Today we are resharing one of our favorite episodes to bring some LIVELY VIBES to your holiday week! Tricia Whalen, a (hilarious) seasoned executive and strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience building and scaling some of the most iconic brands in fashion, media, and lifestyle. Now the CEO of E. Frances Paper, Tricia joins Johanna today to talk business AND navigating family, ambition and learning to do what you can and then letting it go. A natural leader, she brings us along her path learning about creating culture at a company, taking the time to set a vision for herself and her business, and the virtues of directness.
The conversation weaves from behind the scenes fashion stories to family as Tricia shares her joyful experience growing up surrounded by bawdy, no nonsense women, raising a family of boys, and how grief can lead you to new perspectives on living your life.
Let's dig in!
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Have you ever been stuck wondering what to get to your host? your partner? someone you don't really know or someone who already has everything? Well today's episode is for you! Today I am joined by my producer Sophy to answer all the holiday gifting questions you sent in last week! We talk about different parties, family traditions, and the kinds of unexpected details that can go a long way to making a lasting impression on your host.
Pop a little bubbly and get comfy - consider this your kick off to this year's holiday festivities!
Love,
Jo
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I am so excited for my guest today, who I've been hoping to get on the show for quite some time now! A born and raised Brooklynite, Melissa Xides is a seasoned retail executive with 30 years of experience working with brands like The Gap, Kate Spade, Jack Spade, Tory Burch, and Soul Cycle, and most recently, Bergdorf Goodman for the last 7 years. She served on Prêt a Manger's board for 5 years during their growth in the US and currently serves as an executive board member for the 5th Ave Association where she gets to put her passion for the avenue's future to work. Today she joins me to share all the wisdom she's gained from being unabashedly ambitious. We talk about the importance of making and investing her own money, how to pivot, the sacrifices she made for her career and her new experience with slowing down.
We also get into how her lived experience as a woman and a mother influences her leadership, how she worked through her fertility process while building a very demanding career, and learning how to allow people into her process rather than seek perfection on her own. Most importantly, we talk about getting comfortable in the unknown, and all the beautiful things we can find when we relinquish a little bit of control (just a little bit!!).
Thank you for joining us today,
xx
Jo
Find Melissa on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-xides
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
Today we are diving deep into the ins and outs of brand deals, how the emergence of social media changed the beauty industry landscape, and how the big magazines keep the lights on behind the scenes. Who better to tell us all about this than Carly Cardellino, a beauty editor and writer known for her two decades of work in the fashion and beauty industry who has held such prominent positions as Beauty Editor of Shape and Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan. In January of 2020, she left her post at Cosmo to pursue a career in content creation and consulting. Since then, she has worked with brands like La Mer, Chanel, Dior, Dove, Four Seasons, Auberge, John Frieda, Apple, Rhode, Margiela (to name a few) and consulted for beauty brands such as K18, being among the initial team to launch the brand, leading the charge on seeding product into major players' hands in the industry, like Chris Appleton.
This is a juicy one - we also cover the pay for play of advertising, being open to connections, and how Carly made the jump from beauty editor to working for herself as a content creator. Carly shares the major pivotal moments in her career and how they affected her life, how believing in her ideas led her to where she is today, and how, despite being bad at math, she will always get what needs to get done done!
Join me in Carly's world - it's a glamorous one!
xx
Jo
Find Carly on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/carlycardellino/?hl=en
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Today we have two incredible guests on the pod! We talk turning pain into purpose, the stigma and narrative around divorced women in 2025, and how divorce is a chance to redefine the relationships in our lives.
Tamara Frankfort Odinec spent the past 25 years at the forefront of technology and marketing in various leadership roles, and most recently as the founder of My Next Chapter, an expert-led platform and community for people going through every stage of divorce. She also founded and runs Monty Media, an app development company that creates innovative apps for adults and kids, leveraging new technologies. Shari Joseph is a global brand marketing leader with extensive experience in digital partnerships and social media communications. She is President and co-creator of My Next Chapter. Shari is also the founder and CEO of Smart Digital, LLC, a brand marketing and communications consultancy supporting clients across PR, social media, influencer marketing, and creative campaigns that build online presences and drive engagement.
This conversation is funny and heartwarming, and proves that connection is the best balm for the challenges life throws our way.
Let me know how this one lands,
xx
Jo
Find My Next Chapter at: https://www.mynextchapter.com/
And on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/mynextchapterofficial/
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As we enter into this holiday season, settle into a girl dinner with me to talk about embracing "failure" this holiday season!
I get into the myth of balance, how Shonda Rhimes saved me by adjusting my expectations for this season (and life in general), and resetting the pressures that come with trying to do it all. I also reflect on how I (and we) are nourishing ourselves when times get busy. For me that means buying strange little objects this year, but that also means spontaneous hangs with friends without overthinking it, JUST BECAUSE.
Come get real with me today - let's just do the things that make us feel whole.
xx
Jo
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I'm joined today by fashion legend Carmen Borgonovo for a deep, insightful conversation about business and fashion. With an illustrious career in magazine journalism at legacy media titles such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and W Magazine – Carmen joined forces with her business partner Joana de Norohna to fill the gap in the market for beautifully crafted dresses that honored their love for color, art, and print. The result was Borgo de Nor, a brand that champions getting dressed up, whether on holiday or at home, and has swiftly become the fashion insider’s go-to for signature print dresses that are utterly feminine, bold, and uplifting.
We start by going back to the golden era of fashion and how important is was to be in awe and be a sponge in New York in the 90s. Carmen then takes us along her path from working in magazines to moving to Milan and completely shifting her sense of self, to building a team around her and starting her own brand. We talk about problem solving, keeping your eyes alert to every inspiration, how taking a step back helped her find the right path, and - as many of our guests have said - that asking for help is the best way to grow.
Her wisdom and love of life inspire me, and I hope they'll inspire you too.
Find Carmen on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ceborgonovo/?hl=en
And Borgo de Nor at https://borgodenor.com/
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
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Get ready for a funny, heartfelt, incredibly inspiring conversation today. Samantha Srinivasan joins me and we get into it. She slid into the Entertainment PR industry as a self-professed lone wolf comedy nerd who hustled without any industry connections and created Sechel PR. Made up of an all-women strategy team, Sechel PR specializes in cultivating seamless relationships between their clients and media outlets. Despite founding and running her company, Sam finds the time to care for four dogs and also care for herself. She shares the lessons she learned as a young divorcé, as well as those that came to her in her battle with cancer. We talk ego death, letting people show up for you, and faking it til you make it.
We also get into reprioritizing joy, leveraging the areas you feel confident in for those you feel less, and being who you surround yourself with. Sam shares so generously the realities of working in the entertainment industry, owning a business, and navigating the surprises life has thrown at her.
I hope you love this as much as I did,
xx
Jo
Find Sam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/astaella/?hl=en
And Sechel at sechelpr.com, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sechelpr/
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Lorenza Cocco’s career journey has taken her from the fast-paced world of global finance to the heart of her family’s 400-year-old legacy business, and she's here today to tell us all about her whirlwind life and career. After years in finance, Lorenza felt the pull of something more personal. She took a year to travel across Asia, volunteering in rural India with the Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project—a pioneering school providing world-class education to children from India’s lowest castes. There, she taught economics and commerce to high school students preparing for competitive college entrance exams. Today, she serves as Chief Operating Officer of La Bella. Drawing on her international business experience, she has been instrumental in steering the family enterprise into the future while honoring its extraordinary history.
Lorenza candidly talks about feeling like an imposter at work, jumping into new things, and listening to her body to guide her to her next step. We get into the intricacies of working with family, creating a legacy for her kids, and what "having it all" means to her. Overall, this conversation left me feeling so inspired, and I hope it will do the same for you!
xx
Johanna
Find Lorenza on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/goldenkokonutz/?hl=en
And La Bella Strings at https://www.labella.com/
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
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My guest today is Pamela Bell, a mother, teacher, advocate, fashion activist and fearless feminist who joins us to discuss how she's managed to wear a thousand different hats in her one incredible lifetime while doing good for the world. She has done SO MUCH, but you'll have to listen in on our conversation to discover everything that Pamela has done with her creative power - she believes we are all more than a list of our professional achievements.
Our discussion goes deep - we dive into how fashion and creativity can support entire ecosystems of people traditionally overlooked by larger industries. She talks about finding supporters early on, letting creativity appear and surprise you no matter where you are in your life, and supporting the causes you believe in. Pamela shares her advice for figuring out what your causes are and how to begin your own advocacy, both for yourself and for others.
Something I'm taking away from today? Running into NO is an opportunity to ask what else is possible. What's sticking with you?
xx
Jo
Find Pamela on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pamelabellcollageworks/?hl=en
Find her art at https://pamelabellcollageworks.com/
Find prinkshop at https://prinkshop.com/
Her recommendation to stay on top of women's news: https://jessica.substack.com/
Organizations prinkshop supports:
Seeds of Peace
National Institute for Reproductive Health
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
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Allison Henry Aver has a penchant for building brands full of charm, style, and charisma and taking them from static to spirited, and she brings all her magic and energy to our conversation today. Her expertise in branding grew from leading in-house creative marketing teams and executing global content and campaigns for premier fashion and beauty brands such as Vogue, kate spade new york and Bumble and bumble. She was also the founding Creative Director for the cult brand, Kate Spade Saturday. She joins us to talk about the different eras of her creative communities, being a busy bee and GETTING jobs, and not waiting to be asked.
Allison talks about staying top of mind and not feeling bad about keeping in touch with people. She also highlights the importance of thinking of yourself as an asset to those you admire and being the help that they need when they need it. We also discuss finding your niche and what makes you, you, and just being up for a good adventure!
I'm inspired - and I hope you are too,
xx
Jo
Find Allison at https://www.lettera.xyz/
And on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/allisonhenryaver/
And on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonhenryaver
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
Anyone who knows me knows two things: I love to gather people, and I love horses. Having Emmie Strommen join me today is truly a dream - Emmie is the founder of Calling All Horse Girls, a lifestyle and media company dedicated to celebrating horse girls of every kind. Listen in for her experience building her company from the ground up - sending out dms, asking questions, and bringing her vision to life one step at a time. We talk about how she balances her creative and business side, how she sustains her passion for her work, and staying centered while working multiple jobs at once.
Then we get into family - how her son has given her a completely different perspective on life, the sleep depravation no one warned her about, and how she considers her family her generational wealth. She shares the advice she lives by: leaning into the parts of life that give you energy, and most importantly, "you're not better than anyone else, and no one else is better than you."
As always, thank you for being here, and keep in touch,
xx
Jo
Find Emmie at https://callingallhorsegirls.com/
And on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/heyhihowwedoing/
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
I'm joined by none other than Jeanette Limas today, a phenomenal fashion designer who's graduate collection received the Young Designer of the Year Award, allowed her to present her designs at Dominican Republic Fashion Week, and won her a scholarship to Parsons School of Design. In New York City, Jeanette refined her techniques at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and gained valuable experience working on the design teams of Urban Zen by Donna Karan and couturier Jolibe Atelier and launched her namesake brand in 2019 and presented multiple successful collections at New York Fashion Week.
In 2022, Jeanette earned a coveted place on the Amazon Prime show Making the Cut, hosted by fashion icons Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, an experience she shares with us today, along with the happy accidents that led her there, the magical powers of clothes, and how she strives to always show up with authenticity and enthusiasm. We also get into building a business, understanding the promise of a new season through fashion, and the importance of coming from a place of learning when approaching new challenges.
Thank you for listening,
xx
Jo
Find Jeanette at https://www.jeanettelimas.com/
and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jeanettelimas/?hl=en
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
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I'm joined by the incomparable Deborah Lloyd today to talk about her incredible career in fashion and what she learned from working as the Chief Creative Officer of Kate Spade. We talk about her transition from overworking to a slower lifestyle focused on finding the rhythm of the seasons in her garden and doing all the things she wanted to do but never had time to due to work commitments.
I ask her about how she used to spot talent and what she looked for in the people she hired. Through her stories, we experience life as a fashion executive traveling around the world, adapting to what her work required. She tells us about picking people who can do what we can't, and realizing that everything over the course of life is additive - "when the moment's right, things happen." Finally, Deborah shares what she's learned beyond work: to enjoy the journey, and let go of the tunnel vision when it's coming at the cost of too much life.
Join us for this fun, insightful conversation that left me feeling inspired and reinvigorated - and wishing I had a beautiful English garden!
xx
Jo
PS: Check in here after you listen for Deborah's updated dream dinner party guest list ;)
Guest listI would just like to be a fly on the wall!
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I've been looking forward to this episode for a long time. Jackie Giannelli - a board-certified nurse practitioner with over two decades of clinical experience, specializing in hormonal health, menopause, and women’s sexual wellness - joins me to discuss finding our secret sauce when it comes to managing our health. Jackie says it best: "This isn’t about managing symptoms. It’s about rewriting the story. Midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a power shift. And I’m here to help women not just survive it, but own it, redefine it, and rise through it with confidence, clarity, and agency."
And does she ever help! We get into it and talk learning by doing, no longer considering hormones a taboo topic, and demystifying menopause. We explore the work of our ovaries, how they don't operate in a vacuum, and the importance of understanding our symptoms rather than pushing through them. The more we know about ourselves, the more health providers can help us figure out our hormonal trajectory - and I share how important this journey has been in my life.
Let me know how you're doing,
xx
Jo
Find Jackie at: https://jackiegiannellinp.com/
and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jackie.giannellinptalks/?hl=en
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
Thyme Sullivan and Denielle Finkelstein are the powerhouse Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of UNICORN, the company redefining modern workplaces by making period care as ubiquitous as toilet paper, in EVERY bathroom stall, everywhere. With unmatched passion and vision, Thyme and Denielle are not just building a company, they are creating a movement. Today, they join me to discuss their path to and through entrepreneurship. We talk about partnership, being open to feedback, always learning, and that doing serious things doesn't mean having to take yourself seriously. They celebrate tuning into your gut, redefning success over time, and hey, if you make a mistake, keep going and find another way!
We get into the nitty gritty of fundraising as a woman, gaining clarity through perspective, and the different types of money to look out for when funding your business. Join us for a conversation full of humor, energy and most of all, deep intelligence and expertise that inspired me, and that I hope will inspire you. To sum up Denielle and Thyme's ethos: "a rocket ship doesn't have rearview mirrors."
xx
Jo
Find Denielle at https://www.linkedin.com/in/denielle-finkelstein-5637baa/
and Thyme at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thyme-sullivan/
UNICORN at https://www.linkedin.com/company/unicorn-in-every-stall
and https://www.everystall.com/
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
Today I'm coming in solo to talk about what I learned from my summer of nonstop action (self-imposed and not)! Is it possible to find new ways to be present when so many things are fighting for my attention?
Join me, and most importantly, share how this lands with you! I want to know - has this summer shown you anything about yourself? what are you hoping for as kids go back to school and a new season begins?
xx
Jo
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
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Beginning her career in magazines, notably W Magazine and Lucky Magazine, Julia Kalachnikoff has over 20 years experience in the fashion industry. She joins me today to talk through her journey through the pre-computer fashion world. We start with reflecting about our changing visions of our lives, how what we wanted at twenty is different to what we wanted at thirty five - and that's ok. She shares her experience becoming a mother while working in very important, high pressure roles.
On the back half, Julia candidly shares her experience with sobriety and finding alternate ways to relax and enjoy more quiet moments, breaking generational trauma cycles to talk about the real life stuff and prepare for the messy conversations.
This one's a goodie - join us
xx
Johanna
Find Julia at https://juliakalachnikoff.com/
and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/juliakalach/?hl=en
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
Today is FASHION day! Laura Pritchard is a super talented stylist and an amazing brand consultant. She joins us to talk about her professional journey through New York City's incredibly fast paced and high stakes fashion world. We dive into stories about THE (Vogue) Closet, break down trends, and talk about how to build a solid wardrobe - Laura walks us through the TWELVE staples every woman should own and solves all of our style problems!
We talk about our infamous years of schlepping all around town while trying to make names for ourselves in the fashion world, figuring out that we are all insecure at heart, and that "no." is an answer. As a B student with an A student mentality, Laura shows how her career was built on more than talent: to make it in the fashion world, hard work and kindness go a much longer way.
This is a FUN one! Put on your favorite T - if you don't have one, listen up because Laura dishes on where to get it - and let's get into it!
Find Laura on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laura_pritch/
online at https://www.seemanagement.com/artists/laura-pritchard
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
Let me know what your closet staples are!
xx
Jo
Sydney Price is an award-winning merchant and the founder of The Knew Purpose, a conscious leadership company with the vision to advance sustainability and innovation in business. She is a dynamic force at designing, developing, and implementing social and environmental focused impact programs while creating new revenue channels and profitability for companies, and she joins me today to talk about what happened once she chose the fashion industry as her vehicle to see and experience the world.
Through The Knew Purpose, Sydney works with leaders, companies and communities to create a better world. In our conversation, she shares what led her to create her own company at an inflection point in her successful career, and the importance of learning on the job. We also talk about intentionality through life's different chapters, the bad decisions that lead us to gentler ways, and making mind movies - yes, you read correctly, listen along to hear Sydney's brilliant manifestation strategies!
Find Sydney and The Knew Purpose at https://www.theknewpurpose.com/home-1
and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theknewpurpose/
Find Women for Women here: https://www.womenforwomen.org/
Find Doctors Without Borders here: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/afghanistan
Find Afghan Women's Fund here: https://www.vitalvoices.org/afghanwomensfund/
Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/
Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast
Thank you for being here,
xx
Jo