I write and publish in my blog for my future self - I don't expect any readers and stopped writing every week and dropped any commitment on cadence.

But when I was redesigning my website, this idea of creating a newsletter haunted me for days. I didn't think anyone would sign up. The promise was quite lame, but anyway, a handful of friends signed up so the game is on: here is my first edition. I am committed to writing monthly.

It's a collection of the topics I am ruminating about and other links that I hope can make you smile.

Department of Random and Cool

Songs to write and chill

While I was thinking about this edition, I thought that might be an opportunity to share good music. So here is Fuzzy Brain #001 - an accompanying Spotify playlist with an hour of tunes that I am sure will make your day better. 80% is instrumental and selected to give you an experience of focus and flow.

Rickrolling at scale

If you haven't watched Ted Lasso yet, please stop reading this now and just do it. Really. I watched all episodes and I cried a few times in the final season. An epic moment was the first global rickrolling on TV, performed by the amazing Hannah Waddingham. After that, Rick Astley conversation with Hannah on Twitter went viral and he is back on the zeitgeist.

Rick is 55 years old and so energetic. This odd interview with him (the New Kids on The Block and other singers) about enjoying being on the stage is unmissable.

Things I am studying

Hard conversations and productive conflict

Recently, I was preparing myself for a difficult conversation. I have found these two videos very helpful. The author uses a mundane corporate example — people that leave the sink in the office in a messy state — to illustrate the elements that make a hard conversation.

He shares a set of reflection points that might help you to step back and analyze the situation using the heart and the mind. Here are my transcript and notes if you don't have the patience to watch the video.

Meaning is pain!

I am reading Humberto Maturana The Three of Knowledge very slowly. It's dense reading. Sometimes I feel that I am not able to understand what he writes. While I have been successful in creating frameworks and helping others with metacognition, evaluating myself and changing my own habits it's a big challenge. Also, the Dunning-Kruger rollercoaster is real and I find myself annoyed by this journey. This quote says it all:

"Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem" - Dr Thomas Szasz

Experience Design

Experience Design and Theather

A few weeks ago I shared this quote by Joe Pine Experience Economy book:

"When a person buys a service, he purchases a set of intangible activities carried out on his behalf. But when he buys an experience, he pays to spend time enjoying a series of memorable events that a company stages—as in a theatrical play—to engage him in a personal way."

Which led me to a rabbit hole searching for articles and experience design practices that aren't exclusively digital or product-focused.

I've been thinking a lot about how the experiences we have IRL will be more scarce, risky and thus, require more attention and craft. What I like most about this shift to immersive experiences is the materials: story, places, characters. I feel these elements are better positioned to create participatory engagement than the normal design thinking or service design language.

That's it: thanks for reading and I see you in one month!

Best regards,

@danielsouza

ps: it would be lovely to get any comments about this content or tips for the next edition :)