Best MAEKAN Podcasts (2024)

1
208: Who’s responsible when the majority of students fail a class? 19:25

1+ y ago19:25

19:25

In episode 208, Charis and Eugene discuss the case of an NYU professor's contract termination after the school received a number of student complaints. They talk about teaching methodologies and some of the ways schools are lacking. At N.Y.U., Students Were Failing Organic Chemistry. Who Was to Blame? by Stephanie Saul Tweet by Jesse Stommel Tweet …

1
207: How does urban planning impact the “energy” of a city? 20:41

1+ y ago20:41

20:41

In episode 207, Eugene highlights the significant role of urban planning in setting the “energy” of a city. One short question to get at the heart of this: How is usage mixed in a city? Tweet by @culturaltutor #191: Ascension by Drew Austin --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maekanitup/message…

1
206: What does an 857 hour movie about capitalism signify? 14:39

1+ y ago14:39

14:39

In episode 206, Charis talks about being fascinated by the idea of someone sitting down to watch an 857 hour movie and whether that experience uniquely gives a more tangible understanding of capitalism. I Watched An 857-Hour Movie To Encounter Capitalism’s Extremes by Ashley Darrow --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho…

1
205: Blackbird Spyplane breaks down the foundation of fashion trends 20:50

1+ y ago20:50

20:50

In episode 205, Eugene and Charis talk about a Blackbird Spyplane banger on trends and their various designations and why they’re so fascinating to follow. You're locked in a prison of trends by Blackbird Spyplane --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maekanitup/message…

1
204: Twitter, Depop, and religion 13:45

1+ y ago13:45

13:45

In episode #204, Charis finds extreme hilarity in people selling fake sacrament of penance on depop and the latest frontier for what the creator economy can sell. Tweet by @roselyddon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maekanitup/message

1
203: Instagram reels and artists 17:23

1+ y ago17:23

17:23

In this episode, Eugene and Charis highlight the impact of Instagram’s prioritization of video content for certain genres of artists. Is one’s ability to market themselves part of the job and “art” of being an artist? Links A New Refrain From Artists: We ‘Almost Gave Up on Instagram’ By Kalley Huang Deb JJ Lee Twitter Maddy Mueller Twitter --- Send…

1
Post-hiatus episode 14:49

1+ y ago14:49

14:49

In our first recording after a long-ass hiatus, Eugene and Charis update us on what they’ve been up to, what they’ve missed, and what’s to come with Making It Up! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maekanitup/message

1
202: Collectability, cooperation, and capitalism 1:05:58

2y ago1:05:58

1:05:58

Charis and Eugene talk about NFTs, collectability, anti-capitalist capitalists, missing counterculture, and individualism. Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community. Watch us on Twitch at twitch.tv/maekantv Links: The NFT Collector | Richard Kim in Right Click Save Hope Beyond Rugged Individualism by Tara McMullin 14 Warning Signs Tha…

1
201: Over-Optimizing Creative Work & GeoGuessr 1:20:00

2y ago1:20:00

1:20:00

Eugene and Charis talk about efficiency, over-optimization, having slack (not the service) or intentionally holding your feet to the fire. Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community. Watch us on Twitch at twitch.tv/maekantv --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maekanitup/message…

1
200: First Twitch livestream 1:03:40

2y ago1:03:40

1:03:40

Charis and Eugene catch each other up about the last three months of their lives, discuss the move to Twitch, and overcome tech troubles. Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maekanitup/message

1
199: Pierogis and buy nothing 41:47

2+ y ago41:47

41:47

Eugene and Charis discuss Buy Nothing groups/movement and what a change in platform means for their participants. They also talk about Kevin LaBuz’s article “Grandma’s Pierogis” about how corporate culture is created and knowledge passed on. 00:04:47 Buy nothing 00:20:49 Pierogis #107 - Grandma’s Pierogies from Below the Line by Kevin LaBuz Buy Not…

1
198: Brunello Cucinelli slow growth and the Theranos trial 37:52

2+ y ago37:52

37:52

Charis and Eugene talk about the attitude of the team behind the Italian luxury fashion brand Brunello Cucinelli toward growth and family business. They also discuss the conviction of Elizabeth Holmes, former founder and CEO of the health tech company Theranos, in a trial that ended in January. 00:04:19 Brunello Cucinelli 00:23:47 Theranos Brunello…

1
197: Attention and tribalism 46:23

2+ y ago46:23

46:23

Eugene and Charis discuss what it means to pay close attention to anything. They also talk about the benefits of tribalism. 00:10:22 Attention 00:30:37 Tribalism attending to the other by Jasmine Wang The Myth of Tribalism by Dominic Packer and Jay Van Bavel Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community. --- Send in a voice message: https…

1
196: 2021 Wrap Up 40:15

2+ y ago40:15

40:15

Charis and Eugene talk about key moments in culture in 2021 and reflect on significant changes that will carry forwards. Support us at patreon.com/maekan and join our community, which includes weekly newsletters and a vibrant Discord. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maekanitup/message…

1
195: The Story Club with George Saunders and the possibly corporate web3 36:27

2+ y ago36:27

36:27

Eugene and Charis discuss the new Substack started by the authors George Saunders for readers to closely read and consider short stories. They also talk about concerns raised regarding the future of web3—mainly the possibility that it will become an extension of web2 with a new veneer. 00:03:05 Story club 00:23:17 Web3 Story Club with George Saunde…

1
194: The Krause House and movie dialogue audibility 46:35

2+ y ago46:35

46:35

Charis and Eugene talk about The Krause House, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) that has the longterm goal of purchasing an NBA team. They also discuss the decreasing audibility of dialogue in movies and the many reasons why that’s the case. 00:03:30 Krause House 00:27:36 Movie sound Buy your Ticket to Krause House Here's Why Movie Dia…

1
193: Peloton and soft power 44:06

2+ y ago44:06

44:06

Eugene and Charis discuss an essay by Sherry Ansari published in Culture study on how Peloton provides fitness with a “Health At Every Ability” attitude. They also talk about the waning UK soft power and how soft power is growing for other countries. 00:06:18 Peloton 00:23:01 Soft power What It Means to Ride at Any Ability by Sherry Ansari Harrods …

1
192: Better sleep and supply chain issues 40:15

2+ y ago40:15

40:15

Charis and Eugene talk about the allure of better sleep fueling an industry of sleep-related products. They also discuss how a rise in online shopping in combination with pandemic factors has lead to supply chain issues. 00:07:09 Sleep 00:24:43 Supply chain Nice Try! by Curbed, Season 2: Interior, Mattress episode How Our Online Shopping Obsession …

1
191: Metaverse and audio-focused dating apps 42:13

2+ y ago42:13

42:13

Eugene and Charis discuss Facebook’s bet on the metaverse and what the allure of the metaverse is. They also discuss dating apps that prioritize an audio experience. 00:06:00 Metaverse 00:28:45 Audio dating apps Heart to Heart raises $750K to bring sweet, sweet flirtation to your ear holes by Haje Jan Kamps Founder’s Letter, 2021 by Mark Zuckerberg…

1
190: Future of creator economy and pricing art 37:26

2+ y ago37:26

37:26

Charis and Eugene talk about a recently released whitepaper that summarizes findings from a recent survey of independent creators. They also discuss how to price your art as an artist. 00:07:18 Creator economy 00:33:20 Pricing art From Dependence to Independence | The Rise of The Independent Creator (The Whitepaper) Ask the Experts: I’m Just Starti…

1
189: Four dirty c-words and memes as shared language 49:51

2+ y ago49:51

49:51

Eugene and Charis discuss an essay written by Paul Jun, “The Four Dirty C-Words of the Internet”, and breakdown the usage of the words content, culture, community, and creator. They also talk about memes as shared language and the conduit through which beliefs are transmitted. 00:07:18 Four dirty c-words 00:33:20 Memes The Four Dirty C-Words of the…

1
188: Facebook whistleblower and Squid Game 37:55

2+ y ago37:55

37:55

Charis and Eugene talk about the global appeal of Squid Game and the possibility of supposedly niche cultural entertainment going viral. They also discuss the importance of Frances Haugen, the latest Facebook whistleblower, coming forward to testify about the need for social media platform regulations. 00:06:44 Squid Game 00:24:20 Facebook whistleb…

1
187: Blockchain video games and TikTok captions 39:46

2+ y ago39:46

39:46

Eugene and Charis discuss Star Atlas, a space-fantasy RPG built on the Solana blockchain, that indicates the promising possibilities of funding game development through digital asset ownership. They also talk about the prevalence of captions on TikTok and how the use of captions signals considerations of design and inclusion. 00:04:18 Blockchain vi…

1
186: The Comme des Garçons strategy and the continued rise of digital fashion 41:18

2+ y ago41:18

41:18

Charis and Eugene talk about the Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market brand-development division called Dover Street Market Paris that is similar to an incubator for emerging brands. They also discuss digital fashion as seen in how Farfetch recently seeded influencers their latest lines of clothing via digital fashion items. 00:04:40 CdG 00:26…

1
185: Good critiques and overcoming Web3 bias 42:58

3y ago42:58

42:58

Eugene and Charis discuss what makes a critique good as well as how to give and receive feedback well. Plus, they talk about overcoming Web3 bias in the context of understanding paradigm shifts. 00:03:37 Critiques 00:25:16 Paradigm Shifts How to Take Criticism by Chapell Ellison Google Slides from Charis’ PolyU class Overcoming Web3 Bias | How to n…

1
184: “Existence dissonance” at Nike 45:00

3y ago45:00

45:00

Charis and Eugene talk about a single topic inspired by “Nike’s End of Men” by Ethan Strauss. Their conversation covers a shift in Nike’s values (whether internal or what they project to the public), target audience, and marketing strategies. 00:04:17 Change at Nike Nike’s End of Men by Ethan Strauss Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts o…

1
183: Climate crisis responsibility and Kanye West’s DONDA 42:51

3y ago42:51

42:51

Eugene and Charis talk about the illusory nature of tech solutions for the climate crisis as well as personal responsibility in the face of it. They also discuss the artistic merit of the release of Kanye West’s DONDA. 00:04:42 Climate crisis 00:24:15 DONDA It’s Time to Replace Ambition with Adaptation by Rosie Spinks The Other Crisis by Jon Leight…

1
182: Rational thinking and the tech/fashion relationship 46:33

3y ago46:33

46:33

Charis and Eugene talk about the attraction to and difficulty in thinking rationally. They also discuss the awkward relationship between tech and fashion. 00:05:52 Rationality 00:27:39 Tech/fashion Why Is It So Hard to Be Rational? by Joshua Rothman Worn Out by Drew Austin Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as…

1
181: Creative writing with language AI and sexism in women’s athletic uniforms 46:03

3y ago46:03

46:03

Eugene and Charis discuss “Ghosts” by Vauhini Vara, a creative writing piece written with the assistance of the language AI GPT-3 (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer 3). They also talk about sexism and double standards in sports as seen in recent discussions around uniform requirements in women’s sports. 00:07:02 Language AI 00:29:01 Sexism in spor…

1
180: The rise of curators and “genuinfluencers” 49:49

3y ago49:49

49:49

Charis and Eugene talk about the factors that lead to the prominence of curators and curation. They also discuss the trend, as WGSN calls it, of “genuinfluencers”, who interact with their audiences differently and share content that is a departure from the traditional influencer fare. 00:07:54 Curators 00:33:39 “Genuinfluencers” Curators All the Wa…

1
179: Female athletes choose new sponsors and France launches the Culture Pass 38:07

3y ago38:07

38:07

Eugene and Charis discuss why elite female athletes are turning away from formerly major sponsors in favor of alternative options. They also talk about the launch of the Culture Pass in France which gives all 18-year-olds €300 to spend on a selection of cultural offerings. 00:05:45 Female athletes 00:24:51 France’s Culture Pass Why Elite Female Ath…

1
178: Memories of the pandemic and “wang hong” (internet famous) 56:04

3y ago56:04

56:04

Charis and Eugene talk about how our memories of the pandemic will differ and what narrative arcs the stories we tell of our lives usually take. They also discuss the term “wang hong” (Chinese for internet famous) as written about in Chaoyang Trap. 00:04:18 Pandemic memories 00:29:34 “Wang hong” You Won’t Remember the Pandemic the Way You Think You…

1
177: The MAEKAN Shop launches 28:28

3y ago28:28

28:28

In a different format to the usual Making It Up episodes, Eugene and Charis announce the launch of the online MAEKAN Shop. They discuss the process that lead to this point and talk about the products that are available. 00:01:52 MAEKAN Shop MAEKAN Shop MAEKAN Patreon supporters receive exclusive discounts on online products as well as access to the…

1
Indestructible: The DSPTCH Origin Story With Richard Liu 38:43

3y ago38:43

38:43

For the MAEKAN and DSPTCH family, we’ve watched each other grow with great interest. Both of us share a similar perspective on creating and putting things out into the world. So when we first decided to explore creating product, DSPTCH was a natural first partner. Their flexible in-house manufacturing meant lower minimums and utilitarian design phi…

1
176: 'It's O.K. not to be O.K.’ and the inner ring of the internet 55:24

3y ago55:24

55:24

Charis and Eugene talk about Naomi Osaka’s essay in TIME magazine that elaborates on her relationship to the press and the subject of the mental health of athletes. They also discuss an article about “the inner ring” of the internet and how that affects the creative work you do. 00:07:35 'It's O.K. not to be O.K.’ 00:30:58 The inner ring Naomi Osak…

1
175: NCAA athletes can start making money and Lachlan Morton’s alternative Tour de France 37:09

3y ago37:09

37:09

Eugene and Charis do an episode completely on sports. They talk about the new NCAA ruling that allows student athletes to make money in whatever way they like: co-founding businesses, as YouTubers, as country singers, etc. They also discuss Australian cyclist Lachlan Morton’s attempt to ride the full Tour de France route on his own with no support …

1
174: Video game writing and apparel sizing issues 41:00

3y ago41:00

41:00

Charis and Eugene talk about new Kotaku editor-in-chief Patricia Hernandez’s letter to readers on the subject of the future of video games and video game writing. They also discuss erratic sizing within the fashion industry and the sustainability as well as psychological issues that creates. 00:04:33 Video game writing 00:24:12 Sizing issues Hello …

1
173: Flaws with venture capital and curation as brand strategy 45:17

3y ago45:17

45:17

Eugene and Charis talk about why the funding model of venture capital is flawed and doesn’t build the things society needs. They also discuss the rise of curation as a strategy brands and individuals are adopting, plus what makes for good curation. 00:04:33 Venture capital 00:23:38 Curation Why venture capital doesn’t build the things we really nee…

1
172: Cohort-based courses and the Barbell Strategy 50:19

3y ago50:19

50:19

Charis and Eugene talk about cohort-based courses as compared to massively open online courses. They also discuss the Barbell Strategy method of balancing security and risk as a structure for creative careers. 00:04:00 Cohort-based courses 00:28:18 The Barbell Strategy The Barbell Strategy: How Not to Be a Starving Artist by Richard Meadows In Onli…

1
171: The internet is flat and the cooperation economy 45:55

3y ago45:55

45:55

Eugene and Charis discuss how the nature of the internet collapses time, space, and context, resulting in a volatile environment that breeds bad faith discussions with no room for nuance or complexity. They also talk about the cooperation economy as the next phase of the creator economy/the passion economy. 00:03:28 The internet is flat 00:22:25 Th…

1
170: Sports journalism and selling out 51:50

3y ago51:50

51:50

Charis and Eugene talk about Naomi Osaka choosing to not do press at the French Open and what the relationship is between press and athletes should be. They also discuss the shift in perception of creatives signing corporate deals. 00:04:40 Sports journalism 00:38:28 Selling out Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the French Open highlights the tenuous r…

1
169: Outlier designer Willie Norris and ongoing pandemic trauma 43:15

3y ago43:15

43:15

Eugene and Charis talk about how Willie Norris is reimagining menswear from a trans perspective at Outlier. They also discuss a recent Atlantic article by Ed Yong that goes into the reasons why people aren’t necessarily feeling better as the pandemic decreases in intensity. 00:02:09 Willie Norris 00:22:48 Trauma This Designer Is Reimagining Menswea…

1
168: What “disgusting” means and out-of-control online fan groups 49:39

3y ago49:39

49:39

Charis and Eugene talk about the Disgusting Food Museum in Sweden and where disgust, as an emotion and judgment comes from. They also discuss China trying to find ways to standardize the behavior of online fan groups. 00:04:05 “Disgusting” 00:32:00 Fan groups The Gatekeepers Who Get to Decide What Food Is “Disgusting” by Jiayang Fan China Targets ‘…

1
167: Museum NFTs and keeping the line alive 42:32

3y ago42:32

42:32

Eugene and Charis discuss what alternative forms of value there are, beyond financial, in engaging with NFTs in museums. They also discuss “keeping the line alive” in creative work as written about by artist Mateusz Urbanowicz. 00:02:48 Museum NFTs 00:27:21 Loose lines What Makes A Museum Object NFT Valuable Beyond The Scope Of The Technology? by F…

1
166: The “capitalism is broken” economy and organizational load management 50:13

3y ago50:13

50:13

Charis and Eugene talk about an article by Anne Helen Petersen describing the current US economy as the “capitalism is broken” state of things. They also discuss load management, a basketball strategy that conserves the energy of star players, in the context of creative work. 00:04:21 The economy 00:28:39 Load management The 'Capitalism is Broken' …

1
165: Social media managing and the commune lifestyle 42:22

3y ago42:22

42:22

Eugene and Charis talk about the difficulties that social media managers face and how platforms as well as businesses could do a better job of supporting workers in that area. They also discuss an essay that describes the author’s life growing up on a commune and what non-commune individuals could learn from that mentality. 00:03:21 Social media 00…

1
164: Everything bad about the fashion industry and deleting your life 56:03

3y ago56:03

56:03

Charis and Eugene talk about Eugene Rabkin’s essay, “Read This Before You Decide to Work In Fashion” published in Highsnobiety which goes through a laundry list of negative aspects of the fashion industry. They also discuss an artist zine created by Marco Marzocchi called “How To Destroy Everything”, which is connected to a discussion of digital de…

1
163: Ownership of our time and communicating complex ideas 46:18

3y ago46:18

46:18

Eugene and Charis discuss our relationship to work and our sense of ownership over our time. They also talk about challenges scientists face when communicating their ideas clearly around how to present complex thoughts. 00:06:05 Time and work 00:30:33 Communications Scientists need to get better at talking to the public. Why doesn’t training seem t…

1
162: Chinatown Market Name Change 1:04:33

3y ago1:04:33

1:04:33

Charis and Eugene talk at length about streetwear brand Chinatown Market deciding to rename themselves. This comes in response to people in the Asian American community expressing their concerns with the use of the name. Eugene and Charis discuss this situation in light of the current context of increased anti-Asian racism in North America as well …

1
161: Cathie Wood’s content strategy and the first peer-reviewed rap album 40:42

3y ago40:42

40:42

Eugene and Charis discuss Cathie Wood’s perfect content strategy for the portfolio of ETFs she runs at ARK Invest. They also talk about A.D. Carson, a hip-hop professor, and his thinking behind getting his rap album peer-reviewed and published by an academic press. 00:03:50 Cathie Wood 00:22:52 Peer-reviewed rap album Cathie Wood and Content Strate…

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