Remove Your Religion
Notes on creativity, adaptability, and why I somehow ended up at another business school
The universe keeps sending me back to business school. First, my Becoming You experience with Suzy Welch at NYU Stern, and most recently, a trip to Boston to see my friend speak at Harvard. Is it trying to tell me something? I swore I wouldn’t return to school as a student. The truth is, I love the academic environment. Returning to a college campus reignited my orientation leader energy, but I can’t commit to doing homework ever again.
Anyway—back to Boston. My friend Tre’ was invited to speak at the 2025 Entertainment, Media, and Sports Conference at HBS, and our friend Natalie and I flew out to support him. Despite living in New York for nearly a decade, I’d never been to Boston. So this was the perfect excuse to see a new city, hang out with a few friends who live there, and cheer on one of my besties.
Tre’ spoke on a panel titled “Investing in Entertainment,” which couldn’t have been a better fit. He recently launched his own company, Folk Media Group, and he’s one of the most brilliant and passionate people I know when it comes to revitalizing the entertainment industry. He’s committed to making it easier for artists to create and share their work—not through disruption or innovation for innovation’s sake, but by lowering the barrier to entry. As someone who considers herself a creative, I couldn’t love this mission more. I always welcome more accessible tools to help me craft and distribute my work. I also can’t wait to see so many more artists flourish as the industry continues democratizing how we create and share.
That’s part of why I’ve come to love Substack. It may not be as customizable as Xanga was in middle school (yes, I’m over 30), but it connects me with a community of writers and creators through a simple interface. It does what it needs to do for me to get my words out to you. I don’t have to pitch a publication or wait for an editor. I can just write.
I started a podcast during the pandemic, recording from my sister’s pink childhood bedroom using a Rode USB mic I bought on Amazon and Riverside, an online podcast recording studio. It was easy to record remotely with guests and felt designed with podcasters in mind, unlike Zoom, which so many people had to make work.
One of my favorite things Tre’ shared during his panel was: “Remove your religion.” If you take anything from this letter, let it be that. Let go of the old systems, beliefs, and habits that no longer serve you in work and life. The people who will thrive in this new world are flexible, curious, and open to new ways of thinking and doing. You risk getting left behind if you cling too tightly to what was. As you can see before your eyes, everything is changing! For better or for worse.
Another speaker I was excited to hear from was Bill Simmons, CEO of The Ringer and a podcasting legend. As someone who’s created, hosted, edited, and marketed a podcast, I was all ears. One gem stood out: “Don’t overreact to whatever the trend is.” Just because something’s hot doesn’t mean it needs to change your whole approach. You can engage with trends without losing your voice. Bill also made a point that resonated with me—that the host makes the show. I couldn’t agree more. There are so many podcasts I want to like because the topic is interesting, but if the host doesn’t have it, I’m probably out. The connection matters more than the concept.
We also heard from Clara Wu Tsai, the owner of the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets. I could write an entire post on her, but two things stuck with me. First: “You can’t win every year, so something else has to engage the fans.” You see that in the culture she’s built around the Liberty—the viral clips of Ellie the mascot, the elevated food options at Barclays, the merch collaborations. Her teams are more than sports—they’re a vibe. She’s built a business where the players and the fans know exactly what it means to be part of this community.
I also loved it when she shared the best advice she’s ever received, and it was, “Give less of a fuck.” Say less, Clara. I’ve decided to take that advice and run with it—starting by posting more freely on LinkedIn, as my friend Erika Veurink encouraged me to do in a recent letter. Post the thing, share the idea, and promote your work. Don’t worry about who’s cringing. Those people don’t pay your bills.
Of course, I wouldn’t visit a new city without catching up with friends. I saw my friend Maria Colalancia —another Gemini who recently quit her job to go all-in on her creative ventures: The Aperitivo Society and Aperitivo the Shop. She started a ticketed dinner party series in Boston and now has a brick-and-mortar store perfect for picking up a chic housewarming gift or something cute for your place. If you’re not in Boston, check out her site—you can shop online, too.
Tre’, Natalie, and I also had the best catch-up with Saeed Jones, who’s currently an artist-in-residence at Harvard Medical School in their Media, Medicine, and Health program. If you don’t know Saeed, please fix that. His memoir How We Fight for Our Lives was just named one of the best books of the century (so far) by Kirkus Reviews, and he’s a co-host of the podcast Vibe Check, which makes me giggle weekly.
So that’s the Boston recap. The weather was questionable, but my head is still swirling with insights. I left feeling creatively full and proud of my friends. I’ll be back!
As always, thank you for reading Define Normal. Please feel free to send me a message to continue the conversation. Otherwise, you can find me on IG, TikTok, or the Define Normal podcast.
Xanga mention sent chills down my spine
POST THE THING, baby