The Questlove Show - Historical Records: Willi Smith (feat. Humberto Leon)

Episode Date: February 14, 2025

Nimene learns how ‘street couture’ fashion came to be with a brand new hip-hop track about fashion pioneer Willi Smith. Featuring an interview between fashion designer Humberto Leon and an 8 year old fashion lover from New York named Olivia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clivert Show on the I-Hard Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects. From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar. This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else.

If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode. Listen to the Sports Slice Podcast on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins. But the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice, Ms. Ellen's, correct? I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to.

to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Greg Gillespie and Michael Mancini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences.

Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When a group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist, They take matters into their own hands. I vowed. I will be his last target. He is not going to get away with this. He's going to get what he deserves.

We always say that trust your girlfriends. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, what's up, people? This is Questlove and in honor of Black History Month. On Fridays, we'll be releasing episodes of History. historical records, my podcast with the story pirates.

It's an explosive fusion of hip-hop and history tailor-made for music-loving kids and families. That's right. You heard it right. Something the entire family can sit back, listen to, and enjoy together. So in this episode, host Nemini, learns how street-couture fashion came to be with a brand-new hip-hop track about fashion pioneer Willie Smith, featuring an interview between fashion,

designer Humberto Leon and an eight-year-old fashion lover from New York named Olivia. Get your kids, sit back, and enjoy historical records, the show that proves that in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Nimini here in the ballroom of the Secret Bunker. Reporting to you live from Fashion's biggest night of the year. In just a moment, Tina and the other raccoons are going to try on all my clothes and hit the runway. We're expecting a lot of different looks out of my closet tonight.

and we're hopeful that we'll find at least one outfit that I am still willing to wear. I've just received word from Tina that the show is starting. Oh, and here comes the first model down the runway. It's Tina, standing on top of four other raccoons, so they're the same height as me. And look at this! They're wearing my favorite simple black dress. Now, this dress is very special to me. I got it during my junior year of college. I wear it to 80% of the nice events I have to attend,

and it's honestly starting to get a little scratchy in the shoulders. It is pretty, but it's also pretty tired and should probably be cut up and repurposed into kitchen rags. Sorry, Tina. That one is not happening. But don't worry, listeners. We've got two more hopefully passable options to see. And here they come again. Wow, this next piece coming down the runway is a real stutter.

Also being worn by five raccoons standing on top of each other, this one is a floral pants suit. And it looks like the raccoons are having some fun up there. We love to see it, but does this dress still work for me? I'm not so sure it does, Tina. This is an outfit that I wore once for my cousin's wedding and then never wore again. Did it look good at the time? Absolutely.

Can I bring myself to wear it again? Absolutely not. No one said fashion was easy. Side note, is there anything more adorable than the sound of a crowd of raccoons being bummed out? I think not. Now, this last outfit coming down the runway, once again, being worn by five raccoons standing on top of one another, is a vampire cape, vampire teeth, and a vampire wig.

It's my Halloween costume from last year. I was a vampire. Music! These options work! I have a confession to me. Make. Scientists International Magazine is doing a big feature on scientists who live in top secret underground bunkers and they're sending a photographer here today to our top secret underground bunker to take a picture of me. The reason I asked you and the other raccoons to do this fashion show is because

I have absolutely nothing glamorous to wear. How my To make history, you got to have struggle To make history you got to show boys Cannot be quiet loud as a riot To make history, gotta make some noise Welcome back to historical records Where we conduct highly experimental experiments

Combining History and Hip Hop Today's episode is about the pioneering fashion designer Willie Smith But we'll get to Willie in a minute Right now I'm in the middle of my own fashion zaster I agree. The vampire costume is funny, but I need to impress my fellow scientists, not make them laugh. My boring black dress, my floral pantsuit, my vampire Halloween costume.

None of these outfits feel like they're really going to wow anyone. I want to wow people. What do you mean you have just a thing? Oh, okay. The spotlight on the runway is back. Uh, our next model is about to come down the runway wearing what she assures me is the greatest outfit of all time. Yes, there she is Tina the raccoon,

and it appears that she is wearing a dress made entirely of garbage. Okay, no, raccoons, thanks for your help, but I can't wear a dress made of trash for my big photo shoot. This is Scientist's International Magazine. We're talking about! It's like the biggest publication among scientists who are international and who also read magazines! Thanks, Tina. I knew you'd understand. Let's look in my closet one more time in case I missed something.

Hello? Cute and fancy clothes! Where are you? Hmm. Nope. No fancy impressive clothes in here. Just a bunch of useless junk. Wait a minute. How have I never noticed? never noticed this hidden door before.

Just as I suspect it. This door leads to a gigantic closet, closet, closet. Oh, no. This is a library. That tiny door just led to the library. Wait a second. Maybe one of the historians can help me find something to wear. Gabe!

Lee! Anyone in here? I need a historian who also has a fashion sense it possible. What was that? And where is all this smoke coming from? Oh, hi, Nimmini. Gabe, what was that huge kaboom sound? Sorry about that.

I've just been testing out the latest design for my history simulator. Want to give it a try? Well, I kind of need to... Come on, it'll just take a second. Here, put on this helmet. Okay. I guess this helmet is kind of cute. Now, climb up here and slide down this tube.

I do love a slide. And get ready to get blasted off in this gigantic, old-timey cannon. like the kind they have at the circus. I thought you said this was a history simulator. It is. It just so happens to be shaped like a gigantic, old-timey cannon, like the kind they have at the circus. But instead of launching you through space, it launches you through time.

Gabe, you and I both know I love traveling through history, but I don't know that I want to be launched through history. Don't worry about it. I'll do it with you. Got of a tight fit in here. An astute observation and an improvement. I'll make in version 2.0. Wait, this is only the first draft of your time canon?

I prefer. History simulators shape like a gigantic old-timey canon, like the kind they have at the circus. But yes, this is the first draft. Now let's simulate history. This is safe, right game? Honestly, I'm still working out the kinks. Wait, what?

Wee! Look beneath us! That's all of human history, and it's flying right by us. It kind of feels like we're flying right by it! Now you're getting it. Remember to tuck and roll when you land. Huh? Tuck and roll when you...

I was saying... Never mind. You okay? Gabe, can I give you some constructive feedback on your history simulator shaped like a gigantic old-timey cannon like the kind they have at the circus? It's a long name, I know. I'm working on it.

That's not what I was going to... Hey, look over there. Is that a fashion show? Let's take a look. Wait a minute. Where are we? This doesn't look like a normal fashion show. You're right. It's the early 1980s, and we're at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

A dance studio? Yep. Alvin Ailey was a famous choreographer who fused ballet, jazz, theater, and modern dance with narratives about Black life. Well, Alvin Ailey sounds cool. But if we're doing a fashion show and a dance studio, the designer probably isn't that good. Are you sure about that? Take a closer look at the crowd. Wait a minute.

Is that Spike Lee, the famous film director? Mm-hmm. And Keith Herring. Oh, he's one of my favorite artists. And sitting right next to him is Andrew Witten, aka Zephyr, a legend in the graffiti world. Is everyone in this audience someone interesting? Yep. Each of them is a luminary in their field, most from the New York fashion scene.

So whose fashion show is this? The lights are going down. Let's watch and find out together. Oh, my goodness. These models are all super. So beautiful and unique. Some of them are tall, some of them are shorts, some are bigger, some are smaller. I see different shades of skin, men and women.

Is this what every fashion show was like in the 1980s? Not at all. For the 1980s, this is incredibly diverse. And these clothes! Shapes and colors and fabrics! I love everything I'm seeing. I have to know who the designer is. Well, here he comes now.

His name is Willie Smith, and we're at a show. show for his popular fashion brand, Willyware. So that's Willie Smith. He's such a talented designer. Uh, hey, Gabe, do you hear that sizzling sound? Like someone lit a long wick and it's slowly burning its way towards something gigantic? I do.

That means it's time to head back into the Jai Circan-Hissu-Later. Huh? Uh, the gigantic Circus canon history simulator. I'm workshopping the name. Where are we now? And what's that delicious smell? I believe you're smelling fresh doses because we're in Mumbai.

India? What are we doing here? This is one of the places where Willie Smith got his inspiration. While traveling the world in search of the right fabrics for his clothing, Willie didn't look to Paris or Milan. But that's where all the fashion designers find the fabrics with all the fun colors and patterns, right? Not exactly. Willie was looking for colors and patterns, sure, but he was also looking for colors. looking for durable fabrics that could give his clothes a flowing feel and looser shapes.

Ooh, look at the price tag on this fabric. It's lavish, but it's also affordable. That's exactly what brought Willie to India. He wanted fabrics that weren't just pretty to look at, but that you could actually live and work in, and it helped him make sure that everyone could afford his pieces. So he didn't want to look in all the same places as all the other designers were looking. Exactly. Smart! Oh man, that dosa looks tasty. Maybe I'll just snag a bite.

No time! There's more history to simulate to the... Historical Circus Blaster 3,000? Eh, that's not that either. Hey, can we go slower this time? Sorry, gigantic old-timey cannon like the kind they have at the circus only has one speed. Here we go! Landing wrong!

And now I'm hungry. I really wanted that dosa. Nimony. It was a simulated... Dosa. Well, it made me simulated hungry. Where are we now? We're in Harlem, New York City. There's the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and there's the Apollo Theater, and over there is 125th Street, lined with vendors, selling everything from T-shirts to community newspapers to incense. And let me guess, that stylish young man over there with the loose-fitting dress clothes looking at all the people and sketching in his notebook is a young Willie Smith? Bingo! Before he started Willyware, Willie Smith would walk the streets of New York strolling past black churches on Sundays, taking inspiration from the women wearing their Sunday best.

While other fashion designers were trying to dress celebrities and the ultra-rich, Willie was inspired by the style of everyday working-class people. Hey, look at that park. Those breakdancers have some pretty funky moose. This is the kind of park where Willie would watch office workers and their old stuffy business, walking past those break dancers in their hip streetwear and wonder, how can I bring these two worlds together? So streetwear hasn't always been a part of high fashion? Willie was one of the first fashion designers to bring influence from the streets,

the clubs, and black culture in general into high fashion. Without him, a lot of today's streetwear brands probably wouldn't be what they are. So before Willie Smith, high fashion was only for the rich, and his work helped make fashion more accessible for everybody? Yes! In fact, one of his most famous quotes is, I don't design clothes for the queen, but for the people who wave at her as she goes by.

I love that. But so far, we're just talking about businessmen and B-boys. Did Willie Smith design any clothing for women? Actually, Willie Smith wasn't interested in designing solely for men or for women. His brand Willyware was one of the first major. fashion brands to design both and even include plenty of gender-neutral designs. Sounds like Willie Smith was really ahead of his time. Is this the neighborhood where he grew up? Not at all. He grew up in Philadelphia. Want to see? Oh no. Not more time blasting.

Time blasting. That's pretty good. Let's keep spitballing off that. Look, I can do a back when we're flying. House. Maybe I can find some cool clothes in one of these closets. Wait, wait, wait. Wait, first, look around this bedroom we're in. Hmm, there are a lot of drawings on the walls. Like, a lot of drawings. Is this Willie Smith's room? Yes, it's his childhood bedroom in Philadelphia in the early 1960s.

Look at this notebook. These drawings have so much imagination in them. Oh, look at all these people wearing elegant costumes. Even from a young age, Willie loved to draw and design clothes. His mother even told him that she knew he was born to be an artist or a designer. Is Willie here right now? He's not home. His mom and grandma have taken him to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, something they did frequently.

Oh, I love that museum. So did Willie's family. They encouraged his love of drawing clothing and took him to the museum to sketch. They didn't have a lot of money, but they did have style. And after his parents divorced, Willie's grandma encouraged him to continue pursuing his dreams of work, in fashion design. Sounds like his upbringing was a really big influence on him.

Indeed, Willie's friend, former neighbor, and fashion editor Kim Hastrider once said what would make Willie proud was not when a movie star wore his clothes.

He would burst with pride when he'd see black kids on the street running around in his stuff or those black ladies at the bank wearing it to work. How sweet. Okay, now about those closets.

Nimony, their simulated closets full of simulated clothes. Well, I can still try them on, can't I? But there's so much more to see. To the super big, super old circus reminiscent history-simulating blasting machine. That's an even worse and longer name than before.

Wait, why are we in a comic book shop? Well, I wanted to talk about Willie Smith's legacy. Sadly, as his company was making record profits, Willie's success in the fashion world was cut short when he passed away in 1987 at the age of 39 due to complications from AIDS. That's so young. Unfortunately, yes. The AIDS epidemic of the 1980s took away many of our best artists and leaders,

especially those in the LGBTQ community. But Willie's influence can still be felt everywhere. His designs were worn by famous dancers, in Spike Lee movies like school days, and even in the pages of this comic book. Spider-Man? Yep. In the issue where Peter Parker and Mary Jane finally get married,

Mary Jane's wedding grace was designed by none other than Willie Smith. Now follow me outside. This bronze plaque right here on the 7th Avenue Fashion Walk of Fame in New York City commemorates Willie Smith and his contribution to fashion. In 1988, one year after his death, New York City's first black mayor, David Dinkins, proclaimed February 23rd as Willie Smith. Smith Day in New York City. February 23rd.

That's today. Well, it is here in the simulation. Oh, boy, speaking of, look at the time space. We really should be heading back home. Hey, nice landing. Thanks. I've had lots of practice with the gigantic old-timey canon like the kind they have at the circus. I believe you mean the time canon.

That's the official name you're going with? Yep. Isn't that what I called it the very first time I got in? Yep. And didn't you tell me you prefer gigantic old timey cannon like the kind they have at the circus? I've grown and I've changed. Fair. Anyway, that was fun.

Yeah, I had a blast. Literally. But also, I learned how to look at fashion in a totally different way. Maybe I was thinking about my photo shoot all wrong. I wonder what Willie would suggest I wear, something practical and yet somehow still cool. Don't you have a song to record? Oh, you're right. I nearly forgot.

To the recording studio. Bye, Gabe. All right, listeners, check out this brand new song, all about Willie Smith. When people hear the name Willie Smith, I want them to think that this is a person who cares enough about them that he's taking the time to design and create and think for them. I can tell you a tale How I was supposed to fail But then I ended up sailing with all the boats in Wales Before I was selling clothes I had hope for sale

And even at a discount It was so for real Grew up in Hilladalev had a little help Nope, a lot of help My mother and my father told me to go for self Gotta be yourself, do your best, get it gone And you can get coins But true freedom is the wealth

Willie, that's my name came in the game We'll get into all of that But for now I'm saying I'm conveying my joy Struggle. My joy not different from so many other black boys. And I knew there was a world that was almost out of reach you, but I had to learn lessons that nobody could teach. Tablets full of design and fabric colors. Your fashion is one thing, but style is another. My joy. Freedom to love and magic. It's still a classic. Yes, I made clothes. Yes, I loved a sew. I possessed a passion that I ain't even know. I knew I had to grow. And you know I love Philly, but New York City, yeah, I knew I had to go. Him lines crafted with so much precision, you could see the vision. A few people mentioned that it wasn't up to snuff,

but eventually everybody was loving my stuff. My mind went to another place to create something live with colors more vibrant. My own little island where I can spend time on the shore getting close to the source, and I'm smiling now. Got a new clothing line, yeah, it's finally out. Will he wear? Get it here, get it there everywhere, I swear. I think back to the famous line.

Clothes don't make the man unless you wear in mine. My joy. The scene is over done. It's supposed to be fun. I want it safe. Let's go on, give us some. I walked the line from the Hall of Renaissance. The B-boys, original for the culture, no decoys.

Streets bustling, loud crowds and sweet noise. These are the things I mean when I speak joy. And 25 mail-off designs I chose so you can chill. Boy, if you want a profiling pose. And I don't make clothes for the queen. I make them for the people on the street who weigh better limousine. I did it for us. Those kids on the front stoop and beautiful ladies who need a cute new suit.

You don't have to be safe to have taste Make it oversized Plus neon green and add lace Whatever I live my life with no regrets Being true to myself meant more than my success I never claimed to be the greatest or the best I just wanted you to be well dressed It's my pleasure

My joy Stretch your arms out as far as you can It's right there where you stand The grownups A win is a win A win a win I don't care which I'm saying Yep that's me Cliver Taylor the 4th

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. There's two golden rules that any man should live by. Rule one, Never mess with a country girl. You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes.

And Rule 2, never mess with her friends either. We always say that trust your girlfriends. I'm Anna Sinfield, and in this new season of The Girlfriends... Oh my God, this is the same man. A group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist. I felt like I got hit by a truck. I thought, how could this happen to me? The cops didn't seem to care.

So they take matters into their own hands. I said, oh, hell no. I vowed I will be his last target. He's going to get what he deserves. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, everyone? I'm Ego Wodom. My next guest, you know from Stepbrothers, Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, and the Big Money Players Network. It's Will Ferrell. Woo. Woo-woo.

My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with him one day, and I was like, and Dad, I think I want to really give this a shot. I don't know what that means, but I just know the groundlings. I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place that come look for up-and-coming talent. He said, if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet. Yeah. He goes, but there's so much luck involved.

And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be. Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck.

Listen to Thanks Dad on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on the Sports Sliced podcast, it's all about the NFL draft, and we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galko, joins the Sports Sliced podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects. From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar, this is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode. Listen to the Sports Slice podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. What a song!

The intercom is buzzing? Well, I guess that means the photographer's here. Don't worry, Tina. I figured it all out. For my big photo shoot to be featured in Scientists International Magazine, I've decided that I'm just going to wear my normal, everyday lab coat. Yep. High fashion doesn't always mean the most expensive or exclusive thing.

Fashion is about expression, and my lab coat is the truest expression of me. It's comfy, it's functional, and a nice uniform reminds me of what I do and why I love it. Of course I want to impress my colleagues, and I think this lab coat might do the trick, and I don't need to spend a bunch of money on something over. the top to do that. No, you go girl. To answer the door, I need you to answer the door and tell them I'll be just a minute. I have an interview.

Thanks, Tina. Oh, right. Yeah, this helmet hair probably isn't good for a photo shoot. Or an interview for that matter. Today, we're joined by fashion designer Umberto Leon and an amazing kid named Olivia. Can you two introduce yourselves? Hi, I'm Olivia. I'm eight years old and I live in New York. I'm Umbarta Leon and I'm co-founder of opening ceremony and was the former creative director of Kenzo and I live in California.

Umberto, did you know I'm half Chinese too? You know what? I have daughters that are nine years old and they look a little bit like you. So I was going to ask you if you are half Chinese. Do you speak it? Um, I know a bit. Yeah? What dialect does your family speak? I think we speak Cantonese. Whoa, that's what I speak actually. So, Olivia, what's your first question for Umberto?

Why did you become a fashion designer? That's a great question. When I was younger, I didn't know that being a fashion designer was a job. You know, I just went to the mall and I saw clothing. I didn't really think anything about that. And so I got my first job working at a store. Have you ever heard of the store called The Gap? Yeah.

I started selling clothes. clothes and then my manager said, you look like you would really like dressing the mannequins. So then I started dressing the mannequins. And then I started to do other stores, mannequins and windows. And through that experience, it led me to eventually becoming a fashion designer. Did you ever make clothes for your own parents? So growing up, my mom had three kids and the only job she could take was to sew clothing for a factory at home so that she could watch the kids. And so she actually made clothes for me growing up because I would see all these clothing in magazines and I really loved it, but I couldn't afford it at the time. So my mom decided to make all this clothing for me.

And so as I got to be an adult, I wanted to repay that by doing things for her. So I started to design clothing for her, which was really, really fun. Wow, that's so cool. How did you become interested in fashion, Olivia? And my family's related to fashion a lot, too, because my great grandmother, she was a seamstress. And my grandmother, she makes me dresses. And my mom used to work for Vera Wang before I was born. Did your mom save a lot of her clothing that she got from your grandmother or that she made? Did she save a lot of it for you?

Yeah. And my mom told me a long time ago that Vera Wang made Mommy her wedding. dress and she's going to pass it on to me for my wedding. That is so, so special. And Vera Wang is such a special designer because she's one of the first Asian women to really make it in the fashion world. Olivia, do you have any questions for Umberto about Willie Smith? So when you were younger, did Willie Smith have any influence on your work? You know, I grew up loving Willie Smith's work so much. Willie was really inspired by what people wore on the streets. And, you know, at the time, I think a lot of people were looking towards what they called high fashion. And high fashion was

interesting and it was cool, but it was exclusive. Do you know what that word exclusive means? I don't think so, not really. Okay. So exclusive means like it's only for a really small group of people who could afford it or who could find it. So Willie went out to create fashion and clothing for everybody. One of the things that is super, super big that he did is he created clothing that was genderless. And I think that type of thinking when he was doing this in the 70s and 80s was really, really big. Because at this time, people were making clothes specifically, like, girls had to wear this and boys had to wear this. So he was really breaking the boundaries in terms of what clothing means. I mean, I'll ask you, should a T-shirt be for boys or for girls?

Like, what do you think? I think they should be for both. I totally agree with you. Why can't boys wear dresses? Or why is pink a color for girls? I think that a lot of the world has kind of put things into buckets that don't need to exist. Everybody should be able to wear anything they want to wear. And I think that was Willie's idea.

Willie Smith really changed what fashion is and how people could participate in fashion. Olivia, is there anything else you'd like to ask, Comberto before we say goodbye? What's your favorite part of being a fashion designer? One of my favorite things that I get to do is I get to create something from nothing. I also love clothing from all around the world. I feel like there's so many amazing kind of clothing that you see people wear for function. So I love to think about function. You know, where are you going to put your pockets? What are you going to be carrying when you're wearing those pants? Or what are you going to be carrying when you're going on that hike? So it's almost like a puzzle. piece where you're designing, where you're thinking about all these things that you want to make sure it does. I think fashion takes like a lot of work. Like for me, I sit down in fashion clocks and two minutes later. My hands are covered in glue and I'm sweating and there's fabric all over the place. And if I ever made clothes, what style advice did you have for me and other kids my age? It's okay when you're designing to think a little bit more wild and crazy.

Like don't hold back. And I think that's the best advice I could give to you. Well, you and your career sounds so awesome, and thank you for talking with me. Thank you. I honestly loved all these questions you asked. You seem like you're so well informed, and I hope to one day meet you and maybe help you with your fashion ideas. It sounds like you have a lot. Yeah. I love that.

And I think that anything that you could take away from this conversation that inspires you means a lot to me. Thank you, Mberto. Goodbye. Thank you so much, Olivia. See you later. What a great interview. I can't wait to see the designs that Olivia comes up with someday. And I already love Mberto Leone's designs,

so I really loved getting to hear more about where he gets his inspiration. Thanks, Tina. Tell the photographer I'll be there in a minute. Let me just put on my trusty lab coat. And say thank you to the listeners for learning all about Willie Smith with me today. And an extra special thank you to today's guests, Humberto and Olivia. Remember, parents and teachers, you can download a free activity related to today's

episode by visiting storypirates.com slash historical records. We'll be back next week with another historical record. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a photo shoot to do. Oh, and one last thing. Remember, to make history, you've got to make some noise. Bye! Historical Records is produced in partnership with Story Pirate Studios, Questlove's 215 Entertainment,

John Glickman, and IHeart Podcasts. Executive produced by Amir Questlove Thompson, John Glickman, Lee Overtree, and Benjamin Salga. Executive produced for IHeart Podcasts by Noel Brown. Producers for Story Pirate Studios are Isabella Riccio, Sam Bear, Eric Gerson, Andrew Miller, Lee Overtree, Peter McNerney, Denisea Whartonby, and Niminey Ware. Producers for 215 are Sean G, Brittany Benjamin, and Sarah Zulman,

hosted by Nimney Ware. Our head writer is Duke Doyle. Our historians are Gabe Pacheco and Lee Polis. Music supervision for 215 by Stroh Elliott. Scoring and music supervision for Story Pirate Studios by Eric Gerson. Sound design and mixing by Sam Bear at the Relic Room in New York City. Song mastering by Josh Hahn. Theme song by Dan Foster and Eric Gerson and produced by

Eric Erson. Production Coordination by Isabel O'Ricchio. Production Management by Maggie Lee. The line producer for Story Pirate Studios is Glynis Bralt. PR for Story Pirate Studios is provided by Naomi Shaw. Episode artwork by Camilla Franklin. This episode was written by Mike Cavalon. The song Willie Smith was written and produced by Micah James. Special guests, Umberto Leon, and Kid Interviewer Olivia. This episode features performances by Micah James, Peter McNer Lee Overtree and Gabe Pacheco. Special thanks to J.T. Sue and Dan Foster. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, the Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects. From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make. to the players flying under the radar. This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode.

Listen to the Sports Slice podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, for wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and TikTok podcast network on TikTok. In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins. But the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice, myself.

Correct? I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Greg, the lesbian. Michael Mancini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young.

This is Love Trapped. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When a group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist, they take matters into their own hands. I vowed, I will be his last target. He is not going to get away with this.

He's going to get what he deserves. We always say that trust your girlfriends. Listen to the girlfriends, trust me, babe, on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I heart podcast Guaranteed human