another jobless summer for teens stateside

Today’s newsletter is brought to you in partnership with Shopify’s In Stock newsletter. Enjoy!

Hello and welcome back to as seen on!

An older friend told me yesterday that it was very Gen Z of me to take a month of my newsletter, and in such a blasé fashion. I assured here there’s been nothing blasé about this. I think the OOO editions have been fab! As great a ride as it’s been, as seen on will be back to its regular programming for its next edition. Needless to say, lots to discuss!

Can first aid be fun? It seems the remit of every Gen Z brand right now is to make the mundane worth talking about. Benjie, a “cool bandage” brand founded by best friends Tessa Cohen and Sara Sebastjanska, launched at Coachella this year because “we figured everyone’s hot, overstimulated, dehydrated, and developing blisters — felt on brand and a natural runway to spread the word,” they told Shopify’s In Stock newsletter. “It ended up working absurdly well,” despite Layla from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives rebuffing their guerrilla marketing efforts.

Recent startup activity will have you believe we are so high up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs that “needs must” no longer applies. In consumer, necessity is secondary to desire — and brands like Benjie, pre-funding, pre-mainstream, but riding all the right tailwinds, are more interesting to me than ever. Shopify’s In Stock newsletter, which profiles consumer founders at every stage, has become a reliable stop on my sourcing journey. I asked In Stock’s storytelling lead and self-described small business superfan Anita Little how she finds the founders worth spotlighting. “We look for founders solving real problems from a place of passion and determination. The Benjies of the world build products for themselves and their own worldviews. That makes for great storytelling and the kind of candid advice other founders can use.”

Now, over to Abena!

Hello! I’m Abena Anim-Somuah, a James-Beard award-winning writer and cultural commentator. I’m a voracious reader, traveller, and am really passionate about culture’s impact on how we consume. You can find my musings and commentary on the food world at Your Friend in Food, my Substack publication.

I’m also a proud third culture kid, with roots in Ghana and raised on three continents before I turned 18. So honored to be stepping in for my little sis, Ochuko. I’m just so proud to be a part of this OOO edition. As a long time reader, curating these links just made me appreciate my girl’s taste so much more.

• This week, World Cup competition begins marking a month of sneaking score checks during meetings and becoming a regular at your local drinking hole. It’s also a tournament of mixed feelings: from last-minute visa refusals for regarded referees to controversial ticket prices, I hope that the incredible global talent we’re about to see makes the drama worth it.

• Is the World Cup going to give Nike its swagger back? The 6-minute Rip the Script spot brought back a nostalgic cinematic experience, showcasing the blend of sport and culture. But are Channing Tatum and Kim Kardashian’s cameos enough to gain the hearts and wallets of sports fans and cultural enthusiasts alike? Adidas has been the marquee sponsor of the tournament since the 1970s, and smaller brands like On and Bandit are tapping into significant market share. And while the spot generated $31.2 million in media impact value within two days, I’m cautiously ambitious to see the cultural imprint. Can’t wait to see how Nike will dazzle fans over these 12 weeks.

• Considering the polarity of its presence, we should include AI in the list of topics not to discuss at dinner. But pieces like these encourage you to consider that AI is a nouveau innovation—like wheels, the printing press, and the Internet— that is still in the early innings of cultural ubiquity.

• Will CBS News ever know peace? After another high-profile firing, this time with revered journalist Scott Pelley, I’m starting to really wonder how the new leadership aims to revive the brand while also being inconsiderate to the key players whom audiences know and love. Heavy is the hand that is slowly killing journalism.

• I can still hear the collective gasp when Lauren Sherman broke the news of the Shein-Everlane acquisition, which makes you question the original plot of the movie. I applaud founder Michael Preysman for offering an honest take on how this decision came to be, as well as his shortcomings as an eager founder in the age of generous venture capital. I’m so intrigued by his new venture, Still Radical, and curious how the declarative tenets of no outside capital and social media will hold. Might need to start refreshing the hiring site when it hits.

• Is the teenage summer job going to be a lost relic? Nothing humbled me more than my days as a camp counselor and running food at a local restaurant. According to this WSJ piece, it sounds like finding the culprit is still a maze. Maybe it’s AI, maybe it’s the opportunity cost between slinging ice cream cones and preparing your college applications, or the fact that there are simply not enough opportunities to go around. In New York City alone, 200,000 kids applied for the 100,000 slots in the 2025 Summer Jobs program. We really need to bring back the art of the internship.

• Tour guide extraordinaire Dolly Meckler and Aplos recently invited me to a tour of the NYC Conservatory Garden and a picnic in Central Park. Such a refreshing take on brand events that encourage guests to slow down, engage more deeply with each other, and learn something new about the city.

• A few weeks ago, Substack hosted the Once and Future Media Forum, their day-long summit highlighting how the platform has become such an important home for new media. It was an incredibly inspiring day that felt like a love child of an MBA seminar and summer camp. Some of my favourites were by Ben Sinclair, Jasmine Sun, and Priya Parker.

• I loved chatting with my dear friend Amber Mayfield Hewett about her new book, Your Turn to Host. Excited to bring these ideas into my summer hangs and fall breaks. Really appreciate how Amber incorporates Black joy and pleasure into her work.

• In a world where local media feels like a lost art, it’s really refreshing to see local community-led publications making a home on Substack. Grateful to Emily Sundberg for always hyping people taking initiative, and I can’t wait to follow along on the daily happenings in the Hamptons, Cobble Hill, and Bed Stuy

• I’m so inspired by Jake Sacks of 3rd Space. He hosts these unique dinners, inviting some of the most impressive young talent in the city to commune. You are encouraged to brag about your work and ask for help. Last weekend, Jake and Eron Lutterman co-hosted this listening experience at House of Sound with folks from past dinners. Such a wonderful testament to your community committing to you. Plus, it was a dream listening to Frank Ocean’s Pink and White on $80,000 speakers.

• Monocle seems to be one of the few publications that has solid range in its global coverage. This curation of places to experience coffee culture is incredible proof of fostering relationships with local journalists and tastemakers who understand the heart and cultural vibrancy of their cities. Makes me want to write for them more and more.

• I just love that the Mayor Mamdani’s office commissioned designer and illustrator Arsh Razziudin to work on the visual branding for New York City’s World Cup campaign. Partnering with the administration’s in-house, these visuals feel like local homages to the city while also embracing the global culture that makes it an incredible place to live. Can’t wait to spot it on ferries and buses and restaurants.

I’m really intentional about what I consume and everything I’m sharing is well-loved because I think there’s a great story behind it :)

• I’ve been really enjoying the cookies from Joy Supply Cookies. Most CPG brands feel like they want to replace the joy of a sweet treat with some alternative or lack of gluten, and it’s really refreshing to see a brand just delivering wholesomeness. I love their white chocolate cranberry and the packaging on their salted peanut gives an air of Knicks fever.

• We’re officially in double shower season here in NYC! Cyklar’s products have made this facet of hygiene so much more enjoyable. The vanilla verve body sensorial wash combined with the foaming body polish, is an elite combo, and my skin has a constant glow. Ashiness be gone!

• I’m so happy to see the Keep the Meter Running back on our screens and in long-form format. I attended the preview a few weeks ago and really admired how host Kareem Rahma and producer Adam Faze discussed the creative process and how they are building a show for the new age of media. I’m so in awe of Kareem, and it was inspiring to hear how he knew that the success of Subway Takes allowed for creative freedom to make Keep the Meter Running happen. What a beautiful love letter to NYC and taxi cab drivers!

• My friend and fashion muse Michele Ouellet Benson posted a picture of her rocking this parody Knicks shirt that doubles up as an homage to the classic breakfast sandwich. So naturally, I had to get one. It’s the perfect sports x sando tee. Knicks in 5!

• Author and conflict resolution practitioner Priya Parker was so generous to gift galleys of her upcoming book, The Art of Fighting, and wow, do I feel like a cool kid. The Art of Gathering was such an important book for me in finding my purpose, and this book is really going to encourage me to think more critically about friction in my relationships, as well as in what I consume media-wise.

• On a recent trip to San Francisco, my dear friend Stephen introduced me to his neighborhood snack spot, Food Folk. It’s a charming mom-and-pop shop featuring American-made CPG products as well as vintage wares. With no e-commerce presence, they are encouraging their customers to come in and experience the store firsthand, which is such a breath of fresh air.

• Goop Kitchen has finally made its way to NYC and this is what the city’s lunch scene needed. The schlep to Midtown was so worth it and that chicken teriyaki bowl is my new hyperfixation. Currently making it my summer goal to sample everything on the menu.

• We’ve been on this glorious streak of perfect NYC weather, and dining al fresco at West Village eatery Cleo Downtown makes being outside so much more enjoyable. The star of the show may be their signature seven spice rotisserie chicken, but their sides, which make up 30% of the menu, will make you swoon.

• As a mega SNL head, I’ve always been intrigued by the elusiveness of exec producer Lorne Micheals. The iconic Canadian producer and last king of show business finally caved to being the subject of a touching documentary on his life. To the tune of more cowbell, I wanted to see more of the newer cast offering their commentary. But it seems like he was an incredible boss to many comedic greats!