Day five! Still chugging. I woke up today craving conversation. That sounds ridiculous, but then I got it! And it is number 1 today. So check it out. Anyway, have a good day.
1/ This interview with Zadie Smith is exceptional. Never listened to Buxton’s podcast before, but found this conversation to be intellectually stimulating and well-flowing. Zadie Smith has done a wonderful job of distilling how hard life is on a day to day level during this moment in time. There’s a concrete precision to her take that feels accurate and not in any way self-indulgent. The interview setup to discuss the publishing of her latest collection of essays, Intimations is well worth a listen. I’ve read the first essay in Intimations and am enjoying it.
2/ I just need to share an appreciation post for Land Thai Kitchen in New York City. It is truly the most delicious Thai food and I scarfed down the massaman curry with chicken last night. I will continue to consume Land as much as humanly possible for the rest of my days.
3/ This profile on text therapy startup TalkSpace was a bumpy ride. I’ve long felt that text therapy is a scam and an odd form of communication when in need of help. I hate startup culture and the race to exit. I think it’s one of the grossest facets of capitalism and entirely inhumane. The profile cemented my feelings even further.
This quote from the article summed up a lot:
Some therapists on the platform were alarmed, in part because the function required them to work on demand, rather than on their own schedule. More significantly, they asked: Is it harmful to give clients with anxiety and boundary issues a button to press for immediate gratification?
“That’s a corporate model: You need to respond to the customer no matter what,” said Shara Sand, a psychologist with her own practice in New York. “Limit-setting and boundary-setting is part of the therapy. If you can’t manage not to talk to your therapist for four hours, you are very ill and need a higher level of care than a texting app.”
Well, that’s it for today. Ok, bye!