Podcast Summary
Unexpected connections can form in professional contexts: Making genuine connections and appreciating unexpected moments can lead to meaningful relationships
Sometimes unexpected connections can form between people, even when their paths initially cross in a professional context. During an interview on Call Her Daddy, Alex Cooper shared how she met Emma Chamberlain, a content creator they both represent. Their first meeting was over Zoom, and they hit it off, talking for hours. Despite initially discussing a potential collaboration, it didn't come to fruition. However, they reconnected at New York Fashion Week and found they had a strong connection. They clicked so well that they spent the event in the corner of a 10-person dinner party, with Alex getting a facial and having her toes done while Emma abstained because she was about to attend the Met Gala. This experience highlights the importance of making genuine connections and appreciating the unexpected moments that can lead to meaningful relationships.
Growing up and shaping online personas: Personal growth and brand evolution are interconnected. Stay true to oneself and have supportive parents to foster creativity and self-expression.
Personal growth and brand evolution are interconnected. The speakers in this conversation reflect on their experiences growing up and how those experiences have shaped their online personas and brands. They discuss the importance of maturing and growing in the public eye before delving into "big girl stuff." The speakers also touch on the challenges of growing up in a wealthy tech area as a lower middle class family and the impact it had on their social lives. Despite these challenges, they emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself and having supportive, open-minded parents who encourage creativity and self-expression.
Unconventional upbringing shapes speaker's life: Despite non-traditional parenting styles, speaker's parents supported her and allowed freedom to make mistakes, shaping her into resilient individual. Early experiences with social media came from cousins.
The speaker's unique relationships with her cool, non-judgmental father and close, particular mother have shaped her into the person she is today. Despite their unconventional parenting styles, they have always been supportive and allowed her the freedom to make mistakes. The speaker's parents' divorce, though initially confusing, ultimately had little negative impact on her. Her first experiences with social media came from her older cousins, who introduced her to Snapchat and Instagram. Overall, the speaker's upbringing has been marked by strong familial bonds and a sense of closeness with her parents.
The early days of social media: A mix of excitement, confusion, and fear: Users experimented with social media, encountering both mundane and inappropriate content, while parents took a hands-off approach. Early experiences included idolizing celebrities and discovering new content on YouTube.
The early days of social media use were marked by experimentation, curiosity, and a certain level of innocence. Users, particularly younger ones, posted a mix of mundane and strange content, often without fully understanding the implications. Parents generally took a hands-off approach, trusting their children to use good judgment. However, the experience of encountering inappropriate content for the first time could be traumatizing and confusing. For instance, the first encounter with a penis could be terrifying and alienating, especially for those without siblings or much exposure to boys. Early social media use also involved idolizing celebrities and discovering new content through platforms like YouTube. Overall, the early social media experience was a mix of excitement, confusion, and sometimes fear.
Formative crushes and obsessions shape experiences: Crushes and obsessions during youth can lead to intense dedication and impact personal growth.
Our crushes and obsessions during our formative years can be all-consuming and shape our experiences significantly. Whether it was being captivated by the Jonas Brothers or obsessed with a group of popular Vine stars like Cameron Dallas and Nash Greer, these crushes could lead to intense dedication and investment, even if the object of our affection was unaware of our existence. Similarly, our desire for academic success and acceptance led some of us to make bold choices, like attending private schools, to achieve our goals. These experiences, though sometimes embarrassing in retrospect, ultimately contribute to our personal growth and development.
Overcoming Personal Challenges to Achieve Success: Despite facing challenges like disliking her school, dropping out of high school, and feeling uncomfortable with feminine norms, the interviewee remained focused on her goal to become an anesthesiologist, ultimately achieving her dream through determination and academic success.
Despite facing challenges in her educational journey, including attending an all-girls Catholic school that she disliked and dropping out of high school, the interviewee remained focused on her goals and eventually pursued her dream of becoming an anesthesiologist. Her determination was influenced by a positive experience with an anesthesiologist during a surgery and her strong academic performance. Additionally, she described feeling uncomfortable with feminine norms and experiencing a late bloom, which made interacting with boys during her teenage years challenging. Despite these obstacles, she eventually had her first kiss in high school. The interviewee's story highlights the importance of staying focused on one's goals and overcoming personal challenges to achieve success.
Feeling Insecure About Appearance and Embracing Self-Acceptance: Personal insecurities can hold us back, but self-acceptance and growth are essential for confidence. Forgiveness and pushing boundaries can help us achieve our goals.
Appearances and insecurities can significantly impact our self-perception and confidence, even as we grow and evolve. The speaker shared her personal experiences of feeling insecure about her appearance during her younger years, particularly about her lack of breast development and not getting her period on time. These experiences led to teasing from her peers and feelings of not being a "woman." However, she has since come to embrace and love her small breasts. The discussion also touched on the importance of forgiveness and pushing boundaries to achieve goals, as exemplified by the speaker's journey into creating videos and eventually finding success on YouTube. Additionally, the importance of self-care and reversing hair damage was highlighted through the mention of Garnier Fructease hair filler. Overall, the conversation underscores the complex relationship between self-perception, confidence, and external factors, and the importance of self-acceptance and growth.
Starting a YouTube channel takes courage and consistency: Determination, resilience, and self-expression lead to rewarding YouTube experiences despite potential criticism
Creating and uploading content on YouTube requires courage and a consistent effort. The interviewee shared how they started making movie trailers in fifth grade but didn't press upload until they were in a low point in their teenage years. They mentioned that there were criticisms from their peers, but they continued to create content as a hobby and for self-expression. The turning point came when they uploaded every day during the summer and went viral with a video that had over half a million views. Their father recognized their potential and encouraged them, but the interviewee remained skeptical. The key takeaway is that creating content and sharing it online can be a rewarding experience, but it requires determination, resilience, and a willingness to put oneself out there despite potential criticism.
Feeling overwhelmed by sudden YouTube success: YouTube success led to feelings of disbelief and detachment, causing the speaker to focus on work and avoid deep thought until realizing the full impact.
The speaker's sudden success on YouTube was a surreal experience that he found difficult to fully process or comprehend. He describes feeling overwhelmed by the number of people watching his videos and the income he was making, but also unable to fully connect with it as real people or just a number. To avoid psyching himself out, he focused on his work and didn't think too deeply about it until the last few months when he realized the full extent of his situation. The speaker dropped out of high school to focus on YouTube and support himself, a decision that was partly influenced by his parents who saw how unhappy he was in school. The experience of sudden success and the decision to leave school were interconnected, with the speaker feeling that the traditional education system wasn't providing him with necessary skills or value.
Dropping out of school early: A complex decision: Though some individuals may successfully transition to self-employment after dropping out of school early, the lack of a higher education support system and structure can make navigating adulthood challenging.
Dropping out of school isn't a decision to be made lightly, even if the individual has completed their high school credits early. The speaker's unique circumstances allowed her to make the transition to self-employment without significant negative consequences, but not everyone's experience will be the same. The social aspect of college and the opportunity to "fake act like an adult" before fully assuming adult responsibilities were themes the speaker expressed some regret over. Ultimately, she believes her experiences, both good and bad, have shaped who she is today. However, she acknowledges that some aspects of adulthood, such as financial and emotional responsibility, can be difficult to navigate without the support system and structure provided by higher education.
Finding solace in online communities and dealing with recognition and anxiety: Online communities can provide support and connections, but recognition and attention can bring both excitement and anxiety. Everyone experiences negativity online, so it's important to maintain a positive perspective.
The internet can provide unique connections and communities, but recognition and attention can bring both excitement and anxiety. The speaker started with a small following and felt disconnected from friends in high school. They found solace in online friends and eventually gained recognition, which brought attention and anxiety. They went through phases of excitement and anxiety, but noticed that everyone experiences negativity online. The speaker emphasized that it's important to remember that everyone receives criticism and to maintain a positive perspective.
The internet's double-edged sword for creators: Creators face hate and criticism but can also find support and success online. They must navigate the culture of quick judgement and short memory to stay true to themselves.
The internet can be a double-edged sword for content creators. While they may receive love and support from their audience, they are also vulnerable to hate and criticism. The memory of negative comments can linger, making it difficult to ignore even when surrounded by positive feedback. Success can bring additional scrutiny and potential betrayal from industry peers. Despite the challenges, creators continue to put themselves out there, knowing that the rewards can outweigh the risks. It's important to remember that everyone experiences ebbs and flows of hate and love, and that the internet's culture of quick judgement and short memory can be both cruel and forgiving. Ultimately, creators must find a way to navigate the online world while staying true to themselves.
