Recommending notable stories by Wyatt Williams, John Leland, Jonathan Weiner, Suzy Hansen, and Max Ufberg.
Fast Company
How Austin’s Sandlot Baseball Scene Became a Magnet for Indie Rockers, Filmmakers, Designers, and Brands
“If you build it, they will come.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Recommending excellent stories by Clint Rainey, Blythe Roberson, Mya Frazier, Katy Kelleher, and Jasper Nathaniel.
Inside ‘Teflon Joe’s’: Why Your Favorite Grocery Store Is Not What You Think
“How Trader Joe’s remains a beloved brand despite record product recalls, safety violations, worker misconduct complaints, and an environmental record that belies its reputation.”
Is It Okay to Like Chick-fil-A?
“Boycotted for years by liberals—and now by conservatives, too—the Christian-driven brand is trying to walk the narrow path toward growth. What happens next will be enlightening for businesses everywhere.”
Silicon Valley and the Rent-to-Own Trap
“If you want to become a homeowner but don’t qualify for a mortgage, Divvy Homes has a solution: Rent a house from them until you’re able to buy it. What could possibly go wrong?”
A New Leaf: A Post-Legalization Cannabis Reading List
Five stories demonstrating how the green rush nurtured the best and worst that U.S. capitalism had to offer.
Meet the Mystery Woman Who Mastered IBM’s 5,400-Character Chinese Typewriter
“Lois Lew operated the improbable, ill-fated machine with aplomb in presentations from Manhattan to Shanghai. 70-plus years later, she’s telling her story.”
‘Mommy, Are We Famous?’: On the Rise of Kid Influencers on Instagram
Kids are a growing part of Instagram’s influencer marketing industry. At Fast Company, Katharine Schwab reports on the rising stars of the platform — and the parents managing their “careers” behind the scenes.
How Reese Witherspoon is Flipping the Script on Hollywood
A profile of actor, director, producer, and literary taste-maker Reese Witherspoon, with a focus on her influential media company, Hello Sunshine, through which she’s creating roles and jobs for women, and changing the way movies and shows are made.
