Couverture de Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay

Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay

Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay

De : Stephanie Rado Taormina & Jay Schweid
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 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. This show is hosted by Steph and Jay and Produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/) & ephelants (https://ephelantsz.com/) with Matthew “MoJo” Jones as Executive Producer. For sales and partnerships inquires, please contact Shane Thornton at shane@rainbowcreative.co© 2026 Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay Art Direction Economie Management et direction
Épisodes
  • When Feedback Hurts (and When to Ignore It)

    When Feedback Hurts (and When to Ignore It)
    May 7 2026
    What happens when feedback stops being helpful and starts feeling personal? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay explore the complicated reality of receiving feedback as a creative, a leader, and a public-facing builder. From formative critiques in design school to unsolicited opinions from strangers online, this is a grounded conversation about what it actually feels like to put your work into the world and have it reflected back through other people’s perspectives. Steph reflects on her time at Parsons, where her work was dissected by industry names like Michael Kors, and how that early exposure to high-level critique shaped her ability to separate useful feedback from emotional noise. Jay brings in the leadership side of the conversation, breaking down what it means to give feedback responsibly when other people are building what you’ve asked them to create. Together, they unpack the difference between critique that sharpens your work and criticism that reveals more about the person giving it than the work itself. They also talk about the emotional side of visibility, from reading feedback third-hand to the unexpected sting of something as small as a friend unsubscribing from an email list. This episode also explores: Why early critique from top-tier professionals can build long-term resilience How to tell the difference between constructive feedback and disguised opinion Why third-party criticism often lands harder than direct conversation What it means to lead creatively without shutting people down The responsibility that comes with giving feedback as a leader The “man in the arena” idea and who actually earns the right to critique your work Dave Grutman’s philosophy of “taking it personal” and what that unlocks A closing reflection on whether your work would change if no one else’s opinion existed Follow & Connect with the Show!Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PicklesAndPastaPodcastFollow ephelants on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ephelants/ Steph’s brand: Have Some Fun TodayThis show is hosted by Steph and Jay and produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/) & ephelants (https://ephelantsz.com/) with Matthew “MoJo” Jones as Executive Producer. For sales and partnership inquiries, please contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 min
  • The Psychology of Creativity: How Ideas Actually Work (and What It Takes to Build Them)

    The Psychology of Creativity: How Ideas Actually Work (and What It Takes to Build Them)
    Apr 30 2026
    What does it really mean to be creative, and what does it actually take to turn an idea into something real? In this episode of Pickles & Pasta, Steph and Jay dive into the psychology of creativity, from where ideas come from to what happens after inspiration hits. This is an honest, layered conversation about instinct, execution, and the often-overlooked gap between being creative and building something sustainable. They reflect on how creativity showed up early in their lives, from first-grade daydreaming to feeling “different”, and how those instincts evolved into real-world pursuits. But this episode goes beyond inspiration. It gets into the reality of bringing ideas to life: the mistakes, the money lost, the pressure, and the lessons learned the hard way. Jay shares how he started a tennis racket stringing business before the age of 20 with zero experience, while Steph opens up about walking into Bendel’s with hand-sewn dresses, landing a major moment with Brooke Shields, and still having to figure out the business side behind the scenes. They talk candidly about undervaluing your work, navigating creative blocks, and why not every idea needs to become a business. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing what to build—and what to keep as a passion. This episode also explores: Why daydreaming might be your greatest creative tool Letting ideas “come through you” vs. forcing them The difference between creativity and business acumen Pricing, marketing mistakes, and lessons from ~$100K in losses Creative intuition and recognizing “the tap on the shoulder” Fear of success and self-sabotage The importance of environment and the people around you How to move through creative blocks and actually execute Books & References Mentioned: The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron Stutz (Netflix) – Jonah Hill & Dr. Phil Stutz New Crits artist talks (NYC) Artist Cam Roone (Whitney Biennial) Follow & Connect with the Show! Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PicklesAndPastaPodcast Follow ephelants on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ephelants/ Steph’s brand: Have Some Fun Today This show is hosted by Steph and Jay and produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/) & ephelants (https://ephelantsz.com/) with Matthew “MoJo” Jones as Executive Producer. For sales and partnership inquiries, please contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome & intro: the psychology of creativity 0:18 – Were we always creative? Growing up “different” 1:27 – Steph’s first-grade daydreaming & Sister Alisan 2:46 – Jay’s first day of school: kicking and screaming 4:14 – Daydreaming as a superpower: visualization vs. fantasy 6:57 – Rick Rubin & letting ideas come through you 14:49 – Steph’s painting In Your Dreams 22:29 – The Artist’s Way & creative process 25:41 – The origin of Have Some Fun Today 28:19 – Deadlines, pressure & creativity 32:01 – The idea Steph almost ignored 35:23 – Protecting your creativity 44:02 – Fear of success & self-sabotage 52:38 – The “snapshot” trap (Stutz) 57:16 – Creating with purpose 1:02:49 – Creative blocks & how to move through them 1:07:27 – Environment: stimulation vs. stillness 1:16:57 – Takeaway exercise 1:22:01 – Final thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 min
  • Turning Your Idea Into a Business (Without Losing Money)

    Turning Your Idea Into a Business (Without Losing Money)
    Apr 23 2026
    In this episode of Pickles & Pasta with Steph and Jay, the conversation turns to something a lot of creatives run into but don’t always talk about honestly, what it actually takes to turn an idea into a real business. Steph and Jay share their own paths, and where things didn’t go as planned. Jay talks about starting a tennis racket stringing business before he was 20, with zero business experience, and learning everything the hard way. Steph reflects on walking into Bendel’s with hand-sewn dresses, landing a major moment with Brooke Shields, and still having to figure out how to actually build something sustainable behind the scenes. They get into the gap between being creative and being business-savvy, and why those are two completely different skill sets. There’s a real conversation around pricing, including the costly mistakes that led to a combined ~$100K lost in bad marketing decisions, and why so many creatives undervalue their work early on. They also challenge the idea that everyone should start a business. Sometimes the better move is keeping something as a hobby, and knowing the difference can save a lot of time, money, and stress. The episode breaks down how to recognize when something has real potential versus when it’s being forced into something it’s not. A big theme throughout is the importance of who you surround yourself with. The right people don’t just support you, they help you see your blind spots and make better decisions faster. If you’re a creative, founder, or someone sitting on an idea you’ve been trying to turn into something bigger, this episode offers a more grounded, honest look at what that actually requires. Share your thoughts in the comments. Are you building something right now, or still figuring out what it could be? Follow & Connect with the Show!Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PicklesAndPastaPodcastFollow ephelants on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ephelants/ This show is hosted by Steph and Jay and produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/) & ephelants (https://ephelantsz.com/) with Matthew “MoJo” Jones as Executive Producer. For sales and partnership inquiries, please contact podcasts@rainbowcreative.co Chapters 0:00 - Opening 0:39 — Intro: From Idea to Income 3:19 — Steph's path: college, art school & early ambitions 3:43 — Jay's story: building a business before age 20 19:58 — Product vs. service businesses — finding the right fit 34:12 — How to price your work 38:06 — Financial mistakes & marketing scams 42:22 — Advice for creatives: balancing passion with business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 min
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