"People will talk."

For ages, this has been used as an excuse for not doing something that could be incredibly rewarding, be it starting a business, writing that book, making the art, or wearing the dress or the lipstick that makes your heart sing.

In this week’s episode of Awkward Etiquette- Old Money and New Manners, Kiki Astor explores one of the oldest social anxieties in the book: what people say about us—and why it still stings, even - or esecially- in the age of curated feeds and public personas. From the elegant discretion of old money circles to the performative transparency of modern social media, Kiki dissects the etiquette of reputation, how to navigate gossip gracefully, and why not caring what others think is the most powerful (and chic) move of all, and a social skill you'll want to develop as soon as possible.

Listeners will learn how to protect their reputation without becoming paranoid, reclaim their narrative with composure, and turn criticism into quiet confidence. Kiki also unpacks how online notoriety has changed the rules of reputation—what still matters, what doesn’t, and how to maintain dignity, mystique, and good manners even when “people will talk.”

It’s a witty, psychological, and oddly reassuring guide to surviving the spotlight—whether it’s the country club, the comments section, or your own circle of frenemies.