9LOOKS | HERVÉ LÉGER

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ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

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VITAMIN C BEAUTY

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ROCK THIS WHEN HOPPING ON YOUR NEXT FLIGHT

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HOW TO DRESS | WHEN MARCH MADNESS ARRIVES

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THE PICK ME UP

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ATHLEISURE MAG | #75 MAR 2022

In this month’s issue, our cover story is with 5 XUFC Welterweight Champion, stuntsman, actor and rapper, Tyron Woodley. We talk about he went from being a 2 X All American wrestler, to MMA, being in the UFC and taking on various interests as a free agent in the MMA. We catch up with BRAVO's Real Housewives of Potamac and entrepreneur Candiace Dillard-Bassett as she talks about her work in public service under the Obama administration, her focus on uplifting women and those in the pageant world and joining the cast to use the platform allowed her to share her music and work in TV/film to the world. We catch up with 9-1-1: Lone Star's Brian Michael Smith who talks about his career, how he approaches his craft, learning about the industry in front of and behind the camera, the show and how he uses his platform to speak out on trans rights. We catch up with Bear Grylls as he talks with us about how he got into being an adventurer, Running with Bear on National Geographic, the importance of supplementation and more. We also talk with Gorjana Reidel, co-founder of gorjana. She talks about how they built the brand, key items that we should have in our assortment and the importance of empowering women! 

This month’s 9PLAYLIST is from EDM ALOK as well as Curb Your Enthusiasm, comedian, spokesperson and co-host of May I Elaborate? JB Smoove. Basketball influencer and trainer Chris Brickley and adventurer Bear Grylls shares their 63MIX ROUTIN3S of what they do Morning, Afternoon and Night with us. Our 9DRIP comes from our cover Tyron Woodley. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Brian Michael Smith and Candiace Dillard-Bassett as they share their must-haves in grooming/beauty, style and fitness. This month’s 9LOOKS shares some of our favorite ensembles from Herve Leger. 

Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack focuses on Baazi in NY. This month’s Athleisure List comes from JAPAN HOUSE | Los Angeles and Loreley Beer Garden. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.

Read the MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag.

AWARDS SEASON | OSCARS WINNERS

This morning, nominations for the Academy Awards, known as The Oscars were announced. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see who the winners will be. Ahead of the big night. we’re sharing who we predict will win in bold, winners that we predicted correctly will be in bold italic and those that won that we didn’t get correct will be in italics.

BEST PICTURE

“Belfast,” Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas, producers

“CODA,” Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, producers

“Don’t Look Up,” Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, producers

“Drive My Car,” Teruhisa Yamamoto, producer

“Dune,” Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter, producers

“King Richard,” Tim White, Trevor White and Will Smith, producers

“Licorice Pizza,” Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson, producers

“Nightmare Alley,” Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper, producers

“The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier, producers

“West Side Story,” Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, producers

BEST DIRECTOR

Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”)

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”)

Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”)

Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”)

Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story”)

BEST LEAD ACTOR

Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”)

Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”)

Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick … Boom!”)

Will Smith (“King Richard”)

Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”)

BEST LEAD ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”)

Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”)

Penélope Cruz (“Parallel Mothers”)

Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”)

Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”)

Troy Kotsur (“CODA”)

Jesse Plemons (“The Power of the Dog”)

J.K. Simmons (“Being the Ricardos”)

Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”)

Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”)

Judi Dench (“Belfast”)

Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”)

Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“CODA,” screenplay by Siân Heder

“Drive My Car,” screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe

“Dune,” screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth

“The Lost Daughter,” written by Maggie Gyllenhaal

“The Power of the Dog,” written by Jane Campion

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“Belfast,” written by Kenneth Branagh

“Don’t Look Up,” screenplay by Adam McKay; story by Adam McKay and David Sirota

“King Richard,” written by Zach Baylin

“Licorice Pizza,” written by Paul Thomas Anderson

“The Worst Person in the World,” written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

“Dune,” Greig Fraser

“Nightmare Alley,” Dan Laustsen

“The Power of the Dog,” Ari Wegner

“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Bruno Delbonnel

“West Side Story,” Janusz Kaminski

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

“Encanto,” Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer

“Flee,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie

“Luca,” Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren

“The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht

“Raya and the Last Dragon,” Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

“Affairs of the Art,” Joanna Quinn and Les Mills

“Bestia,” Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz

“Boxballet,” Anton Dyakov

“Robin Robin,” Dan Ojari and Mikey Please

“The Windshield Wiper,” Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

“Cruella,” Jenny Beavan

“Cyrano,” Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran

“Dune,” Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan

“Nightmare Alley,” Luis Sequeira

“West Side Story,” Paul Tazewell

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

“Don’t Look Up,” Nicholas Britell

“Dune,” Hans Zimmer

“Encanto,” Germaine Franco

“Parallel Mothers,” Alberto Iglesias

“The Power of the Dog,” Jonny Greenwood

BEST SOUND

“Belfast,” Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri

“Dune,” Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett

“No Time to Die,” Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey and Mark Taylor

“The Power of the Dog,” Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb

“West Side Story,” Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Be Alive” from “King Richard,” music and lyric by Dixson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto,” music and lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda

“Down To Joy” from “Belfast,” music and lyric by Van Morrison

“No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die,” music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days,” music and lyric by Diane Warren

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“Ascension,” Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy and Nathan Truesdell

“Attica,” Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry

“Flee,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie

“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein

“Writing With Fire,” Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

“Audible,” Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean

“Lead Me Home,” Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk

“The Queen of Basketball,” Ben Proudfoot

“Three Songs for Benazir,” Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei

“When We Were Bullies,” Jay Rosenblatt

BEST FILM EDITING

“Don’t Look Up,” Hank Corwin

“Dune,” Joe Walker

“King Richard”, Pamela Martin

“The Power of the Dog,” Peter Sciberras

“Tick, Tick…Boom!” Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

“Drive My Car” (Japan)

“Flee” (Denmark)

“The Hand of God” (Italy)

“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” (Bhutan)

“The Worst Person in the World” (Norway)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

“Coming 2 America,” Mike Marino, Stacey Morris and Carla Farmer

“Cruella,” Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne and Julia Vernon

“Dune,” Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh

“House of Gucci,” Göran Lundström, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

“Dune,” production design: Patrice Vermette; set decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos

“Nightmare Alley,” production design: Tamara Deverell; set decoration: Shane Vieau

“The Power of the Dog,” production design: Grant Major; set decoration: Amber Richards

“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” production design: Stefan Dechant; set decoration: Nancy Haigh

“West Side Story,” production design: Adam Stockhausen; set decoration: Rena DeAngelo

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

“Dune,” Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer

“Free Guy,” Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick

“No Time to Die,” Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner and Chris Corbould

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker and Dan Oliver

“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

“Ala Kachuu – Take and Run,” Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger

“The Dress,” Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki

“The Long Goodbye,” Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed

“On My Mind,” Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson

“Please Hold,” K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse

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9LIST STORI3S | CHRISTINA OCHOA

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BINGELY STREAMING

THE GIRL BEFORE

Max Original

HBO Max

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

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

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

INVENTING ANNA

Netflix Originals

Netflix

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

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

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

CLASSIFIED

QCODE

Spotify

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

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

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

BINGELY BOOKS

THE NINETIES: A BOOK

Penguin Press

Chuck Klosterman

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We've all seen tours of our favorite 90's artists, fashions from the era continue to maintain a presence in a number of brand's assortments and let's not talk about the movies that continue to play on our favorite streamed platforms. The 90's was an era that was filled with political changes, scandals, fashion, changes in the musical landscape, major sports moments, TV and cultural changes!

Chuck Klosterman takes us through this time in The Nineties: A Book. Chuck explores this era which was a kaleidoscope of changes that were felt regardless of your location, race, gender etc. He examines it all from the highs, lows and everything in between. Whether you lived it or are looking back to a time that your friends and family have told you about - this is a book that should be on your radar.

JUNGALOW: DECORATE WILD: THE LIFE AND STYLE GUIDE

Harry N. Abrams

Justina Blakeney

We've been following Justina Blakeney's IG account Jungalow for a number of years as we love the decor inspiration! You'll find good vibes, vibrant prints, and visual texture that makes you want to rethink the spaces that you reside in. The name is derived from Justina's belief in her brand being the embodiment of her wild, but cozy and homey, style.

Jungalow: Decorate Wild: The Life and Style Guide is the 3rd book by Justine and continues to inspire you as your flip through each page. You also get insight into the designer as well.

As you flip through the pages, you get the sense that you are taken through a vibrant journey that shares how you can implement this in your own home as well as how you can make this come together to make it your own. You also get to know a lot more about Justina in a bit of a biography of sorts in terms of how she approaches life.

With her encouraging and inspirational words, you may look at how you engage in life in a different way as well as embrace the idea of going in and out of nature in the way that works best for you!

101 THAI DISHES YOU NEED TO COOK BEFORE YOU DIE: THE ESSENTIAL RECIPES, TECHNIQUES AND INGREDIENTS OF THAILAND

Page Street Publishing

Jet Tila

In 101 Thai Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die: The Essential Recipes, Techniques and Ingredients of Thailand, we are taken on a culinary journey with Jet Tila as he shares his Thai heritage and ensures that home cooks are able to create his authentic recipes.

He connects with fellow chef and long-time friend, Tad Weyland Fukumoto share their favorite Southeast Asian dishes from Street-Style Basil Pork, Glass Noodle Stir-Fry and Hung Lay Northern Pork Curry. With a mix of classic dishes, popular street foods and unsung heroes from the regions, you'll have the perfect guide for the rich culinary traditions of Thailand.

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

ATHLEISURE LIST | HOT TUB BOATS

We love taking moments and heading outside for a bit of fresh air and to hang out with friends and family, When we heard about Hot Tub Boats, we knew this was something we would enjoy doing on our next visit to Seattle!

Created by Adam Karpenske, Hot Tub Boats are not hot tubs that can float or boats with hot tubs, but truly a Hot Tub Boat. Combining the freedom of a boat and the comfort of a spa, these one-of-a-kind teak decking vessels come with Bluetooth speakers, joystick navigation, plenty of storage space for food and drinks, continuous onboard heating at 104 degrees, thermostat and unparalleled views of Seattle.

Every single Hot Tub Boat is handcrafted in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle by devoted shipwrights. You can rent them at their Lake Union location. Visit their site and click Book My Boat. This pulls up the calendar where guests will see the availability on their calendar to select the date, add amenities and confirm the booking with your credit card. Each rental is in 2-hour increments.

When you’re planning your experience, it's worth noting a few rules to keep in mind for you and your guests. Hot Tub Boats has a maximum of 6 people, no drugs or alcohol is allowed, no swimming and no nudity is allowed. They are available every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas and regardless if it is raining or snowing! Keep an eye on their site as they have plans to open in a new city this summer although they are keeping that under wraps for now!

Your group is bound to have a good time and customers drive the boat! One person must be 21+ on board the Hot Tub Boat, but due to its custom engineering, only a valid ID is required to drive the boat - no boater's or even driver's license required!

After seeing these boats and thinking about enjoying taking them out in Lake Union, we were excited to learn that if you are as intrigued as we are about these vessels, that you can have a custom boat built for you! Just check out Hot Tub Boats Builds and fill out the form so that they can get back to you!

HOT TUB BOATS

2520 Westlake Ave N

Seattle, WA 98109

hottubboats.com

IG @hottubboats

PHOTOS COURTESY | Hot Tub Boats

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Hot Tub Boats in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | MR. C MIAMI COCONUT GROVE

Since 2019, guests have enjoyed staying at Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove as its amenities are worth taking in. We suggest BēAtala, a wellness suite (spa complete with their products), private sauna, treatment rooms, a rooftop pool and private cabanas. Guests can enjoy a fitness center featuring Technogym equipment, personal trainers, and yoga classes. They also have a ballroom for weddings and private events.

The award-winning architecture firm, Arquitectonica, conceived the exterior design modeled after the pier-like Stiltsville structures located off the Florida Cape. Mr. C overlooks Sailboat Bar (also known as Schooner Bay in the days of Miami's beginnings) the largest marina in the South.

Naval architecture is a large part of the Inspiration of this property. In addition, the Cipriani family hails from Venice, the city where one travels by boat, they have a love for those beautiful Riva Yachts of the post-war era. Then insert Coconut Grove, famous for its lush tropical setting, and its enormous Banyan trees engulfing the main highway to complete the ambiance.

AD100 interior designer, Martin Brudnizki created a nautical vibe and designed the 100-room, 6-story boutique property overlooking Biscayne Bay. The nautical look of the resort, as shown by its azure and white-colored terrazzo floors and glossy wood paneling, is influenced both by coastal Italian culture, and the sleek interior of a yacht or cruise ship.

The signature Bellini rooftop restaurant's vantage point has views of the bay, coastline and the horizon. You can enjoy the soft breezes of the southeast Trade Winds that provide a perfect temperature for outdoor dining.

At the base, Il Giardino is a secret tropical garden set in a courtyard for casual dining. Guests are surrounded by large blue umbrellas away from the energy of the streets of Coconut Grove.

A third venue is the street side cafe, a lively setting for people-watching under the monumental stilts that support the building 25 feet above.

This summer, check out upcoming events such as Cinema Nights, Concert Series and Art Exhibitions.

Mr. C has achieved a Silver Certification from the FGBC (Florida Green Building Coalition), the equivalent of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for an environmental sustainability as well as green energy -efficient lighting. They also received the Travel Sustainable Badge from Booking.com

MR. C MIAMI COCONUT GROVE

2988 McFarlane Rd

Miami, FL 33133

mrchotels.com

IG @mrchotels

PHOTOS COURTESY | Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | VINEAPPLE CAFE

We're heading to Brooklyn where we found out about Vineapple Cafe, a coffee shop that was beloved by Aubrie Therrien and Zac Rubin who enjoyed the vibe. When it closed, they stepped in to become the new co-owners to ensure that the neighborhood still had a destination to enjoy. They imagined how Vineapple could be more than what it was known as so that the community could still come together.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell me about Vineapple Cafe prior to when you took ownership of it. What was it about the original that drew you to it and what made you want to revive it?

AUBRIE THERRIEN: Vineapple was a neighborhood coffee shop that we frequented daily and the neighborhood really loved. Before that, it also had many other iterations as a steak house, a Mexican restaurant, and a gay nightclub. When we moved to the neighborhood, we would always wonder what Vineapple would be like if it had a great bar and an enoteca-like food menu. We joked that we would at least eat there 2-3 times a week. So one day, when we saw that Vineapple had suddenly closed, we not only jumped at the chance to revive this little cafe that the neighborhood relied on, but also turn it into something we had always hoped it could be.

AM: As you’re co-owners of Vineapple Cafe, what is your background in the culinary space?

AT: I’ve worked as a server and bartender at a variety of restaurants throughout the City for about 10 years, helping some open and also at other well-established places. My family also owned a restaurant in Little Italy for 75 years called Giambones. Cooking and eating is a huge part of my family and heritage.

Zac is a lover of good food and wine and an entrepreneur in the city who opened a cafe in his soccer stores a few years ago and caught the restaurateur bug.

AM: What was it like launching the concept right before the pandemic and navigating the process of renovating and opening during this time?

AT: It was both exciting and scary at the same time. We took over the restaurant in February 2020 and then the world completely changed in March 2020, right before we were going to try to reopen. We took that time to really reflect on the place we were trying to create and also worked on recipes and making the place beautiful with the help of our friends and family. We opened in phases starting in June 2020, with a shower curtain covering areas that were still being renovated. The neighborhood was so kind and patient with us and with us every step of the way.

AM: The kitchen is helmed by Executive Chef Joel Mendia, can you tell us about his culinary background, where he trained and how he came to Vineapple Cafe?

AT: Joel is a really wonderful person to work with and he has been with us, in many different roles, since the very beginning. He has trained in several kitchens in the city under the helm of some really fabulous chefs, with a focus on Italian foods, most notably Café Lalo and Café Falai.

AM: How would you define the cuisine that people can enjoy here whether they are coming to dine?

AT: Vineapple is an Italian-Leaning restaurant, featuring both old world favorites and New American Cuisine with some personal twists from our Chef and our family.

AM: What is the ambiance of Vineapple Cafe as I know you have a patio, garden and indoor seating.

AT: Vineapple is a neighborhood café with a casual, cozy and inviting vibe. We have a great mix of local regulars and visitors joining us from all over the world.

Our staff works hard to make them feel immediately at home.

AM: What are 3 dishes you suggest for those that are coming for breakfast?

AT: Our most popular item is our Breakfast Burrito. It’s massive, stuffed to the brim with all your favorite fixings, and comes with a side of our amazing roasted potato wedges. Our Breakfast Sandwich isn’t your run-of-the-mill breakfast sandwich! Farm fresh eggs are prepared with our house-made tomato jam, asiago cheese, and arugula, for an incredible start to your morning with just the right pairing of sweet and savory. Our Avocado Toast goes above and beyond the expected, with an obscene amount of Avocado, everything spice, and housemade pickles, rounded out with Caputo’s Olive Bread, it is literally the best avocado toast I have ever had.

AM: What are dishes for lunch that you suggest for those stopping by?

AT: Our Warm Vegetable Farro Bowl is a hearty, delicious, nutritious meal, it’s especially wonderful if you add our roasted chicken or a poached egg. The Prosciutto and Mozzarella Panini with our House-Made Tomato Jam is an absolute show stopper, and one of our best selling lunch items. The Kale, Apple, & Goat Cheese Salad is the perfect afternoon bite. Great as a starter, but excellent as a mid-day meal.

AM: You have a new dinner menu that we want to explore. What are 3 appetizers that friends and family can enjoy to start their meal?

AT: Our house charcuterie board is not to be missed! We call it The Big Board because it’s simply sprawling! Mama’s Prosciutto Bread is a family recipe held near and dear to us, a delicious combination of homemade bread, aged prosciutto and basil with gooey mozzarella cheese. Our Burrata with Roasted Beet Puree is both beautiful to see, and delightful to eat. The perfect table starter.

AM: What are 3 entrees that you would like to tell us about that we should enjoy?

AT: The Hanger Steak is fantastic and always cooked to perfection. We change the dish seasonally to include the freshest local vegetables. The Brown Butter Chicken is the most perfect winter chicken dish of all time. The warm peppery crust is simply to die for. The Cacio y Pepe Mac and Cheese is also a really iconic dish, served in a cast iron skillet. It comes bubbly with a breadcrumb top and is just really satisfying.

AM: To end the meal, what are 3 desserts that we should have on our radar?

AT: Chef Joel makes the best House-Made Tiramisu of all time! I’ve never tasted anything like it. Our Apple Pie Bread Pudding is a delectable sweet bite. Perfect for sharing at the end of your meal. Our Affogato uses the freshest Devocion Espresso with incredible gelato from local purveyor, Dolce Brooklyn. I would suggest ending your meal with an after

dinner beverage too, like a hot Amaro Caldo or a signature Espresso Martini.

AM: We have heard that you have a great beverage program and that you brought on Jennifer Sandella as the Bar Director as well as the General Manager. Can you tell us about her background as well as 3 crafted cocktails that she has created that we should try?

AT: Jennifer is a Brooklyn Heights local and has a true love and passion for crafting amazing experiences for our guests. She’s been creating cocktails for over a decade and also has a background in the theatre. She suggests you try the Bird of Passage, a refreshingly floral combination of Gin and Amaro, the Brooklyn Heights for a strong dram on a chilly evening, or the Golden Harvest made with passionfruit and mezcal, which is delicious, easy to drink, and perfect for any day of the week.

AM: It seems like those who come to Vineapple Cafe has a number of options whether patrons are interested in a café vibe, a bar or a restaurant. Did that influence how you approached the décor in terms of its vibe?

AT: We wanted to make sure the folks who loved the coziness of the old Vineapple still had that same vibe at Vineapple 2.0 while also adding some hints of sophistication and that brooklyn-enoteca ambiance that would translate to dinner. In addition to beautifying some of our outdoor spaces, we just wanted to create an unpretentious space where everyone can feel welcome; and of course, filled with hidden pineapples everywhere.

AM: In addition to food, you have live music and trivia nights. Can you tell us about these offerings?

AT: Yes! We are doing a weekly Trivia night on Tuesday that is so fun and a nice thing to do in the neighborhood. We give out prizes to the winning team and offer some food and drink specials. It’s VERY popular so if you are interested, definitely make a reservation. Our live music on Sunday is also popular and just a lovely way to end a weekend - relaxing with a bottle of wine, some homemade lasagna and jazz twists on some contemporary songs. On live jazz night we also offer 50% off bottles of wine.

AM: You also have non-profit nights. Can you tell me more about this and why you wanted to do this? What organizations have you partnered with?

AT: Giving back to the community is really important to Zac and I. He is involved with several nonprofits and when I’m not at Vineapple, I’m also the executive director of two Brooklyn based community organizations. When we reinvented Vineapple, we wanted to ensure that the community was part of that equation. One way that we give back is to host nonprofit nights for our local partners. We call them our "Eat Out for Nonprofits" nights, and 20% of all dinner revenue is donated to the nonprofit of the evening. The nonprofit can also use that evening to host an event, invite folks interested in learning more about the program, put information out for guests or a QR code for donations or use the projector to showcase their program. Recently, we’ve partnered with Horizons Brooklyn, Launch Expeditionary School, and local middle school PS915. If a local nonprofit is interested in partnering with us for a Dine Out night, they just have to get in touch!

AM: As we get closer to the spring and summer, are there special events that you will have at Vineapple Cafe that we should keep an eye out for?

AT: Mother’s Day is just around the corner and we will be hosting a special brunch for all the Mama’s out there. Our menu is seasonal, so we will be bringing some spring and summertime special goodies back starting in April. And summertime Happy Hour in our garden is as close to an evening of magic as one can get in NYC. Keep an eye out for fireflies!

IG @vineapple71

PHOTOS COURTESY | Vineapple Cafe

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Vineapple Cafe in mag.

IT'S ABOUT THE CHARACTER | REBECCA HENDERSON

We always have a series of shows that we look forward to watching and have placed on our Bingely Streaming list. This month, a number of shows are currently in that group. We caught up with Rebecca Henderson who is currently in Freeform's Single Drunk Female, Netflix's Inventing Anna and the upcoming 2nd season of Russian Doll.

She shared how she came to acting, preparing for her characters, chatted about these shows that are out now, upcoming projects and how she takes time for herself.

ATHLEISURE MAG: You have appeared in a number of shows we enjoy from Westworld, Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll and I am really enjoying seeing you in Single Drunk Female. What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to act and to do it professionally?

REBECCA HENDERSON: Oh my gosh! Nobody has asked me that, that’s such a good question!

AM: Really?

RH: Yeah! It’s so funny. I’m from Canada and I was a synchronized swimmer – it’s a different kind of performance and then I didn’t want to be a swimmer anymore and I was in junior high basically and I took my first drama class and I just loved the people so much and the community of it. I loved how much it taught me about being a teenager and just not knowing anything. I was such an uncomfortable and embarrassed person that it made me feel that we all pretty much feel like that. I never stopped. I went to undergrad for it and I came to NY and I did my Masters degree in Theater at Columbia and that was that!

AM: What’s your process like when you see these projects coming to you. How do you decide on something that you want to do and be attached to?

RH: Basically, I read it and if I like it, then it’s like – let’s go! It’s not that mysterious. If it speaks to me, I go for it generally and I would say that there is something about actors that when we start auditioning for something, you start to fall in love with the thing and you start to really want it which is part of it. So sometimes when I get offered roles that I don’t audition for, I kind of find it more difficult because it’s like, “ok, now I’m here – I hope that they like what I’m going to do.”

AM: Ha it becomes a bit of a grab bag!

RH: Yeah, it’s like, “is that what you wanted – am I fired?” Once I get a part, I tend to read it over and over again. I am obsessed with knowing the lines word perfect forward and backward and I tend to just write, fantasize about it – I think about the voice, the movement, the costumes. The hair always helps. I love to do my hair for parts. Then of course, when you’re there for the day and you’re there with the other actors, that’s when it hopefully comes together.

AM: Once you have immersed yourself in your character, is it difficult for you to step away from that when you’re no longer doing that role?

RH: It depends on the material. I find that if I have worked many days in a row and then suddenly, I have time off, there is a dip more so in my own personal mood. When you’re on all the time and you’re so focused on these long hours and then you’re just like, “ok, what am I going to do today?” I don’t have makeup on, I look weird – so that I find harder. I have done a lot of theater and sometimes I think that when you do theater and you have done it for such a long time and you’re always living for that 8pm current, it can be a little more all-encompassing.

AM: What drew you to Single Drunk Female?

RH: Well, I love the sponsor/sponsee dynamic. I have many friends in recovery, addiction is something that has touched so many of our lives and I thought it was hilarious as someone who is very honest and very straightforward, I think that I would make a good sponsor. I loved the idea of this show that was just this young person – we don’t have that many young female protagonists trying to get sober – we just don’t have that. So I liked that that story was being told.

AM: What did you pull from to become Olivia who is such a great character.

RH: Thank you!

AM: There’s such a bite to her, but at the same time, we see this duality of how she is in her sponsor relationship, and we also see how she is in her own relationship with her wife. You get the sense that when you see people who are dominate in one area of their life, that they have a different personality in other areas of their life and they’re juggling just like everybody else.

RH: Yes, that’s so smart. She’s an alcoholic. She happens to be sober for 10 years, but I think that at work and when she is in her sponsorship role, she really understands what she is talking about and then at home with her wife, there’s another source of energy where it’s like, “I don’t know and are you happy?” She really throws herself into work and working with her sponsees so she could probably stand to spend a little more time with her wife and paying attention to her needs.

AM: The other thing that is really great about this show is that you see all of these different interactions. When we first heard about the show, we knew that it would be about seeing the process of someone who is an alcoholic and their journey to being sober. But then we really get a birds eye view on how it affects the family members and the quirky things that they are trying to deal with. How important is it to show these full 360s of what it is like when someone is part of that community of people?

RH: I think that the show really shows the way that alcohol has brought her to this point. How alcohol isn't going to fix what's currently going on and how she has a lot of repairing to do and that she has to exist in a world without alcohol. So there are so many firsts that she has to make it through. She has to make out first with someone without alcohol, she has to apologize to somebody without alcohol, she has to put herself in all of these awkward situations and attempt to not start drinking again. That’s the way life is and we have a real problem in this country with alcohol. If you go out to dinner and sit down at the table, there are wine glasses already there. I’m glad that this show is in the half hour comedy format where it can go out to the country and it’s a light touch on how we can start talking about these things.

AM: I think it’s also great that with the show being on Freeform which has other programs that are also focused on making its viewers aware of issues – there is a scene in the series where she goes to where her friend is trying on bridal gowns and the glass of champagne is being passed to her and you see her navigating that situation. Prior to COVID, if I was out for a media event and you decided not to drink there was a need to explain why and that you weren’t feeling well or to have a club soda with lime in your hand to give the appearance of a cocktail so that you didn’t have to say anything. So it’s definitely something that people are aware of.

RH: Yes and there’s a lot of pressure around it where people feel like, well if you’re not drinking, where is my drinking buddy? Then you start thinking about your own drinking. I love that scene from the show because she gets that glass and she’s holding that glass way out!

AM: Yeah and eventually she tells someone else to hold the glass.

RH: Yeah, she was very scared. I think that that is a big fear for a lot of alcoholics that they will go to a party and a drink will be put down on the table and it will look like seltzer but it’s actually a vodka.

AM: That juxtaposed against the St. Patrick’s scene where the two sober friends are “playing” a game as they navigate past people who are drinking and heading to various parties. As a viewer, it makes you think about this on another level and even though this season is only 10 episodes, what is your hope if there is another season – what will we see between your character and her wife and how would you like to explore that sponsor/sponsee relationship?

RH: I mean, I was just thinking that I would like to see Olivia’s rock bottom and how she got sober if we did flashbacks. I think that that would be really interesting. Perhaps how she met Stephanie and how they fell in love. I’d love to see them become parents and see how that relationship as a mother/child is sort of mirrored in a way like Carol and Sam’s relationships. Also, what might that bring up for someone who is in recovery? To suddenly have a baby in the house and not be able to sleep. It would be interesting to be able to dig into those tools.

AM: The other part that is interesting to watch with Olivia is the sponsor/sponsee relationship where she operates in two different ways. Sometimes she’s like, look you have to figure things out and have a plan and then there is a compassionate side where she says if you can't be by yourself, come with her and her wife on a weekend trip – even though she was not down for that. This tough love and safety net paradigm is such a powerful relationship to see there.

RH: I mean, I think it goes to a bit of a codependent area where her wife is telling Olivia that Sam has to take care of herself. I think that Olivia really sees herself in Sam and she has a kind of a motherly quality toward her. She really wants her to succeed.

AM: While talking with you about this, I’m really excited that Inventing Anna has dropped and can’t wait to see it.

RH: I’m so excited to and I’m so happy that it’s finally out there!

AM: We’ve listened to so many podcasts about Anna Delvey and since we’re based in NY it’s definitely been making the rounds of conversation. What was it like being apart of this project, being able to work on this Shonda Rhimes production and tell us about who your character is on this show.

RH: I loved, loved, loved working on this show and I also live in NY and we shot in NY. I’m basically obsessed with Shonda Rhimes – meeting her was the highlight of my life! She appeared and was like, “I’m Shonda” and I was like my God! She’s an amazing woman. We started shooting right before the pandemic. It was one of the best projects that I have ever had. There were tons of NY theater people and amazing actors. Julia Garner and Anna Chlumsky are just like unbelievable. I play the prosecutor, A.D.A. Catherine McCaw. I’m obsessed with putting this woman away in prison. I was just saying that I feel like Shonda has successfully just told the first female sociopath story. By the end, you really get it and you understand why people lent her this money and she’s very, very smart. I also like that this series puts forth this idea that if she had been a man, she probably wouldn’t have gone to jail because men on Wall Street do this all the time.

AM: Very true.

RH: Yeah, but she’s in jail and I put her there.

AM: It’s definitely going to be good and there’s such great buzz around it.

Are there other projects that you have going on that we should keep an eye out for?

RH: Yes, in April, Russian Doll season 2 comes out. I’m back in my character Lizzie with blonde hair and I’m very excited for that. I did 2 movies with Sigourney Weaver. One I play her daughter and in the other, I play her friend. One of them is called, Call Jane it was just at Sundance and now it’s at the Berlin Film Festival and The Good House should be coming out soon, it was at TIFF earlier this year and it should be coming out in the next couple of months.

AM: When you’re not in the mix of planning projects, how do you take time for yourself – do you have a workout regimen, do you like shopping? What does Rebecca do?

RH: Well my wife works in the industry as well and is currently making a Star Wars series (Editor's Note: Leslye Headland is an executive producer, showrunner and writer for Disney+'s The Acolyte). I love being a wife and I really love taking care of her. People who really work at a high level in this business really need help. Maybe it sounds silly to say, but I really love cooking meals, making sure she has what she needs!

I do love walking and I spend a lot of time talking with my friends that are also a bunch of actors and we process all of our stuff together. I love shopping and everything that you said I love!

IG @therebeccahenderson

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Freeform/Single Drunk Female

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see IT’S ABOUT THE CHARACTER | Rebecca Henderson in mag.

I CAN RELATE | JASMINE LUV

We continue chatting with CIROC's Love Squad to find out more about them and what they're working on. We have spent countless days scrolling through our feeds to watch creator, Jasmine Luv's skits on IG that focuses on situational comedic experiences that we have with our friends, families, colleagues and those we interact with randomly. She has grown this brand to a number of acting roles, hosting and more. We wanted to find out how she got here, navigating her brand and her partnership with CIROC.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We've enjoyed seeing your sketches on your IG. We didn’t know that you have an MA in accounting – what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to work in entertainment?

JASMINE LUV: I realized I wanted to work in entertainment when I noticed I was writing scripts at work instead of actually working. The majority of my day was consumed with thinking of sketches and then work came last. That’s when I realized I found my passion and it was time to pursue it.

AM: What led you to creating your brand with relatable comedic videos about day-to-day life?

JL: I just saw a niche and pursued it. When Vine was out, I would scroll and never see Black women doing sketches. Once I realized there was an area that lacked what I had to offer, I stayed consistent and was able to build a brand from it.

AM: Do you remember creating your first video? How did you get started?

JL: Yes, I remember being at work and writing every line to the script and thinking to myself, “I’m going to film this when I get home.” I already knew how to edit using iMovie so that was one less thing to teach myself. I was so excited that I got off work early just to shoot it. I went home, shot it, edited it and it actually went viral.

AM: Although you’re playing the characters, it’s easy to watch and imagine yourself and someone you know (friends, family, coworkers, or person on the street) as the other person(s) in the video. There’s something transformative about the way that you present the situations – did you always intend that people would see themselves or their world through your work?

JL: Yes, thats always been the goal when I made a videos. I want people to see themselves within my videos and be able to relate. I just never thought I would have “millions” of people being able to relate to my work.

AM: Where do you get inspiration from your videos and as a creator, do you find that you have to step back to assess new directions that you want to incorporate into the brand and how you can do this in a way that your audience can still embrace it?

JL: I got a lot of my inspiration just from my everyday experiences. A lot of my videos were real life situations whether it was real in my life or a friends. I notice I get a lot of my inspiration just going along my day. I can be in a grocery store and see something that I think would be funny and relatable. I then go home, shoot it, edit it and post it.

AM: We enjoyed seeing you in Starter Pack and BET Her’s The Waiting Room. What are some upcoming projects that you’re working on that we should keep an eye out for?

JL: I’m currently doing a lot of things from writing scripts, hosting, auditions, and constantly perfecting my craft. 2022 is going to be a great year, just wait and see.

AM: You’re an actress, content creator and host. Are there other areas that you also want to take on?

JL: Now that I’m married, I’m excited to take on motherhood. That’s the next area that I excited to eventually explore.

AM: It's great to see those who focus on a specific passion and end up navigating other opportunities that become part of their brand. You have increased the scope of being an influencer in not only comedy, but in the areas of skincare as well as fashion – what’s your process in terms of deciding what brands you want to align with to ensure that it synergistic with you.

JL: I love to work with brands that I either personally use/like or want to try. When aligning with a brand, it has to do just that, align. If not, it won’t be authentic.

AM: You recently joined CIROC’s Love Squad – tell us about your partnership with the brand and this specific initiative that you were part of.

JL: I recently partnered with CIROC as a part of the Love Squad for their Valentine’s Day Sweepstakes where a lucky winner will receive a one-of-a-kind experience for a loved one and them to be brought to life by some of our favorite voices in food, style, and entertainment including myself.

AM: Do you have a favorite CIROC recipe that you enjoy drinking?

JL: I love the limited-edition flavor CIROC Pomegranate, and the Sweetheart Cocktail is my favorite to enjoy.

1.5 oz CÎROC Pomegranate

1.5 oz Hibiscus tea

1.5 oz Concentrate coffee brew

0.5 oz Grenadine

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Red currant/grated chocolate

Method: Add all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake for 6 to 8 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish.

AM: Your wedding was stunning. It was great to see you partnered with The Knot as well as being on the covers of Black Bride. What were 3 must-haves that were essential to your wedding day?

JL: My 3 must-haves were pretty simple. My family, dream location, and my husband.

AM: Now that you’re married, will your brand include your husband as well?

JL: When we met, we both had our own individual brands and identity and we always wanted to keep that. Therefore, we created a brand named Luv N Slim, which is the brand we built together where we create beautiful content outside of our individual brand.

AM: As someone who is running their own brand and as someone who trained to be an accountant, do you work with brands or participate in initiatives to provide information about the importance of financial literacy and if so, what are those projects like?

JL: Yes, I actually recently partnered with Chime to give more insight on the importance of financial literacy especially in the Black community. I love these projects because it represents something I’m passionate about which is the importance of education, knowing how to save, and handle finances.

AM: How do you take time for yourself to ensure that you’re having the proper self-care and/or mental health that you need?

JL: My husband and I always set days and time based on our week to have time for each other as well as individually. I ensure I have self-care time by properly managing my weeks and making plans in between working.

IG @luv_jjp

PHOTOS COURTESY | CIROC

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see I CAN RELATE | Jasmine Luv in mag

CREATIVITY RULES | MARIA BRITO

A few years ago, we had the pleasure of meeting Maria Brito who is an award winning NY based contemporary art advisor, author and curator. She is known as a Power Players in the Art World and in 2020 she was named by ARTNEWS as one of the visionaries who gets to shape the art world. With her finger on the pulse of noted and rising artists, we wanted to catch up with her to talk about how she came to this industry, what it's like to build a personal collection versus when she is working with her clientele who includes A-list celebrities, demistifying art, the impact of NFTs on art, what her Art Basel experiences are and finding out about her book which is available next month!

ATHLEISURE MAG: You are a noted and well-respected power player in the art world. Prior to working in this industry, you graduated from Harvard Law School and practiced corporate law for a period of time. How did you come to the world of art and realize that this was an industry that you wanted to work in?

MARIA BRITO: I grew up in a family that prioritized art as a cultivation tool, like a hobby, but not a career. I went to every art exhibition, museum, gallery and artist studio my parents took me to, and it was really a very hands-on training for me. I continued furthering my passion when I moved to New York City in 2000 as a newly-minted attorney and started going to galleries and buying for myself.

AM: When you began building your personal collection of art work, what were you drawn to initially?

MB: I have always been drawn toward figuration, the human form, saturated colors, narratives that move me. I started collecting the work of Black artists way before all the galleries went crazy for them in the past 5 years. I am very proud of that.

AM: Can you tell us the difference between being a curator and an art advisor and why you love working in these areas?

MB: An art advisor is someone who makes suggestions as to what to acquire and why. It brings access and an eye to a client and it’s the eyes and ears of the art collectors who can’t possibly navigate the art market which is a global $300 billion market. A curator is someone who makes sense of how a collection looks together or envisions an art exhibition that has a theme that is coherent. The curator is an editor, the advisor is a strategist.

AM: Why is the concept of buying art and ultimately curating a collection intimidating to those that are outside of the art world?

MB: I think for too long people have had the wrong idea because what gets written in the big newspapers or reported on mainstream TV are the insanely high numbers that happen when a piece of art sells at auction for $200 million - that is intimidating. Or when people go to a gallery and the environment feels sterile and impersonal - that is intimidating. But that’s just the surface, there are thousands of galleries around the world as well as websites and art fairs that sell art priced under $5000 - people have no problem saving up money to buy a handbag for that amount of money or more. But a piece of art bought with a little bit of an understanding of the market can not only multiply its value 100x but also stay with you forever.

AM: How do you demystify the experience so that it’s more approachable to those that want to obtain art for their pieces?

MB: As I mentioned above, there are all sorts of levels in the art market. People take bets in emerging artists because they see the potential. There has never been a better time to collect or to be an artist. Besides, it’s all a cultural dialogue that is formed between the art and the collectors.

AM: I know that you have been an art advisor to Sean Combs, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tracy Anderson – what is the client relationship like in terms of making them aware of pieces, educating them about collections and ensuring that that it meets the requirements that they are looking for?

MB: I have hundreds of clients and they are all important to me. Every client gets a tailored approach with offerings that resonate to who they are and what moves them. That happens because I spend a really good amount of time getting to know my clients’ tastes and their objectives.

AM: Art Basel took place a few weeks back, what’s that time of year like for you and can you give us insight into how you navigate this show personally as well as when you’re doing it with/for your clients?

MB: That’s the busiest and most intense time of the year. It’s an insane amount of work because physically you have to go not only to Art Basel which can easily take 4 or 5 hours to see but to all the satellite fairs like NADA and Untitled which is where all the new talent gets to be shown. Clients come and walk around the aisles with me but the thing is that for the most part almost all of these galleries have circulated PDFs with all the images and the previews of what they will be showing so much of the good stuff has already been sold. That’s why an art advisor is so important for people who want to collect if they can’t dedicate themselves to building all these relationships with galleries.

AM: You curate art shows such as Greek Gotham in Mykonos a few years back with NY based artists such KAWS, Nir Hod, and Erik Parker, what do you look for when you are putting shows together like this?

MB: First I have an idea and then I let the idea marinate inside my head. Then I discuss it with the person who hired me to do the exhibition and then I go for the most talented artists I can approach who actually fit the idea or theme I had.

AM: How do you keep your pulse to the ground in terms of finding new artists and phenomenal pieces?

MB: By pounding the pavement! It’s easy to get complacent and more so now in a world that has gotten so digital but I still go to as many art galleries as I can every week, every art fair I can attend and artists studios when I can.

AM: Your firm Maria Brito LLC, includes your work as an advisor, but it also includes being an interior designer which seems like a natural progression with lifestyling as well as your fashion accessory design collaborations. Tell me about your firm and what your day-to-day is like.

MB: I actually don’t do interior design anymore because as a creative entrepreneur I know when to pivot - that business is good for the money but my mission in this life isn’t to place rugs in people’s homes. With accessories that was a very fun time but I did it for several years as an extension of my relationships with the artists and because there was nothing like it in the market. However, when my advisory practice grew and grew, and the headaches with factories and retailers also grew, I knew it was time to end that too. I still get called to consult with companies on product collaborations and I do that from time-to-time. Last year I launched two fine-porcelain collections with Showfields in collaboration with artists Cydne Coleby and Allison Zuckerman.

AM: Last year, NFTs became the conversation across all sectors of business. What does it mean to the art world and how are you navigating NFTs with artists you work with and clients that you curate/advise for?

MB: NFTs are a very important development in terms of digital ownership and because society is moving more and more toward a digital world, this movement found the perfect timing to flourish. Like everything that's new, right now it’s a lot of confusion, gray areas, speculation, like the wild west. My clients mostly collect art that is tangible, to live with in their homes or their offices, so while NFTs are a lot of fun, they will never replace physical art.

AM: Who are 3 artists that are currently on your radar that you’re looking at that we should be aware of?

MB: Cydne Coleby, Ryan Wilde and Cristina BanBan.

AM: Next month, your book, How Creativity Rules the World: The Art and Business of Turning Your Ideas into Gold drops. What was your motivation behind writing this book and what is it about?

There has never been a more crucial time than now to develop your creativity and your ability to innovate. Coming up with original ideas of value is today’s most precious skill.

MB: I wanted to debunk the myth that creativity is only for the few chosen ones or that it is genetic. Creativity is not about arts and crafts and cutouts or technical wizardry. Creativity is about fostering specific habits, making associations, and standing behind the ideas that come out of them. Whether you are an entrepreneur, an artist, or an employee, your creativity will help you turn the mundane into the extraordinary.

This is a book that helps leaders access their creative potential and profit from their ideas. It took me 13 years to be able to gather all the information that is here, and it’s a comprehensive, practical and actionable blueprint that will get you there even if you don’t think you can be creative and innovative.

I used every technique and everything that’s in this book to transition from a miserable corporate attorney to building an industry-leader seven-figure art advisory business and I have taught the same methods to people in companies as well as to hundreds of entrepreneurs, freelancers, managers, and artists through my online program Jumpstart.

I know these methods work and the time was right to bring them to a greater group of people through a book that is timely and timeless.

AM: Are there any projects that you’re working on that we should keep an eye out for that you’re working on?

MB: Writing a book, selling it at auction to a major publishing house and launching it is like having a full-time job on top of your full-time job. The book is the biggest project that I have worked on in a long time.

IG @mariabrito_ny

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Maria Brito

Read the FEB ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag and see CREATIVITY RULES | Maria Brito in mag.

THE POWER OF FOOD | CHEF RICHARD INGRAHAM

We took some time to chat with Chef Richard Ingraham. We wanted to find out how he took his talents in the kitchen to a career that has led him to being the private chef to power couple, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union and creating a private chef network whose clients are those in the NBA, NFL and entertainment industries. We also talk with him about Grown Southern, his upcoming projects and his partnership with CIROC.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be a chef?

CHEF RICHARD INGRAHAM: I’ve always loved cooking. I started making omelets, cookies, and milkshakes at the age of 10. During that time, I had no desire to become a chef. I was doing it because I loved creating. My family cooked all the time and it just rubbed off on me. It wasn’t until my mid to late 20’s that I decided that I wanted to become a Chef.

AM: Where did you train and what has your culinary journey been?

CHEF RI: I received my formal training at The Art Institute of Atlanta. My first job was at the Buckhead Diner where I was a line cook. I worked at the diner while I was in culinary school. As if I didn’t have enough on my plate, I got a second job working across the street at the Corner Café, where I learned all about pastries.

After I graduated, I became a Sous Chef at a restaurant called the Bubble Room. I left the Bubble Room and moved on to Insigna where I was a Sous Chef and Executive Pastry Chef.

AM: How would you define your style of cooking, and have you always been focused on sports nutrition?

CHEF RI: That has always been a difficult question to answer. Difficult because I'm influenced by so many different cuisines. If I were backed into a corner, I’d call my style “Eclectic American.” I really didn’t become focused on nutrition, until I started cooking for Dwyane Wade and other athletes.

AM: What led you to becoming Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union’s private chef?

CHEF RI: A friend of mine who just happens to be Dwayne’s Business Manager, Lisa Joseph Metelus, asked if I would like to cook for a NBA Rookie that was just drafted. I asked her who it was. She said that it was Dwyane Wade. After I did my research on who he was (I wasn’t a big basketball fan, so I didn’t know who he was) I told Lisa I’d like the opportunity. The day of the tasting, I arrived at his home with 10 prepared items. I made him everything I could think of, from smothered turkey wings with mashed potatoes to my grandmother’s lemon pound cake. Even though I’d prepared all this food, Lisa wanted me to prepare something fresh so that Dwyane could see that it was me preparing these dishes. He liked it and the rest is history.

AM: Can you share 3 go to meals that they enjoy eating?

CHEF RI: Gabrielle: Bhindi Masala; Pasta Alla Checca; Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes over Heirloom Tomato; and Quinoa Salad with Lemon Honey Vinaigrette.

Dwyane: Blistered Cherry Tomato and Shrimp over Angel Hair Pasta; Pan Roasted Sea Bass Sweet Potato Puree; Sauteed Spinach and Ponzu Ginger Sauce; Stewed Chicken Thighs with Chickpeas.

AM: What are 3 ingredients that you always like to have on hand that are versatile to use in several dishes?

CHEF RI: Creole Seasoning, Five Spice, Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes and Smoked Paprika. I know you said three, but I couldn’t help myself. lol

AM: When you’re a private chef to a celebrity or a family, what are the challenges that you're navigating when creating meals?

CHEF RI: In my case, I have 7 individuals who all eat differently. So, I must create meals for each of them that are creative, flavorful, and still help each person achieve their goals. If you’re a Chef who cooks in a restaurant you have a set menu that you execute daily. You may create daily specials which would give you some variety. Whereas I must come up with something different each day for each meal - Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Not only do I think about the food, I also pride myself on maintaining an elite level of service for my clients. I do everything from making sure their glasses are never empty to inquiring about personal health issues, to preparing and executing a menu for 75 guests on Christmas.

AM: You created Chef RLI, a network of Private Chefs that work with celebrity clientele. How did that venture come about?

CHEF RI: One day Dwyane and Gabrielle came in the kitchen and mentioned that Chris Bosh was looking for a private chef. They told him that I had a company that had chefs for hire. When they told me that, I couldn’t believe it because I had no such company at the time. I just had a few chefs helping me with the meal prep service. Well, they told me that I needed to figure it out because they had already put me out there. So, my business partner and I created Chef RLI, and began placing some of the chefs who were helping with the meal prep as private chefs.

AM: You partnered with Michelle Bernstein and Michael Schwartz during former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Chefs Move to Schools White House Initiative. Tell us why you wanted to be involved?

CHEF RI: The First Lady’s Initiative was such an important one because it helped spotlight the problem we are having as a nation bring healthier food options into our schools. As a former educator, I’ve seen first hand how the lack of nutrition stunts the scholastic growth of our children, especially in our lower income communities. So, when I was asked to join this initiative in support of Miami Dade County Public Schools, I jumped at the opportunity. The Chefs worked with Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and cafeteria managers to create healthier dishes using what was already in the school’s inventory. Of course, we had to take into consideration the differences in culture and eating habits of each school. As an alumnus of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, it was incredibly rewarding to support my community.

AM: You released Eating Well to Win. Tell me more about it and why you wrote it.

CHEF RI: Eating Well to Win is a cookbook for everyone. I found that when we talk about eating better or healthier, we seem to think that the only thing we can eat is food that is bland or out of reach for us. This book shows that you can take some of your favorite foods and by just changing a few ingredients make it better.

Because I’ve had so many different careers, I feel that I can speak on the importance of eating healthier and better. Whether you're a teacher standing in front of a class full of students, a sanitation worker running your routes, or a 3-time NBA World Champion, what we put in our bodies helps us perform better.

AM: Will you release another cookbook?

CHEF RI: Yes, I’m currently working on my second book.

AM: Tell me about Grown Southern!

CHEF RI: Grown Southern is a restaurant concept we developed in collaboration with Grown Restaurant, owned by Shannon Allen. It features organic southern inspired soul food prepared with passion and care. We have great menu items like our Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich, Old School Mac & Cheese, and Red Velvet Cake with Rich Cream Cheese Frosting.

AM: You're constantly working as a chef as well as giving back to others – why is this important to you?

CHEF RI: When I started working with Dwyane, I was still teaching culinary arts at a high school as well. My classes were held at a homeless shelter called the HAC (Homeless Assistance Center). The student demographic of my classes consisted of the homeless population of the center, as well as students that were bussed from various high schools. So, every day I would see both sides of the spectrum.

I would go to work in the morning and see broken people trying to put themselves and their families back together. Then in the afternoon, I would drive to this massive estate, where life couldn’t be better. Seeing this each day made me realize that we are all one mistake from our lives becoming entirely different. That experience keeps me honest with myself. It keeps me hungry. It has made me more compassionate towards others and their struggles and instrumental in motivating me, to find a way to help them.

AM: Tell us about your partnership with CIROC and how you became involved.

CHEF RI: I’ve been working with CIROC for about a year. I was featured in their CIROC Stands Black Excellence campaign in 2021. They profiled my story through a mural in Wynwood, FL. painted by local Miami artist Mojo. Then in November, I collaborated with them to create delicious Friendsgiving recipes and cocktail pairings with their CIROC Pomegranate. Now, I’m excited to be back with CIROC Pomegranate as part of the Love Squad. Our goal is to give one lucky winner a one-of-a-kind experience for them and their loved ones.

AM: We enjoy CIROC when we're celebrating or relaxing at home. We have a feeling that you may have a recipe that you can share and how we can pair it!

CHEF RI: Of course, I have recipes!!!! One of the cocktails that I created using CIROC Pomegranate is called “The Ingraham.” It’s my take on the classic sidecar. It consists of CIROC Pomegranate, Orange Liquor, Lemon Juice, and Cinnamon Simple Syrup. It’s the perfect cocktail for my Asiago and Herb Crusted Rib Eye Roast.

AM: Are there upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for?

CHEF RI: I’m going to be in Miami for the South Beach Food and Wine Festival from February 24-27. I’ll be hosting a brunch at Grown in Miami Beach on February 27. I'm also working on potential show ideas as well.

AM: We love your statement eyewear! What do you look for when it comes to your frames of choice?

CHEF RI: Listen, I said to myself a long time ago 'If I’ve got to wear them, they have to be FLY!!!' When looking for my frames I look for a statement piece that evokes conversation. I love large frames with color or interesting patterns. I use my glasses as a part of my total look. I would love to have my own eyewear line one day.

AM: Being on the move constantly, how do you take time for yourself?

CHEF RI: It’s difficult to carve out time for myself while taking care of my family, Dwyane and Gabrielle’s family, and Co-running my businesses. There aren't enough hours in the day. So, I give myself more hours by waking up around 4 each morning and working out. This allows me time to gather my thoughts and organize tasks for the day. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that helps me get the day started. Being in the kitchen all the time is murder on my hands and feet. So, I make it my business to get manicures and pedicure regularly.

IG @chefrli

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | CIROC

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see THE POWER OF FOOD | Chef Richard Ingraham in mag.

HOW WE ALIGN | CHRISTINA OCHOA

This month, our cover story is with Christina Ochoa who plays Renn Randall in TNT's Animal Kingdom as well as Veronica Sandoval in ABC's Promised Land. We talk about what drives her when she is selecting projects In addition, we also talk about how she balances her love for acting and being creative with her passion for science with a focus on the oceans through marine biology. She shares how she continues to make an impact on the world with others through her work and staying stimulated in these efforts.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you loved acting and that you wanted to do it as a profession?

CHRISTINA OCHOA: I realized it really late in the game. I was probably in my mid 20’s compared to all of the wonderful child actors that already came and knew what they wanted to be! I realized when I took an amateur theater class in order to just help my public speaking engagements for science! It had nothing to do with having an ambition to be an actor. Then, I just had so much fun. I fell in love and that’s all she wrote!

AM: That’s awesome, you never know when something like that will happen! What’s your approach when you’re thinking about whether you want to take on a project? What are you looking for?

CO: The number one thing that I look for is the caliber of people involved. So for me, having a conversation with either a showrunner, director or producer prior to joining at this point just makes sure that creatively – that 1, I can bring in any added value, and 2 that we see eye to eye on how to go about a project which is really important.

When it comes to the character choices, I like admiring the characters that I play and being enamored with them and their complexities. High-level competence is a factor that all of my characters have one way or another regardless of the realm that they inhabit. They are all very competent women and also, they have real questions and doubts and concerns and color! They’re not just necessarily written in one specific way. I like that.

AM: We first saw you in Animal Kingdom which we are fans of this show. Your character Renn is one that we love to watch. We know our readers have so many questions going into this final season which comes back this summer – is she coming back and what’s it like to play this character?

CO: Oh come on! You didn’t think that that was all it would take to get rid of Renn did you?

AM: Haha we didn’t, but we know that there have to be people wondering out there!

CO: Craig and Renn are a very interesting dynamic that I think was one of the most fun things to play with. Ben Robson (Vikings, Emperor, The Boy) and I talked about it all of the time. They are just meant to be together and they have no idea how! In a weird way, they’re childish in their approaches and it’s so volatile. They act like they are going to explode or implode, you never know. I think that in the last season coming up soon, we get to see maybe what it’s like for them to really come together in a new way. Like for the first time, maybe not opponents, but teammates.

AM: Yeah! Being on the same side!

CO: Exactly!

AM: Another show that we love which you’re in is ABC's A Million Little Things. We love the storyline and we’re glad that it’s resumed it’s midseason break this month. Your character, Ashley was in the first season and we saw her working with Jon Dixon and got clues on what was going on with him. As they’re currently in their 4th season, will your character come back to this show?

CO: Well you know, conversations that I have had a lot with DJ Nash (Truth Be Told, Growing Up Fisher, Guys with Kids) have been ongoing for awhile for a couple of years. Where is Ashley and will she come back or not? I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have joined some of my closest friends on this. At the end of the day, that was a job where being able to work with James Roday Rodriguez (Psych, Blood Drive) again which I had already worked on in a number of different capacities was just a chance that I just had to jump on.

I hope that there is still a space for Ashley to be there and to be able to pop in. But I do not have that information. If they want to give me a call, I’m here!

AM: Well seeing you on your latest show, Promised Land, it’s definitely a great show that we’re getting obsessed with. We love that we’re getting to learn about the wine industry and how a family is maintaining that power, which has that Succession vibe. We’d love to know more about Veronica which you play and what can we expect from this season as it continues to unfold?

CO: The thing about Veronica that I gravitated to the most from the get go, she was in this very male dominated environment – very muy macho - her father, her brothers and siblings - everyone around her. Yet, she managed to tap into a very powerful position without having to emulate the men or to compete with them on their turf and that was something that was really intriguing to me and there were a lot of conversations with Matt Lopez (Race to Witch Mountain, The Wild, The Sorcerer's Apprentice) and Adam Kolbrenner (Free Guy, The Tomorrow War, Slender Man) initially before the pilot in terms of how they wanted to see this character.

This is such an important milestone in the journey for real diversity on network television and ABC decided to take an entire Latin cast and infuse the show behind the camera with a lot of Latin crew as well. I think that for me, that was one of those things where how could I ever say no to doing something that was so meaningful? Human first, entertaining second.

It was really wonderful to jump on board and I think that for me, Veronica in particular, is just one more version of that diversity that I want to see within a certain ethnic group. So yes, they’re all Latin but that’s the number 10 on the list when you describe them. There is diversity of thought, diversity of perspective, diversity of political opinions within this Latin family and you get all of that and what a beautiful thing. That's a diversity that nobody ever talks about. That's one that is very close to my heart. Heteradox thinking is the number 1 thing that I want to see in a group of characters that are all defined by this one common denominator.

AM: In the months and weeks leading up to the show and seeing the previews for it. I was excited to see this on TV. I have to say that as a Black cofounder of Athleisure Media and doing all the things that I do, I’m always excited to see the depth of diversity across various racial groups and how they are portraying characters who work in fields that some who are viewing may not have thought that they would be there – but they are! So it’s amazing that your show is presenting this and you have an incredible cast.

What should we be looking for as we continue through this season?

CO: Oh I think that for Veronica in particular – how to do it her way is one of the most common things especially during the pandemic that we all went through this. We evaluated our life choices, figured out what we wanted and thought about whether we were fulfilled – did we want to make an impact where we could make things better?

I think that she is the personification of some of those journeys where she has done everything that she should do and she has done it right most of her life and suddenly, she has to be confronted with, what does she even want and how does she want it? And how is she going to get things done and do the ends justify the means? All these big questions, she is being faced with for the first time in her life. So going along that journey and seeing where in that fight for power, what’s going to happen with Michael and her and that relationship? Those worlds are in chaos and in limbo and that’s going to be so interesting. People will be able to see themselves in it.

AM: What are some upcoming projects that you have in film/TV that we should keep on our radar, that you’re able to share?

CO: Well, I have a movie coming out soon called Boon. It’s a western thriller – very different and very exciting. Then, another movie coming out called MVP about an NFL player who is also a veteran and it’s about his journey. That’s coming out soon and of course season 6 of Animal Kingdom that is coming back very soon.

AM: At Athleisure Mag, we love sharing great people with our readers and giving them insight on what they know about them as well as things they may not. In prep for this interview, we knew about a number of your shows and your work in them. In addition to your work in the arts, you’re all about the sciences as well and that was fun for us to learn about how you’re a badass in this area as a marine biologist and what you do for the community. When did you embrace your love for science and more specifically focusing on the oceans?

CO: For me, the ocean is the Alpha and the Omega, it’s the love of my life. If I fell in love with acting, the ocean is still the love of my life and it always will be. I try to maintain a bit of a balance. I find that having something, especially in the entertainment industry and any of its forms and I’m sure for you, it’s the same.

Having something that you believe in that’s greater than you and more important than anything in your immediate surroundings whether that be a family, religion or a cause – I think that that’s so fundamental! This way we don’t become myopic in our world and what matters to us as individuals. That’s kind of always been there and hopefully always will be.

I was very fortunate to be at James Cook University and a lot of wonderful friends that I am still in touch with – I get to still piggyback off of a lot of the amazing cool adventures that they’re having when I have time off. I get to go jump in the water and do expeditions and fieldwork and help out and go shark tagging. It’s definitely something that will never go away – maybe I should put that in the credits some how haha, “also come join her shark tagging!”

AM: Yeah the duality of someone who does both and their passions in both are just great to see that. I can appreciate this as someone who is just as comfortable coding as I am with my work in this magazine, styling a project or doing interviews. It’s always amazing to see other people especially those that are women who also like to embrace work in art, tech and science fields. What does it mean when you’re saying that you’re a marine biologist, tagging sharks and doing fieldwork – what are you doing?

CO: Because I’m not actively in the academia community anymore because I’m acting, what I’m doing is basically jumping on board to do the expeditions and projects that my friends and colleagues are doing. I come in and I try to collaborate and contribute in whatever ways that help them. So for shark tagging, I work with the American Shark Conservancy and a lot of researchers that are monitoring healthy communities of Great Whites, Hammerheads or Tiger Sharks and that kind of work that they are doing. If I’m with my friend who’s a primatologist, I’m working with the orangutans in Sumatra and I’m going on an expedition there and just trying to help gather information and samples for their research. So it kind of varies and like you, it’s like that “Jack of all trades” mentality which has always been a thing right?

I saw a video online once where they said that when people say, “A Jack of all trades is a master of none,” they leave it there – but there is a full saying that’s much longer than that –

AM: Yeah, the way many of us have learned that quote, it’s a “Jack of all trades, master of none” which definitely is not something that I would want to be associated as but when you have the full quote, “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” It really gives you that agency to explore multiple interests.

CO: Totally!

AM: It’s so great that you love the oceans and clearly you love protecting them. You’re involved in so many philanthropic efforts – Oceana, Earth’s Oceans, and CARE. Can you talk a little about what you do in those organizations and why you wanted to be involved?

CO: I mean, all of these organizations, for the most part, the reason why I like to be involved is that my personal motto is replacing condemnation with inspiration – right? Tapping into things that are uplifting and motivating and as an example, putting your efforts into places where they do have an impact and a reward. As opposed to just shaming societies in saying that everything that we do is wrong. These organizations, all of them Oceana, Earth's Oceans, CARE and Sustainable Ocean Alliance they are all solution-based as opposed to problem-focused. To me, that is fundamental in being able to catalyze movement and mobilize communities to do something whether it’s on an individual level or not. Most of them are policy based as they want to change legislation and they want to tackle things on the governmental level whether it's local or national. I think that for me, being able to do that in such a tangible way - partnering up with these organizations because they align so well with my personal philosophies is easy. I don’t feel that the work that I do with them or are on the board is effortful. I feel that the work I do is so rewarding and easy it aligns.

AM: I have always felt this way and it’s become the way that we go about our work on out team as well – if a lot of the things that you do are in the same vein, even it feels different or sounds different to other people, you're not really spreading yourself thin. You’re just doing what you’re really passionate about and you’re able to chop it up in different ways.

CO: Yeah, I like that – it’s the key right? It’s finding something that you align with so closely that it doesn’t feel separate to you. It doesn’t feel like, “oh I have to do philanthropic work. Let me go find an organization.” The philanthropic effort comes from you aligning your core values and then you can change your own surroundings.

So with Earth’s Oceans, for example, they have a big partnership with a lot of our shows including Animal Kingdom now. They take a lot of the recycled plastics that are not normally recyclable. Things that people don’t think about - lawn chairs, hair brushes from makeup trailers, everything in the film production – the production is now a green production. They take these plastics and they use it to make consumerable goods.

It’s just, changing your own environment is easier than just thinking about, “oh I have to go somewhere else to do it.”

AM: Wow that’s pretty amazing. You’re also a member of the Los Angeles Science for Society. What is that and how long have you been involved with them?

CO: They are fantastic! They host these incredible Intel International Science Engineering Fairs (ISEF) that are pre collegiate level! These children – these prodigies are so innovative and it celebrates them and it brings them from all across the world and from different areas of STEM and now it’s called STEAM because they include a lot of the arts into it. They bring them together and it’s a wonderful cause and something that I am very passionate about in catalyzing that kind of curiosity in children is fundamental. It's really amazing and I know that you interviewed the director of Science Fair?

AM: Yes! We interviewed Science Fair's filmmaker and director, Cristina Costantini, Dr. Serena McCalla and student Kashfia Rahrman. The film was amazing and it was so impressive to see these students and the teachers that worked with them being able to create these projects and to see the kinds of impacts they could make in the world!

CO: They are fantastic and I’m very lucky that I have been able to work with them for so long. I also just think it’s really wonderful because children are encumbered by a lot of the limitations that once you get into collegiate levels whether it’s someone that’s going on a tenure track or corporate side of things – a lot of the time, you start seeing limitations whether it’s funding, access and you see them. Children don’t have that. They’re imagination really reigns in this arena and it’s so beautiful to see that overlap between their imagination and the science that they are doing and the causes that they tackle. It’s all very personal as one will say that they want to improve the hospital energy supply in their local area because refrigeration is a big thing, so they invented solar cells that people can replace themselves. It’s just fascinating to see and of course, the awards are largely education based with grants and college scholarships.

AM: We were excited to share that with our readers to show how these students are making an impact and are being infused with these skills that will help them as they continue to navigate their careers.

In addition, thinking back to things that we have talked about, it’s great to hear that you’re the keynote speaker at these conferences, podcast guest for a number of these science shows, you’ve been a member of MENSA since 2009 and you are doing a number of fascinating projects –

CO: Oh thank you.

AM: Absolutely, I mean I think that the work you’re doing is incredible and when you look at it in the lens of being a woman who is doing this and owning her space it’s amazing how you are using your platform to showcase – why is it so important for you to do this and to have this mix of arts and sciences?

CO: Apathy is the devil to me. To me, everybody wants an intellectually stimulating life. Everyone wants a creatively stimulating life. I don’t care what arena or industry you’re in. That’s something that as human beings, we crave and to me, mixing those two helps to avoid that apathy. It’s so easy to become self-centered in an industry that encourages that because hey we are tools, our creativity, your imagination – all of these things. For me, mixing the two is just a way that I find balance in those things that I care about because I also think that creativity benefits from all of that. You were saying that you benefit from your knowledge and mastery of technology every single day. I feel that I benefit from mine too because – famous quote of course, “it’s not a body of knowledge, it’s a way of thinking.” To me, it’s about asking the right questions whether it’s for a role or one of these organizations working with them or in the field working with wildlife.

So, learning to ask the right questions and questioning yourself, that is so important. Asking ourselves, ”what if this did work and what if we did it this way?” What if we got it right, what if we did make an impact – what if whatever I did in the next hour mattered to somebody or to something? Learning to ask different questions depending on the circumstances is so fundamental to me and something that I use daily. I think that it helps stomps out apathy first and foremost for myself and other people around me and inspiring them to do the same. So for me, that has been the guiding force I guess.

AM: It’s been so fascinating to talk with you and to hear about what you’re involved in and how you continue to take on new things as an educator, author, being published in Vogue Spain etc. Are there still things that you wish to tackle that you have yet to do at this point?

CO: A social life – ha! I mean, I see myself as a storyteller so for me, that in general has come through acting, it has come through writing. It has come through writing research papers and it has come through podcasting, producing and things like that. To me, it’s not just one medium and I’m very fortunate, knock on wood that I have, like you, that true Jack of all trades gene. So anything that feels labeling and limiting is not going to satisfy that fluidity. I get energy from transitioning from podcasting to producing or from acting to writing a research paper or writing an article. I enjoy that fluidity and I assume you do too as you built your life around that structure.

AM: I do find that if I am only doing one thing, then I feel a little stuck, but if I can flow or see something that’s presented and even if it’s not a fit, pivot it so it leans back to things that I can execute on – then it makes sense to me. But if it’s constantly the same that’s really going to be a bit of a wall until we can put a twist on it because you want to be challenged! You to be a bit of a wall until we can put a twist on it because you want to be challenged! You don’t always want to feel like you can do it with your eyes closed all the time. I don’t like every bump that comes along but I can appreciate certain bumps – depending on time and place.

So when you’re not on set, and I assume you’re going to say the ocean, where can we find you in terms of getting back to yourself and making sure that your cup is replenished?

CO: I mean wildlife, water, nature – those things really replenish me. They don’t have to be grand scale – I don’t have to be at the Bimini Shark Lab free diving for Tiger Sharks - it's as easy as taking a walk with my dog or honestly, reading a book! I mean, to me, it’s the cheapest form of travel and cheapest form of escapism and I suffer the need for escapism constantly, I think! I like the idea of going away to a cabin on the cliff by the ocean is my dream in general! Books are a very easy and quick way for me to do that. It’s a go-to that definitely replenishes. Anything that’s creative and is not result-driven or process-driven – so painting – even when I know it might go in the trash 20 mins later – that is very replenishing for me! Not having to get something right is great – so anything in that vein.

IG @ochoachristina

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT COVER Rachael Porter | PG 16 - 27 ABC/Promised Land | PG 28 - 30 TNT Animal Kingdom/Eddy Chen | PG 33 + BACK COVER ROGUE EXPEDITIONS | PG 156 Still from video provided by Christina Ochoa |

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see HOW WE ALIGN | Christina Ochoa in mag.