(Almost) Reckless

A conversation with Ken Wallin, Gabriel Smilovic, and Amy Smilovic. Ken is a Multidisciplinary Artist and Gallerist from St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. More importantly, Ken is Amy’s father and the grandfather of Gabriel, who joins the discussion as our third guest, and is the Manager of New Media Projects and Collaborations at Tibi. Born in Chesterton, Indiana, Ken grew up in the Midwest and was a practicing psychologist in the Chicago medical and educational systems before moving to St. Simon’s Island with his wife and two daughters. There he continued his psychology practice, while also embarking on an art career across a range of creative mediums, from sculpture to oil painting, with a focus on abstract impressionism. His work can be found in various fine art galleries around the country, as well as at the Wallin Gallery on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. The episode was shot and produced in Ken’s studio on St. Simon’s Island.

Ted Dennard, Founder and Head Beekeeper of Savannah Bee Company, shares his journey from a small-town childhood in St. Simons Island to revolutionizing honey branding. He passionately discusses the importance of authenticity in business, recounts his unique path of learning beekeeping through the Peace Corps, and reflects on failures as stepping stones to success. Ted emphasizes the value of teamwork and the significance of staying true to one’s story while navigating the complexities of growth without compromising integrity.

A conversation with Frances Shoemack and Amy Smilovic. Frances is the Founder & CEO of Abel, the world's first 100% natural luxury fragrance house. Abel was created by Frances in 2013 in Amsterdam, a time when many believed it wasn’t possible to create a luxury perfume using only natural ingredients. Today Abel is based in Wellington, New Zealand, with global distribution and worldwide acclaim. The riveting discussion provides deep insight into the perfume industry, dissecting the term "industry" itself, the origin story of Abel, Frances goals for the future of the perfume world, and the many correlations that exist between Amy and Frances, two female independent business founders. The episode was shot and produced live in the Tibi Atelier.

A conversation with Alex Zatarain and Amy Smilovic. Alex is the Co-Founder and VP of Brand & Marketing at Eight Sleep, the world's first sleep fitness brand. Born in the United States and raised in Tijuana, Alex's multi-cultural upbringing has led her down an incredibly diverse career path culminating in the creation of Eight Sleep in 2014 with her partner, Matteo Franceschetti, now valued at over 1 billion-dollars. The discussion covers a range of topics, from the significant influence of mentors at a young age and the investor/founder relationship, to the inner-workings of running a business with your significant other. The episode was shot and produced live in the Tibi Atelier.

A conversation with Chef Fermin Nunez and Cecelia Cox, moderated by Amy Smilovic. Chef Fermin grew up in Torreón, Coahuila - his vision for Mexican cuisine in America, told through Suerte and now Este, has had an immense impact as he continues to tell the story of one of, if not the most, diverse cuisines in the world, through the medium of food, arguably its most profoundly rooted heritage. Cecelia is the Head of Brand Marketing at Google - she launched the discipline for Google in 2017 and has since released productions like Google’s original documentary series, Search On. The discussion traverses a range of intriguing subjects, from the importance of risk taking and the subjective indictors of success to defining your “proprietaries” – the skills that are uniquely your own. The episode was shot and produced live in the Este Garden in Austin, Texas.

In this engaging discussion, Samara Cohen, Chief Investment Officer at BlackRock, shares how her passions in theater and math have shaped her career in finance. Wendy Finerman, Oscar-winning producer known for Forrest Gump, emphasizes the value of authenticity over self-promotion. They explore the pitfalls of overhyped workplace skills and the importance of authentic networking. Both guests advocate for a holistic life perspective, stressing integrity and purpose above short-term gains while navigating crisis through teamwork.