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Andrea2's avatar

I am SOOO outside your demographic - old, white woman, live in Florida blah blah. And yet your ruminations are spot on, interesting, and I enjoy reading you immensely. Carry on, you're marvelous.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

this is my jam. thank you! I'm doing my job well if learning a thing or two and having fun ;)

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Tre Johnson's avatar

longtime reader (& someone who constantly shares subs to this newsletter as i'm a paying subber!) and i - another person outside of your demo, but good is good and i love this n'letter so much - found that genx nyt piece to be so grim. i think genx and z will have a lot in common fretting about the travails of advanced tech/AI depressing opportunities across the board. i think the two gens are their own canaries in the coal mine about what's fast heading our way(s) about the state of not just creativity as a culture, but also as a career. one of the things that strikes me often about the items you cover is that many of the marketing approaches, trends and concepts tend to have a chilly same-sameness to them, and i think that often feels connected to the removal of original, risk-taking creative ideas that are fast going away

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

thanks so much for supporting the newsletter Tre! As for the career stuff, it is deeply worrying, especially becasuse this is only the beginning and we know there will be very little protection. for gen z, its sad because so much of those entry level tasks will be automated away. but on the bright side we have enough time to adapt. hopefully. as for the sameness, I completely agree, and covering these so closely has made it even more glaring. in general though, not many brands are willing to take risks. it seems its rarely incentivised and not as readily rewarded. a shame really.

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Tre Johnson's avatar

yeah, I think that perhaps one of the big pushes we might see bc of all this is a renewed drive for unions/worker protections rise again. but i think there's the potential for this (AI/tech dissolution of roles) to result in a more contemporary worker strike(s) situation. i am really grieving for GZ; the world continues to be on a path to offer no paths, no security for the upcoming gen and i suspect that it's only going to deepen much of the societal apathy happening already.

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Kathleen Schmidt's avatar

Whew. So much to unpack. No one needs a Mr. Beast/James Patterson collab. That's first. Second, the NYT Gen X article was very spot-on. I know so many people experiencing the same thing.

I visited tumblr today for the first time in forever. I have no shame.

I am sad that I couldn't buy Meghan's preserves, but low quantities=drive for demand, as we know.

I read the Only Fans story last night and thought the chick who blamed the Only Fans girl needed to check herself. It's not their fault that her guy spent so much money!!

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

I agree that no one needs the collab and I'll be surprised if mrbeast actually writes anything. but it will sell! like that millie bobby brown book. will probably get adapted too. with meghans stuff I'd be interested to see what the quantities were. I suspect stick was low to start out. did you check the comments on the OnlyFans story? Wild.

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Kathleen Schmidt's avatar

I have to read the comments on the Only Fans story.

The reason it is crazy for Mr. Beast + James Patterson to get 8 figures is because neither of them is writing the book! Par for the course with Patterson, though.

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

wait for real? need to look more into him. kinda of crazy tho

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Kathleen Schmidt's avatar

Yes. James Patterson employs a lot of writers to do the work.

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Petya K. Grady's avatar

I don't hate the MiuMiu literary club concept. I read through the announcement and love the authors and books they have put together. I would kill for a night out with my friends to wear our good miumiu shoes and listen to Lauren Elkin talk about Simone DeBeauvoir.

Let's read The Inseparables!

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

Same! The lineup actually looks amazing. And I'm down!! Just looked it up and it sounds amazing

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Nirvana Shahriar's avatar

i'm here for the info on the ottessa x prada collab thank you so much for your service

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

its iconic isn't it???

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Nirvana Shahriar's avatar

it’s so important to me

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Martha's avatar

the growing intersection between business and books is fascinating!!! so many opportunity for it to be good, so much opportunity for it to be bad....

the fact i didn't even know rare beauty had launched a substack speaks to your point lol

I also used to think gabbriette and amelia were the same person!

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

im glad Im not alone lol haha. and I think so too with business and books. publishing has never been more fascinating to me

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Carine's avatar

Comedic takes were 10/10 today. 🫡

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

I do try my best girl!

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Emily K's avatar

Absolutely brilliant insights! Thank you for letting us see behind the paywall ❤️

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Ochuko Akpovbovbo's avatar

I'm glad you enjoyed the roundup :)

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Kylie's avatar

another hot read by ochuko, every story was news to me! xoxo

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emily north's avatar

excellent- will be the first one to join your rhode beauty book club

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