In Conversation with
Fashion,
Beauty
& Lifestyle
Media Maven:
Amy E. Goodman
LISTEN TO WHAT THIS “TODAY” SHOW,
ON-CAMERA PERSONALITY
REVEALS ABOUT HER CHILDHOOD, CAREER,
FASHION AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE.
By STACY YU and MEGAN RUMMLER | NOV. 30, 2018
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist, Amy E. Goodman, pictured inside the studio building at WJLA-TV (ABC), “Good Morning Washington," on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Stacy Yu)
Not everyone can claim to have appeared—nearly 150 times—on NBC’s the “TODAY” show from Studio 1A at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, New York. However, Amy E. Goodman, a seasoned fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist does just that. And, in fact, she is making an appearance this morning, beginning at 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EST, on a segment about holiday family fashions. The “TODAY" show ranked the top morning show in November, with over 4 million viewers, according to recent Nielsen ratings.
Industry colleagues like, Laura Claps of LBC Publicity, attribute much of Goodman’s career-long success to her deep competence, likeability and work ethic. While viewers and fans say that she is super-relatable, genuine and down-to-earth.
However, when viewing one of Goodman’s latest segments along with its accompanying blog, it becomes clear that the journalism and reporting she conducts is what distinguishes her from other lifestyle experts—most likely key traits carried over from her journalism training. No matter the method, the end result is authentic and vetted lifestyle advice that yields superior product reviews and recommendations.
Perhaps in the end, it is these attributes—genuineness, approachability and earned credibility—that keep Goodman a sought-after lifestyle expert on nationally televised shows like “Good Morning America,” “The Rachael Ray Show,” “The Wendy Williams Show,” “Kelly & Ryan,” and “The View.”
In between local and national on-air television appearances, Goodman sat down with us to discuss her upbringing, career, fashion and family-work balance. We’ve curated sample-sized audio clips for easy, one-at-a-time listening, or, if inclined, binge-listen away.
Editor’s note: quotes and transcripts edited for length and clarity.
Co-founder, Stacy Yu and lifestyle expert, Amy E. Goodman, pictured at A|DECIBEL Media studios, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (Photo by Megan Rummler)
Hello and Welcome, Amy!
Transcript
My name is Amy E. Goodman. I’m a fashion beauty and lifestyle journalist and I’m delighted to be with you today.
Amy E. Goodman pictured at A|DECIBEL Media studios, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (Photo by Megan Rummler)
On Golden Beginnings in Santa Rosa, California: “I feel like I was raised by golden oaks and bay trees."
Transcript
Ooh… It was a golden time for me. I was really lucky to be raised in the backwoods of Northern California in a town called Santa Rosa, which is surrounded by golden vineyards and it’s in the heart of Sonoma County. I feel like I was raised by golden oaks and bay trees. And, I was an only child, so I spent a lot of my childhood outdoors and amidst the beautiful countryside. Also, I come from a mixed-cultural heritage background. I’m Japanese American, and inside the home, it was all about the Japanese cultural arts. I was being taught Japanese dance and Japanese tea ceremony and that was a lot of what was happening inside the house. And then from my dad’s side, he would take me on bike rides and hikes and this all the things he learned in Boy Scouts. He was also a doctor and would take me on his rounds. This, all in addition to school. It was kind of this, really rich, wonderful childhood in being raised in Northern California. It’s a very special and magical place to grow up. Anybody who grows up in the wine country of Northern California will tell you that, it really was, kind of the core of, and still is today, of who I am.
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist, Amy E. Goodman, taking a break in between segments on WJLA-TV (ABC), “Good Morning Washington," on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Stacy Yu)
On Identity As A Japanese American: “My Japanese name is Maki Takeuchi.”
Transcript
Maki is my Japanese first name, which means good fortune. Takeuchi means bamboo house if you break it down very, very roughly. But, Takeuchi is my mother’s maiden name.
I definitely, throughout my work, even today, identify as a Japanese American woman. And because I was raised with the language, my mother coming over from Japan shortly after the war, and being raised with all of that richness of the Japanese arts, the cuisine in my home, speaking the language. I have my Japanese professional dancing name, as well, that I achieved at the youngest age possible in Japan at the age of 16. All of these things, really, are woven into the fabric of who I am, who I identify as, and even how I’m raising my children today.
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist, Amy E. Goodman, preparing for her live beauty segment on WJLA-TV (ABC), “Good Morning Washington," on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Stacy Yu)
On West Coast and East Coast: “I think I can play to both now.”
Transcript
So the coasts are so incredibly, vastly different. And, I still to this day in my work, anybody from a publicist, to a writer to an editor to a producer, once they get to know me and work with me, they’re always like, “You’re not from here.” This is generally assuming that this person works in New York City. And I’ll be like, “Yeah, I’m a Californian,” which is kind of ironic, because, I’ve actually been on the East Coast for so long and I’m very, very driven. I meet my deadlines. But something about the core of my being, speaks to a very still West Coast mentality, in how I approach my work I suppose, or something about that California attitude. Even in my social media, I still even say “always Californian,” or there’s some kind of tagline on my social media that says, “always Californian.” There is a definite, still, kind of paradigm shift between the East Coast attitude and the West Coast attitude and I think I can play to both now. I can definitely tap into my California vibes when need be, and then, when I really am with my East Coast peeps, I can flip that switch too.
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist, Amy E. Goodman, setting up for a morning segment at WJLA-TV (ABC), “Good Morning Washington," on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Stacy Yu)
On Career Advice: “You have to be extremely adaptable. Go with your expertise.”
Transcript
One thing overall that I would say—the arching lesson is that—you have to be extremely adaptable. What this career has started as, and what both mediums began as, are nothing compared to what they are today. If I were to enter my career beginning with what I knew then, and what I started with then, I don’t know if I would survive, literally. So, I have only been able to survive in my career by constantly adapting and changing and morphing and developing my skill set literally every step of the way, nearly on a monthly basis. So really, entering this field, you can’t just go with one skillset.
I started with maybe fashion and now I do DIY. I could also do beauty. I’ve demonstrated yoga, I do some light cooking, well, I love cooking. It all goes with what I am able and capable and love to do. I never do anything that goes against the grain. Once somebody asked me to actually do makeup on models. “’Oh Amy, do you feel comfortable, can you do makeup on models?’” Actually, it’s not something that I do. I turned it back to the producer and said, “You really would be best suited to have a makeup artist do this segment. It’s not really my forte.” I could do it. I could study the technique. I mean, I do my own makeup, I could do it, yes. But, I also felt that somebody with formal training in makeup application would be best suited for this segment. Would it have been a great segment for me on a national talk show? Absolutely. Would I have felt slightly like a fraud? Yes.
You really have to go with your expertise and training and, sometimes, you have to say no with things you don’t know how to do.
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist, Amy E. Goodman, pictured onset during a morning segment at WJLA-TV (ABC), “Good Morning Washington," on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Stacy Yu)
On Designing Winning On-Air Segments: “I’m extremely thorough with my reporting. I support small businesses whenever I can, and I’m diversity inclusive in my model lineups.”
Transcript
I’m extremely thorough with my reporting. Two, that I support small businesses whenever I can. I always have to preface this when I’m on-air because I have to say, “We have limited quantities, if you’re really interested in this, make sure to purchase right now, because they only have 100 or 200 or 500." Sometimes this is to the viewers’ lament because “she sold out, and she needs to do better reporting!” I always try to preface that because I try to dot my segments with small businesses and that is intentional. I hope that my viewers have patience with that because I do like to support them.
Also, that I’m diversity inclusive in my model lineups. This is something that I always try to strive and work towards, and this is both in ethnicity and in size and shape. I try to have my model lineups be reflective of the world in which we live. These are things that are important to me.
Lastly, I always try to sprinkle my segments with a little bit of my ethnicity and culture, and this is just if it naturally happens. In a small win in a recent segment, Kathie Lee Gifford turned to me and said, “’You know, I just love how you always include your Japanese culture in our segments,’” and, I’m like, “Yes!”
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist, Amy E. Goodman, pictured outside the studio building at WJLA-TV (ABC), “Good Morning Washington," on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Stacy Yu)
On Fashion: “Fashion really is an approachable process. You don’t have to follow every rule.”
Transcript
Fashion really is an approachable process. I think so many people feel that fashion is completely intimidating, and that they can’t get outside the door most days or some days or many, many gray days in their mind. That it’s hard to mix and match, that it’s hard to get beyond just a few, key pieces in their wardrobe because they feel like they just don’t have the wherewithal to get it together.
You don’t have to follow every rule. You can wear white pants beyond the Labor Day rules. I like this idea that fashion is very approachable and easy-going and you can make it your own.
Author Amy E. Goodman on the cover of her 2011 book, “Wear This, Toss That!” (Image credit: Simon & Schuster)
On Being An Author: “Wear This, Toss That”
Transcript
Yeah, “Wear This, Toss That,” came out in 2011. It was an incredible experience to work with Simon and Schuster. It’s called, Atria Books, which is a division of Simon and Schuster. [The book] is really about time-saving tips for people to kind of pare down their wardrobe and really quick ideas on how to streamline their closets; to get really practical fashion advice for making sense of fashion and beauty; and is really also packed with expert interviews as well. It really came at a wonderful time in my career when, with a great merging of concepts with my agent as well, and just an incredible, incredible opportunity and experience. I was very fortunate to have a lot press coverage of the book. I really cannot say enough about what a phenomenal opportunity and experience it was.
Actually, so many people say, “I want to write a book,” and consequently as a result of having done that, everybody comes to me and says, ”how do you write a book?” I will tell you how I wrote a book in five months, completely pregnant with my second child, and writing a book on top of my pregnant stomach. That’s how you write a book. It was maybe four and a half months that I had to write it and we shot the photos too. The baby was almost coming out, and you can do it! You can do it. If I can do it under those circumstances, anybody can do it.
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist, Amy E. Goodman, pictured at A|DECIBEL Media studios, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (Photo by Megan Rummler)
On Work-Life Balance: “I call myself the three-quarters-time mom.”
Transcript
I call myself the three-quarters time mom. I’ve always said that because I work more than part-time, but a little less than full-time, so I’m somewhere in between that. I run the carpool and my kids are really sporty and active, so I really have designed my work-life so I can be home for my family.
I’ve always been a big believer in the slow-cooker, because I can pop something in the morning and have something hot to eat at night. My family is, all of the sudden, newly joined me on the vegetarian/vegan wagon. I’ve been vegetarian ever since I was, let’s see, I stopped eating red meat when I was 11, but I’ve been vegetarian since I left for college. I’ve been vegetarian for a very, long time. But recently, most of my family members joined me. Meal planning is more difficult but super healthy. So, I have that to contend and plan.
I try to do my grocery shopping one day a week to kind of streamline that process. I also do laundry one day a week. I want to make clear I’ve never had a nanny. So, all through the early years my mother recently reminded me of how much I traveled when my children were babies, which caused extreme guilt in one day. She goes, “’You traveled so, so much, when they were young.” I go, “I did?” “’You did.’” “I did?” So apparently, I traveled to great excess when they were babies, and now it’s all catching up with me emotionally. But, I’m able to balance traveling now with their studies and their school schedules because my husband also owns his own business. Because we both own our own businesses, we’re able to balance my work-life schedule. So again, groceries on one day and laundry in one day, and otherwise I’m a human taxi driver for the remaining days.
Interested in catching Goodman in her next on-air appearance? Tune in on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, where she will be a guest on WJLA-TV (ABC), “Good Morning Washington’s: Let’s Talk Live” show. As of this publication, this segment is scheduled to air beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST.
Audio clips curated and produced by Megan Rummler. Music courtesy of YouTube’s Free Audio Library and a royalty-free subscription license through soundstripe.com.