(Almost) Reckless

A conversation with Mara Hoffman and Amy Smilovic. Mara Hoffman is an Artist, and the Founder of Mara Hoffman, her independent, namesake label that she led as President and Creative Director for 24 years. As a prominent leader for sustainability in the luxury fashion industry, Mara decided to close her doors in the Spring of 2024, ultimately realizing that the best path forward in her environmental advocacy would be through a different lens. This episode is a journey through Mara’s career and a no-frills discussion, from Amy and Mara’s 50 years of combined experience, about the many foundational and deeply rooted issues that independent designers confront in pursuit of building a business based on principles and values that extend beyond just revenue and profit. This episode was shot and produced live at 666 Studios.

A conversation with Malcolm Mitchell and Amy Smilovic. Malcolm Mitchell is a best-selling author, poet, founder of Share the Magic Foundation, and Super Bowl champion. After retiring from the NFL in 2019 after two years due to an injury, Malcolm was confronted with a career shift earlier than expected and altered his focus to being a full-time author, writing children's books and championing the importance of youth literacy through his "Read with Malcolm" initiative. In 2016 Malcolm published his first book, The Magician's Hat, followed by My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World, which was published in 2020. Malcolm and Amy's paths first crossed at the tail end of his career with New England Patriots, and the two have remained great friends since. The episode was shot and produced live at 666 Studios.

A conversation with Yasemin Demirci and Amy Smilovic. Yasemin is the founder and owner of The Store by Schneeweis, an independent, luxury boutique located in the heart of Vienna, Austria that has carried Tibi for just shy of 15 years. Since opening its doors in 2008, Schneeweis has come to represent the pinnacle of especially curated, luxury clothing and accessories in Vienna. The two founders compare and contrast their experience in the fashion industry and the differences within their specific niches, as well as the details behind the launch and creation of a new Viennese apartment in the Fall of 2025, in partnership with Yasemin and Schneeweiss. The episode was shot and produced live in Paris, France.

A conversation with Beth Hutchens and Amy Smilovic. Beth is the Founder & Creative Director of FoundRae, a collection of fine jewelry, more specifically intently crafted modern heirlooms for self-expression. Beth and Amy have known each other for more than two decades, as Beth’s origins in the fashion industry began when she co-founded Rebecca Taylor in 1996. The discussion touches on Beth and Amy’s shared experience founding luxury clothing brands in the late 1990s, coming up together in the industry, and Beth’s change of course in 2015 when she ventured into the world of jewelry – the ups and downs, first principles of success, and most prominently, the biggest risks and their respective outcomes. The episode was shot and produced live in at 666 Studios.

A conversation with Ken Wallin, Gabriel Smilovic, and Amy Smilovic. Ken is a Multidisciplinary Artist and Gallerist from St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. More importantly, Ken is Amy’s father and the grandfather of Gabriel, who joins the discussion as our third guest, and is the Manager of New Media Projects and Collaborations at Tibi. Born in Chesterton, Indiana, Ken grew up in the Midwest and was a practicing psychologist in the Chicago medical and educational systems before moving to St. Simon’s Island with his wife and two daughters. There he continued his psychology practice, while also embarking on an art career across a range of creative mediums, from sculpture to oil painting, with a focus on abstract impressionism. His work can be found in various fine art galleries around the country, as well as at the Wallin Gallery on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. The episode was shot and produced in Ken’s studio on St. Simon’s Island.

A conversation with Ted Dennard and Amy Smilovic. Ted is the Founder & Head Beekeeper of Savannah Bee Company, an independent brand based in Savannah, Georgia specializing in elevated honey and honeybee products. He is reshaping the way we see bees - encouraging people to move beyond the commercialized image of the plastic honey bear and to instead appreciate the brilliance of the bees themselves. Amy and Ted’s shared upbringing on the small island of St. Simons Island, Georgia, guides the conversation, touching on the origins of Ted's fascination with beekeeping and the non-negotiables intrinsic to running an independent business, made complete by raw stories of failure and regret, as the intricacies of staying authentic are woven throughout. The episode was shot and produced live in at 666 Studios.

A conversation with Frances Shoemack and Amy Smilovic. Frances is the Founder & CEO of Abel, the world's first 100% natural luxury fragrance house. Abel was created by Frances in 2013 in Amsterdam, a time when many believed it wasn’t possible to create a luxury perfume using only natural ingredients. Today Abel is based in Wellington, New Zealand, with global distribution and worldwide acclaim. The riveting discussion provides deep insight into the perfume industry, dissecting the term "industry" itself, the origin story of Abel, Frances goals for the future of the perfume world, and the many correlations that exist between Amy and Frances, two female independent business founders. The episode was shot and produced live in the Tibi Atelier.

A conversation with Alex Zatarain and Amy Smilovic. Alex is the Co-Founder and VP of Brand & Marketing at Eight Sleep, the world's first sleep fitness brand. Born in the United States and raised in Tijuana, Alex's multi-cultural upbringing has led her down an incredibly diverse career path culminating in the creation of Eight Sleep in 2014 with her partner, Matteo Franceschetti, now valued at over 1 billion-dollars. The discussion covers a range of topics, from the significant influence of mentors at a young age and the investor/founder relationship, to the inner-workings of running a business with your significant other. The episode was shot and produced live in the Tibi Atelier.

A conversation with Chef Fermin Nunez and Cecelia Cox, moderated by Amy Smilovic. Chef Fermin grew up in Torreón, Coahuila - his vision for Mexican cuisine in America, told through Suerte and now Este, has had an immense impact as he continues to tell the story of one of, if not the most, diverse cuisines in the world, through the medium of food, arguably its most profoundly rooted heritage. Cecelia is the Head of Brand Marketing at Google - she launched the discipline for Google in 2017 and has since released productions like Google’s original documentary series, Search On. The discussion traverses a range of intriguing subjects, from the importance of risk taking and the subjective indictors of success to defining your “proprietaries” – the skills that are uniquely your own. The episode was shot and produced live in the Este Garden in Austin, Texas.

Episode 01 of the (Almost) Reckless podcast features a conversation with Samara Cohen and Wendy Finerman, moderated by Amy Smilovic. Samara Cohen is the Chief Investment Officer of ETFs and Index Investments at BlackRock. Wendy Finerman is the critically acclaimed, Oscar winning producer of Forrest Gump and The Devil Wears Prada. The conversation touches on many points ranging from their views on overhyped skillsets and living a non-bifurcated life, to the difference between self-promotion and being yourself, rounded out by a short Q&A with the live audience.