Fiction Pick of the Week: "This is How the Fairy Queen Dies"
Childhood friends, escalating traumas.
The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Stuart Scott
Five years after his death, friends, family, and the athletes he covered reflect on the legendary ‘SportsCenter’ anchor and ESPN icon.
The Baron of Botox Is Gone, But His Face Lives On
Dr. Fredric Brandt redefined cosmetic dermatology forever by bringing a smooth, plump, and ageless face to the masses.
So Long, Salt and Vinegar
What’s behind the explosion of British potato chip flavors?
The Fog of Rudy
On Rudolph Giuliani and the enduring power of shamelessness.
Katherine Eban is an investigative journalist and contributing writer at Fortune Magazine. Her new book is Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom.
“I am not known for my optimism. I think it’s hard to do this work and retain a sunny view of humankind. I hate to say that. On the other hand, I do believe there will always be whistleblowers. And it’s interesting to me that even in the darkest spaces, even when it looks like everything is arrayed against them, there are people who will say: ‘This just isn’t right, and I must do something.’ Which is kind of extraordinary.”
Thanks to Mailchimp and Pitt Writers for sponsoring this week's episode.
The Empty Promises of Marie Kondo and the Craze for Minimalism
Unpacking the empty promises of the minimalism craze.
Excerpted from The Longing for Less: Living with Minimalism, available January 21st. Chayka on the Longform Podcast.
Nobody to Call
On the plight of indigenous suicide in Alaska.
"You Guys Are Scaring Me"
A woman told police she was raped by three New York Mets. They were never charged.
Let It Fly
A profile of Mo Isom, a former goalie on the LSU women’s soccer team now trying to kick for the football team.
A Violent Defense
How far can abused women go to protect themselves?
On Building Your Own Joyful Universe
An interview with Allee Willis, the late songwriter behind Earth Wind & Fire’s “September” and the Friends theme song, on creating the world you want to live and work in and throwing virtual parties.
Video Paradiso: The Strange Fate of Kim's Video
How the museum-quality 55,000 film collection that an East Village video store gave away ended up in a small, possibly mob-run village in Sicily.
When a Psychic Reading Costs You $740,000
How much would you pay to remove a curse on your family?
Tabula Rasa
On the old-man project.
Catholic Church Shields $2 Billion in Assets to Limit Abuse Payouts
An investigation into how the Church moves its money.
She Was a Star of New York Real Estate, but Her Life Story Was a Lie
Faith Hope Consolo had the entire press fooled, including us. Then a message came in.
The Cat Years
On infertility.
I imagine my breath filling every part of my body: My little toe. My ankle. My calf. My knees. My thighs. My pelvis. When I get to my belly, I picture my breath filling the cavities in which my organs float, planets in space. I think about the planet of my uterus, which no longer carries an embryo. Tears slide into my ears as my teacher bends over me to press oil that smells like almonds into my third eye.
Think Debtors Prisons Are a Thing of the Past? Not in Mississippi.
How the state’s “restitution program” forces poor people to work off small debts.
Mohammed bin Zayed’s Dark Vision of the Middle East’s Future
The enigmatic leader of the U.A.E. may soon emerge as the region’s most powerful figure. What does he really want?
The Dognapping of the Century
When a ring of thieves steals a poet’s beloved dog, one of the world’s most famous women must break her long domestic oppression and discover herself in the process.
Fiction Pick of the Week: "For the Love of Dior"
A gay Costa Rican shopowner navigates family turmoil and political upheaval.
The Incredibly Happy Life of Larry David, TV's Favorite Grouch
A profile of Larry David.
'I Believe in Love': Elizabeth Wurtzel’s Final Year, In Her Own Words
The difficult final year of a much-loved and legendarily difficult woman.
Cord Jefferson is a journalist turned television writer whose credits include Succession, The Good Place, and Watchmen.
“I’m a fearful person. I’m afraid of a lot of things. I’m afraid of how people perceive me, I’m afraid of hurting myself, I’m afraid of heights. I’m afraid of a lot. Bravery does not come naturally to me. But the moments when I feel like I’ve done the best in my life and been the proudest of myself are when I’ve overcome that fear to do something that scares me.”
Thanks to Mailchimp, Pitt Writers, and Squarespace for sponsoring this week's episode.
