Currently Enjoying
March 2025
Tomorrow I head out for a long weekend of hiking, writing, and field recording to hopefully collect enough material for the next piece in my Writing for series. The destination is Antelope Island, a thumb shaped protrusion in the Great Salt Lake, mostly grassland with a mountainous spine running down the middle. Though it's within sight of downtown Salt Lake, it's a kind of wildlife oasis, filled with bison (who may be calving), pronghorn, and coyotes. But before leaving, here's a handful of things I enjoyed this last month.
What I'm listening to while writing this medley: Mouthfeel / Serene.
I grew up listening to John Mayer, and always found the level of critical disdain directed towards him kind of surprising. Sure, Your Body is a Wonderland got a bit exhausting, but anyone who's spent time listening through his discography, especially live, can quickly see how immensely talented he is. So I was excited when my sister unearthed this Tetragrammaton podcast episode between Mayer and Rick Rubin. While some sections veer into the musical weeds, it's a wonderful look into how to nurture creativity over a long and varied lifetime.
These next two recommendations pair nicely. The first, The New Critic's Disease, is an introspective critique of art critique, with a modern performance piece serving as the vehicle for discourse. The writer's premise is that we've become detached from the experience of art, replacing reverence and contemplation for social commentary and impatience. The way we interact with art, and in turn how we communicate about it, shapes the way our culture views its value. Spending time with a single work, without preconceptions and with a willingness to be moved in whatever direction arises, is to allow art to have a life of its own. One Painting Got Me Through Winter is a good example of this sense of openness. And did you know Mondrian painted flowers?
I'm hesitant to interact with much of the current discourse on politics, as I find it typically lacking in sobriety and measured thoughtfulness. But I do find it valuable to look to history for context and relevant examples that can then map to our modern movements. I'm only halfway through the giant tome, so I can't fully recommend it, but From Dawn to Decadence is a quintessential case study for this approach. I say all that to justify the title of this piece, and recommend a read through Can Ukraine—and America—Survive Donald Trump? It's a historian's perspective of America's presence on the global stage, a grounded and thoughtful wade through the minefield of political decision making.
The alpinist and writer Mark Twight was an early inflammatory influence on me, in the best of ways, through his book Kiss or Kill. Nowadays, you can't start a new hobby without being buried in tribalism and purity tests, never more apparent than in the fitness world. It's easy to get lost fighting over minute details of gear and techniques, and then lose the intention behind what you initially set out to pursue. Twight's always been able to cut through the noise and achieve results that speak for themselves. This recent substack interview provides a great onramp into his intensity and methodology.
A good friend came into town the other weekend, which was a great opportunity to walk, look at art, and have long rambling conversations. We spent a lot of time talking about direction, motivation, and how to pursue a consistent quality of output. Right after he left, I came upon this panoramic compilation from Justin Skycak, Advice on Upskilling, that tracked with so much of what we discussed. I only wish I had it to reference while he was here. It's such an approachable and thorough piece of work, and beyond the material itself, it's a great inspiration for the potential of online writing.
Another podcast for this month, Dialectic with Steph Ango. Steph, founder of Obsidian (what I'm currently using to draft this email), shares his deep perspective on creativity, product design, and a life led by curiosity. The best podcasts make it feel like you're hanging out with really interesting friends, and this one has a casually relaxed vibe that works well for the conversation.