Shorts: Beyond Measure w/ Tara, Caroline & Allison

Tara, Caroline, and Allison discuss Tara’s outdoor wedding in Maryland, where ticks prompted worries about Lyme disease; Alison shares experiences spotting ring rashes on her children and getting prompt antibiotic treatment. They pivot to “attention restoration theory” (ART), describing it as looking at things differently than intended and applying it to interior design by reorienting rooms, combi...

Tara, Caroline and Allison discuss how guest connections often become meaningful collaborations, highlighting Lacy Garcia of Willow, a women’s financial planning firm focused on empowering women to understand finances. Allison shares that attending Lacy’s talk was especially impactful as she navigates a divorce after never handling bills, accounts, or financial decisions during her marriage, and s...

Caroline and Allison welcome back Jen (Bean) DeLalio of JKate Designs from Southampton to discuss her pivot from software programming and consulting into interior design and how she built a Hamptons-focused portfolio. Jen shares that her projects span Westhampton through Amagansett, with a coastal, easy-breezy style that also leans slightly traditional and patterned. She explains the importance of...

The guest is Jen (Bean) DeLalio, a high school friend of Caroline’s. They reminisce about shared Boston summers and Caroline’s multi-day Cape wedding. Jen describes her early career as an econ major who entered tech consulting in 1998, later working as a systems analyst at The New York Times before moving full-time to Southampton. After taking an NYU night class in interior design and working in a...

Allison and Caroline discuss heavy pollen before recapping Sparkle in the Park, a longtime Emerald Necklace Conservancy fundraiser. They describe multiple last-minute pivots: switching from a perceived-privileged luncheon to an evening tented dinner, then losing the City of Boston tent permit and relocating the event to board member Georgia Lee’s private home. They highlight the home reveal and th...

The gang welcomes back Rachel Wexler, a leadership development partner who helps leaders and teams get unstuck and build new ways of operating aligned to their goals. Wexler discusses executive presence as showing up with confidence and conviction by knowing strengths and development areas, clarifying the gap between identity and reputation, defining a bigger “why,” and understanding needs and bou...

The guest is Tara’s longtime friend Rachel Wexler, who recently launched her own business after 20 years leading product and strategy teams. Rachel describes her evolving role as a “leadership development partner,” working with leaders and teams through coaching, leadership programs, small-group work, and team offsites to help organizations use internal talent well, build trust, and create environ...

The gang celebrates Tara’s recognition as one of Boston’s best dressed and discusses how professional wins support business. They pivot to cultural and health conversations around Ozempic, including reports of bone density issues, differing medical opinions, social pressure to use it, and observations about shrinking size availability and plus sizes “going away.” The main topic is Miller’s “rule o...

The topic: the “bad apple effect,” or how one negative person can permeate and drag down an entire group. After chatting about missing each other and Tara’s rainy, windy weekend in Pensacola for a friend’s 60th birthday, they compare the concept to removing a bad strawberry to keep the rest fresh and to group dynamics where a “Debbie Downer” demands attention. Caroline describes how a difficult su...

Tara, Caroline & Allison turn the episode into an informal therapy session about Dave’s recent breakup. They discuss loss, identity, and redefining life post-relationship. Topics 00:37 Dave Breakup Talk 04:04 Dating Apps Reality 06:10 What Dave Wants 07:26 Age Range Debate 11:07 Divorce Dating Vibes 11:31 Wrong Car Horror Story 14:19 Wrap Up And Plug

Tara, Caroline and Allison welcome back Remy Stressenger, owner of the women’s boutique Remy in Nantucket and on Charles Street in Boston, and founder of Launch to Life. Remy explains the nonprofit grew from her father’s suicide when she was seven and later suicides involving friends’ sons, and describes how the name “Launch” connects to family and the goal of helping kids thrive, noting bipolar d...

Tara, Caroline and Allison welcome longtime friend and boutique owner Remy Stressenger. Remy shares how she opened her Nantucket store 11 years ago without a lifelong dream or business plan, driven by a desire for independence during her divorce and after starting a creative concierge business. She explains learning retail by jumping in, attending the Coterie trade show, and refining her buying ey...

Tara, Caroline & Allison discuss Tara’s experience adjusting her hormone replacement therapy patch, including intense short-term side effects like anxiety, brain fog, emotional swings, and increased libido, and how she recognized she needed HRT based on mood changes, irritability, and body changes despite lab levels initially appearing normal. They talk about perimenopause timing, advocating for t...

Tara, Caroline and Allison welcome back Lacy Garcia to discuss her beauty and wellness routine—prioritizing sleep, movement, hydration, supplements, meditation, infrared sauna, protein, breathing, and self-grace amid busy midlife responsibilities. The conversation shifts to entrepreneurship and nontraditional career paths: Garcia, a liberal arts graduate with an MBA and a master’s in education, ex...

Tara, Caroline, and Allison welcome longtime friend and entrepreneur Lacy Garcia, who discusses her unexpected path from education and marketing to becoming a financial advisor, primary breadwinner, and then a divorced single mom who built Trust Willow to center women in financial planning. Garcia explains that many smart, successful women don’t know basic household financial details like mortgage...

Tara, Caroline and Allison chat about AI’s growing impact across industries and why human judgment, emotional awareness, and the ability to “read a room” still matter. Caroline shares a four-day “Bespoke Path” experience at Heckfield in England involving functional medicine, spa treatments, and a “nervous system reset,” which inspired her presentation, “The Somatic Advantage,” arguing that feeling...

Tara, Caroline and Allison discuss parenting challenges with teenage boys, including emotional volatility, secrecy, and periods of not speaking after discipline, framing it as part of individuation and a reminder that parents don’t need to be their kids’ friends while still naming hurtful behavior. The conversation shifts to Admiral William McRaven’s “make your bed” idea as a small habit that buil...

Event designer David DiCicco is back to discuss authenticity in design and how florals and layered details create an emotional, immersive “stage” for clients, especially at weddings. They compare styling versus interiors, noting the challenge of making permanent decisions in one’s own home, and David shares that his creativity comes from his mother and interests in theater, interior design, and wo...

Tara, Caroline and Allison welcome florist and event designer David DiCicco of DiCicco Designs. David shares his path from a finance background into event design, explains the difference between event planning (logistics) and event design (tangible elements), and describes leaving Mark Hall Design after six years to start his own business in 2019. He reflects on launching just before COVID, noting...

Tara, Caroline and Allison chat about Caroline coloring her hair at home with a boxed dye to save money. The conversation shifts to frustrations with modern tip prompts on iPads, including being asked to tip for minimal service, differing views on tipping culture (including Allison describing herself as an over-tipper), and the idea that younger people are more comfortable selecting “no tip” unles...

Tara, Caroline & Allison dive into the Golden Globes, Nikki Glaser's comedic prowess, and their professional insights on trends in fashion and home design. They discuss the importance of the five senses in dialectical behavioral therapy and how incorporating sensory elements can transform home spaces into comforting environments. They also touch upon the impact of sterile modern homes and share pe...

Allison, Tara and Caroline discuss trending styles, the concept of 'enclosed cognition,' and how clothing impacts self-perception and confidence. The conversation lightens with humor about beer preferences and personal anecdotes, then turns heartfelt with a recount of a fashion styling project featuring elderly models. The show ends on a practical note, touching on the emotional impact of clothing...

Tara, Caroline & Allison discuss the latest trends in home wellness spaces, including the growing popularity of spa rooms and wellness areas. The conversation covers the psychology behind creating these spaces, client preferences, and the practicalities of integrating wellness features like saunas, massage beds, and contrast therapy into homes. The hosts also touch on personal wellness routines an...

Caroline, Allison & Tara discuss current trends and the impact of AI on their respective industries. They explore the nuances of personalized design versus AI-generated solutions, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human touch and interaction. The conversation also touches on the practical use of AI in digital content creation and personal experiences, as well as upcoming podcast guest ideas t...

Tara, Caroline and Allison delve into the world of style, trends, and body image. They discuss experiencing swimwear culture in Brazil, the rise of the GLP-1 weight loss trend, and the impact of body image perceptions. The conversation also covers the aesthetic and psychological aspects of fashion and interiors, including the trending use of jewel tones, textures, antique furniture in home decor,...