• Vox Media laid off at least 12 staffers at Vox.com, the company's second round of cuts in about a month.
• The company also announced new duties for its top leaders.
• Vox Media faces challenges as digital advertisers move toward Big Tech platforms over news sites.

Vox Media laid off staff on Thursday for the second time in just over a month, this time at its general news site Vox.com.

Vox Media didn't specify the number of people let go but said several teams were impacted in what was a "difficult but necessary step as the industry evolves." The Writers Guild of America East, which represents the Vox newsroom, said the layoffs included 12 of its members. As of 2022, the Vox Media Union had 360 members across Vox Media sites.

Vox also announced a raft of C-suite leadership changes Wednesday. Pam Wasserstein was named copresident and vice chair of Vox Media. She'll continue to oversee New York, Vox, and Vox Media Studios. Revenue head Ryan Pauley was also named copresident, adding oversight for the lifestyle brands and the podcast business and production.

"These changes will create clearer focus, faster decision making, and increased executive capacity for tackling larger strategic questions," Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff wrote in a company email viewed by Business Insider. "This is particularly important given our complex, multi-brand environment."

In December, Vox laid off staff at its lifestyle titles Thrillist, PS (formerly Pop Sugar), and Eater and said that Thrillist would be operated by Eater going forward.

At the time, Bankoff said the company would focus on areas where it saw the most opportunity, including building direct audiences and its Vox Media Podcast Network. Vox Media also recently put its tech-focused property, The Verge, behind a paywall.

Vox Media grew out of the boom in digital media, raising more than $400 million from investors, including NBCUniversal General Atlantic. It styled itself as the Condé Nast of digital, with a collection of websites devoted to news and lifestyle topics. Its last funding round was in 2023 when it raised $100 million from Penske Media in a deal that made Penske the biggest shareholder with 20%, The New York Times reported.

As investor interest in digital media soured, Vox Media rolled up other properties including New York magazine, Group Nine Media, and NowThis, which it later spun off. Vox.com, the site of the most recent layoffs, focuses on news and politics.

Vox Media, along with many of its digital-media contemporaries, has faced challenges as digital advertisers flock to Big Tech platforms.

• One of the hardest years ever for hopeful homebuyers is officially in the books.
• Property sales were weighed down once again by restrictive mortgage rates.
• Here's why millennials and Gen Zers made the right call by not buying, and what will change in 2025.

Young would-be homebuyers largely put off their purchases last year, and for good reason.

Lofty prices and elevated mortgage rates made 2024 an unusually tough year for all buyers, but they were especially formidable obstacles for those who weren't already homeowners.

First-time buyers only accounted for 24% of US home purchases last year, a new report from Realtor.com found. That's the lowest rate since at least 1981, researchers noted on January 9, even though home affordability has improved significantly from its late-2023 lows.

Millions of millennials and Gen Zers hoping to buy homes and were shut out last year weren't alone.

Housing market transactions underwhelmed for a third straight year during a stalemate between aspiring buyers and sellers. Home prices drifted down in late 2024, but not enough for some buyers to feel like they were getting good value, given where mortgage rates were. And owners held out for renewed price growth since they didn't want to sell for less than their neighbors did.

"Prices have been so sticky; they just stay where they are," said Joel Berner, an economic researcher at Realtor.com who co-authored the report with Danielle Hale, in a recent interview. "People have seen the house down the street a couple of years ago sold for $700,000. Why would I list mine for $600,000?"

Some housing market analysts think property prices will get a second wind, likely starting in the busier spring and summer months. Realtor.com's official forecast is for 3.7% price growth, though that's way slower than a few years ago. And in some markets, prices could keep falling.

"It takes time for people to adjust to the new normal, and so prices are finally starting to drop," Berner said.

Why not buying a home paid off last year

Although buying a house and building equity is a worthy aim, many young Americans may end up glad that they waited to sign on the dotted line.

Mortgage rates remained a major headache last year, even though they were below their peak. The Federal Reserve's plan to cut interest rates more slowly may keep many iced out of the market, though the consensus among real-estate observers is that borrowing costs will still fall.

In the meantime, those who've opted for apartments likely aren't breaking the bank. Rent growth has stagnated as inflation remained below 3%, and Realtor.com's research shows that rent has fallen for the last 16 months. Whether rent was flat or down, there was little rush to buy.

"Rents have been so soft in the last year that people look around and they say, 'Why would I pay a $3,000 mortgage payment when I can rent the same place for $1,500?'" Berner said.

It makes sense that young renters were reluctant to swap their reasonably priced leases for exorbitant mortgages, especially if there weren't many attractive options available. Home inventory has long been limited and is only now returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Steadily rising home supply is one of the healthiest signs possible for the housing market. While Berner said this isn't a buyer's market quite yet, improved inventory could send it that way.

Opportunities abound for young buyers

While millions are looking for homes, Hale and Berner focused their report on younger buyers, specifically those born in the 1990s who were between the ages of 25 and 34 last year.

Those younger millennials and older Gen Zers may want to start their search on the East Coast, which is home to most of the 10 best cities for first-time buyers, according to Realtor.com.

Their methodology is based on factors like home prices, the local economy, and price growth history. The typical home in each of these markets is below the US median of $416,880 and is also considered affordable, meaning monthly payments are less than 30% of a buyer's income.

Three of these top markets for 25- to 34-year-olds are in Florida, two are in Western New York, and three others are in the Mid-Atlantic region. Only one city cited by Realtor.com was west of the Mississippi River: North Little Rock, Arkansas.

"These larger, Eastern, older communities have a lot of things to offer," Berner said of the list. "They're well established; there's a lot of infrastructure, a lot of restaurants, a lot of daycares, etc. And the listing prices are pretty soft out there. So it's just kind of a good mix."

What's even more fascinating is which markets didn't make the list. So-called "Zoomtowns" that were trendy during the pandemic were absent, as were highly popular cities in Sun Belt states like North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Cities in California didn't come closer either.

Some of the hottest markets in recent years ranked well in previous renditions of this report, Berner said. If history repeats, young buyers who settle down in cities on this year's list will be glad they did since they'll see price appreciation in the years to come. And they also might be grateful that they didn't get suckered into a subpar deal last year.

"People saw the previous ones and they said, 'These are really good places to buy,' went and bought, and then those listing prices were up," Berner said. "We're kind of chasing our tail a little bit with things, trying to stay ahead of the market. And so it wouldn't surprise me next year if the list looks a whole lot different."

• Russian glide-bomb attacks against Ukraine are down compared to a few months ago.
• Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian airfields and ammunition depots helped to reduce the threat.
• A Ukrainian soldier on the southern front said attacks are down by 70 percent compared to months ago.

Russia is carrying out fewer glide-bomb attacks on Ukraine compared to a few months ago, but the highly destructive weapons are still a severe threat to soldiers and civilians.

Factors behind the recent decrease in bombing runs include a string of Ukrainian drone strikes on airbases and ammunition storage facilities inside Russia during the summer and fall. Kyiv's forces are also getting better at defending against the glide bombs.

Russian aircraft have launched glide bombs at Ukraine throughout much of the war. The weapons are equipped with special kits converting dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions. They are quite difficult to intercept because they fly on non-ballistic trajectories, have small radar signatures, and have fairly short flight times.

Glide bombs come in various sizes, but among the larger is one weighing over 6,000 pounds that delivers tremendous destruction on impact.

A Ukrainian soldier fighting on the front lines in the south told Business Insider that glide bombs cause a lot of problems, but there has been a significant decrease in attacks since the summer.

Yuriy, a major in an electronic warfare unit of the Ukrainian National Guard, said that in his sector of the front, Russia has reduced the number of its attacks by around 70 percent compared to the summer.

He attributed the decrease to Ukraine's long-range strike campaign inside Russia. He also suggested that the presence of F-16 fighter jets, which made their combat debut for Kyiv last August, might be making Russian pilots hesitant to fly too close to the border.

The only way really for Ukraine to defeat glide bombs is to either shoot down the warplane before it releases the munition or strike the aircraft on the ground at its base. They can also destroy the ammunition stores.

During the summer and fall, Ukraine used domestically produced drones to carry out a string of high-profile attacks on Russian storage facilities where glide bombs were kept and airfields where the warplanes carrying them were based.

Ukraine has also benefitted from the Biden administration's decision to lift restrictions on Kyiv's use of American-made tactical ballistic missiles, known as ATACMS, in cross-border strikes. Ukrainian officials long argued more freedom in this space would allow them to threaten Russian airfields and reduce glide-bomb attacks.

Yehor Chernev, the deputy chairman of Ukraine's parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, explained to BI that Kyiv's strikes on the airfields forced Russia to move its tactical aviation deeper into the country and away from the front lines.

This campaign has led to a decrease in sortie rate — how often Russia can get its warplanes in the air to conduct the bombing missions — and has increased the detection time that Ukrainian forces have since the aircraft are approaching from farther out.

Chernev said that Ukraine has also been chipping away at the number of glide bombs in Russia's arsenal by targeting its ammunition depots.

But these strikes aren't a "magic tool," he said. The Russians can always build another storage depot to replace one that has been destroyed. Chernev said that while glide-bomb attacks are ultimately down, "it's still a problem for us because we cannot intercept these guided bombs."

Ukraine can, however, take actions short of interception. George Barros, the geospatial-intelligence team lead and a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told BI that Ukraine has gotten better at using electronic warfare to interfere with the Russian glide bombs, reducing their efficacy.

On the front lines in the eastern Donetsk region, Barros said that he's observed a correlation between the decrease in the glide-bomb attacks and the rate of Russian advances, which have slowed over the past month or two.

"The Russian forces there are very tired and very much attrited," he said, acknowledging that as a contributing factor.

But hindrances impacting Russia's ability to drop glide bombs on Ukraine, coupled with the decreased effectiveness of these weapons, "also tracks with the observation of the Russian rate of infantry advance," given that Moscow uses these munitions to support its ground forces, Barros said, adding that "these all sort of align in a mutually supporting way."

He emphasized that to prevent the glide-bomb threat from reemerging, the US and NATO need to continue arming Ukraine with long-range missiles so it can keep the pressure on Russia's airbases.

Despite an overall decrease in glide-bomb strikes, these weapons are still causing death and destruction across Ukraine. On Wednesday, Russia attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia with two munitions, killing over a dozen people and injuring more than 30, authorities said.

"This shows once again what Russia truly seeks," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said later that evening. "They want only war, and only victims."

• In "Squid Game," people who are in debt compete for money in survival contests inspired by children's games.

• Both seasons have had a high death count.
• Here are the most shocking deaths ranked

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Squid Game" seasons one and two.

"Squid Game" is Netflix's biggest success — and it has a pretty high death toll, at over 700 in two seasons. 

 The story of characters in debt competing, and often dying, in gratuitously violent games inspired by children's games to win money had viewers hooked from its premiere in 2021, and quickly became Netflix's most-watched show of all time.

Season two is equally violent and has beat Netflix's record for the TV series with the most views in its first week on the platform.

Season two follows Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he competes in the survival competition for a second time after winning the contest in season one. 

This time, Gi-hun tries to shut down the games for good but is unable to stop more people getting killed.

Here are the most significant deaths from the first two seasons of "Squid Game," ranked from least to most shocking.

19. Byeong-gi

Contestant 111, Byeong-gi (Yoo Seong-ju), is a doctor who tries to survive by forming a pact with the game's guards, offering his surgical skills so that they can harvest the organs of the other players in exchange for information about the upcoming game.

In episode five, the guards aren't told what the next game is, so Byeong-gi panics, kills some guards to escape, and is eventually trapped and killed by the Frontman (Lee Byung-hun), the mastermind of the games.

In the next episode, his body and the bodies of the guards who worked with him are hung in the center of the game as a message to the remaining players.

18. Park Gyeong-seok

In the season two finale, Gi-hun leads a rebellion against the games, stealing the guards' guns and storming through the game building to get to the command center.

Player 246, Gyeong-seok (Lee Jin-uk), who is competing to raise money for his sick daughter, joins the charge but the guards overpower the rebels and kill him.

Although his death is tragic, we do not learn enough about Gyeong-seok for his death to be more shocking than others on this list.

17. Jang Deok-su

From stealing food, leaving a woman to die after having sex with her, to being the first to kill a contestant outside a game, Jang Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae) is an undeniably unlikable character. 

Karma finally catches up with him in episode seven when Han Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryung), Deok-su's brief lover, throws them onto a brittle platform in the glass bridge challenge as an act of revenge. They fall to their deaths together.

16. Oh Il-nam

Oh Il-nam (Oh Yeong-su) fakes his death during the marbles game in season one, which was much more hard-hitting than his real death in the season one finale.

During this challenge, he pairs up with the show's protagonist, Seong Gi-hun, and discovers that only one person can proceed to the next stage. But instead of playing marbles with Gi-hun, Il-nam seems to hallucinate and wander off.

Gi-hun chases after Il-nam, and, in an out-of-character moment, cheats once they finally play the game.

Il-nam reveals that he knows Gi-hun is cheating but still allows him to progress in the games so he can live a full life. At the time, the pair share an emotional goodbye, like a farewell between a parent and child.

Of course, after Il-nam reveals he is the creator of the games and faked his death in the season finale, the gut-punch of the marbles scene lessens somewhat.

15. The 13 people who died during the glass bridge game

The glass bridge challenge in season one is by far one of the most shocking games.

While the other challenges can be won by skill, intelligence, or strength, the glass round is solely based on luck. 

Players cross a bridge made up of two columns of identical glass platforms. One of the platforms is stable, allowing the players to cross the bridge, while the other will break immediately, leading to a long fall to their deaths.

Only three of the 16 players survive, and the final death is the most brutal. Close to the end, player 017 (Lee Sang-hee) reveals he is a glassmaker who can tell the difference between the platforms. But when the lights are switched off, he struggles to figure out which platform is the right one.

With time running out, Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) ruthlessly pushes the glassmaker onto one of the glass platforms, which turns out to be the unsafe one.

14. Mr. Kim

In season two, Gi-hun hires Mr Kim (Kim Pub-lae), his former creditor, to help him track down the man who recruited him to participate in the games in season one.

Mr Kim and his young underling Woo-seok (Jeon Seok-ho) succeed in finding the Recruiter (Gong Yoo), but he surprises them and knocks them out.

When they wake up, the Recruiter forces them to play a game combining the rules of Rock, Paper, and Scissors with Russian Roulette. Mr. Kim purposely loses the game so Woo-seok can live, and the Recruiter shoots him.

Once Mr Kim is captured, it is pretty clear he will die, but it's heartening that his last act is protecting Woo-seok rather than selling him out.

13. Se-mi

Se-mi (Won Ji-an) stands up against the season two bullies Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun) and his sidekick Nam-gyu (Roh Jae-won) to defend a shy man called Min-su (Lee David).

But this backfires during the riot in the season two finale. Nam-gyu corners Se-mi, but Min-su, who is hiding above them, is too scared to save her. Nam-gyu then stabs Se-mi multiple times with a fork, in an undeservedly cruel death.

12. The Recruiter

The opening episode of season two shows that the Recruiter is as sadistic as his employers, as he toys with homeless people and tortures Mr. Kim and Woo-seok.

In the last scene of the episode, the Recruiter confronts Gi-hun, and they play a game of Russian Roulette. 

Gi-hun wins, and the Recruiter, without flinching, shoots himself.

10. Player 196

Player 196 (Song Ji-woo) is one of the multiple characters who gets a substantial amount of screentime in season two, episode three when they enter the games. So it seemed like she was going to be one of the season's main players.

That notion goes out the window during the first game, Red Light, Green Light. After feeling a bee on her neck, she moves when she is supposed to be still and is shot in the head.

It is a reminder that this is "Squid Game," and no character is truly safe.

11. Players 069 and 070

The only thing we know about players 069 (Kim Yun-tae) and 070 (Lee Ji-ha) is that they are married, which makes episode six's plot twist so cruel. The players are asked to get into pairs, but only after they've done so are they told they will have to compete against each other to move onto the next stage. 

No. 69 dies by suicide the night after the game, feeling guilty about his wife's death.

9. Ali Abdul

Abdul Ali (Anupam Tripathi), a migrant worker from Pakistan, is a season one fan-favorite because he is kind to all the other players.

This allows him to form useful alliances but also leads to his demise during the marbles game. Ali pairs up with Sang-woo, whom he sees as a close friend, and tries to play fairly.

But Sang-woo tricks Ali into dropping the marbles needed to progress in the games and gives him a bag of rocks instead. Ali doesn't realize he has been fooled until time runs out to save himself, and he is shot by a guard.

Although his death was tragic, it was always clear Ali was not cut out for the competition.

Park Jung-bae

Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), a former marine and Gi-hun's friend from outside the game, joins in with the rebellion in the season two finale.

Jung-bae and Gi-hun eventually have to surrender when they are cornered by the guards. The Frontman then appears with a gun, and it appears he plans to kill Gi-hun.

He then turns and shoots Jung-bae dead as a lesson to Gi-hun.

The saddest part about Jung-bae's death is that he never finds out that the Frontman was his former ally. In season two, the Frontman poses as a player to keep his eye on Gi-hun and eventually sabotage the rebellion. When the Frontman shoots Jung-bae, he is wearing a mask to hide his identity.

7. Ji-yeong

After forming a bond with Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) in previous episodes, Ji-yeong (Yuuki Luna) is forced to battle against her during the marbles challenge.

But instead of fighting, the pair decide to talk about their life story and why they entered the games.

After hearing that Sae-byeok is competing to raise money to save her mother from North Korea and reunite her family, Ji-yeong decides to surrender so Sae-byeok can continue competing.

Ji-yeong's death is made even more tragic by the fact that Sae-byeok doesn't win, so the sacrifice was for nothing. 

6. Cho Sang-woo

The creators and organizers of the competition are the villains of the show, but Sang-woo is a close second.

Sang-woo is determined to win at all costs in season one, sacrificing several people so he can proceed. Sang-woo reaches the final but is beaten by Gi-hun in a battle of Squid Game.

Gi-hun then offers Sang-woo a chance to quit so they both have the chance to survive. But Sang-woo chooses to lethally stab himself so Gi-hun can win the money.

It's not shocking that Sang-woo died, but that even in the end, he chose money over life.

5. Gi-hun's mom

After fighting for his life in six brutal challenges to raise money for his mother's (Kim Young-ok) medical bills to treat her diabetes, Gi-hun returns home to find her dead.

We don't know much about her but her death makes Gi-hun's efforts in the games pointless. He goes through that entire trial but is not able to save a single loved one.

4. Thanos

Thanos, the callous, self-obsessed bully of season two, is killed by another player during a riot in the male bathrooms in the season two finale.

Sure, Thanos does deserve to be punished at some point for the way he harassed and harmed other players. And yes, he causes the circumstances of his own death by inciting the riot and bullying his eventual killer, Lee Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan).

But at the same time, Thanos is a really entertaining villain, and it's surprising he is killed so soon, leaving a major villain gap for the third season.

3. Young-mi

Young-mi (Kim Si-eun) is another player who is not cut out to survive the games' brutality, but she seemed to have the potential to get a little further in the show.

She is introduced just before the Six-Legged Pentathlon game, forming a team with Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) and a few other major characters. Most members of this team become really close after surviving this challenge, and Hyun-ju and Young-mi, in particular, form a familial bond.

But during the next challenge, the Mingle game, Young-mi gets knocked and pushed outside the safe zone. In a heartbreaking moment, Young-mi is shot and killed right in front of Hyun-ju.

Justice for Young-mi!

2. The 255 people who died in the Red Light, Green Light game in season one

By the end of season one, viewers may feel numb to the show's violence, but the brutality of the competition is not made apparent until the first games.

More than half of the contestants in the competition die in Red Light, Green Light alone, where they are shot by hidden snipers if they are caught moving by a giant rotating doll. It is nothing short of a massacre in seconds, and only 201 out of 456 contestants survive.

It makes it clear from the start that there will be no trickery or bargaining in this competition — if you lose, you die.

Thankfully, in season two, Gi-hun instructs the players on how to beat the game so fewer die.

1. Kang Sae-byeok

While Gi-hun is the protagonist, Sae-byeok is one of the characters with the most moving story and arguably most deserving of the money. 

She is a North Korean defector who needs the money to look after her younger brother and bring her mother to South Korea. Though she has a hard exterior, she goes out of her way to help other vulnerable people, even stopping Gi-hun from killing Sang-woo when he is sleeping.

Jung Ho-yeon, who plays Kang Sae-byeok, told The Times in 2021 that her role taught her to have "faith in humanity" because Sae-byeok is so caring to her family.

But the cards were not in her favor. After the glass bridge game, the remaining glass platforms are blown up, and a shard of glass hits her stomach.

During the night after the game, Sang-woo kills Sae-byeok after she passes out due to the injury.

Kang Sae-byeok's death makes it clear that only one player is making it alive out in season one.

• Cover Corp, a top virtual influencer company, is expanding its business in the US.
• Its creators, known as VTubers, use digital avatars and are gaining popularity on YouTube.
• The company is using sold-out live events and collaborations with traditional media to grow abroad.

Japan-based Cover Corporation is betting on the US as the next big market for growing its virtual anime-style influencer fan base.

The company manages creators who use technology to appear in videos and other online posts as digital avatars, often resembling anime characters. These influencers are most popular on YouTube. The VTubers, as they're known, typically livestream. Many make music or play games.

Their popularity is small but on the rise. From January 2023 to June 2023, VTubers comprised 1.4% of the active YouTube live gaming community but captured 9.6% of all viewer hours, according to data from the game-marketing platform GameSight. VTuber viewership increased by 28% during the period, while that of other gaming creators on YouTube Live fell by 6%.

Cover is one of several companies that exclusively work with VTubers to expand their businesses. Its agency division, Hololive Production, manages VTubers in Japan, Indonesia, and English-speaking countries, which have been a major area of expansion for the company since 2023.

Last year, Cover opened an office in Los Angeles through its first overseas subsidiary.

Hololive's popular VTubers in the US include Mori Calliope (2.49 million YouTube subscribers) and Nerissa Ravencroft (805,000 YouTube subscribers). Globally, its talent includes some of the most-watched and subscribed VTuber channels on YouTube.

The company's international expansion has helped boost revenue and earnings. Cover's revenue rose 50% year over year to 10,688 million yen ($67.6 million) during its last reported quarter, which ended in October. It posted a profit of 1,500 million yen during the period.

Motoaki Tanigo, CEO of Cover, spoke to Business Insider in an interview conducted through translators. In 2025, he said the company plans to focus on gaming collaborations, pop-up shops, and live events like concerts to grow its business in the US.

Hololive collaborated last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers on exclusive merchandise, for instance. VTuber Gawr Gura (4.5 million YouTube subscribers) also sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" on screens throughout the stadium.

Inside the business model of a top VTuber company

While Hololive primarily manages livestreamers, several of the company's creators sing and make their own music. That has opened up avenues for revenue and growth.

Mori Calliope, for instance, is scheduled to headline a solo concert in February in Los Angeles. Hololive's VTuber talent uses 3D technology to bring its digital avatars to the stage.

Tanigo said music is one of the top ways its talent reaches new audiences.

In 2023, Cover held a concert at the 6,000-seat YouTube Theater in LA, which sold out in 30 minutes, the company said. Its August concert at the Kings Theater in New York, another 6,000-seat venue, sold out in 10 minutes.

"The popularity of these events proves that North American audiences have a tremendous appetite for VTuber content," Tanigo said. "Our goal is to elevate VTubers alongside popular Japanese exports like manga, anime, and games."

Cover's top revenue drivers are merchandise, such as made-to-order items and a collectible card game; streaming revenue from super chats and channel memberships; concerts and live events; and licensing and collaborations, per its earnings report. Licensing and collaborations was the fastest-growing segment.

Hololive's international expansion

In 2025, the company is making a behind-the-scenes shift that it hopes will make its VTubers more engaging.

Until now, Hololive's VTuber models had been created through the gaming software Unity. Tanigo said the company is switching to another platform, Unreal Engine, which it believes will create "better quality" models.

The company is also working on finding better ways to sell tickets to and improve its in-person events. Tanigo said he'd love to see a function on YouTube or Twitch for ticket sales and better real-time translation for live videos, for example.

Hololive's international expansion has faced roadblocks.

Tanigo said the company has struggled with music copyright outside Japan, including getting the rights for talent to cover a song.

One of his priorities for the year ahead is to make inroads into traditional US media.

In Japan, the company has placed its talent on TV shows and other traditional media spots, and the team is working on animation projects based on its talent.

"We'd like to have that opportunity in the US as well and try to have more exposure in a TV show and different types of mediums," Tanigo said.

• The Palisades and Eaton fires have razed thousands of homes and burned tens of thousands of acres.
• Some buildings have survived, though, like the Getty Villa art museum in Pacific Palisades.
• The Villa is not your average home, but homeowners can learn from what Getty staff have been doing all year.

As the Palisades and Eaton fires burned through thousands of acres on Tuesday, razing nearly 2,000 homes, the iconic Getty Villa remained standing with minor damage. Meanwhile, homes and trees around it went up in flames.

"We deeply appreciate the tireless work and dedication of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and other agencies," the museum said in a statement Wednesday morning.

The Getty Villa is part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which includes the largest endowment of any museum in the world, estimated at more than $8 billion in 2023. It houses the trust's collection of Ancient Greek and Roman art.

Fire departments used "state-of-the-art air handling systems" to help protect the building, Katherine E. Fleming, the president and CEO of the Getty Trust, told USA Today.

Moreover, builders designed the galleries with double-walled construction, which also helped protect the precious art inside.

However, it wasn't just expensive architecture and state-of-the-art firefighting that helped. Getty staff have been consistently clearing brush from the surrounding area all year as part of its fire-mitigation efforts, the museum said.

That's a crucial lesson for homeowners in fire-risk areas.

Yard work to save your home

The Palisades fire has become the most destructive ever to hit Los Angeles, CNN reported, citing CalFire data.

The fire has been fueled by an explosion of grasses and brush that grew abundant over the past two winters, which were rainier than usual. But with drought conditions over the past few months, that brush dried out, becoming kindling for the fast-moving blazes.

To mitigate the risk of fire, cities, fire departments, and community members can clear dried grasslands around residential areas.

Individual homeowners can also protect their properties by clearing a 5-foot perimeter around their houses and removing flammable materials like ornamental plants, bark mulch, or deck furniture.

"This is an urban fire. We're burning urban fuels," said Pat Durland, a wildfire-mitigation specialist and instructor for the National Fire Protection Association with 30 years of federal wildfire management experience.

Keeping gutters and roofs clear can also prevent spot ignitions that can send entire structures up in flames.

"People believe that they're helpless," Durland told Business Insider in 2023. But that's not the case, he said. "Nine out of 10 times, this boils down to two words: yard work."

Homeowners can also install noncombustible, 1/8-inch mesh screening on any vents to a crawl space or attic to prevent embers from entering the home that way.

"You are where the rubber meets the road. The things you do on your house and around your house are going to make the difference," Durland said.

• Kate Middleton became the Princess of Wales in September 2022.
• She's shown off different facets of her style while taking on new royal responsibilities. 
• Kate has embraced pantsuits, and for her two public appearances in 2024, she wore chic dresses. 

Kate Middleton became the Princess of Wales after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022. 

The mom of three, who celebrated her 43rd birthday on Thursday, has had fun with her fashion since her title changed, showing off a sleeker side of her style.

Following her abdominal surgery and chemotherapy treatment in 2024, Kate made a handful of appearances, and her recent royal looks seemed to blend the best of royal tradition with modern trends.

Business Insider looked back at some of the best ensembles Kate has worn since becoming the Princess of Wales. 

Ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in September 2022, Kate Middleton and Prince William met with troops who were set to participate.

Middleton wore a black, military-esque coat by Catherine Walker with buttons down its bodice and epaulettes on its shoulders.

She completed the look with a black hat, semi-sheer tights, leather heels, and the late Queen's pearl earrings from her Silver Jubilee.

In December 2022, Kate attended the Christmas Day Service at St. Mary Magdalene Church while wearing a navy-green ensemble.

Her Alexander McQueen coat had a high neckline, multiple pockets, and a long pleated skirt.

She wore it with a handful of accessories in rich tones and textured fabrics, like dark velvet boots, brown leather gloves, and a green, wide-brimmed hat adorned with ribbon.

She also visited Boston, Massachusetts, that month, and showed the more colorful side of her wardrobe.

She wore a burgundy pantsuit designed by Roland Mouret with matching pumps and a baby-pink blouse. The shirt's long bow added a feminine flair to her outfit.

To kick off 2023, Kate and her husband wore matching red pieces for a Royal Foundation Centre event.

The Prince of Wales wore a blue suit with a red tie, which matched Kate's vibrant red suit.

Alexander McQueen designed her asymmetrical blazer and pleated pants, which she wore with red heels, a matching clutch, and geometric earrings from Chalk.

For the Wales versus England Six Nations rugby game in February 2023, Kate wore a coat that featured the colors of both teams.

Her houndstooth-print Catherine Walker coat was red and white, mirroring the colors of both rugby teams.

The BBC reported that, on the day of the match, the Prince of Wales described his wife's attire as "diplomatic," though she was rooting for England. Her team went on to win the game.

For the Commonwealth Day Service in March 2023, Kate wore a printed set with lots of flair.

Designed by Erdem, her navy-blue outfit included a fitted blazer top with peplum detailing at the waist, and a mermaid-style skirt that flared just above her ankles.

She wore the outfit with velvet pumps and a wide hat.

Kate subverted expectations by wearing teal to the St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in March 2023.

Rather than wearing true green as most do on St. Patrick's Day, the Princess of Wales opted for a Catherine Walker coatdress in a shade of teal often referred to as "St. Patrick's Blue," as People reported.

The color also matched the plumes the 1st Battalion of Irish Guards wore in their hats. It was a fitting choice for Kate as she inherited the title of Colonel of the battalion from William in December 2022.

She paired the look with coordinating shoes from Gianvito Rossi and a hat designed by Jane Taylor London.

Kate's blue ensemble for an Easter service at St. George's Chapel in April 2023 coordinated with her family members' looks.

The Waleses marked the full family appearance with coordinating blue ensembles, and Kate chose another Catherine Walker coatdress for the occasion. It had a two-toned lapel and pocket detailing.

A matching hat and nude heels tied the look together.

The Princess of Wales chose a more relaxed look for a visit to the charity the Anna Freud Centre in May 2023.

Kate's emerald dress was designed by Suzannah London. She wore it with white-and-black shoes from Alessandra Rich.

The gown's detailing and slightly puffy sleeves created a more relaxed but still professional look.

Kate put a royal spin on the sheer fabric trend with her dress for a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023.

Designed by Elie Saab, the powder-blue dress had a sheer overlay and was covered in velvet embellishments.

An oversize bow sat on her neck, and a coordinating hat with a large flower completed the ensemble.

Even better, the look was recycled. Kate previously wore it to the 2019 Royal Ascot.

The princess popped in polka dots while opening Hope Street, a residential space for women in Southampton, in June 2023.

Puffy sleeves and a ruffled neckline gave the navy polka-dot dress from Alessandra Rich a feminine feel. 

She paired the look with a white clutch and black-and-white heels.

The pink dress Kate wore to officially open the Young V&A at V&A Museum of Childhood in June 2023 was perfect for the summer of "Barbie."

First worn by the princess to Wimbledon in 2021, the Beulah London dress had short sleeves. Buttons lined the bodice, and it belted at the waist.

White shoes accented the summery outfit, just one of the pink looks she wore over the summer.

Kate showed off her penchant for polka dots at The Order of The Garter service at St. George's Chapel in June 2023.

The white dress was designed by her go-to designer, Alessandra Rich. Polka dots covered the form-fitting, long-sleeved dress, which cinched at the waist.

A black hat with polka-dot feathering and black-and-white shoes completed the ensemble.

Kate also showed off her curtsying skills at the event.

She embraced a more casual side of her style at the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup in July 2023.

Kate chose another Beulah London dress for the polo game, which William played in, this time in pale blue.

The long-sleeve dress flowed to Kate's ankles, and it was covered in stripes of floral print. 

She paired it with nude heels.

Kate's lime-green dress for Wimbledon 2023 felt playful and fresh.

The dress from Self-Portrait had a shirt-like bodice, with a collar, large buttons down the center, and pocket detailing.

It cinched at the waist with a belt, creating a peplum silhouette, while the ruched skirt flowed to Kate's ankles.

She paired the dress with a purple brooch and nude heels.

Kate embraced a power suit in September 2023.

Kate wore a green suit from Burberry to visit the textile company, AW Hainsworth.

The jacket was slim-fitted while the pants were slightly wider, giving her a long look. A white blouse and gold jewelry completed the professional ensemble. 

The princess wore a chic sweater set to visit Nottingham Trent University in October 2023.

The cream ensemble was designed by Sézane, consisting of a sweater with button detailing on the sleeves and a pencil skirt.

The sweater material of the ensemble made it feel perfect for fall. Kate paired the effortless ensemble with cream shoes and a matching purse. 

A casual jacket and jeans was a nice change of pace for Kate in October 2023.

During a visit to Moray, Scotland, Kate paired a checked Burberry jacket with flared jeans and boots, and she added a red flower to her lapel.

Her jacket subtly matched William's green outerwear, and the pattern was the perfect fit for a visit to Scotland. 

Kate chose a red coatdress with a statement bow for a state visit at the end of November 2023.

The princess turned to Catherine Walker for her dress in November, when she was ceremonially welcomed by the president and first lady of the Republic of Korea. 

The red coatdress flowed past her knee, draping over her arms almost like a wrap. An asymmetrical bow on the gown's collar acted as a modern touch, and coordinating red shoes, a red purse, and a red hat tied the look together. 

She attended the "Together at Christmas" celebration with an all-white outfit that looked more Hollywood glam than royal chic in December 2023.

Kate tapped menswear bespoke tailor Chris Kerr for her cream coat, which flowed to her ankles.

She paired the structured coat with a white blouse, matching high-waisted trousers, nude shoes, and a mini-purse. The outfit looked both trendy and timeless. 

Kate made her much-anticipated return to the public eye in June 2024 at Trooping the Colour in a white Jenny Packham outfit.

Jenny Packham designed the knee-length dress Kate donned for Trooping the Colour 2024, which marked her first public appearance of the year. The Princess of Wales announced she was undergoing chemotherapy in March 2024.

The dress was upcycled, as Kate was previously seen wearing it at a luncheon before King Charles' coronation in May 2023. But Packham added a black-and-white bow and altered the belt to give it a second stripe for Trooping the Colour, making it look new.

She paired the dress with a coordinating white hat, pointed-toe heels, and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch on her lapel to highlight her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.

When she made her first solo appearance of the year at Wimbledon in June 2024, Kate wore a purple dress.

Kate attended the men's final of Wimbledon 2024 with Princess Charlotte at her side.

She arrived in a purple dress designed by Safiyaa London. The dress featured cap sleeves, a cinched waist, and a tea-length skirt with pleats. Ruching on the bodice added dynamism to the boatneck bodice, as did a navy brooch shaped like a bow.

Nude shoes and a pair of sunglasses completed the ensemble. 

Kate paired a classic coatdress with modern accessories for the ceremonial welcome of the Amir of the State of Qatar in December 2024.

Alexander McQueen designed the double-breasted burgundy coatdress Kate wore to the ceremony, which was the first she attended in 2024.

Her coordinating hat was from Sahar Millinery, and Kate played up the autumnal vibes of her look with brown gloves, a brown Chanel clutch, and brown knee-high boots from Gianvito Rossi.

She chose pearly jewelry to complete the ensemble, including a four-strand choker Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana both wore in the past.
 

Kate used a scarf to make her outfit for the Christmas walk at Sandringham coordinate with her family members' looks.

The Prince and Princess of Wales participated in the royal family's annual walk through Sandringham on Christmas with their children, and Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte all wore navy ensembles. 

Instead of matching her family, Kate donned an emerald green coat from Alexander McQueen with a matching beret from Gina Foster. She wore black boots and gloves with the look, but the standout accessory of her ensemble was her navy and green tartan scarf, which connected her look to her family members' outfits. 

It complemented Charlotte's look in particular, as Charlotte's blue coat featured a checked pattern.

• LA's Palisades Charter High School was damaged by a wildfire on Tuesday.
• The school has a rich pop culture legacy, with J.J Abrams, Will.i.am, and Forest Whitaker among its alumni.
• "Carrie," "Teen Wolf," "Freaky Friday," and an Olivia Rodrigo music video were filmed on its campus.

A wildfire partially destroyed an iconic Los Angeles high school with A-list alumni, which was used as a set for iconic films including "Freaky Friday" and "Carrie."

According to the California Department of Education, 335 schools closed as numerous fires raged across the greater Los Angeles area, affecting more than 211,000 students.

Palisades Charter High School, which was set to start a new term next week, set on fire on Tuesday evening. Some of the school's athletic facilities and bungalow structures at the back of its campus were burned, The LA Times reported.

A representative for PCHS did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider about the extent of the damage.

Staff members and student athletes who were at the school when the fire broke out were quickly evacuated from the premises, the outlet reported.

The main building is still standing, and PCHS' principal, Pam Magee, told the parents of the approximately 3,000 students that 70% of the campus structures may have survived, the LA Times reported.

The school's website said updates would be provided on a new term date start.

Palisades Charter High School has a rich pop culture legacy

PCHS, which opened in 1961 and became an independent charter school in 2003, has appeared in multiple TV shows and movies.

It was one of the many schools used as a location to represent Bates High School in the original 1976 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel "Carrie." The film received two Oscar nominations and has been referenced many times in movies, TV series, and by musicians.

All the school scenes for 2003's "Freaky Friday," starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, were filmed at PCHS. A sequel is currently in the works and due to premiere in August.

Seasons three to seven of "Teen Wolf," a supernatural teen drama released in the mid-2010s, uses PCHS for the outside shots of Beacon Hills High School. The first two seasons were filmed in Atlanta. The LA Times reported in 2012 that the production moved to LA to take advantage of the tax relief system there.

In 2021, Grammy-winning pop star Olivia Rodrigo recorded part of her "Good 4 U" music video in the school's locker room and sports facilities.

The PCHS website also states that 2012's "Project X," a found-footage teen comedy, was filmed there.

Palisades Charter High School's alums is full of stars

J.J. Abrams, the co-creator of the Emmy-winning show "Lost" and father of newcomer pop star Gracie Abrams, is one of several stars who attended PCHS.

In 2015, Abrams told the community news outlet the Palisadian Post that he based "Star Wars" character Maz Kanata on Rose Gilbert, his former English teacher at PCHS, when he cowrote and directed "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

"We really wanted the story to feel authentic, despite being a wild fantasy. I mentioned Rose in an early story meeting as a sort of timeless, wise figure that I'd actually known in my life," Abrams said of Gilbert, who worked at PCHS for over 50 years and died in 2017 at 95.

Forest Whitaker, another PCHS alum, is an Oscar-winning actor, who has starred in "Black Panther," "Star Wars: Rogue One" and "The Butler."

He began acting in high school, and told Collider in 2020 that he starred in two school musical productions, "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Cabaret."

The Oscar-nominated actor Jennifer Jason Leigh, Whitaker's costar in the 1982 movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," also attended PCHS.

Will.i.am, the seven-time Grammy winning member of the Black Eyed Peas, A. Scott Berg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, and Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, are some of the other successful alums who attended PCHS.

• I started pulling my kids out of school for travel when they were little.
• Traveling out of regular vacation meant I spent less money on tickets and hotels.
• Now that they are in high school, academics and sports are more important.

Growing up, I did not miss school. Maladies like Chickenpox and raging stomach bugs that didn't respond to ginger ale and saltines were the only acceptable reasons for being absent. Vacations were for summer and the occasional Christmas visits to grandparents.

My kids — the youngest two are in high school — have had unarguably cooler traveler experiences. Pulling them out of school to see the world was never the goal; it just sort of happened.

It started with living in Europe while my daughter was in elementary school. I discovered low-budget air carriers with cheap weekday flights from Frankfurt to London. I decided that seeing the crown jewels with our eyes was better than seeing pictures in a book and that missing a few days of third grade wouldn't hurt anything.

Traveling during the school year means extra savings

When my sons were in first grade, I learned I could save a substantial chunk of change by traveling to the Caribbean in early fall instead of late summer. Cruise lines, theme parks, and other vacation spots catering to families charge more in the summer, and I found I could save almost $3,000 by moving my early August cruise to late September. I decided my kids would probably still get into college if they missed a week of first grade. The verdict is still out on that one — they're halfway through their freshman year, but things are looking good.

Offseason vacations are just better. Resorts and flights are less chaotic, and we escaped the really hot part of the summer. Missing school in the elementary years was easy to navigate, and my kids did well with keeping up with their classes. Our travels were usually well-received by teachers, and we worked to keep the communication flowing and stay on everyone's good side, although sometimes only just. Our district policy allows up to nine unexcused absences per semester — anything above that, and we'd have to make our case to the administration.

We were close to the limit on the number of absences a couple of times but never hit the magic number nine.

They started asking not to miss school

But, as my kids got older, we encountered more teachers who were less than thrilled with our way of managing family travel. We managed to smooth things over when necessary and taught our kids to be proactive about requesting work in advance. When that wasn't possible, we helped them stay on top of their makeup work.

As they hit middle school, I noticed my "Hey kids guess where we're going!" announcements weren't being met with as much enthusiasm. Instead of excitement about seeing someplace new, the first question became, "Do we have to miss school?"

We now prioritize academics over travel

As my kids got older, they worked harder in school. Teachers are more heavy-handed with homework and projects, and once they hit high school, each grade becomes part of the bigger picture.

My kids became more aware of the ripple effects of not getting a good grade and began understanding the importance of cumulative learning. Missing a week of algebra and having to catch up on what you missed without falling further behind the rest of the class caused my kids stress. My kids don't struggle academically, but playing catchup wasn't easy after a certain point.

My boys are also athletes, and absences weren't winning them any points with their coaches. One of my sons is a starting pitcher and missed practice due to travel, and was subsequently benched for one game. These things started to take a little bit of the shine out of exploring the world together, and I realized we needed to change how we planned to travel.

I don't love that my kids talk about how their performance in ninth grade will impact getting into their college of choice. Part of me wants to whisk them away to Disneyland, the Canadian Rockies, or the Great Barrier Reef and tell them they have lots of time to worry about being adults. But really, they don't.

Now, I plan travel during school breaks, just like everyone else

I lament that I'm now a "regular mom" and not a "cool mom." Now, I plan our family vacations around school vacations, just like everyone else. Mostly. I'll still tack the occasional Friday onto a holiday Monday, but I'm more thoughtful about it now.

I'm not going to lie; I miss the days when I could pull them out of school because I saw a great deal on airfare. They've learned about fine art and architecture by visiting an art museum with a moveable sunscreen on the roof and practical things like how to exchange currency and navigate a major airport. They're also not timid about trying food that's not mac and cheese.

Most importantly, travel has taught my kids that the world is big and helped them be more open-minded about other cultures and viewpoints. Traveling as a family has strengthened our bond and taught us cooperation and problem-solving skills. I wouldn't have done things differently.

• A vast majority of dealers surveyed have "no trust" in Stellantis.
• The Jeep owner is prioritizing its relationship with dealers after a recent change in CEO.
• Some dealers are heading into this year a bit more optimistic.

Stellantis wants to earn back the trust of its US dealers after a tumultuous year. It won't be easy.

The Jeep owner topped the list of least-trusted franchises among dealers in Kerrigan Advisors's annual dealer survey, with a whopping 72% of Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealers reporting they have "no trust" in Stellantis.

The dismal result for Stellantis — the highest rate of "no trust" responses in the survey's history — comes after a tumultuous year for the global automotive giant. Aggressive cost-cutting measures rankled US dealers, many of whom wrote an open letter criticizing the company's product decisions over the summer.

Amid slowing sales and shrinking dealer profits, the letter accused former CEO Carlos Tavares of "reckless short-term decision-making" that had "devastating, yet entirely predictable, consequences in the US market."

CFO Doug Ostermann told investors that rebuilding trust with dealers is a top priority for the next management team.

Following Tavares's abrupt exit last month, Stellantis dealers were relieved. Kevin Farrish, the Stellantis dealer body president and Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram owner in Virginia, told Business Insider at the time that he was encouraged by how swiftly executives were making changes after Tavares's exit.

"We needed change, so provided the changes are correct — and they are thus far — it shows their commitment to fix things," Farrish said.

A Stellantis spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A big rift

The results of the annual Kerrigan Dealer Survey are often in line with what dealers say publicly throughout the year. In 2023, for example, Ford was the least-trusted company among dealers after the parties disagreed over EV strategies.

But the results of this year's survey, based on more than 635 anonymous responses from dealers in Kerrigan Advisors database between June and November, offer the first concrete look at the rift between Stellantis and its dealers. And the divide is stark.

For context, about 46% of dealers reported "no trust" in Ford last year, showing that a slim majority still had trust in the Detroit automaker. That makes the 72% of dealers who reported "no trust" for Stellantis all the more alarming, Kerrigan told Business Insider in an interview.

While Ford and its dealers disagreed over EV strategies, Stellantis dealers felt more betrayed by their company, Kerrigan said. Efforts by the company to raise prices after the pandemic cut deeply into dealers' profit margins

"The difference here is numbers-based," Kerrigan said of the stark difference between Ford and Stellantis's divide with dealers. "Stellantis saw dealer profit margins during the pandemic and wanted a piece of that."

In addition to losing trust in their brands' strength, more than 64% of dealers surveyed said they expect their franchise values to decline in the next 12 months.

• When I moved from New Zealand to the US, I didn't realize how much it would actually cost me.
• It's been hard for me to be away from family and to build a community in a new place.
• When I visit my home country, I often experience reverse culture shock.

I moved from New Zealand to California more than 12 years ago after I met and married an American.

Even though I've been in the US for a long time now, I still experience some of the same challenges I did when I first moved here. Plus, I never stopped feeling the pull of home and the family I left behind in New Zealand.

However, visiting home doesn't always bring the same comfort it once did, as it can be hard to readjust to a culture I haven't lived with for over a decade.

Sometimes, it feels like I have my heart in two countries, but I don't completely belong to either.

Here are some of the biggest challenges I've faced as an expat.

Figuring out how to navigate unfamiliar cultural norms has been difficult

When I first moved here, I discovered the US tends to have a much more cutthroat, competitive culture where people can be overlooked or dismissed if they're not prepared to speak loudly and clearly about their accomplishments.

Back in New Zealand, however, I was used to — and raised in — a culture that encourages people to act humble.

As Kiwis, we don't tend to talk up our accomplishments and we try to give credit to others (even if it rightly belongs to us) for fear of being seen as braggarts. Those who are seen as being "too big for their boots" are deliberately knocked down a peg — a phenomenon so popular in Australia and New Zealand that locals have a term for it: "tall poppy syndrome."

Though they may be small, these sorts of cultural differences can feel like a minefield to navigate and have made some social interactions a source of stress for me for many years.

Being far from family has been tough for me, both financially and emotionally

Although my husband is American, we live far from any family — his nearest relatives are four hours away.

It's been tough to raise our daughter without access to a village of family members.

I especially miss having a community at my 10-year-old daughter's soccer games, where I'm often surrounded by many multigenerational families cheering on their kids. I can't help but feel sad that she doesn't get to experience having a ready-made fan club on the sidelines because her family is so far away.

I'd love to visit our family overseas more often, but it's just not possible when flights between San Francisco and Auckland typically cost over $1,000 — even when booking months in advance.

We can only afford to visit New Zealand every two years or so, and I worry how the distance will impact my daughter's relationships with family over time.

My daughter has cousins in New Zealand and Australia ranging in age from 4 to 16. She's often asked me if we can move closer to them, and I feel bad we can't visit more often.

It's also tough for my family overseas to visit the US, in part due to the exchange rate. The New Zealand dollar is worth about 60 cents here, so a USD$1,000 plane ticket would cost them about NZD$1,790. My brother and sister-in-law even cut a planned trip to the US short because of how expensive it was for them.

These travel costs have also made it tough to navigate family emergencies over the past few years — especially when I got a call that my dad was in the ICU after a nasty fall last year.

Any flights home within the next two weeks would've cost well over $2,500 — way over my budget. Instead, I had to get updates from family over the phone and cheer him on from home as he recovered.

I don't feel completely at home in New Zealand anymore, either

Most of my family still lives in New Zealand, but time and distance naturally create a disconnect with everyday life in my home country.

I look forward to my visits back home, but over the past few years, I've experienced reverse culture shock, a phenomenon that can cause expats to feel like tourists in their country of birth.

It can manifest in relatively simple things, such as not understanding local pop-culture references or feeling removed from the everyday issues that concern my fellow Kiwis. Unfortunately, this has meant my old home can feel strikingly unfamiliar, and there's sometimes a disconnect when I visit.

I can cheer on the All Blacks rugby team, hunt down Kiwi-inspired meat pies, and enjoy the company of fellow expats. However, both my home country and my family are inevitably changing and growing — so I don't always feel a sense of belonging in either the US or New Zealand.

Still, I've done my best to adapt to a new culture and accept a new sense of "normal" about people, places, and routines. Despite the challenges, I feel like I'm in a good place in California, and the relationships I've slowly been building with those around me make life worthwhile.

My experience as an expat hasn't felt easy — but at the end of the day, I'm happy I took a chance on myself and followed my heart.

• Exhibiting red flags in a job interview can be an easy way to lose out on advancing to the next stage.
• But on the flip side, there are green flags that can help set you apart and boost your chances.
• We asked 6 recruiting professionals for the green flags they look for in candidates during job interviews.

The start of the year is usually one of the busiest times for hiring as many companies have finalized their new budgets.

If you're brushing up on your interview skills right about now, BI spoke with several current and former recruiters for the traits they say always make a good first impression.

Here are the green flags they like to see in job candidates:

Demonstrating accountability

"Self-reflection, accountability, and confidence in themselves and their work," are green flags to Lauren Monroe, who leads the creative practice group at Aquent, a staffing agency for creative, marketing, and design roles.

A personalized touch also helps. Monroe recalls one candidate who "studied the job description and prepared success stories and examples for every responsibility" to share in the interview. As the cherry on top, the candidate "created a fun animation using the company's logo and added it to their email signature" in their thank-you note.

A clear pitch

Tessa White, a former head HR chief, is the CEO of The Job Doctor and author of "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success."

"When a candidate comes in and is clear on how they can help the company, and why they are a fit, it's refreshing," she says. "I often tell people, if you don't know what your value proposition is, I guarantee you the company won't know."

Mentoring others

Kyle Samuels, who leads executive search agency Creative Talent Endeavors after 20 years in senior-level executive recruiting, looks for candidates with "a history of coaching and mentoring others" because this shows they "want the organization as a whole to operate at a high level."

Enthusiasm for the job

Amri Celeste, a recruitment manager and interview coach, watches for applicants who show passion and enthusiasm for the job.

"When a candidate is particularly enthusiastic or excited about a role, the hiring manager will often be enthusiastic and excited about the candidate," she says. "It's one of the most common pieces of positive feedback I receive from managers about candidates."

Having prepared "clear examples of any achievements and duties mentioned on a résumé" ticks off another box on the candidate checklist, she adds.

Asking thoughtful questions

Marissa Morrison, VP of people at ZipRecruiter, says well-thought-out questions reflect "interest, enthusiasm, and a deeper understanding of the position."

"For example, asking about how they'd be expected to use AI or a certain new technology in the role in a job interview can be a way to demonstrate that you're up to date with current trends and willing to embrace new technologies to creatively solve problems, drive value, and support your work," she says.

An upbeat attitude

"Having a positive attitude, showing enthusiasm for the role, and being engaged during your interview can help set you apart from the competition," Amy Garefis, chief people officer at ZipRecruiter. "In my experience, it is often the tiebreaker for me between candidates with similar skills or professional experience."

• Google's cofounder Larry Page made an appearance at a Y Combinator meeting in December.
• He spoke to a group from the fall 2024 class of startups.
• He talked about the origins of Google and listened to founders talk about their startups.

Google's cofounder Larry Page made a rare public appearance last month during a Y Combinator event for startups in San Francisco, Business Insider has learned.

Page showed up at an "office hour" for a group from the fall 2024 class of startups during the final days of the event, where he listened to founders talk about their business ideas, a person who attended said. Lulu Meservey, a Y Combinator spokesperson, confirmed Page's attendance at the event.

Y Combinator is a startup incubator that holds seasonal classes — known as "batches" — where budding startup founders can network and get advice from Silicon Valley luminaries.

Page was brought along to the event by the Y Combinator group partner Paul Buchheit, the attendee said, adding that Page also shared some anecdotes about the early days of Google. The person asked to remain anonymous because they had not been permitted to speak with the media about the event.

A public sighting of Page is extremely rare these days.

He and his Google cofounder, Sergey Brin, stepped away from their executive roles at Alphabet in 2019, giving the pair time to pursue other business interests such as flying cars and disaster relief. The pair still sit on the Alphabet board and hold shares of a special voting stock that gives them ultimate control of the company.

While Brin has returned to work on AI projects at Google, Page has remained more distant. He continues to financially support Pivotal, a startup working on electric vertical-take-off and -landing vehicles.

Got more insight to share? You can reach the reporter Hugh Langley via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-628-228-1836) or email ([email protected]).

• I took my 14-year-old daughter on a trip to India.
• When we arrived, she realized she couldn't access TikTok for our trip.
• At first, she panicked, but then she realized she didn't need TikTok to stay connected.

Recently, I took my 14-year-old daughter on a once-in-lifetime trip to India. When we landed, I was excited to see the Taj Mahal and embark on a safari for a chance to see one of the country's famed Bengal tigers.

My daughter was also elated when we landed in India but for a much different reason. After a long flight, she looked forward to connecting to WiFi to see what she had missed. However, her joy quickly turned to despair when she discovered that TikTok was banned in India due to national security concerns posed by the Chinese-owned app, concerns shared by the United States that may lead to a national ban later this month.

In contrast, I was thrilled. I spent years trying to limit my daughter's access to TikTok. At times, this caused my daughter to crumple in tears, insisting that she was the only one without access to the creator's "everyone" was following. Eventually, I lightened up, but I still question that decision.

I was happy that for the next two weeks, the government of India and I were perfectly aligned on this issue. They could be the bad guys in my teenager's eyes instead of me.

My daughter wasn't convinced she could live without TikTok

After a few minutes without TikTok, my daughter declared, "I can't do this. I am getting on a plane and going home right now." I reminded her that a TikTok ban is looming in the United States and that a world without the app might be her new reality. While challenges are still pending, the app could disappear as soon as January 19th in the United States.

I reasoned that our two weeks in India might be her chance to ease out of using the app and see what life is like without TikTok. That would make the transition easier if the TikTok ban goes through at home, I reasoned. She didn't find my logic compelling, but since I told her she would have to pay for her own ticket home, she decided to make the best of it and stay.

She asked her friend for updates

At first, my daughter brought up how unfair it was that she could not access TikTok several times a day. I gently teased her that skincare and fashion trends wouldn't change before we got home. She was not amused, but I was happy not to be the bad guy in this scenario.

My daughter texted her best friend, who had the good fortune to still have access to TikTok back home, to ask what she was missing. Her friend shared news about some new reels she thought my daughter would like, but nothing earth-shattering. Gradually, my daughter stopped asking and stopped complaining.

She realized she could live without TikTok

After our first week in India, I asked my daughter how her TikTok detox was going. She snapped back that she hadn't been on her phone that much. I gave her a wry smile and asked if she thought there was a connection. My daughter was adamant that the two were unrelated, but I wasn't convinced.

We were busy in India. However, I think that my daughter did not feel as compelled to reach for her phone because the pull of TikTok — which can be harmful to teens, according to the company's documents — was absent.

She found substitutes

A TikTok-less world didn't end my daughter's obsession with her phone. She told me that she started watching Instagram reels instead, which she enjoyed more than she thought she would.

We talked about what she would do if a TikTok ban were enacted in the US. Although my daughter was emphatic that she did not want that to happen, she told me that she would follow her favorite creators on Instagram but would cut some others loose. As a parent, I wonder if it'd make her reassess her relationship with social media, too.

I am not naive. I know that it's unrealistic to expect any teenager to abandon social media entirely. I know that if TikTok is banned in the United States, my daughter will fill the gap with other apps, which is what happened in India. However, I still feel comforted knowing that those apps will not pose the same threats as TikTok.

Nevertheless, I am glad that the two weeks my daughter spent without TikTok showed her that she can survive in a world without TikTok.

• Business Insider spoke to sneakerheads about which pairs to invest in versus styles you can skip.
• Runners like Asics and New Balance are back and have taken advantage of collaborations.
• Nike Dunks are too mass-produced and aren't worth the purchase.

Whether you're buying your second or 20th pair of sneakers, it's important to know what you're spending your money on.

Michael Portone, the founder of Chicago-based shoe business Endless Supply, says sneakers are like stocks. Just as the stock market has peaks and valleys, the sneaker industry uses the laws of supply and demand to determine a shoe's value. That also means designs, colorways, and brands are always coming in and out of style.

Business Insider spoke with three sneaker enthusiasts — also called "sneakerheads" — about which pairs they think are worth investing in and what styles they'd skip right now.

Here's what they said.

Asics is acing the sneaker industry

Portone, who has 14 years of experience in the sneaker industry, told BI that there's been a recent resurgence in running shoes, especially from Asics. Based on past and current trends, he sees the brand as a good investment.

If you want something unique that still has staying power, collaboration lines like GD x Asics are a good place to start.

"Collaboration is really key in today's day and age," Roberto Ansani, a manager at one of Portone's Endless Supply locations who's been in the sneakerhead community for 12 years, said.

However, if you're all about the classics, he said the brand's Gel-Kayano and Gel 1130 lines are rising in popularity — particularly because they have aesthetic similarities to Balenciaga's sneaker but for a far lower price.

New Balance is back in a big way

New Balance has been around since the early 20th century and is a staple in many sneakerheads' closets.

Although it's probably best known for its "dad shoes," the brand has successfully made a name for itself in the modern sneaker game largely thanks to collaborations, like its JJJJound line.

"We're just seeing the demand go up," Ansani told BI.

He named 9060 and 2002r as some of the most high-demand models in New Balance's arsenal.

Reebok's Club C is a flexible design

Kevin Woods, who founded the curated Chicago vintage shop The Pop Up with his wife in 2019, has been invested in sneakers since his adolescence in the 1980s.

If you're looking for a more affordable (under $100) sneaker that pairs well with items across your wardrobe, he recommends Reebok's Club C design.

"That's a shoe where I don't have to baby it," Woods told BI. "I can wear it and wear it and wear it, and then once they get messed up, I can get another pair of C's."

Saucony is keeping its fans happy

Saucony's runners aesthetic attracts a wide base of shoppers.

"Certain brands have really leaned into comfort and stability — things that shoes are meant to do anyway," Woods said of the classic brand.

The sneakerhead highlighted the Starcow X Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 as particularly valuable. The mustard-color sneaker has a retro vibe with all the modern comforts of a running shoe.

If you're looking for a similar style outside of the collab, try the original ProGrid Omni 9, which has the same silhouette in different colorways.

Supreme Air Force 1s remain in high demand

It's hard to ignore Supreme when discussing trends worth investing in. The streetwear brand has become famous for its exclusive releases, minimalist aesthetic, and frequent collaborations, which attract a wide audience of customers.

Ansani said the Supreme Air Force 1 collab is consistently popular, even when the supply of it is high.

The sleek, black design makes them well-suited for a "going out" sneaker — if you're not looking to keep them in pristine condition for your at-home display.

On the other hand, America's Cup by Prada may have been a passing fad

Ansani told BI that some high-end brands are falling behind when it comes to updating their models.

"Certain designer brands are sticking to their heritage too much," he said. "It's them being stuck in their ways and unable to adapt with the market."

One of the best examples may be America's Cup by Prada. The sneaker was once well-loved, but it no longer holds that same value in today's market — especially with its original price hovering close to $1,000 a pair.

This follows the broader theme in the fashion world of high-end brands losing out to the "quiet luxury" aesthetic. Consumers just aren't looking for shoes that scream their price tags with flashy logos and easy-to-spot designs.

Nike Dunks are too mass-produced

Low-top Nike Dunks brought a new aesthetic to the sneaker world in the 1980s. The brand gave its skateboarding clientele — who had been chopping off the top of the brand's Jordan sneakers — exactly what they wanted.

Although Portone said the shoe had been trendy for a few recent years, Nike responded by mass-producing it in almost every color.

Unfortunately, that high supply with a dwindling demand quickly tanked the sneaker.

• Fiber is essential for a healthy gut, and boosts your natural energy levels.
• Federica Amati is the head nutritionist for nutrition app ZOE.
• Amati shared her favorites gut health recipes with probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids.

Eating more gut-healthy foods like beans and nuts not only nurtures your digestive system, it can help you ditch the afternoon slump.

"We know a high fiber diet helps with energy levels," Federica Amati, medical scientist and head nutritionist at the nutrition app ZOE, told Business Insider.

If you often feel a drowsiness or brain fog after eating, you may not be getting the right balance of nutrients like fiber, probiotics, and healthy fats.

For a lasting boost, Amati recommends loading up on complex carbs like beans and veggies, fermented foods, and healthy fats, and swapping other drinks for alcohol, which can be hard on the gut.

Here are her favorite ways to eat for better gut health.

Make crispy potatoes healthier with olive oil and chickpea flour

Potatoes are a starchy staple to round out a meal, but instead of reaching for fries or chips, trying roasting potatoes in the oven for a healthier choice.

Amati makes her roasted potatoes with heart-healthy olive oil and coats them in chickpea flour for extra fiber while making them crispy.

"You're adding a layer of better fat, the taste is delicious, but it's just slightly more nutritious," she said.

Eat more beans

Beans have been called a longevity superfood because they're a good source of fiber as well as protein for healthy, filling side dishes, soups and stews.

In fact, this may soon be a federal recommendation. A recent report from USDA advisors said new dietary guidelines should encourage Americans to eat more beans to reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Amati said she likes to make a side of homemade Boston baked beans for dinner gatherings. Ingredients like apple cider vinegar bring tangy, savory notes to a pot of beans along with a little bit of probiotics — good bacteria that support healthy digestion.

Try fish with olive oil, veggies, and fresh herbs for a high-protein meal

For dinner, Amati said fish is a good protein source that also provides healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, which support gut health.

She said she makes fish drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with a handful of fresh parsley, a generous portion of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of lemon zest.

This approach is in line with the Mediterranean diet which has been ranked one of the healthiest for the gut and for overall wellness.

Fresh, zesty ingredients like citrus, rosemary, parsley, garlic, and other seasonings can support your metabolism by making you more likely to slow down and appreciate your food and avoid overeating.

"Herbs and spices can be quite revitalizing," Amati said. "You're less likely to just continue to eat mindlessly because it helps you to connect with the food more when it's a good, varied flavor experience."

For fiber at dinner, fill a big portion of your plate with produce. One of Amati's go-to veggie recipes in the winter is cauliflower with a cheese sauce made using milk, Parmesan and chickpea flour, instead of a store-bought sauce which is an ultra-processed food.

"It doesn't have to be high lift, but it reduces the amount of additives that I use," she said.

Sip on sparkling water or kombucha to cut back on alcohol

Drinking to wind down in the evening can be tempting, but there's growing evidence that alcohol can derail gut health and may increase the risk of cancer. The safest approach is to practice drinking in moderation (if at all), such having a glass of wine with dinner.

Amati said refreshing alcohol-free drinks can make it easier to cut back, such as sparkling water flavored with fruit or cucumber.

Kombucha is another healthy alternative with some probiotic benefits — Amati recommends looking for low-sugar varieties.

Snack on olives, nuts, and fermented foods

Between meals, Amati said she often has olives and nuts, both a good source of healthy fats and some fiber.

You don't have to completely give up on your favorite snacks like chips, but mixing in nutritious snacks can help you enjoy them in moderation and improve your gut health at the same time.

"It's more flavor, which is nice, and it means that you have an option to add some foods to your plate that are actually really great for you," Amati said.

Adding in fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut to a snack plate or cheese board offer more flavorful choices as well as probiotics for a healthy gut, she said.

Don't restrict your diet — add more gut-healthy foods instead

Amati's overall approach to healthier eating focuses on positive nutrition, or eating more nutrient-dense foods instead of restricting.

"It's much more about the food you do eat than the food that you avoid," Amati said.

Including more gut-friendly foods like beans to your diet can help you manage your appetite and reduce the amount of room on your plate for less nutritious options like processed foods.

As you work to include more fiber and probiotics in your diet, it's also helpful to be patient and make slow, sustainable changes over time instead of trying to overhaul your diet all at once.

"One of the biggest takeaways is consistency over perfection," Amati said.

• Wall Street jobs pay well, but work-from-home opportunities tend to be slim.
• JPMorgan is considering whether to call all its employees back to the office full time.
• Check out the RTO policies at the biggest financial firms like JPMorgan, Blackstone, and Citadel. 

Every day it seems as if another company is calling its workers back to the office five days a week. Amazon's office staff are back to their seats Monday through Friday, starting this month, as are the employees of telecom giant AT&T. JPMorgan Chase is also considering returning to a five-day workweek, according to Bloomberg News. 

Investment banks like Goldman Sachs and hedge funds like Citadel have been at the forefront of efforts to get employees working in the same place since the pandemic kicked off the work-from-home phenomenon. Goldman's CEO David Solomon famously blasted the work-from-home phenomenon as an "aberration" before most Americans were even vaccinated. Citadel's Ken Griffin said he feared that work-from-home was harming the nation and wished President Joe Biden would do something about it. 

So, which Wall Street firms are still letting employees work from home at least part of the time?  Here is our list of back-to-work mandates at the largest financial services companies.

Goldman Sachs 

Goldman Sachs started calling workers back in June 2021 and was initially once of the few financial firms to buck to remote work trend and demand pretty much everyone return to the office five days a week. 

Goldman started by welcoming employees back with ice cream and food trucks to get there. By 2022, it was actively monitoring attendance via ID badge swipes. In 2023, it cracked down on laggards, reminding staffers that the 5-days-a-week policy is for everyone — even during the dog days of summer. 

JPMorgan 

JPMorgan started calling workers back in July 2021 on a rolling basis and by 2022, had developed a hybrid work policy that was supposed to result in just 50% of the bank's employees returning to the office five days a week, including people who work in bank branches or in investment-banking jobs like sales and trading.

By April 2022, Dimon said that 40% of the bank's employees, which then numbered about 270,000, would be permitted to work a few days at home, while about 10% could work from home full time. Everyone else was expected to be in the office five days a week.

The next April, Dimon called all of the bank's managing directors back to the office five days a week, whether they worked in demanding revenue-producing jobs or led back-office departments like technology and compliance. Everyone else must be in at least three days a week. 

Like Goldman, JPMorgan has also been tracking attendance through ID badge swipes, data that it collects into a dashboard that can churn out reports for managers and other senior leaders.    

A spokesman for JPMorgan, which reported having 316,043 workers at the end of September, declined to comment on Bloomberg's reporting that it may soon revert to a five-day-a-week schedule for everyone. He said that roughly 70% of the bank's employees were already back in the office five days a week, while everyone else was back three or four days a week.

Citigroup 

Citi's CEO Jane Fraser is one of the few Wall Street CEOs who has not participated in the work-from-home bashing. Instead, she's embraced a hybrid work policy that currently allows most employees to work three days from the office and two days at home, depending on the job. Bank branch employees, for example, are still required to go in five days a week. 

Fraser has also not shied away from reminding the troops that working from home is a privilege, not a right. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2023, she said that the bank was calling workers with productivity issues back to their desks. 

"We do measure productivity very carefully," she said, according to Bloomberg. "You can see how productive someone is or isn't, and if they're not being productive we bring them back to the office, or back to the site, and we give them the coaching they need until they bring the productivity back up again."

A spokeswoman for the bank said Citi is "committed to our hybrid work model. She said that the majority of employees still work on a hybrid schedule, or at least three days in the office and up to two days remotely.

Bank of America 

Bank of America's policy has morphed over time. In early 2022, it encouraged employees to work from the office more often but left room for flexibility at the manager's discretion. By May of that year, investment banking employees at all levels were being ordered to return to the office between four and five days a week.

Since 2022, Bank of America has required employees who are client-facing, like bankers and traders, to be in the office or meeting with clients five days a week. Everyone else must be in the office three days a week. A BofA spokesman confirmed that the policy established in 2022 remains in place.  

Early last year, the bank issued "letters of education" to employees who were in violation of the bank's return-to-office policies, BI reported. "Failure to follow the workplace excellence expectations applicable to your role within two weeks of the date of this notification may result in further disciplinary action," one of these letters said.

Morgan Stanley 

Morgan Stanley's new CEO Ted Pick has not commented publicly on the company's remote work policy since taking the role in January 2024. His predecessor, James Gorman, however, was a big proponent of working from the office, telling Bloomberg in 2023 that working from home is "not a choice." 

"They don't get to choose their compensation, they don't get to choose their promotion, they don't get to choose to stay home five days a week," Gorman said in an interview in Davos. 

That said, Morgan Stanley has allowed for some remote work, depending on the job. "At Morgan Stanley, we're kind of business unit by business unit. It's three or four days in the office," Gorman said at the time.

BlackRock

BlackRock's employees have been making use of its new Hudson Yards headquarters in New York City. 

The world's largest asset manager has required its employees to work in the office four days a week starting in September 2023, with the option to work from home one day a week, BI previously reported.   

Citadel 

Citadel's Griffin is a true believer that teams work better and faster when they're in the same room. His $66 billion hedge fund and his market maker, Citadel Securities,  have been full time in the office since June 2021.  

"We make so much money because our competition plays in their pajamas – and that's just been a home run for us," Griffin told Goldman partner Raj Mahajan in an interview for the bank's Talks at GS series in June 2023. 

Blackstone 

Blackstone employees have been back in the office five days a week since June 2021. 

To make its staff more comfortable with the initial return to office, Blackstone spent $20 million on Covid safety and specific precautions, a source told BI in 2021, including covering cab fares for employees' commute.

Bridgewater

Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund, has kept to a flexible schedule. Since September 2021, the fund has required staff to be in the office a minimum of two days a week. 

 Managers and department heads, however, can require additional days in the office, according to the firm's website. On days employees are in, the firm focuses on taking "advantage of our shared location," it reads. Department heads and managers can require additional days onsite depending on the employee's role and business needs.

Millennium 

Izzy Englander's Millennium experimented with a hybrid working arrangement in 2021. At that time, the firm required its employees to work in the office at least three days a week.

Since then, most employees have been in the office 5 days a week, according to a person familiar with the firm. 

• I spent most of my life measuring success in grades.
• After graduating from college, it was hard to adjust to a more arbitrary scale of achievement.
• Now, I know that regularly redefining success is a necessary part of a fulfilling life.

When I was 7, I was identified as a "gifted kid." That label of promised potential followed me from elementary school enrichment programs to high school AP classes, eventually earning me a degree from a top university.

It's no surprise that I measured my worth in numbers and letters as (mostly) objective indicators of success. Everyone knows what a 4.0 GPA or an A+ means. From an early age, I knew that I wanted those high marks more than anything.

My constant focus on getting the grade, earning the leadership title, and landing the job didn't come without sacrifice. I said no to social engagements. I treated sleep like it was optional. The gym? Forget it. I figured that when I landed my dream job postgrad, it would all feel worth it. Finally, I would have achieved the ultimate goal.

But when I started my first "real" job, I found myself wondering, "Now what?" For the first time in my life, the next step wasn't obvious— talk about a quarter-life crisis. I knew I had to learn how to measure success in this new environment.

I let go of the metrics of the past

Starting my postgrad job meant accepting feedback on an arbitrary scale—one that I quickly learned is often affected by relationships, tenures, and titles.

My GPA didn't matter anymore, and neither did my obnoxious, eight-line-long college email signature. All of those club memberships and academic affiliations disappeared from relevance. I felt bitter at first. After all, I had worked so hard, and none of it seemed to matter.

But then I reframed my stance: None of it mattered — none of the little things, at least. My not-so-stellar neuroscience grade? Sleeping through three of my 8 a.m. poetry classes in a semester? Submitting a late Spanish essay? None of it prevented me from pursuing my goals.

This realization was incredibly freeing. Now, I know that small mistakes don't outweigh consistency. I don't have to measure my self-worth in the number of corrections on a paper or how many extracurriculars I participate in. I get to decide what success means to me. I can choose what to pursue and when to switch paths. Letting go of the numbers that once defined me meant that I was no longer held to someone else's idea of "good enough."

I learned to part ways with my ego

My first professional projects came with a harsh learning curve. What would have earned me an "A" in my college classes was met with a flurry of edits and comments.

At first, I was upset with my performance. I felt like I had failed. I mentioned my frustrations in passing to a much more experienced colleague, and he gave me some wonderful advice: "Separate your ego from your work," he said, "and you will be amazed at how quickly you improve."

As a creative working in tech, I had to get used to receiving feedback from all kinds of stakeholders. I don't just write essays for a professor anymore. I write blogs and social media posts that are read by customers, partners, and employees. Sometimes, this means my work is reviewed by 20 people or more before it's approved. That doesn't leave a lot of room for an unearned ego.

My current definition of success won't stay the same — and that's a good thing

Success might mean getting promoted — or it might not. Maybe it means discovering a new passion outside work. It might look like a commitment to health, exploring new places, or visiting friends and family. Achieving these goals might not make me better at my job, but I know they will make me a better person, friend, and partner.

My new goals might look hazy compared to old ones, and they will most likely shift as I progress in my career. I wish I had known that life is less structured after school and less linear, too.

Still, in the modern world of social media highlight reels, it can be difficult not to compare myself to my peers. Some days, I feel left out for not pursuing graduate school, and sometimes, I wonder if I picked the right college or even the right city.

Despite all this uncertainty, I'm grateful for one thing I do know: Leading a satisfying life requires redefining success at different stages. Shifting my goals doesn't make me a failure; it makes me human.

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• I got the Discover it® Cash Back credit card this summer to earn up to 5% on everyday expenses.
• I wanted a no-annual-fee credit card that earned cash-back rewards on every dollar I spent.
• Some credit cards earn a fixed amount per dollar spent, while others earn more on certain expenses.

I got a new cash-back credit card this August and have earned more than $100 from it so far.

I specifically chose the Discover it® Cash Back card because it earns 5% cash back on bonus categories that change every three months (from January 1 to March 31, 2025, earn 5% cash back at restaurants, home improvement stores, and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).

With dozens of cash back credit card options on the market, I suffered serious analysis paralysis when evaluating the pros and cons of cash-back credit cards. Fortunately, I have reviewed credit cards for more than nine years, so I knew what benefits I was looking for (and what I was willing to forego).

These are the factors I considered in case you're also looking for a new card.

Cash back credit card types

There are two main types of cash back cards: those that earn a fixed rate no matter what you buy, and those that earn extra points on specific expenses.

Flat-rate cash back

If you value the KISS rule of Keeping It Simple, Stupid, you may want to pick a flat-rate credit card to use for all of your purchases.

Good examples of flat-rate cash back credit cards include the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and the Citi Double Cash Card, both of which appear on our list of the best 2% cash back credit cards.

These cards earn a respectable return on every dollar you spend whether you're paying for daycare, buying dinner, or shopping for a flight.

I personally wanted a higher rate of return, and I was willing to work harder to earn it.

Bonus points on specific categories

If you enjoy urban sports like extreme couponing, you may find yourself more drawn to credit cards that earn bonus rewards on specific spend categories. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best credit cards for buying groceries because it earns up to 6% on your first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1% back) — but it only earns 1% on most other expenses except for on U.S. gas stations and transit purchases which earn 3% cash back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Most cards in this category earn extra points on common household expenses such as streaming services, drugstores, utilities, and dining out.

Avoid cards that reward purchases you don't often make, since you'll get more value from a credit card that better fits your habits. If you don't eat out very often, for example, you probably shouldn't get a cash back credit card that primarily rewards restaurant expenses.

5% rotating-bonus categories

Rotating-bonus credit cards are a specific subset of cash back cards, where cardholders earn 5% cash back on select expenses that change every three months.

The best-known rotating-bonus credit cards are my new Discover it Cash Back and the Chase Freedom Flex®, which I also have in my wallet. Each of these cards earn 5% back on up to $1,500 on eligible expenses each quarter, so I can earn up to $75 per card, four times a year, on bonus categories (with the Discover it Cash Back I earn 5% cash back at restaurants, home improvement stores, and select streaming services, January 1 to March 31, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).

In case you were wondering: I keep both cards because they earn 5% back on different categories each quarter (then 1%), doubling my chances to earn extra rewards on everyday expenses. Since they don't have annual fees, it doesn't cost me anything to keep these cards open.

You can find the Discover cash back calendar here, and the Chase Freedom card quarterly bonus categories calendar here.

What I needed from my cash-back credit card

When researching my latest acquisition, I evaluated my primary expenses to see where I needed my card to do the most heavy lifting. Like most people, my biggest living expenses include:

1. Housing such as rent or a mortgage
2. Groceries
3. Transportation such as public transit or gas/EV charging
4. Utilities such as electricity, water, gas, trash, and more
5. Healthcare such as medical copays, prescriptions, drugstore expenses, and more
6. Dining out including restaurants, takeout, food delivery, and more
7. Travel including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more
8. Entertainment such as concerts, sports games, streaming services, and movies

Don't settle for less than 1.5% cash back

No matter which cash-back card you choose, make sure it earns more than 1% back per dollar spent. There are too many valuable cards on the market — even without annual fees — that offer great returns for you to settle on a credit card that doesn't generously reward you for spending with it.

My most important cash-back card benefits

Cash back credit cards can be much more versatile than travel rewards credit cards because they're so straightforward to use.

These common traits that were available on all of the cash-back credit cards I considered:

• No annual fee
• Easy reward redemptions
• 0% intro APR
• Purchase protection and extended warranty benefits

No annual fees

I'm not opposed to paying for credit cards that earn their keep. I have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express which has a whopping $695 annual fee (), but that cost is worth it to me for the benefits I get out of the card.

However, I knew I didn't want a cash back card with annual fees because its core value lies in paying me back a small portion of the money I spend. Therefore, there's no point in paying for a card that's designed to pay me — and that's why most of the best cash-back credit cards do not charge annual fees.

You'll generally find annual fees on good credit cards that offer benefits you'd otherwise pay good money to enjoy. (You'll also find annual fees on mediocre cards that aren't worth their keep.)

Credit cards with airport lounge access, for example, can save you hundreds of dollars on food and drink each year, while the best credit cards with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck statement credits can save you time and hassle when going through airport security.

Pro tip: If you do consider a cash-back credit card with an annual fee, make sure the overall value you'll get from that card greatly exceeds the amount you pay for it.

Easy reward redemptions

I chose the Discover it Cash Back because I liked how easy it is to redeem my rewards. Since each point is worth 1 cent, I can use my cash-back rewards to pay down some of my card's statement balance and know exactly how much value I'm getting from my rewards.

While I'm a fan of the Discover mobile app, this benefit isn't exclusive to my card: Most cash-back credit cards offer the ability to redeem rewards as statement credits. Cash [back] is king, and you shouldn't consider any card that doesn't allow you to pay off what you owe with what you've earned.

Some credit cards also allow you to redeem rewards for gift cards, or use them to pay off Amazon shopping balances. As long as your points are worth at least 1 cent apiece, this isn't a terrible idea as long as the retailers you choose are companies you'd shop from regardless.

Pro tip: Some issuers only allow cardholders to redeem rewards on Amazon at a discounted rate, sometimes for as little as 0.7 cents per point. If you find yourself in this situation, you're better off paying for your Amazon purchase outright and then using your rewards to pay off the charge on your statement at a redemption value of 1 cent per point.

0% interest period

The Discover it Cash Back also stood out to me for its 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.49% - 27.49% variable APR (rates as of 12/12/2024). I generally pay off all of my credit card balances in full, but occasionally take advantage of promotions like this one to let my cash earn some interest in a high-yield savings account for a year before paying off what I owe when my 0% intro APR expires.

Some cash back credit cards offer new cardholders this benefit, which can be really helpful if you have large expenses like furniture, medical bills, or property taxes on the horizon. Whether you need a little extra breathing room to save enough money or just want to invest your spare cash, having a few months of no interest can be really helpful for anyone.

Purchase protection benefits

My Discover it Cash Back credit card actually doesn't offer purchase protection or extended warranty benefits, so I pay for tech gadgets and higher-value products with some of my other credit cards.

My other cash back credit card, the Chase Freedom Flex, does offer generous Chase purchase protection and an extended warranty. When I buy an eligible product with this card, Chase covers my purchase if it gets damaged or stolen within the first 120 days after purchase, for up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

The Chase Freedom Flex even comes with trip insurance: If I pay for a flight or a hotel room using this card but have to cancel or shorten my trip because of illness or severe weather, I can file a claim for reimbursement on nonrefundable prepaid expenses: up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

Other cash back credit card benefits to look for

Instant approval and virtual card number

You can begin using some credit cards within seconds of being approved.

My Discover it Cash Back credit card offered instant approval and a virtual credit card number for immediate use while I waited for the physical card to arrive in the mail.

I didn't need to use the card right away, but this feature can be particularly useful if you have a big expense coming up right away and want to take advantage of a 0% intro APR period (then 18.49% - 27.49% variable APR (rates as of 12/12/2024)) or start earning your welcome bonus a little bit sooner.

Welcome bonus

Speaking of welcome bonuses, these are incentives offered by credit card issuers that make it a little more enjoyable to open a new credit card. Credit card welcome bonuses are offers that typically come in the form of cash back or points earned after spending a certain amount within a number of days or months after opening the new card.

There are a few variations to this formula: With some cards, you can earn the bonus after just a single purchase. And on my new Discover it Cash Back, I'll get the famous Discover Cashback Match™, which effectively doubles the total amount of cash back I earn in my first year of card ownership.

Cashback Match™ is an unlimited benefit for new card members like me in their first year only, where Discover automatically matches all the cash back earned after I reach my one-year card anniversary. Even if I don't earn another dime from today forward, I'll end up with $215.68 next year: my current $107.84 ×2. Not bad at all for a no-annual-fee credit card.

Maximizing rewards with other bank products

We've already discussed the bonus rewards offered on cards like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card, which rewards cardholders who also invest their money with Bank of America. But there are many other ways to maximize your cash-back credit card rewards.

Cash back credit cards from large issuers often earn rewards that can be combined with premium travel rewards credit cards for even more value.

For example, my Chase Freedom Flex earns cash back in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can only be redeemed for gift cards or cash back on their own. But if I also get a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, I can transfer my cash back rewards to one of these cards, then use my points to book luxury flights or hotel stays with Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer partners.

Chase isn't the only major bank that offers credit cards with reciprocal rewards — American Express, Citi, Capital One, and Wells Fargo all offer multiple credit cards that work well together for additional value.

The cash-back credit cards I considered before choosing the Discover it Cash Back

I consulted our guide to the best cash back credit cards to find an option that worked well with my spending habits and lifestyle. I don't mind doing a little extra legwork for bigger rewards, which is probably why I could earn more than $100 in a few short months.

The other two cash back cards I considered in addition to the Discover it Cash Back are the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card and the Citi® Double Cash Card.

Wells Fargo Attune

The Attune℠ Card earns 4% on many bonus categories including gyms, pet supplies, and environmentally friendly transit, and 1% on everything else. Like the Discover it Cash Back, the Attune℠ Card also offers new cardholders a 0% interest period. The Attune℠ Card offers 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases followed by a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR.

I ultimately decided against this card because I don't spend enough across the bonus categories to maximize my cash rewards. If I ever get a dog again, however, this card will likely be one of my first post-pet acquisitions.

Citi Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash Card is a classic cash back card that earns exactly what the name suggests. You'll earn 1% back per dollar when you make a purchase, and 1% back per dollar when you pay it off, for a total of 2% cash back on everything. It also comes with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then a 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR.

While this no-annual-fee credit card has been popular with millions of people through the years, the Citi Double Cash Card just wasn't what I wanted this time around.

Since I already have a different card I use to earn 2% back on non-bonus purchases, I'm willing to do a little extra legwork to earn a better rate of cash back. That's why I turned down this fan favorite for the Discover it Cash Back.

My Discover it Cash Back's limitations

My new cash back credit card is pretty flexible. Like many of the best credit card issuers, Discover doesn't require me to earn a certain amount of rewards before allowing me to redeem them for statement credits. But some banks do, so make sure your card of choice doesn't limit you to only using your rewards once you've earned a lot of points.

My cash back credit card also isn't great for travel protection. As I mentioned earlier, the Discover it Cash Back doesn't offer travel benefits, so I can't file for reimbursement if my flight gets delayed and I have to buy last-minute toiletries to get me through an unexpected night in the airport. Even my Chase Freedom Flex, which offers generous reimbursement for interrupted travel, doesn't pay me back if my luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged by an airline.

Instead, I rely on my Sapphire Preferred Card for travel protection. While I never want to lose my bags, I feel much better knowing that I might be reimbursed if that happens to me for a covered reason.

The reasons I choose my cash back credit card will differ from why you choose yours. But hopefully my reasoning helps you better understand what you want out of your next card.

• Firefighters in LA have limited options against blazes so huge.
• Common tactics like firebreaks, controlled burns, and dousing vital buildings face big hurdles.
• A wildfire expert told BI that the fire is unlikely to be put out until LA's winds change.

Firefighters confronting the Los Angeles wildfires face hurdles to many tactics in their arsenal as they try to tame some 27,000 burning acres.

As of Thursday, more than 1,400 firefighters were battling several blazes with both ground crews and airdrops.

The firefighters of California "are amongst the best-trained and best-equipped wildfire fighters anywhere in the world," said Stefan Doerr, a professor of wildland fire science at the UK's Swansea University.

But, he told Business Insider, "they are really challenged by the fact that the winds are so extreme, as well as having several large fires burning at the same time."

His conclusion: Until the winds fanning the blazes die down, "putting out a fire like this is essentially impossible."

Numerous California officials gave a similar assessment, saying there was no immediate prospect of containing the fires.

'Not prepared'

Anthony Marrone, the fire chief of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, told local outlet 6ABC: "LA County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster."

They could handle one or two major fires, he said, "but not four."

Doerr, who did not have direct information about the LA fire services' plans, walked BI through some tactics generally used for major wildfires, and their limitations in combatting these fires.

1) Attack from the side

"This fire is very complex," said Doerr, pointing to the number of distinct blazes, some expanding in several directions at once.

Most of the fires were being pushed toward the sea by powerful inland air currents known as Santa Ana winds.

Doerr said there it is too dangerous to approach so huge a fire from the front, where it burns most intensely.

"It's usually attacked on the side to basically shrink the overall fire front," he said.

2) Use — or make — firebreaks

Common tactics include removing flammable material with bulldozers, he said. "Removing the vegetation is much more effective than trying to fight a fire like this with water."

The problem is that LA's topography is complex, making it hard to remove vegetation, he said.

"That leaves the firefighting forces with limited opportunities," he said. One option is to take advantage of natural firebreaks, such as roads and rivers, or other spots with no flammable vegetation, he said.

There, firefighters could wet the area or use a fire retardant to slow the fire, he said.

Even that, Doerr said, is "very, very challenging" in this instance.

"Even if they are able to basically stop the flames from moving over, say, a road or something directly, the strong winds often mean that you have embers flying over large distances," he said, adding that in some fires, these can travel miles.

That could, in turn, spark more fires, leapfrogging the barriers.

3) Soak important buildings

"When we see firefighters using water, it's often to protect properties — to stop them burning, rather than stopping the entire fire," Doerr said.

As well as ground crews, Chinook helicopters have been dropping thousands of gallons of water on the fire. "It's like having six fire trucks show up to your house every 10 minutes," Wayne Coulson, CEO of the Coulson Group, told Global News.

The fires have put immense strain on LA's water supply.

Three huge tanks of a million gallons each serving the Pacific Palisades ran dry within hours under "tremendous demand," said Janisse Quiñones, chief engineer and CEO of the LA department of water and power, according to The Guardian.

"We're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging," Quiñones said, per the paper.

4) Accept losses and prioritize

So many structures are under threat that it is impossible to protect all of them with water. Here, tough decisions have to be made, with important buildings like hospitals likely to receive priority, Doerr said.

More than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed, including the homes of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal.

Another extreme option would be to bulldoze whole streets to create a firebreak, Doerr said.

It would be a desperate measure against some of the most costly properties in the world — but "it's still cheaper than having it burn down, and burning the next building along the road," he said.

"Whether they take these extreme measures at the moment, I don't know, but they have done this in the past in extreme fires," he added.

Some tactics are likely out of bounds

One option that is likely out of reach is what Doerr called a "tactical burn."

When tackling some seasonal wildfires, firefighters light a smaller, controlled fire in the path of the main flames to burn away the available fuel, he said.

This can be really effective — but with the strong winds in LA, it risks making things even worse, Doerr said.

"Otherwise you're just going to generate a new fire that's going to burn further on," he said.

Waiting for the wind to change

Observers are anxiously keeping tabs on a key metric — the percentage of containment of the fire.

But it's often misunderstood. "'Contained' means that you basically stopped the edges of the fire from moving further," said Doerr. 100% containment means authorities are reasonably sure the fire can no longer spread, he said. From there, it can burn itself out.

According to the fire service, two smaller fires were partially contained as of early Thursday, at 10% and 40% each. The larger ones were at 0%.

For all their efforts, LA's firefighters are largely "at the mercy of the weather," Doerr said.

"In reality, most fires of such extremity tend to be stopped by a change in weather," he added.

Winds, which on Thursday were gusting up to 25 mph, are forecast by the National Weather Service to slow down to a maximum of 15 mph by Friday evening, offering the best opportunity yet to stop the blaze.

Until then, Doerr said, "putting out a fire like this is essentially impossible."