Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we peel back the curtain on the life and career of Dame Anna Wintour, the media executive who defined the fashion industry for nearly four decades. Join us as we trace Wintour’s journey from her rebellious teenage years in 1960s London to her tenure as the "most powerful woman in publishing".

We explore:

• The Rise: How Wintour leveraged her early work at Harper’s & Queen and New York magazine to secure the top job at American Vogue in 1988, where she revolutionized the industry by mixing high fashion with denim on her very first cover.

• The Reputation: We examine the origins of the nickname "Nuclear Wintour" and her legendary, demanding management style that inspired her former assistant’s novel, The Devil Wears Prada.

• The Influence: From transforming the Met Gala into a global spectacle to advising presidential campaigns, we discuss how her power extended far beyond the runway.

• The Next Chapter: We cover her massive expansion of the Vogue brand and the end of an era in June 2025, when she finally stepped down as Editor-in-Chief to focus on her role as Condé Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer.

Whether you know her as a fashion deity or the inspiration for Miranda Priestly, this episode unpacks the discipline, the vision, and the trademark bob that made Anna Wintour a cultural icon.