Can't see content from other instances or create new users.

I recently stood up a kbin instance using the Docker guide for testing purposes. I can see the KBin UI, log in with my admin user, create magazines and threads.

1. After creating my admin user using the sudo docker-compose exec php bin/console kbin:user:create command, I cannot seem to create any other users using that method. Additionally, I tried registering as a new user through the site and I neither receive a confirmation email, nor can my admin account "approve" the user.
2. I can search for magazines/communities on other instances (i.e. memes@lemmy.ml) and about 90% of them will be added to my federated magazines listing. However there is zero content on them if I visit them from my instance; I can see on the host instances that newer content has been added.

Any ideas on either of these items?