Tasteland

This week we're talking worker-owned media with people from three of our favorite worker-owned publications — Defector, Hell Gate, and 404 Media. They're very transparent about what it takes to run a modern, subscription-based media business — it's a great conversation.This is from our live pod earlier this month in support of the National Writers Union's legal fund for media workers. You can still donate here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-us/fundraising/donate-to-the-media-freelancers-legal-fund00:00:00 Introducing guests00:04:30 The Business of Worker Owned Media00:06:30 The Biggest Trials and Errors of Being a Founder00:11:19 The Media Landscape's Monetization Uncertainty00:19:13 The Future of Public Funding for Local News00:21:59 The Diverse Ad Tolerance of Audiences00:28:56 Audience Taste Shift Post Election00:35:37 The Messaging Behind Different Payment Options00:43:52 Making Editorial Choices as a Writer-Owner00:50:02 Saturation in the Creator Economy00:59:24 Transparency and Accountability in Worker Owned MediaQ&A From Audience01:02:02 Content Creators Creating Competition?01:06:09 The Value of Print Media01:11:08 Expanding Ownership to Readers01:13:34 Final Thoughts

Ben Leventhal, co-founder of Eater, Resy, and Blackbird, has been a transformative force in the hospitality industry. He discusses the evolution of restaurant criticism, emphasizing the shift from anonymous critiques to influencer-driven transparency. Leventhal also dives into the future of dining experiences and how blockchain technology could revolutionize customer loyalty and payments. The conversation touches on the importance of spontaneous dining adventures and introduces Blackbird's initiatives to enhance restaurant workers' benefits.

This week Daisy and Francis are joined by Lauryn Menard, CEO and co-founder of Gob, a compostable, plastic-free, mycelium-based earplug company. Gob: https://www.gob.earth/ Tickets for the NWU event: https://dirrrt.fyi/paywriters 00:00 Introducing Lauryn, Gob and its Mission02:03 The Concept of Friction in Modern Consumerism06:20 Designing with End-of-Life in Mind11:32 Scaling Production and Sustainability15:07 The Role of Tesla in Green Marketing19:38 Navigating the B2B and B2C Landscape22:26 Branding and Marketing Positioning26:19 Innovations in Mycelium Materials29:34 Supply and Demand in Mycelium Production34:15 The Identity of a Founder in the Bay Area38:27 The Future of Sustainable Products44:17 Envisioning the 22nd Century49:01 Exploring New Biomaterials51:05 Teaching Biomaterials and Student Innovations

This week, Daisy and Francis welcome journalists Teddy Brown and Emily Shugerman. Teddy recently covered Zyn and its masculine political symbolism for the New York Times, while Emily explored direct-to-consumer women’s health brands for The Guardian.Teddy's article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/style/zyn-nicotine-pouch-masculinity.html Emily's article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/30/birth-control-contraception-branding-abortion-roe-v-wade?CMP=share_btn_url 00:00 Introducing our guests01:48 Exploring Masculinity and Political Symbolism in Zyn06:04 The Role of Brands and Marketing in Masculinity08:58 Cultural Associations and Gender Dynamics of Zyn11:52 The Impact of Online Communities and Vernacular16:15 Election Context and the Masculinity Crisis19:04 Conclusion and Future Considerations21:01 The Impact of Zyn, Vaping and Tobacco Trends23:21 Women’s Health and Direct-to-Consumer Brands29:23 The Role of Marketing in Women’s Health35:34 The Challenges of Accessing Healthcare40:53 The Intersection of Healthcare and Consumerism45:50 Conclusion

This week Daisy and Francis are joined by graphic designer David Rudnick to discuss the evolution of album covers, digital solipsism and the imagery behind Megalopolis. Tickets for the event: https://dirrrt.fyi/paywritersDavid's Strelka talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ejp4AvetSA00:00:00 Introducing David Rudnick and his work 00:01:10 Raising Funds for Freelancers and Worker-Owned Media 00:03:40 The Future of Journalism and Media Impartiality 00:08:52 Exploring the Intersection of Literature and Graphic Design 00:10:33 David's Journey to Ghent and His Studio Practice 00:18:03 The Value of Small, Sustainable Design Studios 00:24:58 The Evolution of Album Art in Design 00:28:14 The Impact of Digital Primacy on Visual Culture 00:37:17 The Dangers of Cultural Solipsism and Customization 00:46:22 Exploring Architectural Narratives in Film 01:03:09 The Myth of Immortality in Storytelling 01:09:11 Confronting Death in Modern Society

This week Daisy and Francis are joined by Aliza Abarbanel, co-founder and editor of Cake Zine, a food-centric physical publication that is described as "a hedonistic exploration of history, pop culture, literature, and art through sweets."00:00 Intro to Cake Zine and the Shift From Print to Digital Media02:30 The Role of NY Mag in Media Representation05:53 Tina Brown and the Evolution of Substack10:00 Playboy's Business Challenges and Future Directions12:00 Welcome Aliza - Dessert After Dark17:24 The Benefits and Challenges of Print Media21:06 Defining a Piece of Cake Zine22:52 The Unique Approach of Cake Zine25:54 Understanding the Economics of Indie Publications29:26 Navigating the Attention Economy Trap31:17 The Role of Events in Building Community36:00 The Value of Collecting Magazines38:33 Mushrooms in the Middle41:03 The Community in Food Culture vs. Media Culture45:44 Dreams of a Physical Space48:06 Balancing Passion and Profession49:39 Podcasting Insights and Experiences, Also Zodiac Signs55:24 Final Rapid Fire Questions

This week on Tasteland we are joined by Elise Pepple, the Executive Director of KRTS Marfa Public Radio. 00:00 Intellectual Property and Collaboration in Journalism 04:35 Music Consumption in the Digital Age 06:54 Introducing Elise Pepple of Marfa Public Radio 11:03 The Salt Institute and Public Radio Training 13:13 Elise's Early Career in Alaska and StoryCorps 15:40 The Attraction of Remote Locations 17:20 Community Building Through Public Radio 25:18 The Mission of Public Radio 28:28 The Broadcast Area of Marfa Public Radio 31:24 Impactful Local Reporting 35:03 The Funding and Support of Marfa Public Radio 38:01 The Role of NPR Studios 43:01 Elise's Role on the NPR Board 46:03 Camaraderie Among Radio Station Directors 51:16 The State of Radio Today

This week Daisy and Francis are joined by fragrance evaluator and perfume expert Bibi Prival to discuss the science behind crafting smells, the evolution of fragrance and making sense of different scents.00:00 Bibi Prival and her journey into the world of fragrance05:00 The importance of smell in education06:41 The secretive nature of the fragrance industry08:59 Losing your sense of smell as a perfumer10:13 Making the jump from fragrance marketing to evaluation15:00 The impact of TikTok of fragrance culture17:36 Francis' first fragrance experiences21:16 Bibi's gateway into the fragrance world25:06 Internet culture and fragrance28:10 The evolution of fragrance marketing32:46 Fragrance and Frenchness - the roots of fragrance36:28 The link between smells and core memories42:48 The day to day of a fragrance evaluator46:11 The technique of a professional smelling49:08 Francis loves dirt51:43 Bibi's top 3 fragrance ingredients55:07 The impact of celebrities of the fragrance world

This week Daisy and Francis explore the evolution of magazine consumption, the impact of digital media on traditional publishing, and the future of advertising in a rapidly changing landscape. 00:00 The evolution of magazine consumption 06:09 The digital shift in media 12:22 The future of advertising and content creation 14:26 Creators responsibility to their audience 16:21 Media becoming a luxury product 20:13 Defining the modern magazine 25:34 The role of taste in media 28:50 The carcinization and Balkanization of media 34:03 The impact of photography and AI within magazines 38:09 The missionaries and mercenaries of the media founders 48:13 The post-literacy age is here

Joe Weisenthal, co-host of Bloomberg's Odd Lots Podcast and a notable figure in finance-Twitter, joins the discussion with sharp insights. He breaks down the effects of Fed rate cuts on startups and their ripple effect on everyday life. The conversation dives into generational cultural shifts, exploring the evolving meaning of 'selling out' and the symbolism of subtle interest rate changes. They also weigh in on the changing landscape of dining and social status, and the parallels between country music and classic holiday tunes, revealing unexpected connections in culture.