Tag: News

• Amazon's Prime Day runs July 16 and 17 this year.
• But some Amazon Flex workers are already busy with deliveries.
• One Flex driver in Alabama explained the biggest challenges in delivering all that stuff you order.

Amazon's massive Prime Day sale doesn't start until July 16.

But for one Amazon Flex delivery worker in Alabama, work started picking up this past week.

The worker said she picked up six "blocks" — shifts between three and six hours long. That's more than the worker has usually been able to claim in the past.

"I was basically booked up for an entire week, which really doesn't happen," the worker said.

"It seems they are making sure to get all of the regular stuff out in anticipation" of Prime Day, she added.

The Flex worker, who made deliveries for Amazon during Prime Day in 2023, asked not to be identified by name, but Business Insider has verified her identity and work for Amazon.

For many Amazon delivery workers, Prime Day has become one of the busiest times of the year. The 2024 version of the event, which will take place on July 16 and 17, promises to be no different: Amazon has already spent weeks promoting some discounts and deals. It's promising new deals for shoppers every five minutes during the event itself.

This year, Prime Day will also occur the same week as Alabama's tax-free weekend, a three-day period when shoppers can stock up on supplies for the new school year without paying sales tax.

Amazon employs a few different kinds of delivery workers. Those who work through the company's Flex program are independent contractors using their own cars and are paid by the block. Making certain types of deliveries, such as grocery orders from Whole Foods, comes with the potential to earn tips.

The Flex worker BI spoke with says she's seen more new faces at the Amazon facilities she frequents — a sign, she said, that Amazon is staffing up in advance of the banner shopping week.

"Prime Day, and then right around October, those are the two biggest times when they hire people because that's when everybody's shopping," the worker told BI, referencing the fall increase in hiring ahead of the holiday shopping season.

One challenge for Flex workers is delivering all those packages within the time allotted for the block, the worker said.

The worker recalled delivering about 30 packages per three-and-a-half-hour block earlier this year. Lately, though, the worker has noticed that number reaching closer to 40, especially during evening delivery shifts.

And if you don't do it, "they'll just say you're unreliable, and you're gone," the worker said.

Getting shifts with the best pay also requires a strategy, she said.

During a normal week in her area, a three-and-a-half hour block of delivering packages pays $63, the driver told Business Insider. That rate can go above $80 if drivers wait until hours — or even minutes — before a shift, she said.

But in the run-up to Prime Day, those higher offers come up sooner — even a full day before the shift, she said.

Workers are also competing with the influx of new drivers around the event. Speaking to BI on the Thursday before Prime Day, the Flex driver said she still hadn't seen any blocks for next week, but she's ready to grab whatever shifts she can.

"Everything just hits bigger and quicker" around the shopping extravaganza, the driver told BI.

"The Amazon Flex program gives individuals the opportunity to set their own schedule and be their own boss, while earning competitive pay," Amazon spokesperson Branden Baribeau told BI.

"Amazon Flex delivery partners are able to work when they want – including on and around Prime Day – with the vast majority finishing their delivery blocks early," Baribeau said.

"When something like a delivery partner repeatedly not showing up for a scheduled block or not following our Terms of Service occurs, our team manually reviews each case to determine if eligibility to deliver with the Amazon Flex program should continue," Baribeau said in response to a question about when Amazon considers deactivating Flex workers.

Baribeau said that Flex workers earn $26 per hour on average.

Do you work for Amazon Flex, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, or another part of Amazon's retail operations and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

• Melissa Fitzgerald is the owner and director of a sleepaway camp.
• Her own kids attend the camp, but she makes sure they have the same experience as other campers. 
• Her kids don't always find it easy being the camp owner's kids.  

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Melissa Fitzgerlad, owner and director of Camp Highlander. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm a huge believer in the sleepaway camp experience and that sending kids to camp is a gift. I grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and my parents sent me to an all-girls camp in North Carolina every summer. While I loved it and always planned on sending my kids to camp so they could have the same experience I did, I never imagined I'd own a camp, and my kids would be campers there.

In 2019, my parents decided to sell Camp Highlander, a co-ed sleepaway camp for 6 to 16-year-olds in Henderson County, Western North Carolina, which they'd owned for almost 20 years. They wanted to retire, and their dream was to continue their legacy and pass down the camp from generation to generation.

I had started working at the camp soon after they bought it, and after my husband left the Navy, he also began working there. He had always wanted to own a sleepaway camp, and as we both loved working at Camp Highlander and had plenty of experience, we decided to buy it. We now live at the camp year-round.

My kids started at Camp Highlander when they were 5 years old

My kids have spent every summer at Camp Highlander since they were babies, first when my parents owned it and then when we did. My sons are now 20 and 17 years old, and our daughter is 7 years old. They all started as campers at age 5, and their 16 cousins, who live in Louisiana and Texas, have also gone through the camp, with the last two starting this year.

What I love about going to camp is that it teaches kids important life skills like cooperation, compromise, and conflict resolution. Going to camp also gives them a break from their screens, teaches them to reconnect with others, and develops social skills. They get to escape the world and just be kids. The beauty of our camp is that they can come for one week, two weeks, or five weeks, which is unusual in our region.

We treat our kids like any other campers

One of the best things about having our kids go to our camp is that, unlike other parents who send their kids to camp, we get to share the same experiences they have, which has created a bond between us. They also see us as good role models as they see how hard they work and that we're providing this incredible experience for them and making kids happy.

While it sounds great that we're at the same camp as our kids, kids get the most out of camp when their parents aren't around. We treat ours like every other camper and have strict boundaries, including not visiting our kids in their cabins, them not visiting our cabins, and not sitting together at mealtimes. I see my role as camp mom to all the campers and spend time giving "mom hugs" to kids who are missing their moms, but our kids don't get to hug us. We're mindful that the other kids don't get to see their parents, which could make them homesick.

At times, my boys found it hard being the camp owner's grandchildren or children because of the added pressure that they should know what to do or know better. We're big on grace at Camp Highlander and believe camp should be a safe space for kids to make mistakes, learn from them, and move forward, but new staff and other campers were not always so gracious if our kids did mess up.

They've also had to deal with the fallout when we make decisions that the other campers might not be happy about, like when we banned Crocs for safety reasons, which didn't go down very well with the other kids. During the offseason, we always make a point to talk to our kids about any issues like this that arise during their time at camp, as it helps them process their feelings. They still begged to go back every year.

We're sending my daughter to a different camp this year

My daughter went to Camp Highlander for the first time last year and loved it so much that she spent five weeks there. Our boys never had the opportunity to experience what it's like not to be the owners' children, but we're sending her to a camp in Alabama for a week so she can. She was excited about going and also about returning to Camp Highlander for the rest of the summer. Our older kids will be on staff this summer, one as a counselor and the other as a CIT, which gives us a double perspective.

When we're eventually ready to sell, we hope one of our children will take over the camp and continue my parents' dream of keeping it in the family.

• United Airlines introduced basic economy in 2017 to compete with budget carriers.
• I booked the discounted fare from New York to Denver to experience the airline's most basic option.
• I loved the domestic cabin, but United's no carry-on rule is more restrictive than competitors.

United Airlines introduced a "basic economy" ticket in 2017 to compete with budget carriers like Frontier and Spirit Airlines.

The discount ticket comes with a random seat and a personal item when flying domestically. There's no option to pay extra for a carry-on — it has to be checked for a fee.

Albeit restrictive, this cheaper alternative helps lure more price-sensitive travelers who prefer the perks of a mainline carrier like United — like seatback screens and free snacks — instead of the barebones amenities of a low cost.

I've personally moved toward booking basic economy instead of budget carriers for convenience and comfort. I'll upgrade to regular economy if necessary, but I usually like to save a buck where I can.

My go-to is normally Delta Air Lines for its reliability, but I recently tried United between New York and Denver.

I wanted to see how the airline's more restrictive basic economy rules played out in reality and how its "United Next" cabin felt after four hours across the US.

Most of my experiences on United have been transatlantic, with my last domestic flight being in the summer of 2022.

After flying United transatlantic a dozen times over the years, its international flights almost always left much to be desired. The widebody economy cabin offers OK comfort, but the food is barely edible on most flights — a common complaint of United customers

My 2022 flight between New Jersey and Seattle was the better journey, mostly because of the upgraded "United Next" cabin enhancement project the airline unveiled in 2021.

This time around, I specifically chose the same plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8, to ensure maximum comfort. (And no, I wasn't afraid to fly on the Max.)

However, the difference in my booking this time was opting for basic economy.

If you travel like me, basic economy is the best bang for your buck. I'm a carry-on-only person who can manage with a random seat assignment if the goal is to save money.

However, United's discount fare works differently than mainline rivals American and Delta, and I wanted to see if it's worth the hassle.

Unlike Delta and American, which similarly offer unbundled basic coach fares, United doesn’t include a carry-on bag for domestic flights.

Adding a carry-on for a fee wasn't an option, so I instead paid $40 extra during check-in to check my bag. Knowing how basic economy works at United but wanting the full basic economy experience, I begrudgingly handed over the responsibility of my luggage.

To be clear, I don't necessarily avoid checking a bag because I don't fully trust United. I mostly do, thanks to its bag status updates via the app, but I don't like being separated from my stuff, regardless of airline.

United's rules loosen to include a free carry-on if you're flying internationally to Canada, South America, across the Atlantic, or across the Pacific. International transpacific flights also get one free checked bag, excluding journeys to China and Tahiti.

I arrived at New York's LaGuardia Airport at 5:15 a.m. to give myself plenty of time to check my bag before the early morning flight.

I budgeted more time than usual to ensure enough time to check my luggage, which proved easy using the kiosks and self-tagging.

Dropping the bag only required an ID check, and I was off to security.

Security was quick, thanks to TSA PreCheck, and I spent an hour at the new Chase lounge before heading to the gate.

Chase's new LaGuardia lounge in Terminal B is fancier than some airline business-class lounges I've visited worldwide. It has an on-demand menu, coffee (including cold brew!), a bar, two floors of seating, and a mini-arcade.

I get access through my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, which costs $550 annually. I think it's 100% worth the cost because I can still visit a nice airport lounge even when I fly basic economy — and I don't need any airline status.

Boarding was also seamless, though the gate agent double checked I didn’t have too many bags.

My personal item is a small duffle bag that fits both Spirit and Frontier, and it meets the size dimensions displayed at the gate and United check-in desk.

The ticket agent who checked my bag and the gate agent noted my duffle but didn't say anything else. United's website warns of a $25 fee on top of the regular checked bag price for basic ticket holders who show up at the gate with a carry-on and a personal item.

It was a tight squeeze, but my personal item fit snugly under the seat in front of me as I settled into 35B.

United allows basic economy ticket holders to pay for a seat in advance, but I skipped the option just to see what I'd randomly get.

Unsurprisingly, I was assigned a middle seat — the same that happened on the American and Delta basic economy flights I took earlier this summer.

The middle seat isn’t ideal and I often pay more for the aisle, but I found it as comfortable as competitors.

I prefer an aisle seat because I like to access the lavatory and stretch my legs whenever I want — so long as the seatbelt sign is on — without disturbing my neighbor.

If I wasn't trying for the most basic United experience I could get, I would've paid more for an aisle as close to the front of the plane as possible since the flight was almost four hours long and left at 7 a.m.

My seat came with the common perks like power and an adjustable headrest. It doesn’t matter at this point if you booked basic or regular coach.

A key difference between basic and low-cost tickets is that basic economy passengers still get the comfort and complimentary amenities of a regular coach seat.

This includes the headrest, power ports, 30 inches of seat pitch, and up to 17.8 inches of seat width, which is on par with competitors. By comparison, you won't even get a free cup of water on Spirit or Frontier.

Probably the biggest standout, however, was the Bluetooth-capable seatback screens.

While there are few noticeable differences between the mainline carrier cabins, I love United's Bluetooth capabilities. It's my favorite perk since I can use my own headset rather than the provided earbuds, which rarely fit right.

Delta also offers the option in first class on its A321neo fleet, but Bluetooth is otherwise only available cabinwide on some 100 United planes, though the airline expects to roll it out on 800 aircraft by 2032.

Bluetooth complemented the good mix of entertainment options.

I took advantage of the screens because of the Bluetooth, which made a noticeable difference. The content was comparable to American and Delta, with movie titles like Dune: Part Two and Kung Fu Panda 4.

The flight also featured free WiFi for T-Mobile customers like myself, with the paid option costing $8 for MileagePlus members.

The T-Mobile inflight WiFi, which is also available on American, Alaska Airlines, and Delta, worked perfectly the entire flight, and I had no issues working, texting, or streaming.

Internet access is easily one of the reasons I prefer mainline over low-cost. Spirit has WiFi now, but it's less reliable.

I watched Kung Fu Panda 4 and worked for most of the four-hour flight. Everything went smoothly — and my bag made it to Denver.

The regular free snacks and drinks were served throughout the flight, and I opted for Diet Coke on the first run and orange juice on the second. The flight attendants were friendly and helpful, as expected.

Upon landing in Denver, I had no issues getting my bag, and I was happy that United sent me regular status updates about the location of my luggage.

While I hesitated about United after mediocre long-haul experiences, this flight proved its domestic product is solid.

I like United's new domestic product. The cabin upgrades are clearly competitive with American and Delta, with the Bluetooth giving it that extra edge.

However, I’d note United’s restrictive bag policy for basic economy could trip up inexperienced travelers or push people away.

I book based on price and convenience. If other airlines offer a similar inflight experience and I don't have to check my bag, that'll sway me away from United.

For example, the same one-way basic economy flight from LaGuardia to Denver in late September is $109 on both United and Delta, according to Google Flights. Other dates show similarly close fares.

After the added price and hassle to check a bag on United, Delta is a no a brainer. But for weekend trips when I only need a personal item, I'd give United my business if the flight time and price were better.

• Ivette Cuevas moved from California to Costa Rica with her son, Vincent Alcampo, 10 years ago.
• The relationship that drew Ivette there ended, but they say Costa Rican life suits them..
• Ivette remarried and started a café — which Vincent manages, and the pair have plans to expand.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ivette Cuevas, a café owner living in Costa Rica, and her 16-year-old son, Vincent Alcampo. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Ivette: I didn't choose Costa Rica — it chose me.

I left California 10 years ago to build a new life with my business and romantic partner. Together, we purchased a hotel with a restaurant in Uvita, a beach town on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. I had no experience running a restaurant and initially had nothing to do with it, focusing more on the hotel's day-to-day operations — but when we split up, I took over the restaurant while he managed the hotel.

I wound up selling the restaurant before I was ready to let go. It became my dream to open a new one.

Despite the breakup, life kept moving like it always does. By the time I sold the restaurant, I'd put down roots in Costa Rica. I'd purchased my home and had a great circle of friends, so I decided to stay.

I moved to San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city, where I met my husband and had a daughter. My son, Vincent, traveled back and forth between California with his father and Costa Rica to visit me until, a little over a year ago, he decided to move here permanently.

Vincent: Life in Costa Rica is different from back home. I've been lucky to be able to travel a lot so early in life, and I think it has taught me about the world. It has definitely shown me I don't like to sit still.

I grew up by the beach, so life in this big city took some getting used to, but I like the energy here.

I like to keep busy, and I always want to do more. I really just want to be the best at what I do and keep pushing to learn more.

For a while, in addition to school, I ran a little dog treat business. The idea of being an entrepreneur like my mom has always appealed to me. Thankfully she always encourages me, and let me take on a full-time job after I tested out of my senior year of high school.

Ivette: Last year, I had been eyeing a property nearby with a "for rent" sign for months. From the moment I called to see if the place was even available, everything just fell into place. I just knew it was the right thing to do, so Coffee Bear was born.

I created a menu from scratch based on breakfast recipes for foods I missed from back home. I wanted simple ingredients, quick service, and a healthier alternative to fast food, which is all over the place these days.

We cater to locals — mostly ex-pats from the States and Canada since we're near the US Embassy, but the odd tourist finds us off the beaten path every now and then.

The café wouldn't be what it is without Vincent. He's 16 but an old soul and so ambitious for his age. He's taken on a huge role at Coffee Bear, and together, we're planning to open a second location near the beach in Guanacaste that'd be his to run. We're looking at building him a small house up there to live in while he does.

Vincent: At the coffee shop, I get to do a little bit of everything: managing, being a barista, working the cash register. It's different every day and I love it.

And I love working with my mom; it has brought us so close together. We get along really well, we joke around, she asks my opinion on things. We really built this together.

Getting to see the very bare bones of the coffee shop before it became what it is now taught me a ton. And working here has me thinking about someday going to Barcelona to go to culinary school.

It was a big change to move out here, but I'm excited to see more of the world. It's definitely a family value to travel and explore. I'm grateful to my mom for showing me what's out there. Because now it's like, why would I want to stay in one place? I want the best, so I want to go see more.

Ivette: I'm really proud of Vincent and that he has aspirations to move out of the four walls he was born in — because a lot of people never even leave the city or the state that they were born in, they just kind of stay there forever.

I think it's really cool that he's so young and has already experienced living in another country, learning another language, and running a business with family. I love that he's learned to be passionate about what he wants to do and not be afraid of failure.

Those are really cool life experiences that some other people wouldn't have the opportunity to do. And I think that's a gift we were given when we moved here.

From the moment Wende Zomnir answers my call, it's like I can feel rays of California sun beaming through the phone.

While I'm settled in a New Jersey suburb, she's enjoying Newport Beach, California. It's where the beauty mogul runs her latest cosmetics venture out of a Zomnir-described "surf shack" that sits in front of the ocean.

Natural light filters through every window, and a mix of beauty products, succulents, and driftwood decorates seafoam-green shelves beyond the rainbow-painted entryway.

"I was just lifting in my garage gym before this interview," she told me. "You can see the beach from here."

If you're unfamiliar with Zomnir's name, you're certainly acquainted with her work. She cofounded Urban Decay in 1996 and created the brand's most iconic products. Remember the beloved Naked eyeshadow palette? Yeah, it was her idea.

She led the brand to reach $1 billion in annual sales and sold the company to L'Oréal in 2012. Less than a decade later, Zomnir launched a sustainability-focused beauty venture called Caliray.

But she's not starting over. Zomnir is simply expanding on something she's been doing for years.

"I tried making eyeshadow compacts out of corn plastic 15 years ago. And Urban Decay was the first brand to have all recycled paper cartons," she told BI. "So it's not like Caliray's wellness and sustainability is a 180 departure from Urban Decay. It wasn't part of the brand's messaging, but it was always part of my personal vision."

'Makeup is in my blood'

Zomnir grew up in Texas, where blush was bold, and hair was sky-high.

Her beauty memories start early. She recalls sneaking into her mom's bathroom, the smell of her makeup drawer, and the eyeshadow brush that seemed like the "biggest, fluffiest in the world."

Zomnir has also never forgotten the massive Calvin Klein makeup kit her mom gifted her around age 13.

"It was probably the best Christmas gift I've ever gotten, other than this giant diamond ring my husband bought me a few years ago," she added with a laugh.

Despite her innate love for makeup — and a college job selling Elizabeth Arden skincare at a department store — Zomnir didn't envision a career in beauty.

"My customers were all in their 70s and 80s, and the women I worked with were in their 50s and 60s," she said. "They were amazing, like moms to me, but that had been their career. They'd talk to me about progressing mine, and I would think: 'Oh no no, I'm not doing this.'"

Zomnir went into advertising, working an internship at Leo Burnett Worldwide that turned into a job working on cosmetic advertising accounts. Her career took her to California in the mid-'90s, where her life changed forever.

Zomnir's friend was engaged to a man who worked as an asset manager for Sandy Lerner, the cofounder of Cisco Systems. When Lerner told him she'd set her sights on makeup and wanted to create a brand, he called Zomnir and asked if she'd like to meet with the tech entrepreneur.

"I was thinking, 'How can we possibly break this giant beauty industry?' She looked at me and said: 'Well, I broke tech. Why can't we break beauty?'" Zomnir recalled. "So I quit my job and jumped in. Sandy and I started Urban Decay."

No regrets; just makeup

Urban Decay is famously known as one of the first indie beauty brands to make it big. At its peak, Zomnir said the company was selling at least one Naked palette every few seconds and had gone global, largely thanks to help from L'Oréal.

Zomnir left in 2022, a decision she made when she felt Urban Decay needed a "fresh perspective," she told Beauty Independent, and a chance to fully acclimate to L'Oréal's branding. The founder told BI she's at peace with the brand now being out of her control.

"Are you ever going to completely align with someone else's creative vision for your brand? Nope. You're not," she said, pointing to the brand's Moon Dust eyeshadows as an example.

"I don't love the new package they put them in, but it's the same formula," Zomnir said of the powder products, now encased in see-through acrylic squares rather than small, silver spheres.

"But I get a lot of satisfaction from the fact that many of the things I created are still the top sellers and top of the industry," she added. "Moon Dust shadows, the Naked palettes, the 24/7 pencils — all of those are things I cooked up."

She's still close with many people who brought the brand to the top with her. Zomnir said she attended a "mini-reunion" with ex-Urban Decay employees at the Caliray office the night before our call. Attendees included L'Oréal group president Carol Hamilton, beauty veteran Tara Simon, and, in true Urban Decay fashion, lots of pets.

"This is very emotional and top of mind for me," Zomnir said, reflecting on her past role. "While I was there, I'd look around and see a couple hundred people spread across a few buildings, all working toward a really unique and amazing mission."

Starting fresh with Caliray

Conceptualizing a new makeup brand with a California aesthetic was a no-brainer for Zomnir.

While on the road promoting Urban Decay, she noticed that people asked her the same questions: What's California like? Does she surf and do yoga? Does she eat kale for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

Then Zomnir took a surfing trip with her family and noticed a surplus of plastic trash across the island.

Sustainability was always important to her. She introduced a biodynamic garden to the Urban Decay office so that employees could harvest their meals and ensured that eco-friendly materials like cork and bamboo were used throughout its office furniture and supplies.

But she knew she could make even bigger changes.

"I thought about all the Naked palettes that are probably in landfills right now, and I was like, 'We have to do a better job,'" she said.

So, she officially launched Caliray in 2021. Its makeup, made with skin-friendly ingredients, is meant to be effortlessly applied. Its packaging, however, utilizes recycled plastic, sugarcane barrels, algae and vegetable ink, and other eco-friendly components.

"What we're trying to do is get the most recycled plastic we can into everything," Zomnir said. "We're trying to use glass and not coat it with materials that render it unrecyclable."

Those shiny, plastic lipstick tubes that look like metal? They're a no-go for Caliray.

"They're beautiful, but it takes a highly toxic process that really pollutes the air environment to make them," she said. "We're trying to be cognizant, not only of the materials we use but how we treat those materials."

A Caliray press representative cites the brand's Come Hell or High Water mascara as its most popular product. It's followed by its So Blown primer, which the brand says has sold out seven times at Sephora.

Both products are also extremely popular on TikTok. Caliray's mascara first went viral in 2022 and is still regularly discussed on the platform today.

The representative also said Caliray is expected to reach $18 million in sales this year and was named one of the most innovative brands by Fast Company in March. BI couldn't independently confirm that estimate.

Doing things the Zomnir way

Zomnir's Caliray surf shack doesn't run like a typical office.

"Deliveries come, and we all basically get up out of our chairs and haul boxes into the product closet," Zomnir said. "It's scrappy, but it's fun. I love having my hands dirty and understanding every little aspect of the business."

Starting a new venture is difficult, even for a beauty veteran. The days of beauty consumers being loyal to one specific brand are long gone.

"There's not even loyalty to favorite products anymore, which is OK. That's the customer's choice," Zomnir said. "But as a brand, it's your job to make products so good, and the packaging and the branding so compelling, that even if they stray, they do come back to you."

That's why she's stuck with her tried-and-true business method: starting from the bottom and naturally working her way up.

"You can throw $20 million at something, get it launched, drive the awareness, and make it successful," she said. "But I do think there's something to be said for starting really, really granular. I started with almost no employees."

And in doing so, Zomnir can finally take a step back and enjoy everything she's created — so far, of course.

"I just graduated my youngest child from high school, so I really want to take the time he's out of the house to experience more and spend some more time with friends. And to be super honest, to keep myself from crying every day," she said.

She's also booked a ticket for a vacation with friends and is slowly but surely passing on some of her workload to Caliray colleagues.

"Hopefully, I can be an even better visionary for them now that I'm able to take my hands off the reins," she said.

• This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back to our Saturday edition, a roundup of our best lifestyle reads. Will you help us celebrate?! Business Insider's docuseries, "Quiet on Set," just won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information.

If you haven't read our piece on Dan Schneider's tenure at Nickelodeon and our investigation into the dark stain on beloved children's TV shows at the time, it's not too late. This reporting served as the basis of this now award-winning Investigation Discovery doc.

On the agenda:

• Men are obsessed with these new status symbols.
• Ten under-the-radar places to visit, according to a luxury travel planner.
• Not retiring early could actually help you live longer.
• Forget cookie-cutter houses. Wild, wacky homes are in.

But first: The skies are friendlier in the morning.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

A trick to avoid flight delays

It's simple: Only book early-morning flights. That's it. That's the trick.

Nabbing a seat on a morning flight, especially during the summer, will virtually ensure your flight won't be delayed.

At least that's what Denver meteorologist Chris Bianchi told Business Insider's senior science reporter Morgan McFall-Johnsen. He learned the hard way: In June, he was stuck overnight at New York's LaGuardia Airport after booking an evening flight.

"I broke the one rule you should never ever break," Bianchi said in a TikTok video. "Never book a flight in the afternoon, or especially at night, during the summertime months in the United States."

Morgan explains that the summer months in the US, and the heat and humidity they bring, are prone to create thunderstorms, wreaking havoc on flight patterns.

Even if your plane isn't in the path of a thunderstorm, your flight schedule can still be affected.

"Weather in other cities can really disrupt your travel plans," Bianchi added. It doesn't help that delays can also have a ripple effect, since late planes affect subsequent departures.

As for Bianchi, he finally made it home after he boarded a 7 p.m. flight the next day.

Men's new status symbols

Logos, lounge chairs, cold-plunge tubs. The one thing they have in common is the new social clout they're all imbued with, particularly among men in the workforce.

And, as always, the watch remains a timeless status symbol. But the two hottest styles right now — trendy socks and sneakers — are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

These are the goods.

Also read:

• This $150,000 dog is the new status symbol

Ten better getaways

It's the busiest time in the travel season, and international travel is especially hot. That means the crowds in the world's most popular destinations are likely to be even worse this year.

To avoid the masses, a luxury travel agent shared 10 under-the-radar alternatives to hot tourist spots. Her list, spanning five continents, has something for the urban explorer, the nature enthusiast, and the beach bum alike.

See the recs.

No FIRE, no problem

The financially independent, retire early (FIRE) movement has been gaining steam in recent years, with young hustlers dreaming of amassing enough wealth to retire before they go gray.

As it turns out, not retiring early might be better for your long-term health. That may sound a bit like a capitalist myth, but there's science to back it. A lot of it has to do with your sense of purpose and social needs.

Work's effect on longevity.

Wild homes are hot right now

Growing bored with the surplus of white and gray houses, some homebuyers are turning to more outlandish places to live.

The hot housing market and the rise of social media accounts like Zillow Gone Wild have made it easier than ever to find a wacky home — so people are swapping cookie-cutter accommodations for something more personalized.

Inside the wacky new real estate trend.

Also read:

• America has a serious ugly home problem

What we're watching this weekend

• "Sunny": The first episodes of the sci-fi thriller series starring Rashida Jones are streaming on Apple TV+.
• "Arcadian": Nicholas Cage's new horror movie, in which he navigates a post-apocalyptic world with his two sons, is streaming on Shudder.
• "Quad Gods": The documentary, which centers on a quadriplegic esports team, is available on Max.

See the full list.

Deals we love

• Nordstrom's biggest sale of the year: A former employee shares what to buy and what to skip at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which is open to Nordstrom cardholders now and to the general public on Monday.
• Prime Day on the horizon: Amazon Prime Day is coming Tuesday and Wednesday, but there are plenty of deals to shop now. Here are the best ones, from AirPods to Whitestrips.
• Protect your skin this summer: The UV index measures the intensity of the sun's UV rays. Here's how to read it and what you'll need to prevent skin cancer.

More of this week's top reads:

• A scientist lost weight without trying after he stopped eating ultra-processed foods.
• We're hard-wired to feel "sunshine guilt." A neuropsychologist explains why.
• A 70-year-old was scammed out of nearly $300,000 and had to abandon his dreams of retirement.
• Nine traits of people who live past 100.
• Gen Zers don't know how to flirt. Experts say it could make dating better.
• Olympic diver Tom Daley uses this simple nutrition rule to stay energized.
• See inside Carnival's new cruise ship — and why some amenities are better than its competitors'.
• Review: Emirates' premium economy class is worth trying.
• Gen Z's newest style trend involves staring deeply into your lover's (or dog's) eyes.
• Japan's next big tourist craze: Disney cruises.

The Insider Today team: Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief of life, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

• Gut health is a buzzy topic and products claiming to support it are everywhere. 
• Scientists are working to uncover all the ways the gut microbiome is linked to overall health. 
• Research has linked a healthy gut to better mental health, digestion, and hormonal balance. 

Gut health is in vogue right now, and plenty of research suggests it's a trend worth buying into.

Many prestigious universities, including Oxford, Stanford, UCLA, and King's College London, have labs dedicated to studying the gut microbiome, the trillions of microbes that live in our digestive lining.

From balancing hormones to reducing our risk of developing certain diseases, research suggests these microscopic creatures are crucial to many bodily processes. Some experts even call the gut the second brain.

"Gut health influences overall health, so it's vital to ensure your gut microbiome is healthy," professor Tim Spector, nutrition scientist and co-founder of the science and nutrition company ZOE, told Business Insider.

People with an unhealthy gut microbiome might experience symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and excess wind, he said.

A gut lacking in a diverse range of microbes can also affect the immune system, and increase the risk of inflammatory diseases, weight gain or obesity, depression, anxiety, nutrient deficiencies, skin conditions, and allergies, Dr. Arpana Church, a psychologist and co-director of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center at UCLA, told BI.

Because of this wide-reaching impact, commercial companies are racing to roll out products claiming to boost our gut health, from yogurt to "gut-friendly" soda. The gut health supplements market, meanwhile, is valued at $12 billion.

Experts have told BI, however, that the best way to nurture our gut health is to eat a diverse range of fiber-packed healthy foods.

Below, top gut health researchers break down the ways that our gut affects our health.

Digestion

Unsurprisingly, a healthy gut helps our bodies to smoothly digest food and absorb nutrients, Church said.

As well as being able to digest food, a healthy gut has regular bowel movements and doesn't cause issues day to day, Gabrielle Morse, a gut health specialist and registered dietitian at The Gut Health Clinic, previously told BI.

Experts believe a diverse gut microbiome helps with this. "They look after us when they're in a favorable swing," Morse said.

Research suggests that eating a wide range of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, supports a diverse gut microbiome. These foods all contain fiber, which feeds the "good" bacteria in the gut.

The immune system

Around 80% of the body's immune cells are found just outside the gut lining, Spector said. So your gut bacteria and the chemicals they produce regularly interact with the immune system.

This interaction helps "train" the immune system to know when to respond to a threat and when everything is OK, he said.

People with a healthy microbiome have a thicker protective layer that stops waste products and microbes from crossing over the gut lining into the immune tissues, which reduces the likelihood of inflammation, one of the body's natural defenses against infection, Spector said.

Acute inflammation — the redness, warmth, swelling, and pain we feel around an injury — is healthy. But when inflammation lingers on for too long it becomes chronic, which can lead to white blood cells attacking healthy tissues, according to Harvard Medical School.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to various diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Mental health

There's strong evidence that a good diet is linked to better mental health, brain health, and mood, likely because it promotes a healthy gut microbiome, Spector said.

The gut and the brain are in constant communication with each other via multiple pathways, such as the vagus nerve, Church said. This bidirectional connection is known as the gut-brain axis.

"Think about that high-pressure situation when you have to go for a job interview or go on a date. We often experience being both lightheaded and having weird sensations in our stomach," she said.

Church likes to describe the gut and the brain as "BFFs" because "they go hand in hand."

Any change to the gut microbiome will disrupt communication with the brain, leading to changes in mood, cognition, and emotional regulation, she said.

The easiest way to support the gut-brain connection is by eating a diet rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, and cutting back on processed foods, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol, she said.

Numerous studies suggest that people with depression and anxiety often have different gut microbes to those who don't. For instance, a depressed person might have lower levels of certain beneficial bacteria and higher levels of potentially harmful bacteria.

Hormonal health

Hormones are substances produced by glands that act as messengers, letting the body know when it's time to do certain jobs.

Gut bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy hormonal balance in the body, Dr. Max Nieuwdorp, an endocrinologist who researches the role of the gut microbiome in hormonal processes, previously told BI.

They are involved in the release and production of dozens of different hormones and can influence the brain via the central nervous system, according to his book, "The Power of Hormones."

For instance, producing serotonin and dopamine, which are essential for regulating mood and anxiety, Church said.

The benefits of gut health likely stretch even further

There's lots of emerging research that suggests the reach of the gut microbiome extends even further, too.

Gut health might influence the lungs, kidney, mouth, gums, and skin, as well as bone density and sleep quality, Church said.

Scientists are also investigating the direct links between gut health and a range of diseases, Spector said, including colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic diseases.

• Execs and celebs headed to the Sun Valley Conference this week, giving us a look into their style.
• The conference, known as 'summer camp for billionaires,' typically has a casual dress code.
• As well as the requisite vests, attendees wore red accents, gold accessories, and colored glasses.

Every July, executives in tech, media, and finance flock to the small resort town of Sun Valley, Idaho, for the Allen & Co. Sun Valley Forum — aka "summer camp for billionaires."

Attendees usually adhere to a simple dress code of t-shirts, vests, and athleisure for conference sessions in between the rounds of golf, schmoozing, and dealmaking.

This year, though, the sartorial choices were bolder than usual.

Among the usual muted grays and blues, several attendees were sporting splashes of red. While wearable health tracking devices like Apple Watches and Oura rings are standard fare for the tech class, this year, some opted for flashier accessories: gold chain bracelets, big earrings, and bright glasses.

Here's what the who's who of the business world wore at the Sun Valley conference this week.

The first rule of billionaire style — nothing beats a simple t-shirt

While t-shirts in tech are nothing new, they have gotten an upgrade.

T-shirts, like the one worn by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, are now heavier and more fitted, rather than the $20 Hanes worn by coders in their college days.

"Now it's thick enough, durable, and quality enough that it's the outer layer," Victoria Hitchcock, a San Francisco Bay Area fashion and lifestyle brander, told Business Insider.

Red was everywhere this year, from head-to-toe crimson outfits…

Stacey Bendet Eisner, the CEO of the Alice + Olivia fashion brand, routinely has some of the most eye-catching outfits at Sun Valley.

"Do you think that Mark Zuckerberg gets his makeup done on his way to Sun Valley at 4:30 in the morning, too?" she pondered in a video posted to Instagram.

…to darker pops of the color…

Political analyst Van Jones arrived in a red sweater — a splash of brightness among the more muted tones typical for the event. The inspiration comes straight from the runway, Hitchcock said, pointing to recent collections from Marni and Valentino.

…to red conference merch

When it comes to the Sun Valley Conference, there's no shame in sporting branded merch. Many attendees could be seen in red Allen & Co. zip-ups or carrying them in case it got chilly.

"You can't go wrong," Hitchcock said about choosing the branded gear. "These are the same people who were wearing the logos of their own companies forever and ever."

Guests weren't afraid of flashy accessories, with some donning gold chain bracelets

Fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg was among a handful of attendees wearing gold chain jewelry — a trend that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also recently adopted.

"You see it everywhere — that layered, chunky gold," Hitchcock said.

Other opted for colored glasses

Brian Grazer, cofouner of Imagine Entertainment, and media exec Barry Diller were seen sporting yellow lenses, while CBS news anchor Gayle King made a splash with her bright green frames.

Meanwhile, wearable health-tracking devices weren't as popular as in past years

While Shari Redstone, Bob Iger, and Tim Cook, of course, were spotted wearing Apple Watches, and a few Whoops were to be seen, many attendees wore old-fashioned wristpieces and ditched the computerized ones or tracking devices.

"They are super functional, and everyone I interact with owns them," Hitchcock said of Apple Watches. "But it doesn't keep them from purchasing some of those kind of pieces that are precious and have emotional attachment."

Oprah Winfrey ditched color, opting for an all-white outfit

Fashion rules don't discriminate. Regular people and media moguls alike only have three months to wear white. So, Sun Valley is a prime time for attendees to don their best classic colorless looks — like this Phoebe Philo one on Oprah.

In mixed knits, Lauren Sanchez eschewed typical tech style

Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez wore an quilted miniskirt for the conference, though she did pair it with sneakers for a more informal look.

And Bezos himself kept it classic Sun Valley in a t-shirt and vest. Turns out, despite some snazzier recent looks from Bezos, you can take the tech bro out of the basement — but you can't take the basement out of the tech bro.

• Some people said they wouldn't set foot in, let alone buy, this mansion in New Orleans for sale.
• The 10,284-square-foot LaLaurie Mansion, listed for $10.25 million, sits on land with a dark past.
• It replaced a house that burned down in 1834, where an owner reportedly tortured enslaved people.

Some people are drawn to old homes for their charm, quality construction, and rich histories.

History, however, is why some say they wouldn't dream of living in one particular house in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter.

The 10,284-square-foot, eight-bedroom property is currently owned by Michael Whalen, an energy trader based in Houston, who listed it for sale on July 4 for $10.25 million, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

Later that day, the Zillow listing said the property, wnown as the LaLaurie Mansion, was already "pending sale," which broker Patrick Knudsen confirmed to Business Insider. Its current status on Zillow is "active under contract."

At first glance, it's not hard to see why someone with cash to spare would be drawn to the mansion.

Its traditional antebellum exterior is lined with a wraparound Juliette balcony. But inside, the home is decidedly modern, featuring two sets of double parlors, a garage with space for two vehicles, a billiard room, and a wine cellar with enough space for 2,000 bottles. Per the listing, the main house also connects to "servant wings" with two independent apartments.

Before Whalen got his hands on the mansion, actor Nicolas Cage briefly owned it. After failing to pay $151,729 in property taxes, Cage lost it at an auction, local outlet NOLA.com reported. Regions Bank scooped up the mansion for $2.3 million at auction before selling it to Whalen a year later.

Cage is known for many Hollywood flicks, including Disney's 2004 "National Treasure." However, his former home sits on land with a past that's anything but a national treasure.

The property has a dark history of torture and slavery

As the Journal reported, the home was built to replace the original LaLaurie Mansion, which burned down in 1834. The first house was named after socialite Delphine LaLaurie, who lived there with her third husband.

While the 1834 fire broke out, those who arrived at the scene made a grim discovery: Inside the mansion, the LaLauries had been torturing and starving enslaved people they kept locked up in chains.

The findings were so horrific that news even made its way across the pond, where British newspaper The Morning Post covered the incident. Upon entering, it reported, witnesses were reportedly met with the "most appalling spectacle," with the people trapped inside tied up by the neck and "horribly mutilated."

While the house survived the flames, it was consequently ransacked and destroyed by outraged locals, costing the LaLauries an estimated $40,000, the equivalent of around $1.4 million today, according to an inflation calculator from Official Data, a site that gathers and analyzes government data.

According to New Orleans Historical, an online project run by the University of New Orleans, the house was rebuilt in 1834 and briefly used as a high school and apartments before becoming a single-family residence once more.

Whalen, the current owner, kept the home private, but its dark history has made it a fixture of many of New Orleans' spooky ghost tours.

While Whalen told the Journal that the grim and ghostly lore surrounding the house didn't "scare" him, it certainly has put off a number of people who learned about the house via the Zillow Gone Wild Instagram account.

"This place needs an exorcism," one user wrote, while another quipped that they couldn't be paid $10 million to live there.

"If I were a billionaire," another commented, "I would buy it and demolish it."

• Scarlett and Seth Eskelund spent five years building and converting vans.
• In 2023, they quit their van conversion business to build one final dream van to travel in. 
• The van cost $127,000, and after a year of traveling, they said there wasn't anything they'd change.

Scarlett and Seth Eskelund started their van conversion knowing exactly what they wanted.

There was no debate over adding a pop of color; the couple planned to stick to neutrals. When deciding if it was worth spending the money and time building a shower, the answer was an easy yes. Straight lines and Scandinavian influence were styles the pair had eyed for years, so naturally, they agreed to incorporate those elements in their van.

These quick answers — and the conversion for the van altogether — took a mere six months. But Scarlett, 26, and Seth, 27, told Business Insider that their van was really five years in the making.

Before the build, the couple had spent years converting and selling vans. After a bout of burnout, the pair decided to quit their conversion business and prioritize building a van to travel in.

It's been a year since they completed the build, and they said it's exactly as they dreamed.

"I wouldn't change — down to centimeters — hardly anything," Seth said.

"It works really, really well for us," Scarlett added.

After five years of converting and selling vans, the couple was ready to build their dream one

In 2018, Seth and Scarlett felt stuck.

"We were just in an unhappy place in life," Scarlett said. Scarlett had recently graduated from college and entered a field she wasn't passionate about. Meanwhile, Seth was doing freelance videography.

To shake things up, they decided to purchase and convert a van.

The van would allow the pair to avoid rent, freelance, and travel to jobs across the country.

Scarlett said that while a van suited their needs at the time, the goal of exploring was never their driving force for van life.

They spent about a year on their first conversion, and during that time, they fell in love with the process.

Then COVID-19 hit, and Scarlett and Seth saw an opportunity to capitalize on the wave of interest in van life. RV park conglomerates witnessed stocks surge and camper conversion businesses advertised lengthy waitlists, The New York Times reported in 2020.

In response, the pair started their own business converting vans.

It was a success. For the next three years, the pair converted and sold vans for an average price of $85,000. Since 2018, Seth and Scarlett converted 11 vans, including three they lived in; their builds typically took three to six months.

"Eventually, the need to get into a van fell off around 2023 or so," Seth said. "And everything kept getting more and more expensive."

Faced with higher vehicle and material costs, Seth and Scarlett decided to shut down their business.

"We suffered extreme burnout toward the end there, and ultimately, we decided our mental health was worth more than that," Scarlett said.

They both agreed they had enough energy for one more project: a dream van in which they'd live and travel indefinitely.

They spent 2,000 hours over six months building out the van

Scarlett said they started this project knowing it would be their last conversion. With that in mind, their goal was to prioritize a space that catered to their needs and comforts.

The pair started by outlining what their dream van would house. A shower was a must for both of them, as was creating a stealthy van that didn't scream luxury from the exterior.

With a list of amenities, they mapped out the design and got to work.

They purchased a new 2023 Ram ProMaster in January 2023 with an MSRP of $60,000.

Their previous vans had been Mercedes Sprinters, but for their final vehicle, they picked the ProMaster for its width. Seth is 6'2'', and the ProMaster is wide enough to stretch out in their bed fully.

Their van had a black exterior and tinted windows, which would help it be more discreet when parked in large cities. They also made sure that the van's exterior features were unnoticeable.

"We kept all of the stuff on our roof really minimal," Seth said. For example, the highest item on top of the vehicle is a fan, which sits just three inches above the roof. Their solar panels are thin, and the couple used boat hatches instead of skylights, which sit flush with the roof. Plus, they flat-mounted a Starlink internet system as well.

The pair's exterior must-haves also included plenty of water storage. Their van can hold 48 gallons of fresh water and 30 gallons of gray water in a tank system underneath the van. This allows them to be off the grid for two weeks.

As for the interior, the pair prioritized kitchen space, storage, and a litter box for their two cats.

The shower is noticeable when you first step inside the van. It's about two feet by four feet and made of lightweight, waterproof materials.

Next to the shower is a hidden litter box for the couple's two cats, Lula and Sasha. The litter box also functions as a bench.

Near the bench is the kitchen area.

"I cook at least two or three times a day, so that was important," Seth said.

Their kitchen has an oven and a propane stove, as well as a fridge, sink, pantry area, and hidden laundry basket.

At the back of the van is their bed, which they convert to a table and seating area during the day.

The couple agreed that while they wanted to add smart amenities, the design and feel of the space were equally important.

"We've always been under the opinion that when you live in this small of a space full-time, clutter is your worst enemy," Scarlett said. "So we wanted to feel very clean all the time and very calming — almost like a sanctuary."

They drew influences from Nordic design, which can be seen in the space's simplicity and clean lines. The van has two main elements: gray Roman clay and natural wood.

Some of the van's more expensive features include an electrical system that cost $20,000 and the shower, which they estimate they spent close to $10,000 on.

Overall, they value the van at $127,000. Thanks to relationships they had built from previous conversions, Scalett and Seth received some discounts and deals throughout the project.

But labor isn't factored into that price tag. Seth said they spent more than 2,000 hours working on the van over six months.

"The most expensive thing you're going to run into is labor," Scarlett said.

While the conversion took six months, Scarlett and Seth said five years of experience was required to make the build possible.

"You could not build this with only six months of knowledge," Scarlett said. For example, Seth has years of electrical experience and certifications that allowed him to build their van's system.

They finished the build in June 2023 and were thrilled with the result.

"This van had to be the thing that could get us as much time as we need — and want — doing this," Scarlett said. "We can confidently say we did that. This van has everything we need to do it forever."

The couple has spent the past year traveling around the continent

"We gave up basically everything — we gave up our business, we were shutting it down, leaving a warehouse we had been in for three years," Scarlett said.

Seth said that leaving that behind was both stressful and invigorating.

Their first stop was Colorado, a state they hadn't visited yet. There, they spent nights near water, where a mother and baby moose would frequent — a highlight they still talk about a year later.

In the past year, they've explored a handful of states and parts of Mexico and Canada.

So far, they haven't changed a single element or feature in the van and don't plan on it.

And while they accomplished their dream van, Scarlett said, "You couldn't pay us to do it again."

Instead, their future goals include owning properties across the country and building tiny homes.

But for now, their focus is to continue their van adventures.