I sit down with Toby Shorin, a researcher, writer, and technologist, to discuss his popular essay “Life After Lifestyle.” We dig into why the lifestyle brand era has ended, how culture is being “eaten” by financialization, and why Toby is starting to abandon culture as the main lens for understanding what’s happening now.

Enjoy!

Recording Date: February 18, 2026

Watch on YouTube; listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

03:36 Understanding The Going Direct Economy

05:07 Brands Structure Our Relationships

06:09 Life After Lifestyle Article

08:37 The Era Of Lifestyle Brands

16:31 Culture As A Concept Is Only 200 Years Old

17:29 Culture vs. Tradition: A New Perspective

20:20 The Financialization Of Everything

26:15 Will AI & Robotics Create More Centralization?

34:19 Controlling Production = Controlling Minds

35:36 Defining The Cultural Production Service Economy

36:24 From Making Goods To Making Culture

44:21 Why Toby is Abandoning "Culture"

48:37 Closing The Door On The Past

59:39 Toby's Background

Follow Jordan on X:

* https://x.com/jrwolfe

Links to Toby’s Work:

* Website: https://tobyshorin.com/

* Email: toby@otherinter.net

* Essay: “Life After Lifestyle”: https://subpixel.space/entries/life-after-lifestyle/

* Essay: “After Authenticity”: https://subpixel.space/entries/after-authenticity/

Remember to go direct!

Jordan

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