Co-Star and the Making of a Popular Astrology App

The Astrology Podcast・2 minutes read

Co-Star, a popular astrology app, aims to foster meaningful connections through astrology and address misconceptions while providing detailed birth charts and interpretations. The creators prioritize user experience and future plans include enhancing social interactions, improving user understanding of astrological concepts, and making the app accessible to all.

Insights

  • Co-Star, an astrology app founded in 2017, has gained immense popularity among young people in the US, with over 20% of them downloading the app, making it a significant player in the astrology app market.
  • The rise of Co-Star and similar astrology apps correlates with the increased use of smartphones, tapping into the growing interest in astrology among young people.
  • Co-Star's unique approach focuses on fostering meaningful connections through astrology, offering birth chart calculations, interpretations, daily transit notifications, and an asynchronous messaging feature called chaos mode.
  • The Co-Star team, consisting of 15 members mostly based in New York, values user feedback, striving to continuously improve the app, fix bugs, and enhance user experience.
  • Co-Star aims to make astrology more accessible and educational for all users, emphasizing content changes, fostering meaningful conversations, and creating a platform for intimate connections based on astrological language.

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  • What is Co-Star?

    Co-Star is a popular astrology app.

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Summary

00:00

The Astrology Podcast: Co-Star's Rise

  • Chris Brennan hosts The Astrology Podcast, with the 286th episode featuring an interview with Banu Guler, founder of the Co-Star Astrology app.
  • Banu Guler participated in an AMA on Reddit's astrology subreddit on December 1st, leading to this podcast interview.
  • The rise of popular astrology apps, like Co-Star, coincided with the increased use of smartphones, with Co-Star being one of the most popular astrology apps.
  • Over 20% of young people in the US have downloaded Co-Star, making it a significant player in the astrology app market.
  • The National Science Foundation polls show consistent belief in astrology among half of American young people and a quarter to a third of American adults.
  • Co-Star was launched in 2017, tapping into the growing interest in astrology among young people.
  • Co-Star's unique approach focuses on using astrology to foster meaningful connections rather than replicating traditional astrology features.
  • Co-Star calculates birth charts, offers basic interpretations, daily transit notifications, and an asynchronous messaging feature called chaos mode.
  • Co-Star's birth chart is set for October 5th, 2017, at 3:44 PM in New York City, with Aquarius rising and a stellium in Libra.
  • Co-Star initially used circle charts but switched to square charts based on user feedback, catering to mobile users' preferences and ease of use.

13:04

"Accessibility and Allure: Modern Astrology Insights"

  • The speaker expresses mixed feelings about astrology, acknowledging its allure but also advocating for its accessibility in modern times.
  • A discussion ensues about the ongoing debate within the astrological community regarding the accessibility of astrology to the public versus keeping it as secret knowledge.
  • The speaker emphasizes their strong opinions on accessibility, drawing from their background in graphic design and product development.
  • The speaker shares their multicultural background involving astrology, palmistry, and numerology within their family.
  • Following a career in design and a pivotal life event, the speaker transitioned into the fashion industry.
  • The speaker reflects on the challenging political climate during their Saturn Return, leading to the creation of Co-Star.
  • The speaker's interest in astrology grew during college, influenced by a partner who introduced them to astrology books.
  • Steven Forrest's impactful writing style in astrology is highlighted, evoking strong emotional responses.
  • The speaker discusses cultural differences in astrology practices, sharing a personal anecdote about a family member's experience with a prediction.
  • A conversation delves into the naming process of Co-Star, initially considered as "Horror-scope" to counter mainstream astrology's overly positive approach.

27:38

"Exploring Astrology and Impermanence with Co-Star"

  • The conversation between CB and BG delves into the concept of impermanence, highlighting the difference between general ideas of death and specific dates of death.
  • BG shares that there is an anti-Scorpio sentiment online, leading to discussions about astrology and personal charts.
  • BG reveals being a Scorpio Sun and discusses astrological placements, hinting at the influence on their app's design and Goth aesthetic.
  • The therapeutic effect of astrology is discussed, focusing on how it shifts attention and expands emotional understanding.
  • Astrology is likened to a bridge for introspection, offering a more accessible way to delve into emotions and thoughts.
  • BG addresses misconceptions about Co-Star, including the involvement of astrologers in the app's creation and development.
  • BG clarifies that Co-Star has employed astrologers like Lor O'Connor, Dr. Jennifer Freed, Alice Sparkly Kat, and Hanna Hur.
  • BG mentions Alice Sparkly Kat's upcoming book on postcolonial astrology and praises their writing style and blending of ancient and modern astrology.
  • The conversation touches on Co-Star's decision to present birth charts as tables rather than circles, citing user feedback and mobile design challenges.
  • The Co-Star app's unique presentation of birth chart information is detailed, emphasizing its educational aspect and use of the Porphyry house system.

41:26

"House Systems in Astrology App Preferences"

  • Porphyry houses are used in the app because it is the oldest system, dating back to the third century.
  • The first house is the Ascendant and the 10th house is the Midheaven in Porphyry houses, making it easy to glance at.
  • Only a small percentage of app users have voted on adding other house systems like Whole Sign or Placidus.
  • Handling charts with multiple house systems poses technical challenges due to the vast amount of data.
  • Android devices present challenges due to the numerous unique versions, making it harder to maintain app stability.
  • New features are primarily launched on iOS first due to its stability and uniformity compared to the diverse Android versions.
  • Co-Star has fixed bugs like the Ascendant going to the 12th house on some Android devices.
  • Users sometimes mistake differences in house systems, like Porphyry and Placidus, as bugs in the app.
  • Different astrologers have preferences for specific house systems, leading to varied opinions and debates.
  • Historical context and personal preferences influence the choice of house systems, such as Porphyry's association with a notable philosopher.

54:43

Co-Star app enhances user experience and feedback.

  • Co-Star app users can access their circular chart on the website by turning on the public profile setting on iOS.
  • The website link for iOS users to view their aspects is costarastrology.com/username, but this feature is not available for Android users.
  • Android users can visit costarastrology.com, input their birth information, and email address to receive their chart.
  • The website accurately calculates the chart, including the Ascendant and interpretations.
  • Co-Star push notifications were initially based on emojis representing different planetary aspects.
  • Push notifications now combine top transits and natal placements for users.
  • Users can find their top transit by clicking on the first link under "all updates" on the app.
  • Co-Star has evolved its push notifications to be less edgy and more user-friendly over time.
  • Feedback from users is taken seriously, with the team responding to emails within a week.
  • The Co-Star team, consisting of 15 members, mostly based in New York, values user feedback and strives to improve the app continuously.

01:08:40

Online access to books, tutorials, and astrology.

  • PDFs of books can be found online, allowing for easy access to materials.
  • The possibility of finding tutorials online for various tasks, such as programming in Swift, is highlighted.
  • The Wright brothers' example is used to emphasize that seemingly difficult tasks are achievable with dedication.
  • The discussion delves into the tension within the astrological community regarding the balance between seriousness and levity in astrology.
  • Co-Star is mentioned as a platform caught in the middle of this tension within the astrological community.
  • The concept of embracing both satirical and serious approaches to astrology is discussed, drawing parallels to different styles of cooking.
  • The conversation shifts to the boundaries of comedy and the importance of understanding what is acceptable in humor.
  • The discussion touches on the importance of distinguishing between self-deprecating humor and hurtful remarks.
  • The conversation addresses the controversy surrounding the use of mental health terminology in astrology and the need for sensitivity.
  • The importance of shifting attention and using astrology as a tool for discussing difficult emotions is highlighted.

01:23:03

"Co-Star Redefines Pop Astrology for Millennials"

  • Co-Star has shifted the perception of pop astrology by providing interpretations based on natal charts and transits.
  • Approximately 20% of young people use Co-Star, leading to it being labeled as pop astrology, which is sometimes criticized for being simplistic.
  • Historically, astrology has involved gate-keeping to keep knowledge secret, but there's a push for accessibility now.
  • Concerns exist about the negativity directed towards Co-Star and pop astrology, with a focus on making astrology more accessible.
  • The term "pop astrology" originated with Linda Goodman, often associated with astrology used by young women.
  • Gender plays a role in the criticism of pop astrology, with a historical context of women becoming astrologers.
  • Co-Star has a gender breakdown of four women to one man, aligning with other statistics in the field.
  • Co-Star aims to improve through feedback, focusing on content changes and fostering meaningful conversations.
  • The app's goal is to bring people closer together through astrology as a language, facilitating deeper connections.
  • Co-Star's success has contributed to a broader understanding of astrology, with more people knowing their big three signs.

01:36:35

"Pop astrology app Co-Star fosters community"

  • Pop astrology has become more prevalent in society over the past few years, leading to increased interest and positive outcomes.
  • The comparison is drawn between learning math and astrology, suggesting that initial exposure to astrology, like math, can either deter or encourage further exploration.
  • Pop astrology serves as a gateway for many individuals to delve deeper into astrology, leading to a significant increase in people's knowledge of astrological concepts beyond just their Sun sign.
  • Co-Star, an astrology app, has played a role in popularizing astrology by providing users with detailed birth charts and interpretations, contributing to the improvement and progression of astrological knowledge.
  • The app's social aspect allows users to easily share and discuss their birth charts, fostering a sense of community and connection among users.
  • The creators of Co-Star feel a responsibility towards astrology itself and the app's young users, prioritizing their educational and user experience goals over catering to advanced astrologers.
  • The app's future plans include enhancing social interactions through astrology, creating a platform for intimate conversations and connections based on astrological language.
  • Co-Star aims to improve user understanding of astrological concepts by incorporating features like aspects and showing the astrological reasoning behind transit interpretations.
  • The creators draw parallels between enhancing accessibility in astrology features and the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act, aiming to make Co-Star beneficial and user-friendly for all.
  • Co-Star is actively seeking engineers, astrologers, writers, and analysts to join their team, emphasizing the importance of technical expertise in developing and maintaining the app.

01:50:45

"Venture capital, astrology, and global expansion"

  • Venture capital involves selling a portion of a company to venture capitalists who invest money from high net-worth individuals, banks, universities, etc.
  • Venture capitalists typically expect a minimum return of 2x their investment and some degree of control in the company.
  • Co-Star is currently Co-Star controlled, allowing the founder to maintain control and lead the company's vision.
  • The concept of being pro-founder in venture capital emphasizes the importance of the founder's hard work and vision.
  • Co-Star has been fortunate to have rounds of venture funding led by women of color, contributing to its success.
  • Astrology apps, like Co-Star, have gained popularity and investment, particularly during a wave of increased interest in astrology.
  • The future of astrology is discussed, with optimistic views on astrology potentially uniting people and pessimistic views on further fracturing.
  • Astrology is seen as a potential neutral ground for dialogue and connection in a world of increasing division.
  • The impact of COVID-19 on content creation and communication within a diverse team at Co-Star is highlighted.
  • Co-Star's global reach is noted, with users from 192 out of 195 UN-recognized countries, aiming to expand further.

02:04:49

Patrons and sponsors support astrology podcast production.

  • The Astrology Podcast thanks their patrons, including Nate Craddock, Maren Altman, Thomas Miller, Catherine Conroy, Michelle Merillat, Kristi Moe, Ariana Amour, Mandi Rae, Angelic Nambo, Sumo Coppock, and Nadia Habhab, for supporting the production of the episode. They also acknowledge sponsors such as The Northwest Astrological Conference, The Mountain Astrologer Magazine, ISAR Astrology Conference, Honeycomb Collective Personal Astrological Almanacs, Portland School of Astrology, Astro Gold Astrology app, and Solar Fire Astrology software, providing details on how to access each resource.
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