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Statusphere, a leading micro-influencer marketing platform that automates the entire influencer marketing lifecycle, is today launching new features built to transform how brands discover and collaborate with TikTok Shop affiliates.

TikTok Shop Collabs add-on, Statusphere’s proprietary one-click solution, enables brands to filter the platform’s community to target creators approved for TikTok Shop collabs and requires a TikTok Shop product link within their posts, guaranteeing that every collaboration results in a shoppable social post.

Combining Statusphere’s TikTok Shop Collabs with Instant TikTok Spark Ad Codes further optimizes brands’ influencer marketing efforts, making it easier than ever to seamlessly create shoppable ads on TikTok.

Statusphere’s TikTok Spark Ad Codes enable users to purchase Spark Ad codes from creators more quickly and easily, enabling brands to:

• Save time: Move organic posts to ads in two clicks, without the need to negotiate with creators
• Centralize content: Identify new ads to run in one place, and build a library of Spark-ready content
• Maximize strategy: Optimize the campaign and reward creators all from one platform

Combined, TikTok Shop Collabs and Spark Ad Codes offer a seamless way to maximize return on investment within the rapidly expanding e-commerce ecosystem on TikTok where 70% of users discover new brands and products (Source: TikTok Marketing Science Global Retail Path to Purchase conducted by Material August 2021).

“Identifying a creator after a lengthy search only to chase down a collaboration that never materializes into a post is an exhausting process for brands. Without any assurance or guarantee that content will be posted, brands are increasingly turning to Statusphere to build scalable solutions to streamline TikTok collaborations. We bring order to influencer collaborations, and these product features are a significant step forward in optimizing TikTok campaigns,” said Kristen Wiley, founder and CEO of Statusphere.

Statusphere’s newest features offer a robust and scalable solution to ensure every campaign yields measurable results so brands can focus on outcomes, not logistics. Key product benefits include:

• Automated creator matching: Statusphere’s advanced targeting technology eliminates the need for brands to search for creators. Brands set specific targeting parameters from Statusphere’s 250+ first-party creator data points and are automatically matched with creators who meet precise criteria like exercise habits, personal style, and TikTok Shop status.
• Deal minimums: Unlike TikTok’s native tools, Statusphere guarantees that every campaign yields a minimum number of posts, reducing the risk of abandoned partnership deals.
• Guaranteed TikTok Shop links: Creators who opt into TikTok Shop Collabs are required to include a TikTok Shop product link in their content.
• Seamless content approval: Statusphere’s platform handles creative briefs and content reviews, ensuring each post aligns with the brand guidelines without email negotiation and communication.
• Product gifting and fulfillment: Brands leverage Statusphere’s warehouse and fulfillment tech to eliminate 100% of logistics tasks and seamlessly deliver products to creators as part of their TikTok Shop collaborations.

About Statusphere

Statusphere is a platform that helps brands scale micro-influencer marketing in a fraction of the time. By leveraging first-party data and automation, we simplify the creator collaboration process and guarantee content that aligns with brand goals, ultimately boosting ROI. For more information about Statusphere’s TikTok Shop features, please visit https://joinstatus.com.

Break Free Foundation is proud to announce the overwhelming success of its seventh Recovery on the Runway designer showcase, which took place last Sunday, October 6 in New York City. The evening was a powerful celebration of resilience, beauty, and the human spirit, with inspiring models and designers coming together to support breast cancer awareness and recovery from substance use.

The event, held at DCTV in Lower Manhattan, featured breathtaking designs from a lineup of exceptional designers, including Project Runway’s Nancy Volpe Beringer, Bold Swim, Half-Flat, Chablis Designs featuring Just Us Teenz, AnaOno, Andie Swim, and Thistle and Spire. Each collection highlighted inclusivity, sustainability, and body diversity, underscoring the evening's theme of empowerment and recovery.

Volpe Beringer presented pieces shown during her season of Project Runway to the public for the first time. Her experience as a designer has strengthened her determination to promote more diversity, sustainability, and inclusivity in the fashion industry. An array of challenges inspired Volpe Beringer to create The Vault by Volpe Beringer. It is the world's first and only fully accessible designer luxury platform which offers adaptable options and complimentary consultations for the disabled community.

The evening’s runway show was elevated by models who had undergone single or double mastectomies, many of whom were members of Flat Out Love, a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals post-breast amputation. Together with the Break Free Foundation, the event championed the importance of recovery, whether from substance use, mental health, or breast cancer.

The event’s host, Claire Comai, a person in recovery for five-years and prominent recovery advocate, and DJ Price I$ Right kept the atmosphere vibrant and uplifting throughout the night, making the showcase not only a fashion event but also a celebration of triumph over adversity.

A Partnership for Change

This edition of Recovery on the Runway was made possible through key partnerships with Pathfinder, who held up a pop-up non-alcoholic bar run by Michael Toscano, The Sober Curator, Just Us Teenz, and Flat Out Love. The collaboration between these organizations reinforced the event's message of recovery, self-acceptance, and community support:

• The Sober Curator provided its expertise in zero-proof living and recovery resources, promoting the lifestyle of living alcohol-free. 
• Just Us Teenz brought their talented young models to the runway, showcasing the potential of youth and creativity in the fashion world.
• Flat Out Love empowered models who have embraced living flat after breast cancer surgery, embodying beauty, confidence, and strength.

Proceeds from the evening were split between the Break Free Foundation and Flat Out Love, helping to fund scholarships for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders and empowering breast cancer survivors to foster mental health and body acceptance.

Next Stop: New York Fashion Week

As a testament to the ongoing commitment to this cause, Break Free Foundation is thrilled to announce its next Recovery on the Runway showcase, to be held during New York Fashion Week on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The event promises to bring another stunning display of fashion, recovery, and advocacy, continuing to shine a light on those who have found hope and healing through their journeys.

“Last Sunday’s show was about more than just fashion—it was about the incredible resilience of our models and the power of recovery,” said Alexandra Nyman, founder of the Break Free Foundation. “We are excited to carry this momentum forward into New York Fashion Week, where we will continue to share stories of recovery, break down stigmas, and celebrate the beauty of life after addiction and breast cancer.”

Stay Connected

For more information on Recovery on the Runway’s upcoming events, sponsorships, and how to get involved, please visit breakfreefoundation.org.

About Break Free Foundation

The Break Free Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families affected by mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders by providing scholarships for recovery treatment. Through our fashion-forward events and advocacy work, we raise awareness, promote harm reduction, and empower individuals on their recovery journeys. For more information, visit breakfreefoundation.org.

The Hindu Hriday Milan program, held in Tampa on October 5, 2024, embodied the ancient Hindu principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the belief that the world is one family. In an era marked by increasing divisions, the event stood as a powerful reminder that unity, not separation, is the key to lasting peace. 

The gathering brought together spiritual leaders, community advocates, and various social organizations, emphasizing the importance of love, empathy, and shared humanity. When love is the common language, division doesn’t stand a chance, and borders may separate us, but hearts have no boundaries. The program underscored that peace isn’t just about the absence of conflict—it’s about the presence of connection, where understanding and compassion thrive.

The Hindu Hriday Milan was more than just an event; it was a testament to the idea that when we see ourselves as one family, the walls that divide us crumble. By embracing the age-old wisdom of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the gathering reminded the world that true harmony is achieved not through power, but through unity, and in that, lies the potential to heal.

Unity in Diversity: A Tapestry of Harmony and Spiritual Growth

The Hindu Hriday Milan program was a powerful demonstration of unity in diversity, bringing together over 20 spiritual and social organizations to create a shared vision of harmony. The event saw representatives from major groups like AAHOA, the world's largest association of hotel owners, including former chairman Bharat Patel, and doctors from AAPI (Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin), alongside leaders from the ayurveda and yoga associations. Their presence, along with members of linguistic organizations such as Gujarati Samaj, Marathi, and Telugu communities, showcased the strength of diversity coming together under one roof. It was a reminder that when we open our minds, our differences become our strength.

The event reinforced the notion that true collaboration transcends cultural boundaries. Leaders from these varied backgrounds emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue, shared purpose, and mutual respect across different sectors. The program highlighted that unity isn’t about everyone being the same—it’s about coming together in our differences to build something stronger. This convergence of ideas and voices created a vibrant environment where collaboration was key to growth.

As the day unfolded, the event's message became even clearer: peace isn’t just the absence of problems; it’s the presence of understanding. The Hindu Hriday Milan gathering was more than a display of solidarity; it was a living, breathing example of how diverse communities can unite for a common cause, proving that connection and empathy can bridge the deepest divides.

A Convergence of Spiritual Traditions: Elevating Unity and the Human Spirit

The spiritual depth of the Hindu Hriday Milan program was as rich as its diversity. Devotees and leaders from respected traditions such as Pushti Marg, Art of Living, Hare Krishna, and others infused the event with the essence of their unique spiritual practices. Each tradition brought its own flavor, yet the message was the same: when hearts beat together, differences disappear. The shared spiritual energy was a testament to the fact that no matter the path, they all lead to a common destination—unity and understanding.

A highlight of the program was a profound lecture by Pujya Munivatsal Swami, a revered figure from Delhi Akshardham, who spoke eloquently on how unity has the power to transcend differences and uplift the human spirit. His words resonated deeply, reminding the audience that the strength of a community isn’t measured by its sameness, but by its ability to embrace differences and rise above them. The program proved that spiritual traditions are not isolated islands, but bridges that connect us, elevating the human experience when approached with open hearts and minds.

In this sacred convergence, the participants demonstrated that spirituality isn’t about being in agreement—it’s about being in harmony. The unique blend of practices at Hindu Hriday Milan was a reminder that when traditions meet in the spirit of mutual respect, they amplify rather than dilute each other, creating an atmosphere where unity becomes a transformative force.

BAPS: A Pillar of Unity and Service

The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) played a central role in organizing the Hindu Hriday Milan program. Known globally for its commitment to unity and selfless service, BAPS seamlessly brought together diverse communities to celebrate shared values. Its longstanding mission of fostering harmony was reflected in the smooth execution and the inclusive spirit of the event.

A Catalyst for Unity and Peace: Love as the Foundation

The Hindu Hriday Milan program delivered a profound message: the root cause of conflict and suffering is the absence of love and understanding. The gathering served as a powerful reminder that true peace and harmony can only emerge through cultivating compassion and empathy. As participants embraced this message, the event highlighted the transformative power of love in breaking down barriers and dissolving divisions, offering a vision of a more peaceful world.

A Beacon of Hope: Embracing Our Shared Humanity

The program was a clarion call for unity, urging attendees to transcend differences and embrace a shared sense of humanity. With a focus on understanding and cooperation, the event fostered a deep sense of community. Drawing on the timeless wisdom of ancient spiritual teachings, Hindu Hriday Milan reminded all present of the profound societal impact that can arise from empathy, respect, and collective responsibility.

Vision of Unity and Collaboration

Under the stewardship of Hiten Bhuta and Sakar, the Hindu Hriday Milan program exemplified a commitment to fostering harmony within the Hindu community. Bhuta’s dedication to promoting understanding and his leadership in bringing diverse voices together demonstrated his belief that unity is key to addressing the challenges of modern society.

Hiten Bhuta: Host of Hindu Hriday Milan and a Lifelong Pursuit of Knowledge

As the host of the Hindu Hriday Milan event, Hiten Bhuta brought a unique blend of scholarship, entrepreneurship, and community service to the forefront. With an educational background spanning institutions such as the University of Mumbai, IIT-Bombay, IIM-Ahmedabad, Harvard, UPenn, and Stanford, Bhuta's pursuit of knowledge has been a defining feature of his life. This academic rigor has informed his career as a visionary entrepreneur, particularly in the hotel technology sector, where his leadership of Cyberweb Hotels and partnerships with global giants like Google and GoDaddy have made him a key player in the industry.

Innovator with a Purpose

While Bhuta's professional success is impressive, his role as the host of Hindu Hriday Milan reflects a deeper commitment to fostering unity and spiritual growth. Despite a busy career in technology and hospitality, Bhuta remains dedicated to community engagement. His leadership at this event underscored his belief in the power of bringing diverse voices together to promote harmony and understanding. 

Balancing Professional Success with Spiritual Dedication

Hiten Bhuta's ability to balance his roles as an industry leader and a servant to the community is a testament to his character. As the host of this significant event, he demonstrated how one can thrive professionally while staying grounded in service, unity, and the spiritual values that define his commitment to humanity.

Spiritual Intelligence Over Artificial Intelligence

Pujya Shobhitswarup Swami’s message on spiritual intelligence offered a refreshing perspective in today’s tech-driven world. “Artificial intelligence may make you look good, but spiritual intelligence will make you good,” he noted, emphasizing the enduring importance of human compassion and empathy over technological progress. His words served as a reminder that personal growth and moral integrity are rooted in spirituality, not machines.

Faith and Unity in Prayer

Pujya Nirdoshswarup Swami and Pujya Shobhitswarup Swami led devotional prayers to various Hindu deities, underlining the importance of respecting and embracing all traditions within Hinduism. Their collective teachings on faith and unity left a deep impact on attendees, reinforcing the central theme of inclusivity.

A Communal Spirit: Bhajans and Service

Hiten Bhuta’s thoughtful introductions of each guest, coupled with the blessings and personal acknowledgments from the Swamis, created an atmosphere of unity and inclusivity. More than a celebration of Hindu unity, the Hindu Hriday Milan highlighted the broader message of understanding and togetherness.

A Shared Meal, A Shared Spirit

The program concluded with an uplifting session of bhajans, followed by a communal meal prepared by BAPS volunteers, embodying the spirit of service. The event showcased the power of collective harmony, uniting participants through shared faith and mutual respect.

Jagatguru Adi Shankaracharya’s Vision - A Call for Unity

The Hindu Hriday Milan program is a small step in the direction of the visionary efforts of Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher who sought to unify Hindu traditions through his teachings. Shankaracharya’s philosophy of Advaita, or non-dualism, aimed to foster spiritual unity and a deeper understanding within Hinduism.

Modern Video & Books On Jagatguru Adi Shankaracharya's Stotras:

Hiten Bhuta, an admirer of Shankaracharya’s work, has dedicated himself to preserving and sharing these teachings in a contemporary context. Through a series of video presentations and books, Bhuta has explored key stotras, including Atma Shatakam, Atma Bodha, Maya Panchakam, Sadhana Panchakam, Shiv Manas Puja, and Dakshinamurthy Stotra. His efforts focus on bringing ancient wisdom into dialogue with modern life, helping others find relevance in Shankaracharya’s timeless message.

Building Bridges: The Role of Sakar Foundation in Hindu Hriday Milan

The Sakar Foundation, established by Hiten Bhuta and his family, was instrumental in the success of the Hindu Hriday Milan program. As a non-profit organization, Sakar Foundation focuses on creating strong, supportive communities, and this event was no exception. With dedicated volunteers working behind the scenes, the foundation ensured that every participant felt welcomed and valued.

Hiten Bhuta's hands-on involvement, along with the support of the BAPS team, contributed to an atmosphere of inclusivity and unity. The collaborative efforts of Sakar Foundation's volunteers helped foster a sense of belonging and mutual respect, making the event a true celebration of community spirit.

Reflections on a Historic Gathering

The Hindu Hriday Milan program was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. Participants expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and be inspired by the wisdom of spiritual leaders.

Comments from Participants:

• “It was a truly inspiring event that brought us closer together as a community.”
• “Thank you for creating such a welcoming and uplifting atmosphere.”
• “I was deeply moved by the spiritual teachings and the sense of unity among the attendees.”
• “This program has rekindled my faith and given me a renewed sense of purpose.”
• “I look forward to attending more events like this in the future.”

The resounding theme of gratitude and appreciation that emerged from the participants’ comments underscored the significance of the Hindu Hriday Milan program. The event served as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity, compassion, and spiritual connection within the Hindu community.

 A Symbol of Unity and Inspiration

The Hindu Hriday Milan program showcased the powerful impact of human connection and the strength found in unity. By bringing together a wide range of spiritual leaders and community members, the event highlighted the value of understanding, tolerance, and cooperation in an increasingly divided world. Attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose, motivated by the vision of a unified Hindu community and hopeful for a future marked by greater harmony and collaboration.

About Sakar Trust

Sakar Jivanvikas Trust (Sakar Foundation) stands true to its Sanskrit name, meaning “to bring into reality.” Dedicated to healthcare, education, human empowerment, and cultural preservation, Sakar transforms communities through innovative projects without charging fees or accepting donations. Recognized globally, including by India’s Prime Minister, Sakar’s impact is felt across countless lives through its H.E.L.P. framework—Healthcare, Education, Life & Culture, and Public Policy. For more information, visit https://www.sakartrust.org.

The Matchbox, a leader in B2B marketing & advertising solutions, proudly announces the launch of its Hybrid AI Media Production Services. This innovative service blends human creativity with advanced AI and ML technologies, enabling the production of customized marketing content at unparalleled speed and scale.

How It Works

Starting with human-driven design to capture a brand’s core message, Hybrid AI leverages generative AI to produce hundreds of creative variations, each tailored to diverse audience segments. This approach allows brands to deliver content that feels authentically human-crafted and resonates personally with viewers. While efficiency is significantly enhanced, the final product maintains the highest professional quality, with no compromise on design or any noticeable AI involvement.

“In an era where personalization is key, our Hybrid AI technology allows brands to resonate with their audience like never before,” said Erik Leavell, Director of Design at The Matchbox. “We’re using AI not to replace creativity but to supercharge it, giving our clients the ability to evolve their message dynamically and effectively." 

Hybrid AI employs top AI tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and Adobe Creative Suite to create visually stunning content across formats, from video to static imagery. By improving turnaround times and streamlining the creative process, The Matchbox’s Hybrid AI maximizes both creative quality and efficiency.

"A/B testing is a legacy approach. We like to use the full alphabet," added Ani Bisaria, CEO of The Matchbox

Join the Future of Advertising

With campaigns showing up to twice the engagement and significantly reduced costs per acquisition, The Matchbox’s Hybrid AI program has already proven its potential to transform marketing strategies for B2B brands.

The Matchbox invites companies to embrace the future of creative production—where AI and human expertise combine to create the most personalized, efficient, and engaging advertising possible.

For more information on Hybrid AI and how it can help your business grow, visit thematchbox.inc/hybrid-ai or book an informational call at thematchbox.inc/contact.

About The Matchbox

The Matchbox is a premier digital marketing and media agency headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. We specialize in scaling mid-market and enterprise companies through a range of services, including paid media, programmatic advertising, media production, and sales/marketing operations. Leveraging both AI and human expertise, we are committed to reshaping work experiences and increasing productivity for our clients around the world. For more information, please visit www.thematchbox.inc.

With just under a month until show time, Charleston Literary Festival is happy to report that the Festival has already sold out of three events, sold out the V.I.P. weekend packages, and seen an increase of 40% on total ticket sales from last year. The Festival is also delighted to announce that it is planning to further its community impact this year by welcoming student groups from 11 different schools and universities in South Carolina and North Carolina.

The full lineup of world-class authors and innovative literary experiences that will feature at the 2024 festival, set to take place from November 1 to November 10 at Dock Street Theatre. Tickets for the 2024 Festival—which boasts 37 events—are on sale now at CharlestonLiteraryFestival.com.

2024 speakers include Nikki Giovanni, Colm Tóibín, Rachel Kushner, Claire Messud, Adam Gopnik, Attica Locke, Chris Whitaker, Geoff Dyer, James Shapiro, Sharon Malone, Michele Norris, David Blight, Jayne Anne Phillips, Ilyon Woo, Ramie Targoff, Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Marie Arana, Paul Murray, and many more.

“This year’s line-up reflects Charleston Literary Festival’s commitment to world-class programming with an international edge and constant innovation in the literary arts,” says Sarah Moriarty, Executive Director of Charleston Literary Festival. “We’re honored to host a 10-day celebration bubbling over with award-winning authors, big ideas, and lively conversations. From producing a world premiere play with an international creative team to launching the CLF Cato Fellowship to promote writers in North and South Carolina, this year’s Festival shows that there are no limits to what we can create in our thriving literary city.”

Charleston History: Charleston READS! Returns With a Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book That Reveals Dock Street Theatre’s Secret History

Event: Master Slave Husband Wife, Ilyon Woo in conversation with Dr. Kim Cliett Long, Founder of the Mayor’s Book Club and Charleston Literary Festival board member

Date and time: Sunday, November 10 at 4 p.m.

Location: Dock Street Theatre

Tickets: Admission is free, but registration required

This year’s Festival will see Ilyon Woo appear in conversation about her novel Master Slave Husband Wife—winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Biography—in a historic location with deep significance, the Dock Street Theatre.

Woo's book is the true story of Ellen and William Craft who pulled off one of the most dramatic escapes in US history by performing, in broad daylight, as master and slave. In 1848, the couple fled in the early hours of the morning by train from Macon to Savannah, where they boarded a steamship bound for Charleston, South Carolina. In Charleston, they stayed the night in Planter’s Hotel before sailing north. What was then the Planter’s Hotel is now The Dock Street Theatre. Festival attendees will hear Ilyon Woo discuss the Crafts and their journey to freedom in the exact building in Charleston where the fleeing couple hid 176 years ago.

Master Slave Husband Wife is the book selection for the third annual Mayor’s Book Club Charleston READS!, a city-wide read-together program launched in 2022 by the Mayor’s Book Club in partnership with Charleston Literary Festival. This event is free for the public; previous Mayor’s Book Club Charleston READS! authors include Imani Perry in 2022 and Elizabeth Dowling Taylor in 2023.

Literary Excellence: Pulitzer Prize-Winners & Booker Nominees 

Two authors longlisted for the UK’s most prestigious award for fiction, the 2024 Booker Prize, will appear at the Festival in November. Rachel Kushner will discuss her wickedly funny novel dealing with espionage and eco-warriors, Creation Lake with Post and Courier editor-at-large, Autumn Phillips. Claire Messud will discuss her novel This Strange Eventful History, about exile and homecoming, with broadcaster, Georgina Godwin.

Two 2024 Pulitzer Prize winners will be in attendance at the Festival. As mentioned above, Ilyon Woo will speak about Master Slave Husband Wife. Jayne Anne Phillips will discuss her novel Night Watch, which won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction—a mother-daughter story set in a genteel asylum in West Virginia around the time of the Civil War.

Literary Excellence: Nikki Giovanni on Poetry and Legacy 

Event: Nikki Giovanni in conversation with Dr. Tonya Matthews

Date and time: Monday, November 4 at noon

Location: Dock Street Theatre

Tickets: Admission is $30

Charleston Literary Festival is partnering with the International African American Museum (IAAM) on programming for the second year running to bring literary icon, Nikki Giovanni.

Renowned for her five-decade career as a poet and activist, Prof. Giovanni has captivated audiences with her conviction, humor, and devotion to telling her truth as a Black woman. The collaboration between Charleston Literary Festival and IAAM demonstrates great alignment between the two organizations and their complementary missions to illuminate untold stories of the African American experience.

In this marquee event, Prof. Giovanni will be in conversation with Dr. Tonya Matthews, CEO of IAAM. This is an important opportunity for audiences to share and embrace conversations with one of the most important poets of our time.

World-Class Programming With an International Edge

Charleston Literary Festival maintains its international edge by featuring six authors from the UK, two authors from Ireland, and the current Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Kwame Dawes. 

International Poetry with a South Carolina Connection

Event: Kwame Dawes & Kimiko Hahn: Fortunate Travelers

Date and time: Monday, November 4 at 2 p.m.

Location: Dock Street Theatre

Tickets: Admission is $30

Kwame Dawes is the author of twenty books of poetry and numerous other books of fiction, criticism, and essays. Dawes was born in Ghana, spent most of his childhood and early adult life in Jamaica, and then from 1992 to 2012, he was professor of English and distinguished poet-in-residence at the University of South Carolina. In 2009 Dawes was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors. He is currently  University of Nebraska as the Glenna Luschel Professor of English and the editor of Prairie Schooner. 

New Yorker Kimiko Hahn, born the child of artists—a Japanese American mother from Hawai‘i and a German American father from Wisconsin, earned a master’s degree in Japanese literature from Columbia University. Hahn is the author of ten collections of poetry, including The Ghost Forest: New and Selected Poems (W. W. Norton, 2024); Foreign Bodies (W. W. Norton, 2020); and The Unbearable Heart (Kaya Production, 1995), which received an American Book Award. 

Dawes and Hahn with be in conversation with former South Carolina Poet Laureate, Marjory Wentworth.

Celebrating Franz Kafka 

Event: Ross Benjamin & Mark Harman: A Kafka Centenary Celebration

Date and time: Thursday, November 7 at 4 p.m.

Location: Dock Street Theatre

Tickets: Admission is $30

In celebration of the centenary of German-language writer Franz Kafka’s death, two of the most important English-language translators of Kafka’s work: Ross Benjamin, author of an essential new translation of Kafka’s diaries, The Diaries of Franz Kafka, and Mark Harman, author of a highly praised new collection of Kafka’s short stories, Selected Stories, will discuss Kafka’s worlds and the lasting impact of his work. This event is recognized as part of Project Kafka 2024—a global Kafka festival to celebrate the writer’s centenary coordinated by the Adalbert Stifter Association and the Prague City Library.

Diverse Range of Authors and Genres: There’s Something for Everyone!

At A Glance: Fiction & Poetry

In the categories of fiction and poetry, Charleston Literary Festival 2024 will feature a host of award-winning, internationally acclaimed literary heavyweights including sessions featuring:

• Nikki Giovanni, internationally-renowned poet and activist, will appear to speak about her life in poetry, in partnership with the International African American Museum
• Jayne Anne Phillips, on Night Watch, winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction  
• Claire Messud on This Strange Eventful History, nominated for the 2024 Booker Prize 
• Rachel Kushner, on Creation Lake, nominated for the Booker Prize in 2024
• Irish writer Colm Tóibín on Long Island, a 2024 Oprah’s Book Club pick 
• English writer Chris Whitaker on All the Colors of the Dark, a 2024 Jenna’s Book Club pick
• Irish writer Paul Murray on The Bee Sting, nominated for the Booker Prize in 2023
• Attica Locke, Guide Me Home, New York Times bestselling author

At A Glance: Nonfiction Themes

When it comes to nonfiction: the Festival will feature the following themes:

• "Sport and endings" with English writer, Geoff Dyer, in The Last Days of Roger Federer
• "The Dreyfus Affair" with Maurice Samuels and Adam Gopnik 
• "Hollywood scandal" with Griffin Dunne discussing his memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club
• "Politics and corporate influence" with Brody Mullins and Luke Mullins in The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government
• "Theater and democracy" with James Shapiro in The Playbook
• "Art and why it matters" with Bianca Bosker in Get the Picture
• "Women’s health and happiness" with Sharon Malone in Grown Woman Talk
• "Race and the U.S." with Michele Norris in Our Hidden Conversations
• "Home and exile" with André Aciman in Roman Year 
• "Classics" with Emily Wilson and Judith Thurman as they discuss Wilson’s translation of The Iliad
• "Education and the legacy of slavery" with David Blight in Yale and Slavery: A History
• "Shakespeare’s female contemporaries" with Ramie Targoff in Shakespeare’s Sisters
• "Politics and philosophy" with Michael J. Sandel in Democracy’s Discontent
• "Memory and how we remember" with neuroscientist Dr. Charan Ranganath
• "Patriarchy and how men came to rule" with Angela Saini 
• And more!

Community Commitment: Fostering the Next Generation of Writers and Readers & Community Partnerships

Charleston Literary Festival is delighted to again name the College of Charleston as the Festival’s official Academic Partner. This continued partnership offers opportunities for meaningful connections between visiting authors and College of Charleston students, staff, and faculty. Charleston Literary Festival offers heavily discounted tickets for students, staff, and faculty, as well as internship opportunities for students.

“Partnering with the festival is a great opportunity for the College’s faculty, staff, students and alumni to engage with the literary community,” says Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Suzanne Austin. 

Charleston Literary Festival will also renew its partnership with Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) this year—in an effort to increase accessibility for sessions and titles, the Festival will partner with the Library on a number of initiatives including a dedicated Festival widget on the CCPL’s Libby app. 

“The Library is a community connector, so we appreciate the opportunity to provide access to the titles featured in this year’s Charleston Literary Festival,” said CCPL Executive Director Angela Craig.

CCPL will also livestream three events at Charleston Literary Festival into CCPL branches this year in an effort to increase access to the programming.

CCPL Livestreaming Events at Local Branches

Event: Michele Norris with Kerri Forrest: Our Hidden Conversations

Date and time: Saturday, November 2 at 2–3 p.m.

Location: Dorchester Road Library (6325 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston, SC 29418)

Tickets: Admission is free

Event: A Conversation with Nikki Giovanni: Nikki Giovanni with Tonya Matthews

Date and time: Monday, November 4 at 12–1 p.m.

Location: Bees Ferry West Ashley Library (2020 Proximity Dr, Charleston, SC 29414)

Tickets: Admission is free

Event: Colm Tóibín with Bilal Qureshi

Date and time: Saturday, November 9 at 12–1 p.m.

Location: Charleston County Library (68 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401)

Tickets: Admission is free

Offers for Burgeoning Writers

Charleston Literary Festival’s Young Writers Awards will return bigger and better than ever. The awards are open to public high school students in Charleston County. The Festival will give awards to nine students competing in three creative writing categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. The nine winners will receive a small cash prize, certificate, gift bag, and the opportunity to open a session at the Festival by reading their work onstage at Dock Street Theatre.

To learn more about the Young Writers Awards, visit https://www.charlestonliteraryfestival.com/young-writers-awards.

2024 also sees the launch of a brand new initiative: the Charleston Literary Festival Cato Fellowship Prize to support and nurture emerging writers in North Carolina and South Carolina. The two winning Fellows will receive full access to Charleston Literary Festival’s sessions and receptions, a writing residency in Dock Street Theatre, free accommodations in downtown Charleston, networking and collaborative opportunities beyond the Festival, and a stipendiary of $7,500 to allow them to further their writing career as they see fit. The Festival has just announced the shortlist of 12 writers. The winning fellows will be announced in mid-October.

Innovative Programming: Charleston Literary Festival Prides Itself in Offering a Range of Literary Happenings

A Theatrical Debate

Event: DEBATE: Baldwin v. Buckley

Date and time: Monday, November 4 at 6 p.m.

Location: Dock Street Theatre

Tickets: Admission is $35

In a true opportunity to Embrace the Conversation and witness the art of how to disagree at its best, on November 4, the 2024 Festival features Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley. Staged by Brooklyn-based theater company, the american vicarious, the play is a theatrical interpretation of the historic 1965 Cambridge Union debate between James Baldwin, leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, and William F. Buckley Jr., U.S.’s most influential conservative intellectual of the time.

World Premiere Theater: Patrick Bringley’s All The Beauty In The World 

Event: All The Beauty In The World

Date and time: Friday, November 8 and Sunday, November 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Location: Dock Street Theatre

Tickets: Admission is $45

A serendipitous meeting at last year's festival brought together author, Patrick Bringley, and British theater director, Dominic Dromgoole, who have partnered to create All The Beauty In The World, a stage play starring Bringley and directed by Dromgoole, the former artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London. This monologue play has been adapted from Bringley’s book All The Beauty In The World and is produced by Charleston Literary Festival with the help of Spoleto Festival USA.

The play is a fascinating, revelatory portrait of one man who spent ten years as a museum guard in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bringley’s story of museum treasures, grief, and what art does for us will be brought to life as a one-man-show for the first time ever on stage at Charleston Literary Festival.

Destination Literary Event: Charleston Literary Festival 

Explore Charleston is helping to spread the word that Charleston is a robust literary and cultural center and Charleston Literary Festival is a must-see, signature cultural event. For the first time ever, the Festival is offering special weekend passes with exclusive offers to our increasing number of out-of-town visitors. 

Charleston Literary Festival has solidified a reputation as an intimate, carefully-curated, high-quality event with strong international influences. These hallmarks have made it a perfect complement to our region's lineup of longer-standing festivals and a great addition to our ever-evolving artistic and cultural landscape. Charleston provides the ideal setting for such distinctive programming, and we know this fall's event is sure to raise the bar through new elements such as VIP weekend experiences."

—Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston

Weekend Packages

• Click here for V.I.P. Weekend 1 details
• Click here for V.I.P. Weekend 2 details

Note: V.I.P. WEEKEND PACKAGES ARE NOW SOLD OUT!

Opening Party: A Black and White Masquerade

Event: Black and White Masquerade

Date and time: Friday, November 1 at 8 p.m.

Location: Festival Hall

Tickets: For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.charlestonliteraryfestival.com/masked-literary-feast

We are kicking off Charleston Literary Festival like never before with a Black and White Masquerade inspired by the legendary Black and White Ball that writer Truman Capote threw at the Plaza Hotel in New York in November 1966.

Experience a mysterious world of marvelous masks and luminous literati at Festival Hall on November 1 at 8 p.m. Join us to welcome our authors to Charleston and celebrate our guest of honor, artistic director and literary legend, Diana Reich. 

Our M.C. for the evening is Landon Bryant, a.k.a. Instagram personality @LandonTalks. The evening will also feature literary interludes from Laurence Leamer, author of Capote’s Women; Stephen Graham, son of Katharine Graham (Capote’s original guest of honor), and Asiah Mae, Charleston Poet Laureate.

Tickets and Information

Tickets for all sessions and events are now available for purchase at CharlestonLiteraryFestival.com:

• Individual session tickets start at $30
• All Session Access Passes for the entire festival: $675
• Tickets to the Black and White Masquerade start at $350 and are available here

For more information about the festival schedule, author biographies, and event details, please visit CharlestonLiteraryFestival.com or follow us on Instagram at @charlestonlitfest.

To make sure you stay up to date, sign up for our newsletter at https://www.charlestonliteraryfestival.com/newsletter

We encourage you to buy your books locally. You can buy your books at Charleston Literary Festival official bookseller: Buxton Books, located at 160 King Street. You can also check titles out at the Charleston County Public Library, or download or listen to Festival books from the library on the Libby app.

About Charleston Literary Festival

Charleston Literary Festival is a boutique literary festival with an international edge that takes place every November in Charleston, South Carolina. The Festival presents ten days of top-tier literary programming with an international edge—featuring world-class authors and thinkers in lively conversation. A champion of the free exchange of ideas, Charleston Literary Festival's work fosters the next generation of readers and writers in the Southeast with student programs, awards, and an emerging writers fellowship. Previous speakers at Charleston Literary Festival include: Margaret Atwood, Geraldine Brooks, Tina Brown, Hernan Diaz, Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Yaa Gyasi, Patrick Radden Keefe, Ian McEwan, Joyce Carol Oates, Imani Perry, George Saunders, Claire Keegan, Simon Schama, Richard Ford, Safiya Sinclair, Lorrie Moore, Jeannette Winterson, and many more. For further information, visit CharlestonLiteraryFestival.com.

LifeRx.md is pleased to announce that it now accepts CareCredit, offering patients a new, flexible way to manage healthcare expenses. In addition to existing payment options like HSA (health savings accounts) and FSA (flexible spending accounts), CareCredit makes it easier than ever for patients to prioritize their health without financial strain.

“At LifeRx.md, we believe healthcare should be accessible and affordable,” said Mitch Horn, CEO of LifeRx.md. “By adding CareCredit, we’re giving patients more control over how they manage their health costs, so they can focus on getting the care they need without the stress of upfront payments.”

CareCredit is a healthcare credit card designed specifically for health and wellness expenses. It allows patients to spread out the cost of various treatments and services over time, making it easier to invest in their health.

What you can use CareCredit for:

• Medication costs and shipping: Patients can use CareCredit to cover the cost of their prescribed medications and shipping and handling charges at LifeRx.md.
• Consultation fees and follow-up appointments: For consultation or follow-up appointment fees, you can additionally use CareCredit if your card has a Visa or Mastercard logo. Otherwise consultation fees must be paid separately.

How does CareCredit work?

• Simple application process: Applying for CareCredit is quick and easy, with instant approval decisions available online.
• Accepted for health services at LifeRx.md: Patients approved for CareCredit can use it to pay for a range of services at LifeRx.md, including weight management solutions, treatments prescribed by our healthcare providers, and shipping and handling costs. Please note that consultation fees must be paid separately using a Visa or Mastercard.
• Flexible financing options: CareCredit offers promotional financing options, allowing patients to start their treatments right away with flexible, manageable payments.

LifeRx.md provides services without the need for insurance, ensuring that patients can access care with flexible payment plans tailored to fit their financial situation. To learn more about using CareCredit at LifeRx.md or to explore the services offered, visit LifeRx.md.

About LifeRx.md

LifeRx.md is dedicated to providing personalized, expert care tailored to each patient’s unique needs. With a range of health and wellness services, LifeRx.md empowers patients to take control of their well-being, offering flexible payment solutions that make healthcare more accessible. To learn more, visit LifeRx.md.

Simplified Clinical Data Systems is pleased to announce the next step in the drive for Zero Data Entry™ in clinical trial data collection. Available for immediate release is seamless integration with Microsoft/Nuance’s Dragon Medical One speech-driven clinical documentation companion. Dragon Medical One, as the industry’s #1 rated conversational AI workflow assistant and documentation companion, gives clinicians a hands-free option for completing electronic Case Report Forms (eCRFs) using a tool with which they are already familiar.

This significant development compliments previous enhancements to its Clinical Discovery Platform that include AI-driven medical Text Analytics (from Microsoft) and direct data capture from electronic health record systems. John Schwope, president of Simplified Clinical, states, “This latest product enhancement further demonstrates our unwavering commitment to reduce clinical research cost/timelines, improve data quality, and minimize the administrative burden placed on research coordinators and investigators.”

As a member of Microsoft’s AI Cloud Partner Program, Simplified Clinical is combining its 20 year history of delivering client-driven clinical research data management systems with the latest from Microsoft Azure/Cloud for Healthcare. The integration with Dragon Medical One further solidifies this partnership and a shared vision for the future of clinical research. 

Mr. Schwope added, “Our relationship with Microsoft started many years ago and continues to deliver significant value to our clients and their investigational partners. We are excited to bring the future of clinical research to our sponsors, investigators, and coordinators to help improve patient care."

For more information about Simplified Clinical’s expanded interoperability capabilities and how it can benefit your clinical trials, please visit SimplifiedClinical.com.

About Simplified Clinical

Simplified Clinical pioneers clinical trial software innovation, supported by a strategic partnership with Microsoft Azure/Cloud for Healthcare. Our commitment to AI, cloud computing, and interoperability standards like FHIR® drives efficiencies and unlocks new possibilities in clinical research. Leveraging Azure’s infrastructure, we accelerate data collection and analysis, offering sponsors unparalleled value. With a vision for zero/near-zero data entry, we're shaping the future of healthcare technology, benefiting patients, clients, and stakeholders. For more information, visit SimplifiedClinical.com.

Prohaska Consulting, the award-winning global digital consultancy, today announced the launch of ProNews, a collective of publishers delivering high-quality news content and filling a unique space for advertisers to reach more news consumers in a brand-safe environment.

In an exclusive partnership with one of the world's largest supply-side platforms (SSPs), Index Exchange, this offering creates a streamlined way to reach highly desired news audiences. ProNews is now available as a marketplace atop Index Marketplaces, a flexible platform that leverages Index Exchange's programmatic infrastructure, streamlining access to quality publishers.

“ProNews is the natural evolution of our efforts over the past year, bringing together news publishers, agencies, and advertisers to solve the challenges associated with advertising on news and to drive revenue back into the category,” said Matt Prohaska, CEO & Principal, at Prohaska Consulting. “It started with our award-winning initiative The Rebranding of News. It is all about boosting direct revenue for the most important and respected publishers in the industry, and delivering the incomparable news audience to advertisers in those brand-safe environments, without the overuse and overblocking from brand safety technologies.”

ProNews will offer curated inventory in quality news content from a collection of premium publishers. The offering will enable buyers to complement single publisher ad buys with an array of top-tier, high-quality news publishers in PG/PMP deals, and deliver their audience above the fray of the open auction. ProNews will use semantic and contextual filtering, plus publishers’ solutions for brand safety, including the publisher-driven blocking of inappropriate content.

“We’re excited by the opportunities that ProNews brings to the table,” said Stephani Estes, Chief Media Officer at Goodway Group. “We believe in the value of news audiences and their ability to drive results for our clients. Too much of the industry has taken an overly cautious approach to reaching this audience when it’s possible to do that in brand-safe environments.  We think ProNews is a vehicle that can bring them back.”

The digital media industry has been awash in discussion and efforts to combat disinformation, support credible journalism, and address overzealous brand safety measures. This includes significant research published by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), and leading global agency group Stagwell which point to news content creating a highly favorable environment for brands. Among the data points that support news as the place to be for advertisers:

• 94% of news consumers have a neutral or positive perception of brands advertising in quality news content (2024 IAB News Survey)
• 88% of news consumers have a neutral or positive perception of brands advertising in quality serious/breaking news content (2024 IAB News Survey)
• Among GenZ, purchase intent for brands whose ads were placed next to articles on inflation and the U.S. economy was 66%​ (2024 Stagwell, Future of News Study)

“Our partnership with ProNews reflects our shared commitment to supporting quality journalism,” said Andrew Casale, president and CEO of Index Exchange. “By leveraging our supply-side infrastructure, we are creating an environment where premium publishers can thrive, and marketers can confidently connect with trusted news audiences at scale.”  

“We’re building a collective of the industry’s best publishers, offering the best audience, and clearly the best advertisers will gravitate there,” said Prohaska. “Everyone knows it’s a challenge for the industry to address, and we’re aiming to tackle it in the same way we solve problems for our clients. By using our collective experience and bringing partners together.”

Sales efforts will be led by Prohaska Consulting’s Magnify division, a custom-assembled team of industry veterans with extensive networks. For more information on ProNews, visit www.pronews.co.

About Prohaska Consulting

Prohaska Consulting is an award-winning global digital consultancy that provides strategic advisory services to clients across the marketing technology landscape. Described by clients as “connectors, disruptors, and data leaders,” Team Prohaska has helped more than 600 companies (brands, publishers agencies, tech, trade groups, and more) grow revenue, create business opportunities, and increase operational effectiveness & efficiency. The company is globally headquartered in New York City, with more than 100 full-time, fractional, and active freelance teammates around the world. Learn more at www.prohaskaconsulting.com.

About Index Exchange

Index Exchange is a global advertising supply-side platform enabling media owners to maximize the value of their content on any screen. We’re a proud industry pioneer with over 20 years of experience connecting leading experience makers with the world’s largest brands to ensure a quality experience for consumers. To learn more, visit: www.indexexchange.com.

On September 23, the Dominican police and prosecution missed the third court-mandated deadline to deliver evidence discovery in the ongoing case against Jonathan Lehrer—the first being in March followed by July and now September. In an incident that ignited widespread public and media attention, U.S. citizen Jonathan Lehrer was arrested and charged with the murder of Daniel Langlois with no evidence or eyewitness to the crime. Police claim Lehrer was a person of interest and arrested due to an ongoing lawsuit that Langlois brought against Lehrer concerning the usage of a road on Lehrer’s property. Lehrer has now been in Dominican prison since December 2023 with no evidence brought against him.

Even though the Dominican police, led by both Chief of Police Davidson Valerie and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Jeffrey James, publicly claimed as early as February they have ample evidence to easily close the case, they have not been able to provide any evidence (forensic or witness) in more than nine months that legally demonstrates a tie between Jonathan Lehrer and the crime. The discovery evidence demanded by the magistrates include other elements like the autopsy report, crime scene photos, international expert investigation reports, financial reports, DNA analysis report, vehicle forensic report, GSR and lab reports of tested clothing samples, and supporting chain of custody documentation—all of which the police have stated they have but have refused to share with the defense to date. State Magistrates and the High Court of Dominica have mandated three different deadlines for said evidence discovery and the prosecution has missed every deadline with impunity as Jonathan remains in jail, without even a preliminary hearing.

“The police acted very irresponsibly, very unprofessional and I believe without regard for the law, as they arrested me without any evidence. They acted so quickly, it seems impossible that they could have investigated any other options to this case—to them it was me or nothing. That’s just not how investigations are done,” stated Jonathan Lehrer via his attorney. “They basically arrested me on pure suspicion and subsequently gave multiple statements implicating me at press conferences (as early as February) stating they had all the evidence they needed to close the case. The police portrayed me as guilty to everyone, including the international community, the press, and the people of Dominica. Since those press conferences, they have failed at every court-mandated step to provide any evidence and are now, going on ten months later, complaining to the State that they need more and more time to gather additional evidence. In the meantime, I’m left in a maximum security prison. I’m very ill and I’m being denied medical facilities for needed treatments. There is a good chance that I will die in here and they all know it—one has to wonder if that’s the police endgame.”

Jonathan has been incarcerated in Dominican jail where he is suffering from multiple health issues—most notably the significant possibility of prostate cancer. The Minister of National Security, Raymond Blackmoore, and the Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Jeffrey Edmund, continue to deny any access to treat the possible prostate cancer claiming there is no definitive diagnosis for the disease, but there are no resources on Dominica to make the diagnosis and Lehrer was not allowed to leave the island under Dominican custody to get a definitive answer on the matter. Jonathan has also been denied any access to outside medical assistance, including requested phone calls with prostate cancer specialists.

Moreover, Raymond Blackmoore continues to refuse any and all press access to Jonathan even though the Dominican Constitution (in Section 10) states individuals have a right to "receive and communicate ideas and information without interference." Even worse, while a U.S. citizen is kept in prison without evidence for more than ten months, the U.S. Embassy and State Department have refused to step in on the matter.

Jonathan Lehrer is represented by Pilgrim & Associates.

About KCT Chambers

KCT Chambers is a law chambers located in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was established out of a desire to help individuals and entities capitalize on opportunities, enforce rights, resolve existing challenges and preempt future ones. We believe in practical and legally grounded solutions and are guided by the core principles of accessibility, integrity and diligence. In order to achieve these objectives we apply a progressive, responsive and client-centred approach which is built upon detailed analysis of legal rights and obligations and the provision of clear, timely and consistent advice. For more information, visit https://kctchambers.com.

About Andrew O. G. Pilgrim Q.C.

Mr. Pilgrim is the founder of Pilgrim & Associates, the largest law chambers in Barbados to have a focus on criminal litigation. With over 25 years in practice, he is renowned throughout Barbados and the English-speaking Caribbean for his passionate and inspired representation of his clients. He has leveraged his wealth of knowledge and exceptional oratorical and analytical skills in a plethora of cases which have led to landmark decisions of the Court of Appeal of Barbados and the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The Female Quotient (The FQ), an experience and media company advancing gender equality in the workplace, today is launching a new social awareness campaign featuring girls from 10–17 years old proclaiming they have the power to be in the career they want when they grow up. This is in collaboration with Être, a mentorship ecosystem closing the confidence gap by bringing girls directly into companies and face to face with female leaders. An F1 driver, a Supreme Court justice, a CEO, and an Olympic medalist are some of the variety of careers the girls not only want, but understand they have the power from within to be. The #iamINPOWERED print and digital campaign debuts on October 10 followed by print and digital media beginning on October 11, International Day of the Girl.

"Today and everyday, girls should know they aren’t ‘empowered’, they are ‘inpowered," said Shelley Zalis, founder and CEO of The Female Quotient. "Let’s lose ‘empower’ from our vocabulary. Power isn’t something given, it’s something girls already possess."

To launch this campaign, The Female Quotient will be launching the word “inpowered” on its social channels on October 11, with a call to action for it’s community of 5.5 million women in business to start shifting the vernacular from "empowered" to "inpowered" and is also rallying support to have Merriam-Webster add the word to the official dictionary.

#GirlsAreInpower also kicks off with a mentoring event featuring 25 Être girls and 15 women leaders from The FQ community representing over a dozen industries, with another mentoring event following the next day. The two mentoring events on October 10 and 11 are filled with pairing and sharing activities between girls and women business leaders from companies including Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Clear Channel, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The agenda includes pairing sessions in girls’ areas of interest and speed sessions to explore careers the girls might not otherwise have been exposed to, such as cybersecurity and AI.

"At Être, we understand that girls’ confidence isn’t built in isolation; it is bolstered and strengthened through meaningful connections," said Illana Raia, founder and CEO of Être. "Our most recent Être survey revealed a troubling 20% drop in girls’ confidence between the ages of 13 and 18, a critical time for their development. But the survey also showed that 91% of girls today say they believe higher confidence is directly related to mentorship."

"By creating opportunities for girls to engage face-to-face with inspiring female leaders early," Raia continued, "we’re not just bridging the confidence gap—we're nurturing a generation of girls that know their potential. Not enough girls have access to mentorships. Creating these mentor moments early—before that confidence drop can start—we’re changing girls' outlook on the power they have, one boardroom at a time."

The Être girls featured in the campaign include published authors, TED-Ed speakers, broadcast journalists, artists and athletes - all pursuing powerful dreams while navigating middle school and high school with epic mentors at their sides.

"The word empower is something that is used so often in relation to women and girls yet you never hear 'empower boys' or about an empowering event for men," said Caroline Dettman, Chief Marketing and Creative Officer at The Female Quotient. "'I am INPOWERED’ is a reminder to us all to check our biased language and most importantly, to come together as women in business and celebrate the power inherent in women and girls. Together, we change the world."

The FQ will feature the campaign in the New York Times and The Guardian US. Clear Channel and Outfront will feature the print and video campaign on Times Square Billboards, along with The FQ’s social channels including Instagram and Linkedin. The FQ is currently the fastest growing digital media business, and the campaign is expected to engage the 5.5 million followers within The FQ community.

About The Female Quotient

The Female Quotient (The FQ) is a woman-owned business creating experiences, media and research for conscious leaders and companies committed to advancing women in the workplace. As an engine of equality, The FQ offers visibility and connections for women at a global scale. The FQ’s signature Equality Lounge® has changed the business agenda at tentpole business conferences including CES, Davos, Cannes Lions and more. As the Business of Equality®, The FQ’s mission is to change the equation and close the gender gap. For more information on the Business of Equality®, visit thefemalequotient.com and join the equality conversation on social @femalequotient on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Être

Être is a mentorship ecosystem that brings girls directly into companies and face to face with female leaders. Launched in 2016 by former corporate attorney Illana Raia, Être paves the way for girls’ futures by ushering them into the boardroom. Être has empowered tens of thousands of girls to sit in boardroom chairs, raise hands in UN council chambers, stand on Spotify stages and ring NASDAQ bells, and has garnered the likes of nationally recognized icons including Gloria Steinem, Tyra Banks and Lilly Ledbetter. Être has been highlighted by Forbes, TODAY, NASDAQ and recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas in 2021 and 2022. For more information visit www.etregirls.com.

The Real Feel, the first real-time human sentiment and insights platform for people and businesses, today announced that it has officially launched in the U.S.

Revolutionizing the way organizations understand human sentiment, The Real Feel polls Americans each week about how they are feeling. Through its platform, visual heatmap, and AI capabilities, it can now break down sentiment across gender, age group, race, political party, and other demographic attributes. The platform has already collected sentiment data from its first week, revealing intriguing trends, including the happiest demographic, the saddest demographic, and the happiest weekday. All data is packaged into weekly reports and files available for purchase.

The Real Feel's ability to collect and analyze real-time sentiment data across various demographic groups provides unique and valuable insights into the emotions and opinions of Americans. This data will be crucial for organizations' understanding of macro trends, as well as consumer behaviors and preferences across different segments of the population, especially as the 2024 Presidential Election approaches.

The company, founded by Lisa Hu, a three-time entrepreneur, is leveraging her experience in technology and media to bring this first-to-market solution to fruition. "We are thrilled to launch The Real Feel at such an important moment. Organizations of all types need better access to real-time sentiment data to make informed decisions—whether it's launching a product that customers will love, passing laws that truly reflect what people want, or decoding the behavior of specific demographics and understanding why. Our goal is to create a more nuanced understanding of how people are feeling and tie the data to decision-making across various industries."

The Real Feel will expand its reach and gather sentiment data tailored to different private and public sectors, as well as develop deeper trend reporting and future analysis tools to provide more valuable insights.

For more information, please visit The Real Feel at https://www.therealfeel.ai.

About The Real Feel

Founded in 2024, The Real Feel is the first real-time human sentiment and insights platform for people and businesses. By capturing and analyzing sentiment data in real time using polling and AI, we enable individuals to track their feelings and provide businesses with detailed, anonymous insights to inform better decisions. Our diverse customer base includes data and marketing intelligence companies, financial institutions, tech firms, brands, agencies, government institutions, and media organizations. For more information, visit therealfeel.ai.

Botanic Tonics, maker of the popular feel free, announced today that it has achieved a significant milestone in the competitive convenience store market. feel free has now surpassed 5-hour Energy in its first major national convenience store chain partner, marking a pivotal moment for the company and the broader herbal supplement industry. This achievement is based on NIQ sales data for the four weeks ending September 28, 2024. 

This rapid ascent and displacement of a long-established brand is particularly noteworthy given that 5-hour Energy has been a staple in convenience stores for over 20 years, while Botanic Tonics entered the market just three years ago, and in this national chain only 4 months ago. This success speaks volumes about changing consumer preferences and the strong appeal of Botanic Tonics' premium plant-based herbal supplements. 

"Dethroning 5-hour Energy, a 20-year industry giant, in just four months showcases the sheer force of our innovative approach. We're not just competing; we're completely reshaping the market," said Cameron Korehbandi, CEO of Botanic Tonics. "Our single SKU, feel free, is outperforming 5-hour Energy's entire lineup of over 30 product variations. This isn't a one-off success—we're replicating this achievement across 13 business units of this national retailer, as well as in our independent and chain partnerships nationwide. It's irrefutable evidence that consumers are demanding change, and feel free is spearheading that revolution. We're not merely succeeding; we're poised to fundamentally transform the entire convenience store landscape." 

Botanic Tonics' flagship product, feel free CLASSIC, has gained popularity for its use of natural ingredients, including kava root, kratom leaf, and other botanicals. The company has distinguished itself through its commitment to transparency, quality, and consumer education. 

"Our year-over-year growth has been nothing short of explosive, with our store count skyrocketing from 10,000 to 27,000 in just one year," said Chris Elebesunu, Senior Vice President of Sales at Botanic Tonics. "This remarkable expansion isn't just about numbers—it's a clear vote of confidence from consumers who are choosing feel free over established brands."

This milestone comes just days after Botanic Tonics announced its position as a top 10 manufacturer in the energy category for total convenience store sales. The company's rapid growth continues, with its products now available in over 27,000 stores nationwide, including placement in two of the top five national convenience store chains. 

"We're going toe-to-toe with industry giants in the convenience store space and coming out on top," Elebesunu added. "As the fastest-growing brand in our category, we're attracting attention from national retailers who don't want to miss out on this momentum. Our success proves we're not just filling a gap in the market—we're reshaping it entirely. And the truly exciting part is that we are just getting started." 

Commitment to Quality, Safety and Consumer Education 

Botanic Tonics manufactures its products in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified production plant in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The company has invested heavily in safety testing, quality control measures, and clinical research to ensure product efficacy and safety. 

As Botanic Tonics continues to grow and capture market share, it remains committed to responsible manufacturing practices, clear labeling, and consumer education. The company supports appropriate regulation of the kratom industry and continues to advocate for consumer safety through robust labeling requirements and responsible manufacturing standards.

Disclaimer: Consume responsibly. Adults 21 years of age and older only. To learn more, visit our Consumer Education page.

About Botanic Tonics

Botanic Tonics is a plant-based herbal supplement company headquartered in Broken Arrow, OK. Established in 2020, it produces kava-forward tonics under its feel free brand. Its signature product, feel free CLASSIC, is crafted with ancient functional plants to provide mood lift, energy, and focus. Botanic Tonics’ products are manufactured in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility and actively supports consumer safety regulations through transparent labeling and educational resources. Learn more at https://botanictonics.com.

Medialister, a new platform aimed at simplifying the management of sponsored content, officially launched this month. Designed for brand managers, media buyers and content marketers, Medialister connects brands with news media outlets to facilitate editorial ad placements.

Developed by PRNEWS.IO, a fast-growing PR-tech company, the platform offers access to over 100,000 media outlets, delivering extensive reach and data-driven insights. With Medialister, brands can better optimize their investment in sponsored content, making it easier to manage and measure their paid media efforts.

Cost-Effective Paid Content Solutions

Initially focusing on news text content, Medialister plans to expand its capabilities to include other media formats such as podcasts, newsletters, social media, influencers, billboards and print media in future updates. The platform serves as a comprehensive project management system, facilitating each stage of the paid content process from placement to publication, thereby ensuring greater control and efficiency for users.

“Medialister is designed to address the inefficiencies and high costs traditionally associated with branded content”, said Alexander Storozhuk, Medialister founder. “Our platform offers a predictable and cost-effective approach, enabling brands to effectively reach their target audience while providing media outlets with stable revenue streams and simplifying complex sales processes.”

Medialister connects brands with various media outlets, offering an array of editorial formats, from sponsored articles and expert interviews to integrated brand stories and advertorials. The system simplifies negotiating and managing these partnerships, ensuring that brands and media outlets can collaborate effectively to reach their target audiences.

Commitment to Value and Efficiency

Medialister was founded by Alexander Storozhuk, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, and his longtime associate Alexander Nigmatulin. The duo previously launched PRNEWS.IO, a successful PR content distribution platform that serves 30,000 clients in 96 countries.

The effectiveness of PRNEWS.IO’s solutions is highlighted by its client and publisher partners. Sergey Galanin, Director of SEO at Phonexa, shared his positive experience: “Our experience with PRNEWS.IO has been highly efficient. They deliver results quickly, offer a range of tailored PR solutions and remain cost-effective. The platform has been a valuable asset in supporting our overall communication strategy.”

Ruth Robson, Key Account Director at Reach plc, the UK’s and Ireland’s largest commercial news publisher, added: “I have always found working with PRNEWS.IO a positive and personable experience; they keep the client's needs central to everything they do.”

The positive feedback from industry professionals further underscores PRNEWS.IO’s commitment to delivering value and efficiency—qualities that Medialister continues to embody as it makes its entry into the market.

“Through Medialister, brands can become part of the narrative, reaching readers within the content they are already engaged with. This goes beyond traditional display ads, offering a more nuanced and impactful approach to advertising,” adds Nigmatulin.

About Medialister

Medialister is a sponsored content platform that connects brands with news media outlets to facilitate editorial ad placements. With access to over 100,000 media outlets, we deliver extensive reach and data-driven insights, enabling brands to easily manage and measure paid media and optimize their investment in sponsored content. For more information, visit https://medialister.com.

The Global Kratom Coalition objects to the position put forward by American Kratom Association and the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) that 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) products be regulated in the same way as kratom.

In an AKA/HART press event, all panel members stated that 7OH products are for pain relief and opioid use disorder. Unapproved new drug claims of this kind are already being made by HART members as seen in the recent Kratom Advocacy Podcast. GKC emphasizes that such claims cause 7OH products to be drugs as defined by the FDA and therefore unlawful to sell without prior FDA drug approval.

Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) Executive Director Matthew Lowe responded to the AKA’s announcement: "The GKC believes that 7OH products should be treated as controlled substances. These semi-synthetic products, that are more potent than morphine, pose significant potential public health risks and are being marketed as drugs. Rebranding does not mitigate the danger of selling a pure opioid without restriction. 7OH isolates should be regulated as any other drug product would be. It is my opinion that today’s announcement is a clear effort to create a loophole in existing state laws to open the flood gates to unregulated 7OH products to be sold freely in smoke shops."

"Our position remains that 7OH products should be deemed controlled substances. If 7OH producers, represented under the banner of HART and AKA, want to be regulated, they should first seek new drug approval from FDA, as federal law requires."

Dr Chris McCurdy, a leading kratom scientist, testified in recent Kratom Congressional Hearing (28:43 to 31:21) that the 7OH found in 7OH isolate products is distinctly different from the scant amount of 7OH that is found in dried kratom leaf. He identified several unknown compounds in these products stating that “we have no idea what they are. Meaning we have no idea what the harm could be or the risk…which is concerning for all of us as scientists”. As such, the GKC agrees that these products are not kratom. They are novel substances that have not been seen before and are being administered in humans for the first time. Dr McCurdy also recently called for these products to be controlled substances, which the GKC also agrees with.

GKC urges policymakers to respect the differences between the dietary ingredient kratom, which has a long history of safe use, and unapproved drugs like 7OH. Proper regulation and enforcement are necessary to ensure the public’s safety and to prevent bad actors from marketing untested and dangerous substances.

About the Global Kratom Coalition

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers.

HearstLab is excited to announce that Milan Laser Hair Removal is sponsoring their next $100,000 pitch competition in Atlanta, GA on November 12, 2024. This will be the 10th event of the series, following events in cities around the world ranging from London to San Antonio, TX, and Santa Monica, CA. Previous financial and in-kind event sponsors include ULTA, Microsoft, and SuperGoop.

The pitch competition series, started in 2022, is designed to specifically find and fund early-stage female founders. To date, HearstLab has invested millions of dollars through these pitch events alone, making it one of the biggest competitions for female founders in the world. Sponsors like Milan Laser enable HearstLab and its ecosystem to support more women every year, professionally and personally.

As the nation’s largest laser hair removal provider, Milan Laser mission is to provide exceptional care. Milan’s treatments are safe for all skin tones and with their unlimited treatments, you pay one price and get as many sessions as you need to achieve smooth, lasting results.

"We are pleased to partner with HearstLab on this initiative," said Colleen Papek, President of Milan Laser Hair Removal. "We've consistently prioritized providing outstanding outcomes for our clients. This partnership enables us to broaden our reach, potentially bringing our life-changing services to an even wider audience."

About HearstLab

HearstLab provides cash investments and services to early-stage, women-led start-ups. Its mission is to close the gender gap in VC funding for women by helping founders build sustainable and highly scalable businesses. Hearst’s ecosystem of 360+ businesses includes iconic media brands ranging from Cosmopolitan to SF Chronicle. To learn more about HearstLab, visit HearstLab.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

About Milan Laser Hair Removal

Milan Laser Hair Removal is the nation’s largest laser hair removal provider with over 380+ clinics nationwide. Founded in Omaha, Nebraska in 2012 by two medical professionals, Milan Laser’s mission is simple: to help their customers feel their most confident by providing exceptional care with industry-leading laser technology that’s safe and effective for all skin tones. Milan Laser stands apart with their exclusive industry-first Unlimited Package™. Enjoy as many treatments as needed with no hidden costs and free touch-ups at any location nationwide. For more information on Milan Laser Hair Removal, visit https://milanlaser.com/, or follow them on Instagram.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is reinforcing its strategic partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to support sustainable and inclusive industrial development. This collaboration aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. As part of its ongoing efforts, the Kingdom aims to bridge the development gap between nations and boost industrial competitiveness. This partnership will also focus on stimulating investment and adopting advanced technologies in key industrial sectors.

These efforts align with the Kingdom’s preparations to host the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum in partnership with UNIDO in October 2024. This forum, held in Saudi Arabia for the first time, will be a premier international platform for exchanging ideas and experiences. It aims to support the growth of the Kingdom’s industrial sector, address economic challenges, and promote sustainable development under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030.

UNIDO: A Key Partner in Addressing Industrial Challenges

Despite the Kingdom's launch of various national strategies and initiatives to enhance the industrial sector and the overall economy, the sector still faces several operational challenges, such as diversifying industrial activities, improving local practices, increasing integration with global value chains, developing human capital, promoting localization, achieving sustainable sector growth, upgrading infrastructure, and adopting modern technologies.

Areas for Future Cooperation with UNIDO

UNIDO plays a significant role as an international organization providing technical cooperation and knowledge-based assistance through consultations, policies, and joint initiatives to overcome the challenges facing the development of the Kingdom’s industrial sector. Eight critical areas for future cooperation with UNIDO have been identified, such as developing policies and aligning them with global standards, enhancing institutional capacity for timely political decision-making, and facilitating foreign investment by promoting technology, innovation, partnerships, and advanced technology transfer. It also aims to lead sustainable industrial practices through international cooperation and to develop human resources and the workforce by exchanging global skills, ultimately boosting competitiveness and innovation within Saudi Arabia’s economy.

Enhancing Industrial Development in the Kingdom

The Kingdom is keen to achieve sustainable industrial development aligned with Vision 2030 by implementing various policies and initiatives focusing on diversifying the national economy and reducing reliance on oil. This collaboration with UNIDO aims to accelerate digital transformation in the industry, develop human capital, and strengthen integration with international markets to achieve a significant leap in the quality of national industries and increase the sector's attractiveness to local and international investors.

The Kingdom Set to Host the Industrial Policy Forum

The Kingdom is preparing to host the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum, providing a dynamic environment for exchanging ideas and experiences with industry leaders and experts worldwide. The forum aims to develop effective and innovative industrial policies that keep pace with global sector developments. It also seeks to strengthen international cooperation to support sustainable industrial development and drive industrial growth, considering local and international challenges. The forum is expected to produce fruitful outcomes supporting the Kingdom’s efforts to build a strong, advanced industrial sector, contributing to economic diversification and achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.

About the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aims to further strengthen of the mentioned sectors and contribute to their ongoing development in accordance with the Saudi Vision 2030. It strategically chose these two sectors to diversify the national economy and increase their overall national contributions through a national industrial program and logistics services to establish the Kingdom as a leading industrial and mining powerhouse, as well as a global platform for logistics services. For more information, visit https://mim.gov.sa.

About United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

UNIDO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a unique mandate to promote, dynamize and accelerate industrial development. UNIDO’s vision is a world without poverty and hunger, where industry drives low-emission economies, improves living standards, and preserves the livable environment for present and future generations, leaving no one behind. To learn more, visit https://www.unido.org.

78% of veterans say they feel the public perception of veterans is positive and 64% of vets have faith in our military. 54% of veterans say they would encourage family members to join the military today. Surveyed veterans also give the VA a “C” grade while seeking less bureaucracy and red tape.

The findings come from a poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Veterans Help Group, one of the nations leading advocates for disabled Veterans. The poll was commissioned in an effort to put veterans and disabled veterans issues in the forefront of the national conversation so that during this time of transition their voices are heard and their concerns are taken seriously.

“Veterans are an important voice in our country. Their insight on issues that impact their lives and families is not only good for public conversation but also helps us to continually improve the way we serve disabled vets,” said Joe Waring, a board member of Veterans Help Group.

“All of us at Veterans Help Group are committed to working with anyone who can ease the process and help clear a path to get disabled veterans the access to the benefits they deserve,” added Matt Sauerwald, President, Veterans Help Group.

Highlights of Findings

What is the biggest concern facing veterans and their families today? A large plurality (42%) say it's the treatment of veterans, 28% say it is the economy, and 12% say it's debt. Other issues are in single digits, including immigration at 7%, crime at 3%, and national defense and education, each at 2%.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) gets a "C" grade from America's veterans, scoring an overall 2.1 GPA on a traditional 4-point GPA scale. Liberal veterans grade a little more generously (a C+), while conservatives give lower scores in the C− range.

What is the single greatest thing the VA could do to improve the lives of families of disabled veterans? Respondents are split between two main options, with 37% saying it would be having less bureaucracy and red tape and 31% calling for better access to care. 17% say more money would be most helpful; 14% say it would be more help for family members.

Veterans were next asked how much faith they had in each of the following institutions. Those saying they had "a great deal" or "significant" faith in each, ranked from most to least, with only the military producing strong numbers:

• 64%: The military
• 33%: The Social Security Administration 
• 29%: The Supreme Court of the United States
• 28%: The institution of the office of the President of the United States, regardless of who the specific President is at any given time 
• 26%: The Department of Veterans Affairs
• 11%: Congress

Is the U.S. heading the right or wrong direction? 64% wrong, 32% right.

The questions switched from veteran issues to issues of national interest.

Veterans were shown a list of concerns facing the country today and asked to select up to three as being the largest items of concern. Percentage selecting each item, ranked from highest to lowest:

• 44%: High cost of living / inflation
• 41%: Immigration
• 31%: The economy
• 24%: Government / Poor leadership
• 17%: Healthcare – access and affordability
• 16%: Federal budget debt / deficit
• 16%: Crime
• 14%: Abortion 
• 13%: Environment / Climate change
• 11%: Treatment of veterans

Which presidential candidate do you feel will be best at addressing the issues facing our country? 52% Donald Trump, 42% Kamala Harris, 7% not sure.

Who do you feel will win the presidential election? 47% Donald Trump, 42% Kamala Harris, 12% not sure.

About the Poll / Filtering

SurveyUSA interviewed 900 US veterans adults age 18+ online from September 19, 2024 through September 22, 2024, using non-probability sample, pre-screened for former U.S. service members, provided by Lucid Holdings LLC of New Orleans. Of the veterans, 19% (174 individuals) were identified as being disabled veterans; 37% (330 individuals) were identified as retired veterans; 44% (396 individuals) were identified as being discharged veterans who were neither disabled nor retired. The pool of adult survey respondents was weighted to targets provided by the Pew Research Center and the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics for gender, age, and ethnicity.

More details can be found here.

About Veterans Help Group

Veterans Help Group is a national advocacy business that focuses exclusively on getting veterans and their families the disability benefits they deserve. The group serves all 50 states and is also actively involved in partnering with non-profits that support our veterans. To learn more, visit https://veteranshelpgroup.com.

The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) expresses deep concern over the increasing presence of nefarious actors who are selling unapproved drugs under the guise of labeling them as dietary supplements. 

Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition, voiced his concerns about these developments:

“We have seen this in the past through the sale of illegally marketed misbranded dietary supplements that contain drugs like Tianeptine and Phenibut. We are now seeing the same thing through the marketing and proliferation of synthesized isolate 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) products that are misbranded as kratom and misbranded as dietary supplements. I want to be clear, 7OH products are not kratom, they are pure opioids masquerading as dietary supplements. These products should be controlled substances.”

7OH isolate products contain novel substances that are not found anywhere in nature. The 7OH found in these products is chemically different from the scant amount of 7OH that is found in dried kratom leaf. There are several novel substances in these products for which there is no history of use, nor is the GKC aware of any scientific data that supports their safety. Therefore, these products should be subject to the FDA’s New Drug Application (NDA) process. The GKC is not aware of any approved, let alone filed, NDAs for this substance.

Significantly, leading scientists have repeatedly warned that it is extremely likely that these novel compounds are physically and psychologically addictive with a high potential for abuse, and should be controlled substances.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, in many cases, prohibits or limits the sale of these synthetic 7OH products, yet they remain widely available. The Global Kratom Coalition believes policymakers and regulators must not be coerced into treating 7OH products as synonymous with kratom. Nor should they provide a pathway for these products to be sold as dietary ingredients.

The GKC remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that kratom is regulated responsibly and that dangerous synthetic products are kept off the market.

About the Global Kratom Coalition

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers.

Botanic Tonics, LLC, maker of the popular feel free product, announced today that it has achieved a significant milestone in the competitive energy drink market.

According to NIQ data starting for the four weeks ending September 7, 2024, Botanic Tonics now ranks as a top 10 manufacturer in the energy category for convenience based on store sales, accomplishing this feat in just three years since the company's inception.

This rapid ascent in the market is further highlighted by the company's extensive distribution network, with products now available in over 27,000 stores nationwide.

Notably, Botanic Tonics has secured placement in two of the top five national convenience store chains, underscoring the growing consumer demand for its innovative, kava and kratom-based tonics and supplements designed to provide mood lift, energy, and focus.

"We are honored to have reached this milestone so quickly," said Cameron Korehbandi, CEO of Botanic Tonics. "Having spent four years at the original category creator, I know firsthand how monumental of an achievement this is for our company and our team. Our success is based on the efficacy of our products and the trust our customers place in us. We've worked hard to create high-quality, botanical-based energy solutions using kava and kratom that resonate with consumers seeking alternatives to traditional energy drinks. This achievement, coupled with our widespread availability in major convenience store chains, motivates us to continue innovating and expanding our reach in the market."

Botanic Tonics' flagship product, feel free CLASSIC, has gained in popularity for its use of natural ingredients, which contains both kava root and leaf kratom. The company has distinguished itself through its commitment to transparency, quality, and consumer education.

"This milestone is the result of a carefully constructed and executed national expansion plan," said Chris Elebesunu, Senior Vice President of Sales at Botanic Tonics. "We're now proudly represented in two of the top five national convenience store chains, with more to follow. The level of growth we've experienced and our rapid climb up the ranks clearly demonstrates that consumers are seeking innovative options beyond the traditional sugary drinks that have defined this category for too long. Our success shows that there's a strong demand for healthier, botanical-based alternatives in the market."

Botanic Tonics manufactures its products in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified production plant in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The company has invested heavily in safety testing, quality control measures, and clinical research to ensure product efficacy and safety.

As Botanic Tonics continues to grow, it remains committed to responsible manufacturing practices, clear labeling, and consumer education. The company supports appropriate regulation of the kratom industry and continues to advocate for consumer safety through robust labeling requirements and responsible manufacturing standards.

About Botanic Tonics

Botanic Tonics is a plant-based herbal supplement company headquartered in Broken Arrow, OK. Established in 2020, it produces kava-forward tonics under its feel free brand. Its signature product, feel free CLASSIC, is crafted with ancient functional plants to provide mood lift, energy, and focus. Botanic Tonics’ products are manufactured in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility and actively supports consumer safety regulations through transparent labeling and educational resources. Learn more at https://botanictonics.com.

Sightly, a pioneer in real-time marketing and intelligence and a member of the exclusive YouTube Measurement Program, is excited to announce its partnership with Adelaide, the leader in attention-based media quality measurement. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in understanding media quality within the YouTube ecosystem.

The partnership aims to deepen Adelaide's insights into how contextual factors influence viewer attention and brand outcomes on YouTube. By integrating Sightly's expertise in the YouTube space with Adelaide's omnichannel attention metric, AU, this collaboration will provide an unparalleled understanding of media quality in video advertising.

“This partnership between Adelaide and Sightly represents an exciting opportunity to expand our understanding of the impact of our clients’ video campaigns within the YouTube environment,” said Ed McElvain, Chief Product Officer at Mediahub. “By applying Adelaide’s attention measurement to Sightly’s deep understanding of contextual targeting in the YouTube landscape, we can empower brands with greater depth of ad quality insights for optimizing campaign effectiveness.”

Looking ahead, Sightly and Adelaide will explore advanced solutions to help Sightly clients strategically optimize campaigns toward high-quality, high-AU media. Coupled with Sightly's Brand Mentality platform—which enables advertisers to align brand messaging with relevant content in real time—this partnership empowers brands to ensure they reach their audience at the most critical moments with the highest-quality media.

“Collaborating with Adelaide opens up new avenues for our clients to leverage attention-based insights in their YouTube campaigns,” said Annalise Curvelo, VP of Partnerships at Sightly. “Our Brand Mentality technology enables our clients to keep up with the speed of today's culture through the lens of their brand, and we're excited to help brands understand the impact this real-time approach to marketing has on audience attention in YouTube and beyond."

“Partnering with Sightly allows us to expand the reach and impact of our AU metric in video environments where capturing attention is key to driving brand outcomes,” said Jordan Weiers, Senior Director of Partnerships & Business Development at Adelaide. “Together, we’re equipping advertisers with the media quality and contextual insights needed to optimize their investment strategies on YouTube and maximize campaign performance.” 

This first-of-its-kind partnership is set to redefine how brands approach advertising on YouTube, making it easier to understand and leverage attention to drive meaningful results. 

For media inquiries, please contact marketing@sightly.com.

Learn more about how Sightly’s Brand Mentality platform can transform your marketing strategy by scheduling a demo today.

About Sightly

Sightly is the leader in real-time marketing and intelligence, helping businesses everywhere make the most authentic and profitable decisions dynamically, moment by moment. Brand Mentality, Sightly's proprietary platform and technology, transforms a brand's unique DNA into a real-time algorithm, enabling marketers to react to trending moments with speed and authenticity. Through strategic data partnerships and cutting-edge AI, Sightly helps agencies and brands analyze and act on social listening data and emerging news through the lens of their brand, fueling automated action across brand intelligence & trend analysis and real-time activation. To learn more, visit https://www.sightly.com.

About Adelaide

Adelaide is the leader in attention-based media quality measurement. Our mission is to bring increased transparency and fairness to advertising by supplying the market with a precise, omnichannel media quality metric connected to business outcomes. Adweek has called Adelaide’s AU "the attention economy’s most widely recognized metric." Proven to predict full-funnel outcomes more accurately than any existing metric, AU helps the world’s largest brands make smarter investment decisions, activate attention data programmatically, and drive better performance. Adelaide is named after the global epicenter of evidence-based marketing in southern Australia and headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit adelaidemetrics.com.