Dearest gentle reader, it’s nearing time for another season of courting and conviviality in Netflix and Shondaland’s Bridgerton.
We’ve spent the last three seasons relishing in the lustful long games of the Bridgerton family: the Duke of Hastings and Daphne, then Kate Sharma and Anthony, then Penelope Featherington and Colin — as well as a spinoff season on Queen Charlotte and her beloved King George. This time, based on the third novel in Julia Quinn’s series, An Offer from a Gentleman, showrunner Jess Brownell shifts focus to another Bridgerton: the rakish Benedict (Luke Thompson).
SEE ALSO:
‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 trailer unveils Benedict’s masquerade mystery
But what happened again last season? Here’s everything you need to remember from Season 3 of Bridgerton before you watch Season 4. Who married whom? What went down at that final ball? And what became of Lady Whistledown?
Penelope was unmasked as Lady Whistledown.
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix
Members of the Ton, this was the big one in Season 3: Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) was revealed as the formidable writer behind Lady Whistledown’s influential Society Papers.
Pen was first found out by her best friend Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) in the Season 2 finale, which meant the pair spent most of Season 3 in a stand-off. Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) confronted his new wife Penelope (more on that below) at the printers, and that went as well as you’d expect, considering how much she’s written about him and the Bridgertons. Plus, Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) figured out who Lady Whistledown was by checking every printer in the Ton (smart!), then falsely claiming to be the writer and blackmailing Penelope (she failed and was sadly taken away by her mean Aunt Joanna).
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix
Finally, it all came out at the Dankworth-Finch ball during the season finale. Bored in their marriages, Prudence (Bessie Carter) and Philippa (Harriet Cains) hosted a maximalist ball, paid for by their lucrative sister Penelope and attended by none other than Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel). Having spent the last three seasons j’accusing everyone of being Lady Whistledown, the Queen came face to face with her social rival.
In front of the ball, Penelope gave one hell of a speech about why she became Lady Whistledown as a means of finally being listened to and the result of being “captivated” by the members of the Ton. She asked the Queen permission to continue writing “responsibly” — it was a solid yes. Penelope finally introduced herself to her readers as Penelope Bridgerton in a new Whistledown column.
Plus, Pen got her mother, Lady Portia Featherington (Polly Walker), off the financial hook the whole thing with Jack Featherington and his fraudulent activities in Season 2, by convincing a prying crown solicitor the money they extorted was in fact her Lady Whistledown earnings.
Mashable Top Stories
Penelope and Colin got married.
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix
Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton were married after three seasons of lusting from afar, but not before their best friendship moved into a carriage of pre-marital steam (Pitbull will never be the same).
The whole Whistledown discovery put a spanner into their very new marriage, as a betrayed Colin shut Pen out emotionally and physically — and served up a huge dollop of writer’s envy over her being a published author. However, Colin eventually accepted Penelope and Lady Whistledown as “one voice,” admitted his jealousy, and declared his love once more. In the final moments of Season 3, we see Pen and Colin have had a baby boy, and Philippa and Prudence have had daughters (meaning Pen and Colin’s son is the new Lord Featherington).
Alice and Will Mondrich levelled up.
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix
In Season 3, married couple Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) and Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) found themselves in a prominent social position — and strangely sleeping in different bedrooms thanks to a dramatically prudish housekeeper. Alice’s great-aunt died and left Will and Alice’s eldest (but still very young) son Nicky an estate and a title: Baron of Kent. This all meant the Mondrichs’ standing in society was wildly changed from Will’s former life as a boxer and gentlemen’s club owner — they’re now seriously influential in the Ton.
Benedict had a steamy poly relationship.
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix
A member of the Ton’s outsider artist circles, Benedict has long dabbled with polyamory since Season 1, from his dalliance with artist Lord Granville’s wife Lucy and Genevieve Delacroix, but he’s spent much of Bridgerton suppressing his bisexuality. In Season 3, Benedict delved into a secret polyamorous relationship with widow Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and Paul Suarez (Lucas Aurelio). However, their bond became strained as Tilley fell hard for Benedict, who finds consensual non-monogamy preferable, so they parted ways.
SEE ALSO:
‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 characters, ranked by crush-worthiness
Unfortunately for Benedict, our Season 2 lovers Viscount Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Viscountess Kate (Simone Ashley) left for India in Season 3, meaning he’s the main administrator for the Bridgerton family now — and the next on the marriage mart, if his mother has anything to say about it.
Mega-chillers Francesca and John got married, but then…
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix
After a very quiet courtship, Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) was married to John Stirling (Victor Alli) in the Bridgerton drawing room and prepared to leave for John’s primary estate in the Scottish Highlands.
After reluctantly attempting to join the Ton’s marriage mart, Eloise decided instead to see the world, asking to accompany Francesca and John to Scotland. Also suddenly joining them was John’s cousin Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), whose introduction right at the end of the Season 3 finale caused Francesca to get seriously tongue-tied and flustered. Giiiiirl.
Lady Bridgerton and Lord Anderson crushed hard on each other.
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix
Lady Agatha Danbury’s (Adjoa Andoh) brother Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) and her best friend Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) were eyeing each other up all season, but before anything untoward happened, Violet asked her friend’s permission. Here, there was a throwback to a reveal from Queen Charlotte, that Lady Danbury had once had an affair with Violet’s father, Lord Ledger, after his wife’s death. (That’s best friend + dad, so best friend + brother seems chill.)
In the Season 3 finale, Marcus asked Violet for a dance at the ball. Cute.
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 debuts on Netflix Jan. 29 and Part 2 on Feb. 26.
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#Bridgerton #recap #happened #Season
![A24 Wants You to Be Nice About Its Google AI Deal
Earlier this week, we learned A24 entered a research partnership with Google’s DeepMind unit. The reactions were… not happy, to say the least. And like many who’ve let generative AI into their hearts, the film studio’s now left playing defense for its widely panned decision. In a statement to Wired, A24’s communications rep Sophia Shin stressed the “research” part of its Google partnership. “We’re working side-by-side with DeepMind’s researchers to learn, iterate, and build, having an active hand in shaping new tools and workflows,” she explained. “This is about learning and helping pain points in workflows behind the scenes. […] It exists because we want to dictate what tools get built for artists, so they have a voice in shaping them rather than having tools handed to them. While acknowledging A24 doesn’t love “any of the current AI outputs onscreen in Hollywood,” Shin considers this partnership a bit of a necessary evil. “We’d rather have a seat at the table than on the sidelines,” she stated. The promise of further artist agency and “a seat at the table” are common shields from genAI users, but it doesn’t seem to be working here. Fans consider this move ironic and a betrayal, given Backrooms director Kane Parsons recently called the tech “cultural and economic rot” and wished he could just snap it out of existence.
Before that, the studio didn’t seem to have much interest in generative AI. In 2024, it came under fire for using the tech to create posters for Civil War, while months later, its horror film Heretic had a disclaimer promising it wasn’t made with the technology. But Hollywood’s become gradually more accepting of generative AI and its supposed potential for the filmmaking process. In that sense, maybe it was inevitable for A24 to fall in line. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #A24 #Nice #Google #DealA24,generative ai,Google DeepMind](https://i0.wp.com/gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Backrooms-1280x853.jpg?ssl=1 "A24 Wants You to Be Nice About Its Google AI Deal
Earlier this week, we learned A24 entered a research partnership with Google’s DeepMind unit. The reactions were… not happy, to say the least. And like many who’ve let generative AI into their hearts, the film studio’s now left playing defense for its widely panned decision. In a statement to Wired, A24’s communications rep Sophia Shin stressed the “research” part of its Google partnership. “We’re working side-by-side with DeepMind’s researchers to learn, iterate, and build, having an active hand in shaping new tools and workflows,” she explained. “This is about learning and helping pain points in workflows behind the scenes. […] It exists because we want to dictate what tools get built for artists, so they have a voice in shaping them rather than having tools handed to them. While acknowledging A24 doesn’t love “any of the current AI outputs onscreen in Hollywood,” Shin considers this partnership a bit of a necessary evil. “We’d rather have a seat at the table than on the sidelines,” she stated. The promise of further artist agency and “a seat at the table” are common shields from genAI users, but it doesn’t seem to be working here. Fans consider this move ironic and a betrayal, given Backrooms director Kane Parsons recently called the tech “cultural and economic rot” and wished he could just snap it out of existence.
Before that, the studio didn’t seem to have much interest in generative AI. In 2024, it came under fire for using the tech to create posters for Civil War, while months later, its horror film Heretic had a disclaimer promising it wasn’t made with the technology. But Hollywood’s become gradually more accepting of generative AI and its supposed potential for the filmmaking process. In that sense, maybe it was inevitable for A24 to fall in line. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #A24 #Nice #Google #DealA24,generative ai,Google DeepMind")
![A24 Wants You to Be Nice About Its Google AI Deal
Earlier this week, we learned A24 entered a research partnership with Google’s DeepMind unit. The reactions were… not happy, to say the least. And like many who’ve let generative AI into their hearts, the film studio’s now left playing defense for its widely panned decision. In a statement to Wired, A24’s communications rep Sophia Shin stressed the “research” part of its Google partnership. “We’re working side-by-side with DeepMind’s researchers to learn, iterate, and build, having an active hand in shaping new tools and workflows,” she explained. “This is about learning and helping pain points in workflows behind the scenes. […] It exists because we want to dictate what tools get built for artists, so they have a voice in shaping them rather than having tools handed to them. While acknowledging A24 doesn’t love “any of the current AI outputs onscreen in Hollywood,” Shin considers this partnership a bit of a necessary evil. “We’d rather have a seat at the table than on the sidelines,” she stated. The promise of further artist agency and “a seat at the table” are common shields from genAI users, but it doesn’t seem to be working here. Fans consider this move ironic and a betrayal, given Backrooms director Kane Parsons recently called the tech “cultural and economic rot” and wished he could just snap it out of existence.
Before that, the studio didn’t seem to have much interest in generative AI. In 2024, it came under fire for using the tech to create posters for Civil War, while months later, its horror film Heretic had a disclaimer promising it wasn’t made with the technology. But Hollywood’s become gradually more accepting of generative AI and its supposed potential for the filmmaking process. In that sense, maybe it was inevitable for A24 to fall in line. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #A24 #Nice #Google #DealA24,generative ai,Google DeepMind](https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Backrooms-1280x853.jpg "A24 Wants You to Be Nice About Its Google AI Deal
Earlier this week, we learned A24 entered a research partnership with Google’s DeepMind unit. The reactions were… not happy, to say the least. And like many who’ve let generative AI into their hearts, the film studio’s now left playing defense for its widely panned decision. In a statement to Wired, A24’s communications rep Sophia Shin stressed the “research” part of its Google partnership. “We’re working side-by-side with DeepMind’s researchers to learn, iterate, and build, having an active hand in shaping new tools and workflows,” she explained. “This is about learning and helping pain points in workflows behind the scenes. […] It exists because we want to dictate what tools get built for artists, so they have a voice in shaping them rather than having tools handed to them. While acknowledging A24 doesn’t love “any of the current AI outputs onscreen in Hollywood,” Shin considers this partnership a bit of a necessary evil. “We’d rather have a seat at the table than on the sidelines,” she stated. The promise of further artist agency and “a seat at the table” are common shields from genAI users, but it doesn’t seem to be working here. Fans consider this move ironic and a betrayal, given Backrooms director Kane Parsons recently called the tech “cultural and economic rot” and wished he could just snap it out of existence.
Before that, the studio didn’t seem to have much interest in generative AI. In 2024, it came under fire for using the tech to create posters for Civil War, while months later, its horror film Heretic had a disclaimer promising it wasn’t made with the technology. But Hollywood’s become gradually more accepting of generative AI and its supposed potential for the filmmaking process. In that sense, maybe it was inevitable for A24 to fall in line. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #A24 #Nice #Google #DealA24,generative ai,Google DeepMind")
![How professional creators avoid content droughts
Creators are expected to constantly be coming up with new content. But what to do when your well of ideas runs dry? That was the topic at the Vidcon 2026 panel, Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked. Moderated by television personality Shira Lazar, this panel brought together professional creators Anthpo and Siow Wei to discuss how they ideate, pick what to work on next, and whether what they’ve made is good enough to post online. (Alex Ojeda was billed, but did not ultimately attend.)
Anthpo: Ideation comes from practice
Anthpo on the VidCon 2026 panel Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked.
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
The American influencer is best known for concocting the viral Timothee Chalamet look-a-like contest and creating characters like Cheeseball Man and Kid with Crocs. During the panel, he shared that he has a Google Doc filled with ideas, and also uses his phone’s Notes app to scribble down any inspirations that come to mind while on the go. “I’d say ideation is a muscle,” he mused. “The more you do it, the more your mind is constantly racing.” To that end, Anthpo said he uses flights as a space to create, working the ideation muscle. “I’ll do [it] every plane ride I take,” he explained. “I don’t do anything other than write in my Notes app.” How do creators pick which idea is worth doing? Siow Wei is a Malaysian content creator who was featured on Forbes 30 under 30 last year for the massive success she’s had under the handle im_siowei. By creating an array of characters for family-friendly comedy videos, she’s become one of Asia’s biggest content creators.However, she told the panel at VidCon she didn’t set out to make kid-friendly comedy. When evaluating the data of how her videos were doing, it was that demographic where she was most thriving. Data is what drives her decisions as she builds her library and brand. Anthpo noted he and Siow Wei come from different schools of thought on what to prioritize. For him, it’s more about a gut feeling. “Once you have an idea, there’s like two litmus tests,” he said. “There’s, like, the data side, which is super powerful. And then there’s also, like, the emotional side.” For him, he’s excited when he comes up with something “very experimental,” or that “feels [magical] and also executable.” He emphasized the importance of following your passion for an idea. Referencing the Rick Rubin book, The Creative Act, Anthpo paraphrased a piece of the author’s advice, saying, “If you have a really great idea and you don’t execute it, somebody else in the zeitgeist will do it. And I found that to be 100% true. If I’m like, ‘That’s a great idea,’ and I don’t do within the first six months, someone does it.”
Mashable Trend Report
How do content creators know their work is good quality before they post?
Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked panel at Vidcon 2026, featuring Anthpo, Siow Wei, and Shira Lazar
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
Siow Wei uses WhatsApp to communicate with her team and test out jokes. Anthpo uses a group of friends whom he knows won’t lie to spare his feelings. “The meanest people in my life are by far my most valuable assets,” he explained, “like the people that are just like, ‘Yo, this video sucks, bro.’ Those people are so valuable to me. I’ve got probably seven of them. If I send a video or an idea to them, and all seven of them are like ‘that’s good,’ it always rips.” What do content creators do when they’re running out of ideas?Siow Wei has a collection of comedy characters, like Swaggy, Randy, Besty, Richy, and Billy. But she’s always happy to expand her menagerie. “Okay, we have run out of content,” she said, considering the scenario. “Okay, what’s next? Let’s create another character, there’s more possibility that we can bring it into our content.” For Anthpo, he finds new ideas by trying something new. “I’ve reinvented myself many times on the internet,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for like 12 years now. I used to do sketch comedy. Then I was in a TikTok house. And then I made skits. And then I made college content, and then I [worked for Mr. Beast]. Then the past two years I’ve been doing these like anonymous stunts.” He noted what he’s doing recently is being called performance art, while he’s been dubbed “dumb internet Banksy,” and he’s cool with that. Anthpo champions not only taking risks, but also learning from your failures.“I failed many, many, many, many, many times,” he said, noting that failure can be a great teacher, providing “data” for how to improve. What every creator should know — according to Anthpo and Siow WeiBoth agreed you should know about the purple horse (or cow). Anthpo explained this marketing concept to the audience. Essentially, if you see a horse along the side of the road, you might notice it. But you won’t stop your trip to see it. However, if you see a purple horse, you’ll stop your car to take a closer look. Translated to the creator economy, you want to be the purple horse, the something special in the landscape that makes people stop and pay attention. For Anthpo, he does that by chasing what excites him. “[What] I like to chop it down to is I like to delight people,” he said. “Give them something they haven’t seen before, or give them a feeling they want to consistently feel.” Siow Wei added: “Put that purple horse in the first three seconds [of your video].” She explained how the unique way she drinks boba tea has hooked viewers, “so you’re catching the attention,” rather than getting lost in an endless scroll online. Last but not least, both creators emphasized the importance of building a team you can trust. Anthpo put it succinctly, saying, “Be surrounded by people who are joyous and don’t drag you down and are going to be kind, but also aren’t afraid to be like, ‘Yo, this video is trash.'”Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.
#professional #creators #avoid #content #droughts](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01gMFiz9dxiW1C5lcELVKTR/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1782531326.jpg "How professional creators avoid content droughts
Creators are expected to constantly be coming up with new content. But what to do when your well of ideas runs dry? That was the topic at the Vidcon 2026 panel, Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked. Moderated by television personality Shira Lazar, this panel brought together professional creators Anthpo and Siow Wei to discuss how they ideate, pick what to work on next, and whether what they’ve made is good enough to post online. (Alex Ojeda was billed, but did not ultimately attend.)
Anthpo: Ideation comes from practice
Anthpo on the VidCon 2026 panel Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked.
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
The American influencer is best known for concocting the viral Timothee Chalamet look-a-like contest and creating characters like Cheeseball Man and Kid with Crocs. During the panel, he shared that he has a Google Doc filled with ideas, and also uses his phone’s Notes app to scribble down any inspirations that come to mind while on the go. “I’d say ideation is a muscle,” he mused. “The more you do it, the more your mind is constantly racing.” To that end, Anthpo said he uses flights as a space to create, working the ideation muscle. “I’ll do [it] every plane ride I take,” he explained. “I don’t do anything other than write in my Notes app.” How do creators pick which idea is worth doing? Siow Wei is a Malaysian content creator who was featured on Forbes 30 under 30 last year for the massive success she’s had under the handle im_siowei. By creating an array of characters for family-friendly comedy videos, she’s become one of Asia’s biggest content creators.However, she told the panel at VidCon she didn’t set out to make kid-friendly comedy. When evaluating the data of how her videos were doing, it was that demographic where she was most thriving. Data is what drives her decisions as she builds her library and brand. Anthpo noted he and Siow Wei come from different schools of thought on what to prioritize. For him, it’s more about a gut feeling. “Once you have an idea, there’s like two litmus tests,” he said. “There’s, like, the data side, which is super powerful. And then there’s also, like, the emotional side.” For him, he’s excited when he comes up with something “very experimental,” or that “feels [magical] and also executable.” He emphasized the importance of following your passion for an idea. Referencing the Rick Rubin book, The Creative Act, Anthpo paraphrased a piece of the author’s advice, saying, “If you have a really great idea and you don’t execute it, somebody else in the zeitgeist will do it. And I found that to be 100% true. If I’m like, ‘That’s a great idea,’ and I don’t do within the first six months, someone does it.”
Mashable Trend Report
How do content creators know their work is good quality before they post?
Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked panel at Vidcon 2026, featuring Anthpo, Siow Wei, and Shira Lazar
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
Siow Wei uses WhatsApp to communicate with her team and test out jokes. Anthpo uses a group of friends whom he knows won’t lie to spare his feelings. “The meanest people in my life are by far my most valuable assets,” he explained, “like the people that are just like, ‘Yo, this video sucks, bro.’ Those people are so valuable to me. I’ve got probably seven of them. If I send a video or an idea to them, and all seven of them are like ‘that’s good,’ it always rips.” What do content creators do when they’re running out of ideas?Siow Wei has a collection of comedy characters, like Swaggy, Randy, Besty, Richy, and Billy. But she’s always happy to expand her menagerie. “Okay, we have run out of content,” she said, considering the scenario. “Okay, what’s next? Let’s create another character, there’s more possibility that we can bring it into our content.” For Anthpo, he finds new ideas by trying something new. “I’ve reinvented myself many times on the internet,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for like 12 years now. I used to do sketch comedy. Then I was in a TikTok house. And then I made skits. And then I made college content, and then I [worked for Mr. Beast]. Then the past two years I’ve been doing these like anonymous stunts.” He noted what he’s doing recently is being called performance art, while he’s been dubbed “dumb internet Banksy,” and he’s cool with that. Anthpo champions not only taking risks, but also learning from your failures.“I failed many, many, many, many, many times,” he said, noting that failure can be a great teacher, providing “data” for how to improve. What every creator should know — according to Anthpo and Siow WeiBoth agreed you should know about the purple horse (or cow). Anthpo explained this marketing concept to the audience. Essentially, if you see a horse along the side of the road, you might notice it. But you won’t stop your trip to see it. However, if you see a purple horse, you’ll stop your car to take a closer look. Translated to the creator economy, you want to be the purple horse, the something special in the landscape that makes people stop and pay attention. For Anthpo, he does that by chasing what excites him. “[What] I like to chop it down to is I like to delight people,” he said. “Give them something they haven’t seen before, or give them a feeling they want to consistently feel.” Siow Wei added: “Put that purple horse in the first three seconds [of your video].” She explained how the unique way she drinks boba tea has hooked viewers, “so you’re catching the attention,” rather than getting lost in an endless scroll online. Last but not least, both creators emphasized the importance of building a team you can trust. Anthpo put it succinctly, saying, “Be surrounded by people who are joyous and don’t drag you down and are going to be kind, but also aren’t afraid to be like, ‘Yo, this video is trash.'”Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.
#professional #creators #avoid #content #droughts")
![How professional creators avoid content droughts
Creators are expected to constantly be coming up with new content. But what to do when your well of ideas runs dry? That was the topic at the Vidcon 2026 panel, Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked. Moderated by television personality Shira Lazar, this panel brought together professional creators Anthpo and Siow Wei to discuss how they ideate, pick what to work on next, and whether what they’ve made is good enough to post online. (Alex Ojeda was billed, but did not ultimately attend.)
Anthpo: Ideation comes from practice
Anthpo on the VidCon 2026 panel Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked.
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
The American influencer is best known for concocting the viral Timothee Chalamet look-a-like contest and creating characters like Cheeseball Man and Kid with Crocs. During the panel, he shared that he has a Google Doc filled with ideas, and also uses his phone’s Notes app to scribble down any inspirations that come to mind while on the go. “I’d say ideation is a muscle,” he mused. “The more you do it, the more your mind is constantly racing.” To that end, Anthpo said he uses flights as a space to create, working the ideation muscle. “I’ll do [it] every plane ride I take,” he explained. “I don’t do anything other than write in my Notes app.” How do creators pick which idea is worth doing? Siow Wei is a Malaysian content creator who was featured on Forbes 30 under 30 last year for the massive success she’s had under the handle im_siowei. By creating an array of characters for family-friendly comedy videos, she’s become one of Asia’s biggest content creators.However, she told the panel at VidCon she didn’t set out to make kid-friendly comedy. When evaluating the data of how her videos were doing, it was that demographic where she was most thriving. Data is what drives her decisions as she builds her library and brand. Anthpo noted he and Siow Wei come from different schools of thought on what to prioritize. For him, it’s more about a gut feeling. “Once you have an idea, there’s like two litmus tests,” he said. “There’s, like, the data side, which is super powerful. And then there’s also, like, the emotional side.” For him, he’s excited when he comes up with something “very experimental,” or that “feels [magical] and also executable.” He emphasized the importance of following your passion for an idea. Referencing the Rick Rubin book, The Creative Act, Anthpo paraphrased a piece of the author’s advice, saying, “If you have a really great idea and you don’t execute it, somebody else in the zeitgeist will do it. And I found that to be 100% true. If I’m like, ‘That’s a great idea,’ and I don’t do within the first six months, someone does it.”
Mashable Trend Report
How do content creators know their work is good quality before they post?
Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked panel at Vidcon 2026, featuring Anthpo, Siow Wei, and Shira Lazar
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
Siow Wei uses WhatsApp to communicate with her team and test out jokes. Anthpo uses a group of friends whom he knows won’t lie to spare his feelings. “The meanest people in my life are by far my most valuable assets,” he explained, “like the people that are just like, ‘Yo, this video sucks, bro.’ Those people are so valuable to me. I’ve got probably seven of them. If I send a video or an idea to them, and all seven of them are like ‘that’s good,’ it always rips.” What do content creators do when they’re running out of ideas?Siow Wei has a collection of comedy characters, like Swaggy, Randy, Besty, Richy, and Billy. But she’s always happy to expand her menagerie. “Okay, we have run out of content,” she said, considering the scenario. “Okay, what’s next? Let’s create another character, there’s more possibility that we can bring it into our content.” For Anthpo, he finds new ideas by trying something new. “I’ve reinvented myself many times on the internet,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for like 12 years now. I used to do sketch comedy. Then I was in a TikTok house. And then I made skits. And then I made college content, and then I [worked for Mr. Beast]. Then the past two years I’ve been doing these like anonymous stunts.” He noted what he’s doing recently is being called performance art, while he’s been dubbed “dumb internet Banksy,” and he’s cool with that. Anthpo champions not only taking risks, but also learning from your failures.“I failed many, many, many, many, many times,” he said, noting that failure can be a great teacher, providing “data” for how to improve. What every creator should know — according to Anthpo and Siow WeiBoth agreed you should know about the purple horse (or cow). Anthpo explained this marketing concept to the audience. Essentially, if you see a horse along the side of the road, you might notice it. But you won’t stop your trip to see it. However, if you see a purple horse, you’ll stop your car to take a closer look. Translated to the creator economy, you want to be the purple horse, the something special in the landscape that makes people stop and pay attention. For Anthpo, he does that by chasing what excites him. “[What] I like to chop it down to is I like to delight people,” he said. “Give them something they haven’t seen before, or give them a feeling they want to consistently feel.” Siow Wei added: “Put that purple horse in the first three seconds [of your video].” She explained how the unique way she drinks boba tea has hooked viewers, “so you’re catching the attention,” rather than getting lost in an endless scroll online. Last but not least, both creators emphasized the importance of building a team you can trust. Anthpo put it succinctly, saying, “Be surrounded by people who are joyous and don’t drag you down and are going to be kind, but also aren’t afraid to be like, ‘Yo, this video is trash.'”Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.
#professional #creators #avoid #content #droughts](https://i0.wp.com/helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01gMFiz9dxiW1C5lcELVKTR/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1782531326.jpg?ssl=1 "How professional creators avoid content droughts
Creators are expected to constantly be coming up with new content. But what to do when your well of ideas runs dry? That was the topic at the Vidcon 2026 panel, Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked. Moderated by television personality Shira Lazar, this panel brought together professional creators Anthpo and Siow Wei to discuss how they ideate, pick what to work on next, and whether what they’ve made is good enough to post online. (Alex Ojeda was billed, but did not ultimately attend.)
Anthpo: Ideation comes from practice
Anthpo on the VidCon 2026 panel Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked.
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
The American influencer is best known for concocting the viral Timothee Chalamet look-a-like contest and creating characters like Cheeseball Man and Kid with Crocs. During the panel, he shared that he has a Google Doc filled with ideas, and also uses his phone’s Notes app to scribble down any inspirations that come to mind while on the go. “I’d say ideation is a muscle,” he mused. “The more you do it, the more your mind is constantly racing.” To that end, Anthpo said he uses flights as a space to create, working the ideation muscle. “I’ll do [it] every plane ride I take,” he explained. “I don’t do anything other than write in my Notes app.” How do creators pick which idea is worth doing? Siow Wei is a Malaysian content creator who was featured on Forbes 30 under 30 last year for the massive success she’s had under the handle im_siowei. By creating an array of characters for family-friendly comedy videos, she’s become one of Asia’s biggest content creators.However, she told the panel at VidCon she didn’t set out to make kid-friendly comedy. When evaluating the data of how her videos were doing, it was that demographic where she was most thriving. Data is what drives her decisions as she builds her library and brand. Anthpo noted he and Siow Wei come from different schools of thought on what to prioritize. For him, it’s more about a gut feeling. “Once you have an idea, there’s like two litmus tests,” he said. “There’s, like, the data side, which is super powerful. And then there’s also, like, the emotional side.” For him, he’s excited when he comes up with something “very experimental,” or that “feels [magical] and also executable.” He emphasized the importance of following your passion for an idea. Referencing the Rick Rubin book, The Creative Act, Anthpo paraphrased a piece of the author’s advice, saying, “If you have a really great idea and you don’t execute it, somebody else in the zeitgeist will do it. And I found that to be 100% true. If I’m like, ‘That’s a great idea,’ and I don’t do within the first six months, someone does it.”
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How do content creators know their work is good quality before they post?
Never Running Out of Ideas: How to Build a Content Strategy That Keeps Your Audience Hooked panel at Vidcon 2026, featuring Anthpo, Siow Wei, and Shira Lazar
Credit: Kristy Puchko / Mashable
Siow Wei uses WhatsApp to communicate with her team and test out jokes. Anthpo uses a group of friends whom he knows won’t lie to spare his feelings. “The meanest people in my life are by far my most valuable assets,” he explained, “like the people that are just like, ‘Yo, this video sucks, bro.’ Those people are so valuable to me. I’ve got probably seven of them. If I send a video or an idea to them, and all seven of them are like ‘that’s good,’ it always rips.” What do content creators do when they’re running out of ideas?Siow Wei has a collection of comedy characters, like Swaggy, Randy, Besty, Richy, and Billy. But she’s always happy to expand her menagerie. “Okay, we have run out of content,” she said, considering the scenario. “Okay, what’s next? Let’s create another character, there’s more possibility that we can bring it into our content.” For Anthpo, he finds new ideas by trying something new. “I’ve reinvented myself many times on the internet,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for like 12 years now. I used to do sketch comedy. Then I was in a TikTok house. And then I made skits. And then I made college content, and then I [worked for Mr. Beast]. Then the past two years I’ve been doing these like anonymous stunts.” He noted what he’s doing recently is being called performance art, while he’s been dubbed “dumb internet Banksy,” and he’s cool with that. Anthpo champions not only taking risks, but also learning from your failures.“I failed many, many, many, many, many times,” he said, noting that failure can be a great teacher, providing “data” for how to improve. What every creator should know — according to Anthpo and Siow WeiBoth agreed you should know about the purple horse (or cow). Anthpo explained this marketing concept to the audience. Essentially, if you see a horse along the side of the road, you might notice it. But you won’t stop your trip to see it. However, if you see a purple horse, you’ll stop your car to take a closer look. Translated to the creator economy, you want to be the purple horse, the something special in the landscape that makes people stop and pay attention. For Anthpo, he does that by chasing what excites him. “[What] I like to chop it down to is I like to delight people,” he said. “Give them something they haven’t seen before, or give them a feeling they want to consistently feel.” Siow Wei added: “Put that purple horse in the first three seconds [of your video].” She explained how the unique way she drinks boba tea has hooked viewers, “so you’re catching the attention,” rather than getting lost in an endless scroll online. Last but not least, both creators emphasized the importance of building a team you can trust. Anthpo put it succinctly, saying, “Be surrounded by people who are joyous and don’t drag you down and are going to be kind, but also aren’t afraid to be like, ‘Yo, this video is trash.'”Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.
#professional #creators #avoid #content #droughts")
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