The Weekly Digest: February 9th-16th

Let's chat consumer culture.

1 - Barnes and Nobles Come back

Bringing a URL to IRL is a tricky task to succeed at, third spaces are dwindling and there are less and less places for people to interact with one another offline. Booktok, Tiktok’s book community has done an incredible job of bringing a virtual community to life. The book section of Target has aisles labeled “BookTok”, attracting the digital communities that creators have built surrounding new books. Barnes and Noble is set to open 58 stores, a stark difference from its previous chapter of stalled growth for the past decade.Also much different than the trend we’ve seen of specialty store closing like Party City, Toys R Us and more.

A Tiktoker Sammi Tannor Cohen highlighted this shift and attributed much of it to more than just Booktok but the passive data Barnes and Noble has been able to mobilize to better staff and stick stores. This has allowed staff to pick the inventory they carry based on their community and customers. Barnes and Nobles is taking it a step further, rather than opening the stores with the same strategy they’ve used since 2009, they are revamping the Brick and Mortar location to be a “Third Space, or a place people frequent outside of work, home school etc. This page turning emphasizes some of the consumer needs many brands are overlooking. In a world where every brand is looking for a viral moment maybe the stability is in intentionality and loyalty that goes between both consumers and companies.

2 - The Telepathy Tapes

An Instagram story led me to my latest obsession: The Telepathy Tapes. From the moment I pressed play, I was hooked—I wanted to jump into conversations with strangers and call everyone I know to share what I’d just learned.

This podcast sheds light on the communication abilities of nonverbal individuals, primarily teens, a group often overlooked due to the assumption that their ability to express themselves is minimal. Hosted by Ky Dickens, The Telepathy Tapes takes listeners on a journey across the country as she interviews parents, educators, and researchers who believe telepathy plays a role in how some nonverbal individuals—referred to as “Spellers” in the series—communicate.

Working alongside Dr. Dianne Hennessey Powell and Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, Dickens explores the possibility that Spellers use telepathy to connect with both each other and verbal speakers. What struck me most was how limited the available resources are for this community—not due to a lack of capability, but because society has largely failed to recognize and support their potential. Many nonverbal students are confined to repetitive lessons on colors and letters when, in reality, they are highly intelligent individuals who simply lack access to the right tools and education. Given the opportunity to engage with technology and alternative communication methods, it becomes clear just how much they have to say.

This podcast is more than just fascinating—it challenges assumptions and pushes the conversation forward about how we perceive and support nonverbal individuals.

3 - X at The Oval Office

One of this week's most striking political moments didn't come from a seasoned politician or pundit, but from a four-year-old. When Elon Musk brought his son X to Trump's press conference in the Oval Office, what unfolded was both comedy and commentary wrapped in one unscripted package.