What's Contemporary Now?

• Met Ball Monday

  It is Monday, but not just any Monday. It's the first Monday in May queue. The flash bulbs, the group chats, the live tweets, the MET Gala is here, and with it, the annual flood of speculation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How Lyas Built a Career by Staying Unapologetically Untamed

  Describing Lyas as a "fashion narrator" rather than a critic or commentator feels curiously apt in a moment when fashion could use a little more imagination and a little less judgment. Storytelling, after all, is what he does best — with a kind of honesty that carries weight without ever feeling heavy. Unlike many of his peers, Lyas is as much a creator as he is a commentator, sculpting himself into a living performance while quietly building a world behind the scenes with two films already in the works. His energy moves through the industry like a weather system — sometimes wild, but never without purpose — electrifying the air it passes through. He learned early that the worst thing anyone could do was ask him to tame himself, and it is precisely this refusal that has shaped his path. Fired from every traditional job he attempted, Lyas carved out a future that runs on instinct, imagination, and just the right measure of delusion. In an industry that often rewards conformity, he is a reminder that sometimes it is the unruliest forces that end up remaking the landscape. "I couldn’t be normal. My normal is crazy." - Lyas  Episode Highlights: Growing up in Rouen - Lyas reflects on his early years in a city steeped in history but devoid of contemporary culture — and how moving to Paris unlocked his sense of identity and creative belonging. The Power of Performance - How 11 years of drama school shaped Lyas’s relationship to fashion, storytelling, and self-expression — and why performance is an essential part of his daily life. Feeling the Most Tamed — and the Most Lost - A candid look at how being "tamed" or asked to tone down his personality deeply affected Lyas’s sense of self-worth — and why authenticity became non-negotiable. Building a Career Without a Blueprint: - Lyas shares how unconventional paths, personal resilience, and creative hunger shaped a career that defies traditional expectations — and why doing things his own way became the only option. Living Rent-Free in Paris (and Building a Dream) - The surreal stretch of living rent-free during COVID — and how it gave Lyas the time and space to develop the projects that would launch his digital career. Making Fashion Critique Accessible - Why Lyas believes fashion commentary should be democratized — speaking to real people, not just insiders — and how he uses humor and storytelling to break down barriers. Choosing Integrity Over Industry Pressure - The moment Lyas chose honesty over maintaining industry relationships, after attending a disappointing show and refusing to stay silent. The Future of Fashion (and the Role of Excitement) - How Lyas manages to stay genuinely excited about fashion, especially by championing young designers, despite the industry's increasingly commercial pressures. Writing Stories, Not Just Reviews - Lyas shares his passion for screenwriting, the difference between writing scripts versus essays, and the films he hopes will challenge and change culture. What’s Contemporary Now? Hatred — and Hope - Lyas’s unexpectedly profound answer to the show's namesake question — that hatred feels contemporary today, but so does the community-building needed to fight it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Icons of the Edit: Paul Cavaco and Tonne Goodman

  In fashion, there are stylists—and then there are image-makers. As the “C” in KCD and one of the first male editors to define women’s fashion editorial, Paul Cavaco helped shape the modern visual vocabulary of the 1990s, styling everything from Harper’s Bazaar under Liz Tilberis to Madonna’s era-defining Sex book with Steven Meisel and Fabien Baron. Tonne Goodman, whose early days included modeling for Richard Avedon and assisting Diana Vreeland, brought that same instinct for clarity and cultural intuition to her longstanding role as the American fashion editor of Vogue. In a moment when the function—and future—of the fashion editor is being reexamined, hearing from two of its originals felt not only timely, but essential. Their conversation is a reminder that while fashion constantly reinvents itself, the value of vision and integrity never goes out of style. "I grew up in the Bronx. There was no fashion in my house. What we had was music, grit, and individuality." - Paul Cavaco  "Everything really does happen for a reason. Even the catastrophic moments usually lead to something better." - Tonne Goodman  Episode Highlights: The Bronx Meets the Upper East Side - Paul and Tonne reflect on their wildly different upbringings—his gritty childhood in the Bronx, hers in a cultured Manhattan household—and how those contrasting backgrounds shaped their approach to fashion and image-making. Modeling Missteps and Vreeland’s Memo - Tonne shares how her short-lived modeling career ended with a memorable memo from Diana Vreeland describing her as “not pretty,” but still worth investing in—an early lesson in resilience and reinvention. From the Streets to the Studio - Paul shares how growing up in the Bronx and discovering style through music and street culture gave him a grounded, real-world approach to fashion—one rooted not in fantasy, but in everyday grit and individuality. The Madonna Sex Book and the Power of Play - Paul shares behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Madonna’s Sex book, revealing how humor, trust, and improvisation drove one of pop culture’s most provocative moments. Working Under Vreeland, Liz Tilberis, and Anna Wintour - Both editors reflect on their experiences working under three of fashion's most legendary editor-in-chiefs, and how those women shaped the way they understood vision, authority, and trust. Amber in Poughkeepsie - Tonne recounts a story of a shoot gone wrong—turned right—thanks to a vintage car parade and quick thinking. A reminder of how the best images often come from the unexpected. What a Fashion Editor Actually Does - They unpack the evolving role of the fashion editor—from doing everything themselves in the early days to navigating the micromanagement of today’s content-saturated shoots. The Value of Niceness - In an industry known for egos and elitism, both credit their long-term success to gratitude, empathy, and kindness—and explain why being “nice” is often an underrated superpower. On Creative Longevity and Staying Awake - The key to keeping ideas fresh? Staying alive to the world. For Paul, it’s about visual curiosity. For Tonne, it’s emotional connection. For both, it’s a refusal to become calcified. What’s Contemporary Now - Tonne cites empathy and mutual care as the defining principles of the present, while Paul reflects on how enduring values—rather than trends—shape what really matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• We Want to Hear From You

  While it’s nearly impossible to open your eyes without encountering some news item signaling uncertainty or disruption, we couldn’t help but find excitement in the inevitability of change—even when that change isn’t exactly what we might have chosen ourselves. With the season’s remaining episodes ahead, it felt like the right moment to invite audience participation by opening the mic to your questions—ones you’d like answered by the creatives who make up our incredible cast. DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. If you've enjoyed the show, leave us a review and we'll be back soon with more episodes answering the insatiable question, what is contemporary now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Getting Beyond the Noise with Editor Sarah Richardson

  Once upon a time—not so long ago—it was fashionable to declare that print would only endure if it became a luxury object. That forecast now feels less like speculation and more like prophecy. Today, conversation tends to orbit a different anxiety—the ceaseless deluge of content, the flattening effect of algorithmic consumption, and a hunger not just for beauty but for discernment. In that context, Beyond Noise feels less like a magazine and more like an antidote. Conceived by Sarah Richardson as a biannual publication with the weight of a collectible and the spirit of a cultural artefact, it resists the pace of now in favor of something slower, deeper, and yes, more exacting. During the release of the third issue, Richardson joins us to unpack the why, the how, and the why now of her quietly radical vision. “Even if you don’t agree with me, I’d rather build something that reflects a clear point of view. I think people are craving that right now.” - Sarah Richardson Episode Highlights: Sketching in the Halls of the V&A - Sarah reflects on her early creative instincts, growing up in central London and spending weekends sketching historical costumes in museums with her culture-loving mother. Fashion Through Film and Family - Watching old movies with her stylish grandmother becomes one of her earliest memories of fashion, setting the tone for a lifelong love of cinematic style and storytelling. From Window Dressing to Styling - Her time at Joseph and Browns led her from visual merchandising to understanding styling as a career path—guided by early encounters with Venetia Scott and a pivotal comment from her father. The Subcultures of London Past - Sarah shares how London’s subcultural richness shaped her worldview and speaks to the shift of that visible diversity in today’s more commercial fashion landscape. Bridging New York and London - With offices in both cities, Sarah discusses the cultural tension and creative energy between New York’s optimism and London’s rebelliousness—and how Beyond Noise brings the best of both worlds together. The Birth of Beyond Noise -  After years of experience across fashion, retail, and publishing, Sarah speaks about her desire to build a platform that reflects her vision and gives space to other creatives. Why Two Volumes Not One - She unpacks the decision to split Beyond Noise into two distinct volumes—Beyond as a purely visual experience, and Noise as a place for culture, commentary, and deeper reading. Editorial Freedom and Artist Trust - Sarah emphasizes the importance of giving creatives true freedom and explains why the magazine avoids the tight constraints often found in traditional publishing models. Sustainability Versus Technology - She responds to the tension between environmental responsibility and technological advancement, expressing optimism about innovation and the belief that embracing progress is key to finding solutions. What’s Contemporary Now - Sarah shares her view on what defines the moment with reflections on social awareness, technological change, and a growing connection to the environment—all anchored by a deep belief in creative optimism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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