KICKSTARTERY

Remember that upcoming Kickstarter campaign I mentioned last time for REAL LIFE COMIX: ONLY IN NEW YORK? Well, it launched this week, so go support it! This anthology from Cosmic Lion Productions features 51 New York City-centered comics from a ton of creative folks, including ~20 of my past pod-guests — like Roz Chast, Drew Friedman, Jonathan Ames, Karl Stevens, Jennifer Hayden, Ben Katchor, and Moby — and a ton of other great cartoonists! (Also, I’ve got a 2-page comic in it.)

Support the Kickstarter by May 8 to get yourself a copy and some higher-tier rewards!

PODCASTERY

Speaking of that Kickstarter, this week I posted Episode 672 of my Virtual Memories Show, feat. Dean Haspiel and Doug Latino, the editors of REAL LIFE COMIX: ONLY IN NEW YORK! We got together to talk about the book & its publishing history, the incredible lineup Dean and Doug have assembled, why no one’s made a New York City-centric autobio-comics anthology before, what makes for an “Only In New York” story (& why I went with a tough one for my contribution), and why YOU NEED TO SUPPORT THE KICKSTARTER (ending May 8, 2026) to help bring it all into print! (Yes, we talk about other stuff, like My Joe Franklin Story, what I’ve learned on hiatus, what Doug & Dean have learned about editing, the challenges of bringing non-comics-writers into the book, why I don’t ‘think’ comics, what my favorite Deadly Sin is, and more.) Give it a listen, and go Kickstart this thang!

Recent podcast episodes: Rachel Tzvia Back • Sven Birkerts • Indefinite Hiatus monologue • The Guest List • Jonathan Sandler • Morten Høi Jensen • Prue Shaw

Every book (non-comics) that I’ve finished since 1989.

BIRDY!

Here’s a little BIRDY! for you from our impromptu mini-hike on Good Friday:

Only In New York

I went into NYC yesterday to record a couple of podcasts. The first one was in a busy diner in the 30s. The sound came out okay, but come on. I was glad that the second was in an apartment in Lefferts Gardens in Brooklyn, until I learned that the subway passes it every 9 minutes. Still, I will bring you some great conversations with some Only In New York ambience.

Hitting The Links

What the hell: I’m already here, and these are some links/tabs I’ve been holding onto. No RIPs; sorry.

• I’m not the only podcaster who decided to take a break.

• I vant to be alone. I talk about this in the new episode, that sense of living experiences without thinking about how to frame them for a social media post or newsletter; as I told one of yesterday’s guests, it’s about Taking Things In and living with them instead of Pushing Them Out.

• Because I think that many/most of us are pushing ourselves out into the virtual world out of some weird notion of branding, of having an audience. During my step-back from things, I’m focused on how unhealthy that is, this whole chase for fame.

• Speaking of, I’ve never listened to Charli XCX, but I liked this newsletter she wrote about the realities of being a pop star. One thing I’ll note is that she has an “ugh” when describing herself as a creative, but no pause-disgust-etc. when describing her audience as consumers, which terminology and outlook might be an unexplored aspect of being on the inside of pop stardom, if you get me.

• Also speaking of, when I thought I was dying of cancer 5 years ago, I figured I’d STOP making my podcast, not START making one, but you do you, Sen. Sasse.

• For my part, I’m feeling a lot of resonance in this line from a Donald Hall poem I read this week: “I will exult in the ecstasy of my concealment.”

• In closing, Silver Foxes, Assemble!

Postcardery

I mail out a postcard every day, so let me know if you want to be on my list. Currently working my way through a boxed-set of postcards of 100 covers of Vogue magazine, which has been interesting. Had no idea Salvador Dalí did some covers for them.

Expensery

If you want to help out with Virtual Memories Show expenses — this email runs $29/month, podcast-hosting is $25/month, and the remote recording account is $20/month — or otherwise Contribute To The Cause, you can make a one-time contribution of any size via Stripe, or a recurring one via Patreon. Or maybe save your money for when I launch a Kickstarter for my photo book.

Until Next Time

Thanks for reading this far. See you next time, I hope.

The wind don’t hear / The sun never sees the moonlight / And it seems so clear / But it’s a blessing when it comes out right / And I feel so cold / Feel so old / Better not come back here no more,