Goldfaden MD x The Short Stack

Thea Baumann and Alex Budman, co-founders of Short Stack (a direct-to-client production company that creates video, still, and social-specific assets for all your digital platforms) have got a seriously impressive resume – Thea is the former food editor at Goop, has a Diplôme de Cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu, and co-authored It’s All Easy with Gwyneth Paltrow. Alex has an impressive MFA @ School of Visual Arts, worked on The Tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon, and had a heavy hand in producing video content at Goop.

Together, they are producing some incredible work for clients at large and their goal is simple: to combine compelling narratives with striking food and lifestyle imagery. It’s a potent combination that they execute really well at Short Stack Media.

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with them to learn more about what food means to them, their intimate beauty routines and more.

What does good food mean to you?

TB: To me, good food means anything that tastes delicious! 

How do you start your morning?

TB: My toddler wakes me up every morning by climbing into bed with us. It’s pretty cute and cozy, unless it’s before 6 am.

What’s your go-to am beverage?

TB: Coffee!!

AB: Bulletproof!!

What are your must use daily beauty products?

TB: May Lindstrom youth dew serum and Beauty Counter dew skin. Guess I’m going for that dewy skin look, eh? Oh, and Weleda skin food for my hands. 

AB: Goldfaden exfoliator! Best in the biz. Also Marie Veronique oil cleanser. 

How do you de-stress?

TB: If I can swing it, a yoga class. Otherwise, a walk on the river path near my house or a glass of wine and some good bad tv. 

AB: Take a walk! Play my ukulele. Hula hoop with my weighted hula (it’s FUN and supposedly a work out? Who knows!)

Favorite mood-boosting meal?

TB: A good morning smoothie with lots of fruits and veggies or an ice cream on the couch, for very different reasons ☺

AB: Fat! I love butter. Tahini. Almond butter and olive oil. It makes my brain happy and gives me the energy to conquer the day #yeehawww

What’s a dinner recipe you currently have on repeat?

TB: Sausage and rapini pasta. It’s been on repeat in our house for years and I just keep making it because it’s delicious, easy, and requires minimal cleanup.

AB: Some variation of rice noodles, sesame oil and tahini with fresh vegetables. Or a lame attempt to copy whatever Thea is making. 

What is your daily mantra?

TB: I need a daily mantra! Maybe “breathe”? With a 3 year old and 7-month old twins, I need a lot of reminders to slow down and try to be in the moment.