Reading Fresh Hell makes me feel like a real industry insider. PS I enjoyed the restaurant setting, it makes a nice change from the usual desk and microphone with bookshelves in the background. However, the restaurant owner might have asked the waitstaff to do something quiet, like fold napkins. I kept waiting for a noisy tray of plates and cutlery to crash at Tina's feet.
I just drank in this whole discussion and took away so many terrific pointers for my own life in writing. At about the 23rd minute, you talk about how it takes work to get to a particular point in life: “You can’t ever have success without working all the time.” I also loved the point about honing one’s art/craft while mentioning the documentary on Billy Joel. It totally resonated with me. I think the hardest thing in the world is to write the clearest sentence. It gives me enormous pleasure to write and rewrite and I hope I'll leave the world mid-sentence, nanoseconds before I swoop down on the right word.
As for the Silicon Valley to which I belong (and don't belong), the tech bros are such a blot on the gorgeous landscape here in Northern California. There’s ALL this money here in this valley and there’s no way to funnel some of it—with no strings attached whatsoever—into quality journalism. And here’s the best part and I know this is extra peevish of me. Tech here still manages to throw some of the nicest parties but never manages to cook its cauliflower. More at this post of mine: bit.ly/3KAcU88 Oh, the shame of it all.
Regarding Tucker Carlson—and I’ve heard you say, in an earlier post, about what a smart writer he was—I was thinking about how a moment of humiliation can be your turning point and put you on a different trajectory. Can you imagine what might have been if this had not happened? Perhaps we are all accountable in what happens to someone because people never forget having been humiliated. When I was at the receiving end of such humiliation, I remember the lava spewing up from deep inside me. I remember becoming the unvanquishable Kali (unfortunately my name spins off nicely into that of the goddess) and shooting off a 3000-word email to the executive editor at the publishing company. It worked in my favor and my book was published the way I’d envisioned it.
Always appreciate Ms. Brown’s videos, insights and anecdotes and this was no exception. But a pet peeve by the interviewer — and some sage advice from my favorite college professor former LA Times Features Editor, the late Liz McGuiness: Stop saying “this guest needs no introduction.” It’s a cliche, but moreover, it disrespects your guest AND your audience. Give each the appreciation they deserve for showing up.
The Nuzzi/RFK Jr. access scandal is yet another a reminder to me, that there’s more than one way to “shaboink” your way into favorable coverage. Tina Brown doesn’t need to write any "poetry" about rivers and canyons, she simply acts as a PR arm for the British Royal Family, using even unrelated topics like this as an excuse to take yet another needless swipe at Meghan Windsor in exchange for invitations to Royal events and aristocratic titles.
And when you actually look at Meghan’s background (as Tina keeps forcing us to do), you find someone with a dual degree in Theater and International Relations from Northwestern, who built a real career (hit TV show, successful lifestyle brand) before she ever met Harry. But listening to Tina, you'd think Meghan had never accomplished or completed anything challenging in life. And it's just not true. I mean, as a successful self-made bi-racial woman, what did she have to do to be worthy of being in that family, win a Nobel Prize?
Especially when you compare her to Princess Kate, whom Tina praises endlessly for “access,” despite the fact that Kate spent a decade waiting to marry into the Royal Family (never worked a real job in her life) and still does remarkably little with a global platform.
She also continues to imply on behalf of her virtual client, the Royal Family, that Harry would somehow be still in the fold were it not for Meghan. Harry had no place to go but down in that system. He had no real incentive to stay in it unless he was personally happy in it, which he clearly was not. It's time to call out journalists who trade fawning coverage for access whenever we see it.
I thought what you had to say about what makes really successful people really successful - hard, hard work - was so interesting. Also enjoyed your take on how humiliation breeds the
I too am having trouble with my subscription. Approved an annual $50 subscription over the weekend and this am, the orange checkbox will not let me into the subscription. I actually wasn’t sure why I was asked to resubscribe. I figured it would roll over.
Hi Tina - that was fun ... Princess Caroline is currently at her New York apartment ahead of her final Gstaad festival - on her carolinemurat.com blog. Would you like to meet her and talk about things in common? Her son Anthoni (on the cover) makes a first run at the presidentials in 2027. cheers Jane in France
Such an interesting interview. I agree with the other poster here about humiliation. What if the Academy had accepted Hitler’s paintings etc. I had forgotten the Obama /Trump incident. Fascinating.
I so thoroughly enjoyed this! I watched the Alex Karp interview on YouTube with Andrew Ross Sorkin and all I can say is both he and Elon Musk have cornered the market on both Ketamine and obnoxiousness!
Reading Fresh Hell makes me feel like a real industry insider. PS I enjoyed the restaurant setting, it makes a nice change from the usual desk and microphone with bookshelves in the background. However, the restaurant owner might have asked the waitstaff to do something quiet, like fold napkins. I kept waiting for a noisy tray of plates and cutlery to crash at Tina's feet.
You keep telling me I have to pay. Well last week I did pay with my credit card. Emilyrutgersfuller
I just drank in this whole discussion and took away so many terrific pointers for my own life in writing. At about the 23rd minute, you talk about how it takes work to get to a particular point in life: “You can’t ever have success without working all the time.” I also loved the point about honing one’s art/craft while mentioning the documentary on Billy Joel. It totally resonated with me. I think the hardest thing in the world is to write the clearest sentence. It gives me enormous pleasure to write and rewrite and I hope I'll leave the world mid-sentence, nanoseconds before I swoop down on the right word.
As for the Silicon Valley to which I belong (and don't belong), the tech bros are such a blot on the gorgeous landscape here in Northern California. There’s ALL this money here in this valley and there’s no way to funnel some of it—with no strings attached whatsoever—into quality journalism. And here’s the best part and I know this is extra peevish of me. Tech here still manages to throw some of the nicest parties but never manages to cook its cauliflower. More at this post of mine: bit.ly/3KAcU88 Oh, the shame of it all.
Regarding Tucker Carlson—and I’ve heard you say, in an earlier post, about what a smart writer he was—I was thinking about how a moment of humiliation can be your turning point and put you on a different trajectory. Can you imagine what might have been if this had not happened? Perhaps we are all accountable in what happens to someone because people never forget having been humiliated. When I was at the receiving end of such humiliation, I remember the lava spewing up from deep inside me. I remember becoming the unvanquishable Kali (unfortunately my name spins off nicely into that of the goddess) and shooting off a 3000-word email to the executive editor at the publishing company. It worked in my favor and my book was published the way I’d envisioned it.
Lots to ponder here, thanks!
Love you Tina!!!
Always appreciate Ms. Brown’s videos, insights and anecdotes and this was no exception. But a pet peeve by the interviewer — and some sage advice from my favorite college professor former LA Times Features Editor, the late Liz McGuiness: Stop saying “this guest needs no introduction.” It’s a cliche, but moreover, it disrespects your guest AND your audience. Give each the appreciation they deserve for showing up.
The Nuzzi/RFK Jr. access scandal is yet another a reminder to me, that there’s more than one way to “shaboink” your way into favorable coverage. Tina Brown doesn’t need to write any "poetry" about rivers and canyons, she simply acts as a PR arm for the British Royal Family, using even unrelated topics like this as an excuse to take yet another needless swipe at Meghan Windsor in exchange for invitations to Royal events and aristocratic titles.
And when you actually look at Meghan’s background (as Tina keeps forcing us to do), you find someone with a dual degree in Theater and International Relations from Northwestern, who built a real career (hit TV show, successful lifestyle brand) before she ever met Harry. But listening to Tina, you'd think Meghan had never accomplished or completed anything challenging in life. And it's just not true. I mean, as a successful self-made bi-racial woman, what did she have to do to be worthy of being in that family, win a Nobel Prize?
Especially when you compare her to Princess Kate, whom Tina praises endlessly for “access,” despite the fact that Kate spent a decade waiting to marry into the Royal Family (never worked a real job in her life) and still does remarkably little with a global platform.
She also continues to imply on behalf of her virtual client, the Royal Family, that Harry would somehow be still in the fold were it not for Meghan. Harry had no place to go but down in that system. He had no real incentive to stay in it unless he was personally happy in it, which he clearly was not. It's time to call out journalists who trade fawning coverage for access whenever we see it.
I am a subscriber but there is now a new “sign in to prove you’re not a bot” but it doesn’t take you anywhere. What to do?
Thank you so much for the recommendation of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel:_And_So_It_Goes
What a show. This kept me company for five of the sixteen hours between SFO and Singapore. It was awfully moving at several points.
I thought what you had to say about what makes really successful people really successful - hard, hard work - was so interesting. Also enjoyed your take on how humiliation breeds the
desire for vengeance.
I am a paid subscriber but the site recently wants me to sign in - but the click won’t function to actually let me sign in. Frustrating. What do I do?
I too am having trouble with my subscription. Approved an annual $50 subscription over the weekend and this am, the orange checkbox will not let me into the subscription. I actually wasn’t sure why I was asked to resubscribe. I figured it would roll over.
Hi Tina - that was fun ... Princess Caroline is currently at her New York apartment ahead of her final Gstaad festival - on her carolinemurat.com blog. Would you like to meet her and talk about things in common? Her son Anthoni (on the cover) makes a first run at the presidentials in 2027. cheers Jane in France
Such an interesting interview. I agree with the other poster here about humiliation. What if the Academy had accepted Hitler’s paintings etc. I had forgotten the Obama /Trump incident. Fascinating.
I so thoroughly enjoyed this! I watched the Alex Karp interview on YouTube with Andrew Ross Sorkin and all I can say is both he and Elon Musk have cornered the market on both Ketamine and obnoxiousness!
Oh this sounds good
OK, at 41:54 is that Andrew Lownie?
Yes! Good catch!