BEN: Name?

LS: Lindzi Scharf

BEN: Age?

LS: 40— although, I genuinely often forget how old I am since my daughter taught me that age is relative; that and the last handful of years have been such a blur.

BEN: What do you do with your days/profession?

LS: Writer & Founder of TheRetaility.com

BEN: Food you can’t live without?

LS: Baked crab rolls from Katsuya, Rigatoni Arcobaleno from Terroni, or anything my husband makes because he’s an amazing cook and I…am not.

BEN: What do you feel most proud of accomplishing or doing in your life so far and how does it make you feel?

LS: I’m proud of my journey to motherhood… my former self would have rolled her eyes at that statement… which actually makes me laugh. We think we know ourselves so well. And we do… for each moment in time. Evolution is a beautiful thing. Growing up, I didn’t think I wanted kids. As a teenager, I created an online magazine that featured celebrity interviews with stars like Britney Spears, Mila Kunis, and Mandy Moore. In my twenties, I was focused on trying to build a career in the world of legacy media and worried that motherhood would be a distraction. As it turns out, it is a distraction. But in the most beautiful way. Motherhood has enriched my life — and as a result my work. I’m not saying parenthood is for everyone, but I don’t mind being the poster child for anyone who isn’t sure how they feel. It’s okay not to know. It doesn’t mean it’s not for you. It just might not be for you — right now. One’s self is ever changing and I’m proud of myself for learning to ride the wave of self-evolution. I know who I am today and I don’t mind that I don’t know who I’ll be ten years from now. In fact, I’m excited by that.

BEN: What’s your favorite color?

LS: It depends on my mood. Sure, “black is the absence of all colors, while white is the presence of all colors,” but you can’t go wrong with a monochromatic palette… and a pop of red.

BEN: If you could tell your thirteen year old self something from her future what do you think would surprise her most?

LS: That I would be a mother of two… and that I would say it’s my proudest accomplishment. LOL.

BEN: What’s your favorite movie from growing up ? (impossible we know)

LS: “Now & Then,” “Never Been Kissed,” “Clueless,” and my girl crush Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith’s “Legally Blonde.”

BEN: What has been a challenge that you’ve faced in your life, how have you lived with it, and what has it taught you for the future?

LS: My daughter Evan was born with an extremely rare mitochondrial disease, which couldn’t have been detected prenatally. When she was four months old, we were told she likely wouldn’t make it past her fourth birthday. Unfortunately, this came to fruition. But given the prognosis, we made the most of her time on earth. Evan taught me to throw milestones out the window, to live in the present, and to feel gratitude for what you have — not for what you don’t. She also taught me to celebrate every victory — big and small. It doesn’t mean I always succeed, but I’m always trying to. I owe that to Evan.

BEN: All time favorite song? (also impossible, so sorry)

LS: “Let It Be” by The Beatles and “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty (but John Mayer’s version)

BEN: What is an important and unexpected pivot you’ve made in your life?

LS: D) all of the above… I also founded TheRetaility.com, an aspirational lifestyle platform in 2021. As a longtime member of legacy media (writing for the likes of the L.A. Times, Vanity Fair Italia, etc), I decided to return to my online roots and launched a website that operates outside of the traditional media gatekeepers. I wanted something of my own that reflected my approach to storytelling — long form features void of clickbait with honest conversations about what subjects have overcome to be in the position they are today. The site includes profiles of Jordana Brewster, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Abigail Spencer, Josie Maran, and (even my longtime shero!) Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith.

BEN: Which vault are you and why?

LS: The Ones Vault feels most fitting for this moment in my life. I couldn’t have made it through the last handful of years without my loved ones. And I like the idea of keeping them close —even when they aren’t.