Shorts: Beyond Measure w/ Tara, Caroline & Allison

Hosted by Tara West, Caroline Balz, Allison Goldberg

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466

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Jun 2026

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About the show

A bite-sized podcast where fashion stylist Tara and interior designers Caroline & Allison—each with a background in psychology—unpack the deeper layers of style, design, and mindset. From fashion and interiors to psychology and culture, they deliver short, sharp, and stylish insights that make a lasting impact.

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June 16, 202613 min

Building a Hamptons Design Brand: Jen DeLalio Returns

Caroline and Allison welcome back Jen (Bean) DeLalio of JKate Designs from Southampton to discuss her pivot from software programming and consulting into interior design and how she built a Hamptons-focused portfolio. Jen shares that her projects span Westhampton through Amagansett, with a coastal, easy-breezy style that also leans slightly traditional and patterned. She explains the importance of professional photography as a non-negotiable marketing investment, describing how photographing her sister’s Bergen County renovation and a major East Hampton project helped elevate her website and content, including a project video produced through a charity-auction win. They also talk about maintaining a tight design process, screening out difficult clients during inquiries, and using a “secret” inspo image to confirm client preferences. Jen shares where to find JKate Designs online. Find Jen on the socials at @jkatedesigns or at https://jkate-designs.com/ Topics 00:29 Part Two Welcome 00:43 Meet Jen Bean 01:52 Podcast Fan Moment 03:08 Hamptons Roots 03:39 Design Style Sweet Spot 04:28 Pro Photos Matter 05:21 Sister Reno Breakthrough 07:54 East Hampton Dream Project 09:24 Marketing Budget Reality 10:29 When to Walk Away 11:14 Client Process Tricks 12:04 Where to Find Jen 12:36 Final Sign Off

June 9, 202614 min

From NYT Analyst to Hamptons Designer: Jen (Bean) DeLalio

The guest is Jen (Bean) DeLalio, a high school friend of Caroline’s. They reminisce about shared Boston summers and Caroline’s multi-day Cape wedding. Jen describes her early career as an econ major who entered tech consulting in 1998, later working as a systems analyst at The New York Times before moving full-time to Southampton. After taking an NYU night class in interior design and working in an antique shop and design showroom, she returned to remote web-based software work as a contractor for about 10 years while renovating her own home and helping friends. In 2015 she launched JKate Designs via a Houzz profile, balancing demanding early projects with consulting and parenting. She explains how the Haven Workshop in 2022 helped her adopt stronger business systems, marketing, and financial goals, prompting her to leave consulting and scale with subcontracted procurement, bookkeeping, and CAD support. Find Jen on the socials at @jkatedesigns or at https://jkate-designs.com/ Topics 00:33 Guest Arrival 01:19 Jen Bean Backstory 02:20 Wedding Weekend Tales 03:42 Career Pivot Begins 05:34 Hamptons Design Roots 06:44 Launching JKate Designs 07:42 First Clients Juggling 09:43 Haven Workshop Breakthrough 11:02 Systems Strategy Lessons 12:37 Building The Team 13:53 Where To Find Jen

June 2, 202612 min

How Hostile Architecture Shapes Behavior

Allison and Caroline discuss heavy pollen before recapping Sparkle in the Park, a longtime Emerald Necklace Conservancy fundraiser. They describe multiple last-minute pivots: switching from a perceived-privileged luncheon to an evening tented dinner, then losing the City of Boston tent permit and relocating the event to board member Georgia Lee’s private home. They highlight the home reveal and the dramatic design transformation by David DeCicco Designs and Julie Freed/Freed Events, and note the event raised significant funds and may return as a May 5 lunch next year. The episode topic shifts to hostile architecture—design choices that manipulate behavior (e.g., anti-sleep benches, airport armrests, uncomfortably cold restaurants)—and briefly connects the idea to “hostile fashion,” including restrictive skirts and high heels. Topics 00:28 Pollen And Missing Host 01:02 Sparkle In The Park Recap 02:13 Event Backstory And Pivots 03:56 Swing Mishap And Next Year 05:02 Hostile Architecture Explained 06:22 Everyday Examples And Comfort 07:45 Designing Atmosphere On Purpose 08:46 Hostile Fashion And Met Gala 10:46 Clothes As Social Signals 12:17 Wrap Up And Sign Off

May 26, 202618 min

Executive Presence & Purpose with Rachel Wexler

The gang welcomes back Rachel Wexler, a leadership development partner who helps leaders and teams get unstuck and build new ways of operating aligned to their goals. Wexler discusses executive presence as showing up with confidence and conviction by knowing strengths and development areas, clarifying the gap between identity and reputation, defining a bigger “why,” and understanding needs and boundaries. She describes working with both women and men, including executives with egos, and using data-driven tools like the Hogan Assessment to ground “soft” topics in statistically reliable insights about how people are perceived. Wexler shares her career pivot from education product development and workforce development work at Penn Foster (2015–2023), deciding to leave as she approached 50 to avoid regret, and learning resilience and iteration through social media. She outlines her business focus on coaching/consulting and sharing ideas about humanity, authenticity, trust, and high-performance teams. Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlwexler/ Instagram: @ RWexlerLeadership https://www.rachel-wexler.com/ Topics 00:32 Rachel Is Back 01:52 Executive Presence Basics 03:02 Identity Versus Reputation 05:05 Handling Ego With Data 07:52 Friendship And Business Plans 08:58 Pivoting Into Entrepreneurship 12:15 Turning 50 Leap 12:46 Social Media Growing Pains 14:34 Where The Business Goes Next 16:15 Presence Tip Before Meetings 17:11 Socials And Farewell

May 19, 202616 min

Building Trust at Work with Rachel Wexler

The guest is Tara’s longtime friend Rachel Wexler, who recently launched her own business after 20 years leading product and strategy teams. Rachel describes her evolving role as a “leadership development partner,” working with leaders and teams through coaching, leadership programs, small-group work, and team offsites to help organizations use internal talent well, build trust, and create environments where people can be authentic. She explains using tools like 360 feedback—speaking with peers, direct reports, senior leaders, and sometimes people in a client’s personal life—to identify key themes and “name what’s really going on” beneath the surface. Rachel shares an offsite example that began with a personal question to humanize teammates and shift focus from deadlines to connection. She says her favorite part is helping people, especially women, see their strength and value. Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlwexler/ Instagram: @ RWexlerLeadership https://www.rachel-wexler.com/ Topics 00:29 Meet Rachel Wexler 00:48 Friendship Backstory 02:10 Launching Her Business 03:01 What She Actually Does 05:24 Why Leadership Work Matters 06:54 Reading the Room Skills 09:34 Inside a Team Offsite 12:51 Favorite Part of the Job 14:53 Where to Find Rachel 15:35 Wrap Up and Thanks

May 12, 202614 min

The Rule of 7: Decision Fatigue in Fashion and Design

The gang celebrates Tara’s recognition as one of Boston’s best dressed and discusses how professional wins support business. They pivot to cultural and health conversations around Ozempic, including reports of bone density issues, differing medical opinions, social pressure to use it, and observations about shrinking size availability and plus sizes “going away.” The main topic is Miller’s “rule of seven,” explaining how too many choices create decision paralysis; they apply it to styling and design by limiting options (e.g., a few mood boards or samples) rather than overwhelming clients. They describe how knowing a client’s taste, budget, and closet helps narrow choices, how shopping together can educate clients, and how expanded design options have increased complexity while COVID-era constraints encouraged creativity. Topics 00:29 Best Dressed Win 02:33 Ozempic Culture Talk 03:58 Sizes And Fashion Shift 07:39 Rule Of Seven 09:17 Styling Without Overwhelm 12:48 Design Choices Explosion 13:51 Wrap Up And Requests

May 5, 202611 min

Bad Apples: How One Negative Person Spoils the Bunch

The topic: the “bad apple effect,” or how one negative person can permeate and drag down an entire group. After chatting about missing each other and Tara’s rainy, windy weekend in Pensacola for a friend’s 60th birthday, they compare the concept to removing a bad strawberry to keep the rest fresh and to group dynamics where a “Debbie Downer” demands attention. Caroline describes how a difficult subcontractor’s attitude can create client and brand issues, requiring calm, professional conversations and rules like routing all client concerns through the designers. Tara shares a styling incident where a high-end store sent a $2,500 blazer with a sensor still attached and a loose button, then blamed her, reinforcing the value of accountability and apologizing. They note research suggesting negative peers can reduce student achievement and emphasize choosing better company with age. Topics 00:30 Catching Up Derby To Pensacola 00:52 Pensacola Stories Waffle House 01:48 What Is Bad Apple Effect? 02:45 Bad Apple In Groups 03:05 Workplace Subs And Boundaries 04:48 Opposite Action Staying Calm 05:09 Stylist Horror Story Sensor Tag 07:13 Accountability And Owning Mistakes 08:04 Comic Detour Dave Dating Update 09:06 Theory Explained Social Contagion 09:42 Choosing Your People And Parenting 10:35 Wrap Up And Goodbye

April 28, 202614 min

Of Breakups & Dating Apps…

Tara, Caroline & Allison turn the episode into an informal therapy session about Dave’s recent breakup. They discuss loss, identity, and redefining life post-relationship. Topics 00:37 Dave Breakup Talk 04:04 Dating Apps Reality 06:10 What Dave Wants 07:26 Age Range Debate 11:07 Divorce Dating Vibes 11:31 Wrong Car Horror Story 14:19 Wrap Up And Plug

April 22, 202613 min

Remy Stressenger, Launch to Life & Preventing Suicides

Tara, Caroline and Allison welcome back Remy Stressenger, owner of the women’s boutique Remy in Nantucket and on Charles Street in Boston, and founder of Launch to Life. Remy explains the nonprofit grew from her father’s suicide when she was seven and later suicides involving friends’ sons, and describes how the name “Launch” connects to family and the goal of helping kids thrive, noting bipolar disorder in her family. The group discusses stigma around suicide and mental health, the semicolon symbol representing “your story’s not over,” and a cashmere sweater sold in Remy’s store with proceeds benefiting Launch to Life. Remy’s core goal is certifying adults in Mental Health First Aid to help communities recognize warning signs, and she shares fundraising efforts like Nantucket’s “Paddle With a Purpose,” plus ways to donate via launch2life.org and remycreations.com. Topics 00:29 Meet Remy Stressenger 02:18 Launch to Life Origin 03:39 Semicolon Sweater Meaning 05:36 Mental Health First Aid Goal 06:20 Generational Stigma Today 07:28 Finding Her Voice 11:12 How to Support Launch 12:29 Resources and Farewell

April 14, 202616 min

Remy Stressenger on Building a Boutique by Saying Yes

Tara, Caroline and Allison welcome longtime friend and boutique owner Remy Stressenger. Remy shares how she opened her Nantucket store 11 years ago without a lifelong dream or business plan, driven by a desire for independence during her divorce and after starting a creative concierge business. She explains learning retail by jumping in, attending the Coterie trade show, and refining her buying eye over time, focusing on small international brands and dropping them once they become widely carried. The group discusses differences between Nantucket and Boston retail, seasonal challenges, and Remy running nearly every aspect of the business, including inventory and POS. Remy recounts the origin of her bestselling shark sweaters from a COVID-era T-shirt, plus a new octopus design, and describes pricing based on what she’d personally pay. Find Remy at https://remycreations.com/ Topics 00:28 Meet Remy 01:44 Nantucket Store Origin 04:16 Buying Without A Plan 05:11 Unique Brands Strategy 06:26 Shark Sweater Story 08:22 Collabs And Two Stores 10:15 Retail Reality Check 11:11 Doing It All Solo 12:12 Boston Style Culture 13:33 Just Start The Business 15:29 Pricing And Value 16:40 Wrap And Tease