Looking Sideways: 10 Things
This week: my new paid subscriber section Insights, a geeky vocab test, and a great piece on the bleakness of the modern media landscape.
1. I just launched Insights, my new Looking Sideways section, exclusively for my paid subscribing community.
It’s where you’ll find exclusive blogs, podcasts, video chats, guest posts and articles all geared towards answering those two fundamental questions:
“How can I spend more time doing the things I’m passionate about?”
“What does a ‘successful’ creative life actually look like?”
Hit the link above to find out more.
2. This week’s Open Thread on subscriber book recommendations was the usual treasure trove of geekery and knowledge sharing. Looking for a new read? Hit the link above and don’t forget to add your own recommendation.
3. Ever wanted to know the size of your vocabulary? Well now you can by doing this test - click here. I read this on
’s excellent Substack - get subscribing.4. I’ve been writing an Insights post on how to stand out when you’re applying for a job (or pitching), inspired by my own experience of interviewing and recruiting a LOT of people over the years, and also by how godawful and not-very-effective the traditional recruitment process is.
And also because we’re looking for new staff and collaborators at my agency
in the near future. Interested in throwing your hat in the ring? Click here.
5. Where on earth to start with JD Vance’s ‘childless cat ladies’ clanger? As somebody child-free myself, I’ve long been intrigued by the clunky, clumsy way a certain type of parent treats their none-parenting brethren.
So seeing it weaponised as part of the political discourse in this way is all kinds of fascinating.
Get 10% off any session at the Wave with the code SIDEWAVES10, and hit the button below for more offers.
6. This new Yeti film is very worth 35 minutes of your time.
7. This ‘Index of Aesthetics’ should keep design and typography geeks busy for a few months.
8. Missed this at the time but via Huck Magazine, an insightful, thought-provoking read on the ‘state of emergency’ that is the modern media landscape.
9. ‘How soon might the Atlantic Ocean break?’ asks this must-read Wired piece, which looks at the collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: aka the current that currently keeps the Atlantic - and northern Europe - warm. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.
10. Time Magazine on how Jerome Bouillet got the defining shot of the 2024 Olympics - and possibly even recent surfing history. And it doesn’t show any actual surfing. There’s a metaphor in there somewhere. Can’t wait to see what old Rod Cunthorpe over at the
makes of this one.As ever, let me know which of these you enjoyed, or just say hello using the button below.
Thanks so much for the mention, Matthew! Made my day
Great Wired piece. I can't be the only one thinking a cooling of europe might mean more pow days. Completely ignoring the collapse of the agricultural system mind. Silver linings?