Looking Sideways: 10 Things
Happy New Year friends. Thanks for supporting my newsletter and podcast throughout 2022. As we head into 2023, here are this week’s ten things I thought were worth sharing.
1. I only released my episode of Type 2 with Lewis Arnold and Chris Nelson, in which we discussed their new documentary The Big Sea, at the end of November. And yet it stuck such a chord that by the end of the year it was in my top 5 most listened to episodes of 2022.
It’s a testament to the power of the story they have uncovered, something Chris explored in a follow-up blog which I’m resharing here:
Listeners have asked how they can support The Big Sea; sign up for their mailing list here, and be sure to keep an eye out for a special Open Thread with Chris and Lewis, where they’ll be answering your questions and where there’ll be a brilliant prize up for grabs for the best question.
2. My friends at Korua Shapes have released another typically wondrous film, this one a collaboration with Morgan Maassen. Essential viewing; watch it above.
3. We spent the festive break hate-binging Yellowstone, the preposterous (and preposterously-entertaining) Kevin Costner-starring Succession-meets-Dallas potboiler which is suddenly the biggest show in the States. This blog does a good job explaining why the show is so controversial (warning: spoilers).
I also very much enjoyed The English, a revivalist Western from the other end of the political spectrum (and canon).
4. Luke Una’s beautiful, ruminative Boxing Day mix was just what the doctor ordered. Listen here
5. “ We do it for free to keep Surfing World alive, and having no business model has, in a way, become the perfect business model for this kind of cultural endeavour. So onward we go”.
Friend-of-the-show Sean Doherty is one of the good guys, and his work on Surfing World is a classic case-in-point. Read Sean’s post above, and subscribe to support independent surf media here. We’ll miss it when it’s gone.
6. The new Anti Hero flick Fantastic Voyage is deffo worth a gander.
7. Like everybody else, I watched and very much enjoyed Glass Onion. And I particularly liked this BBC podcast in which director and writer Rian Johnson talked about his love for Agatha Christie (that’s Agatha surfing Waikiki in 1922, apparently), and how much she inspired the whole Knives Out universe. Listen here.
8. Rest in peace Grant Wahl, a towering figure in the world of football journalism who passed away while reporting on the World Cup in Qatar. Among the tributes celebrating a life lost far too soon, Grant’s kindness and willingness to help others stands out a mile:
9. Yet another compelling surf exploration documentary by friend-of-the-show Kepa Acero. Hanging out with Kepa in Hossegor was a definite 2022 highlight.
10. RIP Ken Block. Selema’s post with Ken from last week is pretty heartbreaking.
Couldn’t agree more on the Luke Una Boxing Day worldwide show, wow what a brilliant beacon of all things winter. And what a guest on the Podcast Mr Luke Una would be!