Back Row with Amy Odell

Amy Odell sits down with Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio, authors of JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography, to discuss the real romance between Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr. that inspired the FX show Love Story, executive-produced by Ryan Murphy.

Terenzio assisted JFK Jr. in the 90s at George magazine, and McNeil covered him as an editor for People. For their book, they interviewed more than 150 people who knew him. They share personal encounters with the couple and people in their inner circle, talk about what John would have made of the frenzy over his style today, and explain what in 'Love Story' is pure fiction.

PART TWO, including discussion of how the Kennedy family deals with relentless press and the REAL reason for that famous fight in the park, is available to Premium subscribers of ⁠Back Row. Sign up at backrow.net for full podcast and newsletter access, or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Why everyone is talking about JFK Jr. and Carolyn again
01:25 What the FX show “Love Story” gets right (and wrong)
06:10 Why Gen Z is suddenly obsessed with them
07:10 The truth about JFK Jr.’s style
12:10 What drew John and Carolyn together
21:00 What Carolyn Bessette was really like
29:30 Carolyn’s struggle with paparazzi
35:30 The iconic wedding dress
39:15 What the show said about the famous park fight

Links & Resources:

Partner message: Go to beehiiv and use the code AMY30 to get 30 percent off a subscription.

Get RoseMarie and Liz's book: JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography

Sign up for the Back Row newsletter
Follow Amy Odell on Instagram
Follow Liz McNeil on Instagram
Follow Rosemarie Terenzio on Instagram

This episode was produced by Amy Odell, with audio editing by Joyce Ciesil and video editing by Jonathan Voytko.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paris Fashion Week is off and running. Jonathan Anderson's fall 2026 Dior show kicked off the week — and Amy liked it a lot more than she expected! She reads her review of the show from the Back Row newsletter, which discusses how fashion has become mass culture and why designers like Anderson need to reach aspirational shoppers. She ends with the "Loose Threads" news roundup, featuring Condé Nast offloading 'Them,' and more.

PLUS, a teaser from Monday's interview with JFK Jr.'s biographers (8:45), inspired by the FX show Love Story.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy sits down with Noëmie Leclercq of luxury news outlet Glitz Paris to debate the "Hermès game" (aka everything customers allegedly have to do in order for boutiques to offer them the chance to purchase a Birkin or Kelly bag). They discuss pre-spends, background checks, and Hermès’ apparent alliance with Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Noëmie also talks about why superfakes have become a big problem; how the class action lawsuit in the U.S. has affected Hermès sales practices; and the secret “grey market” where billionaires buy the most exclusive bags.

In Part 2, Noëmie and Amy discuss whether or not the Birkin bubble has popped, why the market for "superfakes" is booming, and the (grim) outlook for Birkins on the secondhand market.

Part 2 is available to paid subscribers of backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Chapters

00:00 — Introducing Noëmie Leclercq of Glitz Paris
01:10 — Is Hermès really stalking their clients?
03:00 — Breaking down the Hermès game
05:40 — Hermès locations: US vs. France
06:00 — Who is the ideal Hermès customer?
07:40 — This French law requires Hermès to background check clients
12:10 — The pre-spend: does Hermès really need to sell furniture?
19:00 — What is the grey market for Hermès products?
24:40 — The Hermès lawsuit: how did it change the game?
28:40 — Can the Birkin be overexposed?
30:20 — Listen to part 2 for Noëmie’s take on if the Birkin bubble has popped

Links & Resources:

Back Row newsletter

Amy Odell — Instagram

Noëmie Leclercq — Glitz Paris

This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Joyce Ciesel, and Jonathan Voytko.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Odell talks with fashion director-turned-entrepreneur Marina Larroudé about why she left Teen Vogue for Barneys -- and then started her own brand. Marina recalls Style.com's earliest days; how top brands really weren't on board with the internet; what it was really like to work for Anna Wintour; and what she saw from inside the industry that convinced her there was a big business opportunity in footwear.

Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at BackRow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Marina talks about how she makes walkable heels; what it was like for Taylor Swift to wear her shoes on the Eras tour; and her plans for the future of Larroudé.

Products mentioned in this episode:

⁠Boat shoes⁠

⁠Fuzzy lined ballet flat⁠

⁠Dolly platform sandal⁠ (the same style Taylor Swift wore):

⁠Stella sneaker⁠

CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Introducing Marina Larroudé

03:00 — Why are people so fascinated by Anna Wintour and the Condé Nast world?

05:30 — What does the fashion director at Teen Vogue do?

09:00 — Marina's experience at Style.com

13:30 — The Bella Thorne photoshoot disaster

16:30 — Marina's experience working with Anna Wintour

18:40 — Why Marina left fashion media to work at Barneys

25:10 — On founding Larroudé: "No one was making high-quality shoes for drop-off"

35:00 — How Marina makes Larroudé's shoes comfortable

38:30 — Listen to part 2 for Marina's take on what makes a walkable heel

Back Row newsletter

Amy Odell - Instagram

Marina Larroudé:

Instagram

Larroudé:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Jonathan Voytko, and Joyce Ciesel.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published February 17, 2026.

Why don't fashion designers view Olympic figure skating the way they do red carpets — as a forum to exploit for brand impressions? The sport is fabulous, glamorous, and awe-inspiring, after all. Amy digs into how figure skating costumes are made and why the world's top ready-to-wear designers generally don't want anything to do with making them — and why the athletes also aren't clamoring for brands to step in.

Plus, a special New York Fashion Week report (6:00).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices