Good morning!
Welcome to Digestable, your mouthful of things happening in the world.
Today’s ferments:
It’s officially Close of Business on the East Coast and I don’t have a whole lot to show for myself. I did pack exactly one (1) box for a move I’m attempting to execute in six (6) days. Sometimes it’s just like that.
In place of a lengthy column from either myself or Gabriel, we humbly present to you the latest episode of The Polyculture Podcast, a project we’ve been doing together for last last year and change. #4: Permaculture is out; listen to it here or wherever you get your auditory content.
We chatted with Nuts and Bolts nursery co-op members for the episode. If you’re in the Providence area and in the market for some food trees, check them out.
Somewhat apropos—here’s a pretty bird that defied scientific study.
*Hot Goss*
Brought to you by the superb Latifah Azlan.
How many of you remember who Heidi Montag is? The former reality star and her husband (then-boyfriend) Spencer Pratt were tabloid fixtures back in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s, when the two were controversial for a variety of reasons. Heidi was also infamously given the cover and center spread of a 2010 issue of People Magazine for getting 10 plastic surgery procedures in 1 day. This was perhaps the peak of Heidi and Spencer's fame, as the aftermath of all these surgeries were aired on The Hills and it led to Heidi's estrangement from her mother, who expressed concerns about Heidi's decision.
Heidi and Spencer have laid somewhat low over the last several years. I'm sure they're on Instagram selling flat tummy tea and making their influencer careers work somehow, despite how saturated the influencer market is these days. But I guess the checks have either slowed down or aren't as lucrative as they once were because Heidi's back in the news again. And this time, it's for eating raw meat.
Reader, your eyes do not deceive you. That is, in fact, a Z-list celebrity pulling out a raw bison heart from a gallon-sized ziplock and snacking on it on the streets of LA in front of paparazzi she probably called up herself. This isn't a new diet for Heidi though. She's been posting tik toks and reels of herself eating various raw cuts of meat and organs for a couple of weeks now, but this is the first time she's done it in public. Heidi has been trying to get pregnant for a while now and claims that the raw meat diet will help her conceive. After this very obviously staged pap stroll, she spoke to People Magazine (evidently her outlet of choice) about her diet and even managed to plug a supplement she's probably paid to shill.
And this is how I know Heidi is in need of cashing some checks. This is the most publicity Heidi has gotten in a very long time. We know that the Montag-Pratts have had financial troubles recently, including reports in 2018 that Spencer (and Heidi) blew through millions and millions of dollars on shopping sprees, expensive bottles of wine and his crystal collection. At the height of their fame, Heidi and Spencer were worth $2 million -- a lot of money for the average person, for sure, but nothing compared to the net worths of their peers. And with so many reality stars, content creators, and influencers floating around nowadays, I can't imagine brands are frothing at the mouth to work with the Montag-Pratts as they did 10 years ago. Even 10 years ago they were seen as a bit of a big joke. It wouldn't be surprising if the money's dried up considerably since their time on The Hills.
Anyway, I'm sure the publicity on this stunt will die down soon enough but I'll say something positive to end this column: I respect Heidi's commitment to the hustle. As far as girl bossing goes, I haven't heard Heidi actively exploiting, defrauding, or manipulating anyone to build her wealth, so she's relatively harmless for the most part. Her stunts have always erred on the side of the extreme and the shocking, but they've always ever only involved her and her husband. Homegirl is literally out here gnawing on a raw slab of beef like it's feeding time at the zoo. And honestly, I can't think of anyone else who would do something like that for a paycheck other than Heidi Montag. So props to you queen -- I hope the pay is worth it.