MECCA Talks

As part of our support for women in the arts and through our partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria, each year MECCA partners with an Australian-based female artist to design beautifully festive, limited-edition packaging for the holiday period, while also contributing to the NGV’s acquisition of a major piece of their work. In today’s episode of MECCA Talks , Kate is joined by our 2022...

In today’s episode of MECCA Talks , Kate chats to groundbreaking Mexican architect and inaugural MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission artist, Tatiana Bilbao. As the founder of one of the few sole female-led architectural practices operating at a global scale, Tatiana highlights the positive impact of women on the profession. Her installation – now showing at the National Gallery of Victoria unti...

In today’s episode of MECCA Talks , Kate is joined by fearless feminist writer, broadcaster and speaker (and skincare enthusiast!) Clementine Ford. A social justice champion and challenger of cultural norms and ideas around gender equality, marriage, female happiness and public health, Clementine is a true thought leader, and, as per her first book, the ultimate example of ‘Fight(ing) Like A Girl’...

In this episode of MECCA Talks, and in celebration of 25 years of MECCA, Kate hands over hosting duties to MECCA founder Jo Horgan for a supremely special conversation with creative genius, beauty industry legend and the man behind NARS Cosmetics, Mr François Nars. In the rare interview, Nars shares the inception of some of the beauty industry’s most popular and bestselling products (think NARS Sh...

In this episode of MECCA Talks , Kate and guest co-host Jen Horsley are joined by Michelle Feeney, founder of sustainable fragrance brand, Floral Street, and beholder of one of the most prolific careers in beauty. From working at the PR firm that inspired Absolutely Fabulous , to participating in the first ever London Fashion Week, putting Crème de la Mer on the map, raising millions for HIV/AIDS...

In this episode of MECCA Talks, Kate is joined by resident skincare expert Lucy Shaw to talk to the Emma Lewisham about her benchmark-setting, industry-changing, results-driven and science-backed eponymous skincare line. Based in New Zealand (and making waves around the world) Emma has succeeded in developing the world’s first carbon positive and circular-designed beauty brand, even getting the st...

In this episode of MECCA Talks , Kate and Zara are joined by sustainability educator Clare Press, as well as Randi Christiansen, the co-founder of cult body care brand Nécessaire. As the fashion and beauty industries become more conscious and sustainable, we thought we’d bring in the professionals to share the steps they’re taking to leave a smaller footprint on the Earth (and a brighter impact on...

In this episode of  MECCA Talks , Kate and Zara are joined by Net-A-Porter founder, Imaginary Ventures founding partner and world-leading entrepreneur, Natalie Massenet. From honing her focus on the future (from her teens!) to building all-star teams, fostering unparalleled corporate culture and now, tapping into the ‘creator economy’, this conversation gives insight into the intelligenc...

Celebrated creative Richard Christiansen’s home is not a restaurant, though Chrissy Teigen might have you fooled otherwise!    In this episode of MECCA Talks, Kate and Zara are joined by the man of many life chapters, whose quirky LA residence evolved into a salt-of-the-earth produce, wellness, home and body care brand during the pandemic – and fast resonated with Hollyw...

The metaverse is real, and it’s about to change the way we work, socialise, and experience beauty. So – we best start talking about it! To do just that, Kate and Zara are joined by Jason Juma-Ross, (a.k.a. JJR), Director of Technology Strategy at Meta; the company formerly known as Facebook. JJR is a global leader in tech innovation, and the perfect person to explain exactly what the metaverse is...

In today’s episode of MECCA Talks, Zara is joined by MECCA experts Jen Horsley and Lucy Shaw to chat through the winners of the 2022 MECCA Beauty Election. Jen and Lucy have tested and trialled just about every product on our shelves, so there’s no one better to share the inside word on the beauty products crowned the best of the best (following almost 300,000 votes!). From the cult-favourite foun...

From star signs to tarot cards and crystals, we’re exploring the new frontier of self-care with Yasmin Sewell, founder of wellness-meets-fragrance brand, Vyrao, and Alice Bell, NYC’s chicest astrologer and our go-to person for anything star- (and sun, and moon!) related. First, Yasmin joins Kate and Zara in the studio to take us on her journey from Sydney to London, where she opened inimitable fas...

In today’s episode of MECCA Talks , we’re transporting you to Paris – no passport necessary! Join us on Kate’s recent trip to the city of love, flowers, fragrance and pastries for a sit-down chat with L’Officine Universelle Buly 1803 (also known as just Buly ) co-founder, Victoire de Taillac. Get inspired by the eclectic, time-travelling worldliness of de Taillac and her partner, Ramdane Touhami,...

In today’s episode of MECCA Talks , Kate and Zara tap into their TikTok ‘For You’ pages to unpack two internet success stories: ‘the Euphoria foundation’ and Carla Rockmore. The first story we hear is that of the Chantecaille Future Skin foundation, a MECCA icon that flew off our shelves the moment Euphoria makeup designer Donni Davy mentioned it was her go-to base on the HBO show. Alex Chantecail...

MECCA makeup expert Jen Horsley is back on the podcast to talk us through beauty’s most iconic – and contentious – look: the red lip. Then, New York-based artist and poet Amber Vittoria joins Kate and Zara to dish the details on her recent project, MECCA’s all-new logo, iconography and packaging. Take notes as Jen, a self-proclaimed ‘red lip connoisseur’, shares her top picks for the perfect crims...

Pre, pro and post-biotic extracts are increasingly appearing on the ingredient lists of new skincare formulas, so we’ve got MECCA skincare expert Lucy Shaw and Cultured founder Rob Calcraft on the podcast to tell us why. First, Lucy gives us the lingo low-down on all things microbiome; she explains what the term ‘skin barrier’ actually means, how the probiotics in our skincare differ to those in o...

Dr. Dennis Gross and Stephanie Horton are on the show today to tell us! Kate and Zara are looking into the crystal ball of beauty and online shopping, with the help of skincare icon and founder Dr. Dennis Gross, and Google’s Global Consumer Marketing Director for Shopping, Stephanie Horton. After revolutionising the clinical peel and at-home skincare treatments (from his cult-favourite Alpha Beta...

Welcome back to MECCA Talks , your access-all-areas pass to the beauty, business, and lifestyle experts we call our community. We recently called on our MECCA Chit Chat Facebook community to hit us up with their biggest beauty questions, queries, myths and legends via voicemail, and today, we’re answering them with the help of MECCA’s education managers for skincare and makeup, Lucy Shaw and Jen H...

Welcome back to MECCA Talks , your access-all-areas pass to the beauty, business, and lifestyle experts we call our community. Valentine’s Day is five sleeps away, and in the spirit of romance we’re talking flowers, fragrance, and “love at first sniff”. MECCA education manager for fragrance Laura Curtis is back on the podcast to talk about the most seductive, stop-you-in-the-streets scents (and ho...

Welcome back to MECCA Talks , your access-all-areas pass to the beauty, business, and lifestyle experts we call our community. In today's episode... Kate and Zara catch up after the holiday break to get into the nitty gritty of SPF as we reach those dreaded 40C days. Sydney dermatologist Dr Shreya Andric (B. MED. SCI, MBBS (HONS), IFAAD, FACD) joins us to debunk the most common SPF myths, share he...

In our final Holiday bonus episode, Kate and Zara chat to inimitable fashion designer, creative and MECCA Collectiva tastemaker Jenny Kee in celebration of the natural beauty of the Australian landscape – and Kee’s prolific career in fashion. From selling £10 vintage Chanel to the likes of Mick Jagger in London’s swinging ‘60s to collaborating with Karl Lagerfeld, starting Flamingo Park with Linda...

In today’s Holiday bonus episode of MECCA Talks, Kate and Zara hand over the mic to MECCA HQ’s Tony Baumann and Julia Zigan to share their top picks from this year’s spectacular offering of iconic and limited-edition beauty gifts. From sharing their favourite holiday memories at MECCA to their tried-and-tested tips for gifting makeup, skincare, fragrance and more, this is a not-to-be-missed episod...

The most spectacular time of the year is here! We’re taking you behind the scenes of Holiday 2021 at MECCA in a conversation with Amrita Hepi , an award-winning First Nations dancer and choreographer, and one of the stars of this year’s campaign, ‘The Beauty Spectacular’. With gifts that glitter, glow, sparkle and spark joy – the celebration (and gifting) starts at MECCA! Discover our guide to the...

Welcome back to MECCA Talks, your access all areas pass to the beauty, business, and lifestyle experts we call our community. In today’s episode… Kate and Zara are back on the topic of ‘making it’, this time with financial advisor and She’s on the Money podcast host and author, Victoria Devine. Victoria takes the overwhelm out of managing your personal finances with tips and tricks that won’t leav...

Welcome back to MECCA Talks, your access all areas pass to the beauty, business, and lifestyle experts we call our community. In today’s episode… We had so much good to give, we split it into two! In part one of ‘Making It’, Kate and Zara talk career and creativity with beauty’s golden go-getter and founder of Go-To , the one and only Zoë Foster Blake. From balancing book-writing, blogging, beauty...