Vintage hauls, very good dogs, and political losses worth savoring
January has a particular energy. The world insists on fresh starts and productivity arcs, while many of us are still thawing, squinting at the light, and deciding what—and who—is actually worth our attention.
This monthly series is our answer to that question. These are the creators we’re spending time with right now: people building thoughtful work, telling better stories, and offering clarity, care, humor, or beauty in a chaotic landscape. Some educate. Some delight. Some remind us that good things—and good people—are still very much here.
Here’s who’s currently living rent-free in our heads.
I’ve been watching her videos for years and have seen her grow her channel from vintage hauls and styling into building her own e-commerce storefront—and educating viewers about art, pottery, and jewelry of the mid-mod era. Now she and her husband lead group trips to flea markets abroad, primarily in Europe and the UK. She’s honed the recipe for combining storytelling with commerce and lifestyle.
Why I picked them: A podcast that manages to be wildly entertaining, research-oriented, and a powerful tool for fighting fatphobia. I’ve been listening to and recommending Maintenance Phase for ages and love hearing hosts Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes debunk wellness myths, diet trends, and whatever the hell MAHA is doing.
15 out of 10 Foundation / We Rate Dogs
Matt started the 15 out of 10 Foundation with the goal of making shelter dogs with medical needs much more adoptable. The foundation sponsors dogs with behavioral or medical issues who are otherwise unlikely to ever make it out of the shelter.
The sister organization, We Rate Dogs, is pure joy—and if you don’t follow them on social media, you’re missing out. I love the “the dogs were good again this week” feature, where Matt shares the top five dogs of the week. You get the first four doing something adorable, funny, clever, or life-saving, followed by a brief “tell your dog I said hi” merch moment—highlighting a dog whose medical care was funded through merch proceeds—and then the #1 dog of the week. It’s a quick hit of cuteness and love that everyone needs.
I started watching Amanda’s TikTok videos as a reminder that while it often feels like the world around us is burning, there are still good people out there fighting for us. She has a way of translating politics and policy into language that’s factual without being sensational—which I deeply need. She also brings humor with her “Trump’s Ls of the Week (So Far!)” videos, which are consistently a highlight of my week.
Why we’re paying attention
This series isn’t about trends or follower counts—it’s about attention. Who we choose to listen to, learn from, laugh with, and quietly root for.
We’ll be back next month with another round of creators currently earning space in our feeds and our thoughts. Until then, consider this your invitation to follow a few new people, support their work if you’re able, and let something good take up residence in your head for a while.
Have a creator you think we should be paying attention to? Tell us. We’re always listening.
