What do you get when a journalism grad, Dallas native, and self-described jewelry “nepo baby” builds a piercing empire in the middle of a pandemic? You get Wildlike —a brand that’s as much about identity, memory, and reinvention as it is about sparkle. This week on The Materialist , I sit down with my friend Alysa Teichman—co-owner of Ylang 23 and founder of Wildlike —to talk about the deeply personal reasons people get pierced (divorce, fertility, “hot girl summer”), the role jewelry plays in our emotional lives, and what it means to grow up inside a family business and then start your own. Alysa is witty, warm, candid, and sharp. We talk: * 🧠 Why piercings are more than aesthetic—they're ritual, rebellion, release * ✨ What it means to treat retail as a form of public service * 🛠️ The real work of “making it happen” when you're spinning 18 plates (and wearing 18 earrings) * 💎 Natural vs lab diamonds: is a lab diamond like a fake Birkin? * 📈 Rising gold prices, TikTok brains, and why “perfection is the enemy of good” * 💬 Scott Galloway quotes, “hey guys” videos, and the elusive balance between authenticity and content fatigue And yes, we also talk about her dog. And her favorite piercing (hint: SEO gold). 📍Find Alysa at alysa teichman or IRL at her Wildlike stores in NYC and Dallas, and her family’s store, Ylang 23. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atpresent.substack.com
