The Hyper-Consumption Era Is Over?
Plus: being a creative in the age of content, resisting the urge to isolate and more picks for you to digest this week
Welcome back to our Weekly Digestif, a sensory round-up of what’s inspiring and energizing With/Creators, the community centered creative studio led by Jennifer Pauline. What we’re seeing, reading, eating, experiencing, and listening to.
visual palette cleanser (above), Toni Morrison’s New York City home as seen in Apartment Therapy, shot by Brown Harris Stevens.
1. The Hyper-Consumption Era Is Over?
Dazed and Discoursed hosts, Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste, speak with artist-writer August Lamm to unpack her July 2024 prediction for the future, when she said “I’m calling it right now: abstention is the next big thing. Sobriety, celibacy, digital minimalism, dumb phones, religion. The age of hedonistic hyper-consumption is over. We’re moving into a new peaceful age marked by moderation and self-discipline. I can’t wait.” Listen to the latest episode here.
2. Being A Creative In The Age of Content
In a recent conversation with a sister-friend, I declared 2025 the year to embrace more cringe and reject palatability. That means stepping into visibility—speaking in public, showing up more, and treating social media as a creative practice rather than something to overthink or hide behind. When I came across this article last week, it articulated my thoughts perfectly. Matthew Prebeg interviews creatives Ali Sheikh and Hayley Mortin on cultivating a healthier relationship with social media, redefining success beyond soft metrics, and the power of digital curators in today’s noisy internet landscape. Read more on It’s Nice That here.
3. A Playful Playlist via Black House Radio and Zack Fox
I’m in Paris for the next few weeks, and jet lag is coming for me but I refuse to fold. This Black House Radio R&B + House session with Zack Fox has been the boost I needed—perfect for powering through work, deep cleaning, long drives, or a quick, soulful two-step in the middle of the day. Listen on Youtube here.
4. Sourcing Public Work
Finding beautiful, copyright-free images is always a task for aesthetes like myself. Enter Public Work, a new search engine for public domain content with over 100K copyright-free images from the archives of The MET, New York Public Library, and other sources. Think abstraction, references and art history —no lifestyle and stock photography here. Happy sourcing 🫶🏾
5. My Little Treats
Emotional support sips and bites have been getting me through the past few months, especially the marathon that is January (how are we still here?!). When I’m not sipping a pistachio latte, it’s matcha and this Earl Grey Honey Matcha from Ella Henry (inspired by Hailee Catalano) has been pure joy. A double dose of caffeine, but worth it. Pro tip: if you’re cutting back on sugar, use stevia instead of honey. Recipe found on Glow With Ella.
6. Resisting The Urge To Isolate
In Americans Need to Party More, Ellen Cushing breaks down the sharp decline in social gatherings, with only 4.1% of Americans attending or hosting events on an average weekend in 2023—a 35% drop since 2004. This shrinking social scene is fueling a loneliness epidemic. Cushing makes a simple but urgent case: throw more parties. Hosting gatherings isn’t just about fun — it’s a way to rebuild community, foster real connection, and push back against the “party deficit” that’s making us more isolated than ever. Read on The Atlantic here.
7. MLK, The Organizer & Radical Thinker
I often find myself looking back when searching for stable ground—through my grandmother, the words of Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, or, in this case, the hope, dream, and philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. His wisdom offers a fresh wind in dark times. This conversation between NYT columnist Tessie McMillan Cotton and scholar Eddie Glaude Jr. on Fresh Air with Tonya Mosley is a sobering reminder that we must reject “transactional hope” and instead let the legacy of Dr. King and the many others who came before us, be the force that carries us through this moment. Listen here.