Closet Philosophy

Our guest this week is Alicia Rose, who is bringing a revolution to the conversation about perimenopause and menopause with an upcoming documentary called Menopunks. The film will examine the travesty of the Women's Health Initiative through a decidedly GenX lens. 
In 2002, the WHI was halted with reports of increased breast cancer risk linked to hormone therapy. We know now that the analysis of the data was deeply flawed. Still, the majority of the women who at the time were reaping the benefits of HRT abruptly stopped taking it. Hormone replacement held an undeserved stigma for the next 24 (and counting) years. 
Jennine and Kristen talk to Alicia about how she discovered this (and more) as she researched her own symptoms and possible treatments. And how it pissed her off. 
With a background in filmmaking, photography, and music, she began developing a documentary—Menopunks—to shatter the myths and defiantly shine a light on the truth. She's bringing together doctors and punk rockers for a unique look at the vilification of hormone therapy and how GenX women can reclaim our health as we age. 

Also check out the Menopunks podcast! 
Please let us know what you think of this episode by following and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts!

Asta Gaur is a Google exec by day and your internet style cheerleader by night. On Instagram, she shares unfiltered takes on dressing in a male-dominated industry, daily GRWMs showing how she dresses intuitively, and the mindset shifts women can take to stop playing small with their style. 
This week on Closet Philosophy, Jennine and Kristen go deep into Asta's styling process and what she's learned about getting dressed by wearing what feels completely her to her job as a Sr. UX director at Google. 
We talk about the male gaze, the many problems with "flattering," and how she went from having two completely separate sets of clothing for work and the rest of her life to integrating her closet into one kickass wardrobe.
Asta's confidence and presence is infectious and inspiring—we both came out of the interview ready to style the heck out of our next outfit, and feel totally OK if someone called it "interesting."
 You can also find Asta on her popular Substack, Fit Happens, where she breaks down detailed frameworks and the psychology behind why outfits work—so women can dress without self-doubt, ditch the male-gaze rules we grew up with, and build a closet full of items that are uniquely them. 
Join us to learn more about Asta, and get some tips to make you feel not just more stylish but more like you next time you get dressed for work! 
And please like, follow, and comment if you enjoy this episode!

In this episode, Jennine and Kristen talk about something that's often overlooked in personal style advice: how your wardrobe needs to match the life you're actually living, not just your Pinterest boards.
Jennine shares her recent experience moving from San Francisco's busy Mission District to the quieter, beach-adjacent Sunset neighborhood—and how it's making her completely rethink her wardrobe. City loafers don't work on sandy beach paths, and those pristine sneakers aren't cutting it on dirt trails. Her style is evolving out of necessity, and it's raising a bigger question: are you dressing for your real life, or for some imaginary version of it?
The conversation digs into why so many of us collect inspiration for outfits that would never actually work in our day-to-day routines. We pin quiet luxury looks while working from home in sweats. We save "mob wife" aesthetics while living in Silicon Valley. The disconnect is real.
Jennine and Kristen discuss:
• How your environment should directly influence your wardrobe choices
• The trap of aesthetic trends that have nothing to do with your actual activities
• Why you might be boring yourself with your own closet (hint: you're not honoring your actual life)
• How to handle special events without the last-minute shopping panic
• What our grandmothers can teach us about getting dressed with intention—even when staying home
• The difference between dressing for what other people think vs. what you want to communicate about yourself
This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like their closet doesn't match their life, or who's struggled to translate style inspiration into clothes they'll actually wear. It's a reminder that the most stylish thing you can do is dress authentically for the life you're living right now.
Got questions? Suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

In this episode of Closet Philosophy, Kristen and Jennine explore what it means to age visibly, dress authentically, and resist the pressure to always be striving for youth and prettiness. We start with a reflection on the cultural impact of Catherine O'Hara, her premature passing, and the rare visibility of older women who embrace their faces, bodies, and style without apology.
From there, we dive into a wide-ranging discussion about beauty standards, midlife identity, and the complicated relationship many women have with being seen. We unpack how personal style can serve as both armor and self-expression—and why midlife is often the moment when women finally begin dressing for themselves rather than for approval.
The episode also touches on:
How media and celebrity culture shape expectations of aging

The politics of visibility for women over 50

Why confidence often grows as the pressure to please fades

The role of clothing in reclaiming identity during life transitions

Letting go of "flattering" rules that were never designed for real bodies

As always, Closet Philosophy reminds listeners that getting dressed is never just about clothes. It's about power, self-definition, and the freedom to show up in the world exactly as you are.
Connect with us!
Follow along for more conversations about personal style, aging, and cultural shifts. Share this episode with a friend who's rethinking what it means to be visible and fully expressed in midlife!

What does it really take to leave a prestigious, intellectually demanding career and step fully into a creative life?
Two women who did exactly that join us for this episode of Closet Philosophy. Erin Hupp and Subikksha Balaje come from wildly different professional backgrounds (law and data science, respectively), yet both found their way back to creativity through clay, metal, and a pull toward working with their hands.
Erin Hupp is a former child welfare and land use lawyer who now runs Erin Hupp Ceramics in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating sculptural dinnerware, lighting, and objects for restaurants and private clients. Subikksha Balaje grew up in Chennai, India, built a successful career in Big Tech, and later launched Gold Stories, a fine jewelry brand rooted in storytelling, cultural memory, and wearable art.
Recently, Erin and Subikksha collaborated on a stunning fine jewelry collection that transforms Erin's signature folded ceramic forms into silver and gold—future heirlooms that honor both precision and imperfection.
Together, we talk about:
Why midlife can be a powerful creative awakening—not a crisis

The vulnerability of shedding a "serious" professional identity

Imposter syndrome (before and after success)

How collaboration sparks ideas AI never could

The tension between perfection and imperfection in handmade work

Why stories matter more than ever in a tech-saturated world

And how personal style, craft, and creativity are deeply human acts of resistance

This conversation is a love letter to creative courage, curiosity, and the belief that it's never too late to claim who you really are.
Whether you're considering a pivot, craving more creativity, or simply want to hear how two artists think about meaning, work, and making—this episode is for you.