ATHLEISURE MAG ISSUE #104 | EXECUTIVE CHEF FARIYAL ABDULLAHI

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with the Executive Chef of Hav & Mar, a Marcus Samuelsson Group restaurant, James Beard Finalist, and Food Network Judge/TV Personality - Chef Fariyal Abullahi! We talked with her about how she came to the industry, her love for cooking, her culinary background, the importance of integrity, sustainability, and changing the restaurant industry culture! In addition, this cover editorial took place in her restaurant.

We also sat down with Team USA Track & Field Olympic Gold Medalist, Grant Holloway. We chatted with him the day after he won Gold in the 100M Hurdles. We talked about how this 2X Olympian came to the sport, his training process, winning the Gold, what he enjoyed about his Olympic experience, and more.

We also sat down with Team USA Climbing Olympian, Natalia Grossman. We talked about the sport, how she trains, where she enjoys climbing, being in The Olympic Village and more.

We caught up with Chef Andrew Wong about his Michelin-starred restaurant A. Wong in London. He talked about his passion for food, opening his restaurant, what we can expect when we dine there, and food anthropology.

We always enjoy chatting with Alysia Reiner as she was a former cover and we find that she is always involved in a new project or show that we are already fans of! She shares with us her fitness routines, TV shows and films she's part of and more.

We also have an interview with Le Jardinier's Chef Andrew Ayala as we wanted to know more about his Michelin restaurant, how he came to this hospitality group, and his participation in Outstanding in the Field which took place in Governors Island and was hosted by Billion Oyster Project.

We're always looking for our next streamed show and Apple TV+'s Bad Monkey is on our list. We had the pleasure of interviewing Natalie Martinez to talk about storytelling, why she wanted to be on this show, and more.

Keegan Michael Key sat down with us to talk about his partnership with Lysol, the importance of teaching, being on ABC's Abbott Elementaryand upcoming projects.

We enjoy attending Citi Taste of Tennis which allows tennis stars and hospitality to come together. We love eating a number of the bites from restaurants, seeing culinary competitions that involve creating dishes, and toasting the US Open! We also interviewed Andre Agassi, Ayan Broomfield and Prakash Amritraj who you can hear his commentary during the matches on Tennis Channel for Tennis Channel Live.

We also talked with Chef Ryan Ratino of Jônt and Ômo by Jônt for this month's The Art of the Snack. We talk about his culinary background, how he came to launching both of these restaurants, and what we can expect when we come in to dine.

This month's Athleisure List comes from wellness studio The Dominick Hotel in SoHo and Abaco Inn in the Bahamas. 

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from Team USA Olympic Beach Volleyball players Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng. This month we have our 9PLAYLIST MULTI from Chef Fariyal Abdullahi and Chef Robert Irvine who share their songs, books and podcasts/TV/films that they are enjoying. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Team USA Olympic Track & Field Grant Holloway and Team USA Olympic Gymnastics Jordan Chiles. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Brooke Burke as well as last month's cover and WSL #2 ranked surfer who competed on Team USA Surfing Gina Colapinto who shares their routines that they do, enjoy, and have Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Reina Tang of SushiDelic in NYC, Executive Chef Tolu "Eros" Erogbogbo of Ile in LA, and Laurie McDuffie. 

Read the AUG ISSUE #104.

CHARTING HER COURSE | SYDNEY LEROUX

We love this time of year when we have all of our favorite sports happening during this time of year. We turn our attention to soccer and Angel City FC. We took some time to sit down with one of their star athletes, Sydney Leroux, Team USA Soccer Gold Medalist for London 2012 as well as being a World Cup Winner for USWNT at the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

We wanted to catch up with her to find out how she got into the sport, playing for Angel City FC, her partnership with TYLENOL as well as how it assisted her through recovering from her injuries so that she could get back to the game and team that she loves!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with soccer and realize you want to play professionally?

SYNDEY LEROUX: I fell in love with soccer probably when I was around four or five. My mom put me in every sport possible because I was crazy and she wanted me to burn off some energy. I just loved scoring goals and so I continued to play. I also played baseball, but I played with boys. And so my mom was like, “Okay, you need to make a decision”, and I decided to stick with soccer.

AM: Was there anything behind that decision to pick soccer for baseball?

SL: Well, the boys started getting huge and I stayed the same size. And I just felt like I gravitated towards soccer.

AM: We know the season has started for Angel City FC, but what are you most looking forward to this season? What have you enjoyed so far?

SL: I'm looking forward to just continuing to push, we're midway through the season now and I think we've seen really good things. I think just like working off of that and trying to be a good teammate and do as much as I possibly can.

AM: What does it mean to play the sport you love and represent your passion? Whether it's on the global stage or whether it's just playing in LA? What does that mean to you to get to represent?

SL: It means so much. I think that I've been able to see the growth of women's soccer and women's sports, like being in it and being involved. The NWSL started like 13 years ago, and I was there for that. There was this fear about like, are we going to continue or is it going to fold like all of the other women's leagues before the NWSL. I was playing in Boston at a little high school field with a couple hundred fans. Someone had a little camera and it went on YouTube, and now I play in front of a sold out stadium with 22,000 people in Los Angeles. I don't think anyone could have ever thought that, but I think we pushed for that and this is what we want. So yeah, I'm just so happy to be a part of it and know that the future can even be better.

AM: Why have you partnered with TYLENOL and what is the Care Commitment?

SL: I partnered with TYLENOL because I realized that it's everywhere in my life- from my muscle aches and pains to the kids having a fever. I just realized it's everywhere, so it made sense. Coming back from my injury, I knew how hard that was. I'm really excited to announce the TYLENOL Care Commitment, which is a recovery fund to help injured athletes get back into the game. TYLENOL is committing funding to help injured athletes recover and compete once again, starting this year with a sponsorship to the Women’s Sports Foundation.

AM: How do you manage training during the in-season and how does that compare to when you're in the off-season?

SL: Training in season is tough. But I would also say that training in the off-season and getting ready for a grueling season, we play like 10 months a year, so the offseason is very short. I just try to stay healthy, that's my number one right now, and it's been going good so far.

AM: As a mom, how do you balance that training and playing soccer in the games with the activities with your kids and being their role model?

SL: I think that there's no perfect balance, you just have to do as best as you can. For me to be a role model to my children and to other moms, too, has been amazing. I also think just being able to play with them and do what I do and bring them along with me, I think that that's been really helpful. But it's just about sometimes getting outside and playing.

AM: Do you have any advice for moms balancing that busy career with raising a family?

SL: I think don't be so hard on yourself, give yourself grace. Your kids just love you and as long as you're present there when you can be, I think that's all that matters.

AM: Any other upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for? What's the next thing for Sydney?

SL: Yeah, I actually play in my 150th game coming up against Orlando, so I'm looking forward to that.

IG @sydneyleroux

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 135 Sydney Leroux| PG 136 George Orozco | 9PLAYLIST MULTI PG 138 - 141 |

Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see CHARTING HER COURSE | Sydney Leroux in mag.

CITI TASTE OF TENNIS

As we navigate the summer, there are a number of events that are always on our mind! With the US Open around the corner, Citi Taste of Tennis kicks off a series of events as well as the Grand Slam that gets everyone excited! At Citi Taste of Tennis, you're able to enjoy some of the best chefs and restaurants as well as seeing your favorite tennis players who will be playing at the US Open as well as veterans together! We've enjoyed attending over the years and look forward to attending on Aug 22nd at Gotham Hall with this year's host, Prakash Amritraj. We wanted to know more about this event as well as others that are part of Taste of Tennis. We sat down with AYS Sports Marketing CEO, Penney Lerner to get all the details.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into this year's Citi Taste of Tennis, I wanted to know more about AYS Sports Marketing and who this producer is?

PENNY LERNER: Citi Taste of Tennis was created by AYS Sports Marketing, a woman-owned experiential marketing agency started in 1996 by mother and daughter duo, Judi and Penny Lerner.

AM: When did Taste of Tennis launch and why was this created?

PL: The principals at AYS worked with various tennis tournaments for many years and, in doing so, developed close relationships with tennis players, agents, and other industry insiders. With their fingers on pulse on the state of professional tennis, they identified an exciting and untapped opportunity. While tennis featured top-notch tournaments and A-list players, there were no high profile “off the court” events that were prominent in so many other sports. To fill this void, AYS created the Taste of Tennis in 1999.

In 2000, AYS hosted the first Taste of Tennis event in NYC headlined by Andre Agassi and celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. The event combined food prepared by top chefs, celebrity appearances, entertainment and an Oscar's style red carpet. The event was instantly a hit among players, fans, sponsors and the media. Since then, the Taste has become a who’s who of tennis stars, culinary personalities and celebrities. Past attendees include Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Mike Tyson, Eva Longoria, Marcus Samuelsson, Lana Del Rey, Naomi Osaka, Andy Roddick, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Olivia Culpo, Maria Sharapova, John McEnroe, Nick Kyrgios, Al Roker, Tamron Hall, Billie Jean King, Morimoto, Monica Seles, and many others

AM: We have attended Citi Taste of Tennis for a few years and have enjoyed them each time. In addition to NY, you have a Taste of Tennis London, Indian Wells, Washington D.C., and Miami. What do you look for when it comes to deciding on bringing a Taste of Tennis to a city as we assume that it involves doing it in tandem with a tennis match?

PL: Citi Taste of Tennis has occurred in many different cities over the past 10 years, from Melbourne to London to New York City to Toronto. We are always evaluating cities that have unique culinary offerings, have the potential for new digital content and most importantly, have tennis happening nearby!

AM: In terms of the upcoming Citi Taste of Tennis what does the calendar look like in terms of planning? Can you tell us what you are focused on when you're a year out, 6 months, 3 months, and a month away?

PL: Citi Taste of Tennis is a brand. We focus on it for 12 months of the year and are constantly evaluating new markets, rising chefs and culinary trends, up and coming tennis players, unique venues, inspiring digital content, social media, sponsorships and more. It’s a big undertaking, and we have a great team and after 24 years, hundreds of hours of digital content and 75+ events, we have a solid understanding of what the brand requires.

AM: This year, you are returning to Gotham Hall. Each year, these events blend players, fans, and cuisine. Can you tell us what we should expect this year?

PL: Guests will enjoy cuisine prepared by 20 leading chefs including Mischa Tsumura (No. 5 Best Restaurant in the World – Maido) and Antonio Bachour (World’s Best Pastry chef 2018, 2022). They will also be treated to special appearances by a number of top tennis stars including 8-Time Grand Slam Champion Andre Agassi, Qinwen Zheng (World #7) and Alexander Zverev (World #4). There will also be great food and fun promotions provided by our sponsors including Segafredo Zanetti Coffee, Scenic Cruises, Boar’s Head, Barbados Tourism Board, Liquid Death and Savas Health.

AM: Is there anything new being added to this year's event?

PL: We are producing a live cooking competition between Chef Mischa and Chef Antonio with WTA player Qinwen Zheng and ATP player Zhizhen Zhang which Andre Agassi will judge!

AM: Outside of the events associated with tennis tournaments, what does Taste of Tennis do throughout the year?

PL: Taste of Tennis started out as a 3-hour culinary event and has evolved into one of the most popular brands in pro tennis. In addition to the 3 North American events, we currently produce, Taste of Tennis is also an Official Sponsor of the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at Hurlingham (UK). This year, we will also have a Taste of Tennis experience at the National Bank Open (Toronto). We have a full-time staff dedicated to managing all elements of the brand including sales, culinary, digital content, production, and public relations. Suffice to say it's a year-round program.

IG @tasteoftennis

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Taste of Tennis

Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see CITI TASTE OF TENNIS in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG ISSUE #103 | GRIFFIN COLAPINTO

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is World Surf League's #2 pro surfer Griffin Colapinto. He is also competing in his first Olympics for Team USA Surfing at Paris 2024! We talked with him about how he got into surfing, his passion for it, how he balances between between an athlete and taking the proper self-care he needs, and more. We also talk with him about Athletes for Good which established grants for athletes to give to their charity of choice.

Of course we have been glued to our screens watching our favorite athletes, sports, and countries during the Olympics! In this month's issue, we have interviews with 2X Team USA Gymnastic Olympic Medalist Jordan Chiles (G1, S1) who has already won Gold with her team! We talk about how she got into the sport, her passion for it, competing at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024!

We also sat down with Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng who are a fantastic duo for Team USA Olympic Beach Volleyball. We talk about their road to these Summer Games, how they stay in shape and trained for it, and what they are looking forward to. 

We love how the Olympics bring people together whether it's the sport, the ceremonies, celebs, and even veterans. We sat down with Nastia Liukin (G1, S3, B1) 5X Team USA Gymnastics Olympic Medalist as we talk about her Olympic journey, advice to this years team who call themselves, The Golden Girls, and her love for pickleball. We talk about her collaboration with Recess Pickleball.

We also wanted to talked with Sydney Leroux who plays soccer for Angel City FC and is also a Team USA Soccer Olympic Gold Medalist from the London 2012 and 2015 FIFA World Cup winner. She talks about how she fell in love with soccer, why she enjoys playing it, the importance of proper recovery through injury, and more.  

We have always enjoyed Citi's Taste of Tennis which takes place here in NY right before the US Open! This event allows food, tennis stars, celebs, tennis enthusiasts, and more to come together to toast great chefs and restaurants, the hospitality industry, and some great competition at Arthur Ashe Stadium! With the event taking place in August, we sat down with Penny Lerner of AYS Sports Marketing to find out more about the event, why it was started, and what we can expect from this year's event. Make sure to read our AUG ISSUE #104 as we will talk about the event and what we experienced when we were there.

Earlier this year, Bob Marley's biopic, One Love came out in theaters and ahead of that release, Bob Marley and The Wailers: The Ultimate Illustrated History by Richie Unterberger came out. We wanted to talk with the author about the book, his music, life, legacy, and impact.

We all have shows we enjoy and when there is an opportunity to have a companion shows where there are elements of the show we love as well as providing context for the show and the real people that live those lives, it's a great merge of the two. We have been fans of and have interviewed various cast members of STARZ P-Valley. While we wait for the next season, you can enjoy their series Down in the Valley which is Executive Produced and hosted by Nicco Annan who plays Uncle Clifford in the TV series and within this companion series he takes us into the Delta to tell the stories of those that live there and drawing parallels between the scripted show and the reality of those who live it every day. We talk with him as well as Shoshana Guy who is also an Executive Producer. They talk about identifying the storytelling they brought forward, some of their favorite moments, and why this was something that they wanted to do.

We also talked with Lara Wolf who stars in Peacock's Those About to Die. We talked about her career, how she approaches her characters, why she was drawn to this Peacock Original, and upcoming projects.

We always enjoy when we can talk with designers and those in the fashion industry. In this month's issue we talked with Irene Chen, industry veteran and Co-Founder of luxury handbag brand of Parker Thatch. We wanted to know more about the line, the thought that goes into the handbags and jewelry that are created, what we can expect for fall/holiday and more!

This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Kintsugi Omakase in SoHo short for an amazing series of tasting menus that are next level.

We had the pleasure of attending the EU Gem Ham Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO event at Manhatta last month. We take you behind the scenes of this dinner. 

This month's Athleisure List comes from wellness studio Othership in Flatiron here in NY and Hiraya a restaurant and cafe concept in DC. 

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from 2X Team USA Olympic Gymnastics Medalist Jordan Chiles and 3 Michelin-Starred Chef Alexander Mazzia who is currently one of 3 chefs at the Olympic Villages. This month we have our 9PLAYLIST MULTI from LA Angel FC's Sydney Leroux who shares songs, books and podcasts/TV/films that she is enjoying. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Team USA Beach Volleyball Olympians Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng who share their must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Jordan Chiles who shares her routines that she does, enjoys, and has Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Restaurateur/Chef James Wozniuk of Makan in D.C. Executive Chef Whitney Amero Caceres of Primrose in D.C., and Food Network's Sunny Anderson. 

Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag.

BACK TO CHICAGO | THE BEAR

On June 26th 9pm ET, S3 of FX's The Bear released all episodes from this season which is available exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in all other territories! We had the pleasure of hearing from portions of the cast about this show that has truly been a phenomenon for those in the culinary industry, enthusiasts and more as we head back to Chicago it deals with the highs and lows of running a restaurant, navigating the industry as well as the complexities that take place FOH, BOH as well as outside of the four walls that they operate in!

The press conference included Executive Producer and Restaurateur Chef Matty Matheson (Craig of the Creek, It's Suppertime!, Workin' Moms), who also plays Neil Fak, Jeremy Alllen White (Shameless, Homecoming, The Iron Claw) who plays Carmy, Ayo Edebiri (Black Mirror, Abbott Elementary, Bottoms) who plays Sydney as well as who directed Episode 6 "Napkins" of this season, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls, The Dropout, Andor) who plays Richie, Abby Elliott (Saturday Night Life, Odd Mom Out, Cheaper By The Dozen) who plays Natalie, Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment, Law & Order, Titans) who plays Tina, Lionel Boyce (Loiter Squad, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Jellies) who plays Marcus, and Ricky Staffieri (Chicago P.D., Better Call Saul, This is Us) who plays Ted Fak.

If you have watched or caught up on the previous seasons of The Bear, we suggest that you watch as there will be light spoilers. In terms of S3 the conversation focuses on the trailer and how it ties into the previous seasons.

PRESS POOL: Matty, in addition to your playing Neil, you are an executive producer and from a menu creation perspective, what are the decisions that are involved in creating those dishes?

CHEF MATTY MATHESON: Yeah, like, Courtney Storer is also a producer, and she handles a lot of the menu development. I work with her and her team and ideation stuff of what Carmy and Syd would be thinking about and how to execute those types of dishes; and create; those types of menus; and who they are and how they would present themselves through a culinary lens. But yeah, a lot of the dishes—you know, we had some really good chefs, and Courtney is amazing at executing and creating that food and bringing that to life. And there were some dishes that were more difficult than others. A lot of the desserts that Lionel and Marcus were creating and storytelling were difficult. Pastry is very - you know, it's a lot of science, a lot of stuff going into that. But overall, I think just trying to make beautiful food and thoughtful food and pushing the envelope.

PP: What was it like cowriting the first episode, what that experience was like, what you brought to the table and also, what it did for you.

CHEF MM: I think a lot of people that have had amazing careers, like Carmy had or chefs in general, have worked under a lot of chefs. And there's little pieces that you grab onto throughout your life, and that's how and what makes you who you are, the good and the bad. And in culinary school, I had this chef that told us this story about how 30 chefs made who he was and told me this story about working under all of these chefs all over Europe and working with chefs and cooks and just learning all of these different trades. And you know, it is a trade. And so, I think picking up these little skills along the way - and you never stop learning - is who you are made of, you know? The people around you. And we kind of wanted to tell a story of what and how Carmy was kind of built in that way.

PP: It seems like Neil's role is increasing with every season and we're seeing more of him. Was this planned from the beginning or did it grow organically out of the way the character interacted with the other characters?

CHEF MM: I’m not too sure. I think they saw that I could remember a couple more lines. And then, I think Chris Storer (Ramy, On The Count of Three, Dickinson) kind of chucked me a couple lines, and then I think we'll keep it moving. But yeah, I don't know. I really don't know. I think happy to be here and then, you know—

JEREMY ALLEN WHITE: I think, yeah, I mean, I think Chris was responding to Matty's work on the show. Matty had never acted before the show, and it turns out he can do it so beautifully and he can be so funny and lovable. And so, I think Chris wanted to work with him more and more. And it's also like I've never seen Chris be more joyful...

EBON MOSS-BACHRACH: Yeah.

AYO EDEBIRI: It's true.

EMB: Yeah.

JAW: ...than when he's directing a scene with Matty and like throwing lines at him. It really is the most excited that I see Chris is working with Matty.

CHEF MM: What Jeremy Allen White said.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Jeremy, we got a taste of Carmy's mentality following the finale and how the walk-in incident impacted him in the trailer. But going into Season 3, how will that experience impact him and his employees at The Bear?

JAW: Yeah, I mean, you know, what happens, I do get out of the walk-in refrigerator and that's good. And then yeah, you know, I think Carmy does what he does, which is he sort of buries himself back into his work and really tries to challenge himself and in doing so, really challenges everybody around him and I think becomes quite challenging to be around, as well. A lot of challenges.

PP: Things were not in a great place between Richie and Carmy when we last saw them. How will their relationship move forward as the season progresses and can they overcome the differences that they have?

EMB: They're great now. They're great. They...

(Laughter.)

AE: Play pickleball on Wednesdays.

EMB: They wake up every morning, go for a jog. You know, a little coffee klatch. No, I mean, you've got to watch, I think, right?

JAW: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, yes, Carmy is like continuing to do what he does best, I think, which is like be incredibly avoidant of all the issues that he has going on.

AE: No. What?

JAW: And that's what you'll see, yeah.

AM: Last season Richie got to work at another restaurant which really softened him and informed him a lot. How did that inform you moving forward with the character and into Season 3?

EMB: Season 3 picks up I think not long after Season 2 ends. And I don't know, I think Richie is in a place where he's sort of seen...he's been exposed to maybe a more evolved way of being, and I think he kind of sees a path to head towards. But it's one thing to see the path and it's another thing to walk it. So, I think, like any kind of personal growth, it's forward and back and there's not a kind of clear and one-direction path.

PP: In the Season 3 trailer, Carmy presents Sydney with a partnership agreement. What does this promotion mean for your character and how does Sydney and Carmy's relationship evolve in Season 3?

AE: Well, I think that that's one of the things in the season that we sort of deal with is what it means to Sydney and what that next step would mean for her relationship with Carmy, who's somebody that I think she really has looked up to but now is sort of in the thick of doing business with. And it's I think a lot more chaotic than she might have idealized before they really started working together. So yeah, I think that's sort of something that you'll see.

JAW: Yeah. Yeah, I think for Carmen, he's not the best communicator, but he will often kind of make a sort of grand gesture like that to try and communicate to Syd or the kitchen or whomever. And I think that's his way of kind of reaching out. But oftentimes, I feel like people aren't prepared to sort of receive like - I think he's got a lot going on in his mind all the time, and people aren't always aware of exactly what's going on. And so, yeah, I guess...again, yeah, you'll see obviously how that affects Carmen and Syd's relationship. But I think Carmen's trying to welcome her in a little bit was the point of the partnership agreement, yeah.

PP: What is going on with Tina this season. And then Ayo, would love to hear what it was like directing an episode.

LIZA COLÓN-ZAYAS: What's up with Tina is she is struggling to, you know, be her best and the challenges and wrestling with the demons of her past and you know, white-knuckling.

AE: Yeah, directing was a blast. I really loved it. It's like a dream to get to work with our crew as an actor. And so then, I guess by extension of directing that feeling was only amplified. I was just so impressed and so moved every day. And then, I got to direct some of my favorite actors in the world, and it just felt like a bit of a master class, but also a gift. Like, I was just in the best circumstances of truly just masters of their craft beside me, and I just felt so lucky. I was kind of like this is maybe the best job in the world? Or tied for first place, at least, with the one of acting. Yeah, so it was really wonderful.

AM: Did you choose the script that you were going to direct or is it just a decision you made with Chris Storer?

AE: I mean, a little bit of both, I guess? Like, he had one in mind. We're lucky enough to read all the episodes as actors beforehand, and we'd been talking about it for a while. And I know that he had one in mind, and I think he and the other producers, like Joanna Calo (The Baby-Sitters Club, Hack, Beef), had talked about it a bit, about how the episodes would be distributed. Because I wasn't the only guest director this season. Our AD, Duccio Fabbri (She Said, The Whale, Native Son), also directed an episode. And so, I think they had in their minds who would go where a little bit. But then we had a conversation, and he was like, "Which scripts are you responding to?" And I was like, "I would literally give you my firstborn child, who does not exist yet, if I could do the Liza episode, because I would love to work with Liza in that way." And then, he was like, "Well, we have nice little parallel thinking." So, yeah.

PP: Grief seems to be kind of a river that runs through the entire connective tissue of the show. And no one has seemed to really deal with their grief related to Mikey's (Jon Bernthal) passing and also, it seems like there might be some grief for Marcus, as well, coming up. Will there be any reckonings with unprocessed grief throughout this season, and what does that mean for the restaurant as a whole?

ABBY ELLIOT: Yeah, I think with Natalie, she's processing her grief and she's about to become a mother. She's pregnant and so, she's grappling with the fact that her brother had this horrible demise and her relationship with her mom and her brother is not in a good place. So, I feel like, yeah, she's dealing with the grief in that way.

AE: Yeah, I feel like a lot of different characters have grief that touched them in different ways in how they're dealing with it. I mean, I think you said it very aptly. That's one of the connecting threads of the show, so I think it's in the process of being dealt with by different characters in different ways in this season.

EMB: I would say that it's even one of the strengths of the show and I think one of the reasons that it's connected with so many people is I think grief is the river that runs through all of us. And it's the one sort of - maybe one of the only common things that we all share in the human experience. And so, yeah, that continues, and everyone deals with it in their own way. Or not, you know.

IG @thebearfx

@mattymatheson

@jeremyallenwhitefinally

@ebonmossbacharach

@ayoedebiri

@lizacolonzayas_lcz

@lilcutieforever

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | FX's The Bear

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see BACK TO CHICAGO | The Bear in mag.

CLEARLY AHEAD | DIANA TAURASI

We can’t wait for Paris 2024 and to see many of our faves showing their talent on the world stage! We also love finding new faves and rooting them on! Many athletes have the pleasure of being able to show this talent every season in their sport and we’re honored to be able to talk to 5X Team USA Olympic Gold Medalist and 3X WNBA Champion, Diana Taurasi! Although we’re a little over a month away, we all know that she is the first basketball player (whether male or female) in history to reach 6 Olympic Games as she is on Team USA heading to this year’s Summer Games! We’re so pumped to see her compete and with the WNBA in full swing, you can see her and her fellow teammates on the Phoenix Mercury as they navigate their season!

We took some time to catch up with Diana to find out about how she came to basketball; her passion for the sport; how she trains during an Olympic year that takes place during her season in the WNBA, and the importance of sharing her eczema journey!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with Basketball and realize that you wanted to do this as a career?

DIANA TAURASI: Well you know, it’s something that I always wanted to do and I stumbled upon basketball one summer when my mom said that she needed to get me and my sister out of the house! So we were at the local city rec league and that’s really where the love of the game started for me you know! It was a great time to play basketball, I mean 90’s NBA was so popular with MJ, the Bulls, being a Lakers fan and then in 96/97 the WNBA started! So, it was just all of this momentum when it came to basketball. That’s when for me that I knew that I was going to be able to do it for a long time!

AM: That’s great and growing up we know what it was like during that era!

You’re a 3X WNBA Champion and a 5X Olympic Gold Medalist, what does it mean to you about the impact that you have and continue to bring to the sport?

DT: Oh yeah, I mean, women’s basketball is in such an amazing place right now! We’re in such a great cross section between talent and social media! The eyes and the attention that it’s getting right now – it’s just really an amazing time to play basketball. At the same time, it’s also a great time to shed a light on a lot of the people that came before that did it without the notoriety and without the fame. It’s always nice to know what the past is so that we can go into the future in the right way.

AM: As you know, we’re a little over a month away from the Olympic Games in talking with each other today. What’s it like to prepare for the Summer Games as we’re so excited that you will be returning for a 6th time! How do you prepare for Paris 2024 and Summer Games in the past when you’re also currently in your season with the Phoenix Mercury?

DT: Yeah, it’s always an interesting summer when it’s the Olympics. We take a hiatus or a break for a month for the Olympics. So right now, you’re just so entrenched in your team and the WNBA to make sure that your team is in a good place and that you’re physically in a good place individually. Once that break happens, all of that goes away and all you’re worried about is bringing home Gold!

When you talk about USA Basketball, we take that load with a lot of respect and we know how challenging the Olympics are as well as how good these other countries are. So, it’s always the most ultimate respect to the whole world.

AM: Over the past few years, various athletes and celebs have shared their eczema journeys. Why have you opened up about yours and why have you partnered with Sanofi and Regeneron?

DT: Partnering with Sanofi and Regeneron, obviously moderate-to-severe eczema is something that I have had to deal with for many years. I have tried everything. I’ve tried the lotions, the topical creams, the steroids, and nothing really gave me what I needed. When I was with my dermatologist, Dupixent was brought up and I had never heard of it. I learned a lot about it and if you go to ShowUpAd.com, you can read so many stories and there is so much information about it. It’s something that just works for me! There’s nothing better than being able to go on the court with clearer skin! Playing basketball, you’re always in a jersey and it’s that one thing that if anything you want clearer skin! It’s given me that relief and it has made me so much more comfortable!

We enjoyed hearing Diana talk about her love of the game, how important it is to celebrate those who have contributed to the WNBA from its start, and Paris 2024! We also appreciate her sharing her eczema story with us and how she feels relief in knowing that she can play more comfortably with her eczema under control! We wanted to know a bit more about eczema and took a moment with Dr. Annabelle Garcia as it is estimated that 2.7 million people in the US age 6+ have uncontrolled moderate-to-severe eczema. Like Diana, many who suffer with this may have tried a number of solutions. The best place to start is recognizing the signs of eczema so you can see a dermatologist who can assist you in your best solution.

For those that may not be familiar with eczema, can you tell us what it is and what are the signs? How can you tell if something that may look like just a skin irritation is actually eczema?

DR. ANNABELLE GARCIA: Yes of course! So moderate-to-severe eczema is characterized by these intense itchy dry patches on the skin. They can crack or be painful. Sometimes they can cover small parts of the body and sometimes these patches can cover large or sensitive areas. Really, it’s the itching that is the hallmark of the disease. It’s one of the things that can be the most disturbing to patients. Sometimes eczema can present in a very typical fashion in a child for example in the Antecubital Fossa which is in the elbow area, behind the knees, cheeks – but sometimes it does present in a classic way. It can present differently based on patients with different skin types. In lighter patients, the plaques tends to be a bit more pink and red where in darker skin tones, they can appear darker, hyperpigmented, or ashy grey color. So sometimes it is hard to tell whether something is eczema or not so it’s important to seek medical care and see a dermatologist for that expert opinion.

IG @dianataurasi

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Sanofi + Regenerson

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see CLEARLY AHEAD | Diana Taurasi in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG ISSUE #102 | WALTER MENDEZ

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with couture designer, Walter Mendez of Walter Mendez Atelier. He is known for his stunning creations that spans RTW, bespoke, and bridal collections that have been worn by Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, socialites, and more! We talked about how he got into the industry, his passion for his creations, his recent exhibit in Beverly Hills.  

We caught up with Supermodel Chanel Iman who attended Miami Swim Week to hear why she likes this season of shows, her favorite shows that she has attended recently, and where she's traveling to this summer.

We caught up with 3X WNBA Champion and 5X Team USA Women's Basketball Gold Medalist Diana Taurasi as we talked about how she fell in love with the sport, what it's like to prepare for her 6th Olympic appearance when she is currently in season with the Phoenix Mercury, and more.

We enjoyed seeing Reza Diako in The Diplomat and Tehran. We wanted to talk about playing Apostle Philip in S4 of The Chosen as well as upcoming projects. We also wanted to know how he came to acting, his approach to playing his characters, and upcoming projects.

We know that the Summer Games is only a few weeks away and as the athletes prepare, we caught up with 3 MICHELIN Star Chef Alexandre Mazzia who will be be at Paris 2024 bringing his culinary talents to the Olympic Village for the athletes. We talked about his background, how he defines his cuisine, being an Olympic Torch bearer and more.

Like many of you, we're so excited for S3 of FX's The Bear! We talked with castmembers from the show to talk about what we can expect as all episodes are streaming now!

If you have yet to watch MGM+'s Hotel Cocaine which takes viewers back to the late 70s/early 80s to The Mutiny Hotel which was considered the Studio 54 of Miami. We had the pleasure of talking with the Creator Chris Brancato and Director Guillermo Navarro as well as 2 of the leads from this show, Yul Vazquez and Danny Pino that focuses on the sex, drugs, disco, and drama of the era!

Fans of 9-1-1: Lone Star will enjoy our conversations with Julian Works who is also starring in the film, The Long Game. We got to hear this movie buffs favorite films, his approach to playing his characters, and more.

We always enjoy talking with our favorite actors and hearing about projects that they're working on. In addition to Maria Camila Giraldo's appearance in Netflix's Griselda and other upcoming movies including one with Al Pacino, we also wanted to know more about her nutritional brand, Fungiments which she created out of a personal need for her health.

This month was a busy month and in addition to other things on our schedule, we have recaps from NYC Pride which we are proud to be media sponsors for our 8th year, we also attended Governors Ball to enjoy 3 days of music, food, and good vibes, as well as Bar Convent Brooklyn where we connected with our friends in the spirit and hospitality industry at this tradeshow as well as epic after parties.

This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Blu on the Hudson a short ferry ride from NYC with epic views of the city and phenomenal seafood that we can't wait to enjoy!

This month's Athleisure List comes from JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa and Juice Generation which just launched their Juiced Gelato that we are fans of. 

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from EDM DJ/Producer, Kygo. This month we have our 9PLAYLIST MULTI from Reza Diako who shares songs, books and podcasts/TV/films that he is enjoying. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from our cover star, Walter Mendez as well as Supermodel, Chanel Iman for their must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from WNBA's Diana Taurasi and Costume Designer Allyson Fanger who shares their routines that they do, enjoy, and have Morning, Afternoon, and Night. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Timothy Silva of Pineapple Club, Chef Victor Chen of Kintsugi, and Pioneering Woman's Ree Drummond. 

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag.

IT STARTS WITH THE CHARACTER | ALLYSON FANGER

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

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

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

ALLYSON FANGER: Oh, thank you so much!

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

AF: I love it! It’s having a moment!

AM: Right?

AF: It’s so great!

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

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

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

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

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

AM: Oh yes!

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

AM: That’s amazing!

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

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

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

AM: Yes.

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

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

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

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

AF: Thank you so much!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AM: Really loved that shirt!

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

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

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

AM: Yeah it’s an endpoint!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AM: Of course.

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

IG @allysonfanger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PHOTOS COURTESY | Allyson Fanger

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

THE TOLL OF SECRETS | OUTER RANGE

The neo-Western series Outer Range debuted in 2022 on Prime Video starring Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men, Avengers franchise, Dune franchise), Imogen Poots (Roadies, Jimi: All Is By My Side, I Know This Much is True), Tom Pelphrey (Ozark, Love & Death, A Man In Full), and Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under, Manhunt, Perry Mason). In the 1st season we're in the present day and we watch as the Abbott family navigates the changing times of a farm and life that is always within moments of being pulled away from the family. In addition to these concerns, we realize that Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) has found a portal that takes you through time, and we know that he has first hand experience with it. Throughout the first season, we learn more about this portal, what it does to the town, and how it brings additional people together and apart.

In the 2nd Season, the portal and its powers are even more evident and we see others who have become exposed to it and what it does to their lives. We also see how the Abbott's as a family come to terms with it as well! The importance of time, secrets, life and death converge in this epic story.

We sat down with the Showrunner and Executive Producer of Outer Range, Charles Murray (Sons of Anarchy, Luke Cage, The Devil You Know) to talk about the kinds of stroytelling he enjoys; how he came into the Season 2 of this show; his thoughts on this season; and what he hopes viewers takeaway from it.

If you have yet to watch Season 1 you can stream it now as well as the current season.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have been a fan of your work since Sons of Anarchy, Luke Cage, The Devil You Know! What draws you to storytelling as a writer, producer, and showrunner?

CHARLES MURRAY: You know, oh thank you – I love this question!

AM: We know!

CM: I like stories that live in the crevice of society. What I mean by that is – one of my favorite movies is 12 Angry Men!

AM: Yes!

CM: That’s written by Reginald Rose (Crime in the Streets, Man in the West, Somebody Killed Her Husband) and directed by Sidney Lumet (Serpico, Network, Murder on the Orient Express). It’s about 12 guys sitting in a room trying to decide through their prejudices and biases and disbelief if a Puerto Rican kid killed his father. While that’s going on, right now, there is some case being decided right when you and I are having this conversation. They’re talking about things that are going to be seen worldwide. There’s a little spot where things like the stories that I’m drawn to exist at the same time. It’s that kind of stuff that draws me to storytelling.

AM: What drew you to this neo-western series Outer Range? What are the challenges that you navigated as you became the Executive Producer and Showrunner in Season 2? Were there things that you were mindful of since Season 1 already took place and you were coming into this one?

CM: You know, you’re mindful of being respectful of the audience that got you into Season 2 and you’re mindful of the larger narrative of whether you should follow it, shake it off, or try to do a combo of the two. Thankfully, we didn’t have to shake off anything because Season 1 set such good groundwork, it was just my job and the writer’s job to expand on what was already there. Because the narrative was left so open at the end of Season 1, I feel like we had a great shot, at expanding the show and still staying true to the larger story point was which was – here’s a guy that knows about this hole, not only knows about it, but came through it and he’s kept it a secret, but he can’t keep it a secret any longer! That to me, is good conflict.

AM: It was amazing. When we saw the first season when it debuted, it was gripping and compelling. We enjoyed watching all of the screeners ahead of chatting with you and it certainly didn’t disappoint!

While watching it, there were so many themes that kept coming up about the concept of time, the extent of freewill, and the weight of responsibility of those who come before you and after. What do you want viewers to be able to walk away with once they have finished Season 2?

CM: You know, this is going to sound strange. I think that a lot of the show on a metaphysical plane is how people deal with their own timeline. How you can get trapped by your timeline, how it can propel you, and how other people can live in the same space that you’re living in and see things completely differently. I think that the bigger question kind of spins off of Season 1 which is, what happens when you can’t keep secrets anymore? Secrets get a lot of people in trouble.

AM: Oh yes they do!

CM: So then it’s, how do you deal with it when you have to expose those secrets! That’s what Season 2 is about! Season 2 is about telling the truth and then burying the weight of telling the truth. It’s looking at what that could mean and at times, should you? Right?

AM: 100%.

CM: On a metaphysical plane and again on a spiritual plane, we all have to deal with that. What do therapists say? There’s a hole in each of us. Some of us have to fill it up and some people have to examine it. So, if you bring all of this stuff to light and you’re watching this show, I would say that by the time that you get to the last episode, you should be rooting for the main people, but you should also be saying, well – should he have told the truth or not?

AM: It was amazing. When we saw the first season when it debuted, it was gripping and compelling. We enjoyed watching all of the screeners ahead of chatting with you and it certainly didn’t disappoint!

While watching it, there were so many themes that kept coming up about the concept of time, the extent of freewill, and the weight of responsibility of those who come before you and after. What do you want viewers to be able to walk away with once they have finished Season 2?

CM: You know, this is going to sound strange. I think that a lot of the show on a metaphysical plane is how people deal with their own timeline. How you can get trapped by your timeline, how it can propel you, and how other people can live in the same space that you’re living in and see things completely differently. I think that the bigger question kind of spins off of Season 1 which is, what happens when you can’t keep secrets anymore? Secrets get a lot of people in trouble.

AM: Oh yes they do!

CM: So then it’s, how do you deal with it when you have to expose those secrets! That’s what Season 2 is about! Season 2 is about telling the truth and then burying the weight of telling the truth. It’s looking at what that could mean and at times, should you? Right?

AM: 100%.

CM: On a metaphysical plane and again on a spiritual plane, we all have to deal with that. What do therapists say? There’s a hole in each of us. Some of us have to fill it up and some people have to examine it. So, if you bring all of this stuff to light and you’re watching this show, I would say that by the time that you get to the last episode, you should be rooting for the main people, but you should also be saying, well – should he have told the truth or not?

After talking with Charles, we wanted to talk with Tamara Podemski (Reservation Dogs, Murdoch Mysteries, Monster High) who has been in both seasons of Outer Range. We have watched her character navigate town politics, her ambitions, and her personal life. We wanted to know what drew her to playing Sheriff Joy Hawk, where we catch up with her this season, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s such a pleasure to connect with you! What drew you to Outer Range?

TAMARA PODEMSKI: It’s a crazy world that was so far away from my own world and so far away from anything that I had ever done. I felt my character to be quite challenging! Every time that you’re given on paper, someone who doesn’t really exist in real life, when you take an Indigenous queer woman that is a sheriff and put them in a small white town that is in mountain country – it’s just that she doesn’t exist. I looked around and I did the research, there is no one like her! So that’s always a really fun challenge as an actor to figure out how someone like that, ends up there.

AM: I have to say that your character is one of our favorites from the series. Everything about her just really draws you in and watching how she’s exploring what’s going on. What did you draw from to approach playing her?

TP: Well I had 2 very important of a few people that I turned to that were deeply connected to the world of what I would say Indigenous/Political circuit who were running for a position in government as well as someone that was deeply embedded in American Indian Police Academy who has launched and had so many different recruits that have gone through the program. This allows them to find their place in a sheriff office or in a local police department.

So I needed to base it in truth, I needed to base it in real people that have chosen this journey which is a very difficult road. That’s how I kind of pieced her together.

AM: That’s really great to hear!

Where did we leave Sheriff Deputy Joy Hawk last season and where do we pick her back up again this season?

TP: We leave Joy – I love her so I don’t ever want to say mean things about her, but I think that she has made some poor decisions in Season 1 for the sake of running for sheriff as well as to solve a murder investigation. These things, it cost her! To see her in Season 2 and taken out of that world and to be put into a new environment and to be given an opportunity to reconcile her actions and to be given an opportunity to grow and to surpass the person she was, the person that she thought that she could be, I think of it as Joy’s coming of age story. She gets to be the hero that she was always meant to be.

AM: Last season was so good and we had the pleasure of watching all of the screeners in prep for this interview, what do you want viewers to take away after watching Season 2?

TP: I hope audiences still believe in complex storytelling. I think particularly in a time where we are consuming so much content and some of it is in all degrees of digestibility, I would really ask for our audiences to work and put in the effort to provide their undivided attention. I hope that our viewers are reminded of that longer arc of storytelling and investing their time! I promise that we will take them on a ride and I hope that they fall in love again with the landscape, the genre – I think that we deliver a lot of real rich vibrant genres whether it’s the supernatural, the metaphysical, the western, the drama – I think that we really deliver a lot there. I think that everyone should be very satiated!

IG @thetamarapodemski

After speaking with Tamara about her character and how she has evolved over Season 2, we wanted to know about another character who has also went through various changes.

Isabel Arraiza (Pearson, The Oath, The Little Things) plays Maria Olivares and we wanted to know how she came to the roll, her character's love story and what she wants viewers to take away with them at the completion of the Season 2.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We enjoyed watching how your character has evolved throughout both seasons of the show! What drew you to Outer Range?

ISABEL ARRAIZA: I went to school with Brian Watkins so I know the creator from back in acting school. I had always been a fan of his writing. He is an amazing playwright. So when I found out that he was involved in the creation of this show and the story, I was immediately drawn in. So I went in for this audition and I kept getting call backs and tested. The more that I read about it and just knowing who was involved in the project, I was like “oh My God, please God, just give me this opportunity!" I would say that that was what drew me in initially and of course, the story was so compelling that I just wanted to be able to keep doing it.

AM: Absolutely and what do you love about playing Maria Olivares and what was your approach to delving in to this character as it has been interesting to watch how she unfolds episode to episode?

IA: Initially what drew me was her simplicity of her storyline. But it doesn’t mean that it is less complicated. I mean, Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry, Top Gun: Maverick, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial; who plays Rhett Abbott) and I are in charge of telling this romantic love story and sort of this love in its simplest and purest way. I just felt fortunate to have this character that felt so grounded and in a storyline that was so riveting and complicated at times. Such straight forward relationships was just so refreshing for me.

In terms of how I approached playing her, the story seemed so straight forward, but what I was trying to connect with her. It felt so removed, it’s a woman in the west and then I thought, she’s not. You remember what it was to be a young woman in a small town in Puerto Rico having bigger than life dreams! Then I realized that I understood this completely and then I was able to navigate the challenges that that brings when you really want something to work out. Especially when that involves a relationship or those things that I can personally relate to and I know a lot of other people can. So finding the similarities between me and her and being able to make that present was what got me there.

AM: Where did we leave Maria in Season 1 and where do we pick up with her again in Season 2. After seeing all of the screeners I know viewers will be excited to see this and may need a bit of a refresher.

IA: We pick up Season 2 where we left off with the last episode of Season 1. You know, they’re trying to escape town, they’re trampled by a herd of bison, and we begin the season in the same place! They can’t really leave right now so they decide to go back and we sort of see her becoming an anchor for Rhett. She’s also navigating her own decisions you know? Will love conquer all or is it not going to go Maria’s way? We start seeing that transition slowly, but subtly happening in her.

AM: What do you want the viewers takeaway to be as fans of the show coming back from Season 1 and once they complete Season 2 to be?

IA: I want them to leave satisfied and that some of the questions from Season 1 were answered and sort of solved, but then, I want them to get excited because there are some wrinkles that have now been thrown into Season 2 which I hope will make them leave wanting more! I think that that that’s what they would want to take away! Also, because it just clicked for me when I was talking with you – the theme of love and fear is present in this show, but at it’s heart, I think that this show is about love.

IG @isa.arraiza

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Prime Video/Outer Range

Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag and see THE TOLL OF SECRETS | Outer Range in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG ISSUE #101 | CURTISS COOK

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with Showtime star of The Chi, Curtiss Cook. We sat down with him to talk about his approach to acting and how he connects to his characters, the success of The Chi, the importance of mental health and why it is important to him, as well as upcoming projects. We also enjoyed spending time with him in Chelsea at Selina Chelsea Hotel as we shot his cover at Creatures at Selina Rooftop and Music For A While listening lounge with key menswear looks for your next outing.

Earlier this month, we headed to Lifetime Fitness for the unveiling of their 7 Pickleball courts as well as to see legendary 8X Grand Slam Winner and 60 ATP Tour wins, Andre Agassi. We enjoyed a fireside chat with him as well as the founder of Lifetime Fitness, Bahram Akradi. We enjoyed hearing him talk about playing as a tennis star and how he has transitioned to enjoying pickleball. In addition, we were able to watch him as well as fellow pickleball stars Anna Bright, Tyson McGuffin, Collin Johns, and Ben Johns play in a series of exhibition games.

This month, we also caught up with 2x Team USA Swimming Medalist Lydia Jacoby ahead of the Summer Games in Paris to talk about her sport, swimming for the University of Texas at Austin, what her average week of training is like, and what the weeks ahead look like as Paris 2024 approaches. .

We enjoyed Season 1 of Outer Range and with Season 2 available on Prime Video, we enjoyed talking with Showrunner and Executive Producer Charles Murray to talk about how he was drawn to storytelling and why he enjoys doing it. We also talk about how he came to this neo-western and the power of secrets. We also connected with actors Tamara Podemski and Isabel Arraiza in this series to find out about their characters from Season 1 and what we can expect from Season 2.

Part of a story and its characters coming together takes place in its costume direction as it says a number of elements that are not necessarily in the script, but round out the picture! Costume Designer Allyson Fanger has been storytelling through costumes in films and television from Wild Things, 10 Things I Hate About You to Grace & Frankie, Shrinking, Apples Never Fall, etc. We caught up with her to find out how she got into the industry, her journey, how she approaches her craft, the difference between styling and costume design, and upcoming projects. 

We're back for our 7th year as Media Sponsors for PRIDE NYC which takes place throughout the month of June here in NYC. In advance of this, we wanted to share what you can look forward to this year in our pre-coverage and next month we will have more details on events that we attended.

Bar Convent Brooklyn takes place next month Jun 11- 12 as it's a time for those in the bar/beverage, and hospitality industry to come together to meet new spirit brands and sample launches as well. Ahead of us attending the trade show as well as related events, we wanted to connected with the Event Vice President, Jackie Williams to find out how this event came to be, an overview of its 6 years, and what we can expect this year for attendees and exhibitors in Industry City, Brooklyn. Next month, we'll share our thoughts on what we saw and enjoyed so that you can keep an eye out for new brands and launches.

In an already busy June ahead, Governors Ball will return to Flushing Meadows on Jun 7 - 9! We give an overview on what you can expect and what we look forward to as this music festival kicks off the summer season. Next month, we'll share what we saw and who we interviewed in our JUN ISSUE #102.

This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Heritage Grand Bakery, Heritage Grand and Restaurant and Pizza Bar in Bryant Park. We wanted to know more about this eatery that allows you to have a number of options to go if you're ordering from the bakery for breakfast and lunch and bites in between. We also liked knowing more about the restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and is a great happy hour spot.

This month's Athleisure List comes from The Thinking Traveller, luxury rentals villas in Italy and Greece that are perfect for you to truly enjoy your family with the ability to include premium add-ons to personalize your stay. We also have Hot Bones a Detroit wellness studio that has hot yoga as well as pilates! They are also known for their bone broth that guests can enjoy as well for a full holistic approach. 

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from EDM group Swedish House Mafia and VASSY. This month we have our 9PLAYLIST MULTI from our cover star, Curtiss Cook who shares songs, books and podcasts/TV/films that he is enjoying. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Costume Designer Allyson Fanger who shares her must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from 2X Team USA Swimming Olympian Lydia Jacoby and actor, Joey Lawrence. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef David Seigal of The Lobster Place, Chef Seadon Shouse of Halifax W Hoboken, and Chef David Rose.

Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag.

NEW AGE OF LOVE | ANNE HATHAWAY, CATHY SCHULMAN, MICHAEL SHOWALTER, JENELLE RILEY, NICHOLAS GALITZINE, REID SCOTT, ELLA RUBIN

On May 2nd, The Idea of You debuts on Prime Video. This movie was adapted from the book of the same name by Robinne Lee. With a stellar cast, we see how relationships can ignite in many ways even when you don't expect it! When a 40-year-old woman falls in love with a 24-year-old man who is in the hottest band, August Moon, we get to come along on a global journey with her as she explores this reality. It's the perfect escapism that you'll enjoy reading as well as seeing it on screen!

We had the opportunity to attend the Global Press Conference of this movie with Michael Showalter (Grace & Frankie, The Dropout, The Eyes of Tammy Faye) who was involved in the screenplay, producer, and he also directed the film. He was joined by fellow producer, Cathy Schulman (Crash, The First Lady, The Woman King). Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada, Bride Wars, Ocean Eight) who is also a producer and star of the film, was also joined by castmembers Nicholas Galitzine (Bottoms; Red, White, and Royal Blue; Mary & George), Ella Rubin (Billions, Gossip Girl, Masters of the Air), and Reid Scott (Veep, Venom franchise, Law & Order). Moderated by Jenelle Riley is the Deputy Awards and Features Editor at Variety. We found out more about the film, how it came together, and what it was like to film this production.

JENELLE RILEY: Hi everyone, thank you so much for joining us, my name is Jenelle Riley and I am so thrilled to be here for this press conference with the Idea of You! Please join me in welcoming star and Producer, Anne Hathaway and we have star Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, and Reid Scott, Director/Co-Writer Michael Showalter, and Producer Cathy Schulman!

Congratulations on a fantastic movie! I want to start with Michael because you’ve really become known as such an actor’s director particularly coming off of The Eyes of Tammy Faye, The Dropout, and this movie has an amazing cast! Can you talk about what not only excit ed you about this project, but working with this group of actors?

MICHAEL SHOWALTER: I mean, for me, that’s what it’s all about! It’s about working with actors, going off on the journey together into these stories and into these worlds and I couldn’t have asked for a better cast! It very much so set a bar for everybody in terms of the work that Anne was doing and Nicholas is incredible and from the very first minute that I met him I felt that we had found Hayes and Ella and Reid – for me as a somewhat failed actor, I think that you and I have talked about this Jenelle, I get to get my acting jones about by directing. So I get to play and I get to be in there with them. I have seen this movie about 1,000 times and we had just been impersonating all of these guys performances because I love their performances so much and impersonation is the highest form of flattery – it really is. I’ve loved working with all of them and seeing the work that they have done has been such a joy for me.

JR: Cathy, your company started developing this script I believe from the very start and I understand that you only had 1 actress in mind for the lead!

CATHY SCHULMAN: I did and I had Anne in mind from the very beginning of the development process and it’s this thing that I always teach my young executives not to do which is – don’t develop an entire project hoping that you’re going to be able to get 1 actress because it never works! Only in this particular case, she’s the only person that read it, she was our first choice, she said yes, and it was a dream come true that that actually happened and you know, we just felt that we wanted to take the character from the book and to continue to personalize her in a way that she felt that she could be any of us. And I believed that Annie would be able to bring that aspect to Solène’s character and she really did.

JR: And Anne, I have seen you do every genre and medium and this performance still feels so fresh and new. There have been a lot of questions from journalists and they keep using the word luminous for you in this movie. They just want to know, what brought you back to the Rom-Com genre because I’m sure that it had to be something special for you to want to be able to revisit that.

ANNE HATHAWAY: Well first of all, thanks that’s an awesome word! I really do want to tip it to Jim Frohna our cinematographer because he had a lot to do with it. I didn’t notice that it was happening, but I had received a lot of romantic scripts in my 20s and then in my 30s I was so focused on my family life, motherhood, and kind of trying to find whatever my path was gong to be in me being an actress while having this really really rich personal life, and so I didn’t notice that I hadn’t been sent a romantic script in a really long time!

So when this found its way to me, and I’m so honored to have been the first choice for this, it was such a beautiful character and such an amazing world – a part of me did ask the question, where have these stories gone and why do they stop? And then those questions, I saw all of the answers and the path to them in the script and in the story. And I just thought, woah, what an unbelievable sort of meta exploration that all of this can be. One of the first conversations that I had with Cathy was, you know, if we kind of hit our targets, we can start this when I am 39 and make this and I will turn 40 when we are filming. That’s actually what ended up happening. Without me or anyone else even designing it, it became so personal to me and then the way it came together!

I mean Michael Showalter, who is here, I never say his whole name in front of him, so it’s kind of weird. But anyway, it has to be said, Michael Showalter who does not like to admit the legend that he is, but he absolutely is and there is a reason why he keeps making brilliant film after brilliant film - some of my favorite movies because he’s just incredible! So when the cast came together, it was like game over. I could go on and on about it, but there are other people here!

JR: Nicholas, this is such a complicated role because you have to strike the right balance between maturity and worldliness and you also have to hold your own against Anne Hathaway. Oh and by the way, you’re going to sing and dance as well! Was it ever intimidating?

NICHOLAS GALITZINE: I mean, obviously, the dancing and the performing was tricky because it’s not something that I have ever done before and you know, you always want more hours in the day to be able to hone those skills, but when it came to sort of the human side of Hayes which I think is sort of the side that I was most interested in, you know, I just had such a wonderful partner and I felt the chemistry and the connection between us immediately and the sympatico. You know, that first day with Michael and Cathy as well, it was this 20 hour behemoth thing where we’re jumping in cold water and in France and in Italy –

AH: And in Savannah.

AH: Without ever leaving Savannah!

NG: Without ever leaving Savannah! It was just a feeling of excitement that I was filled with coming into work every single day and that’s not always the case!

JR: And this flawless ensemble is rounded out by Reid and Ella you really feel like a family for all of the good and the bad that it entails! I’m curious about how you went about building that chemistry and that history. Ella especially for you and Anne as you really feel this mother/daughter bond.

ELLA RUBIN: Well thanks, I feel that that is the best compliment you could get when you're playing family with someone. I have said this before, but it’s really true. When you meet Annie, she’s not such an interesting person – she is, but she is also interested – like the bond, at least for me felt really natural and really easy despite all of my nervousness. I think that she is such an inquisitive person in the most warm way possible and so just having the privilege of getting to know each other and just to talk and to kind of spend time together just by way of being able to be around her – a bond just naturally forms around someone that is just so willing to hear you and to try to see you. So, I just felt that for me at least, it was quite natural.

With Reid, it was very much so the same. It was him just making me feel really comfortable and welcome as well as willing to be ok with my mess up to nervousness!

JR: And Reid, bless you because you have a very difficult role here and you know there are a lot of people who are going to be angry at you. At the same time, how do you sort of approach the character and make him dimensional and complex when we’re sort of set up to want to boo your character!

REID SCOTT: I am embrace it! I think that part of the fun for me is the challenge of bringing more dimension to – I wouldn’t call Daniel the villain, but that kind of role can tend to lay a little flat. It’s necessary because there has to be this sort of obstacle to this love story. But just like in real life, everyone is more colorful than whatever you are getting out of a given moment. I love to give these characters as many colors as I can and I think that it is really important, especially for Daniel, that you have to like something about him because he is a bit of a reflection on Annie’s character. You would never believe that someone as warm and loving as Solène would ever fall for him if he was just purely an asshole. So you have to see that at some point, they must have connected and there must have been something that brought them together and also to produce this wonderful child!

JR: Exactly!

RS: Michael was really fantastic in being able to foster this environment of exploration and play that we could find this and Annie and I had these wonderful conversations late at night on the phone in between shooting and giving our characters some sort of backstory and just getting to know one another. It really helped and it lent to this wonderful, warm, and playful environment. That really allowed us all to thrive!

MS: I just want to say that I think that it’s a testament to Reid that people do want to boo him! I really mean that! I love Reid’s performance in this movie and it has really revealed itself to me. I know that this is sort of a weird backhanded compliment that I have given you before, but it’s unfurled more since we shot it. It’s sort of evolved in post and it has grown. I knew that he was great when we were shooting and everything but it’s really that he has created this really compelling villain – whatever you want to call it and I also think that at the end of the movie when Izzy wants to go to Daniel’s house and he’s waiting for her at the door, you see a very caring person there. You also see something between Daniel and Solène that I think is very complicated. The eye contact that they make with each other at the end is the eye contact that you see between 2 people that have a lot of history with each other and there is a lot of mileage between these adults and I just love what Reid has done and I really do mean it. It’s a huge testament to his performance that audiences are so riled up about him!

JR: Even the character that he is currently with in the film, she seems pretty cool to. There’s a reason why this guy attracts awesome women.

MS: He has a lot of positive qualities, but he needs to work on himself a little and if I had to imagine what the movie about Daniel would be, he’s going to spend a little bit of time working on himself.

JR: In therapy! I would watch that! I would watch a movie about Daniel in therapy.

For Anne and Nicholas, how did you work together to bring this romance to life in a way that feels authentic and to avoid feeding into stereotypes?

AH: It’s so funny, we have been asked this a number of times on what work did we do. The things that I think that we both like to approach things Is that we are very playful people. Once we got that down, we established a friendship really and so it kind of works in the way that a friendship would work. In that, it doesn’t feel like work at all and I’m really – I think that what is happening for Nick in his career is so exciting, but I’m really just so happy to have made friends with such a wonderful person and someone that is just so talented and who has so much ahead of him! I felt really really cared for and supported by him in this movie. I knew that whatever I was doing, he was just right there with me step for step. It was a really beautiful and very vulnerable experience, but we always kept it light with each other and we always kept it light with each other and we were allowed to make mistakes with each other. Nothing had to be perfect and it wasn’t tense in that way. Am I missing anything?

NG: No, I think that the communication was always really good!

AH: Yes!

NG: We always had open channels.

AH: We checked in with each other a lot.

NG: Yeah, exactly. It never – you know, it’s so funny, so much onus is put on the chemistry because it’s very palpable I think in the movie. It’s not so much something that I think you feel that you're consciously working or building to create. It’s just a human connectivity and it flows. It’s very water.

AH: Whenever we had that raw spark, it was shaped by Michael and by the entire production team. I think that sometimes actors get a lot of attention, but as everybody knows, this is a team medium. We have a lot of people that are experts at their field and they’re designing their whole talented selves towards making it believable so that the 2 of us have chemistry. So, we had good fighting odds and Jennifer Westfeldt (Younger, The First Lady, Will Trent) adapted a beautiful book. We just had so much working for us in our favor.

JR: Cathy, what were some of the biggest challenges in bringing this idea from the book to the screen and what is the main message that you hope to convey to the audience of this film?

CS: Well I think that you know, in starting the development process, the first thing that we saw was necessary was to age up the daughter from what she had been in the book. This is because, we wanted Solène’s character to have someone to speak to and to really be able to be open about the changes that were happening in her own life. And the reason that I bring that up is that the message in the end is that women shouldn’t be put in boxes. You can be more than a mother, you can be more than a grandmother, you can be between a mother and a grandmother – I don’t know what you are but you can be an other. You can work, you can do a lot of different things and it was really important that we could look at what it was like to go through one phase of mothering in a first marriage to possibilities of more happiness while also bringing a young person into her womanhood. I think that those are the messages that we hope that the movie will leave which is the possibility for happiness and the importance of keeping yourself vulnerable to allow happiness to come back in. I just think for women that you hit a certain point in age and it’s easy to say, hey I did it. I’ve been a mom, I’ve had a job, I’ve been a wife, and now I’m really happy to find and shut off a lot of other things to self-actualize in a yurt which is what Solène was about to do and that would have been fine. But in our movie, we wanted to say that it’s not done and there’s so much more and that was sort of the message. So the whole development process was in opening that story to get us there.

JR: I didn’t realize that you aged up the daughter. Ella that’s great news for you!

ER: I am 13, I just don’t look it ha! I’m very lucky that they aged it up. I remember I got a note or saw it on Instagram and it said, Anne Hathaway in this new movie or whatever. I read something about her having a daughter in it and I didn’t even know any information about it and I sent a screenshot to my agents and I said, “I have to audition for this,” and literally as I sent the text, I got an email in my inbox with the audition and then I realized that the daughter was 13 and they told me that they were aging her up and it was this serendipitous and very lucky thing!

JR: Had you been told over the years that you looked like Anne Hathaway?

ER: Yes and it’s the most flattering compliment that one can get!

AH: I’m so thrilled! I’m so thrilled that I look like you!

ER: I’m so thrilled that I look like you!

AH: I would just stare into screen and say, this is so awesome!

ER: Right back at you, my whole life I have been staring at you like that! It’s always been the most absolute greatest compliment and now I have some evidence to back it up!

AH: It was so fun when I saw Ella’s audition because I saw her audition tape before we met and I just remember turning to Michael and Cathy and I was like, “oh my God, that’s like aaa I didn’t know that I had a daughter!” But apparently – it was just so wild. Our timing was just so similar and Ella just has funny bones and just crazy crazy dramatic talent and I have mentioned it earlier here, but we just struck gold with this cast! It was insane to have someone like Reid come in to be able to build instant history with someone and it’s like chemistry, love, history, and all of these big things! Audiences are really smart. They know when there is air being let out. They know when something doesn’t hold water. So to have and to be part of this cast where everybody really meant it and to do just such incredible work, I’m really just so stunned.

IG @primevideo

@annehathaway

@nicholasgalitzine

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Prime Video/The Idea of You

Read the APR ISSUE #100 of Athleisure Mag and see NEW AGE OF LOVE | Anne Hathaway, Cathy Schulman, Michael Showalter, Jenelle Riley, Nicholas Galitzine, Reid Scott, Ella Rubin in mag.

LOVE IS THE GAME | MATT BARNES + ANANSA SIMS

Relationships and their dynamics can be difficult, but they are also fruitful as well! We sat down with veteran NBA Champion Matt Barnes (All The Smoke, (R)Evolution, JUN ISSUE #54 in 2020 cover) and his fiancé, top model Anansa Sims to talk about their Reality TV show that dropped this month on WE TV, The Barnes Bunch which focuses on their relationship, their busy lives, their family, and how they keep it all together!

We wanted to know more about why they wanted to do this series, how it came about, why they wanted to make sure that they were realistically sharing their lives, and what they have learned to do in the process. We talked about this and more as the keep it all together with their family and busy lives!

ATHLEISURE MAG: So, why did you guys want to share how you’re navigating a family, being a dynamic couple, and your busy schedules in this show?

ANANSA SIMS: For me, it was more so an opportunity that was given to us! I do a lot of sharing already on my Instagram. So, a good friend of mine Datari Turner (Day Shift, They Cloned Tyrone, The Burial) who is partners with Jamie Foxx (Ray, Miami Vice, The Amazing Spider-Man 2) who Matt is friends with said, “you know that your family is dope and this could be a show.” I’m like, really? I never thought about it because I just share to share because I love them so much. The more he started talking to me, I brought it to Matt and he was a little hesitant at first and over time you know, we built trust and decided that we had a good team around us, maybe we could make it into a positive thing and I think that it is more about trusting the people that you are working with. So we decided to go for it.

AM: That’s really interesting. We watched the first screener a bit ago. The vulnerability that is laid bare here and the amount of ground that you guys cover – couple’s therapy, talking about your journey together, your family, and your friends! What are some of the things that you are excited about that we get to see this season?

MATT BARNES: I think normalizing Black positivity in the reality space. Because you see that in the first episode, we are already arguing and we are in counseling and everything, but it’s real you know what I mean? I just think that there’s been such a negative portrayal of the Black community through Reality TV unfortunately. That was one thing that I know that we had both discussed and to just normalize that we are all not crazy and throwing drinks and fighting all the time! I mean, I might fight sometimes haha but not all the time.

AM: Right ha ha not all the time!

MB: But normalizing 1, positivity through the Black family and also normalizing blended Black families which in families in many ways is kind of the new norm. To be able to bring 3 kids from her previous marriage, 2 kids from my previous marriage, and creating a baby together – people out there are going through that. To be able to see us navigate that and for the world to see, not only again promotes positivity, but also realness and humanizes us and lets people know that you’re not alone out here on this journey. Whether you’re going to couples counseling, individual counseling, whether you’re trying to blend a family, trying to get pregnant, or you’re doing all of these things in your 40s like us – it's just about again promoting positivity and letting people know that they’re not out there on your own. Just hang in there!

AM: Anansa your mom, Beverly Johnson (Editors' Note: Beverly Johnson is a model, actress, singer, NY Times Best Selling Author, and entrepreneur who became the first Black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue in Aug 1974 after Donyale Luna was the first Black model to appear on British Vogue in 1966. In many ways her placement as the cover in this magazine created a change by 1975 where every major American fashion designer began using Black models.) is an icon and a trailblazer! Years ago I had the pleasure of accepting a fashion award in the same award ceremony where she was being honored for her legendary career!

AS: Oh, that is very nice!

AM: She is stunning, beautiful, and so poised! She also isn’t a stranger to Reality TV as I enjoyed Beverly’s Full House. So what were your thoughts when it came to you guys deciding to have her on the show and to be able to see her in an entirely different light which I love her! Then there’s also the fact that you have your children in this show as well! That’s a big decision to make!

AS: Well, my mom, you know we wanted the show to be real to our lives. My mom is a big fixture in our lives. She helps with the kids, she helps with Matt and I in our relationship as far as giving advice and just being around. She’s always just there and so for me, it’s a no-brainer to just have her to be part of it! I’m happy of course that she agreed to be on and she’s happy to support Matt and I in anything that we do – especially the kids! They top us now as they’re her favorites!

As far as the kids you know, Matt and the twins – Isaiah and Carter are already so visible on social media. The twins have their own podcast, The Barnes Boyz. Matt has been posting them since they were little kids so they are very visible. I also made my kids visible on my Instagram from when they were little so I think that having them on the show, we know what we instilled in them. So we weren’t as worried about it, we’re very hands on parents you know. We have a super open line of communication and we talk to the kids about everything so we check in with them to make sure that they are comfortable and good! None of our kids are shy! These are like 6 very outgoing children. So no one felt like, "oh my God, we don't want to do this.” No, it was the opposite! They wanted to know when we were filming, are they going to be on again, are they in the next scene, why did Matt and I have so much screen time haha! They’re telling the crew when we’re not around that they can do a cartwheel and that they can show them various things. So, they’re willing and ready and we’re super hands on so we don’t let anybody mess with our kids or our family! I feel like we know that we can hold it down and that they will be ok.

AM: What are the biggest takeaways that you guys learned in this experience? It’s a lot of weeks of filming and you talk about a lot of things in that time on and off camera!

MB: It’s a lot of weeks of filming, holy shit!

AS: I think that we filmed double than the normal shows because of our busy schedules! All 6 kids play 1 to 2 to 3 sports, Matt at times is traveling 3-4 days out of the week, and I’m running kids all around town. So, it was a lot and we filmed over a long period of time – we did, we really did!

Luckily, we had a really great crew that we were blessed to have people in our home so it wasn’t dreadful. But it was a long time.

MB: And I mean, you just learn again. We have both done this in the past! I was shoo 15 years ago and I don’t know how long ago that she did it –

AS: 13 years ago.

MB: It’s a lot of work! People think that shooting a show is easy and you’re just capturing what’s going on, but it’s a lot. It’s a lot and then when you’re bringing 6 kids into it – that’s just a lot of communication, a lot of bribing when it came to the kids, when they're not on camera, you're trying to keep them quiet when they are in other parts of the house. Again, I think that it was super important for Anansa and I to be on the same page which we were, but at the same time, you got to see a dynamic of a real couple. Shit isn’t always sweet! We argue like everyone else, we get along, we have bouts where we’re not talking, and then there are bouts where we’re all over each other. So us being on the same page to kind of set the tone for the crew, our kids, and the show in general.

AM: What are some upcoming projects that you guys are working on. Obviously All the Smoke always has something going on and it’s always exciting to the podcast and was just listening to the episode with Deion Sanders earlier today – so what are some things that you’re working on and then Anansa what can we keep an eye out for that you have going on?

MB: Well we’ve built a production company for All the Smoke so we now have All the Smoke Productions now so we have a list of people from Rachel Nichols (Headliners with Rachel Nichols, Hometown with Rachel Nichols, MAR ISSUE #51 in 2020 cover) from ESPN, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and DeMarcus Cousins, so we’re just kind of building a monster over here and through that, we’re not only in sports, but we’re crossing over to different genres and opportunities.

And also, with this show, one of the things that I really wanted to be able to do is to brand our kids. We love our kids and we think that they’re all unique in their own ways and they’re all funny and crazy in their own little ways. So to be able to kind of get them out there a little bit more and to see what opportunities can come from that.

AS: For me, my fulltime job right now is the kids and supporting Matt. You never know, tables can turn in a couple of years when they’re older and Matt will be supporting me in whatever I’m doing. Right now, that is a lot! David and Dean both play baseball, basketball, and football season is about to start. Ava plays basketball and she is running track, and Ashton plays basketball. Of course you know that the twins play basketball and they are in high school so they have AAU tournaments and Matt’s traveling all around the country with them for these tournaments so it’s a lot to navigate on top of them wanting to be A/B students. I spend most of my time yelling and checking homework, rushing to different practices and games from literally 8am to sometimes 7pm on a Saturday and of course, there’s another practice on a Sunday. Those are my projects right now, so making 6 amazing humans that are good people and that can be successful when they go out there in life and when they step outside of our doors, they know what they are doing and they have a good head on their shoulders. They can be successful in life in their own right.

IG @matt_barnes9

@anansasims

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | PG 28 - 32 WE TV/The Barnes Bunch | PG 35 All the Smoke/Paramount Plus |

Read the APR ISSUE #100 of Athleisure Mag and see LOVE IS THE GAME | Matt Barnes + Anansa Sims in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG ISSUE #100 | JEREMIH

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Jeremih who is known a for a number of hits including, Birthday Sex! We talk about his career, his creative approach, what it was like creating this hit song, and how he got into Birthday Sex wine. We also connected with noted winemaker, Russell Bevan who talks about how he got into the industry, how he got involved in this venture with Jeremih, and upcoming projects! 

We also caught up with NBA Champion and host of All the Smoke, Matt Barnes (previous Athleisure Mag cover for JUN ISSUE #54) as he and his fiance, Anansa Sims debuted The Barnes Bunch this month on WE TV! We talk about why they wanted to make this show, the importance of showcasing their relationship alongside their children as well as Anansa's mother, Beverly Jonhson, and upcoming projects that they have coming up.

We always like to stay with our fitness goals and we have been enjoying getting to workout on and to know more about Lagree Fitness' Micro! We circled back for another interview to talk with the founder of the method as well as the equipment, Sebastien Lagree to find out how we can use this machine, optimizing our time on it, and utilizing Lagree on Demand. We also talked with the CEO of Hyperice, Jim Huether, to find out about their assortment, great devices we should have, and why recovery is so important.

We also have another great fitness interview with Celeb Fitness Trainer, Jenna Willis who has trained Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent, Liza Koshy, and Camila Cabello to name a few. We wanted to know how she came to the industry, why fitness is so important to her, how we can implement the lifestyle into our lives regardless of where we are in this journey, and her upcoming projects.

Launching May 2nd, The Idea of You starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galetzine will be available on Prime Video. We had the pleasure of attending the Global Press Conference for this film a few weeks back where we got to find out more information on this movie which was adapted from the book of the same name, how the cast came together for this film, and why telling this story was so important.

We have been a long time fan of Natori which is a world of luxury across categories from lounge/sleepwear, RTW, home, fragrances, and more. We had the pleasure of sitting down with the brand's Founder, Josie Natori as she shared how she turned a career in finance to one that involves art, design, and showcasing her Asian heritage. We talk about her labels, the importance of being independent and family owned, as well as the importance of integrity and authenticity.

We also interviewed CEO, Founder, and Chief Cheerleader, Tony Drockton of luxury handbag brand, Hammitt. We talked about how this line started, the importance of knowing your customer, and leaning into the heritage that is familiar to those who are fans of the brand.  

This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Casa Bond which is located here in NY's NoHo. We wanted to know more about this Mexican fine dining cuisine that is found in this ambiance rich restaurant.

We also wanted to find out more about MICHELIN Guide from its history, its star ratings for restaurants and their latest Keys for hotels! We also found out about how important it is to keep the customer central in the restaurants and hotels that are featured.

This month's Athleisure List comes from Savta, a tasty destination in NYC that is a must to stop by. We also have Burke Williams Spa which has located in California that are perfect for resets and day spa amenities.

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from our cover star, Jeremih as he shares songs he's listening to. He also shares his 9DRIP with us as well as he talks about items he purchased for himself, his go-to style, and how he gave back to others. Netflix's Outer Banks star, Chase Stokes also shares his 9PLAYLIST with us as well. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from 3X Team USA Olympic Gymnast medalist Suni Lee. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Josie Natori and Tony Drockton. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Elisa Marshall, Chef Marcel Vigneron, and Chef Pyet DeSpain.

Read the APR ISSUE #100.

CHASE AND MILO

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

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

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

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

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

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

AM: What is it like filming this show?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IG @hichasestokes

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

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

9R3DCARP3T

Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see 9R3DCARP3T in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG ISSUE #99 | CHEF TOM COLICCHIO, CHEF KRISTEN KISH, & GAIL SIMMONS

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with the legendary, culinary trio of Bravo Top Chef's Chef Tom Colicchio, Chef Kristen Kish, and Gail Simmons. We talk with them about S21 which premiered on Mar 20th, we find out about how they came to the show, what we need to know about the upcoming season, how they approach their roles on the show, and more. 

This month, we caught up Chase Stokes of Netflix's Outer Banks. He talks about the upcoming season, being a dog dad, and upcoming projects that he is working on.

We also caught up with 90s heartthrob, Joey Lawrence to find out about various projects he's part of, his podcast Brotherly Love that he does with his siblings, and the importance of oral care.

We had a great time sitting down with Access Hollywood and Access Daily with Mario and Kit host, Kit Hoover! We have been a fan of hers since we saw her on the first season of Road Rules.! From there, she took on hosting in entertainment and sports broadcasting such as ESPN and of course, she has been at NBC for the past 14 years! We talked about her career, how she approaches interviews, and her podcast that launches Apr 5th, The Coop. 

We also chatted with Brandon Soo Hoo of Paramount+ The Tiger's Apprentice and Netflix's Mech Cadets to find out about how he got into the industry, how he approaches his roles, the importance of Martial Arts in his life, projects he's excited about, and more.

We kicked off Awards Season by chatting with Charles Joly globally acclaimed mixologist who created craft cocktails at the Emmy's as Johnnie Walker Blue Label was the official sponsor. We end Awards Season by chatting with him about pouring for the Governors Ball, the after party of the Oscars. He talks about how Don Julio has an array of cocktails that we can enjoy whether we were there or want to celebrate the red carpet moments of our lives.

We always enjoy sharing our favorite Olympians with you! In this month's issue, we have 3X Olympic Medalist Team USA Gymnastics' Suni Lee! We talk about how she fell in love with this sport, how she trains, being at Tokyo 2020, and what the qualifications process is like as she works towards being on the team for Paris 2024.

When American Rust debuted in 2021, we thoroughly enjoyed this show which looks at a small industrial town that has to navigate their reality when they see that there has been a shift in the American Dream. In S2, they continue to grapple these issues while navigating dynamics where they all see justice for what they feel that they deserve. We had the pleasure to chat with Executive Producers of the show as well as various castmembers who are back for American Rust: Broken Justice.

This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Mishik which is located here in NY's Hudson Square. We wanted to know more about this elegant restaurant, what we should expect when we come in to dine with family and friends, and more.

We know that when you hit the Spring and continue into warmer seasons, we do all kinds of traveling, and staycations are a great way to be in a different area while still getting to know your city and neighborhood in a richer way! In Spring Staycation, we focused on SoHo and stayed At NoMo SoHo which put us in the heart of fashion, art, great eateries, and more. In our interview, you can learn more about this hotel, what it offers guests, those who are traveling, enjoying staycations, or live in the neighborhood. We also know that in a staycation, just because you're in one neighborhood, it doesn't mean that you can't hop to another. We included the UES' Chola which has been in NYC for 26 years! We share more information on the restaurant, it's dedication to Indian Cuisine, and more.

Next month, The Joy of Sake will be back on Apr 11th where guests can enjoy sampling an array of sake as well as participating restaurants. We spoke with the founder of The Joy of Sake's, Chris Pearce who talks with us about why he created this event that takes place here in NY as well as Honolulu. He also shares what we need to know about attending this event. 

We first got introduced to Brooke Burke on E! Wild On. We got to learn a lot about her and enjoyed traveling alongside her through locales all over the world. Since then, she has continued to host a number of shows, and she has acted in various programs, created a fitness/wellness platform, been a brand ambassador for amazing brands, and is an author. We talked about her career, her ability to take her passions and to build the life that she enjoys living. We also talked about upcoming retreats that you will want to know more about!

This month's Athleisure List comes from Nobu Barbuda, an exclusive Beach Club where can guests can lounge and take in experiences from this well known restaurant destination. We also have Music For A While which is located in the Selina Hotel in Chelsea. This lounge is definitely for those that enjoy their music and a vibrant environment.

We enjoyed Awards Season and this month, our feature 9R3DCARP3T looks at iconic talents that hit the runway along with exclusive thoughts about the creation of their looks from them as well as their glam teams! This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from our cover editorial, Chef Tom Colicchio, Chef Kristen Kish, and Gail Simmons as they share their songs in 9COLLAB. We also habe actor Brandon Soo Hoo share his 9PLAYLIST as well.  Lionel Messi. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Kit Hoover and Brooke Burke. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Chase Stokes and Suni Lee. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Tom Coliccio of Craft Hospitality, Chef Kristen Kish of Arlo Grey, and Gail Simmons.

Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag.

BMF | HEATHER ZUHLKE, KELLY HU, & MORGAN ALEXANDRIA

Season 3 of STARZ's BMF premiers on Mar 1st. There are light spoilers in this interview, so make sure that you catch up on what you've missed of this Detroit crime family show that is based on a true story of brothers Demetrius Edward "Big Meech" (Demetrius Flenory Jr) and Terry Lee "Southwest Tee" Flenory (Da'Vinchi).

We took some time to sit down with BMF's Showrunner, Executive Producer, and writer, Heather Zuhlke. We wanted to know more about her background, how she came to this show, and what she is looking forward to in terms of this season!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have been such a fan of your work since Southland and of course on POWER so congratulations!

HEATHER ZUHLKE: Oh thank you!

AM: What kinds of stories are you drawn to in terms of writing and Executive Producing?

HZ: Oh yeah, always character driven. Things that touch us really on a soul level! I love – I mean, Southland was never about the case, it was about the people. This show is marketed as a crime and family drama, but the heart and soul of BMF is the family aspects – the blood family and the street family. I think that people really relate to those themes because family is so universal. It’s heightened in our story because your brother is a drug kingpin, your son is a kingpin, so everything is heightened!

AM: I live in NY now, but I grew up in Indianapolis, so I’m familiar with the BMF story as they were in Detroit.

What drew you to being involved as I knew you signed onto the second season and now you’re a Showrunner and helming everything for this season.

HZ: So my journey started – gosh, 9 years ago when I met Randy Huggins (The Unit, Criminal Minds, Star) on the original POWER along with 50, and Randy hit me up and said, “hey, will you be my number two Season 2?” Randy really empowered me on set to produce and to get to know everyone. Then he unfortunately had a health complication right after we wrapped Season 2 so 50 asked me to step in and so this has been so much more for me than a job, because we’re carrying on Randy’s legacy and honoring his vision! And again, this isn’t just a TV show, or a job, we’re really a family.

AM: Obviously, the first 2 seasons were amazing, and the 2nd had me at the edge of my seat with the finale. We had the pleasure of watching the first 3 episodes of the 3rd season and it’s beyond exciting to see what’s going to take place.

What are you excited about for us to see in this new season?

HZ: You know, I’m really excited about the collision of the streets, hip-hop, and pro sports! What you saw in episode 3, there are some big moments for the fans.

I’m also really excited about the finale and the way it pushes story forward and there is going to be another big moment. I’m really excited for the world to see Russell Hornsby (The Affair, Fences, Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector) who plays Charles Flenory and he has his directorial debut which will be for episode 7 and Randy Huggin’s daughter Ms Haven Huggins is making her acting debut in that episode too!

AM: We can’t wait to see how it all plays out! The season is off to a great start and being a fan of yours for such a long time, it’s awesome to see how you bring your worlds to life and your style. It’s great to see you in this show that touches all the points of prestige TV!

HZ: Thank you for being a fan as we do it for you guys!

IG @heather_zuhlke

@bmfstarz

In addition to chatting with Heather, we also wanted to talk with the cast for them to share their thoughts on being in this show and what we can expect from this season. We sat down with Kelly Hu (The Scorpion King, Dietland, Arrow) and Morgan Alexandria (How to Get Away with Murder, Twenties, This is Us).

ATHLEISURE MAG: It was so exciting to watch the first 3 episodes from the screeners and to get right into it after how Season 2 ended! It will be exciting to see how this season turned out!

Before we dig into that, why were you drawn to BMF?

MORGAN ALEXANDRIA: For me, I was really excited. Obviously, it’s a great story, it’s a true story, and I know of a lot of people who know a lot about the story as they grew up around it and that type of thing. So, it’s legendary in that sense. I’m not going to lie, I was so nervous to play a cop, because it’s one of my things that I’m like, “ah, I don’t know with all of the jargon and so forth!” My team pushed me, I pushed myself and then I was like, the writing is so good and then joining it was such a blessing! Being able to work with Kelly was such an honor, seriously! It was so much fun! She made it so fun!

KELLY HU: We had a lot of fun on set! It’s such a great show and it’s really well done and it’s well written. The actors are amazing and 2nd Season when I came on, I got to do almost all of my scenes with Steve Harris (The Practice, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) who was so much fun! It was nuts! And this season, I get to do all of my scenes with Morgan and we had a blast, seriously! We got pretty close on this.

AM: You can definitely see the chemistry between you and how you’re connected. It made it fun to watch. After I finished the screeners, I wanted to know what happens in the remaining part of the season between your character’s dynamic, because it’s always fun to see the interaction between you on screen.

Kelly, for our readers who need a bit of a refresher. Where do we leave Detective Veronica Jin and what can we expect from her this season?

KH: Well in the 2nd season as I mentioned, she had partnered with Detective Von Bryant. They had their thing going, and that went beyond the police partnership and he got in trouble and she was trying to help him out and got sort of dragged down with him. This season, she’s really trying to save herself and him!

AM: Morgan, this is your first season and we’re just getting introduced to Detective Colbie Anderson! What can you tell us about her?

MA: She’s really an interesting character. For me, there is really a dichotomy going on between her and her internal feelings. She’s a wealthy girl, she comes from a really great background, but she’s still connected to the streets in a sense that she wants to save everyone and try to make a change within her own community. It’s not always welcomed, but we’ll see, you know?

AM: Seeing you guys as partners this season, it’s fun to see the dynamics and how both of you are unveiling certain things about your characters, what can we keep an eye out for that you’re able to share?

KH: I think that we start off the season where Morgan and I are very at odds with one another because of this background that she has as this rich girl. If people saw how I entered into Season 2, they’ll see sort of the same thing going on with me and Steve. You know, me being the new girl and now Morgan in this season, and how things have turned and I sort of get to switch and become Steve’s character where I am testing her all of the time, but then you can watch as we go through the season on how our partnership really blossoms.

MA: I would say that for my character, Anderson, it’s just a lot of proving herself. Not even necessarily of whether she can do the job, but just her background alone makes a lot of people standoffish.

AM: We can’t wait to see how it unfolds. We’ve been a fan of both of your careers in other projects and it’s really cool to see your dynamic together!

IG @kellyhu

@shesmorgann

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | STARZ/BMF

Read the FEB ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see BMF | Heather Zuhlke, Kelly Hu, & Morgan Alexandria in mag.

BRAIN HEALTH IS KEY | ALTON BROWN

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

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

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

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

AM: Hmm ’99, I was in college!

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

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

AB: I graduated from high school in ’79!

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

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

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

AM: Yeah, like putting the pieces together.

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

AM: Of course not you!

AB: I’m not a beer person!

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

AM: So what is Neuriva?

AB: You mean the actual supplement itself?

AM: Yes!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AM: I assumed!

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

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

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

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

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

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

AM: No 3-piece suits!

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

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

AM: You earn that coffee!

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

AM: Breathwork is so important!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IG @altonbrown

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

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

ATHLEISURE MAG ISSUE #98 | MARTIN GARRIX

ATHLEISURE MAG | FEB ISSUE #98

In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with legendary EDM international DJ/Producer, Martin Garrix! We talk about how he came to music, his creative process, those he has collaborated with, being on tour as well as his current tour in South America, recent drops and upcoming ones!

This month, we caught up with STARZ's BMF which drops its second season on Mar 1st. We talked with Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Writer Heather Zuhlke as well as castmates Kelly Hu and Morgan Alexandria. We talk about how they approached the series, what fans can look forward to, and more.

We had the pleasure of interviewing and enjoying an intimate dinner party with Chef Alton Brown, food scientist, TV host, and author. We talked about his passion for the culinary industry, the importance of brain health, and his partnership with Neuriva.

We also talked with legendary magicians and entertainers, Penn & Teller about performing, their CW show Fool Us, and their partnership with Mucinex.

This month, we had the pleasure of attending a number of NYFW FW24 shows that included NYMD, Prabal Garung, Bishme Cromartie, and Laurence Basse. We give you the inside scoop on what we saw during these shows as well as interviews with Celebrity Nail Artist Gina Edwards for Prabal Garung's show as we talked with her backstage moments before the show started. We also have an indepth interview with fashion designer, Laurence Basse who talks about her line, being a finalist on both Project Runway/Project Runway All-Stars, her recent NYFW FW24, and what's next!

This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Sabai Thai which is located here in NY in Midtown East. We find out more about the vibe of this restaurant from phenomenal cocktails, flavorful dishes, and the ambiance of the space which is great to enjoy with friends and family!

This month's Athleisure List comes from YAO, a fine dining Chinese restaurant with a 6 course tasting menu located in the financial district. We also have JETSET Pilates which is based in South Florida and has a number of locations there as well as in other cities in the US and in Australia. 

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from Lionel Messi. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from fashion designer and 2X Project Runway alum, Laurence Basse. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Lagree Fitness founder Sebastien Lagree and Bravo star of Below Deck Sailing and Winter House, Alex Propson. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Alex Oradei of Balos, Chef Nathan Berry of Residents Bar & Cafe, and Chef Alton Brown, of Good Eats, Good Eats: The Return, and Iron Chef franchise.

Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag.

LET THE MUSIC PLAY | RAWAYANA'S BETO MONTENEGRO

We're always about good vibes and keeping them going. As we think to warmer days ahead, we caught up with lead singer Beto Montenegro of RAWAYANA who has released 4 studio albums, and received a nomination for Best New Artist of at the 18th Latin Grammy Awards in 2017. They're currently taking a break from their World Tour which will continue next month. As we're always on the hunt for great music, we took some time in the midst of the band's busy schedule to find out more about who they are, how they came together, their sound, those they've collaborated with, and their partnership with Old Parr scotch.

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

BETO MONTENEGRO: It's because music makes me happy, it makes me smile. I feel it is the best tool to express my point of view about life.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to do this professionally?

BM: After I realized that we had a big community waiting and asking for new music from us.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to come together to create RAWAYANA?

BM: We really just did it for fun. There was no real plan to “create” it.

AM: How would you define the RAWAYANA sound?

BM: I think it’s an eclectic mixture of Caribbean sounds influenced by pop music.

AM: You were nominated as Best New Artist at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards back in 2017, what did it mean to you to have that distinction?

BM: I don’t like to pay attention to awards. I feel that art or music is not a competition, but in a way it felt cool to be recognized by the industry so we had such a good time spending time with a lot of friends in the business.

AM: What have been some of your favorite collaborations that you've had musically?

BM: Danny Ocean, Elena Rose, Natalia Lafourcade, Micro TDH, Mr Eazi… all our collaborations are amazing.

AM: You've released 5 studio albums and most recently '¿Quién trae las Cornetas?' (Who Brings the speakers?) tell me about this and what we can expect from it.

BM: It’s an album about cycles and new journeys. For us the music and RAWAYANA is about a journey, so the music is a very important part in our journey. It’s a very personal album but also the union of like-minded people making music and having fun in the studio.

AM: You just finished a tour here in the US and you already have dates lined up for next year, do you have any routines that you do right before a show to get ready to hit the stage?

BM: I warm up my voice in the shower.

AM: Do you have routines that you do after the show so that you can come down from all that energy?

BM: I really don’t have one. It always changes on nightly basis.

AM: You have a nice breather now with it being the holidays. You created a cocktail in collaboration with Old Parr known as Old Parr Rawy. How did your partnership come about and tell us about this drink?

BM: We’re thrilled with this partnership with Old Parr to bring even more golden moments to our music. The brand is an icon in Latin America, and just like the whisky, our music is a fusion of different sounds, flavors, and rhythms, so we know our fans will be just as excited to raise a glass of Old Parr with us. Also, we wanted to give our fans a taste of home during the Holiday season by creating a cocktail inspired by Venezuela and the fusion of flavors we create as a band—The Old Parr Rawy.

AM: How does this drink tie into the band and your sound?

BM: The Old Parr Rawy is a delicious and easy-to-make cocktail made for everyday golden moments this Holiday season – from enjoying the energy from a concert to toasting with our closest friends. This cocktail is a fusion of different flavors, sounds, and rhythms, like our music.

AM: How will you spend the holiday season?

BM: With my childhood friends and family!

OLD PARR RAWY

INGREDIENTS

· 1.5 oz Old Parr Aged 12 Years

· 1 oz Grapefruit juice

· .5 oz Maple syrup

· .25 Lemon juice

· 3 Dashes of angostura bitters

PREPARATION

Fill a cocktail shaker with Old Parr Aged 12 Years, grapefruit juice, maple syrup, lemon

juice and ice. Shake the mixture thoroughly, then pour into a serving glass. Top with 3

dashes of angostura bitters.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 52 RAWAYANA/Facebook | PG 54 Team Diageo

Read the JAN ISSUE #97 of Athleisure Mag and see LET THE MUSIC PLAY | RAWAYANA’S Beto Montenegro in mag.