Read the NOV ISSUE #107 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Saraya in mag.
Read the NOV ISSUE #107 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Chef Michael Voltaggio in mag and listen to his 9PLAYLIST.
This time of year, we're enjoying the changing of the leaves, the crisp air, adding a few fun layers, and getting in all the football games possibly from college to pro! Whomever you're cheering for, it's an opportunity to gather with family, friends, and colleagues throughout the week whether you're tailgating or homegating!
We headed over to Chef Eddie Jackson, NFL veteran and host of Food Network shows' Outchef'd and Christmas Cookie Challenge to talk about how we can take our entertaining to the next level when our teams are hitting the field, how we can make it easy on ourselves, his football picks, and of course his upcoming show for the holiday season!
ATHLEISURE MAG: So what was the first dish that made you fall in love with food?
CHEF EDDIE JACKSON: Ooo, so I grew up in a family of chefs. My grandmothers on either sides were chefs. Yeah, and I just remember making biscuits in my grandmother's kitchen when I was like four or five years old.
AM: Well, you know, being an NFL Alum, we know that, you know, a thing or two about playing the game, we know you're watching it and of course what foods pair well with it. You know, whether we're tailgating or at the stadium or we're homegating, how can we make the perfect pairings for our next football game?
CHEF EJ: Well, first off football season is my favorite time of the year. For one, I love football, but two - it's all about tailgating and homegating. I made a cookbook that's all about homegating recipes, right? And so, I love giving people tips to show them how they can homegate tailgate, like a pro. And in this instance, I've teamed up and partnered up with Bota Box wine to create these delicious pairings, with some recipes. But then also, picking and choosing some of the wines that they have to go with different flavors that I created with the wings that I made for them.
AM: I mean, that's amazing and I love a good wing! I actually have a wing recipe coming out next year in a cookbook.
CHEF EJ: Hold on! You just have a wing recipe?
AM: So it's a compilation. So we've been doing different cookbook recipes where it's always been a number of other chefs that have also participated and this is our third one. I made a very tasty recipe that will be out next year! It’s a very zippy Mezcal Chimichurri wing!
CHEF EJ: Ooo, I see you Kimmie!
AM: I know right? I mean, I know you love a good chicken wing so how can we take our wings to the next level Chef Eddie style?
CHEF EJ: Alright! So I have a few things that I that I've created so the thing about homegating and tailgating is that you want to find different flavor upgrades, but you want to keep things simple, right?
AM: Exactly.
CHEF EJ: So I have some brawts that I've uh braised in some white wine. I have this Bota Box Pinot Grigio that we braise the brats in to kind of cut through some of the fattiness that brats can have. Another upgrade that you can do is like I have a slider recipe, right? So, sliders are simple. Everybody knows how to make a slider. So what we're going to do, is we're going to upgrade it and make a spicy ketchup. And in this instance, I'm making a jerk ketchup.
AM: Oh wow, okay!
CHEF EJ: I lived in Miami for a while and so I kind of fell in love with those jerk spices and jerk flavors. So we're gonna add that to some sliders to upgrade it. And then we get to the the piece de resistance, right? So we have some wings! I have a whole chapter in my book about wings!
Don't do, takeout, you can make wings! Wings are super easy! You can make your own different sauces and you can control the pairings, you can control the spice and smoky levels to the wings. So I have this wing recipe that's a little bit, smoky a little bit spicy and that's great to pair with something like this Bota Box Revolution, which is a red blend. It's going to cut through some of the greasiness that these wings have, right?
AM: Right.
And why did you want to, you know, partner up with Bota Box?
CHEF EJ: Well, first off. I love the brand. I have boxes of this at my house that they sent me. I thought, ok, this is delicious! Not only that, but I think that Bota Box brand is perfect for tailgating, right? So, no cork screw, it’s easily portable and it has a handle right on top, but not only that in this 3L box, you have 4 bottles of wine. Now, you look like the type of person that loves a little wine right? 4 bottles of wine in one box!
That’s perfect for tailgating, if I don't say something myself. But then it's just a great brand and it’s eco-friendly all these things. I think that, you know, the thing about tailgating is that you want one-handers. So you get you one of these 500ml - you got that in one hand. You got a brawt in the other hand. You know you’re just going back and forth. Take a little sip. Take a little bite of the bratwurst.
AM: Yup.
CHEF EJ: Perfect for a tailgate and overall, it's just a great company that I fell in love with once I did my research on it. I tasted some of the wines and felt that I could get behind the product and it's been a beautiful pairing. See what I did there?
AM: I caught what you did there! I Love the pairing.
CHEF EJ: It’s been a beautiful pairing ever since.
AM: So what tips do you have for people who are hosting? A lot of times we're so into creating that tailgate or that homegate that maybe we get lost in the kitchen as opposed to watching the game and hanging out with our friends. So what can we do to prep ourselves a little better?
CHEF EJ: So just like on the football field, it's all about preparation and execution. Like I said before, you want to focus on the food and the drink. So you want to keep it simple. So all of my recipes are really simple but I have these really good tricks and things to upgrade it so that you're not spending a lot of time. But then not only that, you take this Bota Box, it's already made for you. We're not spending time making the drinks. All you have to do is just twist it off and pour it. You don't have to worry about a corkscrew. So it's more time that you get to spend watching the game, hanging out with your friends and keeping it simple!
AM: Keeping it simple is always good! So we are in the thick of the football season right now. Who are you cheering for? Who do you predict is going to the Super Bowl?
CHEF EJ: You know, I keep getting this question over and over. I'm a huge football fan, right? My favorite team is the 49ers but we're not looking too good right now. We kind of had an up and down season so far just because of injuries, but this season has been very unique because it's so many teams that are good - that has have never been good.
AM: 100%
CHEF EJ: Detroit Lions are really good. In the last couple of years, I’m like, where did they come from? They've been terrible for so long! So now all of a sudden, they’re really good! So I think that the Detroit Lions have a great chance of making it to the Super Bowl. Baltimore Ravens have a great chance to make it to the Super Bowl. Of course, the Kansas City Chiefs. You also have Buffalo. The Buffalo Bills are really good! Let's not forget about the Vikings and how good they're doing right now. So, it's just so many teams that are just killing it, this season. I mean, I'm really excited because, you know, it's kind of like, in basketball you get tired of seeing the Golden State Warriors every year.
I want to see a new team this year kind of shine and so, that's why I'm excited about this season.
AM: Well, we just came off of covering the Food Network NYC Wine Food Festival over the past four days. So it's been a hectic few days. It’s always great seeing you on Outchef’d or the Christmas Cookie Challenge. Are there any upcoming programs that we should be keeping an eye out for from you?
CHEF EJ: Yeah, so actually the Christmas Cookie Challenge is going to start up in a in a couple weeks now because believe it or not, we are getting into the holiday season. I can't believe that!
AM: I know right, this is the season!
CHEF EJ: I know! I also saw in a shopping strip that they had Christmas lights out a couple of days ago!
AM: I saw a Christmas commercial last night and heard Christmas music and I'm like, wait that's too soon! You at least have to wait until Halloween is over!
CHEF EJ: So that'll be coming out in a couple of weeks and, you know it’s the holiday time once Christmas Cookie Challenge comes on! We’re going into our 8th season. So once that starts to play that's when I know it's it's the holiday time!
AM: Are there other projects you have going on outside of TV that you would like for us to know about?
CHEF EJ: I mean, I stay busy. I have two young kids. I'm always busy. I woke up in the middle of the night and I was like, you know what? I'm ready to write my second cookbook.
AM: Alright now!
CHEF EJ: I'm gonna start working on my second cookbook and maybe Homegate Like a Pro 2.0, you know what I mean?
AM: For sure!
CHEF EJ: So maybe I will have a whole section in there with wine pairings. I don’t know.
AM: Nice, we’re here for the elevation!
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 55 Food Network/Christmas Cookie Challenge | PG 56 Outchef'd | PG 58 Bota Box |
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see YOUR NEXT HOMEGATE | Chef Eddie Jackson in mag,
For the past few years, we have enjoyed seeing Kamie Crawford on our screens in one of our long time favorite shows, Catfish! It's always fun to watch her dig into their cases, assist those being catfished, and offering a shoulder to cry on as she looks to understand what they are going through. In addition to her role here, she has expanded her TV Personality work in such shows as Are You The One, and she launched her own podcast, Relationsh*t where she talks about various relationships with her guests.
We caught up with Kamie while she was here in NY at a coffeeshop on the UES which felt like the perfect place to talk about her journey, how she engages in self-care, how she navigates this season and boosts her immunity, as well as some of her favorite reality shows.
ATHLEISURE MAG: We have been fans of yours since you were Miss Teen USA in 2010.
KAMIE CRAWFORD: Oh we go way back then. Oh yes, it’s so good to meet you!
AM: So good to meet you and it’s been great to see how you have built your career, and just all the different things that you've done! Did you ever think looking back that you would have been the co-host of Catfish for a number of seasons and doing TV personality, work, and being a voice of women and just all of these different things coming from the Midwest, which I am also from.
KC: I had no idea! So I was born in Cleveland, and as you know, I grew in Maryland, but my roots are still in Cleveland. My grandma still lives there.
I think that when I was younger, I always had it in my spirit that I wanted to do something to make people feel good about themselves. At the time, I thought that I wanted to be a dermatologist so my life was going to look completely different than it does now. But then I realized that I could do that through TV work.
AM: Yeah.
KC: Like, that is what I do on Catfish, it is what I do on my podcast. It’s what I do just in my everyday life. That is something that I strive to do. So, I think that I didn't think that it was going to look like this –
AM: Right
KC: But I knew that my life needed to be in service in some way.
AM: I love that
KC: Thank you!
AM: It's very cool.
You're constantly on the go traveling, where do you enjoy going and how do you stay healthy when you're going from place to place?
KC: Oh, well it is hard because I'm always on a plane and for some reason I always get sick when I travel.
AM: Yup.
KC: So, the good thing is that Mucinex Nightshift is now in my life and I have it as a part of my wellness kit - always with me. It's amazing because you can take it at night, so you can sleep better.
AM: Exactly.
KC: And then have a better morning the next day and be able to Girl Boss your way into things. But you can't Girl Boss when you're not feeling well!
AM: 100%
KC: It's very difficult for me. So that's definitely one tip that I have. The other one is making sure that I'm staying up to date with my vitamins. When my hormones are out of whack, I feel it.
AM: Oh yeah!
KC: I definitely feel it. I feel like newly into as a couple months, like cycle tracking and trying to balance my hormones. So taking the right supplements has been vital for me because you don't realize how many nutrients like you're depleted of. So that's definitely key. And then just like, making sure that I stick to my routines. My workout routine is not just a part of my physical health and well-being, but my mental health and well-being. So while I hate working out just as much as anyone else, I love the way I feel right when I do it. Like I just feel so accomplished.
AM: Yeah
KC: When you finish a workout class and you're like, oh I feel like that you feel good about yourself versus when you like go weeks without doing it - I hate that feeling.
AM: It's the worst feeling. You're like, all right I gotta get it together.
KC: Exactly.
That's why I like living a life with no regrets! It’s part of Mucinex's campaign. So that's what I like to do to make sure that I'm setting myself up right for the week.
AM: Wow.
Tell me about the Living With No Regrets Campaign.
KC: So Mucinex is all about, No Regrets and making sure that you are taking your next Nighshift the minute you feel those symptoms coming up that night. Take that medication so you can wake up the next day and have no regrets because sometimes we'll go through the symptoms and we'll be like “I'll just sleep it off.”
AM: Yeah.
KC: Then you wake up the next day and you feel like you just got hit by a bus! I've been there many times. It's always good and the right decision to set yourself up from that night so that you feel good the next day. But then also the funny thing is that Mr. Mucus, the Mucinex drug is now on Tinder. So if you're swiping and you see him –
AM: Ok –
KC: Make the decision that's best for you. But I went on a date with him today –
AM: Ha!
KC: And it was not great!
AM: Oh
KC: Don't make that regretful decision. Thank you.
AM: So this whole nighttime aspect of this product seems great.
What do you do for your self-care?
KC: Therapy is a part of my self-care. I am in therapy once a week. It's funny though. I've never met my therapist in person, only on Zoom.
AM: Nice.
KC: If we were to cross paths, I don't know what I would do. I think I would give her a huge hug because she's just amazing. So that's a part of my self-care, working out is a part of my self-care. Honestly, some people would say this is not self-care, but Doom Scrolling on TikTok. Sometimes when you're feeling down, you just need a laugh.
AM: I can see that.
KC: TikTok has all the laughs that I need. So I like to do that. But then I also like to spend time off my phone, with my friends, with my family, with my man, like I want to be out at, you know, a cafe with some chips and some Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
AM: Yes.
KC: Having a juicy conversation. Like that is self-care to me.
AM: That's amazing and well-rounded and nicely balanced. I got stuck in The TikTok of WTF Did I Marry! It was a busy time and at first I was like, what is this and then I remember a number of nights where I was on episode 42 getting all the details!
KC: Oh I saw all of the parts – all of the parts every single one!
AM: I'm still following her. Like what what's your life? Like what's going on?
KC: She's doing amazing!
AM: For sure, her life now got optioned into a show. I'll be watching all of it.
KC: She is doing great! I love her and shout out to Reesa Teesa!
AM: You’re killing it Reesa!
it feels like this time of year, you know, obviously we're in the Fall, but we're looking at the Holiday Season. So there's just a lot of stuff that's going on and then you also have the cold and flu season. So how do we prioritize our health and our wellness routines during this criticla portion of the year?
KC: Well I would say, you know, the change in weather and even the change in time affects everyone. It affects everyone. I don't know anyone who is like absolved from seasonal feelings, whether it's using depression, or just like seasonal sadness, we all go through it. The Holiday Season especially isn't happy and jolly for everybody.
AM: True.
KC: So I think that, you know, when you can spend your time with people that love you and care about you, you should prioritize that? Also making sure that you're not getting sick because then you will really miss out! I have had that. I have had the flu on Christmas one year and it was terrible.
AM: Oh no!
KC: This was before Mucinex’s Nightshift as it didn’t exist then, obviously. But I literally had to go to the hospital on Christmas night.
AM: That’s the worst!
KC: Terrible and that's not what we want. So make sure you're taking care of yourself. I'm sure that you're doing that mind-body and spirit all of it together.
AM: What are foods that you like to eat to boost your immune system? Like, I am always about keeping that immune system as high as I can.
KC: Oh yeah! Supplements, I take a lot of supplements, like I said, you know, balancing my hormones. That's a part of it. As women too, I feel like we're depleted of a lot of nutrients and we don't think about. So like B-12 is important, taking vitamin and making sure that you're getting all those things. Outside of vitamins, there's ways to get vitamins out of your food. Leafy greens have been a part of my life. It feels like a pain to have to consume as many leafy greens as we should -
AM: But that is what it is.
KC: That is what it is.
AM: Your body will thank you later!
KC: Kale is a necessary evil.
AM: I’m a big fan of kale!
KC: And then, you know, vitamin C, making sure that I'm drinking orange juice when I'm not feeling well. Another thing that I realized that helps me is like eliminating any kind of milky substance and I love a nice matcha latte, but when I'm feeling mucusy, anything with milk even if it's not whole milk no bueno. So that's like an elimination thing that I do.
AM: It’s always good to know what you have to navigate when you’re working around your health.
KC: Yeah, a lot of like spicy soups to get that nose going - I like to just drain it out.
AM: That’s always a smart one!
Tell me about your podcast.
KC: Relationsh*t!
AM: Yes!
KC: It's like my baby. It is - I love it. It's a relationship advice podcast. So we air every single Friday and I have different guests on every week to talk about a whole range of relationship topics. We say, we talk about all things relationships, the good, the bad and the straight up shitty. Because sometimes it's like that.
AM: Yeah.
KC: And it doesn't even just have to be romantic relationships. It could be the bad Tinder date that I went on. It could be the relationship that I have with myself, which I think is the most important relationship, sometimes even more important than a romantic relationship. But it could also be like I'm having a co-worker dispute or, you know, I'm having difficulty talking to my parents about coming out or anything and I like to bring on guests who can relate to the topic and, you know, we have celebrities, we have influencers, we have experts, you don't have to come on and like, spill your tea, but if you have something that relates to the topic – you’re more than welcome to share.
AM: I love that.
KC: Yeah. So it's a really nice little corner of my universe that I treasure.
AM: That is amazing!
Now I know you love reality shows, because I enjoy reading your posts when you're watching Love is Blind. Love is Blind is so good and I cannot wait for the last episodes.
KC: Exactly.
AM: And I think I'm going to start watching Love is Blind Habibi because I've heard so many things about it.
KC: Yeah I started that too!
AM: Yeah, I mean I have seen a number of the other global editions. Another fave is The Anonymous which just completed its first season.
KC: What is that?
AM: So The Anonymous is created by Studio Lambert which also does The Traitors, The Circle, Squid Game: The Challenge and Undercover Boss! It’s a social competition and when you’re watching it you can see elements from those shows in this. But basically people are all competing for something and then they go Anonymous and talk shit about someone, basically to get the person out. A lot of the competitors come from Survivor and other shows and they even have Andy King from Fyre Festival, but it’s on USA so you can see it on Peacock as well.
KC: Oh, okay. I’m going to have to watch The Anonymous!
AM: What reality shows are you watching?
KC: Love is Blind is everything and I highly recommend Love is Blind UK also!
AM: Same!
KC: It was so good.
AM: So good!
KC: So good - love that one. Love – Love Is Blind Habibi. Obviously I’m watching that. I love The Golden Bachelor.
AM: Yes!
KC: It's so good.
AM: In the best way possible in that the contestants in the house are just besties!
KC: They’re lika a little community. They are so loving and so sweet. Yeah. Just like, you know, they just are older and like don't care about the nonsense. So I love that. I did not watch this season of Love Island USA but I have been an avid Love Island UK watcher. I binged 6 seasons during the pandemic.
AM: Nice.
KC: I started thinking with an UK accent as it was so deeply ingrained in me. So, I love Love Island in general. I also love RuPaul’s Drag Race. Honestly, I don't think there's a reality show, that I haven't, at least tried once!
And obviously, the shows that I'm on, I love those too!
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 40 - 45 Courtesy Kamie Crawford's IG | PG 46 MTV/Are You The One | PG 48 Joey Andrew |
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see THE REALITY OF SELF-CARE | Kamie Crawford in mag.
After coming off of a full summer which is filled with food, events, and friends, the Fall continues our ability to enjoy staying outside and thankfully with Football season, it gives us a lot of reasons to enjoy games in the stadium, tailgating outside of it, and even having events in our homes. We caught up with actor Taye Diggs (How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Best Man franchise, All-American) to talk about what he loves about football season, how he enjoys taking in this season's games, his partnership with Lysol and upcoming projects that we'll want to keep an eye out for!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?
TAYE DIGGS: When I saw my mother on stage, she went from being my mother into this other person that I didn't know in front of all these people watching her. I was so taken aback and impressed, scared, curious. That was all it took.
AM: We're in the midst of football season - from watching game day with friends whether that’s at the game or elsewhere, tailgating, and just having good vibes. What do you love about football season?
TD: I like going over to a pal's house and watching the game and eating various sundry snacks. I like it a lot better now because I don't have to worry about germs as much because I use Lysol® Air Sanitizer. I used to be one of those people that would just glare at people that used to cough - people don't like to be around that. So I don't have to worry as much and I can enjoy the game and the company without worrying about getting sick. I don't like getting colds and it's that simple.
AM: What are your go-to watch party must-haves when you're watching the game and who are you cheering for?
TD: No specific team, I’m with my son and we like players. That's what the young people are into these days, I don't know that I agree with it, but it's not worth the argument with my son. So when we watch the players, I make sure that the fridge is stocked and that nobody gets too out of hand. I don't like when fights break out. So people know not to bring that mess into my house.
Lysol Air Sanitizer is another must-have for me during watch parties. It actually sanitizes the air - so I use it before people come over to get my space ready and after they leave to sanitize after all that cheering!
AM: You partnered with Lysol Air Sanitizer - why did you want to work with them and how important is it to have whether at a watch party or the stadium?
TD: Football season is one of my favorite times of year, especially hosting game-day watch parties at-home. But I learned through my partnership with Lysol that cheering for your team can result in viruses and bacteria expelled in the air – shouting can produce up to 100,000 droplets per minute (Source)! That’s why Lysol Air Sanitizer is my game day must-have. It kills 99.9% of airborne viruses and bacteria† to eliminate odors in the air*, so you can protect your home while cheering on your favorite team all season long!
AM: In All American, you played coach Billy Baker, a high school football coach. What did you love about playing this role and how did you look at football after doing this?
TD: I thought I knew a little bit about football before that role and realized that I knew nothing about football. I gained a ridiculous amount of respect for professional athletes because we were exposed to so many and the intelligence that these athletes have that people assume they don't. Which is really, really cool. Getting to understand something that you thought you knew. Being able to yell at all these young people, that's a situation where pretending was really, really fun because that is so far from who I am as a person. Which is one of the reasons why I took the role and it was so much fun because in this career, a lot of times you play characters that are kind of close to you and this one wasn't, and I really had a great time.
AM: You're always working on a number of amazing projects. The first film I remember seeing you in was How Stella Got Her Groove Back and I know that you are working on another project from Terry McMillan, Forever on Lifetime. What do you love about her work? Tell me about Forever.
TD: They're great stories and that's where all of this begins. If you don't have this story, for me, you don't have anything. That's where my interest begins. I've had experiences with her, so it was a no brainer. What was interesting about this film was I got to kind of chronicle how far I've come from How Stella Got Her Groove Back and that was kind of cool. I'm a different actor, the way I approach a role, all of that was different, and I noticed it. So that was cool.
AM: Do you have any other upcoming projects that you would like to share that we should keep an eye out for?
TD: I'm a judge on this new show coming out called Second Chance Stage where it gives performers that had a dream and put their dream by the wayside another chance to pursue this dream. It's very eye opening, it's very emotional. These folks are terribly talented and we were put in the positions to give them more opportunities and it was kind of life altering.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 32 Joey Andrew | PG 34 Second Chance Stage/Magnolia Network | PG 36 - 38/Taye Diggs Social
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see FOOTBALL + FILM | Taye Diggs in mag.
Whether you have enjoyed seeing her on New Girl, Elf, or even the Trolls franchise, Zooey Deschanel is one of our faves who always has such a light hearted nature about her and a great sense of style. Earlier this year, she partnered with Vera Bradley to become the fave of their campaigns. We took a moment to talk with her about her love of vintage style, pieces she's drawn to, what she loves about the Holiday Season, and what she has coming up that we can't wait to see!
ATHLEISURE MAG: Earlier this year, it was announced that you had partnered with Vera Bradley which is amazing. I grew up with the brand. I’m originally from Indiana which is where this is based and of course, I’m in NY now, so it’s cool to see how much the brand has evolved since I first connecting it with so many years ago.
What do you love about this brand, why did you want to partner with them and what are 3 bags from the Holiday collection that you are excited about?
ZOOEY DESCHANEL: I love this brand going back to the quilted bags which they still have! There’s so many beautiful patterns and I have always liked that kind of vibe. But now they have so much variety! They have bags for basically every aspect of your day, your week, and your month!
So I really wanted to partner with them because they were doing a big rebrand and kind of bringing an aspect into their catalog that was a little bit more high end and kind of fancier and a little more fashion forward so I kind of liked the idea that they were expanding their repertoire. Their design team is fantastic and I’m excited to show everybody what’s on offer.
I actually have a bunch of bags here that I can show you!
This is one of my favorite bags!
AM: That’s pretty cute!
ZD: This is the Heritage Bear Crossbody in Goji Berry Red Leather! I just really connect with this for obvious reasons!
Another bag that I really like is this velvet bag which is for holiday, the Astoria Shoulder Bag in Sea Moss Velvet. These are all holiday and it has a very beautiful chain and it’s big so you can fit a lot of stuff. It’s also great for evening and I think it can go great for daytime as well.
This is very me, it’s a mini tote bag – Mini Hathaway Tote in Bossanova Bold Sequin Leather. It’s a great size, it’s not too big and you can fit a lot of things in there. These straps are called friendship straps I think.
AM: Oh that’s cute!
ZD: You can make it a crossbody if you want. It’s a tote and you can take off the straps and can make it to your liking. One of the things that I like most about Vera Bradley is that almost all of the bags have a lot of compartments that are very practical.
One thing that was funny was that I was in kind of like a few years ago, I was in a fancy bag store. I noticed that none of the bags had compartments! None of them had zippers and I was so shocked about it! They were like, “oh, it’s really expensive to put those things in.” This shocked me because these bags were really expensive! They retail for more than a Vera Bradley bag and their bags have all kinds of zippers.
I mean, not every single one has it but, let’s say a more practical bag like a travel one that they have – it has tons of places where you can put all kinds of things so that you can stay organized. I mean, I’m a mom, we have to be organized!
AM: 100%
You did a photoshoot with your stylist, Ib Nasser where you combined Miu Miu and vintage pieces in it along with the brand. Tell us more about this.
ZD: Actually my stylist, who is right here – we both have a passion for vintage clothes that are very – fashion history is a passion of mine. I have always collected vintage. So that was definitely going to be part of it because it’s like the things that we buy has to fit into our aesthetic and all of the things that we have collected. It’s really a nice way to express your style and also, we kind of – a lot of the things that we buy, we also tailor a lot and reimagine as well.
AM: Which is really smart as fit is everything!
What do you love about the holiday season? I loved you in Elf, I loved that movie which is such a great one to watch during the holidays. So what do you love about it?
ZD: You know, Christmas, Thanksgiving, the holidays in general – the season! It’s always been one of my favorite times of year since I was a little kid. I kind of like when it gets colder and I love decorating a house for Christmas. I love spending time with my family most of all of course, Nothing beats a Christmas morning for me. I love it so much.
I like watching old movies. Last year we watched Meet Me in St. Louis on Christmas and I just love Christmas carols! I love the whole holiday vibe.
AM: Around now is when I start thinking about shopping for the holidays so that I’m not pushed to the last minute to do it. How do you tackle that as it is a whole project in and of itself!
ZD: It is really hard! I love to give gifts and it kind of makes it more stressful for me. I think that I care too much sometimes about it! I want to make sure that people really like what I get them. So sometimes, I will be late in giving gifts because it will take me forever to find the perfect gift. It is really helpful if I know of a place that has really cool stuff. You know, one stop shopping! That’s actually and not to bring it back to Vera Bradley, but it’s one of the things that I like as they have travel things, they have stocking stuffers, suitcases, they have all of the beautiful evening bags, they have everyday bags, and it’s a lot in one place! That’s a key thing for me! Some years, I will be in a mode where I will do work gifts. It’s one thing that I know that everyone will like. But if you can order a lot of stuff from one site, or go to one store – that is always great!
AM: You have to save time!
ZD: Exactly, you have to save time!
AM: I’m sure that you’re always hosting friends and family during the holiday season. Do you have go-to items that you like to have such as certain types of snacks or drinks just so that it makes things easy especially for impromptu celebrations that take place?
ZD: Yeah, I always have a lot of snacks on hand at my house. I always have a ton of crackers and nuts in my pantry. But if I am having people over, I usually do a nice cheese plate because that is always great. Cookies are always popular and then sometimes I like to have a bit of food delivery. So there are places that will have cheese plates delivered and that’s pretty nice!
AM: It’s nice homey ta-da touch delivered!
ZD: Of course! You can always think about having these in your freezer – there are bakeries that make the unbaked cookies or even in the grocery store. You can keep them in the freezer and then when you want them, you can just bake them and then you have fresh cookies when people come. I had some croissants like that that were from a bakery – they were raw and then you just put them right in the oven! And then people are like, “oh my God, did you bake this?”
AM: It’s like – um yeah!
ZD: I mean, I did bake it! But I did none of the other work though!
AM: Exactly!
Are there any upcoming projects coming up that you have that we can share with our readers?
ZD: I have a movie coming out next year! I’m not sure what it’s called, it had a working title Merv – I’m not sure if that will be the final title. It’s for Amazon, it’s a rom-com. It’s such a cute movie, I’m really excited about it and I think that that will be really good. That’s with Charlie Cox and it will come out end of next year.
PHOTOS COURTESY | Vera Bradley
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and read VINTAGE STYLE HOLIDAY | Zoey Deschanel in mag.
This month, Athleisure Mag also hit New York Comic Con which took place Oct 17th - 20th. We enjoyed navigating the booths and experiences at the Javits Center, hearing about new series and movies that we can't wait to attend those press junkets that will begin over the next few months!
In addition to navigating the show floor, costumes, and large exhibits, we also sat in on a panel of Apple TV+'s Shrinking. To hear the cast share that the show has been greenlit for a 3rd season, to share a few minutes from an upcoming episode, and to just listen to them chat about this incredible show was a lot fun to listen to.
Other panels of interest included HBO's The Penguin, HBO's Dune Prophecy, STARZ's Outlander, and Prime Video's Cross. It was just as much fun to watch enthusiasts of the shows as they listened to the cast share their experiences and thoughts, how they truly enjoy being able to get to know more about these programs and to meet those that are involved.
We're defintiely looking forward to next year as it's a great opportunity to enjoy programs that have an avid and engaged fan base as well as to check in with some of the best prestige TV shows! For those planning ahead, mark your calendars for Oct 9-12th in 2025!
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 186 + 190 Kimmie Smith | PG 188 The Penguin Panel + PG 192 Outlander Panel Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop |
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 og Athleisure Mag and see New York Comic Con 2024 in mag.
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI | Derek Hough in mag.
Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI | Taye Diggs in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Walmart/Tina Rowden
This time of year is an exciting one as we begin to close one and look ahead to the next one. While we maintain our normal schedules, we also infuse it with the Holiday season - it’s great to share with friends and family, exchange gifts, increase celebratory moments, and so much more! We all know that they are key dates coming up that are focused on the exchange of gifts as well as obtaining them at various points. We took a moment to chat with Walton Goggins (Preadators, The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained) to find out about why he partnered with Walmart for the holiday season, what he loves about this time of year, and upcoming projects that he is involved in!
ATHLEISURE MAG: Obviously, we're going to talk about your amazing partnership with Walmart and what's going on with that. But we have a few questions to ask you because our readers are so excited that we're able to chat with you.
WALTON GOGGINS: Okay, okay, alright, fantastic!
AM: We've been a fan of yours since - you have too many things to name - Justified, Righteous Gemstones, George and Tammy, and the list can go on in film as well as in TV. We find you to be such an amazing actor who plays immersive and diverse characters. When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?
WG: What a great question! I don't think that there was like a bolt of lightning that happened. I think it happened over the course of a very long period of time. I was raised mostly by women and a lot of interesting characters were around in my childhood and all of them just happened to be really interesting great storytellers.
AM: Right.
WG: So I'm listening to a lot of stories and then once I was given the microphone to start telling my own stories, you know, I had a natural kind of built-in audience that just kept saying, “no, no, keep keep talking Walt.” So, you kind of have that encouragement, you know, right out of the gate. It's hard to kind of do anything else. I genuinely just wanted to see the world. That was the main thing. Then it just - one life kind of dovetailed into the other and the opportunity that to see the world, and to be able to be a storyteller was just something that fit. You know, how do any of us really go about things? What are the decisions that any of us make that lead us on the road that we're going to be on for the rest of our lives? You know, is it fate or is it an accident?
AM: Mmm.
WG: What is it? That I don't know. But I'm so grateful for my life And grateful for the opportunities that I've had to tell the stories that I have!
AM: Absolutely!
PHOTO CREDIT | Walmart/Tina Rowden
WG: Including Walmart Black Friday Deals!
AM: Exactly! Without a doubt!
Why did you want to be connected in to this amazing project and tell us more about it.
WG: Well, first and foremost, Walmart is a part of American culture. It’s not the whole culture, but it's certainly part of American culture. It is a corporation that has been in all of our lives for such a very long time! And where I come from on Fairburn Road, a lot of my friends as we got older, we started to work there and I had the good fortune - I'll tell you a little bit about my history with this company.
AM: Please.
WG: I was a poor kid from the South and I made really good grades and I had the opportunity to go to school. But we didn't have a lot of money and we had to get the pay the rent. I got a small Scholastic Scholarship, you know. But in addition to that, there was a gap of funding that we just couldn't make that square around that square if you will and my mom, you know through our friends or whatever, heard that Walmart, had a grant.
AM: Oh wow.
WG: It was a sizeable amount of money and when I went you know in 1988 or 1989. I’m dating myself, don’t tell anybody!
AM: Ha! That's okay!
WG: My mom encouraged me to write this essay, you know, to the Walmart. That's how it works and that’s what I did - and I won!
AM: Wow.
WG: The money that I, I desperately needed, you know, my first year in college and in addition to that incredible opportunity, this company gave me - they also printed an 8x10 picture of me. I don't know what it was. I think it was a headshot. It was my first headshot, I think that's what it was. They put it up in their store, you know, for the better part of 6 months. People would call me because you know we didn’t have cell phones then, but they would leave these stupid messages on my answering machine, “saw your picture in Walmart, Walton. Are you part of the Walton family?"
So anyway, that was that's kind of my history with this company. This opportunity kind of came along and they sent this script and I thought, “wow, what a what an interesting way. Two sell things, right?” You know, it's a hybrid between entertainment and doing what we're gonna do anyway, which is to find things for our loved ones at the holidays. Black Friday deals have been around for a long time. They played an important role in my family's ability to buy things for Christmas and it does for a lot of people in this country and all over the world and I thought, what a cool thing to be a part of. I'm so happy that I did it. There's all these wonderful actors that I work with like Ian Somerhalder. There are others like Lisa Rinna, Taye Diggs who I've known for a while, Anthony Ramos and it’s great folks and it's 10 stories. These stories are vignettes if you will. There’s a supernatural genre, action genre, mine is a Western genre!
AM: Shocker!
WG: But you know what? I've done action!
AM: Of course!
WG: I have done a lot of genres in my time, but this is one that they saw me in and invited me to kind of come along this journey. We had such a great time filming it. You know, it was just so much fun and they’re such a great company to work for and work with. So, when I think people will watch them and they'll see the things that they want to buy and some things featured in a way that makes them laugh. It brings a smile to their face and so it’s a great way to go about it!
AM: Well, do you know when your episode will drop, do they all drop at one time? Like what's kind of the flow?
WG: Well you know, there are ten. I’m not exactly sure when they all drop. I know mine will drop towards the end of November which is, which is kind of very, very exciting because it's getting close to Dec. I think more will be revealed as it goes on. The first one drops on Nov. 11th-17th. I think that’s the first block and they'll kind of rolled out from there.
AM: Wow it’ll be great to see them!
What do you love about the holiday season?
WG: Oh God. You know, I just did this article, I won't say for the publication, but it’s about the holiday season. It's really kind of a Thanksgiving more than a Christmas article. I just love the opportunity to commune with family and friends. You know, we all have our rituals right? We all have the things that things that we do but the thing that I do that I've been given the opportunity to do is I don't really watch a lot of sports. I’m not that guy even though I played a bunch of sports growing up.
I make a fire and I and I sit around that fire with my family and with my friends and I have a glass of wine and I listen to music. And I just commune. What better thing is there than that and to tell people that mean something to you how much you love them?
AM: That's really nice and very sweet!
You're always working on so many projects. I can't wait till White Lotus comes out and I know that you have a bunch of other stuff as well. Is there anything that you would like to share with us, that you're working on that we can keep an eye out for?
WG: Well, you know, I think you said it, you know, I got a bunch of things that are coming out. I have a few movies that are coming out. My wife has a movie that she wrote and directed called The Uninvited, which is dropping pretty soon.
Then there is The White Lotus and we just finished the new season of the Righteous Gemstones!
AM: So excited for that!
WG: So good. It's so good.
AM: Everytime I watch that show, I grew up in the Midwest with an Evangelical and Pentecostal background and there's just so many things that happen on that show and my boyfriend will ask, “Is that real?” and I'm like, “yes!”
WG: Oh yeah! That’s real and that one is real too!
We're going back to Fallout here pretty soon. And then, kind of beyond that, reading and waiting and seeing what the future brings live everybody else! But right now, Walmart!
PHOTO CREDIT | Walmart/Tina Rowden
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelorette/Gilles Mingasson
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
How is it the finale of The Golden Bachelorette? We see some of The Golden Bachelor contestants in the audience and Grant, who will start his journey as The Bachelor is in the audience! Jesse Palmer is definitely bringing the energy as he’s with the live audience.
We know that Joan Vassos was sad when Pascal left. She shares how even though she has been vulnerable, her walls have come back up because she is so hurt by what happened - how could he not love her? What will this mean for the remaining men Guy and Chock? Nancy is still on the boat and she comes over to give love to Joan. She also gives her the words she needs to hear to continue on and lets her know that regardless of what happens, the remaining men are there for her and have shown her that - especially Chock when he came back after his mother died! She is the hype woman that we all need when things go left!
She finally gets to see her family and they have a moment and give their blessing to what she has been doing in this process. Chock gets to meet them first! The family thinks he’s a great fit and they also get to chat and hang out on their own. Chock tells her that he loves her and is a bit sad she doesn’t say it back although he understands as there is still another man there.
While Guy gets ready for his date, Joan comes to the realization that after hearing Chock say that he is in love with her, she has fallen for him. She makes her way to Guy as she knows that she can’t go on a date with him as her heart is elsewhere. She sits down to chat with him. She lets him know that instead of putting him through meeting her family and going through the motion, she wanted to tell him now. You can see how Guy is really sad and crying hearing this news.
Back in the studio, Guy is on the couch.Guy and Jesse chat about what it was like to watch it back. Then Joan chats with Guy and you can see how much that she cares for him. She hopes that can double date with one another.
With only Chock left, we see Joan get ready to meet him. He’s still nervous that she hasn’t said that she loves him; however, they are on the beach and he professes his love to her and tells her that he wants her in his life! She talks about their Disneyland date let her know that she wanted him in her life. She knew that when he left because of the death of his mother, that she really liked him and she felt safe. She was excited that he came back adn she saw him differently and she finally says that she loves him. He asks her to marry him, she says yes, and she gives him the final rose! They call Joan’s mom and tell her the good news. We see them float away and it looks like a great match.
Back on the couch, they share more about their love story and what they did after the show. Chock talks about spending time with her, but not being able to tell anyone about it. Jesse gives them a trip to Disneyland that they can enjoy with their families as that was something that they had mentioned when they were on their first date. Jesse also reminds us that The Bachelor will start on Jan 23rd and we have a preview of the upcoming season!
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelorette/Gilles Mingasson
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
Last week’s The Golden Bachelorette was a tough one! 3 dates with the remaining guys after their Hometowns and Joan Vassos has to really get the answers and insight that she was looking for! Who knew that Pascale would leave as he was always our favorite! Only Guy and Chock are left and we’ll have to waut until next week to see them. As we wait for the part 2 of this finale, we head into the The Men Tell All! This lets us catch up with our favorites and to get more info on what went down during the season.
We join Jesse Palmer who will make sure that we get all of our questions ready and surely, he will tease the upcoming episode as well. Seeing the men back definitely felt like seeing old friends. Jesse lets us know that they have also their kids there as we all loved seeing the videos that were made to share their love for their dads. Jesse talks about their experience, kickball, Chippendales, and so much more! We also got to hear about grill gate and it’s such a nice walk down memory lane. We also hear that Michael was battling cancer when he was on the show. He is fine now, but so interesting to hear some of the backstory that we didn’t know about these men.
The first person to join the hot seat is Jonathan who was eliminated after Joan went to his Hometown. We get to see his experience on the show and we see how emotional he was when he was sent home. He shares that the experience was incredible and she made him feel seen. We also saw the bromance between Mark and Jonathan! Who knew that they were such buddies - Mark leaving the post-it-notes for Jonathan is so sweet!
Mark joins the hot seat as we know him from Joey’s (who is in the audience and taking a break from Dancing with the Stars) season on The Bachelor and we all knew he would be a great contestant for The Golden Bachelorette! We watch how his story unfolds on the show and without a doubt, he was great to be part of this group of men!
The moment we have been waiting for - Charles L is in the hot seat! Who doesn’t love this man? Seeing his journey was such a sweet moment. He even says that he didn’t know who Jesse was at the time and not to take an offense to it! His daughter says that after being on the show, they went to a wedding in London and he had a new confidence and he hit the dance floor! He said he is ready to date again and that his body is lighter and he hopes that he will meet the lucky one. An audience member said that he should be the next The Golden Bachelor and if not, she has a mom who is single.
We see that Pascal gave the men a self-care day with a bit of meditation. They have face masks and even did a meditation that he learned in India. The men enjoyed it.Of course we learn that he didn’t know anything about meditation!
We get to see Kim’s time on the show - including the Mansion Men song. The Gay Men’s Chorus of LA sing Kim’s song the treatment that it deserves and it was a pretty cool way to see the show! You can see how moved Kim is to see his song come to life and he shakes each member of the chorus’ hand.
Pascal comes to the hot seat as we watch how his time on the show progressed until his self-proclaimed exit. We definitely thought that they would end up together, but unfortunately, that was not in the cards. Pascal lets Jesse know that seeing his exit from the show was emotional and that it was so hard for him to say goodbye to her. He did not intend to hurt her, he just knows that he couldn’t give her what she wanted. He said that being with the men, he learned a lot for them about being vulnerable. His son also acknowledges that when he saw him being vulnerable, it helped him see that that is something that he can be without feeling that it makes him less than.
Joan joins the men and looks fabulous! Jesse acknowledges that we saw her last week and we know that she has been going through it, but she looks great sitting on the couch. He talks about the first night and what her experience has been. Gary sends love to Joan’s mother as he wrote a prayer for her when she wasn’t feeling well. Charles says he misses her and that being with her was a turning point. She lets him know that he looks so handsome and that he has such a pure heart. She promises to exchange phone numbers with him. Jonathan also sends love to her and lets her know that has met someone and that he is happy. Pascal and Joan exchange words and you can see the love that is between them. She lets them know that she misses them and she wants to stay friends and in connection with them.
It’s been one of our favorite The Men Tell All episodes! We get to see some amazing bloopers and a peek into the finale episode!
JOAN DIDN’T GIVE ROSES OUT THIS DURING FINALE PART I | Chock, Guy
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelorette/Gilles Mingasson
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
This week’s The Golden Bachelorette bring us the first portion of the Finale! With the cold opening, we can tell that something has taken place that has shaken Joan Vassos. Until then, we see her in the airport in LA making her way to Tahiti to be with the remaining men. She has Guy, Pascal, and Chock and while she sails a cruiseliner, she’s excited that her fellow The Golden Bachelor contestant, Nancy is there with her. They catch up as they talk about her experience so far.
We know that Guy told her that he was falling in love with her and she wonders if he is ahead of her in terms of the feelings that he has. She likes Pascal, but she knows that he is guarded, but he lives big just like her husband. Then she knows that Chock is amazing; however, she wonders if he is too good to be true!
Nancy and Joan talk about the importance of Fantasy Suites and that being off camera allows her to have those deep conversations that she is looking for. Nancy listens to her and she also boosts her feelings to let her know that she is where she needs to be. She lets her know that she will stay with her this week as she navigates these next few days while she makes her decisions.
Her first takes place in Moorea with Guy. We see him getting ready for his date and we know that he is excited to meet with her and the fact that he will get to spend all this time with her. He believes he is falling in love with her and he can see a future with her as well.
She can see a future with him and she acknowledges that they are not in the same place in this relationship. So she is looking forward to getting where he is and wants to keep an open mind about him. She talks about their Hometowns and how she enjoyed meeting his family. They enjoyed lounging on a boat and diving underwater.
As they get closer, we see Chock and Jesse Palmer chatting about what the experience has been like thus far. He acknowledges that Guy and Paslcal bring a lot to the table, but he is willing to put his best foot forward and to give it everything that he has.
The evening portion of the date begins and she lets them know that they made good memories together. She lets him know that the overnight of the Fantasy Suites will be about being off-camera and talking. But it will not be about being physical and that she doesn’t want to do that with 3 people and wants to do that with her final person. He lets her know that she respects that and isn’t surprised that that was what she wants to do.
We see Guy leaving his overnight and stating that he had intimacy on an emotional level and he was able to say and got what he needed from the experience! He feels great about where things are between them.
Chock is making his way to Joan for their date. He is excited as he told her he was falling in love with her at his Hometowns in Witchita. Their date is on an HTV as they driving fast throughout the greenery around them. She trusted him and felt safe with him. They had a great dinner and they went to the Fantasy Suites. Chock lets us know he had a great time, it was everything he wanted, and that if Joan wanted to say what went down, she could, but he was just going to keep it to himself.
Jesse and Pascal sit down and chat and they talk about the conversation he had with Joan in Chicago during his Hometowns about opening up to people. He tells Jesse about a previous relationship that he has been involved with where he was in love, but that they couldn’t go forward. He wants to work on bringing his walls down and wants to open up with Joan.
Their date begins and they enjoy a buffet of foods and they are enjoying this. He is excited to have an easy day and then to be able to have serious conversations later. Pascal enjoyed the beginning of the date and they head into the next part, the bonding ceremony which is a traditional one that takes place in Tahiti. They both have to be vulnerable when you are talking about things. Although he thought the ceremony was beautiful, he was surprised about the seriousness of it as he was looking for something light. She feels that the experience has been great for both of them. He feels that he was not ready for this part of the date and he feels scared and he wasn’t ready for all of that.
While they sit down to dinner, Pascal asks the things that he has been thinking about - why she likes him, letting her know about his previous relationship, and he shares that the date scared him and he doesn’t want to hurt her. He doesn’t think that he can get to the place that she needs him to be. He tells her that he knows what love is and that he cares about her as a friend, but he is not in love and he can’t be there. He lets her know that no matter how much fun they have and the care he has for her - the spark is not there. She lets him know that she wishes he was ready and available, but she realizes that this is where they are. He knew that she was hurting and he felt awful that he did this to her. We’re sad to see Pascal go, but there is something to be said about people being honest in where they are at.
Next week, we have the Men Tell All and the week after, we have the second part of the Finale.
JOAN DIDN’T GIVE ROSES OUT THIS WEEK | Chock, Guy
GUYS WHO LEFT THIS WEEK | Pascal
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
This month, We're making the transition from the Summer to the Fall. We're thinking about all the things that this season is perfect for from still being able to enjoy being outdoors with a few layers, the crispness that begins to encompass the air, a number of fun festivals, apple/pumpkin picking, and so much more! The last few months have involved being out and about with friends and family, and of course the upcoming holiday season.
This sense of community and coming together with food is something that Chef Aarti Sequeira embodies. We've had the pleasure of interviewing her in our NOV ISSUE #71 a few years ago when her My Family Recipe Journal was released. At that time we talked about how she came to food, being a chef, Food Network's Halloween Wars, and more.
This month, we caught up with her to talk about her latest cookbook that came out last year - UNWIND: A Devotional Cookbook For The Harried and Hungry, food festivals that she is participated in and why she likes being involved, hosting Halloween Wars, why she likes being part of the Food Network family and more!
ATHLEISURE MAG: It was so great chatting with you a few years ago where we talked about how you got into food, your food journey and everything that led up to the Family Recipe Journal that you dropped as at that time, you were a few days out from dropping that book!
So before we talk about things that have gone on since that book and things that are coming up, we’d love to know if you remember the dish that you had that made you first fall in love with food?
CHEF AARTI SEQUEIRA: Oh wow! I mean, I don't remember doing this because I was just a baby but my mum, my most vivid memory of me with food is that she would be making dinner and she would just you know pick me up and put me on the counter next to her chopping board and she would just be slicing onions, garlic and ginger and she'd look away for a second. And you know, with my little like you know how babies don't have like knuckles, right?
AM: Right!
CHEF AS: They just have dimples. It’s just those teeny, tiny dimples in a fist and I'd grab the onions and I was just shoving them in my mouth!
AM: Oh!
CHEF AS: She couldn't, she couldn't believe it and I liked it! It’s ironic because I hate raw onions now.
AM: Right!
CHEF AS: But I loved it back then, and I think that, you know, just from then on that the kitchen is just always where I've wanted to be and there's always been food in my mouth haha.
AM: Which is a good thing! I feel like if people were less hangry, that things might be better!
CHEF AS: Well that is true!
AM: Well, when we last chatted you were like a couple of days out actually from the My Family Recipe Journal, but since that conversation in talking with you, you also have released UNWIND: A Devotional Cookbook For The Harried and Hungry. Can you tell us a bit about the book, why you wanted to create it, and what can we expect when we're reading this?
CHEF AS: Yeah, I really created it for people like me and maybe people who are not like me, but anyone who experiences that sort of 4:30pm/5:30pm salt in the wound?
AM: Yes!
CHEF AS: You’ve had a full day and you've been all things to all people and then you’re like, “and now I’ve got to make dinner?”
AM: Right!
CHEF AS: Are you kidding? And it feels you know, it’s the last thing usually between you and bed.
AM: Yeah.
CHEF AS: Haha or you and crappy television, you know what I mean?
AM: Exactly!
CHEF AS: It’s the last hump that you have to get over. And I just found myself taking this thing that had once been my joy and once been my Sanctuary and starting to resent. It was like I started to phone it in and that's not right because you know, I have children now!
AM: Right!
CHEF AS: I didn't want to be giving them or serving them resentment at the dinner table.
AM: Of course!
CHEF AS: So, one of the things that I remembered is that there was this woman that owned an Indian grocery store in LA. and when I had to talked to her about cooking, she had mentioned that she had always prayed before she cooked and that was such a light bulb moment for me! She's Hindu, and I'm Christian. and I just remember going, well if she's doing it - why am I not doing it, you know?
AM: Mmm
CHEF AS: So I did start praying before I cooked and I just found that it opened up a passageway, like a spiritual passageway that took this very mundane chore. This thing that I resented and helped me see it as a moment of sacred connection and it redeemed it, right? And what I found was that in what started off like, "oh Lord, please let this dish turn out right or okay,” you know what I mean? Or let the kids like it or not have anything fall on floor – turned into…
“You know, one of the reasons I'm really upset right now, Jesus is that I'm really feeling discouraged that I didn't get that job that I wanted.”
AM: Right.
CHEF AS: Or, “I'm really scared about this thing that's happening in my family or any number of things.” And so, while I was cooking, that's when that conversation was happening. And I found that there was so much healing.
AM: Yup.
CHEF AS: That healing that was happening through that whole process was amazing. And I was like, well, if it works for me, I would like to be the sort of guide that says, “hey guys, this can work for you too.” This can be a moment, a half hour, 45 minutes in the day, where okay, maybe you didn't have your quiet time today, or maybe you did, and you need another one. This can be It. And I think the lesson that I learned from that is that, you mentioned it! You know, so often when we're walking into the kitchen at that hour, we are tired and we are hungry and we are hangry. And that's when quite often we are in that space. So, if we can get into the practice of turning our eyes towards heaven, when we are at our worst in the kitchen, then we will do that when we are at our worst in the car, in a meeting, doing laundry, talking to someone that's very triggering.
AM: Oh yes!
CHEF AS: All of this stuff, it just builds up muscle in us. So, I now have learned after that experience and after writing UNWIND that how you show up in the kitchen and how you come out of that kitchen, is great practice for how you show up and leave every situation in your life.
AM: That really resonates because a lot of times when there's projects being worked on whether it's a series of business meetings or calls I need to make I'll do a prayer before.
CHEF AS: Yes!
AM: It could be a project or anything I’m doing where I need that reset, it allows my mind to take a pause a beat and then to almost get closer to certain things that maybe have nothing to do with what's going on. But you're able to kind of like categorize it and you just come out a lot better of a person versus me just running out and being like argh!!!
CHEF AS: It is good to sort of slow down. You know, I think a lot of people say, get present. And for me, getting present with myself is just not enough because myself is the problem. So I need to get present with God. That is the one that's going to pull me out of myself and actually fix it.
AM: That's true. That's very true. And, you know, do you find that, because I find that the books that you've done, it is so personal because you are talking about, you know, getting in touch with yourself, getting in touch with God, getting into a better place. Is it is it more difficult to have these books that have a cookbook component as well as this other inspirational component too? Do you feel the process in writing it is longer? Do you feel that you get, you know what I mean - like, because you're doing two different components putting it together. It's beautiful, and seamless, but I know a lot of times if I'm writing something that comes from more of a personal place in my heart, I'm gonna grapple with that for like 80 more hours.
CHEF AS: Yeah, 100%. I mean, I think writing a cookbook is a much more difficult process than I imagined. I think before I kind of got into this world, I was like, oh, well, you know, you just write your recipes and blah blah.
AM: Right!
CHEF AS: But then once it becomes your way of life, at least for me, you know, I'm super critical.
AM: Yeah, same.
CHEF AS: Super critical of myself and so I'm questioning every instinct, every idea, every finished product. Wondering if it's good enough, wondering, if I've written it well, wondering - you know saying the worst things to myself. And so, then couple that with trying to be an ambassador for God.
AM: Right.
CHEF AS: There is always like, there is so much room for failure. I did find it to be a really, really difficult process. We also did it so quickly. We did the whole thing in about 6 or 7 months.
AM: Whoa!
CHEF AS: You know, most people take like a year or 2 years because, you know, some of the people that I'm seeing putting cookbooks out, they're like, “you know, this has been the past 2 or 3 years of my life,” and I'm like, oh my God! You know, I don't know what's worse. Like I don't know if it's worse to live with something for 3 years and live with that kind of pressure for three years.
AM: Exactly.
CHEF AS: Am I a marathon runner or am I a sprinter? I think I've always been a sprinter.
AM: Yup.
CHEF AS: So I think that God kind of knew, you know, what kind of project it needed to be for me. But yeah, I mean, I think I even posted on my social media about how difficult it was that like the process of creativity was not like - was not like a scene from Ratatouille and it has never been for me. It's never been - it's very rarely a moment of like the muse, you know, and going to bed where it’s saying, “hey, why don't you pull tamarind and ginger together and build ribs,” like it’s very rare that that happens. A lot of it is full on. It feels like you're working out, you are throwing weights around picking them back up again, throwing them down again that was the process for me and getting to write that book meant that I had to employ 2 very different parts of my brain and try to make them make sense. But it was also a great challenge, like, I really enjoyed it and I sort of felt like this idea for me felt like a download from heaven and so I was like at this moment in time, I'm the only person that is doing this. So I have to believe that I am also being totally equipped to do it. I have to thank my husband who helped me so much because he loves words and he loves the Bible and so it's really helpful to have him at my side literally for some of them like writing portions of it and then me being able to then put it in my own words. He was like such a such a rock to me.
AM: That's amazing!
Are you already thinking about that next cookbook? I mean, you've already done, you know, these last two. I mean, I know you had one before obviously, but you know, that's so quick between the recipe book. Now it's UNWIND! Is there something in the future that you're kind of sketching out?
CHEF AS: I don't know, you know, I think cookbooks are so hard because frankly there are just so many of them and it's hard to capture people's attention in between. I mean, I'd love to write another one, but I think I also would like some time to really fine tune you know, where is my cooking at this point? What is it that excites me. And what you know? I just feel a little bit all over the place because my career has really, has really taken off it feels like this year.
AM: Yeah.
CHEF AS: I’m traveling, so much of that. I'm probably cooking for other people more than I'm cooking for my family.
AM: Wow.
CHEF AS: And yeah. And so, I want to get back to cooking for my family because I feel like that's like truly the essence of who I am or who I want to be. And so, I'm open to it, of course, and I'm open to even doing another one because I, I do think that I'm proud of it. I really, I'm really proud of it. And even, you know, and every time, just even the other day, someone sent me a photo of one of the recipes that they made and the fact that they were doing it in their small group and they were going through the devotions together. I mean, it just is like so meaningful to me more meaningful than anything else I've worked on, because yes, they're making the recipes, but they're also reading the words that I wrote and reflecting and when I read the words that I wrote, I'm so very convinced that I was not the one that was writing them because I don't recognize it!
AM: Haha right!
CHEF AS: You know, I'm a little nervous to go through that whole process again because, frankly, it was really rough. But when I look at it and I look at the fruit of it, I'm like, well, I mean, hi, I get to partner with God again and that’s kind of amazing.
AM: One thing I love when I'm looking at your IG, I love your Monday Motivations. I think they're so amazing.
CHEF AS: Oh thank you!
AM: And as we are dropping on Monday, do you have a Monday Motivation for us that we can share with our readers?
CHEF AS: Ooo. What have I been toggling in my mind? I think the message that I feel like keeps coming up is - if God is knocking on the door, he's kind of yelling through the door at you.
AM: Ha! I feel that one!
CHEF AS: Which is kind of, “are you more interested in what I can do through you or are you more interested in spending time with Me?”
AM: Ooo ...
CHEF AS: Because I have to say, I took inspiration from someone who posted it online - that concept, at least. But I have been feeling it -
AM: Yeah.
CHEF AS: You know what I mean?
AM: Yeah.
CHEF AS: The first one is about me.
AM: Yup.
CHEF AS: And the second one is about God.
AM: It's about Him. Yeah, you gave me goosebumps because I yeah, I thought about something very similar to that, a couple months ago, and I was like, well am I really trying to do that because I want to amplify Him or am I trying to do it so I can boost myself up? Like wow, yeah.
CHEF AS: Yeah, it hurts. So I did not like it.
AM: 100%
CHEF AS: When I saw it on IG and I still don't, but I think that's the point. I think that it's –
AM: It’s uncomfortable -
CHEF AS: It’s uncomfortable and I think those of us who are sort of our own turbines, who are in that sort of entrepreneurial space, it becomes a lot about me and what can I do? What can I accomplish and what's the next thing to build? How do I build on what I've already built? All that stuff and so then we try to kind of loop God into it saying, “you know use me for whatever it is that you want,” but you know intrinsically, we're like yeah we want to get some action, right?
AM: Right.
CHEF AS: You want to rustle up some action. And I think, especially for me, like I'm not really good at sitting very quietly.
AM: Same
CHEF AS: Or sitting in a posture of listening or just being or just any of those things.
AM: It's a good reminder.
CHEF AS: Yeah, that would be my Monday Motivation is just go sit and do nothing for a minute.
AM: Yeah, wow. Yeah.
CHEF AS: Haha I know!
AM: Well, you are always traveling! You were just on an amazing trip in Peru with some of our faves who have previously been in our issues - Chef Duff Goldman, Chef Fariyal Abdullahi who was our AUG ISSUE #104 cover, and Chef Marcel Vigneron. I love an immersive trip and it seemed like you guys got to combine your culinary knowledge along with those that were indigenous to the area and people, as well as to be part of some amazing cultural activities!
Right now your IG has a number of food festivals you’ve been at as well as those that are coming up! We are looking forward to the Food Network NYC Wine Food Festival that takes place mid Oct. and I know that you’re not involved in that one, but Iove being able to go to festivals like this. What do you love about participating in food festival and can you tell me more about the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival that is next month? I mean that Spice Girls Dinner seems pretty amazing.
CHEF AS: Yeah, food festivals are so fun because it's sort of like, you know, that everybody there is one of you, you know what I mean?
AM: Yup!
CHEF AS: Like, these are people that love food and love food television and love to celebrate and love to gather!
AM: Yes!
CHEF AS: The Gathering thing to me has really been feeling more and more important. I think because we have so many years of not gathering.
AM: Yeah that was tough!
CHEF AS: I heard once I was listening to a podcast and I'm not saying I've ever read Alexis de Tocqueville, but I guess when he visited America he was like, “the thing that's very interesting about Americans is that they love to gather.”
AM: Facts!
CHEF AS: They will find any reason to gather and so when we weren't gathering, it was like one of the most un-American things that we could have done.
AM: Yeah.
CHEF AS: So I think that's one of the things that I have come to really appreciate about food festivals is we're all together. We're breaking bread, we're maybe having a couple cocktails.
AM: Yes!
CHEF AS: You sort of feel like, this is who we are. This is the essence of our humanity, the essence of our identity as a people, you know? It's a very unifying moment. I think, especially for people who are creating content, whether it's, you know, on traditional streams, or on social media streams, or YouTube or whatever it is, you know, it kind of goes out into the ether and even if you get likes, yes, you get some sort of feedback, but to see the actual faces! To sort of interact with the actual spirits of people who were like, “I saw when you did that thing.” Oh, it feels real and it feels really gratifying in that moment, selfishly. And it feels very encouraging, honestly - to say, okay, I'm on the right path, I'm going to keep going because it can feel like a very isolating experience.
You know, basically, like I remember when Twitter came along we were all like, oh, doesn't it sort of feel like there's one million people and each of them has a megaphone and they're all yelling? So no one's listening to each other and so sometimes things like food festivals can be so gratifying because here are the people that have been listening!
AM: 100%
CHEF AS: You can see, you can then engage like, oh this is what touches people. And this is what people find necessary. And this is what sort of they find unique about when they come to my corner of IG and it can help sort of fine tune your voice.
AM: Exactly!
Tell me about the Spice Girls Dinner at the Del Mar Food Festival!
CHEF AS: Yeah, I'm excited about Del Mar because not only because it's a very beautiful food festival, this whole thing was spearheaded by Troy Johnson and his wife, Claire Johnson and you know I've known Troy forever for like decades through Guy's Grocery Games.
AM: Ok!
CHEF AS: No, no it’s not been that long! So this is the, you know, they already have babies, but this is another baby of theirs. They're really putting their money where their mouths are and trying to encourage the same thing, the sense of community and gathering, and celebration, and celebrating chefs who are, you know, taking risks in the kitchen and so, I'm really excited to go see people, but also support people who are risking it all you know.
AM: Wow.
CHEF AS: Like Troy and Claire, I think our dinner is going to be so interesting because I love Claudia Sandoval (winner of MasterChef S6, Judge on MasterChef Latinos, Host of Taste of the Border on Discovery+). I love the way she cooks. She has a really strong connection to where she comes from and in a way that I love because she sometimes will take the humblest of dishes, like, her grandmother's beans and she won't change it all that much. She will present it just like that because she's like they're actually good enough. That's very inspiring to me because there's, you know, a lot of the food that we all grew up with, it's not restaurant food.
AM: Correct.
CHEF AS: It's home food. I'm trying to figure out a way to gussy that up so that it looks pretty in an Instagram photo sometimes can feel very difficult!
AM: Daunting, yeah.
CHEF AS: So I I think that it's, I think it's really, it's been very inspiring to me to go, no, the dal, just the way it is. The dal just the way I grew up with is enough and good enough! So, I'm really excited to see where our spice palettes cross over, compliment each other, and contrast with each other. I think it's going to be a really fun dinner and I'm really excited also for the wine pairing because Neeta Mittal, owner of LXV Wines - she's Indian and so she's got a particular palette when she's looking at wines because she's going well, what wine will play well, with these spices - will amplify them and vice versa. So, I think it's gonna be a really interesting unique dinner in that way.
I'm relatively new to this circuit you know, compared to some people that have been doing it for a while and so you're only honestly, you're only as good as the organizers of the festival. It is such a beast to organize these things. There's always something that you didn't think about.
AM: Right, for sure.
CHEF AS: So that's a huge factor to me! I want to be at a festival where we’re all you know, you do your job, I do my job, but we do our job so that we can support each other and make each other look good. That's, you know, that's one of the big things.
AM: That's amazing.
CHEF AS: I love going to festivals where there's a lot of great food on display, you know, especially a lot of adventurous food because I'm like, oh, the people that are going to show up here are going to be willing to try things that, you know, they've maybe never tried before.
I just did the Ilani Wine and Food Festival at the Ilani Resort just outside of Portland. That one was so amazing because even though you know this festival's been going on forever, I made these Jackfruit Sliders with a date barbecue sauce. That was a two for two in terms of things that people haven't tried before. People were so willing like, when you know, I remember someone came over and they were like, “your pulled pork was amazing.” I was like, “that was jackfruit!” So I love going to festivals where I can bring something that someone hasn't had before. Not just for the the purpose of maybe trying something new but, then also that people go home and they're like, I'm going to buy that and I'm gonna work that into my meal plan, or whatever it is. You know, that's just like I want to be of service, and that's really helpful but I love festivals like that where I can be of service.
AM: I think that that’s amazing. And I saw those pictures of the Jackfruit Sliders. And I was just like, whoa, I've had jackfruit but never thought about barbecue sauce and dates – but ok!
CHEF AS: Yeah, well, you know, I had the barbecue sauce ready to go. I had that idea. I was just trying to think because I didn’t think that I was gonna have the time or the energy to like slow cook a ton of pork.
AM: Right.
CHEF AS: So then it was like, what about, you know, I think actually I was talking to Damaris Phillips (2013 winner of Food Network Star, Guy’s Grocery Games Judge, author of Southern Girl Meets Vegetarian Boy) about it and then we came up with that idea together, so that was super helpful.
AM: Love that! Ok, so Halloween Wars. I mean, first of all, I can't even believe that we're sitting in the fall.
CHEF AS: Yeah!
AM: It's rainy here in New York today and I'm like, wait, the holiday season is around the corner. I always know it's around the corner because I see the promos for Halloween Wars.
CHEF AS: Ha ha! I know! It’s all a long slippery slope from there!
AM: Yup! So what are you excited about for this season? I always look forward to the different things and I'm always amazed at how grotesque in the best way possible that some of the things end up being, I'm like, oh my God, who does that? I'm so scared! But at the same time, the baking capabilities and dedication to craft is next level when they’re on the clock!
CHEF AS: This season is so great because each of the teams is helmed by an All-Star. So each of these people have won before, they know what it feels like and they know what it takes. So, they’re kind of acting like team leaders to their teammates. There's a lot to, you know, you whenever you go into competition, you don't cook, carve, sculpt the way that you do –
AM: Exactly.
CHEF AS: At your bakery or at your place, you know? You've got to, you've got to do it in a way that is a work smarter not harder kind of mindset.
AM: Yeah.
CHEF AS: And yet, you're still going for perfection as possible. So that's why this season is so great because and that's why that from day one like the displays were already almost like finale level.
AM: Ooo.
CHEF AS: Perfect, right?
AM: Yeah -
CHEF AS: You had these people who are veterans informing the entire process. So that's what's so great about this season.
AM: That is so exciting!
Tyler Florence’s, The Great Food Truck Race is one of my favorite shows. So, seeing you on the finale, this last season, I was like, wait, there's Aarti!
CHEF AS: Ahhh. Yeah, the food was legitimately awesome! You know, sometimes it's like you know with competition you have a lot of grace because things are not gonna - you just don't have the same amount of time that you would at home or in a restaurant. So I was so impressed, every bite that I took, I was like this tastes completely dialed in. It was amazing. It was truly amazing.
AM: Well, are there any other shows coming up that we should keep an eye out for because I always love when I see you at, like, Tournament of Champions or you're on Guys Grocery Games. And I'm like, this lady is working.
CHEF AS: I'm trying to work. I am trying to work. I just got something and I don't think they've announced it yet.
AM: Okay.
CHEF AS: That's going to be super exciting!
AM: Amazing.
CHEF AS: Thank you! And then you know, all the usual like Grocery Games and all that kind of stuff is still coming down the pipe. Yeah, it's just always such a privilege to be part of the part of the family over at Food Network. Whenever we get to see people, you know, you get the sense that that Food Network is on all day.
AM: Exactly.
CHEF AS: For some people, you know what I mean? It's just very cool that even if I'm not currently shooting something and they turn it on, more than likely one of us is on there. You know? It feels really intimate to be in people's homes that way, and I think that that's how they feel about us, you know, based on the reactions we get. So it's really such a privilege.
AM: I love that and are there just any upcoming projects In general that you would like to share to get out there or or, you know, just things that you have going on?
CHEF AS: Yeah. I mean, one of the most exciting things that's coming up in the short term is that I'm expanding my line with QVC.
AM: That’s amazing!
CHEF AS: Yeah, really amazing! It's such a huge community to be able to dive into and QVC has been so generous and so sweet with me to sort of pull me into the fold and say, hey what do you think about doing this? And here are the kinds of things that our people love and how would you put your own spin on it. And so, you know, it's a select few people that get to do that and I was really hopeful when we started the line last year that we would get to do this, and It has expanded exponentially and some of the things that we've got in the line, I use on a daily basis. They're unbelievably good quality, you know, I really wanted to make sure that it would be something I would use and it's just really exciting, so I think that's going to launch at the end of October.
AM: Congratulations on the continued success of your line with them and I’ve seen the cute kitchenware!
That's so exciting. Yay!
CHEF AS: Yeah!
AM: I just love that every time I see you on shows, you just have such a love and zest for food, and like you're talking about community and people coming together! What do you want your legacy, you know, to be in terms of the imprint that you've left on all of these different things that you're doing and whatever ends up being in the future - that may not be happening at this moment?
CHEF AS: Gosh. Well, I mean, the most important thing to me obviously is my family, right? And just for my girls to know that I did the best I could to balance these two parts of my life. But that they were always way more important than anything else, you know, for them and my husband to know that.
But outside of the home, I guess that I want people when they think of me to think of someone – who really valued coming around a table. Like, I really think that there are so many things that are coming in to distract us from connection with each other, you know, phones and social media. And I know there's been a lot of discussion and study recently on, you know, the impact of phones on kids.
AM: Yes.
CHEF AS: And teenagers. And what that does to the family and I really think that something as simple as sitting around the table and having dinner as many nights as possible is one of the most powerful things that we can do to combat that. Like so that would be probably part of my legacy. Then the other part is that, so often when I'm competing and doing things like that, I'm doing stuff that I feel completely out of my depths doing.
AM: I feel that.
CHEF AS: I'm, you know, like just recently I got booked for a bunch of things and it made me so scared. I was like crying in a fetal position.
AM: Oh no!
CHEF AS: It was bad because I was like, I cannot do this. I don't know how I'm gonna fail like. That has no matter how many times I do it, it just feels like it's something that I'm constantly fighting and I don't think I'm the only one.
AM: Nope!
CHEF AS: So I suppose part of my legacy, I hope these are very big words. It's just that, I was loud about feeling unequipped to do things, but doing them anyway!
AM: Which is huge! I tell people all the time, I’m always in my head, mulling over things and nervous before I do something. Even if it's like a million times, whatever, because everything is a little bit different and you just, I don't know, it's a thing, but I was like, if I feel that shaky about it, I have to kind of tell myself that you feel shaky because you want to do so well, and you care so much about what it represents for myself and what it is for the other people involved. So I try to turn it, although I'll still sit there and be like, I gotta run to the bathroom. This is crazy, but in the end, it does end up being lovely.
CHEF AS: Yeah, I think that there's the sense of like, if it isn't going easily, then you must be doing something wrong or you must be in the wrong place. Yeah, you must have made the wrong decision and I think that as I mean I'm 46 now. So hopefully it'll stick this year …
AM: It hasn’t yet, but it’s tough.
CHEF AS: Yeah, hopefully, but you know for the first time this year, I was like, after I had my little fetal position breakdown. I was like wait. Why don't I ever say to myself, “yes, I don't know how to do these things. I feel completely out of my depth. But the second half of that is, I'll figure it out.”
AM: Yeah.
CHEF AS: Yeah, figure it out. Just saying that has started to change things where I'm like, okay, you know, it may not go smoothly and it may not go off without a hitch.
AM: Right.
CHEF AS: But, I will figure it out. You know what I mean? It doesn’t have to go perfectly. I'll land something out of there. And that has felt very empowering actually. I think that just saying that to ourselves can be very edifying.
AM: 100% I like that. I will try to remember that the next freakout that happens.
CHEF AS: I will figure it out!
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT/BACK COVER, PG 16 - 22 Rowan Daly | PG 25, 26 + 38 Food Network |
Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see FAITH, FAMILY, FOOD | Chef Aarti Sequeira in mag.
It’s always a pleasure to watch those that are truly one with their work! You see their passion and the care that they have for their craft and Derek Hough is one of those people! Whether you’re watching him dance, judge those on Dancing with the Stars, or working with other clients to get their vision to the stage in the way that they want it, he is a man who is full of life and shares that love with everyone who watches him! We had some time to chat with him to find out more about how he became a dancer and choreographer. This 4X Emmy winner for Outstanding Choreographer and 6X Mirror Ball winner for DWTS sat down to talk with us about his life and passion for dance, what we can expect from this season of DWTS and his partnership with Pepcid.
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with dancing and when did you realize that you wanted to do it as a career?
DEREK HOUGH: I first fell in love with dancing when I was about 11 years old, my mom actually made me go to dance class. I have four sisters and she dragged me to dance. I walked in and I had an amazing teacher and he just made it really cool. He gave me a nickname, Heavy D, and I was like, oh, that's cool. But for me, I fell in love with dance really just with the music, just the way it made me feel, moving my body, syncing it up to the beats and the rhythms. I just fell in love with it, and I got to travel, and compete, and I had a great community. So dancing has been a really important part of my life, not just in the art form of it, but the social aspect of it as well, feeling a part of something, a community. So, yeah, dance has been part of my life for a long time.
AM: Your career has been phenomenal from being a dancer, choreographer, you even choreographed a dance routine for Olympians who were World Ice Champions for Sochi 2014 where they won Gold, you've acted and more! Did you imagine that dancing would allow your creativity to have access to these opportunities?
DH: You know, it's crazy growing up, we always want to be like rock stars, right? You're listening to music and you're playing air guitar on your bed, jumping up and down and imagining being on stage. It's kind of crazy to think that I'm able to sort of live out those childhood dreams but through dance, to go live on stage in front of tens of thousands of people, hundreds of thousands of people, honestly, perform in front of millions of people on television and meet an eclectic group of people. I’ve met astronauts and Oscar winners, Emmy winners, race car drivers, just people from all walks of life because of dance. I met my wife because of dance. I owe so much to this beautiful art form and this sport as well. It's an incredible gift that keeps on giving.
AM: You've been involved with Dancing with the Stars since Season 4 when you were a guest instructor and then in Season 5, you came on as part of the professional cast. What was it about the show that drew you to want to be part of it?
DH: Well, it's funny actually, originally, the producers asked me in season four when I was a guest on there they said, “Are you interested in doing the show?”. I was like, “No, it's not for me.” I'm in London doing a musical and this show isn't really my vibe and then my sister won season four and I was like, “Wait, hold up, hold up. What's this show again? Hold up, what's going on?” So I joined season five. It's funny that people back then were like, “oh, this show, it's so ridiculous, it's not going to be around that long." It's so interesting how it's one of the longest lasting shows honestly, knock on wood, it keeps going. But yeah, I love it, I love it so much. Again, the gift that keeps on giving. It really is, each season is just unique and different every time.
AM: What are you looking forward to this season?
DH: I'm looking forward to obviously all the contestants in their journeys and just seeing how it all evolves. There's a few little things that I'm actually planning, there might be a performance in the future, so I'm preparing for that. I'm looking forward to that, and I think this season holds something special. It's been a very interesting year with lots of highs and lows and challenges, and so to do something on this season, that will be meaningful. I'm looking forward to that, that's all I am going to say without saying too much about it.
AM: Being on the show as well as other projects that you're part of has to be a lot, how do you take time to relax so that you can be ready for the next day?
DH: There's so many different projects that I'm a part of - doing my tour, doing Dancing with the Stars, and it's important. It's about balance and the best way for me to switch off my brain because my brain just keeps going nonstop. One of my favorite things to do actually is I go home and I do my little snacking and streaming, just like we all do. Get home and watch my favorite show and I bust out the snacks and I am a prolific popcorn eater. I love popcorn so much, but it doesn't love me, but I had to have it anyways. It actually works out great because to manage that sort of heartburn if I overdo it, I have Pepcid Max Icy Cool Mint and it just works really fast, it lasts all night unlike those antacids, and it provides an instant cooling sensation, which is great and again, it lasts all night. So I kind of call it my Chilling with Pepcid. I'm chilling with Pepcid, but that way I can enjoy my snacks, I can enjoy my shows, my hot sauces. Honestly, before I actually go on stage as well when I go on tour, because there's nothing worse than when you eat something and you go on stage, you have to sing and perform and talk and host, and you just have that burning sensation. So it's great to have that instant cooling sensation with Pepcid Max Icy Cool Mint. (Editor’s Note: Based on 9-hour acid control studies during the day and 12-hour acid control studies during the night. Acid control does not imply symptom relief.)
AM: Obviously, dancing is a total body workout, what are other things that you do to stay in shape as well?
DH: Lots of stretching, I do yoga, working out, and just strength exercises to sort of engage the muscles to turn them on. Speaking of icy cool, man, it’s ice baths pretty much twice a day and just PT work. I have to do all the things, you know what I mean? I'm almost 40 years old and I was told that my dancing career will be over by like 22 years old. So I'm like, we'll see about that. It's important that I'm mindful and I take care of my body for longevity and I do anything and everything I can to sort of maintain that. There's lots that goes into it for sure.
AM: When you're traveling due to tours or being on set, what are your must have travel essentials?
DH: My dog, my baby, Luna, she's sort of the emotional therapy dog. I must have water. My physical therapist is a must have, I have to have that because the training is so vigorous and the performance is so intense, that we need to have that. I'm a pretty simple guy, honestly. I'm pretty simple, you know, my rider, you know, how people have riders, like, in their things, I’m pretty basic. I'm pretty boring, honestly. I should be a little bit more of a diva honestly but I'm not, I'm really simple, I just like simple things. When I get back on the bus, especially on days off, I just enjoy myself with the snacks. All the snacks, popcorn, nuts, I love chips and salsa, jalapenos. I love jalapenos so much, I can just eat them in a bowl just raw by themselves, it's delicious. Some chocolate stuff, peanut M&M's, Red Vines.
AM: You have partnered with Pepcid recently. Why was this synergistic with you to work with them?
DH: I think that that's part of it really, was that ability to sort of have something on hand that works fast, it lasts all night, and when I perform where I get that heartburn before going on stage and to have that instant relief that, that cooling sensation, it's really genuinely, really helpful. It also allows me to have a bit more balance in my life to enjoy myself a little bit. I have a really strict regimen in my training and when I'm on tour and my diet and everything I do, but it's also nice to just enjoy myself, and just chill and snack, snack down a little bit and popcorn doesn't love me, but I still love popcorn.
IG @derekhough
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 64 -69 Disney/Eric McCandless | PG 70 Jesse Bauer |
Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see COOL AND CHILL | Derek Hough in mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelorette/Gilles Mingasson
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
This week’s The Golden Bachelorette brings us to Hometowns where we get to know more about the men and to see their families! Joan Vassos has a busy week ahead with the 4 men.
We start off in Lake Tahoe, Nevada with Guy! They ride around his boat and throw wishing stones which is a nice portion of their date.
They then meet Guy’s family and catch everyone up on what they have been up to. The family really likes her and they can imagine having her with them.
We make our way to Chicago and we’re now with Pascal! We can’t wait to see what his salon looks like. He shows it to her and she gets treatments and it’s nice to see his space and how he operates! They openly talk about their feelings and where they are. It’s nice to see him when he’s a bit quieter and he lets her know that he is guarded because he has been hurt, but that he cares for her. It’s nice to see his friends and family. Joan fits in so well and we see how much he loves his family.
Joan is staying in Chicago to hang out with Jordan. They take in some of his favorite places that he likes to eat at. They meet his family and you can see how loved he is and how much they support him. Joan lets one of his daughter’s know that she is concerned that he wouldn’t pick her. She lets her dad know as she wants him to get there and to be able to talk with Joan.
Joan Finally leaves Chicago and makes her way to Witchita, Kansas to meet up with Chock! SHe is meeting his friends and family and she notes that their family has had a hard time due to the death of his mother. That would be difficult for anyone to navigate. They plant a tree at the ranch in honor of Chock’s mother. She talks with his friends and family and he speaks with them as well. It’s nice to see that wherever she went across the 4 dates, the families were very warm and receptive to her.
It’s time for the rose ceremony and there is still 40mins left of the show. We know that she feels that Pascal and Jordan have been a bit noncomittal versus Guy and Chock. She is handing out 3 roses and she doesn’t know what she will do. Jesse meets up with her to check in on how she is feeling. She lets him know that after Hometowns, she is feeling even more conflicted. She feels a strong connection with Chock and can see a future with him. Guy is another one that she feels is easy and that they have synergistic values. Now she’s talking about Chicago although she had a great day with him, she notes that he never said that he feels there is a future. She feels that Pascal is also in that same boat. She feels very strongly about him as well and she is concerned that he may need more time to get there. So sending someone home who needs more time is something that she is concerned about.
After their debrief, she arrives at the rose ceremony and thanks them for their time! She knows that she is getting closer to finding her person and to is looking forward to commit to one of them. We’re down to 3 people now and they will leave the mansion and they’re heading to Tahiti.
JOAN GAVE ROSES TO | Chock, Guy, Pascal
JOAN DIDN’T GIVE ROSES TO | Jordan
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelorette/Gilles Mingasson
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
This week’s The Golden Bachelorette we hear the guys talk about how the house is so different with the other men no longer there. They also know that the time with Joan Vassos this week is important because Hometowns are next week. Keith knows that he needs to step it up so that he can move on and continue dating her.
Joan meets with Trista and they catch up on where she is feeling. Trista shares that her biggest regret is that she didn’t open up with Ryan so he didn’t know where they stood when they were in their journey.
The date card arrives and Keith is on the 1-on-1 date. They meet and hop on a helicopter and fly over the house where the guys are in the pool. They make their way to Babcock Winery to get to know more about one another. This week the dates will not have roses.
Back at the house, we see that Mark is struggling with the fact that his wife died 6 years ago and also that he isn’t sure if he has the connection with Joan. He sits down with Pascal and Jordan to talk with him and to let him know that he got a sign from his wife in the form of a hummingbird.
Back on the date, Keith opens up about his life and experiences. He lets her know that he was holding back.But now she is excited that he is serious as well as being fun loving.
At the house, the next date card arrives. Guy, Jordan, Jonathan, Pascal, and Chock are going on a bowling group date. That means that Mark is now getting a 1-on-1 with her. This is the final 1-on1 date!
We see the group date assemble at the bowling alley and they see that Joan got a strike. The date is moving along, but Chock is taking more of her time and making his body give the impression that they were together on their own date! Even Guy lets him know that he needs to let others have a chance.
Mark is excited to go on the date and is talking with the guys in the house. Joan lets us know that Mark needs to open up as although she would love to meet his family, she doesn’t want to waste that experience with someone who still has their walls up and won’t let her in. Mark is just a quiet guy and there isn’t an easy flow with one another. They are sitting on a yacht and taking in everything around them. She feels that pressure that if he doesn’t open up, she will send him home.
Jesse creates a scavenger hunt for them which allowed him to start opening up, to loosen up, and to see their compatibility. The lighthearted nature of the game allowed the ice to break so that Mark could feel comfortable. After the game, they continue to talk about their lives as they have a lot of similarities.
We’re back at the house and the guys are all talking about what is coming up. Mark tells them that he is excited to show her his home and life. Joan shows up and pulls him aside and lets him know that she enjoyed their date and being able to hear more about who he is! She appreciates that he was vulnerable with him. She knows that they bonded in such an amazing way and she felt supported. Even with that connection and commonality between the two, she knows his heart is mending, but she feels that she didn’t see him thinking abou ther and having her in mind with his plans. She tells him that maybe he is too early in his journey and she didn’t want him to have to be at the ceremony when she knows that it will not work out for them. Mark lets her know that he appreciates being there, is leaving there a better person, and he knows that he has grown so much. She sends him home. Watching how the men reacted to hearing this news is so sad.
Next week is Hometowns!
JOAN GAVE ROSES TO | Chock, Guy,Jordan, Pascal
JOAN DIDN’T GIVE ROSES TO | Jonathan, Keith, Mark
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI | Alysia Reiner in mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelorette/Gilles Mingasson
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
This week’s The Golden Bachelorette is going to be a bit of a doozy it seems as we see Joan Vassos and Chock hugging one another and you hear them crying.
We hear Chock talk about what the experience has been like and we see Pascal learning how to do his laundry!
The date card arrives and they find out that Jonathan, Pascal, Dan, Charles, Gary, Mark, Gil, Chock, and Keith will be on a group date. Guy and Jordan were not called. The group date men arrive at a theater and see Joan on the stage. Kaitlyn Bristowe joins her on the stage. We see the Chippendales dancers as well as the original Chippendales dancers! They are partnering with Stand Up to Cancer as well to dance in honor of supporting this important charity.
She thanks them for the date and being open! She enjoys spending time with each of them and you can see the guys are really present with her. Chock receives the group date rose.
When we’re back from commercial break, we realize that Chock’s mom passed. He tells the guys that he is going to leave because he has things that he needs to take care of. Joan heads to the house for her 1-on-1 with Jordan and she is met by Chock. He tells her that his mother passed.He needs to go home to take care of things and Joan knows how it is when you need to take care of your family even when you feel that you’re experiencing an amazing connection.
Jill is sad that Chock left, but she knows she must be present for Jordan who has his date. She is excited that they’re going ice skating. Jordan takes a nasty fall, but they have a fun time spending time with one another. They get to chat a bit while enjoying some treats. REO Speedwagon also performs for them in their winter wonderland! He receives a rose as well. Although she was sad about Chock, she said she laughed more with him than anyone.
For her 1-on-1 date with Guy, they are at her home and they are cooking together! It’s a great way for them to interact with one another, follow instructions, and just to get to know more about one another. We can tell that Guy is not a cook, but you can see that he is enjoying it.In addition to making pasta, they also make dessert together as well. They have a great conversation and she offers him a rose as well!
Going into the rose ceremony, she’s still thinking about Chock and wondering if he will be back and how he is doing. She sees the men and lets them know that she realizes that they have families and situations back home and that’s a lot for them to put on hold to be there with her. She spends time with each of them to get to know more about them and it’s nice to see how they continue to move forward. As each week passes, we know how difficult it will be when she has to still send guys home. Chock is back and in his time away, he was glad to handle what he needed to do and then he realized that he wants to put his walls down.
It wasn’t until the rose ceremony that we realized that we hadn’t seen Jesse Palmer all episode!
JOAN GAVE ROSES TO | Chock, Guy, Jonathan, Jordan, Keith, Pascal, and Mark
JOAN DIDN’T GIVE ROSES TO | Charles, Dan, Gary, and Gil
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
