It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin

In this episode of It Takes A Village, Delina sits with long-time friend and colleague, Felicia Leatherwood. Felicia is among the world’s most celebrated and acclaimed beauty professionals in natural hair care and education. Counting notable clients such as Issa Rae, Lenny Kravitz, Simone Missick, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Sonequa Martin-Green, Ava Duvernay, and Viola Davis. Felicia also developed Texture Management and invented and founded her critically-acclaimed, award winning and patented product line, Brush with the Best. Felicia shares with us her extensive experience being on set, doing international films, traveling for work and developing a love for travel, prepping before a big job, learning from all the people you work with, and giving back to the younger generation of artists. She tells us of Jill Scott and Lenny Kravitz’ impact in her career and how she stays grounded and close to hairstyling. We will also learn all about her starting Brush with the Best and Texture Management. With everything she has done and is doing, her learnings on self-worth and spirituality will also resonate with anyone who listens. Continuing her mission to spread her message of self-love ever further, Felicia is set to release her highly anticipated book with Simon & Schuster titled Root Therapy. Whether you are listening as a fan of Felicia or simply wanting to absorb all the knowledge that comes with her experience in the industry, tune in to this episode. It has everything you’d expect and more coming from a full-fledged global hair guru and business founder. Learn more about Felicia: As the leading expert in natural hair, Felicia Leatherwood’s larger-than-life career goes beyond just Hollywood – she’s a full-fledged global hair guru. Numbering among the world’s most celebrated and acclaimed beauty professionals, Felicia’s well-established career is built on her fluency in – and deep love for – natural hair care and education. Counting notable clients such as Issa Rae and Emmy nominated productions such as Insecure, American Fiction and Barbie, Grammy winning Lenny Kravitz, Simone Missick (All Rise), Ryan Michelle Bathe (The Endgame), Sonequa Martin-Green (Star Trek: Discovery), Oscar-nominated director Ava Duvernay, and Oscar winner Viola Davis. In between conducting hair care workshops for audiences around the globe, Felicia developed Texture Management, a collective of premiere hair and makeup artists around the country specializing in celebrity clientele in the entertainment industry. Felicia also invented and founded her critically-acclaimed, award winning and patented product line, Brush with the Best, which has earned accolades from customers and industry pros alike. Continuing her mission to spread her message of self-love ever further, Felicia is set to release her highly anticipated book with Simon & Schuster titled Root Therapy. Connect with Felicia: IG: @Felicialeatherwood FB: @Lovingyourhair Brush with the Best and the Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush was the FIRST brush invented by Felicia that was strategically designed around the flexibility necessary to work with kinkier hair. Get yours at www.brushwiththebest.com. Listen to more episodes of It Takes A Village podcast: ⁠It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin⁠ Stay updated on everything It Takes A Village podcast: ⁠@ittakesavillagepod⁠ ⁠www.ittakesavillagepod.com⁠ Connect with Delina: ⁠Instagram @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠TikTok @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠YouTube @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠Twitter @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠www.delinamedhin.com

In this episode of It Takes A Village we are joined by one of Delina’s good friends, Kayla Greaves, one of the most sought-after and authoritative voices in the beauty and wellness sector. From starting as a writer and editor in Bustle and InStyle interviewing celebrities to working with SheaMoisture, Ulta, and Augustinus Bader in brand campaigns as well as being an expert commentator on HBO’s The Beauty of Blackness and Netflix’s the Black Beauty Effect, Kayla has without a doubt established how her voice has weight in influencing the industry. Kayla shares with us her experience growing up in Toronto and being encouraged to write from the support of one of her teachers. From writing in the classroom to becoming a successful journalist, getting her Extraordinary Ability Visa and moving to New York, working in Bustle and InStyle, she takes us with her through it all. We also learn a thing or two about being a writer, editor, journalist, and also how developing relationships and your network is important when getting expert sources for your work. As she continues on her journey, we pick up tips on transitioning to becoming an influencer and now an entrepreneur and working for herself. Learning all sorts of skills from all her careers has brought Kayla to now having a product collaboration with Brown Sugar Babe called It Girl. Whether you are in the middle of a pivot in your career or interested in working in the media space, Kayla’s expertise and inspiring stories, coupled with her gift for storytelling, this episode is for you. Listen in and be part of this captivating conversation. Learn more about Kayla: With over 12 years of media experience, Kayla Greaves has become one of the most sought-after and authoritative voices in the beauty and wellness sector—both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Kayla can be seen in brand campaigns for major companies like SheaMoisture, Ulta, and Augustinus Bader as well as an expert commentator on HBO’s The Beauty of Blackness and Netflix’s The Black Beauty Effect. Starting her career as an editor, Kayla has interviewed dozens of notable celebrities over the years, like Tracee Ellis Ross, Pharrell, and Naomi Campbell, just to name a few. Previously holding the title of Executive Beauty Editor at InStyle—and with bylines at prestigious publications such as Vogue, ELLE, and Allure—Kayla’s expertise, coupled with her gift for sparking fun and captivating conversations, has launched the next phase of her career as a true multi-hyphenated storyteller, on-camera talent, and beauty authority. Connect with Kayla: @KaylaAGreaves Listen to more episodes of It Takes A Village podcast: ⁠It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin⁠ Stay updated on everything It Takes A Village podcast: ⁠@ittakesavillagepod⁠ ⁠www.ittakesavillagepod.com⁠ Connect with Delina: ⁠Instagram @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠TikTok @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠YouTube @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠Twitter @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠www.delinamedhin.com

"It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin"⁠ is a podcast series that uncovers the truth that being “self-made” isn’t real. Behind the success of each individual lies a supportive community that uplifts, guides, and encourages them to become. Starting with Delina Medhin's journey to success as a creative entrepreneur, Delina introduces the people who have supported and inspired her along the way, including family, friends, mentors, and colleagues. Delina believes that everyone needs a village to pursue their dreams, and her story demonstrates the power of community in helping individuals realize their purpose. The podcast is an honest and inspiring reflection on the importance of pursuing one's passions while building a supportive network of people to provide guidance and encouragement along the way. Welcome to It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin.

In this episode of It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin, we have Brooklyn native and Los Angeles-based Denise Vasi, founder of Maed Beauty. Denise has been known for her modeling and acting career before she pivoted to the digital sector and now as a brand founder. Her influence in the beauty and wellness spaces has brought her awards from Create & Cultivate’s Top 100 to Boss Women of the Year, paving new paths for all women to succeed. Denise shares with us her journey as a young model and actress and how her experience also led to meeting her husband. She talks about the importance of networking and relationships in the industry and adapting to changes that happen in your life, including pivoting to social media and digital when the time called for it. As a great storyteller, we are captivated by her recalling every pivot of her journey from modeling, to acting, to growing her own community, creating Maed Beauty, creating a product, building her team, overcoming challenges in producing her formula, and manifesting getting in the Sephora Accelerate Program on her first try. Whether you start listening to the episode as a fan or interested in learning how to pitch and get into programs like Sephora’s, this episode is meant for you. Denise’s life story, led with authenticity and passion, continues to inspire us and everyone around her. Learn more about Denise: Brooklyn native and Los Angeles-based Denise Vasi is the founder of Maed Beauty, a clean beauty brand that centers the importance of daily beauty rituals for people who lead multifaceted lives. Everything Maed Beauty creates and champions is through an elevated, experiential lens. The debut collection prioritizes the ritual of lip care with a modern, skincare-first approach. Denise’s career began in the fashion industry, where she graced the pages of iconic magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, and Elle. She also made her mark on television as the star of VH1’s scripted show “Single Ladies.” Her successful pivot into the digital sector has further solidified her influence in the beauty and wellness spaces. In 2018, Denise was recognized as one of Create & Cultivate’s Top 100, an annual list honoring 100 inspiring and successful women disrupting the digital industry. She was further celebrated in 2020 as one of the Boss Women of the Year, highlighting female entrepreneurs of color who are paving new paths for all women to succeed. Denise’s latest venture, Maed Beauty, set to debut in 2024, marks a significant milestone in her career. This new chapter is underscored by her inclusion in Sephora’s prestigious Accelerate program, which supports and amplifies the work of innovative beauty entrepreneurs. Denise uses social media to share her expertise in clean beauty, health and wellness routines, and self-care rituals with an ever-growing, dedicated audience. Her honest and intentional approach has attracted partnerships with like-minded brands such as Sephora, Amazon, Pampers, and American Express. Denise splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City with her husband, Anthony, and their two children, continuing to inspire and lead with authenticity and passion. Connect with Denise: @denisevasi @maedbeauty Sign up at maedbeauty.com for invites to community events + early product testing as well as launch news! Listen to more episodes of It Takes A Village podcast: ⁠It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin⁠ Stay updated on everything It Takes A Village podcast: ⁠@ittakesavillagepod⁠ ⁠www.ittakesavillagepod.com⁠ Connect with Delina: ⁠Instagram @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠TikTok @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠YouTube @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠Twitter @delinamedhin⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠www.delinamedhin.com