Culture & Code

In this episode of Culture and Code, Rei and Tara explore one of the most consequential questions facing the tech industry: whether America can maintain its technological dominance in an era of geopolitical turbulence. Drawing from Tara's analysis of Nvidia's first-ever Washington D.C. summit, they examine historical patterns of technological revolution, the critical role of rare earth minerals in...

In this episode of Culture and Code, Rei and Tara explore the resurgence of the browser wars as AI companies race to control the interface between users and the digital world. From OpenAI's Atlas to Perplexity's Comet , they dissect why browsers suddenly matter again after 30 years of relative stagnation, what makes a browser "AI-native," and whether any of these new experiences are sticky enough...

In this episode of Culture and Code, Rei and Tara explore the unexpected global rise of matcha through the lens of Cuzen Matcha, a San Francisco-based company bringing ceremonial Japanese tea to the masses. Through this case study, they examine how innovation happens when outsiders spot opportunities in traditional markets, the role of cultural fluidity in product adoption, and how businesses diff...

Episode Summary In this episode of Culture and Code, hosts Rei Inamoto and Tara Tan dissect OpenAI's controversial launch of Sora, the AI video generation platform that became a viral sensation and a cautionary tale simultaneously. From clever growth hacking to international IP controversies, they explore what Sora's chaotic debut reveals about the future of content creation, the democratization o...

In this episode of Culture and Code, Rei and Tara explore the seismic shift happening in online commerce through OpenAI's latest announcements. They dissect how ChatGPT is evolving into an operating system that could fundamentally reshape how we discover and buy products online. The conversation weaves between optimism about removing friction from commerce and concerns about creating "the world's...

Episode Summary In this episode of Culture and Code, hosts Rei Inamoto and Tara Tan dissect the recent advertising campaigns from AI giants OpenAI and Anthropic, exploring what these vastly different approaches reveal about tech marketing, brand personality, and the humanization of AI. From OpenAI's intimate, film-shot vignettes to Anthropic's philosophical anthem, they examine how Silicon Valley...

Episode Summary In this thought-provoking episode of Culture and Code, hosts Rei Inamoto and Tara Tan explore the rapidly expanding world of AI companionship—from adorable robotic creatures to virtual romantic partners. As the AI companionship market races toward $150 billion, they examine what happens when we outsource emotional attachment to artificial intelligence, diving into real stories of h...

Automatic elevators were invented in the 1890s. But it took almost 50 years before people would ride them without an operator. Rei and Tara dive into why humans resist new tech, why AI adoption is breaking records, and how industries from film to law are being reshaped. The conversation ends with two bold ideas: we may be entering a golden age of ideas , and AI is best used not as a tool, but as l...

Rei and Tara explore how digital interfaces are fundamentally rewiring our brains, from teenagers who can't organize files to MIT research showing AI's impact on cognitive activity. Through parenting experiences and historical parallels, they examine whether these tools are making us lazy, different, or potentially more capable in unexpected ways. Key Takeaways Your Brain on ChatGPT: The MIT Study...

In this thought-provoking episode, Rei and Tara explore how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the operating system landscape. Sparked by Google's recent Pixel updates featuring Magic Queue and Gemini integration, they discuss whether we're witnessing the emergence of "intelligence as OS: where AI becomes the primary interface layer, making traditional app ecosystems potentially ob...

In this episode of Culture and Code, Rei and Tara discuss the recent popularity of fictional characters like K-Pop Demon Hunters and Labubu and what we can learn about relatability and escapism. They explore the concept of escapism and its appeal through multidimensionality and contradiction, making these characters relatable. The conversation delves into the unexpected success of K-Pop Demon Hunt...

In the inaugural episode of Culture & Code , hosts Rei Inamoto and Tara Tan dive deep into a fascinating contrast in the tech world: the billion-dollar data labeling company you've never heard of versus the AI giants dominating headlines. Through the lens of Surge AI's remarkable bootstrap success story, they explore whether obsessive craftsmanship can triumph over venture-backed hype machines...

In the final episode of Season 1 of Hitmakers, Rei and Ana look back at the core themes that their discussions revolved around: how great products build great brands, why creativity is a mindset not an output, and why the most important thing of all is to care about the work that you are doing. IKEA April Fools Nike Trolls New Balance and Cooper Flagg with 4 Words MayoHaters by NotCo Watch us on Y...

Demi Moore has a house for her doll collection. David Beckham relaxes by assembling Lego kits. Board games are the preferred Saturday night pastime. Selling toys to adults is a big business, and in this episode, Rei and Ana unpack the reasons behind bag charms, AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego) and popularity of brand mascots. Rather than seeing these trends as mere nostalgia, we suggest that consumers a...

Some of the biggest global brands are tech companies (Apple, Google, Samsung, Nvidia), and in this episode, Rei and Ana explore the branding strategy behind technology. From myth-making to a seamless omnichannel experience to translating narratives into user interface, we are looking at how branding of tech is different. Watch us on YouTube Follow Ana here: Newsletter "The Sociology of Business" N...

The culture of hype (streetwear, cronuts, Gone Girl, Hamilton...) got replaced by the society of spectacle (fashion shows, Olympics, SuperBowl, Barbieheimer). Everything is a spectacle if you lead with celebrities, promote it wildly, and spend enough money on it. Spectacles grab our attention and fizzle in one summer or shorter. In this episode, Rei and Ana talk about SuperBowl's half show, why sp...

When algorithm flattens cultural markets, how to create against this backdrop? When everything is “meh,” winners are the surprising, the unexpected, and the different. The problem is, these things succeed in niches - offline communities, small groups, and subcultures. They are created in niches, and usually stay there. In the winners-take-all markets, scaling requires algorithms. Can brands bridge...

Creativity is not just an ideas game. More than anything, it’s a matter of process, organization, and the problem-solving abilities of the “backend” office. McKinsey study found that companies that prioritize creativity have 67 percent higher organic revenue growth than those who do not. Yet, creativity, despite its superior business value, is often siloed in “creative” departments like marketing,...

What is culture? Culture can mean a lot of different things, and in this episode we zero in on our working definitions, along with the brands, consumer behaviors, and trends that we can expect to see more of in 2025 Show notes: How to build brand energy by Grace Gordon Marcijuš AI Studio Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas Watch us on YouTube Follow Ana here: Newsletter "The Sociolog...

In their last episode of 2024, Ana and Rei talk about predictions. Rather than predicting the future, companies should set themselves out for the future's inherent unpredictability. In this context, we unpack why "boring" brands are set to succeed, why smart glasses are going to be big, and why the retail middle may be coming back, thanks to Substack and AI. We wish everyone a happy new year! Watc...

Why some rebrands succeed and why some fail? Why do we usually dislike new logos and then slowly get used to them? What are the best and worst rebrands, and how to tell the difference? We are joined by Brian Morrissey, founder of the Rebooting, to discuss how politics, aesthetics and ethics of branding reflect themselves in media, creative fields and brand-building. The Rebooting by Brian Morrisse...

What are luxury goods good for? How about a pair of socks or sneakers? In this episode, Rei and Ana talk about apparel’s two opposing forces - product identity and functionality - is deeply embedded in creative, strategic and operational decisions that shape apparel’s business models. Some products, like luxury items, over-index on identity; others, like Uniqlo or Muji, are deeply rooted in functi...

What do Banana Republic and Google have in common?  By combining brand strategy with merchandising, these brands influenced culture. They grew by building a product universe. In this excerpt from episode 2, Rei and Ana explore product pyramids of these brands, and how they grew through smart product-led branding. Watch us on YouTube Follow Ana here: Newsletter "The Sociology of Business" New book...

What do Banana Republic, McDonald’s, and a 1,800-year-old Japanese shrine have in common?  By combining brand strategy with merchandising, these brands influenced culture. They grew by building a product universe. In this episode, Rei and Ana explore product pyramids of different brands, and how they grew through smart product-led branding. Related Links: The growth of a Japanese shrine: https://o...

In this inaugural episode, Ana and Rei introduce the idea of product-led branding : what happens when a product is so good that it spins a brand out of it? They discuss how products themselves—like Nike’s Moon Shoe and Levi’s 501 jeans—build brand identity through unique features and cultural appeal. Five key elements of product-led branding are Value, Wear, Aesthetics, Narrative, and Fandom. Ana...