Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see IN OUR BAG | When We’re Taking a Beat in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Christina Rumpf
Staying active demands more than just regular workouts. You also need the right nutrients to fuel your body, keep your energy up, and recover properly. While whole foods should always form the foundation of your diet, it’s not always easy to eat enough leafy greens, colorful vegetables, or nutrient-rich plants every single day. Greens powders offer a convenient way to bridge nutritional gaps because of their accessibility.
These blends support energy, digestion, and overall wellness, things you need when you’re balancing work, exercise, and family life. But not all powders are created equal and understanding how they can fit into your daily routine is key to reaping the full benefits.
Even with the best intentions, life gets busy. You might skip a salad, eat on the go, or choose quick snacks over nutrient-dense meals. Over time, this can leave you short on essential nutrients like vitamins A, B-6, C, E, and vitamin K—all of which play crucial roles in keeping your body functioning at its best.
The challenge is even greater if you want to keep up with an active lifestyle. Workouts place extra demands on your body, increasing your need for antioxidants, minerals, and recovery nutrients. Without them, you may feel sluggish, experience bloating, or notice slower recovery after exercise.
A well-known blend called AG1 greens helps fill nutritional gaps by delivering a wide spectrum of plant-based nutrients, digestive enzymes, and antioxidants. For many, it’s an easier way to consistently support gut health, boost energy, and strengthen the immune system without relying solely on fresh produce.
High-quality organic super greens powders combine a variety of ingredients—like wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, and other organic vegetables—into a single scoop. Together, these blends provide natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help maintain wellness even during busy days.
Some powders go further by adding digestive enzymes and probiotics, both of which offer essential gut support. When your digestive system works smoothly, you absorb more nutrients and experience less discomfort. This is especially helpful if you want extra bloating support after large meals.
Another key benefit is convenience. Instead of prepping multiple servings of veggies, a scoop of wonder gut powder or another high-quality blend mixes easily into water, smoothies, or healthy recipes. This variety makes it easier to stay consistent.
If you’re committed to your exercise routine, then you know that energy and recovery go hand in hand. Without the right nutrients, fatigue sets in quickly, making workouts feel harder than they should. Many superfoods plant-based protein powder blends include greens as part of a balanced formula, giving you both muscle support and micronutrients in one.
Some brands even offer perfect meal powder products designed to serve as a meal replacement when you don’t have time to cook. Pairing organic super greens with grass-fed pasture-raised collagen peptides or Organic Protein™ ensures that your body gets not just plant nutrients, but also the protein needed for muscle recovery and joint health. You may also have seen or heard about a collagen-based beauty powder called unflavored glow, which produces the same effect.
These thoughtful combinations help maintain consistent energy levels, prevent dips during the day, and support long-term resilience.
Not all green powders meet the same standards. Since these products become part of your daily diet, quality and safety matter. Look for blends that are third-party tested, which means they’ve been independently checked for purity and quality. This testing ensures you’re not unknowingly consuming heavy metals or contaminants.
Another important marker is USDA organic certification. This seal tells you the product meets strict farming and production standards, avoiding synthetic pesticides and artificial additives. It’s one way to know you’re getting a truly clean product made from organic vegetables and plants.
When comparing options, consider your lifestyle needs. Do you want a powder focused on gut support? Do you prefer blends with added protein for recovery? Or do you simply want a straightforward greens option to improve nutrient intake? Matching the formula to your goals makes the product far more effective.
Adding greens powders to your day is easier than you think. Pouring a scoop over a glass of water can be a quick morning ritual. You can also stir it into a smoothie for a tastier option or mix with protein powders to create a filling snack.
You can get creative by adding greens to recipes like overnight oats, energy balls, or homemade protein bars. This way, you’re not only boosting nutrition but also making it enjoyable. Flavors like Honeycrisp Apple brighten up simple drinks, while Chocolate Fudge pairs well with desserts.
Consistency is what matters most. Over time, you’ll notice improvements in digestion, steadier energy, and better workout recovery.
Supporting an active lifestyle takes determination and consistent nutrition. While whole foods should always be the foundation, greens powders can be a smart dietary supplement to keep your body supplied with essential nutrients.
These blends offer a wide range of benefits, from bloating support and improved digestion to stronger immunity and sustained energy. Choosing a high-quality product that’s third-party tested and backed by industry certifications ensures you’re nourishing your body safely.
There’s a greens option that can fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, no matter what you’re looking for in a perfect meal powder. By making it part of your daily routine, you’ll give your body the extra support it needs to thrive in both workouts and everyday life.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Dave Adamson
Quarterbacks are not so much football players as they are cultural symbols. They lead teams, play in highlight reels, and, better or worse, bear the burden of fan expectation on their backs. To many, the quarterback is the face of the NFL. And that's why we can't help but be fascinated when their lives are played out like scripts from actual dramas.
Some ride a wave of glory to legendary status. Others stumble after reaching the top, fading from view faster than anyone expected. We’re captivated by both ends of the spectrum. Stories like those of NFL quarterbacks who go from heroes to zeroes prove just how quickly a career and a reputation can change.
There is a reason why quarterbacks are seated at the center of America's sports obsession. They're not merely athletes; they're celebrities, leaders, and trendsetters. Advertisements, red-carpeted events, and even movie stars or musicians share the same limelight as quarterbacks.
Their fashion is replicated. Their interviews are played back. Their wins—and losses—are on the front page. It's not football; it's fame. And when an athlete wields that much cultural weight, their story is always bigger than the game.
Who does not love an underdog's story? To witness a young quarterback transition from a rookie prospect to a household name is pure entertainment. Draft day hopes, breakout seasons, and those initial memorable big wins—it is like watching a star being formed before our eyes.
They have fans backing them. Media outlets are proclaiming them the "next big thing." And for a while, it appears their career can only improve. The rise is exciting because it's a trip we all know: the high of momentum and satisfaction in watching someone reach their potential.
However, there's another side: occasionally, that momentum doesn't translate. Scandals, slumps, or even injury can ruin even the most extraordinary careers. A quarterback's on every sports network one day; a week later, he's not even mentioned.
The change is dramatic—and that's the glory of it. Consider the list of NFL quarterbacks who've gone from heroes to zeroes. A reminder that no matter how high the pedestal, a fall can turn the entire thing around.
Is it cruel that these collapses so enthrall us? Maybe. However, it is also a natural human tendency. We love the drama of an ascent, but we are equally intrigued by the vulnerability of a fall.
Why do these stories work so well? Part of it is psychology. We're drawn to greatness, but we identify with athletes because they fight. We see their humanity when the cameras fade and, in a way, that's more interesting than victory.
It’s also classic storytelling. The arc of rise, fall, and sometimes redemption is as old as mythology. From ancient heroes to Hollywood blockbusters, we’ve always been drawn to tales of triumph followed by hardship. Quarterbacks just happen to play those roles on live television, in front of millions.
Here's the silver lining: for most QBs, the drama doesn't die with the fall. A few find second acts in the media, as coaches or businesspeople. Others dedicate themselves to giving back or doing community service. Reinvention doesn't kill the highs and lows—it opens up a new chapter.
And in all honesty, it's that very thing that makes these paths worth watching. They remind us that failures are not the end of the road. Reinvention exists. A tumble from the limelight can bring about a whole new method of making waves.
The boom and bust of NFL quarterbacks are more than star gossip. It's a reflection on human ambition, vulnerability, and resilience. From the thrill of their meteoric rises to the theatre of their unexpected falls, these stories hold us riveted because they're both larger than life and completely recognizable.
Consider why their tales are essential—because in so many ways, they reflect ours. After all, isn't that why we adore them?
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelor/John Fleenor
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Maarten de Boer
Last week’s double episode did clear the field of women for tonight’s episode of The Golden Bachelor. We see the women getting to know one another more and we see the beginnings of the fall out with Nicholle being so overt. This week there will be a 1-on-1 date as well as a group date. Debbie gets a 1-on-1 date.
The group date is a roast and you know the women have a lot of material with Mel Owens providing a number of the information due to his podcasts prior to being on the show.
It’s always fun to see Jesse Palmer enjoy the various activities. Each of the women gave it their all for this particular date. Whoever makes the biggest impression is the winner and Nicolle will have a romantic dinner with him. She receives the date night rose.
Of course, now that the group date is over, we now have Debbie’s date. Prior to it the women talk about how long it takes to get ready and how they handle depuffing under their eyes. Michelin starred Chef Ludo Lefebvre is giving them a cooking lesson and will also make them an epic meal. Back at the house, Kathy and Susan from S1 of The Golden Bachelor swing by for a slumber party with the women! That’s definitely a great way to spend the night. They share tips, advice, and are even gifted vibrators. Back on the 1-on-1 date, Debbie gets a rose and we can see a connection between them.
The cocktail reception before the ceremony - the women have their game faces on. Each of them get time to speak with him and to share more information about who they are. Tonight, 4 women are going home! The Goldens are always tough because you only get an hour per episode and it seems like there are a larger cuts!
THEY RECEIVED ROSES | Carol, Cheryl, Cindy, Debbie, Gerri, Nicolle, Peg, Robin, and Roxanne.
THEY DIDN’T GET A ROSE | Amy, Monica B, Monica P, and Terri.
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelor and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Matt Swinsky
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with 4X Grammy nominated artist, New York Times Best Selling Author, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist, Jay "Jeezy" Jenkins. We sit down with him to talk about his career, his creative process, his TM: 101 Live Orchestra Tour, his Las Vegas Residency, Still Snowin' - his latest album, his collaborations, and Street Dreamz Foundation.
We sat down with the Co-Founder/CCO of Dagne Dover, Jessy Dover. We wanted to know more about this brand, how it started, it's ethos, and her creative process in designing bags and luggage thay allow people to live a full lifestyle well accessorized.
S2 of STARZ's The Couple Next Door is back taking us to the cul-de-sac where secrets and more will make themselves known. We sat down with Sam Palladio, Sendhill Ramamurthy, and Annabel Scholey. We talk about how they came to the show, how they prepared for their characters, and what we should expect from this season.
We share a recap of NYFW SS26, which included a number of shows from Janet Mandell, NYMD, Christian Siriano, Rynshu and more. We also have an interview with Supermodel, Niki Taylor moments before she made a return to the runway of Mott50.
We caught up with pickleball athlete Tyson Apostol to find out about his pickleball career, his passion for the game and the power of gummies and sleep! In addition, as the winner of Survivor: Blood vs Water, he gaves us insights on S49 of Survivor.
As TYLENOL has become the partner to the NWSL as well as Gotham FC here in NY, we wanted to sit down with them to find out about how they are ensuring that fans as well as athletes are able to manage their pain while taking in their favorite sports.
We caught up with surfers who participated in this year's A Great Day in the Stoke presented by Lexus. We talk with the creator of this event, Nate Fluellen and competitor, Farmy Dia. We wanted to know more about the event, why it was created and how it brings the Surfing community together.
Next month Orange Glou Fair returns to bring you the best of natural Orange Wines. Founded by Doreen Winkler, she gives us a preview on what we can expect from next month's event as well as who we should anticipate sipping.
This month, we had the pleasure of talking with Dan Abrams (On Patrol: Live, Live PD, Court Cam) and Amanda Paul-Garnier about the first Drinks with Benefits that took place this month. This Non-Alc event allows attendees to enjoy the best of this category along with food pairings. We wanted to know more about Dan's aproach to creating the event, the industry, and his interest in hospitality. We also recap what we saw while we were there.
We will be covering next month's Food Network NYC Wine Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ in The Seaport. We share a bit about this festival, what we're looking forward to and events that you should keep an eye out for.
We headed to NYC's Leonetta which is known for their Mediterranean cuisine and good vibes that makes you feel you are away on vacation! We sat down with Chef Ed Cotton to know more about the restaurant, their beverage program, and upcoming events in this month's The Art of the Snack.
This month's Athleisure List comes from robotic massage wellness brand, Aescape. We also talked with wellness luxury center, Biograph.
Our cover star, Jeezy shares his 9PLAYLIST MULTI with us on what songs are on his playlist, what he is reading, and what streamed shows and podcasts he is listening to. Meghan Markle of Netflix's With Love, Meghan shares her 9PLAYLIST. Our 9LIST STORI3S3 shares Jessy Dover of Dagne Dover's must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness.
Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Barrett Ward
After a tough workout, it’s easy to focus on stretching your muscles, hydrating, and cooling down while forgetting one very important part of your body: your feet. They carry you through runs, support you during squats, and keep you balanced in yoga poses. Showing your feet some love after exercise not only feels good but also helps with recovery, comfort, and overall well-being.
Here are some simple yet effective ways to give your feet the care they deserve.
1. Cool Down with a Soak
One of the best ways to relax tired feet is to soak them in warm water with Epsom salts. This eases tension, reduces soreness, and helps circulation. For an extra refreshing touch, add a few drops of peppermint oil or soak in cool water to calm inflammation after a long run.
2. Stretch and Massage
Feet benefit from gentle stretching just like the rest of your body. Flex your toes, rotate your ankles, and use a tennis ball or massage roller to ease tightness. A few minutes of self-massage can improve blood flow and relieve pressure from arches and heels.
3. Moisturize and Pamper
After a shower or soak, apply a rich foot cream to keep the skin soft and hydrated. Massaging in moisturizer also doubles as another way to ease tired muscles. For a spa-like feel, slip on cotton socks afterward to help the cream absorb deeply.
4. Pay Attention to What’s Underfoot at Home
The surfaces you walk on play a big role in how your feet feel after exercise. Hardwood, tile, or concrete can be tough on joints and arches when you’re barefoot or in thin socks. Adding softness underfoot makes a world of difference. Carpeting offers consistent cushioning across a room, while extra rugs or runners in high-traffic areas give you comfort right where you need it most. Getting one of these vintage shaggy rugs in the living room or a padded runner in the hallway provides relief and adds warmth to your space. Creating these soft zones at home not only helps your feet recover but also makes your environment feel more inviting and cozy.
5. Choose Supportive Footwear
Your recovery doesn’t end when the workout is over. Supportive shoes or cushioned slides give your feet a break from high-impact activity. Avoid walking barefoot on hard surfaces immediately after exercise, since this can add stress to already tired muscles.
6. Elevate and Rest
After being active, elevating your feet above heart level for 10–15 minutes can reduce swelling and encourage circulation. Pair this with relaxation, such as reading, meditating, or simply resting, and your feet will thank you.
Your feet work hard for you every day, so for those days when you’re working out or on your feet for longer, it’s important to look after them. By soaking, stretching, moisturizing, and paying attention to what you have underfoot, you can show them the care they deserve. A little attention goes a long way toward keeping your feet healthy, happy, and ready for your next session.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Allan Nygren
The crisp air brings frosted fairways and shorter days, but it doesn’t have to mean a drop in your golf game.
You may not always get the sun-soaked afternoons of summer, but as we head into winter, you can keep connected to the sport you enjoy.
Dress for the cold
To transition into these cooler months, think about what to wear out on the course. The right clothing can keep you comfortable on those frosty days.
Insulated jackets, thermal base layers, and moisture-wicking fabrics keep your core warm without restricting movement. You might need to try a few different options to get the right balance while you play.
For shoes, look out for designs with winter-ready traction in the soles that give you stability on damp turf. Waterproof materials will also prevent your feet from soaking through.
Gloves tailored for cold weather play with rubber detail in the palms allow you to keep your hands warm. Disposable hand warmers tucked in your pocket also provide relief when the chill sets in between shots.
Practice indoors
When wintry weather shuts down the course, practice inside. A simple putting mat in your living room can keep your short game sharp, while a chipping net offers a way to refine accuracy and touch.
If you want an immersive experience, modern golf simulators recreate famous courses and track your swing with remarkable precision. Practicing with this type of advanced tool keeps you consistent and your mind engaged, so you won’t feel rusty when outdoor play resumes. Even taking 20 minutes a few times a week to practice helps you maintain muscle memory through the off-season.
Head somewhere warmer
Sometimes the best way to keep your skill level up is to follow the sun. Destinations like Scottsdale, Naples and Palm Springs are ideal for golf throughout the winter, with well-maintained courses and reliable weather.
A short getaway gives you the chance to play on grass instead of carpet and also enhances your enthusiasm for the game. Planning a mid-season trip can be the highlight of your winter routine, giving you something to look forward to and a chance to test your progress in real conditions.
Expand your knowledge
Not all golf progress happens with a club in hand. Now is the ideal time to dive into course management strategies, study swing techniques, or watch professional matches with a critical eye.
Books and video lessons help you understand the mental and tactical side of the game, while analyzing your own past rounds can reveal habits you might want to change. By treating the off-season as a time to learn, you return to the course with fresh ideas and a competitive edge over players who simply wait for spring.
With some adjustments, this season can become one of the most rewarding times of year to build consistency and step into spring as a stronger player.
There are certain songs on our playlist that transcend just being songs. They’re moments, portals to place and time in our lives, and in many cases the sound is timeless no matter how many decades have passed. When we heard Push the 2nd single on Matchbox 20’s debut album in 1997, we were hooked not only to the sound, lyrics and visuals of the video - but we knew that vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Rob Thomas had something to say that was relevant to where we were and where we’d be in the future!
This sentiment hasn’t changed with countless hits from his band as well as his solo career that has included Smooth with Carlos Santana, Lonely No More, and This is How A Heart Breaks which continues to connect with people at a visceral level.
As this month’s cover of Athleisure Mag, we talked with Rob while he is on tour for his 6th non-holiday solo album which drops on Sep 5th. We wanted to know more about the band, his creative process, All Night Days, his tour, and more!
ATHLEISURE MAG: You were in my hometown in Indy a few days ago and I know you’re traveling throughout the Midwest right now.
ROB THOMAS: We were just there. We were just through Indianapolis and then last night, we were outside of Detroit and today, we have a day off on the bus just chilling out in St. Louis!
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be an entertainer.
RT: I think when I exhausted all of the other options and I wasn’t good at anything else, you know? I think that when you’re lucky enough to find something that you feel like you’re good at and also – you know, when I was a kid growing up, I was in the South and I didn’t understand cars or sports and so trying to figure out where I fit in – it wasn’t until I found other people maybe in high school when I met the drama kids and the musical theater kids and they kind of spoke to me. Maybe it was the outcasts and the kids on the fringe. As I got a little older, it was musicians that were that way. It was like this fraternal group of the people that I felt like it just made sense to me.
So it was like at some point, maybe when I was like 19 or 20, it was like, I think that I want to do this as I was really writing songs. I thought, “I think that I want to do this.”
AM: Wow!
You’re so talented as a songwriter, a vocalist, and you play multiple instruments. Were you formally trained or did you just come across it all – how did all of this come together?
RT: Yeah, no – when I was a Freshman in high school, my buddies in my band were Seniors and then they all graduated and they went to Berklee College of Music and they would come back and they would bring me their music books. So I started to learn how to sight-read (Editor’s Note: It is the ability to read and perform a piece of musical notation you’ve never seen or played before, without any prior preparation or practice) chords and trying to understand relationship between notes and they would give me some of their books and I would kind of learn from that. So it’s pretty self taught and if you put me next to someone who is a really good player, it’s pretty obvious that I am self-taught.
I was alone with a guitar, I was alone with a keyboard, and I needed to learn how to write songs. I had melodies in my head, and I had songs in my head so I had to learn how to play just enough so that I could be able to write.
AM: Wow that’s interesting how you were able to access all of that as Berklee College of Music is a great school known for its jazz and popular music. My great uncle was Joe Henderson and I know that they have courses about him there.
Before we delve into your latest solo album, I can’t talk to you without talking about your band Matchbox 20. I remember when the debut CD came out, I was a Freshman in college when it came out. So for me, it was like all the things that I needed to learn about adulting and how to navigate emotions and scenarios that I hadn’t had to do before, it came from listening to your music and realizing that these things are normal! How did you come together as a band and did you think at the time that you would have this impact that resonates with so many people over all these decades?
RT: No. I mean, I think it’s funny. When you’re starting out, you have to have some sort of naïve suspension of disbelief that you’re going to make it – right? If you really thought about the odds, it would be so daunting that you would collapse under the weight of it. So I think that there was always this idea that we were going to be successful. I don’t think that we understood what that meant.
AM: Right.
RT: And I certainly don’t think that we had the ability to look forward 30 years later and realize the gift of being someone’s nostalgia. Like having this song like you said, that you went to college and this was your CD and that some people for one reason or another, at an event – someone’s wedding or their graduation and there was a song that was tied to it.
So I think that like, the gift of longevity and the ability to be around for awhile is bigger than like a level of success! It’s more of like being woven into the fabric of these fans and these people and I think that that’s a pretty special part of it.
AM: Is there going to be anything coming up that highlights the 30 year anniversary – that’s literally around the corner!
RT: Yeah, I mean, listen – we’re out on the road right now with the solo work and we’re still back and forth with Matchbox trying to plan out next year! Luckily, the end of next year marks when we put out our first record 30 years ago so we’re probably going to do some festivals next year to start gearing up for something really big at the end of the year and then touring 2027 around the world!
AM: Oh wow!
When it comes to creating music, where do you start in terms of the creative process and how is that different with you as a solo artist, you with your band, or when you’re collaborating with other artists?
RT: I mean, most of it is the same right? I write all the time. When I’m sitting down to work with someone – when I worked with Willie Nelson, we just sat down for 2 days and played each other’s songs. And then when I was done, he had written down 3 songs and he said, “I want to do these 3 songs.” If I’m writing with somebody else, maybe they come in with an idea and we can build on that. As far as if I am writing for someone or with someone, I’m just kind of drawing from this bucket of songs that I have worked on. If I go to Matchbox, I’m like, “do you guys like this song or how about this song?” I think that we all work that way so it’s never really like, gearing up for – well, I’m writing this song for this person so I need to get into this mindset. At some point, if someone wants to write with me, they probably want my point of view. So they will put their spin on my point of view.
AM: How would you define the Rob Thomas sound?
RT: Geez. I don’t know! I’ve been really fortunate that fans have allowed me to step outside and just do – I mean, if you listen to 3AM say 30 years ago, and you listen to Hard to Be Happy now, or if you listen to Lonely No More – those sound like different bands. They could be different artists. But I think that my voice is my voice and it ties them all together. So I don’t know that I have a certain – I write songs and I think about people and how people interact with each other. It’s just a very normal thing, right?
AM: Mmm.
RT: Like if I write about something going on in my life, it’s my job to write about how that thing makes me feel because you understand that – that has happened to you. You don’t need to know about me and my wife having a fight, you just need to know, “oh I know how you feel!”
AM: You’ve said that as a kid of the 80s, there are elements of that throughout your work. How do you add that aesthetic into your music while combining the various genres that you have been on and still making it sound current even if some of it is older?
RT: You know, I think part of it is that I have always went into this genreless. I think that that’s because when I grew up in the 80s, 80s radio was genreless. You would have MC Hammer played right after Van Halen and played right after Whitney Houston and then right after Bobby Brown and then Ozzy Osbourne.
AM: 100%.
RT: All of these things would play because MTV, that was our national radio!
AM: Oh yeah!
RT: It was all over the place. I think that growing up in the 80s made me more fearless where I didn’t have to be this kind of a writer and I’m a rock guy. Like, if in my whole career I had stayed 90s alt-rock like our first Matchbox 20 record, it would have been very limiting in all of the stuff that I could do later on.
AM: When I first heard Smooth, like many, I was blown away by so many things in the song and in the video! How was it for you to navigate the concept that you would be able to do both as a solo artist and then popping back in with your band?
RT: I mean, it took awhile! Looking back, Smooth happened between our 1st and 2nd record. Then we made 2 more records until I went solo. So it was 10 years into the Matchbox career before I made my 1st solo record! So it took me awhile even after Smooth! The thing about Smooth was that it opened the doors as a writer. So even when I was with Matchbox 20, I was doing a lot of outside writing for other things with Carlos, Seal, Marc Anthony, Willie Nelson, and Mick Jagger. I was getting a chance to be an anonymous writer for these other voices which was very very cool and then with Matchbox – we went from record to record to record and then on tour for like 10 years straight, so whenever we took that break, then it made sense and we all went out and made solo records.
AM: We were bummed that we were unable to catch your show at the Seaport earlier this month All Night Days is dropping Sep 5th and you’re currently on tour promoting the album. Why did you want to create this album and what can you tell us about it? We listened to Thrill Me which we really love and I enjoyed Hard to Be Happy and it has a fun video.
RT: Thank you! Thrill Me is my favorite. I think that there is almost an OCD to writing in that – like I said, I am writing all of the time. So if I don’t get some of these songs out, it’s a clutter in my head and I feel like there is no room for more material and other things. We were coming up on my 20th anniversary of my first solo record and I couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate it then to just let people know that I was still writing!
AM: I love that!
Since you’re on tour, you have the US portion and then you’re in Australia and New Zealand with a number of dates that takes place this Fall so you have quite an interesting schedule. How do you prepare for such a schedule, the performances, all the different cities, are there workouts that you like to do or must do’s before you hit the stage or after?
RT: Yeah, I mean, I think that I was much more careless about my body and my health when I was much younger. As you get older, you don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard right?
AM: Facts!
RT: You’re limited with your options out here. So I started with – there’s a Beach Body on Demand (Editor’s Note: aka BODi) that has a series of workouts like Insanity, P90X, Shift Shop and all of these things. Those are kind of great because a lot of those are bodyweight, calisthenics, so I don’t have an excuse. If I’m on the bus that day, I can do them on the bus. I can do a full hour long crushing workout! Sometimes they’re harder then just going to the gym with weights.
You know, I get a bonus workout every night. It’s 2 hours of just screaming and running back and forth you know? We love, the whole band – jokes about how we like a good hot night in the Summer! You feel like it’s part of the weight loss plan. It’s great to go out there and sweat off what we had for dinner.
I don’t do after show food. It used to be a big thing you know. After the show everybody orders some food because you’re really hungry and you’ve burned off a lot of that energy, but when I’m on the road, I find that I am probably on an 18 hour fast because I eat around 5:30pm and I don’t eat again until after I wake up and work out the next day. Keeping that, green juices, keeping vitamins – I think it’s your basic upkeep! I don’t think that you have to become obsessive about things, but I think that if you’re mindful, then you wind up – I have a different relationship with food. I have a different relationship with alcohol than I used to – well maybe only slightly!
AM: That’s fair!
RT: Well, every little bit helps!
AM: Your son is also on tour with you as your lead guitarist! What has that been like to have Maison with you?
RT: Well it’s great! He graduated from Berklee as well.
AM: Nice!
RT: Yeah. He went to Berklee and he has a band called The Lucky and they met there and as soon as they graduated, they all moved out to LA.
My guitar player from my solo band, he had just retired from live music. He’s been producing and writing for other people and killing it. It was his idea and he has been watching Maison on IG and sharing his shred videos and so I reached out and asked him if he wanted to do it. It has been the time of our lives! He fits right in although he brings the median age to the band down significantly! Having that energy has been really great. He’s known this band from when it was formed when he was 7. So when he was a little kid, he was on stage goofing with Al and Abe, my rhythm section. Now to see him as an active and integral section of the band, I have to stop sometimes because I almost forget that I’m performing because I will just stop and watch him.
AM: What do you want your legacy to be known as. You’ve had over 40M+ albums sold with the band, you have your 18M+ album sales with your solo career – what do you want people to feel about Rob Thomas?
RT: I mean, I don’t care! I think that I want the songs that I have written that have meant something to people – for them to carry on. If they ever forgot who wrote them, I don’t think that I would care. I like that those little pieces of music exist out there in the world and that they are out there for somebody if they want to use them for good times or for bad. It’s so selfish what I get to do – you know what I mean?
AM: Of course!
RT: I get to make a living doing the thing that I love. Most people, you spend most of your time working. Most people don’t get the ability to spend that time doing something that they really really enjoy. So it is a gift that is never lost on me. I get to do it and it is a sense of catharsis and therapy to write and be able to share it with people – like minded people. People seeing that you feel that way too and that they are not freaks! So, I think that just in general, I want the songs to kind of remain.
AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share that we can tell our community about?
RT: I’m in it right now! This is it right now! For me, every night we have to pretend that it is our first show!
AM: Right!
RT: For some people, it is the only one that they are going to come to. We don’t think too much farther then, we’re going to crush it tomorrow. That’s our mantra, “let’s just crush is tomorrow.”
IG @robthomas
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 16 - 23 + 32 - 37 Ashley Haer | PG 25 - 27 Andrew Angel | PG 28 - 31 Randall Slavin |
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see SONGS TO LIVE BY | Rob Thomas in mag.
US OPEN LAVAZZA SUITES - MIXED DOUBLES
This time of year is one of our favorites as the US Open brings tennis’ best and brightes to play at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium for 3 weeks. In addition to the action that is on the court, there are a number of adjacent events that take place throughout the city! Although the month of Sept. will continue these festivities, we’re recapping what we participated this month.
We kicked off our US Open experience with the team at Lavazza who invited us to go to their suite to watch a series of mixed double matches with our favorites!
We kicked off the morning hitting the grounds to see where fans can get their coffee fix as they arrive and in between matches. In addition to having a large free standing booth that serves hot and cold coffees, you can also get cocktails there as well such as an Espresso martini. Throughout the complex, there are smaller areas to get a coffee as well as to engage with the brands whether it’s playing interactive games to win prizes, photo opportunities with a “stadium” as well as their mascot Luigi!
After taking the tour, we made our way to the suite where we were able to watch phenomenal matches as well as to meet members from the executive team of hear about where Lavazza is focusing its efforts in terms of where it sits in the marketplace, partnerships that are very interesting that will be announced soon, and their partnership with Jannik Sinner (20X ATP Tour Singles Titles, 2X Australian Champion, 2025 Wimbledon Champion, 2025 US Open Champion).
It was great to sit outside of the suite to catch our first match Gaël Monfils (13 ATP Tour Singles Titles)/Naomi Osaka (2X Australian Open Champion, 2X US Open Champion) - L vs Lorenzo Musetti (2 ATP Tour Singles Titles, Team Italy Tennis 2024 Paris Olympics Bronze Medalist)/Caty McNally (8X WTA Tour Doubles Titles Champion) - W and Iga Świątek (WTA No 2 in Women’s Singles, 24 WTA Tour Singles Titles, 4X French Open Champion, 2025 Wimbledon Champion, 2022 US Open Champion)/Casper Ruud (13 ATP Tour Singles Titles) - W vs Madison Keys (2025 Australian Open Champion)/Frances Tiafoe - L played during Round of 16 which led to the Quarter Final between Iga Świątek/Casper Ruud - W vs Caty McNally/Lorenzo Musetti - L. Ultimately, Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud won this round and advanced in their mixed doubles.
In the other matches for Round of 16, we saw Jack Draper (3X ATP Tour Title Champion)/Jessica Pegula - W vs Emma Raducanu (2021 US Open Champion)/Carlos Alcaraz (22 ATP Tour Singles Titles, 2X French Open Champion, 2X Wimbeldon Champion, 2022 US Open Champion) - L and then the other match in that round was Novak Djokovic (100X Singles Title Winner, 10X Australian Open Champion, 3X French Open Champion, 7X Wimbledon Champion, 4X US Open Champion, Team Serbia Olympic Tennis 2024 Gold Medalist)/Olga Danilović (2X WTA Singles Titles + 2X WTA Doubles Titles) - L vs Mirra Andreeva (3X WTA Tour Singles TItles)/Daniil Medvedev (20X ATP Tour Singles Titles + 2021 US Open Champion) - W. The winners from this portion of Round of 16 played one another for the Wyarter Final Jack Draper/Jessica Pegula - W vs Daniil Medvedev/Mirra Andreeva - L.
It was a great day of matches and feeling all the magic that comes with seeing the US Open and being part of the action.
IG @lavazzausa
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 43 - 44 Kimmie Smith
WTA CLUBHOUSE X GILLETTE VENUS
Later that week, we made our way to the WTA Clubhouse where we got to enjoy a number of activities while celebrating women in tennis. Whether you took in a workout with Tunde Oyeneyin (Peleton instructor, Nike athlete, and NY Times Best Selling Author), enjoyed an array of treats at their cafe, shopped the marketplace or listened to the panel that included Taylor Townsend (WTA world No. 1 in doubles, 8X WTA Tour Titles, 2024 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, 2025 Australian Open Doubles Champion), Tunde, and Nana Agyemang (CEO of Every Stylish Girl) as they talked about the importance of confidence and navigating their careers that was moderated by The Cut’s Tefi Pessoa.
The WTA is the principal organizing body and global leader for women’s professionall tennis which was founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King (39 Grand Slam Titles - 12X Singles, 16X Women’s Doubles, 11X Mixed Doubles - 4X Australian Open Champion in Singles/Doubles/Miced Doubles, 3X French Open Champion Singles/Doubles/Mixed Doubles, 20X Wimbledon Champion Singles/Doubles/Mixed Doubles, 13X US Open Champion Singles/Doubles/Mixed Doubles) to govern the WTA Tour and rank female players.
It was great to hear from these women and to also continue to celebrate their achievements as well as continuing to get excited about US Open.
IG @wta
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 46 - 49 Gillette Venus
TASTE OF TENNIS NEW YORK
As we mentioned in last month’s issue, Taste of Tennis is a yearly event that is known for bringing the world of tennis and culinary together. Guests who attend this event enjoy being able to eat a number of dishes throughout the night and this year’s hosting partner for this event was Aqua New York. In addition, they get to meet tennis greats past and present who continue to bring the good vibes. This year Sloane Stephens (8X WTA Tour level singles titles, 2017 US Open Champion), Chris Eubanks, and Genie Bouchard to name a few were in attendance.
EVIAN BIG FOE X DANIEL DINNER
We were excited to make our way to evian’s dinner which was held at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. This sit down dinner brought Frances Tiafoe (along with his family and friends) and Chef Daniel Boulud together with the official water sponsor of the US Open, evian.
While taking in the stunning views, we enjoyed an array of appetizers, cocktails, chatting with Chef Daniel’s and taking a moment from all of the matches that we had watched during the week.
This sit down dinner was inspired by Frances’ favorite dishes that he grew up with. We were able to be among the first people to experience the evian Club’s limited edition menu. Each place setting had a glass evian bottle that had our names etched on it.
You can enjoy this meal exclusively at Chef Daniel’s flagship Michelin-starred Restaurant DANIEL from Sep 3-7th and can be booked now. For those that can’t make it here to NY, you can enjoy Chef Daniel’s Big Foe Treat Box at Goldbelly to enjoy from your home while watching the matches.
IG @evianwater
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 50 - 57 evian PG 58 + 59
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see WELCOME TO US OPEN 2025 in mag.
This month, we had the pleasure of watching Major League Pickleball Finals here in NY at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park. After catching this action last month for their last NY tournament at Randall’s Island, we knew we would be in for a day of great matches! This 3 day event kicked off on the Fri. the 22nd where we watched the Premier teams battle it out. This included Columbus Sliders, Los Angeles Mad Drops, New Jersey 5s, and St Louis Shock. There were great moments as we watched Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Men’s Doubles. For those who came on the 2nd day, they were able to see the Premier teams play their final matched and the first day of the Challengers Las Vegas Night Owls and Nashville Chefs.
On Sun. the 24th, attendees were able to watch the finalists from the Premier team - Columbus Sliders vs New Jersey 5s and the last matchs of the Challengers with Las Vegas Night Owls vs Nashville Chefs. Ultimately, the Premier finalists were the Columbus Sliders and the Challengers finalists were the Las Vegas Night Owls!
It was an incredible weekend of matches, love of pickleball and we enjoyed that our team was able to catch it all thanks to Dulce Vida Tequila who provided us with VIP tickets so that we could see it all in the VIP/Owners tents as they are the official and exclusive tequila partner of MLP.
The next 3 day event to watch for the MLP season of 2025 will be the Edward Jones MLP Cup Oct 31 - Nov 2nd at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, TX. As this is the final match of the MLP season, we’re already excited for what’s to come next year!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Major League Pickleball | PG 72 Sye Williams |
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL FINALS 2025, CITYPICKLE CENTRAL PARK, NYC in mag.
There is nothing like ending your meal with the perfect treat or even giving your self something special while you’re out and about! Milk Bar is the perfect treat that in addition to being innovative in the way that flavors come together, it’s also the nostalgia of it all! Whether you’re popping into one of their bakeries (5 locations in NYC, Chicago, LA, Las Vegas, and DC), or shopping online – there is something about enjoying their cookies, cakes, milks etc that is utterly satisfying. Chef Christina Tosi (Netflix’s Bake Squad and With Love, Meghan and FX’s The Bear) is the creator of Milk Bar which is spin-off from David Chang’s Momofuku restaurant group.
We had the pleasure of sitting down talking with this founder, entrepreneur, baker, and TV personality/host to talk about how she came into the industry, her iconic Milk Bar, and her recent collaboration with Premier Protein which is available through the end of August where you can enjoy treats made within this collaboration - Blueberry Pancake Super Cookie! It’s made with Premier Protein Vanilla 100% Whey Powder and you are obtaining 10g of Protein in this chewy cookie along with tangy blueberries and decadent maple notes which is satisfying.
ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first baked good that you fell in love with?
CHEF CHRISTINA TOSI: Well technically it wasn’t a baked good- it was my grandma’s oatmeal cookie DOUGH! She didn’t realize I was sneaking punches of it as a kid every time she looked away. I love the act of mixing and baking and giving away cookies, but I REALLY loved that dough.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a chef and to work in pastry?
CHEF CT: When it was time to enter the workforce, the thought of taking a desk job terrified me. When I asked myself what I wanted to do for a living every day for the rest of my life- I only had one answer: “make cookies.”
AM: How did you come to the Momofuku world initially?
CHEF CT: I met Dave through a chef friend when Dave needed help writing a HACCP plan for the health department. We got along royally and it was clear he needed some help building his restaurant empire, so I started working with him in a non-party chef capacity to start. But bakers gonna bake and eventually I found myself working ops by day and moonlighting as Momo’s first and only pastry chef.
AM: What led to the creation of Milk Bar?
CHEF CT: I wanted to bridge my fine dining, formally trained pastry chef background with my home baker upbringing.
AM: You have done a number of collaborations and your latest one is taking place this month with Premier Protein! Can you tell us more about why you partnered with them and tell us more about this partnership?
CHEF CT: I love the fact that Milk Bar and Premier Protein both see the world in the same way - we both love to show up and make people’s lives more positive, more fulfilling, more full of brightness and life. And we believe that flavor is at the heart of that (no sacrificing when it comes to living life to its fullest or most nutritious!). I also LOVED the challenge of creating baked goods that not only satisfied the sweet tooth in us but also kept us feeling satisfied and powerful through the day. I’ve become a protein hound myself off the clock and was really inspired to work with my incredible team to create baked goods that look as good as they taste and deliver on every promise - taste at the tippy top!
AM: What is your creative process when it comes to adding items to this menu?
CHEF CT: We like to define a flavor story first - is it a time, a food memory, a dish, a season that we’re trying to deconstruct and reconstruct into a cookie, cake, pie, ice cream, latte, etc., then we got at it with all our might trading notes, building spreadsheets of formulas and revisions as we tinker and taste, tinker and taste. When we think something is ready for prime time, we hold a larger tasting with the team to get as much feedback as possible across different pallets. It’s really fun work, but sometimes really harrowing. It took us 2 whole years to get our Birthday Cake just right before we put it on the menu. If we’re not obsessed with it, we can’t expect you to be and so we keep working.
AM: Why do you think Milk Bar resonates with so many people?
CHEF CT: We exist to democratize dessert - to make people happy with dessert and we spend a lot of time thinking, seating, creating and tinkering to find the bullseye of food that makes people feel seen and known and loved, but also new and full of potential and excited about what’s to come in life. I know, that’s a lot for answering soft serve or a fudgy centered cookie or layer cake to hold, but I think we do a pretty good job of it and the proof is in the proverbial pudding.
AM: We loved seeing Bake Club during the pandemic in our IG feeds and you recently released a cookbook of the same name last Fall. Why did you want to write this cookbook and what are you excited for readers and bakers to know about it?
CHEF CT: I love demystifying baking - love letting folks in behind the curtain, give them the best recipes, great tips that unlock their creativity and potential, and above all else create a community of fun. So from homemade sprinkles to soft pretzels, chocolate mirror cake and creme brûlée to the best ever chocolate chip cookies ice cream cones and pb s’mores bars, I got you. All you have to do is show up to a world full of must-have kitchen moves. I’ll be your guide!
AM: We always enjoy seeing your projects whether they are your collabs, limited edition launches, seeing you host/judging or appearing on S3 of The Bear – are there any upcoming projects that you want to share with us that we can keep an eye out for?
CHEF CT: We have some really fun Bake Clubs we’ll drop in the coming weeks, and there’s some fun places we’ll show up in your lives when you least expect it this fall and winter - but mum’s the word beyond that :)
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Milk Bar
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see BAKE CLUB RULES (NO RULES!) | Christina Tosi in mag.
Your week is packed. A quick run between meetings, a lift at lunch, a lighter dinner when you can. Some days you feel sharp, other days your legs feel like sandbags.
That’s why a lot of active people ask about NAD⁺. If you want options you can manage from home, you can learn more through NAD online. Here’s a simple guide to what it is, how it may fit your plan, and what to ask before you try it.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Towfiqu barbhuiya
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD⁺, is a coenzyme your cells use to turn food into energy. It helps enzymes run pathways that make ATP, which powers muscle contraction, brain work, and recovery.
You don’t need biochem notes to get the point. If you train hard, how your cells handle energy shows up on the bar and on your runs across a normal work week.
NAD⁺ levels can shift with age, poor sleep, and heavy training blocks. Researchers also study links to mitochondria and cell repair. If you want a quick primer, the overview on Wikipedia explains its role in metabolism in plain language.
NAD⁺ isn’t a shortcut. Food intake, protein, movement, and sleep do most of the work. The possible win is steadier energy, which helps you finish what you plan.
Here’s the practical link. Better cellular energy may help you keep a steady training volume. Three strength sessions plus two short cardio blocks beat two rushed workouts and a skipped day.
Many people also notice the 3 p.m. slump eases, which can quiet the pantry raid. If you’re running a small daily deficit, feeling steady makes it easier to stick with it.
Worth saying, evidence for direct fat loss from NAD⁺ therapy is still early. Energy and recovery look more promising than the scale itself. For a balanced, plain English summary of potential benefits and side effects, see this review on Healthline.
NAD⁺ therapy can be given as IV infusions, injections, or sublingual troches. Each option has tradeoffs.
● IV infusions: Clinic visits that run one to several hours. Good if you like fixed appointments and someone else sets things up.
● Injections: At home and quick, usually on a set schedule. Popular with people who live in calendar blocks.
● Troches: Under the tongue. If needles make you tense, start here.
Dosing plans vary. The right plan considers training load, sleep, body weight goals, and other meds. Some providers pair NAD⁺ with weight loss medications. If your team suggests a combo, ask why it fits your goals and how side effects are tracked.
Tell your provider about migraines, arrhythmias, liver issues, prescriptions, supplements, caffeine, and alcohol. If you’re pregnant or nursing, ask for a different plan. Mild nausea, headache, or flushing can show up. Chest pain, severe dizziness, or allergic symptoms mean stop and call. Good telemedicine services review these points before you start.
Waiting rooms don’t pair well with back to back meetings. Video visit, plan set, meds shipped, quick follow ups. The real benefit is consistency. Easy access keeps you on the plan long enough to see change.
● Video consult: Goals, training schedule, past weight changes, safety.
● Home delivery: Clear instructions and supplies, no pharmacy sprint.
● Follow ups: Short check ins. Move timing when travel or heavy weeks hit.
NAD⁺ works best as part of a week that includes smart food, movement, and recovery. Use this simple plan for month one.
● Calorie target you can repeat: Small daily deficit, not a crash. Protein around 1.6 to 2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight. If tracking stresses you out, use a plate guide. Half veggies, quarter lean protein, quarter carbs, and add a thumb of fats if you’re starving.
● Training you can finish on busy days: Two full body lifts and two 25 to 35 minute cardio sessions. If you only have 18 minutes, do 18. Done beats skipped.
● Steps and movement breaks: Keep steps steady across the day. Put a 10 minute walk after lunch or dinner on your calendar so it happens.
● Sleep: Aim for seven to nine hours. Same bedtime. If that’s tough, try a 20 minute wind down with light reading, breath work, or a warm shower.
● Caffeine limits: Cut it by early afternoon to protect sleep. Sleep moves the needle more than an extra espresso.
If you pair NAD⁺ with a weight loss medication, ask how to time doses around workouts and travel. Plan hard sessions on days your stomach behaves.
Tools beat hope. Keep a short weekly review.
● Weight trend: Weigh in three times per week at the same time. Log the rolling average. Watch the trend, not single days.
● Waist or hip measure: One tape measure reading per week. This tracks fat loss when water swings hide changes on the scale.
● Training log: Session type, sets, reps, distance, and effort. Mark sessions cut short by fatigue.
● Energy and hunger notes: One or two lines per day. Patterns often link to dose timing, sleep, or stress.
If the four week trend is flat, change one lever, not five. Trim 150 to 200 calories, add one short cardio block, or fix bedtime. Share your log during follow ups so your provider can fine tune the plan.
Bring a list so the call stays focused. A few good ones:
● What’s my starting dose and schedule based on my training?
● When might I feel steadier energy?
● What side effects should I watch for, and what’s the plan if they show up?
● How will we track progress at four and twelve weeks?
● If we combine therapies, what changes first if workouts feel off?
● How do we handle travel and stacked meeting weeks?
Good answers here usually predict a smoother program.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Towfiqu barbhuiya
NAD⁺ can help you feel steadier across work and workouts, which makes food choices and training easier to repeat. Keep access simple with telemedicine, pair the therapy with basic habits, and track your trend lines. Small changes, done most days, add up.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelor/John Fleenor
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Maarten de Boer
We’re settling in for another season of The Golden Bachelor as we watch Mel Owens find his way through his journey to find someone to love. This former NFL Rams’ player and Partner and Attorney at Law for Namanny, Byrne & Owens is on his quest for love and we can’t wait to see his season and how it unfolds. We have a bit of an expectation of how it will go as this is S2 but Bachelor Nation knows that each season tends to be its own snowflake of sorts!
It’s interesting that the episode started addressing when Mel talked about the fact that he wouldn’t want to date women of a certain age (over 60) - he even acknowledged it and we heard some of the contestants also weighing in. We’ll see who will go forward after the first elimination. The fact that he is fom Detroit and talked about his connection with Motown and being part of the community and how he came to football is an interesting nuance in terms of getting to know more about him. Hearing about his father passing as well as his wife asking for a divorce really lets us see where he’s at in life after raising his sons.
After getting his backstory, he’s finally about to meet the women and he takes a moment to chat with Jesse Palmer. The limos pull up and it’s great to see the women that we have heard about over the past few weeks.
We’re already excited about Carol (loved her look) and Diane definitely let it be knonwn that she heard the interview - he did say that he would like to chat with her more and to get the chance to know her. A number of women reference it and let him know that people over 60 are vital and worth knowing. Sandra from S1 of The Golden Bachelor, introduced Mel to her twin sister Andra who will be on this season! After seeing the women outside and spending time with him, the First Impression rose went to Gerri! The sun has literally come up as they are heading into the Rose Ceremony! 17 women will be going forward to the next phase - meaning that 6 are being cut.
THEY RECEIVED ROSES | Alexandra, Amy, Carla, Carol, Cheryl, Cindy, Debbie, Diane, Gerri, Monica B, Monica P, Mylene, Nicolle, Peg, Robin, Roxanne, and Terri.
THEY DIDN’T GET A ROSE | Andra, Lily, Lisa, Maia, Susie, and Tracy.
After a long night, the women are able to finally check out their rooms and settle in. Jessie lets them know that there will be 1 1-on-1 date as well as a group date. Cheryl gets to have solo time with him. Interestingly enough, we picked Cheryl as someone who would go to Hometowns before even seeing this episode and we think that we’re still on point with this prediction.
Cheryl is told that she needs to go to the other room where she is able to select a dress and diamond jewelry from Neil Lane Jewelry to complete her look for her date. Mel arrives in a tux and they make their way to the Rolls Royce he came to the house in.
They talk about her life, the fact that her ex-husband took her child for a period of time and how she forgave him. She received the Date Rose.
On the group date, they met at the original home of the LA Rams where Mel was in a Rams jersey and Paula Abdul appeared as the women will be cheerleaders. They are divided into 2 teams and one team will win and the other will go back to the house and not be able to have extra time with Mel.
The Blue Team ends up winning and they get more time with him. There amazing connections that you can see are being made and Cindy receives the Group Date Rose.
The next day, the women get to enjoy a pool party at the house which is important as there is a rose ceremony that will take place later that night. Nicolle continues to not only give him kisses in public, but in such a way that the other women are really starting to notice (versus when he and Cindy did so in a private moment).
THEY RECEIVED ROSES | Amy, Carol, Cheryl, Cindy, Debbie, Gerri, Monica B, Monica P, Nicolle, Peg, Robin, and Terri.
THEY DIDN’T GET A ROSE | Alexandra, Carla, Diane, and Mylene.
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelor and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | The Daily Pour/Drinks with Benefits
We caught up with The Daily Pour (formerly Bottle Raiders) Founder/Publisher, Dan Abrams, and VP Marketing, Amanda Paul-Garnier, to chat about the exciting Drinks With Benefits, the first Zero Proof Festival, coming to New York (Altman Building, September 27, 2025).
At Drinks With Benefits Festival guests will discover 50+ Non-Alc brands to sip and savor. Taste innovative and sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages, botanical spirits and functional elixirs in the Tasting Gallery, and meet and connect with industry innovators. Stroll through the Non-Alcoholic Beer Garden and Hemp Beverages with music. Experiment in the interactive Mixology Lab, with non-alcoholic cocktail mixing demos. Take in the immersive experience in the Drink Rhythms Lounge DJ Sets, Podcasting Lounge, and mindful experiences in the Meditation Tent. Pair your drinking journey with 3 Omakase-style courses by top chefs for VIP Ticket-holders. In the Cipriani Cafe, their Chef will serve up complimentary pasta tastings. Reknowned for pioneering the Bellini, Cipriani will pair these dishes with their Bellini Zero Cipriani! The Drinks With Benefits Festival will also feature the Zero Proof Choice Awards, crowning the best winners in Non-Alc and Functional beverages.
ATHLEISURE MAG: So what led you to start the first Zero Proof Festival in NYC?
DAN ABRAMS: We had started a spirits media company that was initially focused on whiskey. And we were planning on expanding, and we did, to gin and rum and tequila. And as we were building out the business, we realized that functional beverages are becoming just an enormous part of spirits. And we can't really create a forward-thinking spirits business without making functional beverages a serious part of what we're doing.
And so as we came to that realization, we started talking about and thinking about events, in addition to doing content. Because we had acquired a company that was doing at the time 12 events around the country for whiskey and tequila. We've now expanded that to 15, so events were in the DNA of the business.
But now we were thinking, let's go big! We were stunned considering how significant a business non-alcohol and functional beverages have become, that there hasn't been a major awards in New York. There hasn't been a major event in conjunction with wellness in New York, almost anywhere. And so we thought, what a great opportunity to be on the forefront of this. And those were the seeds behind Drinks With Benefits.
AM: So what types of non-alcoholic or functional beverages would be showcased at this specific event?
AMANDA PAUL-GARNIER: So we have over 60 brands covering non-alcoholic wines, non-alcoholic beers, functional hemp and functional non-hemp products. Brands, probably, you know, like Ghia, Kin Euphorics, Athletic Brewing Company, Bero, But also brands you probably don't know that are very high quality, like Opius Elixirs, which is probably one of the best brands out there.
AM: Yeah, I would say on a personal note, I was diagnosed with gout in the middle of college. Beer is my kryptonite. So I've had to drink clear alcohol spirits or non-alcoholic beverages personally. So when I tried Ghia, for example, I couldn't believe the complexities that they put into a beverage like that.
So the space is growing. But in addition to growing, the formulations are getting better and better. Isn't that true?
APG: Yeah, I would definitely agree with that. We actually just talked with Melanie Masarin, from Ghia. And she was talking about her inspiration for starting the product. But just her integrity in terms of the quality of the ingredients she uses, she's very inspired from the Mediterranean, but she's also French and Italian. So nothing in Ghia is fake or superficial. But she also teases the whole concept that, you know, of like fake ingredients or say, people concerned about the sugar content with non-alcoholic beverages. But she was like, there's a difference between synthetic sugar and actual real sugar. And, you know, what she's trying to create and she believes the next forefront of the frontier for non-alcoholic beverage will be with people seeing those quality ingredients, real ingredients over anything processed. And I think that's one of the driving forces behind this, is that we're seeing in the non-alcoholic spirits industry that people are clamoring for an evaluation of quality. And they're basically the industry folks are saying we care about quality.
DA: This isn't just non-alcoholic wine. We want people to be thinking about what are our ingredients? How are we doing this? How are we distilling this? The same way people do with spirits. And I think that's why both our awards and Drinks With Benefits are really resonating.
AM: And, you know, in preparing for discussing the event, so I came up with the notion of things need to be tasty, but also things need to be useful or new and exciting also. So what kind of categories or different types of vendors or drinks are there available at this Drinks With Benefits Festival as this is new to a lot of communities.
APG: The festival is tiered as far as different categories with the space laid out exactly to respond to that, as for a lot of consumers, this is new and we wanted to kind of guide them through the experience.
So upon arrival, they'll get a consumer discovery map where all the non-alcoholic wines are in one area, all the non-alcoholic spirits and bitters are in one area. And then as you go downstairs, you will find the alcohol-free beer garden and then the hemp and functional space. So we've set this up so that they can discover it by category.
AM: That's great. And then there's also immersive wellness experiences as well, right?
APG: Yes. So we partnered with Sage and Sound, whose Upper East Side wellness studio has a meditation experience. And that will be led by Dara Hart, who's a Reiki master and spiritual guide. So we wanted to have, you know, something wellness adjacent within the experience to really bring to life that, you know, drinking less but better is about overall wellness. It's not just about drinks, even though they're a huge part. It's an overarching thing.
And additionally, we will have live podcasting with Samantha Feher from the podcast Caps Lock, who will be covering different topics on wellness; helping educate the consumer on different aspects of wellness; and transparency and ingredients.
AM: And what types of attendees do you foresee coming?
DA: You know, we see it being a mix. This is not an industry event, but we certainly expect some industry folks will be there. But this is primarily a consumer event. We're targeting a bit of a younger demographic. I mean, that's part of it. We just did a big redesign for our website and our app, now called The Daily Pour. And part of the reason for that is our doubling down in the Non-Alc space, but also the fact that we really are trying to target the 25 to 40 year old demo of people, who have expendable income but who care about health and wellness.
And by the way, it doesn't mean that they don't drink alcohol. Right. It just means that for a lot of them, they do drink alcohol. They just are trying to drink less.
AM: That actually leads me into my next question about Gen Z and millennials in particular and whether they're seeing this as a specific intentional choice versus a substitute. So as people are looking to what to imbibe or include in their lifestyle routines, how do you see the difference if there are between different types of consumers that some are just looking for this and others maybe are moderating alcohol consumption?
DA: So we think the targeting is the same. Which is, it's about quality beverages. Whether you are trying to drink less; whether you don't drink at all; whether you are moving from alcohol to hemp; whatever the case may be - we think that the piece that's been missing is focusing on the quality. And that's how we started this business.
We started this as a consumer facing business to say to people, we're going to help you drink whiskey and tequila and rum smarter and better. All we're doing is applying that same philosophy to non-alcohol and functional beverages. So it applies to all of them with regard to and again, that's why I think it's so important that I keep emphasizing that we're doing these awards in conjunction with the event. Because it's the same focus, which is quality. What is the quality? What are the ingredients? Because that's what drinking fine spirits is all about.
AM: And you guys are having a Omakase Food Hall at the event, which I think would get us to go to most events. What's involved with that?
APG: So we wanted to recreate experiences for consumers where they would normally have alcohol, but really show them they could have fun with non-alcoholic and alternative beverages. So we created a pairing experience with well-known restaurants in New York, including the Butcher's Daughter, Ado Lei, and Seatopia. Basically with that VIP ticket, consumers will get to go to two different counters and have a pairing experience where they have a light bite paired with an alternative beverage.
AM: There's also a mixology area for the Drinks With Benefit Festival. What kinds of things would guests be able to mix?
APG: So yes, we have the mixology lab. And we really wanted to bring to life, have a space within the event that made education fun. So The Pathfinder, For Bitter For Worse, FLUÈRE, those are some of the brands that have taken over the space. And they'll be doing education, cocktail making sessions, guided tastings.
The Alchemist Kitchen, which is in Soho, they will do a lot of elixirs, and a guided education with how to make cocktails with different plants and herbs and things like that. It'll be a really fun space for consumers to have a hands-on education or edutainment experience.
AM: For non-alcoholic consumers, are they generally narrow-minded towards the areas they're focused on? Or are they very open-minded, where they would like to try the different categories from beer, to a CBD, to maybe a sparkling spritz or something?
DA: So look, yeah, obviously, it completely depends on the person. There are some people who simply don't want anything that is in any way mind-altering, right? So they don't want functional alternatives. They don't want alcohol. That's one. And that's probably a much smaller base of consumers. There's still people we're appealing to, but they are a much smaller group. The much larger group are the people who drink a little.
They also try functional beverages. They try non-alcohol. They're interested in different areas. There are some folks who only want functional beverages and not alcohol. So it really depends. But what we're finding, based on the studies, is that most of the people who drink these non-alcohol and functional beverages also drink alcohol.
AM: That's super interesting. The space is definitely booming as consumers are finding multiple winners, in multiple categories, as open-minded in trying new things. And there might even be new categories that come out in the future. What are some untapped areas you could see now? Or do you think pretty much we're hitting where we would be for several years to come?
DA: I'd say the untapped is really the increase in the quality and the focus on ingredients. In a way that’s 10 years, 15 years ago, it was, ‘oh it's just a non-alcoholic wine.’ Or hey, I mean, ‘you probably know this from it as a non-alcoholic beer or whatever it is.’ And it's like, ‘OK, is it good? What is it made from?’ So that's the difference.
And I think that's the future in terms of where people are going, which is why we're trying to ride that wave of particularly younger people who have been brought up, focused on quality in a world where the evaluation of quality hasn't been so focused on non-alcoholic spirits.
AM: Sure. And do you see that a lot of these consumers are somewhat sophisticated where the benefits will be worth the price points?
DA: They're becoming more sophisticated. And I think that is the whole philosophy behind what we're doing, is that we're trying to help them become more sophisticated. We're the place that can say to them, we know you want to be more sophisticated. Now let us help you get there in a really accessible way.
AM: Yeah. Master edutainer, Dan. I see that totally. I learn stuff from all your other groundbreaking shows, I just know a couple of things what to do, not to do now because of you.
DA: My strengths are condensing complicated information into a pretty simple and accessible way to say it. We're kind of doing the same thing here with drinks. We are taking a confusing world of drinks and trying to make it a lot more understandable and to help them make choices.
And that's not completely dissimilar from what I do in my TV world. Sure. And then also some humor here and there.
AM: Totally. So and then after New York, are there other cities you're looking to take this festival to?
DA: Yeah, we haven't figured it out. I mean, we definitely are thinking about doing more. We want to first get this one under our belts before we start actively planning the next one. We want to see what went right, what went wrong, where could we improve? And that will help us determine, should we do another one in New York? Should we think about one in a different city? Our whiskey and tequila events, we're seeing great success recently in launches in some smaller cities like Scottsdale, Arizona or Austin, Texas and places like that. And so would that be our next? I don't know yet.
New York is a big swing. You know, and honestly, if we weren't kind of first to market on this, we probably wouldn't have started in New York. But I think that's why we felt comfortable starting in New York, because we were stunned that this hasn't existed yet.
AM: Tell us more about The Daily Pour, the organizers of the Drinks With Benefits Festival.
DA: Yeah, it's a consumer guide to drinking better. And so it has what we do - we have an app that aggregates reviews and ratings, some of which we do, some of which is from other places. But it allows it to be a kind of one stop shop to tell you, is this any good? I mean, I use it all the time when I'm thinking about buying a whiskey or something, because it allows me to see numerous aggregated reviews. And a lot of these are enthusiasts who've done reviews who might not have put a number on it. And we translate it into a number.
So the app is very useful. The website covers different issues in the spirits industry. We've recently been focusing on one particular beverage in a particular week or a particular month, which is another new thing we've done.
But, you know, the Daily Pour literally went live two days ago (formerly Bottle Raiders). And it's just a fundamentally different vibe. Bottle Raiders was initially designed based on a whiskey drinker.. And now you're in a much brighter, more vibrant place because we want it to be more inclusive of the non-alcoholic and wellness community as well.
APG: I think The Daily Pour is meeting the consumer where they are today, covering cross categories. So it's covering ‘I do still want to drink, but I want to drink better.’ So it's covering spirits. Also, it’s ‘I want to have that great margarita, but I don't want to have that during the week.’ Additionally it’s covering functional beverages, ‘and I want to learn about Non-Alc.” So I think that a lot of the other websites treat Non-Alc and alternative beverages like a footnote. Like it's really hard to find them. If you go to certain websites, they have it hidden under culture. I'm like, I don't know how anyone would find that. So we don't want to treat it like that.
I think about the scoring. I think that's extremely helpful to have this kind of meta score, our signature rating system that aggregates everyone's point of view and just gives space that is sometimes hard to understand.
AM: And the app is free. Are there premium plans to it or features?
APG: Yes, and then if you get the premium subscription, that's like $5 a month. And what are the benefits of that, so it saves your taste list. You get access to certain events and kind of discounts on certain things that we offer, exclusive content, things like that.
AM: That's terrific. And I also wanted to ask about Ev & Em Vineyards, Dan.
DA: So Ev & Em is a winery that I acquired in early 2021. It was right in the heart of COVID and the winery owners had kind of given up in COVID. And I had a friend who is one of the pioneers of the North Fork wine scene who called me and said, hey, you mentioned that you were interested in buying a winery. Were you serious? And I said, yeah, I was serious. Because I told you if I ever saw something really interesting that I would let you know.
And this is really interesting. It has one of the oldest planted vineyards on the North Fork. It has a beautiful location. It just needs some love. It needs some new thoughts about how to do the winemaking. And you could have an A-list vineyard.
And he was right. Even by the ‘22 Vintage, which was released in some of it in ‘23, some of it only now for the Reds, we're creating luxury wines in Long Island. So these are wines that we think can compete with California, Oregon, Washington, et cetera, in really all varietals. And so that's been super exciting!
AM: And there are multiple offerings. There's a Reserve, correct?
DA: There is. Yeah, we're making everything from Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris. I mean, we've got a whole range of offerings.
And in some of those, we have a Reserve. So depending on the year, for example in ‘22, we had a number of Reserve wines on the Reds, some of which actually haven't even been released yet. But our Reserve Red ‘22, super proud of that.
‘23 was a tougher year for us, but ‘24 was amazing. So we're very confident about that ‘24 Vintage that's coming out. And ‘25 looks great as well.
You can find out more about Drinks with Benefits Festival and get your ticket (General Admission is still available as VIP is sold out) by visiting their site. In our SEP ISSUE #117 which drops on Sep 30th, we will also recap this event as well.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
This Summer we have enjoyed a number of our favorite songs, ticked off things on our bucket lists and with a few weeks left, we continue to add to our playlists. We need to make room for Sommer Ray - DJ, fitness influencer, and entrepreneur who has been dropping singles and touring here in NY, Las Vegas, Cancun, and Cabo San Lucas to name a few must visit destinations as she finishes phase 2 of her Summer tour.
We wanted to find out more about her background, her passions, and the importance of fitness in her life. Of course, we explore who she has worked with as a DJ, music she has dropped and what we can keep an eye out for. We also wanted to lear more about projects that she is working on from beverages to Imaraïs Beauty.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into your recent tour and DJing, we’d like to get to know more about you. When did you fall in love with fitness?
SOMMER RAY: Fitness has been part of my life since I was a kid. My mom was a competitive bodybuilder, so I grew up in the gym and around that lifestyle. I loved the way training made me feel, both physically and mentally, and that connection never left.
AM: As someone who is constantly on the go, what are 3 workouts that you enjoy doing as we are always looking to add to our routines?
SR: I love weight training, Pilates, and yoga. Weight training keeps me strong, Pilates works my core and improves posture, and yoga helps me stay flexible while giving me a mental reset.
AM: What led to the launch of your fashion brand of fitness apparel and what do you enjoy about designing it?
SR: I wanted to create pieces that I would actually wear myself, things that feel good, move with you, and look great both in and out of the gym.
AM: Tell us about Imaraïs Beauty.
SR: Imaraïs Beauty is a plant-based beauty brand that focuses on gummies for skin, hair, and overall wellness. Everything is vegan, cruelty-free, and made with ingredients that really work. It’s about beauty from the inside out!
AM: We grew up as kids drinking Shirley Temples and have loved the trend of Dirty Shirley. You have Tempted. Why did you want to create this brand?
SR: I can’t share too much yet, but I’ve been teasing something in that space and there are some big things coming. It’s fun, it’s fresh, and I think people are going to be really excited when they see the full picture.
AM: What do you love about EDM music?
SR: I love the energy and the way it can instantly change your mood. EDM brings people together without needing words, it’s all about the vibe and the shared experience.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ?
SR: I used to host club nights, and after a while I realized I’d rather be the one curating the vibe than just sitting in the club. Once I started learning to mix, it clicked for me that this was how I wanted to be part of the energy.
AM: What is your creative process like when you are creating music?
SR: It usually starts with a feeling or a vibe I want to capture. I’ll think about the energy I want people to feel, then start building around that, whether it’s a beat, a hook, or a bass line that sets the tone.
AM: You dropped No Sleep last fall with Martin Jensen and earlier this year LaLaLa (Everybody’s Up) with a remix by HEDEGAARD. What was it like to release these songs?
SR: Both were amazing experiences. No Sleep had a fun, uplifting energy, while LaLaLa was heavier and more club-focused. Seeing people connect with them live has been the most exciting part.
AM: You recently dropped She’s A DJ. Why did you want to create this song and what was the process like for you?
SR: I wanted to make a song that was cheeky and empowering, especially as a female in a space that’s still very male-dominated. The process was fun, I leaned into personality and made sure it captured that “own the room” vibe.
AM: As you continue to navigate your music career, what artists would you like to work with?
SR: Calvin Harris and Martin Garrix are both at the top of my list. They’re legends in dance music who know how to make tracks that hit globally while still feeling fresh. Collaborating with either of them would be a dream, and I think we could create something high-energy that really connects with people.
AM: You have been touring for the past few weeks. What do you love about sharing your music with those in the cities that you are stopping in?
SR: Every city has a different energy. I love seeing how crowds react to certain tracks and how the vibe shifts depending on where you are. It keeps every show fresh.
AM: Since you’re traveling so much, how do you make your hotel and the city you’re in feel like home?
SR: I make time to hit the gym, explore local food spots with my team, and meet people at the shows. Those little routines and experiences make each city feel personal and keep the travel from feeling too repetitive.
AM: What upcoming projects do you have that you would like to share with us?
SR: I have more singles coming this year and a few exciting collaborations in the works. I’m also building out my live shows to make them even more of an experience.
AM: How do you take time for yourself as you have a lot going on as an entrepreneur, DJ, etc.?
SR: I carve out small daily routines that keep me balanced, morning workouts, staying active, and making time to unplug from my phone. Even when life is busy, those little moments to reset are important.
IG @sommerray
PHOTOS COURTESY | Sommer Ray
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see THAT IT VIBE | Sommer Ray in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Pexels/Omar Ramadan
We've all been there before—whether it's hitting new personal bests in the gym, training for a race, or just trying to keep up with an active lifestyle. However, the reality is that the more active we are, the more prone we are to injury. And when that happens, it's like the world has stopped. So, what do you do when an injury sidelines you? Is it just a minor setback, or do you need a plan to get back on track?
Whether you're a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, this guide will provide you with the tools you need to stay strong and recover quickly.
It doesn't matter if you are a professional or an amateur—sports injuries can happen to anyone. Some of the most common injuries include strains, sprains, fractures, and stress injuries.
Strains occur in muscles or tendons when they become overstretched or torn, and sprains occur in ligaments. They are most often caused by sudden movements or overuse, especially if you push yourself too hard without proper warm-up or recovery. A hamstring pull or rolled ankle, for instance, is typically common in high-impact sports like football, basketball, and running.
Fractures happen when a bone breaks, and dislocations occur when a joint is forced out of its normal position. Both tend to happen in high-impact crashes or falls. When you're playing contact sports, it's always preferable to take preventive action against these types of injury.
Repetitive motions, such as long-distance running or swinging a tennis racket, may cause tendinitis (swelling of the tendons) or stress fractures. Such injuries are common in activities that involve a great deal of repetitive motion.
So, you've injured yourself—now what? It's nice to know how to treat yourself right after the injury to help minimize damage and be well on your way to recovery as quickly as possible.
The initial thing you must do is to use the R.I.C.E. principle, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Resting the affected area prevents further stress. Icing it reduces inflammation and numbs the pain. Compression with a wrap or bandage can help restrict swelling, and elevating the affected area above heart level will minimize fluid buildup.
If your injury doesn't improve after following the R.I.C.E. principle, or if there is severe pain, it's time to see a physician. A healthcare professional can evaluate the injury and suggest the following steps, which may include physical therapy, imaging (such as X-rays or MRIs), or even surgery.
Recovery from a sporting injury is not simply a case of waiting for it to improve. Active recovery, strengthening exercises, and professional interventions can all accelerate your recovery process and decrease the likelihood of reinjury.
Physical therapy is a crucial component of the healing process. A physical therapist will help you regain strength, mobility, and function in the affected area. Your physical therapist will also teach you specific exercises that strengthen compromised muscles and enhance flexibility, so that you not only recover but also come back stronger than before.
For some injuries, particularly those that are more chronic or have not been improving with traditional methods, some newer treatments like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy can be a lifesaver. PRP therapy involves taking a small sample of your blood, centrifuging it to concentrate the platelets, and then injecting it into the injured area. It promotes tissue healing and reduces inflammation.
If you need specialized care, consider visiting a clinic for PRP in Miami. PRP therapy is gaining popularity in Miami, where several clinics offer this cutting-edge treatment to help accelerate the healing process for active individuals and athletes.
During recovery, it's crucial to stay active with the right forms of exercise. Strengthening and stretching exercises help you regain muscle strength and flexibility, reducing your likelihood of getting injured again in the future. Once your injury has healed, work with your physical therapist or trainer to develop a recovery program that focuses on building strength, flexibility, and coordination.
Recovery is not just about treatments or physical therapy—it's also about giving your body the right nutrients. The food you eat can help make your muscles and tissues recover faster and avoid inflammation.
Protein is essential for muscle repair. After an injury, your body needs the building blocks to repair tissues, and protein is a crucial part of that process. Aim to incorporate lean meats, fish, tofu, and legumes into your diet to support your body's natural healing process.
To help reduce inflammation, incorporate foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts, and chia seeds. Foods that contain anti-inflammatory properties, including leafy greens, berries, and turmeric, can also aid your body in recovery.
Water is essential for keeping your joints lubricated and your muscles operating efficiently. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when exercising or recovering from an injury.
The best treatment for sports injuries is to avoid them in the first place. With a few precautionary steps, you can reduce your risk of getting injured again.
Always take the time to warm up before exercise and cool down afterward properly. Dynamic stretching before exercise increases blood flow to your muscles, and static stretching afterward helps improve flexibility and reduce soreness.
Learning the correct form for your sport or exercise is key to preventing injury. Whether it’s running, weightlifting, or playing a sport, using proper technique reduces unnecessary strain on your body.
Engage in cross-training to target multiple muscle groups and reduce the risk of overuse injuries. Varying your routine keeps your muscles balanced and minimizes repetitive use of the same areas.
Sport injuries can be frustrating, but they do not have to define you. With the right mindset, professional care, and rehabilitation methods, you can recover stronger and more resilient. Whether you try therapies like PRP Miami, follow physical therapy, or focus on nutrition, every step you take towards healing gets you closer to getting back to your active life.
Podcasting has been around for 20 years, but it has been in the last 10 years where there have been a number of platforms, series, and networks that everyone talks about. Whether you’re into True Crime, Reality, Business, TV Commentary, etc there is a genre there to suit your interests. In the last 6 or so years, we came across Lindsay Graham who’s shows forcus on historial, business, and variations of True Crime as it pertains to history and/or business.
For years, we have heard his voice as he talks about various times in history and businesses that we engage with. We sat down with him to talk about his array of successful series, the final episodes of Business Movers, his production company Airship, how he came to his partnership with Wondery and his thoughts on podcasting as an industry that continues to eovolve.
ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s definitely a pinch me moment as we have enjoyed listening to your and your portfolio of podcasts for years!
We can’t remember which podcasts we started listening to that you created, but we think it was American Scandal with its first season which focused on BALCO. We tend to listen to shows that focus on True Crime and business so the intersectionality of those verticals is what drew us into that season and ultimately enjoying the other ones as well.
Before we start to delve into your podcasts. What is your background and how did you get into the podcast industry?
LINDSAY GRAHAM: It was by total accident! I have no business doing what I am doing right now. By education, I have an MBA in Marketing right?
AM: Right!
LG: So that is what I was doing for most of my working life really. I worked in non-profit marketing and I also worked in an insurance company. It was at that insurance company when I got fired and that was fine because I didn’t like them either. But as you can tell, you notice the guitars over my shoulder here, I have always been interested in music and in audio. I guess my dream job would have been Record Producer.
So, I have this little studio that I am still in. I thought after this moment of losing my job, I went to my wife and said, why don’t I try and do something with my life that I actually enjoy? So I tried. I cofounded a little audiobook company based out of Dallas here.
We put out a lot of audiobooks, but along the way that caught the attention of Hernan Lopez who was the Founder and CEO of a very young company called Wondery at the time.
One of the best decisions that I ever made in my life was that because it was a fictional show and because we were ad sponsored, we didn’t have a host. Most podcast ads are host read ads. So I decided to be the host! I figured that I would put my marketing degree to work. Well Hernan just really enjoyed how I wrote and read my ads. Then even though I gave up that audiobook company and crawled back to the world of Marketing, Hernan called me up and said, “hey, I’ve got this problem. We have a brand new podcast coming out and it’s hosted by a journalist who can’t do personal endorsements – would you do it? It’s called Dirty John.” In the same phone call, he also asked if I was a history buff and would I want to host and sound design a new concept for a show there that they were calling American History Tellers. I like to joke that these are not questions that you want to say no to! You say yes to all of them!
AM: Exactly.
LG: So I did! All of a sudden, I was a podcaster, but I was a part-time podcaster. There was no way that I was going to suddenly quit my job again and go back to this fantasy world of being in audio. So for a long time, I did History Tellers part-time on nights and weekends and it was rough with a full-time job, and a young daughter at home. But it was really rewarding and I was actually making more money then I was at my day job. So I said, “I’m not going to quit for 1 podcast. But what if I had 2? Because then I can distribute the risk and it’s a portfolio of revenue. So I went back to Wondery and I said that I had an idea for American Scandal. It’s very much so the formula of American History Tellers show but leans into the True Crimeish, but not so True Crime. They bought the rights to that show – I really wish that I didn’t sell all of it because who knows and who knew how successful it would be? But what I did was secure my place in podcasting. I had 2 successful chart topping shows with a young network on the make and I got to quit the day job to become a full-time podcaster.
Yeah, I’m here by accident sort of, but you take the reigns at some point.
AM: Your podcasts have gotten us through running around the city, heading to events, coming from showrooms, heading to set, navigating layouts for when the issue is about to drop and more! We started listening in 2018/2019, so for a period of time we were able to just go from one season to the next in a number of series. The sound production is just incredible. As a Telecom major with a focus in production, my ears are always enjoying the audio quality in each episode.
LG: Thank you! We put a lot of effort into it and I guess that is the audio background coming to the fore right?
AM: Exactly.
What are the kinds of stories that you are drawn to when you are coming up with the different podcasts? Are there subjects that you naturally lean towards?
LG: Yeah. At this point, these shows are run by talented and sort of medium sized teams. So, I don’t even know some of the topics that are being worked on until they are really far down the pike. But in the beginning when it was a smaller endeavor and we were all working together to try to figure this thing out, the thing that was most helpful was to try to find the central question of the rubric that this show is centered around. What is the kernel? For American History Tellers, we put you in the shoes of everyday ordinary people as history is being made. That’s kind of what we are trying to do. We try to stay out of the Halls of Power as much as we can. It’s not all Oval Office and Congressional floor. We really do try to put you at the kitchen table of when these things are happening. So that’s what makes that show special and when we started, it was a good question – what do we start with? What should be our debut topic? This was early on in the first Trump administration. If you remember, there were these weird sabor rattling moments with North Korea and Putin. I thought that we should remind the American public about the Cold War and how terrifying it was for a lot of people especially us Gen Xers who had to hide under our desks or whatever to some how avoid a nuclear apocalypse – that was going to protect us.
AM: They were thick tables!
LG: Oh yeah!
But it was always how did this affect the average American at that time and how does that reverberate now?
American Scandal was actually pretty similar although this one is very POV centered show. We follow certain characters and we try to anchor it in their perspective. It always comes down to and I think this is why it is such a character driven show because that is what we try to bring to that show.
All of my shows have some sort of center or central question to them that we use as sort of a touchstone to remind us of how we are telling the story.
AM: Where do you start creatively whether it’s a new season or an entirely new podcast series. What do you do when you may have such wide lanes?
LG: There are editorial discussions and marketing considerations like Oct is around the corner, do we have a spooky story? We’re in the media business so we try to do our best with calendarization and things like that.
How do we tell is to our audience in a manner that adds value to someone who may know a lot about it and is also unique to us and I think that that is how we go about it. We get so many suggestions from our listeners, our writers, and our researchers, and they don’t just quite fit.
AM: Tell us about Airship. How did it start and what are all the podcasts and projects that are involved in this company.
LG: So Airship is my production company that I founded really to just house my increasing podcast activities right? So it started with American History Tellers, then once American Scandal came along, then American Elections Wicked Game, then 1865, then History Daily, and so I knew that I needed a structure.
It’s a small podcast production company. We do our best to keep our output up with our resources lean. At our height, we were putting out 11 episodes a week for my shows and other shows. We kind of specialize in the history niche and we have recently taken over the entire turnkey process of American Scandal so that now includes scripting, that was something that previously Wondery did. So yeah, it’s just a little company that could.
AM: Do you guys have from an American Scandal perspective, do you guys have a soundboard so that people can give feedback? How does that work from thinking about a topic and making it an actual season?
LG: Yes, I have a critical employee, my Chief of Content, William Simpson, he actually works in the UK. A lot of that gets filtered to him first. So, all of the ideas will go into some document and we’ll get some form of vetting together. It does require some fair amount of effort to see which of these stories has the legs. We’re not in the enviable position to do any original reporting – we’re not diving into the archives with a weekly show or 4 or 5 weekly shows – how could you?
We need to rely on the existing reporting and the existing sources and that still requires a lot of effort to find out what’s out there and to validate it as well as we take truth telling very seriously. We want to make sure that the story can be told without bias. But then there are considerations of how we can tell the story that is unique to us. I have writers, a bunch of freelance writers, I have freelance showrunners and producers, I have my Chief of Content, I’m involved all of the time – it will all go through it’s filtering and funneling process and then we will come up with ideas.
AM: I love History Tellers and I also love History Daily. I’m always amazes about some item or event that happened on this day that I didn’t know about. How do you decide that? There doesn’t seem to be overlap and there is a new fact to uncover and listen to for that day.
LG: Well the good thing about history is that it is pretty old! There has been a lot of days. Even though that is true, I will back up and say that since you have listened to it, you realize that there is a recency bias. There’s a lot more 20th century stuff than there is 19th century stuff and that is again because of sourcing and other things. We don’t know what really happened in 4500BC – no one was writing it down, but I’m sure it was interesting. The point remains that so much was happening that we have the entire globe to cover! This isn’t American History Daily, it’s History Daily. We don’t choose days like this person was born or this person died. Those aren’t actually interesting days that’s just kind of an anniversary of something – it’s what that person did in their life that’s important. So we have all sorts of options. We get to find a date, anchor an episode around that date, but also storytell from both sides of that date. We’re not just a page a day kind of calendar that gives you a sentence or 2 on what happened.
AM: We’re bummed that Business Movers will end at the end of this month. It was really a series that we have enjoyed listening to as it is in that vein of The Men Who Built America on History Channel and those kinds of docuseries are always fascinating and it’s great to be able to deep dive into those companies and industries. How did that podcast come about and what do you want the legacy to be for that particular series?
LG: To tell you how these things get decided, their Sales team said that they were selling the crap from their business program ming. “Does Lindsay have any interest in a business show?” I thought it was perfect because I have a business degree as I’m a history podcaster with a business degree so the ingredients for that show started pulling together. Talking about the rubic or the central kernel of that show, that one has always been as I have articulated – there is a Character, a Crisis, and a Business Concept. In every episode, we will explore those 3 things. This character dealing with this crisis as it relates to this business concept. We’re not explicit about that, like we’re talking about inventory management or inflationary pressures or whatever the business concept is. Hopefully you pick it up and under every single episode, it is there. Can I just tell you that I had some of the most fun in that show because the personalities are so big, so dynamic, and they are consequential in our everyday lives. There is not a company that we covered that you don’t have some sort of personal relationship with whether it’s Disney, or Pepsi, or Microsoft. Even the ones that you think didn’t touch your lives, you would be captured by their journey as well. It was a fun show and I really enjoyed it. I am sad that it reached its end.
AM: We saw it on your LinkedIn when you announced it and that’s what made us reach out after being long time listeners! We listen to it to as there are so many nuggets to learn and apply it to things that we are working on or how we engage with other businesses. A number of those businesses have been those that we have worked or partnered with and it was great to hear things that we may not have known about their backstory or event looking ahead to where they planned to go. It was an enjoyable and invaluable podcast that will be missed for sure.
LG: Thank you very much, that is exactly the reaction that I would hope for from my listeners. That it is entertaining, but also surprisingly useful resource.
AM: 1865, we don’t know how we found out about it, it could have been a cross promotional episode that was somewhere else or an ad but it was enthralling to listen to, the sound, the voices – super immersive! How did this come about and what was your involvement in it?
LG: That came on the heels of the very first podcast of the fictionalized presidential elections so a friend of mine who was living in LA and he’san actor and writer and was trying to make things work, he had a play about 1865. It focused a little more on John Wilks Booth, but he had an idea for an adaptation and was pitching it around Hollywood to try and get a TV series. He heard Terms which was the audio drama that I made, and said why don’t we make an audio drama around this subject. It worked perfectly as I was already making a brand around history podcasts so we decided to partner on that and he is the Co-Creator and Head Writer of that show and I am the Co-Executive Producer as well as I composed all the music and did the sound design of that show as well.
AM: It was incredible to listen to and an audible delight.
LG: Well thank you again! Audible delight – I like it! Well it was a real labor of love. It tells a very important story that starts with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the immediate first days of Reconstruction and how difficult this period will be without Lincoln around. It is semi-dramatized, but everything that is said in there is true.
AM: Are there upcoming podcasts that you are able to share to keep an eye out? There are probably 5 names whether it’s the host or a production company but when I see them pop into my feed or I’m aware of a project that is coming up from them I follow immediately because if I hear your name or Airship I know it will be something I will enjoy from an audio perspective as well as the subject that is being presented.
LG: Probably not -
AM: That’s what we thought you would say.
LG: Nothing is fully greenlit at this point. The uncertainty at Wondery has certainly made it difficult to announce or do anything for sure right now. The changing nature of the podcast industry has also altered how I view my work. So, I don’t know. It’s not even a matter of us vetting it with legal yet. It’s a little uncertain right now. However, I will guarantee that there will be more stuff from me and my partners in the next 12-18 months.
AM: That’s great!
Just as you said, the podcasting landscape – I mean this industry has been around for quite some time. There are many people that feel that they can just jump in and make a podcast and that is debatable. But for those who do want to embark in this area, what are some tips that you have regardless of their genre – what are things that they should be thinking of?
LG: The barrier to entry to not just podcasting but to a bunch of New Media – short form video, or you could sign up for Substack right now and have a paid newsletter. All of it remains the same I think. There are tactics for hooking people or marketing to them and extracting economic value from their audience and I think that the only way to do that is in a world of increasing authenticity is to be yourself or to do what you do. You may not know what you do, and that is a hard question to answer and I don’t know if I have the fullest idea of what I do. No one is going to have a career if they approximate viral moments or they just start replicating other success. If you think back in every piece of media that is hailed as something worthwhile or is a watershed piece, it has no resemblance to what came before it, it broke the mold, it changed things, or twisted things or was so outrageously original that is forced itself into the world. I’m not saying that you have to be so violently original, but you do have to be authentic. In a moment where we are all reckoning with AI and it’s very slippery and seductive inauthenticity. I think that we will more and more be drawn to these small and obviously human moments.
AM: 100%.
Do you have any podcasts that you enjoy listening to?
LG: Here’s the secret!
AM: We know where this is going, but we just wanted to hear it directly from you ha!
LG: Once you make podcasts and enough podcasts for 8-10 hours a day, I drive home with the radio off. I really appreciate just the silence of driving home. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy podcasts, I’m just not the inveterate consumer that you might think that I am.
You know, I once visited a very famous celebrity chef at his home and his refrigerator was filled with champagne and an expired tin of caviar and nothing else!
AM: Yup!
LG: I think that there is a certain bit of the cobbler’s kids (Editor’s Note: this is a Spanish proverb that means that someone with a specific skill is often so busy assisting others that their own affairs go unattended) here. But Revisionist History is always one that I enjoy. Malcolm Gladwell has an amazing, quirky, and impish way of looking at the world and I just find him captivating. Even if he is wrong about his big point or is demonstratively apprehensive of the facts, it still is really entertaining and thought provoking.
A recent winner in the history podcast universe has been The Rest is History out of the UK. They have hit upon a formula that their parent company has been replicating quite a bit. They came out with The Rest is History and then all of a sudden, there is The Rest is Politics, The Rest is Politics: US, The Rest is Football, The Rest is Entertainment and the formula works! But it is rooted in 2 people who authentically enjoy each other and authentically know what they are talking about even if they just researched it and they are able to bring their own expertise to it. It’s not a new formula of 2 people talking about a subject, that is as old as podcasting. There is something where there is a chemistry between these 2 hosts and the way that they tackle topics is persistently interesting.
AM: Are there subjects that you have yet to tackle that you would love to see in a podcast where it’s a series or just an episode?
LG: I’m sure there are! I mean yes absolutely. I have a document hidden somewhere in the cloud of every single one of these ideas. Just at this moment, I can’t think of any of them!
There is 1 story that I am dying to tell and I do hope that I get to tell it and I want to do it in a live show setting. There was a man named Danny Faulkner that lived here in Dallas. Presumably, he was an illiterate house painter. But he started finding wealth and success in real estate deals and building condos. This is in the mid 80s and all of a sudden, everyone was buying, building, and swapping these condos. A lot of people were getting rich and it’s not surprising that is becomes an entire house of cards and a big Ponzi scheme – trading amongst each other, bidding the price way up there and then selling it to a rube! But, this illiterate house painter was the ring leader of it all and he crashed a bank! He pretty much started the real estate depression of the 1980s and it had a great affect on my family because my father was a home builder and all of a sudden, we had to move out of our house and find a new place.
It’s one of those stories that would be really good for American Scandal because it is very character forward, but it is pretty small and pretty localized, and is not international, but it meant a lot to a lot of people and it has a personal connection to me and that is why I want to do it in a live show setting where I can drive the personal connection!
AM: Wow!
When you were talking about it it sounded like something out of Texas Monthly.
When you’re not working on your podcasts, what do you like doing in your personal time?
LG: I just yesterday saw a clip from the comedian Jimmy Carr, and he was asked, what are your hobbies. He gave this response, “I’m lucky that my work is more fun than anything else than I can think of.”
AM: We have said that on a number of occasions.
LG: That’s kind of, sort of true for me. Of course, I have enough of it, I drive home in silence, I get to come home and spend time with my young daughter who is 11 and my wife. I play guitar. I love to cook. If there is ever a guitar playing cook podcast, I would be ready!
AM: That’s a nice little intersection there.
LG: I live a fairly quiet – well you know what? I’ll tell you this! For the last 7 or 8 weeks, I’ve been taking improv classes!
AM: What, oh wow!
LG: Yeah! Way back in the day, I used to run the tech, sounds, lights, and used to play music for an improv troop. I never got on the stage myself. I enjoyed it then and then I grew up. But recently I thought, I need to for my own benefit grow, step outside of myself, and to be silly! This is terrifying to me to get up on the stage and be silly and put on a voice or to move my body in an odd or awkward way! I don’t dance like no one is watching – that doesn’t make sense to me and I’m not going to dance at all! So I figured that I’m too locked up. So I have been taking this improv class and I have really been enjoying it and I signed up for level 2.
AM: Wow and is the goal to maybe have a small group of family and friends to watch the joys of what you have learned?
LG: No. That’s not the goal. I have enough things that my family and friends can consume if they want to hear what I’m doing. The improv is really just for me and I might get comfortable enough to enjoy it as well from a performance aspect. But it is really a brand new and very rewarding way of thinking.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Lindsay Graham
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see SOUND MEETS STORY | Lindsay Graham in mag.
When you have a genre of podcast that you enjoy it may be about the subject or the host/investigator. We came to know about Charlie Webster when we listened to Surving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord. She served as creator, writer, and producer of this show which she developed with Lionsgate Sound and Co-hosted and Co-Executive Produced with 50 Cent Jackson (POWER franchise, Expend4bles, Den of Thieves franchise). For the first time ever, we heard from Chicago identical twins Jay and Peter Flores who worked with and brought down El Chapo.
From there, we continued on with another Lionsgate Sound podcast, Scamanda which followed a woman who pretended that she had cancer. Now she is back with Unicorn Girl an Apple Original! We wanted to know more about the subject, how she came to it, and more!
ATHLEISURE MAG: We became familiar with your work with the podcast Surviving El Chapo and most recently Scamanda which we enjoyed. Before we delve into Unicorn Girl, you spent a number of years as a broadcaster and journalist with sports. How did you get into the industry?
CHARLIE WEBSTER: I feel like from a real young age, I loved storytelling and I was so curious about people, and it has impacted my own life and it provided escapism and I felt so connected to how people got to where they did, and I loved books as well. I read all of the time. You mentioned sports in sports broadcasting and again, this was an escape for me. It gave me so much as a teenager in a very difficult background. So I feel like I went into Sportsbroadcast because I wanted to be an athlete and I didn’t end up being an athlete professionally and so then I thought, if I could tell people’s stories, of the amazing human endurance, the things people go through, their endurance and people’s backgrounds from where people get to where they are. That inspired and influenced me and then I just wanted to make documentaries and I wanted to share people’s stories and to give them a voice. That has been a passion of mine. That has been my journey with journalism and my career – whether it’s sports or you mentioned Surviving El Chapo – it’s all about human connection and our life experiences really and it’s that human experience throughout no matter what topic we are talking about.
AM: What led you to include podcasts in your body of work and what stories are you drawn to?
CW: I started in television, but I did do television and radio. Radio is not so dissimilar to podcasts and I feel that since I have had both visual and audio experience, I combine that because even Scamanda turned into a TV show and even with making Unicorn Girl, there’s elements of visual that I play in so that you can hear it and it paints a picture. So I feel like the fact that I have experience in it all – I have even written a book and Unicorn Girl listens like a Summer thriller read so I feel like I have combined all of my skills into making a podcast. But making podcasts is hard because you can’t rely on a visual thing. You can’t see anything. I love the challenge of being able to put you in that situation and to take you along the journey. I love podcasts as a fan too. I feel like it was a really in teresting way to tell stories. I remember wanting to make a story about domestic abuse and I wanted to I don’t know to create a rethinking about what you hear about it. I thought it would be powerful to do it in audio because of the risk that there may be for people in telling their stories. So that is what built my podcast experience. You can create so much intimacy in podcasts which I absolutely love.
AM: Both Surviving El Chapo and Scamanda are deep explorations into 2 very different kinds of stories and Unicorn Girl seems to be the same. When you decided to do an investigative serialized podcast, where do you start in terms of research and deciding how you will allow the story to unfold?
CW: That’s a really good question because Surviving El Chapo and Scamanda and Unicorn Girl are all very different, but at the end of the day, they have very similar themes about human connection, relationships, purpose, and trying to live our lives really and I think that is something that we can all relate to. They are all different and the starting point was different, but I feel like in Surviving El Chapo, I got very close to and spent a lot of time with the Flores twins and I feel that there could be and definitely is a judgment about them because they were drug traffickers. But they were groomed by a very young age by their drug trafficking father and I think that that is something that I love to get underneath the story.
Then again with Scamanda, the top line is Amanda was a woman who faked cancer and there are so many layers to that story. It is so deep because she didn’t just fake cancer and lie about it, she acted as if she actually had it – did she really believe it herself, was it about seeking attention, was it about addiction because she got a lot of adoration for that.
Then you go to Unicorn Girl and with Candace again, there is a headline that you see if you Google Candace Rivera, and it’s embezzlement but that’s not the story – the story is so much deeper and harder to describe with the journey that she went on. And again, she based it on things in truth so was there good in the bad that she did? It brings up such moral complexities and links because life is not black and white.
So when I first go into a story, that is to me what hooks me. Life is messy, we are complicated people and what drives them to do it and so – I don’t know – a lot of it is connected to myself and my lived experience. I love to tell powerful stories which are empowering and help people. It’s about understanding your own pain and trauma and I feel that is across all three.
AM: You talked a bit about what drew you to Unicorn Girl, for those that may not have heard the trailer, what is this podcast about?
CW: I laugh because it is hard to describe! That is the theme of Unicorn Girl. I think what drew me to it was that there were so many things that I couldn’t believe what Candace was doing! Sometimes there were more questions than answers, but don’t worry there are answers and you will definitely go on a wild journey and for me, the fact that I wondered was this a lie, was it not a lie, was it good or was this bad. The people she surrounded herself by and because of the way that I entered and came into the story, I didn’t investigate Candace retrospectively – she hadn’t gone on the journey that she has and the police and the law weren’t involved. I came in very early and got to know her as a fantastical character that people just loved to be around. She was so overt on what she put out there and when the suspicion came around her and after Scamanda, I was really inspired to tell another story about female friendships and messiness and that was everything that Candace was the epitome of! But I could never imagine what it ended up actually being which you will see by the end of the episode.
AM: What do you want listeners to get out of this podcast?
CW: I hope that firstly, they get an empowering kind of inspiring listen and also just going on a compelling journey that captivates you, that engages you, and I feel that no matter walk of life you have been through or I don’t know your present life, there will be something that you connect to and I feel this story has every emotion on the rainbow possible! I think we will pull you in in different ways depending on your own lived in experience. I hope that by the end of it there will be some justice through what Candace did, the group of people, the journey they went on and how they connected with each other to come together and to stop her and to bring that into your own life. But also understand that being hurt, how you were portrayed by somebody that it will hopefully feel very validating that it’s not your fault and I think that is important. We ask so many questions like how can people fall for this? It’s really important that we don’t simplify it because things aren’t black and white and I think you will see this in Unicorn Girl because there was so much truth and so much credibility in what she did and you’ll learn a lot along the way about manipulative techniques.
AM: What did you learn most after researching and telling this story?
CW: That’s a good question – what did I learn – question everything. For people that know me, I’m a super duper detailed and can be very hyper focused. I spend a lot of time with people and I like to listen to every single detail. For me, I learned that I need to question everything because there were some things where I thought that couldn’t be real and it was real. I think that challenged me and it made me think on whether I was telling the story in the right way and to get every single perspective that I could possibly get to make sure that I was telling this right. Some people have different perspectives that you will hear in the end on whether she did good or bad. I think it affirms that I was really careful of this in Scamanda and here as well – to never judge and it also brought about a personal complication in this story because it affected me – something happened to me along the way when I was making this story that Candace also said had happened to her and that really challenged me emotionally to care for myself and to also care for other people. A lot of things that I do is to hold space for other people that have been through so much and have been abused I suppose and have had so much betrayal and trauma from what other people do and that challenged me as well. I learned a lot – they are my personal learnings and not those of Unicorn Girl. But I think again, in terms of Unicorn Girl, I learned that I don’t know – it’s really hard to spot when people are manipulating and lying so it was really important to really show that nuance because it is not so obvious at all sometimes. I don’t know, sometimes there aren’t red flags and I learned that in this story – maybe they weren’t, maybe they weren’t obvious at the time, probably not.
AM: From research, interviewing, recording, and post-production, how long have you worked on this podcast?
CW: Probably around 2 years!
AM: When you’re not working on the next podcast, how do you take time for yourself?
CW: I tell you what, Unicorn Girl has totally consumed me! I feel like I have just come out from a rock after 2 years! What am I doing? That’s just who I am as well. It’s something that I am aware of because I just give everything. At the same time, I don’t feel that I could bring these stories to light in this way if I didn’t live it and breathe it. I literally did just that for every single second of my day. I didn’t just pop in and do a few interviews. I spent so much time in this community with the people that were impacted by Candace. It took me to many different places, I even flew to Spain to find one person.
What I like to do is running and it’s a huge outlet for me and I take myself up a mountain. I feel like I was a mountain goat in another life, but if gives me the headspace and helps me think about things and process things and work things out. I’m able to give my mind a little break and to not be embroiled into a story and I love dancing as well! I snuck out to Glastonbury Festival in the UK. If I can run and dance, I am the happiest person in the world!
AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to tell us about that we should keep an eye out for?
CW: I think that I have had Unicorn Girl as a secret for ages and I couldn’t tell anybody about it and I am excited to be able to share that with everyone! I feel I was so inspired by the incredible viewers and listeners from Scamanda so now it’s great to share! There are other things in the midst, but I can’t talk about those – but I am desperate to talk about this!
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 122 Laura Ribatallada | PG 125 Apple Original |
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see AUDIO FILES | Charlie Webster, Unicorn Girl in mag.
We enjoyed a Press Trip earlier this month at Pocono Mountain Farms in the Pocono Mountains this month.
It was an honor to learn about the process of sourcing and making Pocono Maple Water and Pocono Mountain Maple Syrup. Tapped each Spring from organic maple trees, the Maple Water was refreshingly, lightly sweet straight from tapped trees from the mountain. It is only sourced briefly for a window of a few weeks each year.
It is inspiring that Maple Sap is a single-ingredient that serves a subtly sweet taste as a clear, hydrating water before it is syrup, as intended and provided by nature and time straight from Maple Trees.
We toured the farm to learn about how trees are tapped; chewed lines are replaced and see the vast sections of carefully nurtured and maintained maple trees.
Entering their property store, we sampled an array of fresh syrups including classic, Elderberry, Bourbon Barrel Aged (non-alcoholic), and Cinnamon Vanilla. We especially liked the Bourbon Syrup added to some roasted coffee, a nice combination we will continue to incorporate from time to time. An experimental Jalapeno Maple Syrup hit nicely and we look forward to cooking with it to bring out even more heat.
We chatted with owner Nicole Bentler, who oversees/manages the serene 450-acre property with her team.
The backdrop of the water and syrup was the remarkable landscape. We were taken aback with the trees and foliage, sunrays and natural foliage. As fortune would have it, our time synced up with a rare shooting star event, where we gazed at a bright moon that dovetailed into a midnight starry show.
The next afternoon, their on-premises Captain took us around the lake prior to an evening supper event at the Lakehouse. Maple ingredients were interwoven with a beautifully prepared meal by Chef Kate Woehrle from neighboring The Lodge at Woodloch.
We connected with others through conversation, games and activities, to share and continue realizing our intentions.
From our soothing sound bath, Yurt experience to sharing unique memories over an oversized twilight S’more fire pit, we expanded our minds and our spirits, in addition to our culinary journey.
Ultimately, it was clear that this Maple Water should be appreciated for it’s taste and hydration features, as well as how sparingly and where it naturally is sourced, and how it’s offered and mindfully consumed. We’re back, the office stocked with ample supplies of Pocono Maple Water, an array of Pocono Maple Syrups and assorted hats, hoodies, and goodies. We look forward to cooking with and adding to some favorite dishes and snacks. We know that we’ll smile and resonate about the Farm, the Boathouse on the Lake, and Orchard.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Paul Farkas
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see POCONO MAPLE WATER in mag.
