Show Notes
This week, we are giving a second listen to our very special episode with Andrea Beaty. Beaty is an award-winning children's author. Before she became known for her curious and clever characters in Rosie Revere, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist, she was on track for a career in STEM. In college, Beaty studied biology and computer science and then went on to work at a software company. It wasn't until she volunteered to write a tech support newsletter for a customer audience that she honed her skills as a writer and copy editor. She first tried her hand at fiction by writing stories inspired by the books she read to her kids before eventually getting published in the 2000s. Since then, Beaty's work has landed her on the New York Times Best Sellers list multiple times and has even been adapted into an award-winning Netflix animated series. She often credits her time as a technical writer as what gave her the skills to break down big concepts and life lessons for kids. Now, more than 20 years after writing her first book, Beaty shows no signs of slowing down. Since this episode's original release, Beaty released The Questioneers: What's That Color? in March of 2026 and her next book, The Questioneers: How Many Is That?, is slated to release in October of 2026.
More from Second Life
This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.
Kristina Blahnik is the CEO of Manolo Blahnik. As the niece of acclaimed designer Manolo Blahnik, she grew up in the family business but never intended to work in it. Instead, Kristina studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and eventually had a practice of her own, where she worked for just under 10 years. In 2009 when her uncle Manolo Blahnik couldn't travel to the factories to develop the brand's new collection, Kristina stepped in and joined the family business full time. In 2013, she assumed the role of CEO, a position that she maintains to this day—although she prefers the title of "creative strategist." Since coming on board, she has expanded the business from two boutiques to 20, grown the Manolo Blahnik team from 26 people to over 250, and spearheaded major collaborations with brands such as Birkenstock and Balenciaga.
This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.
Danielle Pheloung is a content creator and cofounder of the fashion brand Phe Phe. Before amassing a following on social media and starting her own clothing company, Pheloung worked in finance. She started her career as an analyst at Morgan Stanley and later transitioned to working for Goldman Sachs as a private wealth management associate. Meanwhile, her sister Brigette McHale, otherwise known as Acquired Style online, was experiencing immense success on social media. Encouraged by her sister's success, Pheloung decided to start posting on TikTok. She showcased her corporate style and daily life while working a demanding job. Eventually, Pheloung made the decision to pursue content creation full time, leaving her position at Goldman Sachs. She continued to grow on social media, and with her sister, she launched Phe Phe in 2025. Today, Pheloung continues to make content and run Phe Phe, which recently launched its workwear line, inspired in part by Pheloung's first life in the corporate world.
This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.