This! - “To be even blunter: the term high-functioning addict describes sick, addicted people who are still capable of producing capitalistic value.” Oof, this one got me. Holy crap, Alex does not mince words and I love it!
Holly, I also love Gilded Age! I don’t know what it is but I find it comforting to slip into that world. It’s the tv version of reading Jane Austen- beautifully boring
The opening sentence alone of the Bev article completely floored me: ‘beverages play a critical yet understated role in setting the atmosphere in social spaces’. Are you fucking kidding me??? ‘Beverages’ not alcohol which is what this is really about?
‘Critical role’ = socialising is literally not possible without ‘beverages’
‘Understated ?????? when alcohol companies spend billions persuading us that alcohol is essential to socialising. WTF!
As for the irony of a substance which creates colossal problems of domestic violence, abuse, broken relationships and families being marketed and funded as somehow being the answer to these problems???? This is a crock of beautifully packaged shit.
I know it's really interesting right? Like they are going to use alcohol to have conversations that they need to have, and aren't addressing the conversation OF alcohol.
I really loved the Sarah Hepola article in the Atlantic, AND I really hope she writes about having empathy for sex offenders (or whatever it is she was starting to get at) because that was a very complex topic to sort of throw out there in an article like that and not flesh out any larger thinking around. My brain similarly went "Wait, wtf?" when I read that.
Holly, thank you as always for the incredible link roundup. I'm also taking this as an opportunity to tell you that I'm listening to Quitted and I'm loviiing the ASMR discussion between you and Emily. I enjoy ASMR too and this was the best back and forth between you two. Haha, ASMR in the pleasure bucket. Loved it.
OHHH YAY! I started to do my whole wind up pitch about what ASMR is and then she's like "Maria" "Gentle Whispering" "Wood brush sounds." lol. Our language.
Spot on, again. Listening to Quitted: "Who are we when we stop hiding behind our purpose?" Choosing not to go back to work when my 3rd child started school rendered me bare naked. With every year since, I've become more acutely aware of the daily martyrdom and anxiety swirling around me and less apologetic for carving out 6 hours a day to myself. And I realize less household income, less street cred and a shit ton more energy for my community and my children might be worth giving up that nebulous "purpose." Thank you AGAIN.
There's an episode I'm so excited about that is coming up with Aki Ito where she talks about redefining ambition to include things that are not work; the compulsory worth tied to our productivity is, IMO, starting to change; this idea that we'll find happiness through work, vs. finding happiness through life, is such an important discourse.
I can not wait to listen! I so hope you're right about this shift in thinking. I'm seeing what you're saying in the younger generations, but my late 40's friends and acquaintances identities are so rigidly tied to the idea of work and "earned" exhaustion, that I fear some old dogs will never learn. Hope, hope, hope I'm wrong. Thanks for sussing it all out for the rest of us. x
re: the the Bev article...Is this a real article?! This seems like the Onion. The last part especially killed me. Can only sober people see the comedy (tragedy)?
"You’re engaged as Geoff and Hannah break down how Bev’s sales strategy informs and changes the overall growth trajectory of the business. You can hear the infectious passion in Olivia’s voice and see her Glam smile radiate as she discusses the intricacies of delivering a best-in-class Bev customer experience (and her delightful passion for art history). Weighed together, the whole Bev team is truly greater than the sum of its parts.
Peabody and her amazing team have built more than a beverage company – they have crafted a healthy drinking culture that you can take wherever you go, one Bev at a time."
It was a thrilling article to read; I completely couldn't figure it out. The thing is from doing Tempest press, we never knew going into anything what we'd get, as in, I have to believe this guy formed his own opinion and this was his opinion. It's also got some pretty solid backers; founders fund doesn't fuck around. Anyway, no idea but I did feel the same things.
Can’t wait for your chat with Carl. But mostly I want to talk about soccer photo! Hair chin and cleats are so adorable and love what you said about your old self it’s so relatable and relish all these type of thoughts during this time we are living and finding our way out of social media ways that are transforming into something more real 🥰🥰
It was a very timely reminder of how distorted we can view ourselves. I've been in so many conversations lately about how we'll look back on this time and judge ourselves. xx
I’m so excited about your interview with Carl! Since your list came out, I’ve read Urge and Weight of Air and I’m floored with Urge. Such an enthralling and educational book. Thank you for your recommendations and this newsletter. It is a highlight of my week!
I’m so excited about your interview with Carl! Since your list came out, I’ve read Urge and Weight of Air and I’m floored with Urge. Such an enthralling and educational book. Thank you for your recommendations and this newsletter. It is a highlight of my week!
Is there a workaround for the New York Times links? I'm not able to read them because I'm not a subscriber but I also haven't had my coffee yet so perhaps it's an easy fix?
Unfortunately I don't think so :( I'm a paid subscriber to everything I share so I can never really tell what is paywalled and what isn't. I *think* NYT gives you one or two free articles a month. Try going to Safari or Google or a different browser; sometimes that works.
I’ve had this article saved for a few weeks and I’m glad you resurfaced it; I never read it but Hayley Nahman talked about it in I think one of her essays a few weeks back along with the drift and I probably wouldn't have ever come back to it. Read it yesterday (thank you) and…I shared that Adam Eli meme. It’s one of a few memes I’ve shared recently without critical thought on my part at all and it got me thinking, factually correct or not, how I don’t do my research on those kinds of memes. For instance, I don't know shit about the topic they covered! And I just reposted, without thinking “are queer folks hit first always, are they hit first now." I have no idea. (That being said: the guardian ran a story this am about trans women being declared men at the border and unable to pass into poland https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/mar/22/i-will-not-be-held-prisoner-the-trans-women-turned-back-at-ukraines-borders). The point though is how much I’ve caught myself rushing to believe memes especially if they align w my world view. I’ve been thinking for myself lately: slower, stick to the things you’ve researched yourself, if you want to amplify a message spend some time researching it, don’t just do the quick cheap thing without thinking because it sounds right.
This quote: v“I hope that people read more, and read not only one narrative, but opposing sources. I sometimes want to tell people that, actually, you do need to read and engage with the difficulty of these issues and you can’t hope to learn through Instagram, even if you use it as a starting block.”
Hi there; I am really sad to hear that. Heartbroken, you can imagine. I am fully without recourse there or involved in any way and haven't been for about a year now. The interim ceo is Emily Keeton and I am sure she'd love to get your feedback; emily.keeton@jointempest.com. As for directly providing support, I don't.
This! - “To be even blunter: the term high-functioning addict describes sick, addicted people who are still capable of producing capitalistic value.” Oof, this one got me. Holy crap, Alex does not mince words and I love it!
I know! It’s so good. He’s a great writer and thinker.
On the topic of excellent podcasts - the episode you did with Sah D’Simone (Ep. 42) is my favorite podcast episode ever
I was so depressed when I recorded it I couldn't quite bear to listen so this is great to hear! lol. Thanks Sarah.
Holly, I also love Gilded Age! I don’t know what it is but I find it comforting to slip into that world. It’s the tv version of reading Jane Austen- beautifully boring
YES.
The opening sentence alone of the Bev article completely floored me: ‘beverages play a critical yet understated role in setting the atmosphere in social spaces’. Are you fucking kidding me??? ‘Beverages’ not alcohol which is what this is really about?
‘Critical role’ = socialising is literally not possible without ‘beverages’
‘Understated ?????? when alcohol companies spend billions persuading us that alcohol is essential to socialising. WTF!
As for the irony of a substance which creates colossal problems of domestic violence, abuse, broken relationships and families being marketed and funded as somehow being the answer to these problems???? This is a crock of beautifully packaged shit.
I know it's really interesting right? Like they are going to use alcohol to have conversations that they need to have, and aren't addressing the conversation OF alcohol.
I really loved the Sarah Hepola article in the Atlantic, AND I really hope she writes about having empathy for sex offenders (or whatever it is she was starting to get at) because that was a very complex topic to sort of throw out there in an article like that and not flesh out any larger thinking around. My brain similarly went "Wait, wtf?" when I read that.
Yeah. Hard agree. That was a complicated statement that should have had a lot more context.
Holly, thank you as always for the incredible link roundup. I'm also taking this as an opportunity to tell you that I'm listening to Quitted and I'm loviiing the ASMR discussion between you and Emily. I enjoy ASMR too and this was the best back and forth between you two. Haha, ASMR in the pleasure bucket. Loved it.
OHHH YAY! I started to do my whole wind up pitch about what ASMR is and then she's like "Maria" "Gentle Whispering" "Wood brush sounds." lol. Our language.
Spot on, again. Listening to Quitted: "Who are we when we stop hiding behind our purpose?" Choosing not to go back to work when my 3rd child started school rendered me bare naked. With every year since, I've become more acutely aware of the daily martyrdom and anxiety swirling around me and less apologetic for carving out 6 hours a day to myself. And I realize less household income, less street cred and a shit ton more energy for my community and my children might be worth giving up that nebulous "purpose." Thank you AGAIN.
Oh ya...please know I am deeply aware of, and grateful for the privilege of being able to choose less income. That's a biggy.
There's an episode I'm so excited about that is coming up with Aki Ito where she talks about redefining ambition to include things that are not work; the compulsory worth tied to our productivity is, IMO, starting to change; this idea that we'll find happiness through work, vs. finding happiness through life, is such an important discourse.
I can not wait to listen! I so hope you're right about this shift in thinking. I'm seeing what you're saying in the younger generations, but my late 40's friends and acquaintances identities are so rigidly tied to the idea of work and "earned" exhaustion, that I fear some old dogs will never learn. Hope, hope, hope I'm wrong. Thanks for sussing it all out for the rest of us. x
I do think it's starting to shift; if you don't already I recommend following Anne Helen Peterson as well. Such a good discourse.
re: the the Bev article...Is this a real article?! This seems like the Onion. The last part especially killed me. Can only sober people see the comedy (tragedy)?
"You’re engaged as Geoff and Hannah break down how Bev’s sales strategy informs and changes the overall growth trajectory of the business. You can hear the infectious passion in Olivia’s voice and see her Glam smile radiate as she discusses the intricacies of delivering a best-in-class Bev customer experience (and her delightful passion for art history). Weighed together, the whole Bev team is truly greater than the sum of its parts.
Peabody and her amazing team have built more than a beverage company – they have crafted a healthy drinking culture that you can take wherever you go, one Bev at a time."
It was a thrilling article to read; I completely couldn't figure it out. The thing is from doing Tempest press, we never knew going into anything what we'd get, as in, I have to believe this guy formed his own opinion and this was his opinion. It's also got some pretty solid backers; founders fund doesn't fuck around. Anyway, no idea but I did feel the same things.
Can’t wait for your chat with Carl. But mostly I want to talk about soccer photo! Hair chin and cleats are so adorable and love what you said about your old self it’s so relatable and relish all these type of thoughts during this time we are living and finding our way out of social media ways that are transforming into something more real 🥰🥰
It was a very timely reminder of how distorted we can view ourselves. I've been in so many conversations lately about how we'll look back on this time and judge ourselves. xx
Thank you. I needed all these things to read midway through a family vacation.
<3 yay! enjoy vacation!
I’m so excited about your interview with Carl! Since your list came out, I’ve read Urge and Weight of Air and I’m floored with Urge. Such an enthralling and educational book. Thank you for your recommendations and this newsletter. It is a highlight of my week!
It is really, really good. You might also really like the globalisation of addiction by bruce alexander, or Unbroken brain by Maia S.
I’m so excited about your interview with Carl! Since your list came out, I’ve read Urge and Weight of Air and I’m floored with Urge. Such an enthralling and educational book. Thank you for your recommendations and this newsletter. It is a highlight of my week!
YAY IT IS UP! xx And THANK YOU.
Is there a workaround for the New York Times links? I'm not able to read them because I'm not a subscriber but I also haven't had my coffee yet so perhaps it's an easy fix?
Unfortunately I don't think so :( I'm a paid subscriber to everything I share so I can never really tell what is paywalled and what isn't. I *think* NYT gives you one or two free articles a month. Try going to Safari or Google or a different browser; sometimes that works.
I read this article this week and think peeps here might like it too: https://www.gawker.com/politics/the-narcissism-of-queer-influencer-activists
I’ve had this article saved for a few weeks and I’m glad you resurfaced it; I never read it but Hayley Nahman talked about it in I think one of her essays a few weeks back along with the drift and I probably wouldn't have ever come back to it. Read it yesterday (thank you) and…I shared that Adam Eli meme. It’s one of a few memes I’ve shared recently without critical thought on my part at all and it got me thinking, factually correct or not, how I don’t do my research on those kinds of memes. For instance, I don't know shit about the topic they covered! And I just reposted, without thinking “are queer folks hit first always, are they hit first now." I have no idea. (That being said: the guardian ran a story this am about trans women being declared men at the border and unable to pass into poland https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/mar/22/i-will-not-be-held-prisoner-the-trans-women-turned-back-at-ukraines-borders). The point though is how much I’ve caught myself rushing to believe memes especially if they align w my world view. I’ve been thinking for myself lately: slower, stick to the things you’ve researched yourself, if you want to amplify a message spend some time researching it, don’t just do the quick cheap thing without thinking because it sounds right.
This quote: v“I hope that people read more, and read not only one narrative, but opposing sources. I sometimes want to tell people that, actually, you do need to read and engage with the difficulty of these issues and you can’t hope to learn through Instagram, even if you use it as a starting block.”
Lastly I recently I posted a podcast from Africa Brooke about not having to speak up on every social issue. I think it’s worth listening to. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-self-with-africa-brooke/id1508176184?i=1000552400418
I deeply appreciate you sourcing this and posting this.
I clicked your hyperlink on involuntary treatment but the hyperlink was to the Guiness article. Can you provide the correct hyperlink? Xoxo
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-hope-and-hurdles-of-involuntary-drug-treatment/ Thanks! I’ll fix it
Hi there; I am really sad to hear that. Heartbroken, you can imagine. I am fully without recourse there or involved in any way and haven't been for about a year now. The interim ceo is Emily Keeton and I am sure she'd love to get your feedback; emily.keeton@jointempest.com. As for directly providing support, I don't.