Lisa Birnbach and Kenneth Cole

Lisa Birnbach and Kenneth Cole

My guest today is Kenneth Cole.  You may know him as the cool designer of shoes, accessories, and clothing for men, women, and kids.  Or you may know him as the provocative advertiser with public service messages and billboards.  Or you may think of him as a phenomenal HIV Aids activist.  But today, I want us to think of him as a mental health advocate.  As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Kenneth will be here to introduce his newest project, The Mental Health Coalition. and howareyoureally.org. And to share his 5 (or 6) things.

Greetings from the Left Coast.  If you’re wondering, it had been eight months since I Iast saw, hugged, squeezed, or kissed my #Exhibits, and that baby, and that was too long.   So here I am, in a bubble of family and loving it.  (Apologies to buddies, but for now the exhibits are all I can handle.)

“All I can handle” is a concept that is new to me.  I have always wanted to do everything all the time.  More people! More fun! More life! More stuff! 

I know I am an extrovert – that happened during college, I guess, and then the interest around The Official Preppy Handbook just insisted that I stay that way.  (It was always funny to run into my orthodontist, Dr. Brendan Boylan, on the street somewhere in New York – any time from my 20s to my 40s – and hear him say, “But Lisa, you were always so shy!” He was right.). From the time that book was published in October, 1980 until essentially the pandemic, it has been a busy busy life.  Some years busier professionally, some years busier personally.   The last 14 or 15 months have stripped away all that busy-ness.  And I’m asking myself how much do I want to do now.  Is being busy the same as being fulfilled? 

 To be honest, I don’t yearn to go out to the movies, I don’t feel like eating indoors at restaurants, and I don’t need to go out all the time.  (Going to theater, concerts, and museums – yes, I can’t wait.).  We will see how it all shakes down, I suppose.  For now, I continue to stock up on masks and hand sanitizer.  Those have become habits.

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But now it’s time for my five things that makes life better.

1. HUGGING my family.  It feels so good.  I feel the dopamine and the oxytocin surge through my body.  (Not really, but you know what I’m saying.)

2. Trying new foods.  Whether it’s via recipes or ordering deliveries from restaurants, I’m developing a fondness for spicier food – (I’m a late adaptor), and cauliflower, and almond paste.  Go figure.

3. Caring friends.  I am so fortunate to have wonderful friends.  They know who they are and why I love them. 

4. Pavé the Way ™.  My friend Joan Hornig worked for years in finance, and then pivoted to jewelry design after 9/11.  She pioneered the concept of offering a percentage of profits to charity – but get this – 100% of profits – yes, and the charity is any one that the customer wants.  On her website you will see a long list of organizations that have raised funds through her sales.  Now she has developed a line of whimsically designed and titled tools – encrusted with tiny diamonds – to be worn as charms or ear studs – that are perfect graduation presents that pay it forward.  Check out her website.  I am truly impressed.

5. Elta sunscreen.  My dermatologist first told me about this brand.  They make the largest variety of medically-approved sun protection.  In NY I am semi- conscientious about wearing sunscreen all year long, but here in California I never forget. 

Kenneth Cole’s 5 Things:

1. My Family

2. Meditation

3. The formation of the Mental Health Coalition

4a. Having been Vaccinated  4b. The perfect mask

5. Bacon

More About Kenneth Cole

The Mental Health Coalition

Website: TheMentalHealthCoalition.org

Twitter: @mentalhealthcln

Instagram: @mentalhealthcoalition

Facebook  @mentalhealthcoalition

KENNETH COLE

Twitter: @kennethcolereal

Instagram:  @kennethcolereal

Instagram:  @kennethcole

Facebook: @kennethCole

The 5 Things That Make Life Better podcast is recorded and produced at The Field in NYC. My team is Shpresa Oruci, Michael Porte, Sam Haft and Boco Haft.The Field in NYC.

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