Working Theory Podcast

2026 has become the year of the “analog life.” People are spending less time online and more time offline: deleting TikTok, buying film cameras, picking up physical books, and getting into knitting, pottery, and crafting (hobbies!).On the surface, it makes sense. People want to take back control of their attention and feel more present in a world that’s overstimulating. But at the same time, the analog life has become a trend in its own right. People are posting about it and buying, arguably, unnecessary objects to curate a setup for a perfectly offline life.This creates a paradox. While we want to go offline, we also increasingly treat being analog as something we aestheticize and perform on social media. In this episode, I unpack why the analog life is taking off and the unique contradictions it poses when it becomes yet another trend. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingtheorypod.substack.com

Coachella is basically the Influencer Olympics. Every year, brands follow the same playbook: host flashy activations, throw money at influencers, and pray that their TikToks will convert to IRL sales. At this point, nothing about it feels particularly new or exciting. But this year, the Biebers did something different with their brands, Rhode Skin and SKYLRK. Enter Bieberchella. Between Justin’s headline performance, Hailey’s Rhode activation, and Justin’s SKYLRK label, nothing felt like a separate campaign. Every component of Bieberchella moved together, creating one continuous world that audiences could step into. In this episode, I break down why Bieberchella worked and how it drove real commercial and cultural impact. What does Bieberchella mean for the future of celebrity brands and influencer marketing? And more importantly, what actually drives influence today?Subscribe for more!New episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe on Substack for written notes on culture and to get new episodes delivered straight to your inbox.Have ideas, questions, or something you want me to dig into? Send them my way at [email protected] or message me on Substack! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingtheorypod.substack.com

NikeSKIMS was one of the most hyped launches of the year. After unveiling its debut collection in September 2025, it saw massive commercial success. This wasn’t a small bet: NikeSKIMS is Nike’s first new sub-brand since launching the Jordan label four decades ago.But a few months later… does NikeSKIMS still work? Right now, sportswear is shifting toward looser, less curated styles. That puts NikeSKIMS, built on sculpting and performance, in a complicated situation.In this episode, I look at where sportswear is headed and break down NikeSKIMS’ Spring 2026 collection. Can NikeSKIMS keep up with these changes? And can it evolve without losing what makes it SKIMS? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingtheorypod.substack.com

Bag charms are everywhere. You’ve seen cute little things dangling off every It Girl’s Balenciaga City Bag; they’re a low-stakes way to express yourself. But what happens when everyone starts doing it?In this episode, I unpack why bag charms took off in the first place and what their rise reveals about a much larger cultural shift. On the surface, they’re playful and personal. But beyond that, they point to how individuality has become something we increasingly perform and buy. So what happens when something meant to feel personal becomes a trend? Does it start to lose its meaning? And as that fatigue sets in, how do “personal” items like bag charms evolve? This episode explores where personalization goes from here—and what that says about consumer culture more broadly.Subscribe for more!New episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe on Substack for written notes on culture and to get new episodes delivered straight to your inbox.Have ideas, questions, or something you want me to dig into? Send them my way at [email protected] or message me on Substack! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingtheorypod.substack.com

It might look like sports viewership is declining… but what if it’s actually just moving to different platforms?In this episode, I unpack how our engagement with sports has fundamentally changed, especially for Gen Z. People are no longer only watching two-hour games on ESPN. Instead, short-form media is reshaping how we experience sports. Alysa Liu took over our feeds during the Winter Olympics. TikTok edits of athletes are going viral. Heated Rivalry—which gained traction through its online fanbase—has drawn female audiences into the NHL.Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are transforming sports culture by making sports visible across new spaces and formats. These more accessible entry points are redefining what it means to be a “sports fan” and why more people might be engaging with sports than ever before—just not in traditional ways.Subscribe for more! New episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe on Substack for written notes on culture and to get new episodes delivered straight to your inbox.Have ideas, questions, or something you want me to dig into? Send them my way at [email protected] or message me on Substack! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingtheorypod.substack.com

Hi friends! Welcome to Working Theory.This is a podcast where we unpack what’s happening in culture—across media, internet trends, youth culture, fashion, music, and sports. Each week, we’ll start with something small and build a working theory around what it might reveal about bigger cultural shifts.New episodes every Thursday.Have ideas, questions, or something you want me to dig into? Send them my way at [email protected] you soon! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingtheorypod.substack.com