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
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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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