Morning Brew - 🍻 Dispo

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Get in, Sidekick readers, we’re going to Dispo. The buzzy photo sharing app, founded by YouTuber, TikToker, and Chief Fun Officer David Dobrik, just raised $20 million in Series A funding led by Spark Capital. Dispo is short for disposable. You snap pics in the app, but you have to wait until 9am the next day for your retro-looking photos to “develop.” So ’90s. The anticipation! Users can share their pictures in rolls (private or public photo albums) and invite friends to add images too. 

Earlier this month the app released an invite-only beta version, and everyone I know (plus tech Twitter) raced to download Dispo and claim their first name as their handle. Just like Clubhouse, the app is still only invite-only, but when it launches to the public, I want y’all to be in the know. Here’s more on where the app is going and if Dispo is really the new Instagram: 

• A collection of interviews and quotes from the Dispo team and early adopters. Alice Ma, a social audio entrepreneur, says, “Dispo reminds me of the energy of that one summer everyone was playing Pokémon Go.” I agree. 
• I love this Medium piece about how the app may help us stay present and live more in the moment. 
• Dispo lacks filters and editing capabilities. Is this authentic, nostalgic approach tapping into the future of tech? 
• Some background on 24-year-old influencer David Dobrik: He’s got a profile in the WSJ and a new house with a fruit punch fountain. But with fame comes responsibility: A former member of his Vlog Squad recently spoke out about a sexual assault. 

Read: 

• Morning Brew staffers put together a list of book recommendations for Black History Month and beyond. I’m starting Caste soon. 
• I’ve sometimes struggled with sharing myself and my work with the world. My friend Elie reveals some incredible strategies to promote yourself without coming across as self-absorbed or braggy. 
• How key design principles translate to an artful desk setup, by Arun Venkatesan (designer and cofounder of Carrot).

Listen:

• On the latest episode of Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead pod, she chats with the cofounders of one of my favorite brands, Siete Family Foods. Listen to the company’s incredible founding story and what they think it takes to build an authentic business.
• With performance review season in full swing (or maybe that’s just the Brew), Mori Taheripour, professor at UPenn’s Wharton School, shares how to ask for a raise. 
• On Monday, Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen released the first two episodes of their podcast, Renegades: Born in the USA. In the first episode, they discuss their 2008 campaign trail meet-cute and why they both felt like outsiders growing up. 

Watch: 

• The K-pop boy band BTS won us all over again with their performance of Coldplay’s “Fix You” on MTV Unplugged. I’m transfixed. 
• Streaming cooking shows is a form of therapy, and I’ve been bingeing Nadiya Bakes on Netflix. I love her carefree nature and how she encourages autonomy: “It’s your dough. Own it.”
• Big news: Morning Brew is now on TikTok. Follow along to become smarter about business and blow off some steam. 

Give your heart the attention it deserves.

Forget Valentine’s Day, February is American Heart Month—and it just got a whole lot sexier. 

Make your ex-blood pressure monitor jealous with the Withings BPM Connect.

This FDA-cleared medical device is the smartest way to manage your blood pressure and heart rate right at home.

A few features that can’t be beat:

• Automatic wi-fi sync to track trends on your phone 
• Color-coded feedback for hypertension
• Six-month battery life, and rechargeable

You can even share the data with your doc with a few taps on your smartphone. 

Spice up your blood pressure monitoring with BPM Connect. 

Try it: 

• Save: Before your kale and spinach wilt away, try this method of squeezing and freezing your greens for easy weeknight dinners. It’s less wasteful, and these veggies work with almost any recipe. 
• Experience: If you miss your office, join me in the Dunder Mifflin conference room for unproductive meetings.
• Learn: This year’s Cherry Bombe Jubilee revolves around culinary icon Julia Child. RSVP for cooking demos, watch parties (Julie and Julia, anyone?), and book clubs. 

Buy it: 

• Whisk: Banana bread had a moment at the start of the pandemic, but it’s a treat that never goes out of style. When I don’t feel like starting from scratch, I love the GoNanas banana bread baking mix. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free. They’re always releasing limited edition flavors, too, so keep your eyes peeled for more. 
• Spread: Dates can kind of be hit or miss, and I’m talking about the fruit. If you’re looking for something sweet but on the natural, healthier side, spoon some Wanna Date? into your açai bowl, baked oatmeal, or chia pudding. The spreads come in five delicious flavors, but my personal rec is cinnamon. 

@christineabroad

I’m adding a visit to Osaka Castle in Japan to my post-Covid bucket list. Follow Christine as she travels around the world and shares travel guides to her favorite destinations. 

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