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Alissa is my favorite writer. Whether itās her cult favorite Dead is Better zines (on every bookshelf with integrity) or her seminal pieceĀ Iām a Clubber, Alissa has long been heightening the lows of pop culture history so that we donāt have to. Sheās also my best friend and together we host The C Word, a podcast about women who have been called crazy for which she does a, well, crazy amount of research. Itās also crazy that I regularly get to sit in bed with my favorite writer while she does her lengthy skin care routine and we watch the best moments of Dateline and scream at the ceiling. I hope we die together in a piece of real estate worthy of us.
Jan 3, 2023
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šI donāt personally know Alissa Bennett, but I think she is a brilliant and funny person who has clearly lived a vibrant life. A friend of mine once said about himself, āIām not a journalist; I just live this shit.ā I think this mantra (with the tweak, āIām just really interested in this shitā) applies to Bennettās writing and various projects ā from her burner IG @regret_counter and podcast, to the next-level zines she publishes. Those zines though, wow! The writing is so intimate, confident, and, well, perfectly imperfect (sorry, sorryā¦).I like that every other paragraph has a typo, that she will frequently and flagrantly use cap-locks, and that she essentially unpacks the indiscretions of fringe tabloid figures in order to exhume her own demons and make sense of her past and present. Itās got a very āwarts and allā vibe, and I respect that sheās willing to air her own dirty laundry in service of establishing a spiritual connection to the subjects of her texts. Thatās not to say she goes easy on them, but it all feels empathetic instead of exploitative or solipsistic.Ā Rarely do I audibly laugh while reading, but Bennettās work consistently makes me LOL. Generally, I prefer when people write the way they talk. Her essays feel like the coolest girl at the bar is whispering (and occasionally shouting) a very good story directly in your ear, but she also doesnāt really care whether you like the story or not. She already knows itās good.Start with āBad Behavior,ā which is a series of essays/love letters to various semi-public figures who engaged in specific, scandalous acts. Then hit āPretend Youāre Actually Alive.ā Most of the zines are sold out, but Iām sure sheād send you a PDF if you ask nicely. Thereās also a new one on the way.
Sep 8, 2022
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My beloved friend and creative partner of many years and the best writer I knowā¦ her first post Trauma Queens is a look at emotional exhibitionism and oversharing online. I highly recommend reading it and following her to see what she comes out with next!!
Apr 27, 2024
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Variety TV critic that I've been following for years. Great writer. I interviewed her for this week's newsletter. We talked about cord cutting and the time she interviewed John Mulaney :)))
Jun 13, 2024
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Itās not that easy. It takes work. And itās a power you must not abuse. But if you can give a fuck about the right things- your loved ones, your passions, the needs of an ailing world- and not about the wrong ones- OPP aka other peopleās perceptions- you are freed from a certain sort of tyranny and your life force will be tripled. Most people have inherited judgements about the world that even they donāt understand, so why should you? Youāre stronger, smarter and chicer than that! And youāll be shocked by how much of what you thought would always be your reality can be shifted using the renewed energy that comes from DGAF.Ā
Since life is not linear, sometimes youāll think youāve nailed not giving a fuck and then something anxiety inducing or unkind or even mundane but alarming will happen and you SUDDENLY really really do give a fuck. Thatās okay. But returning to a baseline level of DGAF is a good goal, so keep your eye on the prize.Ā
Actually, fuck it- who needs a prize anyway?
Since life is not linear, sometimes youāll think youāve nailed not giving a fuck and then something anxiety inducing or unkind or even mundane but alarming will happen and you SUDDENLY really really do give a fuck. Thatās okay. But returning to a baseline level of DGAF is a good goal, so keep your eye on the prize.Ā
Actually, fuck it- who needs a prize anyway?
Jul 16, 2025
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What are men good for? Singing, apparently!
Iāve always been partial to womenās voices- Lilith Fair was my first live music experience, which tells you all you need to know about why Iām this way- but the boys are feeling feelings this summer and Iām okay with that!Ā
Role Model, MJ Lenderman, Cameron Winter (plus Experience, a new album from my husband, Attawalpa) have been the soundtrack to writing, swimming and riding to work across the George Washington Bridge.Ā
If I ever have a son, I hope we writes a song called āMama On The GW Bridge.ā
Iāve always been partial to womenās voices- Lilith Fair was my first live music experience, which tells you all you need to know about why Iām this way- but the boys are feeling feelings this summer and Iām okay with that!Ā
Role Model, MJ Lenderman, Cameron Winter (plus Experience, a new album from my husband, Attawalpa) have been the soundtrack to writing, swimming and riding to work across the George Washington Bridge.Ā
If I ever have a son, I hope we writes a song called āMama On The GW Bridge.ā
Jul 16, 2025
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Last time I recommended kittens. I still recommend kittens. But Iāve expanded my roster and wow, pigs are amazing. Theyāre not easy pets- they require a lot of focus, patience and gentle discipline- but they are so fucking smart and they have wonderful senses of humor. Victor, my boy, has a passion for unplugging lamps and yanking them off the table, then running away laughing. Itās not a bit that would work for everyone- heās sort of an Andy Kaufman absurdist- but I think heās hilarious.
If you are thinking you might also want a pig, Autumn Whitaker is the woman to explain their inner lives: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
There are a lot of incredible pigs who need parents at pig icon Susan Magidsonās Ross Mill Farm: https://rossmillfarm.com/
This is Victor and Cherry:
If you are thinking you might also want a pig, Autumn Whitaker is the woman to explain their inner lives: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
There are a lot of incredible pigs who need parents at pig icon Susan Magidsonās Ross Mill Farm: https://rossmillfarm.com/
This is Victor and Cherry:
Jul 16, 2025