So Here's What to Expect 👀

Our new season begins March 1

Our team, from left to right: Shua Buhangin, Moy Zhong, and Nate Graber-Lipperman

blog.thirty-five // I’m excited to share that our new season of Creator Mag—our print and digital magazine, on a mission to Make the Internet Feel Smaller—begins March 1.*

But what does that mean? Here’s a (brief) overview of our upcoming release schedule:

• On March 1, we’ll release the first of five weekly episodes on our studio’s YouTube channel. These episodes will take you along for our journey as we document the creator world—and make a magazine.

• Over the next several weeks, we’ll also reveal the cover story for our upcoming print edition, which will drop at the end of March.

• To celebrate the release, we’re hosting a launch party (we call them “Block Parties”) at a really dope venue here in Chicago. We’ll have more info soon; for now, mark your calendars for Saturday, March 29.

Finally, even while we’re in season, just know that we’ll continue to share new essays and interviews right here in your inbox—hence the “digital” part of “digital and print magazine.” We’ll also provide updates on our regular gatherings at the studio, too.**

Speaking of which…thanks to all the artists who submitted pieces for The Sticky Note Art Show! Patrons came and went yesterday, enjoying a fine afternoon of perusing. Additionally, several sticky notes were, in fact, purchased.

Artists from around Chicago submitted pieces for the show, including Karen Chow (upper left), a 3D artist with a background in architecture

Stay tuned for a recap of the show. In the meantime, here’s another profile piece from the Creator Mag archives. On a personal level, it’s been quite inspiring following along with the subject’s journey since the story first ran nearly three years ago.

— NGL

P.S. Last blog, we talked with Ashley Xu about finding her voice—and directing a commercial for Taco Bell. You can read it here.

From “Cleo Abram Explains the Future” / Photo by Kendra Siebert

Cleo Abram loves comic books.

Graphic novels, too. While she didn’t grow up reading either, the newfound fascination during her adult life stems from her day job.

“There’s a series called ‘Reinventing Comics’ by Scott McCloud on how comics are visually made…and why you can instinctively understand what’s going on [as a reader],” Cleo tells me. “If someone uses, say, three lines for running or all of these visual cues, I find that totally fascinating.”

It’s a hot and humid day in early June as I ring the doorbell at Cleo’s home in New York. Her dog, a Toy Australian Shepherd named Thor, can’t wait to make new friends as he sprints out into the hallway and says hello. I briefly wonder whether I should return the favor and ask for an autograph. Along with remaining by Cleo’s side for eight years, he doubles as co-host of the show I’m here to talk about, a new media venture dubbed Huge If True.

I’m tagging along for the day, as in a couple hours, she’s set to speak on a panel about where the creator economy is headed. For now, though, I realize the best way to get a sense of who Cleo is when the camera’s off sits right in front of me: her bookshelf.

One section includes her favorite comics, such as Saga, Superman: Red Son, and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Another section, nonfiction deep dives like Why We’re Polarized — from her former colleague at Vox, Ezra Klein — and How We Got To Now.

These different genres lend naturally to her work given their proclivity for activating both the left and right sides of the human brain. Visual, rich storytelling crashes with pragmatic, historical analysis to form the basis of Cleo’s explainer journalism.

Photo by Kendra Siebert / Design by Matt Willett

Of course, there’s a third major influence missing from that formula. Cleo’s collection wouldn’t be complete without a healthy dose of science fiction, a genre she did in fact fall for as a kid. “If I’m not actively reading for my work, I’m probably reading sci-fi,” she laughs, pointing to several titles that live rent-free on her desk.

With respect to The Simpsons, out of all buckets of popular culture, science fiction has played arguably the most pivotal role in predicting our future. Think tanks like the RAND Corporation began employing “futurists” dating back to the 1950s; the occupation includes analyzing quantitative trends in society and predicting their long-term effects, helping inform the decisions of policymakers worldwide.

But as sci-fi emerged alongside an industrialized world, the futurists began to appreciate storytellers’ superpower, a unique ability to suspend disbelief in order to think outside the box. Therefore, it’s not uncommon nowadays for top institutions to employ the genre’s writers, as this blend of entertainment and social commentary can help lay a roadmap for the tomorrow we desire.

I ask Cleo if she gravitates towards science fiction because of its penchant for real-world implications. “I used to feel kind of unproductive when I was reading sci-fi, like somehow, I wasn’t learning,” she responds. “Now, I think the opposite is true…it stretches the world and allows you to see things more clearly depending on where it has stretched.”

While Cleo might not write novels or file tax returns as a futurist , her show aims to fulfill a similar goal. The creator spends her days explaining innovations in science and technology to millions of viewers across social media, helping us imagine how they might just improve our lives.

As she uploads videos across channels and For You Pages alike, it’s clear that she’s inspiring a new generation to embrace their curiosity, stretching their own worlds in the process. Yet the optimistic outlook and distribution strategy at the crux of Cleo’s storytelling came from years of learning not only from her bookshelf, but also in discovering how exactly she slots into the splintering and ever-changing landscape of modern journalism.

You can read the full story here—or listen along below.

Thanks for reading! Shoot me a reply, comment, or DM if anything resonated with you in particular—I respond to them all.

* For more on the mission of Creator Mag, check out our most recent blog.

** We’ll most likely be hosting another afternoon of co-working later in the week. Spots will be limited—let us know if you’d like to attend!