The Audacious Round Up
For the week of February 28th
Why Design Matters by Debbie Millman is finally out in the world! Here are some pieces in Fast Company, The Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, and W Magazine. Debbie was also in conversation with Brene Brown.
The March selection for The Audacious Book Club is How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. We will be in conversation with Sequoia on March 21st at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. Registration is now open. If you missed it, you can watch our conversation with Hanya Yanagihara, as well.
I had a conversation with the fine folks at Apple Podcasts about The Roxane Gay Agenda, the work of podcasting, and more.
Tressie, Debbie Millman and I are hosting a writing workshop retreat in July 2022. You can also register for this if you want to spend a weekend with us. We hope to see you there! It will be fun and more.
Roxane Gay Books is closed to unagented submissions until 6/15/2022. I’ve found, I think, my first few books! I am open to agented submissions so please send me great books! I am also open, again, for submissions to The Audacity’s Emerging Writer Series. Read the guidelines and submit your best writing. Submissions will be open until I have 24 essays.
On The Roxane Gay Agenda, I talk about staying true to your creativity even when haters get under your skin with the one and only Randa Jarrar.
Ukrainians remain defiant in the face of an ongoing Russian invasion. This is a peculiar war in that so much of it is visible on social media. At the Polish border, thousands and thousands of Ukrainians are trying to cross into Poland. But even in war, motherfuckers can be racist.
WNBA player Brittney Griner is being held in Russia for having a vape pen. It’s a terrifying situation. I am well aware of Griner’s past for which she should absolutely be held accountable but this is not a situation anyone deserves be in. I cannot even imagine what she is going through as an openly gay black woman in a country that is hostile to everything she is.
Teen girls, and others, are acquiring tics and more. Is this because of social media? Something else?
A profile of John Cameron Mitchell.
RIP Elsa Klensch.
First there was Wordle and now there is Heardle which is just as fun.
Will wonders never cease? I agree with something D.L. Hughley said.
There are black folks in Appalachia. And everywhere else, too.
An interview with the immensely talented and funny Quinta Brunson.
This shouldn’t be a question but alas. Who gets to transition?
Jason Momoa and Channing Tatum hanging out. [ insert filth here ]
Speaking of, Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa decided they didn’t want to be out in these streets. They’re giving love another shot.
Trouble is brewing amongst the former Playboy bunnies.
A new short story from Brandon Taylor. And an excerpt from Mike Meginnis’s novel Drowning Practice.
Dolen Perkins-Valdez is featured in Publisher’s Weekly. She has a new novel, Take My Hand, that you should definitely check out.
A review of the new Star Wars hotel at Disney World. The prices… yeesh.
Kenny Ng offers a brief history of fried rice laced with family memories.
This is a lovely restaurant review of sorts.
In a an art installation, Sadie Barnette revived her father’s gay bar. Yeah, not the greatest sentence construction here.
Spy intrigue on Long Island.
I don't know why I was surprised that racism found ways to take footholds in the midst of the war in Ukraine. In hard times, there are always two types of folks, those who embrace everyone because they know experiencing pain, threats, fear, loss...is human, then there are those who need scapegoats. It's always those who do not identify with or look like them. I suppose it makes people feel better to dehumanize others in order to hang on to their own humanity. Except, it needn't be like that. Not at all!!!
I just read the NYMag piece about the plight of Brittney Griner and I'm wondering what your take on this situation is, as well as where are the lists for legitimate organizations to donate to for helping free Brittney and supporting her family during this ordeal. I'm really upset by the details in the article, and by the idiots commenting. Thank you for listening. Love to you and yours.