Today's Daily has an exclusive interview with former Condé Nast CEO Steve Florio, sans moustache and avec new zest for life. After stepping down in almost two years ago on doctor's orders, he's free as a bird with fingers in various pies, teaching at NYU (and his students get a treat: guest lecturers like Donald Trump and Martha Stewart) and perhaps even has an idea for a book or two (ha). Meanwhile he's bandying about ideas about what to do next: Graydon Carter thinks he should be an agent (yeah, because Ari Gold isn't stressed); Linda Wells thinks he's a long, tall drink of water (ergo, beauty column). We think the new look is leurvely, Steve, and we're just happy you're healthy.

Tidbits from the tidbit-packed interview (by Christine Barberich):

• On the infamous on-again, off-again book: "If it gets published, it's going to be called Managing the Gods, but as I've said over and over, the book I want to do is about leadership and business, one that I hope my students will read and that others will read, too. The book they were looking for was the backstabbing tell-all, and I would never write that. It's not me. If nothing else in this life, I do think I have some integrity. I would never hurt my colleagues."
  
• On Mr. Big: "Ron, he hates me now. He thinks I badmouthed him and I never did. He was a great publisher at Vogue. I loved the guy. I had worked with him [for a long time]. I miss him, and I'm sorry he's so bitter about what happened at GQ, but that wasn't the right spot for him."
  
• On three-martini lunches: "Trust me girlfriend, they existed!" You go, Steve!
  
• On enemies: "If you get to be the associate publisher of Esquire by the time you're 27, you're gonna make enemies. If you're the publisher of GQ by 29, you're gonna have more enemies. If you're finally given an opportunity to run a company like Condé Nast, oh man this article isn't long enough.
  
• Regrets, he's had a few: "Not being able to save Mademoiselle killed me."
  
• 'Stache or no 'stache? Ralph Lauren: Shave it. Graydon Carter: Grow it back. Tom Friedman: Bring it.
  
• He also dishes on Anna Wintour, Bonnie Fuller, James Truman, and reveals that Si Newhouse is our nightmare party guest, always arriving early (future party invitees, that is the one sure way to see me in a towel).
  
• On what he misses most about being CEO of Condé Nast: "I miss getting in there at 6:30 am in the middle of winter. I miss going to print order meetings. I miss arguing with the editor of Gourmet. 'That's not how to make a risotto! I know how to make a risotto!' There isn't any one thing - it was a life. I miss it all."