The Dolphin Trainer Who Loved Dolphins Too Much

Dolphin trainer Ashley Guidry loved her job and the animals she worked with—in particular, a dolphin calf named Chopper. But years of seeing how business was done behind the scenes at a small marine park made her come to the painful conclusion that she had to walk away from it all.

Source: Longreads
Published: Apr 15, 2015
Length: 24 minutes (6,193 words)

What Does Gun Violence Really Cost?

A Mother Jones investigation reveals the total cost of gun violence in America: $229 billion per year.

Author: Staff
Source: Mother Jones
Published: Apr 15, 2015
Length: 15 minutes (3,949 words)

The Human Upgrade

How tech billionaires are using money and data to solve for death.

Source: Washington Post
Published: Apr 4, 2015
Length: 20 minutes (5,000 words)

Finalists for the 2015 Mirror Awards

Congrats to the 2015 Mirror Awards finalists! A list of nominees can be found here.

Published: Apr 14, 2015

What Is It Like to Be Poor at an Ivy League School?

High-achieving, low-income students often struggle to feel like they belong on elite campuses. What can be done to aid their transition?

Published:
Length: 20 minutes (5,000 words)

Devil’s Bargain

After 27 years as a DEA informant, a former Medellín cartel member wants out.

Author: Nick Wing
Source: HuffPost
Published: Apr 9, 2015
Length: 21 minutes (5,340 words)

House Heart

“I love this story for its wryness and subtlety, but most especially for its willingness to take me where I don’t want to go.” A short story from Amelia Gray’s new collection, Gutshot.

Source: Longreads
Published: Apr 13, 2015
Length: 14 minutes (3,719 words)

What It Really Means to Eat a Big Mac at the Arctic Circle

The technicolor fantasy of McDonald’s looms large for a girl growing up in Alaska.

Source: Eater
Published: Apr 9, 2015
Length: 9 minutes (2,300 words)

How Kicking a Trash Can Became Criminal for a 6th Grader

An investigation by the Center for Public Integrity: In Virginia, students are being referred to law enforcement for behavioral issues that should be sorted out at school. Black and special needs students are disproportionately referred to the court system at a national level.

Published: Apr 10, 2015
Length: 16 minutes (4,050 words)

For the Love of Lettering: Stories About Typography

Type house feuds, designing typefaces for Wes Anderson and Lena Dunham, and more.

Source: Longreads
Published: Apr 12, 2015