20.02.2025 Views

Athleisure Mag JUL ISSUE #103

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Leverage SEO-optimized Flipbooks, powerful backlinks, and multimedia content to professionally showcase your products and significantly increase your reach.






ISSUE #103

PHOTO CREDIT | UNSPLASH/JONATHAN MUELLER

@AthleisureMag



TM

PUBLISHER

Paul Farkas

EDITORIAL

Kimmie Smith

Co-Founder, Creative + Style Director

Paul Farkas

Co-Founder, Artistic Director + Tech Director

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTIONS

PHOTOGRAPHERS | Reiner Bajo/Peacock | Sharon Daniels | Mr.

Grant Hao-Wei Lin/Kintsugi | Lair Collective |

Ryan Miller/Red Bull | Trevor Moran/Red Bull | George Orozco |

Ian Patterson |

ADVERTISING

info@athleisuremag.com

@ATHLEISUREMAG

CONNECT + VISIT

E-mail: info@athleisuremag.com

Website: www.athleisuremag.com

TM

Athleisure Mag , a Division of Athleisure Media LLC.


EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Paul Farkas | Kimmie Smith

HOST

Kimmie Smith

MIXING

Athleisure Studio Team

ATHLEISURE STUDIO

PODCAST NETWORK SHOWS

#TRIBEGOALS | ATHLEISURE KITCHEN |

BUNGALOW SK | THE 9LIST |

@ATHLEISURESTUDIO

CONNECT + VISIT

E-mail: info@athleisuremag.com

Website: www.athleisureStudio.com

(c)2024 All Rights Reserved by Athleisure Media LLC. No part of this publication, or relat-

ed online content or social posts or commentary, including any and/or all pictures, articles,

artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored, or

translated in any form or manner, by electronic means, or otherwise, without the written per-

mission of the publisher.

The information contained in Athleisure Mag digital magazine, on AthleisureMag.com website,

printed material, and/or social media accounts (the “Content”) is provided ‘as is’ without war-

ranty of any kind. The views expressed and/or images/videos provided by third-parties featured

and/or interviewed in this Content are not necessarily the views, opinions or statements by Ath-

leisure Media, publisher, editors or its employees. Athleisure Media and publisher do not accept

responsibility for any errors or omissions. NONE OF THE CONTENT SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS

MEDICAL, LEGAL, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE. NOTHING WITHIN THE CONTENT IS INTENDED TO RECOM-

MEND OR SUGGEST SPECIFIC COURSES OF ACTION AND SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS SUCH.


TM

table of contents

issue #103

jul 2024

187

STYLE FEATURES

THE PICK ME UP

192

112

IN OUR BAG

199 ROCK THIS FOR POOLSIDE

+ ROOFTOP ESCAPES

BEAUTY FEATURES

SOY BEAUTY

Riding the Waves

Griffin Colapinto

This month’s cover is #2 WSL pro surfer, Griffin Colapinto who is also competing for

Team USA Surfing in his first Olympics at Paris 2024. We talk about how he got into

the sport, the importance of mental health and partnering with P&G.

16

203

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

®

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Richie Unterberger

38

We caught up with Richie Unterberger who wrote about the life, times, and impact

of Bob Marley and the Wailers in his latest book. We frame this conversation through

looking at his songs. and speak with him about his songs.

188

LIFESTYLE FEATURES

ATHLEISURE LIST

OTHERSHIP

True Jordan

66

We talk with 2X Team USA Olympic Gymnast,

Jordan Chiles about the sport and

being at Paris 2024.

Just Spike It!

We caught up with Team USA Olympic

Beach Volleyball players Sara Hughes

and Kelly Cheng ahead of Paris 2024.

82

190

ATHLEISURE LIST

HIRAYA

AthleisureMag.com - 10 - Issue #103 | Jul 2024


The Art of the Snack

Kintsugi Omakase

114

We made our way to SoHo to enjoy a truly special culinary experience - omakase. We

enjoyed a 16 course tasting menu and wanted to know more about its origins, the

different tasting menu options, and more!

Citi Taste of

Tennis

124

Next month, Citi’s Taste of Tennis is

back ahead of the US Open! We find out

more about this event, its tennis stars

and culinary greats that will be there.

Charting Her

Course

134

Angel City FC’s Sydney Leroux talks with

us about the love of the game, how she

came to soccer, and navigating recovering

from injury.

Down in the

Valley

152

We talk with STARZ’s P-Valley star Nicco

Annan who serves as Executive Producer

and host of the companion series to this

show as well as EP Shoshana Guy.

The Ancient World

Lara Wolf

158

Peacock Original’s Those About To Die

can be streamed now and we chat with

Lara Wolf about her role in this Ancient

Roman series!

Issue #103 | Jul 2024

- 11 - AthleisureMag.com









This month we're excited to share a number

of stories from athletes who will be

competing at this year's Paris 2024 games!

While the majority of athletes will assemble

in Paris for this year's Summer Games,

those who are competing in surfing will

make their way to Tahiti in Teahupo’o.

This month's cover story is with World

Surf League's #2 ranked pro-surfer Griffin

Colapinto who will competing with Team

USA Surfing, and will make his first Olympic

appearance this year.

In addition to the success that he has had

throughout his career and this year, we

know he has an array of fans which includes

Matthew McConaughey who has

shown his public support of him at a number

of meets. In addition to surfing, he is

also in a film that is currently in the film

circuit, Trilogy: New Wave and will be released

this September. He stars alongside

Australian Olympic surfer Ethan Ewing and

Hawaiian Seth Moniz. The film focuses on

the non-competitive side of surfing.

We wanted to know more about how he

got into the sport, going pro, Paris 2024,

and his partnership with Procter & Gamble's

Athletes For Good alongside the International

Olympic Committee (IOC) and

International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

and his chosen charity which focuses on

mental health.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in

love with the water?

GRIFFIN COLAPINTO: I fell in love with the

water when I was about 3 years old!

AM: What was the moment that you realized

that you wanted to surf professionally?

Where did that journey come from

as we know that you love the water, you

loved surfing, and then you wanted to do

it as a professional.

GC: Well, the journey started down at my

dad’s surf camp. He started a surf camp

down at Santa Clemente the year I was

born and he ran that for 20 years. So I was

just growing up with the beach and him

and he was in love with surfing and

the ocean and he was a lifeguard and a

teacher so that carried over to running

a surf camp in the summer time. He

just created a rad family dynamic down

there with all the instructors and I was

just growing up on the sand every summer!

That and I just started – I don’t

know it was natural, I wasn’t forced

into surfing and being a competitive

person and playing games. I just took

to it naturally because I was on the

beach and the sand. I remember a lot

of the kids that were down there and

the instructors that were there would

always be on the beach. I just wanted

to be able to impress them with the

things that I was able to do in the water.

I remember taking a surf board out

there in front of them and wanting to

surf for them.

I had this one moment where I was

probably 7 or 8 and I felt like I caught

some air on a pipe and I remember

looking at all of the instructors on the

beach and they were cheering. That

feeling right there triggered competitive

surfing for me right there! Being

able to perform for people made me

really happy!

AM: What is an average week like for

you when you’re out there surfing

whether you’re training for competitions

or whatever?

GC: Yeah, well! I definitely think that

there is a lot of discipline on my routines

whether I’m waking up early and

doing everything that makes me feel

good like meditation, writing, and surfing

of course! Working out and all of

those things are important. It’s also

essential to give yourself time to rest

and to recover and I also have fun! I

enjoy golfing a lot so that’s a nice way

to take my mind off of surfing because

sometimes you can just plow yourself

through into the ground too much! It's

a good balance.

AM: Congrats on qualifying for Paris



2024! What are you looking forward to?

GC: Yeah, it’s pretty wild! So our Olympics,

we will be in Tahiti which isn’t near

Paris, but it’s going to be on its own little

adventure over there! It should be pretty

exciting from what I have heard! They

have put in a lot of work over there in

Teahupo’o and although I can’t say what

it will be like yet, I’m excited!

AM: And you’re ready for it!

GC: I’m ready!

AM: Tell us about Athletes For Good as

we know it’s an initiative between P&G,

IOC, IPC – can you give us a little background

on that?

GC: So the Athletes For Good, P&G

granted us money to donate to our favorite

charity. I donated funds towards

To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) a

mental health organization that provides

the tools and mental health resources

for anyone that is going through challenging

times in their lives due to suicide

or maybe there is a close family member

in their family that did commit suicide

and needs someone that they can talk

to about it. You can go to TWLOHA and

you can get a local counselor nearby and

they just provide rad things like that. It is

definitely a big deal these days with social

media and everything going on and

it can take you away from the source of

where we came from. I’m really proud

to be able to represent it.

AM: Had that been an organization that

you had been involved with before? What

drew you to picking TWLOHA in terms of

where you wanted the donated funds to

go to?

GC: Well, I originally got into mental

health through surfing. My dream of

being on the World Championship Tour

and being a World Champion, it comes

with a lot of challenges, and anytime

you have a big goal in mind, there is going

to be a lot of ups and downs with


that. So, through that, the mental side of

things plays a big role and I realized that

and it opened my eyes to a lot of different

perspectives and other people. I just

kind of realized that there are a lot more

people on similar paths that go through

hard times. For me, I was super fortunate

to grow up with amazing parents and to

grow up in a beautiful community with a

lot of support and I still find myself on days

struggling with some slight depression

and not very happy and not knowing why.

I just felt that there are people who got

dealt with a bad set of cards, a lot worse

than me and I can only imagine what they

are going through. So that’s what drove

me into this space and it's really cool that

P&G gave us this grant and I’m excited!

AM: You mentioned that when you’re taking

time for yourself, you play golf! Are

there other things that you do to take

time for yourself to be in the place that

you need to be so that you can infuse that

energy into other areas of where you also

want to be?

GC: Just kind of being aware of how I am

feeling and what is best for me in the moment.

As an athlete, it’s easy to over do it,

to over exert yourself and to just be addicted

to the hard work and you feel like

you need to work, work, work, work, but

in reality, half the battle is just being good

at resting too! So learning that has been

a big part of it and I feel that slowly but

surely, I’m getting better every day!

AM: Which is an awesome skill to have too!

You can find out more about Athletes For

Good that recognizes the efforts of athletes

to improve their communities off

the field. Griffin shares more information

about TWLOHA and why he is involved

with them in his IG post.

@griffin_cola

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | FRONT COV-

ER, PG 16 + 20 Trevor Moran/Red Bull |

BACK COVER, PG 18 + 22 Ryan Miller/Red

Bull | PG 24 P&G |





One of the best things in life is to re-discover,

deep dive, and better connect with

things long-admired, and cherished. Bob

Marley’s music lies at the top of my musthaves

– many tracks and live albums suiting

best for joyous and sad moments, and

all in between, as well as adventuring

outdoors, smoking sessions, studying, romance

and more.

Upon reading Bob Marley and The Wailers:

The Ultimate Illustrated History by Richie

Unterberger, it was quickly apparent that

it was time to dust off those old soundboard

recording treasures and look to the

music, life and culture that has served as

such stong guidance over the years.

We put together an expanded 9PLAYLIST

STORI3S to explore and ponder more about

the man, his music, and the times for then

and now, along a series of our favorite

song selections: Sun Is Shining, Positive Vibration,

Roots Rock Reggae, Downpressor

Man, One Love, Zimbabwe, And I Love Her,

High Tide or Low Tide, and Redemption

Song.

Ultimately, with questions or thoughts

of art and nature; good and tough times;

peace and strife; love, respect and kindness,

we ask along this and our musical

journey - What Would Marley Do (WWMD)?

And I Love Her (Alternate Take)

ATHLEISURE MAG: I stumbled upon this

ballad mid-college and was floored. It felt

immediately intimate and special, loved

sharing it at parties as friends generally

loved it.

RICHIE UNTERBERGER: Most of the attention

on Marley's career goes to the last

seven or so years of his life when he was

becoming an International star, first with

the original Wailers and then with other

Wailers. But there was a lot of good music

that he made, often with the original

Wailers, in the first 10 years of his recording

career, which isn't very well known

because it was primarily heard in Jamaica

and not elsewhere.

And the earliest years of those are like

from 1962-63 to 1966. That's when he

had his debut single with Studio One.

And the records are a lot more ska influenced

than what he did after 1966 - [ska

as] the precursor to reggae music. It's a

lot faster and it's sort of a combination

of Jamaican folk music with early American

soul music.

Like they did a Curtis Mayfield song and

he was maybe their biggest early influence.

That's not a surprise. But them

doing a Beatles song is not something

that you would necessarily expect. And

the version that they do, it is more imaginative

than you would think, even if

you know a fair amount about reggae

and the Wailers. I'm a big Beatles fan. I

love the original version, but they give

it more of a wilting, early reggae cast

and they also add, 'and I love her, yes,

indeed,' after like every chorus. So it

sounds more like a soul, early reggae hybrid

sort of yearning quality that's not

in the Beatles original, which makes it

an interesting variation. And that's how

they kind of varied soul music in general,

when they were doing their first records

in the mid '60s.

AM: At this time, were they doing covers

towards getting acceptance or was that

honoring their influences, or both?

RU: It's kind of all the above, but I think

even though the majority of the material

from the get go was original, I think

there were a lot of songs they just liked

that they wanted to do. It's just it's like

when the Beatles started, they were already

great songwriters on their first album,

but the first few albums all have

a good number of cover versions, which

they did really well. They didn't just imitate

Chuck Berry or Little Richard. They

put their own personality on it very

strongly. But also, I think they, and a lot

of early reggae acts or ska acts, were

just putting out tons of records, even

though Jamaica was a pretty small market.

And to fill out all these singles coming

out and the one album that they did




in the mid 60s, they needed to have more

songs probably than they had already

written. So they opted for songs that they

really liked and maybe songs that when

they performed live would get a good reaction

to sort of vary their repertoire if

they were playing long concerts.

AM: Yeah. I always liked the Bob Dylan

one, 'Like A Rolling Stone.’

RU: And another example, they did a

Temptations song, Don't Look Back, an

earlier version than the one that Peter

Tosh did where Mick Jagger duetted with

him in the late 60s. But he was aware of

that song by the Temptations, which isn't

one of their big hits, even when he was

pretty early in his recording career.

AM: You know, I love that part of your

book when you showed the Rolling Stones

imprints, didn't know much about that,

and definitely that whole part about Mick

Jagger and the Stones backing Peter Tosh

and all that.. That was terrific!

RU: Thanks. Yeah. It's really interesting

because I think when the Rolling Stones

set up their own label, their ambition was

to have it be a sort of Apple Records, the

way that Beatles ran Apple Records for

the first couple of years, where it would

be their label, but they would sign a lot of

other artists and not just sign them, but

often produce them or help them hands

on, like they did with Badfinger and Mary

Hopkin. And for various reasons, that

aren't clear to me, they signed very few

people, like less than five. And the only

significant one they signed to put out a

reasonable number of records was Peter

Tosh. And I think that although the Stones

didn't do many reggae songs, whether it

was covers or they wrote their reggae

style songs, they really liked the music.

They did some recording in Jamaica, like

Goats Head Soup, the 1973 album, and

they saw the connection between reggae

and the American rhythm and blues and

soul music that they loved and wanted to

promote it with one of the leading artists

who was available because he had left

the Wailers for various complicated reasons,

right after the Wailers started to

get a big International audience on Island

Records. So I'm not saying they

were the most altruistic group of people

in the world, the Rolling Stones, but

they really wanted to promote a form

of Black music, not Black American as

it happens, but still from near North

America.

It didn't work out indefinitely because

Peter Tosh had a fallout with Keith Richards.

This is like a few albums into his career

with Rolling Stones records. But it

was an alliance that made a lot of sense.

It's the only such alliance the Stones

made for their own record label, but

it was the one solid indication of what

they could do to help another artist. Not

that Tosh needed so much help for his

art, but his promotion to an International

audience, which also Mick Jagger, of

course, helped by actually singing on

Don't Look Back, and also appearing in

the official promotional video that Peter

Tosh did, and also they sang it together

on Saturday Night Live.

Sun is Shining

AM: This song increasingly became one

of my favorites throughout my life. It’s

always something that gets to me right

away and the right ways, just find it so

magnificent – it's sexy and inspirational!

RU: A lot of the attention given to Marley

as a songwriter or for his protest songs

are the ones championing social justice.

And that's very important, arguably the

most important part of his songwriting.

But it should never be overlooked,

that like almost all great songwriters, he

could write about social issues, but also

just write songs that were feel good

songs, like ‘Positive Vibration,’ it was a

great example, I think.

Also really good love songs - and although

a lot of his songs, like Get Up,


Stand Up is a great example, are about

self-empowerment, a lot are sort of anthems

just to make people feel more positive

about what they are experiencing,

what they hope to experience. And Sun Is

Shining is an early example of that.

And I think it's interesting that throughout

his career, Marley and Tosh would

sometimes remake songs from pretty

early in their career, like One Love is another

great example, when they realized

we're getting a much bigger audience and

a lot of those people around the world

never heard these records, which were

primarily or only distributed in Jamaica. It

was time to make those songs, which still

have a universal message, something that

everybody can hear on records, not just in

their concerts. So Sun Is Shining is an example

of that, where it was revisited and

remade as well.

AM: Near the end of the song, he's talking

about how he's 'a rainbow, too.' And it

made me really reflect, wondering if this

was him rescuing us as the unifier, and if

also he was encouraging us that we all

could all be rainbows, too?

RU: I would say like not just a lot of songwriters,

but a lot of artists, his messages

can be validly interpreted in different

ways. So you might say he's talking about

himself or that he's talking about everybody,

all of his listeners and himself, or

he's talking about both himself and his

listeners. One of his great strengths was

that as a songwriter, he could deliver very

clear, yet easily understood messages that

were inspiring. When you hear his spoken

interviews, he's often a little vague. And

it's interesting that it's not like his songwriting,

which is very clear and direct.

‘Get Up, Stand Up’ - I mean, how can you

misinterpret that? I Shot the Sheriff - but I

swear it was self-defense..; it's very lucid.

And it's unknown how precise his lyrics

were explicitly stating. Yeah, meaning

that it's hard to say whether his lyrics

were meant for this is how I'm feeling, or

this is how humans as a whole feel, or it

could be both. His clear, direct messages

were that in the lyrics, whether it's

interpreted, however it's interpreted

to apply to, they are very easily understood

and they hit very directly [and

across the world]. And it's unlike his

spoken interviews, the last quote before

my epilogue, somebody who was

talking to the New York Times right

after he died, just a fan, not someone

who knew him, she said, ‘as an orator,

he wasn't much, but his music said it

all.’ It's almost like his music was his

great expression of communication.

He also traveled and did concerts in Japan

and other countries where knowledge

of English was appreciably lower

then, like a couple generations ago.

A lot of people probably, if they read

the lyrics on the page, they might have

had a hard time understanding them,

but when they heard them, they were

geared around choruses which were

easy to remember and sort of sink in.

I think a lot of those messages did get

through, both in the words, but also

the way that they were sung.

High Tide or Low Tide

AM: So let's talk about High Tide or

Low Tide and the Catch a Fire sessions

in general? This track is so delicate and

haunting, really enjoy it chilling with

my girlfriend for sure.

RU: Yeah, Catch a Fire [sessions] - made

really good music. I think in Britain a

few people had heard them because

there was such a big Jamaican population

there, Jamaica, and they, Marley

and Tosh, liked to have an International

audience. They had gone to London

in part to not just get a bigger audience

or whatever concerts they could

do, but try to find a record label. I think

the feeling was it's going to be easier in

Britain than in the U.S. because of that

Jamaican population, Jamaica being

a former British population in Britain,

here was a much wider knoeledge of

reggae, even among non-Jamaicans,




and his record labels were distribution,

business distribution, primarily to serve

the British Jamaican audience.

To bring reggae music itself to a wider audience,

the goal was to give them more

of a luster of a rock group, not so much

in changing their music, but in marketing

the album design, how it's distributed,

it's on Island records, which a lot of people

associated with those big British rock

groups, and only subtly adding some rock

instrumentation to their sound without

diluting it.

Their appeal then, it was slightly earlier,

but still very good records, music was slowing

down into reggae and the lyrics were

becoming a lot more socially conscious.

Even though Catch a Fire is a very wellknown

album now, when it first came out

it, it was primarily an underground hit, but

that was very important, because that's

where Marley's huge following could

grow. When people saw the Wailers when

they made their first American tours, they

really stood out, in part because most

white rock listeners had not heard reggae

before, but also because the stage presence

and the concerts were so good, and

they got a lot of FM radio. I've talked to

the leading FM radio disc jockey in the city

in which I grew up, Philadelphia, and he

said, 'oh yeah, when that record came out

we leapt on it, we played it a lot, both because

we loved it, but also we knew that

our listeners who were maybe more used

to Pink Floyd or Sticky Fingers, or something

like that would love it too!'

But it should not be lost sight of that the

biggest reason was that the material was

very strong. You can't sell a record with

that sort of marketing if the songs aren't

really strong. In retrospect I kind of wish

that it could have been a double album,

not just Marley but also Tosh and Two, a

lesser but significant degree by Quayler.

Part of the reason I think that they did

not stay together long on Island Records,

after being together for a long time, was

that Marley was getting so much of the

songwriting, and that's one of the rea-

sons he got more attention than anywhere

else, although I emphasize they

were a group at that time, it wasn't as

what it became. They were a group in

the sense that all of them have the impact

that the act has.

AM: I was thonored to see the

Wailers after Bob Marley had

passed, they were terrific.

Positive Vibration and Roots Rock Reggae

AM: This pair were often musts for outdoor

adventures.

RU: With Positive Vibrations, it's like

some of Bob Marley's song titles, you

get the idea very quickly before even

hearing the song. That's a really good

example of, yeah we're going to dig

into the lyrics.

We're all going to have a much better

life here if we can all learn to groove

together, which to some degree his

concerts enable many people to do

that together. But also, even if you

don't think about the lyrics, it captures

in a way that few reggae songs have

done and reggae's been around now

for 60 years or so.

Downpressor Man

AM: I first encountered Downpressor

Man at an outside cafe in Miami. I had

heard the cover rendition of Sinner

Man before Man before and loved it,

but this magical slowed down version

just hit so hard. Of course, a big fan of

and feel it gives justice to Nina Simone’s

tough bar to meet.

RU: I think that Peter Tosh shared with

Marley as a songwriter, where he's

documenting the injustices done to

the underprivileged - which in Jamaica,

most of the people considered underprivileged

would have been. And

in this instance, he adopted almost

like spiritual, but made it particular, or


more particular to the circumstances, not

just of the oppressed in Jamaica, but the

oppressed anywhere. I think that's a big

part of not just Marley and Tosh's appeal,

but reggae's appeal, especially in Africa,

places which don't enjoy, in some cases,

not as many human rights. Him changing

the focus of the song and championing

the downtrodden was something that

made people feel that he had a lot of empathy

for his audience and was able to express

that well.

One Love

AM: With One Love, it's definitely something

that became a huge country anthem,

it always gives me a smile, and like a hug

and form of encouragement – it's inviting..

RU: When preaching unity, [it's] hard to

do.. without sounding sappy or sounding,

just to get together, to find some common

ground. This song had those kinds of sentiments,

but did it in a humbler way than

a lot of such songs do, but also should not

be overestimated. The Beatles had a lot of

great lyrics, but maybe the biggest reason

they became the biggest group ever was

that the songs were so melodic. Marley

and the Wailers had a lot of such songs,

which were very catchy, easy to hum. One

Love is maybe his greatest expression of

his hopes for a universal common ground

between people of all geography and

make inroads toward making the world

a more peaceful place. Like I said earlier,

he'd done that song, it caught on a lot

more when it was remade in his solo career

in the 70s. It was more updated, it

sounds very contemporary.

Zimbabwe

AM: With Survival, it was very interesting

to read your commentary because there

came across with fierce lyrics and anthems.

RU: It might seem more tilted toward that

on his album, but it seems like he always

had a wide range of songs that he emphasized

the most, but on others, that was

because he was one of the first reggae

artists, maybe the first, to recognize

that an album should have, even if it's

not like a story album or not all the

songs, a theme. So maybe with Survival,

he focused more on a full statement

than like a romantic album that

he did, but it's something that will vary

on what was put out there that'll keep

people interested.

I'm kind of speculating because, in

part, Marley's life was short.. he didn't

go through all of the phases of his career

and explain them in ways like John

Lennon did in his numerous interviews

before he died. So it's a little bit of projection

on my part.

AM: With Zimbabwe, having such significance,

and the way it was performed

so beautifully at legendary concerts,

but how was that received globally?

RU: I do think that it meant a lot that

Marley was sort of voicing his support

for people's independence and self-determination

in a country. It's often

asked, and it's a very logical question,

what would Marley have done had he

not died so young in his later years?

He was only - I think, although it's not

certain, he definitely would have performed

a lot more in Africa. He'd only

perform there a bit toward the end of

his career, both because he got a really

great reception there, but also he saw

that, as universal as his music was, it

had some particular parts of meaning

for people in Africa, where a number

of countries - maybe South Africa got

more attention in the United States

for that than anywhere else, but a

number of countries there - I think he

would have performed there as much

as he could have, maybe written more

songs that were directly applicable to

Africa. And possibly, it would seem like

a logical step to me, maybe incorporating

some elements of African music

as he became more exposed to them,

whether through touring or just listening

more, because in the early 80s, that




was the point where artists like Fela were

starting to get a much bigger audience in

the United States, and I could see Marley

being very interested in someone like

Fela, not just musically, but also lyrically,

and also as a cultural figure in Nigeria.

Redemption Song

AM: Redemption Song, a lot of people's

top favorite, and it is very reflective and

boldy highlights the past and gives deep

lessons. I’ve always held it in a different

way, like a supercharged guide to fall back

to when happy and chill or lost and sad. It

says so much about the past, present and

future of humanity, extremely prophetic!

RU: It's interesting to me for a few reasons.

One is that unlike maybe all of his

other really well-known - it could in some

ways be heard not even as a reggae song,

more as like folk. And that, it actually relates

to something I was riffing on a couple

minutes ago, [the] direction that he might

have changed his style to that style that he

would have done. Maybe he would have

been thinking, yeah, I'm a reggae artist,

I'm never going to abandon reggae, but I

want to explore different styles that might

not be dominantly reggae. Other artists

have done that. Joni Mitchell started as a

folk singer, then she admitted some rock

influences, then she went into jazz. Paul

Simon started, but then he incorporated

reggae and gospel. He eventually got to

African music, of course. I think he knew

this when he was writing it, that he could

do several different styles of music well -

and when I hear it, because he didn't die

that much long afterward, it's like he also

had some sort of awareness that his time

is not going to be long, whether he dies or

not. it's almost like a Martin Luther King

song. It's almost like Martin Luther King's

final speeches, where he feels like, I might

not have much time, but his urgency to

get a message across.

AM: A hypothetical, because I've enjoyed

some bubblegum gelato vape during our

interview, what did he say about technology?

Would he e-vape today or be comfort-

able his audience did?

RU: About his drug use, which is mostly

cannabis, in the book or elsewhere,

because there is music, but specifically

as far as people using that sort of

stimulation for recreational purposes,

I don't think he ever would have minded

whether it was with a religious dimension,

as it was with a lot of prostitutes,

or you just wanted to use it,

at least in your ability of function and

people around you. [Be sure to] be kind

to your neighbors, right?

Yeah, and musically, maybe what he

would have done. It's hard to project,

like, if he was still making music in

2020, what he would have done. What

he would have done, at least if he had

lived another 10 or 20 years, if he wasn't

ill. Technology, I think that would have

been one of the things that he would

have been wary about in some of his

songs. The adverse effects of technology,

not just AI, but climate change,

which, when he died, that was his concern.

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 27, 38 -

57 Quarto Publishing/Bob Marley and

The Wailers: The Ultimate Illustrated

History | PG 60 Deposit Photos |

































As we're all enjoying our favorite teams

and sports that are taking place at Paris

2024, we have a series of interviews with

Olympians that are in this issue that we

participated in when we were within the

100 days of the games. We're kicking it

off with 2X Team USA Olympics Gymnastics,

Jordan Chiles (G1, S1) who competed

in Tokyo 2020 and is competing in Paris

alongside her teammates Simone Biles

(G5, S1, B2), Suni Lee (G2, S1, B1), Jade Carey

(G2), and Hezly Rivera (G1), known as

The Golden Girls! They have already won

a Gold medal from the Paris 2024 games!

We sat down with Jordan to talk about

the sport, becoming an Olympian, how

much she is looking forward to this year's

Summer Games which will have an audience

in attendance as well as being able

to meet other athletes, and how she

maintains self-care! We have enjoyed seeing

her floor routines which mix Hip-Hop,

Beyoncé, and more. She also has fans

that include Megan Thee Stallion, 2X Gold

Medalist + 6X NBA Champion Michael Jordan,

and Queen Bee herself, Beyoncé.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have enjoyed seeing

you do and it’s great to chat with you!

JORDAN CHILES: Thank you so much for

having me! I love opportunities like this

and to have the ability to be able to speak

with you about my goals and everything

like that, this should be fun!

AM: What’s your earliest gymnastics memory

that made you love this sport?

JC: I would probably say that I was around

9 or 10 years old and I had really bad ADHD

when I was younger. So I always say that

gymnastics saved me because I was able

to get all of my energy out before I realized

that I had a gift and talent and that

I would be able to go somewhere with

it. I just thought that it was all fun and

games so I really just wanted to be able to

take that energy to the next level around

9/10/11 years old so it was pretty cool to

just take off and to see what else I could

do.

AM: I love that!

Everyone has their specialty in the

sport, what do you feel are your areas

of things that you love to do?

JC: I kind of just love my sport in general.

I don’t have a specialty in what I

do. I’m just known as the hype woman

a lot as people say! I give a lot of energy

to the crowd and to my teammates.

I just think that being a leader as well

and kind of knowing and understanding

each and every aspect of what it is

to be an athlete – mentally, physically,

and so I can say that it’s about me being

myself and being authentic to who

I am.

AM: You have been on the Women’s US

National Gymnastic Team since 2013,

what does it mean to you that you

have represented your country from

the Olympics to World Championships,

NCAA Championships with UCLA, and

just owning all of the spaces?

JC: Man, it’s been crazy! I can say knowing

that I have been on the National

Team since I was 12 years old it’s been

a whirlwind, a crazy ride, it’s been up

and down – the road wasn’t straight or

smooth. It was very bumpy and curvy,

but I am really proud to say that I represent

Team USA and just being able to

help the country understand that our

sport is such a unique and different

thing than it is to other sports in that

it’s hard work, it’s dedication, and it’s

a simplicity thing to who you want to

be. I think that it’s pretty cool. I can say

that representing Team USA wearing

Red, White, and Blue and always having

it wherever I go on my back is definitely

something that I cherish for sure!

AM: I have always enjoyed watching

your routines and I have literally had

tears in my eyes just watching you perform.

Whether it’s you in UCLA incorporating

Hip-Hop, Beyoncé and all of

these different things – what goes into

creating these performances and obvi-


ously deciding the elements that are involved

as well as the music and all of that?

JC: So when it comes to my floor routine,

the first one that I had, I was really little

and it was Michael Jackson and I did a tribute

to him. I think that it’s really about the

culture and the music and how pop culture

has kind of changed the atmosphere into

what it means to putting your own touch

and taste to it – your own piece – like your

cherry on top you know? It’s like you have

this awesome sundae and you want to put

that cherry on top to show who you are!

So, when it came to my music, obviously

I just want to be able to not only get the

crowd involved, but also to take it back for

them. Because they are watching and if

they hear something that they’re like, “oh

my gosh, I remember when I was in high

school listening to this song,” that is what

I do, whether it is Beyoncé, the 90s, taking

it back to the Michael Jackson days, or

even bring in superheroes! I’ve done that

too! It’s pretty cool to put my own touch

into everything.

AM: When you competed at the Summer

Games in Tokyo and you came home with

a medal, did you always imagine that you

would be on that stage?

JC: I always imagined that I would be an

Olympian for sure and go to the Olympics,

but I didn’t believe whatsoever that

it would be in Gymnastics! Back in 2008, I

told my mom when we were watching the

Olympic Games, “you know what? One

day I want to go to the Olympics!” Back

then, I didn’t know what sport I was doing,

I was young. So, knowing that it was

for Gymnastics and I was able to bring

home a medal, being there in that position

and being on that stage – not a lot

of people get to experience that and I am

beyond proud of myself for sure. I can just

say that the little me would be very proud

and to be able to continue on with something

that I have always dreamed of.

AM: What are the challenges of being an

Olympic Gymnast and what does an average

day or week look like when you’re

training and preparing for the upcoming

Summer Games?

JC: Obviously, it’s a little different. My

first Olympic Games, I was really a nobody!

Knowing that I am going into this

2nd Olympic cycle with an Olympics under

my belt, it’s different for sure! But, I

am still doing everything that I was doing

just like it would be my first. I have

been taking it day by day and month by

month. As we’re talking right now, we

are under 100 days away! Knowing that

makes me just like ahh – oh my gosh

this is so crazy and I’m doing this all

over again, but it definitely is a mental

game and for someone like me who's

kind of already been through it, I know

what to do, but for others that maybe

this is their first time trying out for the

Olympics, just take this moment as this

will always be something that you will

be able to cherish. Just take it piece by

piece, remember your why, and that’s

how I always think of it every step of

the way.

AM: With it being less than 100 days

to Paris 2024, what does it look like in

terms of your schedule for qualifying

and other things on the Road to the

Olympics.

JC: Knowing that we’re just a few days

away as I will say it like that because it

just sounds more reasonable! Right?

AM: Right!

JC: We have a competition this week

which starts off with the Core Classics.

Our season actually started at the

beginning of Jan, but unfortunately, I

was unable to compete due to a shoulder

injury that I had. So this meet that

is coming up this weekend is my first

meet that will put me on the platform

to show people where I am at, what I

am doing, and to give our head people

an understanding of where – if I am

picked – where I can be on the team.

Obviously, 2 weeks after that, we have

Championships which is a really big




meet as well and then about 2 and a half

weeks after that, we have Olympic Trials.

That will be where they pick the Olympic

Team and the Olympic Alternates. It’s

definitely a fast cycle for us. We are one

of the last Team USA sports that do – besides

Track & Field, that we are the last to

find out who gets to go!

AM: Yeah, we’ve been watching other

sports on Team USA that are already confirmed

and we keep checking for you guys

to see when those announcements will be.

JC: Yeah, us and Track & Field, we’re always

the last to figure out what the team

is. But I feel that that is the coolest part of

it because it’s like, “ooo who is it going to

be?” It’s also motivating to see other people

that have already made it so it pushes

you to think that you want to make it

so that you can meet some of the other

people who will also be there as well! It’s

a great process and I think that the qualifying

part is the biggest that you will ever

experience.

AM: In terms of Paris, what are you looking

forward to?

JC: Well, knowing that I have been to Paris

already a few times, I still think that every

single time that I get off the plane, it’s just

beautiful. I love being out there! The culture,

the atmosphere, the designers, everything

fashion – it’s just amazing! I think

that the biggest thing is just enjoying and

having an Olympic Games that will be normal.

In Tokyo there was COVID and we

didn’t get to do a lot and just to be able to

go around the Olympic Village with people

and being able to have an audience

and to enjoy the Olympic experience. So I

am truly looking forward to that! Also being

able to get to meet people we didn’t

do that last time. I hope that I will be able

to meet a basketball player or a volleyball

player, golf or whatever it is and to be able

to experience that!

AM: With that time being so close, you

have partnered with Bliss. What is the synergy

between you and the brand?

JC: So Bliss felt very natural to me. It felt

like it fit in with who I am trying to be

and especially with their commitment

to self-care which is a very key thing to

me whether it’s in your skincare, your

beauty, taking a nap you know? Having

the ability to just embrace who you are

and with their Lemon Sage Body Butter,

it’s definitely a game changer for

sure. I feel very confident, elegant, and

smooth who I am. It’s just a nourishment

for sure and being able to have

Bliss as a partner within my daily routine,

makes me feel like a brand new

person every single time!

AM: I have to say that I am a long time

fan of this scent and that product and

you get that luxury feeling when you

put it on.

In terms of self-care, what do you do? I

know that you’re always traveling and

you have a schedule so what do you do

to take that time so you have moments

for yourself?

JC: A lot of times when it comes to

self-care, it does come to beauty and

you want to take that time to feel as

beautiful as possible because you

know that this world is very crucial and

it does take a whirlwind on you. Within

my self-care, I like to take time to myself.

It could be sitting in my room and

drawing, whether I’m looking at a Netflix

show and binge watching and just

being by myself because I am around a

lot of people 24/7 so sometimes taking

that sound and putting it away helps

a lot. I take naps! I take naps all of the

time! If you don’t know where I went,

and you don’t see me at all – it’s because

I’m asleep in my room napping.

That’s how I do self-care for myself or

sometimes I go shopping. Retail therapy

is the best!

AM: How do you keep your skin looking

and feeling hydrated especially when

you think about travel, doing all of the

movements when you have perspiration

and the chalk you use? Looking at


your skin right now, obviously you’ve got

it down as your skin is glowing and it looks

beautiful.

JC: Oh thank you! With the hydration part,

I do a lot of intake of water because as a

gymnast, we sweat a lot. I mean I’m not

really a sweater but when it does come

to working out, always grinding, we lose

a lot of salt so, that does make our skin

very dry and brittle. Also the magnesium

we’re around in our chalk, it takes moisture

out. So because of all of that, I drink

a lot of water and I make sure that I am

always moisturized no matter where I

go! So whether it’s a lotion or a scrub or

whatever it is, even for my lips, I keep everything

hydrated because I am always in

chalk! I don’t like chalk already because

it’s nasty so that hydration, it really comes

in to make you feel good. I wake up every

morning, I wash my face, I do my whole

skincare and if I forget to put my moisturizer

on, oh I go crazy! I’m like my face is

going to fall off! So I make sure that I am

taking everything in for sure!

AM: Are there any kind of projects that you

have that we should keep an eye out for as

obviously you have an amazing schedule

coming up and we can’t wait to see that!

But is there anything else that we should

know about?

JC: I can say that there is this one thing

that is coming into play and I can’t really

say a lot without saying a lot! It’s definitely

going to give a perspective on when

you feel you have done so much in your

life that you can help others so I will leave

it with that! So just keep an eye out on it

and I feel that a lot of people will be able

to take a lot from it. They will understand

what it is like to be an athlete and to be

someone that is more than just an athlete!

AM: What do you want your legacy to be

whether it’s in the sport or outside of it? As

you just stated it’s not just about being an

athlete, it’s more than that.

JC: I think the legacy would be more so

that I was always having fun, I always - I

don’t like to say this, but I wasn’t always

a rule follower. I always did things outside

of the box and just enjoyed being

the person that I was, being authentic

to who I am as a person, and knowing

that there is only one you and that nobody

can change that. I think that the

legacy is who you are, what you want

to do in your life, and how can you control

that within yourself!

@jordanchiles

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 66 Team

USA Facebook | PG 71 + 9PLAYLIST PG

76 Team USA | PG 74 Bliss | PG 78 +

63MIX ROUTIN3S PG 80 Jordan Chiles |









We've always enjoyed watching Beach Volleyball

when we're watching the Olympic

Games! This year our eyes are on Team

USA Beach Volleyball duo, Sara Hughes

and Kelly Cheng! They're a fun pair to

watch when they hit the sand and we can't

wait to see what they do at Paris 2024. We

caught up with them to find out how they

came to the sport, what they love about

it, combining their super powers, how

they stay in shape, Safe Sun, and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in

love with volleyball?

SARA HUGHES: I fell in love at the age of

eight years old in Huntington Beach, California.

KELLY CHENG: I fell in love with volleyball

back when I was 11 years old. I started

out playing indoor and thought that was

where I’d be for the rest of my life. When

I tried out beach in high school… that all

changed! I decided to play only beach in

college and have been playing professionally

ever since!

AM: What led to you choosing beach volleyball

and what do you love about it?

SH: Beach volleyball has always had my

heart from a young age. I love the environment

and atmosphere of the sport.

You have to be versatile and well versed in

all aspects of the game. There are no subs

or coaches when you are on the court so

you have to figure out how to win with

one other person beside you.

KC: I chose beach volleyball for so many

reasons. The beach being my office is top

of the list. Getting to be outside for so

much of my life is such a joy. I love that

there are only 2 people and no subs - you

have to be adaptable and think on your

feet. You’re so exposed out there on the

court and have to figure out how to win

just with you and your partner. Allowing

my creativity to shine on the court is another

passion of mine. There isn’t one

way to play this game and I love pushing

the envelope on how to play!

AM: You guys have been partners for

awhile whether in high school, youth

competitions, while competing at USC

and beyond - tell me about your style of

play and why this duo is so synergistic!

SH: We play with a lot of passion and

love for the game. We are both athletic

and dynamic and we love showing that

on the court. We have great communication

and inspire each other to get

better every day and change the way

the sport is played.

KC: We have such chemistry on and off

the court. We connect well and make

each other laugh. We enjoy doing life

together. Those intangible things have

always been easy for us. Now add on

top of that our creativity, passion, determination

- and we’re unstoppable!

AM: Kelly, you competed at the Olympics

in Tokyo 2020 and Sara you are

looking to add this to your impressive

resume! With us being 100 days out,

what are the weeks ahead looking like

in terms of qualifying and when you

find out about getting this coveted slot?

SH: I am so excited to be going to my

first Olympic Games. We actually found

out a few weeks ago that we have

qualified for Paris! We have 3 more big

tournaments to compete in before the

games but we have a solid month of

training at home before the Olympics.

During that time we will refine some

skills, game plan, and most importantly

have fun and enjoy the journey.

KC: We were pumped to qualify for

Paris! It is so exciting to be going to my

second Olympics. This time will be SO

different. Tokyo was such a unique experience

due to all the Covid protocols

and it being a closed Olympics. This

time around, my family will come and

cheer me on!! We have a couple more

tournaments worth Olympic points,

but after that we get a chunk of time

at home allowing us to spend time

with family and prepare for the Paris




Olympics.

AM: What are you looking forward to

should you be able to go to the Summer

Games?

SH: I am looking forward to proudly represent

Team USA on the worlds largest

stage. I also can’t wait to play in the stadium

in Paris that will be under the Eiffel

Tower.

KC: I’m really looking forward to opening

ceremonies! So unique this year being on

boats on the Seine River; it should be iconic.

And speaking of iconic, our venue will

be one of the most jaw dropping locations

ever - right in front of the Eiffel Tower!

AM: What's an average week like in terms

of training and working out individually as

well as a duo?

SH: We train on the sand 4-5 times a week

together. I am in the gym 3x a week but

have routine stretches, rehab, and ab exercises

that I complete every day.

KC: It depends on the week and where

we’re at in season, but typically as a team,

we train on the sand 4 times a week and

watch film and/or have team meetings

2x a week; Solo, I do blocking work with

my assistant coach 2x a week, in the gym

(Stark) 3x a week, physical therapy 3x a

week, sports psych once a week, and Pilates

3x a week. I also try to get a massage

or ice bath in every week for recovery! It’s

a full time job and I love it!

AM: Do you have any routines that you

do before a match to get your head in the

game and do you have anything you do

after a match to come down from all that

energy?

SH: I have a routine warm up that I complete

that gets my body warm and ready

to go. Kelly and I also share headphones

and listen and jam out to music while we

warm up. It is a fun way to do our individual

routines but stay connected at the

same time. After matches we debrief as a

team and talk about how the game

went.

KC: My favorite pre match routine that

Sara and I do together is pray. It sets

the tone for the match and always

brings me back to the present and

gives me perspective. After a match to

cool down I love to FaceTime my family.

They mean the world to me.

AM: Of course, as beach volleyball players,

you're constantly in the sun, and

SPF is an essential! How do you engage

in safe sun?

SH: Absolutely, safe sun practices are

crucial for us, given the amount of time

we spend training and competing outdoors.

I make sure to apply sunscreen

liberally before each practice or match

and reapply regularly throughout the

day. The Bliss Block Star Daily Mineral

SPF 30 is fantastic because it's not

just about protection; it's about performance.

Knowing we have a reliable

sunscreen that's invisible and lightweight

allows us to focus entirely on

our game without worrying about sun

damage.

KC: Engaging in safe sun practices is

non-negotiable for us as beach volleyball

players. We're out in the sun for

hours on end, so protecting our skin

is a top priority. I always start my day

with a layer of SPF 30 sunscreen, and

I carry it with me to reapply as needed.

I also love how its neutralizing and

almost mattifying! Teaming up with

Bliss with their Block Star Daily Mineral

SPF 30 is a game-changer. It's formulated

to be invisible and lightweight,

so it doesn't interfere with our performance

on the sand.

AM: It seems like we're living in an interesting

time where beauty brands

are focusing on women's sports to get

into their routines especially when it's

being used directly in their sport! It

makes sense as we can truly see how

it is being used which allows us to see


how it will work in our day-to-day! What

do you think about this synergy between

women athletes and beauty brands that

are partnering in this way?

SH: It's an exciting development to see

beauty brands like Bliss partnering with

women athletes. This synergy between

sports and beauty not only highlights

the importance of skincare for active lifestyles

but also celebrates the strength

and beauty of women in sports. It's empowering

to know that brands recognize

our influence and want to support us in

our endeavors both on and off the court.

KC: It's a testament to the growing recognition

of the intersection between sports

and skincare. As athletes, we're constantly

exposed to the elements, so having

products like Bliss SPF products designed

specifically for our needs is invaluable.

AM: When you're not training or competing,

how do you take time for yourselves?

SH: I love spending time with friends and

family. They are the best support and outlets

for me. I also love taking the time to

read, jump in the ocean, and take a nice

hot bath.

KC: I love a good self care day! A face

mask, epsom salt bath, a massage, some

quiet time with my Nintendo switch and

I’m happy and recharged.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that

you have going on that we should keep an

eye out for?

SH: Fun projects coming out with Delta

Airlines, Chipotle, KTTape, Nike, Optimum

Nutrition, Eli Lilly, and NBC Sports.

KC: In January we will be running our third

annual mentorship camp.

Each year in January we spend 3 days

mentoring and pouring into young up and

coming beach volleyball players. Usually

sophomores or juniors in high school. My

husband Jordan and I will ask 6 local fe-

male beach volleyball pros (ranging

from AVP champions, Olympians, and

Olympic Gold medalists!) to join our

camp! During those 3 days, the mentees

get to partner up with their pro/

mentor and train with them, eat meals

together, learn from the whiteboard

camps that the mentors run, and participate

in fun, silly, competitive group

activities together! I think the most

beneficial part of camp is what comes

after. We ask each mentor to try to

continue investing in their mentee

consistently for at least the rest of the

year! The goal is to create life long relationships

that allows an older figure to

pour into the next up and coming generation

of beach volleyball athletes.

@sarahughesbeach

@kellycheng

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 83 Team

USA | PG 84, 9LIST STORI3S PG 89 -

94 Sara Hughes + Kelly Cheng | PG 86

Bliss |














Every four years when we watch the Summer

Games, we enjoy connecting and reconnecting

with those competing, veterans,

analysts, and personalities. It's a

great time to come together to support an

array of sports that we all enjoy. Of course

with Team USA Gymnastics, we know that

we'll be cheering this group along and we

took some time to talk with 5X Team USA

Gymnastic Olympic Medalist, Nastia Liukin

(G1, S3, B1). We caught up with her on what

she's doing, her thoughts on competing

at Paris 2024, her advice for the women's

team, what she will do in Paris, her collaboration

with Recess Pickleball and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It has been quite a year

in gymnastics and we have enjoyed watching

the road to seeing who would be on

this year's Team USA Women's Gymnastics

Team! As a 5X Olympic Medalist, what

have been some of the biggest moments

that you enjoyed while competing at the

Olympics?

NASTIA LIUKIN: Competing at the Olympics

is a surreal experience. One of the

biggest moments for me was winning the

all-around gold medal in Beijing in 2008.

Standing on the podium, hearing the national

anthem, and realizing all the hard

work had paid off was indescribable. Another

unforgettable moment, and perhaps

the most memorable, was standing

in the tunnel with my teammates before

we stepped onto the competition floor for

the first time. We all looked at each other,

not exchanging any words, knowing that

our lives were about to change forever.

AM: Like many, we are excited about the

upcoming Summer Games and of course,

to see Team USA Gymnastics hit the floor!

What are you looking forward to this year

with this team?

NL: I'm incredibly excited to see the new

talent and the routines that Team USA

will bring to Paris. This year's team has

shown such resilience and dedication,

and I can't wait to see them shine on the

world stage. I'm biased because Hezly Rivera

trains with my parents, but I cannot

wait to watch her realize her dreams

in Paris. I’m also so excited to see Suni

(G1, S1, B1) step onto the competition

floor after the year she has had.

AM: Do you have any words of advice

for the ladies as they head to Paris?

NL: My advice would be to trust your

training, trust your muscle memory,

but also, enjoy it! This is a once-in-alifetime

experience that some will never

have again. Leave it all out on the

competition floor, but take time to

soak in the small moments.

AM: Will you be in Paris and if so will

you be broadcasting/being an analyst

or will you be there with another

brand? What are you excited about for

the Olympic Games?

NL: I’m so excited to be in Paris right

now. I recently announced that I’ll be

ELLE Magazine’s official gymnastics

correspondent, I’ll be filming my own

show that dives into the psychology of

the Olympic journey, and working with

the USOPC on numerous events

throughout the Games. I’m also excited

to watch in a spectator capacity for

the first time! My favorite part of any

Olympics is to witness the culmination

of years of hard work and dedication

that these athletes have given to their

sport. The Olympic spirit is truly special,

and being there to experience it

firsthand is always inspiring.

AM: You are no stranger to collaborations.

You just launched your latest one

with Recess Pickleball!

What do you love about this sport and

how/why did this partnership come

about?

NL: Pickleball is such a fun and engaging

sport that brings people together.

I love the social aspect and how it can

be competitive yet enjoyable for all

skill levels. The partnership with Recess

Pickleball came about so organi-


cally because I was always a fan of

their brand. I actually sent them a DM

a year and a half ago telling them that

it was on my vision board to launch a

collaboration with them leading up to

Paris, and here it is!

AM: We have seen a number of athletes

that have embraced this sport. Will you

be playing in tournaments?

NL: I hope to, yes, but definitely more

social tournaments than competitive!

It’s a great way to stay active and challenge

myself in a new sport. Plus, the

pickleball community is incredibly welcoming,

and I’m looking forward to

connecting with fellow players.

AM: We know that you're a big advocate

of mental health. How do you take

time for yourself when you're not in the

midst of projects?

NL: Meditation has been a learned skill

that I’ve incorporated into my mental

health routine after a close mentor

shared how well it worked for him,

specifically TM. The Calm App or Headspace

are great ways for beginners

to get into meditation, too. I’m also a

fan of hot and cold therapy, which is

a huge mood booster. Something else

that I look forward to every day, now

that I live by the water, is catching the

sunset along the beach. It’s incredibly

grounding, sets me up for a good

night’s sleep, and I do it with my dog,

Harley, who makes everything better!

AM: Are there any other projects that

you're working on that you would like

to share with us?

NL: I’m excited to share a few big

things once I’m in Paris, so you’ll have

to stay tuned!

@nastialiukin

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Recess Picklaball
















THE ART OF

THE SNACK:

KINTSUGI

OMAKASE



This month, we made our way to Kintsugi

Omakase to have an epic meal that we will

talk about for quite a bit! We knew that

there would be a number of courses that

would be created in front of us by Chef Victor

Chen who was in last month's issue in

our THE 9LIST 9M3NU feature.

Our meal didn't disappoint! We were able

to enjoy a 16 course meal that is part of

their Kintsugi Experience. It's a fantastic

experience where upon entering the

restaurant, you are sitting with 9 other

guests who have a front row seat at a meal

that is next level. We wanted to know more

about when the restaurant launched, why

they provide omakase, and what you can

expect when it comes to heading to this

SoHo destination!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did Kintsugi

launch and can you tell us about the founders/owners

of the restaurant?

ASHE YEUNG: Kintsugi was originally

founded in 2018 by owners and New Yorkbased

creative partners, Ashe Yeung, an

architect, and Tim Madrid, an Art Director.

AM: Can you tell us about the chef as well

and his background?

AY: Executive Chef Victor Chen, formerly

of New York Sushi Ko & Sushi Seki, is a

passionate sushi chef that prepares his sushi

in the traditional edomae style. Unlike

many other sushi chefs, he does not solely

use Japanese ingredients. A long-standing

relationship with fishmongers allows

Kintsugi Omakase to offer locally sourced

fish, enabling for a broader selection and

more moderate prices.

AM: Can you tell us about the ambiance of

the restaurant and what guests can expect

when they come in for a visit?

AY: The dining room is centered around a

natural wood 10-seat sushi counter, which

is framed by dark charcoal walls. Soothing

light is filtered through Japanese wooden

slats creating a relaxing mood for guests.

Each course is presented on dinnerware

in collaboration with EM Ceramics and

Spark Bird Studio who has created an

exclusive line of handcrafted, gold-fused

dinnerware for Kintsugi.

AM: We know what omakase is, but can

you tell us the history of what this dining

experience is?

AY: Omakase, rooted in Japanese culinary

tradition, traces its origins to the

Edomae sushi culture of early 19th-century

in Tokyo. Initially, it is referred to entrusting

the chef to create a meal based

on seasonal ingredients. Over time,

omakase has evolved into a revered

dining experience where patrons place

complete trust in the chef's expertise

and creativity, highlighting the essence

of Japanese culinary craftsmanship.

AM: You only offer omakase. Why was

that the experience that you wanted to

focus on?

AY: Omakase represents the pinnacle

of our culinary philosophy, emphasizing

quality, seasonality, and the art of storytelling

through food. By exclusively

offering omakase, we curate a deeply

personal and memorable dining journey

for each guest, showcasing the freshest

ingredients and innovative techniques

that define a culinary vision. It allows

us to foster a direct connection with

diners, sharing not just a meal, but a

transformative gastronomic experience

that celebrates tradition with a modern

touch.

AM: For those that are coming for lunch,

what can you tell us about The Lunch

Rush Omakase?

AY: The Lunch Rush Omakase is a combination

of a quick sushi fix with a high

quality offering and also serves as an

introduction to omakase for those

who have never tried. Our Lunch Rush

Omakase is a 12-course one-hour experience

for $60. It is served only on Friday,

Saturday and Sunday. We always promote

the art of omakase and it is key for


us to have an omakase with an affordable

price tag.

AM: For dinner, you offer The Grand

Street Classic, The SoHo Experience, and

the Kintsugi Omakase - the latter which we

enjoyed this recently. Can you tell us about

each one of those and what the differences

are between them?

AY: We serve three tiers of premium

omakase which include seasonal appetizers

and sushi: The Kintsugi Omakase, a

16-course service for $195; The Soho Experience;

a 13-course experience for $155;

and The Grand Street Classic; a 10-course

meal for $95. All tastings also include a

sushi chef’s choice of hand roll, gourmet

miso soup, tamago, and seasonal dessert.

Each tier features a varied amount of seasonal

and premium ingredients diligently

prepared by our chef. Our goal is to be

able to cater to as many customer as possible

and feature different offerings with

the same high quality standards.

AM: Are there additional items that you

can pair with these packages?

AY: We offer a seasonal beverage pairing

featuring sake breweries that are high

quality and paired perfectly with our

omakase. We also do a seasonal sea urchin

(uni) tasting that showcases different

sea urchins from around the world; and

from time to time, we offer prized auction

grade uni.

AM: Can you tell us about 3 cocktails that

you suggest that we should have on our

next visit?

AY: We only have one cocktail called Murasaki,

which in Japanese means purple.

The cocktail itself is a beautiful vibrant

purple color made with yuzu, sake and violet

extract.

AM: Can you tell us about 3 sakes, beers,

or cider that we should pair with our meal?

AY: We are a big fan of Echigo Koshihikari

beer, which used the same rice that most

sushi restaurants use as the basis of

their beer, perfectly paired with our

omakase. We are also avid enthusiasts

of the Masumi brewery. Masumi is one

of Japan's premier sake brands, produced

by Miyasaka Brewing Company

in Nagano Prefecturel they have been

making sake since 1662. For a more modern

flavor profile, we highly recommend

the uka sake series. They are made very

well with a combination of Japanese and

American crafts into one single bottle

AM: Are there any special events taking

place this summer or fall that you would

like us to know about?

AY: We will be participating in the NYC

Restaurant Week with the NYC Tourism

Board. Our goal is to promote the

craft of omakase from now to September

1st. We will be taking a short break

after September 1st and will re-open on

September 12th. Then, we will be transitioning

into our fall menu, which to all

edomae style sushi lovers, it is the best

season where all the fish are fragrant,

fatty, and simply delicious. We highly

recommend all patrons to book ahead

of time to make sure that they can save

a seat.

For those that want to try Kintsugi

Omakase, Restaurant Week kicked off

Jul 22nd and goes through Aug 18th with

participating restaurants. The below is

available until Sep 1st. Kintsugi will offer

a 12-course prix fixe menu for $60 per person

with an optional seasonal sake flight

for an additional $30 per person. Guests

can add-on a premium seasonal uni

handroll for $30 per person. The menu

is subject to change due to availability

and seasonality, highlights include their

Housemade Japanese Potato Salad with

Arctic Sweet Shrimp, Orata/Seabream

from Greece, and Hotate/Scallop from

Hokkaido Japan - to name a few.

@kintsuginyc

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Mr. Grant Hao-

Wei Lin/Kintsugi










As we navigate the summer, there are a

number of events that are always on our

mind! With the US Open around the corner,

Citi Taste of Tennis kicks off a series of

events as well as the Grand Slam that gets

everyone excited! At Citi Taste of Tennis,

you're able to enjoy some of the best chefs

and restaurants as well as seeing your favorite

tennis players who will be playing at

the US Open as well as veterans together!

We've enjoyed attending over the years

and look forward to attending on Aug

22nd at Gotham Hall with this year's host,

Prakash Amritraj We wanted to know more

about this event as well as others that are

part of Taste of Tennis. We sat down with

AYS Sports Marketing CEO, Penney Lerner

to get all the details.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into

this year's Citi Taste of Tennis, I wanted to

know more about AYS Sports Marketing

and who this producer is?

PENNY LERNER: Citi Taste of Tennis was

created by AYS Sports Marketing, a woman-owned

experiential marketing agency

started in 1996 by mother and daughter

duo, Judi and Penny Lerner.

AM: When did Taste of Tennis launch and

why was this created?

PL: The principals at AYS worked with various

tennis tournaments for many years

and, in doing so, developed close relationships

with tennis players, agents, and other

industry insiders. With their fingers on

pulse on the state of professional tennis,

they identified an exciting and untapped

opportunity. While tennis featured topnotch

tournaments and A-list players,

there were no high profile “off the court”

events that were prominent in so many

other sports. To fill this void, AYS created

the Taste of Tennis in 1999.

In 2000, AYS hosted the first Taste of Tennis

event in NYC headlined by Andre Agassi

and celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. The

event combined food prepared by top

chefs, celebrity appearances, entertainment

and an Oscar's style red carpet. The

event was instantly a hit among players,

fans, sponsors and the media. Since

then, the Taste has become a who’s

who of tennis stars, culinary personalities

and celebrities. Past attendees include

Serena Williams, Venus Williams,

Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Mike Tyson,

Eva Longoria, Marcus Samuelsson, Lana

Del Rey, Naomi Osaka, Andy Roddick,

John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Olivia Culpo,

Maria Sharapova, John McEnroe,

Nick Kyrgios, Al Roker, Tamron Hall, Billie

Jean King, Morimoto, Monica Seles,

and many others

AM: We have attended Citi Taste of Tennis

for a few years and have enjoyed

them each time. In addition to NY, you

have a Taste of Tennis for London, Indian

Wells, Washington D.C., and Miami.

What do you look for when it comes to

deciding on bringing a Taste of Tennis to

a city as we assume that it involves doing

it in tandem with a tennis match?

PL: Citi Taste of Tennis has occurred in

many different cities over the past 10

years, from Melbourne to London to

New York City to Toronto. We are always

evaluating cities that have unique

culinary offerings, have the potential

for new digital content and most importantly,

have tennis happening nearby!

AM: In terms of the upcoming Citi Taste

of Tennis what does the calendar look

like in terms of planning? Can you tell us

what you are focused on when you're

a year out, 6 months, 3 months, and a

month away?

PL: Citi Taste of Tennis is a brand. We focus

on it for 12 months of the year and

are constantly evaluating new markets,

rising chefs and culinary trends, up and

coming tennis players, unique venues,

inspiring digital content, social media,

sponsorships and more. It’s a big undertaking,

and we have a great team and

after 24 years, hundreds of hours of digital

content and 75+ events, we have a

solid understanding of what the brand

requires.




AM: This year, you are returning to Gotham

Hall. Each year, these events blend players,

fans, and cuisine. Can you tell us what we

should expect this year?

PL: Guests will enjoy cuisine prepared by

20 leading chefs including Mischa Tsumura

(No. 5 Best Restaurant in the World –

Maido) and Antonio Bachour (World’s

Best Pastry chef 2018, 2022). They will

also be treated to special appearances

by a number of top tennis stars including

8-Time Grand Slam Champion Andre Agassi,

Qinwen Zheng (World #7) and Alexander

Zverev (World #4). There will also be

great food and fun promotions provided

by our sponsors including Segafredo Zanetti

Coffee, Scenic Cruises, Boar’s Head,

Barbados Tourism Board, Liquid Death

and Savas Health.

AM: Is there anything new being added

to this year's event?

PL: We are producing a live cooking competition

between Chef Mischa and Chef

Antonio with WTA player Qinwen Zheng

and ATP player Zhizhen Zhang which Andre

Agassi will judge!

AM: Outside of the events associated with

tennis tournaments, what does Taste of

Tennis do throughout the year?

PL: Taste of Tennis started out as a 3-hour

culinary event and has evolved into one of

the most popular brands in pro tennis. In

addition to the 3 North American events,

we currently produce, Taste of Tennis is

also an Official Sponsor of the Giorgio Armani

Tennis Classic at Hurlingham (UK).

This year, we will also have a Taste of

Tennis experience at the National Bank

Open (Toronto). We have a full-time staff

dedicated to managing all elements of

the brand including sales, culinary, digital

content, production, and public relations.

Suffice to say it's a year-round program.

@tasteoftennis

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Taste of Tennis





We love this time of year when we have all

of our favorite sports happening during

this time of year. We turn our attention to

soccer and Angel City FC. We took some

time to sit down with one of their star athletes,

Sydney Leroux, Team USA Soccer

Gold Medalist for London 2012 as well as

being a World Cup Winner for USWNT at

the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

We wanted to catch up with her to find out

how she got into the sport, playing for Angel

City FC, her partnership with TYLENOL

as well as how it assisted her through recovering

from her injuries so that she could get

back to the game and team that she loves!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in

love with soccer and realize you want to

play professionally?

SYNDEY LEROUX: I fell in love with soccer

probably when I was around four or five.

My mom put me in every sport possible

because I was crazy and she wanted me

to burn off some energy. I just loved scoring

goals and so I continued to play. I also

played baseball, but I played with boys.

And so my mom was like, “Okay, you need

to make a decision”, and I decided to stick

with soccer.

AM: Was there anything behind that decision

to pick soccer for baseball?

SL: Well, the boys started getting huge

and I stayed the same size. And I just felt

like I gravitated towards soccer.

AM: We know the season has started for

Angel City FC, but what are you most looking

forward to this season? What have you

enjoyed so far?

SL: I'm looking forward to just continuing

to push, we're midway through the

season now and I think we've seen really

good things. I think just like working off

of that and trying to be a good teammate

and do as much as I possibly can.

AM: What does it mean to play the sport

you love and represent your passion?

Whether it's on the global stage or whether

it's just playing in LA? What does that

mean to you to get to represent?

SL: It means so much. I think that I've

been able to see the growth of women's

soccer and women's sports, like being in

it and being involved. The NWSL started

like 13 years ago, and I was there for

that. There was this fear about like, are

we going to continue or is it going to fold

like all of the other women's leagues before

the NWSL. I was playing in Boston

at a little high school field with a couple

hundred fans. Someone had a little camera

and it went on YouTube, and now I

play in front of a sold out stadium with

22,000 people in Los Angeles. I don't

think anyone could have ever thought

that, but I think we pushed for that and

this is what we want. So yeah, I'm just so

happy to be a part of it and know that

the future can even be better.

AM: Why have you partnered with TYLE-

NOL and what is the Care Commitment?

SL: I partnered with TYLENOL because I

realized that it's everywhere in my lifefrom

my muscle aches and pains to the

kids having a fever. I just realized it's

everywhere, so it made sense. Coming

back from my injury, I knew how hard

that was. I'm really excited to announce

the TYLENOL Care Commitment, which

is a recovery fund to help injured athletes

get back into the game. TYLENOL is

committing funding to help injured athletes

recover and compete once again,

starting this year with a sponsorship to

the Women’s Sports Foundation.

AM: How do you manage training

during the in-season and how does that

compare to when you're in the off-season?

SL: Training in season is tough. But

I would also say that training in the

off-season and getting ready for a grueling

season, we play like 10 months a

year, so the offseason is very short. I

just try to stay healthy, that's my num-




ber one right now, and it's been going

good so far.

AM: As a mom, how do you balance that

training and playing soccer in the games

with the activities with your kids and being

their role model?

SL: I think that there's no perfect balance,

you just have to do as best as you

can. For me to be a role model to my children

and to other moms, too, has been

amazing. I also think just being able to

play with them and do what I do and

bring them along with me, I think that

that's been really helpful. But it's just

about sometimes getting outside and

playing.

AM: Do you have any advice for moms

balancing that busy career with raising a

family?

SL: I think don't be so hard on yourself,

give yourself grace. Your kids just love

you and as long as you're present there

when you can be, I think that's all that

matters.

AM: Any other upcoming projects we

should keep an eye out for? What's the

next thing for Sydney?

SL: Yeah, I actually play in my 150th game

coming up against Orlando, so I'm looking

forward to that.

@sydneyleroux

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 135 Sydney

Leroux| PG 136 George Orozco |

9PLAYLIST MULTI PG 138 - 141 XXX |






We enjoyed a gala dinner at Manhatta to

discover, learn, and enjoy.

Prosciutto Di Carpegna PDO, the EU Gem

Ham. We discussed the careful selection

and aging process they have, which translated

into highly delicate, delicious prosciuitto.

The prosciutto was quite versatile, which

we tasted as a stand-alone ingrediant, as

well as an element incorporated into other

courses, such as the halibut.

If was interesting to hear about their high

standards in selection, salting and aging

process. We enjoyed the aged prosciutto

as a stand-alone appetizer and as part of

dishes, both were delicious. The evening

ended with a most striking sunset through

the window-paneled event room at Manhatta,

and like that all of our senses were

certainly igntited.

@consorzio_carpegna

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | The EU Gem

Ham Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO











Readers of Athleisure Mag know that we

enjoy watching STARZ’s P-Valley. In fact,

we even interviewed members of the cast

for our MAY ISSUE #77 for the last season

of this series. This series focuses on Chucalisa

and the chosen family of those that

work at The Pynk. In this series, we get

to know about this strip club, those who

work there, and the events that take place

in the community that affect those that

work there. We love that we get to see a

lot about these multi-dimensional characters

in terms of their hopes, dreams, how

they support one another and beyond!

Although we’re all waiting for the upcoming

season of P-Valley, today we get to

watch Down in the Valley that lets us know

more about the cities that represent Chucalisa

as well as the stories that come from

there as well as how elements of those

lives directly tie into the show. In this companion

series qith 6 episodes hosted by

and is Executive Produced by Nicco Annan

(Shameless, Snowfall, Claws) who plays

Uncle Clifford in the show and Executive

Produced by Shoshana Guy (Rock Center

with Brian Williams, High on the Hog: How

African American Cuisine Transformed

America, The 1619 Project), we get to hear

their stories and learn more about what

we have all come to love about this series!

We had the chance to sit down with them

to talk about the Mothership show, how

this series came about, why it was created,

and what we can expect from it!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into

Down in the Valley, what attracted you to

P-Valley and why did you want to be in this

incredible show which I have loved watching

over the seasons?

NICCO ANNAN: Well thank you, what attracted

me to this show, P-Valley, I am going

to say is the fact that it was created by

such an auteur as Katori Hall (The Mountaintop,

Hurt Village, Tina - The Tina Turner

Musical). She is really a person who I love

her work in the theater and I was reading

her work before I was actually even auditioning

for anything like that. I also love

that it was something that was a true reflection

of where I came from and all different

types of our culture. It wasn’t just

limited to a narrow viewpoint of how I

saw myself and my community.

AM: In watching the show, I love the complexities,

the characters, the topics that

are talked about, and the city almost

becomes a character in and of itself. Although

I know that the city portrayed in

the series is fictionalized, it seems more

like a composite of a number of cities in

the South. How did Down in the Valley

come about as I feel that it allows the

city as a character to step forward a little

bit.

NA: Yes, part of Down in the Valley, we

wanted to be able to go to different cities,

You're absolutely right! Chucalisa,

Mississippi is a fictitious city, but it is a

real Native American burial ground. In

the world of P-Valley, all of this is behind

us and we are really an amalgamation of

the South and it would be almost like if

Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis had a

baby! You know with a Mama in Tunica.

Haha – that’s Chucalisa.

One of the things you know that

Shoshana and I talked about in creating

this show, Down in the Valley, we really

wanted to go to different parts of the

South that were in The Delta – that Bible

Belt space to see what it was really like.

It was about the real people and the real

places!

AM: So how did both of you become attached

the show. Shoshana, I have also

been a fan of your work as a journalist

and a producer. As a Telecom major in

college, I have been enthralled by your

work. How did both of you come to this

project?

SHOSHANA GUY: I had worked sort of

adjacent to Starz on the 1619 Project and

so I had a relationship with them there

and you know, I am always looking for

new folks to collaborate with so it was

really exciting for the idea of - I mean, I




love the Mothership Show as we call it.

So it was a really exciting idea for me to

be collaborating with Nicco and Katori

and of course, a new production company

Zero Point Zero (Nomad with Carlton

McCoy, United Shades of America w Kamau

Bell, Somebody Feed Phil) which it was

produced out of. So once I sort of had that

initial relationship, the idea of collaborating

with a new group of people was very

appealing to me so when I got the call, I

said yes, that sounds interesting to me.

AM: And Nicco?

NA: What’s the question?

AM: We love you in the Flagship show

but what drew you to come in as the host

and the Executive Producer in this show?

What were the stories that you wanted

to tell as you mentioned earlier about focusing

on the different cities and the people

within it. I came across a quote that,

“even though The Valley is a concept, and

a state of mind, it actually reflects various

areas.” As someone who is from the Midwest

originally and has lived in NY for over

2 decades, I love learning about other communities.

NA: You know, when I created this show,

I had the idea for this show back during

S1 of P-Valley! So it was something that

was always in my mind and it was about

the right time. The industry has been going

through a lot of restructuring, the big

strike, there was this thing called COVID

that the entire world experienced. So it

just felt like, now is the time that we can

have some space to do it. I had a little

time off from the Flagship show, so when

I brought it to the network, my ideas and

I got that all pitched out and partnered up

here with Shoshana, we really went in and

found a team of people, a team of diverse

people, Black women, queer people, people

that were connected and had passion

for the South to be able to come together

and to tell this story and always having

Katori in the mix!

It's so funny because my brain really just

went for half a second to the script and

the world of Chucalisa and I had to say,

wait!

SG: Haha you were going to recite some

lines for us?

NA: Right! I was going to go into a whole

other place!

SG: Yeah! He’s an amazing multi-tasker!

AM: Right haha!

NA: It was just a natural, I mean honestly,

it was a natural process and it was a

labor of intense love, it has been one of

severe dedication, you know to make

during this past year. And it’s something

that we wanted to do where it wasn’t

about a replacement of P-Valley, it is

about an expansion and creating something

more. I really felt like it was an opportunity

because I meet fans and other

members of the Pynk Posse and there

is an intense love! We can be quite intense

and so I wanted to make sure that

I could do something that is reflective

of who I am meeting and who I am encountering,

and I think that sometimes

in life, you can forget the beauty and the

strength that we can come from. So, I

wanted to make something that was

full of love, full of intention, and low on

trauma.

SG: Yeah, I have to add to that to say that

one of the fun things about being in the

field is watching people’s reactions to

Nicco was that they already felt so connected

to him because of this character

that he plays in the show. It was such an

interesting and enjoyable piece of the

operation to be moving around in space

and to see how it all came together!

Remember when we went to the tailgating

event?

NA: Yes!

SG: This older woman came up to me

and asked me could he come over for


just a second? So I looked over to where

Nicco was and I said (waving her arms

over), come on over here! She said to the

group, “he’s coming home!”

NA: Yesss!

SG: I always remember that moment because

it really felt symbolic of the way

that people feel about the Mothership

Show and also for us to be able to bring

that feeling of home onto the screen.

AM: In preparation for this interview, I

watched the entire season as I wanted to

have a great backdrop for this series and to

juxtapose that with the Mothership show.

I love that there are aspects of Anthony

Bourdain: No Reservations. As you have

this travel component in many respects

and you also have this journalistic and getting

into sociopolitical issues that are taking

place and doing this without having

the trauma aspect involved. That is such a

complicated, nuanced, and beautiful mix

to be able to put that together in a half

hour show that is not coming off preachy,

but is talking about issues that are also a

crossover into what is being discussed and

shown in the Mothership!

SG: Girl, who are you telling?

AM: I mean, in your mind it’s like “boop,

boop, boop” triangulating all of this!

NA: Hahaha!

AM: I mean, I’m impressed by it and seeing

how it is laid out and the depths of its connective

tissue – it’s amazing.

NA: Oh thank you!

SG: Yes, thank you so much! It’s wonderful

that you see the notes of No Reservations

in there because we obviously produced it

out of that kind of legendary production

company, so it’s always going to have that

sort of feel and flavor of that underneath

it. You know, I'm a trained journalist, I

have a degree from Columbia University,

I worked at NBC News for many many

I worked at NBC News for many many

years. So everything that I approach,

has that kind of journalist feel underneath

it. I’m always interested in how

stories and narratives collide with real

issues that are going on. We know that

as Black people, it’s always a lot of

things that we are working on, building

on, celebrating, but also processing as

a people. So our goal was to make sure

that that came through. A nice balance

of the fun and also the real things that

we go through.

NA: To also add in, all of the creativity

with the dance, and the dance elements

that are in the storytelling, it’s connected.

Things are elevated and there are

moments of hyperreality so to speak.

Like you experience that in the Mothership

Show, we experience it in real life. It

was just a way to capture that on screen

and really tell these complex stories of

real people who have real lives that are

intertwined and showing you that it is

really laced into the stories of P-Valley in

this fictional world and here is the real

world that is showing you those real

things. Elements like how Hoodoo is ensconced

in the community and it’s not

something that the character Diamond

(Tyler Lepley) just came up with out of

thin air, you know what I mean? Some

things like the superstition that we all

have of “don’t sweep my feet,” like my

grandmother would say that. Or throwing

salt over their shoulder you know

what I mean? Little things like that that

you don’t necessarily know the root of,

but you’re able to go in here and see

where it all derives from in a fun, sexy,

and entertaining way.

While we wait for the next season of

P-Valley, watch Down in the Valley on

STARZ and/or stream it on the STARZ app.

@alldaynicco

@pvalleystarz

@shoshanaguy

PHOTOS COURTESY | Down in the Valley/Starz




This month, we're already excited for

new shows that will be part of our steady

streaming as we navigate the summer! We

sat down with Lara Wolf to talk about how

she got into the industry, her approach to

playing her characters, and her latest project,

Those About to Die which is currently

streaming on Peacock as a Peacock Original!

With an incredible cast and the ability

to take us back to Rome, Gladiator Games,

and corruption - we knew that we wanted

to find out a bit more about what she is up

to as well as this series.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first film

or TV that made you aware of this industry?

LARA WOLF: Growing up, music was actually

more prevalent than film and TV. It

was always playing in our house, either

from my dad's massive record collection

or from him playing the guitar. And I would

always sit with him and sing. That was a

significant influence on me and the foundation

for me seeking to be in the arts

later. Of course, I watched every Disney

cartoon, but it wasn't until I was a teenager

with battles that films like Incendies,

Control, Hunger, House of Sand and Fog

made me feel a certain way, maybe made

me feel understood. And so I started to

develop a palette for film, and the more I

watched, the more I wanted to be part of

the world.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted

to be an actor and where did you train to

hone in on your craft?

LW: As a kid, I jumped at every opportunity

to perform in front of an audience. It

allowed me to express myself as a somewhat

introverted child otherwise. I didn't

grow up in an environment that would

encourage performance art professionally,

so it didn't cross my mind. But later

on, when I was already in college going

on to be a psychologist, something was

missing, something I couldn't ignore. So, I

started reconnecting with that childhood

passion and picked vocal classes. This allowed

me to release whatever I was hold-

ing in, which then snowballed into gigging

in bars around town and performing,

at the same time watching films,

then enrolling in studying film, film history,

and film theory, and finally realizing

and admitting that I wanted to be in

them! But that also required that I move

to a place that would offer acting programs,

a movie industry, and like-minded

people. So, I moved to NYC from Zurich

and studied at the Lee Strasberg

Institute for 2 years. I have lived there

since, continuously honing my actress,

singer, and writer skills.

AM: I remember you in Quantico, how

do you approach playing characters and

what are you looking for when it comes

to deciding on whether you want to be

attached to a project?

LW: When I receive a script, I quickly notice

if I fit into that world and if the character

resonates with me. I look for similarities

and differences and personalize

as much as possible.

When deciding about a project, I ask

myself if it is a story I want to tell and

if it is something I would be interested

in watching. I also get excited about collaborating

with a director whose work I

admire and with actors I look up to.

AM: We have heard great things about

The Performance which is an Arthur Miller

(Death of a Salesman, The Crucible,

The Price) short story and is directed by

Shira Piven (Claws, Sweetbitter, Divorce)

and you acted opposite Jeremy Piven

(Entourage, Wisdom of the Crowd, Sin

City: A Dame to Kill For). Can you tell me

about this film, your character Sira and

why you wanted to be part of this?

LW: I remember seeing the breakdown

that my agent at the time had sent me

and thinking: if I don't book this part,

then I won't book anything, because the

way this character was described fits

like a silk glove. They were looking for

someone who spoke English, German,

and French and could sing jazz. It's so


rare that a role would check so many of

my boxes. Aside from that, I was excited

about the project itself, a period piece

based on an Arthur Miller short story

about a Jewish-American tap dance group

in the 1930s that decides to fly to Europe

for a tour right before the second WW

and get themselves into a tricky situation.

The film explores how far you are willing

to go and what you are willing to risk and

sacrifice for your passion. And when does

your passion turn into greed? While it was

a period piece, it's still incredibly relevant

today, and I find that very rewarding. It

was a blessing getting to work with the

wonderful Shira Piven, Josh Salzberg

(Welcome to Me, Walking Man, Welcome

to Flatch), Robert Carlyle (Stargate Universe,

Once Upon a Time, The Full Monty

series), Jeremy Piven, and my colleagues,

who were fantastic actors and brilliant

tap dancers, and it was such a pleasure

watching them do the choreographies.

Our days were filled with music, dancing,

singing, and acting - a dream! Our costumes

were phenomenal, and the locations

in Bratislava, like the State Opera,

helped immensely to dive into the period.

AM: We're looking forward to Peacock

Original's Those About to Die! What drew

you to this series?

LW: All of it was appealing: the genre, the

historical aspect, having Roland Emmerich

(The Day After Tomorrow, Independence

Day: Resurgence, Moonfall) - the

master of big-scale disaster films - lend his

expertise to this ancient story, shooting in

Rome where it all happened, Sir Anthony

Hopkins (The Silence fo the Lambs, Nixon,

Westworld series) playing the Emperor,

and of course, getting to play the Judean

Queen Berenice was a dream come true.

AM: What can you tell us about the show

as well as your character Queen Berenice?

LW: Her life unfolded against the backdrop

of the Roman-Jewish revolts when

the Romans burned down the Second

Temple and enslaved the Judeans. The Judean

Queen Bernice was the daughter of

King Agrippa I of the Herodian dynasty,

and she was known for her strategic alliances

and marriages. There were also

rumors about an incestuous relationship

with her brother, but there are no

facts to prove it, and it might only show

the threat she posed as a woman in

power. Her most notable relationship

was with the son of the Roman Emperor

Vespasian (played by Anthony Hopkins),

Titus, also known as the destroyer of Jerusalem

and its temple. Naturally, this

caused controversy and put her in the

eye of public scrutiny on the side of the

Romans and the Judeans. Despite this,

her political acumen, diplomacy, and

grace prevailed throughout history. And

for me, it was an honor to be given the

trust to play her and give voice to this incredibly

powerful Queen in our history.

AM: It's a great cast that includes Sir Anthony

Hopkins, Johannes Haukur Johannesson,

and Iwan Rheon - what was your

biggest takeaway from having this experience

in this series?

LW: Every time I get to be on a set, it

feels like the dream comes true again.

My gratitude is beyond words. This is

true, especially this time with this collection

of incredibly talented actors,

two top directors in our industry, and a

production team that meets the highest

standards. I love knowing that the people

I work with are brilliant at their craft

because it is a lot of fun working with

them and motivates me to be a better

actor. Ultimately, it's all about collaboration,

honing your craft, getting as close

as possible to the slippery idea of perfection,

and seeing how it all comes together

as a collective work of art.

AM: You've been acting for awhile and

been in a number of series, but you are

also a writer! When did you realize that

you wanted to include this in your storytelling?

LW: From the moment I started this acting

journey, different people in the industry

encouraged me to write. Up until




that point, all I had written were either essays

or papers from when I was studying

Psychology and Film, all in an academic

tone. I had never imagined that I would

ever write fiction and dialogue. I had

never really seen myself as a writer, but I

started dabbling in writing almost secretly

and noticed how ideas would come up

and evolve. Then, finally during the pandemic,

the stories poured out of me, maybe

because we were all cooped up and

needed to sit still, which is typically not

my forte. But it really allowed me to dig

deep, improve and find the joy in writing.

Currently, I'm working on a play I'm workshopping

at the Primitive Grace Theatre

Ensemble with Paul Calderón (Fear the

Walking Dead, Bosch, Boardwalk Empire)

and David Zayas (Michael Clayton, The

Blacklist, Dexter) as co-directors.

And there is a next project on the horizon,

and I wish I could tell you, but my

lips have to remain sealed for now. I can

only say that it's an action/spy film with

a stellar cast! And you can follow me on

@laradwolf for all the updates. Thank

you so much!

@laradwolf

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 158 Sharon

Daniels | PG 161 - 165 Reiner Bajo/

Peacock |

AM: When you're not in the midst of a

project, how do you take time for yourself?

LW: I guess that's exactly when I have the

time to take time for myself. And I love

getting back into a healthy food/sleep/

exercise routine, which is often hard to

maintain when working. I use the time

between projects to reboot physically

and mentally and feed myself creatively

by writing or seeing art or plays. As I mentioned,

I'm part of a theatre company in

NYC which I'm very grateful for as it is my

safe, creative place to work with other actors

and writers and wonderful mentors.

And then I also sing and write music and

collaborate with other musicians.

AM: Do you have any upcoming projects

that we should keep an eye out for?

LW: Keep an eye out for the film Reading

Lolita in Tehran, directed by the renowned

Eran Riklis (Shelter, Spider in

the Web, A Borrowed Identity). It is based

on the same-named NY Times bestseller

memoir written by Professor Azar Nafisi

and starring the Iranian icon Golshifteh

Farahani (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead

Men Tell No Tales, Exodus: Gods and Kings,

Invasion).






Accessories are always that key component

of your outfit that enhances elements

of your look or your features. They are the

pieces that become statements of conversation

while also being fun ways to change

up your style or reflect your personality in

a cetain way! Whether you reach for them

first to create your look or you finish it off

with those touches, it's always something

that we are on the hunt for! We have attended

a number of editor previews, have

enjoyed seeing items on the runway and

beyond and of course, it's always fun scrolling

our social feeds for great looks to add

to our collections.

Parker Thatch is a luxury accessory brand

that has been around since 2009 and we became

aware of the brand a few years back.

We love that its known for great handbag

styles that are chic, has a number of fabrications

that it offers, and has a great aesthetic

that will never go out of style. When

we had the chance to talk with Celebrity

Costume Designer Allyson Fanger, she reminded

us that not only is it a great handbag

line, but they also have fun jewelry as

well. After deep diving with the brand, we

reached out to Irene Chen, Co-Founder of

this line. We knew that she had a phenomenal

background as a product developer

at Donna Karan and we wanted to know

more about how she got into the industry,

how she came to designing this line with

her husband Matt, and what we need to

know about this brand as well as upcoming

seasons!

ATHLEISURE MAG: I know your brand has

been around for quite awhile, but I love

how recently in the last few years how I

have seen the videos that you do, the fun

assortment, and how you engage with

your customers as well as showing off how

stylish you are as well. It’s so great to be

connected to talk about the brand!

IRENE CHEN: Oh thank you! I’m really excited

to chat with you as well as I really appreciate

and love what you guys are doing

with Athleisure Mag in terms of showing

the importance of movement and fashion

together. For me, it’s an important ele-

ment of my life! I’m just so happy to

speak with you.

IC: That is part of everything that I honestly

so connect with and what we do

you know. I feel that there are so many

products out there these days and I

think that the key is that there are so

many people that they don’t feel great

about themselves and they are stuck in

their homes and they are not doing any

kind of movement and I think about the

connection of how do you get someone

to get up and move so that they can feel

good about it and make it really easy for

you. I think that’s why I think that what

you guys are doing is so cool.

AM: Well thank you!

Before we delve into talking about Parker

Thatch and this great accessory brand,

can you tell us about your background?

You were at Donna Karan, that assortment

had those elements and bones for

that person who lived a full cycle from

studio to office and everything in between.

It would be great to know about

your background and how you came to

the fashion industry.

IC: It was totally one of those weirdo

things! When I graduated from college,

I went to UCLA, and then I cam back to

San Francisco and then I just took a job

like most people would out of college

in consulting and I did that for about

2 years. Sometimes you look back at

things that you did and wonder why

you did certain things, but consulting

really taught me and gave me the foundation

for everything that we do like

time management and all of that stuff.

You wouldn’t be able to learn and that’s

what I did. But then, 2 years after consulting,

you decide on whether you will

stay or go onto Business School in that

transition and for me, I had this gnawing

feeling as I didn’t want to do either of

those things. I have always loved fashion

personally and so I sent my resumes

out and I think whenyou're young, you




just have more courage sometimes. When

I was consulting, you travel a lot and I read

a magazine and they showed a picture of

the President of Donna Karan and she

was in a meeting and she was Asian and

it was really interesting because at that

time, there wasn’t a lot of representation

and for people to see them in magazines

and I was looking at this thinking that this

was amazing and she was leading these

people. For some reason, it dawned on

me that I wanted to send her my resume

and I had to figure out how I was going to

do this.

You know, you do weird things so I pretended

that I was sending a package and I

called the mailroom as I knew I had to get

the specific information in terms of the

floor that she was on. So I sent my resume

and they did call me and ask if I wanted to

come in. It was this crazy thing and it happened

in 2 seconds and I honestly leveraged

my Excel Spreadsheet skills in terms

of getting in the front door!

AM: Ha! We’ve all been there and same!

IC: Slowly but surely, I worked my way

through and I really loved working with

product. At the end of the day, I worked

there a very long time. I got to learn how

to develop product and all aspects of the

business. It was an exciting time for me

actually.

AM: I have such a respect for product developers

as my aunt was one for a number

of major brands. It’s such an amazing way

to extend a brand especially when you get

into licensing and other things like that so

I think that it is so cool.

What led you to decide to go off on your

own and to create Parker Thatch?

IC: Well it’s so funny because I was living

in New York and I met my husband Matt

who is my husband now. I think it was just

close to the dot com time when we met

and I was very burnt out with what I did

and I was traveling almost every day of

my life for a number of years and I was

just really exhausted. We met and his

mother got sick and I said, “why don’t

we just go to Australia,” because that’s

where his parents were. So we spent almost

a year there and we thought that

maybe we could do something on our

own. So that’s what started us tinkering

with businesses in the year 2000. It has

been crazy! I think that when we started

that we were a little too early so no one

understood it and now it’s like we could

have done x, y, and z under this company

given now how the business works.

We had to survive and we said let’s just

do stationary because people kept saying

that they loved our paper and they

didn’t understand the tech version of it.

So they just wanted to buy the paper. So

that’s how we started! We started our

company at my parent’s basement in

the room that I grew up in.

AM: Well I love a good piece of stationary.

IC: So stationary turned into home and

then I think in about 2009, Matt had an

idea because we were doing a lot of customizing.

He said, “I think that we could

customize on cotton.” Can you think of

something we can do on cotton. I told

him it would be great to have a tote bag

and that’s how it happened. I started

with the bag at my dry cleaners. It’s the

craziest story.

AM: Ok, I love that story and I love when

people get scrappy to figure out how to

take their vision and bring it to life and

to figure it out! What a good synergy it

was for you to find her because when you

were saying this I thought, “well just because

you can hem a pant, doesn’t mean

you can make a bag!”

IC: We wondered what kind of materials

we could use because we had no money

to do any of this stuff so then I was like,

“I love canvas and we can cut 2 strips of

leather.” So the bags were made from

canvas that we bought at Joann Fabrics

and 2 strips of leather that Matt cut and


grommeted on and that’s how it came

about. Then we did these stripes with

your monogram on it and stripes with

your monogram on it and at that time, it

was all about magazine and gift guides.

So we sent them out and people loved

them and it was insane!

AM: That is incredible!

What has drawn me to your brand as I have

always been aware of it from a handbag

assortment as opposed to your jewelry, is

when I was talking with Celebrity Costume

Designer Allyson Fanger for our MAY ISSUE

#101 -

IC: She’s the best, I love her!

AM: It was amazing to be able to chat with

her as I have loved the work that she has

done in her career and the way that she is

able to tell story the looks of the character

whether alone or when they are interacting

with others.

IC: How cool is she?

AM: She is so cool -

IC: She is so damn cool!

AM: The whole time I’m looking at her and

all of her jewelry and in addition to my role

as the Co-Founder/Creative + Style Dir. of

Athleisure Mag, I’m also a Fashion Stylist

and accessories are really my thing and it’s

what I love utilizing as statement pieces

when I am putting looks together.

So when she was talking about pieces she

loves, she was pointing to her ring and said

it was from Parker Thatch. I was surprised

because I knew of your brand, but didn’t

know that you made jewelry and she’s

wearing it and we have a gab session for

like 5 mins and I knew then that I would

reach out to connect with you!

IC: Oh my God, I love that and she’s just

so great! She’s such a great connector

and she’s such a generous person when it

comes to expanding to smaller designers

and she’s just a great human being.

AM: In looking at the line again closely,

I enjoy the clean aesthetic of what the

brand is and I also love as you have mentioned

that you work with your husband

on this line and Athleisure Mag is also

co-founded by a couple, my boyfriend

and I.

IC: No way! I love it!

AM: We have a great flow. So what is

your advice to people who are looking to

start a venture whether it’s your significant

other, a best friend, or a sister because

when you have these relationships

especially when you’re first starting out

to make a business, it’s always good to

keep some things in mind. So what is

your advice?

IC: My biggest advice honestly, and I

don’t know if you feel the same way, but

really having respect for each other and

the key I think fortuitously is to be on

the same channel in terms of look and

feel. The tone of voice – that is already

naturally there and I don’t know if you

feel that way.

AM: Yup!

IC: So that made it easy. But I think that

it is truly respect and we each have skill

sets that the other doesn’t have and we

really lean on each other for those and

I think that it’s also about growing up.

It’s about getting away from always being

right and becoming more vulnerable

with yourself and saying, you know,

that’s not my strength.

Exactly! I think that that is about building

a team. We can’t be good at everything

and I think a lot of time when you start

a business, you think I can do everything

– but you really can’t and it’s humbling

yourself and respecting the other person.

It’s like what you said, this is your

lane and not mine and it’s worked for a

very long time – we’re still married, we

have 2 kids, and we’re still working!




AM: Ok, that’s amazing! Because times get

hard sometimes!

IC: Haha don’t get it wrong! We still fight

over stuff haha!

You know, when you make your own business,

there are a lot reasons why you got

to where you did and there is a lot of making

the donuts and at the same time, it’s a

lot of fun! Making your own business is super

hard! The key is just moving forward

every single day. There will be days where

you feel like you can’t do it anymore and

that you just have to put one foot in front

of the other.

AM: 100% haha there are times you have

to be your own hype person and just keep

going!

IC: You just have to get it together and just

move! That’s the key!

IC: Yes!

AM: If you’re able to still do things when

the mountains continue to grow ahead of

you and you don’t know how you would

even think to climb it because there is no

way to hold on and you find yourself in an

American Gladiator situation you know

that you’re going to keep giving it your all!

IC: It really is! It’s a mindset and I think that

that is the key. You have to do hard things

and sometimes those challenges let you

see that you can do way more than what

you believe you can do. We sometimes

hold ourselves back from what we can do.

I think that it’s fascinating that you said

all that because for the last 6 years I have

been focused on getting fit and learning

about a lot of that. There is this whole

concept of Zone 2 training which is about

running slow actually makes you go faster.

I think that that concept, I really take

to heart. That's exactly what you are saying.

Sometimes you need to just chill out.

When you do that, I think that it makes

things go much faster and smoother.

IC: I love the fact that you do that because

you’re able to keep moving! Just

like you said, it's all about moving forward!

That is truly what it is to be focused,

to move, and to not be distracted.

You want to do everything, but you

can’t!

AM: 100% and that’s a huge lesson that

you learn and it humbles you ha!

For someone who is not familiar with

Parker Thatch, how would you describe

this brand to someone who is just coming

into it?

IC: Definitely this brand is all about what

we say daily, it’s about ease and elegance

and I really believe that. It’s about

how do I make a product for you that is

easy to put on and that you feel great!

It’s not about being fussy and it’s always

about one beautiful piece that you put

on and that’s why I love jewelry. I love

a great white shirt and a pair of jeans

and then stack up that necklace and you

look 100% and that takes 5 seconds. I

think that for me, that was very important

for that woman that sometimes

feel stuck – how do I get you to just get

out of the house? Like, you need to feel

good to get that motivation so that you

can have a good day! It’s not going to be

everyday that you may feel that way, but

I want to make products that will help

you get there!

AM: In looking at the assortment, I love

the Charlie bag which is amazing, the

Cross Your Heart Sling is another one

and personally, I’m not someone who

tends to gravitate towards that style,

but when I’m styling on set, I actually

do use that style as it’s a great way for

me to have what I need to set my outfits

without running back to our set up

since we sometimes take over an entire

building or space. So being able to have

my jewelry and everything on me as we

transition from one look to the next and

knowing its secure is how came to embracing

slings initially.


What would you say are 3 must haves

whether it be in handbags or your jewelry

that people should be adding to their closets

or to begin establishing their Parker

Thatch collections?

IC: I love that! For sure, if you’re not a

sling bag person, it’s this weird bag that

when you want to be hands free and it’s

not just a nylon sling bag. You can also

make it into a clutch which is really great

for travel. The Charlie bag for sure! It’s our

newest bag. It hits all the points. It zips,

it’s slouchy, it’s cool, and I just wanted to

create a bag that when you feel you’re

in those cool jeans that you love you feel

it all together. You know, when you look

at a surfer or a skateboarder, I’m always

inspired by them. Even when they’re just

carrying their skateboard, I’m always like,

“damn, you look so cool!”

AM: It comes off so easy and effortless.

IC: Yeah and the way that they walk, there’s

such a slouch to what they do and that’s

how I conceptualized it. It took awhile to

get that bag with its material to have that

slouch and we had to keep testing it to get

it there. I think that when you carry it, it

kind of makes you feel like that. So I think

that that bag is a fantastic bag! Then for

me personally, the Jane bag again, it’s all

about slouchiness for me! That bag again

is great for travel and if you want to dump

all of your commuter stuff in it, it’s a great

bag!

So those three bags, I personally use them

every day. It’s kind of a bag within a bag

that’s within a bag. I do love that!

Now jewelry wise, for sure the Long Links

Necklace. The huge Manifestation Crystal

is a really popular thing and again, I

love it when you can hang it. That Long

Links Necklace looks amazing when you

do that and again, for me it is about the

slouchiness. You can make it long and you

can make it short and it has this sexiness

when you wear it with an open shirt and I

love that. So for me, that’s what I am doing

every day.

AM: What is your process in terms of adding

styles to the brand or when you are

thinking about colorways? Sometimes

when you are looking at various brand the

assortment is so vast and although there

are a lot of options, it can also generate a

lot of noise when it is not curated, edited,

or rotated so that pieces can stand out.

IC: Definitely, it’s interesting because

most of our stuff is pretty evergreen so

we will always bring in the colors and I always

feel like that. I’m a practical human.

If I am going to buy an expensive big item,

I’m thinking about if I am going to be using

this every day. That’s important to me.

When we bring in the colors, I’m always

thinking about the little things that you

can bring into your bag when you’re looking

to go out. We kind of move a little bit

with the seasons. Our best sellers are always

the Caramel Suede, the tan colors,

and so we’re always keeping that as the

foundation. Camo is a big thing for me

and it’s really interesting. When we first

put it out there I was like ok and it’s great

to see how our camo with the pink and

red stripe has really become a big thing

for us.

AM: It’s cute.

IC: Yeah and it’s such a great bag to travel

with and a great bag to work with.

AM: Where do you go for inspiration? Even

though the line has those evergreen elements

in terms of your assortment, I’m

sure that you’re still adding things here

and there or looking at trend reports, Pantones,

etc.

IC: You know, I always say that when you

look at the products, for me the designs

that we do are always a little familiar to

you. But then the inspirations and feel is

about putting a little something to it. So is

it a red handle versus a brown one?

Our bags are familiar and yet there is

something not familiar about it? That’s

what makes me want to buy things these

days because there are so many things




IC: We’re starting to do more of them. We

just did one with Larissa Mills, she has a

great story. She's a mom in Boston who

has this insane following on Tiktok and Inthat

are out there like the fanny pack

which is our sling bag. It is a fanny pack

which is familiar, but lets do it in a beautiful

leather and let’s use a strap and put

in a pop of color so that your personality

comes forward. I think that that is my

inspiration and I am a practical person so

that is what I draw from.

AM: I love the straps!

IC: They are so fun!

AM: I like that you can customize it and

make it your own a little bit. Going back

to the Sling Bag it’s a style that generally

would not be one that I would personally

gravitate to.

IC: I know!

AM: But then you hit IG, and I’m looking

at how it’s larger than a traditional sling

bag and I’m like, “why not change out the

one I use on set and bring that in?” or I

was just at Governors Ball and I did have a

sling mini backpack that I brought, I would

have preferred to have this body style and

of course, I have styled a number of shoots

where I have had sling bags in them. Then

once you get to thinking about an accessory

paired with my moto jacket you start

to see how it can be worn personally. To

your point, it’s about the familiar with

these tones that have a little something

nuanced. I do love a good slouchy bag

style and years ago, there were so many

and now not so much. There are versions

that are oversized but that structure of the

slouch that gives that cool girl style is not

always there it’s just large. So a bag like XL

Jane that is in my wheel house!

IC: It's putting your vision on it where the

familiar meets the unfamiliar! That’s what

takes it to the next level and you’re like,

I need that! The familiar lets you connect

with that memory and then the part that

isn’t you say hmm there’s something there

and together it becomes something that

you love – it’s a little link and a little extra!

AM: It’s a little something. I love that and

I love visual texture. Now there is a place

for something that is completely new, but

then you have to think about it and see

how it sits in your life. I knew that these

pieces felt familiar while being presented

differently. I knew when I looked at the colorways

and the fabrications that I would

wear a good portion of them and in some

cases it reminded me of a bag from many

years ago that I either wanted but couldn’t

get, or had been part of my collection and

had been lost to time, or would just be a

silhouette that would be in a primary rotation.

IC: Oh thank you!

AM: Yeah and then you think about how

versatile it can be with my leggings, jeans,

maxi dresses, etc. I love visual mapping

outfits because I love collecting pieces

but there is a tight edit of my go-to’s that

are with me when I’m out and about, at

a meeting, etc. Those are the pieces that

you live out of. So I like the classic and effortless

components with that little bite

so that it’s not too sweet. I’m not a fan of

anything personally that is too sweet.

IC: Me neither! That’s so funny! I’m not a

frilly person, but I will wear a shirt with a

puffy sleeve, but then I have to put it with

a pair of jeans.

AM: Same. I had a fun summer boho puffy

sleeved maxi dress in black and it felt a little

sweet, but of course, I paired it with my

Caviar Beaded Lagos and a pair of Adidas

Superstars with my Carrera’s to edge it up.

IC: You always have to juxtapose it. Even

when we first started with that tote bag,

we put leather straps on it and then a

monogram and it took a canvas bag to

something that was different. It’s fun!

AM: Have you guys done collaborations or

are you working on any?


stagram and she has amazing style. She

has collaborated with everybody like the

Gap and for some reason, we really connected

and we just did this cool little envelope

clutch and we’re looking to do more

of that and I just feel that I really love to

meet those who share the same sense of

sensibility and it can be any product! It’s

about making that familiar product and

making it a little bit extra!

AM: What will Fall and Holiday look like

– or anything that you can share on that

front.front.

IC: Yeah, Fall and Holiday is really all about

burgundy tones, dark espressos, navy,

and a lot of suedes. The Charlie bag has

done really well for us and we want to

bring more of that slouch in there with

the jewel tones. We are doing textures

like basketweave and hair – I love hair. So

I love a cheetah, I love a great zebra print,

and also playing with hot pink hair and

yellow hair! That’s really fun on straps! So

taking fun stuff and putting it on a strap

so you’re not married to hot pink on the

main part of the bag. But you can bring

that texture in. A lot of croc and shiny

things – like little tiny shiny things for Holiday!

AM: Oh that’s exciting! I can’t wait for that

to come out!

IC: We’re really excited about that and it’s

just really yummy. I love a burgundy and I

really love an oxblood which is perfect for

fall.

AM: You can never have enough oxblood.

I love it when you talk about leather accessories,

I love that color when you talk

about a gel mani – it’s so rich and although

for me it’s like a new neutral, it’s really

great in the Fall!

You know, there are a number of brands

that have lived in the handbag portion of

the accessory category and they are now

branching out into travel and travel specific

pieces.

IC: Yeah.

AM: Is that something that you envision

for the brand?

IC: Yes! That Charlie bag that we just introduced,

we just did it in an XL and I

tested it by taking it to Iceland and it was

awesome! We are going to do more of

that. We’re also working on a really good

slouchy tote and again, over the shoulder,

really slouchy, beautiful leathers and I

can’t wait for that!

AM: Oh that sounds amazing and I can’t

wait to check it out.

IC: It’s a great bag and it’s going to be one

of those things that you’ll want to drag it

everywhere! I want people to live in these

bags! Also understand that it’s ok for it

to get messy. People get so crazy when

they spill on it and I’m like, “dude, that’s

life man!” You should be proud of that,

that means that you are moving and yeah

it got dirty. If there is a drop of wine on

that, that’s life!

IC: We had the great honor of meeting 4X

Team USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Medalist

Kerry Walsh Jennings (G3, B1) and I

think that she is just so bad ass! I remember

when she was pregnant and she won

that Gold medal and I was like, damn, she

is so badass! So she came in and she had

our sling bag on and she was like yeah but

I spilled on it and I feel awful and I was

like that’s awesome. She carries it everyday

and she’s so tall and that’s life and I

loved it! It should be your companion and

that is what we want to strive for and we

want you to grab it and know that it feels

good and it does what it needs to for you.

@parkerthatch

PHOTOS COURTESY | Parker Thatch









ATHLEISURE LIST: NYC, Toronto, Brooklyn (coming soon)

OTHERSHIP

Othership launched in Toronto in February

2022. The COVID restrictions

ended in late January. Due to the success

and the demand that took place

in its first month, their second location

in Toronto opened. They knew that a

number of cities have people that are

stressed and struggle and are ultra

social. The Flatiron location opened

in July 2024 and 25 Kent Ave. They will

also have another in Williamsburg, BK

next year with 6,168 sqft.

The 5 founders include Robbie Bent,

his wife Emily Bent, and their best

friends - Amanda Laine, Harrison Taylor,

and Myles Farmer. With a focus

on developing healthier communities

in Toronto, they started by building a

makeshift ice bath and sauna in Robbie's

backyard together, they discov-

ered that the combination of hot and

cold immersion acted as a powerful

social tool, breaking down barriers

and fostering connection.

For each location, the goal is to create

an environment that embraces emotions

and vulnerability, empowering

people to be kind to themselves, adopt

a healthy mindset, and build community

- free from alcohol. We want people

to start their day with a reset, or

come in and socialize for a night out

away from bar culture.

Othership’s custom-designed ice baths

are kept icy cold as low as 32°F. The

benefits are many, including a sense

of pride after class, improved focus

and enhanced mood, and a complete

reduction of stress. The ice bath also

AthleisureMag.com - 188 - Issue #103 | Jul 2024


enhances recovery and reduces soreness

after workouts, along with benefits

like reduced inflammation and a

stronger immune system.

Othership’s performance saunas are

designed to provide a clean, fresh

heat up to 190°F, with aromatic snowballs

providing humidity that feels like

200°F. Users find focus and meditative

experiences, increased blood circulation,

and reduced cortisol levels.

Free Flow classes allows you to use the

space how you like. You can hang out

with friends and there are quiet free

flows as well throughout the day. Social

replaces the bar or nightclub as a

place to meet people at night. Sometimes

there are DJs, music, and even

comedy nights. Classes fall into 3 categories

(up, down, and all around for

energy, relaxation, or emotional connection)

and they offer breathwork,

aromatherapy via essential oils, towel

waving, and a curated soundscape.

Issue #103 | Jul 2024

Journeyers should wear a bathing suit

and make sure to bring a water bottle

(no glass). Towels are provided.

Othership offers a performance sauna,

the coldest commercial ice baths

in North America, and a beautiful amphitheater

seating social commons

area with three kinds of tea. They have

showers, changing stalls, and washrooms

as well as lockers for storing

belongings. It is also wheelchair accessible.

OTHERSHIP

23 W 20th St

NY, NY 10011

othership.us

@othership

PHOTO CREDITS | Ian Patterson

- 189 - AthleisureMag.com


ATHLEISURE LIST: NYC: Washington DC

HIRAYA

We head to DC to Hiraya with Chef/

Owner Paolo Dungca which opened in

September 2023 in the city's H Street

neighborhood. When dining here,

you'll enjoy Filipino cuisine which is

described as a balance between salty,

sweet, and sour. It is a true melting pot

of all cuisines because of their history

and experiences.

You'll feel at home as they have two

unique experiences in the same building.

The downstairs café is an all-day

brunch affair, where you can come in

and enjoy coffee, Filipino breakfast

staples, and french pastries with Asian

twists. You can hang out all day, work

from home during the week, or come

and enjoy weekend brunch. Upstairs,

there is an upscale tasting room. They

offer an 8-course tasting menu at the

chef's counter and a la carte dining

options in the dining room - a progressive,

Filipono fare. They also have Fili-

pino-inspired cocktails and wine pairings

available to accompany each

meal.

It was important for Chef Paolo to

have a casual spot in the day where

you can come in 3-4 times a week! Upstairs,

he wanted to have something

where you can come in and celebrate

your special occasions.

When you're downstairs he suggests

the MAKULAY LATTE, or RAINBOW

LATTE, featuring the flavors of yellow

birthday cake. He also recommends

their SILOG BREAKFAST BOWLS (TAPSI-

LOG, TOCILOG, or LONGSILOG). These

are very nostalgic from his childhood

growing up in the Philippines. Lastly,

enjoy one of their unique pastries.

They take staple French-American pastries

and add their own unique twist

to them, for example, their Black Truffle

Ensaymada.

AthleisureMag.com - 190 - Issue #103 | Jul 2024


The chef’s tasting menu is a fun way

for to introduce diners into this heritage.

They start off with Filipino dessert

staples that are turned into savory

courses, and as the menu progresses,

it incorporates classic dishes that are

reinterpreted in a modern way. They

want to challenge the guests' perception

on what Filipino food can be. Filipino

food is often eaten with rice, but

throughout this menu progression no

rice is being served with the menu to

offer a more unique experience and insight

into the culture’s cuisine.

Enjoy Sunset Hour which runs from

3pm-6pm daily at the café.

In the restaurant, 3 dishes on the a

la carte menu they suggest includes:

the Cassava Cake with Crab fat, Lardo

and Ikura, the Pato Tim which is Roasted

Duck with Five Spice, Carmelized

Issue #103 | Jul 2024

Plums and Star Anise and the Palabok

with Octopus, Pasta Chitarra, and

Quail Egg.

In August, they will participate in the

RAMW Restaurant Week starting August

12th - 18th. They have also partnered

with Resy for their 10 year anniversary

starting August 19th - 23rd.

HIRAYA

1250 H Street NE

Washington, DC 20002

hirayadc.com

@hirayadc

PHOTO CREDIT | Lair Collective

- 191 - AthleisureMag.com




AthleisureMag.com - 194 - Issue #103 | Jul 2024


Stay connected and follow us across our

social channels on @AthleisureMag!

Issue #103 | Jul 2024

- 195 - AthleisureMag.com


















Bingely Books

PEOPLE WILL TALK

Gallery Books

Kieran Scott

In People Will Talk we are introduced to 3

women that are believed to be involved

in a murder after an ill fated wedding that

took place. We meet Peter who is known

for his charm and the 3 women which in-

clude Maya - his tennis star girlfriend

who just won a Grand

Slam at Wimbledon, Catherine

his high school sweetheart

turned successful wedding planner,

and Leanne who is his aunt

and legal guardian of his son.

They all arrive at the family clambake

when they find themselves

in a room together via receiving

a cryptic text.

In the room they find out that Tilly

is actually marrying Peter and

that his relationshp with Maya is

over, he will not invest in Catherine's

business, and his aunt will

have to give up guardianship on

his son. The women are upset

and attend the wedding; however,

when the bride turns up

dead - they all become suspects

and they must work together to

work out who killed her!

SALT & SHORE: RECIPES

FROM THE COASTAL

SOUTH

Weldon Owen

Sammy Monsour

We always love a great cookbook

and in Salt and Shore: Recipes

from the Coastal South is

focused on inspired takes on

recipes from the South that are

focused on sustainable seafood,

cocktails, hospitality and a rich

heritage in this region!

Chef Sammy Monsour and mixologist

Kass Wiggins present their

AthleisureMag.com - 212 - Issue #103 | Jul 2024


orphange. What is thought to be a typical

runaway case seems to be filled

with sinister behavior, blood stains,

and secrets that she couldn't even

imagine! This thriller is one that will

defintiely be a read that you'll want

to take with you whether you're commuting

or preparing to travel and need

something immersive as you do a bit

of self-care.

take and love for Southern Cooking and

culture. With a focus on coastal resiliency

and marine ecosystem health, they

encourage us to see the beauty of the

coastal South and how we can bring it

into our meals when entertaining.

The cookbook includes recipes, techniques,

expert tips, and stories about

local organizations and geo-specific

topics that are from the area.

THE ORPHANGE BY THE LAKE

Independently Published

Daniel G. Miller

In The Orphange by The Lake, we meet

Hazel who desparately wants a new

life as she's single, 30, and her private

investigation business is not doing well.

Things take a turn when she meets

Madeline Hemsley a socialite with a

task that is too good for her to consider

passing up. She wants Hazel to find a

missing girl who is no longer in a known

Issue #103 | Jul 2024

- 213 - AthleisureMag.com


Bingely Streaming

SPRINT: THE WORLD'S

FASTEST HUMANS

Netflix Originals

Netflix

We enjoyed watching Sprint: The World's

Fastest Humans which lets us follow elite

Sprinters as they are on the road to the

Olympics and making a statement with

their talents. This docuseries follows

some of your favorite Track

and Field stars including: Sha'Carri

Richardson (USA), Noah Lyles

(USA), Shericka Jackson (Jamaica),

Zharnel Hughes (England)

Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Italy),

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica),

and Elaine Thompson (Jamaica).

It's a great series and one that

will connect you to what's going

on in the world of Track & Field

for Sprint athletes to be ready for

Paris 2024.

CHARLIE HUSTLE & THE

MATTER OF PETE ROSE

HBO Original

HBO

When you talk about scandals

that took place in the history of

MLB, Pete Rose is one that comes

to mind. In Charlie Hustle & The

Matter of Pete Rose, we look at

his journey that spans over 60

years in this four part series. We

get to know more about his rise

to stardom in the league, his banishment

from the game in 1989

due to betting, and his bid to be

reinstated and placed in the National

Baseball Hall of Fame.

Throughout the series, we get to

know about his career and being

baseball's all-time hits leader. We

also dig into why he is a polarizing

figure in sports. We hear from

him as well as interviews he held

and commentary from luminaries

in the league. It gives us more insight

into who this man is beyond

what we have known and what

he has learned as he has navigated

the past decades.

AthleisureMag.com - 214 - Issue #103 | Jul 2024


CHAMELEON: DOCTOR

MIRACLE

Campside Media, Sony Music +

The Binge

Spotify

Chameleon is an investigative podcast

that takes us into interesting

worlds each season whether it was

Gallery of Lies, Wild Boys, Dr. Dante

Master of Deception, High Rollers,

and Hollywood Con Queen. This season,

Doctor Miracle is focused on a

wellness canter, Miracle Ranch which

is in SoCal.

The center promotes itself as a luxury

escape that will allow you to navigate

life through clean alkaline living.

Led by Dr. Robert O. Young, he has

acquired a clientele of wealthy people

who followed his "groundbreaking"

methods of living well. By staying

at his facility, he promised that

everyone would live well; however,

those who did got worse and didn't

live an optimized life.

Issue #103 | Jul 2024

Through legal documents and candid interviews

with former patients and employees,

law enforcement officials, and affected family

members, this series unravels the chilling

true story of one man who convinced

scores of people that cancer is not a cell but

an “acidic, poiisonous liquid”, and how his

popular “alkaline diet” turned deadly.

- 215 - AthleisureMag.com





Issue #103 | Jul 2024

- 219 - AthleisureMag.com


Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!