On The Radar

CULTURE
THE DARKNESS IS RISING // Love a good visual simplification of a trend. James’ take on Sean’s ‘Boom Boom’ trend is exactly that. We’re moving from Light Mode → Dark Mode. But don’t get confused. Dark ≠ despondent. This era is darkly optimistic—we’re aware of the problems yet able to retain a “deep faith in human potential.” Feels right.

THE RETURN OF ACTIVISM // Last week, ReproductiveRights.gov was wiped out. Erased. Gone. Shuttered. But of course, nothing on the internet is really ever gone, gone. Days after it disappeared, The Skimm brought it back online. Brand activism has taken a bit of a nose in the last half-decade, but this feels like the beginning of a resurgence.

BAD BOY BRANDS // Fred Hart said brands would ‘misbehave’ more, and the algorithm has delivered proof. DrSquatch is sponsoring Ayahuasca content. This smoking-inspired golf brand popped into my feed. Even Nike is smashing windshields (PS., this song is perfection). Have at it! Time to misbehave.

F&B
PROGRESSO PROGRESSING -> UserMag // Progresso woke up in 2025 and said: ‘Let’s f**k around and find out’. Out with the bland stock photo-quality photography and bizarre ‘crafting’ ideas for soup cans. In with the weird. enter: soup drops, aka ‘soup you can suck on’. Now, they still only have ~7K followers, but whoever cooked this up, still deserves a raise.

NEW AGE METAMUCIL -> Feed Me // Fiber’s the new protein. And exaggeration as we’re getting protein-everything (candy, yogurt, cereal). But the conversation about fiber is getting louder. Why? Menopause but also gut health. Floura is a new line of fiber-dense bars by the founder of Jeni’s Ice Cream. Metacucil needs to enter challenger mode. I want to help. So, so desperately. Connect me?

DRUGS & BOOZE
SLEEP > CANCER // Casey Lewis says Gen-Zs are getting more into Dry January—that tracks. But it was a little gem she dropped that stood out to me: Why are they interested? Cancer you say? Nope. According to one 24-year-old: “better sleep.” Anecdotally, this is something I hear A LOT. And an insight more brands should tap into.

SILVERS, ALPHAS & ZS
PATCH ME UP -> As Seen On // Gen Z loves a patch. The name, The What Supp Co., isn’t my favorite but the branding is cute. The patches are cuter. And the ingredient lists read as if you asked ChatGPT what to put in a supplement to make them go viral. L-Theanine, 5-HTP, the list goes on. If they add +NADs they’ll really be onto something.

RETAIL
RIP THE WEBSITE // The Stories We Sell Ourselves asked me for my POV on AI and the future of retail. I didn’t hold back. While most people aren’t using Generative search, it will be the norm in the next 2-3 years. So, the question for brands is not, ‘Are you ready?’ but ‘When?’ It’s coming, and the time to do something about it is now. We dive deep!

HOKA NOT HOKEY // Hoka is far from uncool, it’s been growing in popularity for a while. But this London pop-up felt like a deliberate move to boost its ‘cool factor.’ And while a bodega with a speakeasy lounge is not new, it’s timelessly cool.

BIGGER. BETTER? // Emily Sundberg says the line for Glossier’s pop-up wrapped around two levels of the Mall of America. It only has 4 levels! I’ve had 4 clients reference this vending machine-meets-photo-booth this week. This cooking class they did for it is also a great example of giving the people what they want—being human. So maybe, even though die-hard fans don’t love the product changes, something is working!

TECH
ICK TOK // As I predicted, TikTok wasn’t down long. But will TikTok’s open thank you letter to Trump make it as political as X? Now that creators have scrambled to new platforms, and everyone from Substack, Instagram, Snap, and Reddit has made creator funds and bids for ad business, will we leave TT behind? I doubt it. But without a doubt, the landscape has changed. Everyone’s saying 2025 is the year of Substack ads.

SPORT
HOPES OF INTERNATIONAL HOOP -> As Seen On // A big week for international basketball. First, a group of investors raise $5B to make an international league to rival the NBA. And then, the NBA itself popped up in Paris, with lots of fashionable folx courtside. I’m watching.

NO COMPETITON // Lewis Hamilton is now with Ferrari. And wow, the collective swoon over this announcement photography was real. But it wasn’t just this post that was a win. The whole social rollout was great. If people weren’t following F1, everyone’s favorite driver + everyone’s favorite car is about to change minds.

WELLNESS & BEAUTY
PRAISE BE, TEAL -> The CQ // If you’ve had a PAP or know anyone who’s had a PAP (that’s all of you) pay attention. Teal Health is launching the first FDA-approved at-home cervical cancer screening tool. A no-stirrups, no-speculum future is here. This feels worth screaming about from a roof-top, and this letter is my roof-top.

DON’T DIE CERTIFIED -> Fitt // Bryan Johnson is looking for a co-founder for a new venture. The Don’t Die Certification will test foods “for nutritional label accuracy, heavy metals, agrochemicals and microplastics.” They’ll offer restaurant certifications too. Interest in micro-plastics, seed oils, and heavy metals (hello, DEXA scans again) is surging. We’re going to hear a lot more about all this as MAHA convos continue.

WHAT THE FASCIA // This Katie Stone article feels like fascia’s true arrival. Katie chats with the queen of fascia, Bonnie Crotze, of ‘The Floss’. I also have been in a 3-week fascia strength training block. Fascia is fast becoming a space to track.

TRAVEL
WILL TRAVEL FOR CONTRAST // Arctic cold plunge anyone? The universal answer is yes. Contrast therapy (saunas / ice plunges) has cemented itself as a must-have hospitality amenity. And the more spectacular and the more social the better.

SMELLS LIKE PARIS -> Nadine // The Stanza // Air France has collaborated with the creator of the beloved Baccarat Rouge, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, on a signature fragrance. Now, when you walk into an AF lounge, you’ll be taken on an “olfactory journey”. Emily Sundberg said last year that fragrance was only going to get bigger. Sky’s the limit, I guess.

NEVER NOT VACATIONING // Anthropologie says 97% of people are searching for resort wear ‘year around’—I feel seen. So they are launching a year-round resort wear label, Celandine. Casey Lewis says she’s waiting to see if other retailers follow suit, and I’m similarly curious.

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