AM NOV ISSUE #119

ISSUE #119

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@AthleisureMag

PUBLISHER

Paul Farkas

EDITORIAL

Kimmie Smith

Co-Founder, Creative + Style Director

Paul Farkas

Co-Founder, Artistic Director, Tech Director + Men’s Lifestyle Director

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table of contents

issue #119

nov 2025

147

STYLE FEATURES

THE PICK ME UP

152

134

IN OUR BAG

159 ROCK THIS WHEN

HEADING OUT FOR

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

BEAUTY FEATURES

YUZU BEAUTY

Soulful Sounds

JJ Julius Son

This month’s cover story is with singer/songwriter, producer and member of Kaleo,

JJ Julius Son. We talk about his creative process, touring around the world, his wines

and partnership with Maison Wessman, and collaborations in cigars and style.

16

163

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

Kindness Matters

Chef Kristen Kish

We caught up with one of our faves Chef Kristen Kish to talk about S23 Top Chef: Carolinas,

Traitors, the Holiday Season and her partnership with KIND to bring kindness

to others!

58

148

LIFESTYLE FEATURES

ATHLEISURE LIST

CASH MOUNTAIN RANCH

Spartacus: HOA

72

We sat down with the creator and cast of

STARZ Sparatcus: House of Ashur.

Take Control

88

We sat down with Dr Janet Harris-Hicks

to talk about bladder control and

Medtronic’s device.

150

ATHLEISURE LIST

TAQUERIA CONDESA

Navigating Changes

Pvolve X Hers

We chatted with Pvolve and Hers exec members to find out about mobility and

navigating menopause.

110

Holiday Eats

Chef David Rose

124

We talk Holiday meals with Chef David

Rose with tips on how to navigate making

your dishes as well as getting ready

for your guests.

®

9PLAYLIST

Matt Steffania

126

DJ/Celebrity Choreographer Matt Steffania

shares his 9PLAYLIST with us of

songs that he is listening to right now.

Art of the Snack

Rimtang

136

This month, we made our way to DC’s

historic neighborhood, Georgetown to

enjoy Thai street food and innovative

cocktails at Rimtang.

Bingely TV/

Streaming

172

Here’s what we’re streaming this month

as we navigate our days and nights as

we get into the Holiday season.

This month our NOV ISSUE #119 is cover

star Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter,

and producer JJ Julius Son of KALEO.

We have enjoyed the blues/rock band that

is known for their hit song, Way Down We

Go. In addition to his touring around the

world, making new music, and staying inspired,

this creative is also involved in an

array of collaborations that continue to

expand his brand and entrepreneurial interests.

We sat down with him to talk about his

latest album, Mixed Emotions, his creative

process, upcoming music performances,

his recent drop of his wine Hot Blood with

Maison Wessman, his cigar with Kingmakers,

and his jewelry and hat collab with

Clocks + Colours.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first

song that made you fall in love with music?

JJ JULIUS SON: That’s a really good question,

but hard to tell. I mean, I can’t say

that I probably remember much, you

know just being, I guess, very young in being

affected by music - all the way from the

Disney songs and through my upbringing,

you know? My father is a big Beatles fan. I

think that has affected me quite a bit, you

know? So, yeah, I would like to say that

I’m grateful for my parent’s music tastes

in general, so I think that that is important

and helps as well.

AM: When did you first connect with music

in terms of starting to play instruments?

We always love when we hear that someone’s

a singer-songwriter, and they also

play instruments.

JJJS: I think it was kind of dabbling. We did

have a piano at home and then around 7

or 8, started studying thanks to my mom.

She helped me do lessons and you know,

like everyone else, I just studied classical

music, which was great, but I think you

know, reading music, obviously helps, you

learn to get familiar with the instrument,

but once I really started like playing stuff

that I was hearing on the radio and more

so playing by ear is when I think I really

connected with that being something.

It’s like a new dimension, I

think when you really are able to express

something from within, rather

than playing sheet music from paper.

AM: When did you realize that you

wanted to be a musician?

JJJS: I’m still realizing, I guess! It isn’t

really something that you kind of set

out to do for a living. I come from a

place where I’m a realist, and it’s very

rare that anybody can live off music,

and it is for sure a challenge still. Especially

in this day and age.

AM: Oh yeah.

JJJS: You know, being a musician, it

was not really something that I set

out to do. I mean, I was signed up for

the University twice, but that’s exactly

when things started getting busy,

and I’ve kind of been on this roller

coaster for about a decade now ever

since we moved to the US. I guess I

got serious about music around my

Early 20s, I would say. But I mean, not

really. I don’t know how to explain

how it really became serious, but the

income, I guess, was sufficient enough

to live off of it. Then things just happened

really, really fast, and it’s kind

of a snowball that’s, you know, kept

rolling since then.

AM: We remember when we first

heard the song, Way Down We Go.

It was such a visceral reaction to this

song that had the perfect blues rock

aesthetic to it. There are a number of

elements to love about the song. How

did you guys come together as a band?

JJJS: The majority - like 3 of us, we

were in school together in this small

town that we’re from outside of

Reykjavik in Iceland. It’s called Mosfellsbaer,

and it’s a 20-30 minute

drive from the capitol. It’s kind of in

the countryside, a small town. We

have a different school system, but

it was like a high school and we were

there together. I’d been writing songs for

a while, and we started jamming together.

I said that we should start a band and

we’re still here.

So my bass player and my drummer, we’ve

been together since we were 18 and we

were in school together since we were 14.

AM: Oh wow, that’s very cool!

JJJS: So it’s very cool and it has been a

long time. I think what brought us together

is really just the joint interest of just loving

classic rock in general. Which I would

say comes from our parents because they

were born in the 50s and 60s. When you

think of 60s music, it’s rock and that was

everything they would listen to and I think

that we were affected by that.

AM: What would you say the Kaleo sound

is if you had to define it?

JJJS: Well, hopefully, not a distinctive

sound. I hope to be evolving and growing,

but I mean, if I had to name genres

and influences - I think Blues is a good

one. I love Soul music. I think my classical

background kind of comes through in my

arrangement when I’m arranging strings

and orchestras and stuff. So, I think I take

inspirations from everything. It’s just like,

art in general. It’s when it makes you feel

something is when I’m affected, and I

can get obsessed with really anything if it

makes me feel something. I take inspiration

from a lot of stuff. I love Cuban music,

Reggae music, and I think it’s about

trying to explore a little bit more. Recently,

I’ve been dabbling with Disco and

Reggae on the last few albums. There’s a

there’s a a bunch of stuff that I do want

to explore. I think it’s important to keep

evolving. I don’t like doing the same thing

every time, so all my albums are quite dynamic.

If you have to describe the sound, I

would hope that maybe the word dynamic

would would come up, like at our live

shows. I like to make waves. I prefer to

have dynamics within the music and everything.

AM: Going back to Way Down We Go,

what was the process in creating that

iconic song? There’s everything in the

song that’s just so right, but how was

it to bring it all of the components together

as it seems so intricate?

JJJS: Yeah, not really. To me, it’s kind

of just like a Blues song. I wrote it like

an acapella Blues song. It’s definitely

like many of my songs, I just take my

time to craft it.

AM: Right.

JJJS: The intro, for example, I didn’t

add until the song was ready. I said

that I really wanted an intro on it and

I added it later. It was this string version

and piano part in the beginning

- so it’s kind of layered. But, I think in

general, I would say it’s kind of like a

very Mississippi Blues song that we

just went to the studio and I had it

with this strong drum and bass sound

which is almost like a Hip-Hop thing

which I enjoy as well. You know, for

me, I like the 90s Hip-Hop stuff, which

is still just like sampling some really

good James Brown drums and stuff.

So there are elements and it has proven

itself over and over again that a really

good song can kind of be played

in so many ways. So that’s always the

challenge. I mean, I find songwriting

very natural and kind of easy, and

one of my favorite things to do is just

writing songs because you can be just

playful with it. And it kind of comes

natural, but then you have to put on

your producer hat and you can take it

in so many ways, so that’s kind of the

challenge every time.

AM: Well, you also filmed the video for

this song in a volcano! Who thought

of that and what was that like, like?

I can’t even imagine storyboarding

that concept and bringing it to life!

JJJS: That was great and it was one of

our first videos. We tend to do these

live performance videos out in na-

ture, like we did the Colosseum last year

and I was able to go in there. That’s one

of my favorite things to do. It’s kind of

like performance art because, you know,

we’re either going in these special locations

in our home country, in nature - we

played on Glacier Lagoon on an iceberg

and this macro chamber - the volcano. It

was amazing. I mean, the reverb in general

was just really special for the echo

in. I think that’s kind of the biggest part

sonically of that video. These are usually

challenging. We have to find sources for

electricity and everything.

AM: Right.

JJJS: We are playing it live. Thankfully,

I think Nat Geo - National Geographic,

they had already installed some electricity

down there, so we were able to make

use of that for the amplifiers and stuff.

It takes a long time. It took us about 24

hours just to get the drum set down there

and all the crew and people. It’s a small

elevator that goes down into that chamber.

It takes about 10 minutes each ride

and only holds about five people.

AM: Oh my God!

JJJS: It’s always an adventure! It’s one of

my favorite things to do. I hope we can

keep doing those videos. It’s really something

that I enjoy.

AM: As a singer/songwriter, and producer,

where do you start creatively in the process

when it comes to creating your music?

JJJS: I try not to force it at all. It’s kind of

like, you know, whether it’s playing piano,

getting into a flow state - obviously

guitar, it’s become my main instrument

these days. It’s easy when you’re traveling

this much and touring. It can be as

simple as driving around, and you kind of

get an idea or this melody in your head. I

think for me, it’s kind of melody first. I enjoy

lyrics, obviously. I kind of have to enjoy

the melody to get excited about stuff,

so that’s my priority. It’s really different

for me. Sometimes, especially with the

narrative, you’re making up a story

in your mind. It could be a western -

Spaghetti Western - a whole movie

in your head, and you’re making it up

or sometimes, you’re actually talking

about a personal experience, you

know? Or sometimes, you actually

want to get political and direct. I like

those things the same with the music.

I like doing different things and

that’s the same with the narrative

and the lyrics. The storytelling can

be daydreaming or you actually have

something to say. I think it’s nice to

be able to do both.

AM: Obviously, you’re constantly creating

music, and going to amazing

venues. You just dropped Mixed Emotions

this summer and performed at

Red Rocks and BottleRock in Napa.

Tell us about this album, which we’ve

enjoyed listening to it, but would love

to hear more about it from you.

JJJS: Yeah, it’s just interesting, you

know, being a musician today, still

making albums. I don’t know if it’s

really a mainstream thing anymore.

It seems like we’ve almost gone back

to the 40s and 50s, where singles are

kind of the thing which is cool, but I

definitely come from a place where I

still have the R\romantic idea of a concept

album, and I still enjoy making

albums. So, I’m one of those artists

and I really do put a lot of myself into

each and every one. So it takes me a

while. It’s usually like 3, 4 or 5 years to

make an album. So, it’s an interesting

time like I said for being that kind of

artist in today’s day and age. It really

means a lot when people connect

with it. I’m just really thankful for

being able to do this. And, like, you

said, you know, we get to travel the

world, and you know, it’s one of the

most. I guess the gratitude, and like

the most satisfaction, is really when

you put out this music, and then you

go visit places and there’s thousands

of people that know your songs, and

they sing them back to you. It’s truly

special. For us, when you go to a country

like Turkey for the first time and 8,000

people are singing your songs, so I don’t

really know if if there’s a bigger high than

that.

I do love albums, and I want to continue

making them. You know, I would love obviously

to go mainstream again, but I can’t

promise you that it will, but it’s something

that you know, I just really enjoy. So I’m

gonna just continue focusing on that.

AM: You’re constantly on tour. Are there

things that you enjoy doing before you

hit the stage, to get into the right headspace?

Are there things that you do once

you come off stage after having all of that

energy and excitement just to put yourself

back to a neutral level?

JJJS: For sure. I have been doing this for

a long time now. It took me awhile to just

get used to the tour life. I mean, your immune

system - it took me years to kind of

grow stamina for that kind of lifestyle, because

it is, you’re on the road a lot. You’re

flying a lot, you know? So, yeah, it took me

a couple years for my immune system to

get adjusted. You kind of get addicted to

going on stage with that adrenaline and

the dopamine. So, I guess the challenge is

kind of coming off stage, because sometimes

you’re going on late, and then you

have to, try to go to bed on a rolling bus,

which can be challenging.

AM: Exactly

JJJS: My routine before I go on stage is

obviously, I’m a singer so, I have to warm

up properly and take care of my instrument

and everything. So that’s kind of a

routine and I’m a routine guy because I

like the structure which helps me quite a

bit. So there’s nothing that I go that superstitious

or anything.

AM: Just a regular guy here!

JJJS: Right! I make sure I get my food 2

hours before, so I don’t have acid reflux

or anything. It’s just basic stuff, but it’s

also like I sometimes use that time

when I’m warming up, getting ready

for a show and I can use it to get into

a flow state and just write if I’m in the

mood.

AM: Well, during this time of year,

even though we’re excited about the

Holiday season, we also start thinking

about the upcoming Spring and Summer

in terms of festivals and concerts.

Are there any that we can let our

community at Athleisure Mag know

about?

JJJS: Great question. We’re kind of

taking a break for the first time in, like

3.5 years.

AM: Oh wow.

JJJS: We’ve kind of been just rolling

since the pandemic. So, I know that

we will be doing a big tour in America

and Europe next year. But I’m going

to try to kind of use the first couple

months of the year and get back into

the studio and writing some stuff. We

didn’t really get a chance with the

new album this year when it came

out in terms of doing a big tour. We

did do Red Rocks and several shows.

I’m excited to be able to take the new

songs on the road.

AM: Here at Athleisure Mag, we’re always

interested to hear about workouts

or studio fitness that our favorites

are doing that we could incorporate

into our fitness routines. What do you

do to stay in shape?

JJJS: I’m a big Fitness guy actually. I

mean, I lift weights since I, I was a big

soccer fan and a soccer player when

I was growing up, just like everyone

in Iceland. When I quit soccer around

16, you know, I decided not to go professional,

and I switched to music a

lot. I started lifting weights. I like to

get away for an hour or 90 minutes a

day, and it’s kind of helped me a lot,

especially on the road. It’s more like, meditating

for me. I kind of get to do my own

thing away from everyone and it’s something

I really enjoy and it has changed a

lot. I remember, like, 12 years ago, starting

out it was sometimes hard to find

gyms, but now thankfully, every hotel has

a gym. It’s very easy to find and I would

say that I do this every day pretty much.

AM: We know that you enjoy fine wine,

and now you have one of your latest

projects with Maison Wessman with Hot

Blood. How did this come together, and

what was that process like for you?

JJJS: I enjoyed wine for a long time. When

it comes to spirits, I think it’s just the most

romantic one. There’s something really

romantic about wine. Technically, you

could grow wine in a greenhouse, but it’s

not very sexy. It’s very romantic to obviously

do it in France or Italy or whatever

it is and they’ve been doing that for thousands

of years. So it’s always something

I’ve enjoyed, and I like growing my palette

and trying different things. So I like to try

wine when I’m in different countries.

This kind of fell into my lap. They reached

out to me about 2 years ago and I was obviously

intrigued. So, I went out there and

I got to be involved in making the blends.

Robert, he’s owned this place for about

20 years. I mean, it’s very surreal and basically,

has a castle from the 1100s in the

South of France. I think it’s the third oldest

castle in France. So, it’s really something

special and it’s easy to fall in love,

with that region and the whole saga of it

all. And then it turns out, you know, that

me and Robert have become really good

friends, and he’s from the same hometown

as me.

AM: Which is amazing.

JJJS: Yeah, which our hometown is honestly

very, very small, so we connected

over that and we connected over music.

He’s been a fan of the band for a long

time. We’ve played for him several times

including his wedding a while ago and everything.

This is the first time that we

really got to know each other. To find

out that we’re more connected than

we even thought, is amazing.

AM: That definitely had to be a surprise

especially because of the size of

your town!

JJJS: Yeah, truly! He’s doing amazing

things in his field. We’re doing very

different things, but we obviously

connect over music and wine. This

is a huge passion of his as well, and

it was so easy to say yes. After I got

to know him and see that, you know,

he’s kind of like me. I mean, he’s an

all or nothing kind of a guy. He puts

his heart in the things that he does,

so it’s really enjoyable. I think we’re

gonna make more wine and he’s been

supporting us in a lot of things. Both

of us are kind of like supporting our

soccer team in our hometown right

now. That’s also grown into something

that we’re both trying to help

out as well. So it’s really cool.

AM: That’s amazing. How long did

it take to bring these wines forward

from, concepting it to being able for

us to enjoy it.

JJJS: Honestly, not long. I mean, you

know, we chose, we did blind tasting,

and we both picked the blends

that we liked, and we had very similar

tastes. So that was a really fun

process. Then you know, just coming

up with ideas. We have this fun thing

where I have a QR code on the bottle.

There’s a teaser, to the song that

I have, which is called One More Glass

of Wine and I haven’t recorded it yet.

So it’s fun that they have pre-access

to the song. We’re, trying to come up

with fun stuff like that.

Then I call the better bottles, Raven’s

Blood and White Raven. And the Raven

is kind of like a very strong Nordic

mythology in Iceland. It’s really fun. I

enjoyed that process as well, so I’m

thankful to have the creative access to

also be very involved in all that stuff.

AM: So basically, right now, there are

4 bottles that people can enjoy. That’s

amazing. And can you tell us because you

told us a little bit about White Raven and

Raven Blood. What are the other two bottles

like?

JJJS: Basically, we would consider them

to be the top shelf that we do, because

the Raven Blood and White Raven, both

of them - we do oak for them for 11 to

18 months. So you kind of get more flavor

and more prestige, I would say. But

in general, the Hot Blood and the White

Blood, bottles, we have a little bit of Malbec

in the red wine. They’re kind of meant

to be, an easy drinking wine.

AM: Right.

JJJS: I think it pairs well with food, obviously.

I just really wanted to make a very

affordable wine, but still, great wine. I’ve

really enjoyed getting to know the region,

Bergerac in the South of France. It’s next

to Bordeaux. I don’t think people know

that it’s basically the same soil as the Bordeaux

wines.

AM: Oh wow!

JJJS: Yeah. So, it’s kind of like a hidden secret.

People are very like familiar with it in

France, but I think that outside of France,

they don’t and, and it’s just such a beautiful

area. We’ve talked about maybe doing

a Harvest Festival out there, hopefully

maybe next year. It’s fun to be able to

bring attention to the region and everything.

AM: That sounds great! I know you were

recently in Bergerac, Maison Wessman’s

estate to taste and blend the wines. What

was that, like, and what did you learn from

that hands-on experience?

JJJS: It’s really special. I get to go there at

least once a year. You know, you do the

blends for every vintage and everything.

It’s tough to beat. Especially being

from Iceland, you know, we have 8

months of Winter going out there in

the Fall or in the Spring is truly nice as

the weather is nice, obviously. It’s a

beautiful place and it’s just really fun.

It’s really interesting to visit the wineries

around there, and it’s just totally

a different world. The people are so

engaged, and crafting this thing that

is wine that they have been just doing

for, you know, generation after generation,

which is really impressive.

It’s really fun to be a small part of it.

AM: You’re a phenomenal artist and

you have this wine company that

you’re involved which that’s amazing.

In preparation for this interview, we

know that you’re truly an entrepreneur

who’s expanding his portfolio,

because you have your collaboration

with Kingmakers. How did this come

about and what do you love about cigars?

JJJS: That’s another thing that I’ve

kind of enjoyed for a long time. I can’t

say that, I’m a purist when it comes

to cigars. I mean, there are definitely

people who have, you know, smoked

several a day and everything. That’s

not my style. It’s kind of more like the

same way I treat alcohol, you know?

It’s, more of a celebration or a thing I

like to do when I’m, just enjoying life

and when I’m taking some time for

myself. That’s kind of the same with

cigars. I’ve never smoke cigarettes.

Never done any drugs or anything,

but it’s kind of like something that

I’ve enjoyed through people that I

met. A cigar is more like a dessert to

me. It’s really something that I enjoy,

and I like pairing it with wine, or you

know, tequila, or something.

Yeah, that’s another thing. Like, I said,

there’s also just like the romance of

it. The Cubans, for generations have

been rolling it and it’s part of their lifestyle.

It’s just really fun. Being a guy

from Iceland and same with the mu-

sic. You know, people would probably

argue, you know, that, I play the Blues -

this African-American thing, and I’m here

from a small island in in the North Atlantic

Ocean, you know?

I’m kind of tapping into these other worlds

just being. You know, tapping into this

this world of, you know, Southern France

with the wine or the, cigars are made in

Nicaragua. It’s just really enjoyable, you

know, and it fits well with what I’m doing

musically, just taking, you know, tapping

into these different genres and music that

comes from all over the world. right? At

the end of the day, what makes a great

musician? I would say, first and foremost,

is just the fact that you’re a fan – actually,

it’s your taste in music. The reason

you want to write this kind of song or approach

anything is, I think, to begin with,

you know. It’s because you, like, whatever

you do, like and it comes down to your

taste. You have to make a choice when

you’re writing and making music as well.

There’s so many options. You have to limit

it down and make a choice, so I think it

all comes down to your taste in general.

I guess there’s similarities with what I’m

doing with the wine and cigars and then

the music in that way.

AM: You have great style. You can see it

when you’re looking through your IG seeing

your jewelry and tapestry pieces for

your outfits, etc. Going back to collaborations,

you have one with Clocks and Colours.

Why did you want to do that, and

how did that come about?

JJJS: That was kind of the one of the first,

collabs that I indulged in. I have always

been - my mom calls me a peacock. I have

always enjoyed jewelry and nice clothing.

It’s a creative outlet for me and it’s that

creative force that I can also connect with.

It finds its way to the music, the wine, and

the cigars.

In terms of the style part, it’s fun, it’s living

and I can take inspiration because I

get to travel this much. So again, I get to

hear when I go abroad, and I go to these

new places. The first thing I do is, I

ask the locals to show me some traditional

music, because I think that’s

so strong. The same same for Icelandic

music. We’ve been living here for

1100 years or something, which is a

miracle on its own, especially without

electricity back in the day. Some

of the traditional stuff like the music

lives on so strongly. But at the same

time, there’s the food, music and then

style. So that’s that’s another kind of

creative outlet. Living in the US a lot

for the last decade is also fun seeing

young people kind of going back to

the old – handmade and crafting. So

that kind of just really been fun. And

I’ve gotten to meet so many people

that are doing amazing things.

AM: When it comes to collaborating

in general, what is it that you look for

in terms of synergies between yourself

and the interested brand?

JJJS: I mean, I would say it has to feel

authentic. Those are the things that

I seek out to work with or friends or

people that are true to their art. I just

know what it takes, especially being a

musician myself. I know the time that

goes into having an idea and the final

outcome, there’s a long way especially

for me. It has to be something

that makes sense for me and if it’s a

product, I need to be able to stand

behind it or that I would wear it. I’ve

said no to a lot of things. I just don’t

really believe in putting your face or

your handprint on something that

you know isn’t right.

AM: Last year, you played yourself on

The Bold and the Beautiful. Many of

our readers and community grew up

watching The Bold and the Beautiful.

What was that like, and will we see

you acting in the future?

JJJS: Yeah, it was fun. It was insane,

like my grandma would watch that

show! It was more fun than anything

else. They were so nice and it was so

interesting being on that show. I can’t

believe how they memorize their lines

and everything. I was struggling with just

what I had to do! It was enjoyable to see

people in that field. I think it has to be one

of the best schools for an actor to do. I

mean they’re shooting several episodes a

day. It was very impressive to see how it

all came together. It was more fun than

anything else. I can’t say that I consider

myself to be an actor to take other people’s

work. I would probably dabble more

with writing or directing. I do love movies

and it’s kind of like music to me – in some

ways I think that it is starting to become a

lost art. They’re not as many movies being

made and obviously, the movie theaters

are going out of business. It’s the same

with album sales and we’re in the same

boat in a way.

I have always loved movies and I grew

up loving Batman and James Bond and

I would get totally obsessed with these

things. Having met some directors, I

connected with them in a lot of ways.

Because I write all my music on my own

and produce it and everything - I’m very

Hands-On, so I definitely connect with

some directors in that way. If I have the

option in the future, I would love to to be

involved in in some way, but not as an actor.

I respect actors a lot and I think it’s

phenomenal when people can do that on

a high level.

AM: You’re always traveling. And when

you’re back home in Iceland, what would

we find you doing when you’re just taking

time away from the projects that you’re

working on?

JJJS: Coming home, especially being from

Iceland, it’s such a small community and a

small country that when you live abroad,

you quickly find that it’s just something

that really has a pull to come back. My

whole family, and friends are here. I enjoy

coming back when I have the time, to see

my people, my friends, etc. We go snowmobiling

on the glaciers or we go into the

Highlands. It’s truly a unique country and

we take it for granted sometimes. I have

made friends all over the world now.

I just came from Rome. I’m a Godfather

to my friend’s son in Rome. So,

I get to meet all these people around

the world that I love. I still love bringing

them to Iceland and one of the big

things is truly just introducing them

to all my friends and family here. I

have a really strong relationship with

my folks back here.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects

in general that we should keep an eye

out for that you know you want us to

know about?

JJJS: I mean, yeah, we’re gonna go

do a very special show in Iceland, actually.

Last year, we played a show in

Iceland. That was the first one we did

in 10 years, and we did it in this forest

in the North, and now we are going

to do this once in a lifetime event in

our national park that’s usually off

limits. People don’t really do events

there, but we’ve been able to persuade

them to let us do this event.

We’re hoping to do a big, show there.

It would be great to bring other Icelandic

artists and do this very unique

event, so that’ll be next summer, In

Iceland in the National Park. The national

park is located in between the

two tectonic plates - the European

and the American, so we’re basically

in between the 2 continents, so it’s

very special.

AM: That sounds amazing.

I mean, when you think about your

legacy, what do you want people to

walk away, thinking about?

JJJS: I guess, my goal to be very honest

is just making timeless music that

can live on. I’m first and foremost,

just such a fan, of music, and great

art that has been made in the past.

It’s really something I live for. I strive

to hopefully, have my own imprint on

that and then make something that’s

worthwhile and can live on. I try to

make music that you can listen to now or

in 50 years. That’s kind of the goal - quality

over quantity.

@julius_son

@officialkaleo

PHOTO CREDIT | FRONT/BACK COVER, PG

16 - 37 + 44 - 51 Justin Pagano | PG 38 - 43

Jon From Iceland |

We have been fans of the Bravo’s Top Chef

universe since day 1 and it comes down to a

number of factors including: telling a story

on a plate, the chefs actual stories, and in

many cases even visting their restaurants.

It has grown into a network of alums that

we enjoy seeing again and again whether

they’re on TV, doing a phenomenal project

or popping in to eat their latest creation.

Avid readers and the Athleisure Mag community

know that we have interviewed

S10 Top Chef winner, Chef Kristen Kish a

number of times whether it’s a fun partnership/collaboration,

various shows she

has been a part of or for our MAR ISSUE

#99 cover story with her alongside Chef

Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons of Top Chef

when she took the reigns as host of Top

Chef starting S21. She loves the journey of

food and the chefs that are involved, she’s

always asking questions, and gives words

of wisdom that can really be applicable to

whatever it is you do in life!

This month, we catch up with her to talk

about the upcoming season of Top Chef,

S23 in the Carolinas, joining the cast of

Peacock’s S4 of Traitors, why being kind

matters and her partnership with KIND for

the CHOOSE KIND campaign, holiday dishes,

gifting, and more!

CHEF KRISTIN KISH: Hello! It’s so nice to

see you again!

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s so nice to see you

again! Well, we’re always so excited anytime

we get the chance to chat with you,

because you’re always doing amazing

things. The last time we saw you, that’s

when you were our cover for Athleisure

Mag right before you hosted your first season

of Top Chef which was phenomenal!

Now, you have so many things going on,

so it will be great to chat with you.

CHEF KK: Likewise, thanks!

AM: So, looking forward to S23 of Top

Chef, you’re going to be be in the Carolinas

which is amazing – what has it been like

for you to be on Top Chef as the host?

CHEF KK: I mean, it’s like, the greatest

job. I have very little complaints. I

think that the only the only thing that

was the most challenging this past

season was, you know, the Carolina

humidity, which we were certainly

prepared for. But other than that, I

mean, I, I love making Top Chef. I love

spending time with all the chefs that

we have coming in to dine with us.

It’s a really great quick 2-month crash

course in a location, introducing you

to new people, and then also hearing

from so many people amongst the industry

or even not! But just like how

other people think and talk about

food, I think it’s just - it’s incredible!

AM: Amazing. We know you can’t talk

too much about the upcoming season,

but what can you share with us

that we should be looking forward to?

CHEF KK: I mean, come on – every season

is just the best. It’s great chefs,

it’s great food, and honest feedback.

And you know, I think one of my favorite

things to do is - I mean, I love

watching the show, but because we

don’t get to see the chefs thought

process.

AM: Right!

CHEF KK: You know all those interviews,

and in the kitchen scenes, we

don’t see any of that.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF KK: The only time we see them

is when they’re in front of us, and so

I always get really excited, and I look

forward to getting the whole story

and the whole picture.

AM: You’re like, wait, that’s what happened.

CHEF KK: Yeah, I’ve tasted the food,

but I don’t know sometimes how

they’ve fully arrived.

AM: We also love the companion series

Dish with Kish. The format is really interesting

how elements of the challenge from

the episode as well as working with Top

Chef alums in each episode are presented

in the series! We just interviewed, Chef

Gregory Gourdet (Top Chef S12 Runner-up,

S17 Finalist) last month, during the Food

Network NYC Wine Food Festival. He was

so kind and sweet. We’ve never been able

to talk to him before, but it’s always fun

to watch him with you on this companion

series as you guys have great chemistry together!

As soon as we finish the night’s episode on

Bravo, we go to Peacock and start off with

Last Chance Kitchen with Chef Tom Colicchio

to see how eliminated players fight

there way back to get on the show and

then we end it by savoring Dish with Kish!

Why do you love having this companion

series?

CHEF KK: You know, I think it, it’s just - it’s

obviously Top Chef related, where we’re

pulling inspiration from that challenge.

You know, we’re getting to see some of

your favorite Top Chef alums in the kitchen

again, cooking. You know, it’s no rules.

As you see, the entire set is fair game. It

is as if you were in the kitchen with me,

albeit I’m in full glam, which I normally

wouldn’t be.

AM: The looks you rock in those episodes

as well as in the flagship show are always

amazing every time – you don’t miss.

CHEF KK: Thank you.

But it’s like, it’s like a fly on the wall moment.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF KK: You get to see real interactions

and the time that is spent with sometimes

Top Chef alums that I have known

for many years, like Gregory, and who we

are deeply like, wonderful friends or me

being introduced to a new Top Chef alum

that I know very little about because I

just haven’t had the time to interact.

So, I mean, it’s just it’s fun. It’s 11 - 15

minutes of whatever. It’s my kind of

TV.

AM: Love it!

You mentioned that shooting this

competition series takes place over a

2 month period. How do you take on

a show like that in terms of preparation?

Clearly, you’re immersed in this

environment, but how do you get

your mind ready for it before you step

into that abyss?

CHEF KK: You know, I think it’s a great

abyss to be in. So, like, you know,

there’s not a lot of like pumping myself

up. I think the the first year that I

was hosting, I had definitely more like

internal personal work to work on.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF KK: Because I was really wrapping

my brain around the pressure

that I was putting on myself.

AM: Of course.

CHEF KK: But come Canada and now,

obviously, the Carolinas like, you

know, I go in a couple days before it.

I like to go see the set. I like to get my

bearings. I like to unpack and like organize

space, equals organize mind.

For me, really, the preparation is oftentimes

the morning of, so whatever

call time, my time is, I need my quiet,

introverted recharge battery time.

So, I wake up 1 hour and 40 minutes

to 2 hours before, no matter what.

Even if it’s crazy early, I will still need

my time for my quiet and my coffee.

It’s a daily practice keeping my mind

ready and sharp for every single day.

AM: You’re joining the cast of the

Traitors. We love this show, whether

it is the US, UK, Australian, or New

Zealand editions! And literally, we’ve

watched various times for the US por-

tion of the franchise, and thought, “what

would it be like to have Alan Cumming

(GoldenEye, The Good Wife, X-Men franchise)

and Kristen together – we need

these interactions”. So when it was announced

that you would be doing this, we

are ready. So, why did you want to join

this show?

CHEF KK: You know, there was a lot of

reasons going into it. I think that, for me,

cooking competitions are something

that I would dabble back into if it were

for charity, or fun – but something that

is less pressure. But like competition, I

kind of hung up my hat on that one. This

one is so outlandish, unrealistic in terms

of the theme. honestly. We’re all running

around the Highlands of Scotland trying

to murder banished people!

AM: I know right?

CHEF KK: It’s insane!

AM: And some of those challenges, like

the whole bug thing – yikes, so much anxiety

for you.

CHEF KK: It’s silly.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF KK: So I felt like that lent itself to just

like fully immersing yourself into fun. That

was one reason. Another reason is, I’m always

trying to find new ways to push my

introverted self to get out there and do

more, especially if you know it’s like even

loosely tied to promoting my show.

AM: Oh yeah!

CHEF KK: So I mean, I’d be lying if I said I

went on there not doing that. And then,

also, they keep beating us in the Emmys,

and Alan keeps beating me in the host

category, so I was, like, if you can’t beat

‘em -

AM: You might as well join them. We can’t

wait to see that!

KIND has been a brand that we have

enjoyed eating. It’s healthy, a great

mix of ingredients, and it’s fun. How

did you come to this brand, and why

did you want to partner with them?

CHEF KK: You know, they came to

me, and I think the beauty of something

like, KIND, is obviously I’ve had

many KIND bars. I know exactly the

brand. So when someone or a brand

comes to me and says, well, obviously,

it’s in the name, right, like World

Kindness Day - let’s see what can we

do, how can we shine a light on it, and

how can we give back? That already,

is check, check?

AM: Yes.

CHEF KK: It’s a yes, yes, and yes. I

think it’s our duty if we are able to

give and shine a light on things or

have a platform in order to celebrate

something, someone or an organization

that deserves it, it’s an automatic

yes. You know, I think it happened so

organically because I was already going

to New Orleans for the Emeril Lagasse

Foundation, donating my time

to cook at the reception there, and

so, what better way to amplify all parties

than to really like join forces in a

way and give back in an even greater

way. So, you know, It just it all made

sense. It’s an incredible organization.

With KIND, we’re able to give $25,000

to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation,

10,000 bars to YEP (Youth Empowerment

Project), like, wow, it was a

win-win for everybody.

AM: Will there be other things in this

partnership as well, or was it just this

with the Emeril Lagasse Foundation?

CHEF KK: The good thing about the

Emeril Lagasse Foundation and KIND

and myself donating $25,000 is that

Emeril Lagasse Foundation supports

programs like, YEP, but also everything

else. So, they’ve already done a

lot of the legwork. So if we can give

back to them, they’re then giving back to

x amount of organizations.

AM: It’s always great to be kind and to do

kind things and how much more important

is it during the holiday season to do so?

CHEF KK: Well, I think it’s 100%. Like, definitely,

during the holidays to give back

to those who might need more, whether

that be food, money, time, or you know

anything. We’re all capable of giving back

in some form. Even if it’s just a smile and

kindness throughout the day. You know, I

think, on top of that given our climate, it’s

not just the holidays.

AM: Yeah.

CHEF KK: It’s an everyday thing. And you

know, many hands makes light work. I

think that if we can all focus on impacting

what we are capable of doing financially

or time-wise, or whatever? All those little

ripples do make a huge difference. For

me, I sometimes get overwhelmed with

the the amount that has to be fixed and

course corrected, but the beauty of kindness

is that you can give it for free.

AM: So true!

We always love chatting with you about

different foods. We are in the holiday season.

So, what are three dishes that you’re

loving to make during this holiday season?

CHEF KK: Oof man!

AM: I know! But you’re always sharing

things that we store away to make or to

order when we’re out and about!

CHEF KK: We have entered baking season.

My wife is Australian as you know.

She had never gone apple picking. So,

this past Fall, we went apple picking! That

was awesome. I was like, how do you not

know about this?

AM: I mean – it’s the perfect Fall thing to

do and is just part of the checklist for the

season – come on! right?

CHEF KK: I mean it’s a lovely tradition!

You pick too many apples, you don’t

know what to do with them. So, like

anything like that, it adds so much

like warmth and sense to the house.

I love it so much.

AM: Yup!

CHEF KK: The warm spices! My wife

is totally into baking from Gregory’s

cookbook (Everyone’s Table: Global

Recipes For Modern Health) recently,

which is fabulous. I mean, honestly,

for me, especially being East Coast

based - you know, winter is cold. Anything

that gets you to hunker down,

get a fireplace going, warm meal, and

people that you love gathered around

the table. I think that there’s nothing

better and then the food is almost a

secondary to the feeling that it can

bring.

AM: You’re always having your hands

in a number of pots. We’ve talked

about a number of things are coming

up, but are there any other projects

that we need to know about to share

with our community?

CHEF KK: You know, not anything

new that I can speak about at the

moment. Obviously, January 8th Traitors,

Top Chef - Spring of 2026.

AM: Which is exciting.

CHEF KK: And then, you know, great

holiday gifts. Kish Aperitif and my

New York Times Best-Selling, memoir,

Accidently on Purpose.

AM: Love Kish Aperitif, a must for the

bar cart.

CHEF KK: Thank you so much! We have

a new label, looks a little bit different.

I’m just, I’m really, really, really proud

of that product. I think it’s delicious.

AM: As always, we appreciate you

taking the time. It’s so good to con-

nect and it’s always awesome to see how

you authentically navigate with things

that we know as well as new things that

you do! We can’t wait for Traitors and will

be cheering for you. And of course, when

Top Chef drops can’t wait to see how everything

unfolds!

CHEF KK: My pleasure! I’m sure we’ll be

speaking again very soon.

@kristenlkish

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 59 + 60X

KIND | PG 63 Sam McElwee/Peacock | PG

64 David Moir/Bravo |

We enjoyed Spartacus on STARZ which

ran from 2010 - 2013. It brought the vivid

life of the Roman Republic in 73-71 BC. The

show focused on a Thracian gladiator who

led a slave uprising against the state. Ancient

Rome was filled with sex, violence,

political corruption and more.

Now on Dec 5th, Spartacus is back with

Spartacus: House of Ashur which is a alternate

timeline that looks at what if Ashur

(Nick E. Tarabay) didn’t die from the previous

season. In this new world, we are met

with characters that we have seen before

as well as a host of individuals that are part

of this retelling. We had the pleasure of attending

the press junket for this show to

talk with Steven S. DeKnight (Pacific Rim

franchise, Spartacus, Daredevil) - Creator/

Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer,

Nick E. Tarabay (Star Trek Into Darkness,

The Cleaning Lady, Stargirl), Graham

McTavish (The Hobbit franchise, House

of the Dragon, Outlander), Tenika Davis

(Saw VI, IT: Welcome to Derry, Guillermo

del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities), Claudia

Black (The Nevers, Ahsoka, Transformers:

EarthSpark), India Shaw-Smith (The Magicians,

The Pines Still Whisper, Andor), and

Jaime Slater (Jupiter’s Legacy, Pacific Rim:

Rising, DareDevil).

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s a pleasure to talk

to all of you about this incredible series.

Starting with you Steven, we have been

a fan of your work for awhile with Pacific

Rim, Spartacus, and DareDevil – what led

to your creating the original, Spartacus

and then deciding to come back with this

amazing Spartacus: House of Ashur?

STEVEN S. DEKNIGHT: In the original, I

got a call from my agents one day saying

that Sam Raimi (Doctor Strange: Multiverse

of Madness, Spider-Man franchise,

The Quick and the Dead) and Rob Tapert

(Xena: Warrior Princess, Evil Dead franchise,

Time Cop) wanted to do some gladiator

show for STARZ. They asked me if

I was interested in taking the meeting. I

said, Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi – yes! I will

take that meeting. I didn’t know it was

Spartacus until I was in the meeting. They

had already sold the concept to doing

Spartacus to STARZ and they needed

someone to come in and to figure out

the story.

That was really the start of it and

I was thrown into the deep end. I

didn’t know anything about Roman

history except for Ben Hur and the

original Spartacus. That’s all I knew,

but we had some great historical consultants.

So that was the genesis of

the first show.

For the second one, STARZ and Lionsgate

has been reaching out over the

last decade every now and then to

see if I had any interest in doing some

more Spartacus and I was always too

busy or recovering from the original

show. But the last time, I guess it was

about 2.5/3 years ago, they reached

out and I was free. I had had enough

time to rest up from the original show

and so I started kicking around ideas.

It was what you would expect – it

was Caesar, the Triumvirate, Anthony

and Cleopatra, but there was something

that I loved about the original

couple of seasons about Spartacus. I

liked the upstairs/downstairs, the political

intrigue of the city – I wanted

to capture that feeling. So at the end

of Vengeance with the original show,

Nick has a line where he talks about

the rise of the House of Ashur. Then

he gets his head chopped off so he

never gets to do that.

AM: Right.

SSD: So, I always thought that that

sounds like something fun and that

would be a show that I would want

to do. I love working with Nick so I

pitched the idea, they really liked it

and here we are!

AM: Wow! Nick, what drew you to the

original Spartacus and what do you

think about coming back into this series

which is like an alternate history

type of aspect?

NICK E. TARABAY: Originally what drew

me to it is that again, that world has always

been fascinating to me. The original

Spartacus is that world of the gladiator,

Roman history, and all the drama that

goes with that in between. I have always

been intrigued by this. I then remember

that at the time that I auditioned for it,

I thought it was really interesting – the

character. So going into it and because

the character evolves so much as you

go into it, originally he was going to be

friends with Spartacus or maybe he was

going to be part of the rebels – then they

switched it and he was going to become

an enemy to them. That’s what intrigued

me, I was always behind Ashur meaning, I

was never ahead of him. As an actor, I like

to be surprised as I’m reading! Now after

developing this and I was lucky enough to

be able to work on the prequel and to be

able to show why he is the way he is. That

was just a gift. Then in S3 in Vengeance,

I got to play a little bit more. So it was a

great arc for a character – beautiful arc

for a character. So coming back to that,

you can’t say no to this! It doesn’t happen

very often.

AM: Right!

NET: And to think, they have added even

more colors to him this season which I

really like! It’s really a full embodied character

and I really love that. So yeah, it’s a

privilege to be back on this.

AM: We just heard from Nick and Steven

about Spartacus and Spartacus: House of

Ashur, we’ll be looking at this new series

as we continue to talk with the rest of the

cast. What drew you to Spartacus: House

of Ashur?

INDIA SHAW-SMITH: What certainly for

me, I was such a huge fan of the original

series. So when I heard there was to be

a new iteration focused on Ashur, I was

so excited to watch it – let alone to audition

for it. So certainly when that came

through, I jumped at the chance to be part

of this world that I love so much!

CLAUDIA BLACK: I wanted the opportunity

to embody a woman who is

in her 50s as I am who is fighting for

relevancy. While I don’t want to fight

necessarily as that can become scrappy

and ugly, it’s a bizarre situation to

find oneself in in mid life with culture

sort of turning its cheek. Quite specifically,

when I had the meeting with

Rick and Steven, they said that “they

were doing something new and fresh

and that they were going to have a

Black Gladiatrix.” Every being in my

body said that it was a hard yes to

that! It was really interesting to know

that they were for women and Black

women and that they were going to

do something and this was really just

so important. I thought, that this tells

me that they want to bring this show

which is so beloved – into the new

age and the new era. That feels important

and relevant.

GRAHAM MCTAVISH: Well, so many

things! First of all, I’m such a fan of

Steven’s writing. I just think that it’s

such a unique writing style that he

has. It’s semi-Shakespearean and it’s

Shakespeare meets Conan the Barbarian

kind of vibe. I love that. I was

a huge fan of the original Spartacus

and I watched all of them when they

came out. So the opportunity to do

this was a no brainer. I don’t know

if you know this, but when Steven

wrote the character, it was for me for

Korris. So that was very flattering!

Also, I’m a huge history buff so ancient

Rome is a place that I have always

been fascinated by and when I

did Outlander, people always asked

where I would time travel to and I

would always say Rome – just for a

day, I wouldn’t want to spend more

than a day there. After that, it’s

good, I will just catch the last plane

out. That would have been fantastic.

I think that the thing about Rome is

it seems like this far away world and

obviously there are things that when

you look at it, obviously there’s this,

that, costume, weapons, gladiators, etc.

But there are actually things that are more

in common with their world than what we

think. I actually think that we have more

in common with Rome then we imagine.

I think that there is a Roman inside all of

us. We just dress differently. In similar circumstances

in the world that they were

working with, that’s how we would have

been – you and I. We would have been

part of that world. If we were dropped in

there now, there would be certain things

– probably the smell – that would be pretty

unusual although the Romans were

very clean people. They had baths, spas,

and all of those things – maybe a bit like a

Four Seasons experience perhaps – who

knows? But in all seriousness, you would

probably find yourself going, “I recognize

these people.” I recognize him, I know

what he is thinking and I recognize her

and I think that is what is so interesting

about doing anything historical because

it is the chance to bring it into a modern

world and to be able to hold up a mirror

to us.

JAIME SLATER: What didn’t? I mean it was

everything! It was just such a vivid, colorful,

depraved world where anything goes.

It’s just fun and entertaining.

TENIKA DAVIS: I’m a huge fan of the

world. I just love shows that are bloody,

audacious, sexy, and drama filled. That

initially made me hooked already! But the

fact that I got to play a female gladiatrix

and tell that part of history and not only

that, a Black Kushite (Editor’s Note: Kushites

are ancient Africans from the Kingdom

of Kush, an area that encompassed parts

of modern day Sudan and Egypt. Historical

figures includes Queen Amanirenas a

formidable leader who fought and led her

army against the Roman Empire in 27 and

22 BC – she halted the Roman invasion and

buried a statue head of Augustus Caesar

under her temple. The biblical figure of

Moses’ wife who is described as a Kushite

women. The Kingdom of Kush was known

for its powerful queens and warriors.)

woman who now becomes a female Gladiatrix.

It’s powerful in and of itself and we

get to redefine history and retell stories

that have not been told before.

It’s just bold!

AM: So bold! In reading the notes

about this series and learning that a

Black Gladiatrix would be in it, it reminded

us of the Black Samurai named

Yasuke who was African and arrived

in Japan in 1579 and became a samurai

under the warlord Oda Nobunaga.

He was the 1st non-Japanese person

to achieve the rank of samurai in feudal

Japan.

Tell us about the characters that you

are playing!

CB: Cossutia is to be villainess, but

she is really fighting for her safety

and her daughters because in this environment,

when women are not well

matched – they really fall through fast

cracks. They have fought their way

to being in this elite world and they

don’t want to lose their power. In this

environment, power is really everything

and it is their main currency.

ISS: So, Viridia is the daughter of Cossutia.

She is a young Roman noble

woman and when we first meet her,

she is in a period of deep mourning

for her husband who was killed by

Spartacus and his rebels at the show

opening. Viridia is a very raw ethereal

soul. She is very good natured and

kind hearted. She really sees the best

in people and I think that that is something

that makes her very unique and

a rare figure in this world that is really

driven by brutality, death, deception,

and high stakes. Certainly where we

find her in the beginning of the series,

there has been some regression.

She was a wife and now she is once

again the child. She’s having to find

her place in society and she knows

that she will have to do her duty by

her family and likely remarry.

JS: Cornelia is one of the elites. She is

the elite on the show. She is the wife

of Caesar. She is very powerful and very

wealthy. She plays by no rules and she has

zero consequences. She is menacing, duplicitous

and I have heard some refer to

her as evil. I had to kind of come at this

from a different angle because of all the

things that she does and says! There’s a

lot of things that are hard to relate to with

her so I had to approach this in a very

much so “what if” state of mind – what

if this was fun, what if I liked this, what

if this felt good? Once I did that, things

started to fall into place.

GM: He’s a fascinating character because

he starts in a very typical way as someone

who is very guarded, very reluctant

to become friendly with people based

on experience really. They live in a world

of sudden death and to become close to

somebody who can literally be dead the

next day is probably not a good idea and

he has probably lived through that experience.

However, as the show progresses,

you see those relationships develop particularly

through Achillia and Ashur and

with Opitur (Arlo Gibson). Those are the 3

principal relationships along with Celadus

(Dan Hamill) – but those are the other

ones where you will see the other side to

Korris. The vulnerable, emotional, tender

side and that is just such an interesting

area to explore for an actor.

TD: I really believe that life prepared me

for this character. I have black belts – a

2nd degree Black belt in Martial Arts. To

earn that in and of itself, was a huge feat

in really fighting awesome Korean men

in our version of the arena at the time.

There were lots of tournaments, competitions,

and all sorts of stuff. I started realizing

that this character Achillia is actually

going through a version of the same

thing. So I do believe that I was built to

play this type of character. Now, there

are new elements that are brought into

it. I had never used a sword before or a

shield or those kinds of weapons to fight

somebody. It was normally my arms and

legs, but I remember going to that place

where I said to myself, “you know what

to do in this world. You have been here

before and if you’re frustrated and

you’re annoyed – understand that

that is part of Achillia’s journey and

she knows that she is the underdog

and that she is going to have to find

her way with these new weapons.

AM: What was your biggest takeaway

in playing Achillia and being able to

showcase something like that that we

have not been able to see before?

TD: For me, it’s empowering. But it is

important because we haven’t seen

this world before, we haven’t seen

these types of characters before. We

haven’t seen these characters depicted

in this version of Roman society.

So that just makes this show new,

bold, and audacious.

I know that as a little girl, I grew up

with the role models like the Warrior

Princess – Xena – Lucy Lawless (Spartacus

franchise, Battlestar Galactica,

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.)! She

was so good in that role and I remember

just looking at her and thinking

that she was strong, fierce, and powerful.

But even with that, she didn’t

really look like me. When I had the

opportunity to create a character in

Achillia and to understand that the

responsibility of that is that somebody

is going to look at her and feel

empowered and that maybe one day

they can look like that and be her too.

That is the relevance and importance

to this telling of this story, and to this

world that we have helped create.

AM: What was your biggest takeaway

in being able to play Cornelia?

JS: She’s so powerful and I am a very

petite person, so the power she exudes

over men that tower over her,

the way that she humiliates them, the

way she makes people tremble and

to have an experience and embodying

that level of power was really fun.

Because in real life, that just doesn’t

happen – not that I want it to!

AM: We were fans of the original so we’re

excited to dig into this series. So what

should fans of this show from the original

who are now coming into this new alternate

timeline with its colors and tones –

how can we frame our minds best as we

begin to watch this series?

JS: Come in with an open mind and

expect anything!

@spartacusstarz

SSD: Oh I think that you’re going to have

everything that you love about the original

and more! It’s brutal, it’s romantic, it’s

sexy, it’s operatic!

NET: Yes! I just said this before and I am

going to say it again! The new show is like

cocaine with sugar on top! There you go!

That’s what the fans should expect – it’s

full on!

CB: I think that the original DNA is there

sufficiently. The passion, the people involved

at the head of each department,

they worked vigorously to make sure that

the beloved DNA is still in this. We now

have a sort of refreshing trajectory so it

has something for everyone, every age

group, there’s some wonderful representation

for the LGBTQ community, it’s

nuanced, it’s layered, it’s dense, it takes

a minute to set up this whole new world.

But, I do think that it’s juicy and that people

who say that they are just so attached

to the original – I get it. I order the same

thing from the same restaurant every

time and yet, I would say in this instance,

this is really great on the menu – give it a

go and it’s not going to disappoint.

TD: Fans of the previous show, me included,

you’re going to get all of the wonderful

things that made Spartacus the

powerhouse of a show that it is. Spartacus:

House of Ashur is going to be bold,

it’s returning to that world of blood, sex,

drama, but this new chapter focuses on

new things that we haven’t seen that is

defined in a new way – that’s power, legacy,

defying expectations, giving a voice

to underdogs and outsiders in a society

that doesn’t want them. Doing all of this

with new characters that are telling stories

through a fresh lens.

Right before NYFW, we attended a

roundtable dinner at Manhatta with the

Medtronic team to learn about their latest

device, Altaviva which is an implantable

tibial neuromodulation system that

allows those that suffer with Urge Urinary

Incontinence (UUI) and allows them to enjoy

a quality of life. We wanted to know

more about various bladder issues, what

the pathways are to treatment and about

this device from Dr. Janet Harris-Hicks, a

urogynecologist who we met at the dinner.

Since this dinner which had great conversations

from her, a patient who was

going through the trials as well as those

who were involved with creating the device,

much has taken place as they attended

a conference to share an array of data

and they are now FDA approved. We talk

about this and more to understand what

we need to know about this condition and

how we can help ourselves or others who

may need this!

ATHLEISURE MAG: It was great to meet

you at the Medtronic dinner a few weeks

back at Manhatta where we learned about

bladder control and the innovative device

which recently became FDA approved. Dr.

Janet Harris-Hicks, you spoke at the event

and walked us through the device, but before

we talk about that, you are a urogynecologist,

can you tell what you specialize

and what this entails?

DR. JANET HARRIS-HICKS: Absolutely. So

in general, as a urogynecologist, we are a

sub-specialty of Surgeons that focuses on

what’s called Pelvic Floor Disorders. And

so those disorders are broken up into 3

main categories. We are sub-specialized

to treat Pelvic Floor Disorders of pelvic

organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and

fecal incontinence. So, obviously, in those

3 broad areas and focusing on obviously

only on women, that’s where the gynecologist

part comes in. In those 3 broad

department areas of clinical medicine -

there’s a lot of sub-specialty of diseases,

but those are our focuses on urinary incontinence,

fecal incontinence, and pelvic

organ prolapse.

AM: Is there a difference between urinary

incontinence and an overactive

bladder?

DR. JHH: Yes, absolutely. So urinary

incontinence, by definition, is the

unwanted loss of urine prior to your

ability to reach the restroom. Okay,

so you’re actually leaking urine when

you don’t want to be expelling that

urine, versus overactive bladder is a

syndrome. So, by definition, a syndrome

in medicine means a collection

of symptoms, okay, and that can be

caused by multiple different disease

processes. So, overactive bladder by

definition is the sense of urgency of

needing to rush to the restroom with

the added frequency of urination,

which is defined as 8 or more times

of urination within a 24-hour period.

Then we even get more specialized in

the respect that we call it Overactive

Bladder Wet versus Overactive Bladder

Dry, so there it does not have to

have the urinary incontinence component

to have overactive bladder.

It’s simply the culmination of symptoms

that is urinary urgency, urinary

frequency plus or minus nocturia,

which means having to get up to the

restroom more than once at night.

And so, with that syndrome, you may

have urinary incontinence as a part

of it, or you may not, but the actual

overactive bladder is your urgency

and frequency of urination.

AM: Oh wow. So, what are the symptoms

that people should be looking

into if you realize maybe you’re having

bladder issues, and that maybe

you need to get it checked out?

DR. JHH: So, just those things, believe

it or not - those individual components.

If you’re having to go to

the restroom 8 or more times in a 24-

hour period, that’s a sign of a problem.

That’s not normal, so that is that

should be evaluated. Obviously, if

you’re leaking urine before you can

get to the restroom that need to be

evaluated. And if you have to get up at

night more than once to empty your bladder

– 1 time is normal, more than once at

night, is the sign of a problem. So those

are the basic functionalities that if folks

are starting to experience those problems,

they should reach out to a specialist

to be evaluated.

AM: In terms of Athleisure Mag, A lot of

times, especially when you’re thinking

about The New York Marathon and other

races that people are preparing for around

the world or even focusing on fitness goals

- a lot of people are increasing their water

intake. How do you know the difference

between? Yes, it’s a problem in terms of

your body or because you’ve simply increased

your intake so it’s not something

that you have to be concerned about?

DR. JHH: Yeah, great question. So we play

a part in that which is obviously adequate

hydration and not over hydration. So typical,

adequate hydration for an adult would

be 64 to 84 ounces of fluid a day, and then

I always tell my folks now if it’s too hot,

then you need more hydration. Obviously,

if you’re talking to a marathon runner

and they’re training, there’s a difference

in hydration. But on a daily basis, if you’re

just doing your regular activities, you’re

adequately hydrated, and you’re having

those symptoms - Then again, that’s an

issue. Obviously, you can over hydrate

yourself and force urinary frequency and

urgency.

AM: It just came into our mind because

when we’re working out on a new method

or taking on something new, you’re going

to increase your water and it takes a couple

of days for the body to accept what’s

going on and then the body levels out to

whatever that new normal is.

DR. JHH: And that takes you into what we

define in medicine when we’re thinking

about treating overactive bladder, so we

have a clinical pathway we follow that’s

standardized among all of our sub-specialties

in neurology. And that’s endorsed

by the American Neurology Association.

So, when we’re thinking about, how

do we correct these problems for patients,

we think of it as first, second,

and third line therapy. So, first line

therapy, you just hit the nail on the

head. It’s all about behavior modifications.

Yeah, you want to make sure

the patient’s adequately, but not

over hydrated. The next step is teaching

patients about bladder training,

you should go to the restroom about

every two and a half to three hours.

Then, we talk about elimination of

what we call bladder irritants, so high

levels of caffeine, red wine, spicy

foods, cigarette, whether that’s primary

or secondary exposure. Those

are some of the top four irritants of

the bladder. So that’s our first conversation

in discussing the patient’s

bladder function. And then, once

they have initiated those and practice

those and put those practices into

place, if they’re continuing to have

symptoms of overactive bladder,

then we start talking about medication.

So, that’s our second line therapy.

Okay, patients are supposed to

have somewhere between 6 weeks

and 8 weeks worth of medication,

plus their behavior modifications,

and then if they continue to have issues

with their bladder of overactive

bladder, they move to third line

therapy where we start to talk about

Alta Viva and then sacral neuromodulation,

which interstem is a part of

peripheral tibial stimulation, which is

historically where we got our data to

even come up with the thought of an

implantable tibial implant, and then

Botox, which can be injected into the

bladder, and that’s that clinical pathway

that all patients will step through

to get to that point of treatment.

AM: During the roundtable dinner

hearing from the patient who received

the implantable tibial neuromodulation

system, as well as hearing your

comments about it as well as your colleagues

was truly insightful. And the

fact that between that dinner in early

Sept right before NYFW and now, it seems

like, so much has happened since then because

we have the approvals for the device

to be widely used. So, for our community

that was not at this dinner, can you talk

about this device?

DR. JHH: So Altaviva is an implantable tibial

stimulator. Again, our historical data

is that since 1983, believe it or not, the

clinical pathway was shown to be highly

effective where we could actually take

an acupuncture needle and tap it in at

the tibial nerve down near the ankle and

use an external TENS unit (Editor’s Note:

A TENS unit is a small, battery-operated

device that used low-level electrical pulses)

to stimulate that nerve, which retrograde

stimulates up through the leg back

to the bladder and have positive impact

upon treatment of overactive bladder

syndromes. The issue became just how

did you deploy that treatment to patients

and the data showed that those patients

needed to be treated with that external

stimulator once a week for 12 weeks, and

then once a month forever. Well, I again,

as I said at our conference, I love my patients,

and I think they like me, but I’m not

so sure they want to visit me for the rest

of their life in order to maintain their continence,

and so that is where our historical

scientific evidence came from.

AM: That’s amazing.

DR. JHH: Altaviva expands on that and

now, with Medtronic’s insight, it has created

a small, implantable device that is

put in which requires no general anesthesia,

just a little bit of local anesthetic

in the leg. Typically, the procedure itself is

somewhere on the order of 10 to 15 minutes.

The device itself is very simple. I’ve

heard it compared to half a stick of a gum

versus a USB.

AM: At the dinner, we kept saying it was

the size of a USB – it’s unbelievable.

DR. JHH: Think of it as a USB, so it’s very

small. The incision at the ankle is about a

quarter of an inch, maybe a little bit less

than that and slips into that pocket

with two small absorbable stitches.

The amazing thing is that treatment

begins immediately, okay? The technology

is so advanced that there’s

enough energy in that tiny device

that the patient will receive therapy

for a solid year. Well, all our patients

will come back once a year so we can

check on them as their physician. And

so at that visit in their 15 minutes, we

will recharge their device and they’re

ready to go for another year. And so,

again, that device is rechargeable in

current technology, as I’m sure it will

continue to advance for up to 15 years

for that patient.

AM: That’s just amazing.

DR. JHH: It’s just been a beautiful

journey to see. You know that we’ve

had this data. We’ve understood the

scientific process, and now we actually

can deploy that information in a

very acceptable, manner that allows

patients to have a phenomenal Improvement

in their quality of life.

AM: It’s incredible. What should a patient,

know who let’s say they’ve been

cleared to take this surgery. What

should they know prior to doing it? Is

there anything they need to do or prepare

themselves for? Like, if you go to

get laser hair removal, there’s certain

things that you need to do before you

get there.

DR. JHH: You know, believe it or not,

outside of, and they would have obviously

been guided through the pathway

outside of going through that

pathway to determine as you said that

they are indeed qualified for this third

line therapy. There really isn’t anything

that they have to be prepared

for. You know, like other surgeries,

you’ve got to make sure someone

comes with you that can drive you

home. Because this does not require

any systemic anesthesia, you can

drive yourself to your appointment.

You can drive yourself home so you don’t

have to even involve any other family

members.

Again, the therapy is immediate, so

there’s no delay in actually starting to see

Improvement in your bladder function

and quality of life. But the most common

medication, which is an aspirin or baby aspirin

- we didn’t stop that in our patients

for clinical trial. So, so we don’t have to,

you know? Really, there’s not a lot of as

you’ve alluded to.

AM: Wow! And since the FDA approval

that took place, have you seen more people

upticking to want to get this now that

they have access to it?

DR. JHH: Absolutely! Yes, it’s been so

much fun! Of course, we’ve reached out

to our own patients in the practice. We

sent out an email, and immediately, we

were inundated with interest from that.

It’s just been so fabulous. I actually just

did an outreach in the community yesterday

and went out and spoke to lots

of the primary care physicians, and they

were just so excited, because I mean you,

you know, these numbers, it’s insane. I

mean, 32 million Americans suffer with

overactive bladder. I mean, that’s just

the overactive bladder folks. Not to mention

all of the urinary incontinence that

comes along with that, and our primary

care doctors are the ones that are at the

forefront. They’re the ones having to deal

with this as well as this other laundry list

of Health Care issues that patients have.

So, for them to understand that pathway

that we talked about and how those patients

get to me and then there’s actually

a definitive therapy, because again, data

would show us that the average patient

will and I say, just sits and turns right, and

the medical meal for average of 6 years

just going round and round in medications

before they actually even have access

or even understand that there is access

to the third line therapies, and that’s

where I really try to reach out in my own

community as well as I think most of my

colleagues. Even at the level of technology

- it is the industry like Medtronics

that realizes there’s such a lack of

knowledge.

AM: We have a widespread readership

and community across the country

as well as internationally, too. But

if someone was looking to get this

done, where do they go? I mean, obviously,

they have your office, but where

do they start?

DR. JHH: Well, your gynecologist and

urologist are trained in this field obviously

and understand and have the

skill set to deploy third line interventions,

and for most insurance companies

and even along those with

governmental supplements with

Medicare/Medicaid. They do have

to follow through with their primary

care physician before they get into

that subspecialty office. But again,

the pathway is very easy. It’s not a lot

of barriers there for them to be able

to be seen by your urogynecologist.

Of course, I speak specifically in women.

They can establish with primary

care and very quickly and easily move

through the sub-specialist office.

AM: That is phenomenal. For those in

our community that are connecting

with this whether they are in need of it

or a friend, family, or colleague, what

do they need to know or be aware of

to have these tough conversations

about this?

DR. JHH: Again, I focus not just on

women, and I would assume this is

also a man, but obviously, the bulk

of urinary incontinence from a standpoint

of the numbers showing that

there are more women, obviously

than men, that suffer with urinary incontinence.

But the misnomer, and

this is another one of my huge soap

boxes that it is a normal part of aging

to actually leak urine, okay? The conversations

that I hear among women

that, “oh, I just have to cross my legs

when I laugh, cough or sneeze - I just

have to put on a pad.” You know, all the

compensatory things that we do as females

because we’re busy – we have to

be mom, we have to be aunt, we have to

be wife, we have to be surgeon - and all

those things come first. My mission is that

women understand that there are true

pathways to treatment and that it is not a

normal part of aging, and you do not have

to compensate for urinary incontinence

and that it is a treatable process absolutely.

AM: In speaking with you today and even

researching for this interview, these last

2 questions aren’t really related to this

but as we’re speaking to someone who is

also a urologist, we look at our poops as

we know it says what is going on in our

body and it means something. So is this

the same with urine in terms of the color?

DR. JHH: Yeah, good question. Well, certainly,

the darker the urine, the more concern

there is for dehydration.

AM: Right.

DR. JHH: And again, we talked about

the importance of overall health and adequate

hydration is appropriate. So, if

you’re seeing that your urine is extremely

dark, then that certainly can indicate an

issue of hydration. But outside of that,

there’s not, you know, obviously, we can

go down some rabbit holes, right? A lot

of different things, right? That don’t have

anything to do with urinary, right? But

as far as bladder function, clear urine is

a healthy sign. Light/pale urine is what it

should look like. If it starts to get dark, if

it starts to look pink, if it’s frankly blood in

your urine, those are indications of other

disease processes that need to be evaluated

immediately for sure.

AM: Many in our community, us included

are very focused on our gut health. We’re

always looking at supplements like a new

one we’ve tried called Broc Shot that has

the broccoli seed powder wich has sulforaphane

which aids in detoxing, reducing

inflammation etc. Is there connection between

gut health and your urine

health in your opinion?

DR. JHH: That’s a really great question.

Well, you know, I’m sure you’re

aware that gut health pretty much

plays a part in everything in your

body. So, am I currently aware of any

clinical literature out there that links

gut health to bladder health? No.

AM: Right.

DR. JHH: That doesn’t mean that

it doesn’t exist, that’s for sure. Because,

as you said, we have understood,

there’s so much important information

out there about gut health

and certainly again being focused on

female, there is we could have an entire

conversation on that.

AM: For sure and that would be welcome!

DR. JHH: Looking at vaginal health

and the microbiome of the vagina –

we could be here all day! That has certainly

been some amazing data that

has come out in the last 15 years of

what we understand of the vaginal

microbiome, which again in women

is tremendously important in bladder

health.

@medtronic

We all know that working out is essential

whether, you are maintaining various

goals, ensuring that you have movement,

or a means to hang out with others while

doing an activty together. As we navigate

our life cycles, we know it’s essental to

continue to work out. For those that are

hiting menopause, it’s essential to continue

your efforts as well as to figure out how

to optimize this in this stage of life. Earlier

this month, we went to Pvolve’s studio

to take a class that focused on this while

learning about how Hers plays into this as

well.

We sat down with Dr. Jessica Shepherd,

Board-Certified OB/GYN, Chief Medical Officer

at Hers, and Pvolve Advisory Board

Member for Women’s Health & Longevity.

We talked about Hers and how they are

focused on menopause initiatives.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your

background and how you became the

Chief Medical Officer at Hers.

DR. JESSICA SHEPHERD: Joining Hers as

their first Chief Medical Officer is helping

me reach more women on their healthcare

journeys in a way I never could before.

Hers shares my vision: to break

down barriers and make personalized,

effective healthcare accessible to every

woman, wherever she is on her journey.

We’re not just offering solutions; we’re

building a community and platform that

equips women with the knowledge, resources,

and confidence to take charge

of their well-being. This isn’t just about

health; it’s about empowering women to

show up fully in their lives, confident and

strong. Whether it was building my own

practice in Dallas, or writing my first book,

Generation M, to guide women through

menopause, my driving force has always

been empowering women to live their

healthiest, most vibrant lives.

AM: For those that are not familiar with

Hers, what is this brand and what are the

kinds of products that we can get from

them?

Hers is a 100% online, one-stop platform

for women’s health and personal

care that connects patients to

licensed healthcare professionals

for support for weight loss, hair regrowth,

mental health, and skincare.

Through Hers’ simple online process

you can connect with licensed medical

providers who can recommend

customized treatment plans including

prescription treatments, if appropriate,

shipped right to your door.

Some products include treatment

for perimenopause and menopause,

GLP-1s for weight management, treatment

for anxiety and depression,

treatment for hair loss, and much,

much more.

AM: Why is Hers expanding into

menopause care and what products

are available in this category?

DR. JS: For too long, women have

been forced to navigate an outdated

healthcare system that’s often impersonal,

inconvenient, and dismissive –

a system fundamentally built for men,

by men. This is precisely why women

need access to healthcare that offers

holistic, empowering healthcare

treatment plans and support that are

discreet, accessible, and tailored to

their unique needs and dynamic lives.

Menopause impacts every woman.

When estrogen levels drop too low,

imbalances lead to a mix of symptoms

— like mood changes, sleep

problems, and dry skin and hair.

But only a third of OBs are trained

in menopause care. This can leave

women feeling dismissed and left to

find solutions on their own. In October,

Hers introduced access to a new

line of treatment plans built specifically

for women experiencing perimenopause

and menopause. Based

on health history and personal preferences,

patients can work with a

provider to get a combination of

treatments tailored to their needs. If eligible,

tailored kits could include estradiol,

a hormone naturally made in the body, in

a patch or pill to help alleviate symptoms

like hot flashes and night sweats. Tailored

kits may also be combined with progesterone

to help protect the uterine lining

and improve sleep quality, and estradiol

vaginal cream to alleviate discomfort

as-needed.

AM: What can you tell us about menopause

and its 3 stages, and at what age

does this tend to happen?

DR. JS: Menopause is a hormonal transition

that happens in three distinct stages,

typically between ages 40 and 55, and

each woman experiences it differently.

The first stage, perimenopause, can begin

in the early 40s, or even late 30s. During

this time, estrogen levels fluctuate unpredictably,

leading to irregular periods,

mood changes, sleep disturbances, and

subtle shifts in metabolism and body composition.

Menopause is medically defined as the

point when a woman has gone 12 consecutive

months without a menstrual cycle.

During menopause, hormone levels, particularly

estrogen and progesterone, are

at their lowest, and symptoms tend to

peak.

Post-menopause is everything after that

12-month mark. While symptoms may

continue, they do often stabilize at this

point. During this stage, long-term health

truly becomes the focus: protecting bone

density, preserving muscle, maintaining

heart health, and supporting metabolic

and cognitive function.

Understanding these stages allows women

to anticipate changes instead of being

surprised by them. It’s also why having

trusted guidance, whether medical, nutritional,

or movement-based, is so important.

AM: What symptoms are associated with

menopause so that we can be aware

of coming into that phase of life?

DR JS: Symptoms vary widely from

person to person, but there are definitely

some that are more common:

• Irregular periods

• Hot flashes and night sweats

• Sleep disruptions

• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

• Mood swings, irritability, or increased

anxiety

• Weight changes, especially around

the abdomen

• Loss of muscle mass

• Vaginal dryness or discomfort

• Decreased libido

• Joint aches or stiffness

• Changes in skin elasticity, energy,

and stamina

While these symptoms are common,

I always emphasize that women are

not meant to simply “push through”

them. With modern science and technology,

we have far better solutions

than past generations ever did.

For example, at Hers, we offer personalized

menopause treatment plans

that help women manage symptoms

with modern, individualized care.

From a physical perspective, Pvolve’s

functional movement programs help

address muscle loss, stability challenges,

and energy fluctuations that

often accompany this life stage.

AM: What is the link between nutrition

and movement when you are entering

these stages?

DR JS: Movement and nutrition form

the foundation of how well women

navigate menopause. As estrogen

declines, we naturally lose muscle

mass and bone density, which slows

metabolism and impacts energy,

strength, and even cognition.

From a nutritional standpoint, wom-

en should focus on:

• Protein at each meal to maintain muscle

and stabilize blood sugar

• Fiber to support digestion and metabolic

health

• Healthy fats, especially omega-3s, to

support hormonal balance and reduce

inflammation

• Hydration and minimizing ultra-processed

foods to keep energy and mood

more stable

From a movement standpoint, women

benefit most from a combination of:

• Strength training to rebuild muscle and

support metabolism

• Mobility and stability work to protect

joints and maintain balance

• Short, strategic cardio bursts like SIT

training for heart and bone health

• Intentional recovery to regulate stress

hormones and improve sleep

This exact combination is what inspired

the Menopause Strong program at

Pvolve. It’s a six-week progressive movement

plan that blends all four pillars –

strength, mobility, stability, and recovery

– to help women feel strong, energized,

and in control.

AM: What are the challenges that women

face when they are entering menopause?

DR JS: Women typically face challenges

on three fronts: physical, emotional, and

informational.

Physically, declining estrogen leads to

changes such as muscle loss, slower metabolism,

weight redistribution, sleep disruptions,

joint stiffness, and lower energy

or stamina.

Emotionally, women may experience

mood fluctuations, increased anxiety, irritability,

brain fog, and a general sense of

“not feeling like myself.”

I always emphasize that these experiences

are very real and a result of hormonal

and biological shifts. On that note,

perhaps the biggest challenge is the

knowledge gap.

We’re still battling decades of silence

and stigma around menopause. Many

women feel dismissed or unprepared

because fewer than one-third of OB/

GYNs receive dedicated training in

menopause care.

That’s why work like ours is so critical.

Hers provides accessible, personalized

medical support, while

Pvolve delivers movement programs

like Menopause Strong that help rebuild

strength, improve mobility, and

support hormonal and emotional

well-being. When women have access

to both quality health care and

science-driven movement, they’re

equipped not just to manage this

transition – but to thrive in it.

Now that we understand more about

menopause, its phases, and why Hers

partnered with Pvolve and Dr. Shepherd’s

role in the Menopause Strong

program, we wanted to find out more

about Pvolve’s role and why this specific

workout is great to incorporate in

your routine. The fitness brands’ Chief

Training Officer Antonietta Vicario

talks with us about this and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about

Pvolve and your role as the Chief Training

Officer of this fitness method.

ANTONIETTA VICARIO: Pvolve is a

clinically backed functional fitness

method that uses resistance based

equipment to build strength, mobility

and stability, helping people both

look and feel better now and longterm.

Our Method is truly in a league

of its own, helping our mostly female

client base embody strength in every

capacity. We build muscle, the powerhouse

for our metabolism, energy,

and power. Our mobility work opens

up the joints of the body by taking

them through their full ranges of mo-

tion to help us prevent injury and feel

good! Last, the stability work fires up the

deep core and helps to create better balance,

giving people greater control over

their bodies.

As Chief Training Officer, I oversee all

things Method, from our on-demand platform

to our growing in-studio footprint

with studios throughout the U.S and Canada.

I ensure that everything that relates to

our trainer team and this method delivers

on our brand promise- to help people feel

the transformative power of our method

and community. This means I create class

content, learning and development plans

for our trainers, grow our class offerings,

lead instructor training, and ensure every

experience is truly second to none. I also

ensure our content reflects what science

shows to improve longevity, joint health,

and functional strength, as proven in our

Healthy Aging Clinical Study. The study

found benefits, like building lean muscle

without weight gain, a 19% increase in

lower body strength, 10% improvement

in balance and mobility, a 21% increase in

flexibility,and 23% overall enjoyment of

exercise and improved quality of life!

I work closely with an amazing team of

core trainers and our medical advisory

board, including OB/GYN Dr. Jessica Shepherd,

to ensure our programs are grounded

in evidence and meet the needs of

women at every life stage.

AM: Tell us about the classes that are offered

at Pvolve.

AV: Our three core class offerings at

Pvolve are Strength & Sculpt, Progressive

Weight Training, and Sculpt & Burn. In

Strength & Sculpt, we build the foundation

on our movement pillars – mobility,

stability, and strength – the tenets of a

body that moves and feels better at every

age. This is a sculpting class that moves

the body in 3D- through diversified movements

in all planes of motion that feel energizing,

opening and intense all at once.

Our Progressive Weight Training class

adds heavier dumbbells to these functional

movements to help build muscle.

As we age, we lose 3-8% muscle

mass each decade starting in our late

30’s and so preserving and building

muscle is vital to increase not only our

lifespan but our healthspan. Muscle is

key for optimising our metabolism, it

helps us maintain bone density, fuels

mitochondria to keep us energized,

supports our joints, helps regulate

blood glucose, and truly is our tissue

of longevity.

Last, Sculpt & Burn layers cardiovascular

bursts throughout to build bone

density and protect our most important

muscle - our heart! It is also proven

that regular cardiovascular exercise

improves our brain health and

can reduce the risk of cognitive decline

in later years!

We offer both in-studio classes and a

robust Digital Streaming Experience

platform, giving members access to

thousands of workouts they can do

anytime, anywhere.

In our studios, classes typically run 50

minutes and there is nothing like the

accountability of moving in person

with a trainer and the community!

The music will be cranking, the vibes

will be high, and the form adjustments

will help make the movements

even more effective.

Online, the experience becomes fully

customizable. Our streaming platform

includes workouts ranging from

5 to 60 minutes, so members can

choose the exact intensity and duration

they’re looking for on any given

day. It’s the ultimate “choose your

adventure” model with everything

from a quick energizing burn to a fullbody

strength session or a calming

recovery class.

Every workout is designed to meet

members exactly where they are,

whether they’re total beginners, re-

turning to movement after time away,

or seasoned fitness lovers who want a

smarter way to build muscle. The goal

is simple: movement that fits your life,

strengthens your body, and supports you

at every stage.

AM: Prior to attending the event, we knew

that Jennifer Aniston has been a fan of this

particular fitness method, and we have

various accessories from the brand to do a

workout, but have never done it with the

mat. Can you tell us about the mat as it’s

interesting how it is incorporated into the

workout.

AV: The Precision Mat is one of my favorite

teaching tools because it helps members

understand proper alignment and

foot placement, essential for good form.

The numbers and lines act as visual cues,

making it easier to hit consistent positions

with exact foot placement. Because we

integrate some very unusual hip rotations

throughout the class to unlock mobility,

proper placement referencing the mat is

especially helpful!

I always say it’s not what you are doing but

HOW you are doing it that really makes a

difference. You can track progress and

challenge yourself to get deeper as you

progress, using the mat as an accountability

tool. I love the Precision Mat for

streaming workouts at home or for anyone

new to functional fitness, because

it removes the guesswork and helps you

nail form.

AM: Tell us about the Pvolve’s Menopause

Strong Plan as it was a great workout

to do that we definitely felt the next

day.

AV: The Menopause Strong Plan is a sixweek,

science-backed program we created

specifically for women navigating perimenopause

through post-menopause.

The calendar consists of 24 workouts

with 6 optional recovery videos to help

mitigate some of the physical symptoms

of menopause. We also include educational

bonus content with Pvolve’s Head

of Medical Affairs, Dr. Jessica Shepherd,

a leading expert in women’s

health and longevity.

The plan is built around four pillars:

• Strength Training – To build lean

muscle, boost metabolism, fuel

energy, manage blood sugars and

support joint health

• SIT (Sprint Interval Training) –

Short, powerful bursts of plyometrics

to increase bone density, and

for heart and brain health

• Mobility & Stability – To maintain

balance, protect joints, prevent

debilitating falls and improve overall

movement

• Recovery & Pelvic Floor Health – To

regulate stress, support hormone

balance, and restore energy

It’s progressive, empowering, and

designed to help women feel strong,

capable, and more connected to their

bodies. The goal is to arm women with

all the information they need to move

into this life phase feeling empowered

with an exercise plan based on

their changing physiology. My hope is

it is an act of defiance against notions

that the best years are behind us, but

rather that we can be our strongest

and most radiant selves yet, redefining

misconceptions of women in midlife!

AM: For those who can’t come to the

Soho Studio, how can they access

Pvolve’s Menopause Strong Plan?

AV: The entire Menopause Strong

Plan is available through our Digital

Streaming Experience platform,

which includes thousands of on-demand

workouts, structured programs,

and new content added weekly.

You can follow the full six-week

calendar from home!

For those who want the full experience,

I recommend the Longevity

Bundle, which includes all the equip-

ment used throughout the program.

It allows you to train exactly the way

we do in-studio, with necessary resistance,

diversified programming, and

proper weekly progressions. All you

need is space for a laptop or phone,

and we’ll guide you through the rest.

AM: How important is movement

for those specifically entering menopause?

AV: Movement isn’t just “helpful”

during menopause; it’s one of the

most powerful tools women have.

As estrogen declines, women naturally

experience faster muscle loss,

decreased bone density, changes in

body composition, higher inflammation,

joint stiffness, lower energy and

slower recovery. Functional movement

and strength training counteract

all of those changes.

In our Healthy Aging Clinical Study,

women who followed Pvolve’s program

saw significant improvements

in muscle mass, balance, flexibility,

and strength across pre-, peri-, and

post-menopause. Hormonal shifts

didn’t blunt the results; in fact, the

women gained strength and felt

more capable than they had in years.

Movement supports not just physical

health, but mental clarity, emotional

resilience, sleep quality, and confidence

– areas that can feel disrupted

during this transition.

That’s exactly why we built Menopause

Strong: to give women a roadmap

for feeling good in their bodies

again and to show that this phase of

life can be one of power, strength,

and deep renewal.

@pvolve

@hers

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Pvolve

+ Hers

We love this time of year when we sit

down with our friends and family to share

meals and memories with! We always enjoy

when we take a moment to sit down

with Chef David Rose to find out how we

can best approach the holiday season.

From tips for tackling Turkey Day, prepping

before the big day, and hacks that we

need to assist us - he keeps us in the loop

on what we need to know and some of his

favorites with Omaha Steaks.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What do you enjoy

about the holiday season?

CHEF DAVID ROSE: I love creating new

memories with families, eating my mom’s

amazing food, cooking for my family, and

sharing the love of food, good times, and

a great game of Taboo.

AM: Where does the preparation process

start for you as we would imagine that we

shouldn’t start on the actual holiday dinner,

party, etc that we are hosting?

CHEF DR: The preparation starts at least

3-4 days before the actual holiday to allow

for thawing of the turkey, marinating of

meats and proteins, and making desserts.

That way, on the actual day of the holiday,

I can focus on bigger items like the

turkey, the roast, the jerk chicken, etc.

AM: How can we take recipes that are

our go-to in our family to merge the traditional

elements of it while putting a bit of

a twist on it?

CHEF DR: To elevate the traditional recipes

with the classic dishes like turkey,

ham, roast, I would recommend you use a

beautiful glaze using preserves and herbs

and add a nice wine like an Omaha Steaks’

cabernet to the gravy.

I’d also recommend roasting vegetables

to bring out natural caramelization and

sweetness in the vegetables. Finally, I

love adding bacon to deep fried Brussel

sprouts.

AM: What’s the biggest holiday hack that

we need to know about to make holiday

meal planning easier!

CHEF DR: The biggest tip is to plan

ahead! Simplify holiday meal planning

with Omaha Steaks. Keep your

freezer stocked all season long with

high-quality beef, poultry, pork, seafood,

easy-to-prepare side dishes,

and desserts. From full holiday meals

to heat-and-serve options, Omaha

Steaks delivers everything you need

to plan and enjoy a stress-free holiday

season.

AM: When we’re attending someone

else’s holiday dinner or meal, what

should we bring as a gift?

CHEF DR: I would recommend being

thoughtful and asking your host what

he or she needs you to bring and use

that as a prompt. Personally, I would

say a bottle of wine or your favorite

spirit and a dessert.

AM: The best part of enjoying a holiday

meal is the leftovers! What tips

do you have to re-imagine our favorite

portions of the meal in a new way?

CHEF DR: You can’t go wrong with a

turkey sandwich – but you can make

a variety of sandwiches including

adding turkey to your grilled cheese. I

also like to dice the protein and add it

to my eggs for breakfast. I’ll also add

turkey to fried rice or make egg rolls

with turkey.

@chefdavidrose

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Omaha

Steaks

THE ART OF

THE SNACK:

RIMTANG

We love the thought of having comfort

food that comes in the form of street food

with a twist that can be enjoyed with family

and friends! We make our way to DC’s

neighborhood, Georgetown to enjoy Thai

cuisine that is filled with foods and traditions

that we can all enjoy when we come

in to dine at Rimtang! Chef/Owner Saran

“Peter”Kannasute shares with us how he

brought this restaurant into his hospitality

group, the foods he grew up with, and

what we should order upon our next visit

with family and friends.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Chef Saran “Peter”

Kannasute, can you tell us about your culinary

background in terms of where you

went to school, kitchens you trained in

and what led to the creation of the Yume

Hospitality Group?

CHEF SARAN PETER KANNASUTE: I graduated

from military school in Thailand, following

a long family history of military and

police service on both sides of my family.

Several members even served the King

of Thailand. That background shaped my

discipline, but my passion was always in

cooking, inspired by my mother, who ran

a small street-food restaurant in Bangkok.

Throughout my childhood, I would

go with my family to the fresh market and

select all the freshest, seasonal ingredients

to be used for the day. That experience

shaped how I approach food and has

become one of the most important influences

on my culinary path. I moved to the

United States in 1999 and began working

in restaurants. I later had the opportunity

to train under Chef Hiroyuki Sakai, known

as the first Iron Chef of French-Japanese

cuisine, while he was culinary advisor for

Benihana in Florida. From early on, I knew

I wanted to open my own restaurant to

apply what I’d learned and create dishes

that reflect my experience and heritage.

That vision eventually became YUME Hospitality

Group.

AM: Before we delve into Rimtang, tell me

about Yume Hospitality Group, when you

launched it, and the restaurants that are

within it.

CHEF SPK: I moved to Washington,

DC in 2009 and spent several years

consulting for restaurants while exploring

opportunities to open my

own. In 2013, a mutual contact introduced

me to my now business partner,

Jeff King. He tried my food at a

sushi bar I helped open, and we realized

we shared a common vision for

future ventures. That was where our

journey began, and the beginning of

YUME Hospitality Group. We currently

operate three restaurants:

• YUME Sushi: Modern Japanese cuisine

with French influences Located

in Arlington, VA | Opened in 2018

• KYOJIN Sushi: Expanded interpretation

of that same Japanese foundation

Located in Georgetown, DC |

Opened in 2023 after the pandemic

RIMTANG: Thai street-food o Located

in Georgetown, DC | Opened in 2024

AM: What are the flavors, spices, and

ingredients that are indicative of Thai

cuisine in general?

CHEF SPK: Lime, chili peppers, lime

leaves, and lemongrass.

AM: When we say Street Food, what

does that mean?

CHEF SPK: Street food refers to the

everyday food culture found throughout

many Asian countries, traditionally

served from small stalls in morning

or night markets. It’s fast access to

comfort food.

AM: What led to you launching Rimtang

as this is a departure from the

other restaurants in this group that

focus on Japanese cuisine?

CHEF SPK: I don’t see it as a departure

from Japanese cuisine, but as

an expansion of who I am. Rimtang

allows me to return to what defines

my roots and the cooking techniques

I come

I come from. Rimtang is more personal—

it represents the flavors of my childhood

and the generational recipes I grew up

with. It’s not a different direction; it’s the

continuation of my heritage.

AM: You mother, Chef “Mama” Prapit La

Femina is the Head Chef at this Georgetown

restaurant. Can you tell us about her

culinary background as well as how she

approaches the menu that is offered here?

CHEF SPK: Before entering the restaurant

industry, my mother worked as an accountant.

She learned how to cook from

my grandmother when she was young

and continued to develop her skills on her

own. I have memories from my childhood

of all the different meals she cooked for

me, not only Thai dishes, but also Chinese,

Vietnamese, and even Italian. Her approach

to the menu at Rimtang is based

on intuition and memory rather than formal

training. She cooks the way she always

has, and that authenticity defines

Rimtang.

AM: What does Rimtang mean?

CHEF SPK: “Rimtang” means “sidewalk”

in Thai and is commonly used to refer to

street-side food stalls in Thailand.

AM: Tell us about the ambiance of this

restaurant and what guests can expect

when they are coming in to dine.

CHEF SPK: The space is designed to feel

like home. It’s a cozy, two-story converted

row home. It reflects the atmosphere I

remember from eating my mother’s cooking

as a child.

AM: What are 3 appetizers that you suggest

that we can enjoy with friends and

family?

CHEF SPK: Calamari, Tom Yum Soup with

seafood, and Crabmeat Egg Omelet.

AM: What are 3 soups and salads that we

should have our eye on when we are coming

in with friends?

CHEF SPK: Papaya Salad, of course,

and Seafood Tom Yum Soup.

AM: What are 3 Mama’s Signature

Dishes that we should be thinking

about when we come in?

CHEF SPK: Mama’s Signature Fried

Rice, Tom Yum Soup, and Papaya Salad.

AM: Between the Stir Fry and the Thai

Curry Specials, what are 3 that we

should have in mind?

CHEF SPK: Panang curry with protein

of your choice, Tom Yum Soup, and

Salmon Curry.

AM: For the sides to add to our meal,

what are 3 that we should have in

mind?

CHEF SPK: Sticky Rice, Steamed Veggies,

and Steamed Rice.

AM: What are 3 desserts that you suggest

that we should enjoy?

CHEF SPK: Now we have Mango

Sticky Rice, Coconut Ice Cream, and

Peach Sago.

AM: We love a good drink, what are

3 that we should consider sipping on

our next visit (this can be a cocktail,

wine, beer, non-alcoholic)?

CHEF SPK: For non-alcoholic, Mama’s

Signature Herbal Drinks like Pendant

Juice & Thai Tea. Also Signature Thai

Beer: Singha.

@rimtangdc

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Rimtang

ATHLEISURE LIST: Casita Springs, CA

CASH MOUNTAIN RANCH

Cash Mountain Ranch was built when

Johnny Cash moved to Los Angeles, urged

by his agents to pursue a film career, much

like Elvis. However, he quickly grew to dislike

L.A. and relocated about an hour away

to Casitas Springs, where he designed and

built his dream home for his young family.

Johnny meticulously supervised every

detail of the design. While out for a drive

with his manager, he discovered the Ojai

Valley, which he envisioned as the perfect

location for his young family—a secluded,

semi-rural paradise that was still conveniently

close to L.A. At heart, Cash was a

country boy.

In 2022, Jerry and Lisa Kenton purchased

the property. They underwent a $1 milion

restoration that took a year to lovingly return

the house to its original state, with

a retro-modern twist. Fortunately, the

house was mostly intact, just a bit run

down, so they elevated it while preserving

its western mid-century glam

charm.

Cash Mountain Ranch is in Casitas

Springs, just 15 minutes from either

Ojai or Ventura Beach, depending on

your direction. It’s a charming, tiny

town that you could easily miss if you

blink, known for its vibrant creative

community. If you know, you know!

They offer tours at $65 per person

when available. Tickets can be purchased

through their website. They

also offer private tours for groups of

15 or more, which adds a unique experience

for that special birthday or

for that person that is a super fan!

Weddings at Cash Mountain Ranch are

truly magical, set on the hill with dynamic

360-degree views. They can accommodate

up to 14-guests to sleep overnight

and up to 100-guests for an event or wedding,

providing plenty of space to create

the perfect backdrop for memories.

They plan to host events at Cash Mountain!

The owners are musicians and creatives

and are always creating space for

fum and imagination.

The property features 5 unique bedrooms

and 4.5 baths, including two master suites,

one in glitter black and the other in glitter

pink. The other suites have a retro or

western flair. Every room was designed

for fun & whimsy. Bookings are managed

through Enchanted Vacation Rentals.

The property boasts endless amenities,

sprawling across what feels like a football

field. Guests will find Johnny’s original

BBQ, a cozy pool and spa area, a game

room with a pool table, piano and darts,

and a poolside bar that was once a

playhouse built for Johnny’s girls. Tables

seat 50, as well as a wild-animal

sanctuary on the lower level, ostriches

and all. They also have a 700 square

foot Recording Studio which can be

booked separately or together.

Once you visit, this property carries

the spirit of Johnny Cash’s adventurous

and creative soul imprinted all

over it!

CASH MOUNTAIN RANCH

8736 Nye Rd

Ventura, CA 93001

cashmountainranch.com

@cashmountainranch

PHOTO CREDITS | Cash Mountain

Ranch

ATHLEISURE LIST: HELL’S KITCHEN - NY, NY

TAQUERIA CONDESA

Taquería Condesa opened late summer

2025. The name “Condesa” pays homage

to La Condesa, one of Mexico City’s most

creative, design-forward neighborhoods,

known for its Art Deco architecture, and

vibrant culture.

When guests walk in, they experience

an ambiance that feels fun and welcoming.

Taquería Condesa is chic and stylish,

but it maintains the warmth and soul of

a true taquería. We like to say it’s “sexy,

welcoming, and full of sabor.”

The flavors and ingredients of Mexico

City, draw heavily from recipes that owner

Leonel Baizan grew up with in his family’s

kitchen. Handmade nixtamal tortillas,

slow-cooked meats, bright housemade

salsas, and chiles imported from Mexico

- are just some of the components that

define the menu. Along with Mexican

flavors, Taquería Condesa brings the

spirit of community and creativity

that defines La Condesa CDMX.

They offer an assortment of appetizers,

a section devoted to quesadillas,

nachos, and burritos, and sides

like rice and beans, but tacos are the

heart of this menu. They offer 11 different

varieties available in orders of

two or three. The drink list features

craft cocktails, Mexican beer and sodas,

Aguas Frescas, and housemade

margaritas, served frozen or on the

rocks, with flavor options like mango,

strawberry, or passion fruit. Their

dessert section features churros.

We enjoy a good taco and with a number

of delicious options, we suggest

that you try - Birria: slow-cooked brisket

with Oaxaca cheese, onions, cilantro, and

consommé, Pescado: panko-crusted cod

with red and green cabbage and jalapeño

mayo, and Hongos: a satisfying vegan option

made with mushrooms, beans, onions,

and cilantro.

To enhance your taco experience, add

generous helpings of Taquería Condesa’s

house-made salsas (salsa verde, chile de

árbol, and smoky) to absolutely everything.

It’s also recommended that diners

should try: Guacamole & Chips; Elote Asado

(corn on the cob with chipotle mayo,

queso fresco, Tajín, and lime); and Flautas

Doradas (fried corn tortillas stuffed with

a choice of filling and topped with crema,

guac, pico, and queso fresco).

Pair your meal with a non-alcoholic treat,

the aguas frescas – Tamarind, Horchata,

and Jamaica (Hibiscus) – are refreshing

and delicious. For cocktails, enjoy their Pepino:

cucumber purée, silver tequila, lime,

and agave; Beso Rojo: tequila or mezcal

with hibiscus, pomegranate, orange,

lime, and agave; and Avenida Amsterdam:

pineapple purée, Grand Marnier,

lime, and orange juice with tequila

or mezcal.

Make sure that you enjoy their Happy

Hour which runs Monday-Friday until

7 PM.

TAQUERIA CONDESA

824 9th Ave

NY, NY 10019

taqueriacondesa.com

@taqueriacondesa.ny

PHOTOS COURTESY | Taqueria

Condesa

sesame. This baker created this

cookbook to showcase the rich

tapestry of Asian culture and ingredients.

You will find classics

as well as completely new recipes!

We’re looking forward to making

Spicy Chai Cookies, Mochi Brownies,

and Amaretti cookies with

pandan and pistachios. We’re

sure that you will enjoy finding

out more about the cookies in

this cookbook whether it’s for

personal enjoyment or to gift

friends, family, co-workers, and

more.

ROBERTO BOLLE: DANCE

& FASHION

Rizzoli

Roberto Bolle

108 ASIAN COOKIES: NOT

TOO SWEET TREATS FROM A

THIRD-CULTURE KITCHEN

Voracious

Kat Lieu

We love taking a moment for ourselves

and enjoying a great cookie! In 108 Asian

Cookies: Not Too Sweet Treats From A

Third-Culture Kitchen, we learn about

cookies enjoyed by Kat Lieu, a Canadian-born

Vietnamese Chinese American

who loves flavors such as taro and black

Italian, Roberto Bolle is known

as the dancing Greek sculpture

who has a perfect physique as

well as great artistry. Throughout

this book, we see him

through the lens of noted photographers

Bruce Weber, Annie

Leibovitz, Fabrizio Ferri, Douglas

Kirkland, Gian Paolo Barbieri,

Giovanni Gastel, and Mario Testino

to name a few.

In his own words (as well as

friends and fans around the

world), he shares his noted career

that has taken place across

international stages. This story

covers performances, culture,

fashion, and beyond. As a ballet

dancer, he helmed enthusiastic

crowds which made him a star

Tristan Stephenson.

Tristan shares his journey through 6

Mexican states and into the heartlands

of agave spirits production to discover

the spirit of Mexico in every sense.

His exploration is physical, geographical,

historical, cultural and a spiritual

one. His travels take us to various producers

who tell their stories and share

their philosophies. You’ll also find out

about the Mexican spirit: its food,

cocktails, music, and geography.

You’ll also emjoy recipes for Tristan’s

pick of the finest agave spirit drinks

there are, including the legendary Margarita,

Paloma, and Batida as well as

modern classics Tommy’s Margarita,

and Tinglet.

that appeared in numerous fashion and

style magazines, as well as advertising

campaigns that brought his perfectly

trained body to the cause of couture.

Roberto Bolle: Dance & Fashion shares

his story as well as his impact.

THE CURIOUS BARTENDER’S

AGAVE SAFARI: DISCOVERING

AND APPRECIATING MEXICO’S

TEQUILAS, MEZCALS & MORE

Ryland, Peters & Small

Tristan Stephenson

Agave based spirits are always welcome

in our cocktails! In The Curious Bartender’s

Agave Safari: Discovering and Appreciating

Mexico’s Tequilas, Mezcals &

More, this book has insights from master

mixologist, entrepreneur, award-winning

bar owner, and bestselling author,

the world the kind of player he

was on the field, he was in his

own internal conflict as the man

vs the persona.

ALEX VS AROD

HBO Original

HBO Max

This month, we enjoyed Alex vs Arod, a

docuseries that focuses on Alex Rodriguez’s

career from his passion for baseball,

fulfilling his dream to be a MLB player,

as well as the teams that he played for

during his career. We learn that as he navigated

the world of baseball and showing

He shares his life from his athleticism,

relationship with his children,

being on the Mariners and

Yankees, and scandals that took

place during his career. All of this

presents a balanced picture of

this man and how he has continued

with his passion for the

game.

BEING EDDIE

Netflix Originals

Netflix

Eddie Murphy has had an incredible

career whether you’re

looking at his standup comedy

routines or his diverse range of

films from action, comedy, romcom,

and more. His approach to

storytelling and paying homage

to those who came before him

allowed us to enjoy his journey.

Thought this documentary, we

hear from him as well as others

who have shared the screen and

stage with him. He talks about

the impact of Saturday Night

Live on his career, his feud with

them, and ultimately, his return.

We learn about his approach

to his work, his philosophy, the

greats he has worked with, as

well as what’s next for him.

Being Eddie allows us to know

more about this legendary man

whose career spans 50 years.

ADRIFT

Apple Original

Apple

We always enjoy an immersive podcast

that we can get into! In Adrift, we become

introduced to the Robertson family

who in the early ‘70s sold everything

that they owned to sail around the

world.

Throughout their journey, we find out

how this British family (a mother, husband,

son, 2 twins, and an additional

traveler) navigate a disaster in the middle

of the Pacific Ocean, how they survive

the seas as well as the dynamics of

their family as time goes on.

Over 8 episodes. we continue to know

more about the family as well as those

that they connect with we learn how

the feeling of being adrift can happen

in a number of ways.

AM NOV ISSUE #119

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