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.

9PLAYLIST MULTI | ALYSIA REINER

Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI | 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.

AWARDS SEASON | EMMYS WINNERS

Today, the Television Academy announced the 76th Emmys for this year’s nominees. Sheryl Lee Ralph (The Mighty Quinn, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Abbott Elementary) and Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Drunk History, Veep) announced the nominees from the El Capitan Theatre. Programs that were eligible to be nominated had to air between Jun 1, 2023, and May 31st, 2024. The Creative Arts Emmys will run on Sept 7th and the 8th. The Emmys will take place on Sep 15th, 2024 at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live and will be broadcast live on this date at 8pm ET on ABC and will be available on Hulu for live streaming and on-demand. Jessie Collins Entertainment which is comprised of the trio: Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay are set to executive produce the telecast for the second year in a row. We will update this post at the end of each night for the 3 portions of the award ceremony.

As we do throughout Awards Season, we share our predictions in bold, the ones we correctly identified as winners are in bold italics and winners that we didn’t predict are in italics. On the night of the event, we will share who we predicted correctly as well as those we didn’t that won.

Best Drama Series

The Crown (Netflix)
Fallout (Prime Video)
The Gilded Age (HBO)
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
Shogun (FX)
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
3 Body Problem (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show, Apple)
Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Anna Sawai (Shogun, FX) 
Imelda Staunton (The Crown, Netflix)
Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show, Apple)

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Idris Elba (Hijack, Apple)
Donald Glover (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Walton Goggins (Fallout, Prime Video)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses, Apple) 
Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun, FX)
Dominic West (The Crown, Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Nicole Beharie (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown, Netflix)
Greta Lee (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Lesley Manville (The Crown, Netflix)
Karen Pittman (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Holland Taylor (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Tadanobu Asano (Shogun, FX)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Mark Duplass (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Jon Hamm (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Takehiro Hira (Shogun, FX)
Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Jonathan Pryce (The Crown, Netflix)

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Néstor Carbonell (Shogun, FX)
Paul Dano (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Tracy Letts (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)
Jonathan Pryce (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
John Turturro (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Michaela Coel (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Claire Foy (The Crown, Netflix)
Marcia Gay Harden (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Sarah Paulson (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Parker Posey (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (ABC) 
The Bear (FX)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO/Max)
Hacks (HBO/Max)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Palm Royale (Apple TV+)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO/Max)
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, FX)
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs, FX)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, FX)
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu) 
Maya Rudolph (Loot, Apple)
Jean Smart (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale, Apple TV+) 

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 

Lionel Boyce (The Bear, FX)
Paul W. Downs (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, FX)
Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 

Carol Burnett (Palm Royale, Apple TV+)
Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear, FX)
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Janelle James (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Bernthal (The Bear, FX)
Matthew Broderick (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Ryan Gosling (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Christopher Lloyd (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Bob Odenkirk (The Bear, FX)

Will Poulter (The Bear, FX)

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Olivia Colman (The Bear, FX)
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Bear, FX)
Kaitlin Olson (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Limited or Anthology Series

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Fargo (FX)
Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Ripley (Netflix)
True Detective: Night Country (HBO/Max)

Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Matt Bomer (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Jon Hamm (Fargo, FX)
Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, FX)
Andrew Scott (Ripley, Netflix)

Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Brie Larson (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple) 
Juno Temple (Fargo, FX)
Sofía Vergara (Griselda, Netflix) 
Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Robert Downey Jr. (The Sympathizer, HBO/Max)
Tom Goodman-Hill (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
John Hawkes (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Lamorne Morris (Fargo, FX)
Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Treat Williams (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Dakota Fanning (Ripley, Netflix)
Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge, Hulu)
Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)
Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Drama Series

Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Netflix)
Mimi Leder (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Hiro Murai (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Frederick E.O. Toye (Shogun, FX)
Saul Metzstein (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Comedy Series

Randall Einhorn (Abbott Elementary, ABC)

Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Ramy Youssef (The Bear, FX)

Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show, BET)

Best Writing for a Drama Series

Peter Morgan, Meriel Sheibani-Clare (The Crown, Netflix)

Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner (Fallout, Prime Video)
Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks (Shogun, FX)

Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente (Shogun, FX)
Will Smith (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)

Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror, Netflix)
Noah Hawley (Fargo, FX)
Ron Nyswaner (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Steven Zaillian (Ripley, Netflix)
Issa López (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Writing for a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Meredith Scardino, Sam Means (Girls5eva, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider (The Other Two, HBO/Max)
Jake Bender, Zach Dunn (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)

Best Talk Series

The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Best Reality Competition Series

The Amazing Race (CBS)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Traitors (Peacock)
The Voice (NBC)

Best SCRIPTED VARIETY Series

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Saturday Night Live (NBC)

HOST, REALITY OR COMPETITION PROGRAM

RuPaul Charles, "RuPaul's Drag Race" (MTV)

Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec and Daymond John, "Shark Tank" (ABC)

Alan Cumming, "The Traitors" (Peacock)

Kristen Kish, "Top Chef" (Bravo)

Jeff Probst, "Survivor" (CBS)

BEST TELEVISION MOVIE

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)

Quiz Lady (Hulu)

Red, White & Royal Blue (Prime Video)

Scoop (Netflix)

Unfrosted (Netflix)

BEST SHORT FORM COMEDY, DRAMA, OR VARIETY SERIES

Carpool Karaoke: The Series (Apple TV+)

The Eric Andre Show

Late Night With Seth Meyers Corrections (NBC)

Only Murders In The Building: One Killer Question (Hulu)

Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime (HBO)

BEST SHORT FORM NONFICTION OR REALITY SERIES

After The Cut (YouTube)

The Crown: Farewell To A Royal Epic (Netflix)

Hacks: Bit By Bit (HBO Max)

Saturday Night Live Presents: Behind The Sketch (NBC)

Shōgun – The Making Of Shōgun (FX)

OUTSTANDING STRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM

Antiques Roadshow (PBS)

Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives (Food Network)

Love Is Blind (Netflix)

Queer Eye (Netflix)

Shark Tank (ABC)

UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM

Below Deck Down Under (Bravo)

Love On The Spectrum (Netflix)

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV)

Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)

Welcome To Wrexham (FX)

HOST OF A GAME SHOW

Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)

Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! (ABC)

Keke Palmer, Password (NBC)

Jane Lynch, Weakest Link (NBC)

Pat Sajak, Wheel Of Fortune (ABC)

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK | HOTEL COCAINE

We've enjoyed watching the screeners for Hotel Cocaine which is currently streaming on MGM+! We are transported to the late 70s and early 80s when Miami is in the midst of a shift from vacation and retirement destination to the epicenter of sex, drugs, crime, and a battle between those who are on opposing sides of the law while embracing disco, wealth, and more! The events that unfold are based on accounts by those who lived it that took place at The Mutiny Hotel which still exists today, but without the activities that made it famous during that time.

We had the pleasure of connecting with Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer, and writer Chris Brancato (Narcos, Narcos: Mexico, The Godfather of Harlem) and Director, Guillermo Navarro (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 1 and 2, Night at the Museum franchise, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey) who know how to bring these stories to life so that we can see the complexities, conflict, and humanity of the characters in their stories. We talk about their love for storytelling, working together, and framing this show in all of its nuances.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We are so excited to be able to talk with you! Chris, I know you created Narcos as well as Godfather of Harlem which I have been a huge fan of and Guillermo as the Director of Godfather of Harlem – once again, it is a fantastic show and you also directed Narcos, so it’s nice to see you guys working together on this show!

What do you guys love about storytelling in general?

GUILLERMO NAVARRO: Well, it’s a tremendous opportunity to actually reflect on life and to put our own ideas into it and to tell those stories. There is nothing better than that!

CHRIS BRANCATO: I love the process and the friendships that you make from the writing room where we create the scripts to the production people who put everything together, and then editorial where we make a “finished product,” so to speak! The goal is always to entertain.

AM: You guys came together for Hotel Cocaine which I have watched all 7 of the screeners and can’t wait to find out what happens in E8! The story is amazing. Why did you want to tell it and specifically Guillermo, what attracted you to this series and why did you want to be part of it?

GN: Well I have been partnering with this one for awhile and finally we reached and found a Latin story and so I completely just went for it. It was an opportunity to talk about the relationships of the Latin world with America and it focused on the drama of 2 brothers and the delivery of this and the story about what had to be happening in Miami to receive all of that input and to become what it is!

AM: In terms of creating the show Chris, what was your thinking? I love the characters, the complexities and the depth of them, and they keep unveiling themselves in different ways and it is shot so beautifully. How did all that come together?

CB: Well, it’s interesting. Guillermo and I did Narcos together. We first met on the show Hannibal and I realized he was a directorial genius – [Guillermo motions teasingly that Chris is going on and on buttering him up until Chris notices]

AM: Wait, you are and I have enjoyed seeing your direction in a number of programs so these are facts!

CB: Right? So effectively when I did Narcos, one of the actors that was a friend of mine came up to me and said, “you know, my father was the General Manager ager of the Mutiny Hotel. He said it was the Studio 54 of its day in Miami and it was the home to DEA Agents, drug dealers, movie stars, rock stars, and so the subject matter fascinated me and I knew that to do it right and to give it the proper Latin perspective, I was going to need to find a partner. I searched far and wide in the Latin world and I couldn’t find anybody other than him [Chris teases Guillermo by shaking his arm] so that is how we got stuck together!

AM: I love that story! Obviously, this story takes place in Miami but you shot it in the DR?

CB: Yes, because the Domincan Republic, we scouted Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the DR, but ultimately, we decided that the Dominican Republic had the best look of a 70s Miami because Miami is so overbuilt now, we could never replicate Miami in the 70s!

AM: Well I love the DR and I always love whenever I spend time down there regardless of the city!

What do you want viewers to take away from this show. I can’t say enough about how much I love how it was put together, the characters, the way it was shot etc. I can’t wait to see the finale to see how S1 ends.

GN: Well, that the impact of the drug world on society is real and it’s very profound. And that, I come from Mexico and the social tissue is destroyed by the drug world. For me, it was very important thing to talk about that every time someone consumes it, people die. So it’s about accountability and responsibility of something that is consuming entire societies.

CB: We like to deliver themes like that in a very shiny wrapping.

AM: Right!

CB: So the sex, drugs, disco, Latin music pel collars, bell bottom pants, and the Mutiny girls. So again, the goal is to entertain and put the nutritional value in a hidden way so that the kids don’t notice the broccoli!

IG @cbrancato86

@hotelcocainemgm

Now that we have a framework for this series thanks to Chris and Guillermo we wanted to continue to frame this show as well as the lens that we should view as. We talked with Danny Pino (Scandal, Law & Order: SVU, Mayans MC) and Yul Vazquez (Magic City, The Outsider, The Godfather of Harlem) who play brothers Ramon Compte and Nestor Cabal in this era in Miami as they navigate the DEA, drugs, the Mutiny Hotel, past and present family dynamics and so much more!

AM: As a fan of both of your works in other shows as well as obviously in Hotel Cocaine, why were you attracted to this series and why did you want to be part of it?

DANNY PINO: Thank you for this question! Yul Vazquez! That is the short answer. I’m not saying that because he is here. But he is, he’s right here! The reality is that the first phone call that I got about Hotel Cocaine came from Yul. Yul and I, there are not a lot of Cuban Americans in Hollywood right? So whenever I would go to an event and I would meet other Cuban Americans, we would eventually land on, “have you met Yul Vazquez?” I’d say, “no I have not met him, I know of him and we have mutual friends. He’s a fantastic actor, but I have not yet met him.” Or I would go to a set and someone in the crew or in the cast would say, “well, you’re Cuban American, have you met Yul?” We’d have the same conversation! “I love his work and I haven’t met him.” Then, we happened to meet on Law & Order: SVU! And we became fast friends. It’s like when you meet somebody that you feel that you have known your entire life! I’m not talking about like your entire acting life, I’m talking about – were you at my 15s? Were you at my baptism? Because I feel like you must have been in the Catholic church with us!

The phone call where Yul calls me and says - look, I have been working on this show, The Godfather of Harlem with Forest Whitaker - the fantastic Forest Whitaker with Chris Brancato, the creator of Narcos and there is this show set in Miami, 1978, called Hotel Cocaine, based on The Mutiny and we’d be playing brothers. I said, I’m in! He was like, maybe you should read the script. And I was like, wait, maybe I should read the script! That’s the short answer to your question! Once Yul kind of set that up, I was already – the momentum and the inertia towards doing it was already in motion.

YUL VAZQUEZ: I mean, it was pretty much the same for me. Danny really was the only choice really for this. It was too perfect but you know sometimes when something is so perfect it doesn’t wind up happening?

AM: Right!

YV: This is a no brainer and then suddenly it doesn’t happen! But this was one of those times when the no brainer happened the way it was supposed to happen. I absolutely love working with Danny and he knows that that is the truth! I know that I can stand there with him and we can get through any scene no matter what the journey of the scene is and we can work around it and figure it out and we get to the end of the scene and I know that when he opens his mouth, I am going to believe everything that he says! That sounds like simple obvious things, but not always the case. Not always the case. I always knew with Danny, I am going to have a guy that was there today. Not a guy who decided that he was going to do this 3 weeks ago. You know, rehearsed it in the mirror because that is one thing that makes me insane. When I get somebody and I’m like no matter what you do, this person is going to do the same thing because they have locked themselves into this thing. We figured out this flow with this whole thing and we improvised a lot of things and we had the freedom from Chris Brancato, Michael Panes (Godfather of Harlem, Bull, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and Guillermo Navarro which is a huge part of the design, the brains, and the engine of the show. He encouraged us by saying that we knew this world better than any of us are going to know. We know what it’s like to be a Cuban from Miami and so that’s what we did! It’s really what we did and I think that we brought a lot of ourselves into the thing more so then I think that I have ever done!

DP: You’re talking to a musician/artist. Yul would come at this scene with the same words, but in a totally different way! So to be present and to be able to play jazz with him all the time and you know, a lot of the script is written in English. We know as many Cuban Americans know, and many Latinos know, that we don’t speak in English all the time.

YV: Correct.

DP: Our probably chosen language or first language is Spenglish and so we would manipulate some of the script to have the same intention, the same wording, but to be able to go back and forward fluidly in Spanish to give the authenticity of what you would hear not only in that time period, but in modern day Miami!

PRESS POOL: As you reflect back to all the roles you have played throughout your career, what lessons have you taken from them that have helped you in your role in Hotel Cocaine today? How has it shaped you to be the actor that you are today in those roles?

YV: I think that every stitch is a stitch in the fabric of an actor’s career. You try to vary it as much as you can and then you try to decide the parts as much as who is involved and who’s hands it’s in. So I think that everything feeds everything. I also paint, I’m a photographer, and I am also a musician so everything feeds everything and I don’t think one thing takes away from another. I see everything as one orb. So, I think that everything in life feeds everything. Meet ing you and it’s the succession of events for me. That’s how I think that we arrive to where we are today.

DP: I mean, Yul is a renaissance man. He does everything incredibly well and for me, talking about different characters and how it now leads to Ramon Compte, the General Manager of the Mutiny Club and Hotel, I’ve played characters who were on the right side of the law – in fact they were the law. In 2 successive shows whether it’s Mayans MC or Hotel Cocaine, playing characters that you can potentially consider an outlaw – right? I think that what I find which goes to the heart of your question, the throughline for the characters is with great writing whether it’s Meredith Stiehm (Homeland, ER, NYPD Blue) on Cold Case; whether it’s Warren Leight (In Treatment, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) on Law & Order: SVU; whether it’s Elgin James (The Outlaws, Lowriders, Little Birds) on Mayans MC; or Chris Brancato for Hotel Cocaine, all of those showrunners are fantastic at developping a character who rides the line between on the right side of the law and a potential on criminality.

All of those characters, whether it was Scotty Valens on Cold Case where he had some anger issues and would go back and forth on being able to control that or Nick Amaro who was also going back and forth on being able to control his anger and his frustrations and what not with his job and within his family, you can say similar things about Miguel Galindo and now we have arrived at Ramon Compte who also has to ride that line. It’s just like what Yul said, there’s a building and a learning from each experience especially when the writing is so dialed in and so challenging for an actor which is the best thing that we can have to be able to have that range which we can sort of carve through a performance and to go back in forth between scenes where you say, “I really love this guy, I could absolutely see myself doing the same thing – exactly what he is doing,” and then the very next scene saying, “how could you choose to do that? I hate this person!”

DP: Right? So that’s the currency that actors love to deal in.

PP: When we see the scenes that you guys have together at The Mutiny Hotel and this is a testament to who you are as actors, but when you have the club scenes there is so much going on with the dancers, the lights, and all of these things are happening all around you – as actors, how do you not get distracted by all of the things that are taking place in the background? What is your secret?

YV: It’s hard! It really is hard and sometimes let’s say that your patience it tested – yeah it is! It’s a great question and it is very very hard, for me.

DP: I think it’s one of those things where – and it is a fantastic question because a lot of people don’t realize exactly what happens. They play the music and cue us into the song so that the background artist can get the rhythm of the song that is going to be played and then they kill the song. So the background artist can continue with the rhythm so that we can say our lines in silence so that we don’t have to record the line over and over again for clarity. And that gets a little strange because you can still hear the heels and the platforms stomping on the dancefloor so it is a little distracting in that way. What helps is to have an actor like Yul. When you have an actor like Yul and you have words by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, where you are engaging in a scene that matters and has life and death circumstances and ramifications, that tends to crystalize everything and you start to get that much more focused.

YV: Yeah, so Danny’s right. All we really have is each other and that helps! Having him helps anchor things for me! He’s right, exactly what he said. It becomes a very interesting challenge you know because it is all of the things that the audience never sees. You know the old saying, “you don’t want to see how the sausage is made.” That’s really true!

PP: For people who live in Miami, The Mutiny is such a staple and an icon of an era that created the backbone of what Miami is as a city from the glitz and glamour, to the element of crime and other things. Danny you’re a Miamian and went to FIU and you grew up there and you know the city. What does it mean to you to portray this era that shaped what Miami is nowadays?

DP: That’s a fantastic question and as we’re both from Miami, we talk about it all the time! We talk about not only the impact of The Mutiny, but the impact of the 70s, it was such a transformative period of our city! It really changed Miami from being sort of a sleepy retirement/vacation spot to a cosmopolitan hot spot. Then it changed when The Mutiny upped the ante on that and it became a hedonistic pleasure palace! Right? People were flying in all over the world to have an adult experience at The Mutiny. I have actually stayed at The Mutiny, it’s not what it was before, it is now much more lowkey. It’s like a hotel residential sort of establishment now, but the structure is still the same, the pool is still the same, and you still feel that if the walls could talk, you’d be hearing some fantastic stories and I think that that’s what our show does. The walls talk in our story.

IG @eldannypino

@yuluminati

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Hotel Cocaine

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK | Hotel Cocaine in mag.

AWARDS SEASON | EMMYS NOMINATIONS

Today, the Television Academy announced the 76th Emmys for this year’s nominees. Sheryl Lee Ralph (The Mighty Quinn, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Abbott Elementary) and Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Drunk History, Veep) announced the nominees from the El Capitan Theatre. Programs that were eligible to be nominated had to air between Jun 1, 2023, and May 31st, 2024. The award ceremony will take place on Sep 15th, 2024 at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live and will be broadcast live on this date at 8pm ET on ABC and will be available on Hulu for live streaming and on-demand. Jessie Collins Entertainment which is comprised of the trio: Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay are set to executive produce the telecast for the second year in a row. The Creative Arts Emmys will be given out on Sept 7th and 8th.

As we do throughout Awards Season, we share our predictions in bold, the ones we correctly identified as winners are in bold italics and winners that we didn’t predict are in italics. On the night of the event, we will share who we predicted correctly as well as those we didn’t that won.

Best Drama Series

The Crown (Netflix)
Fallout (Prime Video)
The Gilded Age (HBO)
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
Shogun (FX)
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
3 Body Problem (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show, Apple)
Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Anna Sawai (Shogun, FX) 
Imelda Staunton (The Crown, Netflix)
Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show, Apple)

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Idris Elba (Hijack, Apple)
Donald Glover (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Walton Goggins (Fallout, Prime Video)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses, Apple) 
Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun, FX)
Dominic West (The Crown, Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Nicole Beharie (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown, Netflix)
Greta Lee (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Lesley Manville (The Crown, Netflix)
Karen Pittman (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Holland Taylor (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Tadanobu Asano (Shogun, FX)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Mark Duplass (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Jon Hamm (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Takehiro Hira (Shogun, FX)
Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Jonathan Pryce (The Crown, Netflix)

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Néstor Carbonell (Shogun, FX)
Paul Dano (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Tracy Letts (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)
Jonathan Pryce (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
John Turturro (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Michaela Coel (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Claire Foy (The Crown, Netflix)
Marcia Gay Harden (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Sarah Paulson (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Parker Posey (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (ABC) 
The Bear (FX)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO/Max)
Hacks (HBO/Max)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Palm Royale (Apple TV+)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO/Max)
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, FX)
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs, FX)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, FX)
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu) 
Maya Rudolph (Loot, Apple)
Jean Smart (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale, Apple TV+) 

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 

Lionel Boyce (The Bear, FX)
Paul W. Downs (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, FX)
Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 

Carol Burnett (Palm Royale, Apple TV+)
Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear, FX)
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Janelle James (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Bernthal (The Bear, FX)
Matthew Broderick (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Ryan Gosling (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Christopher Lloyd (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Bob Odenkirk (The Bear, FX)

Will Poulter (The Bear, FX)

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Olivia Colman (The Bear, FX)
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Bear, FX)
Kaitlin Olson (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Limited or Anthology Series

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Fargo (FX)
Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Ripley (Netflix)
True Detective: Night Country (HBO/Max)

Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Matt Bomer (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Jon Hamm (Fargo, FX)
Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, FX)
Andrew Scott (Ripley, Netflix)

Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Brie Larson (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple) 
Juno Temple (Fargo, FX)
Sofía Vergara (Griselda, Netflix) 
Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Robert Downey Jr. (The Sympathizer, HBO/Max)
Tom Goodman-Hill (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
John Hawkes (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Lamorne Morris (Fargo, FX)
Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Treat Williams (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Dakota Fanning (Ripley, Netflix)
Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge, Hulu)
Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)
Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Drama Series

Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Netflix)
Mimi Leder (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Hiro Murai (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Frederick E.O. Toye (Shogun, FX)
Saul Metzstein (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Comedy Series

Randall Einhorn (Abbott Elementary, ABC)

Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Ramy Youssef (The Bear, FX)

Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show, BET)

Best Writing for a Drama Series

Peter Morgan, Meriel Sheibani-Clare (The Crown, Netflix)

Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner (Fallout, Prime Video)
Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks (Shogun, FX)

Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente (Shogun, FX)
Will Smith (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)

Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror, Netflix)
Noah Hawley (Fargo, FX)
Ron Nyswaner (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Steven Zaillian (Ripley, Netflix)
Issa López (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Writing for a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Meredith Scardino, Sam Means (Girls5eva, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider (The Other Two, HBO/Max)
Jake Bender, Zach Dunn (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)

Best Talk Series

The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Best Reality Competition Series

The Amazing Race (CBS)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Traitors (Peacock)
The Voice (NBC)

BINGELY STREAMING

EMILY IN PARIS

Netflix Series

Netflix

We were late to the Emily in Paris party; however, we watched both seasons last year and couldn't wait until the 3rd season which dropped on Dec 21st! We make our way back to Paris to catch up with Emily (Lily Collins) as we know that she was caught between Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) and Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), so it will be interesting to see what happens from the love triangle as there were major plot twists here!

Outside of Emily's love life, we're excited to see one of the best friendships that we've seen in awhile with Mindy (Ashley Park) as we can't wait to see how she navigates the current season as we learn more about her life, family and embracing her singing career.

Of course, Emily was sent to Paris to work and we know that this has also been an interesting twist in her life as well with Sylvie's (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) resignation of Savoir and taking the staff with her to start her new agency, Emily is told that she can have a promotion if she goes back to Chicago with Madeline (Kate Walsh), but will she stay in Paris?

1923: A YELLOWSTONE ORIGIN STORY

Paramount Network

Paramount+

We have been fans of Yellowstone and the worlds that it has started to introduce us to in terms of the Dutton family. In the flagship series, we see the modern day family navigating their way of life as well as modernity that continues to invade their ranch.

In 1893, we get to see how the original Duttons found a way to come to Yellowstone in this prequel. This month, 1923 releases weekly episodes that show us another portion of the family tree in how they continue to live and extend their legacy. We see them as they navigate WW1, US industrialization and the Great Depression with Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Fugitive) and Helen Mirren (Red, The Good Liar, The Queen) leading the cast!

THE HERON

Realm

Spotify

If you want to listen to a podcast where it looks at the darker side of sport and how one would do anything to advance, you'll be interested in listening to The Heron. We find ourselves at a sports boarding school where students train to be the best as they get ready to go the professional route.

We learn about a dispute between 2 students that causes one to be displaced and the other grappling with how they continue to advance with the pressures that they have on the court, with their family and those who claim to assist them! This 6 part psychological thriller is one that you can enjoy in an afternoon for a proper binge!

Read the DEC ISSUE #84 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | FITFIGHTER

FitFighter launched in 2013 with a focus on the fire service as it was founded by Sarah Apgar, Founder and CEO. She is an Iraq Veteran, All-American Athlete, Fitness Professional, Volunteer Fire Fighter and mom of 2 girls. In 2019, it was introduced to the mainstream fitness market with a workout App, certifications for professionals and specified training programs. In 2020, they secured a deal on Shark Tank and has continued to grow from there!

FitFighter's strength system was tied to 8 key categories of training for tactical athletes. When it was used in the firehouse, they realized that this training and style of movement patterns could be utilized across a broad range of applications, from sports performance to conditioning to strength to endurance to physical therapy and any other modality where external load is beneficial. They adapted these programs for coaches, athletes, gyms, and home fitness usage.

The Steelhose was originally created to mimic the feel of a charged fire hose when training firefighters to be ready for their missions. The functionality of Steelhose movements have evolved into an approachable, versatile and modifiable training tool for the general public to build strength for their own personal missions. They come in a variety of sizes from (5lbs - 50lbs) and can be lifted, gripped, slammed, dragged, dropped and moved in various ways. They are great to use regardless of your strength level and fitness experience. These work well with Steelhose! HIIT Training, general strength training, heavy lifting and CrossFit, yoga, pilates, mobility work and stretching.

On Jan 1st, FitFighter Yoga by MelMarie will be available (you can pre-order this starting on Black Friday). This method of yoga is an integrative approach blending the 5 lb Steelhose into dynamic breath-informed stretches and movements to improve mobility and strength, restore the nervous system, and nourish the mind!

A number of classes are offered On Demand, from strength training, mobility, work, HIIT workouts, 'Off the Floor' series, core-focused classes, and yoga. Their FitFighter MoveSTRONG App categorizes workouts in an approachable way so that you can choose your workout according to what you’d like to focus on every day!

There is also an intro series on the App, which is a great place to start for new Steelhose owners! Keep an eye out for new Fit Pro coaches joining the team who will be hosting weekly Live workout classes on our App, so you can work out with the community in real-time!

FITFIGHTER

fitfighter.com

IG @fitfighter

PHOTO CREDITS | FitFighter

Read the NOV ISSUE #83 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | FitFighter in mag.

THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS | BETTY WHO + ELAN GALE

We love reality shows and a number of our readers enjoy The Bachelor/The Bachelorette and even tweet along with us during each episode. We love seeing the social interaction, the dates, experiences and more. Prior to the pandemic, reality shows that focused on relationships went to the next level with an array of social experiments from Love is Blind, The Circle, The Ultimatum and more. These shows break new ground and really allow us to analyze how we interact with another.

On June 24th, The One That Got Away hits Prime Video. It allows people to look at their past to see if someone at that time could be a great fit for them. We caught up with singer/songwriter, Betty Who who is the host of this show. We talk about how she got attached and what we can expect. We also talk with Elan Gale who serves as the showrunner and executive producer delves into the intricacies of relationships with us.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It was such a great show to watch as who doesn’t love how we continue to explore social experiments when it comes to dating? What drew you to this show to want to be part of it?

BETTY WHO: I am such a fan of reality dating shows and it actually started with The Bachelor! I wasn’t really a fan of this and being in this sort of world. Then I got the chance to perform on The Bachelorette in Becca’s season. I was shooting it and I was thinking, “this is crazy – this world and this whole thing.” So I got super into The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and that’s how it introduced me to the world and now I feel like I’m a connoisseur and I’m all about it now! So when this conversation sort of started, someone came to me and asked if this would be something that I would be interested in. I was like, “guys, I don’t want to oversell it but, I would crush this job!” I think that this is a very powerful combination for me. I feel very lucky and yet very perplexed as to why they booked me, but I did what I could and I think that I showed up and showed out I think!

AM: I think that it’s such an amazing fit because in watching you, we’re used to the formats of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette where the host is interacting with the primary person and the people competing. In this situation, we have 6 people that are exploring themselves, you coming in and connecting with them and being able to interact with them when they’re broken down in the experience of it all! There are some intense moments and being able to see you in that way, what was your takeaway in watching all of this?

BW: I think that I really appreciated the opportunity to have conversations with those contestants in that moment. I think that as someone in my personal life, I really want to be warm and a safe space for my friends. I want to provide that warm energy with people and that’s something that I also like to do on stage as an entertainer. You want to create that safe space where people want to be able to come in and enjoy themselves. It was a new way for me to stretch my muscle in that way as it was 1-on-1, but still in this very highly curated environment where it’s still fundamentally about entertainment for us. I love to have a job, I love to entertain and I love to have all of these incredibly talented and creative people who know so much more about how to make a reality television show because what do I know? They’re like, do this and I’m like, ok this is such a fun adventure and I was in good hands! I think that that is a huge part of my enjoyment and experience on the show being such a positive one. I give that all to the people who sort of held my hand along the way. I feel very lucky.

AM: I saw the initial 6 episodes via the screener ahead of the launch on Jun 24th and I can’t wait to see the remaining 4! I really want to know as every episode I was transfixed!

BW: I’m so glad that you’re hooked! This is exciting!

AM: I am so hooked. As a reality junkie – I love this format.

BW: Oh, so you’re our target demo! So if you’re loving it, this is good news!

AM: For sure! At first when I heard the concept about the portal I was a little confused about it. But then I started watching it and getting how you guys delved into picking people from there past. Although at one point, I was like, wait they literally just got the guy that followed her on Instagram? I’d be mad too. To see you reasoning with her and asking her to go back one more time because there was a better person, was pretty funny.

BW: Um yeah, we’re definitely a little bit shady! But I think that that is my favorite part! I was watching to do some prep before I hosted a television show. I was looking at getting a lay of the land. I saw all of these hosts that did different things and I was watching Nick and Vanessa from Love is Blind.

AM: Love that show!

BW: I love that show and I was checking everybody out and I know that this isn’t a dating show, but I think that Jeff Probst – how shady Jeff Probst is on Survivor is one of my favorite things about the show! The way that he says, “so and so, I see you’re still having a tough time over there.” He is not afraid to stir shit up and I think that that’s especially amazing. I pray for a season 2 so that I can get even more. I just wanted to be nice the first time around and to have everyone like me as I was totally a fish out of water. But now that I know what’s going on, I’m ready to start some stuff up – you heard it here first!

If you have enjoyed watching The Bachelor/ette, Elan Gale executive produced both of these shows for a decade. A few years ago while we were tweeting along with others about these shows during a season, we noticed Elan talking about the episodes and providing insights.

With the launch of TOTGA, we talk about the power of relationships, what makes a good show and the impact of our interactions.

ATHLEISURE MAG: As long time watchers of The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, it’s amazing to chat with you and we love interacting with you on Twitter to hear your thoughts. Before we get into The One That Got Away, what is it about relationships that you love delving into as this is something that has been a large part of your career in creating these shows?

ELAN GALE: Great question! I think that the honest answer is that I have always felt that my relationships are the greatest things in my life. I have a hard time focusing on anything else if I’m being really honest. I always found that I only know what I know. I am only around the people that I am around, I only have relations with people that are in my life and generally from where I’m from because that’s where we are and that’s how we meet. Relationship shows have always given me an opportunity to just watch other people interact with each other and watch them build bonds that hopefully are life changing. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the relationship has to be permanent. I think that that is something that often we put too much emphasis on because almost all of our relationships are impermanent and it doesn’t mean that it’s not important or that it doesn’t change us or make us grow.

So watching people focus on things that are non-linear like relationships which are probably the most important aspects of their lives as well – I think it’s really interesting and it’s a window into how we interact with each other. I think that people are really interesting! I like watching them do whatever the hell they want to do!

AM: So what do you find to be the secret sauce in terms of putting that into TV as a medium? What are the dynamics that make a good show about relationships?

EG: I think that more than anything, we’re looking for people who are effusive. Anyone could be a good TV dating contestant really. What’s hard is finding people who want to explore their emotions in real time. When something happens to me, I process it. I take some time and I’m pretty shy about how I interact with my own emotional life. I would go so far as to say, almost a little cowardly in the way that a lot of people who come on this show aren’t. There’s an incredible bravery in being able to say that I am going to go through all of these intense emotions, but I’m also going to allow people into that and to let them into my world. So finding people who have specific points of few, strong emotions, strong desires, but simultaneously willing to be able to get it wrong because that’s what we usually do. We almost always get it wrong until we get it right! But it doesn’t mean that those are the most compelling relationships either!

Looking at relationships that are raw and based on feelings rather than logistics, I think that TV shows do a really good job of removing the logistics from relationships. I think that’s also one of the things that people find the most jarring about them. It doesn’t feel real to me because the logistics are taken away. But I have found personally, and maybe this is just me, I have found that when I am falling in love, when I’m in a relationship and when I am with people that I feel are important parts of my life – logistics do kind of take a back seat. If we’re going to continue to claim that relationships are the most serious driving force in our lives, then putting logistics to the side is probably a good idea. You can probably figure that out later. The weird magic of love and whatever is the stuff that you can’t do later and you can’t figure that out thoughtfully over time – I don’t think.

AM: I don’t think so either! What brought you to want to be part of this project. I watched the screeners and I’m obsessed, the fact that all of the screeners weren’t available at once made me mad because I’m so invested and I want to know what happens!

EG: I’m so glad you liked it. Thank you for watching!

AM: It was a great watch. I took a Sun and just let the storytelling unfold!

EG: That makes me so happy! Honestly, these 6 people just went for it. This is a terrifying show. You don’t know who is coming through that portal and who you are letting into your life. That is such a bravery that they had to step into this – I don’t have it! That’s part of what was so exciting to me. I have a similar relationship that I think that most of the people in the audience had – I wish I could do that to have the tenacity and the openness!

AM: I could never!

EG: For me, I have done so many dating shows where strangers meet strangers. There is such an interesting dynamic there and I love those kind of shows. I love watching those shows, but secretly probably the show that I am most addicted to is 90 Day Fiance. What I love about this show is that by the time you meet these people, they really have complex relationships. You have to peel it back like an onion as a viewer. So this – all the things that I love about dating shows, people meeting for the first time and adding this layer of complexity where you get to watch people who they were, previous iterations of themselves and for me, I really wanted to approach this show differently from any other show. I wanted to treat it like sci-fi. I wanted the portal to be like a real-time machine and if I’m being honest, this might sound really crazy – for me the show took more inspiration from Rick & Morty than any other dating show I have worked on in the past. Looking at this like one tiny sliver of the multiverse where you can suddenly live a life that you have never lived for a short amount of time and see what that life may have been like. Yeah, if those relationships can go back into the real world, maybe they do – I don’t know. But if they do, that’s really interesting and beautiful, but more importantly, this slice of life, this time and this place where nothing really exists is interesting. In the first episode, Jeff meets someone who he hasn't seen in 15 years. They were 2 people and now they're 2 different people just like everyone else is. Getting to watch them date for the first time, but also being able to come to terms with how they’ve changed and to see that through the eyes of someone that’s dating them, it’s really one of the most transformative processes for me as a viewer. At the end of the day, that’s what I am. Getting to watch them and these things that were happening and to be able to watch them and to really see them going through it! The thing that I am most excited about is that no one was focused on results. Everyone got a happy ending but it doesn’t mean that it’s the one that audiences were expecting. I think that we’re set up to believe that dating shows end like this. And maybe they don’t have to. Maybe dating is enough. Maybe moments with people and experiences that you share, looking inward on yourself through the eyes of someone who knew you back then – maybe that’s enough. I think it is and I think that that’s what makes the show so different.

AM: That’s so true. I think that when you look to The Bachelor/ette where you have a designated person that is available although in the upcoming Bachelorette there are 2 – but you have the designated person and then you have this whole group of people who are another dynamic. The idea that you have a couple of people for a certain person and how they interact with the separate house and the main house, that’s something because they’re also bringing in their own versions of the person that they know. That’s a whole other sociological study right there!

EG: I think you made a really good point. One thing that I think that this show does really nicely is that it plays up the dynamic friendships that the leads have with each other and of course with the arrivals as well. They’re going through this incredible process together and it’s something that no one else has ever been through before. The bonds are permanent and we don’t just revel in the rivalries on the show. Someone goes out on a date 2 days ago and their friends are hoping and wishing and praying that they come home happy and had a good time. Again, it’s all about building that universe. We talked about this on set. We called our location Lacuna. You never see it on camera – it’s just something that we talked about internally.

Lacuna is an unwritten piece of a story or a missing page in a book. We just kind of tried to build an environment where whatever story that person had been living, it was paused for a moment. They were encouraged to write a new story in this period of time and they go off into the world. Maybe it folds nicely into what you already have or maybe it doesn’t but it’s going to be interesting and it’s going to be messy. That’s what I love so much about the show too! Life is a fucking messy, disaster 90% of the time! Acting as if things are linear, perfect and meant to be – maybe they are, but there is also something about embracing chaos. I think dating is chaotic and I think that that is also what makes it fun. I’ve never gone on a first date and went, “it’s remarkably average and I can’t wait to do it again.”

AM: How did you go about finding the arrivals? There were those like the person from the confirmation, another who went to school together and then you had the one who just followed the lead on Instagram?

EG: Honestly, it was the most complicated process that I have ever been part of. Primarily, the way that our casting team did it was talking to family and friends of the individuals and trying to figure out people who they would be interested in. The leads also gave lists of people that they thought about, wondered about or were curious about. So there was some kind of dynamic combination of people that their mom or sister might have thought was perfect for them, a best friend or if they were close to their ex – someone that they thought that they knew. It could also come from someone from their very very long list or someone who was fascinated by them on their social media and felt more connected than maybe they actually were.

I think it also points out the way that we all create our own histories. We all tell our own stories or what part of our lives are important or not. I think that in a lot of the cases of the leads that they may have been more impactful on the lives of others than they realized. That’s really empowering for a lot of people where something that you said, or something that you did or a look you gave someone – even if it wasn’t meant in a romantic way, it stuck with them and made you important enough to go through a whole casting process, get on a plane, go to LA and then just walk through a portal to see someone. You had to have meant something to someone to fill them with a feeling and that’s a great place to start a relationship. Even if it doesn’t go somewhere because everyone can feel that a question that has haunted them, can be answered in a way that everything else is guessing. It’s fun to have a moment in life where you get to answer the many questions where I don’t know about you, but I’m haunted and plagued and live in a state of permanent regret! If I could go somewhere – can you imagine knowing what the sliding door version of your life is or lesser so the Butterfly Effect of Ashton Kutcher version? It’s a good movie, underrated – fun!

AM: Like you said, in watching this show, removing the dating/romantic aspect – you think about the coffee cart guy you see everyday on the corner and during the pandemic, you didn’t have it and you felt that there was a hole. The concept of relationships and interactions and what it means to you and the other person is an interesting dynamic.

What do you want people to walk away with in watching this. Should we all be digging into our past to find our relationships to figure our shit out?

EG: It’s such a good question! I’m not confident that the takeaway should be that we should go back into your past to find your future. I don’t think that’s the answer. I do think that the takeaway should be, that if you are actively looking for love, you should leave no stone unturned. I think that most people will not find their future from their past. A lot of people might. But if you’re curious about something and you have been looking for this long, maybe you don’t need a portal to do. Maybe you do and I’m glad that these people did, but these days you can pick up a phone. You can send an email and ask a question and it will probably lead nowhere because most things in life do. It might lead you somewhere really magical and you might find the one that got away and that would be pretty fucking cool.

IG @bettywho

@theyearofelan

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Prime Video

Read the JUN ISSUE #78 of Athleisure Mag and see THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS | Betty Who + Elan Gale in mag.

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IRON CHEF: QUEST FOR AN IRON LEGEND

Netflix Originals

Netflix

We grew up watching Food Network's Iron Chef America as well as the classic Iron Chef We grew up watching Food Network's Iron Chef America as well as the classic Iron Chef where competitors navigated culinary challenges presented by the chairman. The idea of being able to create a number of dishes from the secret ingredient was always a thrill to see.

Like a number of our faves, Netflix's Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend is back with a few twists in it's 8 episode season. Challengers who you may know from visiting their restaurants or their appearances on BRAVO's Top Chef go up against 5 Iron Chefs (noted chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Dominque Crenn, Curtis Stone, Gabriela Cámara and Ming Tsai) to see if they can ultimately become an Iron Legend. Each episode has secret ingredients and Alton Brown and Chef Kristen Kish keep us connected to the action as well as providing culinary nuggets that we can use in our own kitchen! The judges (Chef Andrew Zimmern, Nilou Motamed - who both serve as permanent judges and a special guest that joins them) also weigh in on the dishes and share other culinary tidbits that creates a relaxed style around the business at hand.

THE BEAR

FX Networks

Hulu

This month, the much anticipated The Bear hits Hulu. We follow Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White - Homecoming, Shameless, The Birthday Cake) who is a young chef who comes home to run his family's sandwich shop in Chicago due to a death in his family.

We see him navigate how this culinary world is different then what he is used to, the realities of working in a small business, staff dynamics and the impact of his brother's suicide. With his understanding of what he has taken on, he is also aware of the need to transform The Original Beef of Chicagoland, his brother's restaurant, himself and his staff as he embraces his chosen family.

LISTENING IN

QCODE

Spotify

We use voice assistant devices to navigate our day. Whether it's adding a note to our to-do list, turning on devices without having to lift a finger and pulling up other kinds of information, it's such a comfort. What if you were able to use your device to find out about what's taking place in your apartment building and you find out more about your life that you never knew - even a potential plot that could ultimately affect your life? QCode's Listening In takes us on this immersive ride.

Read the JUN ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

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BAD VEGAN: FAME. FRAUD. FUGITIVES.

Netflix Documentary Series

Netflix

We remember having editor lunches that took place at Pure Food and Wine here in as this was the cities' first raw vegan restaurant and one that was frequented by a number of celebs. It seems like at its height of fame, it suddenly was gone.

In Netflix's BAD VEGAN: FAME. FRAUD. FUGITIVES, we get the inside scoop on the rise of Sarma Melngailis' dream and how it came to an end when she began met Anthony Strangis via her Twitter feed.

We find out how she built her business, obtained financial backing and created a space in the culinary world that was ahead of its time. We also see how her need to be loved created a setup where she engaged in fraudulent business practices that ultimately derailed her business, and landed her in Rikers after being a fugitive in Las Vegas for 10 months.

It's up to the viewer to decide whether she was an active participant in the scheme or if she was a gaslit woman that truly believed that by following Anthony's instructions would allow her to finally obtain the money she desired, immortality and the life that she always wanted.

THE THING ABOUT PAM

Peacock Originals

Peacock

We enjoyed The Thing About Pam podcast hosted by Dateline's Keith Morrison. This true crime story is now a series which he continues to narrate. Renée Zellweger (Chicago, Judy, Bridget Jones's Diary) plays Pam Hupp who is seen as a pillar of her community. This series focuses on the murder of Betsy Faria who was battling a terminal cancer, had a supportive family life and a best friend, Pam who was available to pitch in and help.

Upon her death, although the police and prosecutors believe Betsy's husband is the murderer, there are a number of things that don't make sense. We see that Pam's creation of a trust to take care of Betsy's girls is in her name and it seems she has plans on these funds. She's also way too interested to assist the prosecutor in finding Betsy's husband guilty and goes to great lengths to stay in the loop on what's going on.

AMERICAN HOSTAGE

Amazon Original

Spotify

Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Bridesmaids, Top Gun: Maverick) plays Fred Heckman, a local radio reporter in Indianapolis in the true crime podcast. He finds that a call he takes connects him to Tony Kiritsis who is holding a banker hostage. Tony demands to be interviewed during a 63-hour standoff to explain how he got to this point.

Read the MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

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THE GIRL BEFORE

Max Original

HBO Max

We've all had those moments when we want to have a clean slate of sorts. When life gets hectic or confusing, it's time to change things up. In The Girl Before, we meet an architect who has a home where in exchange for staying there, you must agree to a series of rules and way of living. We are introduced to 2 women that opt to participate in this contract in different time periods. At times, their lives mirror one another, even when they have never met each other. The connection is the house, the architect/owner and a grieving man.

How much privacy are you willing to give up in order to reduce the chaos and clutter of your life? At what point do you decide that managing your life on your terms of more important then simply giving it away?

In this 4 episode limited series, you see the impact of making decisions and how each choice creates a number of options for better and for worse.

INVENTING ANNA

Netflix Originals

Netflix

Anna Delvey was a NY It Girl heiress on the move and was on the way to create a social club that allowed the elite sect of NYC and artists to come together. Anna worked to get the appropriate funding to ensure that her vision would be everything she thought it could be. She went on a number of meetings, met the right people and even created an inner circle of sorts that kept her finger on the pulse of what was going on.

The only part that was missing was that she was not a rich heiress waiting for her trust fund or for her father not to cut her off. She was a woman filled with ambition ready to move the chess pieces that she needed and left debts and embarrassment to those that connected with her that didn't know her full story.

In Inventing Anna, Shonda Rhimes delves into this story that has been the subject of a number of podcasts to dig deep into the players involved and additional information on this story that continues to evolve.

CLASSIFIED

QCODE

Spotify

When QCODE drops its immersive scripted podcasts, we know we will be intrigued. Their latest, CLASSIFIED, follows Ivan Harris who finds himself at the Ravenholm Institute.

They say that he will remain there until his delusions are gone. He knows that he is an assassin who fell in love with the woman he was supposed to kill. Who's right and how will he find out?

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | THE PILATES CLASS

For 25 years, dancing and performing was a huge part of Jacqui Kingswell's life as she was a dancer for Beyoncé, and One Direction to name a few. Prior to becoming a pilates instructor, she had always included this as a supplement to her dance practice.

She launched The Pilates Class Method which focuses on the connection between your mind and body and is a holistic approach to wellbeing that teaches you to tune into your body and what it needs. It is a sustainable practice that is kind to the body and embodies strength, control and connection. No matter what your goal is or how active you are, you are able to practice this method and experience how it serves you both on and off the mat.

At TPC, they have 10 class categories so that you can find a class for whatever mood you are in. They have a variety of classes such as traditional Pilates, Barre, stretch, HIIT, calm, pre and postnatal and many more. The platform offers classes ranging from 5 to 45 minutes so that no matter where you are, what time it is or how active you feel, you can find a class that transforms your body and mind. Whether you’re craving a stretch session, an ab workout, a cardio burn, or all three, there’s a TPC class for you.

Class categories are based on selecting a class level that will serve you on that day. Their 'chill' classes are really nourishing and are designed to leave you feeling rejuvenated and grounded. The 'satisfying' classes are all about lengthening and scultping while still feeling a nice burn. Finally, the 'intense' classes focus on challenging their members to experience that deep burn and really sweat it out. Each of the levels focus on your Pilates technique and applying the TPC method the entire time.

From these levels, TPC offers two tailored weekly schedules; chill-satisfying and satisfying-intense depending on what your fitness goal is or how intense you would like your workouts to be that week. That way, your classes are chosen for you each week in an easy to follow format.

A brand new weekly workout is introduced and incorporated into the schedule so that members can try something new.

TPC encourages members to set sustainable habits and goals for themselves throughout the year which is why the January Challenge is a favorite. It is totally natural to fall out of your routine or feel low in motivation which is why the challenges encourage regular movement and committing to making time for yourself on the mat.

If you are new to Pilates, take the time to learn the foundational movements and how your body feels and what it is telling you.

THE PILATES CLASS

thepilatesclass.com

IG @thepilatesclass

Read the JAN ISSUE #73 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | The Pilates Class in mag.

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THE HARDER THEY FALL

Netflix Originals

Netflix

The Harder They Fall is a fictional film that is based on real cowboys, lawmen, and outlaws of the 19th-century American West with principals being a member of an all Black cast.

We follow Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) who is intent on getting revenge for the death of his parents when he was young. This outlaw connects with his crew to take down his mortal enemy, Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) a ruthless crime boss who was just released from prison.

Throughout the film, we look at the interactions between the Nat Love Gang, the Rufus Buck Gang and the US Marshal Bass Reeves. These historical black figures have goals that keep them on their mission. Nat's focus is to kill Rufus for his wrongdoings as well as to steal from bandits which keeps him on Bas Reeves' radar. Buck stays focused on protecting Redwood, a safe haven for Black settlers.

Ultimately, we'll see who has left standing with so much at stake.

THE CURSE OF VON DUTCH: A BRAND TO DIE FOR

Hulu Documentary

Hulu

The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For looks at the rise and fall of one of the most iconic brands to jump on a trend that dominated the 2000's. We're introduced to a series of characters from gangsters, Venice Beach surfers, European garmentos, Hollywood star power and more that attempt to gain control of Von Dutch.

We see as the brand begins from one that is obscure to one of the most recognized global labels. In a decade, the brand oscillates between backstabbers, greed and even bloodshed. Everyone that was involved with this brand is forever changed - even the scope of pop culture!

HAILEYWOOD

iHeart Originals

iHeart Radio

We've all had that moment when we visited a destination or even saw it online and thought that we would want to live there and in theory, bring all of our favorites to this town to make it our own. In Haileywood, hosted by Noble Blood's Dana Schwartz, she talks about the true story of Bruce Willis' quest to buy an Idaho town.

In this podcast, we connect with the Die Hard and 90's movie icon and we learn about the era and how celebrity was being produced beyond the screen. We also learn that Bruce was not one who enjoyed the media's eye on him and how he yearned to have a private life and how he thought he could do this in one of the smallest towns in Idaho.

Read the NOV ISSUE #71 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

NO KID HUNGRY | THANKSGIVING BAKE-A-THON

Avid readers of Athleisure Mag know that we have shared a number of initiatives as well as the chefs that participate in No Kid Hungry. Food insecurity shouldn’t be something that children should have to grapple with and we like that year around, They’re incredible efforts to tackle this issue for children in the US is so important for them to focus on as an organization. This Sat, Nov 13th from 1 - 5pm EST, you can get your holiday baking questions answered by the pros.

Hosted by Duff Goldman of “Ace of Cakes,” “Thanksgiving Bake-A-Thon” is a 4-hour livestream fundraising event that brings together baking superstars from across the country to raise funds for No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger. The event will offer hours of baking fun for virtual attendees and will include special appearances from celebrity bakers and culinary influencers including, Actress Tamera Mowry-Housley and Bill Yosses (Hulu’s “Baker’s Dozen”), Chef Joanne Chang (Flour Bakery + Cafe), Gemma Stafford (Bigger Bolder Baking), Amy Robach (Good Morning America) and more. These talented bakers will be demoing their favorite baking recipes, sharing tips and techniques and answering questions from the live audience. Viewers can participate and donate during the event by tuning into No Kid Hungry’s Facebook livestream on Saturday, Nov. 13 from 1 – 5 p.m. ET.

Make sure to mark your calendar for this weekend for a fun event and great way to give back as 1 in 6 kids may face hunger this holiday season.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

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CLICKBAIT

Netflix Originals

Netflix

In the first episode of Netflix Original's Clickbait, we are introduced to Nick Brewer (Adrian Grenier), who on the surface is a good husband, father and family man. He loves his job, is respected by his peers and students and has friends who adore him. In the same episode, we see that there not everything is as it seems as we know he has a bit of a temper and his family - mainly his sister has a bit of bumps that pop up.

When Nick comes up missing, we get an intense look into those that he is connected with to see how their relationships really are and if they were involved in what happened to him. We also see how in an age of connectivity, it can distort reality and what people will do to maintain their images and the idealized life that they would like to lead.

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING

Hulu Original

Hulu

We love a good true crime podcast and we're not going to lie, when a crime takes place, we do think about all the factors that are involved and how we or our favorite podcast hosts would solve it. Hulu's newest series takes all the tropes that we love about true crime podcasts with a murder that takes place in the UWS' Arconia and 3 of its residents played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez decide to find out who killed Tim Kono and to make a podcast out of it called, Only Murders in the Building.

We see how the characters are connected to one another as well as previous crimes, we learn how they make the podcast and the bumps that go along the way with production and of course, we're getting closer to solving the mystery itself. For those that have been enjoying this season, get ready as Season 2 has already been greenlit!

MURDAUGH MURDERS

FITS News

Spotify

Mandy Matney is a journalist for FITS News who brings her brand of small town journalism to an intricate case that has gained national momentum in the Murdaugh Murders podcast. She tells the story of an affluent and influential legal family for a century that is tied to a number of deaths and scandals that have taken place within the Murdaugh family as well as adjacent to it over the past few years.

She gives us insight into a family that has been involved in Hampton County, South Carolina. From the family impacting business that has come into the area, to embezzlements, she continues to report how all of these occurrences have come together to shape the news cycle that is still evolving with this family through her podcast.

Read the SEP ISSUE #69 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | TRX TRAINING CLUB

When it comes to Functional Training, TRX is a global leader and creator in the Suspension Training category with its TRX Systems and accessories that assist in getting your desired workout wherever you happen to train.

This month, TRX launched TRX Training Club (TTC), a new digital platform that embodies TRX's "Let's Move" campaign by allowing users to utilize a variety of functions to optimize fitness needs anytime, anywhere.

TTC provides a range of ways to interact with the platform:

TRX On-Demand Classes: Users can choose from thousands of guided workouts aimed at specific body parts, total-body, cardio, yoga, recovery, etc. with a wide variety of TRX trainers leading each workout available at their fingertips, anytime, anywhere.

TRX Live Classes: Users can join a live virtual class with an unlimited number of participants scheduled at pre-determined times throughout the day/week.

Virtual Personal Training (VPT): Book a one-on-one training session with a TRX Trainer specifically matched to individual users.

With unlimited videos, users are able to find the training that they are looking for which is led by TRX Pros. Class options include strengthening, toning, stretching and everything in between and facilitates all skill levels. In addition to taking classes of your choice, you're able to track your efforts from how many hours you've been sweating, classes you have taken, videos that you’ve watched, personal training sessions you’ve taken, and more. Additional features will be added to the platform. Currently, TRX is offering 30 days free for TTC when purchasing a TRX Signature Suspension Trainer.

TRX TRAINING CLUB

club.trxtraining.com

IG @TRXTraining

PHOTOS COURTESY | TRX Training

Read the May Issue #65 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | TRX Training Club in mag.

A PASSION REALIZED WITH JASON OPPENHEIM

Since the launch of Netflix's Selling Sunset, we have enjoyed being able to get the scoop on the real estate market especially within one of the top agencies in The Oppenheim Group this docuseries. We have enjoyed seeing this team booking listings, holding open houses, celebs they work with and the drama that comes along. This month, our cover is luxury real estate brokerage owner, attorney, contractor and developer - Jason Oppenheim. We took some time to talk to the Selling Sunset star to find out how he transitioned from being a corporate lawyer and eventually to working in real estate. He talks with us about his firm, his team, the successful show, which has just been greenlit for a fourth and fifth season, as well as the importance of philanthropy and making it a team effort.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to being in real estate, you were a corporate lawyer, what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to work in the real estate industry as I know that your great-great grandfather Jacob Stern, started his firm in the 1800s and was instrumental in creating a number of deals in the early development of LA?

JASON OPPENHEIM: That’s difficult. I left my law firm not knowing what I wanted to do and not having anything lined up. I went and traveled the world for 3 years after I quit my law firm. So I really wasn’t working for years after that. Even when I got back into the United States, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to get into real estate. I knew that it was a passion of mine and I gave it a shot. But I definitely wouldn’t say that I knew before I left law that I wanted to do real estate.

AM: Why did you decide to ultimately launch your own firm that you’re president and founder of?

JO: I was at Coldwell Banker for many years and getting experience and I was working on a team of two women. They taught me a lot and I actually really liked that team, but I didn’t enjoy working at such a large brokerage at Coldwell Banker. So that was kind of the impetuous of me leaving and just starting my own firm. I think that I had just developed enough of a client base that I felt comfortable and I had always wanted to be an entrepreneur and had always wanted to do my own thing. But I had to create that confidence and make sure that I had enough of a book of business to be able to do that.

AM: We have had a number of people that we have interviewed who began as lawyers and have transitioned into other careers, as well as our co-founder that has done the same. What skills from practicing law have also carried over to what you do within your industry now?

JO: Yeah I think that being a lawyer is probably one of the most applicable professions so I think that there are a lot of things that helped me as a lawyer that have been applied to me being in real estate. I think that creative thinking and critical thinking have been two of the most important things that I took. Being an advocate for your client is something that I understood and of course, just your legal acumen. So much of practicing real estate requires that the more understanding that you have of the law, documents, contracts etc. – I think that the better you will be as a real estate agent. I don’t think that there is probably more of a relevant profession for a real estate agent than as a lawyer!

AM: In terms of location and your territory, what areas do you guys cover?

JO: Oh all over Los Angeles really. Certainly, we are the most prolific agents in the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Hills. We also do a ton in Beverly Hills and we’re opening up a new office in Orange County and we’re getting a lot of new listings down there. I would really say all of Southern California.

AM: In terms of you opening another location, what is the process and/or criteria that you look for when it comes to making that commitment? I know in watching the show, there was talk and hope from some of the agents in terms of opening up in Miami?

JO: Well, it’s a very slow process. I mean I’ve been thinking for many years about opening a second office and I was very reticent to do so until I was certain about a lot of different factors. One of them is that there is a healthy luxury market, another one is great office space, another is that I am able to recruit top agents, another is that it’s a place that I love and enjoy – you know I have to be passionate about it and I’m not going to open up an office in an area that I wouldn’t want to live in myself! I’m probably going to buy a second home in Newport Beach. And also location! It needs to be far enough from LA where it makes sense. You want to expand when you’re doing this. Orange County by far, I thought was an important area that I wasn’t in. I think that there are others like The Valley, Miami, New York, but I thought that hands down, this was the best place for a second office.

AM: Before getting into the show, what is a typical day like for you and how involved are you with the agents that work with you?

JO: I mean a typical day. I’m up – usually, my dogs wake me up because they want to be fed maybe around 7am. I take my dogs to coffee every morning so I take them to a coffee shop, usually a different coffee shop for about half an hour. I go through emails and take things slow on my own. Then I come into the office and basically just work and catch up with my staff and go through emails. I go through showings that I have, meet with clients and a lot of it is on the phone. Sometimes I have interviews but a ton of phone calls – I mean dozens and dozens of phone calls. I don’t even know how many, but it is a lot.

AM: When it comes to onboarding your agents, what are you looking for to represent The Oppenheim Group?

JO: You know, an intelligent, thoughtful, sophisticated person. Experience is preferred but it is less important to me then I think raw intelligence and general ambition. Someone that I get along with.

These are people that I will be out with for lunch or at a listing appointment and it’s important to me that I get along with them and that they get along with everyone else! You know, it’s just about being with good people! I mean I really wouldn’t take an agent, no matter how successful they are, that he or she just wasn’t a good person!

AM: On the show we see some serious open houses that have had some fun themes that your team has put together that remind me of editor events that we can’t wait to get back to – what have been some of the favorite ones that your firm has been part of?

JO: I think that I always like a first open house because I think that is very exciting! So the first open house for a new great listing is pretty exciting. I do have to say that generally, my favorite open houses tend to be my favorite listings. Obviously, my favorite open houses tend to be those that I would want to stay at even if it wasn’t an open house - sexy view, tall ceilings, open floor plan and all the stuff that just kind of makes it more fun. More importantly, I would say, it’s the first one because for me it’s about meeting clients, meeting buyers and it’s also about price point. I like open houses at an attainable price point in the area. Sure it’s fun to sit at a $10 million dollar open house, but I would prefer to sit at a $3 or $4 million open house because I am going to meet more people.

AM: This past year has definitely made a lot of our workflows change in many ways, what did you do to navigate these times and how do you feel the market has been for you?

JO: You know, we’ve done all right. We had a decent year despite the pandemic. The luxury market is not only fine even thoughout the pandemic, but it is extremely well right now. I think that we were extremely fortunate and I think that our clients were extremely fortunate and that they have recovered from this. I wouldn’t say that there is any long-term impact at all.

AM: How did the concept of the show, Selling Sunset come about and ultimately, what are the takeaways that you want to know about this show when they are watching it?

JO: You know, we had been approached by different producers and agents for quite some time and both my brother and I were rather reticent to move forward on a show. But when Adam DiVello (Editor’s Note: Adam is formerly a Senior Production and Development Executive at MTV where he developed Laguna Beach. He left the network and launched Done and Done Productions and created as well as executive produced its successful spinoff, The Hills and The City. He is producing Selling Sunset.) reached out to us, we thought about it a bit more and we took a team meeting and I think he had a bit more influence with us and we started to slowly come around. We wanted Netflix, but we weren’t sure if we would get Netflix so we were excited about that!

In terms of what they would take away from it, you know what I would say? I would simply say, that they should just enjoy and watch the show! There’s so much about television now more than ever, just being able to sit down – for me, I like to sit down with my dogs and just sit down for a couple of hours and just destress and have fun! In many ways, I hope that that would be enough for me! I would hope that when people come up to me that they just say that they enjoyed the show, it makes them happy, it’s fun to watch, they enjoy looking at the real estate and that’s enough for me! If they come out of it with more of an understanding for real estate or a passion for it that would be great. I always think that real estate is such a great opportunity for investors and people generally. So if I can get people to be excited about that whether that means they join the profession and become real estate agents or they want to do it as an investment, I think that either one of those would be great simply for the show.

AM: How did you decide who would be on the show?

JO: I didn’t really decide. Obviously, it would be people at my brokerage but it was more of a production decision than anything else.

AM: As a fan of the show, when you and your team are in the office, we’re always thinking about how close you are together. Is it ever distracting when you’re all in there together between doing calls, maintaining business etc?

JO: Well I do step out sometimes to make phone calls from time to time as everyone will! I do like the idea of an open office, but there are certainly negative effects to having such an open office.

AM: Recently, you were greenlit for a 4th and 5th season. How long do you film each season and how are you able to juggle the demands of your business while integrating the show into it?

JO: It’s not terrible for me. The filming requirements aren’t as demanding for me as they are for some of the other women so I manage ok. But you know, it’s certainly a balancing act and we just work really hard. So we end up just having to work more hours in the day to be honest. That’s ok because we all love what we do and we are all capable of doing that.

AM: You’re getting ready to film the next season and for avid viewers, there was a lot going on! Can you share what a general idea of when this will air?

JO: Well we haven’t started filming yet so there isn’t anything that I can tell you about that!

AM: Alright then. We’ll just have to stay tuned!

What have you learned about yourself in filming this show?

JO: You know, one of my biggest concerns was since I’m a private person, I was concerned about people coming up to me. But I think that what may be a surprise to most is how much I enjoy kind of just having the ability to make people be happy and to smile. Just to enjoy watching people smile is really enjoyable for me. I love when a young person comes up to the window and takes a photo of me and they’re just happy! You can kind of tell that you made their day happier and that feels great! That was one of the things that I wasn’t expecting as much.

AM: Clearly you’re very fit, what are your workout routines that you like to do to stay in shape?

JO: Just the gym and that’s it. I wish that I had something more exciting to say. I mean, I workout less than what people think. I workout for less than 30 minutes and I get teased sometimes on how little I workout, but I don’t do it for so long. I go to Monarch Athletic Club or Equinox.

AM: Do you have certain routines that you like to do?

JO: I like to do everything.

AM: How do you take time for yourself?

JO: Oftentimes, ironically enough, I sit down and watch Netflix you know? Because I really enjoy it. Most days, I’m at home watching TV with my dogs and it makes me pretty happy. I like to go out to dinner with my friends, but most of the time, I like to sit, watch a game, sit down with my dogs with some frozen yogurt and watch Netflix.

AM: One of the things we enjoyed watching in the show was how much philanthropy is very important to you and you get your office involved as well. What organizations do you like to give of your time and/or donate to?

JO: Yeah that episode that you saw on Selling Sunset is the one that I love giving to – Food on Foot. I like to not only spend my time when I can, but more importantly, I like to be charitable with some of the income that I have as I think that they do a really, really good job. I think that we’re going to be on Celebrity Family Feud soon and we have chosen that charity so hopefully we’ll win some money on Celebrity Family Feud.

AM: For #TRIBEGOALS, we like to ask those that are trailblazers in their industry, who are 3 people that you are inspired by that got you to where you are today whether you know them in person or follow them from afar.

JO: I like Albert Einstein definitely as someone that I look up to. I’d say that I was very lucky to have in both of my professions in real estate and in law – I was able to work with very successful people that earned my respect and were able to teach me about leadership, experience and professionalism. The woman that I worked under when I was at Coldwell Banker, her name is Joyce Rey. She is still an icon in real estate and she taught me a lot. Then when I was a lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli is one of the leading attorneys in the country as well, just as Joyce is one of the leading women in real estate. So I guess, I was just really lucky in my professions in law and in real estate to work with someone like Joyce Rey and Dan Petrocelli. I think that they had such an influence on me in terms of my professional life.

IG @JasonOppenheim

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

| PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT COVER, PG 22 + 23 Benjo Arwas | BACK COVER, PG 16, 18, 21, 24, 27 - 32 Rochelle Brodin |

Hear luxury real estate owner/broker, contractor, developer at The Oppenheim Group and Netflix's Selling Sunset star, Jason Oppenheim on an upcoming episode of our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Read the Mar Issue #63 of Athleisure Mag and see A Passion Realized with Jason Oppenheim in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | NORDICTRACK VAULT

The NordicTrack VAULT is a full-length,60 x 22-inch mirror and 32-inch HD touchscreen display for immediate visual feedback. VAULT is made of carbon steel and has a sweeping rotating mirror. This allows you to work out wherever you desire in your home while allowing you to feel as if your trainer is right there with you. It allows you to match the form of the iFit trainer for a better workout.

Behind its mirror, there are premium accessories that includes: six pairs of NordicTrack knurled-handled, rubber coated dumbells (5 lb,10 lb, 15 lb, 20lb, 25 lb, 30 lb) and 2 kettlebells (20 lb and 30 lb). In addition, there are 3 loop resistance bands and 3 superbands. Each comes with 2 yoga blocks, and an exercise mat. All are stored in a vertical dumbbell rack within the storage cabinet. It stands vertically and is stable without the need of a wall mount while having a compact footprint.

It syncs with Bluetooth audio and has iFit workouts for weight training, HIIT, sculpt & tone, stretching and mobility, full-body and muscle-specific strength workouts, Pilates, yoga, mindfulness and more. In addition, a 1-year iFit family membership is included which is valued at $468 and can be used for up to 5 adult profiles.

Users have access to a growing library of on-demand iFIT Studio Workoutsthat are led by the world's top trainers including Gideon Akande, Hannah Eden, John Peel - to name a few. The selection includes a versatile catalog across cardio, strength training and recovery workouts. While interacting with the platform, users are provided both visual and audio cues on form and technique which is facilitated by the oversized mirror.

VAULT began shipping this month and is available with all of the equipment$2,999, or $1,999 for a standalone version excluding weights and other workout accessories.

NORDICTRACK VAULT

www.nordictrack.com

IG @nordictrack

PHOTOS COURTESY | NordicTrack

Read the Jan Issue #61 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Nordictrack VAULT in mag.

BING3WATCH | SUCCESSION

Read the Aug Issue of Athleisure Mag #56 and see BING3WATCH | SUCCESSION in mag.