Hello hello lovelies, it’s been a minute since we’ve sent out a newsletter.
Business is blooming, travel plans are set, and Ugg boots have been brought out of the closet. Fall is officially in full swing, and I’ve been too busy to doom scroll through others’ lives - no offense lol.
I've been thinking about the time where I got off of IG for an entire year. At the time, it was a gasp no way moment. Today, it seems like there is a quiet exodus from social media happening culturally. WGSN just forecasted 2026 as the year of peak digital exhaustion. It seems like the younger generations who grew up with social media are over it, and are off Facebook, questioning TikTok, and choosing lived experience over curated aesthetics.
The great unplug isn't a prediction, it’s becoming a rebellion to what became a social norm in the 2010’s. What’s interesting is that the people leading it are the ones who are clear that impressions are BS and are over trying to impress everyone else with them. We’re seeing brands and creators making magical moments with irl engagements that get people off screens and talking irl, from dating, friendmaking, and networking moments.
This month’s issue is about why being offline is becoming the rarest luxury, the brands betting on community before the flood, and what happens when human experience becomes the only currency that matters in a world flooded with AI content.
Here's what's worth paying attention to.
What I’ve been thinking about lately
Offline is becoming the rarest luxury - Peak digital exhaustion isn't a prediction anymore. Gen Z is already gone. Smart brands are building real community before the flood because the algorithm was never designed to give us purpose. When everyone can generate content, human experience is the only thing that cuts through.
Dating with intention at 30 - Turns out you can research your way into better dates. Seven rules emerged about filtering for the right partner, not performing for the wrong ones. It's about knowing your worth and showing up as yourself, unapologetically. The wrong person disqualifies themselves. The right person rises to the occasion.
When friends become business partners - Sometimes people show up like complete assholes without realizing it. Do you call it out or let it slide? Mixing friendship with business tests both in ways you didn't know were possible. The line between being polite and being honest gets blurry fast.
Anyhowww, while everyone's still performing for the algorithm, here's what actually matters:
Business & Marketing News
Walmart x ChatGPT: Walmart partnered with OpenAI so you can shop directly inside ChatGPT, no more clicking through websites. Just tell the chatbot what you need and check out in one tap. With 800 million weekly ChatGPT users, this is the future of e-commerce whether we like it or not.
F1 Meets Mickey Mouse in Vegas: Formula One and Disney are launching a show at the Bellagio fountains during the Las Vegas Grand Prix Mickey on the winners stage, pyrotechnics, the whole thing. It's giving spectacle, and honestly, the crossover we didn't know we needed.
LA Gets Its First AI Art Museum: DATALAND is opening spring 2026 in Downtown LA with a 25,000-square-foot space featuring an AI-powered Infinity Room. Refik Anadol Studio is behind it, and whether you love or hate AI art, it's getting its own museum.
iPhone 17 Is Breaking Records: Apple's holiday forecast predicts its best quarter ever thanks to the iPhone 17, which is already outpacing last year's model by 14 percent. Record $112 billion annual profit despite tariff hits. Upgrade cycles are real, people.
Culture & Lifestyle
Rosalía Learned 13 Languages For Her New Album: Rosalía's new album "Lux" features lyrics in 13 languages including Spanish, English, Latin, Ukrainian, and Arabic. She spent over two years learning them without AI help. It's ambitious, it's extra, and it's very her.
Hello Kitty Goes Hollywood: Warner Bros. dated the Hello Kitty movie for July 2028 after nearly a decade in development. Kitty White is finally getting her theatrical moment.
Paris Hilton Calls ADHD Her Superpower: Paris opened up about how ADHD fuels her creativity and ability to juggle multiple projects. She launched "Inclusive by Design" highlighting ADHD-friendly spaces through her nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact.
Prince Andrew Loses Everything: King Charles stripped Prince Andrew of his remaining royal titles and kicked him out of the Royal Lodge following fresh allegations in Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir. He'll now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The palace said the move was necessary despite his continued denials.
Tech & Leadership
Adobe Launches AI Foundry: Adobe introduced AI Foundry to help businesses build custom AI models trained on their own IP. Home Depot and Disney are testing it, and Adobe acquired startup Invoke to build out AI-powered creative workflows.
China Says It'll Work With US On TikTok: China's Commerce Ministry said it's willing to work with Washington to resolve TikTok's divestiture, though no details or timeline were provided. ByteDance still needs to sell TikTok's US operations or face a ban.
The Layoff Headlines Are Louder Than The Reality: Amazon cut 14,000 jobs, but economists say we'd need 20 more Amazon-sized layoffs per month to match Great Recession levels. The US averages 1.7 million layoffs monthly. Hiring is frozen, but mass firings haven't materialized yet.
Women In Tech Share What Actually Works: Six women leaders opened up about their strategies for success in tech, from navigating ambiguity to leveraging mentorship. The through line? Emotional intelligence, continuous learning, and refusing to apologize for taking up space in leadership roles.
We're gearing up to relaunch Season 2 of the MHOB podcast (yes, it's happening, and yes, it's going to be good), but in the meantime, there are so many incredible conversations already out there that deserve your attention. If you're new here or just need something to listen to while you're pretending to work, here's an episode worth your time.
This episode with Nathi Narciso keeps coming up in conversations, so if you missed it the first time, here's your reminder. Nathi is an empowerment coach and founder of Gostosa Energy, a self-love platform for multicultural women, and she opened up about navigating life as an undocumented immigrant while building a movement that empowers women worldwide.
Key takeaways:
Recognize which "rules" you're following unconsciously
Ruthless prioritization beats perfect time management
Fashion builds confidence during transitions
Your voice exists before external validation
Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
ICYMI: Chaos Packaging Is Doing More Work Than Your Marketing Team
Tampons in ice cream tubs, sunscreen in whipped cream cans, water in beer cans. Vacation's packaging went so viral they barely had to market. Graza hit $60 million. Liquid Death became a unicorn. When advertising costs skyrocket and everyone scrolls past your ads, the smartest brands realized the cheapest real estate they own is the product itself. Cognitive dissonance captures attention better than any Instagram ad ever will.
Have ideas for future newsletters?
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