Looking Sideways: 10 Things
Later than usual: the Wave saga continues, the big Blackpool push, and a forthcoming Creative Assembly.
1. Thanks for having me Madfest London, and an extra special merci to my marvellous panelists Lauren MacCallum, Finisterre CMO Bronwen Foster-Butler, B Corps UK CEO Chris Turner and author Thomas Kolster for the stimulating and thought-provoking conversation around effective activism for brands. (Yes, I will be releasing this conversation as an Announcement episode in the coming weeks).
It was also very nice to get out and about again with the Looking Sideways hat on once again. As a couple of rather large LS milestones approach, I’ve been having a small break from the pod as I take stock and reflect on where it’s at and what it means to me at this point in time
So big ta to the people who came along and said hello, told me how much they dig it, and generally reminded me that it’s a positive force that people seem to enjoy and find valuable.
Episode 250 incoming….yikes
2. If you work in the UK (ahem) ‘industry’, the biggest story in town this week has undoubtedly been the ongoing saga over the ownership of the Wave.
Above is the response I received this week when I chased some money I’m owed by the entity known as ‘the Bristol Wave’.
Ben Mondy has what seems to be the clearest (I use the word with caution) round-up of the corporate, financial and political shenanigans that have led us here in this Inertia piece, although there are still an endless number of serious questions to answer that haven’t been addressed in the series of combative press releases and Insta Stories that have been doing the rounds this week.
Namely: is the previous ownership entity formally in administration, as claimed? If so, where is the list of creditors? Will the new owners be taking up this debt, or handily walking away from it and starting with a clean slate, as is usually the case in these circumstances? (I think I know the answer to this last question).
And how does all this chime with the principles of ‘blue health’ upon which The Wave was supposedly founded?
Judging from the number of DMs I’m receiving on this topic right now, I am not the only person with these and similar questions.
I’m currently attempting to get some official comment on all this, and will of course be updating.
3. One of the most annoying things about Kendal 2024 for me was the clash that meant I missed the good people at Outside of Ordinary’s Creative Assembly. The good news is that they’re holding another one in Manchester later this month (although I’ll miss the one as well). More above.
4. I didn’t watch a lot of Glastonbury, but one thing I did catch that warmed my cynical old cockles was Olivia Rodrigo bringing up Robert Smith to duet on a couple of Cure classics - especially the ‘I can’t believe this is happening?!’ grin Olivia couldn’t wipe from her face.
5.
’s Substack is already essential reading. As are the series of Instagram posts he’s currently sharing.
6. How ‘bipartisan pushback’ stymied the Public Lands heist.
7. Big up grassroots skate events! The tireless Jake Powell is organising the Big Blackpool Push, which takes place on Saturday 5th. More above.
8. Richard Flanagan is the only author to have achieved the feat of winning both the Booker Prize (with his The Narrow Road to the Deep North) and the Baillie Gifford Prize (for his recent Question 7).
I’m reading the latter at the moment, and it really is remarkable stuff. Highly recommended.
9. Speaking of which: the collective reading list recommendations continues, and it’s a joy to read them each week. Join in using that image/link above (and don’t forget you can see my ongoing 2025 Reading List here).
10. One of my absolute favourite things is mentoring people, so if you’re an Insights subscriber who is working on a project, and you need some input, I want to hear from you. Start things off by joining the thread, above, or DM me.
Thanks for reading and supporting Looking Sideways! If you have any thoughts about any of the stories I discuss this week, let me know: