Season 1 Trailer

Benjamin Huseby and Serhat Işık on Social Codes and Distinct Brands: The creative duo <a href="https://www.instagram.com/benjaminhuseby/" target="_blank">Benjamin Huseby</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/serhatisik__/">Serhat Işık</a> is behind such brands as GmbH—the label they started out of Berlin—and the century-old Milanese fashion house Trussardi. Bringing diverse backgrounds in fashion photography and design, they discovered in each other the perfect collaborator. Today, they break down the social codes of different cities, explore the importance of creating communities, and learn how to lean into the cultural wealth, which at times left them marginalized, sees them sought out by a world where luxury constantly seeks a renewed and contemporary iteration. Generously sharing their personal journeys, we can glimpse the many ways that the past has ultimately informed their work today. Episode Highlights <ul> <li>Exploring and figuring out a brand’s ethos, is by What's Contemporary Now?

29 min listen

22-Year-Old Makeup Artist Star Sam Visser on Best of Beauty: Beginning his career at the age of twelve, Sam Visser has become one of the most renowned makeup artists today, lauded for his sense of style, understanding of the camera, and the ability to find a unique beauty in any face. Sam boasts an impressive list of esteemed clients and creative collaborators, including the likes of Kendall Jenner, Amber Valletta, and Bella Hadid amongst many others. In this episode, he joins host Christopher Michael to shine a spotlight on the evolution of fashion and makeup, his definition of modern standards, and the muses that fueled his success in the beauty industry. Highlights: <ul> <li>Sam reflects on the moment he realized beauty was his passion and speaks of the time he took over his school’s art class when the teacher was absent.</li> <li>One photo you take and post to social media can change your life. Sam talks about why he dropped out of high school, how by What's Contemporary Now?

33 min listen

Season 1 Trailer: “What's Contemporary”, the galvanizing platform, has returned in a new podcast format, which felt more fitting for our ever-consuming and insatiable query. This season’s conversations feature returning contributors like Glen Luchford, Ezra Petronio, and Emma Summerton alongside newcomers including Amber Valletta, Ferdinando Verderi, Lucien Pagès, Jaime Perlman, Hung Vanngo, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Kevin McIntosh Jr, Sam Visser, Benjamin Huseby and Serhat Isik, Jonni Pollard, and Zinnia Kumar. Tackling the threads that weave the contemporary patterns of today’s culture, “What’s Contemporary Now?” brings forth compelling discourse from leading thinkers who share their thoughts around intriguing topics like the metaverse’s emerging marketplace, what beauty means today, the likelihood of building a present-day heritage brand, as well as discussing a myriad of other perspectives and ideals. Subscribe now to listen to a new episode each week. by What's Contemporary Now?

1 min listen

Zinnia Kumar on the Science of Beauty in Contemporary Culture: Zinnia Kumar is anything but unseen, but would that have been the case had she not fought so hard on so many fronts? An ecologist, activist, writer, and model, this Australian multihyphenate shares her unique journey to claiming an undeniable presence. In this episode, she discusses with Christopher Michael the stereotypes that have trapped South Asians—especially women—ultimately shaping how they see themselves. More than anything, these discriminating notions are related to consumer psychology and the images sold by the beauty, fashion, and media industries. She details some  drivers of bias and unequal representation and highlights the blinding privilege of those in positions to affect change. Zinnia calls out stubborn systemic barriers and, as an optimist, offers thoughts on actionable steps toward creating a multicultural and multiethnic landscape. Her vision is one of representation of the full spectrum of hum by What's Contemporary Now?

36 min listen

Amber Valletta on Bridging the Gap Between Fashion and Sustainability: You might know her as a supermodel, actress, and an activist. She's worn many different hats both on and off camera, but she also plays the role of sustainability ambassador to a diverse roster of  partners, such as Karl Lagerfeld, British Vogue, and New York City’s FIT. In this episode, we talk about the joys of creativity, Amber’s love for the fashion industry, her passion for continued education—an effort to make a greater impact along the way—and the challenging task of reconciling the disparity between a traditional growth model and a sustainable one. Episode Highlights <ul> <li>Amber talks about her journey in fashion and at what point in her career she realized the impact that fashion has on the environment and more.</li> <li>When Amber was in her 20s she felt disconnected and started looking for things outside of modeling that fulfilled her as a person, such as education and the environm by What's Contemporary Now?

27 min listen

Ferdinando Verderi on the Antiformula Formula: Ferdinando Verderi understands that to impact the fashion landscape we need to delve into the diversity of a lived experience—what we don't yet know about ourselves and our world. The lauded creative force and former Vogue Italia creative director today has pioneered a new type of creativity, one that is focused on inclusivity and community. Whether envisioning an iconic magazine cover or conceiving a groundbreaking Prada campaign, Ferdinando aims to challenge boundaries—not merely advance marketing agendas. In this episode, he shares with Christopher Michael his thoughts on what it means to be "contemporary" and why it is not enough for him to be an interpreter of the zeitgeist. Ferdinando believes the timeless and multidimensional moments creatives choose to examine, elevate, and share are far more transformational and stimulating than the "new." Episode Highlights: <ul> <li>Ferdinando’s minimalis by What's Contemporary Now?

22 min listen

Lucien Pagès on Managing the Media Landscape for Fashion’s Top Brands: When it comes to the concept of “flow,” the fashion PR <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucienpages/">Lucien Pagès</a> is Exhibit A. He has carved out a dynamic career in communications by following his instincts, keeping an eye on the big picture, and always staying true to himself. He explains to  Christopher Michael in this episode that his  <a href="https://www.lucienpages.com/">Lucien Pagès Communications</a> team is laser-focused on two things: identifying what makes a designer unique and then excavating that treasure for others to see.  An avalanche of new communications channels has profoundly changed the media landscape since Lucien started as an aspiring designer working for legendary houses like Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent in the 1990s and since he founded his PR agency in 2006. Yet, his personalized made-to-measure style of messaging is evergreen. No matter the by What's Contemporary Now?

26 min listen

Jonni Pollard on Meditation and Mental Dexterity in a Time of Change: Vedic wisdom and meditation teacher Jonni Pollard reflects on today's growing wave of people seeking to create space and internal alignment in a noisy world. The co-founder of 1 Giant Mind explains to Christopher Michael why having a practice is more important than ever and how "internal reckonings" produce meaningful, reliable, and profound shifts in mindset and outcomes. "What's happening right now is a wonderful opportunity in the making for humanity to evolve," says Jonni. Creativity is rooted in authenticity that is accessible only when we are fully present to ourselves, and our purpose is in the now. In this episode, the master of mindfulness discusses the fractures generated by today's polarized social, political, and economic environment. How can we challenge ourselves to get engaged, reject disconnection, and focus on weaving together a more inclusive culture, reflecting our common energetic field and res by What's Contemporary Now?

30 min listen

$Jonni Pollard on Meditation and Mental Dexterity in a Time of Change: Vedic wisdom and meditation teacher Jonni Pollard reflects on today's growing wave of people seeking to create space and internal alignment in a noisy world. The co-founder of 1 Giant Mind explains to Christopher Michael why having a practice is more important than ever and how "internal reckonings" produce meaningful, reliable, and profound shifts in mindset and outcomes. "What's happening right now is a wonderful opportunity in the making for humanity to evolve," says Jonni. Creativity is rooted in authenticity that is accessible only when we are fully present to ourselves, and our purpose is in the now. In this episode, the master of mindfulness discusses the fractures generated by today's polarized social, political, and economic environment. How can we challenge ourselves to get engaged, reject disconnection, and focus on weaving together a more inclusive culture, reflecting our common energetic field and res$

Jaime Perlman on Sustainable Fashion Magazines and Creating More or Less: Jaime Perlman, editor in chief and creative director of More or Less, has a riveting front-row view of fashion's evolving culture and ecosystem. Formerly the creative director of British Vogue, she has helped shape a conversation that embraces the bold and sensational over the noncontroversial and safe. Driven by instinct and a personal need, she created her magazine and online platform that celebrates a different kind of fashion, highlighting individual style—perhaps a bit more democratically. Taking her vision and dedication to all things creative a step further, Jaime uses her publication to underscore the impact of consumption and spotlight sustainability and inclusivity. In this episode, she weighs in on magazines' role in driving important topics, making socially responsible statements, and building a community around a brand. Highlights: <ul> <li>Although s by What's Contemporary Now?

18 min listen

Ezra Petronio on Longevity and Staying Inspired: What keeps creatives relevant in an industry that’s constantly evolving? <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ezrapetronio/" target="_blank">Ezra Petronio</a> has done it decade after decade by staying curious and riding the waves of technological and cultural change. In this episode, the Petronio Associates founder and creative director explains to Christopher Michael how he has been very intentional about the early adoption of digital innovation and media trends. He shares his journey as a magazine editor, photographer, and marketing visionary in New York and Paris, presenting a unique perspective on three decades of fashion and culture. Ezra and his team inspire trust by setting the stage for successful—very often highly experimental—collaborations by meeting clients (including renowned top luxury brands) where they are, with a commitment to communication and clarity. The episode wraps with thoughts on how the metaverse will likely i by What's Contemporary Now?

25 min listen

Glen Luchford on the Future of the Fashion Photographer: In this episode, Christopher Michael speaks to Glen Luchford, legendary fashion photographer and filmmaker whose images are often referred to as iconic and cinematic. The conversation flows from discussing the future role of a photographer and the emerging marketplace of the metaverse to new technologies, how Glen has adapted to them, and broaching his failures, and what he has learned from them along the way.Episode Highlights<ul> <li>“We are only just out of the pandemic, but obviously it's expedited a great deal of change that otherwise seemed as though would have taken years.”—Christopher</li> <li>“Post-Covid the industry definitely has changed.” says Glen. His personal central focus is essentially metaverse and how that's going to change all of our lives in a dramatic way. He actually spends most of his time educating himself in Web 3.0,  anticipating all of the changes that are coming.</li> <li>Glen was w by What's Contemporary Now?

26 min listen

Emma Summerton Reimagines the Iconic Pirelli Calendar: To Emma Summerton, shooting the 2023 Pirelli Calendar was a dream—one that was years in the making. Entitled "Love Letters to the Muse," the 49th edition of the calendar is steeped in magical realism, with portraits going beyond aesthetical beauty to acknowledge women's strengths, talents, and sensibilities. The sought-after Australian-born photographer embraces freedom and constraints, and her work often relays this message, yielding a powerful, unique expression. As a visual artist, Emma meanders between making art awash with a distinctive vision and working as a fashion photographer with a sharp eye and a bold, dramatic style. In her much-lauded career, she's learned to overcome obstacles and keep projects moving forward in any scenario. Her mantra when it comes to the unexpected is "Have fun. Don't freak out." Adopting—and shockingly welcoming—chaos can be unexpectedly rewarding. As she recalls, what seemed as challenging an by What's Contemporary Now?

25 min listen

Creative Audacity: Isamaya Ffrench’s Unconventional Take on Beauty: British makeup artist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/isamayaffrench/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Isamaya Ffrench</a> has been challenging our perceptions of beauty and creativity for the past decade. She attributes her unconventional approach to beauty, one that escapes commonality and mainstream aesthetics and paves the way for bold innovation, to her family’s background in engineering and problem-solving. Spurred by a face painting side hustle, her nontraditional rise in the industry saw her take on pivotal creative roles—such as brand ambassador, creative director, and global beauty director—for luxury brands, such as Tom Ford, YSL, Christian Louboutin, Burberry Beauty, Byredo, and today, beauty curator for Off White. In 2022, she launched her makeup brand, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/isamayabeauty/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">ISAMAYA</a>, an evolving line of pro by What's Contemporary Now?

27 min listen

From Givenchy to Marquis: Youssef Marquis on Fashion Communication: With an impressive amount of experience in luxury lifestyle branding, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lamarquisette/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Youssef Marquis</a> has been one of the key players in shaping the image and narrative of some of the most iconic fashion houses, such as Givenchy and Louis Vuitton. His Paris-based agency <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marquis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Marquis</a>, with a content-centric, digitally savvy vision, offers innovative services that bridge traditional branding strategies into the brave new world of social media. With a distinct strategic vision, creative flair, and strong relationships with media and influencers, Youssef is a trusted partner and a visionary leader helping his clients to navigate the ever-changing and challenging landscape to achieve their goals and elevate their image in the competitive and dynamic market. T by What's Contemporary Now?

31 min listen