Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani

Step into the glittering world of fashion, nightlife, and fearless creativity on Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani as they welcome legendary designer and corsetry master Garo Sparo. Known for crafting jaw-dropping looks on Project Runway and for icons like Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Amanda Lepore, and Sabrina Carpenter, Garo shares the wild, inspiring journey that took him from a kid sewing outfits for stuffed animals to becoming one of New York’s most distinctive costume and fashion designers. With roots in a garment-making family and a lifelong obsession with dramatic silhouettes, Sparo reveals how early influences like Barbie dolls and classic Hollywood glam shaped his signature aesthetic. Brian and Angie dive into Garo’s formative years in New York’s legendary nightlife scene, where club culture, drag, and avant-garde performer Amanda Lepore became both his muse and collaborator. From designing iconic looks for nightlife personalities to launching boutiques in the East Village and later pivoting into bridal design after the cultural shift of the early 2000s, Sparo discusses the hustle, reinvention, and relentless creativity required to survive (and thrive) in fashion. Packed with showbiz stories, fashion history, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode celebrates the artistry behind costume and couture. Garo also opens up about building his brand, mentoring the next generation of designers, and collaborating with his studio partner Troy to expand the label’s creative vision. It’s a fabulous, funny, and inspiring conversation about originality, resilience, and staying true to your style in the ever-changing world of entertainment and fashion. In this episode: Garo Sparo’s early obsession with costumes, dolls, and character creation Growing up in a garment-making family and discovering fashion as a calling Breaking into New York’s club kid and nightlife fashion scene Designing for celebrities including Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Amanda Lepore, and Sabrina Carpenter The influence of corsetry, vintage silhouettes, and theatrical fashion Opening East Village boutiques and navigating the fashion industry’s ups and downs Pivoting to bridal design and reinventing his career Collaborating with his studio partner and co-designer Troy Advice for creatives building a career in fashion and costume design Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani is a backstage pass into the lives of musicians, performers, and creative professionals. Each episode explores the highs, the failures, and the real stories behind building a career in entertainment. Want to submit a question? Email us at [email protected]! FOLLOW THE PODCASTShowingOffPod.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW ANGIEAngiePontani.comInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW BRIANBrianNewman.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook Credits Hosted by Brian Newman and Angie Pontani Produced by BASE Creatives, Scott Frederick, and Ellis Frederick Recorded at Brooklyn Podcasting Studios Sound Engineering by Josh Wilcox Production Coordination by Samantha Cunha Set Design by Steven Hammel Editing by Ricky Fernandez 00:00:00 Mailbag + Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl 00:07:20 Garo Sparo: Growing Up on Long Island, Finding Himself in North Carolina 00:22:39 Joining the Club Kids, Amanda Lepore in NYC 00:33:24 Burnout & Reinvention: From East Village Nightlife to Bridal Dresses 00:39:05 How Angie & Garo Started Working Together 00:51:31 Joining Project Runway as an Established Designer 01:01:57 Troy Allen, Garo's Creative Partner 01:09:51 Game Time: The Lookbook! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani, the hosts welcome creative power couple Craig Robinson and Jenna Robinson for a fun and insightful conversation about life behind the scenes in show business. From custom suits and styling to working on major late-night television productions, Craig and Jenna share what it takes to build lasting careers in creative industries. The episode dives into their early inspirations (punk fashion and DIY style, namely) and how those instincts evolved into successful careers. They also open up about the realities of freelancing, navigating uncertainty, and balancing creative work with family life, including raising twins while working unpredictable showbiz schedules. Filled with humor and honesty, the conversation explores relationships, parenting, and the importance of partnership in both life and business. From playful couples-game moments to real talk about resilience, Craig and Jenna emphasize a core message: work hard, stay humble, treat people well, and never give up—a mindset that’s helped them thrive in competitive creative fields. Topics in this episode include: Building a career in fashion, tailoring, and styling Working behind the scenes in TV, Broadway, and entertainment Freelancing and running a creative business Balancing show business careers with family life Creative self-expression and personal style Relationships, communication, and partnership The importance of persistence and work ethic Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani is a backstage pass into the lives of musicians, performers, and creative professionals. Each episode explores the highs, the failures, and the real stories behind building a career in entertainment. Want to submit a question? Email us at [email protected]! FOLLOW THE PODCASTShowingOffPod.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW ANGIEAngiePontani.comInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW BRIANBrianNewman.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook Credits Hosted by Brian Newman and Angie Pontani Produced by BASE Creatives, Scott Frederick, and Ellis Frederick Recorded at Brooklyn Podcasting Studios Sound Engineering by Josh Wilcox Production Coordination by Samantha Cunha Set Design by Steven Hammel Editing by Ricky Fernandez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani, the hosts welcome posing expert and content creator Christine Buzan, founder of Look Good in Photos! With millions of followers across social media, Christine has become known for teaching people how to feel confident and camera-ready with simple posing techniques that anyone can learn.  Christine shares her journey from growing up with a love for performance and self-expression to building a massive online following by helping people look and feel their best in photos. The conversation dives into how posing is actually a learnable skill like dance or spots... and why understanding body lines, posture, and confidence can transform the way you show up on camera and on social media. The episode also explores the rise of her Look Good in Photos courses, how the pandemic helped her reach a global audience, and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into growing a successful social media brand. From viral posing tips to confidence-boosting advice, Christine shares practical insights that creators, influencers, and everyday photo-takers can use immediately. Topics in this episode include: How to pose confidently in photos Building a social media brand from scratch The psychology of confidence on camera Viral posing tips for Instagram and TikTok Creating the Look Good in Photos brand Social media growth during the pandemic Influencer marketing and content creation Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani is a backstage pass into the lives of musicians, performers, and creative professionals. Each episode explores the highs, the failures, and the real stories behind building a career in entertainment. Want to submit a question? Email us at [email protected]! FOLLOW THE PODCASTShowingOffPod.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW ANGIEAngiePontani.comInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW BRIANBrianNewman.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook Credits Hosted by Brian Newman and Angie Pontani Produced by BASE Creatives, Scott Frederick, and Ellis Frederick Recorded at Brooklyn Podcasting Studios Sound Engineering by Josh Wilcox Production Coordination by Samantha Cunha Set Design by Steven Hammel Editing by Ricky Fernandez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani, the hosts sit down with fashion designer and handbag creator Julie Mollo for an energetic conversation about creativity, hustle, and building a bold brand in the fashion world. Julie shares her incredible journey from growing up in a small town in Massachusetts to studying fashion design at Pratt Institute and launching her own business while still in college. She explains how DIY fashion experiments, thrift-store creativity, and early inspiration from pop culture icons like Gwen Stefani shaped her colorful, retro aesthetic and passion for design. The conversation also dives into Julie’s breakout moment when she boldly emailed Katy Perry during the early days of her career, leading to custom designs worn on the Warped Tour, The Today Show, and the VMAs. From sewing garments in her dorm room to dressing pop stars and building a globally recognized brand, Julie’s story is packed with inspiration for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing big dreams. Plus, Brian and Angie talk about how they unwind, stay motivated, and balance life in show business. This episode includes topics like: Building a fashion brand from scratch DIY fashion and creative experimentation Studying design at Pratt Institute Dressing pop stars and working with Katy Perry The hustle behind launching a creative business Early career breakthroughs and networking Turning passion for fashion into a career Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani is a backstage pass into the lives of musicians, performers, and creative professionals. Each episode explores the highs, the failures, and the real stories behind building a career in entertainment. Want to submit a question? Email us at [email protected]! FOLLOW THE PODCASTShowingOffPod.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW ANGIEAngiePontani.comInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW BRIANBrianNewman.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook Credits Hosted by Brian Newman and Angie Pontani Produced by BASE Creatives, Scott Frederick, and Ellis Frederick Recorded at Brooklyn Podcasting Studios Sound Engineering by Josh Wilcox Production Coordination by Samantha Cunha Set Design by Steven Hammel Editing by Ricky Fernandez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Showing Off, Brian and Angie sit down with world-class photographer, creative director, and producer Ab Sesay for a lively conversation about creativity, career pivots, and building a life in the arts. Ab talks about his unexpected journey from studying computer science to becoming a professional photographer, sharing how picking up a camera in college completely changed his path. He reflects on learning photography on film, developing a love for portrait and street photography, and the mentors who helped shape his creative vision. The conversation is filled with hilarious stories and behind-the-scenes insights from Ab’s life and career—including photographing a chaotic family marriage proposal and documenting everyday life with a camera always in hand. If you’re interested in photography, creative careers, and the real journey behind artistic success, this episode is packed with inspiration and humor. This episode covers topic like: Handling rejection in the entertainment industry Building a creative career in photography Transitioning from computer science to art Learning photography on film cameras Street photography and portrait work Creative mentorship and artistic growth Funny behind-the-scenes stories from a working photographer Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani is a backstage pass into the lives of musicians, performers, and creative professionals. Each episode explores the highs, the failures, and the real stories behind building a career in entertainment. Want to submit a question? Email us at [email protected]! FOLLOW THE PODCASTShowingOffPod.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW ANGIEAngiePontani.comInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW BRIANBrianNewman.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook Credits Hosted by Brian Newman and Angie Pontani Produced by BASE Creatives, Scott Frederick, Ellis Frederick, and Samantha Fong Recorded at Brooklyn Podcasting Studios Sound Engineering by Josh Wilcox Production Coordination by Samantha Cunha Set Design by Steven Hammel Editing by Ricky Fernandez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices