Making It Up

In episode 208, Charis and Eugene discuss the case of an NYU professor's contract termination after the school received a number of student complaints. They talk about teaching methodologies and some of the ways schools are lacking. At N.Y.U., Students Were Failing Organic Chemistry. Who Was to Blame? by Stephanie Saul Tweet by Jesse Stommel Tweet by Emily Nussbaum

In episode 207, Eugene highlights the significant role of urban planning in  setting the “energy” of a city. One short question to get at the heart of this: How is usage mixed in a city? Tweet by @culturaltutor #191: Ascension by Drew Austin

In episode 206, Charis talks about being fascinated by the idea of someone sitting down to watch an 857 hour movie and whether that experience uniquely gives a more tangible understanding of capitalism. I Watched An 857-Hour Movie To Encounter Capitalism’s Extremes by Ashley Darrow

In episode 205, Eugene and Charis talk about a Blackbird Spyplane banger on trends and their various designations and why they’re so fascinating to follow. You're locked in a prison of trends by Blackbird Spyplane

In episode #204, Charis finds extreme hilarity in people selling fake sacrament of penance on depop and the latest frontier for what the creator economy can sell. Tweet by @roselyddon

In this episode, Eugene and Charis highlight the impact of Instagram’s prioritization of video content for certain genres of artists. Is one’s ability to market themselves part of the job and “art” of being an artist? Links A New Refrain From Artists: We ‘Almost Gave Up on Instagram’ By Kalley Huang Deb JJ Lee Twitter Maddy Mueller Twitter 

In our first recording after a long-ass hiatus, Eugene and Charis update us on what they’ve been up to, what they’ve missed, and what’s to come with Making It Up! 

Charis and Eugene talk about NFTs, collectability, anti-capitalist capitalists, missing counterculture, and individualism.  Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community. Watch us on Twitch at twitch.tv/maekantv Links: The NFT Collector | Richard Kim in Right Click Save Hope Beyond Rugged Individualism by Tara McMullin 14 Warning Signs That You Are Living in a Society Without a Counterculture by Ted Gioia The young, rich, anti-capitalist capitalists by Whizy Kim 

Eugene and Charis talk about efficiency, over-optimization, having slack (not the service) or intentionally holding your feet to the fire. Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community. Watch us on Twitch at twitch.tv/maekantv

Charis and Eugene catch each other up about the last three months of their lives, discuss the move to Twitch, and overcome tech troubles. Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community.

Eugene and Charis discuss Buy Nothing groups/movement and what a change in platform means for their participants. They also talk about Kevin LaBuz’s article “Grandma’s Pierogis” about how corporate culture is created and knowledge passed on. 00:04:47 Buy nothing 00:20:49 Pierogis #107 - Grandma’s Pierogies from Below the Line by Kevin LaBuz Buy Nothing exploded on Facebook — now it wants a platform of its own by Mia Sato Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community.

Charis and Eugene talk about the attitude of the team behind the Italian luxury fashion brand Brunello Cucinelli toward growth and family business. They also discuss the conviction of Elizabeth Holmes, former founder and CEO of the health tech company Theranos, in a trial that ended in January. 00:04:19 Brunello Cucinelli 00:23:47 Theranos Brunello Cucinelli says 2021 growth spurt “not rational” by Luke Leitch The Dropout, a podcast hosted by Rebecca Jarvis produced by ABC News Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community.

Eugene and Charis discuss what it means to pay close attention to anything. They also talk about the benefits of tribalism. 00:10:22 Attention 00:30:37 Tribalism attending to the other by Jasmine Wang The Myth of Tribalism by Dominic Packer and Jay Van Bavel Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community.

Charis and Eugene talk about key moments in culture in 2021 and reflect on significant changes that will carry forwards. Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss the new Substack started by the authors George Saunders for readers to closely read and consider short stories. They also talk about concerns raised regarding the future of web3—mainly the possibility that it will become an extension of web2 with a new veneer. 00:03:05 Story club 00:23:17 Web3 Story Club with George Saunders @iamDCinvestor tweet NIKE, Inc. Acquires RTFKT Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about The Krause House, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) that has the longterm goal of purchasing an NBA team. They also discuss the decreasing audibility of dialogue in movies and the many reasons why that’s the case. 00:03:30 Krause House 00:27:36 Movie sound Buy your Ticket to Krause House Here's Why Movie Dialogue Has Gotten More Difficult To Understand (And Three Ways To Fix It) by Ben Pearson Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss an essay by Sherry Ansari published in Culture study on how Peloton provides fitness with a “Health At Every Ability” attitude. They also talk about the waning UK soft power and how soft power is growing for other countries. 00:06:18 Peloton 00:23:01 Soft power What It Means to Ride at Any Ability by Sherry Ansari Harrods CEO on the threat to London’s cultural status by Sarah Shannon What makes a cultural superpower? by Noah Smith Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about the allure of better sleep fueling an industry of sleep-related products. They also discuss how a rise in online shopping in combination with pandemic factors has lead to supply chain issues. 00:07:09 Sleep 00:24:43 Supply chain Nice Try! by Curbed, Season 2: Interior, Mattress episode How Our Online Shopping Obsession Choked the Supply Chain by Cam Wolf Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss Facebook’s bet on the metaverse and what the allure of the metaverse is. They also discuss dating apps that prioritize an audio experience. 00:06:00 Metaverse 00:28:45 Audio dating apps Heart to Heart raises $750K to bring sweet, sweet flirtation to your ear holes by Haje Jan Kamps Founder’s Letter, 2021 by Mark Zuckerberg Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about a recently released whitepaper that summarizes findings from a recent survey of independent creators. They also discuss how to price your art as an artist. 00:07:18 Creator economy 00:33:20 Pricing art From Dependence to Independence | The Rise of The Independent Creator (The Whitepaper) Ask the Experts: I’m Just Starting Out as an Artist. How Much Should I Charge for My Art? by Francesca Gavin Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss an essay written by Paul Jun, “The Four Dirty C-Words of the Internet”, and breakdown the usage of the words content, culture, community, and creator. They also talk about memes as shared language and the conduit through which beliefs are transmitted. 00:07:18 Four dirty c-words 00:33:20 Memes The Four Dirty C-Words of the Internet by Paul Jun How Memes Control Everything by Nathan Baschez Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about the global appeal of Squid Game and the possibility of supposedly niche cultural entertainment going viral. They also discuss the importance of Frances Haugen, the latest Facebook whistleblower, coming forward to testify about the need for social media platform regulations. 00:06:44 Squid Game 00:24:20 Facebook whistleblower Planet Squid Game by Josef Adalian Here are 4 key points from the Facebook whistleblower's testimony on Capitol Hill by Bobby Allyn Facebook whistleblower testifies company 'is operating in the shadows, hiding its research from public scrutiny' by Samantha Murphy Kelly and Clare Duffy Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss Star Atlas, a space-fantasy RPG built on the Solana blockchain, that indicates the promising possibilities of funding game development through digital asset ownership. They also talk about the prevalence of captions on TikTok and how the use of captions signals considerations of design and inclusion. 00:04:18 Blockchain video games 00:28:05 TikTok captions Star Atlas: The Most Ambitious Blockchain Game by Ryan Foo Why captions are everywhere on TikTok: ‘Glasses for your ears’ by Brian Contreras Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about the Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market brand-development division called Dover Street Market Paris that is similar to an incubator for emerging brands. They also discuss digital fashion as seen in how Farfetch recently seeded influencers their latest lines of clothing via digital fashion items. 00:04:40 CdG 00:26:45 Digital fashion ‘Lack of strategy is the strategy’: what Comme des Garçons did next by Alexander Fury published in Financial Times Influencers are wearing digital versions of physical clothes now by Maghan McDowell published in Vogue Business Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Eugene and Charis discuss what makes a critique good as well as how to give and receive feedback well. Plus, they talk about overcoming Web3 bias in the context of understanding paradigm shifts. 00:03:37 Critiques 00:25:16 Paradigm Shifts How to Take Criticism by Chapell Ellison Google Slides from Charis’ PolyU class Overcoming Web3 Bias | How to navigate strange new paradigms that could change everything—unless they don’t. by Nathan Baschez Cryptopilled by Drew Coffman Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Charis and Eugene talk about a single topic inspired by “Nike’s End of Men” by Ethan Strauss. Their conversation covers a shift in Nike’s values (whether internal or what they project to the public), target audience, and marketing strategies. 00:04:17 Change at Nike Nike’s End of Men by Ethan Strauss Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Eugene and Charis talk about the illusory nature of tech solutions for the climate crisis as well as personal responsibility in the face of it. They also discuss the artistic merit of the release of Kanye West’s DONDA. 00:04:42 Climate crisis 00:24:15 DONDA It’s Time to Replace Ambition with Adaptation by Rosie Spinks The Other Crisis by Jon Leighton DONDA, Kanye West Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Charis and Eugene talk about the attraction to and difficulty in thinking rationally. They also discuss the awkward relationship between tech and fashion. 00:05:52 Rationality 00:27:39 Tech/fashion Why Is It So Hard to Be Rational? by Joshua Rothman Worn Out by Drew Austin Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Eugene and Charis discuss “Ghosts” by Vauhini Vara, a creative writing piece written with the assistance of the language AI GPT-3 (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer 3). They also talk about sexism and double standards in sports as seen in recent discussions around uniform requirements in women’s sports. 00:07:02 Language AI 00:29:01 Sexism in sports Ghosts by Vauhini Vara Facing Outrage Over Bikini Rule, Handball Federation Signals ‘Likely’ Change by Jenny Gross Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Charis and Eugene talk about the factors that lead to the prominence of curators and curation. They also discuss the trend, as WGSN calls it, of “genuinfluencers”, who interact with their audiences differently and share content that is a departure from the traditional influencer fare. 00:07:54 Curators 00:33:39 “Genuinfluencers” Curators All the Way Down by Gaby Goldberg Meet the “genuinfluencers” who don’t want to sell you anything by Kati Chitrakorn Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Eugene and Charis discuss why elite female athletes are turning away from formerly major sponsors in favor of alternative options. They also talk about the launch of the Culture Pass in France which gives all 18-year-olds €300 to spend on a selection of cultural offerings. 00:05:45 Female athletes 00:24:51 France’s Culture Pass Why Elite Female Athletes Are Turning Away From Major Sponsors by Sapna Maheshwari France Gave Teenagers $350 for Culture. They’re Buying Comic Books. by Aurelien Breeden MAEKAN Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Charis and Eugene talk about how our memories of the pandemic will differ and what narrative arcs the stories we tell of our lives usually take. They also discuss the term “wang hong” (Chinese for internet famous) as written about in Chaoyang Trap. 00:04:18 Pandemic memories 00:29:34 “Wang hong” You Won’t Remember the Pandemic the Way You Think You Will by Melissa Fay Greene S01 Episode 9: We Built This City on a Camera Roll in Chaoyang Trap Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

In a different format to the usual Making It Up episodes, Eugene and Charis announce the launch of the online MAEKAN Shop. They discuss the process that lead to this point and talk about the products that are available. 00:01:52 MAEKAN Shop MAEKAN Shop MAEKAN Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the members exclusive tee.

Charis and Eugene talk about Naomi Osaka’s essay in TIME magazine that elaborates on her relationship to the press and the subject of the mental health of athletes. They also discuss an article about “the inner ring” of the internet and how that affects the creative work you do. 00:07:35 'It's O.K. not to be O.K.’ 00:30:58 The inner ring Naomi Osaka: 'It's O.K. Not to Be O.K.' The Inner Ring of The Internet by Ali Montag Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis do an episode completely on sports. They talk about the new NCAA ruling that allows student athletes to make money in whatever way they like: co-founding businesses, as YouTubers, as country singers, etc. They also discuss Australian cyclist Lachlan Morton’s attempt to ride the full Tour de France route on his own with no support and to beat the peloton to Paris. 00:03:39 NCAA 00:22:40 Alt Tour Let's make a deal: NCAA athletes cashing in on name, image and likeness by Dan Murphy Lachlan Morton is bikepacking the entire Tour de France route, transfers included by Iain Treloar Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about new Kotaku editor-in-chief Patricia Hernandez’s letter to readers on the subject of the future of video games and video game writing. They also discuss erratic sizing within the fashion industry and the sustainability as well as psychological issues that creates. 00:04:33 Video game writing 00:24:12 Sizing issues Hello Kotaku, It's Me, Your New EIC by Patricia Hernandez How fashion’s erratic sizing is fuelling a clothing waste crisis by Sophie Benson Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about why the funding model of venture capital is flawed and doesn’t build the things society needs. They also discuss the rise of curation as a strategy brands and individuals are adopting, plus what makes for good curation. 00:04:33 Venture capital 00:23:38 Curation Why venture capital doesn’t build the things we really need by Elizabeth MacBride Creativity is dead, long live curation by Ana Andjelic Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about cohort-based courses as compared to massively open online courses. They also discuss the Barbell Strategy method of balancing security and risk as a structure for creative careers. 00:04:00 Cohort-based courses 00:28:18 The Barbell Strategy The Barbell Strategy: How Not to Be a Starving Artist by Richard Meadows In Online Ed, Content Is No Longer King—Cohorts Are by Wes Kao Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss how the nature of the internet collapses time, space, and context, resulting in a volatile environment that breeds bad faith discussions with no room for nuance or complexity. They also talk about the cooperation economy as the next phase of the creator economy/the passion economy. 00:03:28 The internet is flat 00:22:25 The cooperation economy The internet is flat. by Charlie Warzel The Cooperation Economy Or How to Build a Liquid Super Team by Packy McCormick Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about Naomi Osaka choosing to not do press at the French Open and what the relationship is between press and athletes should be. They also discuss the shift in perception of creatives signing corporate deals. 00:04:40 Sports journalism 00:38:28 Selling out Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the French Open highlights the tenuous relationship between athletes and the media by Scottie Andrew Welcome to the post-sellout era by Yasmin Gagne Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about how Willie Norris is reimagining menswear from a trans perspective at Outlier. They also discuss a recent Atlantic article by Ed Yong that goes into the reasons why people aren’t necessarily feeling better as the pandemic decreases in intensity. 00:02:09 Willie Norris 00:22:48 Trauma This Designer Is Reimagining Menswear From a Trans Perspective by Michael Love Michael What Happens When Americans Can Finally Exhale by Ed Yong Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about the Disgusting Food Museum in Sweden and where disgust, as an emotion and judgment comes from. They also discuss China trying to find ways to standardize the behavior of online fan groups. 00:04:05 “Disgusting” 00:32:00 Fan groups The Gatekeepers Who Get to Decide What Food Is “Disgusting” by Jiayang Fan China Targets ‘Chaotic’ Online Fan Groups to Tame Teen Culture by Yuan Ye and Liu Mengqiu Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss what alternative forms of value there are, beyond financial, in engaging with NFTs in museums. They also discuss “keeping the line alive” in creative work as written about by artist Mateusz Urbanowicz. 00:02:48 Museum NFTs 00:27:21 Loose lines What Makes A Museum Object NFT Valuable Beyond The Scope Of The Technology? by Frances Liddell Keeping the line alive. by Mateusz Urbanowicz Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about an article by Anne Helen Petersen describing the current US economy as the “capitalism is broken” state of things. They also discuss load management, a basketball strategy that conserves the energy of star players, in the context of creative work. 00:04:21 The economy 00:28:39 Load management The 'Capitalism is Broken' Economy by Anne Helen Petersen Try this NBA strategy to help manage hybrid work by Tim Sanders Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about the difficulties that social media managers face and how platforms as well as businesses could do a better job of supporting workers in that area. They also discuss an essay that describes the author’s life growing up on a commune and what non-commune individuals could learn from that mentality. 00:03:21 Social media 00:25:30 Commune life What It Was Like Growing Up on a Commune by Kathryn Jezer-Morton I’m a social media manager. Facebook and Twitter have made my job an ethical nightmare by Amy Brown Let’s Talk About Leaving Social Media...Maybe? by Rachel Karten The Raiders, Social Media Managers And The Vortex of The Internet's Hate by Ed Zitron Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about Eugene Rabkin’s essay, “Read This Before You Decide to Work In Fashion” published in Highsnobiety which goes through a laundry list of negative aspects of the fashion industry. They also discuss an artist zine created by Marco Marzocchi called “How To Destroy Everything”, which is connected to a discussion of digital devices as an extension of human memories and the emotional significance we give digital archives. 00:08:05 Fashion industry 00:37:37 Deleting your life Read This Before You Decide to Work In Fashion by Eugene Rabkin Marco Marzocchi: How To Destroy Everything by Brad Feuerhelm Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss our relationship to work and our sense of ownership over our time. They also talk about challenges scientists face when communicating their ideas clearly around how to present complex thoughts. 00:06:05 Time and work 00:30:33 Communications Scientists need to get better at talking to the public. Why doesn’t training seem to help? by Robert Wyss, Margaret Rubega, and Robert Capers Against “Feel Free To Take Some Time If You Need It" by Anne Helen Petersen Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk at length about streetwear brand Chinatown Market deciding to rename themselves. This comes in response to people in the Asian American community expressing their concerns with the use of the name. Eugene and Charis discuss this situation in light of the current context of increased anti-Asian racism in North America as well as discussing whether personal wardrobes should carry sentimental value.  00:04:06 Chinatown Market 00:50:42 Filipino Attire Chinatown Market to Undergo Name Change by Obi Anyanwu  Amid Anti-Asian Hate Crimes, I Found Beauty in Filipino Attire by Isiah Magsino Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss Cathie Wood’s perfect content strategy for the portfolio of ETFs she runs at ARK Invest. They also talk about A.D. Carson, a hip-hop professor, and his thinking behind getting his rap album peer-reviewed and published by an academic press. 00:03:50 Cathie Wood 00:22:52 Peer-reviewed rap album Cathie Wood and Content Strategy by Ranjan Roy Hip-hop professor looks to open doors with world’s first peer-reviewed rap album by A.D. Carson Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about what the pricing of the Hermès Birkin bag teaches us about setting prices according to the value in stories. They also discuss Alexi McCammond’s hiring and firing from Teen Vogue as the Editor-in-Chief in relation to systemic problems within companies and cancel culture. 00:05:34 Hermès pricing 00:23:18 Teen Vogue What Luxury Brands Can Learn from Hermès About Pricing by Daniel Langer Teenage Mistake: What's missing from the Teen Vogue story, and who's responsible by Elizabeth Spiers Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss the creator economy from two perspectives: the impact on newsrooms and the rise of apps like NewNew. 00:07:17 Creator economy 00:29:28 NewNew Creator economy vs. newsroom leadership: A fight for talent by David Tvrdon For Creators, Everything Is for Sale by Taylor Lorenz Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about how museum gift shops decide what to sell. They also discuss what it means to share authentically with audiences and the wisdom in disconnecting what we share on the Internet from our physical selves. 00:04:58 Museum gift shops 00:26:27 Sharing authentically The Authenticity Trap: Fear and Loathing in the Virtual World by Amanda Greeley How museum gift shops decide what to sell by Antonella Crescimbeni Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss performative positivity in relation to design and how pessimism can make design better. They also talk about how to build self-worth as someone who does creative work. 00:03:32 Performative positivity 00:32:16 Self-worth Against Performative Positivity by Danah Abdulla Building Self-Worth by Ward Andrews Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about worldbuilding as a visionary, collaborative practice as described by Ryan Madson in Strelka Mag—Wakanda being an example of worldbuilding. They also discuss NFTs: what they are, what the possibilities could be, what they hype is about. 00:02:54 Worldbuilding 00:20:53 NFTs Worldbuilding Forever: Bold Ideas for Our Collective Futures by Ryan Madson Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss how music is a crucial part of the continued growth of the creator economy. They also talk about MetaHuman Creator, a new browser-based app released by Epic Games that allows anyone to build digital humans quickly via Unreal Engine. 00:03:20 Music creator economy 00:26:00 MetaHuman Creator Music is the creator economy catalyst by Maarten Walraven-Freeling Epic’s new MetaHuman tool lets you craft realistic faces inside a browser by Nick Statt Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about luxury’s involvement in resell and how that will impact the fashion resell and retail markets. They also discuss Twitter’s flaws and whether a complete overhaul is necessary and good for everyone. 00:02:35 Luxury resell 00:25:31 Overhauling Twitter Luxury's Involvement in Resell Could Be the Beginning of the End by Karl Thomas Smith The Capitalist Case for Overhauling Twitter by Scott Galloway Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about what the Dunning-Kruger Effect is (a supposed bias in our thinking regarding gauging competency), whether it’s real or not, and what our tendency to believe in it means about us. They also discuss why editorial platforms will dominate retail in the long term. 00:01:50 The Dunning-Kruger Effect 00:27:31 Editorial/retail relationship Why Editorial Brands Will Dominate Retail’s ‘Long Tale’ by Doug Stephens The Dunning-Kruger Effect Is Probably Not Real by Jonathan Jarry Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene discuss how food delivery apps are rooted in a human desire for convenience and contributing to destroying restaurants. They also talk about a new book coming out by David Yi titled “Pretty Boys” and the history of masculinity. 00:02:47 Food delivery apps 00:15:03 Masculinity The True Cost of Convenience by Deepti Sharma David Yi on History’s ‘Pretty Boys’ by Alexa Tietjen Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about the problem with perfectionism. They also discuss the pivot fashion magazines have made over the last few years towards being less superficial. 00:02:13 Perfectionism 00:28:59 Magazine pivot The Problem With Being Perfect by Olga Khazan Magazines Pivot Beyond Fashion as Age of Superficiality Ends by Tianwei Zhang Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about a new marketplace for buying and selling pre-owned subscriptions. They also break down the process of creativity and whether “jootsing” (Jumping Out Of The System) works. 00:03:50 Reselling subscriptions 00:20:00 Jootsing “Jootsing”: The Key to Creativity by Farnam Street Unloved, a marketplace for pre-owned tech subscriptions Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss the recent rebranding the CIA launched to attract more diverse employees. They also talk about the 2021 Public Domain Day and what it means for works to enter the public domain. 00:04:25 CIA rebrand 00:19:42 Public Domain Day CIA rebrands to encourage diversity but identity of logo designer remains top secret by Cajsa Carlson Start of 2020 Ushers Thousands of Once-Copyrighted Works Into the Public Domain by Katherine J. Wu Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene answer a couple of questions about this past year. They talk about how they’re feeling, what a “new year” means, and what they’ve learned about work and themselves. 00:07:00 How are you feeling emotionally? 00:13:39 Is it really a “new year”? 00:18:55 What are you excited about? 00:25:41 What did you learn about work in 2020? 00:33:13 What did you learn about yourself in 2020? 00:36:34 What got you excited about creativity this year? Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss a new collection of artwork released by the artist Beeple that is in the form of NFT. They also talk about Async Art, a new kind of art movement built on the blockchain. Their second subject of the week is the state of the web in the year 2000 compared to what it is now, based on an article written by Postlight CEO Paul Ford. 00:03:23 NFT art 00:25:17 Evolution of the web The Proof of NFTs — $3.5M Beeple Drop by Loop Web Conversation From the Other Side by Paul Ford Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about Canadian NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez playing Among Us on Twitch with other streamers. They also discuss small businesses forced to adopt start-up mentalities and what resilience looks like. 00:02:48 Politicians streaming 00:24:46 Small business resilience Can a Start-Up Mentality Save Small Businesses? by Eilene Zimmerman AOC’s Among Us livestream hints at Twitch’s political power by Tanya Basu Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss how data is both dangerous and useful, how it has impacted growth of all kinds and changed the way we think about algorithms. They also talk about Instagram going all-in on shopping and what we personally turn to Instagram for now. 00:01:58 Data is fire 00:27:15 Instagram shopping Data is Fire by Yancey Strickler  We’re All Trapped in Instagram’s Digital Mall Now by Hazel Cills Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying Wrexham AFC, a Welsh football club, and making content about the process. They also discuss two different articles about friendship, shallow ones and deeply intimate ones, and what it means to value friendship. 00:03:10 Football content 00:25:21 Friendship Hollywood's New Multi-Million-Dollar Sports Investment Vehicle by Joseph Pompliano What If Friendship, Not Marriage, Was at the Center of Life? by Rhaina Cohen You Are Supposed to Outgrow Some Friendships by Brianna Wiest Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about the digital toolkit created by Airbnb Design that aims to help freelance illustrators with their client and business management so they can focus more on creating. They also discuss an interview with Stephen Satterfield, co-founder of Whetstone Media, published in Currant about empathy, origins, and fluency with food. 00:02:35 Illustrator toolkit Tyrus 00:15:49 Empathy through origins Tyrus: A free digital toolkit from Airbnb Design that helps freelance illustrators optimize their business, so they have more time to focus on what they love At Whetstone Media, Stephen Satterfield Builds Empathy Through Origins by Sarah Cooke Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about the new color choices people have made during quarantine for their interior spaces and whether that’s potentially soothing. They also discuss the importance of looking outside your area of expertise and industry to find new creative solutions. 00:02:21 Quarantine colors 00:17:40 Steal ideas The Surprising Power of Color to Ease Quarantine Anxiety by Kyle Chayka Great Ideas Are Yours to Steal by Bob Roitblat Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss the problem of harmful microplastics when using and washing synthetic materials. They also talk about Ricky Desktop, a viral Tiktok beatmaker, and the science behind crafting the perfect thing to beat the algorithm. 00:02:06 Microplastics 00:19:49 Algorithm mastery Should synthetic clothing be sold with a warning? by Bella Webb Meet Ricky Desktop, the most viral beatmaker on TikTok by Jacob Kastrenakes Adapting to the algorithm by Kyle Chayka Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talks about the collaborative sneaker project being run by Afew and ASICS for the 30th anniversary of the GEL-Lyte 3 that includes major community input. They also discuss an article that considers the effects of less continual documentation and publication of our personal lives on social media during the pandemic. 00:02:52 Afew x ASICS 00:21:21 Content vacuum The Wild Silence by Drew Austin of The Kneeling Bus Afew x ASICS Take Community Engagement to the Next Level by Fabian Gorsler Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss the new tech startup BookClub and how niche groups of people formed around singular interests benefit (or not) from technological additions. They also talk about trends in art this year in relation to the pandemic and lockdowns. 00:01:43 Bookclubs 00:15:45 Pandemic art From New Faces to Hug Art, Here Are 5 Major Trends to Be Found in Art Basel’s New Online Fair Devoted to Work Made During Lockdown by Artnet News The first rule of BookClub? No boring book clubs. by Natasha Mascarenhas Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about whether it’s hypocritical to criticize capitalism while also spending money on clothes. They also discuss what a wholly tech-free life looks like. 00:02:46 Socialism and capitalism 00:27:43 Tech-free life Would socialism KILL cool clothes?? by Blackbird Spyplane Marxist memes for TikTok teens: can the internet radicalize teenagers for the left? by Joshua Citarella Gen Zers Say Silicon Valley Is Elitist and Exclusive. Can They Build a New System? by Taylor Lorenz Not So Simple, Notes from a Tech-Free Life by Mark Boyle Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about how Hong Kong’s food culture has adapted in the pandemic. They also discuss chess as a current streaming obsession and how AI is making the game beautiful again. 00:02:57 HK food culture 00:26:06 Chess changes A Freshly Killed Chicken Is Mightier Than the Coronavirus by Daisann McLane Chess (Yes, Chess) Is Now a Streaming Obsession by Kellen Browning AI Ruined Chess. Now, It’s Making the Game Beautiful Again by Tom Simonite Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about whether New York (or any city) can die. They also talk about why successful people rarely acknowledge the role of luck in their lives. 00:02:14 Is New York dead? 00:31:33 Luck and success NYC IS DEAD FOREVER. HERE’S WHY by James Altucher Affluence Killed New York, Not the Pandemic by Kevin Baker New York or Nowhere meme by Ronnie Lordi So You Think New York Is “Dead” by Jerry Seinfeld Successful people rarely admit how lucky they were. Here’s why they should by Michiel De Hoog for The Correspondent Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about the challenges facing fashion design graduates due to the pandemic. They also discuss how creative peers can accelerate personal growth. 00:01:44 Fashion grads 00:23:57 Creative peers Breaking into fashion was already hard. Amid Covid-19, is a design generation lost? by Bella Webb How Creative Peers Accelerate Personal Growth by Ward Andrews Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about what it’s like to start a job remotely and get onboarded during the pandemic. They also discuss Telfar, a brand founded by Telfar Clemens, and the popularity of their “Bushwick Birkin”. 00:04:09 Remote onboarding 00:23:19 Telfar It Just Got a Lot Easier to Secure a Telfar Bag by Emilia Petrarca Meet the New Guy by Lindsey Underwood Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about the appeal and value of MasterClass as it relates to education, capitalism, and constantly trying to self-improve. They also discuss how Shopify democratized e-commerce to such a degree that the real winners aren’t brands at all. 00:02:15 MasterClass 00:28:49 Shopify Shopify and the Hard Thing About Easy Things by Packy McCormick What is MasterClass Actually Selling? by Carina Chocano Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene chat with special guest Behzod Sirjani. They start off with some banter about Behzod’s work leading an independent research practice, plus a bit about Chloe Ting, then move on to the big topics of the episode: the reductive seduction of other people’s problems and some tips for independent creators looking to raise funds or establish a community of support. 00:15:04 Other people’s problems 00:42:32 Community funding The Reductive Seduction of Other People’s Problems by Courtney Martin Tips for Community Funding In Challenging Times by Siena Oristaglio Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis discuss racial bias in photography technology and terminology. They also talk about some good things happening in new age media: the formation of Defector, a new sports blog and media company started by the people who left Deadspin in 2019. 00:01:46 Photography bias 00:31:03 New media company Defector Color film was built for white people. Here's what it did to dark skin. by Vox The Staff of Deadspin Is Taking Their Talents to Defector. Here's What Happens Next. by Alex Shultz Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Charis and Eugene talk about artificial intelligence in the realm of graphic design. They also discuss a Highsnobiety and Boston Consulting Group white paper on the future of luxury and the new luxury consumer. 00:01:46 AI graphic design 00:24:47 Future of luxury How an AI graphic designer convinced clients it was human by Thomas Macaulay Culture Culture Culture: Quantifying What Matters Most to the New Fashion & Luxury Consumer by Highsnobiety and BCG Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord.

Eugene and Charis talk about Toby Shorin’s latest essay, “Come for the Network, Pay for the Tool”, which talks about the emergence of paid communities from the combination of social, content, and commerce. They also discuss the recent Vogue cover of Simone Biles shot by Annie Leibovitz and the criticism that arose regarding the photos. 00:01:10 Paid communities 00:29:51 Vogue cover Come for the Network, Pay for the Tool by Toby Shorin Vogue Slammed for Hiring Annie Leibovitz for Simone Biles Cover Instead of Black Photographer by DL Cade www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene discuss the modern approach to parenting and misunderstandings of childhood. They also talk about Silicon Valley’s attitude towards tech media as well as the issue of privacy in digital conversations. 00:02:58 Parenting 00:23:36 Tech Media Meet the parenting expert who thinks parenting is a terrible invention by Irene Caselli and Lynn Berger Silicon Valley Elite Discuss Journalists Having Too Much Power in Private App by Jason Koebler, Anna Merlan, and Joseph Cox www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about Hey, the new email service created by Basecamp, and the issues of email in general. On the subject of work, they also talk about what going back to the office looks like in terms of necessary health and safety measures and the physicality of workplaces. 00:05:28 Hey and email services 00:26:24 Back to the office Hey is a Wildly Opinionated New Email Service from the Makers of Basecamp by Casey Newton Physical workplaces important for "preventing the loneliness epidemic in an increasingly digital world" says Vitra by Marcus Fairs www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about how Brain Dead and Blood Orange raised a million dollars for  charities aiding the Black Lives Matter movement. They also discuss what the “Virgilization” of Virgil Abloh means — how the artification of an individual is intentional in order to de-commercialize that person. 00:04:15 Brain Dead raises 1mil for BLM 00:26:33 The “Virgilization” of Virgil Abloh How to Raise a Million Bucks for Charity with T-Shirts, According to Brain Dead’s Kyle Ng by Cam Wolf The Virgilization of Virgil Abloh by Ana Andjelic www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss the role of small indie music venues in supporting emerging musicians and the continual growth of the music industry. They also talk about a new model of media star, where media is fragmenting further and the individuals people gravitate towards are increasingly varied. This leads into a conversation about the “passion economy” as defined by Li Jin. 00:04:38 Indie music venues 00:26:46 Passion economy Small Clubs Are Where Rock History Is Made. How Many Will Survive? by Ben Sisario The New Model Media Star Is Famous Only to You by Ben Smith How the Passion Economy will disrupt media, education, and countless other industries by Li Jin www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about the launch, rapid demise, and potential futures of Quibi, the new video streaming service. They also talk about how technology has pounced on pandemic-created opportunities and what the post-pandemic tech appetite and landscape might look like. 00:02:51 Quibi 00:28:46 Home screens Quibi Is What Happens When Hollywood Overvalues Content And Undervalues Community by Mike Masnick Home Screens by Drew Austin www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about two ways they’ve been spending their time: playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons and watching The Last Dance. They discuss how Animal Crossing is an interesting place for brands to add value for gamers, as well as how The Last Dance could only have been made and aired at certain moments in time to have the impact it does. 00:01:42 Animal Crossing 00:29:50 The Last Dance Animal Crossing is emerging as a media channel for brands in lockdown by Katie Deighton The Last Dance (TV series) - Wikipedia www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about how artists can be good interpreters of scientific innovation. They also discuss how independent magazines are navigating the pandemic and what kinds of adaptations are necessary. 00:05:21 Art and science 00:33:31 Indie mags Are Artists the New Interpreters of Scientific Innovation? by Gisela Williams How Are Independent Magazines Navigating COVID-19? by Tianwei Zhang  www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about how our unconscious motives result in behaving in ways that revolve around signaling messages, distribution, and amplification. They also discuss the new MAEKAN membership strategy. 00:01:50 Signaling 00:25:23 MAEKAN membership Signaling as a Service by Julian Lehr MAEKAN Patreon www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about how university students are gathering in Minecraft to recreate their campuses, hold commencements, and makeup for some of the loss they feel from school being closed. Eugene and Charis also discuss the pressure to be productive in this time of social distancing and how to change that mentality. 00:01:39 Minecraft 00:18:20 Productivity Minecraft: https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21200972/college-students-graduation-minecraft-coronavirus-school-closures Productivity: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/style/productivity-coronavirus.html www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about the millennial movement FIRE(Financial Independence Retire Early). They also discuss the Open Brief released by the UN calling creatives to help with providing engaging accurate messaging on COVID-19. 00:02:28 FIRE 00:27:47 UN Open Brief FIRE: https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2020/3/18/21182018/financial-independence-retire-early-fire-early-retirement-mr-money-mustache-pete-adeney UN Open Brief: https://www.oneclub.org/articles/-view/global-call-to-creatives Hello (from the Inside) An Adele Parody by Chris Mann: https://youtu.be/M5azNpTwVk8 www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene discuss the inventiveness of virtual cultural events in the time of quarantine. They also talk about the positive magnificence and anxiety-inducing nature of connectivity. Eugene explains why luxury fashion houses are interested in having food and beverage offerings. 00:06:00 Quarantine connectivity 00:25:17 Luxury F&B https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/technology/coronavirus-how-to-live-online.html https://www.voguebusiness.com/consumers/luxury-fashion-houses-restaurants-louis-vuitton-tiffany-bergdorf-goodman-browns www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about the cover story of the March 2020 issue of The Atlantic written by David Brooks titled “TheNuclear Family Was a Mistake”. They dive into the definitions and history of the American family and whether it’s possible to make a new family paradigm. They also discuss how the movie “Parasite” lead to restaurants deciding to offer jjapaguri (aka “ram-don”). 00:01:02 Nuclear family 00:31:43 Jjapaguri https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/03/the-nuclear-family-was-a-mistake/605536/ https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/6/21153398/jjapaguri-ram-don-specials-nyc-parasite www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene discuss a menswear sneaker made by Archibald London after consulting Styleforum extensively. They also talk about the launch of The Markup, a new media outlet investigating technology. 00:04:53 Participatory design 00:29:28 The Markup https://www.gq.com/story/archibald-london-crowdsourced-sneaker https://themarkup.org www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about Spotify’s recent acquisition of The Ringer and the effects of media consolidation. They also discuss a personal essay that describes the discomfort felt in hearing black music become the default choice for high end spaces and how black music is cherrypicked as being beneficial to commercial spaces. 00:01:52 Spotify and The Ringer 00:26:26 Black music https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/5/21124201/bill-simmons-the-ringer-spotify-acquistion-podcast-purchase https://slate.com/culture/2020/01/black-music-white-restaurants-gyms-shops.html www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about the complex conversation surrounding “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins (a novel about a Mexican mom and her son fleeing for the United States) which revolves around the question of who should tell what stories. They also discuss the perception of waiting staff in restaurants and what the effects are of good service on dining experiences. 00:13:44 “American Dirt” 00:43:09 Good service https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jan/15/restaurant-waiters-front-of-house-service-britain-respect https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/25/arts/american-dirt-jeanine-cummins.html www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss what it means for podcasting that there were a record number of new podcasts launched in 2019. They also talk about Brian Phillips deciding to close his art and fashion public relations company Black Frame and the shift in fashion public relations as a whole. 00:04:34 New podcasts 00:19:57 Fashion PR http://www.insideradio.com/free/there-were-a-record-number-of-podcast-launches-in/article_c86c57e6-305c-11ea-866f-5fc96803d150.html https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/brian-phillips-closing-black-frame-major-shift-fashion-pr-kenzo-nike www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about how to form new habits and, specifically, how to maintain good financial habits. They also discuss the past decade in fashion, including the topics of media fragmentation, online fashion, and democracy in fashion. 00:03:25 New habits 00:22:49 Decade in fashion https://www.thecut.com/2019/12/how-to-budget-in-the-new-year.html https://dieworkwear.com/post/189986615919/how-well-remember-this-decade www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about the collaboration between Shawn Stussy and Kim Jones for Dior’s Pre-Fall 2020 collection. They also discuss “To Bring Back”, Charis’ new podcast, and air episode one. You can listen to “To Bring Back” on iTunes, Spotify, and your preferred podcast apps. 00:06:52 Shawn Stussy x Dior 00:37:03 To Bring Back https://www.gq.com/story/dior-stussy-collab-announcement http://tobringback.com https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/to-bring-back/id1485009829 www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about an article written by Alex Danco titled “Everything is Amazing, But Nothing is Ours” about how technology has evolved to be about access at the expense of ownership. They also discuss reseller platforms such as The RealReal and what their relationship is to the primary luxury market. 00:01:05 Nothing is ours 00:21:53 Reseller luxury 00:40:18 Banter https://alexdanco.com/2019/10/26/everything-is-amazing-but-nothing-is-ours/ https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-11-12/realreal-poshmark-other-resale-sites-are-good-even-for-gucci www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about musical anhedonia, the condition where people feel no pleasure in music, and whether that has implications on the world of audio. They also discuss the anatomy of a TikTok hit and what kind of music goes viral on that platform. 00:00:55 Musical anhedonia 00:27:34 TikTok hits 00:41:19 Banter https://reallifemag.com/vox-populi/ https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-anatomy-of-a-tiktok-hit/ www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about Disney+ and Apple TV+, two new streaming services, launching with series that cost an unprecedented amount of money per episode to make. They also discuss tokenism: what it is, how to deal with it, and whether there are silver linings to it. 00:01:16 Streaming services 00:16:42 Tokenism 00:37:16 Banter https://qz.com/1735700/apple-and-disney-are-creating-an-explosion-of-tv-series-budgets/ https://qz.com/844918/with-the-crown-the-grand-tour-and-westworld-tv-shows-have-become-insanely-expensive/ https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/46571/1/how-to-deal-with-tokenism-as-an-artist-according-to-the-white-pube www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss why new technology is difficult to convince people to adopt. They also talk about the habits of the ultra wealthy as well as a new study that shows a key factor in becoming very rich is luck. 00:01:20 Ultra wealthy 00:27:22 New tech 00:44:45 Banter https://www.technologyreview.com/s/610395/if-youre-so-smart-why-arent-you-rich-turns-out-its-just-chance/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/style/rich-people-things.html https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/tech/ https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/10/17/18647521/capitalism-age-of-addiction-phone-david-courtwright www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about TikTok hiring a law firm to advise them on their content moderation policies due to increasing scrutiny of the app. They also discuss Adobe being required to block Venezuelan users from their products due to the latest sanctions on the country. 00:01:24 TikTok 00:19:32 Adobe 00:31:54 Banter https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/15/tiktok-taps-corporate-law-firm-kl-gates-to-advise-on-its-u-s-content-moderation-policies/ https://stratechery.com/2019/the-china-cultural-clash/ https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/evjmqj/venezuela-will-be-cut-off-from-adobe-products-because-of-trump-sanctions www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss Forever 21 filing for bankruptcy and the evolving role of shopping malls. They also talk about the monetization of esports apparel and the possibilities for brands within the gaming industry. 00:01:22 Forever 21 00:20:12 Esports apparel 00:40:15 Banter https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/29/business/forever-21-bankruptcy.html https://hypebeast.com/2019/9/esports-apparel-fashion-adidas-ninja-nike www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about the 2019 MacArthur Grant winners and how money supports innovative work. They also discuss Greta Thunberg, LVMH’s Bernard Arnault’s comments about her, and the relationship between luxury and climate crisis activists. 00:01:11 The MacArthur Grant 00:21:48 Luxury and climate crisis 00:41:21 Banter Links https://www.reuters.com/article/us-luxury-environment/luxury-leader-lvmh-in-green-mode-laments-thunbergs-pessimism-idUSKBN1WA2AY https://www.businessinsider.com/macarthur-fellowship-genius-grant-winners-2019-9 www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about whether good grammar matters, especially when it comes to material written by southeast Asian influencers. They also discuss YouTube’s announcement regarding overhauling its verification program and then the quick walk-back of that announcement. 00:02:42 Influencer grammar 00:21:57 YouTube verification 00:43:15 Banter Links https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/style/influencer-grammar-watchdog-accounts-southeast-asia.html https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/19/youtube-overhauls-its-problematic-verification-program/ www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene discuss Frances Bean Cobain launching the “Kurt Was Here” clothing collection and what the purpose is of releasing posthumous products. They also talk about the union drive occurring at Kickstarter and how unions can function within companies.  00:03:04 Posthumous work 00:19:00 Unions Links https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kurt-cobain-clothing-collection-881429/ https://slate.com/technology/2019/09/kickstarter-turmoil-union-drive-historic-tech-industry.html www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis celebrate making it to 100 episodes by taking one week off to ask each other hard-hitting big picture questions about creativity plus some lightning round either or questions. 00:03:20 Big questions 00:34:55 Lightning round Links https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/story/career-myths-making-good-money-means-selling-out-creatively/ https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/carly-ayres-the-end-of-hawraf-graphic-design-180319

Charis and Eugene talk about why products for older people are poorly designed and how to include older people in the design process. They also discuss Johanna Hedva’s disability access rider and why constructing society around what we often see to be niche groups is actually the best course of action. 00:03:10 Older people 00:28:11 Disability access Links https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614167/why-are-products-for-older-people-so-ugly https://sickwomantheory.tumblr.com/post/187188672521/hedvas-disability-access-rider www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss the future of Diet Prada, the media company run by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler that aims to hold the fashion industry accountable. They also talk about the use of gender-neutral pronouns and the possible effects shifting language can have on shifting culture. 00:01:30 Diet Prada 00:28:51 Pronouns Links https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/professional/the-future-of-diet-prada https://www.wired.com/story/actually-gender-neutral-pronouns-can-change-a-culture/ www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about the possible relationship between memes and brands as being top-down or bottom-up, giving the New York Times and Wendy’s as examples of each. They also discuss the new virtual influencer Liam Nikuro and what virtual influencer companies get right and what they could do better. 00:01:41 Memes and brands 00:22:39 Virtual influencers Links https://breakingsmart.substack.com/p/memes-brands-and-missions https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/07/e2037ca6e34d-feature-japanese-pop-culture-takes-world-stage-through-virtual-influencer.html www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss only one topic this week, but go all in on it. Greg Jackson’s essay“HipsterElegies” provides the starting point for a conversation on the history of the hipster and the importance of the hipster on the evolution of culture.  00:02:27 Effect of the hipster Links https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/reality-and-its-alternatives/articles/hipster-elegies www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about whether we have reached peak podcast and, if not, what peak podcast would look like. They also discuss where the thousands of Bob Ross paintings are, what his appeal has been in the last five years, and how people are seeking hope wherever they can. 00:02:27 Peak podcast 00:31:46 Bob Ross Links https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/style/why-are-there-so-many-podcasts.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/arts/bob-ross-paintings-mystery.html www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss measures Instagram as a platform is taking to combat bullying and more generally what bullying looks like. They also talk about how the art market is changing to attract younger collectors, as well as the company Otis which is about investing in“alternativeassets”. Timestamps 00:03:49 Instagram combats bullying 00:24:26 Millennial art market Links https://withotis.com/about https://news.artnet.com/market/how-to-sell-to-millennials-1581577 https://time.com/5619999/instagram-mosseri-bullying-artificial-intelligence/ www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about what the relationship between a photographer and their subjects looks like, according to four different photographers. They also discuss two articles that seem to take a different stance on the smartphone—it’s either a planet killer or a global savior. 00:06:07 Photographers and subjects 00:28:07 Killer/savior smartphones Links: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-photographers-owe-subjects-four-photographers-weigh https://www.fastcompany.com/90165365/smartphones-are-wrecking-the-planet-faster-than-anyone-expected https://www.wired.com/story/iphone-environment-consumption/ www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss whether gaming subscriptions can possibly lead to more innovative and experimental video games. They also talk about what changing the rules and regulations of women’s football might do for the development of the game.  00:02:33 Gaming subscriptions 00:27:30 Women’s football Links: https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/18/18682700/gaming-subscriptions-ea-microsoft-ubisoft-netflix-streaming https://the18.com/soccer-entertainment/size-of-womens-soccer-fields-debate-hope-solo www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about Aaron Rodgers coming on as partner in a new venture and growth capital fund. This piece of news links to a trend towards a broader consideration of creative capital and the possibilities for how creatives conduct business. They also discuss Greta Thunberg, a teenager in Sweden striking in order to call for something to be done about the climate crisis.  00:02:53 Creative capital 00:26:36 Teens on climate crisis Links: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2019/06/05/aaron-rodgers-launches-50-million-venture-capital-fund-with-roth-capital/#1cfb1f1c2b41 https://www.wired.co.uk/article/greta-thunberg-climate-crisis www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss a recent WWD interview with Rei Kawakubo, founder of COMME des GARÇONS and Dover Street Market, where she makes distinctions between her relationship with fashion and business. They also talk about whether the role work now plays in people’s lives can be considered equivalent in any way to the role religion used to have.  00:02:53 Rei Kawakubo 00:26:36 The role of work Links: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/the-originals-rei-kawakubo-on-the-genius-grind-1203137382/ https://www.fastcompany.com/90350861/how-work-became-the-millennial-religion-of-choice www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about art collective Meow Wolf and the concessions necessary to make art profitable. They also discuss the health of the Internet particularly as it pertains to the world’s population increasingly gathering in cities.  00:02:53 Experience as art 00:26:36 Internet health Links: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/01/magazine/meow-wolf-art-experience-economy.html https://internethealthreport.org/2019/the-power-of-cities/ www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about whether or not an issue of political correctness censoring fashion design exists, a discussion revolving around an op-ed written by Eugene Rabkin. They also talk about how the age of the influencer is starting to come to an end while appreciation of the slacker and slacking off is on the rise.  00:02:23 Politically correct fashion 00:29:27 Rise of the slacker Links: https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/fashion-age-political-correctness/ https://qz.com/quartzy/1588115/instagram-influencers-are-out-slackers-are-in/ www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene discuss the emergence of increasingly lengthy captions on Instagram and the implications of this trend. They also talk about the newly opened MUJI Hotel in Tokyo and what it takes for a brand to successfully extend itself. 00:01:46 Captionfluencers 00:19:00 MUJI Hotel Links: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/style/instagram-long-captions.html https://maekan.com/2019/03/muji-hotel-ginza-opening/

Eugene and Charis talk about the partnership between the big tobacco company Philip Morris and the media platform VICE in relation to the idea of whether good things can come from bad money. They also discuss the issue of increasingly large museum collections and what museums might do collectively to make art more accessible. 00:01:48 VICE Philip Morris 00:27:15 Overflowing museums Links: https://notvice.com/vice-and-philip-morris-international-partnership-c0cd977738df https://maekan.com/2019/03/museum-artwork-full/ What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture.We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access  to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our  monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com 

Charis and Eugene discuss whether it’s possible to become a mega-influencer anymore. They also talk about the reasons China might tax luxury goods and how that might affect consumerism in the country. 00:00:54 Mega-influencers 00:24:32 Luxury tax Links: https://fashionista.com/2019/03/top-instagram-social-media-influencers-marketing-success https://jingdaily.com/china-luxury-debt/   What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access  to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our  monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com 

Eugene and Charis talk about Goldman Sachs telling employees that they can start dressing more casually and how that might affect the fashion landscape. They also discuss an argument for veganizing design and the counter-argument against applying that ideology. 00:18:40 Losing the suit 00:35:14 Vegan design Links: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/06/business/dealbook/goldman-sachs-dress-code.html https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/01/sebastian-cox-vegan-design-sustainable-opinion/ What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com 

Charis and Eugene talk about the latest video ad for Nike titled Dream Crazier that features women in sports and a voiceover encouraging women to attempt even more. They also discuss the phenomenon of being professionally successful on paper but miserable in actuality. 00:10:17 Women in sports 00:28:55 Miserable at work Links: https://news.nike.com/featured_video/dream-crazier https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/21/magazine/elite-professionals-jobs-happiness.html What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com 

Eugene and Charis discuss when skepticism is good and when more trust is needed. They also talk about the increase in artist-endowed foundations and the work that these foundations are doing in terms of cultural philanthropy. 00:20:20 Healthy skepticism 00:33:58 Art philanthropy Links: https://medium.com/s/reasonable-doubt/when-healthy-skepticism-really-isn-t-e95594d1e380 https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ongoing-artist-as-philanthropist-report-tracks-the-rise-of-endowed-foundations-1463578   What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com 

Charis and Eugene talk about consumer power and the responsibility that comes with spending money on anything. They also discuss the potential funding Reddit might be accepting from Chinese tech giant Tencent and how that could shape the Internet in the States, in China, and globally. This episode attempts to unpack what it means to follow the origins and effect of each dollar. 00:11:55 Consumer power 00:41:53 Chinese investment money Links: https://noahny.com/blogs/news/consumer-power https://gizmodo.com/reddit-banned-in-china-is-reportedly-set-to-land-150-1832375439 What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what  else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access  to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our  monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss the influence of Nardwuar on the hip-hop world and how his persona plus interview style gets great results. They also talk about why CAPTCHA exists, what the future of CAPTCHA looks like, and what the progress of CAPTCHA says about our pursuit to find the universal quality of humanness. 00:13:58 Nardwuar’s influence 00:30:35 Evolution of CAPTCHA Links: https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/nardwuar-hip-hop-significance/ https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/1/18205610/google-captcha-ai-robot-human-difficult-artificial-intelligence What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what  else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access  to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our  monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about how restaurant websites are being visited less and losing personality, and therefore are in need of a purpose and identity overhaul. They also discuss how billionaires are being critically panned and what the responsibility of the wealthy is to the world. 00:09:50 Website personality 00:22:36 Billionaires’ responsibility Links https://www.are.na/blog/restaurant-websites https://www.axios.com/billionaires-economic-inequality-davos-world-economic-forum-85d51f38-6a7f-4017-9566-169cb6732f83.html What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com

Eugene and Charis talk about the newly proposed “flexitarian” diet configured by 37 scientists to not only be healthy for humans, but to take care of our planet. They also discuss what it looks like to be creative while clean as described by nine musicians interviewed by GQ regarding all aspects of their journey through substance abuse into sobriety. 00:16:22 Flexitarian diet 00:33:42 Creating while clean Links: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46865204 https://www.gq.com/story/clean-musicians What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com

Charis and Eugene discuss Don Norman’s concept of how pizza could save the world—metaphorically speaking—as pizza is a way to view and solve problems. They also talk about millennial burnout and why the generation born between the early 1980’s and late 1990’s experiences errand paralysis, engages in self-destructive behaviors, and have tough mental battles to wage. 00:07:57 Pizza solution 00:20:47 Millennial burnout Links: https://www.fastcompany.com/90288282/how-pizza-could-save-the-world https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss the new hit app Zepeto and how the virtual avatar platform can lead to the continued rise of virtual influencers and digital exclusives in consumer goods. They also talk about the non-stop growth of big tech and the ongoing relationship individuals must navigate with technology. 00:09:45 Virtual influencers 00:23:41 Big tech Links: https://jingdaily.com/virtual-avatar-china-luxury-brands/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/technology/big-tech-troubled-just-getting-started.html What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-only-access to our Slack community, and have the opportunity to participate in our monthly digital panel discussions. MAEKAN.com Follow Us instagram.com/maekan facebook.com/storiesforthecurious twitter.com/maekan stories@maekan.com