Last week, on Wednesday evening, I packed my carry-on full of clothes and tech gear and headed for the airport, only to half unpack my Tetris-ed tech so I could get through security. I was on my way to work in person with a client in Kelowna.
We spent two full days working on her business, she’s making some big shifts this year! One of the tasks on our list was registering her for a Business Account on TikTok. Eventually we got it, but it took a few tries! If you don’t know this process is easy and involves uploading & submitting verification information and documentation to TikTok, which is then rejected (several times if you’re us uploading the wrong info) or approved (fucking finally!).
While we were working, I accidentally clicked on a browser tab I had open to TikTok. To my horror, I was watching a video on my client’s FYP, of someone filming their TV which was broadcasting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy being berated and bullied in the Oval Office.
This was the first time my client or I learned about this incident. We didn’t know what to say to each other but quickly agreed we didn’t want to continue watching. I knew we’d both be bombarded by our various newsfeeds when we opened our apps later, so I closed the tab and returned to work.
I’m writing the bulk of this post in March 2025 as a part two follow-up of WTF America, written in January 2025. The American news cycle is increasingly maddening, but I want to be clear: I am hopeful. And that’s what this post is.
I consume so much content online. Partially because it’s my job. Since I don’t want the overconsumption of short and long form internet content to rot my brain slowly, I’ve learned to curate what I consume.
I can’t help but see videos like the one mentioned above when opening my clients’ or my own social media accounts. Still, I can be intentional about what I consume in my personal time and take care of my mental health vigorously.
Maybe this isn’t a novel concept, but it feels especially timely when the global news cycle is out of fuckin whack and frankly, scary (thanks, America).
I love the idea of creating and sharing content over time as a sort of digital mosaic or garden. Ideas shared with me by the people, artists and creators on the list that follows, but today I want to explore the idea that content consumption can be approached in the same way:
As a buffet
or a menu of what tastes good.
What is good.
What looks good.
What feeds you,
fills you up,
soothes your soul,
makes you belly laugh
or gets you giddy right now.
I am regularly tickled by art on the internet; it brings me joy and levity. If I’m going to wrack up screen-time double the average and be a stinky little at-home-hermit, let me at least consume content that makes me feel human.
So here’s the mosaic of creators who make up my tastiest buffet of consumption of the moment—bon appétit!
Leeja Miller, an American Lawyer turned YouTuber, who’s content genuinely and regularly makes me laugh, despite its heaviness. She broke down Project 2025 for me long before I knew it was going to be such a problem.
https://www.youtube.com/@LeejaMiller
Ayanda, from Anyandastood, offers up soul food for creatives reimaging and recreating their relationship with visibility. I love finding a video on her channel that resonates and listen, relisten, and listen again to soak up all the nuggets and play with the ideas.
https://www.youtube.com/@ayandastood
If Khadija Mbowe has zero video-essay viewers I’m dead. As you’ll see from this list, I love long form, video essay content, what I find particularly bingeable about Khadija’s content is the emphasis on popular culture commentary.
https://www.youtube.com/@KhadijaMbowe
https://www.youtube.com/@KhadijaMbowelive
Oh look! Another pop culture video essay crossover channel! Mina Le vids are almost always a must watch for me, I have deep appreciation for her ability to clock emerging trends. For example, her video ‘goodbye fillers, hello facelifts’ seems so on the (new)nose.
https://www.youtube.com/@gremlita
Amie McNee is a writer I follow on Instagram, too, I appreciate her visual art presentation and message. She’s building a world where art and artists are valued and I want to be part of it. Similar to Ayanda from above, I have found great contemplation and inspiration in watching, rewatching, and chewing on some of her longer form YouTube videos.
https://www.youtube.com/@inspiredtowrite
For the ND girlies: Irene @ The Thought Spot is so vulnerable and somehow also makes some—what I would describe as—feel good, old-school style long-form YouTube content. I had watched her intermittently but became a subscriber from her series exploring Jess from New Girl’s character through an ND lens.
https://www.youtube.com/@thethoughtspot222
For the girls, gays, and theys, if you don’t already watch UNHhhh—or any of the wide variety Trixie and Katya available on the internet—what? Queer joy is the best joy, the editing is goals and never have I ever been disappointed by a comment section.
https://www.youtube.com/@WOWPresents
Ziwe—self explanatory. But I can’t get enough of the Ziwe x Scammer/True Crime interviews. George Santos, Anna Delvey, Caroline Calloway. What is this timeline?
Sarah Vrba talks astrology transits for sensitive folks but not from the typical pop astrology lens. Don’t fear fellow Libra risings, she’s never gonna tell you not to change your hair during Venus retrograde! What I love most about her content is her deep understanding, sharing and contemplation of archetypes.
https://www.youtube.com/@Sarah_Vrba
Over the years, I’ve learned so much through John, specifically Hank Green on the vlogbrothers channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@vlogbrothers
When I want to consume the American news cycle, in video format I look to the Philip DeFranco show.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClFSU9_bUb4Rc6OYfTt5SPw
I love the Week Ahead Podcast by Chani Nicholas. I appreciate her being transparent about her values and speaking out against Palestinian genocide and the state of America.
https://www.youtube.com/@ChaniMedia
Chandler Mastin’s Another Virgo Channel is my jam! I don’t consume much tarot content online but adore Chan. He’s one of the content creators I LOVE to see a post from.
https://www.youtube.com/@AnotherVirgoChannel
I follow some fab creators on TikTok, but I don’t keep the app on my phone anymore because I’m out of control and will scroll for hours, so instead, I present to you a short list of a few of my fave IG accounts!
Go ahead and unfollow all the coaching/business/marketing IG accounts you follow and follow Simone Seol instead. Thank me later!
https://www.instagram.com/simone.grace.seol
For the best memes, follow Sarah E. Simon, PhD @femmethemme—they always feel so good and silly goofy, even when serious subject matter.
https://www.instagram.com/femme.themme
Zoë Alexandria H. is the GOAT of self-portraits and I LIVE to see her content on my feed.
https://www.instagram.com/zoealexandriah
Follow Hallie Tut for weird and wondrous content. I have such a deep appreciation for the artistry meets weirdness crossover here.
https://www.instagram.com/hallietut
Shambhavi makes the coolest animations and mixed media art that I am so totally obsessed with!!
https://www.instagram.com/shmbhvi.does.art_
These lists are non-exhaustive and don’t include other platforms, content mediums, or other types of art—truly a fraction of the content I consume, I want to share books, art and stories with you, too, but that’s another post for another time—which makes something about the content consumption buffet so clear to me: it is both protective and enriching.
May we all enjoy meaningful and joyful consumption.
Consumption that reflects both who we are and who we aspire to be.
The subtle difference between the Feed feeding us or eating us alive seems more precarious than ever so I wonder how you’re curating how and what you consume.
Drop me a line if you have anything to add!
