Eternal youth & unbothered animals

also a Covid retreat in the bottom of a pool

ROCK PAPER RADIO is a dispatch for misfits & unlikely optimists by your favorite hapa haole, beet-pickling, public radio nerd. It’s a weekly email newsletter and podcast that shares three curiosities every Thursday - something to hold on to (that’s the ‘rock’), something to read (that’s the ‘paper‘), and something to listen to (you guessed it, that’s the ‘radio’). Themes include but are not limited to: rebel violinists, immortal jellyfish, revolution. Thanks for subscribing and spreading the word. Learn more at RockPaperRadio.com.

Is this an iguana? I have no idea, but the attitude is spot on. Watch out, Floridians. Photo credit: Francesco Ungaro

Hi there, misfit crew. It’s my first week in my new role, so today’s dispatch will be brief in an effort to get some rest tonight. Let’s get right to it.

SOMETHING TO READ

Everyone’s worried about robots taking over soon, but maybe we should be keeping an eye on the animal kingdom in the meantime.

If rats rule NYC, and Canadian geese are the tyrant dictators of Seattle (bringing unhinged aggression to Green Lake in a fashion that is absolutely not Canadian AT ALL), then apparently iguanas are the boss bullies of Florida.

Behold this glorious ode by Sara Merkin for Gawker: Florida’s Iguana Crisis. Is it a news story? A personal essay about a dad who can literally scare creatures to death? A critique of media coverage? A love letter to the chaos of Florida? Yes. It’s all that.

Buckle up. I promise you’re not ready for this reptilian ride. Enjoy!

SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO

As I find my way in this next phase of my professional and personal life, I’ve been thinking a lot about how grateful I am for how winding my path has been.

Here it is, abbreviated: bartender → single mom → teacher → curator → producer → today.

Among other things, (like why you should never drink a Long Island Iced Tea), one important thing this unlikely path has taught me is that the journey is the point and there is no final destination. This isn’t a new or original idea, but it’s one I hope never stops lighting up my brain anyway.

If your path has also been filled with misadventures and side streets, this entire This American Life episode is for you: The Longest Distance Between Two Points.

There’s a man whose story will shake your civic action awake. There’s a Covid retreat in the bottom of a pool. There’s a tale of devotion to fish that will warm your cold, cold heart. There’s a child that will remind you with so much charm and earnestness that there’s everyday resilience all around us. Happy listening.

SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO

Is Kim Kardashian’s foray into “night oils” and $75 eye creams making you a bit suspicious that this whole 2022 skincare-as-healthcare movement might just be a ruse to make you feel bad and spend money you should be saving for the looming rat/geese/iguana takeover? (We’ll need tactical gear, barricades, endless vats of neem oil. Save your eye cream money for The Defense!)

Never fear. YouTube explainer Vsauce is here for us. This 23-minute video is a fascinating reminder that aging isn’t the enemy, it’s low rise jeans.

WELCOME!

That’s a wrap on issue 87, friends. Thanks for listening, reading, holding on.

And to all our new RPR subscribers, welcome! We’re so glad you’re here. Thanks for joining our misfit crew. Feel free to forward this issue to your curious friends and let them know that all the misfits and unlikely optimists are always warmly welcomed here.

See you next Thursday.

K.

You can find ROCK PAPER RADIO on Instagram and Twitter @RockPaperRadio. You can find Kristin on Instagram @leongstagram and on Twitter @kristinleong. You can find our ODD ONE IN podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your audio storytelling.

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