BONUS: An Announcement From StartUp and Introducing The Nod

StartUp is returning to a serialized format next spring, dedicating ten episodes to a single company following a listener survey where 80% of respondents favored deep-dive storytelling over multi-company seasons. Alex Blumberg will continue to provide updates on Gimlet Media through bonus episodes. The episode also features a preview of "The Nod," where hosts Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings recount the 1973 "Battle of Versailles." This historic fashion event pitted American designers against their French counterparts, serving as a pivotal moment for Black models and designers like Stephen Burrows. By integrating club-inspired music and a confident, expressive runway style, the American team challenged the industry's status quo, ultimately securing greater recognition for Black talent in high fashion and shifting the trajectory of runway representation for decades to come.