch these characters evolve and that’s part of it too. You put in elements of character evolution and how they journey through the story and as it changes. Sometimes, you don’t even know how it is changing. Then it’s changing and then we adjust and that’s how you make your choices in the morning. I like to say that people say to me, “I know who that character was before they even opened their mouth.” When they say that, I know that I am doing my job well. I think that that is true of all people. You get a lot of information just by what they are wearing and it’s one of those things that people don’t register consciously until it’s not there - you know what I mean? It’s interesting. You know when people have pictures coming up on their phones?

AM: Yes.

AF: One of our producers, he changed his picture and put up one where he was dressed up from an event for an Awards show. I was like, “oh Mike, I love that you changed your photo!” He was like, “yeah, you know what? Someone else had their photo and it presented so nice and I feel that I should have one too.” I said, “See how important it is in what you wear and you wear and how much the impact is when someone that you don’t even know?” It’s so huge! I mean, the people who even work in the business don’t recognize that that is happening.

Styling is about more of the look and stylists developing relationships with PR companies more and working with showrooms and there are loans. So that is why when I say to my actors that although it’s flattering and I would love to do everything, I say, "you know, working with someone where that is their world – it’s a different world.” And I do do it sometimes, but it’s it’s own niche world and it’s about look, fashion, impact, red carpet moment you know and it’s a whole other arena. Do you know what I mean?

AM: I am a stylist and I agree that Costume Design and Styling although there are similarities that do occupy very distinctive space. You could do both but they have very different elements to them. I may be thinking of a set that I am styling or a project and putting a story behind it but they are still very specific moments in time as opposed to having an arc that is not only spanning various episodes and seasons, but also integrating with a cast of characters that speaks back to one another.

When I watched Apples Never Fall, within the first few minutes of the show I knew that it was you who did the costume design. There are tones and elements of your work especially when I look at each character and how they are set against others in the cast that I can see it’s an Allyson Fanger fingerprint. Like you said, before the character opens their mouth, I have a great sense of who they are, who they’re aligned with, and in many cases how they are different from those that they are meant to be in the same group with.

AF: Thank you so much!

AM: All of those nuances that are taking place for a series or a movie Is not all the levers that I am navigating when I am doing a shoot of x amount of looks that may span 14 shots. There might be elements of it but not anywhere along the same scale and it’s still within the parameters of 1-3 people and just for that shoot.

AF: It’s different and it is its own art. Stylists who do it well, they blow me away. They know how to get those cameras snapping.

AM: Where do you start once you get attached to a project? For me, I’m looking at dealing directly with the brand, PR, showrooms, etc. I have a moodboard or project board where I’m thinking of the tone of the shoot how it ties into my celeb, the set, and vibe.

For you, what is your treasure trove of things that you are pulling from when you’re going on to a project.

AF: It always starts with the script and the words. It’s a well drawn character in the script. When I read a script in a project, I know that I get so excited when I know that the characters are so well developed and sometimes some of them are not and the writers know! I have put together boards for a meeting and I’ll let them know that I am not completely sure of this person and they’ll say, “yeah, I know. We didn’t give you any information.”

So the information is in if they have flushed out a character, if they know who that person is, then they are able to translate it into their words and into the story. That then gives me the information that I need. I look at geography which is huge to me. Where is this person from, where did they grow up vs where do they live now? What do they carry with them from that time from their formative years? We then know what their socioeconomic status is and I always work with the production set as I want to know what their house looks like, their car – all of those things are what I go off of. Then it’s what are they doing in the story and what’s their job or not? All of that goes in and then I have meetings and a lot of times as costume designers, they throw you a script and tell you that you’re going to have a meeting with boards which includes everyone – producers, directors and you sort of have to take your best shot at filling in the lines and see. But the thing is, as I have done at this point in my career, it’s either a match or it’s not. As you see it, and again, I am getting such good scripts now, that I feel like I am always able to sort of hone in on what it is an things that they haven’t thought about a lot of times too. They get excited and will say, “oh my God yes!”

Like in Apples Never Fall, one of the things that I did was – the relationship between Stan Delaney (Sam Neill) and Brooke Delaney (Essie Randles) was the strongest relationship in the script and she was the most of his ally. So, I helped to tell that story with help from clothing by her. Like his oxford shirt, she would wear the shirt sometimes over more tank top and athletic pant vibes. In my head, those were taken straight out of Stan’s closet. I love telling stories with families so much because I love family dynamics. I love finding the thread in the family, the thread was already there in Apples Never Fall and the thread was already tennis, but you know just relating the characters through and finding the differences and well defining them and then finding the sameness.

I love doing mother/daughter. In Grace & Frankie, I always imagined that Mallory (Brooklyn Decker) and Brianna (June Diane Raphael), although they were so different in how they presented, both could have pulled from Grace’s (Jane Fonda) closet for different things.

AM: My mind was blown the very first episode of Grace & Frankie. I mean it was a confluence of beauty from the writing, the cast, how the characters were dressed, the set, etc. What made you want to be part of this project? This series ran for 7 seasons unlike Apples Never Fall which was a limited series, so how do you create this world and balance between growth of the characters as well as continuity. It must be incredibly difficult.

AF: That was something that we talked about from the very beginning of Grace & Frankie – it was about their journey and how to make sure to tell that through costumes. One of the big ones for that was Grace, because Grace comes in at the beginning and she was so closed off emotionally, damaged, hurt, and protecting herself. Also, just her aesthetic in general was stoney and we used ceramic colors. So I said that we should have her colors be those of ceramics and pottery – grey, taupe, camel – it was about using those cold colors.

AM: There was a sterility about it although the pieces were beautiful. So you had these sterile moments with a bit of a prickly edge that would come out every now and then!

AF: Yes! The collars and she’s just very controlled as a person emotionally! Then you have Frankie (Lily Tomlin) which is such a fun person. What a blessing that show was for me. Frankie was this artist soul and I had her color as a Santa Fe sunset. She’s got her red, yellow, orange, green, color pattern, texture – all of her kooky moments. I didn’t want her to feel like – and we talked about this a lot – it wasn’t about having her as a caricature of a hippie lady or a Bohemian lady. She had to have a lot of depth and she’s an artist. So I really looked at the artists ladies in Norway and Sweden and it was about having the long layers, architectural and jewelry and I used crystals because obviously she was spiritual so I used those large crystals on her and if you noticed some of the necklaces were made out of rubber. So she wore a lot of those vibes also. She had a number of European brands that she wore so that is something that I did with her.

The things about their journey together is that we had Grace bring color into her life and that happened around the end of Season 1 and then we kind of kept it going and we never really changed her completely as a person, but we would bring more Frankie into her life as she embraced life more right? She experienced life more through Frankie. We had all of Grace’s shirts made. The first shirts, the color shirts - the first print that Grace had ever worn were these shirts that I got that were made from Carolina Herrera and we loved that shirt! It’s such a great shape and a classic look.

AM: Really loved that shirt!

AF: It was perfect for Grace and I was like, “they don’t really make print or color.” I reached out to them and I said, “do you have any print or color?” They said that they actually had some archival fabrics that they made the first 4 shirts for us for that show. Then that was it, there were 4. So I started sourcing fabric and making all of those shirts. So all of the shirts that Grace wore, they were custom and we made all of them as they kind of didn’t exist at the time! A lot of people are making them now though. So that’s the story of them!

AM: I love hearing about those shirts as I loved them! Is it different for you if you’re dong a series versus a film?

AF: Yeah, but well, not necessarily with character development, it depends on the arc, it depends on the story. Films are easier.

AM: Yeah it’s an endpoint!

AF: Yeah, you have 1 script! And you have it ahead of time. I’m an adrenaline girl and I love a challenge. I thrive well in chaos in this world. I don’t get rattled, I kind of get very last minute in TV because they are always writing those scripts! Right now I’m on Shrinking -

AM: Another great display of characters as I love the palettes.

AF: Thank you, we’re on Episode 10 and I don’t have the script for 11 and 12 yet and we start shooting that in probably about a week! So, it has it’s own challenges! Whereas a film has its own arc where it’s wild and busy and you have all of these things going on and then it’s done and it’s over. I do love doing film and I want to do more film going forward in my career and I am manifesting that for sure.

AM: What are 3 of your favorite looks that you have created whether it’s for a series or a film or 3 characters that you really loved working with?

AF: Ugh, I love them all! When I get this question, I mean they’re all my children so that is such a tough question for me. I really feel attached and love all of my characters so much! I mean, Frankie is probably the most near and dear to my heart. The character Frankie, I mean first, Lily Tomlin (9 to 5, The West Wing, 80 for Brady) one of the most amazing women and such an incredible person and so is Jane (Monster-in-Law, The Butler, The Newsroom)! I mean, the two of them probably – I have to say that it was the most seminal for me and really transformed me as an artist in this world and I got to spend 7 years with them and I got to really get to know them as members of my own family and they kind of were. I think that the thing with Grace & Frankie is that they resonated so strongly with people because they resonated with some part of everyone’s family or someone who they knew and loved! Everybody saw someone that they knew or loved within one of these women or both! I always say too that Grace & Frankie, they are characters, but we are all a little Grace and all a little Frankie. We have pieces of both of these women in us and our mothers and our sisters and our aunts right? So, I think that that’s why they were resonating so strongly with so many people.

AM: Even the other characters in the show, I have a friend group or family member that reminded me of them. Like many, I was sad when it was over. It got me a bit teary eyed. I know that things can’t go on for forever and sometimes when a show stays on too long, the thing that you loved about it stops taking place because maybe there isn’t enough story and then that isn’t great either. But it was such a comfort with the visuals, the cast, the writing, and it would be hard for even another show to replicate and achieve that tone and playful push pull hat took place throughout the series in the way that it did. It’s rare to have that type of an ensemble cast, with the breadth and depth of topics covered, and all the other elements.

AF: Well that’s Marta Kauffman (Dream On, Friends, Leave the World Behind) she’s amazing and I am very grateful!

AM: Do you have any upcoming projects that are coming up that you are able to share that we can keep an eye out for?

AF: Yeah! I’m doing Shrinking Season 2 right now. I’m thinking, did I do anything between Apples and Shrinking? No – we’ve had some strikes here in our industry.

AM: Of course.

AF: So there has been some stalls. I’m doing a pilot with Marta Kauffman of Grace & Frankie. We’re going to be starting that soon also. Right now, those are my babies and they’re keeping me quite busy!

IG @allysonfanger

We could have spoken with Allyson Fanger even more about how she delves into her character and like that her approach pulls in a number of factors so that the characters are easily positioned in our mind! For those who have yet to see Grace & Frankie, you can stream all episodes right now on Netflix.

Apples Never Fall can be streamed now in its entirety for this limited series on Peacock. As a bit of bonus information, Allyson sent us some notes on how she approached creating the costume direction for this show which focuses on a tennis family!

We enjoyed hearing how she looked at the relationship between Stan and Brooke to inform how would they look and to show their connection with one another. She sent us some other notes which focuses on the relationship between Stan and his son Troy (Jake Lacy), as his father always called him out for being flashy, but he wore a number of big brands too!

She shared that Troy is flashy, but in a way that reads more of a wealthy understated nature. This is more of an anti flashy aesthetic where the clothes are expensive, but there are no logos or there may be subtle ones. It's all about a IYKYK vibe. His clothes are meticulously fitted as well as being tailored.

In terms of his father Stan, he's not focused on whether a brand is expensive, but it's about brand names that are athletic. Tennis is not just what he excelled in or involves training others, it is who he is and is very much part of his identity. So it's natural that he is in an athletic aesthetic like tracksuits and branded pieces. Interestingly, in those moments that he is not dressing like this, he seems like he is out of place.

Interestingly enough, both of them have large personalities and egos and how they present and dress is important to them and as much as they butt heads throughout the series with one another, it's really because they are similar in their personalities.

When you're watching the series, brands such as Tory Burch, The Upside, Lucky in Love, Sporty & Rich, Ciao Lucia, Venroy, Ralph Lauren Polo, Alo, Lululemon, FILA, NIKE, Reebok, Helly Hansen, and Golden Age of Tennis were included.

While we watched this series, we were reminded of an array of tennis stars. Interestingly enough, we were not that far off as each character had an inspirational star!

Stan Delaney's costume direction was inspired by Jimmy Connors, Joy Delaney spired by Jimmy Connors, Joy Delaney (Annette Bening) was inspired by Martina Navratilova, Troy Delaney's costume direction came from Roger Federer, Amy Delaney's (Alison Brie) look was inspired by Maria Sharapova, Logan Delaney (Conor Merrigan Turner) is a mixture of Bjorn Borg/Andre Agassi, Brooke Delaney which we spoke on earlier in this article is inspired by Anna Kournikova, and Harry Haddad's (Giles Matthey) costume direction comes from Rafael Nadal.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Allyson Fanger

Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag and see IT STARTS WITH THE CHARACTER | Allyson Fanger in mag.

THE JOY OF ACCESSORIES | TONY DROCKTON, HAMMITT

Accessories are always the favorite part of our look and it's always great to add to our collection. Over a decade ago, we learned about a boho brand that allowed us to wear them with a number of our outfits, no matter the style we were rocking at the time. This brand is known for their leathers, fabrication, style, and very quickly become a go-to that you enjoy wearing!

We caught up with CEO/Founder, and Chief Cheerleader, Tony Drockton of Hammitt. His passion for this brand and its growth is undeniable. He believes in having fun in the workplace and creating memories for those that will wear the brand as they make it their own. We wanted to know more about how the brand started, how he came to the brand, the design aesthetic, and upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s such a pleasure to connect with you as we have been a fan of the brand for as long as it has been around! I also love that we have a few things in common from both of us being from the Midwest!

TONY DROCKTON: I’m from Cleveland and I get to make fun of it because I was born there. It was great growing up there, but then I just absolutely wanted more. I like going back, I’m grateful to have family there, but I’m also grateful as you know – you being on the East Coast and me on the West Coast, it’s great to be here! Where in Indiana?

AM: Indianapolis and my parents met and graduated from your Alma mater, Bowling Green State University!

TD: Oh wow! I’ll be back there in BG this month.

AM: Nice, I went to Indiana University.

TD: Yup, that’s a good one! BG, they have a thing called Entrepreneurship Week every year and I started going back last year and I’m going back this year. I get to speak and judge a competition it’s so fun!

AM: Before we delve into talking about the brand, can you tell me about your background and how you came to Hammitt?

TD: Well we are in our 16th year, quick start, I bumped into Stephanie Hammitt when she was making the bags locally and I fell in love with her as a person as she’s wonderful. She was looking for an investor and I loved the designs and the brand and thought, “let’s give this a shot.” That’s the nexus and once I got into this industry, I fell in love with it.

AM: I remember being gifted a back back in 2009 at an Editor event and I love a lot of the things about that bag that are still cornerstones of the brand. The hardware – the rivets are one of my favorite things, the beautiful fabrication, just how easy it is to wear. I would take them with me to TV segments, a number of events, and travels. I think that it is a testament to the brand that it has really held true as well as having grown into other categories, which is great!

TD: Thank you! The DNA of the brand has been since Stephanie Hammitt and it has really iterated along what we felt would improve the functionality, keep it relevant on the design side, and more importantly to last multiple generations. It’s really about standing the test of time like you mentioned. That’s what we look to do with every new design and also some of our earliest designs are some of our best sellers.

AM: For those that aren’t familiar with the brand, how would you describe what Hammitt is and what are those main things about the brand that people can always see?

TD: I’d say the joy of the brand is how I like to describe it. Like you said, years ago you ran into it and you still remember it and wear it. I think that whether you’re manufacturing footwear or handbags or furniture or cars, when you make something that people get joy out of being apart of, wearing, driving, being in a community of, you’ve nailed it. Think of the late Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos, I was just relistening to his biography and he talked about how he wasn’t a shoe guy, he was an experience guy and that he wanted to make sure that his internal team, his vendors, and his customers all had a great experience with Zappos. I follow that same lead with Hammitt.

AM: Being the CEO and the Co-Founder of the brand, tell me about your roles at Hammitt and I also love that you are the Chief Cheerleader which I think is awesome!

TD: Thank you! Well you know, when you’re the founder, you do it all. There’s just a couple of us in the office including our current designer, Jeanne Allen, she's on her 10th year. Then you grow into sort of more of a leadership role as a CEO. I stepped away and became Chairman and brought in a CEO for 7 years and then he just retired. We retired our first long time Hammitt person in March and now I'm CEO again! So I’m Founder, CEO, and also the Chief Cheerleader which has always sort of been my role. I go back to my football days where I was always the guy cheering them on whether I was on defense or offense saying, “we can do it, we can do it!” Whether we were down 1 or up as you want to keep up that energy.

I think it’s very important for people to have fun wherever they work and also cheerleading our team during some of the tougher years. It’s just as important to remind people to stay humble when things are going as well as they are right now and that’s a cheerleader right?

AM: Absolutely.

What’s an average day or week like for you at the brand?

TD: Ha! There isn’t one! You really want to have an open schedule for when people need you. I’m a big believer in keeping that so that I can have 1:1 time as needed. We also have a limited number of regular meetings that we all have within the company and then I try to spend as much of my time in front of our customers or in front of our retail sales associates at our 3 stores, or with our vendors out in some of our Wholesale partners. That’s the joy of standing by our collection in the middle of Minneapolis, and having people try it on and to ask them how they know Hammitt or standing in my store. Or it’s about walking down the street when someone has it on in the wild and asking them how they know about the brand? The next words they say are the words that energize me. Most of the time it’s, “oh I just love this bag, it was given to me by somebody,” or “that it has traveled with me all around the world.” Sometimes it’s simply how many memories that it has created. That’s what they usually talk about. That’s what is so wonderful!

AM: Well, I love the fact that you are so in tune from the customer side and also with your team. My background was in Wholesale, I worked at Lacoste so I dealt with a lot of our accounts. When you see someone that is in the C-Suite that’s rolling their sleeves up, it’s actually energizing not only from a customer perspective, but the actual team of employees that works together. So that’s amazing.

TD: You know Kimmie, in the earliest days, every new person had to work in our in-house distribution center for at least a week. They got to run the products, they got to ship them, pack them, write the handwritten notes when people purchased them, look at the repairs when they came in, and check in new product. That sort of energy can’t be recreated by starting in the office. We’re much bigger now so not everyone is in our fulfillment center, but many of us still spend time on the retail floor, and if we don’t do that, we absolutely spend time at our events. We throw a lot of events and our team always shows up to support. Being in front of the people that love the brand, it’s not work. If it’s work, get out! The greatest companies in the world do this all the time whether it’s in the fashion industry, or any other industry, or the service industry right?

AM: Yup! 100%

How would you define the Hammitt customer?

TD: Ooo. You know, laying aside demographics and laying aside the main psychographics, she loves life and that’s our customer.

AM: I love that! You never know what detailed answer will come with a question like that and it’s great when you hear it, but there is something simple and expansive about she loves life!

I love that the assortment is so diverse whether you’re minimal or not. Can you walk us through the assortment or major product types of the brand?

TD: Well, let’s start with some signature pieces that have been around for about 5-15 years. We have our Daniel which is our satchel and it’s carried all over the country. It can hold a notebook computer or it can hold just a couple of things for the day. We have the Bryant right next to that – those 2 go hand-in-hand. Our collectors have both. Then you go into our clutches and we have the VIP which has been around since almost the beginning and there is a whole series of VIP different styles around that. The belt bag is hot right now so Charles is in charge. There’s a slingback so you can wear it around or wear it as a crossbody it’s a great bag. Then we drop down into the bag that I like because it’s called The Tony!

AM: That’s fair!

TD: It’s a perennial winner when it comes to events. I’m sure for Athleisure Magazine, there are a couple of people that might like sports and you have to have a clear bag when you’re going into the stadiums! Then The Tony leather sits side by side that series. Then we have a new entrant called the Kyle. Kyle is small and goes everywhere for the woman who seeks joy and goes everywhere, she’s going to love Kyle!

AM: Wow! When does the Kyle come out?

TD: Let’s just say that it could be out by the time that people are reading this!

AM: Ok!

So if there had to be only 3 bags that a woman would take to start or round out her collection what would those essentials be in the world of Hammitt?

TD: If she’s going on a trip and she can only take 3, I think that she's going to pack the Charles for everyday and probably inside of that, she is going to have a Tony or a VIP to go out with friends or for some events. Those are the go-to bags that I see most women carrying.

I have to mention one more!

AM: See that’s what happens!

TD: It just came out and we just dropped our VIP Mobile which carries a mobile phone and everything that you need in a day.

AM: In terms of fabrication, I love that you just have so many colors and textures. What’s your approach when it comes to colorways in general or as it pertains to the different bodies?

TD: The beauty of having a brand that has been developed over this time, I have an amazing design team led By Jeanne and Collier Smith, they’re all about color theory and one just currently came back from over seas and the other is in Brazil right now. Additionally, they were in Paris, they have been to Milan, so they just finished choosing colors for Spring 25 and they’re already looking for colors for Summer 25. They really look at color as a combination of when the bags are going to come out and what is the inspiration for the collection. So, they have some pastels in our Fall collection for 24 and they’re pastels – they’re right on the runway in the Fall collections. They really try to align both with that woman that loves to be a little bit on the fashion edge while also always wanting something that is timeless. So they walk that line with color theory.

AM: In terms of hardware, I have always loved that about the brand as well. Is that the same thought that goes into that by maintaining certain elements of it and deviating a bit here and there depending on the styles that it is on?

TD: You know, we’re really consistent on our hardware. The reason for that is the DNA of the brand is actually the look of the the brand from far away and across the street. So that signature rivet detail either comes down on the side, the bottom, or the front of every design. It’s 1 size rivet and it’s spaced pretty consistently and that’s the main hardware. Then the other piece of hardware is interchangeable, for example, all of our straps are removable so you can move them from bag to bag especially when trends change. So, we’re pretty consistent. But I will let you in on a secret – we might be working on a new custom piece of hardware that may come out sometime this year and that’s new for us! What we will do also is that within the rivet, we may change finishes and we might even change to a custom rivet for one of our collectible editions. We have done a lot of collaborations. So we have done collaborations with different brands so there will be some customization on the actual rivet for a specific collection which you might have seen in the past on a few items and you’re definitely going to see that later on this year.

AM: Well that’s exciting.

What is your process in terms of your inline items when you’re thinking of adding items to the heritage of the brand versus keeping the core?

TD: Again, the design team, their call to action is that when they see a need in the market, then they’re going to bring us a new silhouette. So we don’t hamper them and say that we need 4,000 new silhouettes every week. In general, it comes down to about 4 times a year that they’re going to bring out a silhouette that fills a need as functionality is the backbone of the brand, but that is also probably on trend as we do have the classic silhouettes that are already in place. It’s a combination of the two and I will let you in on another one, every time that we launch a new silhouette, a single H rivet that we put on it is on the right corner and it signifies that it is brand new. It’s only on it when we launch it.

AM: I like that, it’s almost like a hidden Mickey when you go to Disney. When you know where to look.

TD: Yeah! I heard of this thing about the first pickle at Disneyland, have you heard about it?

AM: Yeah I had heard something about it!

TD: We have some Disney girls that work for us and if you’re the first one in the park and you run to the pickle vendor, you get the first pickle and then a button! I love Easter Eggs.

AM: Same!

TD: When I was a young kid playing video games and you would bump into the secret doorway or you would have to tap the keys in a certain way to open up another level, we have a lot of those in this brand!

AM: I love it!

TD: This catalog right here is our latest one and it has multiple hidden Easter Eggs inside of it. We have the H rivet on our bags, inside of our bags is a little vintage tag which actually says when it was made, every bag has a secret little red somewhere whether it’s outside or inside, and it goes on and on and on.

AM: That’s so fun because as people grow with the brand, they have these fun things to look for and there’s always something new to unveil which is what makes the brand so exciting.

TD: It is! People want familiarity, I believe and the familiarity is the consistency of our long term silhouettes and the signature of the detail and the high quality in the functionality. So they also want something new and when we launch a pure fashion collection, so right now it’s April, we just came out with a new colorway on the VIP that will only be launched now on that silhouette and when it’s gone it’s gone. So it’s a seasonal exclusive, now we also may have repeat seasonal colorways that we bring back every year and that would be normally on newer silhouettes or on other ones. So next year if a leather is really good and then we have our long time perennial leathers that we use over and over again and that’s what we call our bestseller collection. So we have the combination of the 3 and that really allows us to serve every customers needs.

AM: About how many launches would you say a year are taking place – or drops? Because I always love that in accessories it tends to be different then in apparel.

TD: They design in quarter periods. So this year, we call is 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, and 24.4, but traditionally they would call it I guess, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Holiday, Cruise but within each one of those quarters, we have our monthly collections and within our monthly, we also have our weekly drops. So really, every week we’re dropping a new leather family and/or a new leather family with a new silhouette. Every month we have new combinations of either leather families or silhouettes and for every quarter, we have a new collection that tells a story.

AM: Your Sales Meetings must be interesting because that’s massive!

TD: Well, that’s our design team. I love it and they come up with everything. They get inspired and we’re in our 24.2 which is Summer. By the way, do you know Jose Canseco?

AM: Um of course one of the premier power hitters in MLB with the A’s and played for a number of teams including the Yankees!

TD: Well, our latest catalog as you can see here, this is his daughter Josie (Kygo Feat. Ella Henderson - Here for You video, Kith Park: SS2019 NYFW, The Surreal Life)! She’s adorable and amazing.

AM: When you first were talking about the catalog a few minutes back and I was looking at it, I thought wow Jessica looks really good but I know she is much older then the young girl that is on the cover, but wow that’s her daughter!

TD: That’s Josie, we shot her last month and this catalog is our summer collection and it was inspired by our hometown of Hermosa Beach which is where the brand is born and raised, where I live right now with my son, our offices, and Hermosa is a very eclectic town. It’s right next to Manhattan Beach, but it’s its own personality. They came back and that was about a year ago and they laid out what they thought would be a collection to honor our hometown and she was perfect. We shot her and everything came together in this collection of what I just told you about it. It has monthly drops, it has weekly drops, we had a big launch event on April 4th and that’s the first time that we have done this sort of launch. But it’s about bringing everyone together to honor our little town of Hermosa Beach – it’s been fun.

AM: How do you approach doing collaborations and partnerships. I love the work that you have been dong within Mary Fitzgerald of Netflix's Selling Sunset as I think she’s great and you can see how she is aligned with the brand.

TD: We love Mary, she was truly a fan for a long time like you, she knew Hammitt. She was a real estate agent right here on the South Bay where we’re from and then she went out to the West side and had the show, she already had our bags so she was already wearing them. That’s one way that we do collaborations when it seems to be a match. Another way is when my design team and myself love art! Art is my personal inspiration. I go to Art Basel, whenever I travel I go to a lot of modern museums so does Jeanne so does Collier and we found Alex Alpert who is our latest collaboration and we found him at Art Basel a couple of years ago and we’re launching with him this quarter next month. It’s graffiti and when you at look at the design, it’s actually all Hermosa Beach, it’s our city, its waves, volleyball, our logo and he drew this on leather and then we made it into the collection. And that rivet which you can see is a melting rivet.

AM: Which is pretty cool.

TD: So Alex is a fulltime artist, young, very cool and he has a collaboration that I can’t mention coming out with a global brand. He’s gotten really lucky and I don’t even know if he is even 30 yet! The commonality between Mary and Alex – it’s the ones that we think have a great personality. They love life and we want to really collaborate with people where we enjoy the relationship.

AM: Are there other collaborations that we should also keep an eye out for? Are you thinking about LA28 which is coming up? I could see some amazing things there.

TD: Yeah, so there’s a women’s rally launching in the Fall called the Princess Rally and it’s a 100 women driving sports cars from Southern California up to Northern California and it’s sponsored by Richard Mille, a luxury watch brand. We’re doing a collaboration between us, Richard Mille, and them.

Every September we have what we call the September Issue. We have a collaborative bag that will be coming out for that this year as well. Then at the end of the year, there is an artist that we have a collaboration coming out with and she is a print artist and that’s Dani Dazey. She has already posted about it and she's lovely! She’s so great and she did a beautiful print and we have a whole collection that we will be dropping before the end of the year with her. We’re already working on our collaborations for ’25.

AM: Haha I’m always thinking of something. Being that my background is in fashion, being a Fashion Stylist, as well as being an Accessory Expert, I love seeing true collaborations between people or brands that are amazing on their own, but when they are brought together, you truly have a whole new way of looking at something that you really appreciate.

TD: You know, it’s wonderful right? One of the things that we do is these pop-ups as we have 3 retail stores – Manhattan Beach, South Coast Plaza, and Le Jolla here in California. For Women’s Month in March last month, every Saturday, there were 5 of them and across 3 stores, we had 15 pop-ups of small artisans – candlemakers, hatmakers, flowers, and permanent jewelry. They came and set up in our stores on a Saturday and we welcomed in our customers to meet them and they brought their fans and we had champagne, drinks, and music pumping. It was a really great atmosphere and we will be bringing in a lot more of that as we go on throughout the year. It was very successful.

AM: Do you do pop-ups outside of California like here in NY? Or are you thinking of making a store in NY?

TD: We have had pop-ups throughout the country, not in the traditional open for 2 month set up. But we have sat inside a Kendra Scott store in The Hamptons or back in their hometown. We have been invited to do trunk shows all over the country with our retail partners and we still do. We just celebrated National Hammitt Day with our largest partner on a Saturday and they had a small gift for all of their clients and it was a lot of fun. NYC, it’s still on my map and my bucket list. In our earliest day, we used to do a week in the windows of Henri Bendel for Hammitt when they were around.

AM: I remember! I loved that store and still miss it!

TD: I loved it too and I liked us being there. So I have always wanted to come back to NY in style and be on 5th Ave for our own pop-up and it will happen one day!

AM: That is so amazing and I can’t wait for that. Are there any pop-ups in your local area that you want to share that are taking place this Spring or Summer that we can keep an eye out for for our readers?

TD: I would say that in our 3 stores at least 1 to 2 times a month we have small artisans and makers that will be coming in and so look out for those. On May 17th is our Annual Investors Day. So we did a crowd funding and we have a lot of collectors who invested and we are bringing them all together and it’s a day of joy and fun. We can share our results and what we’re doing moving forward. This will be the first time that we have done that. So this will be great. Then once a year we usually have an in-person event that is in Nov where people fly in from all over the country and it’s a theme. Last year’s was Mama Mia and it was a Greek theme and people get to come and be in that theme to have fun, food, and great cocktails. It’s also a great way for them to be able to see all of our latest designs.

AM: Obviously as we’ve been talking, it’s a women’s brand, but there are a lot of pieces that translate for a man as well. Would you ever create a men’s capsule collection or go in that direction in some way?

TD: [Smiles]

AM: I thought so!

TD: I don’t know, maybe you’re on to something haha!

AM: What have been some of the things that you have been proud of for this brand?

TD: I mean, I’m always the proudest when someone comes up to me and tells me how much they have loved my Hammitt. It’s always what they do with them, where they traveled, who they got it from, what memories they have created, and the second piece of it is our team! I was so proud of Angel who was just in NYC.

AM: Yup, I saw him and had the chance to chat with him at the Accessories Council event at Tin Building by Jean-Georges.

TD: He started at our retail store 3 years ago and I asked him what he wanted to do and he told me that he wanted to work at our headquarters. I said great and I told him that when he was ready, let’s go.

AM: What are things that are taking place with the brand whether it’s holiday season or whatever that you’re able to share that it longer term that we can keep an eye out for.

TD: I just saw our Holiday collection. It just came in and it’s mind blowing. It’s the colors, the textures, and it’s going to take it to another level and is a celebration of who we are. I gave you the secrets of Fall – the Princess Rally is going to be great, our September Issue, wait until you see it. That’s all I can give you for now!

IG @hammittla

@styleprofit

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Hammitt

Read the APR ISSUE #100 of Athleisure Mag and see THE JOY OF ACCESSORIES | Tony Drockton, Hammitt in mag.

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FALLEN ANGELS: A STORY OF CALIFORNIA CORRUPTION

iHeartRadio + Best Case Studios

Spotify

LA Times investigative reporter Paul Pringle got a tip in 2016 saying that a powerful dean of USC's medical school may have been involved in the overdose of a young woman in Pasadena. Initially, he assumed that that it would be a story about drugs and bad behavior by a high profile person - these kinds of stories are not surprising and in many ways can be typical.

But this tip ends up leading him and his team into a deeper story that involves money and influence at 2 of the most powerful institutions in LA!

Fallen Angels: A Story of California Corruption is adapted from his book, Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels. Throughout the 10 episodes, we get to hear how Paul and a group of colleagues at his paper created a secret reporting team to get to the bottom of where this story takes them and how they get stonewalled from the university, law enforcement, and even their own paper!

RIPLEY

Netflix Originals

Netflix

The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of our favorite movies that we will watch anytime that it happens to be on! The visuals, the story, the amazing talent - it's a must watch! When we heard about Ripley, we were hooked to see this serialized version tell the story that we knew while also expanding in ways that the movie didn't and even peeling the layers back on characters even more! Ripley is a stunning series that is shot in black and white and takes you on a journey to a number of locations. It lets you look at the events that took place in a completely different way!

For those that may not have seen the movie, can you watch one without the other? Of course, but we think having a weekend and tackling both or even rewatching the movie to have certain elements fresh in your mind would be wise!

Although this series was set to be a limited one, we can see where there is room to make another season and if so, we're here for it!

INCONCEIVABLE TRUTH

Wavland + RP

Apple Podcast

Knowing where you came from is important. In Inconceivable Truth, WNYC/NPR reporter, Matt Katz had been on a journey to find out who is biological father was since he was young. Realizing that those that were in his life, were not tied to him by blood, he felt that it was time to figure it out.

During his investigation, he realized that he was completely on the wrong track and that finding out who he was and who he is connected to opens up a number of secrets that he could never have imagined were involved in his story.

Through his process, he rethinks what identity means, fatherhood, what it means to have a family, and more importantly - medical ethics! As a listener, in thinking about what medical ethics means, when new methods are being used, about the need to do good and to give people what they want, and to what extent will people with power go in order to get things done?

Read the APR ISSUE #100 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY SRTEAMING in mag.

CHASE AND MILO

We always enjoy catching up with those that are in our favorite series. As we navigate Spring, we caught up Chase Stokes of Netflix's Outer Banks! We wanted to find out what drew him to acting, Outer Banks and it's upcoming Season 4 that will be out soon, what it's like being on this successful series, and about upcoming projects.

He also shares being a dog dad to and spending time with Milo. He talks about how he navigates this time of year as we head into allergy season. He shares why he uses ZYRTEC® and why he partnered with them and their Pet Pawsitivity Walk Challenge, encouraging pet lovers to log their walks in the WoofTrax App to earn donations for nonprofit Mutual Rescue.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?

CHASE STOKES: I realized that I wanted to be an actor in high school actually. I was doing TV production and I had a friend who was shooting commercials and I somehow got stuck into a job making a little money and I thought, “oh my gosh, the things that I love to watch is actually a career.” So, it was like Sophomore/Junior year of high school when I got the bug.

AM: We’ve been a fan of yours since Tell Me Your Secrets and a number of our readers have enjoyed seeing you on Outer Banks. What drew you to this show and what do you enjoy about playing John B?

CS: It just felt really fresh and it felt like I hadn’t read anything in the vein of anything in the world that they created in this show. If I’m being honest, I was super broke and on unemployment and as any young starving actor or artist would know, you kind of don’t say no when it comes to opportunities knocking! I did originally and then I had another look at it and I really really thought that the show and what the writers had created was something special. So, I went against my better judgment in the beginning and I auditioned for it and the rest is kind of history.

AM: What is it like filming this show?

CS: It is tough, it is demanding. We shoot outside for the majority of the season which is why this partnership with Zyrtec was kind of a no-brainer. I’m someone who suffers from allergies and I’m kind of a chronic sneezer to say the least! So to get quick relief and to have it extend for a 24-hour period was something that was super important to me.

So for this show, and for the elements that we shoot in, it’s tough, but it’s very, very rewarding.

AM: What can you tell us about Season 4 of this series?

CS: I can say literally nothing about Season 4. No, I can say that we left Season 3 with the time jump and this big revelation about Blackbeard and it definitely provokes the Pogues interest and we will see whether or not, after this time jump if after all of the death and trauma that they have gone through, if they still want to go back out into the world of hunting treasure or if they want to do life as normal teenagers.

AM: You have a busy schedule from traveling, filming Outer Banks etc. So it must be nice to be able to take time as a dog dad and to spend that time with Milo! What do you love about being a dog dad?

CS: It’s just the unconditional love! I think that dogs have this inherent ability to just connect and attach in a way that is so hard to comprehend as a human. What they give to you, you feel that you need to immediately give it back except for pet dander as that is something that they definitely give to us. It’s just a really rewarding relationship and to be able to watch them from tearing things up to just wanting to lay in your lap is a really beautiful thing.

AM: This time of year is always great because you want to be outside to do any and all activities! You love spending tie with Milo! Why is it so important to do it outside with him?

CS: Milo is a German Shepheard Golden Retriever mix which is just a cocktail for energy! He has to be active, he has to be moving and that’s just the mental stimulation that dogs deserve! He’s one of those dogs that do so much better when he does have physical activity in his day and so as a dog owner, I feel a responsibility in the same way that I feel a responsibility in being able to work with my physical health in order to get the things that he needs so that when we’re walking, I just make sure that it’s in an environment that gives him the stimulation that he deserves as a pup. That’s also the other side of this partnership that really made sense because with this, Zyrtec has partnered with this app, WoofTrax and just like the 500,000 other apps that I have on my phone, this app actually tracks the walks that I do and the cool thing about it is that the walks that you do do, directly goes to donations for a charity called Mutual Rescue and that partners dogs with people who are deserving of pet ownership. I just know how much joy and love that Milo has brought into my life and the memories that I have shared over the years with him whether it be on walks, or trips, or the random weekend getaways that we have done – so for me to be able to see this partnership and as someone who deals with allergies, this is a beautiful partnership that just really made a lot of sense to make this happen.

AM: Why did you want to partner with ZYRTEC for their Pet Pawsitivity program and can you tell us about this initiative?

CS: I just know how much being a dog owner has impacted my life and it’s shifted the way that I operate where it was like, I’m going to go out for a drink with friends and now I’m like, I want to get back to Milo. It’s just really really honing in that they are raising money for such an incredible charity and really creating the opportunity for dog ownership as well as the focus on allergies as well. It was just a really aligning partnership and something that I really felt inclined to be part of and wanted to help them grow as well.

AM: Are there any other upcoming projects that you would like to share that we should keep an eye out for as we know Outer Banks Season 4 is one of those things.

CS: Netflix just announced that a film that I had done a couple of years ago called Uglies with Joey King (The Act, Bullet Train, We Were the Lucky Ones) will be coming out soon. I don’t have an actual date. But I am really proud of that as it was a book series that was adapted for film. It’s just a great cast and a really great experience.

Then I had the opportunity to work with one of the greatest directors, Nick Cassavetes (Alpha Dog, John Q., The Notebook) in his return to the romance genre and in another book adaptation called Marked Men. So, those 2 in particular I’m very excited about and it’s just a different chapter. I’m excited to step into new roles, new characters, and new worlds so all things are coming, no dates yet, but I’m very excited about those.

IG @hichasestokes

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 46 - 48 Jason Lee Davis/Netflix | PG 51 Michael Simon |

Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see CHASE AND MILO in mag.

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THE GENTLEMEN: A GUY RITCHIE SERIES

Netflix Originals

Netflix

We enjoy watching films or series from Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Sherlock Holmes franchise, The Gentlemen) as they're always action filled, have locations that draw you in, and the characters have interesting arcs that showcase the dualities that they navigate!

His latest series The Gentlemen follows this formula as we enter an an aristocratic world where a second born son inherits the family estate! This estate also comes with an enterprise that has no interest in leaving and that his brother, who feels that his birthright has been taken from him has his own issues that leaves him dealing with the underworld.

APPLES NEVER FALL

Peacock Original

Peacock

We had been waiting for Apples Never Fall which is a bestselling novel of the same name. If you are not familiar with Liane Moriarty's work, you need to read her novel Nine Perfect Strangers which is also a series on Hulu as well as Big Little Lies which is also an amazing series on HBO that we can't wait for an additional season as it appears to be in the works!

The books turned series are known for having incredible casts of notable actors. In this series, we get an intimate look at a family who is known for producing and facilitating elite tennis stars through their brand of excellence. They are adored by their community; however, their tennis excellence and social standing has cracks as we see how the family finds their place, we are privy tomurderous undertones, the importance of family, and what happens when we are forced to see our true selves when we are no longer playing the roles that we want others to see us as! This series is a perfect weekend binge whether it's all at one time or you opt to split it over a couple of days!

SHŌGUN: THE OFFICIAL PODCAST

FX

Spotify

If we have said it once, we'll continue to keep saying it! We love a companion podcast! We have been enjoying Shōgun which is set in Japan in 1600 where Lord Roshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) is fighting for his life while his enemies on the Council of Regents come together to ensure that he is no longer a threat to them.

But it is the arrival of a European ship that is found in a fishing village that upsets the balance of their plans which has war, passion, and power.

Shōgun The Official Podcast is hosted by Emily Yoshida who is also the show's staff writer. She talks with the creators, cast, and crew that bring the Sengoku Period to life in feudal Japan in a century-defining cival war. This podcast takes us behind that scenes as well as aligning it with historical references.

Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

BRAIN HEALTH IS KEY | ALTON BROWN

This month, we had the pleasure to sit down and talk with Chef Alton Brown who is known as a TV Personality, super informative food scientist, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. Growing up, we enjoyed watching Food Network's Good Eats so much, which examined the origins of ingredients, and shares culinary customs and shared recipes with us. In addition, we enjoyed watching him host Iron Chef America on the network as well as Netflix's Iron Chef: Quest For An Iron Legend.

His passion behind the science of food, as well as its history, is always exciting to learn about. We took some time to find out about brain health, how he got into the industry and his partnership with Neuriva.

ATHLEISURE MAG: I have been a fan of your work ever since 1999 when I saw the first episode of Good Eats on Food Network!

ALTON BROWN: Oh wow! You were in grade school?

AM: Hmm ’99, I was in college!

AB: It’s funny, it still sounds recent. When I hear someone say 1999, I’m like that’s not too far away!

AM: Same! I was born in ’79 so I don’t feel it’s that far away!

AB: I graduated from high school in ’79!

AM: We’re always talking about health – fitness, gut, mental, and we don’t always get to brain health. But that is an important component as well. Why is it important to you?

AB: Well I really started to think about it a lot when I was thinking about the fact that I was going to turn 60 soon. I studied nutrition so much and I have read so much about it – I have probably forgotten a lot but, I hadn’t really spent a lot of time thinking about what my brain actually needed from me from a culinary standpoint, a supplemental standpoint, an exercise standpoint, or any standpoint. So I started doing a fair amount of research from a few years ago reading peer review papers and I have always enjoyed research. When I got a call from Neuriva, I was like, I already know what is in there, because I have already read papers on ashwagandha and papers on NeuroFactor and so it was very clear to me very quickly that they were very into the science, as was I. That’s how that started and that’s how I got interested in learning about what brains need and they are very complex organs. They do need things and a lot of what it is that they need, is that we need to feed them. The rest, I think supplementally helps.

For me, I break it down into exercise, quality sleep – which most of us do not get – as sleep is gigantic and really almost more important than exercise, nutrition, and what I call – brain stretching. For me, I always need to be in a state of always learning about something that I don’t know. It’s about studying and not just reading for fun. I have to have the ability to actively acquire information.

AM: Yeah, like putting the pieces together.

AB: Right, or my brain gets lazy. It does the equivalent of cracking a beer and sitting down in front of the TV if it’s not actively learning. That’s my brain – not me!

AM: Of course not you!

AB: I’m not a beer person!

And the other part is supplements. When I was studying nutrition from a brain standpoint, I thought there are a lot of things that I would like to get, but it’s just hard to get in food. You can, but not easily because you would have to eat a whole lot of something that you don’t want to. So I break it down into those 5 parts. I try to learn and now that I am in my 60’s, I need to try to learn enough so that my brain can continue to go for perhaps a little while longer.

AM: So what is Neuriva?

AB: You mean the actual supplement itself?

AM: Yes!

AB: Well, there are several of them. They have different things in them, but really, it’s a matter of adding, so the original Neuriva has this thing called NeuroFactor which is an extract from coffee berries – not the seeds, the berries. It also has Phosphatidylserine which is a phospholipid which supports cell membranes especially in the brain. So those 2 chemicals together – originally they were obtained from animal sources and then someone figured out how to get them from soybeans so it’s vegetable derived now. But those 2 things together formed a core of the two nutrients that I was interested in that I couldn’t just get.

You can get coffee berries for your beverage, but you need a lot and I’d rather take them in this supplement. On top of that I don’t really like the way that it tastes. For the Phosphatidylserine, it’s just almost impossible to get. So, those 2 things help you do maintenance for connectivity and cell membranes and then they added Neuriva Plus which brought B6 and B12 to they party. They are very symbiotic vitamins for brain health with those others. Then when Ultra came out, that added an extract from a member of the ginger family – Galangal – there are 4 different kinds of Galangals in the ginger family. They are wonderful for enhancing alertness. I like that one because it also works symbiotically with caffeine. It doesn’t have caffeine, but it works with it and I am a coffee person, so I have moved to that. It’s the same package plus the B Vitamins, plus that extract so it’s kind of like, you can get the base model or the extra! Of course when they come out with their next one, I don’t know! Because now that they have used Ultra, I told them to be careful about that as when it's out, what are you going to do? I mean what’s next, Super Ultra?

AM: Just hearing you talk about how you delve into the base parts of how things come together, how did you come to the culinary industry?

AB: I was a filmmaker, cinematographer, and director for TV commercials. I watched food shows and back in the late 80’s and the 90’s, I thought that they were boring and I knew that I wasn’t really learning anything. It was like, I have another recipe, great. But I don’t know why and I don’t know why any of this works?

I wanted shows that were more exciting and more visual. I wanted to know more on why that was going on and no one wanted to make that show.

So I quit and I went to culinary school. When I went to culinary school, I realized that they weren’t going to show me why either. Luckily, there was another college in this little town I went to for culinary school in Vermont and they had a library that we could use. So they would publish their chemistry reading list and I just went and started studying it because unfortunately, science is the answer to just about everything. There’s a science play everywhere, not necessarily for matters of the heart, but everything else.

So I think that I got addicted in a way that was chemical to telling those stories and to get people excited and to get people to be curious. It sparked in me a curiosity engine that I wouldn’t want to turn off.

AM: We love hearing about people's routines! What are 3 things that they enjoy doing, having, enjoying/being in the Morning, Afternoon, and at Night. We call this 63MIX ROUTIN3S.

AB: This has very much come out of my brain studies.

AM: I assumed!

AB: As a matter of fact, I'm not naturally a routine person. The only routine that I used to have was that I will stumble out somewhere and I will find coffee. When I went to bed, where I got to bed – at that time, everything was about work. I would work until 4 in the morning and then when I got up, I did it all over again.

So now with this routine that I have, it's about sleep and I have a bed time! I have a bed time. I have a bed hour that I have to get to bed during. Somewhere between 10:30 and 11:30, I must be in bed.

I can’t look at a screen at least 2 hours before then. It screws up everything. I can read, but it has to be a book. I have to get that sleep!

I also have a time that I get up and it’s no later than 6:30 in the morning. Because the morning to me is like stolen time it’s before you have to do things for other people. I’m working on my first collection of essays and memoirs stuff right know which has been a very challenging thing right now. I write better in the morning and I edit what I wrote at night better at this time. So that's a very big one.

My wife and I, Elizabeth, do not eat after 8pm at night. If that’s not enforced, you automatically set a clock where it forces at least a 15 hour break for the next day which puts me off my schedule for breakfast!

And then the other thing that I won't call a routine is that I used to say, ok, I'm going to workout. It's like, I have to put on clothes that I don't like.

AM: No 3-piece suits!

AB: It depends! I knew that it would be an hour and a half and that I would hate it. So instead, I have learned to break it up into chunks. I do micro workouts! I try to do 3 of them everyday. One of them has to be weight related. It doesn’t have to be a lot of weight.

One of them has to be 100% cardio. It can be fast - or when we're in NY, we have an apartment here and we live in Atlanta. If there is a coffeeshop that I want to go to like when we have our apartment here in NY, as opposed to picking the one on our block, I’ll pick one that is 3 miles away. So I earn -

AM: You earn that coffee!

AB: Yes! So there's always a cardio, there's always a weightlifting and this is going to sound so stupid, but my wife read this book called Breathe and convinced me that the entirety of my life, I had been breathing wrong. I don’t meditate because it makes me fall asleep, but I literally stop and work on nothing but breathing for half an hour.

AM: Breathwork is so important!

AB: Well I never knew that! I just thought that is was eh?

AM: I started doing it about a year ago and it really is effective!

AB: I was like, I'm already breathing! But the truth is, I'm a scuba diver and when I got the scuba diving training when I was much much younger, breath control was such a huge huge part of making your air last and not sinking all of the time, so it reminded me of that training that I went through and it's incredibly effective both mentally and physically! Two years ago, I wouldn't have been into it!

AM: It has been such a pleasure to chat with you and to be able to meet you and being such a fan of Good Eats as well as other shows that you have been on!

We enjoyed interviewing Alton and in addition to having time to talk with him, we enjoyed an intimate dinner party with him and the Neuriva team that would fuel our brain health.

Over our four course dinner at Hearth, Chef Marco Canora's (founder of Bone Broth brand, Brodo) Tuscan-American farm-to-table restaurant in the East Village of NYC, Alton walked us through each of the dishes! Of course, he provided the science behind them and why they are effective. Our first course was the Ribollita. It's an honor to share some select notes highlighted by Chef Alton from this special dinner.

AB: I’m so excited that we’re sharing this intimate dinner party together and as we enjoy our various courses, I’m going to tell you a bit about the brain nutrients that are involved in the dishes that we’re going to enjoy! The brain needs a number of nutrients for its health and you can get those outside of a supplementary way. One of the ingredients is coffee berries – I like coffee but I don’t like the berries and I’m not a fan of the taste and another one is Phosphatidylserine which is a lipid, a phospholipid that we used to get from brains in animals and now we get them from soybeans. It helps to build and maintain cell membranes and I want this stuff, I need to get this, and I can’t get enough of it in food. Then, all of a sudden there was the original Neuriva formula which I believe only contained those two things. So I knew it was the supplement for me as I wouldn’t be able to get enough of it in food.

So not too long after that, I was called up by them and I thought yes, get your scientists on the phone because I want to talk about white papers and everything. So it happened very naturally to partner with Neuriva and it’s been a couple of great years. I have been taking the product for awhile now and Ultra happens to be my favorite because it works really nicely when the caffeine hits.

We have a very stimulating evening ahead and we also have what I like to call instead of a Tasting Menu, a Thinking Menu as we talk about food. Everybody knows what the Mediterranean Diet (Editor’s Note: The Mediterranean Diet is a diet inspired by the eating habits and traditional food typical of southern Spain, southern Italy, and Crete, and formulated in the early 1960s.) is as it can be a bit loosey goosey and sexy and cool. It has had some great effects. From that is another diet that emerged from it known as the DASH Diet (Editor’s Note: Known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, it is a flexible and balanced eating plan that helps create a heart-healthy eating style for life) that some of you may not have heard of that is a version of the Mediterranean Diet that was designed specifically for people that were fighting hypertension problems. So if anyone with us was in the 80s we used to have these things called Graphic Equalizer Stereos that turned things up and down on different parts of the soundwave and that’s what that diet did. It went for the hypertension part and removed salt and then it did some other things. Then in the 2015, Martha Clare Morris came up with the MIND Diet (Editor’s Note: Known as The Mediterranean – DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet combines portions of the DASH Diet and the Mediterranean Diet which have been shown to improve cognition) and it takes the same componentry of the Mediterranean Diet and changing it up for our brains. What would our brains want out of that diet? It’s a little bit different as it emphasizes some other components that might not have been as focused as much. For instance, all the diets have fruit! No one is going to talk bad about fruit. The MIND Diet says, you know what? The brain really wants dark berries. Blueberries - eat your blueberries. Have more olive oil, eat more leafy greens. No one is going to say anything bad about these things either. The MIND Diet has more poultry, even more than fish! There is a substance in poultry called choline (Editor’s Note: Found in poultry, this prevents abnormal storage of fat in the liver, which ensures proper body metabolism and efficient utilization of nutrients. It also supports the proper functioning of the nervous system and ensures its harmony.) which is really hard to get anywhere else, but in good lean, protein meat. Choline has a lot to do with enhancing the way that phospholipids work in the brain and our membranes as well. The good news is that unlike other diets, red wine is on the MIND Diet currently. There is some research for that. Tonight, we’re going to eat 4 courses. We’ll try to enhance and bring to the party, some of those foods that are incorporated into the MIND Diet and we’ll talk about it course by course as we go through it.

We are very fortunate to be at this restaurant! Hearth is one of the best restaurants in NY and I have known Chef Marco Canora for many years. There are brilliant, brilliant cooks here. Chef Michael Keough is here tonight and I hope he will come in and say something to us in a bit. I had some questions for him this morning and he was so gracious about answering about things that are on tonight’s menu.

Our first course is going to be a soup called Ribollita. If anybody has spent time in Tuscany, this is a soup that you would have seen there. It's a basic - I hate to say the word the word but here it comes – rustic soup. What this one does is it’s going to hit one of the major notes and chords of the MIND Diet – beans! When we talk about green beans, we’re also talking about dry beans. This is a bean soup in vegetable stock and we will be enjoying those vegetables tonight! There will be carrots, there are some onions, and I believe there is some cabbage in there. This also has some sage and garlic infusion. The cool thing about this in its traditional form, is that is bread based. It is thickened usually with moistened bread and always served with crisp, giant croutons on top. There is also a dusting of parmesan cheese. But most of the flavor will be coming from those beans. That’s going to guarantee that we are getting those beans that we want. Of course you can enjoy the bread as well as the olive oil which is also perfect for this diet as well.

We enjoyed this hearty soup which was flavorful and nourishing. It really set the stage for the next portion of our meal which was a Pizzocheri, a ribbon pasta.

AB: As we continue on in the MIND Diet, the next course is a Pizzocheri. We don’t talk much about mushrooms in brain health and brain support, but there’s a lot of research that suggests that we should be focusing on them a lot more. They’re good for our bodies, our planet, and our brains. This Pizzocheri is topped with a little bit of fontina cheese and what we’re getting is some great vegetation with the cabbage and some brain healthy mushrooms that are not currently listed on the MIND Diet, but I think that they will be in the next few years and a whole grain pasta which is a perfectly acceptable way to get your grains.

This was yet another dish from the night that was filling an full of nutrients that are beneficial to our health. We all agreed that this was something that we would enjoy eating throughout the winter! Where the first, second and the fourth course are dishes that are currently on Hearth's menu, but were adjusted to have the brain health specific ingredients that are part of the MIND Diet, our third course is a recipe from Alton Brown that we were excited to try as we know his love for chicken!

AB: We are at the Main Course event for tonight! This is my recipe and it is actually a conglomeration of two of my spatchcock recipes. I like to cut the back of my chickens – some people call it butterflying, I think that spatchcock is far more sexy! So this features a couple of Middle Eastern spices that I am a big fan of, Aleppo pepper and Za’atar that I know that you all are very very familiar with. So we’re getting our poultry in which is definitely on this diet. But also, we’re taking in our greens from another chicken dish of mine, a Sesame Glazed Dark Greens which it is being served with it tonight. I believe we’re going to have a Black Kale and 2 other greens, I’m not sure what they ended up with tonight, but it is 3 very different organic greens. They have been sauteed and it’s whatever they got from the market today. The sauce is a straight forward pan sauce that are the drippings from the chicken with a little bit of butter and poured right over the chicken. This is something that I like to do once I got into the MIND set of the MIND Diet which is combining various things that were in the diet to support each other. I love chicken, it’s my favorite meat. There are days where I don’t want to eat my greens and I try to hide them – I will tell you that! But because they are brought together by the lemon glaze with sesame, it unites the dish in a really handy way! So I hope you enjoy it and smell it!

Without a doubt, this is a chicken that we could have again and again! The greens were also something that we want to put in our rotation as well! We have the recipe for both of these dishes that you can make for yourself for Alton's Butterflied Chicken with Aleppo and Za’atar as well as his Lemon Sesame Glazed Greens!

Of course, we ended this amazing meal with dessert and enjoyed a Tangerine Almond Cake.

AB: Dessert! Believe it or not, on the MIND Diet, desserts can be had especially when they contain nuts! Nuts are a big part of this diet because nuts have a lot of fantastic fats that are not only good for your body, but also for your brain. It’s the phytochemicals that are still being studied as we speak. This is an almond with most of the cream off to the side and kumquats. Of course, they are a great source of Vitamin C and so this is a dessert in the Italian style where the accent is really on the flavor of the ingredients rather than an added sweetness. Enjoy!

We enjoyed being able to chat with Alton as well as to be invited to his dinner party to enjoy a great meal as well as one that benefits our brain health!

We also learned about the brand's 30-Day Brain Health Challenge, an easy and fun way to redefine cognitive potential and establish a brain-healthy routine. This allows consumers to choose their Neuriva of choice and taking it for 30 days to help support up to 7 indicators of brain health, including memory. You can also download the Neuriva Brain Gym app, to play stimulating Brain Games daily and see the results for yourself.

IG @altonbrown

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 60, 65 + 67 Discovery+/Good Eats: The Return | PG 62 Neuriva | PG 69 - 73 Netflix/Patrick Wymore |

Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see BRAIN HEALTH IS KEY | Alton Brown in mag.

AWARDS SEASON | SAG AWARDS WINNERS

The 30th SAG Awards will take place on Feb 24th and for the first time will be streaming globally on Netflix. Our predictions are in bold, the ones we correctly identified as winners are in bold italics and winners that we didn’t predict are in italics.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

American Fiction

Barbie

The Color Purple

Killers of the Flower Moon

Oppenheimer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Bradley Cooper – Maestro

Colman Domingo – Rustin

Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers

Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer

Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Annette Bening – Nyad

Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon

Carey Mulligan – Maestro

Margot Robbie – Barbie

Emma Stone – Poor Things

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Sterling K. Brown – American Fiction

Willem Dafoe – Poor Things

Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling – Barbie

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer

Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple

Penelope Cruz – Ferrari

Jodie Foster – Nyad

Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

The Crown

The Gilded Age

The Last of Us

The Morning Show

Succession

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Abbot Elementary

Barry

The Bear

Only Murders in the Building

Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Brian Cox – Succession

Billy Crudup – The Morning Show

Kieran Culkin – Succession

Matthew Macfadyen – Succession

Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston – The Morning Show

Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown

Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us

Keri Russell – The Diplomat

Sarah Snook – Succession

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary

Ayo Edebiri – The Bear

Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Brett Goldstein – Ted Lasso

Bill Hader – Barry

Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear

Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso

Jeremy Allen White – The Bear

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Uzo Aduba – Painkiller

Kathryn Hahn – Tiny Beautiful Things

Brie Larson – Lessons in Chemistry

Bel Powley – A Small Light

Ali Wong – Beef

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Matt Bomer – Fellow Travelers

Jon Hamm – Fargo

David Oyelowo – Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Tony Shalhoub – Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie

Steven Yeun – Beef

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

Ahsoka

Barry

Beef

The Last of Us

The Mandalorian

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

Barbie

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

John Wick: Chapter 4

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

MURDER 101

KT Studios + iHeart Radio

Spotify

Long time readers of Athleisure Mag know that we love a true crime genre podcasts! In Murder 101, we find out about a local serial killer in a small Tennessee town who was caught by an interesting group of investigators, a group of high school students! Led by their teacher Alex Campbell, during one semester the class was able to connect and identify a 30 year old mystery. Their efforts led to connecting the killer to at least 6 brutal murders.

Interestingly enough, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigators have publicly agreed on their theory but charges have yet to be filed against the murderer.

Some members of this class have already graduated, they continue to work alongside current high school students so that they can complete this assignment.

GRISELDA

Netflix Originals

Netflix

Continuing along with our enjoyment of true crime, we are always interested in hearing about the life and time of crime bosses. Generally, these names include Pablo Escobar, Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and even the Kray twins - Ronnie and Reggie to name a few. But women have also navigated this world. Griselda tells the story of Griselda Blanco, The Godmother of Cocaine of Miami's drug empire. Inspired by real events, we watch the jounrey of her life in Medellin, Columbia to being a force in Miami.

This mini series has Sofia Vergara (Machete Kills, Modern Family, America's Got Talent) playing the notorious Columbian drug lord. We watch as she enters into the drug business to support her family and as she gets deeper into this industry, we see what happens when greed and ruthlessness begin to take hold of those involved.

We also see how her downfall comes about as she comes up against betrayal and paranoia of the very ones that work for her.

We see how she navigates being arrested and being separated from her children. Her life becomes even more complicated when a staged kidnapping, arrests and deception are thrown into the mix. Through it all, her right hand Rivi (Martin Rodriguez) is a pivotal person in her enterprise. Karol G (WATATI, Mi Cama, TQC) also makes her acting debut as one of Griselda's trusted confidants.

RIPPLE

Western Sound + APM Studios

Apple

We've been enjoying a new investigative documentary style podcast known as Ripple. They aim to focus on major events that we know about and analyzing the long-term impact that continue to go unnoticed for years or even decades.

In their inaugural season, they look at the largest oil spill in American history from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil on the Gulf Coast.

At the time, we heard about the herculean response effort that made shorelines safe and avoided a worst case scenario. Was that really the whole picture?

The investigators visit the coastal residents to see how they are still impacted more than a decade later.

Read the JAN ISSUE #97 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

AWARDS SEASON | BAFTA WINNERS

Earlier today, winners were announced for BAFTA. Our predictions are in bold, the ones we correctly identified as winners are in bold italics and winners that we didn’t predict are in italics.

BEST FILM

ANATOMY OF A FALL Marie-Ange Luciani, David Thion

THE HOLDOVERS Mark Johnson

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Dan Friedkin, Daniel Lupi, Martin Scorsese, Bradley Thomas

OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas

POOR THINGS Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Lowe, Emma Stone

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

ALL OF US STRANGERS Andrew Haigh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

HOW TO HAVE SEX Molly Manning Walker, Emily Leo, Ivana MacKinnon, Konstantinos Kontovrakis

NAPOLEON Ridley Scott, Mark Huffam, Kevin J. Walsh, David Scarpa

THE OLD OAK Ken Loach, Rebecca O'Brien, Paul Laverty

POOR THINGS Yorgos Lanthimos, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Emma Stone, Tony McNamara

RYE LANE Raine Allen-Miller, Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo, Damian Jones, Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia

SALTBURN Emerald Fennell, Josey McNamara, Margot Robbie

SCRAPPER Charlotte Regan, Theo Barrowclough

WONKA Paul King, Alexandra Derbyshire, David Heyman, Simon Farnaby

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Ewa Puszczyńska

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

BLUE BAG LIFE Lisa Selby (Director), Rebecca Lloyd-Evans (Director, Producer), Alex Fry (Producer)

BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT Christopher Sharp (Director) [also directed Moses Bwayo]

EARTH MAMA Savanah Leaf (Writer, Director, Producer), Shirley O'Connor (Producer), Medb Riordan (Producer)

HOW TO HAVE SEX Molly Manning Walker (Writer, Director)

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? Ella Glendining (Director)

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson Rath

ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet, Marie-Ange Luciani, David Thion

PAST LIVES Celine Song, David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon

SOCIETY OF THE SNOW J.A. Bayona, Belen Atienza

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer, PGA

DOCUMENTARY

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson Rath

AMERICAN SYMPHONY Matthew Heineman, Lauren Domino, Joedan Okun

BEYOND UTOPIA Madeleine Gavin, Rachel Cohen, Jana Edelbaum

STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIE Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan King, Annetta Marion

WHAM! Chris Smith

ANIMATED FILM

THE BOY AND THE HERON Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET Sam Fell, Leyla Hobart, Steve Pegram

ELEMENTAL Peter Sohn, Denise Ream

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Avi Arad, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, Christina Steinberg

DIRECTOR

ALL OF US STRANGERS Andrew Haigh

ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet

THE HOLDOVERS Alexander Payne

MAESTRO Bradley Cooper

OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet, Arthur Harari

BARBIE Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach

THE HOLDOVERS David Hemingson

MAESTRO Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer

PAST LIVES Celine Song

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

ALL OF US STRANGERS Andrew Haigh

AMERICAN FICTION Cord Jefferson

OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan

POOR THINGS Tony McNamara

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer

LEADING ACTRESS

FANTASIA BARRINO The Color Purple

SANDRA HÜLLER Anatomy of a Fall

CAREY MULLIGAN Maestro

VIVIAN OPARAH Rye Lane

MARGOT ROBBIE Barbie

EMMA STONE Poor Things

LEADING ACTOR

BRADLEY COOPER Maestro

COLMAN DOMINGO Rustin

PAUL GIAMATTI The Holdovers

BARRY KEOGHAN Saltburn

CILLIAN MURPHY Oppenheimer

TEO YOO Past Lives

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

EMILY BLUNT Oppenheimer

DANIELLE BROOKS The Color Purple

CLAIRE FOY All of Us Strangers

SANDRA HÜLLER The Zone of Interest

ROSAMUND PIKE Saltburn

DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH The Holdovers

SUPPORTING ACTOR

ROBERT DE NIRO Killers of The Flower Moon

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Oppenheimer

JACOB ELORDI Saltburn

RYAN GOSLING Barbie

PAUL MESCAL All of Us Strangers

DOMINIC SESSA The Holdovers

ORIGINAL SCORE

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Robbie Robertson

OPPENHEIMER Ludwig Göransson

POOR THINGS Jerskin Fendrix

SALTBURN Anthony Willis

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Daniel Pemberton

CASTING

ALL OF US STRANGERS Kahleen Crawford

ANATOMY OF A FALL Cynthia Arra

THE HOLDOVERS Susan Shopmaker

HOW TO HAVE SEX Isabella Odoffin

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Ellen Lewis, Rene Haynes

CINEMATOGRAPHY

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Rodrigo Prieto

MAESTRO Matthew Libatique

OPPENHEIMER Hoyte van Hoytema

POOR THINGS Robbie Ryan

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Łukasz Żal

EDITING

ANATOMY OF A FALL Laurent Sénéchal

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Thelma Schoonmaker

OPPENHEIMER Jennifer Lame

POOR THINGS Yorgos Mavropsaridis

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Paul Watts

PRODUCTION DESIGN

BARBIE Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Jack Fisk, Adam Willis

OPPENHEIMER Ruth De Jong, Claire Kaufman

POOR THINGS Shona Heath, James Price, Zsuzsa Mihalek

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Chris Oddy, Joanna Maria Kuś, Katarzyna Sikora

COSTUME DESIGN

BARBIE Jacqueline Durran

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Jacqueline West

NAPOLEON Dave Crossman, Janty Yates

OPPENHEIMER Ellen Mirojnick

POOR THINGS Holly Waddington

MAKE UP & HAIR

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Kay Georgiou, Thomas Nellen

MAESTRO Sian Grigg, Kay Georgiou, Kazu Hiro, Lori McCoy-Bell

NAPOLEON Jana Carboni, Francesco Pegoretti, Satinder Chumber, Julia Vernon

OPPENHEIMER Luisa Abel, Jaime Leigh McIntosh, Jason Hamer, Ahou Mofid

POOR THINGS Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, Josh Weston

SOUND

FERRARI Angelo Bonanni, Tony Lamberti, Andy Nelson, Lee Orloff, Bernard Weiser

MAESTRO Richard King, Steve Morrow, Tom Ozanich, Jason Ruder, Dean Zupancic

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Chris Burdon, James H. Mather, Chris Munro, Mark Taylor

OPPENHEIMER Willie Burton, Richard King, Kevin O'Connell, Gary A. Rizzo

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Johnnie Burn, Tarn Willers

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

THE CREATOR Jonathan Bullock, Charmaine Chan, Ian Comley, Jay Cooper

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Theo Bialek, Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Neil Corbould, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland, Alex Wuttke

NAPOLEON Henry Badgett, Neil Corbould, Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet

POOR THINGS Simon Hughes

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

CRAB DAY Ross Stringer, Bartosz Stanislawek, Aleksandra Sykulak

VISIBLE MENDING Samantha Moore, Tilley Bancroft

WILD SUMMON Karni Arieli, Saul Freed, Jay Woolley

BRITISH SHORT FILM

FESTIVAL OF SLAPS Abdou Cissé, Cheri Darbon, George Telfer

GORKA Joe Weiland, Alex Jefferson

JELLYFISH AND LOBSTER Yasmin Afifi, Elizabeth Rufai

SUCH A LOVELY DAY Simon Woods, Polly Stokes, Emma Norton, Kate Phibbs

YELLOW Elham Ehsas, Dina Mousawi, Azeem Bhati, Yiannis Manolopoulos

EE RISING STAR AWARD

PHOEBE DYNEVOR

AYO EDEBIRI

JACOB ELORDI

MIA MCKENNA-BRUCE

SOPHIE WILDE

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

63MIX ROUTIN3S | JESSE MCFADDIN

Read the JAN ISSUE #97 of Athleisure Mag and see 63MIX ROUTIN3S | Jesse McFaddin in mag.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON | JOANNA GARCIA SWISHER

The holiday season means that we're doing a lot more than we usually do. In the midst of those activities is hanging out with friends, family, and colleagues whether we're hosting them in our homes, going out for dinner, or enjoying copious parties! We caught up with Netflix Sweet Magnolia's Joanna Garcia Swisher to find out how she makes sure that she's not only being healthy, but keeping others safe while being out and about. She also lets us in on when we can expect to see her on our screens again!

ATHLEISURE MAG: The holiday season is upon us which means we're juggling a really full schedule! What are you doing this holiday season with you and your family?

JOANNA GARCIA SWISHER: Well, we’re trying to enjoy it as much as possible. The holiday season feels like it’s already here, it’s breezing by and it’s been a wild couple of weeks but we’re really excited to spend time with family. My brother in-law and sister in-law have a new baby and they’re bringing her to Florida for her first Christmas here. So, we have bouncers and baby toys all over the place and it’s really bringing me back. My husband is a little nervous, he’s like “What does this mean for us?" But yeah, after the holiday we’re going to head to the lake and get a little cozy winter feel in Georgia and have lots of wood burning fires and all of that.

AM: What traditions do you enjoy during this season?

JGS: We do Christmas Eve really big in our house, we have a house full of kids and people and we do a huge Minute to Win It game with 10-15 events and it gets the whole family involved, from parents to grandparents to the youngest members of our family. We have all of our Cuban traditions with pork and all of the things that we’ve eaten growing up and it's a really nostalgic time for our family. Traditions are huge for me so it’s something I really look forward to.

AM: When people in your family are feeling sick, what do you do?

JGS: Well, aside from panicking, I have all the essential elements so whenever me, my husband or kids - I was actually sick a few weeks ago - show any symptoms, I have a checklist. It usually starts with trying to figure out what it is so I always have my Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Self Tests and they are the first thing we do because as a Mom, you want to know what you’re working with and how best to approach what we’re about to be getting into. So really it’s about being prepared and having the essentials on hand, and the BinaxNOW COVID tests are our first plan of attack.

AM: How do you take time for yourself as a busy mom just so that you get the self-care that you need?

JGS: You know I always say, it doesn’t have to be an hour. Gosh, if we had an hour to ourselves everyday that would be so nice. But even just sneaking in 15 minutes of something you enjoy - a podcast and I love to read. Taking the time to really decompress because the running checklist in our heads as mothers is always on and going, this time of year especially. I was just talking to one of my girl friends about it and she was like, “I’ve just got the teacher’s gifts done, and this and that,” it adds to the list. So I think just really taking time even if it's just a 15 minute breather or lunch with a girl friend. Something to just - take a break - and it’s ok, if you have time for a nap, take a nap!

AM: You're someone who enjoys traveling, what are some of the things that you do to make the experience smooth and effortless?

JGS: I am married to a man that really likes a plan, he is not a free spirit in any way, he is like “I need to know what we are doing.” So what I’ve learned after 13 years of marriage is that having an itinerary really helps him, while I'm the one who wants to explore and see where the day takes us. But I also got a little feedback when we went to London this summer, my family had a little bit of an intervention with me and basically said that I over-scheduled us. So, now we plan one big adventure a day and my husband knows what we’re doing and then carving out time to relax. They’re more of a beach vacation family, and I like to sight see, so we have to kind of figure that out but it’s a work in progress and a good plan for our family.

AM: We've been fans of your work since Are Your Afraid of the Dark, Astronaut Wives Club, Sweet Magnolia, and The Ultimatum: Queer Love! Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share with us that we should keep an eye out for?

JGS: Well yea, we’re starting the new year off with a bang, we’re starting to film Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias which I’m so excited about. We’re also doing a second season of Ultimatum Queer Love. I don’t know if I can reveal where we’re shooting it but where we are shooting it is a city that I love so I’m super excited about that. So the new year’s gonna start off pretty busy but with two shows that I’m so excited for and proud of.

IG @jogarciaswisher

PHOTO CREDITS | PG 70 Abbott | PG 72 Netflix/Sweet Magnolia

Read the DEC ISSUE #96 of Athleisure Mag and see THIS HOLIDAY SEASON | JoAnna Garcia Swisher in mag.

AWARDS SEASON | BAFTA NOMINATIONS

Last week we shared the British Academy named the nominees for its Rising Star award for up-and-coming onscreen talent, the only honor among the BAFTA film awards to be voted on by the public. The remainder of the nominations unveiled earlier today and this post has been updated with that information! Our predictions are in bold, the ones we correctly identified as winners are in bold italics and winners that we didn’t predict are in italics.

BEST FILM

ANATOMY OF A FALL Marie-Ange Luciani, David Thion

THE HOLDOVERS Mark Johnson

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Dan Friedkin, Daniel Lupi, Martin Scorsese, Bradley Thomas

OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas

POOR THINGS Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Lowe, Emma Stone

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

ALL OF US STRANGERS Andrew Haigh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

HOW TO HAVE SEX Molly Manning Walker, Emily Leo, Ivana MacKinnon, Konstantinos Kontovrakis

NAPOLEON Ridley Scott, Mark Huffam, Kevin J. Walsh, David Scarpa

THE OLD OAK Ken Loach, Rebecca O'Brien, Paul Laverty

POOR THINGS Yorgos Lanthimos, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Emma Stone, Tony McNamara

RYE LANE Raine Allen-Miller, Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo, Damian Jones, Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia

SALTBURN Emerald Fennell, Josey McNamara, Margot Robbie

SCRAPPER Charlotte Regan, Theo Barrowclough

WONKA Paul King, Alexandra Derbyshire, David Heyman, Simon Farnaby

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Ewa Puszczyńska

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

BLUE BAG LIFE Lisa Selby (Director), Rebecca Lloyd-Evans (Director, Producer), Alex Fry (Producer)

BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT Christopher Sharp (Director) [also directed Moses Bwayo]

EARTH MAMA Savanah Leaf (Writer, Director, Producer), Shirley O'Connor (Producer), Medb Riordan (Producer)

HOW TO HAVE SEX Molly Manning Walker (Writer, Director)

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? Ella Glendining (Director)

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson Rath

ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet, Marie-Ange Luciani, David Thion

PAST LIVES Celine Song, David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon

SOCIETY OF THE SNOW J.A. Bayona, Belen Atienza

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer, PGA

DOCUMENTARY

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson Rath

AMERICAN SYMPHONY Matthew Heineman, Lauren Domino, Joedan Okun

BEYOND UTOPIA Madeleine Gavin, Rachel Cohen, Jana Edelbaum

STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIE Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan King, Annetta Marion

WHAM! Chris Smith

ANIMATED FILM

THE BOY AND THE HERON Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET Sam Fell, Leyla Hobart, Steve Pegram

ELEMENTAL Peter Sohn, Denise Ream

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Avi Arad, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, Christina Steinberg

DIRECTOR

ALL OF US STRANGERS Andrew Haigh

ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet

THE HOLDOVERS Alexander Payne

MAESTRO Bradley Cooper

OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ANATOMY OF A FALL Justine Triet, Arthur Harari

BARBIE Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach

THE HOLDOVERS David Hemingson

MAESTRO Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer

PAST LIVES Celine Song

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

ALL OF US STRANGERS Andrew Haigh

AMERICAN FICTION Cord Jefferson

OPPENHEIMER Christopher Nolan

POOR THINGS Tony McNamara

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Jonathan Glazer

LEADING ACTRESS

FANTASIA BARRINO The Color Purple

SANDRA HÜLLER Anatomy of a Fall

CAREY MULLIGAN Maestro

VIVIAN OPARAH Rye Lane

MARGOT ROBBIE Barbie

EMMA STONE Poor Things

LEADING ACTOR

BRADLEY COOPER Maestro

COLMAN DOMINGO Rustin

PAUL GIAMATTI The Holdovers

BARRY KEOGHAN Saltburn

CILLIAN MURPHY Oppenheimer

TEO YOO Past Lives

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

EMILY BLUNT Oppenheimer

DANIELLE BROOKS The Color Purple

CLAIRE FOY All of Us Strangers

SANDRA HÜLLER The Zone of Interest

ROSAMUND PIKE Saltburn

DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH The Holdovers

SUPPORTING ACTOR

ROBERT DE NIRO Killers of The Flower Moon

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Oppenheimer

JACOB ELORDI Saltburn

RYAN GOSLING Barbie

PAUL MESCAL All of Us Strangers

DOMINIC SESSA The Holdovers

ORIGINAL SCORE

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Robbie Robertson

OPPENHEIMER Ludwig Göransson

POOR THINGS Jerskin Fendrix

SALTBURN Anthony Willis

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Daniel Pemberton

CASTING

ALL OF US STRANGERS Kahleen Crawford

ANATOMY OF A FALL Cynthia Arra

THE HOLDOVERS Susan Shopmaker

HOW TO HAVE SEX Isabella Odoffin

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Ellen Lewis, Rene Haynes

CINEMATOGRAPHY

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Rodrigo Prieto

MAESTRO Matthew Libatique

OPPENHEIMER Hoyte van Hoytema

POOR THINGS Robbie Ryan

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Łukasz Żal

EDITING

ANATOMY OF A FALL Laurent Sénéchal

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Thelma Schoonmaker

OPPENHEIMER Jennifer Lame

POOR THINGS Yorgos Mavropsaridis

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Paul Watts

PRODUCTION DESIGN

BARBIE Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Jack Fisk, Adam Willis

OPPENHEIMER Ruth De Jong, Claire Kaufman

POOR THINGS Shona Heath, James Price, Zsuzsa Mihalek

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Chris Oddy, Joanna Maria Kuś, Katarzyna Sikora

COSTUME DESIGN

BARBIE Jacqueline Durran

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Jacqueline West

NAPOLEON Dave Crossman, Janty Yates

OPPENHEIMER Ellen Mirojnick

POOR THINGS Holly Waddington

MAKE UP & HAIR

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Kay Georgiou, Thomas Nellen

MAESTRO Sian Grigg, Kay Georgiou, Kazu Hiro, Lori McCoy-Bell

NAPOLEON Jana Carboni, Francesco Pegoretti, Satinder Chumber, Julia Vernon

OPPENHEIMER Luisa Abel, Jaime Leigh McIntosh, Jason Hamer, Ahou Mofid

POOR THINGS Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, Josh Weston

SOUND

FERRARI Angelo Bonanni, Tony Lamberti, Andy Nelson, Lee Orloff, Bernard Weiser

MAESTRO Richard King, Steve Morrow, Tom Ozanich, Jason Ruder, Dean Zupancic

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Chris Burdon, James H. Mather, Chris Munro, Mark Taylor

OPPENHEIMER Willie Burton, Richard King, Kevin O'Connell, Gary A. Rizzo

THE ZONE OF INTEREST Johnnie Burn, Tarn Willers

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

THE CREATOR Jonathan Bullock, Charmaine Chan, Ian Comley, Jay Cooper

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Theo Bialek, Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Neil Corbould, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland, Alex Wuttke

NAPOLEON Henry Badgett, Neil Corbould, Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet

POOR THINGS Simon Hughes

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

CRAB DAY Ross Stringer, Bartosz Stanislawek, Aleksandra Sykulak

VISIBLE MENDING Samantha Moore, Tilley Bancroft

WILD SUMMON Karni Arieli, Saul Freed, Jay Woolley

BRITISH SHORT FILM

FESTIVAL OF SLAPS Abdou Cissé, Cheri Darbon, George Telfer

GORKA Joe Weiland, Alex Jefferson

JELLYFISH AND LOBSTER Yasmin Afifi, Elizabeth Rufai

SUCH A LOVELY DAY Simon Woods, Polly Stokes, Emma Norton, Kate Phibbs

YELLOW Elham Ehsas, Dina Mousawi, Azeem Bhati, Yiannis Manolopoulos

EE RISING STAR AWARD

PHOEBE DYNEVOR

AYO EDEBIRI

JACOB ELORDI

MIA MCKENNA-BRUCE

SOPHIE WILDE

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