10 Brilliant Lessons We Learned From Teach Me Something New

Brit Morin Teach Me Something New Podcast

Thanks to Brit's endless curiosity about just about everything, we've learned so much from her podcast, Teach Me Something New. Seasons one and two had so many amazing insights from inspirational guests that included entrepreneurs, actors, chefs, psychologists, and more, so we thought we'd recap some of our favorite learnings for you. Oh, and it's never too late to go back and binge the episodes you missed before season three drops in January 2021.

Acting for Everyday Life with Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher

Brit kicked off the very first episode of Teach Me Something New with one of Hollywood's favorite couples, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. They helped translate a number of acting tricks into skills we can put into practice everyday, whether as parents, at work, and beyond. One such lesson you'll want to hear more about is how Ashton encourages us to suspend our own self-judgment so it doesn't get in the way of showing up as our authentic selves in everything we do.

Boobs and Bras with ThirdLove's Heidi Zak

Heidi Zak has revolutionized the bra industry with ThirdLove by expanding undergarment sizing to be inclusive of 80 different sizes, half-sizes included. On this episode, she breaks down the perfect bra fit (which spoiler, is when your bra is snug while fastened on the loosest hook and only allows for one finger to fit under the band), the life cycle of a bra (9 to 12 months if you wear it almost daily), and how many bras you should actually own (most women own about 10 but only wear one to two).

Cooking 101 with Rachael Ray 

Rachael Ray's approachable cooking style takes the intimidation factor out of the kitchen and has inspired a whole generation of at-home chefs. In this episode, she teaches us the most essential kitchen tools and gadgets for different dietary preferences (e.g. a cast-iron skillet is a must-have for meat eaters), how to make meal prep faster, and the trick for getting kids to eat their veggies. One tip is that kids should be in the kitchen and/or grocery shopping with you from just about infancy so they see food and experience the collaborative aspect of cooking. By simply allowing them to pick a color in the produce aisle to help you shop, they feel invested in the food from the time they begin speaking. Rachael also recommends making a mess in the kitchen to let kids see the beauty and the joy of providing for one's self and their family.

Living Authentically with Glennon Doyle 

Activist, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author Glennon Doyle knows what it takes to break the mold of what the world wants you to be to live out your true purpose. In this episode, she teaches us how to tap back into our curiosity, hunger, and desire to live more authentically. She also shares how somewhere between the ages of 7 and 12, we all start to internalize social norms and conditioning based on how we're supposed to behave if we're a girl, a Christian, an American, etc. Once we start to recognize all the messages we've been internalizing since birth, we can more readily dismantle patriarchal norms and rediscover our true selves.

Therapy 101 with Lori Gottlieb

While we've made great strides as a society to be more willing to talk about therapy, there's still plenty of stigma and misconceptions around the topic. That's why psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb joined the podcast to teach us about the benefits of therapy. She also explains the difference between idiot compassion, which is what most friends do (you're right! that's terrible!), and wise compassion, which is what therapists do. "We hold up a mirror and help you see something about yourself that maybe you haven't been willing or able to see and that's the part that's so important," says Gottlieb.

Meditation with Light Watkins

With 20 years of meditation experience, Light Watkins was the perfect guest to teach us the ins and outs of meditation and how it can benefit us all. In the episode, he stressed the importance of building meditation into your daily routine, like brushing your teeth. He tells Brit and Anj, "Meditation brings a level of awareness that allows you to see more connections, read the room better, and see cause and effect better which will pay off in business, in relationships, even understanding yourself and what you're going through."

Interior Design and Aesthetics with Justina Blakeney

Designer Justina Blakeney is a Jill-of-all-trades creative known for her bold, bohemian style. She joined the podcast to share how you, too, can identify your signature aesthetic (hint: Pinterest boards are key!) and what interior design rules are meant to be broken. One guiding question you should ask yourself as you embark on an interior design project is what activity do you want the room to facilitate? Is it a place you want to read, sleep in, home school your kid in...? Pinpointing the functionality you need from a space will help guide your design choices.

Women's Health with Dr. Kenosha Gleaton

We all have pressing, sometimes embarrassing health Qs we'd only feel comfortable asking a doctor or our closest girlfriend. Luckily, Dr. Gleaton, who's board certified in gynecology and obstetrics, stopped by Teach Me Something New to field all of our personal health questions and shared her knowledge on how we can be more proactive and preventative when it comes to our health, and got real with us on yeast infections, kegels, and more TMI/taboo topics.

The Psychology of Shopping with Rent The Runway's Jenn Hyman

Jenn Hyman has a decade worth of data points about the way we shop, making this episode a must-listen if you're nostalgic for the mall or simply a bonafide style lover. One of the more interesting nuggets she shared is about how Rent The Runway has helped debunked a lot of trend myths, like the one that says New Yorkers are obsessed with all-black-everything. Turns out, when there's access to a more sustainable clothing system like RTR, women actually gravitate toward a lot more prints and color.

Social Media with Instagram's Adam Mosseri

Ever wonder what it takes to run one of the largest social media platforms in the world? That's just part of what Instagram's Adam Mosseri teaches on his episode of Teach Me Something New. He also shares how he applies what he terms "design thinking" to everyday problems. "Design thinking is structured problem solving. Be super clear about what your intention is and about what the different ways of accomplishing that intention might be, and then evaluate the trade offs and iterate through them."

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

Emily in Paris season 4 was the buzziest season yet, and for good reason. Emily's in Rome, Camille was never pregnant, and Gabriel's hair went from très hot to tragique. In addition to the viral response to Gabriel's new hair, season 4 left me pretty sad because after four years of waiting for Emily and Gabriel to get together, they almost immediately break up — and actor Lucas Bravo is just as confused as we are.

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“The ‘sexy chef’ was very much part of me in Season 1 and we grew apart season after season because of the choices he makes and because of the direction they make him take,” Lucas Bravo told IndieWire while promoting Mélanie Laurent’s Freedom. “As they made him kind of unaware of his surroundings, of the dynamic, always victimizing and always being completely lost in translation and oblivious to anything that is happening around him and being manipulated by everyone, it kind of became not fun for me to shoot or to see a character I love so much and brought me so much, being slowly turned into guacamole. I really grew apart from him.”

Honestly it makes me really sad that a character we all love so much is becoming unrecognizable. But at the same time, it makes me feel a little bit better, because we're not the only ones who feel like Gabriel has changed. And while Lucas has done what he can to bring those early-series aspects of Gabriel back, he says "there is only so much I can do in the limits of a script.”

Netflix

“I tried for seasons to bring nuances but we don’t have much liberty on set," he continues. “It makes me question if I want to be part of Season 5…because my contract ends at Season 4. I really want to see if Gabriel gets back to his fun, cheeky, playful, alive self. Because three seasons playing melancholic, sad, depressed, and lost is not fun anymore. It’s a comedy, everybody is having fun around me, everybody is jumping around, and I’m just slowly sinking into god knows what.”

Say what now?! If Lucas Bravo leaves Emily in Paris, I truly don't know what I'd do. Gabriel is my favorite character on the show! (Or at least, early Gabriel was.) Seeing him move from 30, flirty, and thriving to someone who's consistently in the middle of an existential crisis doesn't make sense within the world of the show. And even though Lucas thinks the show has a "lack of risk," he still loves everyone involved.

“I love the show. It started everything for me. I love the show and the people in it," he says. "With saying that, I feel like I am not being nice or grateful, but when you love something you want it to be…you want the best version of it. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been frustrated with the direction by character is taking. But we’ll see where it goes. The show is not over.”

Just like the show's iconic costumes are all about expression and fun, here's hoping Emily in Paris is able to bring some life back into our favorite chef. Because if not, it sounds like we could be nearing the end of the show's most popular would-they-won't-they relationship. Fix this Netflix, I beg you!

What do you think of Lucas Bravo's dilemma? Do you miss season 1 Gabriel? Let us know in the comments and check out the latest Emily in Paris season 5 news.

We are still haunted by the fact that Gossip Girl is over (even the reboot 😩), but at least we can still hear from our fave group of Upper East Siders.

Podcrushed, a podcast hosted by Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari, welcomed actor Adam Brody on their most recent episode. Brody, whom you may know from The O.C., Shazam! and Fleishman is in Trouble, also happens to be married to Leighton Meester, AKA the one and only Blair Waldorf, Badgley’s former Gossip Girl castmate — and the couple just had the cutest date night!

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Leighton Meester and Adam Brody were most recently seen at the 2024 SAG Awards! They stunned on the red carpet with Leighton in a brown satin dress and Adam rocking a navy suit. Both Adam and Leighton were absolutely glowing!

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Adam Brody | Full Ep | Podcrushed Podcast

Funny enough, GG characters Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf have a brief fling in the show, and Badgley and Brody share a striking resemblance to one another, which Badgley jokes about during the episode.

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PODCRUSHED on Instagram: "How old were you when you found out Adam and Penn were two different people?"

Brody admits he was “smitten instantly” with his now-wife after seeing her and the rest of the GG cast come through Canter’s, a Los Angeles deli Brody frequented.

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PODCRUSHED on Instagram: "This week Adam Brody stops by and wins the group over with his endless trove of middle school stories. Adam gets passionate explaining his take on marriage, and shares why he’s the happiest he’s ever been (link in stories)."

The duo didn’t date until several years after their first introduction, but Brody was certainly crushing on Meester, despite her remaining "elusive" and "aloof." His recounting of their love story goes against everything that Meester’s shared about their relationship's origin, but Brody stands by it — and apparently has receipts. 👀

"I couldn't get a total read because, even though she professes to have been interested in me and all those things, not only did she not pursue that, I mean, she was perfectly willing to let that never happen,” Brody added. "Yeah, she was perfectly willing to let that message in the bottle return to sea at several points.”

Awww! We absolutely love seeing people in love – I mean, it’s just so precious. Hopefully we’ll see more of Brody and Meester together, and hear more from Badgley in the future — we’ll definitely keep an eye out for all things You!

Listen to Podcrushed on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Stay updated on all the latest entertainment news with Brit + Co.

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

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Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie created reality TV gold when The Simple Life debuted in 2003. Their antics were outlandish, but we couldn't help repeating their iconic phrases like "That's hot" or "Sanasa" during random moments in our own lives.

It's no secret the two didn't really act that way, but their 'characters' left a huge mark on a generation of millennials. "I knew what I was doing but the whole world didn’t, so it was kind of frustrating to me to be perceived in that way because it’s not who I am at all," Paris told People.

Even though she may have felt judged, it seems that Paris Hilton realizes how many people actually loved The Simple Life because she and Nicole Richie are teaming up to film a reunion special that'll debut on Peacock as we speak! Here's everything we know so far!

When did speculations about 'The Simple Life' reboot begin?

NBCUniversal Media

Peacock first shared a video clip on Instagram that hinted something special involving Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie is coming in May. A nostalgic TV set with a black and white screen can be seen while our favorite duo's voices can be hearing saying, "Sanasa, Sanasa."

Peacock captioned the post, "New Era. Same Besties. Coming soon to Peacock," and fans could barely contain their excitement. Even celebs like Naomi Campbell and Katy Perry commented on these hot vibes.

Bravo

Then Paris Hilton took to her own Instagram to share more about what fans could expect. She said, "As some of you may know, we are doing a reunion special to celebrate 20 years of our show The Simple Life and it's been so much fun."

Actress Selma Blair shared how much she's looking forward to this by commenting that she's "living for this."

So are we!

What was 'The Simple Life' about?

The Simple Life/20th Century Fox

The Simple Life showed Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie as they basically traded their wealthy lifestyles for 'everyday' living. Cameras followed them from fast food jobs to dealing with getting out of sticky situations they'd supposedly never experienced. Needless to say, it was hilarious, iconic, and instant reality TV gold.

How long was 'The Simple Life' on air?

Peter Kramer/Getty Images

The Simple Life was on air from 2003 to 2007 with five successful seasons. It seemed like it wasn't going to be hit at first, but it defied expectations. By how much you ask?

According to reporting from The Cut, somewhere around 13 million viewers tuned in to watch Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's oddball take on daily life. That's a pretty huge deal if you ask us!

When will 'Paris & Nicole: The Encore' debut?

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Paris & Nicole: The Encore will premiere on Peacock December 12! The two were previously seen at a Sonic drive-thru yesterday so it can be assumed filming is underway (via People)!

Sporting partial Sonic uniforms, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie added accent pieces that match their signature flairs. Paris wore a pair of reflective sunglasses, silver sequin heels, and added a pink flip phone to front of her blue apron. Nicole wore gold hoops and a pair of slingback pumps alongside her hotdog mascot costume. That's hot (dog).

How does Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie feel about reuniting for a reunion special?

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Paris Hilton has expressed how much she loves to be sharing the screen with Nicole Richie again. "I'm so excited to be doing this with Nicole on Peacock. Nicole has been my best friend since we're 2 years old, every memory that I have is with her," (via E! News).

Nicole also posted a few throwback moments from The Simple Life on her Instagram, but the most notable one is the video mashup of them singing "Sanasa, Sanasa" over and over. "20 years ago, not only did we become television stars… we became song writers. Happy Anniversary Sill @parishilton#TheSimpleLife#sannnasaaaaa" she wrote in the caption.

What have Paris and Nicole said about their reunion special?

Peacock

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie sat down with W Magazine to let the world know the Paris & Nicole: The Encore show is on its way! Not only that, but fans can expect to see an Opera version of the show they fell in love with two decades ago. Paris said, "The idea of the opera was unexpected" while Nicole chimed in with, "What people need, even though they don't know it yet, is for 'Sanasa' to be an opera.'"

The two besties came up with the idea via a series of texts that started off as ideas between them. Nicole said everything "came up organically" for the two and we can only imagine the memories this brought up for them. OG influencer Paris even talked about how The Simple Life was an "important show in pop culture history" and we couldn't agree more!

Nicole truly wants people to enjoy themselves while watching Paris & Nicole: The Encore and "find the same joy" she had while filming it. According to Paris, she feels what they have is "magic" because "there's just so much history behind it."

It's not every day that you can get to have fun with your best friend while coming up with long-lasting memories that contribute to pop culture, but Paris and Nicole have always danced to the beat of their own drums. Now we'll get to see them in action again!

Watch The Trailer For 'Paris & Nicole: The Encore'

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Friendsgiving season is coming folks! And if you have one on the books, but have no idea what to cook, we have you covered. From deliciously cheesy veggies to a healthy take on everyone's favorite spuds, we're rounding-up easy recipes to make that won't weigh heavy on your pocketbook. Take a look through to see the yummy ensembles you should be whipping up!

Brit + Co

Drop Biscuits

Because everyone needs a carb to soup all those juicy drippings on your plate. This 'The Final Table' winning recipe does the job.

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Smashed Brussel Sprouts

Not crazy about veggies? These greens will change your mind. Topped with cheese, chives, and a nice crisp topping, they're extra yummy (and keto-friendly!)

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Cacio e Pepe Chickpeas

Sure this one is a bit non-traditional, but your vegetarian friends will love it. Plus they make the perfect topping to nearly any dish (who needs croutons when you have these anyways?!).

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Roasted Broccoli

Puts some greens on your plate with this holy-grail recipe. Trust us: It's sooo easy!

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Polenta

Dust off the ole' Instant Pot will this delectable fall polenta. Filled with butternut squash and lots of parmesan you (and your besties!) will quickly fall in *love*.

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Roasted Sweet Potato

Just when you thought you knew how to roast sweet potatoes, this recipe came along. And boy are we taking notes!

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Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

Be the friend that brings the booze. This autumn-themed mulled wine drink will warm everyone's spirits.

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Fall Quinoa Salad

If you're designated salad duty, take a twist on it by packing it full-on quinia, pomegranate, and a tangy dressing. Yum!

Brit + Co

Cheesy Pasta Bake

When the temperatures drop, your friends will be extra thankful for this soul-warming, cheesy pasta.

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Spinach + Mushroom Gnocchi Casserole

No time? No worries! This freezer-friendly pasta bake complete with pillowy gnocchi, creamy mushrooms and spinach is super easy to create ahead of time, without taking away from any day-of deliciousness.

Brit + Co

Cheddar, Jalapeno, and Chive Biscuits

Upgrade your biscuits with "addicting" flavors of cheddar, chives, and jalapeños. Pro tip: Double the batch to ensure you have more than one for everyone!

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Keto Cheese Ball

Your hostess will thank you extra for showing up with an app to tide guests over until the main meal is served. Packed with yummy baked potato fixings, it's got an extra "kick" to make it comparable to store bought options. Plus it's keto-friendly... you can't go wrong with that!

Brit + Co

Cheesy Keto Asparagus

Keep the keto ideas coming, am I right?! Make this popular Pinterest vegetable dish loaded with garlic and extra cheese. Yes please!

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Yogurt Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Pack a 'lil extra protein into your mashed spuds (with the bonus of making them extra creamy!). Who knew yogurt would soon become your go-to secret ingredient?

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Pumpkin Spice Toffee

And let's not forget about the sweets! Make a batch of this pumpkin spice-flavored treat as a great take-home option for overstuffed guests! (Just be sure to save some extra for yourself!)

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