Advertise on podcast: Aesthetic Intelligence

Why do some people have a special instinct for surprise and delight? This week, Pauline sits down with Alison Brod, founder of ABMC, one of New York's leading marketing and communications agencies. With a career spanning more than three decades and clients across beauty, fashion, food, and hospitality, Alison has built a reputation for turning unconventional ideas into memorable brand experiences. From the chance elevator encounter that launched her entrepreneurial career to the evolution of her signature personal style, Alison shares how her eclectic upbringing and insatiable curiosity have shaped both her aesthetic sensibilities and her approach to business. Together, they explore how personal taste evolves over time, why authenticity and experimentation are essential to building a personal brand, and how aesthetic choices influence everything from company culture to the way consumers experience products. They also discuss the art of finding inspiration in unexpected places and how even the smallest details can transform an ordinary experience into something extraordinary. Ultimately, their conversation is a reminder that in a world increasingly driven by algorithms and imitation, the ability to cultivate a distinctive point of view - and translate it into expressions and experiences that surprise and delight - may be one of our greatest competitive advantages.

What does your body know that your brain may not? And how can you use that intelligence to navigate an increasingly overstimulated world? This week, Pauline sits down with Melissa Brough, founder of the Energetic Literacy Project, to explore the emerging concept of “energetic intelligence”: the capacity to sense, interpret, and respond to what’s happening within ourselves and in the environment around us. Drawing on Melissa’s own journey from a personal health crisis to her study of nervous-system regulation, she explains how bodily attunement can unlock a form of intelligence that our highly cerebral culture overlooks. Together, Pauline and Melissa also explore the connection between energetic intelligence and Pauline’s concept of Aesthetic Intelligence: how art, music, dance, and other aesthetic experiences can enhance our sense of well-being; how the design of a space can energize (or deplete) us; and how the “energy” of a company’s culture can influence the people within it. They also consider what happens when over-stimulation, excessive screen time, and chronic stress pull us away from our physical selves. Ultimately, the conversation turns to a question that’s becoming increasingly critical in the age of AI: How can we become better at being human? For Melissa, part of the answer lies in cultivating forms of intelligence that machines cannot replicate and learning to listen more closely to the intelligence we already carry within us.

What does it really mean to be rich? And why do so many people with extraordinary financial resources still feel anxious, vulnerable, or even poor? This week, Pauline sits down with longtime friend and fellow Wharton classmate Mimi Drake to explore the complicated relationship between money, identity, power, and happiness. Mimi is a Partner and Practice Leader at Cerity Partners, one of the nation’s leading wealth management firms. Drawing on her decades of experience advising ultra-high-net-worth families, she shares insights into what wealth reveals about human nature; why money so often becomes a source of power and tension in relationships; and how families can prepare children for privilege without robbing them of purpose. Together, Pauline and Mimi also explore how the aesthetics of wealth are changing, as traditional status symbols give way to less visible forms of luxury, including health, time, access, and ease. But ultimately, their conversation raises a question that goes much deeper than money: What does it mean to live richly?

After three decades as a highly successful investment portfolio manager, Larissa Roesch made an unexpected decision: she walked away from her career without knowing what would come next. What followed was a "year of listening" that led her to Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old Indian tradition centered on restoring balance, not just treating symptoms. In this episode, Pauline and Larissa explore the courage it takes to reinvent yourself in midlife, why health should be personalized rather than prescriptive, and how modern life disconnects us from the signals our bodies are sending. They also discuss the limits of optimization culture and the links between digestion, sleep, energy, and emotional well-being. Whether you're curious about holistic wellness or contemplating your own next chapter, this conversation is a reminder that the most meaningful step forward often begins with the simple act of listening: to your body, your intuition, and the possibilities around you.

In this episode, Pauline sits down with Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Söhne, one of the world's most revered luxury watch brands, for a fascinating conversation about craftsmanship, history, and the enduring appeal of mechanical timepieces. From the company's founding in 1845 in the Kingdom of Saxony, through its expropriation under communist rule, to its remarkable revival after German reunification, Wilhelm shares the extraordinary story of a brand that has become synonymous with precision, craftsmanship, and timeless design. Together, Pauline and Wilhelm explore how German engineering and aesthetics shaped Lange's distinctive identity and how the brand is drawing a new generation of enthusiasts in search of heritage, authenticity, and meaning. They also discuss the impact of AI on the traditional watch industry, the emotional value of objects made by human hands, and why the best investments in luxury are measured not by financial returns but the joy they bring their owners. The conversation offers a rare look inside one of the world's finest watch manufactures along with insights into how a world-class brand can be revived and sustained in the modern era.

In this episode, Pauline sits down with fragrance expert and brand strategist Paul Austin for a fascinating conversation about the power of scent and how it can be used to enrich human experience and enhance brand equity. Drawing on more than three decades in the industry, Paul explains how scent has evolved beyond personal fragrance to become an essential part of hospitality, retail, fashion, museums, and other cultural experiences. Together, they explore why fragrance is enjoying such a remarkable renaissance, how our sense of smell uniquely connects to memory and emotion, and why younger generations are embracing fragrance as a form of personal expression and cultural identity. The conversation also examines the rise of niche brands, the art of creating olfactory identities, and the effect of AI on fragrance development and marketing. Along the way, Paul offers sensory interpretations of destinations like Marrakech, Tokyo, New York, and Jaipur, illustrating how scent can capture the essence of a place in ways that words cannot. The episode offers a rare glimpse into one of the world's oldest and most enigmatic luxury sectors, while exploring a core tenet of Aesthetic Intelligence: that our senses profoundly shape how we experience the world, connect with others, and create meaning.

In this episode, Pauline sits down with Andrea Scherz, third generation owner and steward of the legendary Gstaad Palace in Switzerland, for a fascinating conversation about luxury, legacy, and the enduring appeal of old-world hospitality. From the hotel’s origins in the early 1900s to its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic hotels, Andrea shares the remarkable history and philosophy that have shaped the Palace for more than a century. Together, Pauline and Andrea explore what makes experiences feel truly luxurious in today’s world and why timeless elegance and genuine human connection matter more than ever. They discuss how the Gstaad Palace continues to captivate new generations of travelers, how AI and technology are reshaping hospitality behind the scenes, why family run hotels possess advantages that large chains cannot replicate, and why younger generations are increasingly drawn to places with character, history, and soul. The conversation offers a rare glimpse into a world where elegance, storytelling, and human touch still reign supreme.

In this episode, Pauline Brown uncorks the fascinating history of wine and spirits through the lens of societal taste and cultural values, tracing how trends in alcohol consumption have mirrored the aspirations, anxieties, identities, and status symbols of each era. From the secrecy and rebellion of Prohibition era speakeasies to today’s highly curated, Instagram worthy cocktail culture, she reveals that what we choose to drink has always been driven by far more than flavor. During the segment, Pauline explores how alcohol evolved from a moral controversy into a symbol of sophistication, performance, wellness, and self expression, reflecting broader shifts in fashion, luxury, media, nightlife, and consumer culture. Why did martinis define the 1950s? How did Absolut Vodka transform packaging into art? And why are younger generations increasingly drawn to nonalcoholic spirits and what Pauline calls “optimized indulgence”? The conversation concludes with reflections on today’s rapidly evolving landscape, one shaped by wellness culture, hyper personalization, mindful consumption, and identity-driven choices, and examines how these forces are redefining nightlife, rituals, and even the meaning of pleasure itself. Blending cultural analysis, trend forecasting, psychology, and historical storytelling, this episode offers a new framework for understanding not only wine and spirits, but the broader evolution of human taste and what it reveals about who we are still becoming.

In this episode (the first of a two-part series on travel), Pauline examines how modern travel - once defined by elegance, discovery, and anticipation - has devolved into a series of friction-filled, dehumanizing transactions. She explores the forces driving this decline, including: the financialization of the travel industry, an obsession with price over value, the rise of algorithm-driven processes, and the mounting strain of mass tourism on infrastructure. From crowded airports and invasive security to harsh lighting, industrialized food, and homogenized destinations, nearly every touchpoint seems to have lost its sense of delight. But this segment isn’t just a critique; it’s a call to action. Pauline offers practical, low-lift ways the industry could restore humanity and aesthetic richness to the travel experience. The problem isn’t scale or accessibility; it’s lack of care. With renewed intention, Pauline believes travel can once again become meaningful, memorable, and even magical.

In Part 2 of this series, Pauline shifts from critique to possibility, exploring how the travel experience might be reinvented. She does so by looking back to one of the original architects of luxury travel, César Ritz, founder of The Ritz-Carlton. At a time when travel feels increasingly transactional and depleted, Mr. Ritz remains a powerful and enduring symbol. Rising from humble beginnings in rural Switzerland, he redefined hospitality in the late 19th century by anticipating guests’ needs and elevating service into an art form. Pauline unpacks what made him exceptional. It was not just attention to detail, but his understanding that luxury, at its core, is about feelings and sensations. From lighting and spatial design to social choreography and personalized touches, every element of his hotels was designed to elicit ease, dignity, and delight. But his story also carries a cautionary note. The same sensitivity and perfectionism that made him a visionary ultimately led to burnout and depression, revealing the human cost of his relentless drive and uncompromising standards. Building on the themes from Part 1, Pauline makes the case that restoring beauty, care, and intentionality to modern travel is not about returning to the past, but about reclaiming what made travel magical in the first place.

In this solo episode, Pauline takes on an unexpected subject: car design. Drawing on her background in ' the Business of Aesthetics' - and her consulting work with major automakers - she explores what she calls the “blobification” of cars: the growing sameness, softness, and visual boredom of today’s vehicles. Pauline argues that cars have lost much of their emotional and cultural expressiveness, becoming increasingly shaped by engineering efficiency, software logic, and global market convergence rather than bold aesthetic vision. Using a sweeping historical lens, Pauline walks listeners through nine eras of automotive design, from the utilitarian machinery of the original Model T to the flamboyant chrome-and-tailfin exuberance of the 1950s, the rebellious muscle cars of the '60s, the anxious downsizing of the '70s, and the rounded “jelly bean” forms that emerged in the '90s and matured into today’s EV minimalism. Along the way, Pauline discusses how car designs mirror the social mood of their time. But this episode is not just a history lesson; it’s a critique. Pauline examines how the industry’s design culture, long dominated by engineering-driven male archetypes, has flattened distinction across brands, countries, and customer groups. She reflects on the shrinking gap between masculine and feminine preferences, the fading of national design identities, and the way cars today feel less like statements of taste and more like standardized software platforms on wheels. Even color, once a vivid marker of individuality, has largely disappeared into a grayscale landscape. At the same time, Pauline offers a vision for what could come next, calling for cars that feel more human, expressive, emotionally resonant, and inspiring.

In this episode, Pauline sits down with Tarpley Hitt, author of Barbie Land: The Unauthorized History, to unpack the cultural staying power of America’s most famous doll. What begins as a conversation about Barbie’s origins leads into a broader discussion about aesthetics, archetypes, and why certain icons endure long after their commercial peak. Together, Pauline and Tarpley explore how Barbie became more than a toy: it's a symbol of commodified femininity, and the enduring power (and contradiction) of myth-making in a consumer-driven world. Tarpley shares the surprising backstory behind Barbie’s creation, including the doll’s roots in a German predecessor and the outsized role of Mattel’s ambitious and controversial leadership. The conversation traces Barbie’s evolution from a highly stylized adult doll into a sprawling lifestyle brand, revealing how much of her success came not from the doll itself, but from the endless world of accessories, identities, and aspirations built around her. The episode also examines how Barbie reflects broader social currents - from feminism and body image to consumer culture and global manufacturing - and they consider why and how she has survived cultural backlash, shifting norms, and changing retail landscapes in a way few other brands have. By the end, the discussion becomes a larger meditation on dolls, projection, aspiration, and identity - why humans have always made miniature versions of themselves, and what those figures reveal about the societies that create them.

In this episode, Pauline dives into the sweet world of ice cream - an industry that's far more complex than it appears. Joined by longtime ice cream entrepreneur David Stein and discerning foodie Sasha Grutman, the conversation explores how frozen desserts evolved from local dairy byproducts into a multi‑billion‑dollar business shaped by shifts in branding, packaging, communications, and culture. The discussion traces the breakthrough innovation in 1973 by Steve Herrell, founder of Steve’s Ice Cream, whose mix‑in concept revolutionized the category, and how Ben & Jerry’s later amplified that idea with playful flavor names and an iconic visual identity. Together, they discuss how ice cream grew from a childhood treat into a social experience - one that thrives on creativity, novelty, and storytelling. The episode also examines the rise and fall of “better‑for‑you” brands like Halo Top and the growing influence of plant‑based and artisanal brands, highlighting how consumer tastes continue to evolve. Tune in to discover why ice cream is more than a dessert; it's a reflection of our never-ending craving for joy, fun, and connection.

Pauline welcomes bestselling health & wellness writer Bill Gifford (co-author of Outlive) to discuss his latest book, Hotwired: How the Hidden Power of Heat Makes Us Stronger. In this conversation, Bill makes the case that sweating is an evolutionary superpower and explains why our modern, climate-controlled lives may be undermining our overall wellbeing. The conversation moves beyond health fads and clichés and dives into the science of heat exposure - from saunas and hot baths to hot yoga - explaining why and how it supports cardiovascular health and improves mental health. Pauline and Bill also explore the aesthetics of heat rituals, from contemporary bathhouses and sauna design to long-standing traditions like Japanese onsen, Moroccan hammams, and Native American sweat lodges. And yes, Bill offers a candid critique of the cold-plunge trend, along with a practical litmus test for navigating wellness hype. (Hint: start with what’s free, foundational, and already built into our biology.) Tune in and heat up your own approach to better living.

In this episode, Pauline sits down with longtime friend Caroline Gardner, Head of Integrated Brand Marketing at The RealReal, to explore what happens when we treat our closets less like storage units and more like living archives of identity. Together, they unpack the hidden logic of luxury resale: why certain items retain value (and most don’t); how cultural relevance and condition affect pricing; and how generational shifts are elevating the desirability of “secondhand” fashion. They conclude with practical (and surprising) advice for aligning who you with how you present yourself; for distinguishing taste vs. trend, and for curating your own “aesthetically intelligent closet."