INFLUENCE

Latest Episodes:

268 How Virtual Worlds Became a Safe Space for Non-Human Identities (Toy Dragon) Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

We return to the world of VRChat and the concentric circles of non-human identities with Toy Dragon (It/Its). Its long journey of self-discovery and lucid dreams confirmed that it identifies as a small, loveable red dragon. But unlike other human and gender identities, it was difficult to express this form socially -- until now.

Toy Dragon shares how it found a large and welcoming community of Furries and Otherkin who are not just roleplaying for fun, but truly realizing themselves in virtual spaces.

Also, Lindsey has returned from Burning Man and is mostly in one piece! She shares her not-so-harrowing tale of Burnpocalypse 2023.

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267 A Big Announcement and the Independent Future of 2G1P! Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

We have some BIG news for our listeners, but first, let's talk about the weather at Burning Man for 20 minutes!

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The Weird Stuff Lurking in the "Depths of Wikipedia" [ENCORE] Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

We're off this week, but sharing another one of our faves!

-- Original Show Notes, January 9, 2023 --

Wikipedia is your one-stop shop for high level info on public figures, geography, and academic concepts. But the volunteer editors of the free and open digital reference also make copious entries about "low quality images of cats," "Blobjects," "National Moth Week," Osama bin Laden's porn stash, and that time the Dave Matthews Band tour bus dropped poop on people in Chicago.

Alli and Lindsey talk with Annie Rauwerda, a writer, longtime Wikipedia editor, and creator of "Depths of Wikipedia," which has more than 1.1 million followers on Instagram alone. Annie discusses how the culture of Wikipedia generates obtuse and often hilarious articles, concepts, and photos taken out of context. She shares the funniest things she's found on the site, and how a beef with a sketchy influencer propelled her to fame.

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265 Where We're Going, We Don't Need Hosts: The AI Future of 2G1P Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

This week, we're excited to debut the completely synthetic, AI-generated future of 2G1P, and it's....quite bad! But also, terrifying. And hilarious.

Our ex-hosts react to their audio clones, and we discuss the ramifications of a fully synthetic podcast. Plus, your actual, organic voicemail.

Special thanks to Evan Engel for editing help.

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264 What to Expect When You're Expecting a Baby in 'Second Life' Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Years ago, Carrie Tatsu spent $300 on some virtual real estate to set up shop and sell the occasional 3D modeled cat. It wasn't long before she quit her job at an ad agency IRL to meet the overwhelming player demand for custom virtual babies and pregnancy bodies that simulate childbirth and parenthood. Today, she has a thriving "Second Life" business and multiple employees who design and program interactive virtual babies, pets, and their accessories. But the early days of selling digital infants were rocky, including encounters with baby thieves and a dark underworld of virtual baby trafficking.

Carrie shares her personal story as a designer and longtime "Second Life" resident, and the diverse reasons why players want to give birth to and raise virtual kids.

Learn more about Zooby Animesh Babies: https://zoobylife.com/

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263 Millions of Fans Are Obsessed With "Sink Reviews" Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

On a whim (and after a few drinks), Dean Peterson thought it would be funny to rate the bathroom sink of a local bar in NYC. His Instagram followers agreed, and "Sink Reviews" was born. When he began sharing them on TikTok, the party really got going.

Millions of views, followers, likes, and comments later, rabid fans of "SinkTok" came out of the woodwork, demanding more of this ridiculous content, especially as pandemic lockdowns showed no sign of letting up.

Alli and Lindsey talk with Dean about his viral fame, what makes a good and bad sink, social media burnout, how the Internet got weird again in 2020, and why his huge audience never turned into a full-time job.

Follow @sinkreviews on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sinkreviews

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Adult Breastfeeding Is About Way More Than Kink [ENCORE] Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

We're off this week, but here's another classic 2G1P from the archives that blew our minds.

-- Original Show Notes From Jul 4, 2022 --

219 Adult Breastfeeding & Nursing Relationships

You might assume that men drinking breastmilk is yet another kink — and it can be. But Mikalah says it's often a comfort and a lifestyle for many in the community. She would know, as she's a professional lactation consultant who also found a partner who breastfeeds from her regularly.

Alli and Lindsey speak with her about the extraordinary misconceptions about breastfeeding, how anyone at ANY age can induce breastmilk (including men!), the barriers to selling milk online, and the medical reasons why she found herself to be a leading voice in the ABF community.

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262 We Got a Guided Tour of Second Life! Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

Alli and Lindsey joined Second Life and got a grand tour of its public squares, roleplay venues, night clubs, a pony farm, and of course, the sex shops. New listener and longtime Second Life creator Sasy Scarborough guided them through the avatar creation process, and customizing clothes and body types.

They discuss why it was both fascinating, inspiring, and also hard to access without a tour guide, and why platforms with a certain technical "barrier to entry" are probably good for the Internet.

HUGE thanks to Sasy for making this episode possible!

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261 The Families Suing Social Media Over the Teen Mental Health Crisis Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Alexis was a typical 11-year-old. She loved musical theater and Webkinz. But when she started using Instagram, her normal pre-teen curiosities triggered the social media app to flood her feed with content about anorexia and how to hide eating disorders from your parents. Over the next few years, Alexis' mental health deteriorated so much that she had to be hospitalized. Some families aren't so lucky.

Teen suicide rates have skyrocketed since 2007, and some research has begun to correlate that with the rise of algorithmic, for-profit social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become central to teenagers social lives, and it's probably not an accident.

Today, Alexis Spence has made a full recovery from her eating disorder, and with her mom Kathleen, has become an advocate for social media reform, especially through legal action. Alli and Lindsey talk with them, along with their lawyer, Matt Bergman, who co-founded the Social Media Victims Law Center. When suing Meta on behalf of families, his legal approach comes from product liability: If tech companies know their products are addictive and harmful to children and choose not to address that, they should be held accountable.

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260 'Second Life' Turns 20, and It's Still the Metaverse We Always Dreamed Of Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

In June 2003, a new community appeared on the Internet. It wasn't a Web forum or a hot new blog. It was a fully 3D virtual world where people could create an avatar, buy a house, wear fancy clothes, fall in love, and fly. For context, this is months before the world would ever hear the word "Myspace."

Twenty years later, Second Life remains one of the most vibrant online spaces ever created. While small compared to other social juggernauts, Second Life is home to thousands of fascinating subcultures and creators - many of whom make a fantastic IRL living from selling their art, clothes, and animations in-world. The financial symbiosis between the platform and the players who make everything on it remains unique to this day, even in a world of endless MMOs and live service video games.

Alli and Lindsey speak with author and journalist Wagner James Au, who has been covering Second Life and other virtual worlds since their inception. They're also joined by Sparkle Skye, a Second Life creator who quit her job in finance to make virtual wedding gowns full-time. They discuss the legacy of Second Life, its unique place on the Internet, and what's next for the platform in a sea of new "metaverses."

Check out James' new book, Making a Metaverse That Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Metaverse-That-Matters-Fighting/dp/1394155816

See Sparkle's amazing designs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkleskye/

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