Hi all,
This podcast was meant to be shared yesterday. But my heart wasn’t in it. Quite honestly, it still might not be. The podcast is about travel. And tangentially about the Olympics. The topic feels weightless in a world so heavy.
I’ll start by saying I’ve deleted and rewritten this email more than 10 times. I don’t struggle for words often. But there are zero words to express the sorrow, anger, and fear I’m feeling right now. That many of us are feeling right now. What’s unfolding before us can’t be ignored. It also feels insurmountable. And the ability to change anything can feel impossible. But don’t let your despair cloud your actions. I’m a big believer that the smallest things add up.
So, before we get to the pod, here’s what I’m doing at a time when I feel very helpless:
USE THAT REACH // Just look at Amanda Jane Jones. Graphic designer by day, raising +$50K overnight. If you have an audience, use it. Rather than starting something else, I encourage you all to donate to Amanda’s fund for legal aid for kids who are being separated from their caregivers. Or follow in Figs’ footsteps, who delivered hot coffee to nurses during a strike (and donated $20,000 to support nurse well-being programs). Get in there!
WALK THE WALK // Rachel Karten said it best this week when she wrote: Brands want to post like humans. Where is their humanity now? If you’re in a position of power, especially in the boardroom, say the unsaid. And make it known that your teams can too.
DIFFERENCE MAKES US GREAT // The #1 underlying principle of this letter is that difference is what makes us better. New perspectives and thinking beyond the confines of our own world is when we win. Commit this month, year, lifetime to celebrating that.
YOUR BUDGET HOLDS POWER // Brands wield more power than people give them credit for. Businesses have an enormous influence on our economy. So today, if you’re in the tough spot where you’re being asked to ‘not wade in,’ do the due diligence quietly. E.g. Are you defaulting to U-Line? Because, boy, you should not be. Hootsuite sounds like it might need to go. Audit your spend.
GIVE THEM SPACE // Whether that’s to greenlight the post you think might spark something, down to proactively offering a day off to protest. And while you’re at it, use this time to cancel all those unnecessary meetings. One of the constant issues I see at brands is teams in meeting rooms all day. This month, cancel them because your team needs breathing room. Next month, cancel them because you’ll get everyone’s productivity back.
And now, because after a long day of watching this horror show unfold, all I want is to listen to something mindless, happy, and likely travel-related, I give you our trip from Milan through the Dolomites. A podcast recorded during a more lighthearted time.
For those of you who don’t know, I live in Italy, near the Dolomites The folx at Amigo (my favorite travel app, and no, this isn’t sponsored) asked me to write about the best-of-the-best, as people begin to fly in for the Olympics.
Of course, I had thoughts. You can find all my recs in the article, alongside many, many other favorites I have in the area, on the app. Use the code GOODTHINKING to skip the waitlist.
Enjoy!
00:01 — HOLY GEOGRAPHY // This is the most spread-out Olympics ever. Milan is not close to Cortina. We chat about why you have to ‘enjoy the journey’ to make this work. Luckily, Italy does have a lot to make that easier.
04:05 — MILAN // Where we eat, drink, shop, and get our faces reshaped (in the most amazing way) when we’re in the city a lot. Milan takes some time to fall in love with. But it’s possible.
17:30 — CORTINA // Cute, cold, and way farther than you think. We give a reality check on distance, and chat about where to stay, where to eat, and where to shop. And why you should probably just stay the night, or five.
28:55 — DOLOMITES // Big landscapes, gorgeous (and new) spas, modern Alpine hotels, and why this is where you go to exhale.
37:00 — ALTO ADIGE & TRENTINO // The broader region quietly has some of the best stuff. Especially if you’re visiting in a warmer season. Great Wine, amazing architectural gems, food to write home about.
That’s all, folx.
– Chris
If you listened/read this and liked it, that little heart is there for that. The algo and I appreciate it.
PS. If you prefer Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, you can listen there too.
