Day One FM

Derrick Gee, a Professional Music Fan and popular curator with nearly two million followers, dives into the vibrant world of music in this engaging conversation. He shares his journey from design school to curating artful experiences within his Sydney home/studio. Derrick discusses being 'selfishly slow' in his approach and expresses sympathy for A&Rs navigating today's industry challenges. The conversation also touches on Gen Z's evolving relationship with authenticity and commercialism in music, emphasizing the joy of genuine musical connections.

In this episode, we discuss AI’s increasingly complex role in advertising, from the way it's used to churn out social feed filler, to how consumers react when they find out the “authentic” campaign they loved was never real in the first place. We talk about the Oasis concert over the weekend—bucket hats and pre-rolls included—J.Crew’s faux-vintage lookbook, and Skechers’ sketchy subway ads.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Stone, a savvy Day One colleague, dives into the fascinating world of cultural criticism and the so-called 'hater economy.' He discusses the revealing ‘Panama Playlists’ that showcase the music tastes of global elites, contrasting private preferences with public personas. The conversation pivots to the legacy of 'Happy Gilmore,' critiquing the embrace of nostalgic yet mediocre sequels. Stone emphasizes the importance of discerning cultural consumption in an age overrun by influencers and highlights the value of diverse generational insights.

Belly buttons, Morse code, Miami Dolphins colorways… We’re talking Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Era™. But beneath the bright orange or purple glitter and brand commenting chaos, the creator economy is still grinding away — and not in a good way. We break down why it feels like a “race to the bottom for human dignity,” per ZINE’s Matt Klein, how brands are fracking culture for quick hits, and what a more sustainable Creator Economy 2.0 might look like. (Spoiler: the future is scaling up to be micro.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thom Bettridge is the editor in chief of the newly-relaunched i-D magazine. He’s previously held stints at 032c, SSENSE, Highsnobiety, and Interview. We talk about building off of the publication's 45+ year legacy, scouting unknown talent, the importance of actually talking to people, how Gen Z insights are just Millennial insights, and why he launched his own Substack, CONTENT. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clara’s seeking out angel investors for a pretzel brand by women, for women. Plus, a discussion around why brands just can’t help themselves from using bleak insights as jumping off points for gimmicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Frommer is the founder of The New Consumer: a publication which draws upon his expertise as a business and tech journalist to examine how and why people spend their time and money. He joins us to talk through some of the takeaways from his recent 2025 Mid-Year Report. We cover Gen Z’s uneasiness on AI, why people would rather meet their favorite podcaster in the wild than an A-list movie star, and “the humanization of pets” (do you cook for your dog or cat?), as well as how he brings rigor and depth to the crowded, noisy field of consumer insights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trey kicks things off with a quick (hopefully final) recap of the Coldplay “Jumbotron Incident” and a momentary return of monoculture. You can’t just cheat in today’s surveillance culture, sorry. Then, Clara shifts gears to talk about the new “gentle-jacked” Superman, and how the film’s refreshingly earnest plotline highlights a much-needed cultural shift away from irony-pilled junk. Finally, Eli rounds things out with a watch out around all of this talk of “community marketing.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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