Work Friends

Jessica Valenti is an author, activist, and one of the leading feminist voices of our generation. In 2004, she founded the now-shuttered but highly influential feminist blog, Feministing, and went on to author several books, including Sex Object: A Memoir in 2016 and Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win in 2024—both New York Times bestsellers. When Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, she launched the Abortion, Every Day newsletter on Substack where she reports daily updates on the devastating and ongoing fallout of that decision.Jessica joins us right ahead of the midterm elections to discuss her career and what’s at stake on the ballot this year.Follow Jessica’s work at Abortion, Every Day on Substack.REMINDER Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Find your polling location and sample ballot at Vote.org 0:00 Introduction1:19 Unhinged, and hireable, behavior3:24 Italian American upbringing in Queens7:15 Feminist parents 10:00 Failing Out and Finding Gender Studies16:10 Feministing and the heyday of blogging19:10 Mainstreaming feminist discourse21:28 The definition of feminism27:45 From blogger to NYT Bestselling author33:10 Abortion, Every Day 38:20 81% of Americans agree on abortion42:21 Work that’s deeply personal43:20 Midterm races that matter most 46:00 Advice to future feminists48:15 Would you rather?On Sali: Argent Collared Blazer and Straight Leg Trouser, and Argent x Citizens of Humanity Maybelle Pocket TeeOn Jessica: Argent Cooper BlazerHosted by Sali Christeson @salichristesonProduced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbitEdited by Charlie Dolgenos @chuck_d_3Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyemaRecorded on location at @marcelnyc by @wondirstudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a very special episode, Sali is joined by Secretary Hillary Clinton. Having entered the spotlight as First Lady of the United States in the ‘90s, Secretary Clinton later became the first First Lady to win a United States Senate seat in 2000. In 2009, President Obama appointed her to Secretary of State. Secretary Clinton also ran twice for president: first in 2008, and again on the Democratic ticket in 2016, when she made history once more as the first woman to be nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.Secretary Clinton’s career, activism, and example of excellence and power have been a constant source of inspiration—including for Argent. Today, she joins Sali from Marcel at Sotheby’s New York, just an hour before the Argent 10-Year Work Friends Dinner, to discuss her trailblazing career, the importance of championing women, and yes, her longtime history in pantsuits.0:00 Introduction2:00 Unhinged White House Job Interview4:10 Childhood & First Job7:20 Law School as One of Few Women13:20 Letters to the White House15:42 Facing Criticism as First Lady19:20 The Workwear Double Standard24:30 Origins of the Pantsuit Uniform29:30 When Hillary Met Sali and Argent33:35 The Importance of Supporting Women37:03 A Pantsuits RetrospectiveOn Sali: Argent Neat Blazer and Slim Maxi SkirtOn Secretary Clinton: Argent Double-Breasted Blazer and Wide Leg TrouserHosted by Sali Christeson @salichristesonProduced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbitEdited by Charlie Dolgenos @chuck_d_3Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyemaRecorded on location at @marcelnyc by @wondirstudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brittany Packnett Cunningham has been an activist nearly all her life. With a background in education, today she sits at the intersection of culture, justice, and policy as the Chief Strategy Officer at Children's Defense Fund and host/EP of the The Meteor’s UNDISTRACTED podcast, now in its fourth season. She sits down with Sali to discuss the hard-learned lessons of having your work thrust onto a public stage, the true meaning of integrity, and why every teacher should be a millionaire.0:00 Introduction2:56 Getting Personal in Job Interviews5:07 St. Louis: The Ups and Downs11:24 Championing Diversity Since High School15:20 Teaching: Hardest Job I Ever Had19:27 Origins of of Ms Pac Yetti21:52 Transition to Activism Career23:29 The Power of No28:30 Ferguson 2014: A Turning Point32:25 Held to an Impossible Standard34:15 Skill Building in Activism38:00 Undistracted Podcast41:55 Children's Defense Fund45:35 The Answer is Always Integrity47:28 Would You Rather50:45 Afterthoughts: Friends with Your Boss?On Sali: Bow Blouse and Straight Leg TrouserOn Brittany: Draped DressHosted by Sali Christeson @salichristesonProduced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbitEdited by Charlie Dolgenos @chuck_d_3Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyemaRecorded at @wondirstudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Tarlov is one of the co-hosts of The Five on FOX News, where she offers a liberal POV among the primarily conservative roundtable. She also co-hosts the podcast, Raging Moderates, with NYU Professor Scott Galloway. Jessica did not start her career in broadcasting—she’s a former Democratic pollster, researcher, and strategist—but her ability to argue her position goes back further than any of her roles. Today, she joins us to share why we’re too worried about being likable and spend too much time being offended. She covers all of this in her new book, I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends, now available wherever books are sold.0:00 Introduction2:31 Dress for the job you want4:37 Growing up in New York/Parents who bring their work home9:48 The lessons of 9/1114:33 Learning to hash it out15:45 The truth about political identity20:17 The Tracy Flick Comparison23:38 Elle Woods: A mascot for our generation25:32 What does a political strategist do?26:35 Raising sons v. daughters31:10 Are we really being transparent?33:12 Researching millennials 34:22 Stop acting so weird and offended36:17 Why Fox News?40:19 From Contributor to The Five Cohost41:48 Returning from Maternity Leave44:20 I Disagree46:50 Being credible < Being likable 48:23 Joy in this political climate49:53 Less education, more real life experience51:59 Would You Rather53:17 Argent Afterthoughts: Gloria SteinemOn Sali: Argent Edgar Blazer, Fine Knit Shortsleeve Polo, and Cropped Straight Leg Trouser Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristesonProduced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbitEdited by Ryan Woldoff @c__bizTheme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyemaRecorded at @wtfstudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on a special episode of Work Friends, we’re flipping the script—as Monica Padman, Co-host and Producer @armchairexppod, interviews Sali in celebration of 10 years of Argent and the upcoming launch of its most ambitious campaign to-date. Monica asks Sali about why and how she built a fashion brand without a fashion background, why it’s beneficial to be the opposite of a gatekeeper, and how Argent brought 100 women together to commemorate the decade milestone. The Argent 10-Year Campaign and Capsule Collection Launches September 8 at argentwork.com0:00 - Introduction2:38 - How Monica Became a Work Friend5:30 - What is Work Friends?7:48 - Being a Superconnector10:50 - Learning Gender Dynamics 15:10 - Best Meet Cute Ever?19:36 - The Child-of-Immigrants Experience22:24 - Millennial Fashion 26:14 - Quit My Job, Started Argent31:10 - The Girlboss “Distraction”35:49 - Men Are Part of This38:50 - Women: Say Yes41:29 - Creating The 100-Women Campaign Image49:00 - The Magenta 10-Year Capsule52:20 - The Opposite of Gatekeeping54:04 - Sali Speed Round!On Sali: Argent Tailored Cargo PantsOn Monica: Argent Belted Double Breasted Blazer, Slim Blouse, and Park TrouserHosted by Sali Christeson @salichristesonProduced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbitEdited by Ryan Woldoff @c__bizTheme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyemaRecorded at @goldmine.podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.