Ep. 297: Finding Your North Star in Beauty & Business ft. Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
Kendra Bracken-Ferguson knows that Black beauty brands and their founders need capital and community to circumvent systemic racism at the heart of venture capital funding. As the Founder and CEO of Braintrust Founders Studio Kendra uses her experience identifying talent and innovation to provide companies the support they require to succeed. In this episode, Karen and I explore how her legacy of building digital communities guided her toward her professional “North Star” and how we might do the same.
Tune in to learn what Kendra thinks about:
How working in corporate provided her vital training for entrepreneurship
Why creating a product is not the same as building a brand
How to select pillars and non-negotiables that will guide us toward our North Star
Accelerating your business without venture capital funding
How an attempt to erase her contributions to the Digital Brand Architects (DBA) impacted her approach to business
Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple , Shop Kendra's Favorite Products Mentioned in the episode here
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Ep 296: Sexual Mythbusting ft. Erica Chidi, CEO & Founder of Loom
During our initial conversation, Erica Chidi shared so much knowledge about intimacy, wellness, and how to develop positive sexual experiences with our partners and ourselves. That conversation led us to discuss some common myths about sex and vaginal health. Tune in as we discuss:
Why she believes “sex is food and food is sex”
How to prioritize comfort during sex
The differences between water-based and silicone lubricants
Why our vaginas don’t need to smell like fruit
Vote for Naked Beauty for Best Indie Podcast at The Webbys, Shop Erica's Favorite Products Here.
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Follow Erica @ericachidi x @learnwithloom
Episode 295: A Naked Beauty Field Trip: Investigating Skin Rejuvenation via PRFM
Exploring beyond the limits of topical beauty treatments, and into the world of cosmetic technology can often feel daunting, or even deceptive in today’s social media landscape. So, I wanted to use this episode to break through the clutter and take you all on an audio tour of an increasingly popular treatment: PRFM or PRP. For those who may not be familiar, PRFM stands for Platelet -Rich Fibrin Matrix. It, along with PRP (Platlet-Rich Plasma) - referenced by Dr. Nanaa Boakye - have been making headlines for its ability to naturally regenerate collagen and thicken skin using one’s own blood. Having been most curious about using PRP to treat dark under eye circles, I headed over to THE Vanessa Lee at The Things We Do for a high quality and educational experience. Tune in to hear more about PRFM and PRP, and what to consider before your next big beauty treatment.
Link to Products/Resources: The Things We Do, 30+ skincare (Reddit), SkincareAddiction (Reddit), Dr. Nanaa Boakye Episode, This is What It’s Really Like to Dissolve Your Filler (Allure)
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep.294: Alicia Keys on Never Fearing What’s Good
Grammy-award winning artist and beauty entrepreneur Alicia Keys has arrived at Naked Beauty and we couldn’t be more excited. With braids and makeup choices that have influenced beauty culture for decades (most recently the Super Bowl halftime show), we sit down with Alicia to talk about where her relationship with beauty all started. Tune in as we dive deep into:
*Growing up biracial in Hell’s Kitchen and the musical that is inspired by her upbringing
*How Alicia’s mother and grandmother’s lack of self-care inspired her to choose differently
*Her love for solo travel
*The birth of Keys Soulcare and the power of its affirmations
*Learning to embrace what serves you best
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Follow Alicia: @aliciakeys
Ep.293: How to Manage Your Time to Manage Your Health ft. Daphne Javitch
Episode Description: So often, what we define as “wellness” in today’s world, can end up feeling like an expensive and unnecessary set of demands that leave us drained rather than fulfilled. Fortunately, health coach Daphne Javitch is here for real talk on how to feel more (as she puts it) “resourced”. After a long and painful journey with endometriosis, Daphne was inspired to better understand her body and how to thrive in hectic conditions that are far from ideal. Tune in to hear how she navigated and continues to navigate this journey as well as her thoughts on:
*Self-care as a discipline and leadership skill
*The importance of physical and emotional elimination
*Health as a means of living with ease
*Addressing pain vs. masking it
*The belief that mood follows action
Products/ Resources Mentioned:
Skincare: Marie Veronique (barrier restore serum, barrier lipid complex), Furtuna Skin (Nightly Renewal Cream, Replenishing Balm)
Supplements: Mary Ruth’s (Morning MultiVitamin, Nighttime Multi Mineral), Seed Probiotics, Wooden Spoon Magic Magnesium Spirulina Powder, Epsom Salt for Baths)
Resources: Daphne Javitch’s Doing Well. Naked Beauty Listeners get a 1-week free trial with this link.
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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
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Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Daphne: @doingwell
Ep.292: The Principles of Indigenous Beauty ft. Jenn Harper, Founder & CEO of Cheekbone Beauty
Before there was a “clean” beauty movement, there was Indigenous beauty. Before sustainability and naturally-derived ingredients were cool, there was Indigenous beauty. Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, is here to remind us that Indigenous culture’s contributions to beauty have always been and continue to be at the center of this industry. Tune in as we discuss her:
*Anishinaabe roots
*Founder story
*Approach to product development
*Healing from the historical traumas that have impacted her family
*Utilizing her brand to help give back to Indigenous communities
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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
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Follow Jenn: @cheekbonejenn
Ep.291: Inside Beyoncé’s Cécred Debut
After months of eager anticipation, Beyoncé, Ms.Tina Knowles and a team of hardworking experts have delivered on arguably one of the most important celebrity beauty ventures that we’ve seen in a long time: Cécred (pronounced “sacred”). Having received an invite to attend the debut of this haircare line and going home with all of the products, tune in hear me break down:
*Why this is the perfect moment for Beyoncé to establish a haircare line and the deeply rooted intention behind it (0:00-10:30)
*How I created a look for Cécred’s top secret, all-white party because I had to come correct! (10:30-20:00)
*The launch party itself! From the hair show, to the beauty industry giants, to the Naked Beauty listeners that showed love (20:00-30:00)
*Which Cécred products I’m most excited about (30:00-35:00)
Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: The Hidden History of Black Cowboys and Cowgirls , Cécred (Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub, Moisturizing Deep Conditioner, Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual, Nourishing Hair Oil)
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Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep.290: A Braiding Renaissance ft. Mbiye Kasonga and Utibe Mbagwu
“It feels like love is being stitched into your head”
When it comes to Black beauty culture, braiding is arguably one of the most important rituals that we can participate in. Not only is it a form of wearable art, but it’s a way to build relationship and community with others. Tune in as I sit down with Naked Beauty producer Mbiye Kasonga and soon-to-be Douse founder Utibe Mbagwu to discuss their favorite braiding styles, what makes for an incredible braiding experience, braiding etiquette, braiding as a form of technology and luxury, and the value of having a good relationship with your braider. Enjoy!
Shop the episode here.
Use code Brooke20 for 20% off Ami Cole, Skin-Enhancing Foundation Stick here.
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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
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Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep.289: The Transformative Power of Love: A Brooklyn Love Story ft. Crystal Anderson and Kiesh Herman
The relationship between love and beauty is an inseparable one. Whether it is self-love or love for another human being, beauty is almost always the end result. Producer Crystal Anderson and her partner Kiesh Herman couldn’t be a more exemplary model of this truth. Tune in as we discuss the evolution of their relationship, from meeting on Instagram to motherhood with a newborn; learning to embrace their fundamental differences; working together; and memorializing their love.
Links to Products/Resources: Ep.46: Baby Hairs & Mental Health Ft. Crystal Anderson, Refinery29 “Loving A Black Woman Is A Privilege”
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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
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Follow Crystal: @beerbottles_chainsaws
Ep.288: Traveling Through the Lens of Beauty ft. Violette
One of my favorite things about traveling is exploring another culture or society through the lens of beauty. As founder of global and ever-growing makeup brand Violette FR, I knew that Violette would also have a rich perspective on this topic. Tune in as we discuss her favorite cities, how to protect your skin while traveling and how she derives inspiration from the countries that she visits.
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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
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Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Violette: @violette_fr
Ep.287: Words of Wisdom from a Lifestyle Dermatologist ft. Dr. Naana Boakye
As the beauty industry continues to overload the market with new products and new “problems”, dermatologists like Dr. Naana Boakye are becoming even more essential to the skincare conversation. Having coined the term “lifestyle dermatology”, Dr. Boakye strongly believes that stress, diet, exercise, and all of our daily habits show up on the skin. Tune in as we discuss how to optimize your nutritional and emotional habits, combatting Alopecia, serving as the chief medical officer for A-Frame Brands and more.
Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
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Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple
Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Dr. Boakye: @drnaanaboakye
Ep.286: Playing with Pigments and Betting on Yourself ft. Violette of Violette FR
MUA, creator, and businesswoman Violette has built a reputation as one of the most hardworking and dedicated women in the beauty industry - and for good reason. Despite having no formal training, at just 19 years old, Violette had the vision to create one-of-a-kind pigments and to build a career on her own terms. Today, the red lipsticks, blue eyeshadows, and serums found within her eponymous brand are unlike anything I have ever seen. Tune in to hear how she fell in love with color and art as a young girl, how she built her hustle as an MUA, why diversity is so critical to her brand, her relationship with beauty as a mother of two, and more.
Link to products here.
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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
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Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Violette: @violette_fr
Ep.285: Redefining Our Relationship With Alcohol ft. Amelia Glum, Khadi A. Oluwatoyin, and Mélanie Masarin
As many of us jump into the new year with high hopes of reevaluating and shifting our daily habits, my relationship with alcohol has been top of mind. While drinking has always been in the background of my social and professional life, its side effects have never been particularly enjoyable. And after moving to LA, now more than ever, I’m questioning its necessity. If you find yourself in a similar boat, this conversation with three women navigating their relationship to alcohol and creating spaces and alternatives to allow us all to do the same may be just what you need. Tune into my conversations with Amelia Glum, Khadi A. Oluwatoyin of Sober Black Girls Club, and Mélanie Masarin of Ghia to discuss:
* Being mindful of your alcohol triggers
* Breaking out of the relationship you’ve established with alcohol in college
* Reframing what “drinking” looks like without alcohol
* …and more!
Ep.284: Skincare Advice From All Your Favorite Derms ft. Drs. Hirsch, Jones, Love and Idriss
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting a number of world-renowned dermatologists that can speak to the common skincare issues that we all face. From addressing hyperpigmentation to creating a solid routine with products that work for your skin type, we discuss it all. Tune in as we tune back to interviews with:
Dr. Elena Jones on hyperpigmentation, Botox and fillers
Dr. Ranella Hirsch on the danger of demonizing certain skincare ingredients
Dr. Elyse Love on the importance of finding joy in your skincare routine
Dr. Shereene Idriss on skincare as bodycare
Enjoy! You can shop all of my favorite skincare here.
Ep.283: How to Be a Cool [Fill in the Blank] ft. Telsha Anderson-Boone, TA
The conversation continues with Telsha Anderson-Boone, who discusses how she manifested her perfect cool bride look. As we step into 2024, what vision of your elevated self do you want to achieve in the new year?
Ep.282: Sir John’s Masterclass on How Beauty is a Feeling, Alignment and Advocacy
While many can easily identify Sir John as makeup artist to some of the most influential women in the world, few know exactly how he got there and - perhaps even more interestingly - how he’s managed to stay grounded through it all. With a name that’s fit for a king, one could argue that Sir John was destined for a career focused on highlighting the power and the beauty that surrounds him. Tune in for an incredibly intimate interview where we discuss:
* His mother’s encouragement of his artistry from a young age
* Sir John’s drive and work ethic to make it as a makeup artist in New York City.
* How influences like Sam Fine, Charlotte Tilbury, and Pat McGrath skyrocketed his career
* Advocating for diversity and inclusion within the beauty industry
* The importance of protecting your mental health and amplifying your authentic voice.
Links to Products/Resources: Refinery29: “Black Don’t Crack” Almost Kept Me From Getting Fillers, “The Super Models”
Ep.281: Lessons in Style & Motherhood ft. Telsha Anderson-Boone, TA
Fashion founder, owner and buyer Telsha Anderson-Boone wasn’t what the industry expected. But as it turns out, she was exactly what it needed. After seeing a lack of curated brick and mortar experiences for up-and-coming labels, Telsha opened T.a. down in New York’s Meatpacking district. Now, three years later, Telsha is a mom, wife and LA transplant ready to expand her brand in new and refreshing ways. Tune in as we discuss being one of very few Black women within her profession, how dating her husband encouraged her to take more fashion risks, the effects of motherhood on mind and body, and so much more.
Ep.280: Beauty Worth Investing In ft. Sarah Brown, Executive Director of Violet Grey
Sarah Brown, Executive Director of Violet Grey and former Vogue Beauty Editor, has been a staple in the world of beauty editorial and brand curation. Even when I was an intern at Vogue, I was truly in awe of her work and sense of style. Tune in to hear us discuss growing up in New York, her journey to the beauty industry , her infamous article “What’s My Era?”, what goes into the Violet Code behind Violet Grey, what brands she’s falling in love with these days and more.
279: A Guide to Buying, Burning, and Falling in Love with Your Next Candle ft. Sir Candle Man
After falling in love with a luxurious candle on a trip to a Paris, Kudzi Chikumbu’s love for the story and thought behind candles was born. Now, through his social media persona of “Sir Candle Man”, Kudzi is considered an expert within the candle and fragrance space, sharing his tips and tricks for finding the perfect product with the world. Tune in as we discuss how he has used social media as a creative outlet how to optimize your candle’s usage, diversity within the fragrance industry, his thoughts on the upcoming Naked Beauty fragrance and more.
Products: Shop this episode
Ep.278: The Beauty of Gratitude: Cashmere Robes, Indigenous Communities and the Premiere of Renaissance: a film by Beyoncé
Fresh from my trip back in New York, I reflect on all that’s happened this week. My very first Naked Beauty product has launched! I designed the ultimate cashmere robe for self-care with Garin. Designing this robe with my good friend Negarin has been many months in the making and every little detail was considered to make this piece a true luxury. I’m happy to share we’re offering international shipping on this limited-edition item and a handful of discount codes are still active if you enter code Brooke15 at checkout.
After a few days in the city, we transitioned to Sag Harbor where I’ve grown up visiting my whole life. I was honored to get the opportunity to speak to and learn from the people of the Shinnecock Nation, the Native Territory of the Indigenous Americans of Southampton. I was able to sit down with the chairman of Shinnecock Nation, Brian Polite, and hear his perspective on Thanksgiving and their unique native culture. And if this week wasn’t full enough, I landed in LA and went straight to the world premiere of Renaissance: a film by Beyonce! Tune in to hear my experience at the premiere and takeaways from the film.
Shop my Limited-Edition Cashmere Robe