Pursuing Your Dream During a Pandemic
My latest newsletter is a little different: You can now listen to it.
“Everything I’ve Learned” is now a podcast. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen.
This is all a work in progress. I’ve been busy with a new project, but in the meantime I wanted to create a space for more in-depth conversation. “Everything I’ve Learned” will focus on turning points in people’s lives.
My first episode is with Naz Riahi on how she decided to pursue her dream — making films — and how the pandemic helped clarify her vision for making art on her own terms.
I first discovered Riahi’s work through her essays at Longreads (h/t Sari Botton) about growing up in Iran and moving with her family to the United States. In 2020, with her consulting work on hold due to COVID-19, she decided to write and direct a short film. “Sincerely, Erik” is a beautiful love letter to New York City, about a bookseller seeking connection with his customers while his store was closed. The film was chosen as a Staff Pick at Vimeo and was a winner at its Best of the Year Awards. Riahi has followed it with another short film, “Andros in the City,” and she’s currently fundraising to make her third film. (If you want to support her work, she asks that you share her films with your friends. You can also find her on Venmo: @nazriahi.)
For a full transcript of the episode, go here.
If you’d like to share a story about something you’ve learned for a future episode, leave me a short voice message.
And speaking of creative risk-taking
Some of my brilliant former Longreads colleagues are launching a new magazine: Check out Pipe Wrench. You can become a founding subscriber, or check out their excellent submissions page.
Thanks for reading and listening! More to come soon.
-Mark
About this Newsletter
Mark Armstrong is the founder of Longreads, currently working on something new. This newsletter and podcast will feature stories about work and creativity, plus some links that are worth your time.
Photo by Oliver Fiegel