AI isn't going to take your job – just your joy
This week, I reflect on AI's hype versus its creative limitations and my recent artistic journey.
The masks we wear
Thoughts about the masks we wear while playing roles and dreaming of fulfilling childhood's promise
In the ancient times before mobile phones
In this edition, I reflect on a 2005 mix-up that taught me the value of communication and creativity.
Vanity metrics
I'm reflecting on vanity metrics in social media and my excitement (and missteps) promoting my upcoming album.
I will not write about the US presidential election.
This edition reflects on Trump’s win, my new album, and rediscovering music with a piano.
Taking the family on holiday and melting down
After a chaotic family trip to a posh Portuguese resort, I'm contemplating the joys and stresses of travel.
Turning the tables on the teacher
Navigating school as a parent is a chaotic blend of confusion, criticism, and a kid's secret life.
Bricks and mortar
Reflecting on my ten house moves, family memories, and the bittersweet nature of homes.
Being an influencer is risky business.
My son’s bug-eating suggestion sparks a wild mix of parenting worries and electric bike misadventures.
The art of getting lost
Reflecting on the lost art of navigation and the thrill of getting lost in today’s tech-driven world.
Someone reversed into my car and yet I ended up feeling guilty?
After a van hit my car, I navigated the chaos of damage and insurance with the nervous driver.
40 experiences that define and unite modern men
I critique a light-hearted listicle on British culture and propose my own cheeky twist.
Did you ever try making your own magazine as a kid? Some of us never grow out of it, it turns out.
Reflecting on my colorful journey from comics to zines, I celebrate the joy of writing and connection.
A year of Man Feelings
It's been one whole year of this newsletter! Thank you for being a reader. Here are some highlights, learnings and ideas for the next set of issues. Oh, and is Kermit the Frog the ideal male role model? Read on...
What catching crabs taught me about British society
Crabbing at Cromer Pier: A communal, competitive, and crustacean-filled adventure for all ages.
How I tried to be a teenage edgelord
Navigating my son’s quest for coolness sparks reflections on my past and present identity reinventions.
Help, I've accidentally taken two kids to a music festival
Festival fun with the family, banjos, and logistics - embracing the chaos and creating new memories.
Riots and an argument with a white van man
A near-miss with a reckless driver sparks some reflections on hidden aggression and societal unrest.
Why I deleted 20,000 of my best (and worst) tweets
Reflections on early Twitter, deleting tweets, and becoming a Friend of the Canal & River Trust.
A song for a little bird
An encounter at Center Parcs prompts emotional songwriting about loss and connection.
School's out for summer
Parenting during the summer holidays and the debate over taking kids out of school for holidays.
The universal bonding power of ... football?!
Growing up with football, from struggling to fit in to experiencing the passion of the game, all leading to a newfound appreciation for its universal power.
The righteous vengeance of election defeat
UK general election 2024 results: Labour's loss, Tory comeuppance, cycling history made.
Playing the same video game for 16 years straight
I’m not much of a gamer. When I started university in 2005, I took with me my recently-acquired Nintendo Gamecube, which was four years old at that point. It...
Being scouted in the pub for movie stardom
There was a pub we used to drink at when I was on the cusp of 18 (and technically not allowed to be there) called the Old Angel, in the centre of Nottingham....
What being shat on by a bird taught me about life, or something
Late for an event, I struggle with e-bike rentals, get shat on by a seagull, and host a successful AI ethics roundtable discussion.
Being the youngest person at a gig
A seated gig for aging fans, reflections on aging, and musings on authenticity at a Richard Thompson concert.
Trying to make gender less of a drag
Challenging gender norms with my son through dress-up and dance, while reflecting on World No Tobacco Day.
Losing the only election I've ever contested
Navigating campus politics, journalism dreams, and unexpected elections in this edition.
Aurora bore: trying to photograph the impossible
The sun flips its magnetic field every eleven years, creating potential for auroras - even if I can't seem to capture them
Please stop ringing my doorbell
From questioning the relevance of the Met Gala to a hilarious doorbell mishap in the studio, this edition covers a wide range of topics with humor and insight.
Testing times: eyes, maternity leave, and hearing your own failings
Adjusting to new routines with two kids, feedback at work boosts motivation, and the chaos of taking a child for an eye test.
Trampolines, making dad friends and the allure of power tools
Kids' birthday party antics, awkward small talk with parents, and musings on honesty and communication.
The fear of women
A mishap with my daughter leads to reflections on male privilege and the importance of challenging toxic behavior.
The rituals of manhood
Navigating manhood rituals, from embarrassing stag do antics to failed attempts at masculinity.
Naming things is hard – so I surrendered mine
Navigating the challenges of naming things, from software to bands to children, while relinquishing an identity along the way.
What my teenage poetry taught me about being a modern-day man
A nostalgic journey through embarrassing teenage writing resurfaces lessons and unexpected connections.
Getting out of my comfort zone in rooms full of beards (and mums)
An unexpected night of folk music and baby sensory classes leads to introspection and stepping out of comfort zones.
Take your kid fishing, they said
Father-son bonding through fishing memories, reflecting on peace, tranquility, and shared experiences in nature.
The unbearable lightness of beards
It turns out that my beard is a barometer of my life, signaling tough times and the importance of self-care.
Pub banter, sexist movies and the joys of being a dad
Pub banter, movie misogyny, and dad joy all in one edition.
I think I'm addicted to videos of men living on narrowboats.
Matt gets hooked on watching YouTube series about men living on canal boats to escape stress and find utopian bliss.
In which your narrator gets a stomach bug
Hello. This man has been feeling, well, sorry for himself. This email is a day late, which isn't so bad in the grand scheme of newsletters. But most of my...
Welcome to the Hotel California
Inside the Facebook campus: a disillusioned experience reflecting on the allure and control of big tech companies.
Why man caves are actually hugely important
A "man cave" is a bit embarrassing, isn't it? There are various other euphemisms for these spaces where men go to escape their wives, hide from the kids,...
In pursuit of the perfect Tetris grid (and what it taught me about life)
I remember reading somewhere that playing Tetris could be used to avoid post-traumatic stress disorder. According to research, people who played a game of...
On sixteen years as a partner: how did I manage to swing this?
I celebrated sixteen years with my partner Madeleine this week, a number so mind-bogglingly large that we had to count on our fingers to ensure we'd...
Do you need to know how to drive to be a man?
When I turned 18 years old, I received a razor in the post. It was a marketing campaign by Gillette to congratulate me on "becoming a man", even though I'd...
Why riding a bike with stabilisers is fine, and a Victorian ghost for Christmas
In the "festive perineum" between Christmas and New Year, there's a lot of time to kill. Alas, I was in charge of a four year old, whose appetite for sitting...
Why that box of old cables you're keeping can go in the bin
After clinging on to multiple boxes and bags of cables, adapters and historic electronics, I've realised that there are more useful things to be preserving for future scenarios—and they don't have any wires.