Side Projects Podcast

Rachel Janfaza is a writer, political analyst, and founder of The Up and Up: the authoritative newsletter tracking the cultural and political forces influencing Gen Z. We discuss how Covid split Gen Z in two, why MAGA appeals to young women, wedge issues, voting against your interests, whether or not young voters who shifted right in 2024 are up for grabs, purpose-driven branding, and a wishful plea for the return of civil discourse.  

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

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We discuss snack jail (aka CVS’s shopping-proof shelves) and Crumbl’s Moonbeam Ice Cream Cookie, inspired by the Benson Boone song “Mystical, Magical.” Plus, the Cannes Lions have been marred in controversy over the past few weeks, following several exposés around wonky data and AI-filled case study videos.

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zito Madu is an author, sports journalist, and cultural critic. We talk about why there are empty seats at the Club World Cup, why sports betting is here to stay, losing a multi-million dollar contract on a three figure parlay, how pay-to-play sports eliminates a diversity of playing styles, why we need to bring more whimsy back to sports marketing, and the joy of seeing waterfalls.

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re talking about how Blank Street Coffee built a $500 million dollar empire, “Lower East Side Dimes Boy” matcha personas, fellas…, the founder of an Erewhon-adjacent grocery store in Tribeca is letting his “fans” stock the shelves, and betting markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are letting you bet on the end of the world. 

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a very hot day four, Matt Klein joins us to talk about the work exhibit in the Palais basement (where ad-hoc insights and very creative data points abound), what’s missing from conversation about the creator economy, and giving up personal data for a piece of fruit.  

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Semafor Media Editor, Max Tani, joins us for day three. We talk about sunburns, the evolving media presence at Cannes, pre-fab buildings, YouTube eating TikTok’s lunch, Chat J'ai Pété, Substack’s will-they-won’t-they dance with advertisers, the changing tide in the culture wars, and where to get the best Thai food in Cannes.

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day two of Cannes Lions kicks off with former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, advocating a Dolly Parton approach to brand purpose followed by a refreshing marketing talk break from James Blake. In other news, will.i.am says we’re not prepared to be good hosts to aliens, Paris Hilton’s husband talks about AI and VC (two things you really don’t hear about enough), and our AG1 partnership continues to deepen (jk). 

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clara and Eli are on the ground reporting from day one of the Cannes Lions. Highlights include: Willa Bennett’s plans for rebooting Cosmopolitan’s IP, Apple’s VP of Marketing saying “human creativity” over 18 times in 20 minutes, a potential new sponsor, Chinese soft power, being in the Nashville of France, and our ideas for a Bravo buildout on the Croisette.

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonjour. Eli and Clara will be dropping daily episodes of the podcast, recorded live and uncut from the Cannes Lions Festival next week. We’ll break down some of the Croisette’s highs and lows, plus get the rundown of what some former D1FM guests are seeing on their end. 

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Benjamin Edgar is a Chicago-based designer who’s been making a lot of very cool things for a very long time. He co-authored the early aughts blog THE BRILLIANCE, founded Boxed Water, and more recently started An Object Company. We talk about the importance of design consistency, how we’re at an inflection point with “phone stuff,” Dieter Rams, bar etiquette, applied design, Adrien Brody’s art, why it’s interesting to know what you’re interested in, Chicago, the sin wave of culture and more.

IG: @sideprojects__

YouTube: @SideProjectsPodcast

Substack: https://sideprojectsco.substack.com/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.