But For Real Episode 7: Overconsumption Gone Wild 💸🫠

Podcast
Written By Colleen Werner

This week’s episode is very timely – from exploring how influencer culture and hyperconsumerism intertwine (hi, post Black Friday shopper’s remorse 😅), to the wild ride that was Emerson acquiring a “happy light”, to the sweet story of two friends that met through an accidental text message spending their 9th Thanksgiving together and so much more – we’ve got something for everyone!

This episode covers:

Tea & Crumpets

Emerson Ryder Valerie Martin Therapy Podcast

The Droughtlander is over, and Val’s beloved Outlander is back! When prepping for the episode, Val found a podcast called Droughtlander Diaries that she’ll be checking out – and maybe reporting back on in a future episode 😎

And in case you’ve been living under a rock and somehow didn’t know that Wicked, Part 1 was released a few weeks ago, Emerson just saw it and it’s AMAZING. Whether you’re a former theater kid or you’re just looking for an incredible film with impeccable acting and insane vocals, you need to get yourself to your local movie theater.

The Lore

Emerson wanted to save a few bucks on a happy light (a product that gives light therapy that research shows is effective for Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka seasonal depression), and she had a wild ride of getting one via Facebook Marketplace. The wild ride was not worth saving $20, but it sure did add to her lore with her bestie.

The DSM - Influencer Culture + Hyperconsumerism

First things first, let’s make this clear – we’re NOT anti-influencer or even anti-influencer-culture. Content creation and influencing can be really powerful and beneficial for our society. And, at the same time, it can also be really toxic.

This conversation was inspired by Val’s own post Black Friday shopper’s remorse and by seeing State of Kait’s video, “The Most Out of Touch 2024 Influencer Trends”.

When we refer to influencer culture, we are referring to people who have developed an audience or platform, usually on some kind of popular social media platform like Instagram or TikTok, and typically make some sort of money from their platform(s). The words “influencer” and “content creator” are often used interchangeably, which many folks in those roles have heated opinions about – which is a conversation for another day.

There are a number of things that can be toxic about influencer culture, but the one we speak to most in this episode is hyperconsumerism and how social media can impact impressionable people (AKA, most of us). TikTok Shop has basically become the new QVC, and on Instagram and Facebook, you can’t scroll for more than a few minutes without seeing some sort of ad. Marketing has evolved so much over time, and currently, influencer marketing is one of the hottest strategies. Influencers drive sales, deem what is desirable amongst the zeitgeist and bring forth cultural movements/trends that have been made from “viral” and “cult items” like Stanley cups, Summer Friday’s lip balms, and more.

And one of the most concerning parts of influencer culture is that some creators do sketchy (and illegal) sh*t by not properly disclosing ads and embedding product placement so well that it doesn’t even feel like an ad – it feels like your bestie telling you about the new thing she’s obsessed with. 

So, how can we move toward practicing mindful consumerism? You’ll have to listen to the full episode to hear Val and Em’s thoughts.

Now That’s What I Call…Ooookay

Val’s pick this week was Paper Bag by Fiona Apple. It’s one of her all-time fave songs to sing and is just a true classic off her 1999 sophomore album “When The Pawn…”, with Rolling Stone ranking the album at number 108 on its "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.

Em’s pick this week was Happy & Sad by Kacey Musgraves. Another all-time fave, and, in her words, it perfectly encapsulates being a big feelings person and trying to remain in the moment without melancholy or worry.

Fire Dumpster Phoenix

Once again, despite the world truly feeling like a dumpster fire, there are still things to find joy and hope from! 

Emerson’s find this week was two friends, Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton, spending their 9th Thanksgiving together. They met when Wanda accidentally sent a text to Jamal 8 years ago inviting her family to Thanksgiving dinner. Jamal asked if he could still join despite not being family and Wanda replied “of course you can, that’s what grandma’s do– feed everyone.” They have celebrated every thanksgiving together since, seeing each other through Wanda’s husbands passing in 2020 and currently battling breast cancer unexpectedly.

Valerie’s find was a heartwarming article titled “The kids are all right: How rural India’s ‘goat nurses’ help animals – and themselves”, by Sushmita Pathak for The Monitor. The initiative is both helping rural, semiliterate women find pride and independence while also filling in gaps in veterinary care – such a beautiful win-win!

If you want to learn more about any (or all) of these topics, click the podcast player at the top of this post or the YouTube video down below to listen to the full episode and dive in with us.

Resources + Stuff  Mentioned in This Episode:

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DISCLAIMER: But For Real Podcast is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment or healthcare. This podcast is solely for entertainment and educational purposes. If you are in crisis, please utilize crisis support services, such as the Crisis Text Line (Text START to 741741 in the US) or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: (Call 988 in the US), or visit www.findahelpline.com for international resources.

Colleen Werner
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But For Real Episode 6: The Fascinating Mindf*ck that is Nostalgia