Send me the link
Send me the link
Melissa Eshaghbeigi, Paul Lawton
A podcast about the things we consume online and our relationship to the world wild web, hosted by Melissa Eshaghbeigi and Paul Lawton, find them online at @eshaghbeigi @pklawton and @closingmytabs
exiting the group chat
In this episode, Melissa and Paul ask: Why is it so hard to leave a group chat? Group chats started as a fun way to stay connected, but now they can feel like digital traps we can’t escape. Melissa and Paul dive into the blurred lines between connection and obligation, exploring how group chats often reflect deeper questions about digital etiquette, boundaries, and our modern desire to stay connected—even when we'd rather check out. Links: The @SubwayTakes video featuring @RachelCoster: https://www.instagram.com/subwaytakes/reel/DAoF2z_OZz5/
Oct 6, 2024
33 min
bratified: the meme-ification of everything
In this wide-ranging conversation, Melissa and Paul discuss the recent "bratification" of Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign and its implications for politics, internet culture, and democracy. They explore how memes and social media are shaping political discourse, the challenges of media literacy in the age of AI, and concerns about the digital divide. The hosts reflect on generational differences in online engagement, the power of mobilizing real-world action, and the need for reimagining political systems. Throughout, they grapple with feelings of hope and skepticism about technology's role in social change. This thought-provoking discussion touches on everything from Charlie XCX to Mark Fisher as it examines the intersection of pop culture, politics, and digital media in 2024. https://x.com/annastewartcnn/status/1815843947249557923 https://x.com/jdgtranen/status/1815504638851899692 https://x.com/gladstoned420/status/1815466962140680533?s=10 https://x.com/julesterpak/status/1815444787375599814 https://www.tiktok.com/@flextillerson/video/7388373417835121962?_r=1&_t=8oLQ3yQlS4s https://www.tiktok.com/@todarrensworld/video/7394559568250162478?_r=1&_t=8oLPtGqJ9rZ https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-president-black-women-support-bdd0ba0a19697c7cd2f183773e97aa6e#:~:text=(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Four%20years%20ago,her%20brand%2Dnew%20presidential%20campaign https://www.thecut.com/article/white-women-kamala-harris-zoom-call.html
Jul 31, 2024
58 min
the overexposure of our personal lives
Questioning the balance between living in the moment and the digital urge to document everything. Closing My Tabs on Freya India's substack article "You don't need to document everything."
Jan 29, 2024
6 min
I am starting to regret my wifi tattoo
And we're back. Well. Melissa is. New year, new intentions, same ragrets. A little moment of reflection as we enter the new year. I and everyone around me, we're all just, like, realizing things.
Jan 3, 2024
12 min
social media is in its flop era
Hello hello after a little time off we are back and discussing...everything. In this episode, Melissa and Paul chat through the current state of social and discuss everything from Threads to the writer's strike to how Canadians will no longer have access to news content on Facebook and Instagram. Gang gang! Ice cream! What a time to be alive! Links for clicking Canadians will no longer have access to news content on Facebook and Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Kl9vGY Move fast and beat Musk: The inside story of how Meta built Threads: https://bit.ly/3Qi83Ji Jonah Hill’s Alleged Text Messages: https://bit.ly/3OiXl2H
Jul 31, 2023
57 min
tiktok is melting my brain: problematic social media use
Are we depressed or are we too online? In this episode, Melissa and Paul get real about their complicated relationship with social media. They discuss PSMU (problematic social media use) and challenge themselves to climb out of the deep dark algorithmic rabbit role they've made careers out of. Mindfulness! Digital Detoxes! Mental Wellbeing! It's healing season, baby.
Apr 11, 2023
34 min
live, laugh, LinkedIn: why the culture of LinkedIn sucks
In this episode of "Send Me the Link," PK Lawton and Melissa Eshaghbeigi explore the world of LinkedIn, examining its benefits and drawbacks as well as any potential risks. They draw attention to the platform's problematic culture, which is disproportionately geared toward men and does not take racial or gender identity into account. By showing examples of the "worst of LinkedIn," they show how harassment and misreading of signals can happen. The podcast also critiques the lack of critical analysis of LinkedIn culture, leading to potentially negative consequences. Join them as they navigate the complexities of professional networking on LinkedIn.
Mar 13, 2023
28 min
#corecore: content & catharsis
In this episode, Paul introduces Melissa to #corecore, a mixed media trend born on TikTok. The videos that fall under this hashtag are rich texts and perhaps the most zeitgeist-y thing we've come across yet. #corecore is a true artifact of our time. Watch: -https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYN5kD6M/ Read: - https://time.com/6248637/corecore-tiktok-aesthetic/
Jan 30, 2023
36 min
so, what's this podcast about?
Hi! We are Melissa Eshaghbeigi and Paul Lawton, and we like the Internet, a lot. 
Dec 30, 2020
13 min