This #Girlboss Wants to Help You Order AND Understand Your Own Lab Tests

It seems like getting healthy is everyone’s New Year’s resolution, but we all know how frustrating a trip to the doctor can be. Between spending way more time than you want to in the waiting room and attempting to navigate your health insurance options, you end up needing to schedule even more time for self-care routines, though it feels like you’re *already* working 24/7 to be less stressed. Getting affordable, easy-to-access testing that can help you understand your health shouldn’t be another reason for a bad attitude. And our new favorite tech-forward healthcare-shakeup #girlboss Julia Cheek doesn’t just agree: She created a business to do something about it. As the founder of EverlyWell, a digital health startup that offers their customers consumer-ordered health and wellness tests AND easy-to-read results, Julia is breaking barriers in practically every room she walks into. We caught up with her to talk health, startups, success and (somehow) keeping it all together.

B+C: All right, first things first. Exactly what is EverlyWell, and how does it work?

JC: EverlyWell is transforming the super cumbersome, confusing and time-consuming process of lab testing to make it accessible and convenient for consumers. You can order our test kits online, collect at home (which means no lab visit), and then receive your physician-reviewed, easy-to-read results in just a few days.

We currently have test kits available for food sensitivity, thyroid, inflammation, fertility, etc. And we partner with some of the best laboratories in the country to conduct the analysis. That means these tests are as accurate as a normal test you would get in a brick-and-mortar lab.

B+C: So you must have *some* sort of healthcare/medical background, right?

JC: I actually don’t! However, I am a consumer of healthcare, which I think provides a unique perspective as to how and why we built EverlyWell. Our market is really the average American woman who is too busy to deal with expensive and time-consuming testing processes. I personally had a really bad experience with very expensive lab testing that resulted in little explanation from my doctors. I spent a ton of time Googling confusing results after I had already spent a lot of time and money getting these tests run. I thought there had to be a better way, so I worked with an investor and our excellent chief medical officer to bring that vision to life. We have an excellent team of healthcare experts to round out the team.

My background is in strategy and operations — I ran corporate strategy for a public company, earned my MBA from Harvard Business School and started my career in consulting. So I came from a pretty traditional corporate background, but I always knew I wanted to start a company. I just waited for an idea and the right time/market to start it.

B+C: What were some of the factors you were seeing in the healthcare market and the way consumers were approaching their health that led you to really believe there was a need for EverlyWell in the market?

JC: I had lots of ideas for companies before we started EverlyWell, but I decided to take the leap because timing is really important for startups, and this is the right time for consumer lab testing. There’s a fast-growing, $250B industry around consumer-centered care — think 23andMe, FitBit, Doctor on Demand, Lemonaid Health, etc. I also believed people were more comfortable self-collecting, which was a behavior first set out by 23andMe. But lab testing has been virtually untouched in the consumer health revolution — yet it’s so important to health management.

Healthcare costs are also catching up to consumers, with deductibles increasing 70 percent in the last six years. Consumers are now making market-based decisions about health and evaluating what they are spending money on. I was super passionate about the idea and solution, but I also looked at the market forces and believed this could actually work.

B+C: Talk to us a little bit about what the early days of EverlyWell looked like and how it’s grown since 2015.

JC: Though it’s still very early days, it’s fun to think about what I was doing this time a year ago. EverlyWell was less than 100 days old, and I’d found our chief medical officer. We were working on convincing labs to partner with an unproven company and building out our lab kits and the MVP e-commerce site and results. It seems impossible that that was only a year ago. Now we have nearly 10 employees, several lab partners, thousands of customers and a great team of investors as we head into 2017. We are constantly adding new tests, new resources and new labs to bring more value to our customers.

B+C: Do you have any house rules at EveryWell that you think contribute to your success?

JC: We don’t have any rules, except that we want to win. We have a big mission to bring lab testing to consumers in a convenient, affordable and understandable way. And we have a lot of work to do to make that happen. Our customers are depending on us, and our entire focus is to grow and “get stuff done” quickly!

B+C: You were the only female finalist at the TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield — which is amazing but also kind of a little WTF. What do you think is the key to getting more women into positions of success in the tech space?

JC: Being a part of TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield was an amazing and humbling experience, and we were even more thrilled to finish as finalists. I will say, it was nice to have no line at the women’s restroom for the entire week, while the line for the men’s room was out the door. I’ve always worked in mostly male industries, so the startup world isn’t any different for me, but I think that female founders tend to have less of a support network than when you are in a corporate leadership role. Many — not all — female founders are non-technical founders like me (read: They don’t code), so they have to build teams of engineers to even get to market. We need more female engineers to fill that pipeline and start companies at the same rates as men and also more focused opportunities for women to build their funding networks. Raising money is all about relationships that are built over time, and women sometimes don’t have those same connections when they get started.

B+C: EverlyWell wants to empower everyone to take control of their health. What are some of your favorite health and fitness tips?

JC: I recently purchased a Beddit to provide a comprehensive sleep analysis, which I’m really enjoying to track heart rate, sleep patterns and sleep quality without having to wear a device. I am also a huge fan of Bulletproof coffee with MCT oil and grassfed butter to improve energy and brain function — it keeps you full for the entire morning! I mostly walk outside now that we live in Austin where there’s lots of access to outdoor trails and hills, but I also love Daily Burn and Kayla Itsines/BBG workouts, if you are looking for something easy to manage while working a lot of hours.

B+C: If you could tell every aspiring #girlboss in the world one key piece of advice, what would you tell them?

JC: I have the great benefit of caring very, very little of what other people think of me and my life choices. That has served me extremely well in all of my decisions: how I spend my time, what I enjoy doing, my career path (or lack thereof). You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your life except yourself.

Tweet us your thoughts on this new tech @BritandCo!

(Photos via EverlyWell)

We might just be getting into the holiday spirit, but for the Radio City Rockettes, it's been Christmastime since September! In addition to a very enlightening game of This or That, twins Caitlin and Courtney Sullivan gave Brit + Co an inside look at what it's like to be a Rockette — and what they do the rest of the year. Consider this the perfect trivia for your Christmas dinner after you've mastered that Rockette red lip ;).

Here are 12 surprising things about being a Radio City Rockette.

1. Rehearsing for the Christmas season is a full-time job.

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Once the holidays roll around, the Radio City Rockette shows might last 90 minutes, but prepping for the season is a full work week. "The rehearsal season itself is six weeks long, six hours a day, six days a week," Courtney says. "So it is a long process and I feel like the rehearsals itself are like a bonding experience for us."

2. The Radio City Rockettes get some serious bonding time.

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"You spend a lot of time with the girls around you and within Radio City, our dressing rooms too," Courteney says of the Rockette rehearsal schedule. "I feel like that's the time when you really get to form those bonds with your sisters and really create magic that can be seen on stage too."

"Yeah, once we move into Radio City, this becomes your family, truly," Caitlin adds. "We spend every day, day in day out together, we spend the holidays together. So you naturally just become very close with everyone."

Each Rockette dresses up her getting-ready station.

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"Everybody dresses up their station to make it feel very homey," Caitlin says. "I like lots of like decor and festive lights, candles, all that fun stuff."

The women love to have treats in their dressing rooms!

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I'm literally snacking on a chocolate bar as I type this, and I'm not the only one who likes to have sweets on-hand! "I love Christmas cookies," Caitlin says. "We will do something with our dressing room and bring in treats every day. I feel like someone's bringing in something new."

The Radio City Rockettes perform up to 200 shows at Christmas.

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"The Rockettes perform up to 200 shows in a season, and the way that each show feels so special and individual, it's just amazing how you never know who's out in the audience seeing the show for the first time," Courtney says. "And the way the ladies in the line put their best foot forward every single time is so inspiring and made me want to give even more."

"It just really amazes me how dedicated and how hard working all the Rockettes are," Caitlin agrees. "And I think we always knew that, but then once you're in it, you have a whole new level of respect for how hard all these women work."

And each Rockette can perform in up to 4 shows a day!

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"I think sometimes people don't realize we can do up to four shows in the day, which is unreal and amazing," Caitlin says. "That might be a surprise to people when they're coming to a show. They might think we just have that one that day, but we actually might have two, three, or four in the day, which is pretty amazing."

But the Rockettes also find time to goof off.

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The Rockettes might be known for their precision, but Courtney promises their smiles are real! "We are having so much fun," Courtney says. "It's really just an amazing feeling to be on stage and we find times to laugh and joke around, but really obviously give our all to our craft. And I think people don't realize like we are really having an amazing time on and off stage."

The Radio City Rockettes really support one another.

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As you can imagine, a career as a Rockette comes with its challenges, but the ladies on the line always support each other. "I was really proud last year was our first season together and just to complete one full season is such an accomplishment," Courtney says. "I feel like we're ready to take it on again and know like we absolutely can do it. And with the support of everyone around us too, you know, you're going to get through the entire holiday season and you're gonna come out even stronger."

The Radio City Rockettes can work a bunch of jobs during the summer.

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The Rockettes have a busy schedule during Christmas — but that doesn't mean they kick up their feet the rest of the year! "Every person on the line has a very diverse background and they go to different job opportunities throughout the year," Courtney says. "People are pulled in different directions when the holiday season is over. The Rockettes do work year-round [with] different opportunities."

"We're always looking to continue to dance and work on our precision," she continues. "The summer though, our favorite thing is to go to the beach. We're from New Jersey and the Jersey shore is like our home. So if we're not dancing, you can definitely find us relaxing on the sand."

The best thing about performing New York City can also be the most challenging.

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You know how, when people talk about New York, they say, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?" That's because it's hard to live here y'all!

"This is just the city that never sleeps," Caitlin says. "There are people everywhere. It's always alive. There's just something magical about New York and I love that. And I think that could come with the biggest challenge as well: the city that never sleeps. You feel like you're going, going, going at all times. But that's pretty exciting to do at our age, living out our dreams. I feel like that will never get old."

"I feel like we have no complaints here!" Courtney adds.

Even as a Radio City Rockette, the work is never done.

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"I feel like there's always room for improvement," Courtney says. "Even today, as we're living at our dream, we're continuously working on our technique and our precision and going back to our foundation, I think the work is never done and you can continue to dream and accomplish some of those really major goals."

"Yeah, the work is never done is I think is kind of our motto," Caitlin adds. "Just keep, keep pushing, keep driving and just keep dreaming. And never give up."

The Rockettes are like one big family.

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Just like so many of our favorite TV show and movie casts, the Rockettes love to bond! "The Rockettes truly feel like a sisterhood and we are so lucky that we are real sisters on the line together," Caitlin says, adding that to dance "with your sister is everything we always hoped for."

And those connections make a magical experience like New York at Christmas even more magical. "[To] be welcomed with open arms has been such a dream come true for us," Courtney says. "We just love the holiday season and to celebrate it at Radio City, I feel like I can't imagine anything better."

Read 35 Magical Photos Of Christmas In New York To Inspire Wanderlust for even more holiday cheer!

Taylor Swift's birthday (which any Swiftie will tell you is December 13, 1989) is always a reason to celebrate. But this year, considering her birthday came five days after wrapping the Eras Tour on December 8, Taylor's BF Travis Kelce took things to the next level by giving the popstar an Eras Tour-themed party! And according to Jo-Jo Edwards-Hilaire, it was a total surprise. Not only did the guest list include some of your favorite celebs, but they all dressed up asTaylor, wearing outfits inspired by each Era in the concert. There's only one thing to say: Long live all the memories we made!

Check out all the pictures from Taylor Swift's surprise 35th birthday party, thrown by Travis Kelce.

Patrick & Brittany Mahomes celebrated Taylor Swift (and the Eras Tour) with themed outfits.

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Patrick and Brittany Mahomes showed up to Taylor's birthday wearing two of the best outfits of the night (which you can see on Brittany's Instagram): Britt was dressed as Fearless-era Taylor with a silver dress, jacket, and long curls, while Patrick was dressed in a suit just like Travis wore when he showed up onstage during "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" in June 2024!

"My people🫶🏼," Brittany captioned the post, adding the heart hands Taylor has become known for. In addition to Britt's on-theme outfit, Taylor wore a black dress with red lipstick, Lyndsay Bell donned a Lover-approved pink sparkly outfit, and Ashley Avignone added some Reputation into the mix by wearing a plush snake around her neck, Voldemort style.

Ross Travis also posted photos from the event (including his incredible pink suit embroidered with ballerinas, heart sunglasses, and feather boa), showing off an epic dance floor. I want to belt "You Belong With Me" with Taylor and Travis!

But an epic party wasn't the only way Taylor Swift spent her 35th birthday.

And Taylor Swift's surprise birthday party wasn't the only event on her calendar last week. On December 12, the singer spent time with patients at the Children's Mercy Kansas City Hospital, petting dogs, making TikToks, and signing Eras Tour books. It was such a sweet and memorable way to kick off her birthday!

One of my favorite things about this visit is that not only is Taylor writing each kid a personalized message on their Eras Tour book, but she gets down to their eye level and stops writing to look at them when they're talking. Just like her lyrics make us feel seen when we hear them, Taylor goes out of her way to make every single kid feel known and important, and it just makes us love her even more.

When one child said, "I like Travis now," Taylor immediately replies with, "Yes, me too. That's an absolute yes on that one." We'd have to agree, Taylor ;).

While you relisten to The Tortured Poets Department, check out why This Taylor Swift Karma Release Date Theory Is Too Good Not To Believe. And sign up for our weekend newsletter for even more pop culture news!

Justine Lupe knows the power of agood rom-com. TheNobody Wants This star finds herself returning to You’ve Got Mail,When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle — basically all of the iconic films many of us nostalgia seekers love. Now Lupe, who cites Kate Hudson as the “perfect rom-com queen,” has found herself in a beloved Netflix series that brings back 2000’s romantic chemistry. And it’s reminding fans of those iconic Y2K storylines that still keep us glued to our television screens.

Hopper Stone/Netflix

In the series, Lupe plays Kristen Bell’s on-screen sister, Morgan, and the pair presents a fun, yet deeply loyal and caring dynamic. “I knew about her work, and I knew about her presence in the industry,” the Succession actress, who recently partnered with food brand Nature’s Fynd, exclusively tells Brit + Co of Bell. “She did a really good job of helping me not feel intimidated by that in any way.” In fact, the Frozen star slid into Lupe’s DM’s “very immediately,” asking her to go on a hike right when she got the job.

Lupe further described Bell as “so sparkly,” “really personable,” and an “easy person to feel close to.” The duo even carpooled to the first table read in order to build a “sisterly rapport” — and the bond most certainly came through on-screen. Despite the two characters hosting a successful sex podcast together, Morgan’s viewed as the “loser sibling” compared to Bell’s character, Joanne. Morgan strives to keep situations lightweight while maintaining depth in her relationships — which isn’t an easy feat as an actress.

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“The writing was the first place that I went,” Lupe says. “I just loved the core story of Morgan — there’s this love story at the center of it all. But Morgan’s story is that she’s losing her soulmate [Joanne] of a sort.” Lupe explains that she kept the idea of “fighting against being the forgotten one” as her “North Star” in terms of Morgan’s slightly outlandish behavior (like busting out tequila to bond with mean girls during a basketball game, which we think was both totally hilarious and particularly genius).

Of course, the most-talked-about storyline of the first season was Morgan and Sasha’s “will they won’t they” relationship (which the creator, Erin Foster, recently told The Hollywood Reporter they’re going to “pull back” on in season 2). Lupe weighs in, adding that she enjoys playing into the “wired attraction” and boundaries of it all, but is ready to see that storyline wrapped up.

“I'm glad [Foster] went with that choice because to me, there's so much more fun to be gained from an oddball friendship between the two of them than there would be from destroying his marriage,” she says. As far as where Lupe would like to see Morgan go in Season 2, she says she’s putting her faith in the writers. “I’m excited for the surprise of it. I don’t really have an agenda for what I would like. I just want to be around.” She jokes that she felt the same with Succession, in which she played Willa Ferreyra for 32 episodes.

Hopper Stone/Netflix

Since Nobody Wants This season 2 is sure to solidify Adam Brody’s internet boyfriend status even more, we asked Lupe if she had an outright crush on him or his The O.C. character, Seth Cohen. But alas, she told us she’s only seen “maybe five episodes,” adding, “I didn’t ever get on that train. I always knew of him because he, of course, was a hugely popular star, and I thought he was so cute.” Us too.

Lupe was early in her pregnancy while filming Nobody Wants This (and is now currently caring for her newborn). So, naturally, we asked what her go-to set snack was. Lupe usually reached for apples, peanut butter, and, more surprisingly, sardines and hard-boiled eggs. She laughs, “I remember sitting in my chair and being like, ‘I’m so sorry,’ everyone. I was like the worst smelling cast mate ever.”

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel actress put her love for interesting food pairings to good use due to her latest partnership with Nature’s Fynd, a fungi-based food brand focused on sustainable protein. “I got really excited by the environmental aspect of [the brand], first and foremost,” she says. “And then it just tastes great, and it has a lot of protein in it, which was also really something that I was interested in as a new mom who needs protein.” You can actually win an LA brunch in February 2025 with Lupe and highly-acclaimed chef, Stephanie Izard, by entering the sweepstakes online before December 31st.

What Our Full Interview With Justine Lupe Here!

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While you’re waiting for that sweepstakes win though, we’ll be patiently watching every 2000’s rom-com, rooting for underdog characters like Morgan. That is, at least, until the next season of Nobody Wants This comes out

Looking for more interviews from your fave celebrities? Be sure to follow us on Youtube so you never miss a thing!

If you've got a New Year's Eve party on the docket this season, we've got all the inspo you could possibly need for a fire outfit! From sequined get-ups to quiet luxury looks, we absolutely love to see what everyone puts on for the countdown to the new year. Get ready to shake up some tasty New Year’s cocktails, get your boogie on, and take some amazing Instagram pics before the ball drops.

Ring in 2025 in style with these stunning New Year's Eve outfit ideas!

Erin Sheehan

Leather pants will always make a statement, no matter where you wear 'em.

Emily Russell

If you want to be The Moment at this year's NYE party, don't be afraid to have fun with your outfit! This iconic sequined dress and hot pink gloves combo def catches our eye.

Meredith Holser

Sequins galore! Pop on a matching set with your favorite boots and a chain belt to easily accessorize.

Olivia Shea

Save this outfit formula – sequin mini dress, tights, and a blazer – for an easy NYE outfit. You could easily shop your 'fit from thrift stores or secondhand shops if you're putting together a look at the last minute.

Kayla Walden

This little tweed matching set is giving all the luxe looks you need for an elegant NYE get-together.

Meredith Holser

If a big blowout NYE party is calling your name, you might want to dress a little lighter. Big parties can get crowded and rowdy, so be prepared to sweat it out in a mini dress and practical, dance-friendly boots.

Erin Sheehan

The texture on this dress is everything. If you want your New Year's Eve outfit to stand out, opt for a piece with an interesting texture, pattern, or eye-catching color!

Kayla Walden

There's nothing a little black dress can't do! Break up the piece a bit by styling your go-to LBD with a colorful belt around the waist. We also adore the statement earrings in this gorgeous gal's ensemble!

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Speaking of interesting patterns, leopard and cheetah prints are hot right now. Whether you don it on a top, pants, skirt, dress, or accessories, you'll be looking so chic.

Olivia Shea

Okay, fur coat! This layered outfit idea is fully convincing us to make a beeline to the thrift and find the fluffiest jacket around. Pair one with a basic black dress and tights, and you're golden.

Emily Russell

We're head over heels with this frilly, fringey look. The sheer fabrics add a hint of flirtiness, which is all you need for a fun NYE function!

Kayla Walden

Leather jackets were practically made for New Year's Eve outfits. We adore the trench-length of this one, especially when worn with a maxi dress that's just as long.

Olivia Shea

Another pop of cheetah print! This NYE outfit idea has it all, from playful prints to shiny sequins.

Meredith Holser

This 'fit would be excellent for an at-home NYE celebration, where you want to look cute, but don't want to feel uncomfortable. Mini dress + cardigan + socks + ballet flats have never been so adorable!

Emily Russell

You can never go wrong with a fun pair of tights!

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If you've been on the internet at all this week, you've probably heard about some totally invasive paparazzi leaking Sydney Sweeney's backyard bikini pics — and her incredible clap back to all the trolls body shaming her in the comments. After the actress showed off her resilience & her muscles in a training video from her new Christy Martin biopic (and celeb BFF's like Glen Powell weighed in), she took things to the next level by posting some spicier selfies from a rooftop in NYC.

Sydney Sweeney's latest spicy selfies prove she couldn't care less about her bikini body shamers.

Sydney Sweeney (almost) bares all in new Instagram selfies.

"rain rain go away," Sydney Sweeney says in a new Instagram post, which already has 3.4 million likes. The carousel of photos includes Syd standing on a rooftop in New York City (where it has been raining recently) wearing jeans and a brown-and-cream colored Miu Miu cardigan. The Housemaid actress also clutches a brown leather Miu Miu purse boasting plenty of charms.

I have to call out one of my favorite comments on the post, which comes from Sydney's hairstylist Glen "Coco" Oropeza and says, “It’s 68 degrees, and there’s a 30% chance that it’s already raining,” referencing one of the most iconic lines from Mean Girls (which is what his Instagram username references too!)

"hopefully your sunshine will push those clouds the f out 😍," another user commented, hyping up Sydney's positive response to all those internet trolls.

And her friends totally have her back.

Sydney's post came four days after she responded to body shamers with an intense training video from her new Christy Martin biopic — and more than one past costar supported her in the comments.

Isabela Merced, who starred with Sydney in Madame Web, said "The thing is these people would never say it in person. Too scared. But if they ever did? best believe it’s hands 😘, while Syd's Anyone But You star Glen Powell commented, "You’re such a bad—ss. This movie is gonna be 🔥."

Sydney and Glen got super close on the Anyone But You set, and formed such a strong connection that they fooled the entire internet into thinking they were having an affair. But in real life, they're just BFF's!

"I wanted to make sure that we were actively having a conversation with the audience as we were promoting this film," Sydney told The New York Times. "Because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who created the entire narrative."

"Once [the movie] did become a success, a lot of the interviews were just questions about [the rumors], so I don’t know if we necessarily were planning on ever talking about the strategy behind any of it," Sydney added in her 2025 Vanity Fair Hollywood story. "We just had very specific questions and when you say no to a question, people think that you’re a b—ch, so."

Check out the latest news on Sydney Sweeney's insane new thriller Eden, with Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, and Ana de Armas.