ATHLEISURE MAG #114 | DARUDE

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with EDM DJ/Producer Darude who is known for the iconic Sandstorm which debuted 25 years ago! We caught up with him as he is in the midst of his STORM 25 tour which celebrates this song that has had over half a Billion Spotify streams and has been remixed by an array of notable DJs! We talk with him about his passion for music, his creative process, and upcoming projects!

We made our way to Fanatics Fan Fest as a guest of OakleyMeta which debuted their new HSTN with Travis Scott and Tom Brady! You can check out what we saw through our lenses as well as other amazing moments at this sport focused festival which includes Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and more.

The Summer Festival season is always an exciting time and here in NYC, Governors Ball kicks it off for us. This 3-Day festival takes place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park which allows you to immerse yourself in an array of musical genres. We’re recapping our favorite acts that we caught including Tyla, T-Pain, and Benson Boone!

Summer also means that Miami Swim Week kicks off the season. We make our way down to catch some of the best swimwear shows during this year’s Paraiso Miami Swim Week. We share some of our favorite looks from this year’s show!

BCB Brooklyn took place at Industry City and we met a number of spirit and hospitality brands on the trade show floor as well as opening and closing parties to find out more about these brands whether we have known them for years or it’s the first time we became aware of them. We take you through some of the highlights from the show and interview Jackie Williams, EVP of Shows for this industry only tradeshow.

We headed to D.C. to Shilling Canning Co for this month's The Art of the Snack, to find out about Chef Reid Shilling to find out about the heritage of his brand, his restaurant, and how he has partnered with farms and other purveyors to facilitate his menus.

This month's Athleisure List comes from Olada Yoga which opened this month to showcase yoga and pilates in their studio as well as to nourish their community. We also head back here to NYC to introduce you to Wonderland Bar which is the perfect place to enjoy delicious savory bites and imaginative cocktails in this fun lounge in the East Village. 

This month's 9PLAYLIST comes from EDM DJ’s Oliver Heldens as well as our cover star, Darude. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from NBC’s Access Hollywood host, Kit Hoover who shares what she enjoys having, doing and being Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month we also have a 9CH3F ROUTIN3S from Chef Toraik Chua. Our THE 9LIST 9M3NU comes from Shilling Canning Co’s, Chef Reid Shilling and McNellie’s Group Chef Ben Alexander who share their 9CH3FS with us and A.Kitchen + Bar DC’s Chef Eli Collins who shares his 9B-L-D. 

Of course, we have a number of roundups that you can also check out of our must-haves!

Read the JUN ISSUE #114 of Athleisure Mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | A.KITCHEN + BAR D.C.

We're always looking for great places to grab a bite. When we find places that allow us to pop in for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, we know this is one that will be top of mind as we navigate our day. In this month's The Art of the Snack, we head to DC and talk with the team of a.kitchen+bar DC to find out more about what we should enjoy when we're in the neighborhood. We talk with the Founder/Co-Owner of High Street Hospitality Group - Ellen Yin, Chef Eli Collins, and Bar Director Harry Jamison.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we talk about A.Kitchen and Bar DC, tell us about High Street Hospitality Group.

ELLEN YIN: High Street Hospitality Group is a celebrated Philadelphia-based restaurant group founded by James Beard Award winner Ellen Yin. The group includes acclaimed restaurants like Fork, High Street, High Street Bakery, a.kitchen+bar, and a.kitchen+bar D.C. — all known for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine. Ellen has been recognized nationally for her contributions to the culinary world, including receiving the 2023 James Beard "Outstanding Restaurateur" award. The group emphasizes sustainability, inclusivity, and regional ingredients while actively supporting local farmers and community initiatives.

AM: Can you tell me more about yourself as well as your culinary journey in terms of where you trained, kitchens you worked in etc.

CHEF ELI COLLINS: I've been part of the High Street Hospitality Group since 2017. After studying art abroad, I spent time traveling and working up and down the East Coast, eventually landing in New York City. There, I had the incredible opportunity to work for Chef Daniel Boulud at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Daniel, and later served as Executive Chef at DBGB Kitchen, his more casual brasserie.

At a.kitchen, I’ve focused on crafting a menu driven by seasonality and a deep love for prime ingredients - something that earned us Three Bells from Philadelphia Inquirer critic Craig LaBan, who highlighted our “compelling French flair.” a.kitchen Philadelphia has been honored as one of Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wine Restaurants in America, received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence in 2020 and 2022, and was named a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Outstanding Wine Program in 2022. I was also humbled to be named Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly 2022 Chef.

AM: As you are based in Philadelphia, why did you want to open this restaurant in DC?

EY: For the past 10 years one of our most proud restaurants is a.kitchen + bar which has been recognized for its amazing wine and beverage programs as well as seasonal cooking by Chef Eli Collins. A.kitchen + bar is a neighborhood restaurant that happens to be in AKA Rittenhouse Square, a luxury hotel property by AKA Hotels, our hotel partner. When they mentioned their expansion to a new property in Washington DC and we had the opportunity to spend time in the West End, we fell in love with the property that has a storied past. Part of what attracted us was the conversion of a gorgeous terrace that would add beautiful light to the space; but the major reason was because the hospitality community in DC is so cohesive, collaborative and is quickly establishing itself as one of the most exciting dining destinations in the country.

AM: You have been open since last Fall. What can guests expect in terms of the ambiance of this restaurant?

EY: The restaurant which was designed by Gensler’s DC office right on K Street, is full of natural light from New Hampshire Street, and from the bar area, a view of our gorgeous terrace. A modern sophisticated, but casual atmosphere allows for diners to feel comfortable whether they are grabbing a quick bite or having a more luxurious meal. Modern art adorns the walls and plants are present giving the space a natural feel.

The ambiance at a.kitchen+bar D.C. blends urban sophistication with understated warmth. It takes inspiration from its Philadelphia counterpart, the space welcomes guests with sunlit interiors and a thoughtfully layered aesthetic. Light ash banquettes and polished concrete floors lend a sense of modern calm, while blackened wood furnishings, dark marble counters, and bronze metal accents add depth and contrast. Abstract photographic prints punctuate the walls, adding an artistic edge to the 60-seat dining room and adjacent 40-seat bar and lounge.

AM: What kind of cuisine is offered here?

EY: We offer American small plates— Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!

AM: For those coming in for Breakfast, what are 3 dishes you suggest that we should have in mind?

CHEF EC: Cornmeal Pancakes, French Omelet, and Steelhead Trout Lox.

AM: For Lunch, what are 3 dishes that we should enjoy when coming in with friends and family?

CHEF EC: Chickpea Panisse, Bluefin Tuna, and Potato Gnocchi.

AM: Of course for Dinner, are there items that we should have in mind that we can enjoy?

CHEF EC: Crispy Oyster Mushrooms, Rockfish + Clams, and Roasted Cauliflower.

AM: Brunch is our favorite meal of the week. What are 3 dishes that we should think about for this portion of the menu?

CHEF EC: Badger Flame Beets, Biscuits + Gravy, and Croque Monsieur.

AM: We love Golden Hour - what are 3 bites that we should order and what would the wine/cocktail pairing be for this?

CHEF EC: Deviled Eggs — MELON DE BOURGOGNE, LA BREGEONNETTE, MUSCADET SEVRE-ET-MAINE, LOIRE VALLEY 2022; Smoked Chicken Wings — Naked & Notorious; and Cheeseburger — CABERNET FRANC, CHAT. DU HUREAU, SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY, LOIRE VALLEY 2022.

AM: In terms of cocktails in general, what are 3 for the Summer that we should have in mind?

HARRY JAMISON: A spritz of any kind (Aperol + Hugo come to mind), Tiki drinks (Junglebird or Mai Tai!), and Margaritas on the rocks.

AM: The Summer is about celebrating, whether they are large holidays or those that are personal to us. Are there any events taking place that we should know about to put on our calendar?

EY: This summer, we're hosting our a.BBQ series, where we're partnering with well-loved chefs around the city for a night of grilling on our terrace to benefit Southern Smoke Foundation, a non-profit that supports F&B workers in crisis by providing emergency relief funding and access to mental health services. Save the date for our first one, June 26 with Chef Chris Morgan from Joon!

IG @a.kitchenandbardc

PHOTO CREDITS | A.Kitchen and Bar DC

Read the MAY ISSUE #113 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | a.kitchen + bar D.C. in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | PARK HYATT MARRAKECH

There are all kinds of vacations that we can take and Park Hyatt Marrakech in Morocco which is 3 hours outside from Paris is definitely on our list as it sits on the Al Maaden Estate. This is an exotic getaway which is sunny year around. Coming here means having serenity and authentic experiences that are truly immersive.

WIth outdoor swimming pools, a 2,200 m² spa with hammam, sauna and signature treatments, an 18-hole golf course by Kyle Phillips, not to mention a generous and inspired gastronomic offerings.

Created by Executive Chef Issam Rhachi, guests can enjoy the Pavillon Terrace & Pool, an elegant Mediterranean table with sunny accents, which offers creative and daring cuisine, with a Nikkei twist. You can enjoy dishes by the pergolas, outdoor swimming pools, with the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop.

On the other hand, TFAYA - Arabesque Brasserie pays tribute to the richness of Morocco's culinary heritage. In a bright and refined décor, each dish celebrates the treasures of the local terroir between the intersection of tradition and modernity.

On Friday and Saturday nights, TFAYA is known for its Arabesque Evenings which is a festive and sensory event. Guests can enjoy a generous Moroccan buffet, live show cooking and a live band with Moroccan and Andalusian influences.

These offerings truly allow for a luxurious experience every time you are enjoying a meal! When you are looking for activities to partake in, you can hit the links on the Al Maaden Golf Course.

When we stay at a resort, the rooms are always an essential component of our stay. A numbr of their rooms have outdoor furnished terraces so you can take in the amazing views surrounding this property. It's worth noting that their Duplex Suite in addition to having views of the mountains with a terrace - there is also a private pool for this unit as well as an en-suite hammam. Staying in this portion of the resort is truly a luxurious and serene experience that you will remember for a long time.

Atlhough staying in that unit has a number of spa amenities there, you can still step into the Le Spa Park Hyatt Marrakech which is focused on well-being and rejuvenation. It is designed with minimalist aesthetics and embraces Morocco’s rich culture of hammam rituals, holistic therapies and legendary hospitality.

PARK HYATT MARRAKECH

Al Maaden

Marrakech, Morocco

400000

hyatt.com

IG @parkhyatt_marrakech

PHOTO CREDIT | Park Hyatt Marrakech

Read the MAY ISSUE #113 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Park Hyatt Marrakech in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG #113 | CHEF ESTHER CHOI

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with Chef Esther Choi of Mokbar and GAHM as well as a Food Network host on 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing. We talk about how she got into the industry, her food philosophy, love for Korean Cuisine and upcoming projects that we can keep an eye out for!

We shot Chef Esther Choi's beautiful cover editorial in Hudson Yards' The Maybury that gets you near all the exciting shops, beauty destinations and galleries in the area. We chatted with Phil Lavoie COO of Gotham Organization about their portfolio of developments, this property, and this neighborhood.

In this month's issue we have pre coverage of Governors Ball as well as Bar Convent Brooklyn. Make sure to check back in our JUN ISSUE #114 as we share the sights and sounds from both of these events which we will be attending next month.

We caught up with Gwen Conley, Head of Innovation and Global Expansion of Cutwater to talk about this Ready to Drink range of beverages. She talks about their tasting room, the process behind the creation of flavors, and their latest offering, Spicy Margarita.

Keith Bynum of HGTV's Bargain Block talks about how we can approach upcoming renovations and provides a few tips that we should keep in mind. He also talks about his partnership with American Standard and a giveaway that you will want to know about.

We sat down with Zuri Hall to talk about her career as a celebrity journalist whether you enjoy watching her on NBC's Access Hollywood or chatting it up with the stars during Awards Season E! Live from the Red Carpet. We also talk about her coming back for S17 of American Ninja Warrior. We talk about how she got into the industry, naviating Hollywood, being a safe space, and more!

We head to Washington D.C. for this month's The Art of the Snack which takes us to A.Kitchen + Bar which serves Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner! We found out about dishes that we should have our eye on, the ambiance, and upcoming events that will take place there that we should have in mind.

This month's Athleisure List comes from Nordic Strong which launched in Copenhagen and is now coming stateside first as a pop-up in Sag Harbor now through Labor Day and then as a permanent studio in Flatiron. We find out more about the creation of this fitness experience, their studios, and the classes offered. We also take you to Park Hyatt Marrakech to immerse yourself in a luxurious and restorative experience filled will wellness options and a phenomenal menu.

This month's 9PLAYLIST comes from popstar Sabrina Carpenter as she shares with us the songs on her playlist that she is listening to right now. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from The Bachelorette and Co-Founder of Saint Spritz, JoJo Fletcher as well as Team USA Olympic Beach Volleyballer Sara Hughes as they share what they enjoy having, doing and being Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month’s THE 9LIST STORI3S comes from our cover star, Chef Esther Choi as well as Founder/Designer Lele Sadoughi of her namesake accessory brand.

Of course, we have a number of roundups that you can also check out from our must-haves to yours!

Read the MAY ISSUE #113.

IT'S ABOUT THE GAME | DILLON GABRIEL

This month has been a busy one and for NFL prospects, it has special significance as they awaited the NFL Draft 2025 which took place Apr 24 - 26th in Green Bay, Wisconsin. We had the pleasure of talking with quarterback Dillon Gabriel of the University of Oregon. As we talked with him prior to the draft, we had no idea where he would go although as of the release of this issue, he will be playing for the Cleveland Browns!

In sitting with him prior to the draft, we wanted to konw more about his love for the game, his approach to playing it, his partnership with Echelon fitness, what it's like to go through the NFL Combine and what it involves, being a finalist for The Heisman Trophy, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with football?

DILLON GABRIEL: I think it was from a young age being able to watch my dad. It was just someone you look up to and someone that you wanted to be able to emulate and to be just like. I think that was just in life, but I also think that sports is a big part of our upbringing and of course, I have played all of the sports that you could play at the time. But I just fell in love with football because it has been something that I just – it’s just enjoyable, it’s something about it with it’s team aspect that you have everyone coming together to accomplish a goal. So, I would just say that at a very young age.

AM: What do you love about being a quarterback?

DG: I love the ability to have the ball in your hands for every single play. I think that the decision making and processing is a lot of fun. I think that it’s the combination of preparation and then actually doing it. Getting those 2 things in sync is actually difficult to do just by yourself.

AM: Yeah.

DG: Let alone having to do it with other people. You can’t throw the ball unless you have protection up front. You can’t get yardage unless there is a catch down the field and I just think that that teamwork aspect in every single play where 11 people have to be in unison, it’s just a lot of fun because you are doing it together. I think that more than that, the relationships, the people, and the friendships that last a lifetime. Those are memories that no one is going to be able to take from you and that’s good and bad!

AM: Well, that’s true too!

Did you always think that when you started playing that you would do this all throughout school and did you imagine yourself going to the NFL?

DG: I did. I always had this dream where I know that a dream is one thing, but in order to make it a reality, there has to be work behind it. I always felt like I was determined in that way of matching my habits with my goals. I think that for a lot of the time, I just stayed present. I tried to be really good with where my feet were and I learned that in college.

Now that I am here, it’s hard to believe in the sense of time has gone by so fast. But I’m not surprised that I’m here because I know that when I was in certain moments, I knew that I was going to maximize it and I knew that my love and care for my passion – how disciplined I am every single day. So when you match those 2, I knew that I’d be in a good spot and it’s still surreal. I’m back home and you see the kids – how excited they get and for me, I see it as myself being in their shoes once. But all it was was me committing to a goal or a dream. That’s always been a way for me to just ground myself and to understand that even though it's a higher level football there is still that passion aspect and love for it. It’s the work that I have done behind it that I have been doing from a younger age. Now, it just gets that much more challenging as a competitor.

AM: What’s an average week for you when you’re training in season versus the off season?

DG: I think that off season is very grind mode. I would say that it is physically more taxing. You’re always trying to get your speed work in and your strength work in. For a quarterback, throwing a football is a whole different aspect to your off season workout. So you attack those 3 while still being around ball and talking football. I think that that is a language, just like any other language to excel at it, you have to speak it consistently and live in it. That is what I try to do while still making the physical aspect more of a focal point.

In season, I think the physical aspect takes a back seat at least day-to-day until gameday comes, but mentally, it’s a lot more challenging. Learning a game plan, executing it, getting everyone on the same page, having conversations individually position wise as a unit and a team. Then there are aspects too that are more than Xs and Os. The motivation aspect and being able to keep people motivated and having themes of the week. So, you encompass all of that while having the physical tax on your body. If I looked at it like that, I would say those 2 things are different in the off season vs in season.

AM: Our community is always excited about workouts that they can include in the routines that they already do. What are 3 workouts that you do that you think could be beneficial for us to think about when we want to switch up our routines?

DG: I love rotational strength. Of course, I’m a throwing athlete, but I believe that being able to have strength in rotation is still good for change of direction. It’s done me well and I love the cable machine. So anyone who can do the cable machines, we’ve tried it from each angle – high, hip height, and low. I love cable rotation and I’ll do those 3 different angles.

I really love working with speed. I love speed and one that I love to do as well is a core bosu ball. I got put onto this core routine that I love. It’s a bosu ball, you put your back on it. You do single leg V ups 10 on each side and then you do cross leg kind of like elbow to knee. So I do 10 reps each and that’s 40 reps total. I don’t care how good you get at it, there’s a rush and a burn and that’s one of my workouts.

I’m also going to go with the curls and things like that. Those are our base workouts that we do with legs - you’ll always catch me doing core and arms at the end.

AM: Tell us about this partnership with Echelon Fitness and how it’s giving back to your high school, Mililani which we think is really interesting.

DG: Yeah, I think that what I love about Echelon is their ability to be able to make training fun, but also that coaching aspect that you still get. I believe that when you are able to have intent behind your lifts and workouts – there is that motivational aspect too where you get direct feedback.

Are you lifting, what’s the strength, speed – and that is where the strength is going. That’s strength training and working out in general. I used it every single day when we were doing team lifts. Being able to have that aspect in our workouts is huge, but I think that when you’re marrying that with what we are doing at Mililani High School, I think that that’s powerful. The impact that that will create for athletes that are trying to get back on the field – it’s like double the work that you’re trying to do. You’re trying to get healthy and you want to dominate when you’re on the field. Being able to have that direct feedback and have measurables, but also walk into state of the art equipment allows you to feel really confident in your workout. I think that for anyone to be able to work in that kind of an environment, you’re going to be better. You’re motivated that much more to get better and to benefit yourself so that you can see results on the field. I am just appreciative of them because they see the vision as well and they understand the youth and what’s up and coming is very important. Any way that we can protect them in any way – I always talk about protection with working out. How are they doing workouts that are beneficial to them and will translate to what they ae doing on the field. With Echelon, you have all of that information in that database on your monitor for each piece of equipment. That’s a unique and cool part to what we are all doing.

AM: That’s so exciting. How did that come together between yourself and Echelon to provide that equipment for your high school?

DG: I think it was about similar visions and being able to hop on the phone with them with Dara and their CEO Lou. We got both of them on the phone and it was just clear visions on both ends with what we wanted to accomplish and believing in that. I think that now that we’re here and you see it in person finally, there have been all of these conversations, but now to see it it’s just a whole different aspect to see things happening in real time. I’m glad that we got to this point and I know that they are a huge piece of what we are doing.

AM: You’ve had an incredible collegiate career, you were a finalist for The Heisman Trophy – what are you the most proud of in this portion of your life right now and what has this meant to you?

DG: I’m definitely most proud of the memories and I think just the journey. As a whole, it has had a lot of success. I’d be lying if I said that there was no failure. I think that when you’re able to learn from that failure, and grow, ultimately whenever there was an uncertainty or an unknown, that is where I have had the most ability to grow. I think that I’m just proud of that journey and how I managed that. I have always chosen good people to be around, but at the same time, the law of attraction. Who you are as a person is who you want to be around. I’ve always tried to live by that and I have faith in what God has in store for the future.

But then I also have those memories that are just day-to-day. The locker room stories – even to this day, I still laugh at those little interactions in the weight room. Just as little as that, on top of those big wins and great environments – the triumph of working through something that was difficult. Because everything worth having doesn’t come easy. For me, I think that all of that is what I think about. The awards and all of that is something that you appreciate because a bunch of people came together to accomplish a goal. There was success in that way. But more than those, I think that you just know that it is the ultimate team sport. Although we highlight individuals, there is no way that you do it alone. That is why I appreciate the game of football.

AM: Can you talk a bit about the NFL Combine, what takes place there, and how one prepares themselves for this so we have a better feel for the journey leading up to the draft and being placed on an NFL team (Editor’s Note: The purpose of the NFL Scouting Combine is to provide NFL teams with a standard platform to evaluate and assess the physical and mental abilities of 300 or so invited top draft-eligible college football prospects before the NFL Draft for 4 days. It allows teams to gather comprehensive data, including medical exams, psychological tests, and on-field drills, all in one location, making it easier to compare players and make informed decisions)?

DG: So the Combine, after going to it, I see it as if any questions that they might have, they’re going to answer them. I say that’s physically, mentally, background – anything prior and what you know about football. I think that that just all encompasses you as a person. Then of course, it’s also about what you can do on the field because you’re going to compete as well. This is all taking place in a high stress environment so it’s also about how you are going to handle it. Who are you as a person when things aren’t exactly perfect. I think that the Combine has a unique way of doing that. They definitely got answers to all of their questions all day every day! They separated those questions as I mentioned before mentally and physically. So there were 40 yard dashes and throwing and competing on the field. There was more football work. Then you get in your formal meetings and you have those 15mins speed dating meetings where you’re talking football that whole entire time. How consistent are you – all day every day? How much do you love football? I’d say that that is the biggest thing – they get every question answered from every angle in their organization.

AM: That must have been exhilarating to be there and to be chosen, but also exhausting as well as that is intense and you are doing that across 4 days and across all those teams.

DG: 100%

AM: Obviously, the NFL Draft is Apr 24 – 26th. How are you preparing for that and what are you excited about?

DG: Honestly, I think that midway through this draft process, I think that I just let go and I just trusted what God has in store for me and for my future. He always has you know? I think it has been a unique way of knowing that you have to be right where your feet are. I say that because there is unknown and uncertainty. You’re in and out, your life is in a backpack. There is no home base or consistency in that way. You have to be comfortable with that uncomfortable. Midway through I realized I had no control other than how I work and what I do every single day. But at the end of the day, when the draft comes, all of my work is out in front of all 32 teams and one team will be the believer in what I do on the field and off the field, who I am as a person and what I bring to the table. I just have confidence in that and at the end of the day, all of that pageantry ends on that date and then you’re back to work!

AM: Right!

DG: So, the work that you have been putting in is going to show and I have confidence in my preparation as that is what I have pride in myself for the past 6 years of my college career. It’s going to continue on in the NFL.

AM: When you’re not playing the game or are thinking about the game, how do you take time for yourself?

DG: It’s hard because we love football and inevitably, we’re talking about it, but I think that that is when I go back to my passion. When you love it, it’s not so taxing and like anything, it can be a lot when it is encompassing your life the whole time, but being able to relax is just being around family. Being able to be around people where you can truly just be yourself. You don’t even have to have a conversation because their presence is all you need and you can understand one another through short conversation. I’m a big relaxing guy, I love to be around family and to try new things. I love food believe it or not and I’m from Hawaii so whenever we can go to a new food spot and try new things – that’s always great! I love being outdoors as well. Going on a walk and being out there with people you love is so nice. I think that for me, that’s always how I recharge. Even daily, if it’s a phone call or in person – that’s my thing.

IG @dillongabriel

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 43 + 44 University of Oregon | PG 47 @Thatsfye | PG 48 - 50 ESPN Honolulu

Read the APR ISSUE #113 of Athleisure Mag and see IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GAME | Dillon Gabriel in mag.

MGM+ GODFATHER OF HARLEM | RETURN TO HARLEM

Last month in our MAR ISSUE #111 of Athleisure Mag, we had the pleasure of chatting with the Creator, Executive Producer, and writer Chris Brancato (Narcos, Narcos: Mexico, Hotel Cocaine) and members of the cast of MGM+'s Godfather of Harlem. This month, we talked with Elvis Nolasco (American Crime, Claws, She's Gotta Have It) and Erik LaRay Harvey (Boardwalk Empire, Luke Cage, Chicago P.D.) who play Nat Pettigrew and Del Chance, respectively. We wanted to know about what drew them to the show and playing their characters.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have enjoyed watching Godfather of Harlem and it’s great to connect with both of you as we love to see you in scenes together, as well as with Forest! What drew you to want to be part of this incredible show?

ELVIS NOLASCO: It was just knowing that this historical figure I would say, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, and knowing of him and being from Harlem and NYC and knowing what that name meant, in the community and knowing that this was created by Chris Brancato, and the late Paul Eckstein (First Wave, Hoodlum, Narcos) and knowing their trajectory, being part of Hoodlum, the film, and them being part of Narcos and having a certain level of respect and admiration for their work, it was something that I knew that I had to be part of this. Especially, if I have an opportunity to work with Forest Whitaker (Black Panther, Havoc, Andor).

ERIK LARAY HARVEY: Forest was it for me! I had seen him in The Last King of Scotland and really enjoyed that. I knew about that time period and I thought that he was brilliant in that role. I was like, “Forest – what? I’m on board!” What’s the story about, I don’t care! I'm on it, I'm going to be working with Forest. He exceeded my expectations of him as a person and he’s such a loving, fun, and quiet guy! He has so much passion for the business and the work. These 4 seasons have been such a joy. It has been absolutely incredible to work with that man.

AM: How do you approach playing your characters?

ELH: I walk the streets of NY. Some of these people piss me off you know! So it was really easy to bring that sort of energy into the set! You need me to what, kill somebody – do you know what that man did to me? Do you know what he called me today? Yeah, I’m ready to kill somebody! Haha no – I’m joking, but you know what I’m saying!

EN: Haha I feel the same way. You’re walking around and especially when you’re 135th street! I’m on my way to the Schomburg Library and this dude comes at me with, “Yo dude,” and I’m like “Dude what?”

ELH: You know how NY is!

EN: It’s crazy!

AM: Ha!

So, where did we leave your characters in S3 and where are we picking up from them again in S4?

ELH: Well we ended S3 with the death of Malcolm X. We began S4 with the remembrance of Malcolm X. Bumpy sees him in the club briefly. Malcolm X still has his presence with us. With his best friend gone so to speak, Malcolm X and Bumpy were best friends, and now that he has left us, we embark on a new journey that Malcolm X wanted us to do which is for Bumpy to go legit and to get out of harming the community so to speak. But then this jackass, Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn) comes in and he wants to harm the community. So that is where we begin S4, with a jackass coming in.

IG @elvisnasco

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | MGM+/Godfather of Harlem

Read the APR ISSUE #113 of Athleisure Mag and see MGM+’S GODFATHER OF HARLEM | Return to Harlem in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG #112 | CHEF MASAHARU MORIMOTO

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with Restaurateur Master Chef Masaharu Morimoto who we first saw via Iron Chef Japan and then continued to Iron Chef America. Whether he is judging, participating in culinary competitions, opening more restaurants, or more - he is always focused on the power of food and how he can continue to entice us with flavors! On May 10th, he will be the Grand Marshal of the Japan Parade on Japan Day in Central Park West. We caught up with him to find out how he got into the industry, his passion for cooking, upcoming projects, and more!

Last month we had an incredible series of conversations with Co-Creator/Executive Producer, and writer Chris Brancato as well as cast members from MGM+’s Godfather of Harlem. We caught up with 2 additional cast members of this series, Elvis Nolasco and Erik LaRay Harvey.

We had the pleasure of chatting with Chef Esther Choi about her passion for Korean cuisine, her restaurants, and her upcoming season of Food Network’s 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing where she serves as co-host for this competition series. She also shared why she partnered with LISTERINE for a fun immersive culinary experience that we enjoyed as well.

This month, the NFL Draft took place and many people that we have enjoyed watching throughout their college career found out where they will be playing this season. We had the pleasure of connecting with QB Dillon Gabriel who played for the University of Oregon days before the draft to talk about his love for the game, how he trains, his partnership with Echelon Fitness, what the NFL Combine is, and what he is looking forward to in terms of the draft. We look forward to seeing him on the Cleveland Browns!

We caught up with noted designer Lele Sadoughi who collaborated with CHLOE Wines on a stunning bottle that we can enjoy. We talk about her line, creative process, and upcoming projects.

For over a decade, we have enjoyed seeing Titus Welliver playing Harry Bosch in Prime Video’s BOSCH and BOSCH: LEGACY! With BOSCH: LEGACY streaming its final season, we sat down with Titus to talk about how he came to this series, what it’s like to play this character, how he prepares, and the takeaways he learned from being in this series. We look forward to the spin-offs from this franchise.

We’ve been fans of Bachelor Nation from the first season and when we were first introduced to JoJo Fletcher in The Bachelor we knew that she was someone who we would continue to see - especially when she became The Bachelorette. Since then, she continues to share her entrepreneurial world with us. We talk with her about what it means to be part of Bachelor Nation, being an entrepreneur, and her latest project - Saint Spritz!

We’ve been a fan of WTA #2 doubles tennis star Taylor Townsend for years! When we caught up with her, we wanted to know more about what she loves about the game, how she trains, what it’s like playing singles vs. doubles and the legacy that she wants to leave!

We head to Singapore for this month's The Art of the Snack which takes us to 3 Michelin Star Zen. We chat with Chef TC and Chef Martin Ofner to find out about their culinary backgrounds, the ambiance of their restaurant, and what we can expect when we come in to dine there.

This month's Athleisure List comes from member’s only The Ra Ra Room located in Phoenix, Arizona - it’s definitely a culinary experience that you will want to know more about! We also talk about one of our favorite places to pop into after a day of running around - Tacombi. With multiple locations including a number here in NYC, it’s always an easy vibe.

This month we have our 9CH3F ROUTIN3S from our cover star, Chef Morimoto who talks about what he does Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month's 9PLAYLIST MULTI comes Pro Surfer Brianna Cope who shares what she enjoys listening to, streaming, and reading. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Dillon Gabriel and from Team USA Olympic Volleyballer Kelly Cheng they share what they enjoy having, doing, and being Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month’s THE 9LIST STORI3S comes from JoJo Fletcher as well as Taylor Townsend. This month's THE 9LIST 9M3NU comes from Chef Johnny Chan Boon of The Ra Ra Room in Phoenix Arizona, Restaurateur and TV Personality Chef Esther Choi of Mokbar and GAHM, and Restaurateur, TV Personality, Author, Master Chef Morimoto - who shares with us what they enjoy about the Spring, ingredients that they enjoy cooking with, and what dishes we should try when we are at their restaurants.

Of course, we have a number of roundups that you can also check out from our must-haves to yours!

Read the APR ISSUE #112 of Athleisure Mag.

SPRINGING AHEAD | KELLY OLMSTEAD CMO ALLBIRDS

Last month we went to Ludlow House to screen Allbirds' series Cards on the Table hosted by and created in collaboration with Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games franchise, Conclave) as well as to enjoy a lovely dinner and to keep the conversation going. This series includes conversations with fashion designer Tan France, F1 racer Carlos Sainz, Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, The Gentlemen, A Simple Favor), Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, The Bear), Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones, Dark Phoenix, The Staircase), and physicists Brian Cox to name a few. The series was developed by Allbirds in partnership with OBB Pictures and SALT Productions.

We enjoyed the vibe of the series, the dinner and the conversation and wanted to find out more about this lifestyle shoe brand by chatting with the companies' CMO, Kelly Olmstead. We talk about shoes, why it started, the thought behind this series which you can watch on Rolling Stones' YouTube channel, and why they wanted to present the brand in this way.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Can you tell us about your background and what drew you to joining Allbirds?

KELLY OLMSTEAD: Having been in the industry for years, I remember Allbirds first showed up on my radar—and as part of a big industry leader like Adidas, wondering if this small company from San Francisco could really shake up the footwear industry like they claimed. Could they actually do things better, in a better way? When I eventually joined Allbirds, that same scrappy, counterculture spirit was still alive and well—and that’s what pulled me in. It was a chance to rethink the way things had always been done. Back then, I saw the potential for this brand to change the footwear industry for the better. And today, I still do.

AM: Tell us about Allbirds, the first product that they launched and their ethos.

KO: Allbirds was founded in 2015, and since day one, we’ve been deeply committed day one, we've been deeply committed

to drawing inspiration from nature to make better since day one, we’ve been deeply commit make better things in a better way. That philosophy inspired our first product, the Wool Runner, the style that put the business on the map and is still known today for its incredible comfort and simple aesthetic. Today, that same philosophy still rings true. We design our products to be materially different by turning away from convention toward nature’s inspiration.

AM: As a CMO at Allbirds, what is your day-to-day like with the brand?

KO: Our business is focused on three main priorities: making great product, delivering great customer experiences, and telling great stories. In my role, I’m especially focused on that last piece of the equation–and that’s where our brand platform Allbirds by Nature came into play. We introduced Allbirds by Nature last year, which has opened up an enormous opportunity to engage with people on a wide range of topics that are important to us. It’s been an awesome few months really exploring the different dimensions that platform allows with my team, celebrating how we take inspiration from Mother Nature and human nature to make better things in a better way.

AM: What does Allbirds by Nature mean?

KO: Since day one, we’ve been deeply inspired by nature: Mother Nature, the ultimate innovator; and equally, human nature–our consumer’s needs and commonalities. Allbirds by Nature reflects that. Everything originates by observing the world around us, which influences everything from the materials we use in our products, to the stories we tell in our marketing.

AM: Can you talk a bit about the design aesthetic of the shoes and what are 3 products from the men's line and 3 from the women's line that are a must-have as we build our collection?

KO: I’d say Allbirds is widely known for our marriage of natural materials and textiles with sleek, simple, modern design. But we’re widely loved for how comfortable our products are. Aesthetic can be more subjective, whereas comfort is universal, and that’s why comfort is paramount to our product design and development process. There really is a shoe for every foot, but to list just a few of our fan-favorite styles: the Tree Runner Go, Wool Runner Go, and Tree Dasher 2s are consistent best-sellers in both men’s and women’s.

We’ve got an incredible design team led by Adrian Nyman, our Chief Design Officer, and Jason Israel, our VP of Design. They've got a team stacked with incredible talent, including industry experts in materials and color. Later this year, we’re delivering an even more robust product line with fresh silhouettes and material executions, which we’re really excited about.

AM: We had the pleasure of attending your recent event in NYC for the Stanley Tucci X Allbirds Cards on the Table Event at Ludlow House. Can you tell us about the campaign, why Stanley Tucci was a great fit as well as including Dr. Orna Guralnik, and why Allbirds wanted to create this?

KO: At the core, the impetus for Cards On The Table was a desire to make meaningful content that brought to life our brand values and beliefs. One of our core values is to Live Curiously, and it’s that quality that we kept coming back to. The concept of a dream dinner party gained traction quickly, because there’s something about gathering around a table that feels ripe for curiosity, conversation, and authentic connection. In each of the four episodes from the series, we’re bringing together people who inspire us and embody our ethos in different and powerful ways–either with an inquisitive spirit, unconventional approaches to their work, or unique stories of success from those who challenge the status quo.

Stanley was the one and only person weconsidered as our host. Not only is he respected and beloved for his influence in entertainment, fashion, and food, but he embodies curiosity, taste, consideration, individuality, and authenticity. He’s the ultimate articulation of who we imagine the Allbirds consumer to be, and really, the ultimate host. Who wouldn’t want to be at Stanley’s table?

Dr. Orna Guralnik’s expertise was critical to adding weight to the series concept, driving compelling conversations and meaningful connections. I can’t overstate just how important her influence was in crafting the discussion cards, which drive the discussion in each episode. With those prompts in hand, we were able to cook up really exciting, entertaining, and unexpected conversations that uncovered common threads between our guests and encouraged authentic connection.

We’re always exploring new ways to connect with our audience. We know people increasingly seek out brands that share their values and offer more than just a product–people don’t want to be sold to constantly. People want to see content that’s entertaining, inspiring, and adds value to their daily lives. We’re eager to see how people respond to this series, because it’s a reflection of what we believe and value, and we’re hopeful it will resonate with people far and wide.

AM: Will you continue to do this series?

KO: We’re hopeful that this series concept will be compelling and resonant for a wide audience, and we’re excited to see how viewers respond as the remaining episodes drop throughout the month. The natural world and human nature are really a limitless source of inspiration, and we’ve just scratched the surface of where this exploration could lead.

AM: What did you learn the most from doing this series?

KO: We’re always exploring new ways to connect with our audience. We know people increasingly seek out brands that share their values and offer more than just a product–people don’t want to be sold to constantly. The initial response to the series has affirmed that, and it’s been so encouraging and fulfilling to see people connect with the series, the talent, and even with one another in the comments. People are asking for more, and that’s the best result as a storyteller and marketer.

But even more broadly speaking, on a human level, this series reminded me of the joy that comes from human connection. Our hope is that Cards On The Table not only paints a picture of our brand’s beliefs and personality, but inspires people to approach life with renewed curiosity and desire for connection. We want everyone to be reminded of the power of community, and to feel encouraged to connect through the shared qualities that make us human.

AM: Are there any new launches coming out that we should keep an eye out for?

KO: Absolutely–nothing I can tease out quite yet, but we have some pretty fantastic products coming this year that we’re unbelievably excited to bring out into the world.

IG @allbirds

PHOTOS COURTESY | Matt Holyoak

Read the MAR ISSUE #111 of Athleisure Mag and see SPRINGING AHEAD | Kelly Olmstead CMO Allbirds in mag.

THE SPICE OF LIFE | CHEF MANEET CHAUHAN

When it comes to seeing our favorite chefs in an array of culinary shows, we always enjoy seeing Chef Maneet Chauhan as she is passionate about her food, always dresses the part, and has an array of restaurants on our list when we head to Nashville!

We took the time to sit down with Chef Maneet to find out about her culinary background, the first dish she created, her Morph Hospitality Group, how she approaches adding more restaurants to her portfolio, being a TV personality, her work on Food Network and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the dish that made you realize that you loved food?

CHEF MANEET CHAUHAN: It’s called aloo paratha. It is a potato-stuffed flat bread, cooked in ghee until it's crispy and served with homemade butter. My mom made it for me when I was young, and it was love at first bite.

AM: What was the first dish that you remember cooking?

CHEF MC: Matar paneer. It's Indian cottage cheese cubes in a spiced curry with green peas. I was in 7th grade and cooked dinner for my parents.

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

CHEF MC: I was in 9th grade and my older sister was completing her undergrad. I used to meet her on campus and bring food with me. I then figured out I was the most popular kid on campus. That's when I realized this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

AM: Tell us about your culinary journey in terms of where you trained and kitchens you worked in prior to opening your Nashville restaurant.

CHEF MC: I did my undergrad in India at Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA) and then came to America to study at The Culinary Institute of America. I worked at restaurants in Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, Chicago and New York before opening my own business.

AM: How would you define your style of cooking?

CHEF MC: I consider my style of cooking to be global with a foundation of Indian flavors and techniques.

AM: What led to you opening Chauhan Ale and Masala House and why did you want to open this in Nashville?

CHEF MC: Nashville has such an incredible audience and such a diverse flavor palette that I really wanted to do something that had not been done before here. Chauhan Ale and Masala House is my love letter to Indian cuisine and Nashville - it's Indian food served with a southern flair.

AM: Tell us about what we can expect from this restaurant in terms of the cuisine and ambiance?

CHEF MC: It's a really fun restaurant and encompasses both traditional and modern India, with a very healthy dose of the South. That's in terms of both the decor and the food. There is a lot of fun and whimsy in the menu and in the space.

AM: Since opening Chauhan Ale you have the Morph Hospitality Group- can you tell us about each of the eateries?

CHEF MC: There is Chauhan Ale and Masala House, which is modern Indian mixed with a southern flair, The Mockingbird which is Americano with a retro vibe to it and then eet is fast casual in Disney Springs.

AM: Tell us more about eet by Maneet Chauhan is at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida.

CHEF MC: eet shows the best flavors of Indian in a very approachable manner, so think chicken tikka masala pizza.

AM: How do you go about deciding what restaurant to open where?

CHEF MC: I think it’s a combination. First is learning what we'll need for a space, second is figuring out if we have the right talent and third is determining what we are passionate about. If we are passionate about a particular concept or a particular idea, then that’s what we stick to.

AM: In addition to being a restaurateur, you are a best selling cookbook author with your first book Flavors of My World: A Culinary Tour Through 25 Countries, followed by The Journey, and more recently in 2020 Chaat - why has it been important for you to share your culinary point of view in this medium?

CHEF MC: I think being a chef is a lot like storytelling. You tell a story on a plate of food, and it’s the same story that I want to tell people through words and written medium. It's just a visual treat, for example the photos for Chaat we took in India. I like creating that excitement for people.

AM: What is the creation process for you with your cookbooks and are there plans for releasing another?

CHEF MC: There’s always plans for more! With cookbooks it truly is a group effort. I work with an editor and a co-author and they help give the book direction, because I have a lot of ideas!

AM: For years, we have enjoyed seeing you on Food Network whether you are a guest judge, competing, or hosting your shows! What led to you adding TV Judge/Host to your portfolio?

CHEF MC: It wasn’t something that I set out to do, but I got the opportunity then realized how much I enjoyed it. That's why I do it. I love to connect with people through the medium of television.

AM: When you're judging, what's your approach or formula when you are considering a dish or is there a competitor that sticks out to you?

CHEF MC: I think for me it has to be a combination of everything – the competitor has to show the right technique, develop flavor and show who they are and their culinary point of view on the plate. Those are the things I look for when I’m judging.

AM: You're the only 2X winner of Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions, what does that mean to you?

CHEF MC: It means that lightning can strike the same place twice! I’m very proud of it. It seems like a validation for my entire life of working hard and putting my heart and soul into what I do. It was a very surreal moment and I’m very grateful that it's proven I've chosen the right career!

AM: When you were competing in this show, was there a chef that you looked forward to going up against?

CHEF MC: I have realized the toughest person I can go up against is me myself.

AM: Everytime that we see you on air, we always enjoy seeing your accessories as well as your ensemble as a whole, clearly you have an interest in fashion - will we ever see you create a line or collaborate with someone?

CHEF MC: If I get the opportunity, why not!

AM: You have had a number of accolades from being a James Beard Award winner, breaking glass ceilings throughout your career, and being about presenting your point of view through cooking, what does it mean to you?

CHEF MC: Each and every time that I get an accolade it builds my confidence in who I am as a person, and it also pushes me to do much better. It's validation I was meant to do this.

AM: How do you balance having a successful career while also having a family and being a mother?

CHEF MC: Balance is a myth. You just make the best of whatever you are doing.

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

CHEF MC: Just keep an eye out!

AM: We like asking our favorite chefs about their 9CH3FS ROUTIN3S that highlights 3 key things that you must have, do, and enjoy for your Mornings, Afternoons, and Night as a chef.

CHEF MC: That’s a tough question because every day is a very different day for me. My morning ritual after I get up is I have my chai, and then I take a few minutes just to figure out what my day will be like and how I want to conquer it. What I love about my life is no two days are the same. If I’m filming it’s a different day than if I'm home.

IG @maneetchauhan

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 80 Jessica Sloane | PG 82 + 85 Amelia J Moore Photography | PG 86 Maneet Chauhan |

Read the MAR ISSUE #112 of Athleisure Mag and see THE SPICE OF LIFE | Chef Maneet Chauhan in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG #111 | RASHEE RICE

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with NFL Super Bowl Champion of the Kansas City Chiefs, Rashee Rice. We talk about his passion for the game, his journey, staying in shape, the upcoming season, and how he gives back philanthropically!

We sat down with Creator, Executive Producer, and writer Chris Brancato for Godfather of Harlem which is back for S4 on MGM+. We also interviewed cast members Rome Flynn, Lucy Fry, and Michael Raymond James as we talk about this historically inspired series, why they are part of this program and what we can expect this season. 

We sat down with pro surfer Brianna Cope who talks with us about her love for the beach, surfing, being in Surfer Girls on Prime Video, and her love for cooking on the beach! We chatted with her about her ambassadorship with Gozney and why this is something that we can enjoy when it comes to making pizzas wherever we roam.

We enjoyed an amazing dinner a few weeks back at Ludlow House to celebrate the launch of Cards on the Table, a digital series hosted by Stanley Tucci in partnership with Allbirds. After having such a great time at the event we wanted to know more about Allbirds as a brand, footwear aesthetic, how this series came about, and what we can look forward to.

We have been fans of Chef Maneet Chauhan for a number of years from her restaurants to her hosting and judging shows on Food Network. We sat down with her to find out how she got into the industry, why she loves cooking, finding out about her restaurant group, and upcoming projects.

Our kick off to Spring wouldn't be complete without our recap of this past Awards Season via 9R3DCARP3T which shares exclusive quotes with those who walked the red carpet as well as their teams.

This month's The Art of the Snack takes us to Singapore where we dine at Burnt Ends. We talk with Chef David Pynt on his culinary journey as well as what led him to launching this restaurant and what we can expect when we come in to dine.

This month's Athleisure List comes from Lolita in Midtown NY which have a phenomenal menu for your next meal as well as cocktails! In addition, we also head to Italy to enjoy ARIA Retreat + Spa.

This month we have our 9PLAYLIST from NFL Super Bowl Champion and Athleisure Mag cover, Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs. We have an additional 9PLAYLIST with EDM DJ/Producer,  KAAZE. This month's 9PLAYLIST MULTI comes US Open 2017 Grand Slam winner, Sloane Stepens who shares what she enjoys listening to, streaming, and reading. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Rashee Rice and from pro surfer, Brianna Cope. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS comes from Chef Hailey Nissimov of Figaro Cafe, Owner Will Patton and Creative Dir Devin of Press Club Cocktail Bar and our THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from BRAVO Top Chef S22 that is currently airing - Chef Lana Lagomarsini as she shares what dishes we can enjoy for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

DIGGING INTO THE DYNASTY | HBO'S CELTICS CITY DIRECTOR LAUREN STOWELL + PRODUCER GABE HONIG

We love a good documentary and docuseries and when it covers something iconic in sports, you don't have to tell us twice! HBO's CELTICS CITY takes us through one of the most storied franchises in the league that is truly a dynasty and most recently won their 18th Championship last year. In this 9 episode docuseries premiering on March 3rd, we learn about the history of the Boston Celtics from its start, how it fits within the city of Boston, the impact of the sport, as well as culture on the game and more!

We sat down with the docuseries director, Lauren Stowell (144, Tiger Woods: America’s Son, SC Featured: Together – The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Story) and its producer Gabe Honig (PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, US Open Epics: Tiger Woods: Perfection at Pebble Beach, The Captain) to find out about the series, how they went about covering 75 years of history, incredible interviews, and what the Celtics mean to fans, sports enthusiasts, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s great to talk to both of you! Before we delve into CELTICS CITY, can you tell me a bit about your backgrounds? Lauren, I know that you did Tiger Woods: America’s Son and Gabe, The Captain – as a Yankees fan, that was a phenomenal docuseries!

LAUREN STOWELL: Yeah, I, currently work with Connor Schell (co-creator and Executive Producer of the 30 for 30 series for ESPN, O.J.: Made in America, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story) at Words + Pictures as a Director/Producer there. I've been there for 2 years since we really started CELTICS CITY. Prior to that, I was at ESPN as a Storyteller Feature Producer documentarian for 16 years. Before that, I was at UConn, you know, I'm a Connecticut native!

GABE HONIG: I've been a freelancer for all the very many years of my career and done such shows as Friday Night Tykes and then The Captain. I hooked up with Words + Pictures with Connor and Libby Geist (The Last Dance, Giannis: The Marvelous Journey, Court of Gold), and then Lauren too to embark on this adventure.

AM: So, what was it about CELTICS CITY that made you guys want to be part of the project and to tell this onion of a phenomenal story?

LS: Initially, after reading the treatment that, you know, Connor and Bill Simmons (The Ringer podcast network, 30 For 30, Music Box: Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary), had the initial idea to do something longform - multi-part, but really starting to get into the layers of the story for me personally, obviously, Gabe can speak to his experience once we started discussing the story. It was so multi-layered. It was so nuanced, there was so much room for possibility and opportunity, within the story. When, Gabe came on board and we started discussing the story, the arnrative, and the structure. It was almost unbelievable how many highs and lows and larger than like characters, iconic figures, not just sports, but American history. Yeah. So the opportunity for me to tell a story that went beyond just the story of the Celtics, something that could resonate and connect to American culture as large, was really what drew me to the project.

GH: So as a lifelong New Yorker and fan of all things New York sports. This is the last project that I think that I could ever think that I would spend 2 years of my life doing around the Boston Celtics! Words and Pictures passed me the treatment after I was done with The Captain, and I read it and I was just like, “there's a lot here that I think as a Storyteller you can really sink your teeth into.” I was still a little skeptical and then I met with Lauren and her vision for how she wanted to tell this story, I was inspired within the first 20 minutes of what ended up being our 2 hour conversation!

AM: Oh wow!

GH: We spent a lot of time before we shot a single frame, really figuring out what are the tent poles here? What are the stories and where do all the branches come off of? Who are the characters? And I think that's what also separates this story from other stories about franchises. Lauren's focus was on the people and their experiences as they move throughout history. I think that's the thing about the Celtics that, like, I think people are going to really fall in love with, and that makes it the most interesting is that it's the people. The organization leans into the people, the people that have been there for 40 plus years that are still there. That's unheard of in professional sports!

And that comes with pluses, and minuses with that as well. We don't shy away from any of that. It's about character and how those people grew, didn't grow, and all the pros and cons of complicated human beings?

AM: What was each of your favorite moments in the docuseries? Whether it's something you know that we actually get to see through the series, or maybe just something just being in the production side that that really spoke to you?

LS: Ugh, it's such a good question! It's so hard! I know for Gabe it will be difficult for him too. We talk about this all the time, the moments that you know over the almost 2 years that we were working on this story. I would say for me, one of the moments that just really resonated with me was when we were able to get Karen Russell and Randy Auerbach together. They’re close friends and we kind of discovered that through speaking with each of them in our kind of early research phases. I think what was important to all of us on the team was really understanding Red Auerbach and Bill Russell as men, as people, what their character was, and their values. Because without understanding that, you can't really understand the history of the Boston Celtics without understanding those two - the architects of what it became and what it is. I think that was, like, such a special moment for me.

Just seeing them sit across from each other, the genuine admiration and reverence that they each held for each other, but that they talked about each of their fathers holding for one another and how much I guess it meant you know that even they were able to keep this relationship all these years later, and it was just cool to see the daughters of 2 Legends!

AM: Right.

LS: Sitting across from each other all these years later and reminiscing on their favorite moments and how much their father's impact on the sport and on America was. It was really cool for me. I think there's so many moments, but that's probably one for me. That just felt really special.

AM: That's really cool.

GH: I'm going to give you a 3 part answer here.

AM: Give it to us!

GH: Easily the coolest moment. Yeah, okay. As a huge sports fan, like, yeah, being in the room when Larry Bird was interviewed!

AM: Um yeah!

GH: It’s like Holy Shit. And yeah, you know, I'm riding up in the elevator with Larry Bird of the Celtics who has been there for 40+ years and Jackie MacMullan (Editor’s Note: She is a retired freelance newspaper sportswriter and NBA columnist for ESPN.com). What am I doing here?

AM: Yup!

GH: So that's cool. There were other moments I had the easy job of sitting in the room, but not actually asking the questions. That was, Lauren, uh, who was doing most of the question asking for the process. And there were several times, and I don't want to spoil anything. There were several times where I'm just like, that bite right there, what that person just said that's going to be in the show and will be in the trailer. That question that I mentioned earlier, why do I have these preconceived notions about Boston. By having somebody answer that for me in a way that resonated for me was like a magical moment.

Then the third thing is another kind of, like, just really cool moment man, like being there when they won Banner 18. I'm not a Celtics fan. I try to be impartial on my job. Being in that building, a culmination of almost 2 years of work and seeing that green and white confetti come down, that was pretty fucking cool!

AM: I can see that, wow!

LS: You just gave me chills Gabe again – such a cool moment.

AM: I can only imagine, I mean, sometimes you'll watch a game and even if you're not necessarily a fan, you're rooting for and hoping for a better season.

How long did it take for you guys, to work on this in terms of production/post-production? You guys truly are dealing with research and acquiring these amazing people to speak, from relatives, front office, players, etc. I can't even imagine, like how much time was involved?

LS: Gabe, I mean you’re air traffic control. Please tell her the air traffic that you work with!

GH: The day-to-day of the project started in January of 2023. You know, we started staffing up in February of that year, and our first interview was Bob Cousy (Editors Note: Bob Cousy played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950-1963. He was a 6X NBA Champion, 13X NBA All-Star and 1957 NBA MVP and was known as a core piece during the early half of the Celtics dynasty known as The Houdini of the Hardwood and is regarded as the 1st great point guard of the NBA and was the first to reach the 4,000, 5,000, and 6,000 career assists milestones), because there was concerns about his health, and by the way, Bob is still doing fine. We filmed that interview on, I think the first week of April of ‘23.

We really started filming heavily that May all throughout the end of the Summer. We had, I think, 50 interviews in the can.

AM: Wow.

GH: The Summer of ’23 was an incredible blur. I mean, I'm just in awe of Lauren and our producers, Sascha Gardner (American Greed, The Athletic, The Captain), and Christina Lenis (The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, The First 48 Presents: Homicide Squad Atlanta, Slow Burn). Like, I don't know how they did it, we all did it. We ended up doing 98 interviews. Our final interview was Kevin Garnett in August of ‘24.

AM: Wow!

GH: Yeah, we started editing in May of ‘23. Throughout the process, we had to submit for review, between 70 and 80 cuts that all had their sets of notes. We've got a lot of partners and things like that. You know, Lauren and I are still laughing and smiling. There were times like in any creative process where you want to, uh, pull your hair out and you feel like all is lost.

AM: Yup.

GH: At the end of the day, I couldn't be prouder of what our team was able to accomplish.

LS: I'll add on to what Gabe is saying too. I mean, you know, he talks about that summer of ‘23, that was just kind of a blur. I mean. I cannot say enough about the team, the preparations that was required for these interviews. If you think about the story we're telling, starting in 1950 to a current hunt for a championship with these players. It was 75-80 years of history that everyone on the team - I mean, there were probably 25-30 books that everyone had to read. There was no one definitive work that we could use that just is the history of the Boston Celtics. We had to piece together almost like a patchwork of the research. And you know, Gabe and the team the preparation for the interviews for me was unreal.

Like, I'm talking some of these interviews, a lot of them are 3-4 hours on average. And you know, I had 10-12 pages of notes, research questions, and topics. All of that had to be a fine-tuned, well-oiled machine to be able to do week after week after week. And yeah, it was a very aggressive timeline. And yeah, our team was amazing in accomplishing so much in a short amount of time.

AM: I love how basketball - obviously, it’s great for entertainment and learning about the people who play the sport and the dedication they have. But it's also a vehicle about the larger story of what's going on and what that mirror is and what it can be. What do you want the viewers to get after they enjoy seeing all 9 episodes?

LS: I think what I would want the viewer to walk away with is having conversations that maybe they thought they would never have. That's what I would hope, because I do think our goal as a team was to challenge some of the perceptions, to bring truth, to allow the characters of the story - the fabric of the Celtics to speak. These individuals, who many of them never have told their stories some have, many haven't. For them to speak their truth, and I hope that that becomes a source of, you know, again - important discourse, especially in today in our culture and society right now. We need to have these conversations, and I hope that this film allows that because we were able to show the arc of 75 years of Celtics history, but also American history.

GH: That’s a great answer Lauren. Again, as I tend to do, I'm going to answer this in 2 parts.

AM: Nice!

GH: Number 1 - you know and it’s something that I don't even know if I've ever talked to Lauren about this. In our first conversation, Lauren, brought something to my attention that I think is vitally important if you're a sports fan. This film is not just for sports fans.

AM: Right.

GH: I think somebody that doesn't know anything about basketball, you will enjoy it. For sports fans, I want, you know. I'm hoping that people can take away something, which is like, if you love sports, you know, the story understandably, and you should know the story about Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Branch Rickey (Editor’s Note: Branch Rickey was a baseball executive and player who broke MLB’s color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He also created the framework for modern minor league farm system, and he introduced the batting helmet).

AM: Right.

GH: No one talks about Red Auerbach or the Boston Celtics in terms of moving this country forward in terms of Civil Rights within sports and understanding that an athlete is just an athlete. I hope that the takeaway here is that there are other people in that conversation that move the ball forward and perhaps, moved it forward in really interesting ways as well as those never really talked about ways.

And then, just to add on to what Lauren said quickly - what I loved about working with Lauren is that we were pushed to hear from people who haven't been allowed to tell their story, who the camera has not been pointed at and these stories - some of these stories with the Celtics yeah, they've been told before.

AM: Right.

GH: We had a challenge to tell them in a different way and Lauren put people in front of the camera and they were so happy to finally be able to tell their side of the story, and it's so vitally important, and it's a perspective that needs to happen more in all of media, but especially sports documentaries.

IG @lstowell

@gabehonig

PHOTOS COURTESY | HBO

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see DIGGING INTO THE DYNASTY | HBO’S CELTICS CITY Director Lauren Stowell + Producer Gabe Honig in mag.

ON THE COUNTRYSIDE | CHEF VINCENT CREPEL

One of the things that we love about the power of food and the dining experience is the ability for each bite to transport you to a locale and theme as you navigate your meal. It can be enjoyed solo or with those who are with you. That feeling is what makes eating at your favorite or a new restaurant one that we continue to enjoy with each bite.

We sat down with Chef Vincent Crepel of Terre which is known for its French-Asian menu that is inspired by his journeys in an array of countries that he spent time in throughout his culinary career. We wanted to find out more about him, where he trained, and what we can expect when dining at his Michelin starred restaurant.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Chef Vincent Crepel, tell us about where you trained and the kitchens you worked in leading up to Terre?

CHEF VINCENT CREPEL: When I was young I quickly realised I was very unmotivated by school and education; my parents suggested that I went to culinary school to focus on something different. I trained in a small French culinary school and was definitely the youngest person there and I did 4 years there. This time included my most general kitchen experiences you could say. I worked at a mountain ski resort and it was very challenging and repetitive however it prepared me for the hard and repetitive work that comes from working in kitchens.

I then did my bachelors in a culinary degree in Bitarritz, Basque Country but with a focus on business, profitability etc. This was a really good experience because I learnt more about restaurants than just how to cook in one. Cooking is where my passion lay and I went right back to working in the kitchen. I worked as an apprentice in a small family run restaurant in the Basque country, then moved to Singapore, the fine dining restaurant in the Shangri-La in Singapore for 3 years. I moved back and forth between Michelin starred restaurants in Spain (Arzak) and then back to Singapore (Swissotel Fairmont and then at Restaurant André) for a long time and I felt the pull of both places so deeply.

My final destination before starting my own solo work was Switzerland where I worked at 3 Michelin-Starred Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville de Crissier where I stepped back into traditional French fine dining. Finally I returned to France and opened my own restaurant, Porte 12 which ran successfully for 7 years from 2014. This was an amazing experience for me and I loved every moment of running my own restaurant. Therefore after Covid the urge to open another restaurant was overwhelming and I found myself opening Terre in Cork, Ireland.

AM: Before we delve into Terre, can you tell us about the cuisine offered here as we know it's French-Asian synergy that is inspired by Ireland's Bounty, what does that mean?

CHEF VC: Well, my initial culinary training journey began in France learning about native flavours and focusing on traditional French techniques. I then spent years travelling and working in Southeast Asia, as mentioned I spent a large amount of time in Singapore. During these years in Asia, as you can imagine, I developed a new understanding for different textures and cooking techniques using regional ingredients. It was so different from what I knew during my earlier years and I have been fascinated ever since. I think the best way to explain my cuisine is that I love combining the aspects of the traditional French training with the fascination and excitement I’ve acquired from my world travels, including influence from The Basque Country and Southeast Asian cuisine. I would say that this is the description of my cooking style.

In terms of the Irish influence, this is truly unique to Terre. When I moved to Ireland I was struck by the beauty of the isolated land and was surprised by all it had to offer. I knew that with Terre, I wanted to focus on this and make it a key part of the restaurant and the guest experience. Everything from the lighting of the restaurant, to perfectly reflect Ireland’s gloomy atmosphere to the ingredients used inhouse, incorporating local produce to represent where we are in place and also time due to seasonality.

AM: What are the spices and ingredients that are indicative of the menu that is served?

CHEF VC: As mentioned, the menu at Terre is deeply rooted in Asian flavors and techniques while celebrating the exceptional quality of Irish and globally sourced ingredients. Our approach is centered on balance between acidity, umami, and texture drawing from a diverse palette of spices and aromatics. Key ingredients that define our culinary identity include kaffir lime, yuzu, miso, jasmine tea, and toasted kombu, each bringing depth and nuance to our dishes.

We also incorporate elements like ginger oil and Pedro Ximénez vinegar to enhance both savory and sweet creations, while seaweed-infused oils and white truffle add layers of umami and complexity. The menu reflects a thoughtful interplay between tradition and innovation, where classic Asian techniques meet the purity of Irish produce, creating an experience that is both refined and unexpected.

AM: Terre is located in the Castlemartyr Resort in County Cork Ireland and the restaurant has 2 Michelin stars. What does this mean to you?

CHEF VC: Terre is a reflection of a journey, a philosophy, and a commitment to excellence. Being awarded two Michelin stars is an incredible honor, but beyond the accolades, it represents the dedication, passion, and pursuit of perfection that our team embodies every day. Terre is a place creating a unique culinary narrative. The stars are a testament to the craftsmanship, discipline, and creativity that go into every dish, but what truly matters is the experience we provide to our guests the sense of discovery, emotion, and connection that great food can evoke.

For me, these stars are not just a recognition of what we have achieved, but a responsibility to continuously evolve, push boundaries, and offer something truly meaningful to those who walk through our doors.

AM: What can you tell us about the ambiance of this restaurant?

CHEF VC: The dining experience and ambience at Terre could be described as theatrical. The experience starts as soon as guests walk through the door. Guests are welcomed by entering a long corridor with the dramatically lit preservation room. There are jars of rhubarb, peppercorns, lemons and more displayed along the shelves giving it the feeling that they are glowing from within. The ingredients are explained in depth to the diners before they are led into the kitchen where my kitchen team and myself meet them. There are aspects such as the cry of welcome, theatrical spotlights in the kitchen, and multi-sensory explanations that are meant to make sure the guests are 100% immersed in the atmosphere of Terre, from start to finish.

AM: Tell us about the collaborations that you have engaged in with Irish artisans that can be found at this restaurant?

CHEF VC: Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at Terre. Ireland has an incredible depth of craftsmanship, and working with local artisans allows us to bring a deeper sense of place to our restaurant. From the tableware to the ingredients, every detail is thoughtfully curated to reflect both our culinary philosophy and the artistry of those we collaborate with.

We work closely with Irish ceramicists to create bespoke plates and serving vessels that enhance the dining experience, ensuring that the aesthetics of each dish are as refined as the flavours. Our butter dishes, for example, are handcrafted by local potters, giving a tactile and organic feel that aligns with the essence of our cuisine.

On the ingredient side, we source seaweed, lobster, and crab from a small fishing village near a lighthouse that holds personal significance to me. Our meats and dairy products come from select Irish farms that prioritise sustainability and exceptional quality. These collaborations are not just about sourcing, they are about building relationships, supporting craftsmanship, and telling a story through every element of the dining experience at Terre.

AM: What sustainable practices do you engage in at Terre?

CHEF VC: At Terre we have adopted a zero waste approach to the kitchen, always aiming to reuse and repurpose ingredients wherever it is possible. All of the furniture and ceramics are locally crafted and sourced, limiting the negative impacts of importing decor for the restaurant. Its also deeply important to me to support local artisans and celebrate the craftsmanship and natural beauty of the spectacular Irish region.

AM: Where do you get inspiration from when it comes to creating the menu?

CHEF VC: I'm inspired by everything around me. I would also say my memories and experiences that I have gained over time contribute to my inspirations.

Sometimes I remember a flavour that I tried 10 years ago, and it becomes my goal to find it and use it in a new way that I haven't before.

AM: Can you tell us about the Terre menu?

CHEF VC: Our menu is ever changing depending on the seasonality of the ingredients. In a country so bountiful in ingredients, the best produce can change daily due to weather changes. I use the best ingredients possible that are available at the time to create meticulously crafted dishes that demonstrate the surprising synergy between this melded cuisine.

AM: Tell us about your beverage program and what are 3 wines that would be great to pair with your meal?

CHEF VC: At Terre, our beverage program is an extension of our culinary philosophy thoughtfully curated, globally inspired, and deeply attuned to the flavours on the plate. We focus on wines that not only complement our dishes but also enhance the intricate balance of acidity, umami, and texture that define our menu. The selection emphasises both classic and unconventional pairings, with a strong presence of wines that showcase purity, minerality, and a sense of place.

Three wines that would pair exceptionally well with our menu include:

Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec ‘Le Mont’ (Loire Valley, France) – This Chenin Blanc offers incredible tension, minerality, and a vibrant acidity that cuts through rich flavours while complementing the citrus and umami elements found in dishes like our Irish trout with carrot sauce and Irish Wasabi.

Domaine Roulot Bourgogne Blanc (Burgundy, France) – A precise, elegant Chardonnay with a delicate balance of creaminess and freshness, this wine pairs beautifully with dishes that feature layers of depth, such as our kaffir lime-infused mushroom ragout and potato emulsion.

Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Rhône Valley, France) – A rare and ethereal Grenache with remarkable finesse and aromatic complexity, it complements the richness and earthy notes of our 48-hour beef with kaffir lime-infused mushrooms, bringing out both the dish’s umami depth and its bright, herbaceous undertones.

AM: What are 3 non-alcoholic drinks that you would suggest that we should keep in mind?

CHEF VC: We believe that non-alcoholic pairings should be just as refined and complex as their alcoholic counterparts. Our approach focuses on balance, terroir-driven ingredients, and innovative extractions that enhance the flavours of our menu. Here are three non-alcoholic drinks that truly embody our philosophy:

Keffir & Terre Garden Marigold: A refreshing and aromatic infusion featuring Mexican marigold from our own garden. The marigold adds a subtle floral and citrus complexity, while the keffir provides a bright, zesty backbone that pairs beautifully with seafood and citrus-driven dishes.

Terre Unique Tea Extraction: Taiwanese Oolong we source a rare, high-mountain Taiwanese oolong from a small, family-run tea farm and apply a unique extraction method to bring out its deep, roasted, floral, and slightly creamy notes. This tea pairs elegantly with dishes featuring umami elements, as well as desserts incorporating nuts, caramel, or miso.

Fermented Pear Shrub: A delicate yet vibrant blend of Mexican marigold, house-fermented pear, and a touch of mild vinegar for acidity. This drink’s balance of sweetness and freshness makes it an ideal pairing for dishes with rich or aromatic profiles, such as those featuring kaffir lime, yuzu, or warm spices.

Each of these non-alcoholic pairings is designed to offer depth, structure, and a seamless integration with the menu at Terre, ensuring that every guest whether drinking alcohol or not experiences a thoughtfully curated journey.

AM: Tell us about your tea pairing menu as well as the Taiwanese Tea Sommelier that you have collaborated with.

CHEF VC: This is one of my favourite aspects of our beverage offering. We work with a lady called Jamie, who is our tea sommelier. She is based in Taiwan, where her family business is run; we have regular meetings where she will send us tea to try and we will discuss the best ways to pair the teas to compliment the menu. We use Taiwanese tea and oolong tea mainly, these teas as mentioned come straight from Taiwan and can't just be found in supermarkets, it's one of a kind here at Terre.

The idea of a tea pairing I think is genius. Most non-alcoholic options are based on juices or kombuchas, but I always find them more filling than alcohol so I wanted to find an option that wouldn't spoil the tasting menu for the guests. I want it to be something that feels new and luxurious, and my team does the most to support me on this. Brewing these teas is hard work, they need to be extracted till late hours of the night, steeped in specific pots and barrels. It's a big job but I think it is worth it and it's something I want to advocate more for.

IG @vincent_crepel

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Terre

Read the MAR ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see ON THE COURTSIDE | Chef Vincent Crepel in mag,

ATHLEISURE MAG #110 | FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is undefeated boxer and promoter with 15 Major World Champion over 5 weightclass and entrepreneur Floyd Mayweather. We talked with him about his phenomenal career, how he approached his fights, exhibition boxing, his latest projects 1O1 supplements, and his real estate empire.

We sat down with HBO's CELTICS CITY director Lauren Stowell and Producer Gabe Honig to talk about this 9 episode docuseries which will debut on on Mar 3rd. They talk with us on how they approached covering the 75 years of the Boston Celtics as well as being a dynasty with their 18 Championships that they have won.

We also talked with Alex Donnelly, the director of ROKU's United States of Rugby which looks at growing the game in the US and specifically Major League Rugby's Chicago Hounds. We also talked with 2 of the stars from this franchise Noah Brown and Charlie Abel.

S4 of STARZ's Power Book III: Raising Kanan will drop on Mar 7th. We caught up with the cast London Brown, Hailey Kilgore, and Malcolm Mays to find out more about who they play and what we can expect from the upcoming season.

We took some time with HGTV's Married to Real Estate stars and power couple, Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson. We talk about how they got into real estate, being an agent, broker, interior design, and construction. They also talk about how they got into TV, upcoming projects, and small businesses.

During NYFW FW25 which took place early Feb, we saw a number of runway shows, presentations, and events that gave us insight to trends and aesthetics that we can look forward to later this month. We share our finds from Frederick Anderson, NYMD, FILIPINXT, and more.

We make our way to Ireland to sit down with Chef Vincent Crepel of Terre to talk about how he got into culinary, where he trained as well as what we can expect when we are coming into his restaurant.

This month's The Art of the Snack takes us to DC with Tapori which recently opened on H Street and has a menu of Indian street food and phenomenal cocktails. We chatted with restaurateur Dante Datta about this new spot.

This month's Athleisure List comes from The Class, created by Taryn Toomey and is located in Tribeca as well as in Santa Monica. In addition, we also have the Gayn Museum in Jaipur, India which has a number of stunning apparel and accessories that can be viewed via private appointment.

This month we have our 9PLAYLIST from NFL Super Bowl Champion Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Team USA Olympic Gymnast Nastia Liukin (G1,S2,B1). This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS comes from Chef Jeffrey Budnechky of Apocalypse BBQ, Chef PJ Calapa of Marea Beverly Hills and our THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Sommelier Belinda Chang as she shares what wines she would pair with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag.

SWEET SUCCESS | CHEF DOMINIQUE ANSEL

Who doesn't love an epic pastry and when you're in NYC, James Beard winner Chef Dominique Ansel is known for making pastry moments with being the creator of the Cronut, Cookie Shots, DKA, and Frozen S'mores to name a few at Dominique Ansel Bakery. You can also continue to enjoy his artistry at Dominique Ansel Workshop, Dominique Ansel Las Vegas in Caesars Palace and Dominique Ansel Marché in Paris Vegas. He is known for creating magical moments in each bite.

We had the pleasure of attending an editor's event to see him make memorable breakfast bites in partnership with Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate Cereal that was perfectly decadent as we navigate the Winter season. We also sat down with him to talk about how he came to the world of pastry, his creative process, and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve wanted to chat with you for a number of years for Athleisure Mag so it was such a pleasure to taste your treats and creations at today’s event! I’m sure my trainer is not going to like it ha!

CHEF DOMINIQUE ANSEL: Ha, don’t blame it on me!

AM: I’m not going to blame it on you! I was the person who ate everything haha!

When did you first fall in love with pastry and when did you realize that you wanted to be a pastry chef?

CHEF DA: That’s a good question. I was not expecting this question. So, you know, when I left school I was barely 16. My parents couldn't afford – I lived in a project, my parents couldn't afford to send me to school. So, early on, I decided to get a job to help the family, like to provide for food. So I didn't know what I really want to do. My mom was a terrible cook. She was so bad and my grandma was good. My mom was horrible and oftentimes like, I will end up in the kitchen trying to save dinner. I'll try to put something together so you can eat something not fancy at all, but just edible!

AM: Right!

CHEF DA: When I was that age, I was like, maybe I'll work in the kitchen. Maybe I'll be a chef. I'll try. And I found like a school that was free that welcomed me and I was doing an apprenticeship. So I would work in a restaurant for 3 weeks and go to school for a week, every month, it will be like this. So at first, I was a chef, a savory chef for 2 years. And you know, I love cooking. I love it today as much as I love baking. I don't do it as much, but I do baking for a living. When I was cooking, I would often do the desserts. So that was the only time where I'd pull a recipe, I'd read the recipe, and make this pastry. I remember it was like a Walnut Cake, very simple but really good. I would make this Walnut Cake and every time I'd make it, it was coming out perfect because I'm scaling and measuring everything.

AM: Right, yeah.

CHEF DA: I love that! I love the science behind it. I love the precision, I love the details and I love the fact that, you know, you could be creative with pastry. You can take like, raw ingredients, like sugar, flour, butter, and build that beautiful showpiece like chocolate. You can’t do this with cooking. Cooking is more intuitive. Cooking is more intimate and it’s about knowing the ingredients.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF DA: It’s about how to season them like if they are ripe or not.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF DA: It's a lot different. It’s different skills but I fell in love with baking then and I was like I'm gonna do a 3rd year of the apprenticeship. I'm gonna do it with baking so I did that and you know, I've been baking since then. It's been like 30 years.

AM: I mean that's so fantastic. And to learn that your initial culinary training was in a free program like that's that's amazing.

So how did you make that jump to being at Daniel which is amazing.

CHEF DA: So while I was in France, after my apprenticeship and completing my military service, I bought a small car and I drove to Paris because my boss at the time, talked about Paris every day. I was like, I need to go there. I'm gonna go to the capital. I need to work with the best and I eventually found a job there which led me to another job, and I eventually got the job at Fauchon (Editor’s Note: Fauchon is a legendary French Pastry shop), which was the leader in terms of products imported from all over the world, from spices, oils, like anything you name it – fruits and vegetables, like anything that they all came in that was exotic from all over the world. The pastry department was huge. It was a time where it was growing very fast and I was a hired as one of the pastry cooks there.

I worked there for 8 years. I was supposed to stay for 4 months. I stayed there for 8 years.

AM: Wow.

CHEF DA: In 2006, Daniel Boulud was looking for a pastry chef, so he called me, I was in Paris at the time and I was in charge of the International Development of the brand. So I was traveling a lot and he asked me if I wanted to come to New York to, you know, for the Pastry Chef job. I really didn't want to go back to a restaurant but it took me half a second to say okay, let's try.

I came to Daniel here in New York in 2006 with two suitcases. I folded everything back in France. I left everything. And I came with 2 suitcases, slept on a couch for like, 3 months – I didn’t have time to buy a bed!

AM: Right.

CHEF DA: I worked at Daniel for 6 years as the Executive Pastry Chef there and it was amazing years. Of course, in 2011, I decided to jump on my own and to take the next step and start my business.

AM: Why did you want to do that?

CHEF DA: Why? I always knew. I knew from when I was young that I want to be an entrepreneur, I want to own my own business. I want to do my own thing. I like the challenge of multitasking and wearing different hats. I like the challenge of making beautiful food but also like the business side. Having the interaction with the guests and knowing how to express yourself. It's all these like, things combined together, makes it very exciting to me.

AM: I mean, you have created some amazing pastry moments. I mean, the Cronut, which, I remember going in many times trying to get one and it was gone. I was just like argh foiled again!

CHEF DA: Haha I’m sorry!

AM: Then your Cookie Shot comes out and it’s another craze around that.

What does it mean to you that you've created like these little niches that are always going to be etched like you know, in the culinary world.

CHED DA: You know, it's overwhelmingly humbling. When I look back sometimes I'm like, I don't realize how much of an impact I left within the pastry world. I'm still walking around and I don't take it for granted. One of the best moments for me was When I was in Japan, we had a shop there. We were selling the Frozen S’mores which is our small version of the ice cream version of a s’mores.

AM: Yep.

CHEF DA: We were selling up to a 1,000 a day.

AM: Wow!

CHEF DA: 1000 a day! We couldn't keep up like we were making them and we were always selling. I stepped back for a second. I was like, this is amazing. I grew up in France. I learned my job in France. I came to America in 2006, barely knowing what a s’mores was.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF DA: Or what the tradition, or the meaning of it was.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF DA: Like I loved it so much that I embraced the culture, the American culture, the fact that people were coming together around the campfire, and friends, and family, and sharing this moment in time, where something as simple as the s’mores had so much signification for people and meaning of like getting together.

I took this as let's do something fun with it. Let's do something different. So of course we're having ice cream. that is surrounded by the honey marshmallow and chocolate wafer with crispy wafer and a little sea salt and we torch it in front of people. And that was really enjoyed by the Japanese people. People were mind blown and they were like, what is this? It’s portable. It's small. It's torched and finished in front of you. It's chewy. It's like crunchy. It's like not too sweet. It's like it's so much fun. It's ice cream inside. They love, love loved this so much that s’mores became a trend in Japan right after we opened our shop there. I took a step back I'm like, “my God. I'm a French man who lived in France, came to America when I was in my late 20s, and I managed to bring something so cultural from our country to another.” I feel very fortunate to have a chance to express myself through that and to cross cultures together and it's, it's amazing. It's a once in a lifetime.

AM: Oh 100% I mean, s'mores are serious business! I'm from the Midwest and we are serious about our s'mores and our bourbon –

CHEF DA: And bourbon!

AM: And Bourbon for those that want that adult version!

So how did this partnership come up with you and the Honey Bunches of Oats and Chocolate? That is just so fun to see and to taste that pairing today!

CHEF DA: Well, you know, they reached out asking me if we want to do something together and I think that is a natural connection and extension. It's a natural extension of what we do.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF DA: It's sweets, pastry, it's, you know, breakfasty.

AM: Yep.

CHEF DA: It's just a natural connection and creating something new and fun with Honey Bunches of Oats and especially launching thei chocolate flavor. I mean, it's like exciting for me and something fun that we did together.

AM: I mean, the French Fries. I love that. I mean, I love potatoes.

CHEF DA: I mean, isn’t it every kids dream for breakfast?

AM: I could definitely enjoy having this.

Will you do anything else with them?

CHEF DA: We're just doing this event today. We're not playing to do anything else - yet.

AM: Your latest cookbook is Everyone Can Bake. Why did you want to do that?

CHEF DA: You know, I've always been like working in the best kitchens, the most intense kitchen with the most professional chefs and they are strict, rigorous, and organized. Since opening the bakery, people have been coming in and they have the love of baking. They are bakers without being professionals. I think, you know that the bakery has done so much. I always compare my time to when I was at Daniel, but we see people coming to the kitchen and be so amazed, or mind blown by the kitchen, the lights and the people, and they were saving in many cases a lifetime of their savings to come to Daniel for that meal at that restaurant and I wanted to give similar experience with my bakery through the food through the welcoming of people to experience different types of food. So, throughout the years we've welcomed like, you know, hundreds of thousands of millions of people passing through the door with food and I see so many people like bring me treats. Baking their own stuff. Running to me sometimes and I’m like, hmm should I eat it haha?

AM: That’s pretty ballsy for people to bring you their treats because you’re amazing!

CHEF DA: I always wanted to get close to you know, everyone not just to the elite of people I’ve served over the years, but to everyone and I wanted those recipes to connect with people. So I want to do a book that is humble and about home baking. I actually practiced a lot of recipes with my son at home. They're simple, their easy, and quick. It's not too intense, not too difficult. Baking can sometimes be scary for people because you're precise, you’re scaling everything, but there are ways you can do some things that are easy and casual recipes. That's what I wanted to talk about for this last book.

IG @dominiqueansel

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 30 - 32 Paris Las Vegas | PG 35 - 39 Honey Bunches of Oats

Read the JAN ISSUE #109 of Athleisure Mag and see SWEET SUCCESS | Chef Dominique Ansel in mag.

ON THE COURT | SHAKIRA AUSTIN + WSF DANETTE LEIGHTON

We love watching our favorite athletes play and with an exciting WNBA season coming back later this year, we've all been introduced to Unrivaled League, a 3X3 format. In today's issue, we sat down with Washington Mystics' Shakira Austin who also plays on the Lunar Owls BC! We took some time to talk about her love of the game, what it's like playing for the Mystics and also playing on Unrivaled. We also talked about how she has been recovering from her surgery and her goals as she is back to playing on the court!

As part of TYLENOL® Greatness Hurts campaign, the brand has partnered with the Women's Sports Foundation®’s ‘Athlete Recovery and Care Commitment Grant.’ THis provides much needed support and 10 elite women athletes were awarded this.The aim to help women athletes overcome pain and recover from setbacks to their career caused by injury, ultimately helping them achieve their career goals.

The grant continues the long-standing commitment to demonstrate Care Without Limits, not only providing support for the physical pain but also the mental and financial hardships women athletes face in the hopes of positively impacting the outcome of their journeys.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with basketball?

SHAKIRA AUSTIN: I would say probably around 9th grade, I started, when I was about 13/14. My dad actually tried to put me in when I was like 7 and he said, I did not like it! You know, I come from a basketball family. My uncle had played, my dad kind of caught him, so he didn't force it on me. But, you know, I eventually made my way back around 8th grade and by 9th grade, I was like, yeah, this is it.

AM: And that’s also when you were like, if I can, I'm definitely gonna go pro!

SA: Oh yeah! By 9th grade, my dad was convinced that I would be the #1 draft pick.

AM: Wow, that's amazing! You've been playing for the Washington Mystics since you were drafted in 2022. What does it mean to you to play with this team?

SA: It's amazing. The opportunity to be back to, you know, your hometown team. It’s definitely a once in a lifetime the opportunity, so I'm grateful! It hasn't gone the way I would like it to go. But, you know, I know my future is going to be a lot better. So I'm excited to see, you know, what happens.

AM: I know you've been recovering from an injury from last season. What takes place as an athlete, when you know that you're injured? Do you still work out on some level? How do you realize what you're going to do in terms of not playing for the rest of the season, but getting yourself prepared to play again?

SA: You know, it's been my first big injury. I've never had surgery, never really sat out more than a few days, so it's been a new adjustment of when you're not supposed to do anything, when you're supposed to, you know, sit and rest and when you're able to kind of crank it back up. So for me it was all about the timing of which part of my rehab process, I was in. When I first had my surgery it was shut down for 2 months at least.

It wasn't until month 3 that I was actually able to slowly start building up and that went into the season. I entered my month 4 right when training camp started. So it was like, I had to balance rehab while also trying to get prepared for the season and get prepared for games. I had a new role with the team, so it's been a long journey of trying to understand my body and figure out okay, when should you know to work out more or should you allow yourself to recover. So that's pretty much been the process.

AM: How has Tylenol assisted in that recovery process for you?

SA: Yeah, I mean, it’s allowing me to have a grant like this. It's going to just open the door for, you know, everything that I've been wanting for my future, for my career. It's an amazing opportunity for me to continue to kind of just vibe more into my rehab process. Just to kind of figure out how to get back to where I want to be, you know, being injured for the first time, I've had to figure out how to be a professional honestly.

AM: Yeah.

SA: Before, I would just wake up, not practice.

AM: Yeah.

SA: I was just feeling great. So that's no longer my life. So, having opportunities with Tylenol, and with Women’s Sport Foundation, this grant it's just been able to open up new doors like I said and to figure out what, what more can I help myself with my body, with my mental, and things like that. Just make me better overall.

AM: What are 3 workouts that you've been doing in terms of your recovery that our readers can know about? Maybe if they have the same type of issue that can help them as well.

SA: So you know, having a hip labrum tear, it's a really big surgery. It's a lot to recover from and for me, it's just been about really being in the weight room and building those small muscles that you might ignore, you might, you know, neglect in a sense. So now I'm just able to build my hip flexor strength, focus on my glutes, and figuring out, let's see how everything is just really connected. For me, it's really just been about staying in the weight room. Understanding how to warm up properly. My hip takes a lot to warm up right now. So, just being intentional and figuring out how to prepare, but also just recover it, the best that I can.

AM: So obviously the WNBA season, starts back up in May of this year, but in looking at your IG, you're on the Unrivaled League, which just started on Jan 17th of this year which is amazing. Tell us about the league because I know our readers are excited and you're also playing for the Lunar Owls BC. So we'd love to hear more about that.

SA: It's a whole new style game that you know, no one has seen before. It's 3 on 3 full court, it's super fast - 1-on-1. It's just been fun you know to be in this inaugural season and be a part of something new for just women's basketball but also just women's sports in general you know? This arrival, it just offers a new opportunity for us specifically women's basketball players. We typically have to play year round. We have to go overseas and go straight into our WNBA season. So, you know, this is a great opportunity for the best players to come in. We have free agency starting. It's kind of neat because we're kind of recruiting in the same time.

AM: Yeah.

SA: It's been a super dope process so far, and I'm just really happy that this is kind of the next step for me. Coming off of my injury.

AM: It runs for 9 weeks and I guess that takes you almost into training camp before you go back to the league?

SA: So yeah, we will have a little bit of a break. So, that's the cool thing about this gig. It's like eight weeks or about two months. We'll still have a gap period before the next season.

AM: Oh, nice.

SA: So it's really unheard of! Normally depending on where you go, you play year round. It’s amazing for us to be in Miami, it’s warm.

AM: That's good too. We’re in New York and it's so cold.

SA: When I left to come here it was freezing so I’m glad to be here.

AM: What are you looking forward to in terms of once the WNBA season comes back again and you're playing with the Mystics?

SA: Well for me, it’s about playing to my full potential. I've been taken away from the game with my injuries. I haven't been able to showcase honestly, the type of style that I'm wanna play. So, I've been focusing on getting my health and really just going out and showcasing what I can do.

IG @curlyhead_kira

@washmystics

@lunarowlsbc

We wanted to know more about the purpose of the Women's Sports Foundation as well as their initiatives for the range of athletes that they work with! We were able to find out about this as well as the history of this organization via Danette Laighton who is the CEO of this advocacy group.

ATHLEISURE MAG: After the pleasure to speak with Shakira, we got to hear a bit about Women's Sports Foundation. We felt that it would be great to find out more and it's so incredibly amazing. Can you tell us a little bit about who you are, your background prior to coming to WSF and of course, we'll be digging into the foundation itself.

DANETTE LEIGHTON: It's lovely to be here. So thank you for having me. So I feel very fortunate that I have had a long career in the sports industry as you have probably seen!

My experience has been that you know I have worked with athletes, teams, and leagues my whole career. I have been very much so exposed to recognizing the resilience of remarkable athletes both on the men's and women's side, but I really spent a significant amount of time on the women’s side. So, part of the very beginning of the WNBA, with one of the original franchises was the Sacramento Monarchs running the business side, where I spent almost a decade there. You know, I was able to really understand and see the ins and outs of what it takes. Not just to run a franchise for a business perspective but also what the athletes go through.

AM: Of course.

DL: It’s about really spending a lot of quality time with our athletes and the challenge. We have always known at WSF that one of the greatest gifts you learn from sports is resilience.

AM: Sure.

DL: I think nothing is more true to that than when you watch athletes perform at the highest level and they go through challenges which is also another reason why we are excited to partner with Tylenol in this program. That was one of my experiences.

I spent a significant amount of time in Collegiate Athletics as a CMO for the Pac-12 Conference that used to represent universities, like USC, UCLA, Stanford, Cal obviously lots of changes in the collegiate landscape which is also another area of focus in our advocacy work that we prioritize in the WSF, we really have cared and worked on the entire women's sports ecosystem. Since we are founded by Billie Jean in 1974. So we're 51 years old this year so my experience is in Collegiate Athletics, Professional sports, and I've spent time on University campuses. Very early on, I ran the Women's Basketball Final Four which is really fun and exciting for me to see the trajectory and the momentum in that sport. Obviously, it's been a lot of my career in women’s basketball and then I've spent time on the brand side working, very closely with brands and why they invest in sports and sports properties. And I had a chance to do that during my time at Sony and particularly in the area of golf – PGA golf. So, I feel very fortunate. I clearly have a passion for sport.

AM: Clearly.

DL: And I've had a great career and this was three years ago, I took the opportunity to take over this position as CEO of the WSF because even though I never was an elite athlete myself, I know what my youth sport, participation taught me, and I don't think I ever would have been a C-Suite leader without it and the principles that come with sport and this is just another example of why it's so important to invest in girls and women playing sports.

AM: It’s an incredible career and how it has led you to this point!

What is the WSF and how do they work with athletes?

DL: Sure. So the WSF, like I said was founded 51 years ago by Billie Jean King. We like to say we're not sure Billie Jean ever slept. Because when she founded us, she was also beginning to create the Women's Tennis Association, equal pay at the US Open - she just was doing so many monumental things that now today for many of us, none of us would have the careers that we have without the work that Billie did very early on. But the WSF is primarily an advocacy research organization. We really were one of the first champions and leaders of the entire women's sports ecosystem. But we’ve really been able to make the connection through data and research and our advocacy work and community programming, which is an example like this grant program, we do with Tylenol to prove the important and vital role that sports plays for girls and women - from a societal perspective, cultural perspective, and economic impact perspective. So we've seen this for decades, I feel very fortunate to take over the reigns three years ago, but really we like to say sports is not a nice to have for girls women, it's a must-have.

AM: Absolutely.

DL: Because you know when girls play sports they lead and we all win and that’s really what the WSF is all about.

AM: As a CEO, what is your role? What are some of your day-to-day or month-to-month focuses that you have?

DL: Well, as any CEO of a not-for-profit, most of my time is to make sure that we can be funded to do our great work. We have been as part of our DNA, we don't do anything without research and data. So, one thing I've always really appreciated about this organization is it's always led by research. So we have hundreds and hundreds of research projects that have proven through the years of different areas of why sports matter, why they matter from an economic perspective, why they're matter from a leadership perspective, why they matter from a health and well-being perspective for girls and women where that aren't access points for girls and women, so overseeing obviously our organization and all of our core areas, so our advocacy team can do their advocacy work. Our research team can do the research as necessary, to prove the model and then all of our great community programming that we do, which are essentially outputs of that research and data, which an example is obviously this great program we have with Tylenol.

So we've been doing that for decades and as it relates to Elite athletes, I mean obviously being founded by one of the probably most iconic female athletes of our day, we do a lot with elite athletes even from the very beginning. One of the most important things for Billie was to make sure that Elite athletes serve on our board. So we had Elite female athletes since the day of our existence serving as part of our Board of Trustees, which is why I'm the CEO and we always have an Elite athlete president which currently is a Paralympian athlete named Scout Bassett. And we always have that as a part of our DNA and part of our structure, really important to give women at a very early parts, of their careers opportunities to have board service, which we know is parallel to society.

At the same time, we've worked for many, many years with different programs, like our Travel and Training Grant, which really helped women athletes and Elite athletes, prepare for elite competition, and have some of the funding that's needed and not a lot of people understand that we're very thrilled about the momentum in women's sports.

AM: Right.

DL: But it's been decades in the making and this is not a coincidence because our job has always been to protect Title IX and we recognize and all of us know that none of this would be happening if it wasn't for that piece of legislation and now you're seeing 5 decades of women that have had the ability to play sport. And that didn't start until Gen X.

AM: You've been speaking about the core initiatives, can you dig a little bit more and tell us about the advocacy, the research and the community programming?

DL: So, you know, one of the primary roles that we play in advocacy is obviously the protection of Title IX and the importance of that legislation, and an example of that will be a program that we co-founded 39 years ago, that's called National Girls and Women's Sports Day. It's now an iconic day for everybody that supports and celebrates girls participating in sports and women. You see it kind of across the country. We spend time in Washington DC putting together a community programming event in a clinic, with young girls, to expose them to different sports, we spend time actually working on key issues. This year, we'll be spending a lot of time in the Collegiate Athletics space talking about the changing landscape there to make sure that we can sustain, have the opportunities for both men and women to continue to have great sport opportunities and go to college in our current system. And so programs like NGWSD, in addition, to spending time meeting with different policy makers and legislators and talking about the importance of why sports should be not seen as a nice to have and protecting legislation like Title IX are some of the advocacy work that we do, but we really focus in on where we see challenges and barriers, which is really what our research does.

Our research will point out different types of areas of need. So one of the biggest focus we play on is the access point for girls to play sports. So some stats that people don't recognize even in 2025, is that the high school girl participation number is exactly where the boys were in 1972 sitting here in 2025.

AM: Oh wow.

DL: You don't realize we still have a long way to go, which is why we care about the whole ecosystem, which is from the access point for young girls and women through the high school and Collegiate side, all the way to the Elite competition and recognizing some of the barriers that our Elite athletes have had especially in the one that we're so proud of to partner with Tylenol because of the importance of recognizing what happens when you get hurt and what they need to do to get back to their greatness and it is a hard journey, and for a partner like Tylenol to understand that this type of program would be a necessity and I'm sure you heard this from Shakira, it is one of those things that a lot of people don't realize is very different from women, because they have had, less opportunities have had less investment, and so, this is an area to help them get back on their feet, literally and figuratively, and make sure that they can continue on their Elite sport journey.

AM: Exactly.

Can you talk a little bit more about the program? I mean, she talked about it briefly. How did this come into being and why is this important as we know that you gave it to 10 athletes.

DL: You know, I think this is one of those great examples of finding a partner like Tylenol and collaborating on alignment of issues that we recognize and that we both carry deeply about. I think that's where this all started. I think there's a lot of parallels to what happened in sports and for women, to the greater kind of gender and women in society.

This is one of those areas. We know it's incredibly important to go through hard times. We know what resilience teaches you. But when you're an Elite athlete trying to compete, sometimes you run into real barriers that you don't have the funding mechanisms or the support that you need to get yourself back up and to be able to continue that journey to try to really get to the highest level you possibly can in your sport. And what I love about this program is the diversity of sports and athletes it represents. It gives a really great example of how many different sports opportunities are out there for girls and women, and the different sports that were obviously, and the athletes that were going on their different journeys. And I think that is a really great example of just what sports has been for so long for both men and women. It's a broad-based nature of the opportunities that you can find your passion and you have lots of sport opportunities and as long as there's that access point for girls and women, to be able to start to play and then through their journey, they have programs like this with Tylenol, it's really been a game changer and a first of its kind and we're thrilled to partner with Tylenol. We're really looking forward to continue this program into the future. It's the first of its kind for us.

AM: For those, that they may not be athletes, whether it’s Elite, semi-pro, or recreational how can we support WSF, whether it's an individual or even like a brand like Athleisure Mag? We've actually wanted to reach out to the organization for years because I think it's really cool. I was a cheerleader and I know some debate on whether that’s an athlete and did it through a couple of seasons for MLS NY/NJ Metro Stars which became NY Red Bull. I was in a tennis rec league with a company that I worked for and we even did charity runs so training, competing, and using those skills is always something that I have believed in. So how can people support?

DL: Well, you know, I like to say cheerleading is a sport too. I know what cheerleaders did so I would not count yourself out as an athlete!

I think you know for us obviously, we want everybody to support girls and women in their communities in whichever way they can. You can do it from the most basic fundamental level of supporting and coaching a youth sport. It's really important for girls to see women coaching girls. Some of our other research we recognize this as a critical component. If you can see her, you can be her! Understanding the nuances of coaching girls to boys and there's differences encouraging your daughters and your sons to play sports and realizing the power of it. Supporting a local high school, supporting your local professional team, buying a jersey of your favorite professional women’s sports team. It's really, really simple to support women's sports. Everybody can invest it in their own way and also gain the benefits of recognizing the power of it. But like many of us, I was never an Elite athlete. What I think is really important for everybody to understand is that when girls play as long as possible - the biggest barrier that happens with girls is they quit in Middle School for all the reasons that you can imagine.

We need to continue to push them to play as long as possible, it doesn't matter what level they play at because when they do, it impacts them from a physical health, and well-being, and mental health, and well-being. It's a very preventative, way where their life will continue in a great journey as adults, but it also drives them to be the next leader. And I think that's one of the things that we see is so powerful and one of our latest research reports that we did last year, which is called Play to Lead – 71% of women cross-generationally from their 20s, 30s 40s, 60s, 70s - all of had a position of manager or hirer. All recognize what is applicable and the intangibles that they learn when they play sports. It’s discipline. It's competitiveness. It's resilience, it’s all these things and those are not what you get taught in school. What makes you a powerful leader and no matter what profession you choose. That's why we like to say women's sports is not a nice to have for girls. So for us you can support us in many ways. Obviously we're always looking to have people who want to have the treasure or the time to support us. We're looking for as many people as possible to support us in our fundraising efforts, but really also to engage and amplify our work. That's important to us. I always like to share with everybody who may not have the means to support a not-for-profit, yet amplify, our work talk about us, share, why this is so important. Engage your community and be one of those role models that other girls can follow because we have a lot of challenges for young women still not having the access that they need to play sports.

AM: What is the Annual Salute?

DL: So our Annual Salute is our largest fundraiser, but it has been one of these and very early on where it’s one of the places that we support and celebrate the women’s sports community and Elite athletes from every single sport imaginable. One thing I love about the WSF, which is similar to the recipients of the Tylenol Grant is we showcase every sport, every type of from Paralympians to Olympic, to Elite athletes in Track and Field to professional athletes in the WNBA and NWSL you name it, we support it. But we talk about it and we celebrate them. And we showcase what's so important about sports for girls and women. At the end of the day, you may never ever get to that Elite level and we know it's incredibly hard, it’s a less than 1% that these types of athletes ever get to that level but 99% of us are all athletes if we have the ability to play throughout our youth, middle school, high school and those lessons will give us the greatest gift throughout the rest of our life. And I know it's done it for myself, and I wouldn't be sitting talking to you today if it didn’t.

AM: Is there anything that you would like us to keep an eye out for that WSF is doing or any initiatives?

DL: What I think is just helping people understand who we are and what we've done. We like to say we've been around a long time. We’re very proud of that being a not-for-profit that's 51 years old and have had the success that we've had. But like any not-for-profit, we all know it's really, really important for people to not just support us financially, but support our work again, by amplifying and promoting us and just being able to share our stories and what we're doing and to find a way that they can do it in their own Community. We're a national organization. We have many programs, you know, just like National Girls and Women's Sports Day, you'll see us all throughout the year across the country doing different clinics.

We have incredible Grant programs like you're learning about with Tylenol and I think it's just one of those things that we want to continue to make sure that girls are invested in and that people understand the power of sport and how transformative it is for women throughout their whole lives. And we want people to invest in girls and women and make sure they have the access to both sports.

IG @womenssportsfoundation

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 62 - 74 Unrivaled | PG 76 Tylenol

Read the JAN ISSUE #109 of Athleisure Mag and see ON THE COURT | Shakira Austin + WSF’s CEO, Danette Leighton.

ATHLEISURE MAG #109 | CARISSA MOORE

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with 5X Women's World Champion of the WSL and Team USA Olympic Surfing Gold Medalist in her first year, Carissa Moore. We have had the pleasure of her being a cover previously and are excited to check up with her to see about what she is up to as she prepares to have her first child, the importance of the sport, and her need to continue to give back! 

This month we caught up with WNBA Washington Mystics and Unrivaled Lunar Owls BC star, Shakira Austin. We talk about her passion for the sport, why she enjoys playing, recovering from injury, the inaugural season of Unrivaled as well as the upcoming WNBA season.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Chef Dominique Ansel who is known as the creator of the Cronut, Frozen S'more, and Cookie Shot! We talk about becoming a pastry chef, his passion for creating, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and more.

This month, we also sat down with Simone I Smith and her namesake jewelry line. She talks about her love for fashion and accessories, her creation process, essentials in her collection, her collaborations with Mary J Blige and Misa Hylton, launching her men's portion of the brand - Majestic where her husband Todd Smith aka LL Cool J and her sons appeared in this campaign, and more.

We also sat down with Terracea founder, Eric Hui as part of our Athleisure Mag Summit Series to talk about his brand which focuses on pieces that can be worn when enjoying your favorite sport outside as well as in your everyday life. We talk about why he created it, innovations from the brand, and what we can expect in upcoming seasons.

This month's The Art of the Snack takes us to the Theater District in NYC to Dilli Dilli which is a merge between Old Delhi and New Delhi. We find out about the ambiance of the restaurant as well as dishes that we should have in mind for our next visit.

This month's Athleisure List comes from SaltDrop, a fitness method whose studio is located in Astor Place in NYC. In addition, we also have Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla as we think about warmer clients. in

This month we have our 9PLAYLIST from Rapper/Producer Kendrick Lamar and singer, SZA. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from WNBA star, Shakira Austin. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Gaurav Anand of Dilli DIlli in the Portland, Chef/Restaurateur Dominique Ansel of Dominique Ansel Bakery and Michele's, and Chef Richard Ingraham. We also have our N3W YEAR N3W YOU from Carissa Moore, STARZ Outlander star Charles Vandervaart, and 3X X Games Aspen Medalist Hailey Langland. 

Read the JAN ISSUE #109 of Athleisure Mag.

IN THE AIR | HAILEY LANGLAND

The 24th X Games Aspen 2025 takes place Jan 23rd - 25th for its 24th year. These games will take place in Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass where the world's best action sports athletes competing in ski and snowboard events. These days present men’s and women’s ski and snowboard competitions in the disciplines of Superpipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, Knuckle Huck and the debut of medaled event Street Style.

We're excited to see a number of our favorite X Games and Olympic medalists which have included Chloe Kim, Mia Brookes, Ayumu Hirano, Scotty James and local hometown heroes Red Gerard and Alex Ferreira.

There will also be performances by EDM artists deadmau5 (who appeared at the games in 2016), Big Gigantic, Aspen Tessla, Daily Bread and ILLENIUM.

We sat down with 2X Olympic Team USA Snowboarding and 3X X Games medalist, Hailey Langland who will be a snowboarding analyst at the X Games. We spoke with her to talk about her career, passion for the sport, and the upcoming games.

ATHLEISURE MAG: You grew up in Southern California and clearly, you're an amazing snowboarder, but you were also a beach loving girl that has a love for surfing, skateboarding, soccer, mountain biking and more! What do you love about playing sports and having that ability to play a number of them?

HAILEY LANGLAND: I have to owe a lot of credit to my parents. My dad was always trying to get my little brother and I outside to find a passion and an outlet from the rest of the world. We were well versed when it came to sports. I find that it’s helped round me into the athlete I am today. Snowboarding is my first love, but I always try to make time for other passions like surfing and biking in the summer.

AM: What is it about snowboarding that you love?

HL: I definitely fell in love with snow boarding because of my dad. I could see how excited he was to share his passion with me, and I enjoyed chasing him down the mountain. One of my favorite days was learning how to ride goofy, and my dad and I rode switch for the entire day. He always made it fun, and reminded me to keep it fun.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a professional snowboarder?

HL: I’ve always known I was meant to snowboard my whole life. But I don’t think I even thought about being a professional until I went to my first “pro” competition in Mammoth when I was 14. It was a contest that had competitors from the Sochi Olympics and girls I watched in X-Games in it. I ended up winning the event, and I remember standing on the podium besides Anna Gasser and Enni Rukajarvi. I thought, oh my goodness, maybe I can be like the girls I watch on tv. After that event I got wildcard spots to Dew Tour, X Games, and Burton US Open; all contests I watched religiously growing up. That really jumpstarted my career and made it a reality.

AM: As a surfer and snowboarder, what are the synergies between these sports?

HL: Surfing is super hard, which makes me appreciate snowboarding so much. There’s a lot more thoughtfulness to surfing that I think a lot of people realize. Surfing not only requires good athletic abilities, but also the ability of wave knowledge and reading the ocean. But I love watching videos of surfers like Coco Ho, Stephanie Gilmore or Caity Simmers, who have tons of style, and thats something I try to bring to my snowboarding. I find the best cross over from surfing and snowboarding is when you’re riding powder, and it feels just like surfing on a wave, weaving back and forth just trying to make it look good.

AM: You have had 7 Games appearances and are a 3X X Games medalist and have earned a Bronze, Silver, and Gold medal in Slopestyle and a Gold in Big Air. Can you tell us what Slopestyle and Big Air is?

HL: Slopestyle is an event I specialize in. It’s where you ride the given features of the course; such as: jumps, rails, and transition features like a halfpipe wall. Big Air is a smaller version of slopestyle based on one jump. Usually, the jump is bigger than in a slopestyle, and the criteria is to spin or flip as much as you can, and land the trick, as well as make it look good. My favorite event is slopestyle because it is what I grew up doing.

AM: In 2017, you were the first woman to land a Cab double cork 1080 in competition at X Games Aspen! What did it mean to you to achieve this and tell us about what a Cab Double Cork is?

HL: It’s pretty crazy to look back on that time. I was just a kid, and had no idea what I was doing in that contest. I did the Cab 1080 on accident in practice and just thought, alright guess I’ll try that in the contest. Luckily for me it worked out, and I was able to land it second try. I wish I still had that ability to adapt and try things like I could when I was 16. To help visualize, a Cab 1080 is when you ride switch into a jump, for me that is goofy stance, and you would spin to the right three full rotations.

AM: You're known for your ability to push the boundaries of progression on jumps, distinctive style with solid grabs as well as difficult ones! You have received a number of awards including FIS World Cup with 5 career podiums (3 in Slopestyle and 2 in Big Air), you competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Big Air and in Slopestyle and again at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and more. What does it mean to you when you look at your career and all the things that you have experienced?

HL: It makes me really proud, looking back and seeing what I have accomplished, through all the ups and downs. I will always be grateful for snowboarding. It has been the reason I have gotten to travel so much of the world, and have met so many amazing people within the industry.

AM: This year, you are making your debut at the X Games on the broadcast team as a Women's Snowboard Analyst! Why are you excited to be part of this team and what are you looking forward to?

HL: In November I had ACL reconstruction on my right knee, so I will be out for this season unfortunately. I’m excited to stay involved, even if it doesn’t mean I can ride. It will be cool to see X Games from a different perspective, and to see what it looks like to be another part of such an important contest.

AM: How are you preparing to be on the broadcast team?

HL: I’m going with the ‘on the fly’ approach. Luckily, I’ve known Craig and Brando for years at this point now, so hopefully it will just feel like watching a competition with friends.

AM: Do you have any upcoming competitions that you are preparing for?

HL: Since I had ACL surgery at the end of November, I most likely won’t be snowboarding for the next year. So as of now my preparation is mostly physical therapy for my knee, and getting the rest of my body back in shape.

AM: At Athleisure Mag, we love knowing about how people stay in shape and as you are very active, what is an average week of workouts like for you?

HL: It depends. In the summer, it is very much go, go, go. I am lucky to live somewhere I can surf, or bike, play tennis, and golf all pretty much in my neighborhood. In the winter, snowboarding is primarily all I do. It can be an every day thing if the weather is good, but sometimes there are competitions we go to that get completely canceled because of the weather. On days off, I love getting in a core workout, and trying to get steps in. Any movement you can get in the winter is a big win.

AM: When you're taking time for yourself, what do you enjoy doing when you're not in between projects?

HL: I actually started crocheting a few years ago. I love making beanies for friends and family, and lately I’ve been getting into making bags which has been really fun. I’m pretty crafty and I usually always find a way to keep myself busy.

AM: We also know that you're dating fellow snowboarder, Red Gerard Team USA Olympic Slopestyle Gold Medalist, 2X X Games Medalist, 2X Dew Tour 1st place - to name a few. It must be fun to be able to share your love of snowboarding and surfing together. Do you have any upcoming trips that you are excited about?

HL: Red is my best friend. He’s so fun to be around, and he always pushes me to be better person and snowboarder. Since being injured, it’s been really hard to watch him pack up for a snowboard trip, and for the first time in our relationship, I don’t get to come along. It’s been another motivator for me to do whatever I can to get better, because I miss being around him, and taking laps together at our favorite resort. I think at the end of the winter we’ll try to go on a trip somewhere warm with waves.

IG @haileylangland

@xgames

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 46 - 48 X Games Aspen Trevor Brown Jr. | Red Bull Content Pool PG 51 Lorenz Richard, PG 52 Dom Daher + PG 57 Christian Pondella | 9LIST STORI3S PG 54 X Games Aspen/Mark Kohlman/ESPN + PG 54 X Games/Joshua Duplechian |

Read the DEC ISSUE #108 of Athleisure Mag and see IN THE AIR | Hailey Langland in mag.

IN TIME | CHARLES VANDERVAART

Currently, you can enjoy the second half of the S7 of STARZ's Outlander which is a historical romance time travel series based on the books written by Diana Gabaldonof the same name. It follows Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe), a British nurse who travels from the 20th-century to 17th-century Scotland. In the new timeline, she meets and falls in love with a Highland warrior, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). With only 1 more season left, we're looking forward to see what other stories will be told in future spin-offs which we're looking forward to.

We sat down with Charles Vandervaart (Holly Hobbie, The Craft: Legacy, Murdoch Mysteries) who plays Jamie's son, William Ransom to find out about how he came to this show, what he loves about it, as well as upcoming projects that he is involved.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first film or series that made you fall in love with acting and when did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?

CHARLES VANDERVAART: I was very young. I remember going to a play at my local theatre when I was about 6, and I was just enthralled by it. In the car home I asked my parents if I could try to do a play. I got my first ever gig at that same theatre. I fell in love with acting playing Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol.

AM: What do you enjoy about storytelling?

CV: Storytelling is so very human, we come together in the telling of stories. We can learn to empathize with and learn from others and in doing so, learn more about ourselves and the world around us. We endure through stories. Beauty that may otherwise be lost is protected and preserved in story.

AM: We've enjoyed watching Outlander and we know a number of fans also enjoy the book, how much did you know about this series before you came to it?

CV: My aunt has been a really big fan for years now. I remember her talking about the show when we would get together for holidays. I watched a couple of episodes on my own before I auditioned, but after my first audition I binged the whole thing and fell in love with the story.

AM: You play William Ransom. Can you tell us about your character and how he fits into the world of Outlander?

CV: William Henry Clarence George Ransom is the bastard son of Jamie Fraser, however he believes he is the biological son of the 8th Earl of Ellesmere, who died on the day of his birth along with his mother. He was raised by Lord John as the 9th Earl. He grew up in affluent circles, learning about the world through the lens of the ultra wealthy in England. English patriotism and a loyalty to the crown became major aspects of his identity. When William learns of his true parentage, his entire identity shatters. He becomes this tornado of rage, feeling betrayed by Lord John and everyone else who kept this secret from him.

AM: How do you approach playing William and what is it like acting in a period piece?

CV: Well I get a lot of help from the writing, costumes, accent, etc to create William. Carol Ann Crawford, the dialect coach on the show was a tremendous help in finding William’s accent. Once I start talking like him, the rest of William quickly followed.

AM: We know fans of the show enjoy the cast and of course, Sam Heughan. What is it like playing against him?

CV: I remember one of my last scenes in season 7 was with Sam, even though we’ve been filming for a year at this point it only hit me then that my character’s dad was Jamie Fraser. It felt a little like I was watching the show in real time. I was feeling very grateful for this amazing journey. He's a hell of a scene partner.

AM: A few weeks ago, S7 part 2 began releasing episodes what can you tell us about this portion of the season?

CV: Identity crisis is central for Mr. Ransom. S7 part 2 involves a great deal of pain for William. He also hurts a lot of people this season. Let's hope he grows from his pain and becomes better. I think he needs some therapy for sure.

AM: In terms of filming a show such as this, we imagine that it can be long hours - what do you do to prepare when you're going on set and what do you once you complete filming for the day?

CV: Coffee coffee coffee!! The long days and early starts can be a lot, no one likes to wake up at 4am. The Scottish Highland air help wakes you up though, one of the many perks of shooting in such a wonderful country.

AM: When you're not on set, how do you stay in shape and what are 3 workouts that you do that we should consider adding into our routines?

CV: Rock climbing has been my go to over the last couple of years. I absolutely love it. It feels nice to have such a simple task to complete that requires creativity and athleticism. As far as gyming goes, my three go to’s are probably hip thrusts for legs, pull ups for my back, and shoulder press for shoulders and triceps.

AM: When you're taking time for yourself, what would we find you doing?

CV: I love a good hike, outdoor rock climbing, gardening.. get me outside and I’m happy.

IG @charles_vandervaart

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 87 Dio Anthony/Groomer Valissa Yoe | PG 88-93 STARZ/Outlander |

Read the DEC ISSUE #108 of Athleisure Mag and see IN TIME | Charles Vandervaart in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG #108 | JACK HUSTON + MICHAEL C. PITT

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with actor Michael C. Pitt (Boardwalk Empire, Asphalt City, Reptile) and Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire, Expats, House of Gucci) who makes his directorial debut in Day of the Fight. With Michael playing Mike Flannigan and Jack directing, producing, and writing, this film which also stars Joe Pesci, Steve Buscemi, and Ron Perlman to name a few - this film which centers on boxing, redemption, and the future is one that should be seen! We had the pleasure of speaking with both of them about the film, its themes, the power of cinema, and more! 

This month, we launched THE 9LIST 9TASTING by having a fun virtual event with Doreen Winkler, Founder of Orange Glou. We talked with her about natural wines, natural orange wines, the history of orange wines, and we delved into the world of this category that is available at this LES wine store with a retail front and tasting room.

We're excited for the X Games Aspen which takes place Jan 23rd - 25th and we're excited that we had some time with Hailey Langland, 2X Team USA Olympic Snowboarding and 3X X Games medalist who will be a sports analyst at this year's games! We talked with her about the sport, her passion for it, competing in the Olympics as well as medaling in Bronze, Silver, and Gold at the X Games, and how she will approach her role at this year's games!

While you enjoy the second half of S7 of STARZ's Outlander and anticipate the release of S8, we took some time to chat with Charles Vandervaart (Holly Hobbie, The Craft: Legacy, Murdoch Mysteries) who plays William Ransom, the son of Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). We talk about being an actor, what drew him to it, how he came to this role, playing in this beloved series, and more.

This month, we have a Glamping Editorial that shares must-haves to enjoy when you find yourself camping in a luxurious way. These are great items to gift yourself as well as to give to others as we continue to navigate this long holiday season.

This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Clock Tower Grill in Brewster, NY. We chat with Rich and Cassie Parente to talk about how the restaurant, what we should enjoy for our next meal, and their focus on sustainability with their farm. 

This month's Athleisure List comes from Peck Slip Social in Lower Manhattan in NYC and Fomo Momo in NYC's East Village.

This month we have our 9PLAYLIST from EDM DJ/Producer Paul Van Dyk as well as Saraya who shares the songs that are on their playlist. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Olympic and X Games snowboarder, Hailey Langland and actor in Netflix's Griselda - Maria Camila Giraldo who share their must-haves in beauty, fitness, and style. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from STARZ Outlander star, Charles Vandervaart as well as Celeb Fitness Trainer, Jenna Willis who share their routines on what they do, enjoy, and have for the Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Bryan Donaldson of Nostrana in the Pacific North West, Chef/Restaurateur Matt Baker of Gravitas and Michele's, and Chef/Restaurateur and TV Personality Curtis Stone.

Read the DEC ISSUE #108 of Athleisure Mag.

FULL CIRCLE MOMENT | WALTON GOGGINS

This time of year is an exciting one as we begin to close one and look ahead to the next one. While we maintain our normal schedules, we also infuse it with the Holiday season - it’s great to share with friends and family, exchange gifts, increase celebratory moments, and so much more! We all know that they are key dates coming up that are focused on the exchange of gifts as well as obtaining them at various points. We took a moment to chat with Walton Goggins (Preadators, The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained) to find out about why he partnered with Walmart for the holiday season, what he loves about this time of year, and upcoming projects that he is involved in!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Obviously, we're going to talk about your amazing partnership with Walmart and what's going on with that. But we have a few questions to ask you because our readers are so excited that we're able to chat with you.

WALTON GOGGINS: Okay, okay, alright, fantastic!

AM: We've been a fan of yours since - you have too many things to name - Justified, Righteous Gemstones, George and Tammy, and the list can go on in film as well as in TV. We find you to be such an amazing actor who plays immersive and diverse characters. When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?

WG: What a great question! I don't think that there was like a bolt of lightning that happened. I think it happened over the course of a very long period of time. I was raised mostly by women and a lot of interesting characters were around in my childhood and all of them just happened to be really interesting great storytellers.

AM: Right.

WG: So I'm listening to a lot of stories and then once I was given the microphone to start telling my own stories, you know, I had a natural kind of built in audience that just kept saying, “no, keep talking Walt."

So, you kind of have that encouragement, you know, right out of the gate. It's hard to kind of do anything else. I genuinely just wanted to see the world. That was the main thing. Then it just - one life kind of dovetailed into the other and the opportunity to see the world, and to be able to be a storyteller was just something that fit. You know, how do any of us really go about things? What are the decisions that any of us make that lead us on the road that we're going to be on for the rest of our lives? You know, is it fate or is it an accident?

AM: Mmm.

WG: What is it? That I don't know. But I'm so grateful for my life and grateful for the opportunities that I've had to tell the stories that I have!

AM: Absolutely!

WG: Including Walmart Black Friday Deals!

AM: Exactly! Without a doubt!

Why did you want to be connected to this amazing project and tell us more about it.

WG: Well, first and foremost, Walmart is a part of American culture. It’s not the whole culture, but it's certainly part of American culture. It is a corporation that has been in all of our lives for such a very long time! And where I come from on Fairburn Road, a lot of my friends as we got older, we started to work there and I had the good fortune - I'll tell you a little bit about my history with this company.

AM: Please.

WG: I was a poor kid from the South and I made really good grades and I had the opportunity to go to school. But we didn't have a lot of money and we had to pay the rent. I got a small Scholastic Scholarship, you know. But in addition to that, there was a gap of funding that we just couldn't make that square around that square if you will and my mom, you know through our friends or whatever, heard that Walmart, had a grant.

AM: Oh wow.

WG: It was a sizeable amount of money and when I went you know in 1988 or 1989. I’m dating myself, don’t tell anybody!

AM: Ha! That's okay!

WG: My mom encouraged me to write this essay, you know, to the Walmart. That's how it works and that’s what I did - and I won!

AM: Wow.

WG: The money that I, I desperately needed, you know, my first year in college and in addition to that incredible opportunity, this company gave me - they also printed an 8x10 picture of me. I don't know what it was. I think it was a headshot. It was my first headshot, I think that's what it was. They put it up in their store, you know, for the better part of 6 months. People would call me because you know we didn’t have cell phones then, but they would leave these stupid messages on my answering machine, “saw your picture in Walmart, Walton. Are you part of the Walton family?"

So anyway, that's kind of my history with this company. This opportunity kind of came along and they sent this script and I thought, “wow, what a what an interesting way to sell things, right?” You know, it's a hybrid between entertainment and doing what we're gonna do anyway, which is to find things for our loved ones at the holidays. Black Friday deals have been around for a long time. They played an important role in my family's ability to buy things for Christmas and it does for a lot of people in this country and all over the world and I thought, what a cool thing to be a part of. I'm so happy that I did it. There's all these wonderful actors that I work with like Ian Somerhalder. There are others like Lisa Rinna, Taye Diggs who I've known for a while, Anthony Ramos and it’s great folks and it's 10 stories. These stories are vignettes if you will. There’s a supernatural genre, action genre, mine is a Western genre!

AM: Shocker!

WG: But you know what? I've done action!

AM: Of course!

WG: I have done a lot of genres in my time, but this is one that they saw me in and invited me to kind of come along this journey. We had such a great time filming it. You know, it was just so much fun and they’re such a great company to work for and work with. So, when I think people will watch them and they'll see the things that they want to buy and some things featured in a way that makes them laugh. It brings a smile to their face and so it’s a great way to go about it!

AM: Well, do you know when your episode will drop, do they all drop at one time? Like what's kind of the flow?

WG: Well you know, there are ten. I’m not exactly sure when they all drop. I know mine will drop towards the end of November which is, which is kind of very, very exciting because it's getting close to Dec. I think more will be revealed as it goes on. The first one drops on Nov. 11th-17th. I think that’s the first block and they're kind of rolled out from there.

AM: Wow it’ll be great to see them!

What do you love about the holiday season?

WG: I just love the opportunity to commune with family and friends. You know, we all have our rituals right? We all have the things that we do but the thing that I do that I've been given the opportunity to do is I don't really watch a lot of sports. I’m not that guy even though I played a bunch of sports growing up.

I make a fire and I sit around that fire with my family and with my friends and I have a glass of wine and I listen to music. And I just commune. What better thing is there than that and to tell people that mean something to you how much you love them?

AM: That's really nice and very sweet!

You're always working on so many projects. I can't wait till White Lotus comes out and I know that you have a bunch of other stuff as well. Is there anything that you would like to share with us, that you're working on that we can keep an eye out for?

WG: Well, you know, I think you said it, you know, I got a bunch of things that are coming out. I have a few movies that are coming out. My wife has a movie that she wrote and directed called The Uninvited, which is dropping pretty soon.

Then there is The White Lotus and we just finished the new season of The Righteous Gemstones!

AM: So excited for both of those shows! I'm really excited for The Righteous Gemstones.

WG: So good. It's so good.

AM: Everytime I watch that show, I grew up in the Midwest with an Evangelical and Pentecostal background and there's just so many things that happen on that show and my boyfriend will ask, “Is that real?” and I'm like, “yes!”

WG: Oh yeah! That’s real and that one is real too!

We're going back to Fallout here pretty soon. And then, kind of beyond that, reading and waiting and seeing what the future brings everybody else! But right now, Walmart!

We enjoyed sitting down with Walton to talk about his career and the Christmas campaign that he is involved in. You can check out his videos for this campaign Something's Cooking and Can't Handle the Heat as well as an array of celebs that participated in Deals of Desire.

IG @waltongogginsbonafide

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Walmart/Tina Rowden