9PLAYLIST MULTI | SLOANE STEPHENS

Read the MAR ISSUE #111 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI | Sloane Stephens in mag.

SEASON 4 POWER UNIVERSE | POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN LONDON BROWN, HAILEY KILGORE, MALCOLM MAYS

We're a few days out from S4 of Power Book III: Raising Kanan with its season premiere on STARZ on March 7th. The Power Universe is always pulling us in as we see how they navigate in their world, new faces, and the importance of family dynamics. If you have yet to catch up on the season, now is the time! There are no spoilers here if you have already watched the series; however, if you haven't there may be references in previous episodes.

We sat down with 3 members of the cast London Brown (Ballers, American Soul, Back to the Good Life) who plays Marvin Thomas, Hailey Kilgore (Amazing Stories, Respect, Cinnamon) who plays Laverne "Jukebox" Ganner, and Malcolm Mays (Southpaw, Snowfall, Them) who plays Lou-Lou Thomas. We wanted to know more about their characters, how they see them, where we find them, and chat about what we can look forward to as we get ready for the upcoming episodes.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s so great to connect with you all. London, we have talked ahead of every season and it’s so good to check in with you again. Hailey, I had the pleasure of chatting with you prior to S2 I believe which was great. Malcolm, it’s nice to connect with you! What do you enjoy about playing your characters Marvin, Jukebox, and Lou Lou before we delve into the season?

LONDON BROWN: For me, it’s been fun for them to allow me to play the character my way. The fact that they were open and willing to hear the ideas that I had on Marvin and I could tell that the writers started to write for me! That’s always great when the writers know that you are going to do something with their words. I was able to feel that and I knew that they had figured it out.

I’m like, “yo, throw it at me – whatever it is!” Let it be emotional, fun – whatever you want to do. Do you want guns? Do you want him holding some food? I’m ready to have a good time! I just appreciate the writers for even allowing me and trusting me to deliver their words properly, you know?

AM: It’s always fun when I see you on screen London as you always own that screen and it’s great to see how we you have navigated playing Martin.

Hailey and Malcom what about Juke and Lou Lou?

HAILEY KILGORE: Juke is a badass! If I was walking around unafraid like that and willing to be bold would be amazing. I don’t think that I have that personally.

MALCOLM MAYS: I kind of like that he’s kind of a mark, that’s kind of nice. I’m not like that and I don’t get to relate or empathize with mark ass behavior in my life. Everybody is not built of steel, you have to pretend to be built of steel. It’s nice to occupy that space sometimes. In life, much like Black women, Black men don’t get that opportunity to be vulnerable with that physical consequence.

AM: As we wait for S4 to start, where did we leave your characters last season and where are we picking up with them again?

HK: Ooo

MM: Ha! There’s so many seasons!

LB: You know, that’s a good question! I would say that with the last season, I feel like Marvin – you guys are catching him still in the strive of his journey and he’s trying to find his real groove. He’s trying to be a guy that is taking on more responsibility for himself and not trying to be sonned by Raq (Patina Miller). So moving forward, in this season, you see Marvin taking more initiative and making his own moves outside of whatever his sister has going on.

That’s his way of trying to be a little more independent and to take back his position in and within himself. That way he feels validated and so the season of things that Marvin and Stefano Marchetti (Tony Danza) share is because of that. Marvin is trying to find someone that really appreciates his work because for so long, he feels like his loyalty and things like that were slept on! This season, he’s like, “yo, I’m about to figure it out on my own!”

AM: What are you excited about for S4 that fans should be looking forward to?

MM: I think that I just got out of rehab so they should be looking forward to a more sober and less crash out Lou – that’s what I remember!

HK: Listen, I think the fans have been demanding this switch to flip in Juke and I think that they’re going to get that this season.

LB: I’m excited for the fans to see the real family side of the show. I think that sometimes, because it is in the Power Universe, I think that the fans only think about you know, the dramatics, the street life, but I think that this season, the audience will really be able to see that yo, they’re involved in all of the nefarious things, but they are a real family with real issues and son/daughter dynamics – they’re trying to figure it all out. But at the end of the day, they really are family. The family stuff that the audience will finally get to see is going to finally be able to explain and answer some questions from previous seasons. Oh, that’s why Raq and Marvin have this dynamic because of that, this is why Lou is doing what he’s doing – we kind of break it down some more and that has been fun!

AM: It’s incredible how you have all brought these characters to life and we’re looking forward to how we see it on screen soon! It’s great to chat with all of you to get your takes as we get ready for S4 and I always love each season catching up with you.

LB: Thank you so much, I appreciate you!

IG @reallondonbrown

@haileyfkilgore

@imalcolmmays

@raisingkananstarz

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | STARZ/POWR BOOK III: Raising Kanan

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see SEASON 4 POWER UNIVERSE | POWER BOOK III: Raising Kanan London Brown, Hailey Kilgore, Malcom Mays in mag.

DIGGING INTO THE DYNASTY | HBO'S CELTICS CITY DIRECTOR LAUREN STOWELL + PRODUCER GABE HONIG

We love a good documentary and docuseries and when it covers something iconic in sports, you don't have to tell us twice! HBO's CELTICS CITY takes us through one of the most storied franchises in the league that is truly a dynasty and most recently won their 18th Championship last year. In this 9 episode docuseries premiering on March 3rd, we learn about the history of the Boston Celtics from its start, how it fits within the city of Boston, the impact of the sport, as well as culture on the game and more!

We sat down with the docuseries director, Lauren Stowell (144, Tiger Woods: America’s Son, SC Featured: Together – The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Story) and its producer Gabe Honig (PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, US Open Epics: Tiger Woods: Perfection at Pebble Beach, The Captain) to find out about the series, how they went about covering 75 years of history, incredible interviews, and what the Celtics mean to fans, sports enthusiasts, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s great to talk to both of you! Before we delve into CELTICS CITY, can you tell me a bit about your backgrounds? Lauren, I know that you did Tiger Woods: America’s Son and Gabe, The Captain – as a Yankees fan, that was a phenomenal docuseries!

LAUREN STOWELL: Yeah, I, currently work with Connor Schell (co-creator and Executive Producer of the 30 for 30 series for ESPN, O.J.: Made in America, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story) at Words + Pictures as a Director/Producer there. I've been there for 2 years since we really started CELTICS CITY. Prior to that, I was at ESPN as a Storyteller Feature Producer documentarian for 16 years. Before that, I was at UConn, you know, I'm a Connecticut native!

GABE HONIG: I've been a freelancer for all the very many years of my career and done such shows as Friday Night Tykes and then The Captain. I hooked up with Words + Pictures with Connor and Libby Geist (The Last Dance, Giannis: The Marvelous Journey, Court of Gold), and then Lauren too to embark on this adventure.

AM: So, what was it about CELTICS CITY that made you guys want to be part of the project and to tell this onion of a phenomenal story?

LS: Initially, after reading the treatment that, you know, Connor and Bill Simmons (The Ringer podcast network, 30 For 30, Music Box: Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary), had the initial idea to do something longform - multi-part, but really starting to get into the layers of the story for me personally, obviously, Gabe can speak to his experience once we started discussing the story. It was so multi-layered. It was so nuanced, there was so much room for possibility and opportunity, within the story. When, Gabe came on board and we started discussing the story, the arnrative, and the structure. It was almost unbelievable how many highs and lows and larger than like characters, iconic figures, not just sports, but American history. Yeah. So the opportunity for me to tell a story that went beyond just the story of the Celtics, something that could resonate and connect to American culture as large, was really what drew me to the project.

GH: So as a lifelong New Yorker and fan of all things New York sports. This is the last project that I think that I could ever think that I would spend 2 years of my life doing around the Boston Celtics! Words and Pictures passed me the treatment after I was done with The Captain, and I read it and I was just like, “there's a lot here that I think as a Storyteller you can really sink your teeth into.” I was still a little skeptical and then I met with Lauren and her vision for how she wanted to tell this story, I was inspired within the first 20 minutes of what ended up being our 2 hour conversation!

AM: Oh wow!

GH: We spent a lot of time before we shot a single frame, really figuring out what are the tent poles here? What are the stories and where do all the branches come off of? Who are the characters? And I think that's what also separates this story from other stories about franchises. Lauren's focus was on the people and their experiences as they move throughout history. I think that's the thing about the Celtics that, like, I think people are going to really fall in love with, and that makes it the most interesting is that it's the people. The organization leans into the people, the people that have been there for 40 plus years that are still there. That's unheard of in professional sports!

And that comes with pluses, and minuses with that as well. We don't shy away from any of that. It's about character and how those people grew, didn't grow, and all the pros and cons of complicated human beings?

AM: What was each of your favorite moments in the docuseries? Whether it's something you know that we actually get to see through the series, or maybe just something just being in the production side that that really spoke to you?

LS: Ugh, it's such a good question! It's so hard! I know for Gabe it will be difficult for him too. We talk about this all the time, the moments that you know over the almost 2 years that we were working on this story. I would say for me, one of the moments that just really resonated with me was when we were able to get Karen Russell and Randy Auerbach together. They’re close friends and we kind of discovered that through speaking with each of them in our kind of early research phases. I think what was important to all of us on the team was really understanding Red Auerbach and Bill Russell as men, as people, what their character was, and their values. Because without understanding that, you can't really understand the history of the Boston Celtics without understanding those two - the architects of what it became and what it is. I think that was, like, such a special moment for me.

Just seeing them sit across from each other, the genuine admiration and reverence that they each held for each other, but that they talked about each of their fathers holding for one another and how much I guess it meant you know that even they were able to keep this relationship all these years later, and it was just cool to see the daughters of 2 Legends!

AM: Right.

LS: Sitting across from each other all these years later and reminiscing on their favorite moments and how much their father's impact on the sport and on America was. It was really cool for me. I think there's so many moments, but that's probably one for me. That just felt really special.

AM: That's really cool.

GH: I'm going to give you a 3 part answer here.

AM: Give it to us!

GH: Easily the coolest moment. Yeah, okay. As a huge sports fan, like, yeah, being in the room when Larry Bird was interviewed!

AM: Um yeah!

GH: It’s like Holy Shit. And yeah, you know, I'm riding up in the elevator with Larry Bird of the Celtics who has been there for 40+ years and Jackie MacMullan (Editor’s Note: She is a retired freelance newspaper sportswriter and NBA columnist for ESPN.com). What am I doing here?

AM: Yup!

GH: So that's cool. There were other moments I had the easy job of sitting in the room, but not actually asking the questions. That was, Lauren, uh, who was doing most of the question asking for the process. And there were several times, and I don't want to spoil anything. There were several times where I'm just like, that bite right there, what that person just said that's going to be in the show and will be in the trailer. That question that I mentioned earlier, why do I have these preconceived notions about Boston. By having somebody answer that for me in a way that resonated for me was like a magical moment.

Then the third thing is another kind of, like, just really cool moment man, like being there when they won Banner 18. I'm not a Celtics fan. I try to be impartial on my job. Being in that building, a culmination of almost 2 years of work and seeing that green and white confetti come down, that was pretty fucking cool!

AM: I can see that, wow!

LS: You just gave me chills Gabe again – such a cool moment.

AM: I can only imagine, I mean, sometimes you'll watch a game and even if you're not necessarily a fan, you're rooting for and hoping for a better season.

How long did it take for you guys, to work on this in terms of production/post-production? You guys truly are dealing with research and acquiring these amazing people to speak, from relatives, front office, players, etc. I can't even imagine, like how much time was involved?

LS: Gabe, I mean you’re air traffic control. Please tell her the air traffic that you work with!

GH: The day-to-day of the project started in January of 2023. You know, we started staffing up in February of that year, and our first interview was Bob Cousy (Editors Note: Bob Cousy played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950-1963. He was a 6X NBA Champion, 13X NBA All-Star and 1957 NBA MVP and was known as a core piece during the early half of the Celtics dynasty known as The Houdini of the Hardwood and is regarded as the 1st great point guard of the NBA and was the first to reach the 4,000, 5,000, and 6,000 career assists milestones), because there was concerns about his health, and by the way, Bob is still doing fine. We filmed that interview on, I think the first week of April of ‘23.

We really started filming heavily that May all throughout the end of the Summer. We had, I think, 50 interviews in the can.

AM: Wow.

GH: The Summer of ’23 was an incredible blur. I mean, I'm just in awe of Lauren and our producers, Sascha Gardner (American Greed, The Athletic, The Captain), and Christina Lenis (The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, The First 48 Presents: Homicide Squad Atlanta, Slow Burn). Like, I don't know how they did it, we all did it. We ended up doing 98 interviews. Our final interview was Kevin Garnett in August of ‘24.

AM: Wow!

GH: Yeah, we started editing in May of ‘23. Throughout the process, we had to submit for review, between 70 and 80 cuts that all had their sets of notes. We've got a lot of partners and things like that. You know, Lauren and I are still laughing and smiling. There were times like in any creative process where you want to, uh, pull your hair out and you feel like all is lost.

AM: Yup.

GH: At the end of the day, I couldn't be prouder of what our team was able to accomplish.

LS: I'll add on to what Gabe is saying too. I mean, you know, he talks about that summer of ‘23, that was just kind of a blur. I mean. I cannot say enough about the team, the preparations that was required for these interviews. If you think about the story we're telling, starting in 1950 to a current hunt for a championship with these players. It was 75-80 years of history that everyone on the team - I mean, there were probably 25-30 books that everyone had to read. There was no one definitive work that we could use that just is the history of the Boston Celtics. We had to piece together almost like a patchwork of the research. And you know, Gabe and the team the preparation for the interviews for me was unreal.

Like, I'm talking some of these interviews, a lot of them are 3-4 hours on average. And you know, I had 10-12 pages of notes, research questions, and topics. All of that had to be a fine-tuned, well-oiled machine to be able to do week after week after week. And yeah, it was a very aggressive timeline. And yeah, our team was amazing in accomplishing so much in a short amount of time.

AM: I love how basketball - obviously, it’s great for entertainment and learning about the people who play the sport and the dedication they have. But it's also a vehicle about the larger story of what's going on and what that mirror is and what it can be. What do you want the viewers to get after they enjoy seeing all 9 episodes?

LS: I think what I would want the viewer to walk away with is having conversations that maybe they thought they would never have. That's what I would hope, because I do think our goal as a team was to challenge some of the perceptions, to bring truth, to allow the characters of the story - the fabric of the Celtics to speak. These individuals, who many of them never have told their stories some have, many haven't. For them to speak their truth, and I hope that that becomes a source of, you know, again - important discourse, especially in today in our culture and society right now. We need to have these conversations, and I hope that this film allows that because we were able to show the arc of 75 years of Celtics history, but also American history.

GH: That’s a great answer Lauren. Again, as I tend to do, I'm going to answer this in 2 parts.

AM: Nice!

GH: Number 1 - you know and it’s something that I don't even know if I've ever talked to Lauren about this. In our first conversation, Lauren, brought something to my attention that I think is vitally important if you're a sports fan. This film is not just for sports fans.

AM: Right.

GH: I think somebody that doesn't know anything about basketball, you will enjoy it. For sports fans, I want, you know. I'm hoping that people can take away something, which is like, if you love sports, you know, the story understandably, and you should know the story about Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Branch Rickey (Editor’s Note: Branch Rickey was a baseball executive and player who broke MLB’s color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He also created the framework for modern minor league farm system, and he introduced the batting helmet).

AM: Right.

GH: No one talks about Red Auerbach or the Boston Celtics in terms of moving this country forward in terms of Civil Rights within sports and understanding that an athlete is just an athlete. I hope that the takeaway here is that there are other people in that conversation that move the ball forward and perhaps, moved it forward in really interesting ways as well as those never really talked about ways.

And then, just to add on to what Lauren said quickly - what I loved about working with Lauren is that we were pushed to hear from people who haven't been allowed to tell their story, who the camera has not been pointed at and these stories - some of these stories with the Celtics yeah, they've been told before.

AM: Right.

GH: We had a challenge to tell them in a different way and Lauren put people in front of the camera and they were so happy to finally be able to tell their side of the story, and it's so vitally important, and it's a perspective that needs to happen more in all of media, but especially sports documentaries.

IG @lstowell

@gabehonig

PHOTOS COURTESY | HBO

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see DIGGING INTO THE DYNASTY | HBO’S CELTICS CITY Director Lauren Stowell + Producer Gabe Honig in mag.

RUGBY RISING THE UNITED STATES OF RUGBY

During the Summer Games of Paris 2024, we all watched Rugby a lot more as we watched Team USA Mens and Womens hit the global stage and in the case of the women, they brought home Bronze! Rugby is a major international sport and is one that continues to grow in the US! In The United States of Rugby we find out more about this sport and its focus on growing it here domestically by following the Chicago Hounds. who are in their 2nd season of Major League Rugby (MLR). This series can premiered Feb 21st with weekly episodes on Roku. With the US hosting 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup on the horizon, we sat down with filmmaker Alex Donnelly to find out more about the series and his approach to capturing this story.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to talking about this series, can you tell me about your background and are you a rugby fan or have you played the game?

ALEX DONNELLY: I come from a background in documentary filmmaking, with a focus on telling human-centered stories that highlight the depth and beauty of everyday experiences. As a non-sports person, when I arrived on set, I had never seen or certainly played a rugby game in my life, I certainly didn't know the rules, or what the positions were doing what - I've come to know the game all too well now - but what I did immediately recognize were stories of resilience, and abundant passion—qualities that rugby represent so well. Throughout this project, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the sport but more so for the people who dedicate themselves to this gladiatorial game.

AM: What attracted you to United States of Rugby and to be part of this project?

AD: At the outset, what really drew me in was the opportunity to explore something new – something I had never seen before. Rugby has such a rich history internationally, but in the U.S., it's still in its startup phase, trying to carve out its place in the sports landscape. I was excited to document this moment in time - the players, the fans, the clubs, and the league—all pushing to break through and establish rugby as a major force in American sports. That pressure, combined with the sheer dedication of everyone involved in (and behind) the game, made it an incredibly compelling story to tell.

As we progressed through the season, my wife (who is now a big rugby fan) shared a quote with me that I believe encapsulates the heart of this series: “The point of desperation is often the point of truth.” (Author, Matt Haig) No one wants to feel desperate or backed into a corner, but those moments—when challenges feel insurmountable, when you’re forced to navigate uncertainty—are where we truly discover who we are. Rugby is a sport that physically embodies that idea. Whether it’s being smashed into the ground by someone twice your size or facing a more universal, everyday struggle, it’s in those moments of discomfort that we learn the most about ourselves. This series captures that raw, human truth—both on and off the field.

AM: What was your approach for this series as the story is multi-layered in terms of talking about rugby, MLR, the Chicago Hounds, the game in the U.S., placing it on the stage next to other countries where it’s very popular, and showing us details about the game and the passion behind it?

AD: With so many layers to the story, my approach was to always ground it in the human experience - who are these people? Rather than just presenting rugby as a sport, I wanted to showcase the people driving its growth in the U.S.—the players, coaches, and staff who are deeply invested in its success. By weaving in some historical context, the rise of MLR, and the Chicago Hounds’ journey thus far, we aimed to create a narrative that not only educates viewers about the sport but also connects them emotionally to the people behind it. The goal was to highlight rugby’s unique culture and the passion that fuels it, while also showing how the U.S. fits into the global rugby landscape and hopefully creating some heroes of the game along the way.

AM: What did you learn im this project?

AD: One of the biggest takeaways for me was just how strong and committed the rugby community is in the U.S. You are always one degree away from someone who has played rugby. Even though the sport isn’t as mainstream here as it is in other countries, this does not stop the people who are involved from being incredibly dedicated and driven to see it grow. It’s a sport that demands both mental and physical toughness well beyond what they're getting in terms of viewership, and that’s truly unique.

AM: What do you hope that viewers take away from watching this series?

AD: I hope viewers come away with a newfound love for rugby and the people who are working to build its presence in the U.S. Whether they’re longtime fans or completely new to the sport, I want them to feel the energy, passion, and sense of community that rugby fosters. Ultimately, I hope this series inspires more people to get involved—whether that’s playing, supporting a team, or simply appreciating the game on a deeper level.

IG @apdonnelly

After speaking with Alex, we wanted to connect the stars of the series who play on the Chicago Hounds. We sat down with Noah Brown, Charlie Abel, and Nate Augspurger as they give us an inside view on this game and their passion for it.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with rugby and when did you realize that you wanted to play it professionally?

NOAH BROWN: I fell in love with rugby in middle school, but I only realized I wanted to play it professionally during my freshman year of college when I was selected to play with the USA u18s world school 7s team in Auckland NZ. That’s when I realized that rugby could allow me to see the world while doing something I love.

CHARLIE ABEL: I fell in love with rugby when I was about 10 years old. I had two older brothers who played and they were good, much better than me. I wanted to play with them, but also my dad didn’t want to have to take me to separate games, so he forced me to play up. So I was playing Under 12s at age 10. Later I ended up playing Under 16s when I was 12 because my brothers were 14 and 15 – again, because of my dad. I had to learn quickly to keep up, and I loved it.

NATE AUGSPURGER: I remember falling in love with it in high school. I was 14 years old. And when I started as a freshman at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, I felt like I could see myself playing at a higher level.

AM: Prior to coming to The Hounds, tell us about your rugby career.

NB: Played at Penn High School, then Western Michigan for a semester. Then Indiana University - during my time there I played u23 USA 7s and the senior national team 7s. I also played with the Chicago Lions (national champs) which was the main reason I was tied to the Hounds eventually.

CA: I played for several teams in Australia and one in France before I came to the MLR in 2021 to play with the Los Angeles Giltinis.

I started my professional career in the inaugural MLR season with the San Diego Legion in 2018. In 2016 my international career carried over from USA Rugby Sevens to USA RUGBY 15's with the Eagles. I love to compete at the highest level and strive to be in an Eagles jersey. After several successful seasons with the team out West, I had a great opportunity to move back to the Midwest with The Hounds.

AM: Tell us about the position you play.

NB: I play on the wing, usually the finishers on the field. Trusted to score tries and get up to take high balls out of the air.

CA: I play Prop – both Tighthead and Loosehead, and Hooker in an emergency if you need. A Prop usually likes the physical battle. That’s true for me. It’s all good fun.

NA: I play a position called Winger. It's a fast-paced position, a lot of running, and a winger is usually positioned on the outside, like a wide receiver in football. Scoring tries is a part of the job description.

AM: What is an average week like in terms of working out to prepare for your next rugby match?

NB: On an average week I have team trainings on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, with rehab/prehab early in the morning then gym sessions later in the day. Then often I’ll do mobility work after the training day has ended.

CA: We do 3 gyms sessions a week, 3 field sessions, a recovery day. And then I do heaps of (physical therapy) treatment because I’m getting old (a youthful 33).

NA: Generally, there is a lower physical intensity with a mental focus approach early in the week. Recovery and treatment offered through the week, as well as chiropractic two times a week. We will have daily gym sessions and meetings to start off a given day. We raise the physical intensity in the middle part of the week. Much more running, training, and competing. The day before the game there is rehearsal time. Gameday is the best day of the week, say your prayers and go as hard as you can.

AM: On game day, do you have any routines that you do in preparation for the match?

NB: I just review my journal in which I have goals that are aspirations for the match. I say them to myself 3 times in a row.

CA: I do. I have lots. My gameday routine really kicks in when I get to the stadium. I’ll have a shower, a cheeky cold shower. I have to get my ankles strapped (i.e. taped) by Sam (Lead Athletic Trainer Samantha Malette). It has to be Sam. She’ll do ankles, left then right, always in that order. Then she tapes heat pads onto my back. Then I apply heat cream all over my entire body. It’s basically bath of heat cream, so my whole body is boiling. I’ll have some snacks, like gummy lollies and an energy beverage. Then I put my stuff on: left sock, left shoe, right sock, right shoe, fold the left sock down, fold the right sock down. Shorts, then I tape my wrists and thumbs – right first, then left. Lately I’ve been adding a nose strip. I think it helps.

NA: I do 20 minutes mobility. 20 minutes activation. 8 minutes speed mechanics (pre game warm up). I say my prayers in the morning. Sometimes I'll have music on and I try to have a smile when I greet my teammates, front office, stadium staff etc.

AM: What routines do you do to come down from all the energy that you had on the field?

NB: After a match the best way to come down for me is to get around the fellas and have a few beers.

CA: I don’t do anything after a game except a little celebration.

NA: I like to go home, put on my pjs and be with my wife and my dogs on the couch.

AM: We got to know more about you, rugby, and The Hounds. What did you enjoy about this series and what do you want viewers to know about rugby?

NB: The doc covered a lot of the PG-rated parts about the sport, which I can’t blame them for. But the really fun parts would be the couple big nights out we have a year, called socials. The whole team gets involved and it’s goofy and raunchy and hilarious. I wish more people could get an idea about what that’s like because it shows how the team is really a family of brothers, not just a sports team.

CA: Rugby is mad fun. The special part about rugby is the culture around it, outside of the game itself. It’s the lads, how we interact with each other and with other teams. It’s very confrontational and violent during, but after it’s very relaxed. You’re mates with everyone.

But, respectfully, I’m going to try to smash you if you’re on the other team. Respectfully.

NA: I liked the action snippets from the games. It reminds me of the games from last season and watching the Hounds compete in slow-mo is fun. I hope viewers can fall in love with how professional rugby in America connects a very diverse collection of people from all over the world. The game of rugby is a unifying sport, the ultimate team game.

AM: What would it mean to you to play for Team USA for LA28 and the World Cup in '31?

NB: Playing for Team USA in LA28 and the World Cup in ‘31 would mean everything to me. Those events will be pivotal in the development of rugby in the United States and I desperately want to be one of the players that prove to the world that we belong at the international table.

NA: Highly unlikely.

AM: What does it mean to you to play for The Hounds?

NB: Playing for the Hounds is like playing for my home town team. My parents can make it to every home game and I love what the Hounds are doing to grow the game in the Chicago. I am extremely grateful to be a part of it.

CA: I love the Hounds. The community of rugby in Chicago is great. I’ve worked with heaps of the club teams around here. I love the games, I love the fans. Playing for fans in the Midwest is the best.

NA: After spending one season in Chicago with the Hounds, it means a lot more to me. I feel close to home in Chicago and have seen my immediate family more this past year than the last 5 years. I love to represent the Minnesota and the Midwest rugby communities in the league. I would love to win an MLR championship with this team.

AM: How do you take time for yourself?

NB: When I’m not on the field I have recently been making time for myself by having a little creative outlet. I have recently started making clothes with a sewing machine and it really calms me down after throwing my body into musclebound Hounds all day.

CA: I have three kids and I love to be around them and my wife Logan.

NA: I like to go for a walk with my dogs. I play my wife in board games and cards. I found an old Pokemon game at my parents, so I'm trying to catch them all. My wife and I play pickleball when it warms up and I coach on the side which is a good balance for me.

IG @noahbenbrown

@charlie_hors3

@nthanielchannel

@chicagohoundsrugby

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | United States of Rugby

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see RUGBY RISING THE UNITED STATES OF RUGBY in mag.

THE POWER OF YOUR HOME | HGTV'S EGYPT SHERROD + MIKE JACKSON

The beginning of the year makes us think about new projects we're taking on, our goals, and it's that time of year that you begin about getting your home in order for upcoming events and gatherings as Spring is on the way! We caught up with power couple Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson who we know from an array of HGTV shows including Married to Real Estate and Property Virgins. They talk with us on how they got into Real Estate, Interior Design, and construction. They also talk about how they work with one another, aesthetics in design for our homes and how they have partnered with TurboTax to keep their business flow on track.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s so great to meet both of you!

EGYPT SHERROD: You as well!

MIKE JACKSON: How are you?

AM: I am very good! I have been a fan of yours Egypt since your WBLS days.

ES: Oh wow! Thank you!

AM: Of course I have enjoyed seeing you on HGTV as well Mike.

It's great to see you guys on, Married to Real Estate to see your power coupleship, navigating properties, and projects. How did both of you come to working in real estate, home renovation, and design?

MJ: Okay. Well, for me, mine is pretty simple as it pertains to real estate. My wife said, “get your license or I'm not going to be your friend.” – no haha!

ES: It kind of went like that!

MJ: So you know, proximity, for me!

AM: Right!

MJ: On a serious note, you know, she came to me one day. We were having lunch, and she mentioned, “babe, I'm giving a lot of referrals away. Why don’t you get your license? This way, we can keep it all in-house and it will save us a lot of money and garner us a lot of money. So, in that moment, I thought about it. And the next day, I was right at it, you know, taking the classes getting the material and got my license to be a Real Estate Agent. My wife’s a Broker Agent, but however, at this moment, my license is parked so at any moment, I can unpark it and actually practice, right?

AM: Wow!

ES: But, he's so busy running the construction and that part of the business, that I think that that only allows all of us to super serve our clients.

MJ: Yeah, that's right.

I'm sorry. I got into all of that and looked at her and got flabbergasted.

ES: Whatever ha! Stop flirting, stay focused!

MJ: What was the rest of that question?

AM: Well, how well, just how both of you came to this because it's amazing?

ES: Yeah, well, you said, you remembered me from WBLS. I think that's a perfect example of how we don't have to be a one trick pony at all.

AM: Exactly.

ES: I was obviously a radio personality, but developed a passion and love for Real Estate investing so much that I got my license and became an agent, and I had a dual career which, is then, what led me to television because, as I would talk about on the radio all of my exciting exploits in real estate and making it funny for people, HGTV heard and came calling. That started Property Virgins and then Flipping Virgins and then together Married to Real Estate! Actually, it started on Mike's phone during the Covid years – Married to Real Estate did.

AM: Oh wow!

ES: Many people don't know that story, but you know, it was a natural evolution that really developed through a passion and a thirst for building and leaving a legacy for our family.

MJ: That’s right!

And for me as it pertains to, you know, because you asked for Real Estate, construction, and design, I have always been doing construction with my grandfather and uncle since I was a kid.

AM: Oh wow.

ES: They have their own construction company and they would pull me in and bring me on because they sat aside and saw that I was able to do this stuff without being asked to do it. They saw something in me and said, "listen, come along with us and follow suit,” which I did. And I'm so glad I did. I've always been a creative. I enjoy seeing something, start from nothing, and become something. And in construction, that's what we do all day, you know. We tear it down, and we build it back up. And it was, it was inevitable because I was doing construction while I was touring around the world as a DJ.

AM: Ok, now.

ES: It was like I was DJing at 4am and then at 7am, I'm on somebody’s construction site. It was always there for me and then in New York City, working with the Local 28 Trade and then coming to Georgia and owning my own company, it was like, inevitable.

AM: Well, are there 3 key design elements that are going to be trends in 2025? Whether you know you're here in New York and looking to renovate your space or maybe you're buying home. What are 3 trends that we should be keeping an eye out for?

ES: So number one, as a designer, I'm the principal of a design firm as well at Indigo Road. The one thing I tell all my designers is to be classic. Really embrace the client's aesthetic. Don't follow the trend. Why? Because trends come and go, and if we start designing our home based on trends, you're going to lose money fast every year, every 2 years you're going to want to redesign. But if you do something classic and timeless, then, you can change things up with art and pillows, which you know are a lot more affordable!

So what I will tell you that some of the things that I think are going to be timeless: #1 is, you can change a space, and this is becoming even more popular - you can change the space just with a can of paint. It's inexpensive, you can do it as many times as you want to and you can give the space a totally different feel. So, doing color drenches – color drenches are when the moldings, the walls, the ceiling, everything is the same color, and so you have this amazing, beautiful, colorful canvas to furnish. We're bringing color back, because we went through the years where everything was beige and everything was gray. Now, everybody is embracing color again. So you’re gonna see a lot more of that in 2025!

Arches. We’re bringing arches back (singing it to the melody of Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack).

AM: Nice!

ES: Yes beautiful arches are coming back and that’s coming back in with the wabi-sabi aesthetic (Editor’s Note: Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that embraces imperfection and transience. It’s a philosophy that encourages people to find beauty in imperfection and accept the natural cycle of life. In interior design, it focuses on natural and weathered materials. It often has a rustic and organic feel).

We're also bringing more of the outdoors in with organic luxe and I truly think and this is classic, right? When we were all locked inside for a few years, everybody wanted to get out, to feel nature, and touch.

AM: Yes.

ES: So now, this is being reflected in design where everybody's, like, open my house up. No, I don't mean open floor plan, I mean, open the entire house up. I want just a courtyard of plants in my house.

I want you to knock out the entire back of my house and make it a door that just opens up to the backyard, you know?

AM: Yeah!

ES: Let the outdoors in because I want to feel nature. So, organic luxe as an aesthetic I think it's here to stay, bringing plants and using natural wood.

AM: I love that.

Tell me a bit about the Marriage and Money podcast you guys have. I love this.

MJ: Oh wow, where do we start with that? So, the Marriage and Money podcast is exactly what you hear – we deal with marriage and we talk about money and everything in between. We've had a plethora of guests that have been amazing. It's another idea where you know, in the midst of nowhere I said, “babe, I think we need to reach a different audience, you know, let's create this podcast because we have more to say.”

ES: And I said, no. I said, do not give me another job. Please don’t put anything else on the plate.

AM: Yeah.

ES: Mike is full of ideas! He’s totally the idea guy. I’m the – what do you call me, the Wide Receiver or the Running Back?

MJ: Wide Receiver.

ES: Yeah, and he’ll get me on board with it and I’ll just start running it and working with it!

But no, I'll say this, he was right yet, again. It's fun. It's a catharsis for us and it’s where we let our hair down, because even though our guests and we're talking money, and we're getting into marriage - we have so much freaking fun on the show!

MJ: Yes!

ES: So, we’re very excited!

MJ: And our audience and our fans and our fams – F-A-M-S - fams that’s what we call them because they're more like family. They get to see a different side of us that they may not be used to to get familiar with, right? And one of the things that I love about the podcast is that, you know, it causes others to think and to look at each other when they're listening or watching the podcast because I can't tell you how many times folks have come up to us and say, “listen, I sat down with my husband or my wife and we worked it out because of that particular episode.”

ES: Yeah, or even you know what it allows us to do is teach people through the schools of hard knocks that we had to learn from. Be it in marriage, you know, but also in business, we have made a lot of mistakes, and we're very transparent about it. We could have done things easier and faster, but now we have resources and tools, whereas before we didn't.

MJ: Right.

ES: So on our podcast, we opened Pandora's Box by providing education and resources as well.

AM: You guys have partnered with TurboTax. So, in thinking of like, how important is transparency, especially in couples, you know when you're doing your taxes together? Why did you guys want to work with the brand? I mean transparency and finances is key!

ES: People often ask, how have y'all been together for over 21 years like you seem so perfect!

AM: Yup!

ES: The first thing that we do is chuckle because we've had our hard moments and a lot of them have evolved around business and money.

MJ: Mmm hmm.

ES: It's revolved around taxes. He's the doer, right? And then I'm the organizer. I’d be sitting at the kitchen table with receipts falling out of my ears and my hair just trying to dig us out and to make sense of it all.

MJ: We literally just said a few months ago, when we were doing taxes, that we need to let someone else do this for us from now on. And it made perfect sense for us to partner with TurboTax you know, moving forward.

ES: Then, when you learn, you're like, wait a minute? What have we been doing, all of our lives right? Like, why didn’t we know? So, for us, obviously, we are a champion for the spirit of entrepreneurship. We want people to step out, you know, step on faith and go after the life and careers of their dreams. We want them so we don't want to scare them, which is why we said, you know, what? Let's go out and let everybody know what tools are available. And so, what we loved about this partnership with TurboTax is that number one, they are experts, and they literally have folks who specialize in business taxes. TurboTax Business provides small business owners and solopreneurs access to unlimited live expert help to get your taxes prepared and filed.

That's not what many of us went to school for. We don't want to sit around here doing this. We don't know either. We don’t know all of the deductions that are available for us. So then we lose money because we simply didn't know, trying to save money and not wanting to pay somebody else. They're affordable so, even if you're smaller, just starting out and then they also offer year-round tracking. So, they give you that support year around, because you know with business, you have to file taxes more than once! They provides unlimited year-round expert support at no extra cost, and provides 100% audit protection and accuracy guaranteed. Businesses are matched with a small business tax expert who will securely prepare, sign, and file their taxes virtually.

AM: Exactly.

ES: These are some of the incredible tools that we found value in for our lives and for our business to help us simplify. In short, to get accuracy and peace of mind.

AM: That part.

MJ: I also love how they have the option of integrating their platforms between MailChimp. Turbotax and QuickBooks.

ES: Many people don't even know that they're the same company. But again, that's a business solution. That's an all-in-one package for you to be able to really level up your game and simplify.

I’d love to just kind of encourage everybody as my middle name is Bargain Value and I love giving value to others! So there's something going on that everybody needs to know about. So if you get your business taxes done with TurboTax, you can also get 20% off of your personal taxes right now. So you need to go to turbotax.com/business for more details on that.

AM: Are there any other projects coming up that we should keep an eye out for because I'm always seeing you guys doing tons of stuff?

ES: As far as what we have coming up – we’re talking about March 12th S4 Married to Real Estate is coming at you so put that on your calendar! The podcast.

MJ: The podcast, we’re getting ready to do more episodes of that!

A Thousand Women.

ES: A Thousand Women Owned is my non-profit that we were about to do the formal launch of next month! Our goal is to help, support, provide resources for, and encouragement for a thousand women-owned businesses.

AM: Wow!

MJ: Yes yes

ES: BY 2030, We want to help a thousand women own businesses level up to get the grants that they need to start or to continue running as well.

MJ: And then you can catch somebody I know on, HGTV's Smart Home 2025, as the host!

AM: Ok Mike!

ES: Mike is hosting!

AM: Oh nice, that's amazing. Well, it's always good to see you guys anf I look forward in seeing your upcoming projects.

IG @egyptsherrod

@djfadelf

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 113 PG Egypt Sherrod + Mike Jackson | PG 114 TurboTax

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see THE POWER OF YOUR HOME | HGTV’s Egypt Sherrod + Mike Jackson in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | THE CLASS

Taryn Toomey created The Class as a lifelong student of transformation and through her personal healing journey in 2011 which combines somatic healing and self-discovery. It incorporates yoga, psychodynamic therapy, EMDR, sound work, and trauma healing. She shared with us that, "over a decade in, I'm incredibly fortunate to step into The Class every day and have the opportunity to meet people where they are-inviting them to move through whatever they're carrying while building strength in both body and mind. The community we've built over the years is the deepest testament to its power - a shared experience that brings people together in ways that are both personal and profoundly collective."

Attend The Class In-Person at the NYC Studio in Tribeca and their LA Studio is based in Santa Monica. All offerings are available through The Class’s Digital Studio, where they can choose from a library of on-demand classes and daily live streams that are available in over 75 countries.

You can expect an immersive experience that blends repetitive movement, breathwork, and cathartic sound. Attendees often come to the studio to unlock stuck energy, reconnect with oneself, and cultivate mind-body awareness—all while breaking a sweat and having fun.

The Class offers a range of sessions (The Class, Sculpt, Yoga, Meditation), length and physical intensity. The Class even offers pre/post-natal specific programming. Studios offer daily, in-person Classes, many of which are livestreamed for the Digital Studio. Regular Community Classes with sliding-scale pricing ensure accessibility or all.

Attendees can enjoy a thoughtfully curated selection of skincare products, including face wash, serums, and moisturizers from brands like Routine and Om Organics. Water fountains are also available.

If this is your first visit, it is suggested that wearing comfortable exercise clothing and bringing a water bottle. Sneakers are not mandatory, but first-time students are encouraged to start with sneakers. Come to your mat with an open mind and willing spirit!

If you're looking to experience The Class for free via the Digital Studio, you can try their 14-Day Free Trial which is perfect for newcomers looking to explore its benefits.

You can take The Class Retreatment May 20-24 in Ibiza. This is a transformative 4 day retreat centered around movement, mindfulness, and community, set in the stunning backdrop of Ibiza.

THE CLASS

22 Park Place, 3rd Fl

NY, NY 10007

2433 Main Street

Santa Monica, CA 90405

theclass.com

IG @theclass

PHOTO CREDIT | The Class

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | The Class in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

MUSIC BOX: YACHT ROCK: A DOCUMENTARY

Max

HBO

Who doesn't love Yacht Rock? We all have our favorite songs and artists within in this genre. The team at Music Box tells us the ins and outs of this style of music in Yacht Rock: A Documentary. We learn how the term was coined, who is in and out of the genre, it's rise as well as decline and its enduring impact on the music industry as other artists sampled it such as Hip-Hop artists Warren G featuring Nate Dogg's Regulate which came from Michael McDonald's I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).

NO GOOD DEED

Netflix Series

Netflix

Netflix's No Good Deed is a perfectly twisty series that continues to unfold like an onion as we see the intersectionality between a diverse series of characters that have interesting connections with one another that you continue to learn about. For those that love perusing real estate with a side of sardonic comedy crime, this is for you. We meet Paul (Ray Romano) and Lydia (Lisa Kudrow) who are looking to sell their home. We also meet the potential buyers who have their own backstories.

Over the course of 8 episodes we learn about the trauma, suspense, and hopes that bring the characters and the communities that they are intertwined into. We also solve a mystery that has loomed over specific character's lives while also having a resolution that places other characters into the exact place that they want to be in!

With a number of shows vying for attention over the holiday season, we can't say enough about how good this series is. It's even worth watching again with those that may not have seen it as you ended up bingeing ahead to know what took place. We're definitely hoping that there will be a second season as we feel that there is plenty of room for other storylines!

TRUTHLESS

A Spotify Podcast + The Ringer

Spotify

We enjoy a number of podcasts in The Ringer universe as they tend to be our go-to when it comes to delving into some of our favorite prestige shows. A few weeks back, we happened to catch an episode of Truthless which explores a story that involves a lie with a central figure which could be an everyday person or a celeb. This person tells the story and host Brian Phillips examines these stories, why they took place, what insecurity it highlights, and what drove the guest to do it. We truly enjoyed hearing Jesse Tyler Ferguson's (Ugly Betty, Modern Family, Cocaine Bear) episode where he shared his struggles when he was a young and unknown actor in New York who gets a life-changing audition. At that time he realized that he would need to create a new resume in order to secure the role that would take him to the next level.

Read the DEC ISSUE #108 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

EMILIA PÉREZ

Netflix Original

Netflix

In Emilia Pérez, we follow 4 amazing women in Mexico that are on the path to finding what makes them happy. Throughout this movie, you'll enjoy songs, dancing, and vibrant visuals. We meet Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) who is a cartel leader and brings on Rita (Zoe Saldaña) who is a lawyer that feels that she is unappreciated as she is stuck in a job that is going nowhere. She is asked to work with her to fake her own death so that the cartel leader can finally lead a life where she can be her true self. In addition, the cast also includes Selena Gomez (Selena + Restaurant, LOUDER: The Soundtrack of Change, Only Murders in the Building), and Edgar Ramirez (The 355, MaXXXine, Borderlands).

CRUEL INTENTIONS

Prime Video Original Series

Prime Video

Growing up, many of us enjoyed seeing the original Cruel Intentions film that starred Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Clerks III, Dexter: Original Sin), Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde, The Morning Show, Big Little Lies), Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Shooter, Big Sky), and Selma Blair (The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy franchise, American Crime Story: Monica Lewinsky) which focused on elite highschoolers in NYC in a modern retelling of the 1872 novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Throughout this movie, we see how a pair of step siblings create havoc through their circle and social scene by manipulating others, having sex, and their use of drugs.

With the cult success of this movie, it's not a surprise that it has come back with the same focus in an updated way on Prime Video. This iteration of Cruel Intentions takes us to another elite social scene in college with a number of the antics and scenarios that appeared in the film.

Do you need to see the film in order to enjoy the series? No as the two can be enjoyed independently. Of course, if you have seen the film, you'll see certain iconic shots in the film, you'll enjoy the modern updates that have been included in this one and you can see how the plot has a bit of a different look and feel as it applies to the collegiate set versus when it focused on those in highschool. It's still a great watch that you can enjoy especially as we head into the holiday season.

THE BINGE CRIMES: LADY MAFIA

Sony Music

Spotify

We always enjoy a great true crime podcast and this is one that really lets you have an indepth look into the female Bernie Madoff as well as the Anna Delvey of the OC. We get to meet Sara King, who is known as Lady Mafia. We get to know more about how she got into this world of crime, her historic rise, and her inevitable fall as a loan shark. We get to hear how she made quickly and deals that were seen as shady at best in The Binge Crimes: Lady Mafia presented by SONY Music Entertainment.

Read the NOV ISSUE #107 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2024

This month, Athleisure Mag also hit New York Comic Con which took place Oct 17th - 20th. We enjoyed navigating the booths and experiences at the Javits Center, hearing about new series and movies that we can't wait to attend those press junkets that will begin over the next few months!

In addition to navigating the show floor, costumes, and large exhibits, we also sat in on a panel of Apple TV+'s Shrinking. To hear the cast share that the show has been greenlit for a 3rd season, to share a few minutes from an upcoming episode, and to just listen to them chat about this incredible show was a lot fun to listen to.

Other panels of interest included HBO's The Penguin, HBO's Dune Prophecy, STARZ's Outlander, and Prime Video's Cross. It was just as much fun to watch enthusiasts of the shows as they listened to the cast share their experiences and thoughts, how they truly enjoy being able to get to know more about these programs and to meet those that are involved.

We're defintiely looking forward to next year as it's a great opportunity to enjoy programs that have an avid and engaged fan base as well as to check in with some of the best prestige TV shows! For those planning ahead, mark your calendars for Oct 9-12th in 2025!

IG @newyorkcomiccon

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 186 + 190 Kimmie Smith | PG 188 The Penguin Panel + PG 192 Outlander Panel Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop |

Read the OCT ISSUE #106 og Athleisure Mag and see New York Comic Con 2024 in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

WOMAN OF THE HOUR

Netflix Original

Netflix

In Woman of the Hour, this Netflix movie shares the true crime story of serial killer of Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) who appeared on The Dating Game in 1978 in the midst of a killing spree that he did across the country! We're introduced to those who were his victims, those related to victims and a potential victim, Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick who also directs this true story). We meet Cheryl, a struggling actress whose agent suggests that she appears on the show so that she could potentially book jobs.

As she interacts with her 3 possible suitors, we realize through flashbacks that Rodney has already murdered 5 people prior to taping the show. Even one of the fellow contestants realizes that something is off by him and when he realizes that she selects the serial killer for a potential date, he lets her know that she needs to be careful!

This movie depicts Rodney's life and what happened to him prior to the show and after.

LA MÁQUINA

Hulu Original

Hulu

We've enjoyed watching Hulu's La Máquina which follows a noted boxer, Esteban (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is towards the end of a phenomenal boxing career; however, time has started to take its toll on him as he continues to fight. Although he is looking to retire and to do the next phase of his life, his friend and manager, Andy (Diego Luna) always finds ways to keep him fighting and to secure his title.

He realizes that just when he is looking to end his career on a high note, there are a lot of entanglements involved in the last fight as well as an underworld that makes him see everything that he has done, accomplished, and been involved within in a new light!

While he figures that out, he also sees the possibilities of another life that could include a new love, a new focus on his health and whatever comes next.

CANDYMAN: THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THE BATHROOM MIRROR MURDER

CBS News

Spotify

Growing up, there was a horror movie called Candyman that focused on murders that took place in a public housing development based on urban folklore and legends.

In Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder, this investigative podcast reveals that the inspiration of the movie comes from a very real murder that took place in a Chicago housing

project. It looks at the strange events that took place around her death. The podcast looks at the racial injustice, housing inequalities and mental health issues that surrounded this case.

Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

THE PENGUIN

HBO Original

HBO + MAX

We always love watching a good DC Comics and this limited series of The Pengiun definitely had us enthralled from the ffirst episode as we get to see Oswald "Oz" Cobb (Colin Farrell) who is navigating his current role and takes the next steps into his destiny to control Gotham City. We see the city in a bit of a state with seawall's collapse that Joker implemented. With a power vacuum that took place when Carmine Falcone died he must figure out to deal with his childrenSofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) and Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen) as well as dealing with the Maroni family who is helmed by Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) who is in prison!

We also watch as he puts his empire together and we get to know more about his origin story! We're excited to enjoy the remainder of the season and we also enjoyed the companion podcast, The Penguin Official Podcast which drops new episodes every week immediately following the release of the TV series.

THE CIRCLE

Netflix Original

Netflix

Alert! S7 of The Circle, a social media competition is out now - send message! We have loved every episodes where we meet an array of contestants who come to the game without seeing one another and that only have the ability to communicate via Circle Chats. Whether they play as themselves, are catfish or are a hybrid of the two, they must interact with one another, build alliances, figure out how to navigate the game, rate one another, and eventually make it to he final round where one winner will be awarded $100,000 for their efforts! As is the case each season, we see our favorites, we enjoy seeing who connects with who, and it's always fun when they come together for their reunion to see the players put a face to the name of the people that they have interacted with.

THE PRESTIGE TV PODCAST

The Ringer

Spotify

We watch a number of shows and we love when it's prestige - these are shows of high quality that are known for their high production value as well as complex plots. Shows such as The Bear, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and more would be examples. What we love about The Prestige TV Podcast by the team at The Ringer is that they have a number of episodes where they break down some of the hottest shows to talk about what is taking place in the show, fan theories, interviews that include actors or creative teams that are involved and more! It's a great way to ensure that you're on track with what is going on in the series. It's always great to see if the show you're watching is being covered by their ever growing team.

Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

9PLAYLIST MULTI | ALYSIA REINER

Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI | Alysia Reiner in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

ELIZABETH TAYLOR: THE LOST

TAPES

HBO Documentary

HBO + MAX

We enjoy a great documentary and in HBO's Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes we got to hear from this stunning star herself via taped interviews where she talked about insights into major moments in her life, and how she approached living her life as a star that was constantly in the spotlight with her films, relationships, and advocacy.

These tapes give the raw and unfiltered thoughts of Elizabeth Taylor. In addition, we have access to videos and pictures that allow us to have a better understanding of who she was and how people that were close to her felt about her.

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUIDLING

Hulu Original

Hulu

If you have yet to catch up on the previous seasons of Hulu's Only Murders in the Building, now is the time to do so as S4 just kicked off on Aug 27th. Our favorite true crime trio is always in the thick of solving some sort of a crime and this season is bound to be no different! As they solve their cases, they let us in on their podcast, those that they interact with, and notable areas on the UWS!

We're excited to see not only those who have come into the series from earlier seasons, but additional guest stars that will make their debut in this one.

After each episode, you should also check out the OMITB Companion Podcast to know more about each episode and to hear the theories that come up!

EMILY IN PARIS

Netflix Series

Netflix

Like many of you, we couldn't wait to binge the first half of S4 of Netflix's Emily in Paris! We pick up where S3 left off. Who doesn't love seeing Emily (Lily Collins) and her friends navigating their lives, love triangles, clients, and more with Paris as a backdrop? Of course, in addition to seeing all of that, the amount of outfits that become scene stealers, is always another reason to watch this show. Part I dropped on Aug 15th and the remainder of S4 will be released on Sept 12th.

If you're like us, you're wondering how it will all play out and you'll begin thinking about what's on deck for S5 or will rewatch all the seasons for the perfect escapism on your next long weekend!

Read the AUG ISSUE #104 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

AWARDS SEASON | EMMYS WINNERS

Today, the Television Academy announced the 76th Emmys for this year’s nominees. Sheryl Lee Ralph (The Mighty Quinn, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Abbott Elementary) and Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Drunk History, Veep) announced the nominees from the El Capitan Theatre. Programs that were eligible to be nominated had to air between Jun 1, 2023, and May 31st, 2024. The Creative Arts Emmys will run on Sept 7th and the 8th. The Emmys will take place on Sep 15th, 2024 at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live and will be broadcast live on this date at 8pm ET on ABC and will be available on Hulu for live streaming and on-demand. Jessie Collins Entertainment which is comprised of the trio: Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay are set to executive produce the telecast for the second year in a row. We will update this post at the end of each night for the 3 portions of the award ceremony.

As we do throughout Awards Season, we share our predictions in bold, the ones we correctly identified as winners are in bold italics and winners that we didn’t predict are in italics. On the night of the event, we will share who we predicted correctly as well as those we didn’t that won.

Best Drama Series

The Crown (Netflix)
Fallout (Prime Video)
The Gilded Age (HBO)
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
Shogun (FX)
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
3 Body Problem (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show, Apple)
Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Anna Sawai (Shogun, FX) 
Imelda Staunton (The Crown, Netflix)
Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show, Apple)

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Idris Elba (Hijack, Apple)
Donald Glover (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Walton Goggins (Fallout, Prime Video)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses, Apple) 
Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun, FX)
Dominic West (The Crown, Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Nicole Beharie (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown, Netflix)
Greta Lee (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Lesley Manville (The Crown, Netflix)
Karen Pittman (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Holland Taylor (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Tadanobu Asano (Shogun, FX)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Mark Duplass (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Jon Hamm (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Takehiro Hira (Shogun, FX)
Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Jonathan Pryce (The Crown, Netflix)

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Néstor Carbonell (Shogun, FX)
Paul Dano (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Tracy Letts (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)
Jonathan Pryce (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
John Turturro (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Michaela Coel (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Claire Foy (The Crown, Netflix)
Marcia Gay Harden (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Sarah Paulson (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Parker Posey (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (ABC) 
The Bear (FX)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO/Max)
Hacks (HBO/Max)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Palm Royale (Apple TV+)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO/Max)
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, FX)
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs, FX)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, FX)
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu) 
Maya Rudolph (Loot, Apple)
Jean Smart (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale, Apple TV+) 

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 

Lionel Boyce (The Bear, FX)
Paul W. Downs (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, FX)
Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 

Carol Burnett (Palm Royale, Apple TV+)
Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear, FX)
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Janelle James (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Bernthal (The Bear, FX)
Matthew Broderick (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Ryan Gosling (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Christopher Lloyd (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Bob Odenkirk (The Bear, FX)

Will Poulter (The Bear, FX)

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Olivia Colman (The Bear, FX)
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Bear, FX)
Kaitlin Olson (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Limited or Anthology Series

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Fargo (FX)
Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Ripley (Netflix)
True Detective: Night Country (HBO/Max)

Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Matt Bomer (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Jon Hamm (Fargo, FX)
Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, FX)
Andrew Scott (Ripley, Netflix)

Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Brie Larson (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple) 
Juno Temple (Fargo, FX)
Sofía Vergara (Griselda, Netflix) 
Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Robert Downey Jr. (The Sympathizer, HBO/Max)
Tom Goodman-Hill (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
John Hawkes (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Lamorne Morris (Fargo, FX)
Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Treat Williams (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Dakota Fanning (Ripley, Netflix)
Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge, Hulu)
Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)
Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Drama Series

Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Netflix)
Mimi Leder (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Hiro Murai (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Frederick E.O. Toye (Shogun, FX)
Saul Metzstein (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Comedy Series

Randall Einhorn (Abbott Elementary, ABC)

Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Ramy Youssef (The Bear, FX)

Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show, BET)

Best Writing for a Drama Series

Peter Morgan, Meriel Sheibani-Clare (The Crown, Netflix)

Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner (Fallout, Prime Video)
Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks (Shogun, FX)

Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente (Shogun, FX)
Will Smith (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)

Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror, Netflix)
Noah Hawley (Fargo, FX)
Ron Nyswaner (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Steven Zaillian (Ripley, Netflix)
Issa López (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Writing for a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Meredith Scardino, Sam Means (Girls5eva, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider (The Other Two, HBO/Max)
Jake Bender, Zach Dunn (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)

Best Talk Series

The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Best Reality Competition Series

The Amazing Race (CBS)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Traitors (Peacock)
The Voice (NBC)

Best SCRIPTED VARIETY Series

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Saturday Night Live (NBC)

HOST, REALITY OR COMPETITION PROGRAM

RuPaul Charles, "RuPaul's Drag Race" (MTV)

Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec and Daymond John, "Shark Tank" (ABC)

Alan Cumming, "The Traitors" (Peacock)

Kristen Kish, "Top Chef" (Bravo)

Jeff Probst, "Survivor" (CBS)

BEST TELEVISION MOVIE

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)

Quiz Lady (Hulu)

Red, White & Royal Blue (Prime Video)

Scoop (Netflix)

Unfrosted (Netflix)

BEST SHORT FORM COMEDY, DRAMA, OR VARIETY SERIES

Carpool Karaoke: The Series (Apple TV+)

The Eric Andre Show

Late Night With Seth Meyers Corrections (NBC)

Only Murders In The Building: One Killer Question (Hulu)

Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime (HBO)

BEST SHORT FORM NONFICTION OR REALITY SERIES

After The Cut (YouTube)

The Crown: Farewell To A Royal Epic (Netflix)

Hacks: Bit By Bit (HBO Max)

Saturday Night Live Presents: Behind The Sketch (NBC)

Shōgun – The Making Of Shōgun (FX)

OUTSTANDING STRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM

Antiques Roadshow (PBS)

Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives (Food Network)

Love Is Blind (Netflix)

Queer Eye (Netflix)

Shark Tank (ABC)

UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM

Below Deck Down Under (Bravo)

Love On The Spectrum (Netflix)

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (MTV)

Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)

Welcome To Wrexham (FX)

HOST OF A GAME SHOW

Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)

Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! (ABC)

Keke Palmer, Password (NBC)

Jane Lynch, Weakest Link (NBC)

Pat Sajak, Wheel Of Fortune (ABC)

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE ANCIENT WORLD | LARA WOLF

This month, we're already excited for new shows that will be part of our steady streaming as we navigate the summer! We sat down with Lara Wolf to talk about how she got into the industry, her approach to playing her characters, and her latest project, Those About to Die which is currently streaming on Peacock as a Peacock Original! With an incredible cast and the ability to take us back to Rome, Gladiator Games, and corruption - we knew that we wanted to find out a bit more about what she is up to as well as this series.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first film or TV that made you aware of this industry?

LARA WOLF: Growing up, music was actually more prevalent than film and TV. It was always playing in our house, either from my dad's massive record collection or from him playing the guitar. And I would always sit with him and sing. That was a significant influence on me and the foundation for me seeking to be in the arts later. Of course, I watched every Disney cartoon, but it wasn't until I was a teenager with battles that films like Incendies, Control, Hunger, House of Sand and Fog made me feel a certain way, maybe made me feel understood. And so I started to develop a palette for film, and the more I watched, the more I wanted to be part of the world.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor and where did you train to hone in on your craft?

LW: As a kid, I jumped at every opportunity to perform in front of an audience. It allowed me to express myself as a somewhat introverted child otherwise. I didn't grow up in an environment that would encourage performance art professionally, so it didn't cross my mind. But later on, when I was already in college going on to be a psychologist, something was missing, something I couldn't ignore. So, I started reconnecting with that childhood passion and picked vocal classes. This allowed me to release whatever I was holding in, which then snowballed into gigging in bars around town and performing, at the same time watching films, then enrolling in studying film, film history, and film theory, and finally realizing and admitting that I wanted to be in them! But that also required that I move to a place that would offer acting programs, a movie industry, and like-minded people. So, I moved to NYC from Zurich and studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute for 2 years. I have lived there since, continuously honing my actress, singer, and writer skills.

AM: I remember you in Quantico, how do you approach playing characters and what are you looking for when it comes to deciding on whether you want to be attached to a project?

LW: When I receive a script, I quickly notice if I fit into that world and if the character resonates with me. I look for similarities and differences and personalize as much as possible.

When deciding about a project, I ask myself if it is a story I want to tell and if it is something I would be interested in watching. I also get excited about collaborating with a director whose work I admire and with actors I look up to.

AM: We have heard great things about The Performance which is an Arthur Miller (Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, The Price) short story and is directed by Shira Piven (Claws, Sweetbitter, Divorce) and you acted opposite Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Wisdom of the Crowd, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For). Can you tell me about this film, your character Sira and why you wanted to be part of this?

LW: I remember seeing the breakdown that my agent at the time had sent me and thinking: if I don't book this part, then I won't book anything, because the way this character was described fits like a silk glove. They were looking for someone who spoke English, German, and French and could sing jazz. It's so rare that a role would check so many of my boxes. Aside from that, I was excited about the project itself, a period piece based on an Arthur Miller short story about a Jewish-American tap dance group in the 1930s that decides to fly to Europe for a tour right before the second WW and get themselves into a tricky situation. The film explores how far you are willing to go and what you are willing to risk and sacrifice for your passion. And when does your passion turn into greed? While it was a period piece, it's still incredibly relevant today, and I find that very rewarding. It was a blessing getting to work with the wonderful Shira Piven, Josh Salzberg (Welcome to Me, Walking Man, Welcome to Flatch), Robert Carlyle (Stargate Universe, Once Upon a Time, The Full Monty series), Jeremy Piven, and my colleagues, who were fantastic actors and brilliant tap dancers, and it was such a pleasure watching them do the choreographies. Our days were filled with music, dancing, singing, and acting - a dream! Our costumes were phenomenal, and the locations in Bratislava, like the State Opera, helped immensely to dive into the period.

AM: We're looking forward to Peacock Original's Those About to Die! What drew you to this series?

LW: All of it was appealing: the genre, the historical aspect, having Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day: Resurgence, Moonfall) - the master of big-scale disaster films - lend his expertise to this ancient story, shooting in Rome where it all happened, Sir Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Nixon, Westworld series) playing the Emperor, and of course, getting to play the Judean Queen Berenice was a dream come true.

AM: What can you tell us about the show as well as your character Queen Berenice?

LW: Her life unfolded against the backdrop of the Roman-Jewish revolts when the Romans burned down the Second Temple and enslaved the Judeans. The Judean Queen Bernice was the daughter of King Agrippa I of the Herodian dynasty, and she was known for her strategic alliances and marriages. There were also rumors about an incestuous relationship with her brother, but there are no facts to prove it, and it might only show the threat she posed as a woman in power. Her most notable relationship was with the son of the Roman Emperor Vespasian (played by Anthony Hopkins), Titus, also known as the destroyer of Jerusalem and its temple. Naturally, this caused controversy and put her in the eye of public scrutiny on the side of the Romans and the Judeans. Despite this, her political acumen, diplomacy, and grace prevailed throughout history. And for me, it was an honor to be given the trust to play her and give voice to this incredibly powerful Queen in our history.

AM: It's a great cast that includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, and Iwan Rheon - what was your biggest takeaway from having this experience in this series?

LW: Every time I get to be on a set, it feels like the dream comes true again. My gratitude is beyond words. This is true, especially this time with this collection of incredibly talented actors, two top directors in our industry, and a production team that meets the highest standards. I love knowing that the people I work with are brilliant at their craft because it is a lot of fun working with them and motivates me to be a better actor. Ultimately, it's all about collaboration, honing your craft, getting as close as possible to the slippery idea of perfection, and seeing how it all comes together as a collective work of art.

AM: You've been acting for awhile and been in a number of series, but you are also a writer! When did you realize that you wanted to include this in your storytelling?

LW: From the moment I started this acting journey, different people in the industry encouraged me to write. Up until that point, all I had written were either essays or papers from when I was studying Psychology and Film, all in an academic tone. I had never imagined that I would ever write fiction and dialogue. I had never really seen myself as a writer, but I started dabbling in writing almost secretly and noticed how ideas would come up and evolve. Then, finally during the pandemic, the stories poured out of me, maybe because we were all cooped up and needed to sit still, which is typically not my forte. But it really allowed me to dig deep, improve and find the joy in writing. Currently, I'm working on a play I'm workshopping at the Primitive Grace Theatre Ensemble with Paul Calderón (Fear the Walking Dead, Bosch, Boardwalk Empire) and David Zayas (Michael Clayton, The Blacklist, Dexter) as co-directors.

AM: When you're not in the midst of a project, how do you take time for yourself?

LW: I guess that's exactly when I have the time to take time for myself. And I love getting back into a healthy food/sleep/exercise routine, which is often hard to maintain when working. I use the time between projects to reboot physically and mentally and feed myself creatively by writing or seeing art or plays. As I mentioned, I'm part of a theatre company in NYC which I'm very grateful for as it is my safe, creative place to work with other actors and writers and wonderful mentors. And then I also sing and write music and collaborate with other musicians.

AM: Do you have any upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for?

LW: Keep an eye out for the film Reading Lolita in Tehran, directed by the renowned Eran Riklis (Shelter, Spider in the Web, A Borrowed Identity). It is based on the same-named NY Times bestseller memoir written by Professor Azar Nafisi and starring the Iranian icon Golshifteh Farahani (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Exodus: Gods and Kings, Invasion).

And there is a next project on the horizon, and I wish I could tell you, but my lips have to remain sealed for now. I can only say that it's an action/spy film with a stellar cast! And you can follow me on @laradwolf for all the updates. Thank you so much!

IG @laradwolf

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 158 Sharon Daniels | PG 161 - 165 Reiner Bajo/Peacock |

Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ANCIENT WORLD | Lara Wolf in mag.

THE ROOT OF IT | MARIA CAMILA GIRALDO

We always enjoy watching our favorite shows and the actors that portray characters that are memorable. In addition to enjoying their creative pursuits, it's always interesting to see when their life experiences initiate an entrepreneurial endeavour based on issues that they may have come across.

We sat down with Maria Camila Giraldo who we recently enjoyed watching her in Netflix's Griselda. We wanted to know more about how she came to acting, how she approaches her characters, how she came to this series and to find out about her wellness brand, Fungiments. Co-founded by her and her fiance, Cole Garson they set out to create this brand that uses mushrooms and adaptogens.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first film or TV show that made you realize the power of acting?

MARIA CAMILA GIRALDO: The first film that made me realize the power of acting was V for Vendetta. The performances were so compelling and intense that they truly demonstrated how acting can convey deep emotions and complex ideas, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?

MCG: I think I was born an actor. Ever since I was a baby, I would grab the camera and perform different characters. As I grew older, I started producing my own short films and homemade talk shows. This passion for performance and storytelling has always been a part of me.

AM: How do you approach playing your characters as we know everyone has their own process.

MCG: My approach to playing characters depends on the character and the story. Currently, I'm very influenced by Ivana Chubbuck's technique. It's an amazing method that helps me connect my own reality with the character's reality, allowing for a more authentic and powerful performance.

AM: We enjoyed watching Netflix's Griselda - how did you become attached to the project and what drew you to this series?

MCG: I started auditioning for Griselda in October 2021. It was a lengthy process. Initially, I was considered too young for the original role I auditioned for, but they eventually called me in for a different role. I didn't hear back until the end of November 2021 – that’s when I received the exciting news that I had to move to LA for the project. I had always wanted to be in LA, having visited on and off for the past three years, so it was a perfect opportunity for me.

AM: The storyline and telling Griselda's story was amazing. On your IG, you shared that you had a vision board where you noted that you would be on a top show and Sofia Vergara (Modern Family, Chef, This is Me ... Now: A Love Story) was also on there and of course we saw that come to pass this year! What was your biggest takeaway from doing this show?

MCG: My biggest takeaway from doing this show is the importance of dreaming big, working hard, and preparing for the opportunities you want. If you do, the moment you’ve been waiting for will eventually show up. Having a vision board was a constant reminder of my goals, and seeing it come to fruition was incredibly rewarding.

AM: You're going to be in a film with Al Pacino (The Godfather, The Irishman, Serpico), is there anything that you can tell us about this?

MCG: Initially, I was hesitant because I didn't like horror movies. However, my managers insisted I take a look at the project. When I did, I realized it was more than just a horror film—it was a psychological thriller that delved into mental health, a topic very close to my heart. After my concussion and personal struggles with mental health, I felt deeply connected to the story and its significance.

AM: You were recently at the Cannes Film Festival and we loved seeing your look on the red carpet. What was it like attending this festival and were you there promoting a film?

MCG: Attending the Cannes Film Festival was a dream come true. We were there for private screenings of The Ritual (Editors Note: This is her upcoming film with Al Pacino). The experience was incredible - the magnitude of the event, the glamour, and the sheer amount of talent present was amazing. It was an honor to be part of such a prestigious event and to witness the global celebration of cinema.

AM: As someone who has been playing a number of roles, you are also an entrepreneur in the wellness space! What led to your wellness journey to becoming an entrepreneurial aha moment?

MCG: When I went through a concussion, I realized that there weren't many natural alternatives for managing my anxiety or improving my focus and concentration that didn't involve medications, and I didn't want to go that route. So, I tried everything and looked everywhere. I found a lot of relief in mushroom supplements and adaptogens. After searching through pharmacies and supermarkets and not finding anything similar, I saw a big opportunity to create a fun brand that people can connect to. That's what led me to create Fungiments and become an entrepreneur.

AM: Tell us about Fungiments and its use of mushrooms and adaptogens.

MCG: Fungiments uses mushrooms as the hero ingredient, blending them with other adaptogens to enhance their targeted effects. This approach allows us to create products that truly work, unlike other mushroom supplement brands that often include mushrooms in low milligrams, leaving you unsure if they are effective. Our formulations ensure that each product delivers tangible benefits for your specific needs.

AM: Tell us about your assortment and although you just launched, do you have plans on additional items to add to your offerings?

MCG: Our body is like an ecosystem, and our goal at Fungiments is to create products that support each system within it. For example, we have Super Prune gummies which support digestion with Turkey Tail mushrooms along with other functional ingredients. Super Bouncy is for those lacking energy and focus, made with Cordyceps, ginseng and more. We recognize that we are holistic beings, and one issue, like lack of energy, can often be connected to another, such as poor sleep. Although we just launched, we already have plans to expand our offerings to cover a wide range of needs, including sleep, energy, and overall wellness, ensuring that every aspect of your health is supported.

AM: When you're not working on your next project or working on Fungiments, how do you take time for yourself?

MCG: When I'm not working on my next project or Fungiments, I take time for myself by exercising. I have chronic pain, so movement helps to alleviate my symptoms and keep me feeling better. Additionally, working out has a positive impact on my mental health, and I also focus on skincare to take care of myself both physically and emotionally.

IG @maria.giraldo

PHOTOS COURTESY | Fungiment

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ROOT OF IT | Maria Camila Giraldo in mag.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK | HOTEL COCAINE

We've enjoyed watching the screeners for Hotel Cocaine which is currently streaming on MGM+! We are transported to the late 70s and early 80s when Miami is in the midst of a shift from vacation and retirement destination to the epicenter of sex, drugs, crime, and a battle between those who are on opposing sides of the law while embracing disco, wealth, and more! The events that unfold are based on accounts by those who lived it that took place at The Mutiny Hotel which still exists today, but without the activities that made it famous during that time.

We had the pleasure of connecting with Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer, and writer Chris Brancato (Narcos, Narcos: Mexico, The Godfather of Harlem) and Director, Guillermo Navarro (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 1 and 2, Night at the Museum franchise, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey) who know how to bring these stories to life so that we can see the complexities, conflict, and humanity of the characters in their stories. We talk about their love for storytelling, working together, and framing this show in all of its nuances.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We are so excited to be able to talk with you! Chris, I know you created Narcos as well as Godfather of Harlem which I have been a huge fan of and Guillermo as the Director of Godfather of Harlem – once again, it is a fantastic show and you also directed Narcos, so it’s nice to see you guys working together on this show!

What do you guys love about storytelling in general?

GUILLERMO NAVARRO: Well, it’s a tremendous opportunity to actually reflect on life and to put our own ideas into it and to tell those stories. There is nothing better than that!

CHRIS BRANCATO: I love the process and the friendships that you make from the writing room where we create the scripts to the production people who put everything together, and then editorial where we make a “finished product,” so to speak! The goal is always to entertain.

AM: You guys came together for Hotel Cocaine which I have watched all 7 of the screeners and can’t wait to find out what happens in E8! The story is amazing. Why did you want to tell it and specifically Guillermo, what attracted you to this series and why did you want to be part of it?

GN: Well I have been partnering with this one for awhile and finally we reached and found a Latin story and so I completely just went for it. It was an opportunity to talk about the relationships of the Latin world with America and it focused on the drama of 2 brothers and the delivery of this and the story about what had to be happening in Miami to receive all of that input and to become what it is!

AM: In terms of creating the show Chris, what was your thinking? I love the characters, the complexities and the depth of them, and they keep unveiling themselves in different ways and it is shot so beautifully. How did all that come together?

CB: Well, it’s interesting. Guillermo and I did Narcos together. We first met on the show Hannibal and I realized he was a directorial genius – [Guillermo motions teasingly that Chris is going on and on buttering him up until Chris notices]

AM: Wait, you are and I have enjoyed seeing your direction in a number of programs so these are facts!

CB: Right? So effectively when I did Narcos, one of the actors that was a friend of mine came up to me and said, “you know, my father was the General Manager ager of the Mutiny Hotel. He said it was the Studio 54 of its day in Miami and it was the home to DEA Agents, drug dealers, movie stars, rock stars, and so the subject matter fascinated me and I knew that to do it right and to give it the proper Latin perspective, I was going to need to find a partner. I searched far and wide in the Latin world and I couldn’t find anybody other than him [Chris teases Guillermo by shaking his arm] so that is how we got stuck together!

AM: I love that story! Obviously, this story takes place in Miami but you shot it in the DR?

CB: Yes, because the Domincan Republic, we scouted Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the DR, but ultimately, we decided that the Dominican Republic had the best look of a 70s Miami because Miami is so overbuilt now, we could never replicate Miami in the 70s!

AM: Well I love the DR and I always love whenever I spend time down there regardless of the city!

What do you want viewers to take away from this show. I can’t say enough about how much I love how it was put together, the characters, the way it was shot etc. I can’t wait to see the finale to see how S1 ends.

GN: Well, that the impact of the drug world on society is real and it’s very profound. And that, I come from Mexico and the social tissue is destroyed by the drug world. For me, it was very important thing to talk about that every time someone consumes it, people die. So it’s about accountability and responsibility of something that is consuming entire societies.

CB: We like to deliver themes like that in a very shiny wrapping.

AM: Right!

CB: So the sex, drugs, disco, Latin music pel collars, bell bottom pants, and the Mutiny girls. So again, the goal is to entertain and put the nutritional value in a hidden way so that the kids don’t notice the broccoli!

IG @cbrancato86

@hotelcocainemgm

Now that we have a framework for this series thanks to Chris and Guillermo we wanted to continue to frame this show as well as the lens that we should view as. We talked with Danny Pino (Scandal, Law & Order: SVU, Mayans MC) and Yul Vazquez (Magic City, The Outsider, The Godfather of Harlem) who play brothers Ramon Compte and Nestor Cabal in this era in Miami as they navigate the DEA, drugs, the Mutiny Hotel, past and present family dynamics and so much more!

AM: As a fan of both of your works in other shows as well as obviously in Hotel Cocaine, why were you attracted to this series and why did you want to be part of it?

DANNY PINO: Thank you for this question! Yul Vazquez! That is the short answer. I’m not saying that because he is here. But he is, he’s right here! The reality is that the first phone call that I got about Hotel Cocaine came from Yul. Yul and I, there are not a lot of Cuban Americans in Hollywood right? So whenever I would go to an event and I would meet other Cuban Americans, we would eventually land on, “have you met Yul Vazquez?” I’d say, “no I have not met him, I know of him and we have mutual friends. He’s a fantastic actor, but I have not yet met him.” Or I would go to a set and someone in the crew or in the cast would say, “well, you’re Cuban American, have you met Yul?” We’d have the same conversation! “I love his work and I haven’t met him.” Then, we happened to meet on Law & Order: SVU! And we became fast friends. It’s like when you meet somebody that you feel that you have known your entire life! I’m not talking about like your entire acting life, I’m talking about – were you at my 15s? Were you at my baptism? Because I feel like you must have been in the Catholic church with us!

The phone call where Yul calls me and says - look, I have been working on this show, The Godfather of Harlem with Forest Whitaker - the fantastic Forest Whitaker with Chris Brancato, the creator of Narcos and there is this show set in Miami, 1978, called Hotel Cocaine, based on The Mutiny and we’d be playing brothers. I said, I’m in! He was like, maybe you should read the script. And I was like, wait, maybe I should read the script! That’s the short answer to your question! Once Yul kind of set that up, I was already – the momentum and the inertia towards doing it was already in motion.

YUL VAZQUEZ: I mean, it was pretty much the same for me. Danny really was the only choice really for this. It was too perfect but you know sometimes when something is so perfect it doesn’t wind up happening?

AM: Right!

YV: This is a no brainer and then suddenly it doesn’t happen! But this was one of those times when the no brainer happened the way it was supposed to happen. I absolutely love working with Danny and he knows that that is the truth! I know that I can stand there with him and we can get through any scene no matter what the journey of the scene is and we can work around it and figure it out and we get to the end of the scene and I know that when he opens his mouth, I am going to believe everything that he says! That sounds like simple obvious things, but not always the case. Not always the case. I always knew with Danny, I am going to have a guy that was there today. Not a guy who decided that he was going to do this 3 weeks ago. You know, rehearsed it in the mirror because that is one thing that makes me insane. When I get somebody and I’m like no matter what you do, this person is going to do the same thing because they have locked themselves into this thing. We figured out this flow with this whole thing and we improvised a lot of things and we had the freedom from Chris Brancato, Michael Panes (Godfather of Harlem, Bull, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and Guillermo Navarro which is a huge part of the design, the brains, and the engine of the show. He encouraged us by saying that we knew this world better than any of us are going to know. We know what it’s like to be a Cuban from Miami and so that’s what we did! It’s really what we did and I think that we brought a lot of ourselves into the thing more so then I think that I have ever done!

DP: You’re talking to a musician/artist. Yul would come at this scene with the same words, but in a totally different way! So to be present and to be able to play jazz with him all the time and you know, a lot of the script is written in English. We know as many Cuban Americans know, and many Latinos know, that we don’t speak in English all the time.

YV: Correct.

DP: Our probably chosen language or first language is Spenglish and so we would manipulate some of the script to have the same intention, the same wording, but to be able to go back and forward fluidly in Spanish to give the authenticity of what you would hear not only in that time period, but in modern day Miami!

PRESS POOL: As you reflect back to all the roles you have played throughout your career, what lessons have you taken from them that have helped you in your role in Hotel Cocaine today? How has it shaped you to be the actor that you are today in those roles?

YV: I think that every stitch is a stitch in the fabric of an actor’s career. You try to vary it as much as you can and then you try to decide the parts as much as who is involved and who’s hands it’s in. So I think that everything feeds everything. I also paint, I’m a photographer, and I am also a musician so everything feeds everything and I don’t think one thing takes away from another. I see everything as one orb. So, I think that everything in life feeds everything. Meet ing you and it’s the succession of events for me. That’s how I think that we arrive to where we are today.

DP: I mean, Yul is a renaissance man. He does everything incredibly well and for me, talking about different characters and how it now leads to Ramon Compte, the General Manager of the Mutiny Club and Hotel, I’ve played characters who were on the right side of the law – in fact they were the law. In 2 successive shows whether it’s Mayans MC or Hotel Cocaine, playing characters that you can potentially consider an outlaw – right? I think that what I find which goes to the heart of your question, the throughline for the characters is with great writing whether it’s Meredith Stiehm (Homeland, ER, NYPD Blue) on Cold Case; whether it’s Warren Leight (In Treatment, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) on Law & Order: SVU; whether it’s Elgin James (The Outlaws, Lowriders, Little Birds) on Mayans MC; or Chris Brancato for Hotel Cocaine, all of those showrunners are fantastic at developping a character who rides the line between on the right side of the law and a potential on criminality.

All of those characters, whether it was Scotty Valens on Cold Case where he had some anger issues and would go back and forth on being able to control that or Nick Amaro who was also going back and forth on being able to control his anger and his frustrations and what not with his job and within his family, you can say similar things about Miguel Galindo and now we have arrived at Ramon Compte who also has to ride that line. It’s just like what Yul said, there’s a building and a learning from each experience especially when the writing is so dialed in and so challenging for an actor which is the best thing that we can have to be able to have that range which we can sort of carve through a performance and to go back in forth between scenes where you say, “I really love this guy, I could absolutely see myself doing the same thing – exactly what he is doing,” and then the very next scene saying, “how could you choose to do that? I hate this person!”

DP: Right? So that’s the currency that actors love to deal in.

PP: When we see the scenes that you guys have together at The Mutiny Hotel and this is a testament to who you are as actors, but when you have the club scenes there is so much going on with the dancers, the lights, and all of these things are happening all around you – as actors, how do you not get distracted by all of the things that are taking place in the background? What is your secret?

YV: It’s hard! It really is hard and sometimes let’s say that your patience it tested – yeah it is! It’s a great question and it is very very hard, for me.

DP: I think it’s one of those things where – and it is a fantastic question because a lot of people don’t realize exactly what happens. They play the music and cue us into the song so that the background artist can get the rhythm of the song that is going to be played and then they kill the song. So the background artist can continue with the rhythm so that we can say our lines in silence so that we don’t have to record the line over and over again for clarity. And that gets a little strange because you can still hear the heels and the platforms stomping on the dancefloor so it is a little distracting in that way. What helps is to have an actor like Yul. When you have an actor like Yul and you have words by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, where you are engaging in a scene that matters and has life and death circumstances and ramifications, that tends to crystalize everything and you start to get that much more focused.

YV: Yeah, so Danny’s right. All we really have is each other and that helps! Having him helps anchor things for me! He’s right, exactly what he said. It becomes a very interesting challenge you know because it is all of the things that the audience never sees. You know the old saying, “you don’t want to see how the sausage is made.” That’s really true!

PP: For people who live in Miami, The Mutiny is such a staple and an icon of an era that created the backbone of what Miami is as a city from the glitz and glamour, to the element of crime and other things. Danny you’re a Miamian and went to FIU and you grew up there and you know the city. What does it mean to you to portray this era that shaped what Miami is nowadays?

DP: That’s a fantastic question and as we’re both from Miami, we talk about it all the time! We talk about not only the impact of The Mutiny, but the impact of the 70s, it was such a transformative period of our city! It really changed Miami from being sort of a sleepy retirement/vacation spot to a cosmopolitan hot spot. Then it changed when The Mutiny upped the ante on that and it became a hedonistic pleasure palace! Right? People were flying in all over the world to have an adult experience at The Mutiny. I have actually stayed at The Mutiny, it’s not what it was before, it is now much more lowkey. It’s like a hotel residential sort of establishment now, but the structure is still the same, the pool is still the same, and you still feel that if the walls could talk, you’d be hearing some fantastic stories and I think that that’s what our show does. The walls talk in our story.

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Hotel Cocaine

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK | Hotel Cocaine in mag.

BACK TO CHICAGO | THE BEAR

On June 26th 9pm ET, S3 of FX's The Bear released all episodes from this season which is available exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in all other territories! We had the pleasure of hearing from portions of the cast about this show that has truly been a phenomenon for those in the culinary industry, enthusiasts and more as we head back to Chicago it deals with the highs and lows of running a restaurant, navigating the industry as well as the complexities that take place FOH, BOH as well as outside of the four walls that they operate in!

The press conference included Executive Producer and Restaurateur Chef Matty Matheson (Craig of the Creek, It's Suppertime!, Workin' Moms), who also plays Neil Fak, Jeremy Alllen White (Shameless, Homecoming, The Iron Claw) who plays Carmy, Ayo Edebiri (Black Mirror, Abbott Elementary, Bottoms) who plays Sydney as well as who directed Episode 6 "Napkins" of this season, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls, The Dropout, Andor) who plays Richie, Abby Elliott (Saturday Night Life, Odd Mom Out, Cheaper By The Dozen) who plays Natalie, Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment, Law & Order, Titans) who plays Tina, Lionel Boyce (Loiter Squad, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Jellies) who plays Marcus, and Ricky Staffieri (Chicago P.D., Better Call Saul, This is Us) who plays Ted Fak.

If you have watched or caught up on the previous seasons of The Bear, we suggest that you watch as there will be light spoilers. In terms of S3 the conversation focuses on the trailer and how it ties into the previous seasons.

PRESS POOL: Matty, in addition to your playing Neil, you are an executive producer and from a menu creation perspective, what are the decisions that are involved in creating those dishes?

CHEF MATTY MATHESON: Yeah, like, Courtney Storer is also a producer, and she handles a lot of the menu development. I work with her and her team and ideation stuff of what Carmy and Syd would be thinking about and how to execute those types of dishes; and create; those types of menus; and who they are and how they would present themselves through a culinary lens. But yeah, a lot of the dishes—you know, we had some really good chefs, and Courtney is amazing at executing and creating that food and bringing that to life. And there were some dishes that were more difficult than others. A lot of the desserts that Lionel and Marcus were creating and storytelling were difficult. Pastry is very - you know, it's a lot of science, a lot of stuff going into that. But overall, I think just trying to make beautiful food and thoughtful food and pushing the envelope.

PP: What was it like cowriting the first episode, what that experience was like, what you brought to the table and also, what it did for you.

CHEF MM: I think a lot of people that have had amazing careers, like Carmy had or chefs in general, have worked under a lot of chefs. And there's little pieces that you grab onto throughout your life, and that's how and what makes you who you are, the good and the bad. And in culinary school, I had this chef that told us this story about how 30 chefs made who he was and told me this story about working under all of these chefs all over Europe and working with chefs and cooks and just learning all of these different trades. And you know, it is a trade. And so, I think picking up these little skills along the way - and you never stop learning - is who you are made of, you know? The people around you. And we kind of wanted to tell a story of what and how Carmy was kind of built in that way.

PP: It seems like Neil's role is increasing with every season and we're seeing more of him. Was this planned from the beginning or did it grow organically out of the way the character interacted with the other characters?

CHEF MM: I’m not too sure. I think they saw that I could remember a couple more lines. And then, I think Chris Storer (Ramy, On The Count of Three, Dickinson) kind of chucked me a couple lines, and then I think we'll keep it moving. But yeah, I don't know. I really don't know. I think happy to be here and then, you know—

JEREMY ALLEN WHITE: I think, yeah, I mean, I think Chris was responding to Matty's work on the show. Matty had never acted before the show, and it turns out he can do it so beautifully and he can be so funny and lovable. And so, I think Chris wanted to work with him more and more. And it's also like I've never seen Chris be more joyful...

EBON MOSS-BACHRACH: Yeah.

AYO EDEBIRI: It's true.

EMB: Yeah.

JAW: ...than when he's directing a scene with Matty and like throwing lines at him. It really is the most excited that I see Chris is working with Matty.

CHEF MM: What Jeremy Allen White said.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Jeremy, we got a taste of Carmy's mentality following the finale and how the walk-in incident impacted him in the trailer. But going into Season 3, how will that experience impact him and his employees at The Bear?

JAW: Yeah, I mean, you know, what happens, I do get out of the walk-in refrigerator and that's good. And then yeah, you know, I think Carmy does what he does, which is he sort of buries himself back into his work and really tries to challenge himself and in doing so, really challenges everybody around him and I think becomes quite challenging to be around, as well. A lot of challenges.

PP: Things were not in a great place between Richie and Carmy when we last saw them. How will their relationship move forward as the season progresses and can they overcome the differences that they have?

EMB: They're great now. They're great. They...

(Laughter.)

AE: Play pickleball on Wednesdays.

EMB: They wake up every morning, go for a jog. You know, a little coffee klatch. No, I mean, you've got to watch, I think, right?

JAW: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, yes, Carmy is like continuing to do what he does best, I think, which is like be incredibly avoidant of all the issues that he has going on.

AE: No. What?

JAW: And that's what you'll see, yeah.

AM: Last season Richie got to work at another restaurant which really softened him and informed him a lot. How did that inform you moving forward with the character and into Season 3?

EMB: Season 3 picks up I think not long after Season 2 ends. And I don't know, I think Richie is in a place where he's sort of seen...he's been exposed to maybe a more evolved way of being, and I think he kind of sees a path to head towards. But it's one thing to see the path and it's another thing to walk it. So, I think, like any kind of personal growth, it's forward and back and there's not a kind of clear and one-direction path.

PP: In the Season 3 trailer, Carmy presents Sydney with a partnership agreement. What does this promotion mean for your character and how does Sydney and Carmy's relationship evolve in Season 3?

AE: Well, I think that that's one of the things in the season that we sort of deal with is what it means to Sydney and what that next step would mean for her relationship with Carmy, who's somebody that I think she really has looked up to but now is sort of in the thick of doing business with. And it's I think a lot more chaotic than she might have idealized before they really started working together. So yeah, I think that's sort of something that you'll see.

JAW: Yeah. Yeah, I think for Carmen, he's not the best communicator, but he will often kind of make a sort of grand gesture like that to try and communicate to Syd or the kitchen or whomever. And I think that's his way of kind of reaching out. But oftentimes, I feel like people aren't prepared to sort of receive like - I think he's got a lot going on in his mind all the time, and people aren't always aware of exactly what's going on. And so, yeah, I guess...again, yeah, you'll see obviously how that affects Carmen and Syd's relationship. But I think Carmen's trying to welcome her in a little bit was the point of the partnership agreement, yeah.

PP: What is going on with Tina this season. And then Ayo, would love to hear what it was like directing an episode.

LIZA COLÓN-ZAYAS: What's up with Tina is she is struggling to, you know, be her best and the challenges and wrestling with the demons of her past and you know, white-knuckling.

AE: Yeah, directing was a blast. I really loved it. It's like a dream to get to work with our crew as an actor. And so then, I guess by extension of directing that feeling was only amplified. I was just so impressed and so moved every day. And then, I got to direct some of my favorite actors in the world, and it just felt like a bit of a master class, but also a gift. Like, I was just in the best circumstances of truly just masters of their craft beside me, and I just felt so lucky. I was kind of like this is maybe the best job in the world? Or tied for first place, at least, with the one of acting. Yeah, so it was really wonderful.

AM: Did you choose the script that you were going to direct or is it just a decision you made with Chris Storer?

AE: I mean, a little bit of both, I guess? Like, he had one in mind. We're lucky enough to read all the episodes as actors beforehand, and we'd been talking about it for a while. And I know that he had one in mind, and I think he and the other producers, like Joanna Calo (The Baby-Sitters Club, Hack, Beef), had talked about it a bit, about how the episodes would be distributed. Because I wasn't the only guest director this season. Our AD, Duccio Fabbri (She Said, The Whale, Native Son), also directed an episode. And so, I think they had in their minds who would go where a little bit. But then we had a conversation, and he was like, "Which scripts are you responding to?" And I was like, "I would literally give you my firstborn child, who does not exist yet, if I could do the Liza episode, because I would love to work with Liza in that way." And then, he was like, "Well, we have nice little parallel thinking." So, yeah.

PP: Grief seems to be kind of a river that runs through the entire connective tissue of the show. And no one has seemed to really deal with their grief related to Mikey's (Jon Bernthal) passing and also, it seems like there might be some grief for Marcus, as well, coming up. Will there be any reckonings with unprocessed grief throughout this season, and what does that mean for the restaurant as a whole?

ABBY ELLIOT: Yeah, I think with Natalie, she's processing her grief and she's about to become a mother. She's pregnant and so, she's grappling with the fact that her brother had this horrible demise and her relationship with her mom and her brother is not in a good place. So, I feel like, yeah, she's dealing with the grief in that way.

AE: Yeah, I feel like a lot of different characters have grief that touched them in different ways in how they're dealing with it. I mean, I think you said it very aptly. That's one of the connecting threads of the show, so I think it's in the process of being dealt with by different characters in different ways in this season.

EMB: I would say that it's even one of the strengths of the show and I think one of the reasons that it's connected with so many people is I think grief is the river that runs through all of us. And it's the one sort of - maybe one of the only common things that we all share in the human experience. And so, yeah, that continues, and everyone deals with it in their own way. Or not, you know.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | FX's The Bear

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see BACK TO CHICAGO | The Bear in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

STEVIE VAN ZANDT: DISCIPLE

HBO Original

Max

In Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, this documentary takes us through the career of producer, musician, songwriter, activist, actor, and more. We see him throughout Jersey in Asbury Park clubs and arena stadiums with Bruce Springsteen as well as to the Bada Bing Club with James Gandolfini! There are interviews from an array of notables that we love, including The Boss himself, Darlene Love, Eddie Vedder, Paul McCartney, and Bono. This film looks at his influence as well as his legacy and how he champions rock ‘n’ roll and social justice.

PACK ONE BAG

Lemonada

Spotify

In this podcast, documentarian David Modigliani shares his family history with us which includes his grandfather Franco won a Nobel Prize. He became interested in the love story that made it possible even when he was on the run in Fascist Italy. As he learns about his story, he finds many dark truths that took place that showed how a family member was left behind and how his family had a connection to Benito Mussolini.

Pack One Bag allows David to go to Italy and to take a look at his families' past and what one would do when they are faced with predicaments. He hears from his family about what took place, he looks at spy documents, diary entries and more. With everything he found, he enlists Stanley Tucci (Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia, The King's Man) to tell this story and to bring it to life so that we can understand the importance of history, perserverance and the human spirit despite obstacles that could be in your way.

CLIPPED

FX

Hulu

In Clipped: The Scandalous Story of LA's Other Basketball Team, we take an in depth look on what took place with the LA Clippers and the notorious NBA owner Don Sterling who was known for his racist and problematic remarks which were recorded. Once they were aired, it was the tape heard around the world! This miniseries is based on ESPN 30 for 30 Podcast, The Sterling Affairs.

Both the podcast and the Hulu series looks at the collision between the dysfunction basketball organization, Sterling's marriage, and the impact that the tape and the statements made on them while the team is trying to win a Championship with Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) as the coach and a team that has the building blocks to potentially win their first championship ring.

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY STREAMING in mag.

AWARDS SEASON | EMMYS NOMINATIONS

Today, the Television Academy announced the 76th Emmys for this year’s nominees. Sheryl Lee Ralph (The Mighty Quinn, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Abbott Elementary) and Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Drunk History, Veep) announced the nominees from the El Capitan Theatre. Programs that were eligible to be nominated had to air between Jun 1, 2023, and May 31st, 2024. The award ceremony will take place on Sep 15th, 2024 at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live and will be broadcast live on this date at 8pm ET on ABC and will be available on Hulu for live streaming and on-demand. Jessie Collins Entertainment which is comprised of the trio: Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay are set to executive produce the telecast for the second year in a row. The Creative Arts Emmys will be given out on Sept 7th and 8th.

As we do throughout Awards Season, we share our predictions in bold, the ones we correctly identified as winners are in bold italics and winners that we didn’t predict are in italics. On the night of the event, we will share who we predicted correctly as well as those we didn’t that won.

Best Drama Series

The Crown (Netflix)
Fallout (Prime Video)
The Gilded Age (HBO)
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
Shogun (FX)
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
3 Body Problem (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show, Apple)
Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Anna Sawai (Shogun, FX) 
Imelda Staunton (The Crown, Netflix)
Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show, Apple)

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Idris Elba (Hijack, Apple)
Donald Glover (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Walton Goggins (Fallout, Prime Video)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses, Apple) 
Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun, FX)
Dominic West (The Crown, Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age, HBO/Max)
Nicole Beharie (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown, Netflix)
Greta Lee (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Lesley Manville (The Crown, Netflix)
Karen Pittman (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Holland Taylor (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Tadanobu Asano (Shogun, FX)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Mark Duplass (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Jon Hamm (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Takehiro Hira (Shogun, FX)
Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Jonathan Pryce (The Crown, Netflix)

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Néstor Carbonell (Shogun, FX)
Paul Dano (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Tracy Letts (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)
Jonathan Pryce (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
John Turturro (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Michaela Coel (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Claire Foy (The Crown, Netflix)
Marcia Gay Harden (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Sarah Paulson (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Parker Posey (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Best Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (ABC) 
The Bear (FX)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO/Max)
Hacks (HBO/Max)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Palm Royale (Apple TV+)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO/Max)
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, FX)
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs, FX)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, FX)
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu) 
Maya Rudolph (Loot, Apple)
Jean Smart (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale, Apple TV+) 

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 

Lionel Boyce (The Bear, FX)
Paul W. Downs (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, FX)
Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 

Carol Burnett (Palm Royale, Apple TV+)
Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear, FX)
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Janelle James (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Bernthal (The Bear, FX)
Matthew Broderick (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Ryan Gosling (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Christopher Lloyd (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Bob Odenkirk (The Bear, FX)

Will Poulter (The Bear, FX)

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Olivia Colman (The Bear, FX)
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Bear, FX)
Kaitlin Olson (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)
Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Best Limited or Anthology Series

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Fargo (FX)
Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Ripley (Netflix)
True Detective: Night Country (HBO/Max)

Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Matt Bomer (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Jon Hamm (Fargo, FX)
Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, FX)
Andrew Scott (Ripley, Netflix)

Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Brie Larson (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple) 
Juno Temple (Fargo, FX)
Sofía Vergara (Griselda, Netflix) 
Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Robert Downey Jr. (The Sympathizer, HBO/Max)
Tom Goodman-Hill (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
John Hawkes (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)
Lamorne Morris (Fargo, FX)
Lewis Pullman (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Treat Williams (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Dakota Fanning (Ripley, Netflix)
Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge, Hulu)
Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+)
Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, FX)
Nava Mau (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Drama Series

Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Netflix)
Mimi Leder (The Morning Show, Apple TV+)
Hiro Murai (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)

Frederick E.O. Toye (Shogun, FX)
Saul Metzstein (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)
Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO/Max)

Best Directing for a Comedy Series

Randall Einhorn (Abbott Elementary, ABC)

Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Ramy Youssef (The Bear, FX)

Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show, BET)

Best Writing for a Drama Series

Peter Morgan, Meriel Sheibani-Clare (The Crown, Netflix)

Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner (Fallout, Prime Video)
Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prime Video)
Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks (Shogun, FX)

Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente (Shogun, FX)
Will Smith (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)

Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Netflix)
Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror, Netflix)
Noah Hawley (Fargo, FX)
Ron Nyswaner (Fellow Travelers, Showtime)
Steven Zaillian (Ripley, Netflix)
Issa López (True Detective: Night Country, HBO/Max)

Best Writing for a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary, ABC)
Christopher Storer (The Bear, FX)
Meredith Scardino, Sam Means (Girls5eva, Netflix)
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky (Hacks, HBO/Max)
Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider (The Other Two, HBO/Max)
Jake Bender, Zach Dunn (What We Do in the Shadows, FX)

Best Talk Series

The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Best Reality Competition Series

The Amazing Race (CBS)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Traitors (Peacock)
The Voice (NBC)