Monocycle with Leandra Medine

Latest Episodes:

Ep 45: Resolutions Jan 01, 2017

Show notes

Hi ppl! We're back together. Again. And because tomorrow is the last day of this year (am I alone in asserting that even though we're all here and alive as evidenced by my writing this and your reading this and therefore truly in no position to complain, some drastic element of the year fucking sucked?), here is an episode about resolutions, not to be confused with goals. Things covered in the episode include: +The fact that this was recorded while I was sitting in the passenger seat of a rental car in Los Angeles +Why following a somewhat tumultuous but overall subservient relationship with resolutions, I don't want to make them anymore +The one time I kept a resolution (hold on to the same Metrocard for one whole year), how it made me feel (fine), and see previous bullet point +My control issues (I'm so vain) +Grief (which is seemingly the only thing I can talk about these days) +Letting go (another theme you might be tired of hearing about) +Abie +How relieving and gratifying it feels to say to yourself, "I think I was an okay human in 2016, so I'm just going to continue on that path in 2017." Take a listen, let me know what you think, and down here by the ~*~girltalk~*~ station that is our comment feed, tell me if you're making a resolution. What is it? If you're not, why not? For what it's worth, you were an okay human in 2016, so if you decide that you're just going to continue to maintain the status quo in 2017, that's completely and utterly fine by me. Self-improvement is great, but being proud of who you are right now -- flaws, hang ups, curious tendencies and all -- that's fucking awesome. Related Stories: We Asked People to Draw Their Goals for 2016 Why Do We Make Resolutions? I Refuse to Feel Bad About My Phone In partnership with TheRealReal; shop today and get a 20% discount with code: ManRepeller. In January only, new and repeat consignors will earn a $100 site credit when they consign 20 or more items across men’s and women’s fashion, fine jewelry and watches, home and art, and kids -- visit The RealReal to learn more. Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 43: Love Your Mom Dec 19, 2016

Show notes

We're heading into Thanksgiving!!!! Kind of, at the end of next week, and I've never needed some fucking time off more. But I'm also getting kind of anxious about the family time that awaits -- not because I don't love spending time with my family, those people are my people, but because lately, I have been arguing so much with my mom and I can't quite shake the resentment I am starting to feel. Intellectually, I recognize what I need to do the cut the tension that frankly, I am instigating, but emotionally, it's like I've become a six-year-old with a vengeance all over. This makes sense in my head because she is my mom and as such I often feel like I have carte blanche to act like an asshole/baby around her, but guess what? She's a person too! I didn't realize that until recently, but I get it now. The thing is, I'm caught at the intersection of don't care and don't want to believe it. So I've been thinking a ton about a) how selfish I am, b) how incredibly complex the relationship between a mother and her daughter gets as said daughter gets older and c) how even though this exact tension is pretty much the reason so many therapists are employed in this country, such a conflict can feel so...unique to me. Why do I feel so alone? If you can sympathize with any of the above, hit play and then open a bag of popcorn (Buddha Bowl is my recommendation) and commiserate in the comments. Related Stories: Moms: A Moot Point Quotes from the Moms of Man Repeller MR Money Diaries: Laura Medine, Leandra’s Mom, Chronicled Her Spending for a Week Monocycle: Episode 3, Thankful In partnership with TNT Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 44: Hi Again Dec 16, 2016

Show notes

Hi ppl. I'm either sorry or really happy to acknowledge the lack of consistency with Monocycle lately (the apology or gratuity depends on entirely on how you feel about this podcast), but given the events of the past several weeks and the singular event that preceded the past several weeks, I have both been a fire breathing dragon and a severely sad human incapable of stringing together a sentence with my mouth (no problem with a keyboard, though!), but here we are. Back. Talking on the telephone only it's not actually a phone, it's an audio recording that you listen to and maybe speak back to even though I can't hear you (unless you comment, in which case, I totally can). This week's episode is a sort of check in. It's been two weeks since my pregnancy termination procedure and I have been having a lot of conversations with myself, least not being the ones about: +Interrupting self-deprecation +Actually learning how to let go +Self-compassion +How to handle grief (I don't know, I just talk about it) +How to acknowledge how lucky you are if you don't have an arsenal of weapons to handle grief by the age of 27 (means life has been pretty good to you) +The fragility and consequent miracle of life +How it is possible that by episode 44, I am *still* not Malcolm Gladwell Hope you enjoy. It's okay if you don't, and happy Friday before the big fat holidays. What a wonderful time to be alive. In partnership with THINX. Follow THINX on Instagram @shethinx and get $5 off your order with the code MANREPELLER at checkout! Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 42: Consumption Nov 04, 2016

Show notes

In this week's episode of Monocycle, Malcolm Gladwell tackles the notion of consumption in 2016 -- how we eat, how we engage with our Internet tendencies and whether or not, in spite of statistics that suggest millennials are acquiring less, we are addicted to material gain. I'm just kidding, Malcolm Gladwell is not in the building. It's just me, Leandra, talking into her tiny booth about consumption. I do break up the topic into the three aforementioned categories: food, shopping and Internet but probably also go on to diminish any credibility tagged to my points given the sweeping statements that are subsequently posited about our generation, and how we're different (for better or worse) because. Of. How. Much. We. Consume. All. The. Time. For a while, it sounds kind of cynical, but then I reel it back in with a dose of diet cherry coke and optimism because frankly, if you only learn one thing from Man Repeller/Monocycle/me, I hope that it is this: cynicism is much easier than optimism, so do the right thing, which is always the hard thing and force yourself to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Related Stories: Welcome to Consumption Month on Man Repeller I Hate Being On My Phone All the Time Is Technology Eating Our Feelings? MR Round Table: That Elusive Work/Life Balance In Defense of Slow Fashion In partnership with TheRealReal Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 41: Surviving Cancer in Your Twenties Oct 28, 2016

Show notes

Before Breast Cancer Awareness month ends, here is one more point of awareness in the form of a Monocycle podcast interview with Fashionista.com's executive editor, who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer when she was 21. Given the overwhelming financial resources that have been allocated towards research, we are uniquely positioned at this juncture to feel less helpless at the hand of breast cancer. As mentioned in a round table that ran earlier this month, though, it is precisely these resources that have taken us this far, and will continue to move us towards the goal of a world free of breast cancer. So, if you would like to donate, please click here. If you can't, that's okay, just be there when your people need you -- and have the courage to reach out when you need your people. Related Stories Breast Cancer Awareness: The Man Repeller Round Table Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 40: Am I Comfortable or Complacent? Oct 21, 2016

Show notes

In case you have missed tuning into the monologues that occur inside the (membrane) walls that define my head, welcome back! Here we are! With a fresh new episode of Monocycle that outlines a recent question mark I've been shopping around -- how different are comfort and complacency? Can they be regarded as one and the same? It is such a unique and profound luxury, but more and more I have been wondering whether I am adjusting appropriately to this newfangled time. Have I become more comfortable? Absolutely. But is that comfort bringing on this curious sense that I might be complacent -- that is, uncritically satisfied with myself? Or is this just, like any other adjustment would require, a time of transition? LISTEN UP, PEOPLE! TO THIS AND MORE. Related Stories: I Hate Being On My Phone All the Time Monocycle: Episode 35, Learning to be Content As Your Own Boss 5 Things Running Man Repeller Taught Me 6 Things I’ve Learned About How to Manage People In partnership with Squarespace Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 38: Cultural Appropriation Sep 23, 2016

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Not to beat a horse that has been killed multiple times already but in this week's episode of Monocycle, we reopen the conversation around the dreadlocks at the Marc Jacobs Spring 2017 runway show. It's not to throw more shade, or say anything that hasn't already been said, but rather, to talk about two larger problems. The first is, of course, cultural appropriation and the overarching blindspot of the privilege that occurs outside of a minority. It's a huge coup that this is becoming less tolerable and acceptable as our society evolves, but I wonder, as the outrage machine continues firing up, when we've constructively added to the conversation vs. just made noise. Designers, artists -- all creatives, really -- build their collections on reference. There is no art, at least as we know it, without the act of riffing, but the solution isn't pulling ideas from the sky, shutting ourselves off to the incredibly rich cultures of both yore and now. On the contrary, it's proper accreditation and more importantly, the second step towards becoming better people, it's doing something (not just saying something!) to give back to the culture from which you're borrowing. So here, I speak with our new editorial director, Leslie Price, who wrote the original Man Repeller story on the Marc Jacobs show on what we're doing, and stuff like that. As always, this podcast is only as valuable as the feedback you provide, so... Related Stories: On Cultural Appropriation, Racism and Fashion’s Blind Spots Let’s Talk About It: Diversity in Fashion MR Round Table: We Need to Talk About Race A Letter from Leandra: We’ve Updated Our Mission Statement In partnership with Squarespace. Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 36: Back to School Sep 09, 2016

Show notes

Sometimes I feel like my brain is a variety show and your cable network is out of whack, which is to say that you only catch slivers of each section. The fact of the matter is, I'm only delivering slivers of each section, so I'm sorry I just blamed your network. Self-deprecation aside, this episode is all about real world re-entry following a lazy, delightful summer. When you work in fashion, the week that follows Labor Day has this unique ability to make you feel as though you are practically starting your first day of high school, which we talk about a little as a starter thought to open up a larger conversation about fashion week. Note that this episode was recorded BEFORE fashion week started and requires feedback. So, take it away! Related Stories: Back to School: Welcome to New Beginnings Month on Man Repeller Do You Read Fashion Week Reviews? The Strange State of Social Media Etiquette at Fashion Week Fashion Week Is Here And The Clothes Are Easy WATCH: Leandra Introduces Herself To Our New Nolita Neighbors Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 35: Learning to be Content As Your Own Boss Aug 26, 2016

Show notes

In this week's episode of Monocycle, Leandra discusses how to be content as one's own boss and the importance of leaving home life at home and work life at work. This podcast is sponsored by Squarespace, the easiest way to create a blog or website. Use the offer code MONOCYCLE at check out for 10% off your first purchase. Related Stories: 5 Things Running Man Repeller Taught Me Monocycle: Episode 4, Self-Sabotage Are You Happy? Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

Ep 34: Endless Summer Aug 19, 2016

Show notes

On this week's episode of Monocycle, Leandra talks about Endless Summer and how it can be tarnished by planning ahead. Do chronic planners wish away their ability to be present by simple virtue of their gift for planning? After flipping through the first round of September issues available, Leandra found herself suddenly excited for fall, despite the fact that it is still very much summer. And from there began the turning and turning and turning. Related Stories: Welcome to Endless Summer Month on Man Repeller Ask a French Girl in London About August Summer is a State of Mind The Only Three Hats You Need This Summer !Plus! Man Repeller’s Baseball Cap Logo by Kelly Shami - legsny.com/ Edited by Nicholas Quazzy Alexander

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