Contributors

If there is anything we have learned about Gen Z, it is that they are the generation who are taking control of their own lives, self-determining their future, and giving voice to the issues they care about through a plethora of digital platforms. One young woman who is making it all happen for herself and those who come into her orbit is Gen Z Podcast Host, Chronic Illness Advocate, Digital Creator, and Current USC Masters Student @itsGigiRobinson. Gigi knows that life isn’t always easy and aims to help her audiences tap into the power they hold inside themselves. She is also the host of the podcast @itseverythingyouneediswithin, made for and by Gen Z, which places an emphasis on change-makers and creative innovators across social advocacy industries. When she was just 11 years old, Gigi was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that leaves her very susceptible to injury. She has used her chronic illness as fuel for her passion for advocacy. Along with chronic illness advocacy, Gigi is also extremely passionate about mental health and body image. Having suffered from both in her teenage years, she strives to be a role model for the next generation, speaking directly to them via social media and her podcast. In a candid interview with us, this is the message she shared about her own chronic illness journey and what she wants others in the same position to know: "I think that other people living with chronic illness should know that however you’re feeling and wherever you are with your acceptance journey is valid. You can’t compare yourself to other people because everyone’s journey is so different. Just because your friend with the same condition is doing well, doesn’t mean that you have to be doing well too! Give yourself grace to not be okay and to take things slow. That’s something I’m working on getting better at." Read the full interview via the link in our bio! 💗💛💚 . . . #GigiRobinson #GenZ #podcast #chronicillness #vulnerability #mentalhealth #bodyimage #model #advocate #passion #digitalcreator #instagood #women #girls #inspire

When it comes to one of the biggest financial hurdles to getting ahead in life, student debt ranks at the top for many current and former college students, especially women. Millennials (the generation born between 1981 and 1996) in particular owe an average of $38,877 in student loan debt, according to an Experian study, which has been cited as the main reason preventing them from buying a house and experiencing financial freedom. And while we wait to see what happens with the fight over President Biden’s policy to cancel student debt, there are financial leaders who are using their expertise and experience to help debt holders find relief and live a better life. One of those leaders is @Tonya.Rapley, a financial expert and influencer helping millennials drowning in debt to forge a new path and become the CEOs of their own lives. As a millennial herself who had been stuck in her own financial battles, Tonya speaks from experience as viewers can see in the TV series ‘Going From Broke’, which just premiered its 3rd Season on @Crackle_tv. This show brings resources and strategies into the lounge rooms of the nation and shows debt holders a way forward. We spoke with Tonya about her own financial story, how realistic it is to ever get out of debt, and her thoughts on student debt: "One of the issues I have with student loan debt is at 18 years old, even though we're legally of age, we're not fully adults, and I don't think young adults are given enough time to understand what they want to do with their lives before they take out thousands of dollars that they'll have to repay in the future. I also think that there needs to be more flexibility as far as college affordability. We pay a lot of taxes, and education isn't prioritized in this country the way it could be. The system needs to change from the top." Read more about 'Going From Broke' and how Tonya is helping millennials get out of debt via the link in our bio! 📈🤑 . . . #goingfrombroke #Tonyarapley #Crackle #finance #studentdebt #studentloans #money @myfabfinance #millennials #guru #education #instagood #watch

When Roe v Wade was overturned, it awoke a sleeping giant - the 7 in 10 Americans who supported Roe - to a reality that having less rights over our bodies was not an option. As women rise to power in numerous industries, equity and health justice is not just in the hands of men anymore. Although male-lead companies still occupy the majority of investment funds and male-lead companies still receive the lion’s share of financing, there are female-founded companies creating some radical change that is going to impact the lives of everyday women and girls. One of these firms is RH Capital, founded by a diverse team of 4 women who just raised over $40M to tackle reproductive and maternal health equity. RH Capital invests in early-stage startups focusing on women’s health, with a specific focus on reproductive and maternal health equity. Their portfolio companies are across the healthcare spectrum, from biotech and medical devices to digital health and services, with a particular focus on underserved and marginalized populations (Medicaid, BIPOC, rural, etc.), to significantly reduce health disparities in those communities. We had the chance to speak with Stasia Obremskey, one of the Managing Directors of RH Capital, and here's what she told us: "The US has a history of controlling and denying bodily autonomy to women of color. This harmful history has resulted in distrust and suspicion by Black women with respect to the healthcare system. Systemic bias and harmful narratives of Black women contribute to significantly higher maternal mortality rates and higher unintended pregnancy rates. We are looking for solutions to meet the needs of all women realizing that certain groups of women have been neglected and/or abused by the system and deserve more attention." Wanna know more about the companies they are currently funding? Head to the link in our bio, and find out how YOUR startup can pitch them an idea! 💰📈🩺 . . . #reprorights #bodilyautonomy #reproductivehealthcare #maternahealth #healthcare #women #health #investment #finance #RoevWade #body #equity #femalefounded #WCW #womancrushwednesday #impact #instagood #funding @rhiaventures

We know what we’re going to be doing this holiday season – getting cozy in our fave Christmas PJ’s while watching Lindsay Lohan’s new Netflix holiday flick ‘Falling for Christmas’, and binge watching the new Peacock series ‘Bumper in Berlin’ for a good laugh (and 90’s hits sing-a-long). There are many hands that go into making a successful TV series or movie, and one person who knows how to bring it all together in a way that keeps audiences engaged throughout, is the editor. They may not be the household names like other roles on a film, but their work speaks for itself. In the case of Hollywood editor @kristishimek, she knows what it takes to make a film go from great to “I can’t stop watching!” A multi-talented editor whose work transcends genres, Kristi’s most recent work includes editing Netflix’s highly-anticipated Christmas film, as well as the upcoming series ‘Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin’, a spin-off of the popular Pitch Perfect movies starring Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland, Flula Borg, and Jameela Jamil, premiering November 23rd. Wanna know what it takes to edit a film or TV series to make it a hit? Here's what Kristi told us about her experience in a role that is still male-dominated, and the genres she loves working in the most. "I was frequently the only woman on the teams in my early career, and sometimes it was difficult for me to feel like my opinion mattered and for my voice to be heard. I came to realize that I was being hired for my creative voice and whether or not the mostly male dominated room agreed with the ideas, it was essential to be heard as a matter of perspective for the piece I was working on. Anyone can be a great editor, but it’s finding what you bring to the table and knowing that is what you’re being hired for that can make an editing relationship really work." Read more about Kristi's experience working on 'Bumper in Berlin' and 'Falling for Christmas via the link in our bio! 🎄🎅🏽🎤📺 . . . #KristiShimek #editor #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakerfriday #hollywood #FallingforChristmas #Netflix #Pitchperfect #BumperinBerlin #AdamDevine #JameelaJamil #SarahHyland #story #creative #holidays #bingewatch #instagood #watch

War in Ukraine, inflation, political elections, lingering COVID strains. There’s enough going on throughout the world to drive anyone into a constant state of anxiety. But psychiatrist and mental health expert @drtraceymarks and her new book, ‘Why Am I So Anxious?’, is equipping us with the tools and coping tricks so needed in our anxiety-ridden culture. Dr. Marks helps us navigate the fallout from our high anxiety, whether it’s caused by news of school shootings or personal relationships, with tools from aromatherapy to grounding techniques. She broadcasts to over a million followers weekly on her YouTube channel and is a general and forensic psychiatrist of over 20 years. She believes that insight creates change, both on a micro-level (personal growth) and a macro-level (reduction in fear and social judgment). Here's what Dr. Marks told us about finding tools to manage anxiety in the midst of uncertainty: "Major world events affirm the need for all of us to have healthy coping skills and a set of personalized tools that we use to manage stress and anxiety. Therapy is not a one-size fits all as there are so many different types of therapy to address different issues. Similarly, the strategies and techniques you can use for anxiety are varied and help different problems. My book teaches you how to use over twenty different tools (not including medication and herbal remedies). These are tools you can use from the comfort of your home." Read more from Dr Tracey Marks via the link in our bio! 🌬️🌀☮️ . . . #anxiety #mentalhealth #therapy #stress #news #politics #mindfulness #calm #peace #strategy #psychiatrist #instagood #mentalhealthmondays

Is violence justifiable in a violently oppressive culture? This is the main question being explored in the new dark, satirical comedy web series ‘Killer Workout’ on @revrytv. Directed by award winning filmmaker @seawerner, the series is created by NYC-based personal trainer/writer @inspiredwriternyc and produced by his wife @yvonpearson wanting to shed light onto the inequality, classism and racism many Americans experience on a daily basis. ‘Killer Workout’ uses horror, comedy, and violence as a vehicle to explore the struggles faced by Joy, a 31 year old broke, bi-racial, queer, female personal trainer for the elite of NYC. Struggling to fit into a society that constantly disrespects and others her while compensating her high level service with far less than adequate payment, Joy finally snaps as a result of a particularly offensive client’s racially charged sexual advances. This little violent BDSM matinee surprisingly exhilarates a traumatized and broke Joy as she begins to feel like she may have just found her “true purpose”: brutally murdering toxic rich assholes. The series also stands as a commentary on the current economic conditions, where 61% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, with the top 1% controlling 32% of the wealth. We had the chance to speak with Sara, Eric, Yvonna as well as lead actress @helloninakassa (Joy) about the web series and what they hope viewers will entertained by and simultaneously challenged by. "I hope it causes audiences to educate themselves on these real life issues further and to become vocal in ending them: How can I be a better ally? How does my privilege affect me? How can I check myself? How can I stand up for equality?" said Sara. "‘Killer Workout’ not only makes audiences grapple with some of the hypocrisies of liberal-white feminists, but it reorients the conversation around the consequences of those hypocrisies on many BIPOC women." said Yvonna. Read the full Q&A via the link in our bio! 🩸🔪🥊 . . . #killerworkout #privilege #horror #comedy #webseries #racism #inequality #eattherich #whitefeminism #violence #femalefilmmakerfriday #producer #director #socialimpact #BIPOC #instagood

With the proliferation of misinformation online, election deniers becoming a staple of the Republican party, billionaires buying up social media platforms, and journalism under attack, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed about where to find credible sources to help us make sense of the rapidly changing world around us. Where do we go to be informed, when so many publications require a subscription fee to read their articles? Enter Zette – a new startup looking to help bring down barriers to access credible news, founded by 26 year old Gen Z digital prodigy @yehongzhu. Zette gives readers access to paywalled publications, all while sharing revenue with newsrooms. It is a browser extension that provides access to 30 paywalled articles per month for $9.99. Data shows that an increasing number of Gen Z and Millennials use social media as their primary source for news, which is often not fact checked and can become the cause of spreading misinformation. Zette aims to provide an affordable solution for these target groups to access real news, especially local, to encourage Gen Z and Millennials to be more informed and involved in their communities. As America goes to the polls today in the #midterms, here's what the Harvard-educated, first generation Chinese-American former Forbes journalist Yehong Zhu told us about the importance of combating misinformation, and how it can impact election outcomes: "Perception is so often reality. The average person who comes across an article that’s written online is liable to interpret what they read as fact, regardless of the news source. So when misinformation gets shared, this becomes really dangerous. A lot of what we consume on the internet influences the daily decisions of our lives—like voting information, COVID vaccines, current travel restrictions, or even the state of the economy. It’s important for people to have factually accurate information in order to make the best decisions for their lives." Learn more about Zette and the work Yehong is doing via the link in our bio. 📰💻 . . . #zette #news #election #misinformation #vote #midterms #source #journalism #democracy #founder #startup #entrepreneur #instagood

If you’ve been watching ABC’s new based-on-real-life drama ‘Alaska Daily’, you will probably recognize actress @_gracedove, who plays reporter Roz opposite Hilary Swank’s character Elizabeth Fitzgerald. Grace played the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in the 2015 Oscar-winning film ‘The Revenant’. The Rising Indigenous actress and director is giving a memorable performance in ‘Alaska Daily’, a show that is making its own mark on the TV landscape in a very significant way. ‘Alaska Daily’ follows Eileen Fitzgerald, an investigative journalist who leaves her high-profile New York life behind to join a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage. Throughout the series, the newspaper investigates tragic stories of MMIW (Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women), based on a very real crisis that is happening in Alaska and all over the US. Roz is a young reporter who teams up with Eileen to champion the voices of her people and break open the story. Grace is deeply connected to her native roots, even facilitating her own youth-empowerment program “Thunderbird Dreams” in communities directing short films that are unique to each Nation. As an actress and director, she has embraced a responsibility to lift up her audience and her community. Here's what Grace told us about why she believes ‘Alaska Daily’ is taking on Native representation the right way: "Alaska Daily has Indigenous writers in the room. And we’re seeing it get better and better when it comes to actually hiring Indigenous actors, but I think it’s so important to have Indigenous creatives right from the beginning. When it comes to MMIW, this is a huge crisis. The more awareness that we can bring the more there will be compassion and understanding, and the more that non-Indigenous people can educate themselves on the true history of Canada and the United States and what we are still facing today as Indigenous peoples." Read our full interview via the link in our bio! 🕊️ . . . #GraceDove #AlaskaDaily #HilarySwank #NativeAmerican #Indienous #MMIP #northamerica #stories #representation #actress #director #TheRevenant #shortfilm #community