This episode is a long time coming – I’m sitting down with the catalyst of the Life Stylist podcast and my partner in crime at the School of Style, Lauren Messiah. (Oh... and we also dated for exactly five years.) As a self-described “perpetual not-fitter-inner,” Lauren struggles to find a tribe of her own – but she’s always had style, her one constant. If you dress the right way, you can fit in anywhere... but if you really own it, you can carve out your own space. That’s exactly what Lauren does, and that’s what makes her such an incredible entrepreneur. As a personal stylist, Lauren is dedicated to helping women fundamentally change their relationship with clothing so that they can take out the BS and completely transform themselves, from the outside in. What does your wardrobe communicate to other people? Hell, what does it communicate to yourself? How does our style affect our identity? Our energy? It’s not about being cute or sexy – it’s about getting what you want and living your best life! –Luke   Topics Discussed In This Episode: How Lauren kicked my ass and got me to start the podcast Our five-year relationship and multiple attempts at couples therapy (including a stay at the Onsite Workshops) How we’ve evolved since ending our relationship Lauren’s first fashion memory Being a perpetual not-fitter-inner Growing up multiracial & feeling like you don’t have a tribe Using style to carve out her own space Being a voice for people who feel misunderstood Going to fashion school and then not becoming a designer Inadequacies in education Moving from the east coast to the west coast Becoming a stylist and finding the School of Style Blogging about fashion in 2005 Why Lauren stopped celebrity styling & started personal styling Being a servant VS serving Style being a huge pain point for so many people How a job with Nickelodeon changed Lauren’s life trajectory Clothing as a way of communicating your values Lauren’s evolving brand & relationship with style Living your best life Putting yourself in badass mode Being the Oprah of fashion The science of getting dressed How men can represent their true self on the outside Lauren’s current self-help journey   More about this episode. Watch it on YouTube   THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ORGANIFI. This product has changed the green juice game for me. A green powdered superfood that comes in portable packets perfect for travel, keeping in your car or bag. On-demand instant green juice that is alkalizing, energizing and gives you mental clarity. What else is so special about it? Zero glycemic index & comes with all 11 most important superfoods: turmeric, chlorella, wheatgrass, spirulina, mint, moringa, ashwagandha, lemon, beets, coconut, matcha green tea. Awesome stuff! Save 20%, use discount code "LIFESTYLIST". AND... ALTERRA PURE. This show is all about optimizing your lifestyle, and part of that is optimizing your sleep environment. I’m super stoked about the new bedding company Alterra Pure. Insane high quality, truly organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO cotton sheets and bedding. A lot of stuff in the market is actually pretty fake. I’ve done a lot of research into it. Alterra Pure is legit, I’m using them on my bed, they are insanely high quality. What’s also great about this company is that they support the environment, social sustainability and are absolutely transparent. 15% OFF when you use coupon code LIFESTYLIST at checkout. AND... AMPCOIL. A unique and powerful device that merges PEMF, biofeedback, bioresonance, Tesla and sound technology into an all-in-one wellness system for home use. A technological solution for detox and to help address Lyme-related symptoms, including co-infections, autoimmune conditions, and other health challenges.     HELP SUPPORT THIS SHOW! Starting and growing a podcast requires a ton of time, energy, and money. Do you appreciate this information, and want to support my mission to deliver as much life enhancing information as possible to as many