Is TikTok being banned? Perhaps a more sinister third option. Are Reels Trials worth it? Actually, maybe. Is Mark Zuckerberg f*cking serious?! Unfortunately, yeah. If there was ever a question of where we stand on the political landscape of social media, this episode will clear that right up. We go ALL IN on the implications of the new Meta policies, how they will affect the online entrepreneurship landscape, and how we can all stay afloat (and sane) as the digital climate shifts for the worst, probably. It’s not ENTIRELY dark and depressing but… buckle up!!

Welcome to the year of GLORIFYING MESSINESS, HYPER-LOCALITY, AND HOPEFULLY FEWER BOT FOLLOWERS. This episode unpacks the fantastic Substack article from Zoë Akihary, reacting and reflecting on a list of online marketing + community building predictions from creative experts in a range of fields. We also share a beautiful tale of hedgehog adoption, based on this article, discuss a harrowing new Meta development, and address the foreign object that Xanthe is definitely not bringing into 2025.

After a brief rant about being ass out at the mall, updates on Reels Trials, and our latest take on the TikTok ban, we do a deep dive into a roundup of non-traditional 2024 superlatives. Topics like our bravest decisions, biggest plot twists, smartest non-business investments, most expansive experiences, and a bunch more — all while guiding YOU through the practice of reflecting on the “bests” that often don’t make it into the end-of-year conversation. Thanks for being a part of one of our “most fulfilling pursuits” this year. Cheers to another one, or three, or infinity!

Do you come from a roast family or a respect family? Are shoes getting more dinosaur-like? In today’s episode we answer those hard-hitting questions alongside life updates re: selling our land in Joshua Tree, the artistry that is Chuck Bass, our most mischievous Christmas tradition, what we’re reading right now, Frank’s past life as a news influencer, how to commit the nerdiest crime on earth, anddddd reflecting on 2024 as the year we took responsibility over our spending habits (with tips if you’re hoping to do the same).

If you see us carrying around Alan Rickman’s face, no you didn’t… This week we’re talking TikTok ban, Matilda Djerf’s apology comment, life after the Eras Tour, the theme park that is the Denver Airport Shake Shack, a variety of diaries (Rum, and Mr. Rickman, specifically) and what’s on our Christmas break bucket list (hint: it’s not *not* seeing Wicked).

It’s all rat-themed desserts and custom chainmail from here on out! We give our take on “wrap up season” from Pantone (basic bitch cop out) to Pinterest (beyond unhinged but here for it), explain why we’ll probably never see the Wicked movie, and continue the discussion on Daniel Craig making a cup of literal vodka the official drink of the holiday season. Quite a ride.

…And Lois is the woman to have in your corner if you want to lead ‘em. On the last day of her retreat in Costa Rica, we debriefed on the experience, reflected on creativity as a form of healing, the power of sharing your story in community, why you should be detaching your creative practice from your content production, the tension between creative flow and accountability, and what it means to be “responsible” to our communities as we express our truths. An absolute BANGER of an episode and a must-listen for any creative business owners who are seeking to show up and be seen as their whole selves, online + off.

Apply to join Lois and I on her next retreat here: https://weareupclub.com/retreat

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It’s all fun and games until somebody eats a cooked chicken carcass… In today’s episode, we recap our Thanksgiving menu (you’re welcome), debrief on this absolutely wild influencer vs. influencer court case, fangirl over Daniel Craig’s cup of vodka, learn a lot about undershirts, and absolutely do NOT want any hands near our clementines, thank you very much.

’Tis the season for removing distractions and we are ditching social media platforms like it’s our day job. We debate the pros + cons of Twitter, Threads, and Bluesky, give you some serious food for thought around your vitality goals, go deep on our favourite shape of French fries, Xanthe shares a recap of her cancelled flights en route home from Costa Rica (and how she REALLY feels about eco-conscious coffee cups), while Frank unpacks the mystery of the potato cartel. Also, Cruel Intentions is now a TV show. So. Send us some goddamn questions for next week, would ya?! DM Xanthe here with your burning biz/life Qs!

Holiday sales season is upon us and WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT IT. We’ve also got updates from Frank’s trip to Nova Scotia, a deep exploration on why Black Friday is a farce for online service providers (and why we’re participating anyway), Xanthe’s fall fixations and money mindset tools, a brief history of Storm Chips, a fast-food marketing intern doing the most, and probably some other random shit but it’s really hard to remember by the time we write the intro.

If you have a question you want us to answer on the pod, send Xanthe a DM and let us know!