Mystery boxes, collectible plushies, $100 keychains and the infamous labubus have taken internet by a storm and counterintuitively, the target consumer isn’t children - it’s adults.

In an age where life-changing milestones such as buying a property have become unattainable to an average 20-something, we turn to more accessible “luxuries” to signify our material status and give us (if only a very brief) sense of accomplishment.

In this episode we explore how toys have fallen into this category of small luxuries and explore how this phenomenon reflects the current economic state and public sentiment towards wealth and material possessions.

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Once upon a time, fame was reserved for the few - actors, pop stars and super models graced us from the glossy pages of Cosmo and occasionally waved at us from the TV screens. Fast forward to today, your ex’s cousin just landed a brand deal for filming her morning matcha routine and a random girl from your secondary school just got invited to fashion week.

Social media has democratised fame to an extent we never thought possible. The once unattainable red carpet dream seems just one step away - just keep posting often enough.

So many celebs have sprung to fame that they’ve become a social class of their own, but in the age where almost anyone can have their 15 seconds of stardom, is anyone a star anymore?

This week, we untangle the fame hierarchy, from Oscar-winners to TikTok queens and wonder what truly defines a celebrity. Is it about talent, taste, or just who got there first? Does democratisation equal devaluation, or is the uber-famous club so exclusive no outsider can join the vip section?

Tune in to find out!

💌 welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Timothée Chalamet proclaimed his dream of being ‘one of the greats,’ the internet swooned — but what does it even mean to want to be great? Raised on a steady diet of romcoms and Disney films our generation was promised we could be anything - our main character syndrome flourished. But somewhere between unpaid bills, unemployment crisis and the never ending online popularity contest the whole idea started to feel more like a pipe dream.

In a world where success is measured in followers and selling your youth to land on the Forbes 30 under 30 list is the epitome of living your life to the fullest - is there still space for healthy greatness? This week, we peel back the pressure, unpack the privilege, and ask: what if greatness isn’t a title — but a feeling?

💌 welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.