Maddie Poppe Sings, Our Future Women Inspire, Plus More Highlights from #CreateGood 2018 Night 1

Allison Takeda
Oct 16, 2018

Welcome back to #CreateGood! Brit + Co‘s 2018 event kicked off on Monday, October 15, with #CreateGood Future, featuring a lovely lineup of speakers including WW president and CEO Mindy Grossman, Hollywood Records recording artist and American Idol winner Maddie Poppe, Gen Z writer and comedian Ruby Karp, youth health activist Haile Thomas, and Coalition Z co-founder and executive director Alexandra Lehman. (Find out more about Karp, Thomas, and Lehman in our just-launched Future Women of America special feature.)

The panel was streamed live from New York City’s Build Studios at 7pm ET, but if you missed it in real time, you can watch the entire thing below, or catch up on all the highlights in our recap. And don’t forget to tune in Tuesday through Friday at 7pm ET for more incredible guests and panels.

Brit Morin got things started by defining the mission of #CreateGood.

Brit + Co founder and CEO Brit Morin set the tone for the week-long event with a speech about the importance of, well, creating good in the world. Acknowledging the #MeToo movement and the record numbers of women running for office, Brit encouraged attendees and viewers to become the change they want to see.

“Over the next five nights, we have constructed thought-provoking panels and conversations, all aimed to help women get inspired to create something new in their lives for the better — for good,” she told the crowd at Build Studios. “With themes ranging from creating good style to creating good hustle, we want to encourage women to take their passions and make them real. We want to teach them how to have a voice and to learn something new. We want them to feel like they have the power and skills to create. And mostly, we want them to not only feel inspired, but to take action.”

Ruby Karp shared what feminism means to Gen Z.

Karp, a stand-up comedian who has her own show at the Upright Citizens Brigrade, uses humor to address important issues such as politics and activism. She’s especially vocal about women’s rights and the importance of intersectionality when we talk about those rights.

“I think my generation has a very strong hold on the problems with feminism 10 years ago and where we are with feminism now,” she said. “I think our generation is now aware that we have to make sure everyone is aware that feminism should be intersectional, and it is for everyone, [including] people who don’t identify as male or female. Feminism is different for everyone, feminism affects people in different ways, and I think we have become very aware of that and very conscious of our privilege and where we are coming from and who we’re talking to when we are talking about feminism.”

Haile Thomas spoke about the power of food to change your life.

Thomas, who is the youngest certified integrative nutrition health coach in the US and runs a nonprofit called HAPPY (Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth), was inspired to get educated — and educate others — about wellness and nutrition, after her dad was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes.

“Food truly is powerful in healing the body, hurting the body, and also unlocking our best selves, ultimately,” she explained. “I was learning all of this at 8, and I was very overwhelmed by all the information. I felt kind of betrayed by the entire food system, but at the same time, it was empowering to know that my choices really do matter and make a difference in how I feel and how I live.”

Alexandra Lehman stressed the importance of kindness and empathy, even — or especially — when you disagree with someone.

Lehman is the founder of Coalition Z, an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of politically minded youth and engaging them in democracy, even if they’re not old enough to vote. Speaking about how her parents influenced and fostered her passion for activism, she shared what they taught her about compassion — a lesson we should all carry with us, particularly in this charged climate.

“I think the most important and transformative lesson my parents instilled in me since I was very little has been to be kind to anyone, no matter who they are, what they do, or what they believe, and to develop perseverance and grit, so when something is difficult, you work through it,” she said. “Having that as the foundation upon which I can serve as an activist has allowed me to develop a platform that is based on empathy and a desire to listen to others and to find points of connection. And I think we really need that, more so now than ever.

Karlie Kloss’ Kode With Klossy scholars shared their superpower.

After a special video message from Karlie Kloss to the #CreateGood audience, Brit sat down with Ellie, Anum, and Victoria, three girls from her Kode With Klossy program, which hosts coding summer camps for girls aged 13 to 18 to empower them to become leaders in tech.

“Coding is a superpower that anyone can obtain. It’s the reason we can talk to computers and get a response back, it’s the reason we can search on Pinterest for DIY projects or talk to our best friends on Instagram. It’s just as simple as throwing a few commands in and getting a really cool response out of it.”

Mindy Grossman advised Brit’s “future CEO self.”

Asked for some tips about running a company, Grossman, the CEO and president of WW (formerly Weight Watchers) offered up this nugget of wisdom: “I talk a lot about the transformational power of believing in yourself. What has empowered me to take the risks and do the things I want, because I passionately believe it, is I believed in myself. I believed in myself when other people were skeptical, and it’s really important, because who’s going to believe you if you don’t believe in yourself?”

Maddie Poppe performed and inspired future aspiring singers.

After serenading the audience with a gorgeous performance of her single, “Going, Going, Gone,” Poppe, the most recent winner of American Idol, marveled at how drastically her life has changed in the last year. She also shared her advice for other young girls with big dreams.

“Some advice I would give to somebody wanting to follow their dreams is to never give up,” she said, recalling how she almost turned down the chance to audition for American Idol in October 2017. “I just didn’t know that one ‘yes’ was going to change my life forever. You never know how close you are. I was told ‘no’ hundreds of times before American Idol. You gotta do what makes you happy. And be yourself, because that will take you a long way.”

Tune in tomorrow for #CreateGood Art Night, livestreamed here on Brit + Co and on the Brit + Co Facebook page.

(Maddie Poppe image via Jammi York/Build Studios)

Amanda Gorman Is Speaking Out and It’s Pure Poetry

Before youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman recited her breathtaking poem, "The Hill We Climb," at the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, Brit + Co featured her as part of our "Future Women of America," a multimedia project spotlighting 15 young women under 20 who were making bold moves. Click here to see all the trailblazing women and girls featured.

In November of 2017, Amanda Gorman went on MTV to deliver her “State of the Union" address. Standing at a podium in a sparkly, coral dress, Gorman leaned into the mic and began reciting her poem: “History doesn't wait / It doesn't reach out / Change only comes to those who speak out / So I did." Gorman wasn't addressing the nation as president (although she does plan to run in 2036), but rather as the nation's first-ever youth poet laureate. The title, awarded to Gorman in April 2017, wasa trailblazing role and one that Gorman seemed born to play.

As a spoken word poet, she's used to taking center stage and using her work to speak out on topics like oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization. But in this new role, she made a point to take some time to sit back and listen to America's youth. During her year as youth poet laureate of the U.S., she went on a summer tour to visit libraries and schools across the country. She also focused on bringing poetry into places (like MTV) where it isn't typically seen.

Gorman has now passed the year-long tenure to another talented young poet, but her career has only just begun. A student at Harvard, Gorman still performs frequently across the country, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA (she has since graduated cum laude). Here we talk with Gorman about what it was like to be the first-ever youth poet laureate, what inspires her as a writer, and what happened when she finally met her hero, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

B+C: What was your greatest accomplishment of the last year?

Gorman: I got to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda last month, and I'm sorry, it doesn't get much better than that! I was asked if I wanted to perform a poem honoring him and also Dick Van Dyke — they were both receiving an award — and it was kind of like, “Duh," with a capital D-U-H, exclamation mark! I didn't bring world peace. I didn't find a cure for cancer. But I have to say, getting to meet Lin-freakin'-Manuel Miranda literally makes me feel like I have an armored shield on my chest. He is such an idol, especially with what he did with Hamilton, really revolutionizing the way in which stories can be told. That is always what I'm aspiring to with my own work as a poet.

B+C: Speaking of celebrity run-ins, back in 2016 you were invited to the White House to meet Michelle Obama. What was that like?

Gorman: When I got there, I was looking out and I saw the White House lawn. I remembered Michelle Obama's Democratic National Convention speech, where she mentions looking out at that lawn and seeing her daughters play in the house that was built by slaves. I'm the descendant of slaves, particularly one further up the line whose name was Amanda as well, and I was just having a full-circle moment. Meeting with the first black First Lady as a descendant of slaves, being honored for writing when my ancestors would be prosecuted for doing the same thing, I was literally about to faint from just the majesty of it.

B+C: There's often this idea that poetry is archaic and boring. What do you think of the relationship between young people and poetry today?

Gorman: I think there's something in the way in which poetry is taught in the classroom that gives it a characteristic of being old and this kind of medieval form that only has one shape and one voice. Growing up, I wasn't always really deeply exposed to young writers, writers of color, or writers that were women. What's really exciting, especially now with technology and the digital age, is there's a lot of access and exposure that instantly happens when you have spoken word poets who can get millions of views online. You have poets posting their work on Instagram, and that becomes shareable and accessible. So poetry is no longer just siphoned to an exclusive realm, but it really can be by anyone, for anyone. It's really the art of the people, and I think younger generations are really the ones who are taking that, running with it, and doing really phenomenal things.


B+C: How do you think poetry and performing have affected your confidence and your self-esteem?

Gorman: You know, I think it's a dual relationship. My poetry is all the more self-assured and profound when it's coming from a place of security rather than a place of doubt. That's not to say that I don't question myself, but being a performance poet, being a spoken word poet is 80 percent about body language. It's about convincing people that my words deserve to be heard before they even hear my voice. If I'm going to pursue my art, if I'm going to continue doing that which I love, then I have to love myself. I have to be confident enough in myself that I can compel other people to love my work as well.

B+C: What do you do when the writer's block hits?

Gorman: My game plan changes depending on the situation, but what I've been doing recently is reading memoirs, letters, or essays by mostly women writers who struggled with the same thing. I read about how they knocked down those barriers. There's this one essay I've been reading and rereading. It's called “Thoughts on Writing: A Diary," by Susan Griffin, in the collection The Writer on Her Work. There's a line where she says, “This experience renders a precise meaning," and I just repeat that to myself. This experience of having writer's block, this experience of suffering, this experience of doubt, has a precise meaning through my writing. I might not see it yet, but over time and with work and with perseverance, that meaning will make itself clear to me.

B+C: What is the biggest struggle for you in your work?

Gorman: Being a full-time student [at Harvard]. I'll be traveling to Colorado, California, New York City… but I also have a paper due that's not going to write itself. I hope that challenge doesn't sound too self-centered, but I'm trying to be honest about it because I don't like to pretend I'm someone I'm not. What I can say is that I'm someone who's in love with poetry and sharing it with others, and I'm also someone who's in love with learning and being a student.


B+C: What's on the horizon for you?

Gorman: Finishing my last two years at Harvard and graduating. My life is a mosaic of many different things. I'm really taking the time to focus on my writing. I'm working on some book ideas, and I'm hoping that I can turn those out before I go back to school and have more essays due. That's definitely something that's on the horizon for me. Also, probably stalking Lin-Manuel Miranda.

B+C: What do you say to other young women who are your age or maybe your age when you started, who have big career dreams but aren't sure how to go about achieving them?

Gorman: I don't believe in an aspiring anything. I don't believe in an aspiring writer, an aspiring director… If you want to go do it, go out there and do it. If you want to lead your community, if you want to be a scientist, that's something you can desire to do, but it's also something that you can get started on right now. Don't hesitate, don't wait. Don't aspire. I'm trying to find something that rhymes with this to make it sound cooler. Oh, maybe like, “Don't aspire, achieve!"

Written by: Cortney Clift

Design by: Yising Chou

Photos courtesy of Anna Zhang and Amanda Gorman

This article has been updated from a 2018 post.

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Olivia Munn Bravely Shares Mastectomy Scars In Latest Skims Ad

Olivia Munn bared it all in her latest SKIMS ad, proving you don't have to hide your scars. The actress posed in a campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, supporting Susan G. Komen®and highlighting her own journey with the disease. She looked absolutely stunning in every photo, but the most gorgeous moment was the way Munn didn't shy away from showing her mastectomy scars. She spoke to TODAY about her experience during the shoot, and why she ultimately decided to ditch her insecurities. Here's what she had to say!

SKIMS

Munn shared with TODAYthat she didn't initially plan to show her scars on the set. The campaign was focused on her recovery post-breast cancer diagnosis, but the makeup artist had a hard time covering up the scars throughout the shoot. She explained that she took a look in the mirror and thought, "I’m done being insecure about my scars." From there, she took the idea to show them off to the SKIMS team — and the rest is history.

SKIMS

And while she was scared to be so vulnerable on camera, this was ultimately a really empowering move for Munn. She elaborated that there are "so many women that have these same scars" who feel just as insecure as she did about them — and she really hopes those women see this ad. "Skims is so iconic and associated with beauty and sex appeal, and cancer really doesn't have that same connotation," she said. "So I just really hope that other women who have gone through my same path feel a little better after seeing it."

SKIMS

The star also took to Instagram to give a behind-the-scenes explanation of her experience. She reiterated that she was "done being insecure" about her scars. "Every mark life has left behind on my body is proof of how hard I fought," she wrote. "I hope other women who have been self-conscious about their scars see these photos and feel all the love I’m sending."

She also shared that SKIMS will donate 10% of their bra sales (except bralettes) to Susan G. Komen® — a charity dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer — from October 23-31 in stores and online. "It’s really meaningful to be part of an initiative that supports research and helps countless individuals impacted by breast cancer," she said.

SKIMS

All of this comes on the heels of Munn's announcement earlier this year that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She revealed the diagnosis came after recently tested negatively for well-known breast cancer genes and had normal results from her annual mammogram — but her doctor to check her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. The test showed Munn had a 37% risk of breast cancer, so she pushed for more answers that eventually lead to her diagnosis.

Since then, Munn shared with PEOPLE that she had 4 surgeries in 10 months and underwent medically-induced menopause — all the while juggling being a new mom with husband John Mulaney. She shared, "I'm lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day."

SKIMS

After that March announcement, it's clear Munn is dedicated to raising awareness for women's health — and particularly their options. While chatting about the SKIMS campaign, Munn told TODAY, "You've got to go your doctor and you inundate them with information and you don't stop until they give you the test you need."

If you want to test your own risk for breast cancer, the National Institute of Health has resources here.

Looking for more celebrity news? Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!

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Mari Copeny Is Flint, Michigan’s 11-Year-Old Hero

Mari Copeny Is Flint, Michigan’s 11-Year-Old Hero

When she was just eight years old, Flint, Michigan, resident Mari Copeny wrote to President Obama asking him to meet with her to discuss her hometown’s water crisis while she was visiting Washington, D.C. He didn’t just respond — he decided to visit her in Flint. Since then, Copeny has continued to speak out about Flint’s crisis and regularly helps distribute clean water to residents.

“Future Women of America” is a multimedia project spotlighting 15 young women under 20 who are making bold moves. Click here to see all the trailblazing women and girls featured.

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The 'Severance' Season 2 Trailer Is Finally Here & I Have So Many Questions

The cast and crew of Severance are finally returned to the office after months of waiting for production to resume, and we finally have a first look from the new season! Apple TV+ just posted a teaser image from season 2 of cast member Adam Scott holding a bunch of blue balloons. We don't quite know the significance of this picture to the plot, but we do know we are pumped to see it!

Executive producer, Ben Stiller, spread the news about the Apple TV+ series’ return back in January 2024 with a quote tweet simply commenting, "back to work.”

Adam Scott also teased the Severance season 2 production in an Instagram post the same month, saying it’s “lovely being back at the office.” Severance season 2 is officially back on track. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming season!

Watch The Official 'Severance' Season 2 Trailer!

Adam Scott is back in the first teaser trailer for Severance season 2 — and spends the entire trailer running from his problems (relatable). It appears that despite the fact Mark's innie retreats at the end of season 1, it looks like he wakes back up in the elevator and has lots of surprises waiting for him in the office.

Is there a release date for Severance Season 2?

Apple TV+

Severance Season 2 Release Date

Yes, we finally have a release date for Severance season 2! The sophomore season will hit Apple TV+ on January 17, 2025.

What is Severance about?

Apple TV+

Severance Season 2 Plot

Severance is a fictitious psychological thriller TV series that’s focused on a biotech company named Lumon Industries. In the show, Lumon Industries has popularized a procedure called ‘severance’ that separates their employees’ work selves from their personal lives. Essentially, when Lumon employees are at work, they can’t recall anything outside of work, and vice-versa when they aren’t at the office.

The first season of Severance follows Lumon Industries employee, Mark (portrayed by Adam Scott). Throughout the first season’s nine episodes, Mark and his coworkers begin to learn more about the severance procedure, their double-lives, and Lumon Industries’ true objectives – and it all begins to unravel in a mysterious way.

Who stars in Severance?

Apple TV+

Severance Season 2 Cast

Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, and Michael Chernus are all part of the main cast in Severance.

Deadline confirmed in 2022 that Gwendoline Christie, Bob Balaban, Merritt Wever, Alia Shawkat, Robby Benson, Stefano Carannante, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, and John Noble are part of the Severance season 2 cast.

Where can I watch Severance?

Apple TV+

You can stream season 1 of Severance on Apple TV+. If you don’t already have a subscription to Apple TV+, you can try the platform 7 days free before subscribing for $9.99/month.

Why is Severance season 2 taking so long?

Apple TV+

Severance season 2 is taking so long because production was halted in the wake of last year’s writers strike.

The cast and crew began filming season 2 on October 3, 2022, with production shutting down on May 8, 2023. Since SAG-AFTRA has struck a deal with AMPTP studios, it’s “back to work” on the Severance set per executive producer, Ben Stiller.

Is Severance creepy?

Apple TV+

Severance follows the horrors that come with working in an office, so yes, it’s creepy. Just kidding (sort of)!

The surreal tone of Severance definitely makes it creepy. There’s an ongoing feeling that someone – or something – is constantly keeping watch and wants to gain control. This tone, paired with the series’ clean, manicured (yet cold) visuals, chalks it up to be fairly disturbing.

The characters in the show become increasingly aware of this cryptic, surveillant presence, and the building tension definitely adds to the show’s creepiness. It’s also pretty existential, which is the creepiest feeling of them all.

Was Severance canceled?

Apple TV+

Severance was not canceled. (Thank goodness!) The production was put on pause due last May to 2023’s writers strikes, but it’s up and running now. We are enthused about the show’s return!

Never miss a new show or movie announcement by signing up for our weekly newsletter! Keep checking back here for more info.

This post has been updated.

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'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 Won't Feature This Controversial Couple

All it takes is a few episodes of Nobody Wants This to realize it's one of the best rom-coms of the year — and that Adam Brody is still super hot. The series, which also stars Kristen Bell, has gone viral for everything from its hilariously relatable approach to dating to "the best kiss of all time" to how eloquently it explains the fear that we're too much for a romantic partner. With an 8.1 out of 10 on IMDb, a 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and literally millions of TikTok views, it's no surprise the show was just renewed for a second season. Here's everything we know about Nobody Wants This season 2.

What's going to happen in Nobody Wants This season 2?

Hopper Stone/Netflix

Creator Erin Foster just revealed Nobody Wants This season 2 is actually going to get rid of this tease from season 1: Morgan and Sasha's flirtationship. "I think we’re going to wrap up their weird 'Is it romantic?' thing. Because we want to see them together in season two, hanging out," she tells The Hollywood Reporter. "We want to see Esther. I think we went down that road enough that now we’re going to pull back and reposition so we can have them all in scenes together without [Morgan] being like, a full homewrecker. But we’re going to give Morgan something very fun. Justine [Lupe] came in and we pitched it to her and she was like, 'This is my dream storyline.'"

Is Morgan going to be swept off her feet? Or maybe she'll inherit a huge sum of money and become her own trophy wife. That would be SO Morgan.

Is there going to be a season 2 of Nobody Wants This?

Stefania Rosini/Netflix

Yes on October 10, Netflix announced that Nobody Wants This will be coming back for season 2. And (spoiler!!!) now that Joanne and Noah have decided to be together, and Noah's decided to give up his position as Head Rabbi, I have a feeling they'll have to deal with a lot of opinions. (Namely, Noah's mother).

"Creating Nobody Wants This will forever be a career highlight for me," creator Erin Foster says in a statement. "The incredible cast, crew, producers and executives all made this into the show it is today, and to experience viewers' reactions to this series now that it's out in the world has been more than anything I could have dreamed. I’m so lucky to be able to continue this story, and to do it alongside Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan, who I've been such a fan of since Girls... Justice for healthy relationships being the most romantic!”

When is Nobody Wants This season 2 coming out?

Netflix

We know season 2 is coming out in 2025, but stay tuned for an official Nobody Wants This season 2 release date.

Who's in the cast of Nobody Wants This season 2?

Netflix

The Nobody Wants This cast includes Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Stephanie Faracy, Tovah Feldshuh, Paul Ben-Victor, Michael Hitchcock, Jackie Tohn, Sherry Cola, Shiloh Bearman, and Emily Arlook.

Does Nobody Wants This End on a Cliffhanger?

Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Nobody Wants This might not end on the same kind of thrilling, dramatic cliffhanger as Outer Banks season 4 part 1, but it definitely leaves us with a ton of questions. How will Joanne and Noah's families react to the news? What does life look like as a couple? Will Joanne be able to flaunt their relationship in front of all the teenagers? No matter what comes, these two are very much in love, and I can't wait to see them continue to heal and grow together.

Adam Rose/Netflix

Check out 10 Reasons Nobody Wants This Is The Best TV Show Of The Year — and all the other October TV shows to watch this month!

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