Naked Beauty

Nia Reneé Hill is an accomplished actress, entertainment executive, producer, and master of reinvention. Like many of us, her earliest attempts at reinvention happened after she started a new school in LA. She was immediately introduced to a new set of beauty and style expectations that were different from what was allowed at her prim and mandatory-uniform Catholic School. Growing up traveling between parents and cities, Los Angeles and Atlanta, provided her with the foundation to assess and adapt to new surroundings quickly. While her mother was stricter in how she allowed Nia to self-express, her father, a well-known comedy agent, was more lenient. Her early exposure to the entertainment business, coupled with music video inspiration on BET, Nia quickly carved out her own path personally and professionally.

During our conversation, Nia shared that while she studied acting in college, her father dissuaded her from pursuing a career in acting. The Harlem Renaissance inspired her to move to New York during the early 2000s. After interning at the famous Apollo Theater, she embarked on a career as an executive and landed roles at Comedy Central, The Chappelle Show, and even MTV. Despite a successful career and blossoming relationship with her now-husband, Bill Burr, she was unfulfilled. She transitioned to a full-time stay-at-home mother, but still felt called towards creative work. Nia decided to invest fully in herself and her interests, only to find that she was the career of her dreams. Her current role, as a purveyor of the best in Black fine dining, is created in her image; truly original, funny, and endlessly entertaining.

Tune in as we discuss:
(5:40) Why Nia Isn't Pursuing A Professional Comedy Career
(6:30) Why She Didn’t Feel Beautiful Growing Up
(8:45) Growing Up Between Atlanta & LA
(9:08) Her Nepo Baby Experience
(10:30) How Summer School In LA Helped Reshape Her Identity
(11:15) Finding Style Inspo On BET
(11:45) Her Experience In Y2K Harlem
(12:10) How The Harlem Renaissance Inspired Her Move
(12:40) A Mild Diddy Run-In
(13:05) What Early 2000s Braid Shops Were Like
(14:10) Defining Her Second Wind Career
(15:00) From Acting & To Media Exec
(16:16) Recovering From Corporate Unhappiness
(17:50) Why She Felt Unfulfilled As A SAHM
(19:08) The True Cost Of Investing In Herself
(21:00) Why Vanity Inspired Her Public Rebrand
(25:08) Building Her Team With Personal Connections
(26:28) The Day-To-Day Stylist Rundown
(31:45) How People Responded To Her Evolution
(38:52) Invest In Yourself, Even If It’s Small
(39:59) Beginning Her Fine Dining Journey
(44:40) Why She Chooses To Highlight Black Chefs
(47:55) LA Food Lightning Round
(54:41) Nia's Advice For People Who Feel Stuck

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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet

Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)

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Shop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelf

Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard

Follow Nia @niasalterego

Products Mentioned:
Ami Cole Lip Oil
Makeup Forever Hydra Glow
MAC Chestnut Lip Pencil
EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm
Forlle'd Hyalogy P-effect Refining Lotion
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Lotion
Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant
Purple Rain Prada Beauty

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Sir John, Naked Beauty’s favorite cousin, is back for another insightful episode. Sir John has been part of the Naked Beauty family since his first visit as a guest and later as a recurring co-host. Each time he visits the pod, we leave the conversation with master tips for makeup application and building an aligned creative career. Since his last visit, Sir John has continued to expand his career globally and now works as Medicube’s Global Creative Director. We learn exactly what it means to be a creative director and how his time in Seoul has helped him better understand what it means to consider your heritage in your everyday life. We also cover what's inspiring us right now, and how to determine good art from great art, in beauty, film, music, and more. As always, Sir John drops gems about how he has become an icon in the beauty industry without compromising his personal or professional boundaries.

Our chat begins with Sir John, explaining why he doesn’t create New Year's resolutions and instead prioritizes radical self-care and discipline each day. We talk at length about caring for ourselves mentally and physically, especially overcoming emotional setbacks, and what it’s like having to be “on” professionally. Having such a public-facing career means that he has learned why being authentically yourself at work isn’t necessary, and how to be honest about working through grief on the clock. The greater part of the episode considers the parallels between corporate and creative careers and includes great advice for burgeoning creatives. For example, we provide actionable tips for how to stand out at work and how breathwork can soothe pre-Zoom anxiety. And, Sir John’s most important lesson? Never lose the thug in yourself.

Tune in as we discuss:
(1:26) Why Sir John Doesn’t Make New Year's Resolutions
(1:48) Radical Self-Care Includes Discipline
(4:15) How Brooke Has Put Other Creatives On
(5:00) You Shouldn’t Be Your Full Self In Corporate Spaces
(6:40) The Difference Between Code Switching And Translating
(7:05) What It’s Like Working With Global Companies
(7:30) How South Korea Celebrates Its Heritage In Everyday Practices
(8:07) Being Medicube’s Global Creative Director
(9:15) Drawing Inspiration: The Chanel Subway Fashion Show And Sinners
(15:01) Overcoming Mental Setbacks
(18:10) The True Cost Of “Pulling A Look” For Events
(23:10) Why Zoom Meetings Are Anxiety-Inducing
(25:15) Career Advice: Be More Enthusiastic
(27:00) Understanding The Gen-Z Stare
(31:48) Reducing Stress Is A Key To Good Health
(34:48) Sir John & Brooke Play Boundaries Bingo
(36:35) Unlearning Saying Yes When You Really Mean No
(41:26) Why Sir John Doesn’t Work Weekends
(46:28) Grieving AJ Crismson, His Friend & Beauty Pioneer, Before A Major Shoot
(49:54) Why You Should Call Out Disrespect Immediately
(50:50) Why He Won’t Work With Nicki Minaj
(54:01) Don’t Lose The Thug In You
(59:45) Sir John’s Holistic Beauty Cabinet

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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet

Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)

Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topic

Shop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelf

Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard

Follow Sir John @sirjohn

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Happy New Year, Beauties! I wanted to start 2026 by shifting focus from productivity to seeking inspiration from creative figures. Instead of advocating for work ethic and goals, I introduce you all to my 'creative board of directors' to offer perspective. Diana Vreeland, Andre Leon Talley, Zora Neale Hurston, Walt Whitemand, and Thich Nhat Hanh are the 'creative ancestors' who help guide the way I live and work. In this episode, we explore the wisdom I've gleaned from these people, from keeping one's imagination fresh like Diana Vreeland wrote about, to the importance of not shrinking oneself, as taught by Andre Leon Talley. I reflect on Andy Warhol's views on combining commerce with creativity, and highlight the spiritual resilience of writers Zora Neale Hurston and transcendentalist Walt Whitman. To conclude, I drew on the wisdom from the mindfulness teachings of Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh regarding the importance of being present. Tune in for a reminder to embrace the present moment, stay curious, and relish the current season of their lives.

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Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet

Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)

Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topic

Shop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelf

Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special year-end episode of the Naked Beauty Podcast, I’m the guest! My producer, Mbiye Kasonga, interviewed me, and we reflected on the challenges and triumphs of 2025, including my return from maternity leave, the impact of the LA fires, and the balance between my corporate and creative responsibilities. We also touched on the major beauty trends of 2025, the wonderful range of guests we’ve had, and my thoughts on the evolving podcasting landscape. Mbiye asked some great questions, and I really dug deep in this episode to share my insights on the joys of community, creativity, and the pressures of constant innovation. The episode ends with our personal reflections on beauty and exciting predictions for 2026.

Tune in as we discuss:
(00:00) Introduction and Year-End Tradition
(01:21) Reflecting on 2025: Fires, Maternity Leave, and Podcasting
(04:37 Balancing Work, Creativity, and Personal Life
(12:58) The Evolution of Podcasting and Industry Insights
(27:00) London Trip and Memorable Experiences
(32:04) Meeting Sabrina Elba: A Class Act
(32:51) Impact of Naked Beauty Podcast
(34:22) Balancing Work and Motherhood
(37:55) Influence of Patriarchy on Beauty Standards
(42:40) Personal Beauty Trends and Discoveries
(47:56) Reflections on Beauty and Future Trends
(01:01:03) Concluding Thoughts and 2026 Beauty Trend Predictions

Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple

Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet

Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)

Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topic

Shop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelf

Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard

Follow Mbiye @mbiye_k

Products Mentioned:
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid
Shark Beauty Cryo Mask
Neat Crowns Wigs

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Candice Brathwaite has become an internationally recognized author, speaker, and big sister for women on both sides of the pond. She would say, her candor, public displays of self-discipline, and incredible sense of style are the result of years-long trial and error. Fans of hers would just say they’re grateful to have access to her charisma. Born in London, Candice grew up in what she calls a “naked house,” surrounded by beautiful women who modeled confidence and the joy of living through style and fashion. Outside of her home, she chafed against early experiences with colorism and racism as the only Black girl in her extracurricular activities. She continued to experiment with her style and personal choices until early adulthood. Candice’s early 20s were like many of ours, spent chasing the wrong men, watering the wrong friendships, and wearing outfits we wouldn’t dare repeat. She accepts that time in her life, and believes that all Black girls deserve the space to be messy and make mistakes.

As she moved into her 30s, Candice evolved in her relationships and motherhood. During our conversation, she talks about finding love, the joy of marrying “the nice guy,” and what her failed relationships taught her about herself. Candice details the joy of parenting children with unique styles and how good it feels to honor their self-expression. She dishes on the obstacles she has overcome while building her career, like going from pet to threat when she expressed a greater interest in understanding the business behind her brand. More than that, we discuss what handling these challenges in the public eye is like as a dark-skinned Black woman. She opens up about what it’s like having her husband manage her, and how they set boundaries between their personal and professional relationships. Of course, we talk about her incredible fitness journey and how her self-discipline is part of her commitment to building the life she has been dreaming of since she was eight years old. Candice is already thinking about the next phases of her life and her future careers as a funeral home director, pilates instructor, or world-renowned orator. Her dream for her life is ever-expanding, and we are so excited to follow along.

Tune in as we discuss:
(1:36) Why She Didn’t Feel Beautiful Growing Up
(2:40) How Colorism Impacted Her Confidence
(2:58) She Started Feeling Beautiful In Her 20s & Beautiful In Her 30s
(3:35) Mothering Children With Unique Personal Styles
(5:50) What Living In A Naked House Is Like
(11:08) How She Defined Success As A Child
(13:00) Her Advice To 20-Year-Olds
(14:55) Valuing Male Attention & Trauma Bonding In Friendships In Her 20s
(16:15) Black Girls Deserve The Space To Be Messy & Make Mistakes
(21:50) Why You Should Marry The Nice Guy
(27:02) Managing The Transition From Pet To Threat
(30:30) What Working With Her Husband Is Like
(33:07) How She Defines Her Personal Brand Now
(35:55) Her Mom’s Influential Fashion & Style Choices
(37:37) How Self-Discipline In Fitness Transformed Other Areas Of Her Life
(42:44) What Inspired Her To Take Her Fitness Journey Seriously
(45:40) Candice’s Favorite Skincare Products

Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple

Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet

Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topic

Shop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelf

Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard

Follow Candice @candicebrathwaite

Products Mentioned:
Lush Sticky Dates Bodywash
Lush Rose Jam Bodywash
L'Occitane Shower Oil
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Daily Sunscreen
Haruharu Wonder Daily Sunscreen
Dieux Forever Reusable Eye Patches
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation
Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
MAC Lip Pencil in Nightmoth
Prada Monochrome Lipstick
MAC Lipglass
Benefit Eyebrow Pencil
Maybelline Super Lock Brow Gel
Charlotte Tilbury Mascara
Merit Great Skin Moisturizer
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