Big Things Podcast
A weekly show where we talk about the big things we're watching in marketing, social media, pop culture and sports. We also talk through signals we’re seeing that could inform the future of digital marketing.
You can catch the podcast every Friday wherever you listen or watch it on YouTube. Be sure to follow us on Instagram or TikTok for updates on every episode.
Big Things Podcast
The Youth Are Okay (Actually, Better Than Us) (E8)
Now that Halloween’s over we’re switching into holiday mode – between our own Christmas decor and planning our annual Arcade holiday party! Since we’re in the festive mood, our team is putting together our first ever Gift Guide (linked below). We also chat about our tips for surviving winter in Calgary, campaigns we’re loving from Zara and GAP, and trends around Gen Z, movies and nightclubs.
More from us:
- Mitzi Payne @mmmitziP
- Mike Payne @mmmiiike
Timestamps:
- 01:00 – Starting to get in the holiday spirit (by buying more Christmas trees).
- 09:00 – Tips to survive winter in Calgary.
- 12:20 – Big Thing #1: Zara is starting a pre-owned platform (and we love it).
- 22:00 – Campaigns we’re loving from Zara and GAP.
- 25:00 – Our experiences working in retail.
- 28:00 – Big Thing #2: Adolescents favorite thing to do = movies.
- 35:00 – Skibidi?
- 39:00 – TikTok is changing the way Gen Z talks.
- 43:40 – Big Thing #3: UK nightclubs are going to be extinct by 2030. What are people into instead?
Show notes:
- Arcade’s TikTok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@helloarcade
- The SCAN CLUB Gift Guide: https://scanclub.substack.com/p/gift-guide-what-people-want-for-the
- Books: How to Winter by Kari Leibowitz, PhD & Wintering by Katherine May
Big Things with Mitzi (@mmmitzi) and Mike (@mmmiiike).
For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/
Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Oliver Banyard.
How's the gift card coming?
Speaker 2:It's in progress. Are you laughing at me? No, I just think you're funny. Yeah, all right, welcome to Big Things. I'm Mitzi. This is Mike.
Speaker 1:This is Mike and this is our show, where we talk about the things that we're seeing in marketing, social media, pop culture and sports. We'll also talk through signals that we're watching and how they could influence the future of digital marketing. You can, of course, catch this show on YouTube, which I hope most of you are watching on YouTube by now. If you're not, try it, but if you need podcast players, it's available there too. And be sure to follow us on Instagram. Like comment, send us a DM, let us know what you think.
Speaker 2:Yeah, today on the show we're talking about a few big things. First one is Zara launched its repair and resale platform in the US. A new study found that teens' favorite activity is going to the movies and clubbing culture is dying, at least in the UK.
Speaker 1:The Brits.
Speaker 2:The Brits they're struggling with their clubs.
Speaker 1:They don't be in the club.
Speaker 2:In the club the Brits. They're struggling with their clubs.
Speaker 1:They don't be in the club In the club. We all fam Do you know what that is. I know it's from TikTok Nice, but have you ever seen?
Speaker 2:anyone do it? No, I've just seen people like meme it.
Speaker 1:Same thing that's most of my TikTok experience is just like hearing it like as a byproduct from other people.
Speaker 2:Do you get your tiktok trends on reels or you get them on tiktok? I get them from you and people at arcade so on our hello arcades, tiktok, which you should go check out and and follow it's a good account.
Speaker 1:Hello arcade on tiktok yes 14k followers trying yeah, doing our best, slowly growing over there yeah, it's mostly the social team just kind of showing life on the social team. They're doing amazing work and I'm excited to celebrate them at our annual holiday party, which is coming up, so soon it is coming up I'm deep in the planning mode now that halloween's over, we immediately switch to christmas it's true, we had our tree up this weekend, which is like what?
Speaker 2:november 3rd, 4th something like that.
Speaker 1:This whole, the last few days, has been a blur, as, yeah, we shared, we were sick yeah, but um, I feel it feels so good to have like the tree up.
Speaker 2:We got two trees. I surprised you with the second tree. Um, I went to michael's with my daughter and we came home with a second tree and a ton of more decorations. But aren't you glad? It's like a good vibe though right.
Speaker 1:When the credit card statement says Michael's outing was more expensive than our weekly grocery run, you know that a lot of damage was done you know what I actually?
Speaker 2:you should be grateful, because I went crazy, because we keep those decorations literally for years. We've had some of ours for so many years and it's what make it such a good investment, because it's what makes our children's memories like they remember those.
Speaker 1:I'm with you, yeah, that's why I didn't complain. I know, I just thought it was funny. I'm just saying it for the ground nice.
Speaker 2:but yeah, our Christmas decorations are up and I used to be kind of self-conscious about being one of those people that decorates early, but I found last year there was this meme going around, which I will believe is true, that apparently studies show that people who decorate earlier for Christmas are happier.
Speaker 1:Oh, 100%, it's no mystery. Yeah it's, it's no mystery. Yeah, like it's, the season is the. I mean. I'm sure there's people out there that have bad experiences or references to this holiday season, but for our household specifically, it's nothing but good memories, and we're trying to do the same for our kids. So, yeah, it brings me more happiness. It makes me feel like my problems are smaller and the moments are even more valuable yeah, and I think with kids you kind of just like see it through their eyes.
Speaker 2:Like I, I do feel the anxiety and stress that I know a lot of people feel around the holidays, um, but because I'm like doing it for them, it's different what do you?
Speaker 1:what stress are you talking about? Just like getting everything in order and like?
Speaker 2:getting all the gifts shopping, yeah, and it's different. What do you? What stress are you talking about?
Speaker 1:just like getting everything in order and like getting all the gifts shopping, yeah, and it's like the, it's so expensive, like it's an expensive season, so like but that's what black friday, cyber monday, is for I know get ready, yeah, get those discounts I'm so ready yeah, and I think we we've gotten good at the gifts thing in the last few years since we had kids too.
Speaker 1:It's like quality over quantity, not overdoing it like everything within reason, you know, and we're better at doing more like gift exchanges or secret Santa with family, so it's not like everyone's buying everything for everyone. So I feel like overall in our world the stress has come down over the last few years.
Speaker 2:I also have like lots of things to plan and coordinate. Like I'm planning our holiday, like party for our team. It's a big soiree every year and every year I try to outdo the last year. So, working hard on that, I'm doing a little site tour tomorrow. I'm excited.
Speaker 1:Oh, you are. Where's my invite?
Speaker 2:I was going to talk to you about all of a few things I need your decisions on.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, but am I invited to the tour?
Speaker 2:If you want Interesting.
Speaker 1:I was going to invite Pamela too Cool, so you're going to invite Pamela and not me.
Speaker 2:For the content. No, I, of course, was going to talk to you and give you the option. I just know you're a busy man.
Speaker 1:That's true. Very thoughtful, very demure of you Did.
Speaker 2:I use that right no.
Speaker 1:The other thing about the holidays before we move on is that we always find that it's our one time of year. It's almost like our annual honeymoon, and what I mean by that is like clients respect the honeymoon annual honeymoon, and what I mean by that is like.
Speaker 1:Clients respect the honeymoon. You know they like give you the space. They understand that you're offline, but for other times of year it's harder. It's harder to be away and like maintain the integrity of your client relationships and the quality of your service. So the only time of year that that is remotely feasible is the days between Christmas and New Year's, so we always look forward to that as well.
Speaker 1:That's like our burnout recovery zone and our preparation for the new year. I know you love setting goals. I don't mind setting goals, I'm not. I don't look forward to it as much as you do. I'm still in vacay mode when you start thinking about that. But yeah, we're pretty excited post holiday party to just tune out and our team gets to do the same. Yeah, we do a shop shutdown.
Speaker 2:So yeah, it's so fun bless up I love those days. I just don't want it to come too fast I want to enjoy everything like every day.
Speaker 1:Until then, you know yeah, because january and february is just mid this year I'm gonna adopt a winter mindset.
Speaker 2:I actually started reading this book that Mel and our team recommended. It's called I forget something about wintering, like surviving winter, thriving in winter and I just started the book so I don't really know the tips yet, but basically it's about how to embrace the winter season and it's not all just dark and dead. There's a lot of like beauty in it and just being able to like embrace the cozy vibes. And it was written by this researcher out of California who traveled to this like Nordic town it's like the most northern like city where they have this like institute where they study these things and like that town has like the lowest rates of like sad and like depression and all that and they just have like really embraced the winter season and so like all the tips and learnings from that. So I'm going to embrace it this year.
Speaker 1:I love it. I think that's really as you're talking about that. I was thinking about how to be happy in a city where it gets cold, yeah, and so many people tout places like Vancouver or you know, california, obviously over kind of like middle of the country, prairie, especially like cold places, places. But I think Alberta and Calgary specifically are so underrated um, because all you really have to do is winterize yourself. Yeah, all you have to do is prepare. The people that complain about Calgary winter are just unprepared right but I think we've.
Speaker 1:We've worked really hard over the last couple years to winterize ourselves and now we actually do enjoy winter.
Speaker 2:I feel like last year we enjoyed winter I I don't fully enjoy winter. I love until, like you said, like end of january or end of december. No, I feel like you enjoy it longer than that, I feel like once it gets. It's like march, april, when it's getting yeah, I think we need to embrace winter sports too, and I think we need better lighting at home yeah less overhead, more ambience yeah, for sure, I think.
Speaker 1:Okay, here's my winterizing checklist for all the people listening, why you should move from a wet climate like vancouver to calgary and what you should do to be happy. So vancouver, nothing against vancouver. I love Vancouver. But the winter is so hard there. It's dark, gray and wet for like at least 45 days, sometimes 45 days straight and multiple months, like fairly consistently. And even if you prepare yourself, you're always cold.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:No matter where you go, no matter who you are or how you are, you're always cold, because that wet cold gets to your bones. Move to Calgary and prepare yourself with the following checklist Get winter tires on your car. You're going to love driving in the winter if you have winter tires in your car. They take care of the roads and you don't slide around, and you actually love getting out of the house, which is important because it's sunny in Alberta. So if you get out of the house in the winter, you're going to be happy because you're going to get the vitamin D vitamin delicious.
Speaker 1:The other thing you need to do is you need to get a downfield parka. You can get these. People think these are expensive. You can get them on sale Black Friday, cyber Monday I told you about it or off season. Get a parka, get a fleece, get whatever you need to do to feel really excited about what you're wearing when you leave the house. Get some gloves. Get two different kinds of gloves. Get mitts, but also get gloves that you can use for driving, scraping your window in the morning or like going for a walk with your coffee or your dog. Get a dog, by the way. Get a dog to get out of the house.
Speaker 2:That's not part of my checklist, that's just a bonus item, but also shoes.
Speaker 1:Footwear is very important. A lot of people aren't big fans of boots. I'm not a fan of boots. So what was a game changer for me was finding Gore-Tex shoes. So Salomon Salomons are having a moment. They have been for the last couple of years. Get a pair of Salomon Gore-Tex shoes. Get some wool socks or some thick socks that are cozy, that you enjoy wearing. If you're wearing Gore-Tex shoes, your feet are just going to be just as warm as if you were wearing boots, but they're far more functional. They're still very grippy. I also just got some Hoka's that are very grippy. I also have some District Vision New Balance. They're just sneakers, but they're very grippy. They're weatherproof, they get you through it, you still look cool, you still get the job done, but you can get out of the house, feel good, be happy.
Speaker 2:I love it, what else?
Speaker 1:do we need?
Speaker 2:What else goes on the list? You should take vitamin D.
Speaker 1:Yes, take vitamin D. We all have a deficiency in the winter. If we're not taking it because the days are so short.
Speaker 2:Lots of candlelight.
Speaker 1:Yeah, get one of those alarm clocks in the morning that's like a sunrise alarm clock, so that it's easier to wake up even when it's dark.
Speaker 2:I don't know A lot of tips.
Speaker 1:If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. But if you do those things and you move to Calgary, you will be happy, happier than if you live in Vancouver.
Speaker 2:I love how it's like if you move to Calgary, you'll be happy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we need a sponsored placement with like the city of Calgary or something like that.
Speaker 2:Travel Alberta come through Calgary Economic Development.
Speaker 1:CED, let's go.
Speaker 2:Well, I love that PSA. Thank you for that.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 2:Should we get into our first big? Thing?
Speaker 1:Let's do it.
Speaker 2:Okay, shifting gears a little bit. Zara launched its repair and resale platform in the US. After launching pre-owned platform in 16 countries, including Italy, the UK and France, zara is bringing its circularity initiative to the US market, launching nationwide. Customers can access the pre-owned platform on Zara's website, the Zara app, and in Zara stores. The platform has three major pillars repair, resell and donate.
Speaker 2:Its repair service will allow customers to request a repair on any Zara garment from any season, from replacing buttons and zippers to seams. The resell option allows customers to sell Zara garments from any collection organized by product categories, with detailed information about the item, including Zara's original information about the garment and images. Zara said its goal is to offer customers a complete approach to circularity and extend the life of their clothes. Through its internally developed artificial intelligence that matches customers' photos, names and descriptions to the website. When a customer is looking to resell, they can take a photo of the garment and upload it to the pre-owned platform, which will automatically populate it with the original item images and details, and the reseller only needs to add its sizing and condition of the item.
Speaker 1:This is so good. Before you get into the circular fashion stuff, I just want to say that I actually I don't really shop at Zara for myself because I don't really like the menswear. I got my wedding suit there. Shout out cheap suits.
Speaker 2:You might get your holiday suit.
Speaker 1:Maybe Don't blow my holiday party outfit plans, but we shop there a lot for our kids and I know you buy stuff there, but it's it's like a tech company. It's not just a fashion company. This is a tech company. Last time we were there buying clothes for our kids, instead of going up to the upstairs cashier, there was a whole checkout area in the lower level where the kids stuff well, they have that at the upstairs.
Speaker 1:So all cashiers, yeah, yeah so instead of your typical cashier experience, like if you're at footlocker or something where it's absolute chaos, there's these, like it's kind of like a big sink yeah like in your, in your parents laundry room yeah, it's a big, wide, deep sink yeah, but you put one item in at a time in the sink.
Speaker 1:It must be some like weird magnet, like qr scanning sink that recognizes things and it populates the product on the screen for you. You're not scanning anything, it just drops in there. And I was even dumping multiple things in at a time and it was recognizing it. It was the most efficient thing I've ever seen, and then I could just dump it all back in the bag after I was done and just pay for it and leave. It was awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And that's it must be a similar technology that they're using here, where you just take a photo and it just recognizes it and gives you all this information. So not only can you resell this stuff which is the moral of the story but it is incredibly easy which means that people are actually going to do this.
Speaker 2:No, I know that's such an important piece of it because selling stuff takes so much work. Like I have bags of clothes in our closet, I'm gonna sell.
Speaker 1:I've been meaning to talk to you about that. Get that stuff out of there.
Speaker 2:I know, but it's just like. I know I could get money for it, but I have to go to like a consignment store and have them like go through it, or I have to take photos of it, like each individual item in different angles, and then post it online and then wait for people to like respond and like do all the stuff. So it just takes time. So, yeah, I think the technology of it this is like an example of someone using AI for good Finally, like, save me time, make it easier to support circular fashion, like I love it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think it's so cool too, because we all have mistrust in big brands and big companies like this that also that we already have preconceived understandings that they're exploiting in some way, whether they're exploiting a labor market in another country or they're exploiting like some sort of supply chain thing that's allowing them to sell for cheap but still make crazy margins, whatever it is. So I think when you hear something like this, you automatically want to assume some sort of virtue signaling, but I think that's not what's happening here. Like this is actually a company, a large company like zara, doing something for good that's actually good.
Speaker 2:I don't know if their supply chain, like like issues, are totally like perfect, though Like I think they still get a lot of heat for their way and like treatment of like garment workers and things like that, but this for sure is like an amazing thing that the company is doing.
Speaker 1:For sure. I'm not saying that those issues are resolved, but I'm saying this is actually like a real tangible, positive thing that they're doing and not just like to like appease people 100, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I think this is smart in so many levels. First of all, it's showing their commitment to circular fashion and sustainability, and Gen Z and millennial shoppers, like actually really care about the environment and it's a major concern that influences purchasing decisions, especially for things that cost a bit lower. So, like when they're considering, like where am I gonna buy my next sweater, like why not Zara? Like this is actually such a good move by the company for that reason. Secondly, they're getting into the resale market. We talked about well, we didn't talk about it on this show, but we we discussed in scan Club about IKEA getting into the resale market. So IKEA has like a similar version of their own resale platform.
Speaker 1:I think we did talk about it on the show.
Speaker 2:Really, I can't remember if we did. Oh, we did, okay, cool, we've talked about it on the show before, but basically it's just like a smart business move. People are selling your products already. Why not get in on that business and own that market? Yeah, especially when it comes to your product, like I'm sure Zara is making a small commission off all the sales and, honestly, if they're saving me all that time, like I don't mind yeah, exactly, I'm willing to pay a commission for that kind of efficiency and ease a hundred percent too.
Speaker 1:Like they get criticism that their garments don't last and maybe maybe their adult garments are different. I don't know what your experience has been with the stuff that you buy from there, if it kind of like disintegrates over time or like loses its shape, but the kids clothes that we've gotten there have actually lasted pretty well yeah through our six-year-old daughter and now to our two-year-old son, and now we're kind of still like should we give these to someone?
Speaker 2:yeah, I have so much stuff I'm going to give away to people, but yeah, I agree their clothes. Like I, my personal experience hasn't been great with our clothes. Um, so it's, it's like up it's. It depends on the on the clothing. Like, some things have lasted a long time, they've been great. Some things haven't. But I think the fact that they're willing to repair clothes that's one thing I haven't seen any other company do.
Speaker 2:It's such a genius move because it's showing to the consumer that this can last you a long time if you take care of it and fix a few seams here and there or adjust a button or put on a button or whatever. It just really means that they're standing by their products in a way that I haven't seen other companies do before.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you think we're going to see other companies follow?
Speaker 2:I hope so Is.
Speaker 1:Gap going to do this.
Speaker 2:I would love to see that.
Speaker 1:H&M. I think the quality is even worse, but I think they maybe have more variety, so it'd be cool to see a company like H&M maybe doing something like this as well. Is H&M Canadian.
Speaker 2:No, it's Swedish.
Speaker 1:Right, okay.
Speaker 2:I also think it's really smart for Zara to keep its clothes out of its landfills, like, I think, for people who maybe, like, will donate their clothes and eventually, like the end cycle is they get to landfill, and I don't think that this will prevent that 100%. But I think the fact that they're taking it back and reselling it or donating, and like you can either resell, repair or donate through this platform, so I think, for them to make sure that, like, their clothes aren't staying or going to every other landfill where every other retailer is going, is like smart. Like I don't know what they're going to do with it. I'm sure they're going to do some sort of disposal, but I think it's like smart as a company, like you don't want to see your clothes in landfills, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah. We need less in landfills in general, for sure I agree, Um so I love this. I'm excited about it. I also loved their announcement video.
Speaker 2:Did you see it? I agree, so I love this. I'm excited about it. I also loved their announcement video. Did you see it?
Speaker 1:I did.
Speaker 2:It was so good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it kind of connected to what we were talking about on the last episode, where it feels like there's just going to be a continued move more and more towards UGC style content and lo-fi just because of the decisions platforms like Instagram are making. But I think it's not just from a practical standpoint. I think brands are somehow just kind of like also leaning into that more approachable, like style.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's almost like what would a cool like European fashion girly post, Like that's like the video. And it's completely opposite to like Gaps campaigns. Like Gaps campaigns are and I love Gaps campaigns Like they're iconic for a reason but they're like highly produced, well lit, like pretty simple usually, but they're like commercials, you know, and they feel like commercials. But this Zara campaign was really interesting because it just felt like social like. It felt like social content, but it came from Zara.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we've talked a little bit about how platforms like Instagram and TikTok are trying to even YouTube are trying to replace broadcast television and kind of get that user base, and I think that's true. But I think the effort isn't to just like take tv programming onto these platforms, which a lot of brands still seem to be trying to do, like tv commercials on instagram yeah, with the production level, but also just the way that they they the treatments that they use and I like seeing brands that are still part of that kind of migration from broadcast into social, but also showing that you can do content better than that yeah also users consume content differently than that now yeah, I mean I I love this video.
Speaker 2:I don't know if Zara is going to continue like that style of content. I also do love gaps like ads, because I do feel like they have that like high production, well-lit style, yeah, um, but it it is made for social like do you remember?
Speaker 2:that tyla video. Um, you know the singer who sings water. She did that video, which is a remake of the jungle music video, and she was in like her cat because it went viral and went like crazy in the summer I don't think I've seen it, but oh wait, I'll show it to you.
Speaker 2:But yeah, so they did that video and it was like a remake of one of gap's older commercials, because gap's older commercials were like kind of music video style, where there was like a dancing kind of portion to it in like the all gap clothing, like those are the commercials I remember.
Speaker 2:So I love that gap like leans into that and it's still high produced. But there's, like you know, it's intentionally made for social consumption because they're using like really they're like working through songs that are really turning on social or using personalities that have like a. They're like working through songs that are really turning on social or using personalities that have like a great social presence, like Tyla. And then they I just saw their latest campaign I think it's for the holidays, but they picked all these like really great singers who have like these like great big singing platforms, like they're just like amateur singers, and they put them in a room like, of course, in all gap clothing, and they sang, um, this Janet Jackson song and it was acapella and it was so good, um, so I just love.
Speaker 1:I love how they think we stand nostalgia for sure absolutely we go crazy for it it's so true yeah, I think I'm even thinking about brands, and they're not doing it necessarily lo-fi or even nostalgia, but some of the high fashion brands, like Hermes, I was looking at their social content recently and it was like completely different but still different than TV. You know, like a lot of it was like art based and like 3D and more like just artistic in general, even like almost like um, I don't know what you would call it like claymation, almost like okay, yeah, just a completely different take on creative, but it still fits the brand. That's cool, it's it's like scroll stopping and it's also not necessarily like with a cta to like buy hermes because not everyone can buy it, but it's just like kind of establishing their presence on the platform but doing content interesting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, another brand that does such a good job in like the high fashion space is Jack Muse.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:They're the best social fashion brand out there. I love, love, love, love what they do. I think it's like they're the standard.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Love love, love, love what they do. I think it's like they're the standard. Yeah, by the way, if you're a 3D designer or a motion designer or both, we need to talk.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we need to find a few Because we want to do more content, like Jack Muse, but I'll just talk about like these fashion brands. When you think about when I worked in retail, did you ever work in retail?
Speaker 1:I did Not as much as Um, I did like work ed at sport check sport check back in the day I also worked at a music store, just kind of like a local music store. Um, I'm trying to think if I did any other retail than that, that might be it.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 1:What were your retail spots?
Speaker 2:I worked at H and M. That might be it nice. What were your retail spots? I worked at h&m, um, which was such a tough job like I really have so much like grace for the people that work at h&m, because it's like your job is just to clean the whole time, like it's like such a busy place. You're not even there to help customers, you're literally there to keep order sounds like what we do at home.
Speaker 1:Back to help customers, you're literally there to keep order sounds like what we do at home back. Truly, our job is just to clean all the time and put clothes back clothes and toys, but yeah, I get it, I feel like I remember when I was younger, shopping at H&M and just seeing the staff just seemed constantly busy yeah, it was like I've never seen like a retail environment like that.
Speaker 2:Like I know there's lots of like people who work at a ritzy. It's like a sales job. Like you're there to like sell the clothes to the customers and that's actually how you get your hours.
Speaker 1:But, like at H&M, you're not there for any other reason but to clean the clothes yeah, because I feel like there's H&M and I feel like it's like this at Old Navy more than other stores, but there's always just piles of clothes everywhere, like the people shopping just are like making work for the staff.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 1:Any other retail jobs that you worked?
Speaker 2:I worked at Buffalo. Why are you trying to get to one?
Speaker 1:No, I'm just curious. Oh, okay, I want to know. I want to picture like young Mitzi working at H&M. You know.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Did you have all the friends?
Speaker 2:I had all the friends Were you a leader or a follower? I was indifferent.
Speaker 1:You were the gossip queen, for sure, nice.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was actually. I worked in the men's section and I actually got to help a few celebrities.
Speaker 1:Like.
Speaker 2:Cory Monteith RIPP who's that? He's the guy from Glee, oh okay yeah, I helped him find a v-neck sweat t-shirt.
Speaker 1:I was all about the v-necks. I know you were at a certain point v-necks and ponytails. I was like I feel like it was as I was exiting high school into university and I was like I had a little bit of chest hair exiting high school into university and I was like I had a little bit of chest hair you know, and I was just like just had to have like a moderate, moderately deep v how deep? How deep did you go that?
Speaker 1:is deep no, there's deeper ones. What, like all the like punk and like emo singers had depot deeper ones, but mine was like moderately deep right.
Speaker 2:I wonder if v-necks like that would ever come back.
Speaker 1:They will, because everything comes back. Unfortunately, they will.
Speaker 2:Like. What if Timo, like our son one day, is just wearing a deep v-neck?
Speaker 1:Your husband might be wearing a v-neck again at a certain point. I cannot allow that for you. You never thought you'd see me in like straight leg or baggy pants, but those came back.
Speaker 2:Now, I hope I never see you in skinny pants.
Speaker 1:I know. I hope I never have to wear those again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, me too. Okay, should we move on to the thing two?
Speaker 1:Yeah, a new study out of UCLA found that teenagers' favorite thing to do is to go to the movies.
Speaker 2:Speaking of the youth.
Speaker 1:I'm so happy to hear this honestly just before our kids grow up, because, like there was more stuff that we were getting into when we were in high school, when we were teenagers. Literally clubbing which is their third story. Yeah, like if our daughter's favorite thing to do is go to the movies with her friends. Bless her Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Be empowered. Go to the movies. Go to the movies.
Speaker 1:I'll get you a scene membership. You know, rack up those points, get the candy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, worst things could be happening, absolutely.
Speaker 1:The latest installment of the university's teens and screens report, which first off credit to UCLA for just a good name for a report. That makes me want to read the report.
Speaker 2:Yeah, teens and screens. It gives me what I know. It's clear. It's concise, it's snappy.
Speaker 1:Teenage mutant movie watchers. Something fun. It surveyed 1,500 young people across the US, ages 10 to 24, identified going to see a film on opening weekend as adolescence's number one preferred pastime. When cost, transportation and other barriers are removed from the equation, which for 10 to 18-year-olds, those things are all removed from the equation for the most part. Among that age group, movie going ranked above watching sports? I don't know about that. Playing video games don't know about that either. Streaming movies or tv shows on personal devices and other forms of entertainment yeah, which is.
Speaker 2:This is why it's so shocking to me, like I would have assumed that teens, when given the choice and all financial barriers are removed, would have preferred to like play video games.
Speaker 1:Yeah, or go to a concert.
Speaker 2:Or sports. Like it's just so shocking that it's like going to the movies.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm here for it, though.
Speaker 2:I love it.
Speaker 1:According to the UCLA report, 36% of adolescents prefer fantasy over other genres. My people, let's go. 64% value stories about friendship and platonic relationships over romance, which is different than our generation. We love the rom-coms. 62 percent believe that sex scenes are not necessary to advance the plot of tv shows and movies.
Speaker 2:I love this for our kids.
Speaker 1:Let's go and I lost my spot. Only survey participants 14 and older were asked for their opinions about on-screen sex. Cool on the other end of the spectrum. Only seven percent of young people enjoyed movies and tv shows about the rich and famous. 14 said they wanted to watch films and series tackling real life issues that affect society.
Speaker 2:This makes me feel like the youth are okay.
Speaker 1:We have hope for Gen Alpha, Gen Z.
Speaker 2:It's going to be okay. I love that like 62% believe that sex scenes are not necessary to advance the plot. And I know I'm a grandma okay Like I know I'm a grandma who doesn't go out and is like boring and like doesn't like video games. But I've lately been feeling like some of these sex scenes are like too much.
Speaker 1:It's too much, yeah, like what happened to hello like it's just like too.
Speaker 2:Like it's like suddenly it's there and like someone's fully naked and I always think about how they film that scene. Like I just can't help it and I get like so concerned, like, and I know there's like a lot of like, safe practices and like and they're all consenting adults and it's an art whatever, but like it, just I. Sometimes there's like a lot of like, safe practices and like and they're all consenting adults and it's an art whatever, but like it, just I. Sometimes I'm like I don't know if it's necessary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like sure Everyone's consenting and there's like the sex positive movement.
Speaker 2:That's great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I think, is it adding value to the plot? That's the question, you know.
Speaker 2:Sometimes it is.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but sometimes you could easily just imply it and move on.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 1:Or just be less graphic.
Speaker 2:Or not have it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like sometimes it's not. I don't feel like it's always necessary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I don't even think to clarify, I don't think we're talking about this through the lens of, like, we're parents with kids. We're talking about it through the lens of even us watching stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, and maybe when we were younger it was like cool because we were free from our parents, like Overwatch, to be able to see some of that kind of stuff, and we were still in that like exploratory phase of our lives. But I think at this point it's kind of like we get it, we get the point, we get the idea, let's move on to like the more like interesting parts of the show or this movie move on to like the more like interesting parts of the show or this movie and I love that deans are more interested in like platonic friendship content, like movies about that yeah, because I think, like as a kid who grew up in like the disney, like old disney genre where, like every single movie was about a princess, who's like yearning for a prince to rescue her, like I'm just so happy that, like this next generation isn't served only those options and that they're yearning for a prince to rescue her.
Speaker 2:Like I'm just so happy that, like this next generation isn't served only those options and that they're yearning for more of, like you know, movies and shows and content that show friendships like real, deep friendships.
Speaker 1:Personal empowerment, positive friend groups and like family structures and networks and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2:I'm here for it. Only 7.2% of young people enjoyed movies and TV shows about the rich and famous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's shocking. See you later, kardashians.
Speaker 2:That's shocking to me, because Bravo better do something. They need to start investing in Bravo camps or something.
Speaker 1:I guess in a way, this is rich and famous. I was going to reference the Wags show that's coming on Bravo, but it seems like they're taking the angle of the less rich and famous way. Obviously, if their partners are in the NFL, they're making good money, but I don't know.
Speaker 2:They're rich and famous I feel like Bravo as a whole, like that whole network is. I mean, maybe it's not that whole network.
Speaker 1:But Bravo is not for the kids.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, it's not for the kids, but you know, sometimes I think about like future longevity, like these reports matter to decision makers in this network because they have to start considering their audiences and like developing new audiences, and oftentimes it's younger audiences or other like demos. So when you consider like and it's fine, like I don't think we need to change the way what the youth want. I think we just maybe need to offer more variety. Like they're not going to be watching the Real Housewives.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what does reality TV look like when it's just about normal people?
Speaker 2:No idea.
Speaker 1:Normal people in platonic relationships? I'm curious. Yeah, that's going to force us to be creative.
Speaker 2:I'd love to see it.
Speaker 1:Me too.
Speaker 2:What this reminds me. Have you seen speaking of the younger generation? I want to make sure I'm saying this right Skibbity.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Skibbity Toilet.
Speaker 2:Skibbity Toilet. I haven't seen it, but I know what it is. You need to watch that video.
Speaker 1:I honestly I saw this in the script and I thought about watching it, so I could say yes.
Speaker 2:I might just, can I just show you in real time. I want to get your reaction on tape. Hold on, there's a commercial. I'll make sure it's like quiet, so we're not like infringing on any copyright, but it's like I watch most content on silent anyway.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is the kind of thing that would show up in my algorithm and I'd send it to two or three of my friends.
Speaker 2:What you would.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'd be like LOL, this is you, LOL, saw your face in the toilet. Stop, LOL. This is you, LOL, saw your face in the toilet.
Speaker 2:Stop Like. This is crazy. I was.
Speaker 1:It reminds me of the weird stuff we'd watch, like Homestar Runner and like. I don't know what that is Salad Fingers and stuff like that growing up you know it's just that kind of cringe.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's so weird to me. It reminds me honestly of Nutter Butter. Yeah, it's so weird to me. It reminds me honestly of Nutter Butter, yeah for sure. So there is this like this, like demand for that kind of like weird, unhinged content. I don't get it.
Speaker 1:It's personally not for me, which is fine, I think it's just another kind of another version of like a break from reality.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, if Jen Alpha wants to watch skibbity and go to the movies that's okay as long as that's, as far as it gets, you know the lord be with them yeah feel free but also did you see northwest gifted kim kardashian and necklace that said skibbity, toilet and diamonds yes, I saw that northwest is really like.
Speaker 1:I love her yeah, I wasn't gonna criticize her. I just feel like she's like really developing a personality.
Speaker 2:I love it.
Speaker 1:She's like a little Kanye but she's got some Kim in her for sure, for sure yeah, I love her personality.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's like there was an episode of the Kardashians I watched where she wanted a snack and she reached for an onion and was eating it like an apple what, yeah? And she was kind of like trolling Kim, like I just she just lives to troll Kim.
Speaker 1:I think so Skivvity toilet necklace and eating an onion.
Speaker 2:Yeah and anyways, the internet had the most hilarious reactions to.
Speaker 1:And she didn't make any faces while she's eating it.
Speaker 1:No, had the most hilarious reactions to, and she didn't make any faces while she's eating it. No, that reminds me I've seen some content I don't know if you've seen this on tiktok or instagram, where it's. I think most of it is duetted, but it all started with an original video of a girl taking a lime and, like, squeezing it into her mouth, and then she was kind of like. She went like this and had no facial reaction, and then people dueteting it being like, kind of like. I can do that too. They go get a lime, they squeeze it into their mouth, but then they can't keep themselves from having a facial reaction, kind of like when you do a tequila shot. But I've seen that like repeatedly in my algorithm for some reason.
Speaker 2:Lime. That's random Lime juice.
Speaker 1:Maybe we need to try it on the next episode juice, maybe we need to try it on the next episode. That hard pass, I wouldn't mess up my makeup for that.
Speaker 2:Do a leap of diet coke, yeah, but I don't want to like, mess up my makeup.
Speaker 1:How are you messing up your makeup squeezing lime into your mouth?
Speaker 2:oh, it's like not all over your face no, you squeeze it into your mouth. You're like drinking straight like that won't even be that hard we're doing it on the next episode.
Speaker 1:She said it lime.
Speaker 2:Lime juice is yummy.
Speaker 1:You better prove it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, sure. Let's go have you seen the trend where people do like shots and like Like, some people have tequila shots and some people have water shots and you have to like guess who has which.
Speaker 1:I don't, I haven't really seen that, but it sounds like a fun game.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when I'm off full 30, we should do that, alright. Also, we need to talk about how TikTok has changed the way Gen Z talks. So I know you were really excited about this Economist article and I did the process like did the trial, uploaded my credit card information. I have seven days to cancel it. The article was so mid. It was clearly written from someone who's like never been on TikTok before, because they're like demure in the original form means old, but people on TikTok are using it to mean modest and it's like duh, like okay yeah, duh for someone like you who's like in the TikTok culture and in the TikTok vocabulary but, and like works around and hangs around.
Speaker 1:Gen Z.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but it didn't say anything about like real, like data or like insight, like it had no POV, like that was my thing. I was like kept reading about like what TikTok is doing with words and all of it is true, but it didn't give me anything Like. The only tangible nugget from there was that the websters, like the oxford websters dictionary, whatever, like the dictionary of the words. Okay, they can't keep up with adding words because the a word, a new word, needs to be used at least for five years before it can be added to the dictionary. So sometimes they're adding dictionaries that feel old, because five years in internet time is like forever and like people stop using those words so I wonder what words they're adding this year that have been used for the last five years I know, and every year oxford comes out with like the word of the year, that's supposed to like represent the year.
Speaker 2:So last year it was Riz, which I love.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But then there's also this whole thing of like people are using. No, that's old, like Paris Hilton trademarked it.
Speaker 1:It's old because it has to be used for five years.
Speaker 2:Right, maybe it could be sliving, but I don't think they could use that because it was trademarked. Yeah, it was trademarked. What I was going to say is like they're not necessarily inventing new words, they're just using words in a different way like demure, which was like boggling the writer's mind Like they're using it in a completely different way.
Speaker 1:Well, riz is a new word.
Speaker 2:Riz is a new word.
Speaker 1:It's a play on an existing word.
Speaker 2:Right. They also talked about colloquialisms that are on the rise. So Gen Z are saying yapping instead of talking Duh, and they're trimming words like delulu instead of delusional.
Speaker 1:Right Love that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I just felt like it didn't give me anything.
Speaker 1:All right, thank you for your notes. I just what I thought was interesting and worth talking about was more like the moral of the article, like the headline essentially, which is that a platform like TikTok is changing the behavior of a generation, and I think that is interesting to me and in a positive way, like I don't think that's a bad thing. I think, MTV and much music did that for us like that's where we got all our slang and references.
Speaker 2:Youth and younger generations have always found a way to like, use slang and create words that like are cool.
Speaker 1:You know, like remember fleek yeah, that was mean girls, wasn't it right? Or no, what was it from? Do you know, morgan? Yeah, I think it's just like internet, like an internet video.
Speaker 2:Oh Fetch.
Speaker 1:Right Fetch.
Speaker 2:Stop trying to make Fetch happen.
Speaker 1:And they were on Fleek Fleek and on Sheik Right or Sheik and on Fleek.
Speaker 2:The other thing that the article Fleek and on Sheik. Sorry, I keep on pulling things up from this article, but I think this article.
Speaker 2:You didn't like this article I didn't like okay, but one thing that I wish the article went into more was how people are starting to create terms, um, like colloquialisms, or like new terms that mean other things than what the word is, because they're working around the TikTok algorithm. So, for example, if there's a video where they want to talk about sex, they instead say s-e-g-g-s sex and so like that is just so. And if you're on tiktok like, you don't think twice, you just like know what that means. But for, like the author, who has never been on tiktok, like they would be like whoa, like they're using this whole new. What is this s-E-G-G-S Like? What's the origin of this word Is?
Speaker 1:it a play on eggs? Is it about procreation?
Speaker 2:Exactly Like. It's not that deep. It's just how to get around the algorithm. Yeah, so anyways.
Speaker 1:Interesting Psychology. That's why I wanted this story in consideration. Thank you for humoring me.
Speaker 2:It was considered let's get on to their next big thing. Okay, thank you for humoring me. Let's get on to their next big thing.
Speaker 1:Okay, big thing three UK nightclubs are going to be extinct by 2030.
Speaker 2:RIP.
Speaker 1:The Nighttime Industries Association, which, honestly speaking, of awesome names, like the name of the study earlier. I think this is an awesome name for an association, but I wish it was about something different.
Speaker 2:The only thing is it has a bad acronym.
Speaker 1:N-T-I-A needs who cares about the acronym nighttime industries association should be about, like, how I can have a good sleep. It's about the opposite, though sleep masks, and well, it's kind of about the same, because nightclubs are going away, so, instead of nightclubs, talk to me about my sleep masks, noise machines, fans well, that's probably the issue they're trying to fight.
Speaker 1:All I'm saying is I thought it was a cool name, but it should be used for something else. Anyways, the NTIA has calculated that if nightclubs continue to close at the current trajectory, that literally none will be left by December 31st 2029. Will be left by December 31st 2029. On this topic, I feel like we need to put the Nighttime Industries Association tasked on climate change. If they can get rid of emissions at this kind of pace, that's productive.
Speaker 2:Well, kate, just to be clear, the Nighttime Industries Association is not trying to make the nightclubs go away, they're trying to protect the nightclubs. So it's like an association. That's like championing nightclubs and asking the UK government to protect nightclubs. Yes, I know.
Speaker 1:I'm just trying to be funny. Okay, that's a good joke. Thanks a lot. Recent data found that 10 UK nightclubs close every single month, with 30% of nightclubs having closed since March 2020.
Speaker 2:Which is.
Speaker 1:Let's be honest March 2020, of all times when the pandemic hit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a lot of nightclubs closed. Ntia is going on offense and pressuring the British government to protect the nightclubs, like Mitzi said on offense and pressuring the British government to protect the nightclubs, like Mitzi said. So obviously there's a lot of factors at play here, but it kind of compounds on some of other signals that we've been seeing and talking about, some of them on this show, some of them in Scan Club. We talked about how millennials and Gen Z are starting to play bingo instead of going clubbing. We just talked about how young people are their favorite activities going to the movies, how it's more about platonic relationships rather than romance and meeting a partner. What are your thoughts on this?
Speaker 2:yeah, I just feel like I think we're changing, like. I think the clubbing generation is maybe like, not, is maybe aging out and not going to these clubs and young people just aren't as interested in clubbing as we were, and I think that's okay. The interesting thing about clubs is they associate it not just with, like dance clubs, but also like jazz clubs and, like you know, like music halls and things like that, where, like live shows happen. And when I think about it in that context, that makes me sad, because we should still have like our jazz clubs and piano bars and things like that. Like, I do feel like it has a place in our culture and it's important to like have a place for that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:Um, but I think we need to like reimagine how people frequent these places and and like and like I don't know, create more like versatility in like the nightclub, you know yeah, I think there there's still a place for more of like the lounge, like socializing kind of environment where it's less like excess use of substances and more like casual use of substances and opportunity for conversation, instead of just like getting a little delulu Right like um Epstein and like Diddy and the stuff that's coming out around.
Speaker 1:Figures like that and what truly happens at crazy parties, you know where there's excess use of substances and people are obviously being exploited and taken advantage of Um. So I think as we start to kind of reckon with those realities, then people are like it's not worth it.
Speaker 2:Right, right, yeah, and it like to be. That's like such a fair point because, as a young girl who I, went to clubs a lot when I was a like teenager in early 20s. Like I, it wasn't safe, Like it was not a safe environment. So I can see why. Why like this next generation just like maybe it's like saw the mistakes and like pains from our generation and just isn't as interested. But this might not even be a generational thing. I keep going back to being like young people don't like clubbing.
Speaker 2:But maybe it's like just more of a cultural shift too, like it's like we're not that old, like we're just like not. Honestly, I feel like clubs and right now are like way too loud. Some restaurants are too loud for me yeah. I'm like just turn it down like an ideal club or like night spot. For me would be a piano bar yeah, I'm here for that what would be an ideal club for you volume is definitely a factor for me.
Speaker 1:Like I want to be able to talk to my friends. I'd love to be in a setting of anywhere from 3 to 15 people, that I know whether we're all together or across multiple tables, I'd like to be sitting yes, obviously the option to get up and move around is nice, but I don't want to be standing the entire time.
Speaker 2:Same with concerts.
Speaker 1:If I'm at a concert, I want the option to sit at least for part of it. Obviously, if that music gets me on my feet, let's go. You know a beer or two. But there's also other kind of interesting settings where that don't require alcohol or even don't allow alcohol, like recently I went to a hookah bar with some friends and they're not licensed, so you don't drink alcohol there. We had green tea and had hookah and that was cool.
Speaker 1:Just to change it up in a different environment, there's TVs on and you could kind of see they were like gathering points, had hookah and that was cool, just to change it up, be in a different environment, there's tvs on and, uh, you could kind of see they were like gathering points, all the tables, and it was really facilitated conversation yeah it's more of like a relaxing thing that you're doing.
Speaker 2:You know, I saw, I see a lot on tiktok is um r&b brunch clubs where I have to sneeze. Yeah, r&b brunch clubs where they'll serve brunch and they'll like have a DJ playing like old school R&B music and like everyone's up and singing, like it like seems like it's like a club, but like people are just like standing up at their table, just like singing because they can't help it, like the music just like takes them away. So I think that would be perfect r&b takes you away for sure for sure it takes me away.
Speaker 2:Um, that could be cool. I just feel like maybe we need like more themes, you know like what would be an example of a theme I don't know like an r&b brunch club oh, like r&B is the theme. Yeah, got it, and brunch.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm not huge on brunch, but it's probably just because I have a sensitivity to eggs, right.
Speaker 2:The other thing that I think could be cool, like and maybe we should try this on a date is like a trivia night, although I'm so bad at trivia.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it totally depends on, like, what the topic or the theme is. But, I'd be open to it. I feel like there's some good trivia nights around town.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we should look into it. Piano bars and trivia nights and improv.
Speaker 1:Yes, stand-up comedy. I think would be fun too To like go, you sit at a table, you laugh.
Speaker 2:I'm actually afraid, though, to go to a stand-up comedy.
Speaker 1:You don't want to be targeted.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:I mean, what can they say about you?
Speaker 2:Insult me. I mean they're just fine, like you have to kind of go and be like whatever, like have a thick skin about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you'd be fine.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'd be fine, they'd end up making fun of me.
Speaker 1:We know.
Speaker 2:Really.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't like that even more.
Speaker 1:Interesting You'd end up coming for the comedian.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:Got anything else to say about UK nightclubs?
Speaker 2:I don't think so, just like prayers up for UK nightclubs For real, would we miss them? Well, I will be like. I will say like it is. It is sad to see like venues close and like someone's business close, know and shut down. I just think like there may be an opportunity, like pivot, like what be a restaurant.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what a night out looks like you know, and I do feel like I'd love to see live music come back and like more of that happening in like cities and around towns and not just like huge stadium tours, like the arrows tour and whatever. Like there is a place for smaller venues and smaller tours and things like that. So it is. I don't want to see like nightclubs go away, I just personally need to figure out.
Speaker 1:I just need a rebrand. Yeah, I'm just like kind of like a new approach. Yeah, I think live music is key. I think it feels like maybe I'm just out of the loop, but it feels like we've kind of lost some of that live music, local music, circle or space through the pandemic and maybe it's like slowly coming back. But I would love to see clubs turn into more like music venues, comedy venues.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Lounge opportunities, kind of like social opportunities that aren't so heavily focused on, just like heavy consumption.
Speaker 2:Right. Actually, on that note, I'm seeing a lot more DJs play at coffee shops, which is cool.
Speaker 1:Interesting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so sipping a coffee having a DJ, I would love that actually.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I like that too, and live music is great for coffee shops.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, this was a good one.
Speaker 2:Jam-packed.
Speaker 1:Thanks for humoring me with some of these stories and thanks for joining us today on YouTube or podcast players. Make sure you like and subscribe. Share it with your friends, leave us a review and, before we go, I always got to ring this gong. See you next time.
Speaker 2:Bye Nice, that was good, good heavy hit, thank you.