Realizations Radio

Stephanie Gancayco is a New York-based, Bay Area-raised Filipina-American womenswear designer with a deep passion for indigenous rights and women’s economic empowerment. After finishing her formal fashion design education at California College of the Arts, she began her career in the fashion industry in 2007 and has worked with some of the industry’s leading designers such as Anna Sui, Jen Kao, and Vince Camuto. With her own brand, Stephanie collaborates with indigenous women artisans in the Philippines to translate traditional attire and textiles into contemporary ready-to-wear that feels distinctly Filipino + American. She aspires to promote and preserve Filipino culture, bring income to indigenous communities, and pride to Pinoys about their pre-colonial roots. Stephanie is also working on an online platform for conversations on Filipina identity called hellapinay.com, set to launch in late 2016. She is currently the product director for Citizen x Hound, a locally-produced line of dog accessories that celebrates the bond between human and hound, and also designs knitwear for one of the largest women’s retailers in the world.

Oakland-grown D.C. resident, federal employee, world traveler, extreme eater, Marine Corps Marathon runner, two-time cancer defeater, and life maximizer Sean Bowman shares his expertise as a host for Couchsurfing International, Inc.. Christmas Eve is the perfect time to sit by the digital fireside to listen to how Mr. Bowman has made room at his inn, so to speak, for over 100 people hailing from 35 different nations, compensated only in the form of modest gifts and zany experiences such as meeting a stem cell transporter from Germany, enjoying the home cooking of gay hookup app creators from New York, being propositioned by a popcorn-demanding woman from an undisclosed country, and hearing the tall but true tales from a Finnish man who survived a sauna set at 115 degrees…Celsius.

Christopher Holgar Dineson trained under legendary hairdresser Garren after completing his degree in Art History, Anthropology, and Film at the University of California, Berkeley. A master credited with over one thousand magazine covers, Garren quickly molded Christopher into a dynamic stylist who has shaped tresses and choreographed looks for actresses such as Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Kim Kardashian, and Blake Lively, and supermodels including Gisele Bundchen, Karlie Kloss, Candice Swanepoel, Bar Rafaeli, and Alessandra Ambrosio. He has also styled for Garren in advertising campaigns by companies including Shinsegae department stores of Seoul, CoverGirl, Dior, Valentino, and Dolce & Gabbana shot by Steven Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier, Steven Klein, David Sims, and Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. After years in the center of the whirling haute hair universe, Christopher sits with us prior to his move to California and reflects upon his New York City career. He also shares a few insiders’ secrets about celebrity hair, styling techniques, $700 haircuts, mishaps, his favorite look for men and women, and the difference between expertise and hype. [Christopher’s services include haircuts, styling, updos, and Brazilian Blowouts, with specialties in house calls, corporate styling, extensions, hair pieces, full wig fitting and styling, and bridal and special event styling. Pricing and booking are available at HairByHolgar@gmail.com.]