Counterflows: Issue #32 - Christmas Special š
Your offbeat guide to the future of work and global living.
Hello š
Todayās newsletter is a bumper edition, and itās a little less āfuture of workā and a little more āplay during a pandemicā than usual.
I wanted to do something special for the last two newsletters of 2020 since you folks have been so kind and supportive this year. Iāve been saving links for this edition since September, so Iām excited to finally share the goods.
Below are eight storiesāof the future, family, identity, conversation, creativity, cryptocurrency, justice, optimism and conversation. I hope you dig them.
-Lauren
ā If youāve enjoyed Counterflows this year and want to share the love, please consider buying me a virtual coffeeāI know it seems small, but it really helps.
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āļø Covid-19 Ushers in a New Era of Full-Time Travel (Wall Street Journal)
Nancy Keates explores how an increasing number of older, wealthier folks are adopting the digital nomad lifestyleāand choosing flexible, global hotel subscriptions to travel the world. The piece covers similar ground as I do in my essay, The Rise of Subscription Living, albeit from an outsiderās perspective.
šļø My New Attitude to Travel is to Skip the Iconic (The Guardian)
When I first read this piece by Shahnaz Habib back in 2015, I was struck by two things: I wanted to hone my craft so I could write something this good someday, and the worldās best writing is almost always about what it feels like to be human. Five years later, the beauty of the writing still punches me right in the gut.
š Change the Story: Shed the Identity Holding You Back (Tiffany Philippou)
Earlier this year, I told Tiff she writes like Joan Didionāa comparison she batted away with the utmost modesty, but I stand by the assessment. This intimate piece of life writing explores identity and, like everything Tiff creates, is guaranteed to leave you feeling more in touch with your humanity and emotions.
š Creativity, Inc: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration (Ed Catmull)
Written by Pixar co-founder and Disney president Ed Catmull, this book is an easy read full of interesting insights about building culture at a creative company. Fair warning: The authorās namedropping habit is intense, as you might expect from a dude who has spent his whole life working at the intersection of film and technology.
š§ The Missing Cryptoqueen (Jamie Bartlett x BBC Sounds)
In a tale of greed and deceit, investigative journalist Jamie Bartlett explores the rise of OneCoin and the disappearance of its vocal spokeswoman, Dr Ruja Ignatova. This bingeworthy podcast series might be the best storytelling about cryptocurrency thatās been done to dateāand demonstrates how this new frontier is still the wild west.
š¬ RBG (Julie Cohen & Betsy West)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a global icon in her later years, building a loyal social media following and prompting memes, merch, and more. I didnāt know who she was until she passed away this year at the age of 87. This documentary tells the story of an extraordinary woman, an outspoken career, and a life well-lived.
š¤ Itās 2023. Hereās How We Fixed the Economy (TIME)
Bad-ass women economists are becoming more and more visible in the global knowledge economy, and Mariana Mazzucato is one of the best. This thought-provoking piece highlights the decisions that count as we rebuild our world post-pandemic. She argues we must aim to be āthe same people but in a different societyā.
š£ļø You Donāt Have to Agree With Political Opponents to Understand Them (The Correspondent)
RIP The Correspondent, whose English-language edition shutters next week. This slow journalism platform was known for ambitious, in-depth reporting on topics beyond the noisy headlines. This piece advocates for heart-to-heart conversations with ideological opponents. A useful lens for the (virtual?) Christmas dinner table, perhaps.
PS: If you find yourself feeling down or weird or disconnected this week (also known as āliving through 2020ā), say helloāIād love to know where you are in the world, how you found out about the newsletter, or what you think of this weekās links:
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