2016 influencers vs 2026 influencers… who’s better?

Summary

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Fool Coverage: "2016 Influencers vs 2026 Influencers… Who’s Better?"

Podcast: Fool Coverage with Manny MUA and Laura Lee
Date: January 30, 2026
Hosts: Manny MUA & Laura Lee
Runtime covered: Approx. 01:11–70:43

---

Overview

In this lively, candid episode, OG beauty gurus and besties Manny MUA and Laura Lee get real about how the influencer and social media landscape has changed over the last decade. Using the viral trend of 2016 nostalgia as a launch point, they dissect how influencer culture has shifted from carefree fun to highly curated, brand-oriented content, examine the impact of cancel culture, and compare the challenges and opportunities of being a creator in 2016 and 2026. Along the way, they share personal anecdotes, poke fun at each other, reveal what they’re reading, and drop plenty of classic Fool Coverage humor and shade.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2016 vs 2026: Shifting Influencer Culture

[38:42–50:06]

• Nostalgia Post Discussion:
  Manny brings up a viral quote:

  "What I'm getting from this 2016 throwback is that everyone used to be so fun, so carefree and so at ease. Now everything is heavily curated and no one wants to be silly anymore. We need to bring that back.”
  (Manny, 39:20)

• Cancel Culture’s Role:
  Both agree the biggest change is cancel culture—creators became hyper-vigilant about what they post after seeing peers get “canceled for sneezing.”

  "You will get canceled for anything and everything. Now, you will get canceled for being filmed on the street and looking at someone and it looks mean."
  (Laura, 39:48)

• Curation Then and Now:
  Manny points out some curation always existed, just in different forms (aesthetics, filters, Desio contacts), but it's intensified.

• Reclusiveness and Playbook:
  Creators now stick to a “cancellation playbook,” sharing less of their authentic selves to avoid backlash.

2. Ego, Empathy, and the 'What About Me' Phenomenon

[42:51–49:10]

• Rise of Individualism in Responses:
  Manny observes comment sections are filled with “‘but what about me?’” takes:

  "Someone’s making a TikTok about chocolate ice cream and the top comment is, 'But what about if you're lactose intolerant?'"
  (Manny, 43:05)

• Desire to be Right:
  Laura explains many correct or criticize online not out of concern, but from a subconscious need to feel superior:

  “They just want to be right, and they don’t even know that they're doing it. It's driven by ego.”
  (Laura, 44:42)

• Loss of Empathy:
  Manny and Laura agree the obsession with self and being right blocks empathy, further eroding online authenticity.

3. Community, Comments, and Platform Differences

[49:22–53:44]

• TikTok vs Instagram:
  Laura notes TikTok has higher engagement, more community vibes, and quicker interactions compared to Instagram:

  “You’ll get so many more comments… people are just more active.”
  (Laura, 50:30)

• Liking Comments Drives Clout:
  Manny highlights how “likes” on comments now encourage people to leave outrageous or mean comments for clout, not because it builds fame, but due to dopamine-driven addiction.

  “There’s no such thing as someone getting famous from a popular comment. It’s just dopamine in your own head.”
  (Manny, 48:30)

• Positive Side:
  They point out that comments can also foster humor and community (especially with new features like stickers/pictures).

4. Changes in Creator Motivation & Platform Accessibility

[53:48–62:16]

• “Why are there so many influencers now?”
  Laura observes that in 2016, creators often started with a passion or talent (makeup, storytelling, humor) and dreams of an attainable life. In 2026, many are motivated by visibility and financial incentives:

  “Creators create content now to become famous creators… In 2016, there weren’t as many incentives and you had to have a talent. Now, anyone can be a creator.”
  (Laura, 53:59)

• Barrier to Entry Is Lower
  Filming is now extremely easy (iPhones vs camcorders), and short-form content makes everyone a potential influencer.

• Short-form vs Long-form:
  2026 is dominated by short-form, which is easier to make and virality is more random. Long-form (YouTube) built deeper bonds, but is much harder.

5. Talent vs Personality: Brand Partnerships

[59:45–62:16]

• Laura shares an insight from a PR professional: brands now struggle to find creators with actual “talent” (skill-based or entertaining), not just numbers. “Personality” is more common, but not always what brands want for certain campaigns.

6. Being Yourself vs Fear of Criticism

[62:16–65:42]

• Manny laments seeing creators present totally different personas on- and offline, usually out of fear:

  “There are so many content creators whose content online is the polar opposite of who they are in real life. And it's actually shocking to me.”
  (Manny, 65:07)

• Brand-friendliness, criticism, and pressure to be “perfect” stifle authenticity and fun.

• Laura adds:

  “It must be so exhausting to put off this kind of perfection vibe... I would hate making content if it had to be perfect every time.”
  (Laura, 63:30)

7. Personal Growth: Then vs Now

[65:42–67:54]

• Manny and Laura share how their attitudes towards content, career, and life have shifted.

  “In 2016, I was kind of lost... now in 2026, I’m just doing whatever the fuck I want to do because that’s what I want to do.”
  (Manny, 66:07)

• Laura: “I feel more connected to my personal life than my career... that’s naturally going to give me a better future in 2026.”
  (66:35)

8. Gen Z and Content Trends

[66:56–68:22]

• Both praise Gen Z’s sense of humor and burst the “millennials are funnier” myth:

  “Gen Z has a sense of humor. Millennials take themselves too seriously.”
  (Manny, 67:11)

• Brand participation in comment sections and social conversations is now the norm (“Dr. Pepper commenting on TikTok is wild!”).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On influencer career goals:

  “We all started because it was just fun... Now it's so curated, everyone’s a professional, and it's like a playbook.”
  (Laura, 41:49)

• On cancel culture and fear:

  “Back in 2016, people weren’t getting canceled for everything. Now, you get canceled for being filmed looking at someone funny on the street.”
  (Laura, 39:48)

• On community in comments:

  “The comments are community, that’s where the fun is—when it’s positive! But people will say heinous shit just for the likes now.”
  (Manny, 49:22)

• On personal authenticity:

  “If you take yourself too seriously and can’t have fun, that’s a red flag. It’s exhausting pretending to be perfect.”
  (Laura, 63:28)

• On taking risks:

  “We took huge risks, years ago—if you want to bite big, you gotta risk big. And congrats on all your failures, because most people don’t even try.”
  (Laura, 69:06)

---

Bonus: Book & Life Recommendations

[19:31–38:38]

• Laura’s Deep Dive: Jay Shetty’s Think Like A Monk

  • Favorite takeaway: We assume we “deserve” the good, but dwell on not deserving the bad—should be grateful for good things too.
  • “It hit me with so many profound things about life... really blew my mind.” (Laura, 24:14)

• Manny’s Latest Read: A Court of Mist and Fury (fantasy series)

  • Loves engaging, non-annoying protagonists and how easy the Kindle makes reading on the go.

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nostalgia & Change in Influencer Culture: 38:42–41:49
• Cancel Culture’s Impact: 39:41–41:49
• The Ego and 'What About Me': 42:51–45:49
• Comments & Community: 49:22–50:57
• Brand and Creator Talent Evaluation: 59:45–62:16
• Generational Humor: 66:56–68:22
• Personal and Professional Growth: 65:42–67:54

---

Tone

Classic Fool Coverage: spirited, gossipy, real, plenty of inside jokes, shade, and moments of authentic reflection. Manny and Laura balance humor and sass with honest, sometimes vulnerable, industry insights.

---

Takeaway for Listeners

The influencer world has gotten bigger, richer, and more polished—but less spontaneous and less silly, thanks to a culture that pressures perfection and punishes missteps. While anyone can be an influencer now, true talent and authenticity are still rare (and highly valued). Personal growth comes from caring less about critics and more about being yourself. In the words of Fool Coverage: it’s about finding the fun amidst the filters.

---

Transcript

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[Tyler]

Go the distance with CoverGirl's new eye enhancer Wrap tubing mascara for a lash extension effect. Shop now at your nearest retailer.

[Laura]

I hate this. I hate being here.

[Tyler]

SMS like cheesy over here.

[Laura]

Chasing baby tea got me.

[Tyler]

And share an opinion. But not everything is about you. That was the thing.

[Laura]

2026 is eas. 2016 was so hard. Welcome to your favorite podcast. It's full coverage with your host Laura.

[Tyler]

Lee and Manny Mua. We're back, back, back again in the new studio, you guys.

[Laura]

Yes, we are. We love it.

[Tyler]

Crocky.

[Laura]

Crikey, crikey.

[Tyler]

I feel like Crocodile Dundee.

[Laura]

You look like him too in that little camo shirt.

[Tyler]

I was lit. You know what's so funny? I was going to wear my, my green bass pro on top of this to really give the Floridian fantasy. But I want to film a TikTok after this and it was going to fuck my hair.

[Laura]

I was like, I get it.

[Tyler]

Sorry about that.

[Laura]

Yep. It's like, I'm like, he's like this.

[Tyler]

Yeah. I'm like, just stop.

[Laura]

Our listeners are like, what's happening, you guys?

[Tyler]

It was, the mic was. It had a mind of its own. But I was, I was going to wear that. But the thing is because my hair is so fine, it would fuck it immediate.

[Laura]

Oh.

[Tyler]

Flat. Oh, I'm like this.

[Laura]

Flat as pink.

[Tyler]

Well, what the fuck is wrong with me?

[Laura]

I'm fucking dead right now.

[Tyler]

Flat as nice.

[Laura]

Honey, that rolled off the tongue too.

[Tyler]

Quick, too quick, too quick. So I can't. So now I'm gonna be in just my camo Abercrombie shirt. I love Abercrombie shirts. I'm an obsession with Abercrombie like shirts. I literally just dropped like more than I needed to on an order.

[Laura]

Go ahead, tell us the title.

[Tyler]

I'm not gonna say what the total is, you guys, but today's episode, we thought it'd be so fun because honestly 2016 is trending right now. People are doing their recaps, they're doing all these like throwbacks because 2026 is 10 years since 2016, right? So it's like, oh my God, throw it back. So I thought it'd be kind of fun. We thought it'd be kind of fun to do like little like throwback to 2016, talk about some situations and like the differences between 2016 and 2026. And I actually have this like one post that I really want to deep dive on because I have like opinions on it specifically and I want to get your opinion on it as well.

[Laura]

Oh, okay, I'm down.

[Tyler]

But first speaks a bit.

[Laura]

I'll start with my pick because I think it's.

[Tyler]

Start it, start it.

[Laura]

So I never run with water. Cuz you're supposed to hydrate before anyways.

[Tyler]

Okay.

[Laura]

Like you're not supposed to be chugging water on a run unless you're doing super long distance running. But you're not supposed to be chugging a lot of water, especially on a short run. Cuz it just can hurt your belly, weigh you down a bit. You want to hydrate before the run. Electrolytes, hours, days before the run. You want to be doing that work.

[Tyler]

I'm like, this looking real good. So it's like cheesing up in here.

[Laura]

I'm dead.

[Tyler]

Oh, that feels good.

[Laura]

So I went running. It was my first time ever doing eight miles.

[Tyler]

And when I. Oh, with no water at all. Nothing.

[Laura]

No water, Nothing. No. Yeah, cuckoo. I don't know what I was thinking.

[Tyler]

You weren't.

[Laura]

I wasn't thinking. I think I was just like, whatever, it'll be the same as all the other runs.

[Tyler]

But it wasn't because it was doing.

[Laura]

One mile more, let me tell you.

[Tyler]

Wait, so you just didn't have water on the run or it was in your car?

[Laura]

It was in my car. But it wasn't on the run.

[Tyler]

Was on you, on your person and you usually have water on you?

[Laura]

Never.

[Tyler]

So then what was like exactly. Got it.

[Laura]

So I was like, you're like, no, you're fine. When I. The seventh, they got you hit mile seven, I was. People were running past me with Water bottles. And I remember you were like this. Oh, give me a little spongebob.

[Tyler]

Like this. You literally. Spongebob.

[Laura]

I was like. I was. I was like. My tongue was literally a piece of sandpaper.

[Tyler]

Yes.

[Laura]

My lips were burning. Cu. They were so dry. And on top of it, I was like, I'll wear this cute baby.

[Tyler]

And you're a water drinker.

[Laura]

Water drinker. So you know, I know it well. I was like, I'll wear this cute little baby tea too, cuz it's kind of chilly when you get started. But you can't be wearing a jacket out there, cuz you'll sweat.

[Tyler]

You'll die.

[Laura]

So let me tell you, when I hit mile four, I was like, both of my armpits are on fire really bad right now. And I chafing. Chafing baby tea got me bad. Both armpits full rashes.

[Tyler]

No.

[Laura]

I was literally running like weapons down the beach. I swear to God. I swear to God.

[Tyler]

You're running like this.

[Laura]

Arms all the way out. No, I was. I couldn't put my arms down. And you're technically supposed to run with your arms down by your side for the momentum. Yeah. Couldn't do it. I was like literally running like this.

[Tyler]

Shut up. Lord, it was that bad.

[Laura]

Hit me on mile four.

[Tyler]

Got it.

[Laura]

So I'm. I'm cooked in the underarm. Okay. Never doing a baby tea again. Got it loose. Understood. Loose. You want to go loose. You don't want to go too tight. Okay. So I was like, okay. No, I'm like, well, now that my underarms are bleeding on fire. And then I was like, red is literally. I had like a rash for a week.

[Tyler]

No, you didn't. Yes. Oh my God. Lord. I didn't. I'm gagged. I did not know that.

[Laura]

Cuz I'm always in hoodies cuz it's cold. Yeah, but you would have seen it if it was summertime.

[Tyler]

No way.

[Laura]

Yes. I had a rash for a week cuz I chafed out both of my underarms.

[Tyler]

Me between my thighs.

[Laura]

I now I never had my.

[Tyler]

Y' all know what the chub.

[Laura]

There is thigh rescue.

[Tyler]

There is thigh rescue. And I'm like.

[Laura]

And it can save you. It can save you.

[Tyler]

I need thy rescue. Trust.

[Laura]

So then almost. I'm telling you, it felt like a piece of sandpaper in my mouth. Disgust. Yes. My lips burning. They were so dry. Because I was dehydrated. Chapped as hell. I was.

[Tyler]

I know you got into that car falling apart. I was like, yes, you Were desperate. Desperate about to drink that ocean water, bitch.

[Laura]

I was, baby. That contaminated ocean water.

[Tyler]

Sick.

[Laura]

Sick. I was ready for. I kept looking over at the ocean. It was like torture. People would run by with full water bottles. I was like, please, sir, please.

[Tyler]

A Morse.

[Laura]

Yeah, so. And then because I use my stupid fucking Apple watch, when I hit mile seven, it started at zero. I was so mad because never. I had worked so hard for eight miles. As soon as I hit mile seven, it goes and starts at zero. Like, why did it start at zero? I don't know.

[Tyler]

Maybe because it's used to using seven and not.

[Laura]

No, because I'm constantly jumping up, so. And it's never done that before.

[Tyler]

Yeah.

[Laura]

So I stop. Like, I literally. It dings, and I look down, and it's at zero. So I stop running. I'm like, what the is happening?

[Tyler]

And.

[Laura]

And I'm like, hello. So I was like, this is so sad. It's not gonna track my truck. And I work so hard because I have an app where it keeps up with all my workouts and my progression.

[Tyler]

And my time, like, nowhere.

[Laura]

It's like, this is. I've worked so hard, and I'm not even gonna have the recording of it, but whenever I stop, my watch, it corrected itself and picked back up that extra mile. Oh. I was like, thank God.

[Tyler]

I know that that activated me.

[Laura]

It fucked up my pace because when that happened, I stopped running. So I was, like, freaking out. Yeah. I was like, well, then I'm never running again. I'm never running again.

[Tyler]

I ha.

[Laura]

You literally.

[Tyler]

You had a moment of clarity, and you're like, this sucks.

[Laura]

That was literally like, this is the worst. But thank God, whenever I saved my run, it said I did the full eight miles. So the watch just glitched. And so many runners have given Apple a bad rap. And I've defended it, and I was like, no. Oh, no. Next day, I went and bought a Garmin. That never happening to me again. Never happening. How dare you?

[Tyler]

How dare you dare you.

[Laura]

But to be fair, apples for everyday use juice. And it is great for fitness, but it's not for, like, marathons and stuff. They didn't make it for that. So they're like, hey, hey.

[Tyler]

They're like, listen, we're doing what you do. They're like, listen, listen. That wet arm that you have, it's not our fault. We did not say, we're gonna track this.

[Laura]

It's gross. It's really gross.

[Tyler]

But I bet that water, when it.

[Laura]

Hit your lips, I still remember it right now. Like, I remember the bottle. I had the straw because when the water hit my throat, I was like.

[Tyler]

Like, you breathe for the first time.

[Laura]

Yeah. So now I bought a cheap vest off Amazon. It is fabulous love. And it has a little flash water bottle in it. And I can just like.

[Tyler]

Because even if you had like a little thing, you can just go, I.

[Laura]

Just need a little bit. Just a little bit.

[Tyler]

God, that would literally kill me.

[Laura]

Really change my run. Getting that water in there. Gonna want to pack water, guys.

[Tyler]

Yeah, pack water. You guys, if you're gonna go on.

[Laura]

An 8 miler, draw the line, pack the wall.

[Tyler]

It's going to quick three.

[Laura]

And I got energy packs too.

[Tyler]

Oh, and that, like, does that really make a difference?

[Laura]

It really makes a difference.

[Tyler]

Does that have just caffeine? Like, what is the point?

[Laura]

I have electrolytes in them and they. They just say so the one I specifically got is caffeine free.

[Tyler]

Huh.

[Laura]

But it just has electrolytes and energy, so I don't know what else.

[Tyler]

I wonder what gives you energy though. Like, I'm curious what does?

[Laura]

Like, I do a lot of electrolytes a couple hours before my run. And it's rough. Like, I'm doing the nasty ones. Like the real. Yeah, I ain't doing no. No offense, but like, not the tasty ones.

[Tyler]

No, right. No offense to who?

[Laura]

I'm like, I'm like.

[Tyler]

I'm offended.

[Laura]

The brand. The brand.

[Tyler]

No offense.

[Laura]

You taste like shit it the way I do. Tastes like shit to me.

[Tyler]

I mean, it is what it is. But when they work, they work.

[Laura]

It works. It works. It works. It works. So. Makes a big difference. So anyways, just bring water on your minds, guys. Just fuck it.

[Tyler]

Just bring water.

[Laura]

Not proven anything to anyone. I wasn't trying to. I just didn't need it.

[Tyler]

You need it. You're fine.

[Laura]

Never need. And I didn't want to wear a full fucking vest.

[Tyler]

No. Right. But now it's like, you need it.

[Laura]

Oh, no.

[Tyler]

Game changer.

[Laura]

Game changer.

[Tyler]

Bring the damn best and bring the. When I tell you a camelback, I.

[Laura]

Feel like a different person.

[Tyler]

I love that.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

Because then it's actually like, oh, my God. You can. You can even go farther than 100.

[Laura]

100.

[Tyler]

You're not depleted as little pockets for myself.

[Laura]

What's your pet?

[Tyler]

My. My pit. I didn't even tell you this because it happened last night. So I get invited to like a friend's birthday party, birthday dinner. And I was like, yeah, of course. I would love to come. Like, she's very sweet. And I've known her for, like, a year and a half. And so she was like, I'm doing, like, an intimate dinner with, like, some of my close gay friends. And I was like, cool, sounds good. I would love to go. So she sent me the place and then the address, right? So she's like, be here at 6:30. Great. I put in the address from when I, like, got the address, and it was like 50 minutes away. And I go, on Sunday. On Sunday, Laura. 50 minutes on a.

[Laura]

So it must have been far.

[Tyler]

So I'm like, what the fuck? So then I end up checking like I'm about to leave. So I'm like, about, like, 45 minutes from leaving. And so I look at. It's like 42 minutes. I'm like, okay, it's not as bad as 50. But it got lower as the night came on. So I. I'm driving over. I get to the place. I'm like, maybe, like 10 minutes late, right? I get there and I pull up and I pull up to this place, and it's like, park your car here and walk 14 minutes to get to it. And I'm like.

[Laura]

You got back to your car? Went home.

[Tyler]

So I go, what the are you talking about? And so I text a walk. And I'm like, did you guys have to walk 14 minutes?

[Laura]

Oh, my God.

[Tyler]

And she's like, no. Oh. And I'm like, oh, my God. So then I type in the actual restaurant and not the address. Manny. It took me to the Palisades. Past the Palisades, Manny. It was in Hollywood. So I had to drive 40 minutes from the pal.

[Laura]

Oh, my.

[Tyler]

To Hollywood. I was 45 minutes late to the dinner. Luckily, it wasn't as intimate as I thought. It was like 20 people. Oh. I'm like, oh, it's not six people.

[Laura]

Thank God people be using that term. It's real.

[Tyler]

And I'm like, there was 20 people here. Loosely, 30 people. So I was there 40 minutes late. I was in my car for an hour and a half.

[Laura]

Wow.

[Tyler]

Because I went. It took me to an address that was literally blocked off in the Palisades of a restaurant. So I started to literally, like, go actual crazy in my car.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

After an hour and a half, I was so tempted just to be like, I'm not gonna make it.

[Laura]

Yeah, well, I'm in the Palisades.

[Tyler]

I went from Palisades to the Hollywood.

[Laura]

That's so.

[Tyler]

No, that was the thing is Hollywood. So I go, I'm gonna crash the out. And if I didn't look cute.

[Laura]

Oh, you had already gotten ready.

[Tyler]

Let me say something. If I wasn't cute last night, I wouldn't have made it.

[Laura]

What a bummer.

[Tyler]

But because I looked so cute, I needed to be seen and I craved that.

[Laura]

Yeah, it was, you know, and I.

[Tyler]

Knew there's gonna be 25 gay people.

[Laura]

Drive an hour and like 40 minutes.

[Tyler]

I was willing an hour to be seen, you know, to be heard and to be visible.

[Laura]

Damn.

[Tyler]

So it was really dark. And I just wanted you to know.

[Laura]

That's a horrible.

[Tyler]

That that was mine. An hour and 30 minutes in the car, you guys. I know, but let me tell you something. If you were fully glam and dressed up, you would have made the drive.

[Laura]

I would have just like done a TikTok and went home.

[Tyler]

You would have gone out, walked. 14 minutes. She's like, I'm in the wilderness, you guys. I'm like, no, Laura, you would have fucking. You're like, I hate this.

[Laura]

Yeah, I hate this so much. I hate this. I hate being here.

[Tyler]

So really, really spooky. And I got there so late and I was like, I'm sorry. Like, it took me to the literal wrong address and I was so fucking late. That was my pit from hell. I was mad.

[Laura]

That's a pretty bad pit.

[Tyler]

I was mad because I know. I was like, I know that might.

[Laura]

Be worse than no water on a run.

[Tyler]

It's worse.

[Laura]

I think it's worse. I would rather go through what I went through than drive that far and not be at the location. I'm gonna be honest. Like, I could really live what I went through and not have to deal with that.

[Tyler]

You guys, I really.

[Laura]

Not to compare traumas, but.

[Tyler]

No, we have to.

[Laura]

Yours feels worse.

[Tyler]

We have to compare it because it truly was traumatic for me.

[Laura]

Did you take the Jag?

[Tyler]

No. No.

[Laura]

You did it, Annie. Why not?

[Tyler]

I don't know. I did it, so I'm very glad I did it, honestly.

[Laura]

We have to get rid of the couch because soon I'm going to be.

[Tyler]

Like. The second you laugh, you sink in. Yes. I dead ass was like, I'm already going 45. I'm just gonna take the Toyota.

[Laura]

Oh, yeah.

[Tyler]

I'm already going so fucking far. So when I got there and it was still another 40 to go, I said, thank you, Toyota.

[Laura]

If you guys ever think Manny's unrelatable, just know he's a literal millionaire who drives an old Toyota by choice. By choice. For fun. For fun. The couch got you, gal. For fun.

[Tyler]

You guys. I don't drive it for Fun.

[Laura]

He does.

[Tyler]

It's just very practical. Yeah, and I'm not a literal millionaire. This episode is sponsored by Better Help. You guys. There is a new year. We are in 2026. And you know what? It doesn't require a new you, but it could require a better you. You know what I mean? And honestly, better help could just be that exact thing that you need for a better version of yourself because, you know, like, things can weigh us down, can hold you back, but with better help, you guys can actually move way past that and learn how to be a better version of yourself.

[Laura]

BetterHelp actually has over 30,000 therapists, and BetterHelp is one of the world's largest online therapy platforms and they've served over 5 million people globally. That is crazy. Over 5 million people? That's incredible. They have 1.7 million client reviews, you guys. So me and Manny love Better help. We're big advocates for big advocates, mental health and just being your best self. So we love it because it's accessible and it's easy to get a therapist and you can switch therapists at any time.

[Tyler]

BetterHelp makes it easy to get match online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/full coverage. That's BetterHelp. H E lp.com/full coverage. Thank you so much to CoverGirl for sponsoring this portion of full coverage. You guys go the distance with CoverGirl's new eye enhancer wrap tubing mascara for lash extension effect. Okay, guys, listen. We've been using the new CoverGirl Eye Enhancer Wrap tubing mascara and it has a few officially entered our inner circle of go to mascaras. It gives instant definition, length and lift. And the flexible tapered brush actually keeps your lashes separated instead of turning them into one clump. And the wear unreal. It's flake free and smudge proof for up to 30 hours. We're talking all day wear, filming errands, even that random workout class we said we wouldn't go to. And it still doesn't budge.

[Laura]

What we're really obsessed with is the tubing formula. If you haven't tried tubing mascara yet, let us be the friends who explain. Ultra stretch lightweight tubes literally wrap around every single lash. That's why it gives that instant lash extension effect without the actual lash appointment. It's sweatproof, water resistant and ridiculously easy to remove. Just warm water on a cotton pad, not hot press for a few seconds and the tubes literally slide off. No tugging, no scrubbing. Honestly iconic.

[Tyler]

And the Eye enhancing shades were obsessed. They got Max Motion Black for bold, brighter looking eyes. Espresso Energy for that soft, natural vibe. Midnight Stride for a lifted Wide awake look. Even when we're running on iced coffee.

[Laura]

So if you're ready for lifted lashes that keep up with your day, go shop eye enhancer wrap tubing mascara at your nearest retailer. Now trust me, you're gonna be obsessed. Only from easy, breezy, beautiful covergirl. I beg to differ. I beg to differ. Maybe. Yeah.

[Tyler]

Okay. So seriously, the Toyota is just so.

[Laura]

I think that's a good thing about you.

[Tyler]

I mean, I think that's a positive. It's just one of my things.

[Laura]

Positive.

[Tyler]

Yeah. I just don't really care.

[Laura]

I know a lot of celebrities that drive old cars. Like, not like, rent vintage cool cars.

[Tyler]

They're just like, chill cars. I just don't, like, really care.

[Laura]

You also have, like, a really nice Jag that you prefer to drive your Yoda. And that's incredible.

[Tyler]

It's so true. I will drive both. I do drive both. But the Toyota is about.

[Laura]

If you ever got a wagon, I'd put you in therapy, because that's when.

[Tyler]

I would know something happened.

[Laura]

Something happened. Something bad happened.

[Tyler]

Because that's very, like, LA changed me. But, babe, I'm like nine years in. I'm good.

[Laura]

So don't even get me started. Don't even get me started.

[Tyler]

Like, it's just not who I am, baby. So who I am. But yeah, it was really the pit from hell. And I think we're. We're good. What your peak?

[Laura]

So my peak is I thought we should talk books for peaks.

[Tyler]

Let's do. Because I just finished my second book.

[Laura]

See, we need to talk about these things.

[Tyler]

Have to.

[Laura]

Have to read her two books. Actually, I read one book over the break and now I'm reading a second book. So the first book I wrote was Jay Shetty. You know he has like, the number.

[Tyler]

Three podcast in the world that, like, with the blue eyes.

[Laura]

Yes.

[Tyler]

Because he shocks me sometimes.

[Laura]

Tyler's like, I don't know if I trust this man. I'm like, no, no. If you listen to his podcast, Dead Ash will get past, like, the blue eyes and, like, the swaggy hair.

[Tyler]

What?

[Laura]

It looks like he has desier. It looks like they're his eyes.

[Tyler]

And I thought they were fake at first. When I saw a clip of him, I remember once, he was just like.

[Laura]

And you're like, exactly. You know how people buy eyes? Be looking?

[Tyler]

Of course. It's the way I be looking at people.

[Laura]

I'M like, hey, it's crazy.

[Tyler]

Did you know my eyes are easel?

[Laura]

I know. I'm like, hazel. You're acting crazy for hazel.

[Tyler]

They're greed.

[Laura]

Don't get crazy with hazel.

[Tyler]

I'm like, you guys, you know they're hazel, right?

[Laura]

You know only 2% of the people in the world have green eyes. And 2% of people in the hair have red hair or born with naturally red hair.

[Tyler]

Only two, which is crazy. That's crazy. All the redheads are in Ireland.

[Laura]

My Pilates teacher is the most beautiful redhead I've ever seen in my life.

[Tyler]

Really?

[Laura]

She. And she has like red.

[Tyler]

Honestly, like, some redheads are beyond gorgeous.

[Laura]

Incredible to like have that red haired gene because it's. It's such a.

[Tyler]

So uncommon.

[Laura]

It is. But the color itself is unbelievable that that grows out of a human.

[Tyler]

Unbelievable.

[Laura]

It's not. I mean, you can man make it, but for people.

[Tyler]

No, not that color. I feel like that color is so.

[Laura]

Specific and it's so. Such a.

[Tyler]

Have you ever seen red pubes?

[Laura]

Never.

[Tyler]

I've seen them in real life.

[Laura]

Is that insane?

[Tyler]

Shocking.

[Laura]

Nasty.

[Tyler]

It's actually really shocking because it's literally red. No, I'm not saying that. It's red pubes and like the dick is the widest stick you've ever seen because they're like, they're literally like redhead. So they're really quite.

[Laura]

I love that.

[Tyler]

So it's literally like red hair and like translucent dick. Dead ass.

[Laura]

See through.

[Tyler]

Dead acid. See through. I can see the veins between the.

[Laura]

Layers saying, does the penis have freckles?

[Tyler]

No, but the body's full. It's only been one time.

[Laura]

I wonder what the correlation is with freckles and red hair.

[Tyler]

I don't know. Because a lot of people, not all.

[Laura]

But a lot of people that have naturally red hair. I love freckles, by the way.

[Tyler]

No, I. I will draw them on.

[Laura]

I do not even put foundation on my nose most of the time so you can see my natural freckles.

[Tyler]

You also have no pores and perfect skin. There's also that.

[Laura]

I'm like, I wear. No, you're like, I don't have any.

[Tyler]

Foundation on my nose.

[Laura]

Okay.

[Tyler]

I put full coverage on my nose. I'm like, oh, you don't.

[Laura]

Go fuck yourself.

[Tyler]

Like, go kill yourself.

[Laura]

Yeah, I get it.

[Tyler]

That's how you feel.

[Laura]

I had to beep that one.

[Tyler]

I'm like, yeah, I know you don't. Cause I see those freckles peeking through over here like this.

[Laura]

Pack it in, baby, pack it in. I get it. Listen.

[Tyler]

Okay, so the book. J. Shetty, you loved it.

[Laura]

Oh, the book. Loved it. So he wrote a book called Think Like a Monk because he was a monk for, I believe, three years.

[Tyler]

Oh, that's cool.

[Laura]

After he graduated college, he went to live in an Asham in India and became a monk for three years. You have to, like, shave your head. Like, he tells.

[Tyler]

He did the whole thing.

[Laura]

Yes, did the whole thing. He tells, too, all the juicy details of, like, how monks live, which was very, very interesting because I've always wondered.

[Tyler]

I actually wonder that. What did they say?

[Laura]

Can't, like, jerk off or anything? No, they do, baby.

[Tyler]

Of course.

[Laura]

Cold water. They sleep on, like, a tiny mat in a room together. But they. He explains.

[Tyler]

You can jerk off.

[Laura]

I don't think you can.

[Tyler]

I mean, if you're in a room full of.

[Laura]

No, you have to, like, sustain from all of that.

[Tyler]

Not.

[Laura]

I would have to shave your head.

[Tyler]

Don't think of me shaving my head.

[Laura]

Imagine me.

[Tyler]

Laura, your little head shaved pit head. I would be so scared.

[Laura]

That is like, this.

[Tyler]

It would be really dark.

[Laura]

My hair is, like, all I got going for me right now.

[Tyler]

So listen, it would be. Same with me. My heart shape. It'd be like. Yeah. Be really scary. Really. Queen of Hearts over here. It would be bad. Let's not imagine. So the girls have two.

[Laura]

I don't.

[Tyler]

I don't think even a buzz cut.

[Laura]

Even girls. Even monks.

[Tyler]

I don't know. I don't know anything about monks.

[Laura]

I know.

[Tyler]

I didn't either, but I read.

[Laura]

But he explains thoroughly, like, why they do each thing, and it actually makes so much sense. So we're gonna play a quick little thing that I read in the book. This was one of the most profound things that the book, by the way, the book hit me with a lot of profound about life. Like, I was like, whoa. Like, the book's called Think like a Monk. But, like, he will do some things to your mind that you're like, okay, wow.

[Tyler]

The monks were profoundly, like, getting him together and he wanted to share that.

[Laura]

Exactly.

[Tyler]

So it's literally like Dr. Strange. You know, the first movie. I like this, but okay, so Dr. Strange, he literally goes to find these monks, and then he's profoundly changed. Not the same. Obviously.

[Laura]

He did. I forgot. I forgot.

[Tyler]

In the first movie, he got her.

[Laura]

But that's why he was profoundly changed.

[Tyler]

Yes, because he lived the monks.

[Laura]

I'm telling you, the monks changed him. It's all up here for them. They're so good, too. Okay, so one Little thing I read in the book. So he was like, think of three things that you. That happened to you in your life that you feel like you didn't deserve. So go ahead and just. You don't have to say them out loud, but just, like, ping. Three things.

[Tyler]

I can only think of one.

[Laura]

Okay, think of two.

[Tyler]

I can think of two. I can think of two.

[Laura]

You can think of two things. And you guys do this. Wherever you are listening.

[Tyler]

We're doing it together.

[Laura]

We'll all do it together. So let's all think of two to three things that have happened to you in your lifetime. You feel like you didn't deserve. Were the two things you thought of a negative thing that happened to you?

[Tyler]

Yes.

[Laura]

So you think that you do deserve the positive things that happen to you in your life, but you. The things that you don't deserve are negative.

[Tyler]

Yep. I'm like, yeah, exactly. I only deserve good things to happen. That's crazy.

[Laura]

Yeah. So that's like, the point.

[Tyler]

So it's literally the point is to, like, be like, baby, all things have to all.

[Laura]

But no, the point is, like, you should be grateful for the good things that happen to you because you don't necessarily deserve every good thing that's happened to you. But we live with the mentality that if anything good that happens to us, we deserve it.

[Tyler]

Right.

[Laura]

Anything bad that happens to us, we don't probably. Or maybe we do think we deserve a couple of them, but for the most part, we're like, we didn't deserve that. So we automatically go to negative because our mind says that we always deserve everything that's positive that happens to us.

[Tyler]

We probably didn't deserve the positive things. They just happen.

[Laura]

They just happen anyways. Just like the negative things do sometimes. You know what I mean? I was like, whoa, that, like, blew my mind. Because I was like, yeah, all the things I listed were negative on my.

[Tyler]

Of course, I feel like I would.

[Laura]

Never thought negative things, but that's, like, technically not correct thinking. You know what I mean? It's not seeing things for what they are. It's not seeing those good moments and those good things and those wins. Like, we just think we deserve every little good thing that happens to us, but it's something negative. We're all of a sudden like, I didn't deserve that. But did you deserve all the good, too? No, but you got it. But you got it.

[Tyler]

Yeah. And it happened regardless.

[Laura]

So there's a lot of things like that in the book. They're very profound. He's an Amazing writer. He, like, breaks stuff down. He helps you, like, think differently, like, about things and about life and, like, what's important.

[Tyler]

I mean, he's, like, so successful. Oh, so huge.

[Laura]

He is. But his podcast was so good because I started listening to it. It's so good it got me to buy his book because I was like, if he's this good on his podcast, he really is. I was like, I bet this book is phenomenal. So I blew through the book. It was fan fucking tastic. And now I'm reading Roxy. I believe you pronounce her last name New Fosse Nafasi. She wrote the Manifest book that I love. The orange Manifest book. She came out with her another book called Confidence Love. And it's really good. It's like building the foundations of confidence. And I love it. It's fantastic. I'm not finished with it.

[Tyler]

I love that.

[Laura]

That's what I'm reading now.

[Tyler]

I love that. I just finished the second A Court of Miss and Fury book. Yours is, like, profound and good. Mine is like fairies and.

[Laura]

But that's what makes the podcast interesting.

[Tyler]

It's fun. Okay. I literally. So I actually read both books during the break, so I can't believe I read two books in one break, which is crazy.

[Laura]

I can't believe you know how to read, honestly.

[Tyler]

I can't believe I know how to read already. Crazy. Honestly. You know what's funny? The Kindle did help me read better and faster, I feel, because it's, like, easier to manage the reading. Because for me, what I would do because I had, like, a set of goal for myself where I was like, I need to read at least two chapters a day. Obviously, a lot of times I would go, like into like seven chapters, ten chapters a day. But then I would just be like, some days I can only do two. It just depends. But what I would do is that, like, when I climb into bed and I'm about to go to bed, the lights are off, but, like, my Kindle is lit, so I can, like, still read the book even though it's, like, darker and it's not going to hurt my eyes. There's a lot. A soft, like, warm, light Kindle makes.

[Laura]

Reading anywhere and everywhere possible.

[Tyler]

It's possible to read with it, but.

[Laura]

With a book, you can't. Like, I'll be like, turn the fucking light off. And I'm like, yes.

[Tyler]

That's like, I.

[Laura]

Dark black bathroom in the bathtub. You can read.

[Tyler]

You can do any. So basically. So the second book I just finished is literally Better than the first one. I'm reading the Court series. So it's like I read a court, thorns and roses. And I just finished a court of mist and fury.

[Laura]

Slow, brief of what these are about.

[Tyler]

So basically, it's about a woman that is in, like, the. The human world, right? And there's this border. It's called the Wall. And it's, like, past the wall are fairies, but fairies are not, like fairies. It's fairies that are, like, monsters. It's literally like hell, like, creatures that, like, want to kill humans, right? And the walls, this almost like, barrier defending, defending it. But things can get through, like, the Wall, right? So something happens where she actually is forced to go across the wall, and she's forced to live there. She can't live in the human world anymore because of, like, some situation that happened. So she basically gets taken by someone. Is like, you have to be here. Like, this is what it is. She ends up getting taken by someone that's, like, very important. And there's, like, a love story that unfolds, right? So there's, like, a love story, but towards the end of the book, slash into the second book, like, you realize that, like, they're not who they are. Like, they're not what they seem. And then. So. But the thing is, you think that the villain, like, the bad person is, like, bad, but they're actually, like, good. Like, it's. It's. There's a lot of.

[Laura]

They twist you up.

[Tyler]

They twist you up in the story, which is why I really like it. Because it's not exactly like, what I expect in a book. It's not exactly what I'm expecting even in a story. Like, if I were to watch it on tv, I'd be like, they gagged me. They got me. Like, I would like it in a show, in a movie.

[Laura]

Are they making it a TV show, you said?

[Tyler]

Yes, I've heard that they're making a TV show, and I heard that they're making it. So I'm not sure.

[Laura]

Everywhere.

[Tyler]

I think they're everywhere.

[Laura]

Really popular.

[Tyler]

They're so popular. And I only knew about it because my followers are the ones that told me about it. And I was like, okay. Like, maybe I'll, like, try it. Because the thing is, I enjoy the books because of the fact that it's built out a world that is easy for me to imagine.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

Like, it's. The read is easy, and it's easy to reimagine it, but it's so, like, holy shit. And the main character is not Annoying me.

[Laura]

Okay.

[Tyler]

And I think that's a big thing, too. When you're reading, like, fantasy. You're reading books in general. Sometimes the main character is literally, like, insufferable.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

Because the world around her is, like, so great. But they're insufferable. She's.

[Laura]

Wait till they cast this TV show. And it's not the person you. I know. That's the first time it's ever happened, by the way. Scary, because I'll be the first time. That's your reading. Book readers. It gets really personal with these TV shows because, you know, you.

[Tyler]

You imagine a whole world.

[Laura]

Books are always better because, one, you get way more details and information because it's a book versus what they're having to act out. They can only give you so much.

[Tyler]

Exactly.

[Laura]

With the story, they can only do something 50 chapters. Right. That's endless. And they don't have. There's no budget on, like, building these things out so they can say and make whatever they want true. So you're able to, like, imagine that in a book. The best version of the best or the coolest. So when they get into casting, you're like, this is not who I saw.

[Tyler]

Well, a lot of. You know what's funny? A lot of people had d. Not even a lot of people. Someone had said in my. On one of my comments, like, you remind me of Ryzen from a Quarter Thorns Rose. And I was like, I don't know what the fuck that is. And then I read the book, and I'm like, I'm literally not that person.

[Laura]

Really?

[Tyler]

Because they're, like, the hottest person in the entire world. So I was like, you're just, like, hyping me up, which is so sweet. But when I. When I was actually, like, reading the book, like, they were like, ugh. Like, he was just, like, pissing me the fuck off. I'm like, ew, this is so unfortunate. I got the book, too.

[Laura]

And now I'm like, you're like, okay.

[Tyler]

Like, it's literally like that. So I was like, oh, this is so crazy. Like, that. I'm, like, really, like, involved in and really invested in this world now because I'm like. And I feel like I have this almost mini book club on my stories where people are like, what do you think about this?

[Laura]

And you need to keep that going.

[Tyler]

I. I am going.

[Laura]

How many books are there?

[Tyler]

Five.

[Laura]

Okay, that's. That's not bad.

[Tyler]

Maybe there's six. I don't know. I. I think there's, like, five or six. So I have like I honestly for Christmas I got all five books in Canada. So I'm like I can just blow through it and it's all in one thing. So I just keep clicking and it just is the new thing.

[Laura]

Amazing.

[Tyler]

Dude. At the end of the second book they gagged me so fast.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Fierce.

[Tyler]

Like they gagged me at the end of the first one that I'm like.

[Laura]

I'm not mentally fire.

[Tyler]

I'm not prepared. It's gonna be fire. And you're gonna watch it.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

When it comes out like it is so good. And I honestly think that you even like the book.

[Laura]

Cuz it's just like I need it. I need a well done. Give it a go.

[Tyler]

I think you like it. And honestly the fact that the second book is better than the first book to me is already like, these are books I want to read. Like, because I actually, I'm not gonna be like, it's like almost like dreading to try to finish something. But I'm not dreading it. I'm like enjoying and looking forward to it. Now I'm on book three. I just started last night. I read two chapters so I'm a little reader.

[Laura]

Look at you.

[Tyler]

Thank you so much to Cash App for sponsoring this portion of full coverage, you guys. Is your debit card boring? I get it, honey. Mine. It was boring. It was. What would you draw on your Cash App card personalization feature if you could customize it? I'm going moons, full blown moons. I want the whole starry sky on my card, you guys. Cash App just released a new status program for the way people actually spend called Cash App Green. It unlocks new ways for you to pay, get rewarded and easily grow or manage your money on your terms. Now, when you spend at least $500 a month with a Cash App card or Cash App Pay, you earn green status, which unlocks benefits like up to $200 of free overdraft coverages, higher borrow limits and custom personalized cashback offers. Every Friday at places you love to shop. Turn everyday spending into status with Cash App Green. Download Cash App today or visit Cash App New to learn more about this and other great features. Launching now for a limited time, new Cash App Customers can earn $10 if they use the code CASH APP10 in their profile at signup and send $5 to a friend within 14 days. Terms apply. Cash App is a financial service platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partners. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton bank member FDIC Cash App Green overdraft coverage. Borrow cash back offers and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block Inc. Brand Visit CA Forward SLLegal SLP Podcast for full disclosures.

[Laura]

Thank you to Laundry Sauce for sponsoring this portion of Full Coverage. New year, it's time to get rid of old habits and possibly reinvent yourself. I have some big changes I'm making and then I also have some small ones if you guys don't know about Laundry Sauce. It is a premium collection of high performance detergent pods and other laundry essentials that are infused with bold and sophisticated fragrances scratch crafted by the world's top perfumers. So listen, we're switching over detergent too. This year it will have your entire closet smelling absolutely incredible. It is a total upgrade for 2026 laundry. Okay, we're changing the laundry with laundry sauce. They have pre measured pods that just makes it so much easier. There's no mess, no giant chunky bottles. It's just amazing, really. And guess what? When your laundry's done, it's going to smell so good. One of my favorite scents is the Australian sandalwood. It's warm, it's earthy. It smells like cedarwood, eucalyptus, suede and amber. Oh my gosh. It is a timeless, versatile scent. Tyler loves it too. Laundry Sauce is not just about your clothing smelling good. It is engineered for performance. Okay? So it's the perfect way to reinvent your signature scent. Elevate your laundry in 2026. For a limited time only, our listeners get 20 off your entire order. Use code [e-mail] that's 20 off at laundrysouth. With code full. After you check out, they'll ask where you heard about them. Don't forget to drop our name. Trust us, your laundries never smell this good.

[Tyler]

Look at us. Look at us reading, Just expanding our minds. And I feel smarter reading.

[Laura]

You are smarter.

[Tyler]

I really do.

[Laura]

You are smarter. It helps focus your thoughts too.

[Tyler]

So like, also sometimes I have to read a chapter five times.

[Laura]

Oh, yeah, absolutely not a paragraph.

[Tyler]

I'm like, damn, that would suck. You guys. I'll be reading and I'll read two sentences and I'm like, I don't mind that.

[Laura]

So your mind will get unfocused sometimes and like drift a little bit and you're like, oh my God.

[Tyler]

And I'm like, what's happening?

[Laura]

I need to go back. But you're actually physically still reading, but your mind is wandered, so you gotta go completely different. You just gotta go back.

[Tyler]

So I have. I do that.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

So many times.

[Laura]

You need that information. You're like.

[Tyler]

I'm like, I can't focus on this one damn page. And I'll literally reread the page like three times. And I'm like, okay, I got it.

[Laura]

But the more you read, the better that. That you get better at it.

[Tyler]

You get better hone in on.

[Laura]

Right.

[Tyler]

It's just something I noticed. I'm like, damn, I can't read because I'm rereading the same thing four times.

[Laura]

You're like, I've been on the stage, you guys.

[Tyler]

I can't comprehend what's happening here. Can I read? I literally like. But I feel like the more you read, like you were saying, it does. It does get easier.

[Laura]

It does.

[Tyler]

To actually stay focused.

[Laura]

100.

[Tyler]

That's why, that's why I like to read before I go to bed. Because like there's nothing disturbing me. Like I'm not like no one in the world is like trying to contact me. I'm literally just like, like honed in.

[Laura]

And your phone is like it's off.

[Tyler]

Like I'm on the side.

[Laura]

It's like nice to like get. Get off.

[Tyler]

Take it off of my phone. I'm not like this right before bed.

[Laura]

Right? Exactly. Will make you tired.

[Tyler]

My Kindle.

[Laura]

Yeah, but reading will make you tired.

[Tyler]

It does.

[Laura]

It literally makes me phone like stimulates you reading like brings you down.

[Tyler]

Which is sometimes in the book you get stupid. It will. And you gotta keep activate me and like those. Those one night actually that's the night I finished the book. Because the end chapters, I would say like the last like seven chapters were so gaggy. Every single chapter. I didn't go back to 4:00am Shut up. And I don't even like say up that reading. I say of late.

[Laura]

Yeah, you do.

[Tyler]

Like two though, not four.

[Laura]

Four's great because four.

[Tyler]

The next day I didn't wake up till 11am I woke up. I said, what just happened?

[Laura]

What's it that like, by the way, I'm still getting up at the same time.

[Tyler]

Oh, that's so true.

[Laura]

So fucked up.

[Tyler]

My normal wake up would be like 9, 9:30.

[Laura]

So jealous.

[Tyler]

11 is when I woke up. I said that needs to change.

[Laura]

I think that's really up that you can sleep in.

[Tyler]

I know. It's so.

[Laura]

It's so talent.

[Tyler]

It is a skill. I've honed it naps. That's how.

[Laura]

That is how your naps. Your nappies.

[Tyler]

Okay guys, so let's get into this Damn conversation about 2016. I want us. I want to start off with the quote first because this. Honestly, I was kind of like, why is this kind of eating? Like, I fear it was fear it was eating. So basically this quote, there's a quote and it's from URLs. Okay, that's the ones that posted this. And they basically post this photo and it says, what I'm getting from this 2016 throwback is that everyone used to be so fun, so carefree and so at ease. Now everything is heavily curated and no one wants to be silly anymore. We need to bring that back. That is what it was saying. It has a lot of likes on it, has a lot of shares on it. People are like, oh my God. Yes, it is true to true. So part of me agrees, part of me disagrees with like the sentiment as a whole. My thing. What I think a big reason as why people aren't as carefree, creators aren't as carefree as they were in 2016 is because somebody who have been canceled.

[Laura]

You want them to get to destroy their lives, lose all their followers and brand deals. That's why no one is carefree.

[Tyler]

And that's.

[Laura]

And people are like, no, just be. No, no, no. You could.

[Tyler]

People could cancel.

[Laura]

It is now literally, you will get canceled for sneezing. Like, people are getting canceled for being filmed on the street and looking at someone and it looks mean, it looked weird. So they're automatically evil. JLo's going through it right now because the glam body, the guy had to do a full video explaining that she was not rude to him. Her face was turned away, she was ready for her pose and the carpet was closed and she was tired and wanted to go in. And they made her come back out there and do that. You will get canceled for anything.

[Tyler]

Anything and everything. So the them being like, oh, everyone used to be so care fans have so much fun.

[Laura]

I wonder why they're not.

[Tyler]

Well, back in 2016, people weren't getting canceled for everything. They weren't going through the intense, you know, vitriol that they go through online now. And it's gotten so much worse as time has progressed and people have gotten some more. So much more vicious online. So people have become a little bit more. A little reclusive.

[Laura]

All it did is train people on what you can and cannot post. You can't post anything.

[Tyler]

Yes.

[Laura]

Like, so they gotta curate these things very curated.

[Tyler]

Which is actually also what the part I don't agree with at the thing is like, I'm like, I do feel like back then people were still being curated. Like, I don't Think that people weren't curating themselves to an extent. They were like. I was like, you can't tell me that everyone in there, like, Desio context, trying to be very, like, like, wasn't their version of being curated or trying to come across, like, a certain way, trying to be certain aesthetic. They were still doing it. It was like, the beginning of starting to do it, but again, it was just a different version of what it is now. I just think that people were more carefree back in 2016 in the way of, like. Well, things weren't. People weren't getting canceled. They were giving their honest opinions.

[Laura]

You could go Snapchat and, like, say how you really felt.

[Tyler]

Yes.

[Laura]

You could go. If you were upset about something and have a conversation and talk about it, you. I mean, you could do so much. You can't touch now. Like, you cannot even be. You can't even be like, let's have fun. Like, then people are like, how dare you? You know, the world's in about. Like, it's like, don't even bring up positivity and fun because, babe.

[Tyler]

Because everyone's going through it.

[Laura]

Everyone's going through it. You're not allowed to bring that. Like, it is so curated now down to. And. And everybody's a professional. And I mean that in the way of, like. Like, everybody kind of knows, like, we've seen enough and we kind of know what will happen to you if you, like, step out of line. You know what I mean?

[Tyler]

It's a playbook at this point.

[Laura]

There is a. There's a literal cancellation playbook.

[Tyler]

It's important, but it's true.

[Laura]

And that's why you see, actually, I mean, I don't know if you see less people getting canceled because people still get caught up. You know what I mean? They still, like, people cheat, but they're trying not to.

[Tyler]

That's the thing is, like, they're trying so hard not.

[Laura]

And by the way, no behavior has changed. So I don't know if people canceling. They think that they're, like, changing the world. It's just now they're not showing you.

[Tyler]

Yeah, right.

[Laura]

Like, no one's like, everyone's an angel now because we canceled. No, no. All the behavior is the same. It's just like, they know that they can't post it is all right. You don't get to see it now.

[Tyler]

Yes. It's just like, monsters.

[Laura]

More heavy. Yeah, right. You know, there's some monsters out there. They're just smart enough not to post it now.

[Tyler]

Right. I also feel like when it comes to Nowadays in 2026, I see a lot of people in the what about me? Aspect of themselves. So for example, let me give you an example. Like, let's say someone's making a TikTok and they're talking about eating ice cream and they come. I just had the best chocolate ice cream is so fucking incredible. This is from the place that it. Some of comments bomb. Lactose intolerant. But what about. What about. But what about if you're lactose intolerant?

[Laura]

Jimmy Lovato do that? She did actually.

[Tyler]

Yeah. Yeah, she did. She got caught up for that. Maybe it was like yogurt.

[Laura]

It was like yogurt. It was like ice cream or go.

[Tyler]

Girl and something about an eating disorder. She had like an eating disorder. She was like, oh, I don't want to promote something like that. Something.

[Laura]

She went to like a yogurt store.

[Tyler]

Yes. And they had sugar free. I think that's what it was. It was like fat free. Maybe she's like, that's triggering me.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

So basically that's what I'm saying. So I think that the world that we live in is so like. But what about me? Well, not everything's about you.

[Laura]

That's the thing.

[Tyler]

So I think that's like why I think people are forgetting and they are not comprehending. Because someone ate ice cream with milk in it does not mean that you being lactose intolerant even matters. Like, who cares? You're lactose intolerant. Go eat the ice cream. That's lactose intolerant. Like, it doesn't like make sense to me why people make these sentiments or they comment these things and that. Like, it makes people that want to create content do things. It makes them not want to do it because it's like, why am I getting all this? What about me? Yeah, but like, you guys, like, the thing is you can share an opinion, but not everything is about you. That's the thing. There's nuances to every walk of life. There's difference of opinions, there's different things. People are allowed to have different opinions. And that's just like what life is.

[Laura]

I think that people forget and it'd be really weird if we all had the exact same.

[Tyler]

It would be a high mind.

[Laura]

We'd be high five.

[Tyler]

It'd be insane. Yeah, like, you can't. Like, we cannot live life like that.

[Laura]

They don't think that far.

[Tyler]

No, they. But these are.

[Laura]

What about me? Also, people have an obsession with. This is a self development thing that I've Read. They have an obsession to be right. So whenever they correct you or it'd be better if you did it this way or they just are correcting you on whatever a word you said wrong, a typo you typed out wrong. They know it's heavy on the typos. They freak out because they're ex. It's not because they want you to be correct.

[Tyler]

They want to be right because they.

[Laura]

Want to be right and they don't even know that they're doing it. Like I didn't even know. Have you ever laughed so hard at someone because they missed said a word? That's also flexing your need in a way to be right. Like you're like kind of getting off on like haha, you were wrong and I say it right and I knew even if they misspoke. So funny. Because you're. You have a constant. It's driven by your ego, by the way. Which by the way, the book. I didn't learn that specifically from the book. Think like a monk. But he said, have you ever been. This was another profound thing. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and you're like wish they'd quit talking so you could get what you want to say in. Like you have something you want to say. You're like, hurry up so you can get in. He was like, that's your ego.

[Tyler]

And I was like, I've had friends like that.

[Laura]

I've been that person.

[Tyler]

I mean I feel like that too.

[Laura]

But I don't know anyone who.

[Tyler]

But what's crazy is when you can clock them doing it, you're kind of.

[Laura]

Like, girl, yeah, like take a breath. It's crazy to an extent. Some human nature, you know?

[Tyler]

Cuz you're also trying to think about, okay, like what can I say at.

[Laura]

This moment, excited about the story you want to tell yours. It doesn't mean it's not driven by ego. It's still driven by ego. It's not always like an like a negative thing. Like you're nasty for doing it. That's not what it is. It's just like recognizing it and then be like oh, let me. Let me give it. Let me give myself a beat. You know what I mean? 100 like realizing those things. Because I never knew that was driven by ego at all.

[Tyler]

Right?

[Laura]

I just, you know, I don't know.

[Tyler]

But it makes sense. When you say it out loud you're like, oh yeah, of course. Because like you want to feel validated by them too. Because you're validating there. So you Want the same feeling. It. It all makes sense. Think about it. And they say it and you're like, okay, that actually, like, correlates totally. But I think that, like, this, like, the ego is really what's killed a lot of people's, like, yearn for, you know, wanting to connect, like, because they're so obsessed with, like, their thing. And I think ego really kills, like, empathy in some capacity because it's like you're not being able to see outside of yourself because you're so obsessed with getting your thing out.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

And that. That kills empathy. And because we've lacked so much empathy, that's what's changed a lot from 2016. Empathy goes out the window more and more and more and more. And people forget that their life isn't the only life that's out there.

[Laura]

I saw this Tick Tock and I knew it blew up because of the way the person looked. I instantly knew. I was like, that's why this blew up, because this person has two followers. But, yeah, this video has million views because the way they look and the way people are talking about this person in the comments, and I'm like, y' all are way too comfortable talking about a new another human being like this openly that you don't know. You don't know their story. You don't know where they're from. You don't know why they're like that. And you're so comfortable on people. That is a problem.

[Tyler]

It's crazy.

[Laura]

And I feel like that's always been a thing, but I just think with tick tock and how fast it moves and the way the algorithm moves, where something's getting a lot of comments, it'll go further out there. That has changed. That's different. You know what I mean?

[Tyler]

And I also think that nowadays, because they've added likes to comments, likes to things. That's added a whole nother ball game because people feel so bold and embracing.

[Laura]

To create crazy comments, the likes. So they'll say, even if they don't mean it.

[Tyler]

Totally. They'll say heinous things.

[Laura]

Care. They'll say heinous things to get the likes. Because. And by the way, there's just. So we're all clear, there's no such thing as someone that got famous for popular comment comment. So I don't know what that's. I don't know what you're feeling or what you think you're gonna get out of the top comment.

[Tyler]

It's literally just dopamine.

[Laura]

It is.

[Tyler]

It's your own Little head.

[Laura]

Because I'm like, you're not gonna get anything from it.

[Tyler]

Anything from the attention and that.

[Laura]

But no one knows who you are. No one even cares.

[Tyler]

No one cares because they saw that. They're like, wow.

[Laura]

Yeah, wow.

[Tyler]

My opinion was right again. And it's validating for them. So at the end of the day, it's literally a combination for actual addiction.

[Laura]

Ego. Check, check, check.

[Tyler]

Yes. It checks it all. So they're addicted to like, like being able to get that little last word. It's like I've seen people that. People I know, my mutuals that are commenting every. On every video I see, trying to make profound statements. And I'm like, you don't even know what you're talking about. And I'm literally like, this is stupid. Like, what are you doing?

[Laura]

What are you doing?

[Tyler]

And so it's like there's just. It just happens. It's just one of those things. It happens. And I'm like, I don't understand why people do this. But that's something that's different because I think that the comments. Liking the comments has made people act crazy.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

Because they want attention. We act crazy. Mind you, I love going to the comments at times.

[Laura]

Maybe the comments make it 20 times. But that's when it's funny. Like we're all like, the person posts a funny thing and then we react funny and we're all laughing and the person.

[Tyler]

That's community.

[Laura]

That's community right there. We're all having fun. Like you think the tick tock was funny getting those comments? Tears.

[Tyler]

Hilarious.

[Laura]

Tears will be. And now they've added pictures. The amount of pictures I said that's a positive.

[Tyler]

Positive. It's not a positive.

[Laura]

From 2026. The stickers. And there is more of a community. Like when things get. Are getting funnier, 100 things are getting.

[Tyler]

Which I'm like, thank God.

[Laura]

Yeah, thank God. Can I do a little complaint? Because I feel like Tick tock is more 2026.

[Tyler]

Yeah, totally.

[Laura]

You know, and then Instagram's a little more.

[Tyler]

Yep.

[Laura]

I have a very active Instagram. Just so we know, like my audience is there day night. No matter what I post, where I'm at, baby, they're on. And I love you so much. But TikTok is more active. I don't know if it's because it's a younger crowd over there, but like the comment, you always just get so.

[Tyler]

Many more common engagement.

[Laura]

You'll get so many less views sometimes on a video, but it'll have like double the Comp people are just more engagement people like and comment a lot more on TikTok. I don't know what that is.

[Tyler]

I don't know what it is either. Actually. It's a great, it's a great.

[Laura]

Because you have just like the same ease of doing that I feel like on an Instagram reel as you would a TikTok. But it's just like. And that's for everyone. You can go check like tick tocks. If they have a viral tick tock versus a viral Instagram reel, their integration will be way higher.

[Tyler]

Way higher.

[Laura]

Tick tock.

[Tyler]

More likes, more comments.

[Laura]

Young.

[Tyler]

I actually don't know. I. I genuinely don't know what the difference is as to why it is. Maybe it's younger. Maybe it's, you know, it's shared more to people that would actually comment. Like, maybe the algorithm knows, like these people are engaged people. They'll actually like engage with your and share there. Maybe. Yeah, maybe there's more silent watchers on Instagram. Yeah, I'll get people that literally like in my dms, like, hey, like, hey, been following you for years. This is my first DM and I'm.

[Laura]

Like, oh, well, howdy.

[Tyler]

Howdy, girl. I know you're here. Like, it's like, like if I say like an opinion about something and they're like first time commenter and I'm like, oh.

[Laura]

I'm like, period. You've been hiding this whole time because.

[Tyler]

You know, like, for example, like we have girlies here that listen to full coverage that like have never probably commented once on the YouTube video.

[Laura]

By the way, where were we at?

[Tyler]

This episode is sponsored by hello Fresh. You guys, let me tell you something about Ms. HelloFresh, okay? I feel like they just make things so much easier in the kitchen, which is absolutely incredible and honestly, easy for me because I do not know how to cook and I feel like cooking is very, very hard. But hellofresh makes it so much easier because dinner isn't just about being good at cooking. It's about the mental load of figuring it out every single night when you're already exhausted. It's kind of the worst. But hellofresh makes it 10 times easier. Hellofresh removes that completely with pre portioned ingredients, step by step. Cards done in 30 minutes. Which makes things so much easier for me because I don't really know how to make a recipe from scratch. So I'm so excited to get into my hello fresh era in 2026. I just think it's absolutely genius. I'm gonna be Starting my hellofresh journey. Honey, let me tell you that. Go to hellofresh.com fullcoverage10fm to get 10 free meals plus a free Z willing knife. A $144.99 value on your third box offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first bucks. New subscribers only. Var.

[Laura]

We were somewhere and the girl was like, I love you so much and can you tell Manny I love him too? And I told her, really? Where were we, Ty?

[Tyler]

And you didn't tell me.

[Laura]

It's everywhere. And I didn't tell you till now. It's everywhere, to be honest.

[Tyler]

Happens everywhere.

[Laura]

Everyone loves us. I mean, everyone loves us.

[Tyler]

No, but it actually just happened to me recently. And they're like, please tell Laura I say hi.

[Laura]

And I'm like, I didn't tell you it was somewhere. I was like, at a restaurant last week.

[Tyler]

Mine was like, last week. Mine just happened last week.

[Laura]

Last week.

[Tyler]

So just.

[Laura]

And you didn't tell me. Wow.

[Tyler]

It was double.

[Laura]

We both like, we're keeping it to us. I'm just kidding.

[Tyler]

I forgot about. About that. You said that you love this. No, but I. I do think there's a difference in that with the Just. Also, because Tick Tock is more current. There's more of a, like, community in a way where it's like, it happened faster. We've had tick tocks for four or five years. We've had Instagrams for 12, 14 years. So it's just like, maybe there's more active, I think users. And I genuinely think, because there's more active users.

[Laura]

More active users.

[Tyler]

There's not as active users on Instagram. They're just not as active.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

That's just a fact. I think, at that point. And I do feel like Another difference between 2016, 2026, is that creators create content now to become famous creators.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

They're not like. And I feel like there wasn't that.

[Laura]

Many incentives in 2016.

[Tyler]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[Laura]

Incentives started, I will say, in 2016, but they just started. But, like, you know, we didn't all start in 2016. That's whenever we popped off. But we had all been doing it for years and years before 2016. 16. I mean, so whenever I started brands, not really doing pr.

[Tyler]

Right.

[Laura]

Never seen a brand trip before in my life.

[Tyler]

Right.

[Laura]

No one was rich. No one had a Mercedes, no one had a G Wagon, no one bought a house. Everyone lived in an apartment like me. And I remember it just giving me hope that, like, My God, I could afford something, something with this lifestyle like in this. And it evolved. So you do get a lot more of a genuine creator. Which, which we're not going to get that anymore. That's just done just because we've all seen what it can give you. So you're going to have people that come on because they want to cash in, you know.

[Tyler]

Totally.

[Laura]

And that's fair too. Like it's just.

[Tyler]

I mean girls like dreams are dreams.

[Laura]

You can't on someone because they're. They wanted a good life.

[Tyler]

We started doing it when we did.

[Laura]

So it's like it's going to be different intentions along the way and you know, people expect a lot more from it now. And let me just say this long form content because you know, it wasn't short form videos in 2016. With long form and YouTube is what was popular is about 20 times harder than short form content. So that's why everybody's a creator now. You know, they say, well if it was easy then everybody would be doing it. Well, now everybody is doing it and everyone is doing it. Like even when I started I didn't have an iPhone. Like it was still like a slide up phone. So like I had to film with a camcorder.

[Tyler]

I recorded with. I literally.

[Laura]

And now you can film literally anything with this. Anything you want. And it can be short and quick and take you a couple seconds.

[Tyler]

So it was the exact same.

[Laura]

So easy. 26 is easy. 2020, 2016 was so hard.

[Tyler]

It was very tough. But you know what's funny in the antithesis of that, what was easier about 2016 is that you were able to be seen in a different capacity because not a lot of people were doing it in a way.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

Where it's like there was girl on my hand. I can count the amount of boys in beauty. You know what I'm saying?

[Laura]

LA girlies I could probably count on my hand.

[Tyler]

That's what I'm saying.

[Laura]

Just wasn't us wide but girls in LA like making it. I could probably honestly count on my hands and toes.

[Tyler]

Yes. And so now it's literally like there's so many people. So I feel like there's in ways it's hard for your content to be seen in the capacities and hard to blow up because it's like. Well, there's so many.

[Laura]

You know what's funny? I was recently on a YouTube thing and I was explaining this because there were creators just starting and they were kind of frustrated because they were like, I feel like you're not Sharing my content. I'm like, like, there's really no, like, you know, they do these stupid Tick tocks. They're like, how to blow up or.

[Tyler]

This is what I thought. Literally, like, I've never scrolled past something faster in my life.

[Laura]

Literally giving you nothing. There is no magic trick. There's no trick to the algorithm that you're gonna trick it and you're gonna post this way at this time and you're gonna blow. It's. None of that's real. It's just hard work. And if that's not working for you, you have to take a look at the content you're creating. Be like, this isn't resonating with people. It's not interesting enough. It's not catching on. We need to switch it up. We need something up. That's just what it is.

[Tyler]

There is no. I agree with you, like, the people that are trying to sell you something or sell you this, like, idea that it's like a certain way to do it.

[Laura]

None of that's true. But I think it's harder now because someone will have like 10 million followers and I'll be like, I've never seen you in my life, ever. I have. And they'll like, have like 10 million followers on tick tock. Do you remember whenever VidCon, which I think still is a thing.

[Tyler]

I remember Vidcon, they did the Tick.

[Laura]

Tock meet and greets and no one showed up.

[Tyler]

Up. Yes. And when they went viral on, they went viral. People were like, oh, my God. No one was here for my music.

[Laura]

First of all, why are you airing.

[Tyler]

Yourself out like that? Second, you're gonna break my heart in half.

[Laura]

No, it was, it was brutal. It hurt me, but I was like, it's different. So whenever you have someone watching you multiple times a week for a 30 minute video. Not the same. That's. That's the thing with long form or short form. It's never the same as someone watching you for 30 seconds three times a week.

[Tyler]

Totally.

[Laura]

You know what I mean?

[Tyler]

And I feel that personally, like, I. I'm watching someone that I really like and I've seen their YouTube videos. I've seen like streamers I like. I will sometimes watch streamers that play the video game I like because I'm like, oh, I just want to see. Because they're really, really good. I'm like, how can I get better? You know? But I'll watch a 30 minute, 30 minute video of theirs multiple times a week and I feel like I know more about them. And like, I feel connected to them. You have to give rather than someone that's on a clip.

[Laura]

More on long form too. Like, you're not gonna get by with showing some heatless curls and like going about your.

[Tyler]

You. Yep.

[Laura]

Like, sure, you can get cash in and get the brand deals, but like, that following that's like, loves you and like going to be there for you. You got to give more. You got to give some of your life, some of your story, you know, like what you're into. You have to give. You got to give.

[Tyler]

I was just thinking of a video earlier that you showed me that really pissed me off that maybe.

[Laura]

What video?

[Tyler]

It was like this person making a joke and the joke was just.

[Laura]

Oh, not funny. That's why you were cracking up. Guess. Yeah.

[Tyler]

It was like the second you said you're like heatless curls.

[Laura]

I'm like, it was the stupidest joke I've ever heard. And she had like a hundred thousand likes on it. And I'm not trying to like take away from anyone's likes, but I'm like, you guys, what are we doing here?

[Tyler]

What's happening? What's going on?

[Laura]

What's happening?

[Tyler]

No, it was just cracking me up because, like, I do feel like it's just that aspect is so different.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

Like, because the thing is, once someone is just relevant on Tick Tock there, they can do anything and it'll do well.

[Laura]

Do you know what a brand person? So she works for a PR company and this PR company works with really big brands. Like, I don't want to name any of the brands to add them, but think of like some of the biggest brands that everybody in the world knows. If you said the name companies, if you will. She said, right now we're struggling to find talent to work with. I was like, well, then work with me.

[Tyler]

Hello, hello, hello. I have a best friend.

[Laura]

She goes back in 2016. 16. You had to have a talent to be online. Like you had. You couldn't just be a personality if you were. You had to be really funny.

[Tyler]

Yeah.

[Laura]

Like a Tana's talent was storytelling.

[Tyler]

Yes. That's a talent.

[Laura]

Famous, my God, especially her stories.

[Tyler]

Amazing.

[Laura]

You know, you had to have a talent. Like ours was makeup and beauty and like, she was like, now anyone can be a creator. And she was like, the brands we work with are not gonna pay someone making 30 second videos. They're not gonna pay someone making funny voiceovers for their content. Like, she was like, that's not talent. She was like, so like, we can.

[Tyler]

It's A struggle.

[Laura]

It's a struggle for them because they're like, we can pitch all these people because they've gotten these numbers and these fault and they don't want them. They're like, this is not what we want for representing our brand. I was like, wow, that's so.

[Tyler]

It's insightful. It's very insightful.

[Laura]

Very insightful.

[Tyler]

Very interesting.

[Laura]

I was like, that's so interesting on the brand side of things because me and you aren't really on the market anything.

[Tyler]

I would not know any of that.

[Laura]

Yeah. So that is a big difference for them.

[Tyler]

I mean it.

[Laura]

She was basically like, talent was a diamond dozen.

[Tyler]

Right.

[Laura]

And now you gotta dig for it. And I was like, oh, call out the girlies, honey.

[Tyler]

But it's like when you, when you think about it, like, let's say someone who is like really relevant Tick tock. That, that has like, it's just like a day in my life video. Let's just say give an example. But they're not like, but. And the brand wants to work with them because they want to show like some makeup or something. But like they're bad at makeup because. Or they don't wear any at all. But they're relevant on tick tock. So it's like, why would the brand do that if you don't have a talent with that thing?

[Laura]

See, that's what.

[Tyler]

So it's tough because it's like. But they're relevant. They get a lot of good numbers and they're really, really great at what they do. And that niche. But it's not the niche that actually fits for what the brand would want.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

And like have talent to actually make the product look good or make whatever product it might be. Not just, you know, beauty, but. And just in general. But it makes sense because you actually have to have a talent to make something look like it's supposed to look. And the brands will be like, we don't work with you for that. Like, unless it looks sickening. What's the point?

[Laura]

Right? And maybe not everyone's goal is to work with a fabulous brand. They just want to do what they're doing. That's great too. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying it's a difference from 20, 2016.

[Tyler]

Totally. Well, also, just a fascinating side note from someone that's in marketing, like, I would never know. I was like, wow, that at all. Of course girlies could just do have fun and just shoot the shit. And I have so many videos that I'm just like voiceover I don't give a. Just like, just being stupid. But I obviously have talent when it comes to like beauty and like I can do, I can do things.

[Laura]

You can do.

[Tyler]

I can do things, Amy. So it's like, okay, well I can do that too. But like I enjoy. I what I love as someone that, you know, absorbs content and someone that puts out content. I like a bitch that can sit down, talk to me, just like get real and like talk about stuff. But then they like to make a fool of themselves too. I love that. I don't like who don't that take themselves too seriously. And I think that's something of 2026 and that goes into that curated thing. If you take yourself too seriously and you can't have fun with the things that you do. You're weird. To me, it's a red flag. It's a red flag because to me I'm like, oh, so you're not organic?

[Laura]

Well, the problem is I just wouldn't be your friend in real life.

[Tyler]

Life same.

[Laura]

You know what I mean?

[Tyler]

For me it's like, it's an organic thing.

[Laura]

Like I know.

[Tyler]

I mean that's not how you are.

[Laura]

With you in real life.

[Tyler]

That's not how you. It's.

[Laura]

It must be so exhausting to put off this like kind of perfection vibe. It must be ex. I would hate making content if it had to be perfect every single time and I had to eat every single time and I had to be slay every single.

[Tyler]

I would hate it.

[Laura]

I'm like, have fun.

[Tyler]

But you know, this goes back to that, this goes back to that post being like, like people are more curated now. I'm gonna like, yeah, because sometimes people are scared of showing their personality.

[Laura]

I don't want criticism.

[Tyler]

So it's like it's this double edged sword right? Where it's like, okay, but you're like boring.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

You don't want criticism, so you're willing to be boring.

[Laura]

So it's like everyone's boring though. It's like finding the little tiny gems in there that aren't boring. Literally everyone's boring. You gotta pick out the little. You'll find rare finds in there.

[Tyler]

Well, the thing is everyone's gonna be boring when you have as much personality as us in one finger. If we do some of the creators.

[Laura]

No one gets to laugh unless we post.

[Tyler]

God, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's up that they can't laugh without us. But it's true. Like, I do think that like there is a Fine line of like being able to show who you are but also protecting yourself if that really is what it is.

[Laura]

You can be funny without telling your DNA 100.

[Tyler]

Look at us.

[Laura]

Hello.

[Tyler]

Be funny, be funny.

[Laura]

Just people don't literally, people are too scared, just live scared to like experience what people they. They're too scared of the criticism.

[Tyler]

Do you know how many people I know, you guys, content creators wise, that their content online is the polar opposite.

[Laura]

Of who they are in real life. Yeah.

[Tyler]

And it's actually shocking to me.

[Laura]

Spooky.

[Tyler]

Because sometimes I think I'm like, why don't you just do this? Like, why don't you just be your. I'm so confused.

[Laura]

So much better.

[Tyler]

It'd be so much better. But again, a lot of times they're like, oh, I'm scared of criticism. Like I don't want to be. Or they want to be brand friendly. That's a big thing too because again, they're in to be contrary to my personality so bad.

[Laura]

I'm like, get a brand deal.

[Tyler]

Without being like, hey guys, welcome back to my house tour. Like, what are you talking about, bro?

[Laura]

Right.

[Tyler]

So, yeah, I just feel like in general there's so many things that have just been different from 2016 to 2026.

[Laura]

And what's one of your favorite changes? That it's better in 2026.

[Tyler]

For me, it's also just. It's really just about like how I feel in 2026 and like the things that I've learned from 2016 to 2026. I think that in 2016 I was kind of lost and I didn't like really. I thought I was doing things because I felt like I had to do things.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

Whereas now in 2026, I'm just doing whatever the fuck I want to do because I feel like I. That's what I want to do.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

So I think that's my biggest like, like gay difference between the years because I'm like, oh, Antonio's like, I didn't really know what I was doing and you know, I was scared of a lot of opinions and I was more of a people pleaser and I just thought I was doing. Because I. What I did it because I thought I had to do it. So many things, just different things, you know, and now I just don't really care as much.

[Laura]

Yeah.

[Tyler]

So it's probably that I probably just like caring less.

[Laura]

Right.

[Tyler]

What about you?

[Laura]

That for sure. I mean, I feel more connected to my personal life than my career. So that naturally is going to give me A better future and 2026. Living four. But just like, as far as, like, in general, things changing. Well, one, let me say this. I love Gen Z. I know Gen Z gets a lot of, you know, they're like, of course they get a lot.

[Tyler]

They're funny, though.

[Laura]

They are. Gen Z's, like, way funnier than the Malaysia.

[Tyler]

They make me younger, honey. Let me tell you, they're funny.

[Laura]

They're funny, like, hilarious. Like, sometimes I'm like, I'm too old to be laughing.

[Tyler]

I'm like, why am I laughing at this? You're funny, funny.

[Laura]

Gen Z has a sense of humor.

[Tyler]

Millennials take themselves too seriously.

[Laura]

They do. Millennials do. J makes everything about them. And millennials take themselves too seriously.

[Tyler]

It's literally like, where are we gonna win here?

[Laura]

Yeah, I know.

[Tyler]

Can we get a combo?

[Laura]

Very funny. So I love that about 2026. Like, I love short form content. I love binging it it, I love creating it. I love, over a long. We've been through the.

[Tyler]

I'll create the short form.

[Laura]

I'll create the 3 minute video all day. I love it. I, I love the evolution of it. I get to work with way more brands now and do way more cooler things just because it's all evolved and like every brand, everything is. You think Porsche's taking me on a brand trip in 2016, girl. Exactly. It's just all evolved.

[Tyler]

All the brands are actually part of 2026. Look at the comments of people's random videos. It's like Dr. Pepper commenting.

[Laura]

See, that's what I'm talking about.

[Tyler]

I'm like American Airlines commenting. Literally, like, it's crazy.

[Laura]

Cheit, cheit, cheit.

[Tyler]

It's like, wow, people are really plugged into social.

[Laura]

So plugged in now. So it's, it's way more fun in that way. Like, there's so many things about it that are so much better than 2016 because we were like pioneering something that didn't even exist before. Before. So it had so much it needed to grow.

[Tyler]

Yes.

[Laura]

And now that it's gotten there, there's so much good. And I, I, I love it. I.

[Tyler]

And it's funny because even like with all the things I said like that I just like don't love about 2026. 6. It's like done so many amazing things. So it's like, it's like, it's really give and take.

[Laura]

It is, it's given, it's give and take.

[Tyler]

Like it might not be the exact same as it was 2020 in 2016, but there's been so much good that's happened in these 10 years. You know, some negative, some positive. And like, that's just how life is. There's nothing that's perfect. But it's cool to see where social has gone to this point. And the fact that it's like, again, we've been content creators this whole time and we're still content creating.

[Laura]

I didn't even know if we were careers content creators. Fourteen years in, I had literally we went to a job where we didn't know the future, which is taking a risk. And I think that's so, that's anytime.

[Tyler]

We took huge risks those years ago, you're gonna bite.

[Laura]

Big is whenever you take the risk. Okay, there's no big bite and no risk. That's just a fact. Like no risk, no reward. Yes, that's what it is. But with taking big risks, you're gonna experience a lot of failures. And as we have. But as I always say, I love this quote, congratulations on all your failures because most people don't even try. So good for us, it's the truth.

[Tyler]

And honestly, the fact that we're so. Do it again. Like I was saying, like, it's really a testament to just being able to like, keep working, keep doing your best, keep doing your big one and like, things will pay off.

[Laura]

We get to do this.

[Tyler]

Me too. Me. It's so, it's such a blessing and it's so fucking cool.

[Laura]

It's become fun.

[Tyler]

It. It's the difference.

[Laura]

Too fun now.

[Tyler]

You know what's funny? There was a moment in 2016, it was too fun.

[Laura]

It got too fun. It was too fun. It was too fun.

[Tyler]

Cuz I didn't realize it was also my job. And then we all got canceled and I go, oh my God, I'm treating this like, like with. Not respectfully. And almost in a way where it's like, I respect what I do, I respect my career, I respect the things that I say, and I have more respect for myself nowadays. And I think that's what it like, almost went like, like too much fun. Went to like, almost like no fun at all. Hated it.

[Laura]

Yep.

[Tyler]

And then it went to like, I'm at a happy place. Yeah, I'm fun again. Like, I'm good in years. That's exactly how I feel.

[Laura]

It's the best. So we'll comment down below what you guys liked more or less 2016, please, especially from a viewer standpoint or standpoint or if some of you guys are content creators, join the conversation with us.

[Tyler]

And we love seeing it. Bye, guys.

[Laura]

Pluto TV has thousands of free movies and TV shows. With movies like Joe dirt, pixels and 50 first dates. This is awesome. And TV shows like Survivor, SpongeBob SquarePants, the fairly odd Parents and Ghosts. Pluto to TV is always free. Pluto TV stream now pay Never.

[Tyler]

You're welcome.