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1. I had such great feedback about this week’s blog from my paid subscribers that I thought I’d drop the paywall so that my free subscribers can also have a read. Click the fancy new embed link above.
There’s still a few days left to take advantage of my Flash Sale as well - click below to get two free months.
2. Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart are sure getting some big guests on their Leading series of interviews. The latest episode with Hilary Clinton is well worth a listen.
3. Rest in peace Barry Humphreys. As my great friend Ben Mondy put it, ‘this one is hard to take. Nobody took the piss out of the Aussies better’. One of his last TV clips, above, is still a brilliant demonstration of his impeccable timing.
4. I posted recently about the Guardian’s recent series of articles about my hometown of Manchester’s links to slavery. For balance, here’s a rebuttal by local historian Jonathan Schofield (which I found via the excellent
).5. My pals at the Wave just published their latest Impact Report. Click here to have a read.
6. Congrats Mia Roberts for being the first trans woman to score a UK skate mag cover (unless I’m very much mistaken, that is) on the latest issue of the excellent Skateboarder’s Companion. Order here.
7. My friends at charity Ranger Lab just launched their new sock range - 100% of the profits from this will go into the charity’s grants programme to support wildlife rangers on the frontline. More here.
8. I enjoyed this interesting film about climber Will Bosi for adidas TERREX.
9. More important work at the intersection between surfing and activism from Reclaim The Sea, a Plymouth-based none-profit teaching local refugees and asylum-seekers how to swim, paddleboard and surf. Check out this Finisterre blog to find out more.
10. Finally - I just updated my 2023 playlist with a load more songs I’ve enjoyed this year. Need some new listening? Hit shuffle and have a listen above.
Oh, excellent. I need new stuff to listen to/check out. Vampire Weekend and the Decemberists on loop is depressing the hell out of me.