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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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