Back Row with Amy Odell

How Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Built Two Billion-Dollar Empires (Part 1)

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were on television before they could talk and millionaires before they could read. Former Us Weekly editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford, author of the new Celebrity Intelligence newsletter [https://celebrity-intelligence.com/], joins Back Row to break down the Full House casting story, the Dual Star empire, the billion-dollar licensing machine, and the NYU years that changed everything. Part Two — revealing the secrets behind The Row — is available to Premium subscribers. Sign up at Back Row [https://www.backrow.net/subscribe] to get newsletter access included with your subscription, or in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Dan Wakeford and Celebrity Intelligence 02:47 Why the Olsens are a unique case study 07:50 The Full House casting story 10:07 The reality of child stardom 16:22 How their personalities diverged early 19:49 From pennies to $80,000 an episode 26:27 The home video empire begins 33:28 The billion dollar licensing machine 48:00 Turning 18 and taking control 53:41 NYU and the paparazzi years 57:47 How everything changed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How Kim Kardashian Broke the Met Gala

SUBSCRIBE to the Back Row newsletter and go Premium to access all paywalled podcast episodes and newsletters: https://www.backrow.net/subscribe Kim Kardashian spent 10 years being the most reviled woman at the Met Gala. Then she became the blueprint. Cultural critic and psychoanalytic psychotherapist MJ Corey, author of Dekonstructing the Kardashians [https://amzn.to/4dGfl3R], joins Back Row to explain how Kim paved the way for the Tech Gala (04:42), why the hatred only makes her bigger (17:39), what the Paris robbery really did for her career (28:15), and why she's acting now (30:35). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Why 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Is More Accurate Than You Think, with Rachel Tashjian [TEASER]

The full episode is for paid Back Row subscribers: backrow.net/subscribe A note to listeners: On May 15, prices will increase to $8/month and $72/year. Upgrade to annual to lock in the lower rate. Or sign up at backrow.net/subscribe to get newsletter access included with your subscription and don't miss a single juicy story. This episode contains spoilers. We've waited 20 years for The Devil Wears Prada 2 — and it's better than expected. Rachel Tashjian of CNN joins me to break down what the sequel gets shockingly right about Anna Wintour, Vogue, and journalism's decline. We also cover Emily Blunt stealing the movie, whether the filmmakers got too close to Anna, and the billionaire character hiding in plain sight. Chapters: 00:00 Spoiler warning & intro 05:56 How accurately does the film depict journalism? 17:34 Did the filmmakers get too close to Anna Wintour? 29:07 The billionaire characters: who is Benji really? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Met Gala 2026 Recap: Beyoncé, the Bezos Backlash, Kim Kardashian, and Vogue's Silence

This episode is sponsored by Margaux [https://margauxny.com/]. First time shoppers get 10 percent off with the code BACKROW. A few of my favorite styles: * Wrap sandals [https://go.shopmy.us/p-51662255] * Phoebe flats [https://go.shopmy.us/p-51662740] * Downtown boot [https://go.shopmy.us/p-37525366] The 2026 Met Gala was the most controversial in memory — and Back Row is telling you what the fashion press won't. Amy Odell and Heather Cocks of Go Fug Yourself and Drinks With Broads break down the biggest narratives from the night: the Bezos backlash, the protests outside, why Vogue's silence was deafening, and what it actually means that tech billionaires have taken over fashion's biggest night. Plus: Beyoncé's return after 10 years, Blue Ivy's debut, the Kardashians and their nipples, Lauren Sanchez's Madame X look, why Jeff Bezos snuck in the back door, John Galliano and fashion's cancellation problem, and whether any of this controversy will actually stick. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:49 The Bezos Backlash and the protests 04:14 The Ball Without Billionaires 07:15 Vogue's silence on the controversy 10:31 Why tech billionaires are really at the Met 18:26 Lauren Sanchez's Madame X look 43:39 The Kardashians, Beyoncé, and the best and worst looks 49:15 Galliano, Anna Wintour, and fashion's cancellation problem 54:05 Will the controversy actually matter? Subscribe to the Back Row Newsletter [https://www.backrow.net/%E2%81%A0subscribe] and Back Row on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@amy_odell]. Follow Heather Cox at Drinks With Broads [https://drinkswithbroads.substack.com/] and Go Fug Yourself [https://gofugyourself.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Filmmakers on How They Nailed the Fall of Fashion Magazines

WARNING: This episode contains SPOILERS for 'The Devil Wears Prada 2.' This is my full interview with 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna. After talking to them both when I was writing 'Anna: The Biography,' I couldn't wait to hear about how they put this movie together after TWENTY YEARS. Who and what were they skewering? Did the film get too close to its source material, Anna Wintour? How did Lady Gaga enter the picture? And... will there be a THIRD movie?! CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 2:43 How the sequel finally got made 5:17 Miranda's backlash: the fast fashion puff piece explained 8:14 How Miranda Priestly changed in 20 years 9:36 The new assistants and the new workplace 12:20 Every cameo, explained 31:43 Emily Blunt and the evolution of Emily Charlton 39:52 Will there be a third film? LINKS & RESOURCES: ▸ Subscribe to the Back Row newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/subscribe ▸ Read my book, Anna: The Biography: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anna/Amy-Odell/9781982122638 ▸ Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]