Barneys is straddling the line between luxury department store and media company with this step into the still-booming podcast world. And it will be one of the first retailers to do so. The luxury department store is launching an eight-episode season, dubbed "In Conversation," beginning on May 2. The show, which will air weekly on Wednesdays will be all about fashion, style, culture and, most of all, personality. It will spotlight an array of creatives, including: artist and poet Cleo Wade, designer Rick Owens, interior designer Jonathan Adler, celebrity hair stylist Sally Hershberger and Chief Content Officer of Teen Vogue Phillip Picardi.

It appears the show won't so much be an inside look at Barneys business strategy as it will be a way for them to tap into their network of celebrity designers and stylists who will share stories about launching careers in the fashion industry. That makes for a podcast focused more on the atmosphere and lifestyle that the store promotes rather than the specific products or promotions it offers.

Press release on Barneys podcast initiative

Promotional video of the barneys podcasts