Common and Pete Rock have officially announced their joint album, The Auditorium, Vol. 1, after releasing two singles to date, “Wise Up” and “Dreamin’.” The two hip-hop pioneers will release their collaboration on July 12 via Loma Vista Recordings. They previously worked together in 1996, collaborating on Common’s Ice Cube diss track “The B*tch In Yoo,” and in 1998, when Common appeared alongside Big Pun and N.O.R.E. on “Verbal Murder 2” from Pete’s 1998 album Soul Survivor.

In the press release for the new album, Common said of working with the genre-defining producer, “Pete Rock is one of The Greatest Creators Hip Hop and Music has ever seen. It has been a dream of mine to work with him on an album. And once we got together and I I was around him and all his records and his MPC I felt the spirit of what I always loved in hip hop in soul music and why I wanted to be a part of the artform. His beats, his production, his scratches, took me to a place where I could just MC freely. It felt I like I was home.”

The Auditorium, Vol. 1 will be Common’s first album since 2021’s A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 2). You can watch the video for “Dreamin’” above and find more information about the album here.

Tracklist

1. “Dreamin’”
2. “Chi-Town Do It”
3. “This Man’s Arms”
4. “We’re On Our Way”
5. “Fortunate”
6. “So Many People” Feat. Bilal
7. “Wise Up”
8. “A GOD (There Is)” Feat. Jennifer Hudson
9. “Stellar”
10. “Lonesome”
11. “All Kind Of Ideas” Feat. Pete Rock
12. “When The Sun Shines Again” Feat. Posdnuos of De La Soul
13. “Everything’s So Grand Feat. PJ”
14. “Now And Then”
15. “Outro”

It’s almost dragon time, as season two of House of the Dragon is set to premiere this weekend, and fans will finally get what they’ve been eagerly waiting for for nearly two years: more Matt Smith interviews! It’s been far too long since we’ve gotten some of those.

At the London premiere for the series, Smith was speaking with English TV presenter Sue Perkins when Perkins mentioned interviewing Emma D’Arcy and that “she gave you all the credit” for the infamous season one finale which sets the scene for season two. D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, is nonbinary and has spoken in the past about using them/them pronouns.

Smith seamlessly responded “I can’t take the credit, [but] I have to say, aren’t they brilliant?” he said before adding, “They are absolutely brilliant and you’re in for a real treat with Emma this year, I think Emma’s put in… a really great performance,” Smith added.

Perkins, a comedian and former host of The Great British Bake Off, was criticized online after the clip made the rounds, and she apologized on X, “It was a sh*tty mistake. Had loads of stuff going on in my earpiece and so wasn’t as focused as I should have been. No excuses though. These things matter and I feel terrible about it. Am a massive fan of their work and would never want to be disrespectful x.”

House of the Dragon will return for a dragon-centric second season this Sunday, June 16th on HBO and Max.

(Via Deadline)

As part of the rollout for her new album, Brat, Charli XCX worked with New York City’s Roxy Cinema on a screening series of her favorite “brat” movies. The bratty collection includes Velvet Goldmine, director Todd Haynes’ exploration of the glam-rock scene; Party Girl, starring the always-delightful Parker Posey; erotic thriller To Die For with Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix; and Matt Dillon; and found-footage teen comedy Project X, which surprisingly isn’t the title of an early Charli XCX EP.

“They all have a brat like energy to them,” Charli explained when asked why she picked these films. “I’m not really inspired by other music when I make my albums. I’m more inspired by an atmosphere or a feeling or a persona. To me character and personality is the backbone to good music and artistry. If there’s no persona there’s just a song. It’s 2 dimensional, it’s flat. So all of these films in some way link to the world of brat.”

Here’s the full lineup, along with the synopsis:

PARTY MONSTER
“Based on the true story of Michael Alig, a Club Kid party organizer who bragged on television about killing his drug dealer and roommate.”

DAISIES
“After realizing that all world is spoiled, Marie and Marie are committed to be spoiled themselves. They rip off older men, feast in lavish meals and do all kinds of mischief. But what is all this leading to?”

VELVET GOLDMINE
“In 1984, British journalist Arthur Stuart investigates the career of 1970s glam superstar Brian Slade, who was heavily influenced in his early years by hard-living and rebellious American singer Curt Wild.”

PARTY GIRL
“A 20-something, irresponsible party girl is bailed out of jail by her librarian godmother. To repay the loan, she starts working at the library and gradually turns her life around.”

TO DIE FOR
“Suzanne Stone is a weather reporter at her small-town cable station, but she dreams of being a big-time news anchor. However, she feels that her middle-class husband is holding her back, so she decides to have him murdered.”

PROJECT X
“Three high-school seniors throw a birthday party to make a name for themselves. As the night progresses, things spiral out of control as word of the party spreads.”

A CROSS THE UNIVERSE
“A Cross the Universe is a documentary following the French EDM duo Justice touring North America.”

The Roxy Cinema noted that Charli also wanted to include “WILD CHILD, HUMAN TRAFFIC, MODULATIONS, BASIC INSTINCT, YANNICK, and INTIMATE CONFESSIONS OF A CHINESE COURTESAN,” but obtaining the screening rights would have been a challenge. Still! It’s a great lineup!

You can find screening information here.

Kristaps Porzingis has been magnificent on both ends of the floor for the Boston Celtics through the first two games of the 2024 NBA Finals, as the big man hasn’t shown any rust against the Dallas Mavericks after missing most of the first three rounds due to a calf injury. But in the second half of Game 2, Porzingis started to move a bit gingerly, and there were questions about whether he aggravated something with his calf.

The good news for Boston is that Porzingis didn’t do that, but the bad news is that the big man is banged up. In a statement released by the team on Tuesday afternoon, the Celtics announced that Porzingis suffered a “rare injury.”

“Celtics Center Kristaps Porzingis suffered a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg at 3:27 of the third quarter of Game 2,” the team said. “The injury is unrelated to Porzingis’s prior right calf injury. After consultation with numerous specialists regarding this rare injury, his availability for upcoming games will be determined day-to-day.”

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla spoke to reporters about the injury, which he classified as “serious.” But despite that, Porzingis is doing what he has to do to try and play.

“Obviously something happened a little bit, but I have a couple of days again, and believe me, we will do everything we can to be back and moving well,” Porzingis said after Game 2 before telling the press that “I’ll die out there if we need.”

Porzingis addressed the injury with the press on Tuesday and made clear that the Celtics doctors are the only ones who can keep him from taking the floor.

Game 3 between the Celtics and the Mavs will take place in Dallas on Wednesday night.

Fueled by a recent population boom – ranking third in the nation for metro growth according to the U.S. Census Bureau – Atlanta’s energy is contagious. This vibrant Southern metropolis offers residents and visitors alike the perfect blend of urban excitement and natural escapes. I take every chance I can to visit this Southern gem and am always left surprised and in awe of how active and outdoorsy the city truly is. Atlanta reminds me that I don’t need to head West to encounter outdoor adventure; I barely have to leave downtown here.

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, practically Atlanta’s backyard, is the perfect easy escape from the city, offering scenic waterways, wooded trails, and miles of river to float – all within a short drive. So, whether you crave a relaxing paddle or a heart-pumping mountain bike ride, we’ve got you covered.

HOW TO GET TO CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA:

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area isn’t just close to Atlanta; the city itself is actually nestled along the Chattahoochee River, where the park then stretches for 48 scenic miles southward. Visitors can easily jump in their car, plug in an entrance into their nav and be brought to an oasis among the city. This easy accessibility means you can paddle on tranquil waters or hike through wooded trails within 20 minutes, depending on the park entrance you choose. On average, just a 20-mile drive from Atlanta is what lies between a quick escape to nature for city dwellers or visitors.

WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU’RE THERE:

HIKE:

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area boasts over 90 miles of trails, ranging from easy paths perfect for beginners to moderate and challenging treks for experienced hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

East Palisades Trail and Bamboo Forest

Length: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

The East Palisades Trail and Bamboo Forest is a popular 4.2 -mile loop trail that is a great option for hikers and trail runners looking for scenic views, interesting geological features – and an unexpected bamboo forest.

You’ll wind through a forested landscape along the Chattahoochee River, with glimpses of the water below and surrounding countryside, the ruins of an old mill, and if you keep trekking, you’ll make it to the relatively small – but whimsical – bamboo forest.

Gold Branch Trail

Length: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

A bit further out from Atlanta is the Gold Branch Trail, known for its scenic beauty and moderately challenging terrain due to some steep side slopes with rocky surfaces in places. Hikers will explore the terrain along the banks of the Chattahoochee River and the shores of Bull Sluice Lake, which has plenty of plants and wildlife to marvel at.

Chattahoochee River Loop From Interstate North Trailhead

Length: 3.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy

If you’re just searching for something relaxing and scenic, The Chattahoochee River Loop from the Interstate North Trailhead is a fantastic option. The trail winds along the Chattahoochee River, offering picturesque water vistas throughout the hike, and the flat terrain and wide path make it accessible for nearly anyone.

BIKE:

Trails designated for cycling aren’t as abundant as some other activities here, but there are still great options for road cyclists and mountain bikers.

Road Cycling: Many cyclists choose to ride the park roads, which are all open to cyclists. This makes it easy to enjoy a scenic ride along the Chattahoochee River or explore the park’s interior.

Mountain Biking: Currently, 7.11 miles of trails within the Cochran Shoals and Palisades units are open to cyclists. Since these trails are shared with hikers, you’ll want to be mindful of trail etiquette.

PADDLE:

Paddling is likely the best way to experience the beauty of the Chattahoochee River. It offers opportunities for leisurely floats, exciting whitewater adventures, and everything in between. With options between 2 and 13 miles, you can spend an hour or two on the river or the entire day.

While there is whitewater in the lower section of the Chattahoochee, the area of the river that’s in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is known for its scenic, calm waters. It’s perfect for a relaxing float trip, gentle kayaking, or a fishing trip. Many outfitters are in the area from which to rent a kayak, canoe, float, or raft.

BOULDERING:

There aren’t many bouldering options, but the ease of access from the metro makes them a popular choice for climbers.

Island Ford: This popular but small bouldering area is in the Island Ford section of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Despite its small size, it offers a variety of bouldering problems, ranging from low to middle difficulty.

The Palisades: In the East Palisades section of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, climbers will find “The Palisades,” a small cliff with dozens of bouldering problems ranging from easy to challenging.

As you can see, there are plenty of amazing adventures on the outskirts of Atlanta with abundant food, nightlife, and hotel options in the city proper.

Be sure to keep an eye on our 10-Mile Challenge Hub to learn more about the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport, Limited, and other adventures that can be unlocked right around the corner.

We all know how crucial it is to keep track of our health. However, all too often we fall into the trap of focusing solely on our weight. Stepping on the scale might tell us if we’ve gained or lost a few pounds, but it barely scratches the surface of what’s really going on. Factors like muscle mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat also play significant roles in our health, yet these metrics often get overlooked. Fortunately, through technology, it is now possible to get a much deeper understanding of our health. And if you’re someone who likes arming themselves with as much data as possible, a new smart scale called the Oxline Scale X Pro could be a very valuable addition to your wellness toolkit.

What is the Oxline Scale X Pro?

The Oxline Scale X Pro is a smart scale designed to provide a broad overview of factors that impact your health. Unlike traditional scales that only measure weight, the Scale X Pro provides 16 different body metrics, including body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, water weight, visceral fat, and body age. It utilizes something Oxline calls “Echo™ Sensor” technology, which works kind of like radar, sending signals through your body and interprets the data with the help of 12 auto-calibrating sensors. This results in a much more detailed and accurate analysis of your body’s composition.

Oxline has become pretty well-known among health-conscious consumers in recent years for their home diagnostic equipment—we’re talking things like blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and even pulse oximeters, which are designed to give regular people accurate and reliable tools for health monitoring. Now, with the Scale X Pro, Oxline is trying to take at-home health monitoring and data collection to another level. So let’s dive in and take a closer look.

Why Weight and BMI Aren’t Enough

When it comes to overall health, relying solely on weight and BMI can be a little misleading. While weight is a straightforward metric, it doesn’t differentiate between muscle, fat, and other components of your body. A high weight might be due to muscle mass, which is healthy, or excess fat, which can pose health risks. Simply put, weight alone doesn’t give you the full picture.

Body Mass Index, or BMI, attempts to address this shortcoming by considering height as well as weight. However, it still has significant limitations. BMI doesn’t account for muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution. For instance, athletes with high muscle mass often fall into the “overweight” category by BMI standards, despite being in excellent health. On the flip side, individuals with a normal BMI might have high levels of visceral fat, posing hidden health risks.

This is where additional metrics become crucial. Knowing your body fat percentage, muscle mass, and visceral fat levels provides a more accurate understanding of your health. By moving beyond weight and BMI, you can gain a comprehensive view of your body’s health, leading to better management and improved outcomes. And this is exactly what devices like the Oxline Scale X Pro are designed to do.

Ordering and Setting Up The Scale X Pro

When I first heard about the Oxline Scale X Pro, I was very curious to see how it works. Given that it measures 16 different things, I was a little bit worried that I would be overwhelmed by data. But in fact, it’s shockingly simple to use and incorporate into your health and fitness routines.

Upon ordering my Scale X Pro, I was pleased to find that shipping was free, and came with a tracking number. And when the scale arrived, I was even more pleased to see that the packaging was minimalist. These days, a lot of products get shipped in gigantic boxes and excessive packing materials, but Oxline does the planet a huge favor by keeping everything sleek and simple.

Right out of the box, the Scale X Pro works as a regular bathroom scale. It comes with batteries, so once you pull the little plastic tab out of the battery compartment, you can step on and weigh yourself. To get the advanced metrics, however, you have to download the Fitdays Health app and create an account. But doing that is very straightforward and took about two minutes. Simply enter some vital stats, take a quick tour, and you’re ready to measure.

Using The Scale X Pro

Using the Scale X Pro for the first time was an informative experience. When you step on the scale, the first reading you will get is your weight. After that, you’ll see some flashing lights, indicating that it is taking additional readings, and after about 10 seconds you get the rest of the metrics.

While the scale itself measures 16 different things, what you actually get are 22 different metrics for understanding your body composition. On the scale’s digital display you get readouts for weight, heart rate, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, body water percentage, muscle rate, and bone mass. Then, on the app, you get readings for fat mass, fat-free body weight, cardiac index, muscle mass, skeletal muscle, protein mass, protein percentage, water weight, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, BMR, body age, ideal body weight, obesity level, and body type.

Seeing all of this data was pretty eye opening. I have never had these types of insights into my health all in one place, so seeing it all gets you thinking about all sorts of new possibilities. Of course, I cannot say from my personal experience how accurate the Scale X Pro readings are. But I can say the readings I got were more or less in line with what I expected, and I did see them change over time. So at the very least, the scale gave me a baseline against which I could track my progress.

Crucially, I found the Fitdays app experience to be incredibly smooth. Users will definitely want to research these body metrics in greater detail, but the app gives you a nice snapshot of what they could potentially mean for your overall health. And a really nice bonus is that you can sync the data the Scale X Pro collects with other health platforms like Apple Health, Samsung Health, Google Health, and Fitbit Tracker, so all your health data is in one place.

Go Beyond Weight

The Scale X Pro was surprisingly easy to incorporate into my daily routine. Each morning, I step on the scale and get instant feedback on my progress, and the data has motivated me to adjust my diet and exercise habits. Over several weeks, I’ve seen slight changes in my body composition that correspond with my activity level and diet. And in the app, you can view all the data in easy-to-read graph form.

All in all, the Oxline Scale X Pro is a pretty impressive device. If you want to actually understand your weight and get a more complete picture of your health, this smart scale is a good place to start. And with free shipping, a lifetime warranty, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s very little risk.

If you’re looking for a tool that can help you make better decisions about your fitness and wellness, you should definitely check out the Oxline Scale X Pro.

American-born TikTok user Kayleigh Donahue is going viral on the platform because of her unflinching take on why it was a mistake for her to move back to the U.S. after spending 4 years in Ireland.

She now lives in the Boston area.

Kayleigh moved back to the U.S. from Ireland to make more money, but that didn’t go as planned. Even though she got paid more, the cost of living was so much higher that she saved less money than she did in Ireland. She also missed the generous number of vacation days she got in Europe as compared to America.

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@kayshaynee

popping off always #americanabroad #usavseurope #movingabroad #livingabroad #europevsamerica #fyp

“Basically, I really got sucked into the American Dream way of living when I was abroad, which is funny because I loved living abroad,” Kayleigh said. “But you know, making more money, that’s enticing. Good job, that’s enticing. It’s not true. It used to be. It definitely used to be. You could come here and make a ton of money, make a great life for yourself. But the younger generation today, in this country — screwed. It’s literally all a lie that is sold to you. It’s such a struggle, and the older generation doesn’t seem to see how much of a struggle it is for the younger generation here.”

In the end, who wants to work harder for a lower quality of life?

“Needless to say, I will most likely be moving back to Europe where 20-plus days of paid vacation a year is literally the law, and I will make less money, but somehow, you know, the cost of living is lower there and I can save more,” Kayleigh concluded the video.

This article originally appeared on 1.17.24

Roger Federer will go down in history as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but his popularity extends far beyond the tennis court. With a reputation as a kind and classy sportsman, a generous philanthropist and and all around “good guy,” Federer has gained fans of all ages, even outside of his sport, making him an ideal commencement speaker for one of America’s top universities.

Dartmouth’ College’s class of 2024 got to listen to the tennis great share the three biggest lessons he learned from the sport at their commencement ceremony, and people have been sharing snippets from it on social media.

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Federer told the graduates that he left school at 16 to play tennis and “graduated” from tennis in 2022. He said he wanted to share with the students three “tennis lessons” he learned during his career that has helped him transition to life after it, in the hopes that they might help them transition to life out in the world as well.

Lesson 1: Nothing is ‘effortless’

“‘Effortless’ is a myth,” he began. “I mean it. I say that as someone who has heard that word a lot. The truth is, I had to work very hard to make it look easy. I spent years whining, swearing (sorry), throwing my racket before I learned to keep my cool.”

He shared a story of how an opponent early in his career helped him understand that anyone can excel in the early part of the game, but it takes significant, sustained effort to reach a level where you can play well throughout an entire tournament.

“I didn’t get where I got on pure talent alone,” he said. “I got there by trying to outwork my opponents. I believed in myself. But belief in yourself has to be earned…From this day forward, some people are going to assume that because you graduated from Dartmouth, it all comes easy for you. And you know what? Let them believe that, as long as you don’t.”

Lesson 2: “It’s only a point.”

“Let me explain. You can work harder than you thought possible and still lose,” he said. “I have.”

Federer explained that he always tried not to lose, of course, but sometimes he did. Everyone does, even those at the very top.

He told a story about how he had started to doubt himself after an opponent scored a point against him early in a match, and he had to learn not to let a single lost point get under his skin. Then he used statistics to illustrate his point.

“In the 1,526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches,” he said. “Now, I have a question for all of you. What percentage of the points do you think I won in those matches? Only 54%. In other words, even top-ranked tennis players win barely more than half of the points they play. When you lose every second point, on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot.”

“Here’s why I am telling you this,” he continued. “When you’re playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world, and it is. But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point and the next point after that with intensity, clarity and focus.”

He shared that whatever games the students play in life, sometimes they’re going to lose, and to him, the sign of a champion is learning to master hard moments.

“The best in the world are not the best because they win every point,” he said. “It’s because they know they’ll lose, again and again, and have learned how to deal with it.”

Lesson 3: Life is bigger than the court.

“Even when I was just starting out, I knew that tennis could show me the world… but tennis could never be the world,” he said. “I knew that if I was lucky, maybe I could play competitively until my late 30s—maybe even 41! But even when I was in the top five, it was important to me to have a life, a rewarding life full of travel, culture, friendships, and especially family. I never abandoned my roots, and I never forgot where I came from, but I also never lost my appetite to see this very big world.”

Federer shared what it has been like for him to serve the children of South Africa, his mother’s homeland, through his foundation that focuses on the education of children across Southern Africa.

“It’s been an honor… and it’s been humbling,” he said. “An honor to help tackle this challenge, and humbling to see how complex it is.”

He shared that he was only 22 when he started his philanthropy work.

“I was not ready for anything other than tennis. But sometimes you’ve got to take a chance and then figure it out,” he said. “Philanthropy can mean a lot of things. It can mean starting a nonprofit, or donating money. But it can also mean contributing your ideas, your time and your energy to a mission that is larger than yourself. All of you have so much to give, and I hope you will find your own, unique ways to make a difference, because life really is much bigger than the court.”

Wise words from a wise man. You can find the full transcript of Federer’s speech here.

Parents, not kids, are the ones making sure that deadlines are met, that everyone gets to important appointments on time, and that things generally run smoothly for the family.

At least…that’s how it’s supposed to work. But many kids find themselves in the precarious situation of having a bit more savviness than their parents. This can be particularly frustrating for young adults when their parents refuse to see them as anything more than a know-nothing child.

For one recent high school grad, that dilemma happened during a cruise to the Caribbean Islands with his punctually challenged mom and dad.

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According to his viral Reddit story, the vacation was meant to celebrate his 18th birthday. This would be the family’s first cruise together, and the teenager warned his parents that it would be different than the all inclusive resorts they’re used to going to. That if they went on excursion, they’d have to “follow the schedule no matter what.”

Apparently mom and dad didn’t take the warning to heart, and got “busy shopping and bargaining with the locals.”At a loss, the son said he was heading back to the ship, and his mother waved him off.

AITA for abandoning my parents at an island in the Caribbean so I could get back to our cruise in time?
byu/ProfessionalTax7753 inAmItheAsshole

A good 45 minutes after the departure, the boy’s parents messaged him on WhatsApp, upset that he didn’t get the ship to somehow wait for them.

“I wanted to scream that they were not going to inconvenience 3,998 people because two could not understand what a schedule was,” he lamented in his post.

The parents ended up taking an expensive flight to the next port, and the rest of the trip they took their anger out on the son.

Looking to Reddit for answers, the teens concluded, “I don’t know what I was supposed to do. They literally told me that they knew what they were doing.I wish I had never asked for this. They are making me miserable because I left without them.”

Hopefully the overwhelming response in support of the son’s decision made him feel better.

“Do they think if they arrive late to the airport the plane will wait around for a couple hours? This is not rocket science. It’s a mode of transport, you get there on time,” one person commented.

Meanwhile, another reasoned, “This is the bit that baffles me – even if OP had tried/asked, I highly doubt the staff would have even considered delaying departure. Did OP’s parents expect him to kick down the door to the bridge and commandeer the ship until they finished shopping?”

“And if op gave up and stayed behind with them that would have been an extra plane ticket, so even more money down the drain. They should be relieved that their kid has a good head on their shoulders but no, they’d Rather blame them,” another person wrote.

One astutely suspected that the boy’s parents were simply projecting their own shame about the situation onto their son, writing “I expect they are just very embarrassed that an 18 year old was smarter than them and are taking it out on them.”

Another person agreed, “Yep, projection is a major defense mechanism for people who never learned emotional regulation skills as children. ‘I messed up and can’t handle/process these feelings of anxiety, so it’s actually all YOUR fault.’”

Seems like the role of adults and child got reversed here, but hopefully this kid can take solace in knowing he made the right decision. And hopefully his parents won’t miss the boat to apologize.

When someone possesses a unique talent, people react in two ways: They either encourage them to turn it into a career, while others caution that commercializing their hobby might strip away the joy they find in it.

Understandably, someone with a knack for arts and crafts would probably want to make money selling their wares. Because, as the saying goes, when you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Plus, setting up an Etsy shop and social media accounts and starting a small business is easy.

Further, in a world dominated by hustle culture, it’s almost expected that someone will try to monetize their hobby instead of doing it for the pure joy of doing it.

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However, when your hobby becomes your job —whether that’s weaving blankets, making pizza, or creating a podcast—you now become pressured to do what you used to enjoy in your leisure time. That blanket becomes a product. Your pizza becomes foodstuff and your podcasts are now content.

Now, instead of baking that white pie because you like the taste, you add sausage and Canadian bacon to satisfy the market. The blankets you once made with high-end yarn are now being woven with the cheaper stuff to increase your margin.

Instead of taking a week off of your podcast because you don’t have an intriguing guest or topic, you’re forcing yourself to produce 45 minutes of content you would never listen to.

The topic has been a hot-button issue on Reddit, and many warn against turning one’s passion into a product. “I turned my hobby into a side hustle for a while. I realized it wasn’t worth it when my husband reminded me that the whole reason I started the hobby was to relieve stress from my job, but somehow, my stress relief had morphed into a second job. Haven’t done an art market since then,” SquishySquishy333 wrote.

“Turning a hobby into a business is a great way to turn something you love to do into something you hate,” Slumminwhitey added.

It’s easy to see why people would love a hobby to be their job because it seems a lot more fulfilling than working one that you’re not passionate about. But Robin Moriarty, a global business executive and former Forbes contributor, asks why people feel they need to be fulfilled by their career. Why not work for money and find fulfillment when you’re off the clock?

“In the U.S., our culture is very focused on achieving and accomplishing. Our identities are often wrapped up in our job, our title, our salary, and our promotions. Just go to any cocktail party and the first question is, ‘What do you do?’ which implies that what you do is an indicator of who you are,” Moriarty writes in Forbes. Work can be something you do to pay your bills so that you can go get your fulfillment elsewhere — from family, from spirituality, from friends, from volunteering, from hobbies, from taking classes, from sports. Where you choose to seek fulfillment is your choice.”

Ultimately, people should be able to follow their passions and use their talents as they see fit. But they should be aware that if they turn their hobby into a job, it’s going to be a lot less fun than doing it for pleasure. Plus, in a world where everything seems to be motivated by economic forces, doing something for the pure joy of it seems like a revolutionary act.