How To Build A Brand That Lasts: with Lew Frankfort (Chairman + Former CEO of Coach)
What separates a good brand from a timeless one? In this episode, Coach’s longtime CEO Lew Frankfort joins Danielle to share the lifetime of lessons he documents in his new memoir Bagman. Lew breaks down why an outsider’s perspective can be an advantage, how “magic and logic” shaped Coach, and what scaling a $6 million leather goods company into a $5 billion global lifestyle brand really took: personally and professionally. In this episode, Lew shares: How a stroller-ready diaper bag sparked his first entrepreneurial lesson Why immersive curiosity must precede data and analytics Life lessons he took away from his struggles with a speech impediment as a child, and how they had a long lasting impact How being an outsider helped him see the fashion world through a different (and valuable) lens The hidden costs of growth—including health, mindset, and family time The techniques he used to help him navigate depressive episodes throughout his life and career A haunting fear of failure that fueled his drive for excellence but came at a personal cost A values-first philosophy on leadership and legacy amid short-term pressures What Gen Z is getting right Follow Lew on Instagram @LewFrankfort Book recommendation: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein Check out Lew’s book BagmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Too Young for Cancer: Sydney Towle on Fighting for Her Life at 25
At 23, Sydney Towle was living a bright, full life—until she felt a lump after a run and heard the words: “likely carcinoma, multiple enhancing masses.” What followed was a diagnosis of Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer usually found in people decades older. Sydney started sharing her journey online to stay connected and hopeful + quickly became a viral TikTok star with over 4 million followers. But as her story spread, the internet turned cruel. Reddit forums accused her of faking cancer. Brands distanced themselves. Strangers sent death threats. She survived the viral campaign against her and is opening up about the emotional, physical, and spiritual lessons she’s learned while living with indefinite chemo and facing life’s biggest questions. Sydney shares: Receiving her rare cancer diagnosis alone in a parking lot. How she knew it was cancer before she was diagnosed + her advice for others. Why she chose to share her story on TikTok Surviving a viral hate campaign of people on the internet accusing her of “faking cancer” The mental battle of pretending to be “just a normal 25-year-old” while living with a rare cancer Dating while in chemo + redefining love The mantras that keep her going. Why she no longer believes “everything happens for a reason” but still believes in kindness, empathy, and intuition. Using humor and disassociation to cope with cancer treatment Fertility preservation and cancer How friendships change + who shows up when life gets hard Finding hope when there is no finish line in sight Life lessons at 25: what really matters when time feels stolen. Follow Sydney’s journey on TikTok + Instagram Book Recommendation: The Midnight Library by Matt HaigSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Deciding Fast + Getting Things Done with Kenzie Elizabeth
If Martha Stewart and Nancy Meyers had a baby with Wi-Fi, it would be Kenzie Elizabeth. She launched her YouTube channel at sixteen, turned hobbies into businesses (needlepoint! dinner parties! book club!), and built a home brand, Friend of Mine. Kenzie shares: How she became “all walk, no talk”: buying a house at 24, moving states, learning power tools, and deciding fast. Gut vs. anxiety: the practice she uses to hear her own voice over everyone else’s. The moment she realized she was people-pleasing in business—and shut down a brand to start Friend of Mine.Monetizing hobbies without losing joy: needlepoint canvases, hosting, gardening, reading, and more. Why she loves the internet (and doesn’t want to disappear when things get hard). Faith ≠ church: keeping a spiritual life while her relationship with religion evolves. Grief, friendship breakups, and who actually shows up. Gen Z x millennial hot takes: boundaries, therapy-speak, and the loneliness epidemic. Hosting 101: the “lazy girl” theme hack, real hostess gifts, and why a curated guest list is kindness. Nashville “signs,” answered prayers, and choosing ease when it appears. The business side: freelancers, fulfillment, and the surprising truth about who buys first. Podcast nerdery: best traits in a guest, overused phrases, and quick-fire hosting favorites. Follow Kenzie on TikTok + Instagram + Youtube Check out Friend of Mine and House Guest Podcast Book Recommendation: The Gap and the Gain by Dan SullivanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Magic Is in the Work You’re Avoiding: with Restaurateur Kevin Boehm
Kevin Boehm cofounder of Boka Group, James Beard Award winner, and one of the most influential voices in modern hospitality has opened 46 restaurants. But behind the success was chaos. In his memoir The Bottomless Cup, he shares his story for the first time. Kevin has lived through highs that felt euphoric + lows that nearly cost him everything: homelessness, bankruptcy, bipolar disorder, and suicidal ideation. His story began with a shocking discovery at 18, that the man who raised him wasn’t his biological father; setting off a lifetime of reinvention, rebellion, and relentless drive. Kevin shares: The “one-take Frank” mentality: why chasing big, loud moments (openings, applause, launches) became his dopamine drug Building a six-table café at 21 and scaling to 46 restaurants The real cost of the high: alcohol, burnout, suicidal lows What an actual rock bottom looks like + why he calls it a gift Choosing happiness like a job: therapy, meds, Hoffman, sobriety, boundariesThe mantras: “The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding” and “Everyone is responsible, but no one is to blame.” Forgiving three complicated parents Why hospitality is emotional surgery, not just food and service The purpose as playing a cameo role in other people’s biggest nights Social media & mental health hygiene: curating your feed like your pantry Content Warning:: This episode includes candid discussion of depression and suicidal ideation. Follow Kevin here Grab a copy of his memoir The Bottomless Cup here Book Recommendation: The Tender Bar by JR MoehringerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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"I Didn't Know I Felt That Way Until I Wrote It Down" Elyse Myers on Healing Through Storytelling
Elyse Myers is a writer, musician, viral sensationmother, and the person who turned her most anxious, "too much" bits into art. She shares about the beautiful mess of creativity, neurodivergence, and the quiet revolution of simply being herself. In this episode, Elyse shares: The moment she realized she was living someone else's life + quit. Walking away from the career, the platform, and the version of "success" that didn't fit. Why telling the story you need is an act of rebellion. How she protects her nervous system +stays open without staying exposed. When creativity becomes your whole identity + how she took it back. Life with anxiety, autism, and "big feelings" + why she stopped fighting them. How That's A Great Question was built off one line + why every chapter is unapologetically unedited. The New York hotel notebook: when nothing made sense…until it suddenly did. Why she stopped trying to "fix" herself + chose to feel, messy and real. Curiosity over certainty. Questions over answers. Belonging over perfection. Follow Elyse Myers here. Check out Elyse's book That's A Great Question Book Reccomendation: Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott + The Kiss Quotient by Helen HoangSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Behind every headline is a person + a deeper story. Question Everything with journalist Danielle Robay cuts through social media buzz to uncover the voices, ideas, and cultural moments that shape how we see the world. Each week, she asks bold questions that challenge assumptions and reveal the nuance behind the narratives, inviting you to look closer at the world, and at yourself. Because there's always more to the story.
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Danielle is also the creator of the bestselling QUESTION EVERYTHING card game series, which has sparked connection and conversation in thousands of living rooms around the world. She's also the co-executive producer (alongside Reese Witherspoon) and host of Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. With her signature curiosity—dubbed "The Queen of Questions"—and a background in political science, Danielle brings both heart and rigor to every conversation. A Gloria Steinem Fellow and mentee of Larry King, she's carried forward a legacy of curiosity and connection, interviewing icons from Taylor Swift to Malala Yousafzai in more than 8,000 hours of elevated conversation.
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