Romper nation
Get your OOTD ready. Odd One In's launch party is coming to Seattle.
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.
SOMETHING TO READ
Whether you think Anna Wintour is the fashion goddess of cool or just an ice queen, one thing is certain: I bet you can recognize Vogue’s big boss’s little blonde head from at least a catwalk away.
This New York Times profile by Nick Haramis isn’t about Wintour though. Sort of. It’s about Andreas Anastasis, The Man Behind Fashion’s Most Famous Bob and the handsome Yorkipoo-owner/artist/stylist who walks over to Wintour’s Greenwich Village townhouse every morning to make sure each strand of her hair is in the exact place she wants it to be.
“It’s like an exorcism,” Mr. Anastasis says of his sculptures that involve Vaseline, plaster, and naked MMA fighters sprawled over a table, “something gets drawn out.” For anyone interested in a glimpse into the mind of multimedia misfit and possibly the only person on earth who has ever seen Anna Wintour drawn out of her perfectly coifed and sunglassed-shell, this one’s for you.
SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO
When I became a teacher and parent, I learned how to listen in new ways. I figured out the difference between a hungry cry and an overwhelmed one. I learned to hear empathy-seeking in the outbursts of middle schoolers. I tuned in to toddlers and tweens with all of my heart and guts until I found I could hear the emerging of leaders and big dreamers in even the most introverted of the young people under my care. Even now. The Teenager tries to play it cool, but I can hear his gears turning nonstop in that brilliant brain of his.
Then, of course, working in public radio taught me how to listen in whole new ways. One of the things I love most about interviewing people and producing features, is that when I pull a piece together, it feels like I’m sharing with listeners the wonder that I previously just loved reveling in on my own when someone would trust me with their fascinating story. Here, I’m trying to say in pretty much everything I produce, let’s be awed by this baffling/awesome human condition together.
That’s all to say—I’m absolutely here for getting a glimpse behind the curtain into the experiences of other professional listeners and story-makers, which is why I loved this 16-minute Song Exploder bonus episode from host Hrishikesh Hirway: What You Learn When You Listen Closely.
In this episode, Hirway’s TED talk takes us through how his love of music and searching for meaning in songs led him to create his award-winning podcast. But it’s also about his mom and immigrant dreams. And the real and metaphorical houses we live in. And the cello. And the dangers of multitasking. And the magic that comes from asking questions and then being quiet and undistracted so that the stories that remind us we’re a little less alone in the world can flow. Enjoy!
SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO
I don’t know what to say about this SHOT, except that Keri is 100% to blame for it. First, please know that despite the fact that Keri changes her Wordle start word EVERY DAY, she is a genius. And yet. This is the kind of #content she sends me during the work day. Why?!? Why indeed.
And know this too, I love a romper. Short sleeves. Long sleeves. Cheetah print. Acid wash. Bring it all on as long it’s loose and makes me feel like an astronaut or a roller disco queen. (Side note: It’s not required per se, but jumpsuits are highly encouraged for our 8/24 Odd One In party. Let me know how your lewk is coming together if you want to coordinate.)
That’s all I have to say. Good luck with these 4-minutes of absolute chaos from comedian Chris Fleming.
GET READY, SEATTLE PODCAST PARTY PEOPLE
That’s a wrap on issue 89, friends. Thanks for reading, listening, holding on.
And thank you for spreading the word about our Odd One In launch party in Seattle this month! I’m so excited to see many of you on the 24th at Nectar. $5 tickets are still available, with anything extra donated going right to the youth of the Bureau of Fearless Ideas. Here’s the link for more info and tickets.
I know we’re in the middle of a recession and a Seattle housing crisis, so if you can’t swing the ticket price right now, I got you. Just reply to this email and let me know that you want to be there and I’ll make sure you and your +1 are on my list. No questions asked.
Thanks again, misfit fam. See you on the 24th. And see you in your inbox next Thursday.
K.