Transcript
Speaker: popularity popularity popularity contest
Speaker: Hello and welcome to Popularity Contest. Today we have a special guest, Otis the dog and his fucking cone. he's coe ah Yeah, Otis ah has a scab on his butt.
Speaker: and he won't stop licking it and he doesn't really understand that his cone is bigger than his head and he scratched Kate's arm just before he started recording. Yeah, guys, my life was really hard, okay? ah Yeah, Kate got up got to sit down on the chair and Otis jumped up behind her at the same time and she kind of sat on him. Otis didn't really care. No, but also, like, you know, I'm concerned and that I hurt this dog who's already in pain. He has no... brain cells to hurt like if he hits his head i've seen him do you think if you like shook grabbed him and shook him around it would sound like a maraca like
Speaker: Like the beans floating around in his head. Exactly. That's what it would sound like. They also got a haircut since both Basil and Otis. Basil is in the audience today. Yeah, Basil's sitting on my bed and he's being so good. He's just sitting there and then Otis is the opposite of good.
Speaker: Well, he's doing good now. So far. yeah I mean, he just needs attention. He is the most attention hungry dog ever. But that's why he's on camera. He's a camera dog. and And I mean, you can see his cone if you are watching us on YouTube. ah
Speaker: But, you know, if you're not watching and you're just listening wherever you get your podcast, thank you so much for being here. Of course. Thank you so much. We have had a week or so off. Yes. um what What's been good, Sam? What have you been up to? Yes. so I was hosting breakfast on Triple J last week, which is why we couldn't pod because I was working 5 to 1 .30 because those were my hours. 5 a .m. Yeah, 5 a .m. You get in, grind set. It was crazy. We announced the laneway lineup, which was really fun. Yeah.
Speaker: What was it like for Ruby? She was like, I'm so excited. Yeah, so my co -host Ruby, like we were both like kind of... call -ups for the That week, the usual hosts were off and Ruby programmed the laneway lineups. There was a bit of conflict of interest we had to do. She didn't organize the partnership. like It's a small world. So we had to like organize like a disclaimer to put in the middle of the announcement. Oh, did you? Yeah, which was pretty funny. But it was really cool because she is obviously genuinely excited to release to the world. i
Speaker: took care of most of the kind of emoting just just so like she didn't feel like she had to go like oh my god this item's so good but yeah it was really fun it was like she was telling you what was going to happen because that's her job to do that and you were like Yeah, these are the logistics. Here's when it's on and like... you can and like where it's at and how to get, you know, yeah, stuff like that. Whereas like,
Speaker: I was mainly like, oh my God, this lineup's crazy. But yeah, that was really fun. I mean, I'm really excited. I feel like... one of those lineups that... a bunch of artists are going to get a lot bigger.
Speaker: before the lineup happens like adela i think is gonna get i know she's already big but i think she's gonna get even bigger same with like nina jirachi too yeah with nina jirachi i think like i think kim petras i think slater's gonna get she's got uh worst man In.
Speaker: the what what's like it's the companion she's releasing a companion album that's best man in the world or something or worst man in the it was worst guy in the world now it's worst man in the world and it's like a companion album okay what about for non -binary folk think about that Slater but In saying that, though, I think that Ruby and the team have done a great job. This is like Coachella for gay people.
Speaker: um Have you seen the tweets that are like... Um... am i ah Am I, as a 23 -year -old white man, am I allowed to cum? Or, like, there was a tweet that was, like, lame way entry fees. Like, um dolls free, women free, yeah gay men $5, Irish $5, straight men $100. Yep, yep. If only it was...
Speaker: If only it was $5. But, like, I think it's really good curation. I'm thinking about this. Because, like, last year I was talking to, like, but my like the boys about this. Like, the line -up. And they were like, oh, line -up kind of sucks. And it's like, well, it's actually kind of not for you. That means the curation's not a good job. Because the boys are going to pitch and be on the Valley. and um lost paradise and the girls and gays and they're going to laneway and that means that the the
Speaker: Like vibe of the festival is really nice like it feels like it's the right audience Yeah, for, you know, an afternoon summer, like really chill. And it's on a Friday, this time in Sydney, in Centennial Park.
Speaker: friday so people are gonna take the day off work i mean yeah it's gonna end just because like the past few years it's been on sunday which is like yeah i just like get to the end and i'm like
Speaker: Fuck, I've got work in the morning. No, i the one time I went to Laneway, it was on the Sunday and then I did take the day off work. I was like, yeah, there's no way. Even though it's like I like that it finishes at 11. It's nice. It's like, okay, home time. um But, you know. We we walked down Oxford Street. You could kick on. And there are always after parties and stuff. Yeah, I think this year is the year I will go to one of those after parties. I know. Maybe I won't go to the real thing. Maybe I'll maybe go to the after party. Hey, guys, invite me. Come on, guys. Come on. um
Speaker: What were you doing, Kate? What have you been doing last week? I hear it's a big week in Caitland. Oh, in Caitland? Well, huge. Um, so last week I finished up work for a little bit. I've got a couple of weeks off of my day job. Oh yeah. Kate's on holiday she's spending it in the best city in the world. Sydney! No, yesterday I stepped outside and I was like, oh.
Speaker: isn't it just so beautiful actually no the reason that I thought that is I went um to Circular Quay to meet my sister. We were going to get the ferry back to my parents' house.
Speaker: Um. and i you know i get off the train i arrive at circular key and i'm like It's sunny and there's the bridge and the opera house. And I'm like.
Speaker: Dude, I freaking live here. Isn't this so beautiful? Sydney! Sydney! I love you, Sydney. um Yeah, but, you know, Laneway lineup announced as well. Do I have the funds for a ticket? No. But if Fontaine's DC does a sideshow, I will be going. Yeah. Probably not. But I haven't seen any asterisks next to the name or anything. No, because they're doing sideshows in Perth and Adelaide because Laneway's not going. Oh. Oh.
Speaker: It's so funny. Like all the comments. final point before we get to the main okay thing which is also it's funny like watching on the inside like people's comments because like people also commenting like wow you really like aren't coming to perth this year and like well this lineup would have sold out and then like
Speaker: Perth is never sold out. Like, laneway Perth is never sold out, even when Charlie came. No. I was like, damn, you people don't know what you're talking about sometimes. You people aren't even in the biz, bro. It's just like, I mean, it's just like. It's very easy to hate from the sidelines, is what I'm saying. Oh, yeah, because you can't even get into the club. You can't even get into the club. It was just funny knowing that... Even in the Charlie XCX brat year, it didn't sell out.
Speaker: That's crazy.
Speaker: But you know what? We live in the greatest city in the world. We do. We do. And Sydney famously always shows up to ups the things. Oh, yeah. Unless it's raining. Unless it's raining. Or it's a little windy or I don't feel like it. Yeah. Or, um you know, the cricket's on or something like that. But, you know, exciting things happening for me in my time off. You're doing slow living. I am doing slow living. Like, yeah. What? Yesterday, I mean the day before that, I was sick in bed all day. the Hashtag slow living. Hashtag slow living. I had a virus. Hashtag slow living. Yep.
Speaker: ah But now I'm okay. And hashtag medium living. Hashtag medium living. But yesterday my hashtag slow living was I got out of bed at 10 and then I was like. Bit too late for breakfast, bit too early for lunch. So I had a coffee. Then I did some reading. I actually, a couple weeks ago, I went to this book fair.
Speaker: Um, And... they had this book called the language of sex. And I was like, ha ha. Isn't this so funny? It's only $3. Like, let me get it. Cause. You know, my my interest in philosophy are like sexual sexual ethics and stuff. So I start reading this book. I like don't even bother looking at the blurb or anything, Googling the people that have written it. And it's a fucking like. Christian guide to sex.
Speaker: and That's so funny. So I'm just like, I'm still reading it because. I think that it's important to engage with. Yeah. You know, I've got to figure out what they have to say. And it, you know, it makes that my beliefs in like relationships and things more strong. Um, and thinking about like.
Speaker: a sort of understanding Why? Christians and you know evangelicals specifically believe the things that they do um Only one of them is like a doctor, but he just has he's like a theological.
Speaker: professor he's not like like like on a plane la is anyone here a doctor I'm a doctor. Of theology. I'm a doctor of Christ. um And yeah, they just like... He's on the Air Dubai flight. And he's like, can anyone land this plane? No, but...
Speaker: I can debate the ethics of that in a religious context. would it be What would Jesus think about us landing this plane in Tel Aviv? Yeah. Exactly. um and so yeah i've just like i'm learning so much doing my crosswords um I've got...
Speaker: This is my favorite squishy. This one... It's like a giant gummy. Yeah, so for... It's like a giant weed gummy. For people that are listening, it is the Neato. Oh, these are the expensive. Wow. That's a really good one. Yeah. So the thing is, it's like one it's got like, I don't know what. is inside crack But.
Speaker: So the more you use it, like it warms up. so And this is the one that I would leave on my desk at work. I need this. um And so it would get cold overnight and get really stiff. And so it's a gumdrop. Yeah, it's a gumdrop texture.
Speaker: it' so's ah like It has like a give to it. Yeah. But it's kind of hard. It's a beautiful texture. Yeah. Yeah. It's yeah quite wonderful. I need a fidget. That's another thing I learned. This one isn't. Fidget toys. i like I need one. Yeah. I need a fidget toy. Well, cause you know, usually like.
Speaker: Or you if you don't have a fidget, you're like playing with a pen. but you can't click it because you've got a live microphone on, you know. It's broadcasting across the whole country, Sam. But it's no mistake we've been talking about slow living to start with. We have. Because today's topic is...
Speaker: I guess? Slow living to an extent. What are we gonna call it? We'll figure that out later. I think... We're going to call it like anti -influencer content. Okay. Anti -influencer content, slow living content.
Speaker: There is a rise in stuff that is, like, spend a week with me as someone who's, like, an introvert. Or, like, spend a normal week with a normal person. Yeah, normal. The thing is, like, I feel like. Or for guys, it's, like, spend a day with me as a degenerate. Yeah. Drink White Monster and have five gummies. Oh, my God. Shut up. But the thing is like.
Speaker: I feel like. From the onset, I would like to say that... anti -influencer content. Or like slow living content. That. is in itself a misnomer, right? Because...
Speaker: You're still making content. It's just about something else. And I feel like what sparked this. idea for us was this um creator i forget her name Um, should we pull up We should pull up the reels. Yeah, let's pull up the reels. Let's pull up the reels. so real yeah Sam sent me something. And I feel like this sort of started out. woman Conversation.
Speaker: Her name is Grace. up that So Sam sent me... A real. A while ago. As I often do. As I want to do. Yeah. As as we know.
Speaker: we can get we can We can just pause and cut and go. Yeah. Out. No, it was. It was this slideshow. Oh, yeah. So I sent Kate a slideshow. Kate, do you want to show the camera the slideshow real quick so then I can... Okay, so first of all, let me turn off the music.
Speaker: um The slideshow, it's a woman. posing with a white shirt, a strawberry iced matcha and lavender tabbies. And it says, a caption spend a slow weekend with me as a 34 -year -old introvert living in Sydney.
Speaker: And what does she do? She goes to Pilates. Then she takes an outfit pic. Yep. Then she goes for a stroll. Yep. And then she goes to Yochi. And then she line bikes home.
Speaker: And she stops for matcha on the way. before spending a quiet Saturday night in... And then she goes to. Sunday morning Pilates again. Um. Another beautiful day. Went to the city.
Speaker: On the hunt for bridal shoes, she's shopping at Jimmy Choo. What does that mean? as a Back home for a Sunday house... Wait, what does Jimmy... What's this... What does Jimmy Choo mean to you? I don't know. Is that like a... They're expensive shoes. okay Right.
Speaker: i got like I gathered that, but like is it like is it like a gauche shoe? Is it a cool shoe? No, they're sexy. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're about town.
Speaker: Carrie Bradshaw would like them. They're not Manolo Bolognese, but you know. Um. Yep. And so, yeah, it's just her like drinking matcha, wearing a fucking cardigan. um Wearing a fucking cardigan. And like. I hate this woman. She's like, yeah, I'm like having this slow life and everything like that.
Speaker: Girl. You have to think about how much money your life costs in order for one, you'd be able to like promote the fact that you're slow living. And two, you're not slow living. She's getting married. is Is that what she's shopping for bridal shoes? Yes. Interesting. My whole point is that she's like Just...
Speaker: Having a weekend. Yeah. So there's... And taking photos of it. This is a character. that It's a music across both Mm -hmm.
Speaker: to describe it. what The word we've been using is kind of the Wario of... Like productivity content. Yeah. So... If... Productivity content is Mario. like That is the the default logic of a lot of online of reels is like...
Speaker: Get your money up. Like, here's my grind set. uh here's i'm chasing the bag my five to nine for my nine to five nine to five and like i'm corporate and which is by my course yeah we have spoken about that as well um earlier on about like optimization yes so then johnson's the world the diary of the ceo of vacation yeah like all that jazz these new this new wave of creators think that they are almost being counterculture.
Speaker: But at the same time, they're not. being critical enough in their thought process where it's like actually if I was being counterculture I would be off my fucking phone anyway Yeah, I want to like jump ahead. like This isn't one of those critiques that's like...
Speaker: Oh, you critique society yet you participated in it. Curious. Yeah. It's that this is kind of... it's a Wario of influence going to in the sense that it's like, It only exists to be an opposition to...
Speaker: the specific type of productivity. That is promoted by Instagram. Yet. it is still abiding by the same logic in that all the people who do this are in it.
Speaker: To make money. Like, they are still influencers. What they are... They are just influencing you with... like slow living rather than productivity. They're influencing you with sleepy time tea rather than flat tummy tea, essentially. like
Speaker: This is the distinction that I'm drawing. yeah the like That's how you judge your influences. But this is also something that in the past years in... music fashion film. Music fashion film. Music fashion film has been a prevalent character. i get Sorry, I get so many compliments on that shirt.
Speaker: Really? yeah Yeah. So I bought Kate and I matching music, fashion, film, Charlie XCX shirts. They were five bucks because Warner Music Australia really wanted that record to chart. I don't know if it did. If they did. You can thank us later. on i Great shirt. Brilliant shirt. Great blank. Simple.
Speaker: Bold. Like and the track list is on the front and music fra films on the back. I think that's really powerful. I trimmed it to size. I wore it a couple episodes ago. I should be cropping my shirts more. Dude, you've got to walk around with a crop top.
Speaker: Show off that slutty little waist. Do I have a slutty little waist? Yeah. Really? Yeah. I guess, well, anything's a slutty little waste when it's going down to my fucking dump truck ass. Exactly. Come on, get me out, bro. Yes.
Speaker: So, two records. Sorry, quickly. ah You were listening to Geordie Griep. I was. ah And what did that record say to you about slow living? ah So not necessarily. Well, okay. So it's Geordie Groove's 2024 record The New Sound and I had never heard of it.
Speaker: But I had... Upon listening, Harrison showed it to me. Thanks, Harrison. um I think that Harry sometimes feels like he's that guy. Harry's Kate's boyfriend for the listeners. Yeah. Sometimes I feel like Harry feels like he's that character, which he totally isn't. But it sort of leads to the point where... Jordi Grip wrote this album.
Speaker: And the whole time the guy is like cucking himself. So he has. One of the songs, um Holy Holy. He's like. Um, This guy who has paid a sex worker.
Speaker: to hang out with him and like spend time with him. Um, you know, doing what the services that he's paid for but he's really specific he's like I need you to pretend to not know me and like walk into a bar and but then like slap me across the face and spit in my mouth and then also be like this is the best sex that I've ever had Um, And so you're listening to this song and you go.
Speaker: What is this guy's deal? It's the character of like a degenerate, almost salary man. Yeah, and then this is... um I wasn't familiar with this. I feel like I don't really listen to, maybe I just don't listen to like sad.
Speaker: degenerate boy music but like sam was saying that the mj lederman album is sort of similar Yeah, so... I remember... ah ah The music director at FBI at the time, Lindsay Riley, had an interview with MJ Lenderman when Manning Fireworks came out, like his breakthrough record. And he was talking to him about all the songs, like She's Leaving You is like a divorced dad breakup anthem.
Speaker: uh and He was talking to him about it. And Lindsey basically asked like, you know, about... the writing influences and Uh, MJ Lindeman was like... Well...
Speaker: I actually just spent a lot of time, like, kind of doom -scrolling on Reddit, reading, like, all these insane divorced, like, Joe Rogan dads. And I just got... fascinated with this character of this like small town degenerate loner.
Speaker: you know, guy that doesn't really have much going for them, but like has these delusions of grandeur. Like it's this weird, I mean, to quote that one guy, the dichotomy is crazy. The dichotomy is crazy. The dichotomy is crazy. ah it is Yeah, I think... Ew.
Speaker: Whoa. What I find interesting about... like, slow -living content is that for women, it's it's like the macho lady. But for guys, it's like...
Speaker: come spend a day with me to be a DJ. Like it's, there's a couple that we've shown each other where it's like, I wake up and I just have like a gummy and I lie in bed. And there's like the guy who had his ass cheeks out. Oh, yeah. Can we pull up the reel? We'll do live real reaction. Okay, so there's this guy that was on the ground. Um... His ah Instagram is unlicensedgynecologist. And so it's hashtag larp, hashtag homeboy, hashtag Chad, hashtag handsome. And we'll put it up.
Speaker: We'll put him on the screen. We're going to watch now. so He's just lying on the ground watching rails. And he's like kicking his feet in the air, rubbing his tummy. Yeah. And he's like. Oh no. And and that he's just like...
Speaker: He only has 150 followers, but his reels get like, you know, 100k, 200k views. And it's just him being like a... fucking degenerate he's hashtag chad hashtag chad maxing when the comments say stuff like uh my life every sunday never felt more understood in my life but also this is an okay thing to do on a sunday yeah there's that and then like there's uh Yeah, just similar guys that are like...
Speaker: That MJ Leonard majority group character, like, this, like... Just like... flopping around, degenerate, just absolute slop. Someone I wrote an article at the magazine that I work for.
Speaker: Um, about like MJ Letterman and his... is let Sorry, Letterman? Lenderman? Lenderman? Slender Man. I was kind of saying it like he's David Letterman's son. Hi, welcome to the show, MJ Letterman. So MJ, if that's even as real name. Michael Jordan. Is it actually? No, but people do call him that as a pet. Okay. Michael Jordan Lenderman.
Speaker: Um, and comparing he has like nihilistic maybe it was from that album sort of like definitely the nihilistic um tendencies and sort of speaking about like would Nietzsche fuck with this guy
Speaker: Um, And then that makes me think I don't want to listen to his music. But it is, it's it's delightfully like. unpretentious music i would say yeah like he has a real knack i think this is why it's resonated it's a real knack for like painting these vignettes of like it feels like it could be any any guy that you kind of know which is why it's but it it But it is kind of a ah broader meta theme that like I've started seeing.
Speaker: filter into content online. I saw a really great YouTube video about... these types of degen content creators who are like It's explicitly making stuff being like I am completely hopeless and pathetic like you know day five day 500 of like being hopeless and pathetic and a loser
Speaker: Like, don't be like me. And they create and they're getting like racking up the views from it. like Yeah, they're getting so much money from it. And it's like, well, you're actually not being a loser. You've got a fucking income. Yeah. And this is an interesting paradox of it because it's like.
Speaker: Why it's so popular again? for ah The question of this show is... it's a question so Why is it popular? Why is it popular, right? That's what we're trying to answer. And I think it's legitimate. like i The more I think about the Wario metaphor...
Speaker: the more it makes sense. Because it's something that... this type of content that... It defines itself in opposition to the... Like... so -called curated lives that you see on instagram for men it's like Ashton Hall morning routine.
Speaker: Uh, you know, all the manosphere stuff. And for women, it's like the kind of... clean girl aesthetic. Uh, you know, Pilates princess.
Speaker: Yeah, um but she's like got a 5 to 9 after 9 to 5. Works a corporate job. yeah like like i did There's so many people I know... like like Instagram accounts I see that are like, I'm an investment banker. This is my five to nine, my nine to five. I also want to say other stuff that I've seen from like women content creators, specifically like cis women.
Speaker: is um you know being like i'm happy in my choices and like making videos about that. I think that that's really good. Especially if you are a little bit younger and you're not sure.
Speaker: like where you want to be in your life or if you want to be. uh soul -sucking capitalist or not i just touched his you just touched otis's butt scab yeah So I'm going to think about that for the rest of the episode. Do you want me to get... I have hand sanitizer. I have van sanitizer. We can do something about that.
Speaker: ah Don't touch the butt scap. He's healing. He's sick. Okay, let's... We'll pause. All right, we're back poster buttgate post I'm still scratching again, but my finger is sanitized. Sanitized. um Check that out. Check that out. Yeah. So this other form of content that I've seen. Where they're.
Speaker: um, Just sort of being like, look, I my life has been hard up until this point but i am glad to be where i am which is like the another version of that like finance bro optimization stuff yeah where you know you like you feel like...
Speaker: These women. Have everything. But. at the cost of
Speaker: It's really big. Yeah, it's it's like a little bullet wound on his butt. Oh my God. Good work, Otis. Anyway, I'm so distracted by that. I forgot what I was going to say. and's probably what What we're going to say is like, there's so many influences this happens to. And I think this also happens with like, like there are these kind of corporate male influences. Like, I don't know if you've heard of Hubs Life.
Speaker: no he's so he's the guy who's like he's like i work at nine to five and it's so boring And this is... what I do. and That's it.
Speaker: And it's so boring. i feel like that And then you don't and it's and you don't have you don't have to escape. that You can just be like this. But that's what this slow living content is about. I feel like a lot of it is sort of based in Sydney for some reason. Or maybe that's just because like that's all I'm seeing. But there's this other guy, Tom, and this other guy, oh Nick. the fuck it Is it Life with Tom? Yeah. Oh my God, I hate that guy. I hate i was waiting for us to get to this. so hey like Because he's followed the same...
Speaker: platformers, a lot of these influencers. And this is where I think it's actually a sham.
Speaker: All of the wannabe influencers just quit their jobs and go full -time influencing. So the Hubs Life guy I was talking about, yeah who's like an American, he's a family. While his wife was like pregnant with their second kid, he quits his job to go full -time influencing. Bro, your whole like and like content is about having a job. And it completely flops. And he's like, like Drew Gooden or Danny Gonzalez made a video on this. like Then he just was like begging for money on TikTok. It is insane because it's like it's content that, again, it defines itself in opposition to the grindset stuff.
Speaker: operates and is rewarded by the same logic. And they are still selling you something. It is not altruistic at all. it's In fact, I would argue it's maybe a little more insidious. sometimes with this stuff because it's like... For the person that...
Speaker: had the job, then started making content and then quit their job. Yeah, because I think it's like... It's dishonest because these people kind of just portray themselves as, like, slice of life. Oh, my God. like and it And, like... to some extent this is all influences i i get that but i guess this like specific genre of person I find really irks me.
Speaker: Because... of how incessantly they present themselves as altruistic so this guy life with tom who we're talking about is it an australian city -based guy he was like a consultant for a while
Speaker: Uh, and last year he quit his job and his content was based around, you know, the five to nine, nine to five. you know. stuff like that but he would also talk about how he like you know would log off at the office but then go and do more work yeah it was a bit of those stuff yeah and then he was also kind of like i didn't know what i was doing and kind of shared journey it was like guys you don't have to have it a figure it all out and it's like hey brother you make six figures he went to like really rich private school uh went to good uni had like a year where he was like a lawyer and then was a didn't know what to do and became a consultant. It's not actually that big of a struggle. like it's I was like, okay, so that's just normal life. yeah And then he's quit his job and now is just... just doing influencer stuff. And it's just like, that's what I find is so interesting about the path of all these people. And that's the same path that this lady that I sent you.
Speaker: yeah He's doing. The whole reason that he can do that is... because... um He's beautiful. ah Yeah, he's hot. Yeah. And like, that's his whole thing. So he has commodified himself. Wow. Look at how capitalism has. I mean, I guess, but I guess it's just like, I'm trying to like, what is the specific like.
Speaker: e that we're getting from these people. Like, well, let's... Let's... Drill down on that because I think... Okay, let's drill down. Because it is like a specific one for me because it's not like... You can have like... I don't know For some reason, not that I respect Mr. Beast more or anything, but he's very fucking upfront with what he's doing. Yeah. I guess, I guess, is it the deceit slightly of these people? Like it's a bit of a sleight of hand with how they present themselves? Yeah, I think it's because they're sort of like trying, you know, it's sort of cultivating a...
Speaker: like ah a cult of personality in a way like that's what a following is But. It. In the sense where... you know Social media isn't real life and these people are like promoting it like it is. And I think for someone who...
Speaker: is you know, a little bit lost um and is looking for some kind of direction or like an answer to like what should I do with my life it's really easy to log on to Instagram and see this person and be like oh okay here are five easy steps i mean is it better like you know.
Speaker: looking at This woman, Grace or Kayla or any other people we we've spoken about. being like, okay, I'll get inspiration from them rather than talking to ChatGPT about it? Like, which is the lesser of the two evils? Yeah, i like i it definitely is the lesser of the two evils, but I still, again, because it's abiding by the same...
Speaker: logic And i there's something really... fucking fishy about it all like at the end of the day they're just like taking money from vulnerable people like that's what influencing it yeah like they're just like they're not really again they they have nothing to provide they're not they're not like they're not experts in anything They just were like...
Speaker: I guess also just like it's the maybe over analyzing and over -therapization of like pretty mundane. struggle. Not i can then know that that can't be done, but like I think there are some of the most beautiful pieces of art and writing are...
Speaker: about. that like you know blowing up these really small moments into these beautiful magnificent like worlds but i guess it's just like every single real i see for these people is like It's okay to be 28 and, like...
Speaker: spend a morning sleeping in and it's like who the fuck said that wasn't like yeah it's just this Everything they do is like has to be part of this grand narrative. Here's five things I did today as a 28 -year -old who's trying to...
Speaker: Yeah. Well, I mean, like, I guess, you know, they're trying to keep themselves accountable, but like write in a fucking diary. Have you seen the lady who... Does like the fake. recordings of what these people must be doing to record their outtakes of their reels.
Speaker: No. So she's like the... Oh, get this up. Pull this up. I'm pulling it up, Danny. This is like, I think, the perfect... Like, summation of how these people what's an are cringe. I just need... Oh, God.
Speaker: let's Let's pause. But I eat in a day as a 29 year old marketing girl who works from home.
Speaker: what I eat in a day as a late 20s girl who
Speaker: What I eat in a day as a girl who's trying to It's beautiful performance art, really. She does essentially... What you need to do what? What is the outtakes of all these reels? So she'll do stuff and it becomes really dystopian. So she'll do like... She'll look straight down the camera like she's filming a reel and she'll be like...
Speaker: Spend a slow evening with me as a marketing girlie who's trying to watch her weight.
Speaker: Spend a slow - What I eat in a day as marketing... What I eat in a day is... a
Speaker: Spend a slow evening with me. And she just kind of keeps going. And it's like this. it really dystopian and unsettling. But that's what this is. Like, that's what I find so...
Speaker: That's what it is. that that a nursery of this content because it's like it's such a simulacrum of reality. Like it's not, it's not real, but it's getting as close. It's really trying to make you think it is. I know. And I just wonder like,
Speaker: You know. Is it? Because I am so... in the system that like, I know what to look out for and I know not to be. I guess, haha, influenced by it or like, you know, I know what marketing is.
Speaker: Or is it like, who like who is this for? um That's what I'm trying to figure out because, you know, people, it seems like a lot of influencers that. you know have come from like the corporate world and stuff they're like yeah you know i just wanted to post things online to like as like a little diary or something like that or like notes to my friend no girl you wanted you are rich yeah you are over editing these things if you wanted to just do it for fun
Speaker: then it's one take and it's done, right? Yeah. it's not you want That's what I find so annoying about all these people is that you want to you want to have a profit you want to build it the influence you want to live the influence alive but you sell it to people and you kind of prey on this vulnerability of people Who?
Speaker: having watched all this productivity content feel really unsure about what to do with their lives and then This... dearth of quantity sorry this breadth of content steps in that is like Spend a slow evening with me as a 26 -year -old, you know, girl who doesn't really like her 9 to 5. And it's like...
Speaker: it's that That is like... Whoa. It doesn't help. It doesn't fix the problem. In fact, it makes it worse a little bit because that too isn't real. I wonder if it comes from the rhetoric of...
Speaker: you know, do what you love and it doesn't feel like work. But... That. is what work is. Right. Like it's something that you do. You know, I. at At the baseline, it's how you contribute to your society.
Speaker: um so you know does working in finance contribute to the society i'm not sure about that but like Private equity or cigarettes? The debate we've launched on this podcast before. So I wonder then if it is sort of like them feeling like in in order to offset.
Speaker: you know the the bullshit that they're doing at work it's like okay how can i like connect to people yeah what is the how do i make myself in begonia where have you seen begonia yeah you're like where should they they get her off and like she's wakes up and then she's like okay, we need to start a dialogue. That's what it reminds me of. yeah like ah That's what I want to know about these people, like these influencers who are specifically doing the slow living stuff. It's like, do you know you're lying?
Speaker: Yeah. Like, I want to know what they're they're thinking because, like... As someone who works also in... radio And I've also, I've made my own fucking TikToks and reels before. Like I've made stuff that's like, you know.
Speaker: I guess what I'm going into it, though, is like... I'm trying to be upfront about my intentions, which is like... i'm sharing like with I made ah a TikTok recently about the Spotify boycott just on a whim and it went did really well just because I'm trying to get better at like...
Speaker: marketing myself because like you know, I'm a public figure to some extent. Oh, Sam, you're going to get verified very soon. and It's just like, well, I have the expertise in music and I want to share things about it. Like to me, that's like. a fair deal like you go to experts on the internet and like so you know, niche fields or people that I follow that are really valuable. The thing I find quite pernicious about the influencer is that like that this specific slowing person is that
Speaker: I don't know, that they make some claim to wellness or something. really It really gives me the ick much more than like... ashton hall ashton hall is at least a parody he is like doing his insane dunking his face in water and like and sprinting you can tell that that's a bit right This is like...
Speaker: It almost like you can... blink and you think it's real. Because it is like so close to. That. truth like it's not far enough um Even like...
Speaker: But the thing is, you know that video that we were just speaking about like the unlicensed gynecologist guy the guy was lying on the ground with his butt cheeks out like That. is Obviously.
Speaker: Um. you know satire like that's a bit right like that's a character same with that um creator down the comedian down in melbourne like divorce dad Fucking hilarious, this guy. We can insert a clip here. Yeah, he's great.
Speaker: Or, I mean, Jacob fucking Jones, let me drink ah some whiskey and smoke five cigarettes in the park. Yeah, like, that's his sort of... That's kind of degen con... But, like, that... it I guess it's like...
Speaker: It's not specifically trying to be degen. And I think that that's like, that's it's about the the intention, right? Even... um You know, the intention of... He's not making... It's like... the It's just like a fun video that he's doing. It's not like...
Speaker: For that's the whole. reason what my gripe is with these like slow living or any kind of like lifestyle content creator, whatever. is that...
Speaker: They're trying to like sell a whole package. When really what like content creation. is
Speaker: It's like, what's your niche? Like, what are you going to do? Like Fish Octagon, that guy who like eats his dry Weet -Bix and spins old records. That's genuine. That's genuine. um He says an expert in UK dance music and is able to share from that and he's built a following off of that. Yeah, so Jacob fucking Jones is an expert in drinking Monster and smoking cigarettes in the park. And that's his truth. Like, same with...
Speaker: or you know So many other people that I think... But... um that I can think of. that I can't think of right now, but... That. Is like what content creation is. I feel like it can be really like when it's beautiful, it's these niches that you can't get anywhere else. Because otherwise it just feels too much like.
Speaker: um Venture capital. make money quickly, sort of scamming Gary Vee stuff. like In our research, Sam and I also found, well, I found this another.
Speaker: um Like. friendship club basically thing that started on Instagram. um And it's all just like buzzword and jargon and bullshit to just like try and get people's attention.
Speaker: um And being like really praying off of. um or like capitalizing on. and The loneliness epidemic. Um. And, you know, everything that comes from COVID. I feel like we've spoken about it so many times. like You know, the way that you can actually build community is not as... from getting off your phone.
Speaker: going to the community garden, going to volunteer, doing something like that. Why do you need to pay? to be a part of a friend group. It's almost, it's literally that. Tim Robinson sketch from I Think You Should Leave where they're out for lunch and then... um
Speaker: you know, this guy comes over and he's like, you didn't pay your dues for the friendship club. And the guy's like, I have no idea what you're talking about. He's like, you, you know, the tier that you're on is only tier one. You're only out to come to one friendship hang, but you were at three. And so he's like policing him. Um,
Speaker: And then the guy farts and it's a whole thing. But like... that's literally what it is though and that's what it is and I think that that's why we think it's so nefarious yeah because it's they it's also because they I guess using the language of community and inclusivity but again that There. It's a sleight of hand they're trying to sell you. It's like if you can't afford to get into this club, then you can't be a part of this friend group. Like, what the fuck? Yeah, like the the friendship influencer we're talking about.
Speaker: I mean, you know, she is running like stuff that she's like. It's all this stuff. It's like spenders spend a slow weekend with me in Sydney and I do Pilates and drink matcha and whatever. and then And also like I'm a law student and blah, blah, blah. i'm gonna run a book And I'm run ah a book club and a bar club and it costs $55 to go to. Mm hmm.
Speaker: You could go to a book, you could make your own book club for free. Yep. You can go to the public library. Get the book and then meet. at a in a park like it just is that I think that's what offends me so much about all these people is that I guess it's this.
Speaker: unreal sleight of hand. It's unreal side of hand. they They're like, oh, I'm just like you, man. And then they're like... boom brought product. Yep. Boom. Spend your money to hang out with me. No, I don't want to.
Speaker: I actually don't want to. What I would like to do. is go to the park and play cards with my friends. Yeah, and I think that's like something that... is is is so of our time of this like everyone has to be their own personal brand. Because I think like...
Speaker: If we had a more functioning society, we would... have either The freedom for people to pursue things. uh independently of the profit motive again i come back to my favorite band bell and sebastian literally being formed from a pro like a on the doll like government incentive program.
Speaker: Or like... you know So you're either freed up to do that or like... I just wish people would be honest about the separation of like work. and life. like I don't know. I just really think the... the It gets so blurry the way these influencers do it when they're... so obviously trying to become just like an influencer to not work And it just means that I think.
Speaker: It rewards. ah you know, marketing over expertise. And I think that's, you know, that's everything of course, but like this specific type of content. they're trying to hold themselves out as almost like mini gurus. And I, it just is really.
Speaker: you're not experts in anything. It's like you, all you've done is like set up iPhone and like learn how to use iMovie. That's it. You. you know Cap cut. Thank you very much. Oh, sorry. Cap cut.
Speaker: um i'm ah I'm a, you know, real ones would use Premiere Pro. Just saying. I use Da Vinci. It's free. Well, yeah. I mean, like, any kind of free thing. In the first place, you have to, like... pay for a phone and then, you know, pay for a laptop. like There are so many barriers.
Speaker: um And so in the first place, like. someone You know. Not. like someone having a phone and having access to social media and everything, like they're like, okay, well, I guess, you know, since I'm here now, what?
Speaker: And so that's what they think that they need to be doing. Yeah, I think it's also a similar type of corporate -y person who like feels that... You know, and they're not getting enough attention in the workplace or they're not getting recognized for the hard work that they do, which is bullshit. And I i like, yeah I empathize with that. Like, I understand why these people are here because we all live in a world where we feel pressured to like make our own.
Speaker: personal brand i just you know what my corporate friends do Our friend Anya's, she's writing a fantasy book with her sister. Like that's what she's fucking doing in her spare time instead of like...
Speaker: you know, making a video or anything she's right she's like doing something i remember seeing like ah a a cut like ah maybe it was a letter kurt vonnegut uh wrote to like a kid who had written to him like asking for writing advice and he was like Write something and then throw it away.
Speaker: Yeah. It's just for you. And I think that's kind of what. Uh... annoys me about this stuff because it's all it's like oh it's so close as well to like a lifestyle that I cherish, which is something that is like, Yeah, like, slow and intentional and, like, they're throwing all these buzzwords around. out But, like, that's not what this is. It's for money. It's done with the purpose of trying to make money and it's dishonest. and that's what annoys me. And it's like,
Speaker: There's a lot of I think creativity that You should just do... for your own sake like if you are obviously it's okay if you want to share it with the world but like That's what I like You and I came up through community radio, and I think that instilled in us like the values of just...
Speaker: art for art's sake like creating and being and not expecting anything in return yeah just going back and like offering your time because really at the end of the day that's like real currency is time and effort and dedication and...
Speaker: like showing up again and again, which I guess, you know, that's. kind of like a positive thing that you could say that these influencers are trying to get people to do it's like you know just put in the effort put in the work um And you may...
Speaker: Like.
Speaker: there's like there are okay for example just just quickly jump in there's some people i've seen like this influencer i've seen called frankie morgan and she's in the uk and she does kind of day of my life stuff but she has it like an interesting journey like she got basically completely burnt out and then like you know thought she was gonna do this and then quit her job moving to a van and got sober and kind of talks about that and to me i'm like even if that's like she's even influencing israel it could be a really powerful message to be sober and to like get someone to to that place. And so I'm like, you know, there can be positives to this and that, but that. That.
Speaker: Experience, I think, is... given her a sense of kind of humility and she's kind of giving that unconditionally whereas so many of the slow living people I see. It's not. It's transparent that they they want money out of this. I hate it. You still have a regular degular job. It's not like you.
Speaker: are needing extra income or are having any sort of like... kind of hardship. you don't need to be doing this. This is just like pocket money. It's also like, yeah, the the kind of creation of hardship that they have. It's like, I felt like I wasn't invaluable because it's like, oh my God, grow up. Yeah. It's like like everything is like a massive struggle to them. And I felt so bad for like.
Speaker: not wanting to like go out and it's like Like, what are you talking about? Yeah, I spent my Saturday night in. What are we doing here? Like, in what world do you think that you're meant to go out every single or just every single night? like yeah It just makes no sense. Like, these people are so self -obsessed that every decision they, like, have to be like, end.
Speaker: I... It's ultimate main character syndrome. The other interesting thing I think about this slow living lady that we're talking about, the matcha Pilates one, which is I guess all of them, so that didn't narrow it down. um She is very transparent, though, weirdly, when she's like, how I started posting. And so she'll have slideshows about her slow living, but we'll have other ones being like how I was able to like build my brand and do X, Y, Z. And like but and so it's like, well, which one is it? like You're doing this to build a brand. and like The thing is, like i I said this to you when you first sent me that slideshow that I was reading. through earlier is that this woman grace she's like yeah i used to be
Speaker: a high -powered marketing executive at a really young age. You know, she probably would have been like... No, she went to... Sorry. She went to fashion school. and then was, like, trying to get jobs and, and like, didn't fully make it and felt like for the pressure of that industry and burnt out and then after that got a receptionist job to kind of do it. That's what it was? Yeah.
Speaker: Okay, maybe I'm talking about a different woman. there yeah But I thought she was the same. She's just doing and she's like, oh I felt the pressure to like make something of my fashion degree. But I, you know. Didn't have to. And that's an okay message, but now... And that's the same thing as like, you know, the value of...
Speaker: like getting ah an arts degree or something is because you're like putting in the effort in order to learn something new and be able to. critique things from like a specific lens in society rather than just like letting things happen to you. I feel like that is the point to me.
Speaker: of like. that sort of tertiary education and that's where the value in it lies. And then it's almost like you go to post -grad or like then you kind of go and do something else. And I just think it's annoying that these people like don't.
Speaker: Yeah, I just wish that it's like... The guy, for example, who runs the a very popular philosophy podcast, Philosophize This, was just like he was a warehouse worker who took an interest in philosophy and would start reading and then sharing about this. And I think like...
Speaker: This isn't to say that everyone needs to create in that specific way, but I like that story. a lot more. Because it it has a genuine element of just trying to share. It's altruistic. He started doing that. And then it just became this big thing. And he doesn't really... publicize himself and he kind of keeps it humble that's the point of like podcasting right where...
Speaker: You're... in on a conversation that you want to be listening to because like these people are interesting to you um and i hope that that's why you guys are listening again like we would think we we were even talking about this when we decided to make this podcast where it was like there are obviously so much there's so much created out there that comes from a place of absolutely zero expertise and kate and i as people who have spent like collectively between us have like
Speaker: 10 years experience 10 years experience creating radio and other things we were like oh my god do we have the experience where whereas on the other hand you have these people who have absolutely nothing to offer running to pick up the mic and it's yeah I don't know, with the, yeah, I think it's it's preying on a vulnerability and and a capitalist.
Speaker: Like logic. And it is really gives me the. fucking ick and also like that guy tom had like a girlfriend he would every single time he would be like uh me when i said i'd hang out with my friends and then i said i couldn't but i'm actually hanging out with my girlfriend outside because she's the only one who gives because i'm an introvert and i guess any Bro, just say you love your girlfriend and you don't like your friends and move on. And then they broke up and then like suspiciously sily and then he was posting TikToks being like...
Speaker: you know just It's okay to, like, not have it all figured out. Sitting on a rock like in a park. Oh, my God. okay It's like shot. Like, what are you?
Speaker: Every event in your life is being twisted for... i This like weird selling of this lifestyle that doesn't it its it doesn't exist. oh I hate this so much. My gripe with that sort of video is like...
Speaker: He probably I don't even know if he like sent that to his friends or something to try and get. you know, their advice on whatever or like, oh, guys, this this is a good video. Those are fake friends. If they said yes, you should post that.
Speaker: Because like, what was the fuck, bro? but but Yeah, I just wish people would... like I hate that all these people use co -op, the language of community, but it's all profit -driven. Absolutely. Again, it's all friendship. like the The outcome of all of this is... friendship clubs, supper clubs, book clubs, blog clubs. It's all by a buyer course at the end of the day. That's all it is.
Speaker: like Be transparent about that. it's just is It's an absolute lie. And I think it's ah it's another symptom of yeah productivity and wellness culture. But it's so funny because this is its wario. Even when it's in and its opposition, it's abiding by the same logic. They're still making you spend money on it. like There's this new... um
Speaker: it's right it's the two It's the two doors that both lead to the one. The closed doors are behind it is the same thing. But, like, which one has the cow? Yeah, it's which one has the cow. And it's like... Either way, you're paying for a course, whether it's a slow living course or a fast living course. He's still paying. like People up.
Speaker: There's this new craft book coming out about like snail mail. Um. And like, why do I have to buy it? I'm just gonna go to the library and learn. And like you scrap paper at my house. Like I have to. Buy all of this extra.
Speaker: You're right. I don't know. Sorry. Nice. Buy all this extra bullshit that comes with it. um And it's like, to to what end? At what point do I... you know, have I learned enough and I'm like a whole enough person where I need to stop spending money.
Speaker: On like. doing things. Well... I think we know why it's popular. I think we've actually cracked it this time. Yeah, I think that we did. I know why. It makes complete sense. It's the Wario. productivity culture and i i for some reason i hate it more because at least with productivity culture stuff i just stay on the on the Stay.
Speaker: What are you? Are you looking at my squishy? Pretty cool, right? You don't get squishy. um i You don't have thumbs. I like productivity. culture more like content wise, more because at some point it's like so insane. It's what it says on the tin. Yeah. It's like, I some degree appreciate the honesty because I think this is also something that I.
Speaker: I just realized I appreciate like the honesty in general with this sort of stuff. like i went to I would often go to uni with people who were like... I'm gonna... like This was a big thing at law school. like I'm going to change the world. I'm going to go. And then like, you know. End up in corporate law. It's like.
Speaker: Not that I don't have sympathy for That it's hard to like. Find a place that will take you and all this sort of stuff. And maybe they'll go on to do other things or whatever. But, like, it was just, like...
Speaker: You're lying to me. You don't know what you're like. It's dishonest. And it pissed me off. I don't know. if it's like I understand why you would feel like that. But at the same time... people feel like things are so immediate where like I need to.
Speaker: have like yeah i'm gonna like work in human rights law immediately Go. get the expertise first like work around it i guess it's like they would all we would always have the conversation about oh my god yeah and and then just like working for generic law firm they'll probably be there forever i guess i'm just like with this whole all it's interesting that all these content creators do come from corporate backgrounds like and it's like i'm just trying to romanticize my corporate life yeah
Speaker: It's like, and it's like, you got a coffee with your friend, but like, it doesn't need to be a thing. You don't need to make a reel about that. Yeah. And then paradoxically prevents them from actually living a slow life. if You're actually going to fucking film the whole thing. Yeah. And like, you know, set up the camera and then walk back outside and then walk into your apartment.
Speaker: Why the fuck are you doing that? Think about, yeah. Every single time you watch one of these reels, think about the camera setup that I had to do and that'll instantly take you out of the immersion. It pissed me off. This other one that I saw, this is the whole reason that the algorithm feeds me the stuff is because I engage with it because it pisses me off. But like. this young dad.
Speaker: Who is like, my wife's at work on the weekend. Let me take care of my kids. Brother, you should actually take care of your kids instead of fucking filming them. The kid's like, please feed me. And the dad's like, wait, let me get the shot. yeah yeah It's like choking on peas in the background. yeah in the debt's like all And then in all the comments, it's like middle -aged women being like, wow, I wish my husband did this when our kids were young.
Speaker: Go. Woof. Fuck, Mel. ah Maybe to close this episode, we're at about 55 minutes. Let's close this episode. Why don't we give like a top three each? I think that I've been enjoying the top threes at the end. Yeah, it's fun. What about like our top three actual slow living activities? So like three things that we do that. um may Like...
Speaker: actually relax that we don't boast about or like make a big deal about So just like, what's my chill routine? Yeah. What do I do to unwind? Yeah, but we're going to use it in the phrase of slow living. Okay. Also, Kate, can you take a video of Basil right now and landscape that we can splice it? Because this is slow living.
Speaker: this is If we're talking about slow living, I'm going to splice in this video now. Kate is taking a video of Basil, and he bro has been slow living this whole time. He's asleep. it's he' been He's been to asleep for the last hour while we've been filming, lying on the bed. He is so relaxed.
Speaker: That's slow living. He stuck his head up. um A couple like 30 minutes or so ago and like his hair. Oh, he knows what he's talking about. He puts his head up and he's like, all like oh. He's like, oh. just It's like when you wake up from a nap and you've got like the lines from your bedsheets on you. You're like, fuck, that was so good. Basil is slow living and we need to be more like him. Yeah, I think that everyone should just turn into like a dog or something. yeah All men are dogs. Your top three slow living activities.
Speaker: Number one. Do you want to go from three to one? Or is this in any order? No particular no order. Every night before bed, I at least do two word searches in my big book of word searches.
Speaker: that's nice and you know it is something that's not on my phone And it. means that i've I've clocked off. no No one is allowed to say anything to me.
Speaker: Um, i'm I'm done. i I do my word searches I do my word search Number two, slow living thing. I've... I don't eat out a lot. Like I make a lot of food at home just because it's therapeutic.
Speaker: to me you know they're sort of like meditative um And I think I've done it. you know. So like I've. you know I do cook a lot. And it just it doesn't feel like a chore or anything. And I'm excited to like make something. um And even just as simple as that, like people want to be making videos. Girl, make yourself some toast.
Speaker: So another thing that I do, I guess it's sort of the same as like these other women is that I get really relaxed. And then I go and do Pilates. And I think that that sort of like mind -body connection, I have never been able to really.
Speaker: Like. do that previously like it's never been a thing that I thought that I could experience But. from the getting super relaxed. That's what helps me.
Speaker: That's beautiful. That's slow living. Yeah. Now make an Instagram story. Now make a 10 -slide Instagram story about that. Well, are we going to make a reel about this? No. We cannot make a reel about this episode. We can make one, but not about this bit. No. We cannot do that because that would be completely antithetical. This is podcast exclusive. We'll make a reel of the crux of the thing, a hook, so if you want to learn more. But we cannot make a reel about this. That would be antithetical to the whole endeavor. No.
Speaker: Okay, um... what Sam, what are your top three things for slow living? Top three things for slow living. um First of all, riding my bike around.
Speaker: Even if it's like not necessarily the fastest way to get there. Bro is on the analog e -bike?
Speaker: Whoa. Analogue e -bike? Yeah. just You just called the analog. Acoustic. Yeah, acoustic. That's what we used to call it. One of my old co -workers had ah like a regular bike and an e -bike, and when he'd take the regular one, he'd be like were like, he's like, I took the acoustic in today. Not the digital, not the electric.
Speaker: So yeah, riding my bike, I ride my bike everywhere. I just love this like a little... pot around and taking a fun route yeah taking the scenic route you know experience like being outside just just going outside and and yeah like i remember one of the greatest evenings in my life was one of the parties at the canterbury manor the halloween party all right from a friend's share house in canterbury and i rode from uni at unsw to there And... I got to do...
Speaker: the whole Cooks River and airport path at night time. And I was in no rush to get there. That's the thing. like ah I think a bike is a really good way. like I'm obviously super pro. cycling um i think it's a great way to like see the world because you have to like
Speaker: You're not always going to go the fastest way there. You've got to take the bike path. You have to be safe. And you do have to pay attention. You have to pay attention. You're looking around. I have new headphones recently. Let me get these bad boys. Where are they? I think I see them over there. Oh, yeah. They're over there. My bone conduction headphones so I can hear everything now. And I'm, like, listening to the birds. Do you, like, see color? Sorry. Do you, like, see sound and hear color? No, I don't see color. Whoa. I don't see color. Yeah, I do notice more. Like, just buildings around.
Speaker: um like that I've not noticed before or yeah nature also you get a a sense of how like neighborhoods are developing like new bike paths being put in and things and how things can change over time so that's one Number two.
Speaker: Number two, I would say is... I'm going to get back into it. Crosswords. ah You mentioned words such as, like, I used to be a big New York Times crossword person. I need to... Get back into that. They're really good. Oh, I love the spelling bee. It's a daily ritual. I've been doing the New York Times crosswords since I was a kid because like I'm from New York. And so.
Speaker: It's really fun. Cause like every day it gets harder. Like, and then it's so Monday. Easiest. Saturday the hardest and the Sunday is a big one. Oh. That's usually the difficulty of Wednesday. And there's a really great community in, like, the puzzle setters. And it's a great little ritual to... I want to know how you get into that. Like, my job is making puzzles. That would be so much fun. Oh, yeah, dude. Well, it's closer to a language. like Like, the New York Times one specifically, it's like...
Speaker: Once you understand what the signifiers and the clues mean, like, they'll give you certain things. Like, for example, if a clue is in the past tense, the answer will be in the past tense. Right. Which you don't necessarily pick up. And there's certain, like, genre of clue types, which will mean that that word will end in, like, an ing or an ed or something. Or a verb or a noun or whatever. Yeah, okay. It's the same as, like, you know, the more that I do word searches, like, obviously, you know, you get better at something with practice. It's the same way, you know, I get... Okay. That was so profound, Kate. You get better at things with practice? You do get better at things with practice. Where like, you know, you notice like the patterns in...
Speaker: the the words or like specifically what what you're looking for like there are I feel like it's mostly consonants that stand out against vowels. And so that's how I, how I do it. Okay. language So crosswords. Yeah. Number three, I would say is reading.
Speaker: It's very simple. Reading is ah you can transport you to another place. like I know it's like... it's I just set a timer on like a stopwatch.
Speaker: on my watch for like 20 minutes and i just go and just to like kind of trick my brain into like because sometimes you can be like oh i'm gonna pick up the book and grind set read but just to go for as 20 minutes and then often i'll want to go yeah read a little bit more it does like take you out of time which i find really beautiful like when you really get into a book and i think this is made with books like i either find a book really hard to finish or i devour it in like a day yeah totally I haven't sat down
Speaker: And like just read a book in a day in a really long time. I think the last book I did that with was Players at Lays by Joan Didion. Like cover to cover one afternoon. Fantastic read. Yeah. Um... And the other one I did that with was Normal People. Carnal. Marianne. Yep.
Speaker: um And, you know, if you if you want to know how we feel about that. show or and book, then listen to the misery slop episode. But I feel like we've got... Your top three, we've got my top three. um I... fucking hate slow living influences hate them so like actually the more i talked about i was like there's some so Actually, there is a problem here. There's something so perverse.
Speaker: I think about forms of media which make claims. to reality while deliberately being Like well actually not being real Because I think it sucks so many more people in.
Speaker: ah that are vulnerable. Like... It's, you know, why I think like Mel Robbins and like wellness influencers like that are like infinitely more harmful. or can Or maybe have the potential to harm a lot more people, even in like a manosphere.
Speaker: person like, to a certain extent. Like, it's a different... type of harm that only arises Because there is this gap between their claim to reality and the actual reality. And in that kind of gap...
Speaker: allows them to retain people for a lot longer. And... kind of change people's worldviews in a way that is... is disruptive because the manosphere can be something or like when you're in like more insane online spaces. It can be.
Speaker: so disconnected from everyone else that you can at some point snap out of it. There is success stories with men coming out of the alt -right pipeline and things like that. Yeah, being de -radicalized. Whereas it's like... It's harder to explain to people how to de -radicalize yourself from slow living because on its face it seems so harmless. Yeah, like, what's wrong with this thing? Yeah, I just think it's kind of like this, like...
Speaker: It's a junk food. And then you'll look, it's like, it's like when you don't moisturize and there are those photos of like twins, one who moisturized and one who didn't. And like one in 20 years is like, you know, absolutely sun damaged. The other one's like not like, that's kind of how it feels to me. It feels like in, you know, 20 years, the people who were doing this, I just will want to track them because they'll like, again, that guy hubs life. He went from.
Speaker: 9 to 5 -ing to quitting his job while his wife was pregnant with their second kid and then begging on TikTok Live. Like, I think these people are fundamentally... a bit fucked up. Yeah, if they think that that's a good idea. And I'm interested to see what happens in about 10 years. Well, I guess we've got to keep going until then. I guess we've got to keep going until then.
Speaker: Well, yeah, that's been it. That's been our episode of Popularity Contest. um There's so much more to come. I feel like we just have. Heaps to go. Yeah. You know, we're...
Speaker: We're thinking about guests. We're thinking about guests. So there might even be just more than us and the dogs. Yeah, I mean, Otis is a guest. Otis, you've been very good today. Yeah, I think, you know, all of his, like, boinging earlier. He got really tired. Yeah, he was really boinging earlier. And then ah Basil is just asleep. he's This is all he does. Bro, he's, yeah, he's slow living. So from our slow life to yours.
Speaker: Have a good day. And cheers.
