The Grower: Nile Estep on Farming and Creating Community in Carmel Valley

The Teacher: Suze Yalof Schwartz on Meditation and Lifelong Learning in Santa Monica

Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder of Unplug, a meditation app available globally and a heavenly studio space in Santa Monica, CA. Suze has taught thousands of people around the world how to slow down, be still, and turn inward using a tool we all have at our disposal – our minds.  Once a self-described “C and D student,” Suze discovered a deep love of learning in college — one she’s kept developing throughout her life. She first became known for teaching people what to wear as a makeover guru at Glamour, Vogue, and Marie Claire, and now she helps people discover who they are through meditation. In this conversation, Suze reflects on her childhood in New Jersey, working in Manhattan, her mid-life move to Los Angeles, and how she’s redefining what home means after losing her house in the Palisades Fire. Meditation, she says, has been the anchor through every transition — a practice that’s helped her build resilience, presence, and a positive outlook during life’s most difficult moments. * Swiss Water Ski School [https://swisswaterskiresort.com/] * Simmons University [https://www.simmons.edu/] * Unplug Studio [https://www.unplug.com/class-schedule] * Unplug App [https://www.unplug.com/online-classes] * Unplug Meditation Teacher Training [https://www.unplug.com/special-events-1/teacher-training] * Limitless by Jim Kwik [https://www.limitlessbook.com/] * Arete by Brian Johnson [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=arete+book&ref=nb_sb_noss] * Palisades Fire [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palisades_Fire] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Investigator: Pamela Brown on Questions and Answers in Washington, D.C.

Born into one of Kentucky’s most storied families, Pamela Brown—CNN anchor, journalist, and mother of three—has spent her life balancing legacy with her own authenticity. In this heartfelt conversation, Pamela reflects on her childhood in Lexington, her parents’ influence—former Governor John Y. Brown Jr. and pioneering broadcaster Phyllis George—and ultimately forging her own path in journalism. Pamela shares how her Kentucky roots continue to shape her life and influence her growing family in the greater DC area. From chasing news stories around the world to creating a home filled with love, laughter, and a touch of Kentucky folk art, Pamela reflects on connection, perseverance, and the legacy of women who paved the way. * The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer & Pamela Brown https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/the-situation-room-with-wolf-blitzer-and-pamela-brown * Pamela Brown CNN https://www.cnn.com/profiles/pamela-brown [https://www.cnn.com/profiles/pamela-brown] * The Christian Nationalist pastor with ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/politics/video/christian-nationalist-doug-wilson-pam-brown-digvid * UNC Broadcast Journalism School https://hussman.unc.edu/ * Kentucky folk art http://www.kyfolkart.org/ * La Jolla beach & tennis club https://www.ljbtc.com/ * My Town: Pamela Brown https://gardenandgun.com/articles/my-town-pamela-browns-lexington-kentucky/? [https://gardenandgun.com/articles/my-town-pamela-browns-lexington-kentucky/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Phyllis George https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_George [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_George?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * John Y. Brown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Y._Brown_Jr. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Y._Brown_Jr.?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Connector: Leila Zegna on Strong Ties at Work and Home in London

Entrepreneur, investor, and mother of three, Leila Zegna has spent her life searching for belonging — from her family’s global roots to building a “forever home” for her own children. In this intimate conversation, Leila opens up about redefining success, creating a home filled with joy and connection, and raising her children — one of whom has a rare medical condition that changed her understanding of love, control, and meaning. Anna and Leila talk about letting go of perfection, embracing presence, and building a life — and a home — that feels like a sanctuary. * Kabuki Syndrome Foundation [https://www.kabukisyndromefoundation.org/] * Boston Children’s Hospital [https://www.childrenshospital.org/] * Nancy Meyers aesthetic [https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/how-to-get-the-nancy-meyers-aesthetic-at-home-a-really-deep-dive] * Kindred Capital VC [https://kindredcapital.vc/] * Yale University [https://www.yale.edu/] * Harvard Business School [https://www.hbs.edu/] * Le Cordon Bleu Paris [https://www.cordonbleu.edu/paris/home/en?utm_source=google&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=google] * Hyde Park London [https://www.royalparks.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/Hyde-Park-Map-English.pdf] * Iranian Revolution [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Grower: Nile Estep on Farming and Creating Community in Carmel Valley

From baking bread before sunrise to hosting line dancing under the stars in Carmel Valley, Good Roots founder and Hacienda Hay and Feed store owner Nile Estep has built a life around farmers markets, convening and creating community. At his six-acre space called Hacienda — part farm, part feed store, part gathering place — he’s cultivating something rare in the digital age: a place where people slow down, create with their hands, and rediscover what it means to belong. Anna and Nile talk about the importance of building a space for everyone to gather, how he brought small-town values into Silicon Valley with community crafting events, and why the most meaningful work often starts at home. * Hacienda Carmel Valley [https://haciendacv.store/] * Good Roots [https://www.goodrootsevents.com/] * Facebook Community Summit [https://www.facebook.com/community/] * Radici Market [https://www.instagram.com/radicimarket/] * Salinas Valley [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinas_Valley] * John Steinbeck [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck] * Carmel Farmers Market [https://www.wcfma.org/carmel-valley] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Trendsetter: Sara Pollack Darsky on Style, Design, and Parenting in LA

From indie film sets in New York to the earliest days at YouTube, Sara Pollack Darsky has lived at the center of culture and tech. In this conversation, she reflects on chasing dreams, surviving quarter-life crises, building a career that reshaped media, and creating a home that feels both grounded and aspirational. Along the way, she opens up about her career (she is currently the Global Head of Consumer Marketing at Pinterest), parenting, and what it means to belong—to a city, a family, and even a house. * Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/] * Little Miss Sunshine [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449059/] * Everything is Illuminated [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404030/] * Miramax [https://www.miramax.com/] * Fisher Stevens [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001770/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1] * Hoffman Process [https://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/] * Shou Sugi Ban [https://shousugiban.com/] * Limewash [https://www.jhwallpaints.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10689248102&gbraid=0AAAAACTIVN8h39OhEgqcYmgxpbQ_Zr1bk&gclid=CjwKCAjw6P3GBhBVEiwAJPjmLosU9Y9QSyh9jNn1QfbYEY11GBulPQD1tKfBooOOlD0Xl2mEeiUgPBoCB_IQAvD_BwE] * Nancy Meyers [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Meyers] * Brown University [https://www.brown.edu/] * Brentwood School [https://www.bwscampus.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.