Voxcali

Following up on Brat Summer’s massive success, Charli XCX pivots to a guitar-driven sound for her upcoming seventh studio record.

Charli XCX is set to release her seventh studio album, Music, Fashion, Film, on July 24th. The record centers on a rock-pop sound defined by distorted guitar textures, embodied on the track “SS26.”

The 33-year-old British Indian pop star launched her music career as a teenager in London’s underground rave scene while chaperoned by her parents.

Her mainstream breakthrough occurred in 2012 when she was featured on Icona Pop’s “I Love It.”  The punk dance-pop track hit number one in the UK and gained substantial international airplay.  The following year she released her debut studio album, True Romance, which earned generally positive reviews from critics.

In 2014, Charli XCX provided the iconic hook for Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy,” which reached number one in the U.S.  The track’s production reflected DJ Mustard’s ubiquitous urban radio sound, earning a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year and achieving 9x platinum status.

That same year, she released her breakout single “Boom Clap.”  It served as the lead track for her second studio album, Sucker, and anchored the soundtrack to the blockbuster film The Fault in Our Stars, which grossed over $300 million.

She released the standalone single “Boys” in 2017, accompanied by a music video intended to “flip the male gaze on its head.”  She also issued a Chinese version of the track, continuing a trend of multilingual releases.  Japanese language editions of Sucker and the 2019 album Charli were also produced.

Her album How I'm Feeling Now arrived in May 2020.  Its standout song “Party 4 U” was officially released as a single five years later due to its latent viral popularity on TikTok.

For her 2022 album Crash, Charli XCX leaned into an '80s-inspired dance-pop aesthetic.  This retro, new jack swing influence is vibrantly expressed in the Janet Jackson-esque track “Baby.”

She released her 6th album, Brat, in July 2024, charting at number one in the UK and number three in the US.  Inspired by her roots in London’s illegal rave scene, the album features “Guess,” featuring Billie Eilish, which stands as her most streamed Spotify song with nearly 900 million plays.  “Von Dutch” earned a Grammy for Best Dance Pop Recording.  The project also secured Grammys for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package, acknowledging the influence of the cultural phenomenon known as “Brat Summer.”  This Y2K, neon-green aesthetic exudes unapologetic confidence and a chaotic, party-centric attitude.

Charli XCX’s musical consistency and artistic evolution have cultivated a cross-generational fanbase and 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Think Nordstrom is only for luxury shoppers? Think again. In this episode, we break down the free services, styling secrets, and shopping tips I wish every customer knew.

Kelli (00:00)

I've helped hundreds of people shop for everything from their first job interview to their homecoming to weddings to vacations and complete wardrobe makeovers too. So today I wanna share everything that I've learned while working there and give you guys some of the best shopping secrets that most people don't know.

I'm going to tell you how to actually shop at Nordstrom, how to save money, and why I think everyone should use one of the personal stylists And why I think everyone should use the personal stylist services that everyone offers. There are so many perks that come with shopping at Nordstrom, so let's get into it.

First up, we have the free personal styling services. Everybody doesn't know this, but the biggest secret is that Nordstrom offers free personal styling. I can't even tell you how much celebrities spend on personal stylists. And at Nordstrom, all you need to do is book an appointment.

This service is completely complimentary. There's no fee. You can book an appointment with a stylist, and that stylist will pull out all different kinds of product for you. You just have to tell them all of your measurements, then you tell them what you're looking for. If you're looking for a complete wardrobe makeover, we can make that happen. The appointment is completely personalized around you.

We also ask you about your budget. We ask you what kind of brands that you like. We ask what your typical style is. And a lot of the time, personally speaking, I like to get people out of their comfort zones. So I will always pull specific items that I think they wouldn't choose on their own. I always make it a goal of mine to get customers to leave with something that they wouldn't usually pick out themselves.

When you arrive to your appointment, your fitting room is completely prepared. There's a bunch of different tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories. And instead of wandering around the entire department trying to figure out if this matches with this, we have everything there for you. The stylist also puts together different outfits, different pairings.

The appointment is pretty much going to allow you to discover what looks good on you. I think everyone should probably use this service. Stylists are not for wealthy shoppers only.

Some of my favorite appointments were helping people build a wardrobe for their first corporate job or even just finding an all black outfit for a wedding.

Basic wardrobe refreshes are also very fun because people know what they like, so it's a lot easier to choose items that they from brands that they would originally like.

And honestly, just having another set of eyes can make shopping so much less stressful and more fun.

Once you have your appointment, you can either decide if that stylist was right for you, or you can go ahead and book with a different stylist and see if that person would work better. You definitely want a stylist that you can trust. You want a stylist that you can build a relationship with and keep shopping with them. If you keep shopping with Nordstrom, I'm going to later go on about all of the amazing perks that you can find and I'm going to really explain to you.

How Nordstrom is not just for wealthy shoppers. A good stylist is going to be able to learn your size, learn all your favorite brands, and learn what you would really gravitate towards. They know your lifestyle and just the items that they pick, you totally love. The shopping becomes easier. They know what you're gonna like before you even walk in. So I definitely recommend sticking with one stylist that you really trust.

When it comes to booking an appointment, I recommend booking an appointment during the peak times of the year. It's very important to book one during the anniversary sale, which is the half yearly sale, which happens around July to August time. And also I would recommend doing it during the winter season because so many things go on sale. You want to shop smarter, not harder. And I see a bunch of people buy random pieces because

They think that it's really cute, but they don't have all the pieces back at home to style that item.

So when it comes to building a wardrobe, I recommend the essentials first. Great denim, a blazer, maybe a pair of white sneakers, trousers. For men, I also would recommend basic white tees, basic black tees, and also some layering pieces.

Once you have those, everything else kind of becomes a little bit easier. You can start buying pieces that would go with your capsule wardrobe is what we call it. Your wardrobe should feel like it all works together instead of just a wardrobe with a bunch of random pieces.

That's pretty much what a stylist is for. A stylist will help you build that entire capsule wardrobe and from there we can pull different pieces that we think would go with your style and go with your entire aesthetic of what we already know that you have.

I will definitely admit that working at Nordstrom completely changed the way that I shop. I used to buy a lot of trendy pieces because they were always inexpensive. Fast fashion was very in, but at Nordstrom, a lot of the brands definitely give quality. Quality over quantity is very important when it comes to shopping. I would rather own one amazing, nice-fitting blazer that would last over five years.

Then five blazers that lose its shape after one season.

Just because some of the prices at Nordstrom are a little bit higher doesn't mean that you won't get use of it. Denim is a huge purchase that I feel like people look over, but a good pair of denim jeans will last you so many years. It will look good with so many pieces that you have in your closet already. I really do believe in investing in well-made, good quality basics.

It will save you money over time because you're gonna be replacing them less often. At Nordstrom, a lot of items go on sale. Honestly, pretty much everything goes on sale after a period of time. I always recommend people to get the app and I always recommend for people to download the app and add items to their wish list because then you can get a notification that tells you exactly when an item goes on sale.

Of course some may get sold out by the time it's on sale, but if you just play the waiting game and you really want this item and you don't want to pay full price for it, I promise it eventually will go on sale. Whether it is six months from now, that item may come back and it might be on sale.

I recommend waiting. During anniversary time, a lot of basic items go on sale. Denim goes on sale. T-shirts go on sale. Leather jackets, denim jackets, a lot of great capsule wardrobe items go on sale. So this is definitely a good time that I recommend buying these items. It's a great time to start to restock.

Now another thing that people look over is the alteration services that Nordstrom offers. So when you sign up for the Nordy Club,

when you buy a full price pair of denim, you can get those altered. I recommend taking advantage of the alteration services because

Tailoring items to your body can make a reasonably priced outfit look incredible just after a few simple alterations. Hemming jeans is completely free at Nordstrom as long as it's full price. The fit of something is often more important than the brand on the tag. So if you are looking for somewhere to get your alterations done that isn't too expensive, I definitely recommend going to Nordstrom.

Another thing that people don't know about Nordstrom is that the beauty department offers a lot more than just shopping for makeup. Depending on the location, a lot of the time brands are offering free complimentary beauty services like beauty events where you can get free skincare, free makeup products, samples,

You can get makeup applications or touch ups and even fragrance experiences.

Nordstrom card holders are always invited to more of the events. We do product educations, we do fashion shows,

Gifts with purchases, we do special beauty events where you can get personalized recommendations. There are so many different beauty services that Nordstrom offers that you can really take advantage of.

I recommend checking your local stores beauty event calendar to see what kind of activations are going to be happening soon in your area.

I've been mentioning this throughout the episode, but the biggest advice that I have is to join the Nordy Club. When you join the Nordy Club, you open up a membership with Nordstrom. It's free to sign up and you start accumulating points, which turn into notes that you can use at Nordstrom. From there, you get invited to a bunch of different events. Obviously, the more money that you spend, the more perks that you get.

You get alteration credit,

You get to book your styling appointments.

And even during anniversary time when you're a Nordi club member, you get early access to sale items. It's one of those things that costs nothing but can actually save you a lot of money over time.

As an Nordstrom stylist, my biggest styling advice is to really not follow trends. The best dressed clients aren't the ones that are spending the most money. It's understanding what worked for their body. They understood their lifestyle. They understood what clothes they should buy and what they were actually excited to wear. Confidence always puts an outfit together. If you're constantly buying clothes that you don't feel comfortable in or feel like you have nothing to wear it with.

then you shouldn't be buying any more, you should just be buying better.

Working at Nordstrom has taught me so much more than just how to style

It's taught me more about confidence and communicating with clients and really understanding people's lifestyles so that you can help them feel like the best versions, so that you can help them feel like the best version of themselves.

Whether you're shopping at Nordstrom once a year or every month, you can find so many great pieces at such great prices. Don't let the luxury label scare you away because if you shop smart, you can get some great deals. You can really build that capsule wardrobe up and you can build that confidence up every time you step out of the house.

I hope these tips helped you shop a little bit smarter and feel a little bit more and feel a little bit more comfortable walking into a Nordstrom.

Thank you guys so much for listening and we'll see you in the next episode.

Growing up as one of reality TV’s most recognizable Asian American personalities has allowed Dorothy Wang to build a career on both charisma and authenticity.

Being born into one of the wealthiest Chinese families opened doors for Dorothy Wang, but she managed to build a relevant career in entertainment, transforming herself into a pop culture personality rather than just a family heiress.

Dorothy Wang is the daughter of billionaire Roger Wang, founder and chairman of Golden Eagle International Group, one of China’s largest retail and commercial real estate companies. She was born in Beverly Hills, California and was always encouraged by her mother and older sister to embrace her Chinese American heritage. She was just twelve years old when she became Goodwill’s youngest ambassador for the Nanjing Charity League, putting her in the philanthropy scene at an early age. Wang completed multiple internships in real estate and TV production while attending the University of Southern California, graduating with a degree in Communications.

She explored different career paths before her life completely changed in 2014 when she became the breakout star of E!’s Rich Kids of Beverly Hills. Wang became a favorite on the show with her quick wit and catchy one-liners and she leaned into it completely, helping redefine Asian American women on reality television. The show aired four seasons from 2014 to 2016, making Wang one of the most recognizable faces in the reality TV world.

Wang transitioned from TV to digital media, building a significant following of over 1 million Instagram followers as she shared her fashion choices, travel diaries, and glimpses into her everyday life. She created a personal brand revolving around humor, luxury, and authenticity, collaborating with multiple brands and launching lifestyle products. In 2022, Wang decided to return to reality TV to star in Netflix’s Bling Empire: New York, marking a new chapter in her life after relocating from Los Angeles to the Big City.

While her family’s wealth has always been a part of her story, Wang has been able to use that platform to develop her own identity through reality TV appearances and her online social media presence. For years Dorothy Wang has remained one of the few Asian American women to achieve long term success in this industry as she allowed audiences to see her personality and willingness to grow.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto silenced the Yankees while the Red Sox extended their historic win streak and Suni Lee announced her Olympic return.

In the first game of Sunday’s double-header, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto executed a masterclass against the New York Yankees, throwing a dominant complete game in an 8-2 victory.  The reigning World Series MVP stifled the opposition by allowing only four hits while striking out seven and failing to issue a single walk.  This effective performance highlights the strength of a Dodgers squad that currently leads the league with 63 wins.

The Boston Red Sox continue their remarkable surge, bolstered by the stellar play of designated hitter Masataka Yoshida.  Yoshida has been on an absolute tear, batting .370 in July.  He delivered again this past Friday with a clutch home, fueling a 13-game win streak – the Red Sox’s longest since 1948.

In the world of gymnastics, Olympic icon Suni Lee has officially set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games.  The Hmong American gymnast, a six-time medalist, announced her return to elite training this week on Instagram, signaling her intent to compete on home soil and potentially add to her decorated Olympic legacy.

The 2026 World Cup concluded with a historic spectacle at MetLife Stadium.  In a final that saw Spain clinch a dramatic 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra time, the tournament’s first-ever halftime show stole the spotlight.  The global K-pop sensation BTS electrified the crowd of over 80,000, performing a choreographed rendition of “Dynamite” amidst a star-studded lineup that included Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Shakira.  FIFA’s bold experiment to bring a Super Bowl-style halftime production to football was met with massive international intrigue, cementing the match as a landmark event in sporting history.

This year’s San Diego Comic-Con highlights an extraordinary cohort of AAPI creators, from legendary industry titans to groundbreaking digital artists.

As the San Diego Convention Center prepares to host its 57th annual San Diego Comic-Con from July 23rd to 26th, the event remains the global epicenter of pop culture, regularly drawing over 135,000 enthusiastic attendees. This year, the convention highlights an influential cohort of Asian American creators.

A central figure remains the legendary Korean American icon, Jim Lee.  As President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics, Lee continues to define the visual landscape of modern heroes.  Beyond his massive DC publishing panels, fans should keep a close watch for his signature “Jim Lee and Friends” session on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., featuring surprise guests and his famed live sketching.

Filipino American writer Deniz Camp arrives with unprecedented momentum, boasting five 2026 Eisner nominations.  Currently helming Marvel’s Ultimates and DC’s Absolute Martian Manhunter, Camp will be a fixture at major publisher booths throughout the weekend.

Vietnamese American author and illustrator LeUyen Pham continues to dominate the graphic novel circuit.  Following her success with Lunar New Year Love Story, Pham’s presence at Friday and Saturday’s storytelling panels and the Eisner celebration circuit is essential viewing.

Representing the digital-first evolution, Derek V. Song, will be present in Artists Alley.  His work on The Last Bloodline and the Fantasy High adaptation has built a massive, loyal following across the WEBTOON platform, successfully bypassing traditional publishing gatekeepers to connect directly with his audience.

From the high-energy panels of established titans like Lee to the creative works led by Camp, Pham, and Song, San Diego Comic-Con 2026 is a testament to the essential contributions of AAPI talent.

Sometime the call of a distant summer drowns out the noise around us.

[Verse 1]

The corner store was melting ice

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]

Fingers black from firecrackers

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus]

[Bridge]

If time is a thief

[Chorus]

Beyond his viral looks, the Japanese winger proved his elite talent on the pitch, sparking intense transfer interest from across the Premier League.

The World Cup has crowned a new global heartthrob, and he happens to be one of Japan’s brightest football talents.  Keito Nakamura has seen a massive surge in international interest during the tournament, initially capturing the internet’s attention with his striking good looks.  However, the dynamic winger quickly proved that his elite skill on the pitch burns just as bright as his star quality off it.

The 25-year-old was a vital spark for the Samurai Blue.  He delivered a stunning right-footed equalizer against the Netherlands in a thrilling 2-2 group-stage draw and provided a crucial assist to help secure a dominant 4-0 win over Tunisia, earning a well-deserved spot in Opta’s tournament Best 11.  Although Japan’s impressive run ended with a tight 2-1 loss to Brazil in the Round of 32, Nakamura’s standout individual performances caught the eyes of Europe’s elite.  He has now attracted serious transfer interest from prominent Premier League clubs, including Everton, Bournemouth, and Fulham, who are all eager to bring his talents to England.

This tournament breakthrough follows an incredible club campaign with Ligue 2’s Stade de Reims where Nakamura carried the frontline by scoring a team-high 14 goals.

Nakamura’s dual appeal as an athlete and style icon has garnered him 1.7 million followers on Instagram and 650,000 on TikTok.  This has translated into major commercial sponsorships, including a high-profile partnership with Japan Airlines and high-fashion appearances including at Paris Fashion Week.  Keito Nakamura is undeniably football’s next big international crossover star.

After being rejected over 200 times, Jeremy Kim’s journey building Nectar Hard Seltzer shows how community-driven marketing can change an entire industry.

Jeremy Kim looked down the hard seltzer aisle at his local grocery store in 2020 and noticed something was missing. All of the seltzer brands offered similar flavors like lime, cherry, and grapefruit, but none reflected Asian American flavors that he enjoyed growing up.

Using this experience, Kim decided to create a seltzer brand that celebrated Asian flavors, eventually leading to Nectar Hard Seltzer, one of the first viral seltzer brands inspired by Asian flavors like lychee, yuzu, and li-hing pineapple.

Before Nectar, Kim graduated from UC Santa Barbara and started his career in the digital media and music marketing industries. With his experience, he learned the importance of branding and the power of building online communities with viral content. He partnered with his co-founders who all invested their own savings to found Nectar.

Nectar Hard Seltzer launched in December 2020 and according to Kim, over 200 liquor stores rejected Nectar during its early days. He decided to turn to TikTok and began posting sharable content that generated millions of views which increased the demand for the seltzer. Two liquor stores in Los Angeles finally agreed to carry Nectar and the first shipments sold out within an hour.

From there, the company continued to grow and rather than spending thousands of dollars on expensive marketing campaigns, they were able to build an online community through organic content and direct interaction with customers. In 2024 a Wefunder crowdfunding round raised over $680,000 and today Nectar is bringing in more than $5 million in annual revenue. Beyond the drinks themselves, the brand has also continued to embrace its mission of celebrating Asian American culture.

In 2025 Jeremy Kim unfortunately announced that he was stepping away from the company due to experiencing burnout and has since then shifted his attention towards other ventures and faith-based projects, still proud of what Nectar has become.

It starts getting real when the mike goes on.

[Verse 1]

Mirror got proof

Shoes tapped fast

I don't blink twice

[Pre-Chorus]

Zoom in slow

[Chorus]

Mike me up

[Verse 2]

Want the messy truth

Breakfast in the sun

They can watch me climb

[Pre-Chorus]

Zoom in slow

[Chorus]

Mike me up

[Bridge]

If they cut deep

[Chorus]

Mike me up

eBaseball PRO SPIRIT 2026 introduces Western audiences to the hyper-realistic world of Japanese professional baseball.

The sports gaming landscape is set to expand on July 16th, as eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 launches worldwide for PlayStation 5 and Steam.  Developed by the Japanese game developer Konami, the title continues the Professional Baseball Spirits series’ long-standing focus on providing a hyper-realistic simulation of Nippon Professional Baseball, the highest level of baseball in Japan.

This release marks a notable shift in the series' accessibility.  For the first time, the game includes full English-language commentary, as well as Korean language support, broadening its reach beyond the traditional Japanese-language track.  Although the franchise has been a fixture of the market since 2004, the 2026 edition is positioned as a global contender, offering an alternative for players interested in a perspective distinct from typical North American-focused titles.

While MLB does not grant exclusive simulation rights to a single developer – unlike the restrictive licensing agreements seen in leagues like the NFL or NBA – there remains a lack of direct challengers to the dominant MLB The Show series.  However, eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 emerges as a significant competitor by offering high-fidelity, realistic baseball gameplay that provides a distinct alternative for simulation enthusiasts, even without a primary focus on the MLB.

To get gamers hooked, Konami strategically released a free-to-play version of the title in March – though it lacks the full suite of game modes and authentic, updated rosters found in this comprehensive 2026 edition.

Beyond its immediate gameplay, this release may serve as a powerful bridge for the Nippon Professional Baseball league to reach a wider American audience.  As U.S. fans have become increasingly familiar with elite talent crossing the Pacific—led by stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Munetaka Murakami—interest in the Japanese game has reached an all-time high. By putting an authentic, English-accessible simulation into the hands of Western players, eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 could significantly grow the international fanbase, creating new value for the NPB and cementing its status as a premier destination for world-class baseball.