My Weekend Catch Up

A casual career update, the perfect weekend cocktail, and five TV series I can't stop thinking about

Are you tired of my words yet? Hopefully not! It’s the weekend and I wanted to give you a more relaxed, eclectic update—part career check-in, part cocktail recipe, and part deep dive into shows that have permanently moved into my brain (sparked by a recent conversation). For paid subscribers, I’ll delve into why these shows resonate so strongly, examining their significance in media literacy, storytelling, and cultural impact, paired with a thoughtfully matched cocktail for each.

What I’ve Been Up To

In addition to writing on Substack, I’ve recently contributed to some of Tom Merritt’s podcasting ventures—someone whose work I’ve admired for years:

• Cordkillers: I joined a recent episode to discuss the future of streaming services, touching on industry trends like fragmentation and consolidation.

• Daily Tech News Show Briefings: Here I’ll be an occasional guest, breaking down key developments in media and AI. My debut segment covered the latest AI and media trends emerging from SXSW.

I've followed Tom since his Buzz Out Loud days, so joining his conversations on tech, media, and entertainment feels like coming full circle.

As previously mentioned, I'm also advising startups, including a recent trip to Chicago to support Slink It. I joined their CEO Mack Craft, CTO, and another advisor for a successful customer meeting, setting the stage what I believe will be a pretty exciting proof-of-concept.

Slink It’s tech lets viewers trigger ads or shopping opportunities directly from TV or video content using audio or visual cues on their phones. Imagine watching Emily in Paris, noticing a stunning outfit, and instantly being able to shop that look. The beauty of this tech is its unobtrusive nature—it's there if you want it, enhancing engagement without distraction. I see huge potential for sports, live events, and style-oriented shows. For example, I’d personally love to easily identify and shop outfits worn by Keith Brymer Jones on The Great Pottery Throw Down. Slink It can turn curiosity into seamless commerce.

Cocktail Time: Gin Blossom

After an exhausting 14-hour day traveling back from Chicago to the west coast then my family’s quiet coastal getaway, I craved something refreshing, bitter, and citrusy—the Gin Blossom was the perfect remedy.

Gin Blossom Recipe

• 2 oz London Dry Gin

• 1 oz Apricot Brandy (or Eau de Vie)

• ¾ oz Dry Vermouth

• 2 dashes Orange Bitters

• Lemon Twist (garnish)

Instructions

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.

2. Add gin, apricot brandy, dry vermouth, and orange bitters.

3. Stir until well-chilled.

4. Strain into a chilled coupe.

5. Express lemon twist over the drink, then drop it in. (Full disclosure reader, I skipped the peel as I was lazy, but I do keep a small spray bottle of lemon oil and I did add a spritz of)

The drink’s silky floral gin and vermouth base, brightened by apricot notes and orange bitters, feels like a sophisticated evolution of a martini. Serving it in an antique coupe glass at our beach house heightened the experience. Even the blurred photobomb by Willie Jack added a perfect finishing touch.

The Five Shows That Live Rent-Free in My Head

While in Chicago over dinner, we got into a long talk about the TV shows we continually revisit. These aren’t necessarily the greatest shows of all time, but they constantly influence my views on storytelling, media literacy, and cultural impact. I joked over dinner about wanting to teach a media literacy class based on these:

1. Reservation Dogs – Groundbreaking Indigenous storytelling with humor and emotional depth.

2. The Wire – Institutions as characters in an intricate exploration of Baltimore's complex dynamics.

3. The Good Place – A comedic morality tale disguised as a whimsical sitcom.

4. Taskmaster – Absurdity and creativity combined in delightful competition.

5. The Last of Us – A powerful post-apocalyptic tale emphasizing human connection amidst despair.

Willie Jack, Elora Danan, Bear, and Cheese - the four main characters from Reservations Dogs. And yes, my dog is named after Paulina Alexis’s character.

Thanks for reading! Paid subscribers can keep scrolling to see exactly how I’d structure my dream media literacy course around these shows and enjoy unique cocktail pairings inspired by each theme.