Technology

I’ve never been a huge fan of cases on laptops but the Incase Edge Hardshell Case changed that for me. I have this case on my 14-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro, and I won’t be taking it off anytime soon.

A new episode of Billy on the Street is always a welcome surprise, even if it is only 60 seconds long.

In the clip above, host Billy Eichner plays a game called "Immigrant or Real American?", where he essentially bombards his sole contestant with a list of names that they have to sort into either category.

The twist? Every single person in the immigrant category is famous and successful, while the vast majority of people in the "Real American" category are murderers.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Fields of competition

• Green: Racing components

• Blue: Prominent set of putters

• Purple: Under the same flag

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Playing surfaces

• Green: Parts of a NASCAR team

• Blue: Golfers to complete the career Grand Slam

• Purple: Famous Spanish athletes

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #270 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Playing surfaces - DIRT, GRASS, ICE TURF

• Parts of a NASCAR team - CREW CHIEF, DRIVER, PIT CREW, SPOTTER

• Golfers to complete the career Grand Slam - HOGAN, MCILROY, PLAYER, WOODS

• Famous Spanish athletes - GASOL, NADAL, RAHM, YAMAL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, June 20, 2025:

AcrossOrg. defending individual rights

• The answer is ACLU.

Repeated words that lead up to ...

• The answer is HipHip.

What puzzle solvers don't look down on

• The answer is Across.

... a big cheer!

• The answer is Hooray.

Hathaway who starred in "The Princess Diaries"

• The answer is Anne.

DownGarment on which it's totally acceptable to get food stains

• The answer is Apron.

Doing the dishes or mowing the lawn

• The answer is Chore.

Younger sister to Bart, older sister to Maggie

• The answer is Lisa.

"___-daisy!"

• The answer is Upsy.

Bit of laughter

• The answer is Haha.

Image of a compass, for Safari

• The answer is Icon.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

SAVE $140: As of June 20, the Amazon Fire TV 4-Series is on sale for $259.99 at Amazon. That's a 35% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV 50-Inch 4-Series $259.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $140 Get Deal

Prime Day is fast approaching, and the deals will soon be flowing in. But if you can't wait, Amazon has already treated us to an early Prime Day deal on the Amazon Fire TV 4-Series.

As of June 20, the 50-inch TV is reduced to $259.99, saving you $150 on the list price. This is a stellar price for the quality of TV. It has 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, all giving you unbelievable clarity, brighter colors, and vivid detail for your favorite TV shows and movies.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025: Dates and deals

Like most Amazon devices, it has Alexa built in, so you can easily search for your favorite movies, launch apps, and control content. You can also enjoy shows from all the major streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, and of course, Prime Video.

The Fire TV can also connect with your smart home Alexa devices, including doorbells, lightbulbs, and speakers. For example, pair up your TV with your Echo speakers to create an immersive home theater atmosphere for your next movie night.

Plus, there are four HDMI inputs to connect gaming devices, sound accessories, cables, and other equipment seamlessly.

Head to Amazon to get this early Prime Day deal.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $99.00

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Wi-Fi, 40mm, S/M Green) — $199.99 (List Price $299.99)

TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're not expecting Bayern Munich to repeat their result from the opening round of fixtures. Boca Juniors are not going to lose 10-0 to anyone, but they will still have their work cut out for them to try and take anything from Bayern in this 2025 Club World Cup clash.

If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors?

Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 20. This fixture takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors for free

Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access to DAZN

4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

LAFC and Esperance de Tunis both lost their opening 2025 Club World Cup fixtures, but there is still plenty of time to turn things around. Qualification from Group D is still up for grabs, but whichever side loses this game is done and dusted.

If you want to watch LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis?

LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on June 20. This fixture takes place at Geodis Park.

How to watch LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis for free

LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access to DAZN

4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

On a Tuesday night in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, dozens of women — and a few men — ascended to the top floor of a trendy cocktail bar for a "Masterclass in Meet Cutes."

The internet has a special fascination with meet cutes, or the rom-com serendipitous way of running into a cute stranger IRL. In the age of dating apps, some argue that the meet cute is dead. The attendees came to the event hoping this was not the case, while the host, dating expert Ilana Dunn, gave attendees some tips to create their own meet cutes.

SEE ALSO: Sick of dating apps? Try a dungeon sound bath instead.

Before the event, I asked several attendees, both men and women, what their dating lives were like this year. Their responses echoed what I've been hearing from singles online and elsewhere: Dating apps suck, and they're begging to meet people in-person. 

In 2025, however, chatting up strangers is intimidating thanks to post-lockdown social fatigue and our attachments to our phones. We're more connected than ever before, but fostering actual connections seems near-impossible.

Daters are sick of the apps, but don't know where else to look

Ten daters I spoke to cited well-known reasons behind the app funk: Dating over apps feels transactional, users aren't looking for the same thing and exhibit flaky behavior, and they'd rather meet someone "organically" (in-person). 

"Everyone is so burned out," Dunn told me. Dunn used to work for Hinge and now hosts the dating and relationship podcast Seeing Other People. "And I think people feel lost."

"I'm not really looking for anything casual right now at all," said Tara, a 33-year-old dater, "so the idea of a Tinder and maybe even a Bumble — you know, you see people on there and they're like, 'I'm just open to seeing what happens.' No," she said, "I want to find my damn soul mate."

Tara (who, like other daters, is identified by her first name only for privacy) is single after a long-term relationship ended, she told me over the phone, and she's looking to get married. She's not on Tinder as she still sees it as a "hookup app" (incoming Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff wants to change this about Tinder, especially for younger adults), she didn't find politically aligned people on Bumble as a leftist, and she didn't like Hinge's user interface. 

Former dater Melody recently got into a relationship, but told me that when she was single, "I absolutely hated the apps but they also felt like the only way to put myself out there and meet people." She's introverted, and dating apps felt like volunteering to go on job interviews.

"It's a lot of having the same conversation over and over until one person stops responding," she told me over Instagram.

"I'm 34, and I got ghosted by a 34-year-old after six dates," a dater, Bella, told me at the Masterclass. She said she deleted Bumble because she was matching a lot but no one wanted to chat, and she didn't see the point. 

Out of daters I spoke to, both at the event and otherwise, only one spoke positively of dating apps: Lex, a queer polyamorous dater, who uses both he and they pronouns. 

"Personally, I've had pretty good experiences with dating apps," they told me over Instagram, describing positive dates and hookups. 

Still, Lex also described the downsides of the apps too (they're on Hinge and Feeld.) "There's a lot of cishet [cis and straight] dudes out there just swiping on everyone who would actually probably be dangerous for me to connect with," said Lex.

"There's a lot of folks that you connect with and then things fizzle before you can ever even get to a date [because] you get busy and overwhelmed or they do. And there's plenty of folks who just don't really know what they want," he continued.

A man I spoke to at the class, who declined to give his name, said that at 5'9", any woman who has their height filter on apps set to 5'10" won't see him. Height and dating is a hot topic lately, considering Tinder's new height preference test and the new movie Materialists (about matchmakers). As I wrote for Mashable, daters need to stop obsessing over height, because they could miss out on a great match because of a few inches.

He typically has better luck meeting in person, but hasn't had a long-lasting partner since COVID. He's on Hinge and the Jewish dating app Lox Club, however, and attends IRL Lox Club events and speed dating events.

Another man I spoke to, Kevin, called dating in 2025 "rough." He used to be on Tinder, but not anymore (and wouldn't elaborate why).

The trials of meeting IRL

Tara said she's prioritizing meeting IRL, "where I might meet someone and being in a space that feels like my aesthetic or my political values will be honored in that space."

When we chatted, she discussed going to a debate watch party with supporters of Zohran Mamdani, a socialist candidate for New York City mayor. "I was like, 'That would be a good way to meet someone.' That's the hope," she said. 

But meeting in person isn't easy, either. Going out to meet people, especially alone, is intimidating in 2025. 

Tara's breakup knocked her confidence, she said, which makes it harder to strike up conversations with strangers. But she's been going out to a specific bar by herself to get in the habit of being more outgoing. 

"I think we're all nervous to just approach people," she said. 

Dater Trystan told me that dating is a non-starter lately. Men aren't interested in building a relationship, but they want a transaction and that's unappealing. 

"I've gotten off of the apps to focus on meeting people in person to avoid this," she told me over Instagram DM, "but it hasn't actually garnered a better experience for me. It feels like the culture has shifted." 

"I've always felt like dating apps are a tool, but you can't solely rely on them," said Dunn, who met her husband on Hinge. Apps will never replace real-world connections, conversation starters, or moments of spontaneity, Dunn told me. 

"I think it's really important that people learn how to meet in real life, especially when they want to so badly," she continued. "They just feel like they've been trained to swipe, not speak."

How to meet singles in person

One of the daters I spoke to at the masterclass said they came for any tips and tricks of meeting people in-person, or any tangible thing they can be doing — and affirmation that they're not alone. "Just general encouragements of, 'It's not you. You're not alone. You're not the only one struggling with dating and just meeting other people.'"

She certainly wasn't: 75 people signed up for the class, and the room filled out by the time it began.

At the start of the masterclass, Dunn said she knew it can feel bleak out there, and reiterated that people are swiping, not speaking. 

Here were her tips for meeting in person:

• Put down your phone, and pick up a glass of wine (the event was sponsored by the wine company Louis Jadot)

• Check your body language, not your phone

• Pay attention to the people around you — what are they drinking/doing?

• Set a goal: One glass of wine (you see where the sponsorship came in), one conversation with a stranger

• Send a glass of wine to someone across the bar (again)

• Women can make the first move

• Wear something comfortable to meet people

• Again: put your phone down

Participants then asked questions, some about getting over the awkwardness of meeting strangers. Dunn said to lean into the awkwardness and even call it out. Working up courage dominated the conversation, as did — what else? — phones.

The daters in the room disliked the discomfort and uncertainty of speaking to strangers, the exact way they want to find a partner. Our society has created such a dependence on phones that people are desperate to get off of them, but fear what that'd look like. We have the convenience of finding a partner at our fingertips, yet lack real connections.

Afterwards, attendees hung around to drink more wine while Dunn chatted with them. I asked one of the attendees I spoke to beforehand what she thought of the class. She thought Dunn made some good points. "The phone thing was huge," she said.

TL;DR: Live stream Guatemala vs. Panama in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Panama and Guatemala are sitting at the top of Group C after winning their first 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup fixtures, and now they meet. Panama are probably favorites to take the three points here, but Guatemala have already shocked Jamaica in this competition.

If you want to watch Guatemala vs. Panama in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Guatemala vs. Panama?

Guatemala vs. Panama in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on June 20. This fixture takes place at the Q2 Stadium.

How to watch Guatemala vs. Panama for free

Guatemala vs. Panama in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available all around the world, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

4. Visit YouTube

5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Guatemala vs. Panama (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on YouTube, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Italy

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup has started with a number of really exciting games, and we're expecting more of the same from the second round of fixtures. Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe is a particularly interesting matchup, as both teams desperately need to secure their first points of the competition.

If you want to watch Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe?

Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 7:45 p.m. ET on June 20. This fixture takes place at the PayPal Park.

How to watch Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe for free

Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available all around the world, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

4. Visit YouTube

5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on YouTube, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Italy

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Forget buzzy actors or huge franchises. The movies this summer belong to one surprising star: Carl Sagan.

The American astronomer and science communicator's work plays a large part in not one but two major releases this summer: Pixar's alien adventure, Elio, and Mike Flanagan's Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck.

SEE ALSO: 'Elio' review: Pixar's cosmic tale of friendship will cure your loneliness

The former directly references Sagan's work with the Voyager Golden Record and also draws inspiration from his books Contact and Cosmos. Sagan even gets a voiceover cameo! The latter, meanwhile, features an extensive discussion of Sagan's Cosmic Calendar. In both cases, the incorporation of Sagan's work deepens each film's themes, using the vastness of the cosmos to illustrate the power of connection across space and time.

Featured Video For You Would 'The Life of Chuck' cast and director Mike Flanagan open the death door? Elio is full of Carl Sagan love — including a voiceover cameo from Sagan himself. Elio and Glordon explore the Communiverse in "Elio." Credit: Pixar

Elio centers on Elio Solís (voiced by Yonas Asuncion Kibreab), an imaginative 11-year-old who's so obsessed with aliens that he begs them to abduct him. (Good news for him: It works!)

His childhood interest in aliens mirrors that of Sagan's, who told PBS's NOVA in a 1996 interview, "I personally have been captured by the notion of extraterrestrial life, and especially extraterrestrial intelligence, from childhood. It swept me up, and I've been involved in sending space craft to nearby planets to look for life and in the radio search for extraterrestrial intelligence."

SEE ALSO: NASA just performed a 'miracle save' for its farthest spacecraft

Among Sagan's projects in the search of extraterrestrial intelligence was the creation of the Golden Record, which Elio learns about when he sneaks into a museum exhibit about Voyagers 1 and 2. On top of studying deep space, these two probes each carry an identical gold record that contains images and sounds from Earth, including greetings in 55 different languages. Sagan chaired the committee that selected these contents.

The hope for the Golden Record, Elio finds out, is that an extraterrestrial civilization will be advanced enough to play it, hear humanity's greeting, and come looking for us. That is exactly what ends up happening in Elio, which brings Sagan's dream of contact with aliens to life.

That's a dream Sagan also explored in his first (and only) novel, Contact, which was then adapted into a film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster. Contact, as well as Sagan's nonfiction book, Cosmos, served as inspirations for Elio directors Domee Shi (Turning Red) and Madeline Sharafian (short film Burrow).

"We love the idea of space being hopeful, and that humanity's answers could be out there somewhere," Shi told Entertainment Weekly in a 2025 interview. "I just love how in Contact, they show aliens in such an aspirational and positive way, and not something really scary that's coming to get us or coming to replace us."

SEE ALSO: 'Elio's end-credits scene teases Pixar's next movie. Here's how.

Like Contact's aliens, Elio's aliens — members of the benevolent Communiverse — would rather collaborate and share ideas than conquer and destroy. (Minus the bloodthirsty Hylurgians, but by the end of the movie, they come around.) It's fitting, then, that Elio even features a voiceover cameo from Sagan himself, pulling from a 1985 radio interview between Sagan and broadcaster Studs Terkel about Contact. The film ends with Sagan asking that greatest of humanity's questions: "Are we alone?"

Elio suggests that we are not — not just when it comes to alien life, but that humans, even at our loneliest, are never truly alone. After all, the whole reason Elio wants to be abducted in the first place is so he can feel less lonely. And while his experience in the Communiverse results in a fast friendship with alien Glordon (voiced by Remy Edgerly), it also leads to Elio finding community on Earth, both in the form of a mended relationship with his Aunt Olga (voiced by Zoe Saldaña) and a membership in a ham radio club.

Shi and Sharafian put Elio's search for community in parallel with Sagan's alien research and Golden Record project, sweetly demonstrating that finding any sort of meaningful connection is a feat that's out of this world.

Carl Sagan's Cosmic Calendar plays a big role in The Life of Chuck. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan in "The Life of Chuck." Credit: NEON

While the Sagan references in Elio primarily concern the search for alien life across space, the references in The Life of Chuck center on time. Specifically, the minuscule amount of time humanity's existence occupies in the context of the whole universe.

To illustrate this concept, Sagan created the Cosmic Calendar, which condenses the 13.8 billion years between the Big Bang and now into a single calendar year. If the Big Bang happens on Jan. 1, then all of recorded human history takes place within the last 10 seconds of Dec. 31. Talk about feeling small.

It's this idea that high school teacher Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) relays to his ex-wife, nurse Felicia Gordon (Karen Gillan), in the first act of The Life of Chuck, which is its final act, chronologically. In this portion of the film, the world is falling into disarray. An earthquake has caused California to separate from the coast. A volcano has decimated Germany. The internet is gone for good. It's the end times: the very last millisecond of the cosmic calendar.

Amid all the chaos, signs are popping up to thank an accountant named Charles "Chuck" Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) for "39 Great Years." In the film's next two acts, each rewinding the clock further, we get to know Chuck, first as an adult, then as a child. We also learn (and here's your major spoiler alert!) that he dies of brain cancer at age 39 — at the exact same moment the universe blinks out for Marty and Felicia.

That's because Marty and Felicia's world isn't our own. It's Chuck's internal universe, made up of all the people he's seen, all the places he's been, and everything he's ever learned in his life. Once he dies, his world goes out with him — the same goes for all of us, and all our internal worlds.

The Life of Chuck emphasizes this idea through repeated references to Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself," in which Whitman writes, "I am large, I contain multitudes." These nods to Whitman go hand in hand with the film's mention of Sagan, whose Cosmic Calendar contains multitudes, all wrapped up in a 12-month package.

With that in mind, the Cosmic Calendar's role in The Life of Chuck becomes twofold. On the one hand, it's a reminder of the vastness of time, and how important it is to savor every last second of the little time we have in the world. Look no further than Chuck's triumphant dance in the film's middle section, a moment of celebration and connection that occurs just nine months before his death.

SEE ALSO: 'The Life of Chuck' review: Mike Flanagan and Stephen King team up for career-best cinema

On the other hand, the 10 seconds of human history in the Cosmic Calendar recall Chuck's internal world. Like with Chuck's universe, those 10 seconds contain multitudes. He may only be one person, and we may only take up 10 seconds within the vast timeline of the universe, but we are all large and wonderful, as Whitman would put it, even if there are things that are much, much larger.

Just like in Elio, The Life of Chuck doesn't use Sagan's exploration of the universe to make us feel small and insignificant. Instead, Sagan's work becomes a reference point for all we've been able to achieve. With the Golden Record, we've reached into interstellar space for connection with other worlds, and we've built whole civilizations — not to mention our own internal universes, as Flanagan and King see it — within a relatively short period of time.

Both Elio and The Life of Chuck celebrate these achievements along with Sagan himself, creating cinematic odes not just to humanity, but to science as well.

Elio is now in theaters. The Life of Chuck is now in theaters.

E-readers are the perfect sliver of the tablet and book Venn diagram. They're thin and portable like a tablet, but without the distraction of the internet and hundreds of apps. However, e-readers stuff thousands of books — a full library — into their tiny frame. So instead of struggling to fit just a few books into your tote bag, you can just slip it in and go.

And having tested a lot of e-readers, it's clear that Amazon is closest to perfecting the devices. All over the internet, you'll find TikTok users enthusiastically singing the praises of the best Kindles. You'll find fans shouting from the rooftops about their hacks for finding discounted Kindle books through events like Stuff Your Kindle Day, plus a bounty of tips on how to upgrade your Kindle. Now you can even buy remote page-turners, so you don't even need to hold your Kindle while reading.

SEE ALSO: I read over 50 books a year. Here are my favorite e-readers.

And listen, I get it. Kindles are lightweight, easy to use, and compatible with Libby, so you can still support your local library (and get free books, of course). And if you want a pro tip, shopping events like Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times to buy a Kindle. Historically, we've seen great deals on Kindles pop up during these events, so if you don't need a Kindle urgently, wait for the next Amazon sale.

But if you can't wait for the next sale and are eager to get your hands on one, we've laid out everything you need to know about the basic Kindle to the Kindle Paperwhite. Here are the best Kindles, and which one is right for you.

The new generation of Kindle e-readers

A lot has changed since the Kindle first debuted in 2007. While it was released just a few months after the first iPhone, the Amazon Kindle has received fewer updates. As of 2025, we're on the 12th generation of Kindle updates; the latest arrived in October 2024. Every model, the basic Kindle, the Paperwhite, Signature Edition, Scribe, and Kids models all got upgrades. And unfortunately the Kindle Oasis, a waterproof model with page-turning buttons, was discontinued.

Kindle's first color e-reader arrived in late 2024, and is the only model I've not tested. I'm eager to see how it compares — especially with the Kobo Clara Colour and Kobo Libra Colour

What's the best Kindle to buy in 2025?

If you're concerned about buying the newest tech, that's not an issue. There are six updated Kindle models for sale, as well as older editions still in stock.

Can't decide between the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite? We put them head-to-head.. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Before you choose a Kindle, you need to ask one question first: Do you want it to be waterproof? If you prefer reading near a body of water — whether in the bath, by the pool, or at the beach — that immediately narrows down your options. Since the Kindle Oasis is no longer available, you have some other choices. Your waterproof options are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft Signature Edition, and Paperwhite Kids.

Beyond water resistance, here are a few other features to consider:

• Display size: The basic Kindle has a 6-inch display, while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity: Kindles range from 16GB to 32GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life: The new Kindles generally have outstanding batteries. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe is the only model that allows you to write with the included stylus. 

The latest Kindles all boast a maximum brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare, so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to download all the reading material you could ever want. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via the built-in Bluetooth connection.

Not to mention, out of all the e-readers I've tested, Kindles have the best compatibility with Libby. I love the digital platform because I can read for free and support my local library. Some other e-readers require you to download your library e-book to a computer and then upload it to an e-reader, but with Kindles, your e-books are sent straight to your device with a click.

And if you were a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are attached to page-turning buttons, you may need to stray from the Kindle line-up. Now your best bet will be the Kobo Libra Colour.

How to get free e-books on Kindle With just a click, transfer your Libby e-book to your Kindle device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable Your Libby ebook will automatically populate in your Kindle library. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best way to read free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby allows you to borrow e-books through libraries, and all you is a library card. Through the Libby app, borrow books and then select the 'read with Kindle' option which allows you to send these e-books into your Kindle library.

Another option for finding free e-books is through Stuff Your Kindle events. These are author-driven events that offer limited-time deals on e-books often making them heavily discounted or totally free.

Amazon provides a pretty irresistible shopping experience through its speedy shipping (among other Prime member perks), vast range of products, and unbeatable prices. Prime Day, in particular, can often lead to some regretful impulse buys (just because something is at its lowest price ever doesn't mean you need to buy it).

With the Amazon shopping holiday on the horizon, officially kicking off on July 8, you may be wondering how to return unwanted items purchased at Amazon. Whether you fall victim to Prime Day impulse buys, end up with a broken item, or accidentally ordered two of something, it's actually pretty simple to make returns in 2025.

Here's how you can return your Amazon packages:

1. Go to Amazon's website and click on Returns and Orders on the top-right corner of the screen. If you want to make a return on your Amazon app, the process is similar. On the Amazon app, click on the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen. Then click on Orders and follow the same steps.

2. A new page displaying your latest orders will appear. Scroll down to the item you want to return and click on the Return or replace items right next to the item listing.

3. The next page that opens up will have a drop-down menu with a list of reasons for returning the item. Select whichever option applies to your purchase and then click the yellow Continue button.

4. Then you will get the option to refund the balance to your Amazon account or debit/credit card. Pick what you prefer — refunds to bank cards usually take a week longer than refunds to Amazon account wallet.

5. The last part of the online return process is choosing where you'll drop your return off. Amazon is pretty flexible with return methods: You can drop off the item for free at your nearest UPS Store, Kohl's, Whole Foods, Staples, or Amazon Store. You can also schedule a UPS pick-up for $7.99. Once you select a method, you'll receive a QR code that can be used to return the package at the drop-off location. If you choose UPS or Kohl's, no original packaging, tape, or shipping label is necessary — just bring the item and scan it.

Credit: Screen capture / Amazon

Though Amazon touts "free returns" on many products, you may see a mystery $1 fee on your account if you did your return at a UPS. As of April 2023, Amazon has been charging a $1 fee for items returned to UPS when there is a Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh store, or Kohl’s closer to their delivery address.

While the return process is fairly intuitive, Amazon's return policy can be tricky for some purchases. While the website states that most items can be returned in their original packaging with no missing parts within 30 days of receipt regardless of whether they've been opened, there are some notable exceptions. Some luxury items cannot be returned once opened, for instance. And if you purchased an item through Amazon from a third-party seller, that seller might have their own return policy that differs from Amazon's. Meanwhile, not all items can be returned, such as digital orders, gift cards, and groceries purchased through Amazon Fresh.

Amazon Prime Day is here to unleash massive savings as we head into summer. Officially the longest Prime Day yet, the shopping event will span four whole days starting on July 8, 2025. There will be plenty of deals to choose from — many of which are already live — but the savings won't last forever. If you're looking to score the deepest of discounts, then you need to mark your calendars now.

We've got what you need to know on how long you have to shop as well as a few deals to get you started on your way. Plus, you can check out our Prime Day hub for in-depth coverage on what products are worth grabbing and which ones are worth passing on.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025: Dates and deals What time does Prime Day end?

Amazon Prime Day will officially come to a close at 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday, July 11, which means around 3 a.m. on July 12 for people living on the East Coast. Of course, just as deals pop up weeks ahead of the main event, many are also likely to linger past that deadline.

Best early Prime Day deals to shop

As most Prime-centric events go, Amazon's already dishing out deals left and right weeks ahead of the main event. The best pre-Prime Day deals are mostly on Amazon's own devices and services — including up to 48% off Fire TVs and accessories, up to 56% off Blink home security equipment, up to 42% off like-new Fire tablets, and more.

Here are the best early Prime Day deals you can shop before the big day(s). Note that some of these deals are Prime exclusives:

Early Prime Day Fire TV deals

• Amazon 32-inch Fire TV 2-Series TV — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40 with Prime)

• Insignia 42-inch F20 Series Fire TV — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

• Insignia 50-inch F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)

• Amazon 50-inch Fire TV Omni Series 4K TV — $289.99 $479.99 (save $190 with Prime)

• Amazon 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV — $309.99 $519.99 (save $210 with Prime)

• Amazon 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series 4K TV — $339.99 $459.99 (save $120 with Prime)

• Amazon 65-inch Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series QLED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,089.99 (save $190 with Prime)

• Toshiba 75-inch C350 Series 4K Fire TV — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250)

• Amazon 75-inch Fire TV Omni QLED Series TV — $569.99 $1,099.99 (save $530 with Prime)

Early Prime Day Fire TV accessory deals

• Amazon Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote Pro — $24.99 $34.99 (save $10)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $84.99 $119.99 (save $35 with Prime)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus — $174.99 $249.99 (save $75)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus with subwoofer and surround sound speakers — $389.99 $489.99 (save $100 with Prime)

Early Prime Day Blink home security deals

• Blink Outdoor 4 — $39.99 $79.99 (save $40)

• Blink Outdoor 4 + Mini 2 — $59.98 $119.98 (save $60 with Prime)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR — $59.99 $119.99 (save $60 with Prime)

• Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera — $59.99 $129.98 (save $69.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — $79.98 $179.97 (save $170 with Prime)

• Blink Whole Home Bundle — $87.97 $179.97 (save $90 with Prime)

• Blink Video Doorbell + Outdoor 4 XR — $89.98 $199.97 (save $109.99 with Prime)

Early Prime Day Fire tablet deals

• Like-New Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) — $69.99 $119.99 (save $50)

• Like-New Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) — $129.99 $199.99 (save $70)

Early Prime Day eero deals

• Like-New Amazon eero 6 mesh wifi extender — $54.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• Like-New Amazon eero 6 mesh wifi router — $54.99 $74.99 (save $20)

• Like-New Amazon eero 6+ mesh wifi router — $84.99 $124.99 (save $40)

Amazon is also doling out some extra perks for Team Prime ahead of Prime Day. Members can save $10 on any GrubHub+ delivery order using the code PRIME10; get a free four-month trial of Amazon Music Unlimited; try Audible Premium Plus free for three months; get three free months of Kindle Unlimited; and claim some free video games via Prime Gaming.

The best Blink security camera deals ahead of Prime Day: Best individual camera deal Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $59.99 (save $69.99) Get Deal Best bundle deal Blink Video Doorbell + Blink Outdoor 4 (2-camera system) + Sync Module Core $94.98 (save $95) Get Deal

If you're looking to equip your home with an extra set of eyes and ears, now is a great time to do it. Though Prime Day is technically still a few weeks away — officially running July 8 through 11 — Amazon has released tons of early deals on its Blink-branded security cameras to help savvy shoppers get a jump start on savings. Every single camera and bundle is on sale for at least 50% off, meaning you could outfit your whole property without breaking the bank.

While some of the Blink security camera deals are only available for Prime members, some are open to all shoppers. The good news is if you want a deal that requires a Prime membership, you can sign up for free for 30 days. All the Prime perks are available during your trial and you can cancel before being charged the monthly rate.

Here are the best Blink security camera deals ahead of Prime Day.

Best security camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $59.99 at Amazon
$129.98 Save $69.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The floodlight version of the Blink Outdoor 4 camera adds 700 lumens of motion-triggered illumination to the crisp HD footage, so you can shine a spotlight on things that go bump in the night or just brighten up the path for delivery drivers. With two-way audio, you'll be able to speak to people and pets and get a heads up if the noises you hear are worth worrying about. With a Blink subscription plan, you can unlock even more features, like enhanced motion detection and cloud sharing. It's usually $130, but it's down to just $59.99 ahead of Prime Day. That's 54% in savings and its best price ever.

Best home security bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Video Doorbell + Blink Outdoor 4 (2-Camera System) + Sync Module Core $94.98 at Amazon
$189.98 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Whether you're a pet parent, a jet setter, or you just work long days or nights, this Blink bundle gives you an extra set of eyes and ears around your property. With the Blink app, you'll be able to see who shows up at your door (or lingers a bit too long) and enjoy live two-way communication with the Blink Video Doorbell. Then, with your two Outdoor 4 cameras, you can expand your field of view around your home and stay in-the-know if anything out of the ordinary pops up. The cameras offer two-way audio, customizable motion-detection zones, and infrared night vision, all while running on AA batteries you won't have to change for two years. Meanwhile, the included Sync Module Core allows you to track and store all of the action in one place. It can connect up to 10 gadgets at once if you decide to expand your security system. All of that for under $100 is a total steal.

More Blink security deals

• Blink Outdoor 4 — $44.99 $99.99 (save $55)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR — $59.99 $119.99 (save $60 with Prime)

• Blink Outdoor 4 + Blink Mini 2 — $64.98 $139.98 (save $75 with Prime)

• Blink Video Doorbell, Blink Outdoor 4, Sync Module Core — $69.98 $139.98 (save $70 with Prime)

• Blink Outdoor 4 (2-camera system) — $69.99 $179.99 (save $110)

• Blink Outdoor 4 (2-camera system), Blink Mini2, Sync Module Core — $84.98 $169.98 (save $85 with Prime)

• Blink Whole Home Bundle — $89.97 $179.97 (save $90 with Prime)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR (2-camera system), Blink Mini 2, Sync Module XR — $109.98 $219.98 (save $110)

Interested in why the moon looks like it does tonight? Wonder no more, here's what you need to know about tonight's moon, as it moves through the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

Here's what the moon is doing today, June 20, 2025.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, June 20, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. In this phase, the moon is only 31% visible to us on Earth, according to NASA.

This moon marks the 24th day of the lunar cycle. If you look to the sky, with your naked eye, you'll be able to see some of the craters and markings on the moon. Notably, the Ocean Procellarum and the Kepler Crater. The Oceanus Procellarum is a large lunar mare, also known as the "Ocean of Storm." It spans over 1,600 miles and covers more than 10% of the moon.

NASA tells us that material created by the impact of the Kepler Crater spreads over 185 miles, 10 times further than the crater's diameter. This crater is visible for a few days in the lunar cycle, the first few days after the first quarter to several days after the third quarter.

You can spot both phenomena at the top left of the moon if you're star gazing in the Northern Hemisphere. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, avert your gaze to the bottom right.

When is the next full moon?

June's full moon was on June 11. The next full moon will be on July 10. 

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, NASA tells us, caused by the angles between the sun, moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Jennie has become the third BLACKPINK member to take on the Hot Ones challenge, the K-pop idol sitting down with host Sean Evans to endure a spicy tasting menu of hot sauces. The result is almost 23 minutes of screaming and crying, with Jennie delivering one of the most dramatic and entertaining Hot Ones episodes yet.

The situation did not bode well for the singer from the outset, when she admitted that she doesn't like spicy food and doesn't eat it in her daily life. Even so, Jennie was determined to maintain her composure.

"I'm gonna try my best and keep my calm," said Jennie. "I'm not gonna overreact over spice."

"I like that you're making this claim on wing two," Evans noted.

SEE ALSO: BLACKPINK's Lisa braves 'Hot Ones' to make Thailand proud

Despite her resolve, Jennie's composure began to crack at the fourth sauce, stating that the Serrano Mango Hopp Sauce was "kicking [her] tongue." However the interview completely unravelled as soon as she reached the infamous Da Bomb Beyond Insanity. The K-pop idol swiftly left her chair, pacing, screaming, crying, and literally shaking due to the heat.

"I'm in pain!" Jennie said in between screams and bites of ice cream. "I can't speak! Guys, I can't hear any more! God, help me!"

Evans pushed forward with the interview, asking Jennie for cooking tips and fun facts about capybaras. Though she made valiant attempts respond, the vast majority of her attention was understandably focused on the overwhelming pain in her mouth.

"Where am I?" Jennie exclaimed. "Send me home! I want to go home! I'm having trouble understanding English right now!"

Jennie did ultimately complete the Hot Ones gauntlet, bravely pushing through to try all 10 hot sauces like her fellow BLACKPINK members Lisa and Rosé. Though her answers were probably less coherent than she would have liked, with Jennie even too distracted to promote her new album, the idol's Hot Wings appearance was certainly fun to watch.

"I'm giving you nothing here," said Jennie. "I'm giving you tears and screams."

Cassey Ho started her YouTube channel so she could still instruct her Pilates class on the U.S. west coast after moving to the east coast. She thought the video she posted would be viewed by her 40 students, but instead she got thousands.

Sixteen years later, Ho runs the direct-to-consumer brand Pop Flex, has a clothing brand in Target stores, and boasts 10.8 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, Blogilates. So how did she leverage a successful YouTube career into a successful YouTube career and being the head of two companies? She listened to her audience.

SEE ALSO: Haliey Welch recorded 'Talk Tuah' in front of a live audience at VidCon. It got messy.

" People were asking, 'Cassie, I wanna wear a shirt with Blogilates on it,' and I was like, 'Why do you wanna wear a shirt with my screen name on it? That's so weird,'" Ho said during her fireside chat at VidCon 2025.

Still, after a visit to her screen printer, she provided. It's an ethos she still follows to this day — it isn't uncommon to find a YouTube Short and TikTok from Ho where she shows a design that she made in response to comments asking her to fill a gap in the fitness wear space.

She encourages commenters to tell her what they want to see out of their active wear. During her chat, she even encouraged the VidCon audience to come up to her after and tell her what issues they encountered with clothes.

" What inspires me are problems...because I'm not gonna design something that's already out there — what a waste of time," she said. "So when I am picking what fabric, [wondering] is it gonna have a pocket, is it gonna have this seam — all those kind of things. When I actually do that, I'm thinking about that video I'm about to make two years later, so that I have my talking points already."

SEE ALSO: The best moments from VidCon 2025 today

The jump from content creation to clothing creation felt like a natural progression for Ho. For one, she dreamed of being a designer when she grew up. But as her channel grew and she took on more brand deals, she found herself agreeing with commenters that called her a sell out.

"I got really sick of doing  brand deals because people are telling you how to sell, what to say, and oftentimes it can feel very inauthentic," she said. " Talking about my own brand was almost like an internal brand deal and that actually was good content too."

Cassie's found that with her success, brands from Shein to Nordstrom are copying her designs. Most notably, Shein duped the design for a Pop Flex skirt after Taylor Swift posted herself wearing it on Instagram. The Shein dupe inspired Cassie to apply for a patent. Now that her design is patented, she says she's fought 2,065 dupe listings of the skirt.

" I'm a little David and I'm fighting several different Goliaths," Ho said. " Some people tell me, 'Cassie, stop focusing on that. Put your energy towards design.' Like yes, but the reason why I fight is because I'm not just doing it for me. Thank God I have a platform that I can speak from. A lot of small independent designers do not, and so if I can win this for me, I'm winning it for all the other independent artists out there."

VidCon 2025 kicked off its opening ceremony in Anaheim, CA, by honoring YouTube legends on Thursday. Hosted by Kalen Allen and VidCon's social media manager Ali Booth, the Hall of Fame Ceremony honored Hank Green, co-founder of VidCon and half of the Vlogbrothers channel; Rhett & Link, hosts of Good Mythical Morning and founders of Mythical Entertainment; Grace Helbig; Tyler Oakley; Joey Graceffa; Rosanna Pansino; and Smosh co-founders Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox.

SEE ALSO: VidCon 2025: The latest updates from your favorite creators Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, co-founders of Smosh accepted their Hall of Fame awards together on the VidCon stage. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Each creator arrived on the VidCon stage to accept their awards. The first award of the night went to Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, co-founders of Smosh, who shouted out Hank Green for his hand in founding VidCon.

The second honoree, Tyler Oakley, took the stage with a heartfelt thank you: “Ever since I was little I knew I wanted to talk to strangers on the internet. Thank you for being those strangers.”

Grace Helbig accepted her stage on the VidCon Stage, celebrating her 18 years as a creator on YouTube. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The next award of the evening went to Grace Helbig, who took to the stage with her signature comedy, thanking “Everyone who has ever paid attention to her.”

Up next was Joey Graceffa, who was hard to hear over the screams. “Y’all are loud,” Joey laughed. He talked about his most important VidCon memories — meeting Smosh as a fan, having his first kiss, and premiering his YouTube series Escape the Night.

Following Joey Graceffa, the next award of the night went to Rosanna Pansino. She thanked the community, remarking on her 15 years of YouTube, and that the platform changed her life.

Good Mythical Morning creators Rhett & Link then took the stage, starting off by acknowledging that people often ask them what the key to longevity is on YouTube. As the crowd shouted back answers, Rhett clarified, “This is not an interactive exercise.”

The final inductee of the evening was Hank Green, co-founder of VidCon. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The final inductee of the evening was Hank Green, co-founder of VidCon. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his brother, John Green, who has been his long time collaborator, noting that their mission has always been to leave things better than they found them.

TL;DR: Watch Rune vs. Bautista in the 2025 Queen's Club Championships for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Queen's Club Championships is perfectly timed to provide the best players in the world with some grass court preparation before Wimbledon. Holger Rune is someone who would like to progress into the latter stages of the third Grand Slam of the season, so he'll expect to beat Roberto Bautista and move into the Queen's Club Championships semi finals.

If you want to watch Rune vs. Bautista in the 2025 Queen's Club Championships for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Rune vs. Bautista for free

Rune vs. Bautista in the 2025 Queen's Club Championships is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Queen's Club Championships by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Rune vs. Bautista for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (including money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Rune vs. Bautista without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2025 Queen's Club Championships before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for only $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Rune vs. Bautista in the 2025 Queen's Club Championships for free with ExpressVPN.