Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay

By Stephanie Rado Taormina & Jay Schweid

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Category: Arts

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Episodes: 59

Description

Welcome to Pickles & Pasta, a podcast about living creatively, loving boldly, and staying grounded in a world that often feels anything but.Steph and Jay met (or as Jay says “reconnected”) just before the pandemic and have been building a life, and a creative partnership, ever since. Together, they live, work, and support each other’s ventures while navigating the messy, beautiful chaos of modern life.No agendas. No sides. Just real conversations,sometimes deep, sometimes hilarious, always honest. This is their space to talk about creativity, connection, relationships, and everything in between. Pull up a chair. Let’s dig in. About StephStephanie Rado Taormina is the CEO and founder of Have Some Fun Today, a lifestyle brand inspired by her late father's mantra to live boldly and joyfully. With over 25 years of experience in branding, fashion, interiors, and entrepreneurship, she brings a sharp creative vision to everything she touches. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Stephanie has reignited her fine art career since 2021, creating emotionally driven abstract work and building a growing marketplace for contemporary art. While integrating her artistic voice into the evolution of HSFT, she also maintains an independent studio practice focused on exhibitions, fine art prints, and creative collaborations. As co-host of the podcast Pickles & Pasta with Steph & Jay, she brings thoughtful, unscripted insight to conversations about creativity, culture, and navigating modern life. About Jay Jay Schweid is a native New Yorker, creative entrepreneur, and cultural shapeshifter with a career that’s anything but conventional. From launching JCS, a bespoke racket service trusted by tennis icons like McEnroe and Agassi, to co-founding The Spot—a legendary South Beach lounge with Mickey Rourke, Jay has always lived at the intersection of bold ideas and real-world impact. He went on to create high-touch concierge and event services for celebrity and HNWI clients, and in 2012, launched ephelants, a media company focused on streamlining film and commercial production. Built to challenge industry inefficiencies, ephelants fuses creativity with technology to empower storytellers at every level. Now, Jay is building Village, a visionary entertainment platform that will revolutionize how projects move from concept to distribution. By bringing together creators, fans, and investors,Village is designed to democratize the entire entertainment ecosystem and give everyone a seat at the table. On Pickles & Pasta, Jay brings sharp insight, unapologetic creativity, and a relentless curiosity for what’s next.

Episode Date
Is Quitting the Ultimate Failure, or the Smartest Move You'll Make?
Sep 17, 2026
Why Being Good at Your Craft Isn't Enough Anymore
Sep 10, 2026
Can Taste Be Taught, or Only Noticed?
Sep 03, 2026
Why Great Ideas Get Laughed Out of the Room (Until They Don't)
Aug 27, 2026
What "Making It" Actually Looks Like (And Why It Never Feels Like Enough)
Aug 20, 2026
Creative Identity Isn't Built Alone: The Relationships Behind the Work
Aug 13, 2026
The Internet Isn't Your Therapist
Aug 06, 2026
Every Path Not Taken Still Shaped You
Jul 30, 2026
Loving Someone Who Creates Differently Than You
Jul 23, 2026
The Projects That Never Launched (Yet): Why Unfinished Ideas Still Matter - Episode 50!
Jul 16, 2026
Struggle Isn't the Same as Success: Here's What Actually Works
Jul 09, 2026
The Hidden Cost of Being the Expert (And How to Stay Curious Anyway)
Jul 02, 2026
The Authenticity Strategy That Beats the Algorithm Every Time
Jun 25, 2026
Why You're Still Waiting for Permission (And How to Finally Stop)
Jun 18, 2026
The Money Conversation Every Creative Is Avoiding
Jun 11, 2026
Why Most Creative Collaborations Fail (And What the Successful Ones Have in Common)
Jun 04, 2026
How Your Upbringing Is Secretly Shaping Your Creative Life (And What To Do About It)
May 28, 2026
How to Pivot Successfully as a Creative
May 21, 2026
Leading Creative Teams, Feedback & Vision | Creative Leadership Without Losing Yourself
May 14, 2026
When Feedback Hurts (and When to Ignore It)
May 07, 2026
The Psychology of Creativity: How Ideas Actually Work (and What It Takes to Build Them)
Apr 30, 2026
Turning Your Idea Into a Business (Without Losing Money)
Apr 23, 2026
Can AI Help or Hurt Creativity? Using AI as a Creative Tool, Not a Crutch
Apr 16, 2026
Burnout vs. Boredom: How to Spot Misalignment & Reclaim Your Energy
Apr 09, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP35 - Mindset, Momentum & Mental Loops
Apr 01, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP34 - Mindset, Momentum & Mental Loops
Mar 25, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP33 - Patience, Perspective & Playing the Long Game
Mar 18, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP32 - Soft Launches, Calm Energy & Juggling the Buckets
Mar 11, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP31 - Perceived Value, Pricing & Respecting Creative Work
Mar 04, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP30 - Process, Partnership & Turning Sparks into Reality
Feb 25, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP29 - Ghosting, Mixed Signals, and People Who Actually Show Up
Feb 18, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP28 - Creative Energy, Client Work, and Finding Your Groove
Feb 11, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP27 - Expression, Identity, & Choosing Care
Feb 04, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP26 - The Reset Episode: If You Needed This Today
Jan 28, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP25 - Alone Time, Creative Work and When Money Enters the Room
Jan 21, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP24 - Focus, Energy and The Journey
Jan 14, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP23 - Reset, Reflection and Creative Freedom
Jan 07, 2026
Pickles & Pasta EP22 - Closure, Hope and End of Year Clarity
Dec 31, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP21 - Holidays, Creativity, and Knowing When to Slow Down
Dec 24, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP20 - Family, Perception, and Looking Past the Label
Dec 17, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP19 - Dogs, Seasons, and the Art of Paying Attention
Dec 10, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP18 - Friendship, Change, and Coming Home to You
Dec 03, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP17 - Vulnerability, Belonging, and Critical Thinking
Nov 26, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP16 - Growth, Living, and Building Community
Nov 19, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP15 - Gratitude, Breathing & Letting Go of Excess
Nov 12, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP14 - Faith, Fear & the Next Generation
Nov 05, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP13 - Comfort, Growth & Reciprocity
Oct 29, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP12 - Culture, Creativity & Leaving Your Bubble
Oct 22, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP11 - Fear, Truth & Advice to Our Younger Selves
Oct 15, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP10 - Evolving, Connecting, & Dating
Oct 08, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP09 - Chaos, Hacks & Creative Fuel
Oct 01, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP08 - Protein, Gaslighting & Streaming
Sep 24, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP07 - Summer Memories, Small Wins & Showing Up
Sep 17, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP06 - Rituals, Care & Craft
Sep 10, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP05 - Family, Festivals & Politics
Sep 03, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP04 - War, Fear & Cashmere Sweaters
Aug 27, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP03 - Fathers, Leaders, & Calgon Dreams
Aug 20, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP01 - Whatever We’re Going to Call This
Aug 12, 2025
Pickles & Pasta EP02 - Weather, Breakups & Vibes
Aug 12, 2025