The Curve

It’s time to talk about "looksmaxxing," the internet's term for optimising everything about your appearance, and why so many of us are quietly pouring hundreds (or thousands) of dollars every month into it. Soph is joined by Hanna Horvath, author of the money and culture Substack ‘Your Brain on Money’. Together they dig into why Love Island contestants are the extreme end of a spectrum we're all on and why the return on investment for looking good is way blurrier than we like to admit. We also get into the psychology of impulse beauty spending and how to actually start pulling yourself off the hot girl hamster wheel. Hanna’s links … Substack (https://yourbrainonmoney.substack.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yourbrain_onmoney/?hl=en) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@yourbrainonmoney) Credits: Hosts: Sophie Hallwright Producer: Emily Rigby Editor: Kate Callaghan Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro ⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline) For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/) ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3) ⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly) Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/) Chapters 00:00:00 Coming up in this episode … 00:01:02 Are we low-key Love Island contestants? 00:10:10 Hot girl hamster wheel 00:14:07 What's the ROI on tweakments? 00:23:04 Where did “looksmaxxing” come from 00:27:57 How to opt out 00:49:16 Thanks for watching 00:49:46 Financial disclaimer Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

First up, Oura was about to go public. It was looking to raise $2.2 billion at a valuation of more than $15 billion, then pulled out at the last minute. We break down what an IPO actually is and why companies wait for a sunny market before they list. Plus, why Oura's subscription model could make it one to watch when it finally does go public. Then, Meta's new AI agent Muse can book, buy, and email on your behalf. We reveal how the Curve community is using AI, from budgeting to building apps. But with new MIT research finding ChatGPT users' brains were 55% less active, what are we losing when we outsource our thinking? We get into why your brain needs friction and how to use AI without losing your edge. Plus, Soph shares how The Curve uses AI to run a tiny team with a huge output. Not sure how to incorporate AI into your business? Discover Out Source, our recommended AI automation partner https://thecurve.out-sauce.ai/refer/out-sauce Look out for The Curve audience AI survey results on our Substack https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/ Emma's article rec: David Robinson's essay in The Atlantic on why he resigned from OpenAI's safety team https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/10/openai-safety-team-resignation/688881/ Thanks so much to Generate for making The Curve Weekly possible. Generate has a really impressive 10-year track record, to find out more about their performance click here: generatekiwisaver.co.nz/performance. But remember, a great track record doesn’t guarantee future returns! If you’d like to speak to an advisor, to see if Generate is right for you, you can book time with someone here: https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/curve Credits: Host: Sophie Hallwright & Vic Harris Editor: Kate Callaghan Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro ⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline) For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/ Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/ The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw ⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform Chapters 00:00:00 Coming up in today’s episode 00:00:54 Generate x The Curve 00:01:12 Where’s Soph in the world? 00:07:34 Oura’s IPO back step 00:28:30 Generate x The Curve 00:29:03 What Meta’s new drop means for AI 00:57:10 Thanks for listening! 00:57:47 Financial disclaimer Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice. Generate’s Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider License can be found here: GenerateKiwiSaver.co.nz/disclosures. *Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey March Quarter End 2026. The Generate Focused Growth Fund returns have ranked in the top three of NZ Multi Sector Aggressive Category Funds for 10 year returns every quarter since becoming eligible in June 2023. Most recently the fund ranked 2nd out of 10 funds for 10 year returns to 31 March 2026.

We're back from our break, and we're kicking things off with not one but two personal updates. Soph opens with some very happy news, and Vic's comes right at the very end, so make sure you stick around. Trigger warning: this episode discusses the Cornell University sexual assault case. We look at who holds the power and the purse strings at elite universities, why donors could be the key to real change, and why this is exactly why we do what we do. Women do the work, men have the power, and money is a big part of that. Then, Nvidia writes the biggest cheque in US corporate history and makes it out to itself. We break down what a share buyback actually is and why Vic calls it the greenest flag of all time. Plus, its closest rival AMD becomes the first company led by a woman to hit US$1 trillion, and we look at what happens when a household name like Nike stops innovating. Interest in The Curve Investments? Read more info here: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/?srsltid=AU7gw4UndzAS-IYAxL0y4DggVR25nsl3fQyGTqIo_B6OK8_lhga1UROt Check out the scary AI consciousness article from The Economist: https://www.economist.com/interactive/briefing/2026/08/20/the-search-for-consciousness-inside-llms Wondering whether an investment actually lines up with your values? 👉 Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM Credits: Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Vic Harris Editor: Kate Callaghan Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro ⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/ Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/ The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw ⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform Chapters 00:00:00 Coming up in today’s episode 00:00:46 Pathfinder x The Curve 00:01:11 Soph’s got BIG news! 00:16:04 The financial repercussions for Cornell University 00:26:35 Pathfinder x The Curve 00:27:17 Heated chipmaker rivalry 00:42:15 Vic’s got BIG news 00:45:14 Thanks for listening 00:45:53 Financial disclaimer Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

What is a share price, how is it actually set, and what makes it move up or down. This episode breaks the stock market down to its most basic level, buyers and sellers in a marketplace, and explains why getting emotionally attached to a stock (much like a bad relationship) is one of the easiest ways to make a bad decision. A great primer before you buy your first share. Credits: Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris Editor: Kate Callaghan Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro ⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline) For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/ Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/ The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw ⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to The Curve Throwbacks 00:00:57 Soph’s intro 00:01:57 Beginners guide to stocks 00:24:56 Thanks for listening! 00:25:23 Financial Disclaimer Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Diversification is one of those words that sounds boring until it saves your portfolio. This episode breaks down what it actually means to spread your risk, why the stock market works like any other marketplace, and why falling in love with a single investment can be one of the most costly mistakes you make. Comes with a story about a company that no longer exists, and why that matters. Credits: Hosts: Sophie Hallwright & Victoria Harris Editor: Kate Callaghan Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro ⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline) For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/?hl=en Substack: https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/ Website: https://thecurveplatform.com/ The Curve Investments: https://thecurveinvestments.co.nz/ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT_HdjhtoRIwPTmQy2TNLw ⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to The Curve Throwbacks 00:00:57 Soph’s intro 00:06:30 Beginners guide to diversification 00:26:27 Thanks for listening! 00:26:55 Financial Disclaimer Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.