Let's talk about 2025
A look at Gen Z Translator over the past year
Welcome to Gen Z Translator, where I break down trending topics on Fridays. If you’re new, you can subscribe here and follow me on Instagram. Views are my own. Happy reading!
Hello friends!
Sorry I’ve been a bit MIA! I really don’t have any excuse for you…except for that, well, maybe I do!
2025 was a whirlwind for me–I went to New York, London, New York again, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. I received a Master of Science in digital audience strategy this December! (I spent two years working on it and kept it rather lowkey, just in case I didn’t meet my expected graduation date. At one point I needed an 84% to pass and I had an 84.04%…so do with that what you will). I had a job, then I didn’t have a job.
I’ve been writing poetry and revising a novel or two. I saw Hadestown on Broadway and made eye contact with Jack Wolfe. I listened to 73,000 minutes of music on Spotify Wrapped. (Oops). I got a Dropout.tv subscription and two new puppies. I read 24 books. I finally got a new headshot after a decade. (Also oops). After a year of classes, I joined an improv troupe!
I had surgery to remove my port in March, an important milestone in someone’s journey with cancer, as it marks the end of frequent intravenous injections. I volunteered on my hospital’s Patient Advisory Council, representing young adults with cancer. My eyelashes (almost) completely grew back.
I had a wonderful time with my lovely friends, laughing and eating and celebrating just being alive. I spent precious time with family.
Despite my Substack inactivity, I’ve still gained a few subscribers, so I wanted to say thank you for being here. I think I’m going to try to be more active (famous last words) on social media, so if you want to follow me on Instagram, check out my account @byrachelshunt.
I’m stewing on a few new ideas, but I think it’s safe to say I won’t be returning to the weekly cadence I started out with last year. I’ve been thinking about utility on Substack and how often the pieces I see doing well are offering some sort of product, whether that’s how-tos, insider information, or hot opportunities. Gen Z Translator is just a fun little blog I started because I wanted to geek out about the things I find interesting.
This newsletter doesn’t have utility in the traditional sense, but I’d like to think my voice is valuable–in that the human experience, no matter how silly or how serious, is valuable. That art is valuable. That the process in between the creation of said art is valuable.
Hopefully reading, or re-reading, these newsletters below will keep you tied over for Gen Z Translator content as I sort out my 2026. Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!
My Most-Clicked Newsletters from 2025:
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Read my last story: All the items in my closet stressing me out
My weekly roundup:
🎶 What I’m Listening To: EVERYONE’S A STAR by 5 Seconds of Summer (sooo good. so good)
🎞️ What I’m Watching: Étoile – the characters reactions’ are a bit overblown at times but I’m still enjoying the show
📱 What I’m Scrolling: I bet you can’t guess
2025 takeaways:
