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The psychology behind our connections to celebrities we’ve never met

Fans do more than follow celebrities. They defend them, imitate them, buy what they promote and sometimes feel personally betrayed by people they have never met or interacted with directly. Joshua L. Williams, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology at Georgia Southern University, studies what drives these one-sided connections—and why celebrity admiration becomes much more intense, personal and emotionally consuming for some people than for others. His research examines parasocial relationships, narcissism, emotional regulation, conspiratorial thinking, materialism and the sense of similarity fans may feel with a favourite celebrity. It offers a more informed way to understand modern “stan” culture without simply dismissing it as irrational, obsessive or harmless entertainment. View and Connect with Dr. Williams Why Fans Feel They Know a Celebrity Social media gives fans an almost constant view into the lives of actors, musicians, athletes and influencers. That access can create the feeling of a personal relationship, even though the celebrity may not know the fan exists. Williams studies the line between ordinary admiration and attachment that becomes more emotionally consuming. His work can help explain why fans become invested in celebrity relationships, why criticism of a favourite public figure can feel personal and why setting boundaries sometimes turns an audience against its idol. In a recent study, Williams and his colleagues found associations among celebrity worship, vulnerable narcissism and commitment to parasocial relationships. The findings suggest that, for some people, the feeling of having a relationship with a celebrity may help make the attachment more powerful. Featured Research Vulnerable Narcissism and Celebrity Worship: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Commitment to Parasocial Relationships Stories to Explore Why celebrity breakups feel personal to millions of strangers When setting boundaries turns fans against their idol Are parasocial relationships replacing real-world connections? When Fame Becomes a Source of Truth Celebrities now speak directly to enormous audiences about politics, health, science and social issues. Fans may already see them as authentic or trustworthy, making it harder to separate the message from the person delivering it. Williams’ research examines celebrity worship alongside conspiratorial thinking, pseudoscientific beliefs and perceptions of authenticity. He can provide context on why fans sometimes defend unsupported claims, overlook contradictions or treat criticism of a celebrity as an attack on themselves. One of his studies explored celebrity worship alongside authenticity, perceived “realness,” narcissism and conspiratorial ideation. The findings point to a complicated mix of personality, identity and belief rather than one simple explanation for celebrity attachment. Featured Research Complex Correlates of Celebrity Worship: Authenticity, Conspiratorial Ideation, Narcissism and Realness Stories to Explore Why celebrity health claims can be so persuasive What happens when fact-checking collides with fandom? Can celebrity loyalty influence political beliefs? Why We Buy, Dress and Act Like the Famous Celebrity influence extends beyond opinions. Fans wear the clothes, buy the products and adopt the language, routines and appearance of the people they admire. Williams has studied how celebrity worship relates to materialism, narcissism and perceived similarity with a favourite celebrity. His research found that feeling similar to a celebrity was associated with stronger celebrity worship, while certain forms of narcissism were associated with materialism. The findings help explain why endorsements, merchandise and celebrity-inspired trends can feel personal rather than purely commercial. Featured Research Celebrity Worship and Materialism: A Focus on Narcissism and Perceived Similarity With a Celebrity His collaborative research has also examined Dark Triad personality traits, emotional regulation and problematic celebrity attachment. Stories to Explore Why fans want to look like their favourite celebrities Does feeling similar to a celebrity make us more loyal? Why celebrity merchandise feels like more than a purchase Looking Beyond “Obsessed Fans” Celebrity worship is often treated as either harmless entertainment or evidence that a fan has gone too far. Williams’ research shows there is a much wider and more interesting space between those extremes. His work can help reporters examine why people become attached to public figures and how those connections can shape identity, beliefs, spending and decision-making. For interviews about celebrity worship, one-sided relationships, fan behaviour or the psychology of celebrity influence, connect with Joshua L. Williams through his expert profile. All connections are monitored to ensure a timely response to your requests

The MBA Halftime Show

Every football game has a moment when the players jog off, the field goes dark, and everyone wants to see what the halftime show will bring. My version came without a marching band or a surprise appearance by Beyoncé. Apparently, at seventy years old and doing my MBA (Yes, this is part IV of a series, links to Part I, II and III), halftime entertainment means staring at your grades, reviewing the game film, and asking yourself one honest question: what have you actually learned? Twelve courses down. Twelve to go. I am at that exact point, catching my breath, and somewhere in the distance I can hear the crowd murmuring, "Is she going to slow down now?" Spoiler alert: no. But let me show you the film first. The first half taught me a few things I did not expect. Technology and I reached an uneasy truce. Brightspace, Carleton University’s online Learning Management system, no longer feels like a hostage negotiation. I can upload a file, format a citation, and navigate a discussion board without a quick prayer beforehand. I would not call us friends, but we can now be left alone in the same room. Group work stopped being terrifying, too, once I understood something I probably should have known after decades in business: most people, students very much included, want to do their best work with the least effort required to get there. It used to sound like an insult. Now it strikes me as the most honest description of how most of us move through life, and in a program with this much content to cover, it is less a character flaw and more a survival strategy everyone quietly agrees to. If I had to pick one night that captures the whole term, it would be the one at ten o'clock, alone in my office, wrestling with an IEEE-formatted statistics report. The references would not cooperate. The formatting seemed to have developed free will, moving when I did not ask it to and refusing to move when I did. My dog Dottie had already gone to bed, which, from her, is roughly the equivalent of a slammed door. What made that night worse was that I was still stinging from a C+ in Financial Accounting. I wish I could tell you I shrugged it off with the wisdom of a mature student. I did not. When the grade first posted, I sat with the portal open for a good ten minutes, refreshing it as though the university might suddenly announce, "Our mistake, Sue. Clearly an A." No such luck. The grade stung more than I expected, and I carried some of that venom into the next course. Somewhere between the misbehaving references and the formatting that refused to cooperate, I realized I was not actually angry at the report. I was doubting myself. That C+ had cracked open a little door I suspect we all carry somewhere inside us, the one self-doubt likes to slip through when nobody is watching. Funny how quickly one lousy grade and a badly behaved reference list can turn into a full existential crisis at 10pm on a Tuesday. Even C's get degrees I kept going anyway and eventually fixed the report. Not gracefully. Not quickly. But I fixed it, closed the laptop, and sat in the dark for a minute, oddly proud of myself over a reference list. That was when the mantra found me again. Even C's get degrees. A friend handed me that one over a year ago, and it has never let me down, mostly because it keeps reminding me that the goal was never a perfect transcript. The goal was to stay in the game. Here is the adjustment I did not see coming. Business school quietly rewired how I make decisions. Full stop. Every decision, including coursework. The MBA program has an annoying habit of asking for evidence. Apparently, "it felt like a good idea at the time" is not an accepted decision-making framework. Who knew? Decades in sales and business taught me to read people, situations, and opportunities quickly, and I still trust that instinct. I just make it work harder now. I review the evidence, clarify what I am trying to accomplish, and ask whether the decision moves me closer to it. I used to pick a vacation package the way most people do. I looked at the brochure, felt something, booked it, and occasionally arrived to discover the "ocean view" required a telescope and a great deal of optimism. I still let myself feel the brochure, but now I also run the numbers, location, reviews, and value relative to cost. Whether it fits what I am trying to accomplish on this trip, rather than the fantasy I had while sitting on my couch. It has also taught me the difference between fear and desire, which sounds very self-helpy for a business degree. Stay with me. Demons run faster than dreams. Fear is fast. Give it half a chance, and it will make the decision before desire has even found its shoes. It tells you not to take the course, introduce your self to a stranger, or book the trip. Not to have the hard conversation. Not to risk looking foolish. As we get older, fear gets clever. It learns to dress itself up as common sense: be careful, be realistic, maybe it's time to slow down, don’t risk. I am learning to ask which one is driving before I commit to anything. A trip. A course load. A conversation I have been avoiding. Somewhere in all of this, I picked up a rule I am borrowing for the rest of my life: know when to stub your toe and when to put on safety boots. Some decisions can survive a little recklessness, the kind where you bump into the coffee table, yelp, and carry on with your evening. Others need the boots laced up before you take a single step. I am also in no hurry to rush toward a tub that enters from the side, thank you very much. That purchase can wait a decade or two. Caution has its place; it just does not get to run my whole calendar yet. The competition for my attention did not step aside just because I enrolled in school. Family wants time. Travel wants planning. Fitness classes want me to learn near choreography. My retirement advocacy wants everything I have left after that, plus a little more it did not ask permission for. Juggling it all has required negotiation skills I learned from a ten-pound dog. Dottie never begs or nags. She picks the one thing she wants, plants herself by the door, and waits, calm and immovable, until it happens. Everything else in the house can carry on without her weighing in. I am trying to negotiate my own priorities the same way. Decide what matters this week. Plant myself there. Let the rest of the noise wait its turn at the door. There is a voice in me that insists I should be doing it all, all the time, at full volume. This new way of deciding has meant learning the difference between what I want and what simply keeps me busy and conveniently away from the things that matter more. If I am being truthful, some of that motion is me pushing back against getting older, trying to prove something, mostly to myself. I have not figured out the balance yet, but at least I am aware enough to keep asking the question. Retirement, as a word, comes loaded with baggage. For most people, retirement still means earned rest, a slower pace, the right to finally exhale. For me, it has meant speeding up. Saying yes to things I never had time for. Treating this next chapter like an accelerator somebody left floored. People ask me, gently and sometimes not so gently, whether I am planning to slow down. I think some of them are really asking whether it is acceptable for them to slow down, and they are hoping I will give them permission. Of course you can. But I suspect others are quietly wondering the opposite, whether they are still allowed to speed up. Again, absolutely. So here it is, freely given, however you need it. Slow down. Speed up. Do some of both and change your mind next Tuesday. Take up Pickleball, or refuse to pick up a paddle just because apparently everyone over sixty has been issued one. Retire your way, not the way the world has always been sold to you. The only permission that truly matters is the one you give yourself. I have more years behind me than ahead of me now, which strikes me as a particularly good reason not to let fear decide what I do with the ones I have left. Most of us compare ourselves to people in similar circumstances. It is useful until it convinces you there is only one correct way to do this. I have never been particularly good at conforming, and it has always clashed with most of my outfits. There is an elective I keep hoping to find in this MBA, the one that teaches that ambition and quiet contentment can share a syllabus. Have not found it yet. Would sign up in a heartbeat. So here is where I stand at the halfway mark. My average has settled at an A- (that’s a minus, not an em dash. Take that Pangram!) This grade still surprises me every time I refresh the grade portal, the same one that put me through those ten rough minutes in Financial Accounting. But the transcript is not really the story. I am not just learning finance, statistics, and marketing. I am getting better at deciding what truly deserves my time, my energy, and, increasingly, the years still ahead of me. Already using the playbook for vacations, for priorities, and for what earns a spot on my calendar and what gets quietly cut. If you are somewhere in your own halftime, take the ten minutes the C+ asked of me. Let the sting have its moment. Mine reminded me that self-doubt can show up at any age. Fortunately, so can the determination to tell it to get lost. Then get back to writing your second half. The halftime show is supposed to be the big spectacle everyone remembers, with fireworks, a surprise guest, the works. I used to think I was waiting for my own JLo and Shakira moment, a grand, glittering proof that all this effort adds up to something spectacular. I do not think that is coming, and I have made my peace with it. That spectacle belongs to somebody else's show. Mine is different. In the second half, I am just calling my own plays, one deliberate decision at a time, with a ten-pound dog refereeing from the sidelines and no patience for a false start. Not to be outdone by JLo, my MBA halftime show featured its own wardrobe malfunction. My costume never slipped on live television. Instead, I changed out of a sixty-nine-year-old outfit called Perfection and into something that fits: my own judgment, a mantra with some mileage on it, and whatever grade shows up next. All out in the open for anyone to see. Cameras can roll. So, second half. Still curious. Occasionally humbled. Considerably less afraid of a C+ than I was a few weeks ago. There is still time on the clock, and I intend to use every last minute. Don't Retire… ReWire! Sue My Book is Available for Pre-Order I hope you will consider pre-ordering a copy of Your Retirement Reset for you, a friend or loved one. It's available September 29, 2026 published by ECW Press - You can now order at Indigo or Amazon. And if you love supporting Canadian booksellers, please also check with your local independent bookstore. Most can easily order it for you.

Who Owns the World Cup?

A plan to sell minority stakes in the commercial business surrounding FIFA competitions has triggered a major confrontation with European soccer. UEFA and its 55 national associations have reportedly agreed to boycott FIFA competitions while the proposal remains active. The dispute touches on sports governance, private investment, legal authority, media rights and the growing commercialization of the World Cup. Writing a story around this unprecedented event?  Connect with leading experts below for insight and commentary. Matthew Robinson — University of Delaware Robinson specializes in international sports governance, sport diplomacy and global sport development. His work is particularly relevant to the power struggle between FIFA, UEFA and national associations—and what a coordinated European boycott could mean for FIFA’s authority. Thomas Smith — Emory University’s Goizueta Business School Smith studies sports economics, finance and the business of entertainment. He can provide insight into the financial thinking behind FIFA’s proposal, including the trade-off between receiving capital now and sharing future World Cup revenues. Tim Derdenger — Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business Derdenger studies sports markets, sponsorship and the commercialization of major sporting events. His research is relevant to the potential effects on broadcast value, sponsors, fan interest and the overall World Cup brand. Klaas Baks — Emory University’s Goizueta Business School Baks specializes in private equity, alternative investments, mergers and acquisitions and business valuation. His expertise can help explain how investors might value FIFA’s commercial assets and what they would typically expect from a minority investment. Andrew Brandt — Villanova University Brandt’s expertise spans sports law and sports business. That experience is relevant to questions about FIFA’s authority over its members, the legal consequences of a boycott and the potential impact on players, sponsors, broadcasters and host countries. Tim DeSchriver — University of Delaware DeSchriver researches sport finance, economics and marketing. His work can help frame the broader financial question: Is FIFA unlocking the value of its competitions, or giving up a share of long-term revenue in exchange for immediate funding? Reach out to these experts now for your next story.  All inquiries are monitored to ensure time-sensitive request and deadlines are met. For more FIFA and WorldCup information visit our World Cup Expert Hubs.

FIFA 2026: Where Sports, Technology and Global Marketing Collide

After an amazing opening weekend - the 2026 FIFA World Cup has the full attention of a global audience. The event is poised to be one of the biggest sports business stories in North America. With matches hosted across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the expanded 48-team tournament is expected to draw billions of viewers while creating unprecedented opportunities for sponsors, broadcasters, marketers, and technology companies. A recent BBC StoryWorks feature examining Lenovo's role as FIFA's Official Technology Partner highlights how artificial intelligence is transforming the fan experience. New technologies include AI-powered match analytics, enhanced broadcasts, referee-view cameras, AI-generated player avatars that help explain officiating decisions, and infrastructure designed to deliver near real-time content to audiences around the globe. Tim Derdenger is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business. He also coordinates the Technology Strategy & Product Management Track for Tepper MBA students whose interest lead them to employment in technology firms. View his profile Beyond the technology, FIFA 2026 represents a major cultural and commercial moment for soccer in the United States. The tournament is expected to accelerate awareness of the sport, attract new fans, create new sponsorship opportunities, and further integrate soccer into the North American sports landscape. At the same time, innovations in broadcasting, immersive content, and digital engagement are changing how fans experience major events, whether they are in the stadium or following from thousands of miles away. Fernando De la Torre is a a research faculty member in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests are in the fields of Computer Vision and Machine Learning. In particular, applications to human health, augmented reality, virtual reality, and methods that focus on the data (not the model).  View his profile CMU experts like Fernando De la Torre and Tim Derdenger can provide insight into the business, marketing, and technology implications of FIFA 2026, including how global sporting events influence consumer behavior, brand strategy, fan engagement, media consumption, and the growing role of AI in sports entertainment. As organizations look to understand the long-term impact of the tournament, these perspectives can help explain why FIFA 2026 is much more than a sporting event, it is a case study in the future of global audience engagement.

World Cup 2026: Former soccer executive analyzes tournament economics and youth soccer structure

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup days away, the University of Delaware's John Allgood is available to discuss the business of soccer, youth sports participation and the tournament's impact on communities and the economy. As a former United Soccer League (USL) top executive, Allgood brings firsthand experience and knowledge of the commercial operations and development sides of the sport. He also currently serves as an instructor of sport management at UD. Areas of expertise relevant to the World Cup include: • Economic impact: How the tournament will drive local revenue. • The business of soccer: Sports marketing and the commercialization of global sports entertainment. • U.S. youth soccer: The tiered structure of soccer in the U.S., including the pay-to-play system in youth soccer that is different from development models in other countries. • Participation and interest: How the World Cup will boost participation and fan interest in soccer, especially among youth players. • Soccer as a unifying force: The sports' social impact and how it brings people together. To reach Allgood directly and arrange an interview, click the "contact" button on his profile. Interested journalists can also send an email to mediarelations@udel.edu.

Seniors and AI (Part 2): Exercise Caution

If you haven't read Seniors and AI (Part 1) What Could Possibly Go Wrong?, catch up here. My friend Gloria told me she asked her AI assistant what to do about a “sore knee,” and it suggested she might be experiencing “symptoms consistent with early-stage gout, possible DVT, or referred pain from lumbar stenosis.” Gloria is 74, lives alone, and spent the next three hours convinced she was dying. She was not. She had slept on the couch in an awkward position. This is Part 2 of our look at Seniors and AI. If Part 1 was about the laughs, Part 2 is where we put on our reading glasses and pay attention. When technology moves from ordering groceries to offering medical advice or emotional support, the stakes get considerably higher than an accidental pineapple on your pizza. AI and Medical Advice: The Good, the Bad, and the “You Googled What?” Let’s give credit where it’s due. AI genuinely helps in healthcare in meaningful ways. It’s available at 2 AM without judgment. It translates medical jargon into plain English. It can help you walk into a doctor’s appointment with better questions instead of the usual panicked stare. But here’s what it cannot do: see you, touch you, or notice you’re limping. It can’t smell an infection, hear the wheeze in your chest, or detect the subtle signs that something is wrong. At its core, it is an elaborate and very polite Google search. Not a doctor. Takita et al. (2025), in a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Digital Medicine, found that the overall diagnostic accuracy of generative AI models is about 52 percent. Read that again. Fifty-two percent. Suitable for a second opinion, nowhere near sufficient to replace an experienced clinician. And yet, we hear a confident-sounding response and think, “Well, the computer said so.” Confidence and correctness are not the same thing, a lesson most of us learned the hard way in our thirties. When AI Is Safe (and When It Is Decidedly Not) Go ahead and ask AI about: What does that lab term on your bloodwork actually mean Common side effects of medications you’re already taking Questions to bring to your next appointment General information about a health condition Do not ask AI about: Anything you’d describe as “just making sure it’s not something bad”? Chest pain, sudden numbness, or anything that begins with “I’ve never felt this before” Whether to stop taking a medication Whether your symptoms are serious enough to go to the ER Think of AI as the helpful intern, not the chief medical officer. You’d let the intern look something up for you, but you wouldn’t let the intern prescribe your blood pressure medication. Bottom line: if you wouldn’t trust your toaster to measure your blood pressure, don’t trust a chatbot to diagnose your heart. AI Therapy: Comfort or Catastrophe? Mental health chatbots promise empathy. Let’s be precise about what that means: they simulate compassion, not feel it. There is a difference, and it matters. A Stanford University study (Moore & Haber, 2025) warns that therapy chatbots can reinforce stigma or provide genuinely unsafe responses. They can’t detect tone, see tears, read a room, or call for help when things turn dark. This is especially concerning for older adults. Loneliness and depression are common among seniors and are routinely dismissed as “just slowing down” or “getting older.” That’s not aging. Those are invisible illnesses that deserve real attention and real human connection. The Signs We Miss According to the National Institute on Ageing’s 2025 Ageing in Canada Survey, 57 percent of Canadians over 50 report feeling somewhat or very lonely, and 43 percent are at risk of social isolation. These figures haven’t changed since 2022. This is not a fringe problem. It is a quiet epidemic hiding in plain sight. Watch for these signs in yourself and in the people you love: Pulling back from activities they once loved Sleeping too much or not nearly enough Loss of appetite or unexplained weight changes Talking nonstop when the company finally arrives (that’s hunger or severe loneliness, not chattiness) Inventing reasons to call or visit Self-deprecating humour that feels a little too real. Here’s a small but important piece of advice: don’t ask, “Are you lonely?” You’ll get a cheerful “Of course not!” Pride and independence run deep, especially among a generation that survived things we can’t imagine. Instead, act as if. Drop by with coffee. Ask for help with something they are well versed in. Bring the dog. Go for a walk. Sit quietly and watch a show together. Share a meal. Loneliness doesn’t always need a conversation. Sometimes it just needs to know someone showed up. What Your Elder Is Thinking (But Will Never Tell You) Tread carefully here. These thoughts tend to live in the quiet spaces between sentences, felt but rarely spoken. How much time do I have? Have I done enough? Will my money run out before I do? Will anyone remember me? Do I still matter? Why do I feel so sad? Why are my friends getting sick and slipping away? Will I get sick? Who will look after me? Do my children know I love them? What if I start to forget? The creeping fear of losing names, faces, the stories that make life feel like mine. Am I a burden? (This one usually hides behind a joke.) What if my best days are already behind me? Some of these will surprise you. Some won’t. Some will make you want to pick up the phone right now. That’s the right instinct. You don’t need to fix these feelings. Sometimes, sitting quietly with someone in the silence between their words is the most healing thing you can offer. For the Family: What to Watch For and What to Do A quick note for the kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and anyone who forwards funny videos to their grandparents: your elders are going to experiment with AI. Probably the same way you experimented with your first beer or a regrettable tattoo: curious, enthusiastic, and occasionally overconfident. Watch for these warning signs: Increasing withdrawal from real-world activities and people Confusion about what is real versus AI-generated Replacing actual conversations with chatbot exchanges Acting on AI medical or financial advice without verifying it with a professional Being secretive or evasive about what they’re doing online Here is what you can do: Connect regularly. Ask what they’re learning or laughing about. Create opportunities for in-person time. FaceTime counts in a pinch, but in-person is irreplaceable. Know when to call the doctor. Know when all they need is your time. Don’t lecture. Don’t infantilize. Just stay connected. The best firewall against the risks of AI is not better technology. It’s better relationships. The Real Threat: Replacing Connection Here is the uncomfortable truth. AI is tempting. It’s always available, never interrupts, doesn’t judge, and responds instantly without getting distracted by its own problems. For someone who feels lonely, invisible, or like a burden, that can feel like a lifeline. But it’s a false one. AI cannot hold your hand or share a meal. It can’t laugh at your jokes in a way that truly counts. It cannot offer the warmth of human presence, which is what we need most, especially as we age. The danger isn’t primarily that AI will give bad medical advice, though it might. The danger is that it will replace human connection altogether. And that is a problem no algorithm can solve. CTRL ALT DEL: Now Go Call Someone AI is a tool. Part marvel, part mistake, and entirely dependent on who holds it. Use it wisely. Enjoy the entertainment. Stay curious. And remember who is actually in charge. Technology will keep getting smarter. It will not get warmer. It will not hear the sound of your laugh, remember the story you’ve told seventeen times, or show up at the door with soup when you’re not feeling well. That is still us. That will always be us. So yes, let Gloria ask her AI about her knee. But let’s also make sure someone calls Gloria on Tuesday. Key Takeaways Use AI for information, not diagnosis or treatment. Stay alert to signs of loneliness in yourself and in the people you love. Stay genuinely connected with older family members and friends. When in doubt, choose the human over the algorithm. The greatest upgrade to AI isn’t a newer version. It’s showing up. Sue Don't Retire...ReWire! My Book is Now Available for Pre-Order I hope you will consider pre-ordering a copy of Your Retirement Reset for you, a friend or loved one. It's available September 8, 2026 - You can now order on the ECW Press site here. And if you love supporting Canadian booksellers, please also check with your local independent bookstore. Most can easily order it for you.

Expert Insight: Netflix’s AI Bet Signals a Shift From Creation to Control in Filmmaking

Recently published articles in NPR and outlets like Rest of World explore how Netflix is accelerating its use of artificial intelligence in film production through its work with InterPositive, an artificial intelligence company built by Hollywood actor Ben Affleck, signaling a shift that is less about replacing filmmakers and more about reshaping how films are made. The deal between InterPositive and Netflix comes just over a week since the streamer pulled out of its plan to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery. Paramount agreed to acquire the media giant in a deal valued at around $110 billion. On Feb. 26, the Warner Brothers Discovery board declared Paramount's bid to be "superior" to an $83 billion deal it had previously struck with Netflix. Kimberly A. Owczarski, an associate professor at Texas Christian University who studies media franchises, told NPR in an email that Netflix's decision to partner with a filmmaker of Affleck's prominence sends out a positive message to an industry reeling from the threats posed by the growing adoption of AI across the entertainment landscape. "His status in the industry as a star, filmmaker, and producer gives substantial weight as he promotes a responsible use of AI in filmmaking," Owczarski said. March 02 - NPR The technology focuses on post-production efficiencies, using AI trained on a project’s own footage to handle tasks like relighting, continuity fixes, and visual effects, dramatically reducing time and cost while keeping creative direction in human hands. But the broader implications are harder to ignore. As Kim Owczarski notes in the feature by Rest of World, “AI is not replacing creativity, but it is reshaping labor,” underscoring how these tools could redefine roles across visual effects and post-production. While studios frame AI as assistive, the growing reliance on platform-controlled technology raises critical questions about authorship, workforce disruption, and who ultimately controls the filmmaking pipeline. Kimberly Owczarski is an associate professor in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media at Texas Christian University. Her teaching and research focus is in the areas of conglomeration, franchises, media authorship and digital distribution. View her profile To explore how AI is transforming the media and entertainment industry and what it means for creative labour, production workflows, and the future of storytelling - simply contact Kim Owczarski for expert insight and commentary today.

Energy Shocks, Consumer Pullback, and the Long Road Back

As Americans scale back spending on luxuries and some necessities — from dining out and live entertainment to home and auto maintenance — the ripple effects are being felt across the broader economy. Daniel Burnside, clinical professor of finance at the Simon Business School, says the trend reflects more than just belt-tightening and signals deeper structural pressures tied to energy markets. “Higher energy prices push inflation up and growth down, putting monetary policymakers in a bind,” Burnside says, explaining the current situation as being beyond a typical price spike. “This isn’t just a price shock, it’s a capacity shock,” he says. “You can’t just flip a switch back to normal because a lot of energy infrastructure has been destroyed. That distinction matters. Because energy costs are embedded in nearly every good and service, rising prices squeeze consumers beyond the gas pump. The result is reduced discretionary spending at venues like sporting and live music events, restaurants, and leisure destinations. Looking ahead, Burnside says a rapid rebound in discretionary spending is possible but unlikely. “If, by some miracle, energy prices quickly return to prewar levels, you would see a sharp run-up in discretionary stocks,” he says. “But that’s precisely because expectations are so low.” For now, markets are signaling that a swift return to pre-crisis conditions isn’t on its way, Burnside says. Until energy supply stabilizes, the pressure on both consumers and the businesses that rely on it is likely to persist. Burnside regularly fields inquiries from journalists looking for his insight on personal money matters and investing. Contact him by clicking on his profile.

Villanova Tax Experts Break Down Legislative Changes, Best Practices Before Filing Deadline

It's time to collect your W-2s, 1098s and 1099s: On April 15, Americans are required to submit their annual tax returns—recapping earnings, income and life events from the past calendar year. Yet, as filers prepare their records and statements for 2025, they should anticipate some substantial departures from the 2024 season. According to Stephen Olsen, JD, faculty director of the Graduate Tax Program at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, and Luke Watson, PhD, associate professor of Accounting in the Villanova School of Business, one of the most significant drivers of change is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025. A sweeping piece of legislation, OBBBA has instituted a number of new tax rules and regulations, including a deduction of $6,000 for taxpayers over 65 years of age, a deduction for certain overtime payments up to $12,500, a deduction for certain tips up to $25,000 and an increase in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000. Given these policies, most taxpayers should expect a modest decrease in taxes owed this season, and refunds on average should trend higher than in 2025—something borne out by early data from the U.S. Department of Treasury. Of course, the full extent and range of the windfalls have yet to be discovered. "It is unclear if the average refund will be as high as estimated by the administration or what the actual distribution of those tax benefits will be," says Professor Olsen. "Not every taxpayer will receive a significant benefit, and there are so many factors that could cause someone's tax bill to increase, including increased taxable income, the loss of other deductions, changes in filing status and claimed dependents." "There are also many restrictions and phaseouts that changed with OBBBA," adds Dr. Watson. "For example, many seniors and tipped workers paid little to no income tax even under prior law, so they would not necessarily see much benefit with the new legislation." As Dr. Watson's remarks reflect, the question of who exactly qualifies for and benefits from OBBBA's provisions has preoccupied the general public for quite some time. In particular, the deduction-related measure tied to tips, or the "no tax on tips" policy, has sparked curiosity. "Like many things in the Internal Revenue Code, 'no tax on tips' sounds simple, but the actual law is a bit more nuanced," says Professor Olsen. "Only workers who are in an occupation that 'customarily and regularly' receives tips qualify for this deduction. This includes lots of people in transportation, personal services and the food, beverage and hospitality industries—even some in entertainment. "Certain professions, including those in healthcare, law, accounting, financial services and consulting, will likely be prohibited from taking the deduction… Importantly, qualifying workers will need to be able to prove their tip income to take the deduction." "It is also worth noting that, due to the generally lower-wage nature of tipped jobs and the historical underreporting of tips on returns, many taxpayers earning tips paid little to no tax on tips in prior years," says Dr. Watson. "So, they would not experience much of a change under OBBBA." Navigating new provisions like this one, during a process and time already known for provoking anxiety, can be a daunting prospect for many taxpayers. What's more, administrative adjustments at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could potentially exacerbate levels of stress. "IRS staffing remains lower than in past years, which could impact customer service and processing of returns," says Professor Olsen. "In addition, the current administration has elected to eliminate the IRS Direct File tool for income taxes that was available last year. Taxpayers who used the tool last year will need to find other options for the preparation of their income tax returns." For those concerned about filing and worried about abiding by the new rules and regulations, Professor Olsen and Dr. Watson highlight the importance of remaining organized, maintaining a game plan and, if necessary, seeking assistance. "First, taxpayers should be proactive," says Professor Olsen. "Start gathering information as soon as possible and start the process of preparing your returns as early as possible. That will provide you with more time to troubleshoot issues or find other information you may not have initially gathered." "Free resources are also available for taxpayers," says Dr. Watson. "There is a federal volunteer-run program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) that operates throughout communities to prepare tax returns for free, and many of the big tax prep companies do offer a free version of their software, despite trying very hard to sell a paid version. "That said, the best advice is to keep thorough tax and financial records throughout the year. Then, seek help—such as through VITA—when you need it. The better your records, the easier it will be for VITA or others to assist you."

Seniors and AI: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Let’s be honest: we’ve weathered every tech wave they’ve thrown our way. Rotary phones. Dial-up internet. The BlackBerry. And somehow, we’ve made it to AI. The robots know more about our shopping habits than our spouses do—and honestly, they’re better listeners. We’ve Survived Every Tech Wave. AI Is Just the Next One. Remember when the internet first emerged, and everyone claimed it would never take off? Shopping online was considered silly ("Who would buy shoes without trying them on?"), And email sounded like something only NASA engineers would use. Fast forward a few decades, and now you can't even renew a driver's licence without the internet. So much for "it'll never last."  It all began innocently enough. The first cordless phone was freedom on a frequency—you could step outside, yell "Can you hear me now?" and feel unstoppable. Then came remote controls, launching the golden era of couch-based cardio: jumping up every five minutes to find the one that actually worked. (Still missing: one VCR remote, circa 1987.) Next came AOL. "You've got mail!" was our first digital dopamine hit. Then the BlackBerry arrived—part phone, part pager, part fashion statement. It was heavy, expensive, and glorious. Until, like a hot potato, we all dropped it for the iPhone—sleeker, lighter, and small enough to fit in yoga pants. The iPod Nano followed. Goodbye radios, hello playlists! From there came Google, streaming, apps, and clouds (the digital kind, not the ones that ruin golf). And now… drumroll, please… Artificial Intelligence. The "It'll Never Last" File: Greatest Misses Edition We've encountered the skeptics before: • The Internet: "No one will use it." • Online Shopping: "People won't buy shoes sight unseen." • Email: "Who needs digital letters?" • Voice Assistants: "Talking to a speaker will freak people out." • AI: "It's just hype—like the Segway for brains." Well, the Segway is still technically around, but you're not riding one to the golf course. Meanwhile, AI is everywhere—and yes, seniors are joining the party. AI: The Latest "Fad" That Isn't If you think AI is a passing craze, you probably also dismissed online shopping and email. (Confession: I once thought, "Who would ever enter their credit card number online?") But AI isn't a gadget—it's the next era. As permanent as gravity, and just as invisible until it knocks something over. Use of generative AI among older adults throughout North America is growing. A Leger Research study revealed that 1 in 3 Canadians 55+ have tried an AI tool. We can ignore it, "poo-poo" it, or embrace it. But always remember: Resisting progress will not slow it down one byte. Why This Time Is Different Here's the twist: today's seniors aren't like our parents' generation. We're Boomers with bandwidth. We were the first to type with our thumbs, track our steps before it was trendy, and FaceTime the grandkids instead of mailing Polaroids. We've earned our tech credentials. Now it's time to flex them in the AI era. Seniors Meet AI: A Beautiful Disaster AI promised to make life easier. Instead, for many seniors, it's like adopting a mischievous grandchild who never listens and occasionally orders you twelve pineapples by accident. Let's be honest—we've all had those moments. Voice Assistants: The Frenemies "Alexa, play Staying Alive." "Calling 911. You appear to be in distress." "Siri, remind me to take my pill at 8." "Texting Phil at 8." "Hey Siri, stop listening." Silence. "Hey Siri, play jazz music." Still silence. (Give it a minute… you'll get it.) These so-called "assistants" are like toddlers with Wi-Fi—they only hear half of what you say, and always the half that causes chaos. The Sitcom Nobody Asked For Seniors using AI might just be the world's best sitcom waiting to happen: • Episode 1: ChatGPT Writes My Will (and Leaves Everything to Wi-Fi) • Episode 2: Siri Joins My Book Club and Never Stops Talking • Episode 3: I Asked Alexa to Play Jazz, and She Ordered a Jacuzzi Coming soon to streaming services everywhere—as soon as we find the remote. Texting While Senior: A New Dialect Emerges If you think AI is confusing, try texting with seniors. Somewhere between autocorrect and abbreviations, a new language has evolved—part English, part comedy special: BTW – Bring The Wheelchair ROFL... CGU – Rolling On The Floor Laughing... Can't Get Up LOL – Living On Lipitor BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth TGIF – Thank Goodness It's Four (Early Bird Special) FWB – Friend With Beta-Blockers TTYL – Talk To You Louder LMDO – Laughing My Dentures Out GOML – Get Off My Lawn Honestly, AI could spend years decoding that list and still ask, "Did you mean BYOB?" "But What About Privacy?" (Spoiler: That Ship Has Sailed) Ah yes, the Privacy Protectors—those well-meaning friends who whisper, "Don't use AI, they're stealing your identity!" Spoiler alert: that ship already sailed. Siri and Alexa have been eavesdropping for years. Google knows where you've been, what you've read, and that you googled "how to delete Google history." Uber keeps a record of every trip you've ever taken—yes, even that midnight McDonald's run—and there's no "forget" button. Most of us have already traded privacy for utility. And honestly? It's not always a bad deal.  I'm happy to share a few megabytes of data if Apple can tell me where I parked in the underground garage with seventeen identical "P2" levels. That's not a conspiracy—that's a lifesaver. AI saves time, surfaces better options we didn't know existed, and delivers instant answers. No more hunting for the manual to your smoke detector—just snap a photo, and AI tells you exactly which button to push (and which one to avoid). We're not losing control; we're gaining convenience. And at this stage of life, that's worth more than a few anonymous data points. Ways Seniors Can Actually Use AI (and Enjoy It) AI tools are making daily life easier for older adults in practical, accessible ways. Here's how you can put them to work: The “Start Here” Ladder: Build Your AI Confidence One Rung at a Time Nobody learns to swim by jumping into the deep end. AI is the same. The trick isn’t to master everything at once—it’s to start somewhere low-stakes, build a little confidence, and move up when you’re ready. Here’s a simple progression that works: Level 1: Voice Assistants Risk Level: Minimal Fun Level: Surprisingly High ------------------- Start here if you haven’t already. Ask Alexa or Siri to set a timer, play music, check the weather, or settle a dinner-table argument. No typing required. Level 2: AI Chat Tools Risk Level: Low (with privacy settings activated) Usefulness Level: Eye-Opening ------------------- This is the “brilliant friend who knows everything” rung. Tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini are free to use and can answer any question—no judgment, no wait times, no office hours. Try drafting a birthday message. Ask it to explain a medical term your doctor used. Get it to suggest a one-week meal plan. You type, it answers. Think of it as Google, but one that actually understands your question. A Note of Caution (Read This): Before you type anything personal into an AI app, go into the app’s privacy settings and switch off chat history/training so you don’t expose personal information. ChatGPT users can navigate to Settings > Data Controls and turn off "Improve the model for everyone". This prevents your conversations from being used to train future models. For extra privacy, disable "Chat History & Training," turn off memory features, or use the temporary chat feature. Level 3: Health and Wellness Wearables Risk Level: Low Payoff : Potentially Life-Saving ------------------- An Apple Watch or Fitbit isn’t simply a fancy step counter. These devices now detect irregular heart rhythms, monitor blood oxygen levels, track sleep quality, and—crucially—detect falls and automatically alert emergency contacts. For anyone living independently, that last feature alone makes it a worthwhile investment. You don’t need to know exactly how it works; just wear it. Level 4: Smart Home Tools Risk Level: Medium Payoff: You’ll Wonder How You Managed ------------------- Smart thermostats, video doorbells, voice-controlled lighting—these are AI tools you set up once and forget. The real win here is independence. Being able to control your home environment with your voice, check who’s at the door from your phone, or have the heat adjust automatically before you wake up: these aren’t luxuries. For many of us, they’re what make staying in our own homes longer a real and practical option. Level 5: AI-Assisted Financial Tools Risk Level: Higher. Stakes Level: Real. So Tread Carefully and Deliberately ------------------- This level is for when you’re comfortable and curious—not before. AI can now help you understand tax documents, summarize financial statements, compare mortgage products, and even flag unusual account activity. These tools are genuinely powerful. But they work best alongside a trusted human advisor, not instead of one. Think of AI as the research assistant who preps the questions. Your financial advisor is still the one who answers them.  The key is this: you don’t have to climb the whole ladder today. Pick one level. Try it for a week. Laugh when it goes sideways. Then decide if you want to go higher. Writing & Editing: Draft emails, thank-you notes, or letters with the right tone—ChatGPT handles over 1 million daily health-related queries from seniors, including help preparing questions for doctor visits Travel Planning: Find flights, plan itineraries, and even pack your suitcase virtually Financial Education: Ask about investments or taxes—AI explains without the jargon Health & Fitness: Wearable devices like Apple Watch and Fitbit track exercise, monitor heart rate, detect falls, and can notify help if you're in an accident Smart Home Control: Voice-activated systems can adjust temperature, turn lights on and off, unlock doors, and control security—all with simple voice commands Cooking: "AI, make a meal with tuna, yogurt, and hope" Entertainment: Jokes, playlists, stories, or party ideas Learning: Teach yourself a language, an instrument, or how to fix the Wi-Fi (again) Want to get started? OATS published "AI for Older Adults," a comprehensive guide covering health, finance, and lifestyle applications specifically for seniors. It's available at oats.org. The Serious Bit: AI and Your Portfolio Here’s where I put on my serious hat for a moment. The U.S. stock market is currently top-heavy with AI darlings—Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta. Great companies. Exciting times. But retirement portfolios are not the place for a single-themed bet. If your retirement savings are overloaded with AI stocks, a correction could make your portfolio look like your Fitbit step count on a February long weekend. Diversify. Always. Love tech. Just don’t go steady with it. For more on this topic, check out Part 1 of my post: The Retirees' Guide to Market Volatility: Building Your Financial Safety Net Embrace AI, Don't Fear It AI is here to stay. Think of it as your digital assistant, not your replacement. Our generation has lived through it all: dial-up, disco, dot-com booms, and Bitcoin. If anyone can handle the rise of the machines, it's us. We figured out VCRs (eventually), navigated online banking, and mastered Zoom backgrounds (some better than others). And no, blurred does not count as a background. So fire up your curiosity. Try ChatGPT to plan your next vacation, use Google Gemini to get thoughtful answers to complex questions, or tell Alexa to crack a joke. (She's still learning… but she's improving.) We’ve adapted before. We’ll adapt again. That’s actually what we do. One baffling software update at a time. And here’s what no algorithm will ever replicate: Us. Our humour. Our resilience. The comedy gold of a pocket-dial to our X at 1am. The triumph of finding our reading glasses—while wearing them. AI is smart. But we’re wiser. And that still counts for a lot. So, here's the deal: AI can predict the stock market, diagnose your rash, and write a sonnet in seventeen seconds. But It still can't find your car keys, remember why it walked into the kitchen, or laugh until it snorts at its own joke. We've survived disco, dial-up, the dot-com crash, and that one Zoom call where someone didn't realize their camera was on in the bathroom. We will absolutely survive this, too. AI isn’t here to replace us; it’s here to keep up with us. And frankly, after decades of dealing with actual humans, a very smart, endlessly patient, never-hangry assistant sounds like an upgrade. So, when the robots eventually do take over, they'll need someone to tell them to slow down, dress properly, and call their mother. That's where we come in. Same as it ever was. One baffling software update at a time. Need more guidance? Here are some helpful resources: • AARP's 2025 Tech Trends Report – Research on how older adults are using technology • Bethesda Health Group's AI Guide for Seniors – Practical everyday applications • Ultimate Senior Resource: Top 10 AI Tools – Detailed reviews of the best AI tools for older adults Don't Retire...ReWire! Sue Want more of this? Subscribe for weekly doses of retirement reality—no golf-cart clichés, no sunset stock photos, just straight talk about staying Hip, Fit & Financially Free.