Life and Death on a Scorched Planet: What I Learned From “The Heat Will Kill You First”

I remember the exact moment I was radicalized about climate change. Standing on the front porch of our new home in Southern California in the summer of 2020, I watched the sky turn a burnt orange as wildfires blazed in the inland summer heat. The particles of smoke didn’t just fill the air—they filled our…

My 4-Stage System for Learning Anything New

You discover something fascinating—maybe it’s vibe coding, sustainable investing, or sourdough baking. Your excitement builds as you imagine mastering this new skill. But then reality hits: Where do you even start? The internet offers endless tutorials, courses, and “ultimate guides.” Your bookmarks folder grows heavy with resources you’ll “definitely check out later.” Weeks pass, and…

What J Dilla and Early Hip-Hop Teach Us About AI and the Future of Creativity

What J Dilla and Early Hip-Hop Teach Us About AI and the Future of Creativity

In 1997, a young hip-hop producer from Detroit named J Dilla did something that violated every rule in music: he programmed his drum machine to play “off beat.” Not just slightly off, but deliberately off—breaking up the rigid timing that had governed musical performance in every genre. What happened next confounded the music industry. Instead…