Wake us up when it’s over

The monthly update paragraph - what’s good, hmm? As a city we are maybe under military occupation as you read this - who knows what the fuck is going on! Not us! As a company though we are getting closer and closer to the final episodes of Xtreks and will start hashing out what our post finale future looks like. It’s exciting and also kind of sad! We’ve been working on this project for 5 years and are so excited and honored that you guys have shared this with us, and we really hope that you’ll stick around to see what else we’ve got on the horizon. Maybe it’ll be your niche interest next!

Oh and also Not Your Demographic turned 10 at the end of last month. Can you fricken believe it???

As always, we've included things coming in the upcoming month, and a look at what's happening on our Patreon (which you can join for ~as little as a dollar~) & Discord which is open to all!

Read the room, it’s time for Feelings.

STELLA:

Hey, I’m tired! Being pregnant makes me really sleepy. I also have a brand new cough because acid reflex has destroyed my throat like a dragon. A DRAGON. I don’t even know what time is anymore. 

Things I like rn, funyons (shut up), finishing books I’ve been in the middle of for months, walks, nostalgia watches. That’s about it. But I’m gonna try and make my part of the newsletter fun anyways. 

I don’t remember where I stumbled upon this article about the voyager record but it’s fascinating. I am not a space nerd so all of this was new to me and I loved it. 

Speaking of songs, I am obsessed with Annie De Russo’s song Legs.

Sometimes a book is every bit as good as people say and The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vyong is one of those books. Just a truly beautiful book about addiction, aging, respect, community and loss.  

Apparently this season of Strange New Worlds is very tepid and people are finally criticizing it - especially Spock - and I feel really seen. 

Anyone else HYPE AF for the new season of Critical Role??

I went on a family vacation and it was…not relaxing. But I did run a D&D game for an eight year old and a ten year old and let me tell you. It was FUN AS HELL. My biggest rec is play D&D with kids if you get a chance.

ERIN:

In this month’s edition of Videos My Kid Started Playing Over and Over (you will never guess where this video ends): https://youtu.be/IJNR2EpS0jw

August was so full of friends and found family, and honestly went a long way to help moor me during this depressive episode. I self isolate and can get really down on myself and my ability to maintain relationships - it’s hard to maintain a lot when I’m depressed! But also, don’t feel too bad for me - I’m super spicy bipolar, this will always happen and I’ll always have an up and a plateau. Just sucks to be inside it even when I can see the end of the tunnel. Past Erin works hard as hell to get Current Erin to still have a life and a support network, and that's all I can do for now.

Still just absolutely obsessed with The Happy Fits and keep playing their EP over and over (and over). My music tastes have managed to stay upbeat despite the horrors and the depression, and I even managed to avoid the pull of the Depression Diary Playlist- for now.

Did you know that as an adult you can just buy whatever treats you want for yourself that you weren't allowed to have as a kid? No reason whatsoever to bring this up, certainly not because I demolished a family size box of Gushers, no sir.

Instagram I'm obsessed with: Samia Benchaou - she’s a master at hijab fashion and is honestly just lovely and fun to watch. Cannot recommend her enough.

I get to ride rollercoasters this month. I’m so fucking excited.

PRODUCER BOBBY

I lost a lot of creative space to worry last month. A lot of time frozen at the controls not knowing which button to press. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t necessarily been able to hide, but being “all there” somewhere is its own issue. I spent some time walking against the current of a river and it was oddly cathartic. I recommend it but please wear shoes. 

RECS-

To watch: I am full on back into horror as escapism and wow... Bring Her Back fucked me uppppp. It’s SO BRUTAL and human and I don’t know how long it will be until I can watch it again but it’s a heavy first watch. We also saw Weapons in an actual movie theater and it was so much more of a fun experience than we were expecting. The earned laughs in horror movies always feel so good to get out of the body. Brolin with one of the best “What the fuck?!”s in film history. 

To read: Separate from any book club obligation I took up a partner’s recommendation and zoomed through A Short Stay In Hell by Steven L. Peck. It’s a heavily philosophical horror novella and the fact that it was written by a Mormon evolutionary biologist adds a few more layers to the onion. I don’t know if I loved it, but I did have a great time analyzing it. 

To listen to: Brent Hinds dying so suddenly in the way he did, at the time he did, really fucked me up. A rough edged guy for sure, but also could be sweet and genuine. He also was such a unique guitar player and creative force behind a band that I loved for a long time. Even after the split, I felt like Mastodon wouldn’t be the same band until Brent came back. Now they never will be. Toe to Toes was the first song I felt compelled to listen to when I heard the news. 

This month’s Links 4 U:

• If you haven't watched our governor, the only good billionaire, give his excellent news conference speech on the facism threatening to occupy our city, I cannot recommend it enough.

• And in other Illinois news from the only good billionaire, governors are pushing back against RFK’s insane rampage through the CDC and we need more governors to get on board. Right before publication New Mexico also got in on the Defend Your Constituents from Disease train! Call your reps!

• This isn’t a link but my Oldest Friend sent me a rant shortly before publication about how if literally anything annoys you, you should call a politician about it. Mad about the CDC? Call a politician! Local roads going to piss? Call a politician! Library getting under-funded? CALL A POLITICIAN. I think it’s great energy to bring into the back part of this year.

Things coming this month:

• New X-Treks episodes this month

• New Not Your Demo

• Will we still be on Instagram in the October newsletter? Only if the Bluesky alternative isn’t up yet! Until then at @nydproductions you can get show announcements, hilarious clips, and general revelry. 

• Tumblr! 

• Our Bluesky exists! @nydproductions

Exclusive to our Patreon (it's only a dollar!) and open for all Discord!

• Join the book club in September! Discord has all the (virtual, do not worry) meetup information!

• Xtras on the Patreon include:

  • Show notes 

  • Scripts 

  • Episode outtakes 

  • Surprise content mini episodes

  • and more!

And in the Discord, let’s hang out! We’ve got lots of cool little internet rooms.

• In the General Memery channel you can be as unhinged as your freaky little heart desires

• Spider-Man! Still!! Everywhere!

• Erin is liveposting fanfic once a month in Stella’s Link Lounge! She’s also documenting it on our Instagram highlights which are also unhinged. Gotta lotta unhinged going on in the chats.

• Do you like milk? Gross!!

Does anyone read these kickers? Who knows!