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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 

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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