If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you. If you really make them think, they’ll hate you.
~ Don Marquis
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Thinking →
It’s resistance →
In the most recent months I’ve been waking up with this strange sensation. In the Fall I started deleting things; I started changing projects to require less input, simplifying where I could, and in some cases outright eliminating. Whereas in recent years I’ve generally awakened with a sense of “should”—I should do this, I should have yesterday done that—in the most recent months I’ve awakened with this strange sensation. It’s not optimism per se, but it’s close. What do I want to do today? …do that.
Hovering before me as I wake is the work I know I need to do that day. Inevitably, that labor is daunting. Inescapably, it brings up fear. I don’t want to do it. This fear and this avoidance combine to create the witch’s brew that boils and bubbles in the cauldron of my brain.
~ Steven Pressfield from, My Head in the Morning
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In the Age of Fire I continuously expanded what I wanted to do, beyond the bounds of possibility and reason. Lately, having realized that nothing I do actually matters, I’m free—I’ve always been free—to pick a few nice things upon which to apply myself.
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Audio Drama with Scott Edward Smith →
What are the creative and technical challenges in adapting stage plays into audio dramas, and how does the medium of podcasting influence storytelling approaches?
Lean into the world of audio drama with Scott Edward Smith, as he transforms historical figures into compelling stories, revealing how he reshaped his approach to storytelling to bring theater to the radio.
As a writer, as a producer, and quite often as the director, I’m taking material that is meant to be seen. And being told you have to make this work in audio—nobody’s going to see what you think— and having to transform… it wasn’t story, it was words. So that the words were more specific. […] It changed how I wrote and also how I spoke, because I had to learn this medium, which gives you no visuals. You have nothing to work with. You just can’t say the things that you do in a play, or a movie or, a television show.
~ Scott Edward Smith (4:20)
Scott Edward Smith and Craig Constantine dig into the world of audio drama and its resurgence in the era of COVID-19. Scott shares his journey from writing for television, movies, and theater to embracing audio dramas due to the pandemic’s impact on traditional media outlets. He highlights how it forced him into the realm of audio storytelling, transforming his approach to narratives and character development.
With historical figures as his subjects, Scott crafts one-person plays that bring these personalities to life, emphasizing the shift from visual to auditory storytelling. This transition, he notes, required a nuanced understanding of how to convey stories solely through sound, making every word and effect crucial in painting vivid pictures for the audience.
Scott discusses several of his works, including audio dramas about Wallace Simpson, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean, explaining how each project adapted to the audio format’s unique demands. He reflects on the creative process, from the initial concept to the detailed execution, integrating sound effects and music to enhance the listener’s experience.
The conversation also touches on the technical aspects of producing audio dramas, such as segmenting stories for listener convenience and the strategic use of sound to evoke specific settings and emotions. Through these discussions, Scott illustrates the power of audio drama to captivate and engage audiences, offering a theater-like experience through the intimate medium of podcasting.
Takeaways
Adapting to new mediums—how a seasoned writer transitions from traditional stage and screenwriting to audio dramas due to the constraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The power of sound in storytelling—exploring the use of audio effects and music to create vivid, immersive experiences in the absence of visual cues.
Evolution of narrative techniques—reflecting on how the necessity to focus purely on audio has refined writing and directing approaches, emphasizing the importance of every word and sound.
Future of audio dramas—speculating on the ongoing role and potential growth of audio dramas in the broader landscape of entertainment and storytelling.
Historical figures as subjects—the creative process behind transforming the lives of iconic personalities into compelling one-person audio dramas.
Technical aspects of audio production—discussing the challenges and strategies involved in segmenting stories for an audio format, catering to listener habits and preferences.
Resources
Intimate Fame Podcast — An audio drama discussed in this episode, focusing on the stories of historical figures of Wallace Simpson, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean.
Edinburgh Festival — Mentioned in the context of one of the audio dramas having been performed there, the Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for several arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland, every summer.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Wonder →
If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things that are artificial, the alienation from the sources of our strength.
~ Rachel Carson
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Bliss →
I can go for walks with others, with music, or with podcasts, and those things usually crowd out my frenzied thoughts and internal monolog. But it’s much better when I manage to leave enough space for my thoughts to settle. Wrestling with my own thinking just gets both of us riled up.
This practice teaches you that you don’t need to address every instance of mental talk you have. In fact, your thoughts will never leave you alone if you try to resolve every train of thought that arises. Instead, you can just enjoy the world as it reveals itself before you.
~ David Cain from, How to Make Your Mind Maybe One-Third Quieter
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Serenity is to be found when walking truly alone—not even accompanied by one’s own thoughts.
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Breath with Julie Angel →
What insights can movement and breathwork practices offer about self-awareness, adaptability, and the interplay of emotional, physical, and creative aspects in our lives?
Julie Angel describes her multifaceted approach to movement, breath–work, and life as ‘everything everywhere all at once,’ revealing a seamless blend of creativity, transformation, and minimalism in her practices.
I’m really lazy. I’m a high performance slacker. And so it has to be simple and minimalist in doing it. If there’s any practice where it’s like: You need to buy all of this equipment, and you need to do all of these things, and you need a membership… I’m just like, no no that’ll be a no. All of those things cause friction points for me, and I don’t do them. So I mean there’s a minimalism, a simplicity, a creativity, and an adaptability; which is why to other people it may seem very different that I I wear all these these hats which I’m equally multi-passionate about. But for me I’m like, same same. [ed: It’s all the same.]
~ Julie Angel, 2:50
Julie Angel and Craig dive into the worlds of movement, breath-work, and the emotional landscape of physical practice. Julie shares her holistic view on movement, emphasizing that everything she does—whether it’s filmmaking, practicing parkour, training others, or walking her dog—interconnects through common threads of exploration, transformation, curiosity, and creativity. The absence of division between her various interests, highlights the blending of her professional and personal pursuits that are driven by a consistent creative spark and a quest for simplicity and minimalism in practice.
Julie also introduces the transformative power of breath–work, recounting her journey from being intrigued by MovNat Aquatics courses to exploring the physiological and psychological impacts of breathing techniques. She discusses her discovery of dysfunctional breathing patterns and how addressing these can profoundly affect one’s health, well–being, and movement capabilities.
Julie’s exploration into breath–work is not just a personal quest but also an educational endeavor, as she aims to share this knowledge through her work, showcasing the significant, often under-appreciated role that breathing plays in enhancing movement, reducing anxiety, and improving overall life quality.
Takeaways
Exploring the interconnectedness of activities — how different aspects of life, from professional endeavors to personal hobbies, can intertwine and inform each other, creating a seamless blend of experiences.
The significance of creativity in movement — discussing how a creative element is vital for engagement and passion in practices like parkour and breath–work, emphasizing the role of creativity in sustaining interest and exploration.
Breath-work as a transformative tool — highlighting the journey into breath-work and its profound impact on mental and physical health, from enhancing movement capabilities to reducing anxiety and improving overall well-being.
The emotional aspect of movement — exploring movement not just as a physical activity but as an emotionally charged experience that can influence thoughts, actions, and overall life quality.
Simplicity and minimalism in practice — the importance of adopting a minimalist approach to practices, avoiding over-complication to maintain focus, enjoyment, and consistency in various activities.
The role of breath-work in functional movement — detailing how efficient breathing patterns can significantly enhance movement quality, recovery, and performance, underpinning the foundational role of breath-work in physical practices.
Addressing dysfunctional breathing patterns — uncovering the widespread issue of dysfunctional breathing and its implications, with strategies and insights into how correcting these patterns can lead to significant health and performance benefits.
The impact of mindset and perception on physical health — discussing research on the mind-body connection, emphasizing how one’s mindset and perceptions can tangibly affect physical health and aging.
Resources
https://julieangel.com — Julie Angel’s website offers insights into her work with movement and breath–work, including courses and resources for those interested in exploring these areas further.
Julie Angel — Julie on LinkedIn.
The Mindful Body by Dr. Ellen Langer — A book discussing the power of the mind over the body, including the famous Counterclockwise study, which explores concepts of mindfulness and placebo effects on health and aging.
Environment, ‘natural movement,’ and breathing — Movers Mindset podcast episode with MaryBeth Gangemi.
https://fitomize.ca — Julie Thom, trauma informed movement & life coaching.
Built to Move by Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett — This book emphasizes the importance of movement and breathwork as foundational elements for health, detailing practical strategies for improving physical and mental well-being.
https://oxygenadvantage.com — Oxygen Advantage program focused on improving health and performance through specialized breathing techniques that aim to optimize oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body.
https://vicverdiercoaching.com — Vic Verdier, a MovNat Aquatics instructor known for his deep cave and wreck diving records, Verdier’s teachings on breath–work highlight the importance of understanding respiratory chemistry for enhanced movement and health.
How to Keep Your Edge as You Get Older — Podcast episode with Vic Verdier, mentioned by Craig in this conversation.
https://www.movnat.com — MovNat is a physical education and fitness system based on natural human movement skills, aiming to improve strength, mobility, and the ability to perform practical tasks.
https://www.wimhofmethod.com — Wim Hof Method is a combination of cold therapy, breathing techniques, and commitment that has been claimed to contribute to physical and mental wellness.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Violence →
Gratuitous violence in argument betrays a conscious weakness of the cause, and is usually a signal of despair.
~ Junius
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Rhythm →
Simply put, all of my problems stem from trying to jam too much into each day. Partly that’s from my having too many ideas. But mostly that’s from insufficient self-awareness to let things go. Over a few decades I’ve steered away from the typical schedule (and it was never anything like a 9-to-5 job.) But I’m still on a strict sleep schedule, with strict light hygiene practices, and no alarm clock. I sleep in utter darkness, and I awake as the room lighting slowly comes up to full brightness—a mimicked sunrise. But I’m still clinging to set times.
Sometimes I break routine by staying out, or up, past my usual bedtime. Sometimes I’m traveling and staying with others. In either case, I don’t seem to have trouble bending my sleep schedule. I’m often the first person to “crash”, but other than that, with a bit of balance-the-total-sleep-time over-sleeping… I feel pretty normal the next day.
All humans, animals, insects and birds have clocks inside, biological devices controlled by genes, proteins and molecular cascades. These inner clocks are connected to the ceaseless yet varying cycle of light and dark caused by the rotation and tilt of our planet. They drive primal physiological, neural and behavioural systems according to a roughly 24-hour cycle, otherwise known as our circadian rhythm, affecting our moods, desires, appetites, sleep patterns, and sense of the passage of time.
~ Karen Emslie from, Broken sleep
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Except for how much I can get done. On those “next days” where I’ve been off my rigid sleep times. I get vastly less done, and not just because there are fewer hours in the day when I sleep longer in the morning. In fact, the more I glimpse that other world—went to bed whenever, slept until the right amount of time… and then face a less-productive day. The more I realize, that is the better amount of things to attempt to accomplish: Sleep on a healthy, light-driven cycle, and do half as much in the day.
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February 11, 2024 — #71 →
Reading time: About 5 minutes, 1000 words
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This issue is https://7forsunday.com/71
Access, for the win →
The Whole Earth Catalog. Now there’s someone who poured their time, energy, money and personal brand of sanity into a project, and it succeeded. Then the Internet came along and supplanted the entire project.
Yet for years, access to the Whole Earth Catalog itself has been difficult. 55 years on from the first publication of the Catalog, it mostly lives on in the interstices — as a symbol of a vibrant countercultural history and an inspiration for writers, designers, and technologists, but less so as an actual set of catalogs that you can read. The Catalog is not lost media per se — copies can be found in libraries, archives, and personal collections across the world — but accessing its trove of information is no longer as easy as it was in its heyday.
That is, until now.
~ Jacob Kuppermann from, The Lasting Whole Earth Catalog
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…and then, that original project rose from the ashes to be something even better.
Sometimes, I find something that warms my dark, frozen, disenchanted, bitter, burnt-out heart. I don’t subscribe to notions like “information wants to be free” but when I see things like this… well, I get a little warm–fuzzy inside.
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