Aurora James, founder of the luxury brand Brother Vellies + the 15 Percent Pledge joins PRETTYSMART to share stories, lessons from her new memoir "Wildflower." She shares: 
Her memoir "Wildflower" and the story behind the title.
Why fashion was a unifier in her house growing up. 
The crucial life lesson her mom taught her at a very young age. 
Why identity is complicated for her and why it inspired her to write her book. 
The impact her modeling career had on her mental health. 
Why she wants to co-parent 5 kids with 5 different male friends. 
Why she was arrested when she was in college and what spending time in a jail cell taught her about women. 
The inspiration behind her company Brother Vellies and why she wanted to help get rid of unconscious bias in fashion. 
Why she has never shied away from using her brand and platform to speak up for others. 
The financial setback she faced even while her brand was being worn by Beyonce and Rihanna. 
How her non-profit, 15% Pledge, started with an Instagram post in 2020 and the motivation behind it. 
Her top tips to incorporate activism in your own life. 
Why she believes defining success on your own terms is the key to happiness. 

Aurora James, founder of the luxury brand Brother Vellies + the 15 Percent Pledge joins PRETTYSMART to share stories, lessons from her new memoir "Wildflower." She shares: <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li2">Her memoir "Wildflower" and the story behind the title.</li> <li class="li2">Why fashion was a unifier in her house growing up. </li> <li class="li2">The crucial life lesson her mom taught her at a very young age. </li> <li class="li2">Why identity is complicated for her and why it inspired her to write her book. </li> <li class="li2">The impact her modeling career had on her mental health. </li> <li class="li2">Why she wants to co-parent 5 kids with 5 different male friends. </li> <li class="li2">Why she was arrested when she was in college and what spending time in a jail cell taught her about women. </li> <li class="li2">The inspiration behind her company Brother Vellies and why she wanted to help get rid of unconscious bias in fashion. </li> <li class="li2">Why she has never shied away from using her brand and platform to speak up for others. </li> <li class="li2">The financial setback she faced even while her brand was being worn by Beyonce and Rihanna. </li> <li class="li2">How her non-profit, 15% Pledge, started with an Instagram post in 2020 and the motivation behind it. </li> <li class="li2">Her top tips to incorporate activism in your own life. </li> <li class="li2">Why she believes defining success on your own terms is the key to happiness. </li> </ul>

Behind every headline is a person + a deeper story. Question Everything with journalist Danielle Robay cuts through social media buzz to uncover the voices, ideas, and cultural moments that shape how we see the world. Each week, she asks bold questions that challenge assumptions and reveal the nuance behind the narratives, inviting you to look closer at the world, and at yourself. Because there's always more to the story.
——
Danielle is also the creator of the bestselling QUESTION EVERYTHING card game series, which has sparked connection and conversation in thousands of living rooms around the world. She's also the co-executive producer (alongside Reese Witherspoon) and host of Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. With her signature curiosity—dubbed "The Queen of Questions"—and a background in political science, Danielle brings both heart and rigor to every conversation. A Gloria Steinem Fellow and mentee of Larry King, she's carried forward a legacy of curiosity and connection, interviewing icons from Taylor Swift to Malala Yousafzai in more than 8,000 hours of elevated conversation.

QUESTION EVERYTHING

How to Recognize Opportunities In Unexpected Places: with Aurora James (Wildflower)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/251bceca-0a32-4da6-a662-b38a0149ab18/transcript

We all move through the same world, but we don’t all notice the same things. In this episode, Danielle speaks with visual artist Daniel Arsham about what it actually means to pay attention, and how refining that skill can shape not just your worldview, but your creativity and success. From choosing to live inside a 90-square-foot space in his own studio to building a global career spanning art, fashion, and design, Arsham’s life is a case study in the art of perception. Today, his work sits at the intersection of culture and luxury, collaborating with brands like Dior, Porsche, Tiffany & Co., and Pokémon, with sculptures that sell for millions and exhibitions that draw thousands across multiple continents. This conversation goes beyond aesthetics and into something deeper: how we train ourselves to notice, what we filter out, and how those choices quietly shape what we create, a philosophy he explores further in his new memoir, Future Relic. In this episode, you’ll learn:
Daniel’s take on the art of noticing, and how photography first taught him that a camera is not just for documenting the world, but for framing a personal way of seeing it.
The idea behind failure as a creative necessity.
Why Daniel says success often comes down to being willing to fail longer than most people are comfortable with.
How his humble beginnings at his Greenpoint studio became a key lesson in his career.
Why Daniel wanted his memoir Future Relic to focus so heavily on process, detours, and setbacks 
What Daniel considers his clearest public failure, and why most creative disappointments matter far less than they feel like they do in the moment.
The story of Daniel building a full-scale cardboard replica of Emmanuel Perrotin’s gallery inside his studio as a way of pitching himself. 
The changing value of handmade work in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world
Daniel’s take on taste, which he says is developed through exposure, travel, and experience, not something you are simply born with.

Follow Daniel on Instagram and make sure to check out his book Future Relic 

We all move through the same world, but we don&rsquo;t all notice the same things. In this episode, Danielle speaks with visual artist Daniel Arsham about what it actually means to pay attention, and how refining that skill can shape not just your worldview, but your creativity and success. From choosing to live inside a 90-square-foot space in his own studio to building a global career spanning art, fashion, and design, Arsham&rsquo;s life is a case study in the art of perception. Today, his work sits at the intersection of culture and luxury, collaborating with brands like Dior, Porsche, Tiffany &amp; Co., and Pok&eacute;mon, with sculptures that sell for millions and exhibitions that draw thousands across multiple continents. This conversation goes beyond aesthetics and into something deeper: how we train ourselves to notice, what we filter out, and how those choices quietly shape what we create, a philosophy he explores further in his new memoir, Future Relic. In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Daniel&rsquo;s take on the art of noticing, and how photography first taught him that a camera is not just for documenting the world, but for framing a personal way of seeing it.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The idea behind failure as a creative necessity.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why Daniel says success often comes down to being willing to fail longer than most people are comfortable with.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How his humble beginnings at his Greenpoint studio became a key lesson in his career.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why Daniel wanted his memoir Future Relic to focus so heavily on process, detours, and setbacks&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What Daniel considers his clearest public failure, and why most creative disappointments matter far less than they feel like they do in the moment.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The story of Daniel building a full-scale cardboard replica of Emmanuel Perrotin&rsquo;s gallery inside his studio as a way of pitching himself.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">The changing value of handmade work in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world</li>
<li aria-level="1">Daniel&rsquo;s take on taste, which he says is developed through exposure, travel, and experience, not something you are simply born with.</li>
</ul>
Follow Daniel on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/danielarsham/">Instagram</a> and make sure to check out his book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/future-relic-failures-disasters-detours-and-how-i-made-a-career-as-an-artist-daniel-arsham/e290d48f529a07e5">Future Relic&nbsp;</a>

You're Not Failing Long Enough To Be Successful With Artist Daniel Arsham

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/46a98453-ac0b-469f-a424-b41f00e49331/transcript

We like to believe we know who we are. But what if the version of yourself you’ve been living as… isn’t actually you? In this episode of Question Everything, Danielle sits down with bestselling author and therapist Katherine Woodward Thomas to explore the hidden stories shaping our identities, our relationships, and the patterns we can’t seem to break. Katherine, best known for coining the term “conscious uncoupling,” is back with a deeper question: not just how we separate from others, but how we separate from the outdated versions of ourselves we’ve been living inside. This conversation challenges the idea that healing is only about looking backward, and introduces a new way of thinking about identity, growth, and what it actually takes to change your life. In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why you may still be living inside a story you formed as a child
The concept of “source fracture stories” and how they shape your identity
Why many self-help approaches keep us stuck in analysis instead of actual transformation
How we can recreate our biggest wounds in present-day relationships
The subtle ways we reinforce beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not wanted”
A simple practice for speaking to yourself in a way that interrupts anxiety and spiraling
How to recognize when you’re operating from reaction vs. consciously creating your life
Why healing isn’t just about understanding your past, but changing your future
The difference between your “wounded self” and your “wise self”
How to interrupt emotional patterns in real time with one simple question
Why Katherine says beliefs are formed in relationships, and must be transformed in them
The role of identity in manifestation 
Tools for understand what you are uniquely coded for 
How to begin shifting into a new version of yourself
The power of asking: What am I assuming is true?

Follow Katherine on Instagram and make sure to check out her book What’s True About You

Book recommendation:The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn 

We like to believe we know who we are. But what if the version of yourself you&rsquo;ve been living as&hellip; isn&rsquo;t actually you? In this episode of Question Everything, Danielle sits down with bestselling author and therapist Katherine Woodward Thomas to explore the hidden stories shaping our identities, our relationships, and the patterns we can&rsquo;t seem to break. Katherine, best known for coining the term &ldquo;conscious uncoupling,&rdquo; is back with a deeper question: not just how we separate from others, but how we separate from the outdated versions of ourselves we&rsquo;ve been living inside. This conversation challenges the idea that healing is only about looking backward, and introduces a new way of thinking about identity, growth, and what it actually takes to change your life. In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why you may still be living inside a story you formed as a child</li>
<li aria-level="1">The concept of &ldquo;source fracture stories&rdquo; and how they shape your identity</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why many self-help approaches keep us stuck in analysis instead of actual transformation</li>
<li aria-level="1">How we can recreate our biggest wounds in present-day relationships</li>
<li aria-level="1">The subtle ways we reinforce beliefs like &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not good enough&rdquo; or &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not wanted&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">A simple practice for speaking to yourself in a way that interrupts anxiety and spiraling</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to recognize when you&rsquo;re operating from reaction vs. consciously creating your life</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why healing isn&rsquo;t just about understanding your past, but changing your future</li>
<li aria-level="1">The difference between your &ldquo;wounded self&rdquo; and your &ldquo;wise self&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to interrupt emotional patterns in real time with one simple question</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why Katherine says beliefs are formed in relationships, and must be transformed in them</li>
<li aria-level="1">The role of identity in manifestation&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Tools for understand what you are uniquely coded for&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to begin shifting into a new version of yourself</li>
<li aria-level="1">The power of asking: What am I assuming is true?</li>
</ul>
Follow Katherine on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katherinewoodwardthomas/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and make sure to check out her book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/what-s-true-about-you-7-steps-to-move-beyond-your-painful-past-and-manifest-your-brightest-future-katherine-woodward-thomas/670ab03995862f0f">What&rsquo;s True About You</a>
Book recommendation:<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-game-of-life-and-how-to-play-it-a-prosperity-classic-florence-scovel-shinn/28c9effb253e9f4c">The Game of Life and How to Play It</a> by Florence Scovel Shinn&nbsp;

The Hidden Story Running Your Life With Katherine Woodward Thomas (Therapist) 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7fe3d612-6d3b-48ec-99c3-b41801073dca/transcript

Dany Garcia has built one of the most powerful portfolios in entertainment, but her path there was anything but smooth. Before she became the chairwoman, entrepreneur, and strategic force behind some of Hollywood’s biggest names, she was a 13-year-old girl who decided she was going to build wealth and create a life for herself. From selling men’s suits as a teenager to leaving Merrill Lynch to start her own firm, to architecting the career of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (even after their divorce), Dany has spent her life questioning the rules about power, ambition, and success. But behind the empire is a story of setbacks, rejection, and reinvention. Dany believes that there is no big life without losses, and that the willingness to keep showing up after failure is the real difference between people who dream big and people who build big.

In this episode of Question Everything, Dany opens up to Danielle about the lessons that shaped her: childhood expectations, career risks, painful losses, and the mindset that helped her rebuild again and again. Dany shares:
The rule she broke that changed her life: “The red carpet is only for celebrities.”
How she decided at 13 years old that she was going to create wealth.
Selling men’s suits at 16 and the early lessons that shaped her business mindset.
Meeting Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in college — and later becoming the architect of his career.
Why she continued working with Dwayne professionally even after their divorce.
What she learned from walking into Hollywood boardrooms where people didn’t take her seriously.
The painful realization that the system she helped build might never give her the recognition she expected.
The moment she decided to stop waiting for her “turn” and create her own platform.
Why she believes winning and losing are inseparable when you’re building a big life.
Becoming a competitive bodybuilder in her 40s and what athletics taught her about resilience.
The philosophy behind her brand Dany Garcia’s Donny Moss and advancing the human experience.
What she does better than almost anyone else in business.
How success has evolved from money and ambition to culture, sustainability, and impact.

Follow Dany @DanyGarcia to stay updated on her latest ventures, including DANIMÁS, The Garcia Companies, Seven Bucks Productions, the UFL, and more.

Book Recommendation: Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins

Dany Garcia has built one of the most powerful portfolios in entertainment, but her path there was anything but smooth. Before she became the chairwoman, entrepreneur, and strategic force behind some of Hollywood&rsquo;s biggest names, she was a 13-year-old girl who decided she was going to build wealth and create a life for herself. From selling men&rsquo;s suits as a teenager to leaving Merrill Lynch to start her own firm, to architecting the career of Dwayne &ldquo;The Rock&rdquo; Johnson (even after their divorce), Dany has spent her life questioning the rules about power, ambition, and success. But behind the empire is a story of setbacks, rejection, and reinvention. Dany believes that there is no big life without losses, and that the willingness to keep showing up after failure is the real difference between people who dream big and people who build big.
In this episode of Question Everything, Dany opens up to Danielle about the lessons that shaped her: childhood expectations, career risks, painful losses, and the mindset that helped her rebuild again and again. Dany shares:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The rule she broke that changed her life: &ldquo;The red carpet is only for celebrities.&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How she decided at 13 years old that she was going to create wealth.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Selling men&rsquo;s suits at 16 and the early lessons that shaped her business mindset.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Meeting Dwayne &ldquo;The Rock&rdquo; Johnson in college &mdash; and later becoming the architect of his career.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why she continued working with Dwayne professionally even after their divorce.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What she learned from walking into Hollywood boardrooms where people didn&rsquo;t take her seriously.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The painful realization that the system she helped build might never give her the recognition she expected.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The moment she decided to stop waiting for her &ldquo;turn&rdquo; and create her own platform.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why she believes winning and losing are inseparable when you&rsquo;re building a big life.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Becoming a competitive bodybuilder in her 40s and what athletics taught her about resilience.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The philosophy behind her brand Dany Garcia&rsquo;s Donny Moss and advancing the human experience.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What she does better than almost anyone else in business.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How success has evolved from money and ambition to culture, sustainability, and impact.</li>
</ul>
Follow Dany <a href="https://www.instagram.com/danygarciaco/?hl=en">@DanyGarcia</a> to stay updated on her latest ventures, including DANIM&Aacute;S, The Garcia Companies, Seven Bucks Productions, the UFL, and more.
Book Recommendation: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/power-vs-force-david-r-hawkins-md-phd/09de859ad671e197">Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins</a>

Dany Garcia: The Bigger the Loss, The Bigger the Life

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2d530923-de5f-4fd0-81a6-b41001875cac/transcript

How to Recognize Opportunities In Unexpected Places: with Aurora James (Wildflower)

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