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Charis and Eugene talk about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying Wrexham AFC, a Welsh football club, and making content about the process. They also discuss two different articles about friendship, shallow ones and deeply intimate ones, and what it means to value friendship. 00:03:10 Football content 00:25:21 Friendship Hollywood's New Multi-Million-Dollar Sports Investment Vehicle by Joseph Pompliano What If Friendship, Not Marriage, Was at the Center of Life? by Rhaina Cohen You Are Supposed to Outgrow Some Friendships by Brianna Wiest Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about the digital toolkit created by Airbnb Design that aims to help freelance illustrators with their client and business management so they can focus more on creating. They also discuss an interview with Stephen Satterfield, co-founder of Whetstone Media, published in Currant about empathy, origins, and fluency with food. 00:02:35 Illustrator toolkit Tyrus 00:15:49 Empathy through origins Tyrus: A free digital toolkit from Airbnb Design that helps freelance illustrators optimize their business, so they have more time to focus on what they love At Whetstone Media, Stephen Satterfield Builds Empathy Through Origins by Sarah Cooke Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about the new color choices people have made during quarantine for their interior spaces and whether that’s potentially soothing. They also discuss the importance of looking outside your area of expertise and industry to find new creative solutions. 00:02:21 Quarantine colors 00:17:40 Steal ideas The Surprising Power of Color to Ease Quarantine Anxiety by Kyle Chayka Great Ideas Are Yours to Steal by Bob Roitblat Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis discuss the problem of harmful microplastics when using and washing synthetic materials. They also talk about Ricky Desktop, a viral Tiktok beatmaker, and the science behind crafting the perfect thing to beat the algorithm. 00:02:06 Microplastics 00:19:49 Algorithm mastery Should synthetic clothing be sold with a warning? by Bella Webb Meet Ricky Desktop, the most viral beatmaker on TikTok by Jacob Kastrenakes Adapting to the algorithm by Kyle Chayka Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talks about the collaborative sneaker project being run by Afew and ASICS for the 30th anniversary of the GEL-Lyte 3 that includes major community input. They also discuss an article that considers the effects of less continual documentation and publication of our personal lives on social media during the pandemic. 00:02:52 Afew x ASICS 00:21:21 Content vacuum The Wild Silence by Drew Austin of The Kneeling Bus Afew x ASICS Take Community Engagement to the Next Level by Fabian Gorsler Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about how Hong Kong’s food culture has adapted in the pandemic. They also discuss chess as a current streaming obsession and how AI is making the game beautiful again. 00:02:57 HK food culture 00:26:06 Chess changes A Freshly Killed Chicken Is Mightier Than the Coronavirus by Daisann McLane Chess (Yes, Chess) Is Now a Streaming Obsession by Kellen Browning AI Ruined Chess. Now, It’s Making the Game Beautiful Again by Tom Simonite Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about whether New York (or any city) can die. They also talk about why successful people rarely acknowledge the role of luck in their lives. 00:02:14 Is New York dead? 00:31:33 Luck and success NYC IS DEAD FOREVER. HERE’S WHY by James Altucher Affluence Killed New York, Not the Pandemic by Kevin Baker New York or Nowhere meme by Ronnie Lordi So You Think New York Is “Dead” by Jerry Seinfeld Successful people rarely admit how lucky they were. Here’s why they should by Michiel De Hoog for The Correspondent Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about the challenges facing fashion design graduates due to the pandemic. They also discuss how creative peers can accelerate personal growth. 00:01:44 Fashion grads 00:23:57 Creative peers Breaking into fashion was already hard. Amid Covid-19, is a design generation lost? by Bella Webb How Creative Peers Accelerate Personal Growth by Ward Andrews Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about what it’s like to start a job remotely and get onboarded during the pandemic. They also discuss Telfar, a brand founded by Telfar Clemens, and the popularity of their “Bushwick Birkin”. 00:04:09 Remote onboarding 00:23:19 Telfar It Just Got a Lot Easier to Secure a Telfar Bag by Emilia Petrarca Meet the New Guy by Lindsey Underwood Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about the appeal and value of MasterClass as it relates to education, capitalism, and constantly trying to self-improve. They also discuss how Shopify democratized e-commerce to such a degree that the real winners aren’t brands at all. 00:02:15 MasterClass 00:28:49 Shopify Shopify and the Hard Thing About Easy Things by Packy McCormick What is MasterClass Actually Selling? by Carina Chocano Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene chat with special guest Behzod Sirjani. They start off with some banter about Behzod’s work leading an independent research practice, plus a bit about Chloe Ting, then move on to the big topics of the episode: the reductive seduction of other people’s problems and some tips for independent creators looking to raise funds or establish a community of support. 00:15:04 Other people’s problems 00:42:32 Community funding The Reductive Seduction of Other People’s Problems by Courtney Martin Tips for Community Funding In Challenging Times by Siena Oristaglio Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis discuss racial bias in photography technology and terminology. They also talk about some good things happening in new age media: the formation of Defector, a new sports blog and media company started by the people who left Deadspin in 2019. 00:01:46 Photography bias 00:31:03 New media company Defector Color film was built for white people. Here's what it did to dark skin. by Vox The Staff of Deadspin Is Taking Their Talents to Defector. Here's What Happens Next. by Alex Shultz Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about artificial intelligence in the realm of graphic design. They also discuss a Highsnobiety and Boston Consulting Group white paper on the future of luxury and the new luxury consumer. 00:01:46 AI graphic design 00:24:47 Future of luxury How an AI graphic designer convinced clients it was human by Thomas Macaulay Culture Culture Culture: Quantifying What Matters Most to the New Fashion & Luxury Consumer by Highsnobiety and BCG Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about Toby Shorin’s latest essay, “Come for the Network, Pay for the Tool”, which talks about the emergence of paid communities from the combination of social, content, and commerce. They also discuss the recent Vogue cover of Simone Biles shot by Annie Leibovitz and the criticism that arose regarding the photos. 00:01:10 Paid communities 00:29:51 Vogue cover Come for the Network, Pay for the Tool by Toby Shorin Vogue Slammed for Hiring Annie Leibovitz for Simone Biles Cover Instead of Black Photographer by DL Cade www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene discuss the modern approach to parenting and misunderstandings of childhood. They also talk about Silicon Valley’s attitude towards tech media as well as the issue of privacy in digital conversations. 00:02:58 Parenting 00:23:36 Tech Media Meet the parenting expert who thinks parenting is a terrible invention by Irene Caselli and Lynn Berger Silicon Valley Elite Discuss Journalists Having Too Much Power in Private App by Jason Koebler, Anna Merlan, and Joseph Cox www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about Hey, the new email service created by Basecamp, and the issues of email in general. On the subject of work, they also talk about what going back to the office looks like in terms of necessary health and safety measures and the physicality of workplaces. 00:05:28 Hey and email services 00:26:24 Back to the office Hey is a Wildly Opinionated New Email Service from the Makers of Basecamp by Casey Newton Physical workplaces important for "preventing the loneliness epidemic in an increasingly digital world" says Vitra by Marcus Fairs www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about how Brain Dead and Blood Orange raised a million dollars for  charities aiding the Black Lives Matter movement. They also discuss what the “Virgilization” of Virgil Abloh means — how the artification of an individual is intentional in order to de-commercialize that person. 00:04:15 Brain Dead raises 1mil for BLM 00:26:33 The “Virgilization” of Virgil Abloh How to Raise a Million Bucks for Charity with T-Shirts, According to Brain Dead’s Kyle Ng by Cam Wolf The Virgilization of Virgil Abloh by Ana Andjelic www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis discuss the role of small indie music venues in supporting emerging musicians and the continual growth of the music industry. They also talk about a new model of media star, where media is fragmenting further and the individuals people gravitate towards are increasingly varied. This leads into a conversation about the “passion economy” as defined by Li Jin. 00:04:38 Indie music venues 00:26:46 Passion economy Small Clubs Are Where Rock History Is Made. How Many Will Survive? by Ben Sisario The New Model Media Star Is Famous Only to You by Ben Smith How the Passion Economy will disrupt media, education, and countless other industries by Li Jin www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about the launch, rapid demise, and potential futures of Quibi, the new video streaming service. They also talk about how technology has pounced on pandemic-created opportunities and what the post-pandemic tech appetite and landscape might look like. 00:02:51 Quibi 00:28:46 Home screens Quibi Is What Happens When Hollywood Overvalues Content And Undervalues Community by Mike Masnick Home Screens by Drew Austin www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about two ways they’ve been spending their time: playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons and watching The Last Dance. They discuss how Animal Crossing is an interesting place for brands to add value for gamers, as well as how The Last Dance could only have been made and aired at certain moments in time to have the impact it does. 00:01:42 Animal Crossing 00:29:50 The Last Dance Animal Crossing is emerging as a media channel for brands in lockdown by Katie Deighton The Last Dance (TV series) - Wikipedia www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message