The Venus Guide with Marina Lukoschat

Welcome to Episode 009 of The Venus Guide with Charissa Chioccarelli, founder of isla, a progressive beauty and lifestyle brand and creative studio born in Berlin’s cultural landscape of international music and female talent. Eight years ago, Charissa moved from Amsterdam to Berlin and opened a concept store built by and for her friends: nail art the city didn’t have yet, and DJ decks where women could practice without having to earn their way into male-dominated spaces. Her reference? The skate shops she loved but never felt welcome in. She built her very own version of it.“It’s always been about empowering women and creating a platform for women. Nails were kind of the vehicle for that.”As we trace isla’s path from a Berlin concept store to press-ons that can travel anywhere, we explore what happens when a brand outgrows its own room, and the courage it takes to close the doors of a fully booked salon.“I still believe in the power of IRL and communities, but it just got a different shape now.”From the first steps to the pivots of building a business, we talk about why the coolest brands aren’t always the most profitable, bootstrapping before a first funding round, and learning to put yourself first.In this conversation, we explore the cities that feel like coming home, the running shoes that go into every suitcase, and a perception on beauty that glimpses into the future:“In 10 or 15 years, I’m sure I’ll look back and be like: what a bombshell, I wish I would have enjoyed that more.”We recorded this in Virgo season, the season of harvest, when visions want to become real and the seeds we planted slowly show the first sign of fruition. As I finish this summary, it dawns on me that building something tangible means holding the tension between where your mind already is and where the world has yet to grow into.Listen to this episode on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.Enjoy The Venus Guide is an exploration of a new way of being in the world. Mentioned and additional resources from this episodeNailsRay’s favorite picks from isla:isla press-on set in purpleBooksStart With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life by Emma GredePlacesisla, born in Berlin, now available everywhereSoho House Berlin: where we first metWestfield, London: Charissa’s favorite spot to observe and absorbSupreme, London: the skate shop that inspired a feminine versionDisclaimer: no sponsorships. We genuinely talked about these brands and places.keywords: brand building, nails, nail art, press-on nails, beauty brand, female-founded, women empowerment, platform for women, pivot, bootstrapping, fundraising, scaling, IRL community, DJ culture, Berlin club scene, berlin, amsterdam, london, interview magazineExplore the world through a Venusian lens: Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Episode 008 of The Venus Guide with Ieva Elena Feja, Founder of LIA, a womenswear brand made for tall women.“Tall isn’t just about length, it’s about proportion.”Ieva and I met at Another Pop-Up, a gathering of seven brands in a light-flooded loft apartment in Berlin that she co-created with two friends. Funnily enough, her invitation to speak on the panel had ended up in my hidden Instagram requests, never to see the light of day. It took one afternoon in the same room for everything to click.Streaming from Vilnius, where LIA is produced, we talk about building clothes for a body the market keeps telling to crop it, size up, or just change your shoes. Ieva started with a survey sent to every tall woman she knew, and a clear strategic instinct:“In an industry as saturated as fashion, I knew I had to pick my own angle. Otherwise it’s so hard to compete.”As we trace her journey from the first pair of trousers to the moment the online shop went live (and the world, unsurprisingly, didn’t change overnight), one idea kept crystallizing:Fit is a system, not a hemline.A longer leg isn’t extra fabric at the ankle. The knee moves, the waist follows, the whole construction shifts. The same goes for a brand: nothing fits in isolation.From the tiniest details to the big questions of fashion, we talk about why Lithuania’s famous linen didn’t make it into LIA, what sustainability can honestly mean for a young brand, and why a brand born online still needs a physical room: a place to touch, try on, and build trust. We wander through the cities that shaped her style, from the calm nature and perfect cinnamon rolls of Gothenburg to Berlin, where white trousers never stay white and beauty lives in the rough edges:“There’s this raw part of chaos and craziness, but that is also beautiful in some way.”And somewhere along the way, we end up in Japan, by way of two books and a shimmering Burberry trench.As I’m finishing up this little sneak peek, I keep thinking about all the rooms this story lives in: the fitting room where a pair of trousers finally fits, the apartment where seven brands became a community, the garden where we plant a seed and wonder why the flower isn’t there yet. Building something real means making space before you know what will fill it:Building the room makes space for (t)all.Listen to this episode on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. The Venus Guide is an exploration of a new way of being in the world. Traveling through the senses.Mentioned and additional resources from this episodeClothesRay’s favorite picks from LIA:Relaxed Shirt in red oxford cottonBooksButter by Asako YuzukiBefore the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu KawaguchiStart With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life by Emma GredePlacesLIA Studio, made in Lithuania Another Pop-Up at Friends of Friends, BerlinDa Matteo, Gothenburg: the cinnamon rollFashion Fou Vintage, Torstraße, Berlin: home of the Japan-sourced trench Ari’s Berlin: the perfect place for friends and pancakesDisclaimer: no sponsorships. we genuinely talked about these brands and artists.keywords: brand building, tall women, tall fashion, women's wear brand, inclusive sizing, fit, niche brand, sustainability, fabric, pop-up, community, D2C, female-founded, berlin, vilnius, gothenburg, travel, vintage, interview magazineExplore the world through a Venusian lens: Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Episode 007 of The Venus Guide with Angelina Gergenreder, Founder and Creative Director of women’s wear brand EDARA. “EDARA caters to women seeking a blend of elegance, sophistication, and contemporary style, with an emphasis on quality and timelessness.” Angelina and I met at a longevity summit, that funnily enough, wasn’t necessarily in our “niche”. It had nothing to do with fashion. In this conversation, we explore longevity from a different angle. It’s precisely this timelessness, EDARA has built it’s foundations on:We talk about the emotion of beauty, the way clothes and spaces feel on the body, and the desire for true belonging – feelings that linger, beyond time. As we touch base with her brand’s launch in Milan, to her creative practice in Munich today, one idea kept crystallizing,Desire is in the Details. and it’s also where Angelina’s inspiration begins:“Everything happens when I walk.”From the tiniest details to the big questions of fashion, we talk about the importance of scent in a showroom, as well as the dynamics of deadstock and overproduction.In this unedited conversation, we find single-word definitions for the cities that shape us, and the timeless traditions that keep us sane, while building a brand.As I’m finishing up this little sneak peak, it dawns on me that building something real is an embodiment of desire – a constant gestation:Desire is about movement, not arrival.Listen to this episode on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Youtube. Mentioned and additional resources from this episodeClothesRay’s favorite picks from EDARAPlaid Midi SkirtTracksuit JacketAnthurium EarringsPeopleVesper MilanoBooks & MagazinesStrangers by Belle BurdenThe Gentlewoman No.33 - Essay on Desire by Ann FriedmanPlacesOrsonero Coffee, Milan – The Birthplace of EDARAEDARA Atelier, Herzogstraße 86, Munich SchwabingMusic Angelina’s Current FavoritesThe Venus Guide is an exploration of a new way of being in the world. Traveling through the senses. Explore the world through a Venusian lens:next up:Venusian Vocab: new words for what we yearn for – Fashion will free us, how frivolous!The Modern Venus: The It-Girl PhenomenonThank you for being here.consider this your virtual hug,Ray Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

This is Edition 6 of The Venus Guide with founder of Casa Figuera Alena Dentler. Alena and I connected over the shared metaphor of seeing our own brands as houses with many rooms that are all interconnected. Some other things we have in common is our background in Textile Engineering and our love for Indigo. In this episode, Alena takes us on a tour, not only through her Casa, but also on her journey how she started building it. From Bali to Berlin and back again, the world is her Oyster. or should I say, her Fig Tree?!We dive into what the art of natural dying has in common with launching a brand and how presence & play informs the process of growth. We talk about the difference between craftsmanship and fashion as an industry and how individuality forms community.Think 50 shades of indigo, the softness of a silk dress and the slow sweetness of the Fig tree.The Venus Guide is an exploration of a new way of being in the world. Traveling through the senses. Lean in, listen up & enjoy :)Mentioned Resources in this episode Brands & ProductsMore on Casa Figuera Casa Figuera Merch from natural, undyed cottonPlacesEs Raco Meditation HallBetlem Hike Place in NatureBooksThe Cost of Living by Deborah LevyENJOY & LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS Disclaimer: no sponsorships. just genuine shares of what inspires us.cover photo credit: Lucy Ehrlichkeywords: brand building, craftsmanship, mallorca travel, natural textile dying, wellness, yoga, fashion industry, age of aquarius Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

Who the f*ck is Ray?I noticed I just started Rambling without ever introducing myself, so here I am.I’m Ray, I bridge things that are seemingly unconnected, sparking conversation on fashion, culture, systemic sustainability and pleasure as a feeling of aliveness.In this episode I share how I see fashion as a way of being in relationship with the world. I elaborate on what „a story about interconnectedness.“ means to me, and I introduce it as a house with many rooms and show you what lives in it:From introducing my lens through the Rambling with Ray podcast toThe Venus Guidevenusianpleasures_The 6pm Coffee Cluband my work with fashion brands.I share some facts about me you might or might not have known before. About growing up abroad, public speaking and returning home to oneself through a practice that is spiritual as it is applicable.Welcome to the Rambling with Ray PodcastA place for translucent thinking on fashion, culture, and sustainability and a place to keep the conversation going.Thank you soso much for listening, it really means the world.Without further ado, Are you ready to ramble? Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

Edition 5 of The Venus Guide with my rockstar beauty BETTINA ROSE JURÁK . This episode is a journey from Bettina’s life as a professional dancer to now creating her own brand THE WAVES OF HER, offering somatic 1:1s, rituals and curated products — think all things delicious IN and ON the body. We speak about Living the Dream and what it means for us, balancing ritual and community, in a dance of beauty. Rooting deeper to rise higher: this episode is an exploration of the world, grounding us back into the beauty right in front of us, through the sensual experience of being alive. Dive in and find out how to PROTECT YOUR ENERGY in the most practical ways.The Venus Guide is an exploration of a new way of being in the world. Traveling through the senses. Listen up! Enjoy :)Featured Resources in this episode EarsPlaylist curated for Nudie Jeans by Sarah Klang, Bettina worked on a coreography with her in 2024. EyesThe Creative Act by Rick RubinSkinFlip Flops by Sleepers made from natural rubber, endlessly softNose Essential Oils by Jampa Creative Candles by Hungarian Brand & your storiesENJOY & LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS Disclaimer: no sponsorships. we genuinely talked about these brands and artists. Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

I’m so happy we are back with the next edition of The Venus Guide - your modern day travel magazine, where we explore places, their aesthetics, your experience and new ways of being in the world. A new perspective on beauty & travel, through the lens of community. Moving into edition 4 with Joana, we travel from her ancestral roots of Colombia, all the way to her creative life in Amsterdam. She tells us about her signature looks, her travel essentials and we speak about the aura of beauty and creative living. From building supply chains like family trees to how to make a space feel like a warm hug, Joana and I explore the connective threads of our sensual experience as humans. Lean back, lean in and enjoy the ride.Disclaimer: This episode is not sponsored in any way.Featured Resources of this episode:BooksPaulo Coelho - The AlchemistPlacesThe Hoxton Hotel, Berlin The Hoxton Hotel, BarcelonaThe Hoxton Hotel, RomeBotanics of Big Cities BrandsZazi Vintage - ethical luxury brand by Jeanne de Kroon, weaving truth and true integration throughout global supply chainsSusmies - accessory and clothing brand from BarcelonaJojo Bars - Joana’s very own healthy snack bar brandOtherThe Muses Seasonal Kundalini Program by Amanda NorgaardI hope you enjoyed this episode.Leave a comment and let me know what you think! Photo Credit: Janne HoevelakenPhoto Credit: Fabienne Roosen / Ramona Politz collaged on Pinterest Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

So excited to be sharing this conversation with all of you, where Katerina Furrer and I speak about all things interior make-up to external radiance. Katerina is a writer, founder of lingerie brand Studium Patina, interiors consultant and product developer, and an awesome person to talk to. In this interview we are touching upon creativity, our own creative processes, what devotion has to do with it and the energetic imprint of what we create. It’s about growth, about taking leaps, Venus lines, the magic of consistency and reflections of success. As in any The Venus Guide interview, we speak about beauty, travel and how it all ties back to our own ritualistic way of being in the world.“The Bodies” is a concept I created for venusianpleasures VOL.2 back in Fall 2023, it explores the Home Body as not only the place we live in and how we design it, but also the places we revisit. The Creativity Body, The Physical as well as the Mind Body, as four pillars of many in how to curate and understand our lives. As tools of externalization, of relating with the world around us, The Bodies is designed to tap you into the lushness of life. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording this. Let’s go!Features Resources of this episode:BooksThe Creative Act - Rick RubinInfinite Receiving - Suzy AshworlthThe Lamb - Lucy RoseNow She is Witch - Kirsty LoganPlaces The Coco Hotel, CopenhagenEtt Hem, StockholmOtherTranscendental MeditationBenshen Kundalini Membership by Desirée PaisThe Muses Kundalini Seasonal Program by Amanda NorgaardMissed something? Let me know warmly,Ray Photo Credit: Georgina Abreu Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everybody, before we dive in, thank you for being here and thank you Marina Lukoschat for sharing your view on beauty, travel and interconnectedness with us. I can’t wait to have Marina on Volume 4 of venusianpleasures_ bookclub meets dinner party, where she will be leading one of our 4 Zoom sessions. Use code MARINA15 in the online shop for 15€ off your bundle. Now, let’s enjoy!photocredit: Isabel HaynP.S. Know someone who should be on The Venus Guide? let me know!If the vibe’s not right — it’s not in The Venus Guide. Get full access to a story about interconnectedness. at ramonapolitz.substack.com/subscribe