Hi all,
Welcome back to our weekly companion podcast to the Sunday letter. Hit the links to skip to what strikes your fancy!
I’m coming to SF (March 11-15), LA (March 17-19), and NYC (April 1-5). Let’s connect!
I’m planning a GOOD THINKING NYC TOUR April 3RD.
What’s on the tour? We’ll hit something in every category of this letter. Culture, Food & Bev, Drugs & Booze…you get it. It will be the best-of-the-best of what’s new and interesting in the city. Everything I think is moving the needle and worth knowing about.
Want in? RSVP HERE!
As always, this pod dives into the biggest trends, shifts, and brands.
THIS WEEK’S PODCAST EPISODE:
Instagram is getting premium—but it’s not a new app. It’s a new way of thinking.
McDonald’s and KFC are fighting—but does fighting work?
Unabashed ambition is in. Chalamet and Hamilton are leading the pack.
The skincare boom for Alphas continues. Starface is coming for Bubble.
Lululemon’s strategy feels brand new. And it’s working.
Allbirds is back…kind of? But does this campaign tell us why?
ChatGPT prompts aren’t just tools. They’re startup ideas waiting to happen.
Can sports end period shame?
Dove is saying goodbye to emotional ads—and hello to your nether region.
Lufthansa’s pajamas make us want to book a flight to Japan.
Diptyque is making moves, and Parker Posey is making Gap iconic again.
Enjoy!
What we get into:
CULTURE
01:46 — INSTAGRAM GOES PREMIUM // Instagram is getting premium—but it’s not a new app. It’s a new way of thinking. Brands are embracing social-first storytelling with high-production, cinematic videos—and I love it. We unpack why it’s working, how brands like Jacquemus paved the way, and why this shift matters. Here’s a whole list of my fave brands doing it lately, but here’s the fun compilation video I made for the post.
F&B
04:39 — COCKFIGHTING & COFFEE WARS // McDonald’s is taking on KFC with a not-so-subtle dig at their chicken quality in China. And that’s not the only battle—it turns out they’re fighting over coffee, too. We break down why brands are getting more aggressive [cough, nasty] in their marketing.
DRUGS & BOOZE
08:49 — UNABASHED AMBITION // We intended to discuss Timothy Chalamet’s Chanel poker game and took a turn into unabashed ambition. Timothy’s SAG acceptable speech was loud and proud about his ambition. Lewis Hamilton has been on a similar streak. They want to be the best, and they’re saying it out loud. We talk about why this kind of ambition feels like a shift in culture—and why women, especially, should take notes.
SILVERS, ALPHAS & ZS
13:00 — ALPHA SKINCARE EXPLODING // The skincare explosion for Alphas isn’t slowing down. Starface just launched a full skincare line, and it’s a direct challenge to Bubble. What happens when a well-established brand enters the space? We break it down. And we also talk about why every brand, in every category needs to be watching this space: They’ll have to get AI-native faster than any other category.
RETAIL
17:55 — LULULEMON’S NEW ENERGY // Lululemon is everywhere. From a massive London flagship to a ‘glow up’ studio in NYC, they’re making major moves. And with Lewis Hamilton’s new collab, it’s clear they’re expanding beyond yoga moms. Is this a complete rebrand in the making? We think so. I also question what’s happening at Allbirds. Is This Tucci series part of a bigger play? It get only 2 things right.
TECH
23:29 — PROMPTS = BUSINESS IDEAS // A trend is emerging: people are using ChatGPT prompts for everything from meal planning to analyzing bloodwork. But here’s the kicker—these prompts are turning into entire business opportunities. We discuss how brands can capitalize. Here’s a much longer read if you’re into this.
SPORT
27:17 — BLOOD IS BLOOD // Arsenal Women’s team partnered with detergent brand Persil on a campaign about period leaks in sports. It’s bold, but could it have gone further? We compare it to Knix’s campaign on the same topic and discuss what it takes to really shift the conversation.
WELLNESS & BEAUTY
31:19 — DOVE’S PIVOT // Dove’s latest campaign ditches emotional messaging for something way edgier—the song choice in their latest ad will leave you blushing. Is this their new brand identity, or just a one-off, you they be taking us on their journey in a different way? We analyze the shift. and why Lynx’s shift feels more on brand.
TRAVEL
36:02 — FLY TO JAPAN FOR PAJAMAS? // Lufthansa’s latest collab is luxury sleepwear… and we love it. Kirsten plots our next Japan trip—the power of pajamas!
FUN FOR THE WEEK
37:38 — DIPTYQUE, GAP, AND TORY BURCH ARE HAVING A MOMENT // Diptyque is stepping into nightlife. Parker Posey just made Gap cool again, and we get into why (in case it’s not obvious). And Tory Burch is proving that Substack can work for brands—with effort.
Missing the letter this all ties back to? This way:
That’s all folx.
-Chris
If you read this and liked it, that little heart is there for that. The algo and I appreciate it.
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