Media and entertainment grounded in empathy are a critical part of a saner culture — and we can all help by actively producing, seeking, and supporting it.
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Posted inArts & Culture, Blog Post, Commentary, Current Events
On Mourning, Learning a More Sober Fandom, and Letting Go
The death of popular rapper XXXTentaction raises questions of ethical consumption.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Song Flute
When relationships grow tired or toxic, some people write songs about the people they leave behind, the way John Coltrane did for his first wife Naima Grubbs. For others, like this essay’s author, there are too many things that can’t be spoken about, so they talk mostly about music.
Posted inNonfiction
Molly and the Unicorn
Emily Flake reflects on the shifting nature of magic and power in middle age.
Posted inNonfiction
My Body Is Not a Temple
All the good habits and self-optimization in the world don’t give you real control over your body. Back away from the bread starter.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Deep River
Before anyone could write a comprehensive discography of golden age gospel recordings, upwards of 75 percent of this uniquely American music got destroyed or lost. Music historian Robert Darden runs the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project to protect and share what’s left.
Posted inArts & Culture, Nonfiction, Quote Posts, Quotes
‘Rhyming Was No Longer a Symptom, But a Cure’: From Stroke Survivor to Rap Legend
For stroke survivor Sherman Hershfield, rapping and rhyming kept his seizures under control.
Posted inArts & Culture, Blog Post, Books, Nonfiction, Reading List, Writing
8 Longreads by Will Storr on the Science of Storytelling
Eight must-read stories that investigate science, belief, and the human impulse to tell stories.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
Old Dudes On Skateboards
The death of his life-long skateboarding friend prompts Aaron Gilbreath to get back on his board — at 44, with his toddler daughter in tow.
Posted inArts & Culture, Author Notes, Nonfiction, Profiles & Interviews, Story
Selling Vintage Records in Tokyo
Listening to music with a Tokyo record store owner forges a deeper bond than any shared language.
