Culture Lounge by ASSOULINE

There are conversations that inform. And then there are conversations that transform. Season Two of The Culture Lounge Podcast opens with the latter. Returning with a new series called The Decisive Moment, listeners are invited into something rarer than a typical interview: a genuine reckoning. Host Alex Assouline sits down with the visionaries who have shaped culture, art, and ideas, and asks the question that cuts beneath biography and achievement. The series opens with Martine Assouline, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Assouline, in a conversation as intimate as it is illuminating. Guided by instinct and a lifelong devotion to beauty, Martine reflects on the photography book that first ignited her ambition to become a publisher, the discipline required to capture the soul of a place rather than simply document it, and the painstaking, deeply personal process of designing each travel book cover by hand.Tune in to our next episode on April 17. 

Hosted by Alex Assouline, the Culture Lounge podcast by Assouline launching on April 3 opens a new chapter, with new voices, new series, and an even deeper exploration of culture in all its forms.

“It’s so important to dream. And people always say, your life starts when your comfort level ends.” - Aerin LauderIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re learning about interior design with the founder and creative director of global luxury lifestyle brand AERIN, Aerin Lauder, and former Ralph Lauren designer and current founder and creative director behind his namesake studio, Alfredo Paredes. Aerin and Alfredo share what it was like to leave established companies to start their own brands, explain their design processes, and chronicle finding design inspiration in places from Mexico City to the desert.1:56 - Childhood memories2:52 - Taking a leap of faith 6:06 - Falling in love with interior design7:53 - Aerin’s design process 9:55 - Alfredo’s design process 11:02 - Design choices that didn’t work12:15 - Teddy bears on mannequin heads12:59 - Favorite rooms at home14:10 - Finding inspiration in the desert and Mexico City15:39 - Advice for the next generation of interior designers16:34 - Memories of Estée Lauder as a grandmother and mentorStick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about the design tricks practiced by ancient Romans.This episode concludes our first season of Culture Lounge. Thanks to all of you listeners for joining us as we’ve explored different corners of creativity across art, fashion, travel, cuisine, and more.Thank you as well to all of our guests who shared their time and expertise throughout the season.We hope you found inspiration, passion, and hopefully knowledge of something new. For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À la prochaine! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Carbone is the show. It's not the dinner before the show.” - Jeff ZalaznickIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re getting a taste of cuisine with renowned chef Mario Carbone and restaurateur Jeff Zalaznick. Mario and Jeff share how a joint love of Italian-American food led to the creation of Carbone, explain how the word “yes” is at the core of what they do, and describe the first meals that sparked their love of cuisine and the last suppers they dream of having.1:21 - Kindred spirits become business partners3:09 - Creating Carbone6:55 - Paying homage to Italian American restaurants7:40 - Captain Camp: How to serve a table at Carbone10:50 - Challenging fine dining trends 17:41 - The last suppers20:34 - The first meal that sparked a love of cuisine24:30 - Advice for wannabe restaurateursStick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about the history of rainbow cookies.For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À bientôt! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“What are you passing down? What’s the legacy?” - Young GuruIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re getting lost in the creative minds of one of the most influential radio personalities, Angie Martinez, and one of hip-hop’s most sought-after producers and engineers, Young Guru. Angie and Guru paint a picture of the diversity of the NYC music scene in the ‘90s, describe the curse of making incredible art, and explain why it’s important to learn new tricks.1:50 - Diversity in ‘90s NYC nightlife 2:59 - Young Guru’s beginnings5:13 - The pressure and glare of fame6:06 - Letting your truth guide your art7:26 - The curse of making an incredible piece of art8:16 - How the music business has changed11:30 - Tastemakers vs. algorithms12:31 - Schooling the next generation15:03 - The implosion of the music industry18:23 - Learning new tricksMusicians mentioned in this episode include JAY-Z, Lauryn Hill, Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Andre 3000, Questlove, Tracey Lee, Brittany Howard, Nonchalant, Rapsody, Reuben Vincent, Rah Digga, and Memphis Bleek.Stick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about how JAY-Z recently made history.For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À bientôt! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“We tried to bring excitement [at Christie’s], and we could with Contemporary Art because the artists were alive, because the art was challenging.” - Philippe SégalotIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re dreaming about art with the founder of Ségalot LP and Christie’s former International Head of Contemporary Art, Philippe Ségalot, and the award-winning art critic, journalist, and filmmaker, Judd Tully. Philippe and Judd share what it was like starting in the art business during a market crash, explain how Contemporary Art went from affordable to wildly expensive, and describe a daring, disguised break-in at Art Basel.2:03 - Who needs Disneyland when there’s a room of Rothkos at MoCA?5:09 - Entering the art world during a market crash9:55 - Redefining what Contemporary Art means 11:35 - Paving the way for younger artists and collectors16:37 - Why Contemporary Art went from affordable to wildly expensive19:11 - Breaking into Basel in disguise22:52 - The next art generationArtists mentioned in this episode include Mark Rothko, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Charles Ray, Robert Gober, Maurizio Catalan, Roy Lichtenstein, Bob Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Picasso, Robert Ryman, Jean Dubuffet, Manet, and Jackson Pollock.Stick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about Pop Art’s surprising origins.For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À bientôt! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“It’s more than a job. It’s like a religion or an obsession.” - Sébastien LabeIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re traveling to Paris to learn the nuances of fine wines with 2004’s Best Sommelier of the World, Enrico Bernardo, and executive head sommelier for Cheval Blanc Courchevel and LVMH Hotel Management, Sébastien Labe. Enrico and Sébastien share their favorite sommelier memories, explain how where we come from changes the way we appreciate wine, and predict what’s next for the wine industry. 2:16 - How to pair wine with food3:22 - Finding emotion in wine5:08 - Creating special moments for guests with the right wine6:08 - Sébastien’s most memorable day as a sommelier10:40 - The first time Enrico realized his talent for recognizing aromas12:05 - Training your palette13:24 - Where we come from changes the way we appreciate wine15:05 - The challenge of Vin Jaune and skin-contact wines17:34 - Current wine trends and what might come next22:00 - How food and wine have changed over the past few decades22:57 - Sommeliers never stop learning  Stick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about how monks and the British influenced the origins of champagne.For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À bientôt! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“The right piece of clothing at the right time. It kind of gives you a superpower.” - Linda FargoIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re immersing ourselves in the fashion industry with Senior Vice President of Women’s Fashion and Store Presentation Director at Bergdorf Goodman, Linda Fargo, and Emmy Award-winning fashion journalist, contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, and host of The Met’s The Atelier series, Alina Cho. Linda and Alina share their gateways into the fashion world, reminisce about legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, transport us to memorable runway shows from Chanel, Dior, and Dries, and describe their favorite looks they’ve ever worn.2:17 – Creating theater with window displays7:22 – The impact of Olivia Newton John’s biker jacket in Grease8:19 – Bringing fashion into the newsroom11:42 – Most memorable fashion shows14:03 – Fashion week car-pooling15:26 – Memories of Bill Cunningham17:46 – Buzzworthy designers of the moment19:57 – Personal fashion memories at the Met Gala and the CFDA AwardsDesigners mentioned in this episode include Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Dries Van Noten, Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, Raf Simons, Phoebe Philo, Daniel Roseberry, Elsa Schiaparelli, Thom Browne, and Vivienne Westwood. Stick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about what Coco Chanel found success doing before becoming a couturier.For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À bientôt! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Watches don’t just tell time.” – Geoff HessIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re delving into the world of watches with the Global Head of Watches at Sotheby’s and RollieFest founder, Geoff Hess, and vintage watch specialist, Mike Nouveau. Geoff and Mike take us behind the scenes of auction houses, share stories of their treasure hunting, explain why “investment” used to be a dirty word in watch collecting circles, and discuss how watches don’t just tell time, they bring people together. 1:37 – Timepiece show-and-tell2:10 – First obsessions5:09 – Passion vs. investment7:37 – Inside the auction room13:31 – Industry education, from forums to social media14:53 – Holy Grail watches21:15 – The next trends in collecting22:39 – Connecting with people from around the world, like @oldwatchladyWatches featured in this episode include Les Folies du Ciel by Hermès, Patek Philippe Calatrava Reference 96 in steel from 1941, Rolex GMT-Master Reference 1675, a, 6263 vintage Paul Newman Dial Daytona, a bamboo Cartier Coussin, and a Rolex 5508 from 1958. Stick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about how Cartier and the Wright brothers were part of the advent of the wristwatch.For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À bientôt! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Say yes, yes, yes to everything.” – Melinda StevensIn this chapter of Assouline’s Culture Lounge, we’re expanding our horizons with model, actress, and citizen of the world, Poppy Delevingne, and former global editor of Condé Nast Traveler and brand and content strategist, Melinda Stevens. Poppy and Melinda, who are niece and aunt, reminisce over their favorite formative French Riviera memories, explain how they ended up wearing life jackets as knickers in Tulum, and share tips on curating the perfect holiday.1:51 – An out-of-body experience in Tulum, Mexico6:32 – Childhood memories from the French Riviera 9:46 – The importance of a proper adventure12:03 – Traveling to Ethiopia, the DRC, and Turkey with Save The Children13:18 – From the mouth of the river to Borneo15:33 – Why you should always say “yes” to travel16:28 – Finding magic in St. Tropez and Ibiza18:36 – A secret Greek island 21:30 – Butterflies and anticipation in NYC25:07 – Tips on curating the perfect vacation27:30 – Where to next?If you want to plan a trip as perfect as the ones Poppy and Melinda mentioned in this episode, try Abercrombie & Kent or Triptych Travel.Stick around until the end for a fun bit of trivia about what the ancient Greeks called Ibiza and Formentera, and how that inspired one of our candle scents.For more inspiration and a video version of this chapter, head to Assouline.com, where culture meets luxury.À bientôt! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This September, Assouline is unveiling the Culture Lounge podcast, a curated sonic experience that brings together artists, visionaries, and tastemakers in conversation from around the world.For the last 30 years, Assouline has created books at the center of culture and luxury, covering everything from wine and watches, to fashion, lifestyle, travel, and sports. Now, we’re inviting you into our world, through a new and exciting medium.In 8 chapters curated by Alex Assouline, you’ll find inspiration, passion, and hopefully knowledge of something new. The first episode premieres September 20th.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices