Strands of Genius: Lessons from Estonia, #CottageCore, Gaba Meditation
Guest Curated by Katy Bass
This year we’re aiming to highlight 50 creative thinkers that have inspired us, by giving them the opportunity to guest curate this newsletter, Strands of Genius. Rosie, Faris, and Katy were connected through Strands and have hung out in the US and the UK!
:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, KATY BASS ::
LOCATION: Manchester, UK
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Altavox
I met the wonderful Rosie & Faris through this newsletter less than a year ago and we’ve had many awesome times together ever since, on both sides of the pond! We’ve watched improv comedy in Leeds, played board games with friends at Wholemeal, had dinner with Rosie’s mom in Nashville, and got to welcome Faris to our neck of the woods in Manchester just before we went into lockdown. I can’t wait until we meet again, whenever/wherever that will be!
A bit about me: my background is in digital strategy at iProspect and Code Computerlove. I now run a voice consultancy and design studio called Altavox, currently from my home in Manchester! Yoga keeps me sane, conversations give me insight, food makes me happy.
Editor’s Note (Rosie): From a dinner and an improv murder mystery show (yes that's a thing) to an across-the-ocean visit, Katy impressed us with her knowledge and won us over with her heart, and view of humanity. Thanks for curating, Katy!
GENIUS STEALS PRESENTS THE SCHOOL OF STOLEN GENIUS
We fiiiiiiiiinally got our website up and running, and we’re ready to share it with you. We’ve also simplified our pricing, and FRIENDSOFGS still gets you 15% off our regular prices below— but only through Sunday. Here’s more on what you can expect.
Members - $25/mo | Tools & templates for self-starters.
Apprenticeships - $50/mo | For those looking for more than the artifacts.
:: THE LINKS ::
LESSONS FROM ESTONIA
Estonia (aka ‘e-Estonia’) is often hailed as the first radically digital nation. Almost every government service can be provided electronically: “people vote online and use digital prescriptions; a single piece of I.D. securely stores each Estonian’s personal information, including health, tax, and police records; one can even establish residency and begin paying taxes in the country digitally—effectively immigrating online.” Only marriage, divorce, and the transfer of property require a person’s physical presence. Tech is a large part of the economy and their startup spirit has continued amidst the crisis; hackathons and accelerators have found solutions such as new workforce sharing platforms and support chatbots. Not everything about Estonia’s approach is perfect nor completely replicable but it's certainly food for thought for brands and governments looking to transform their digital service experiences. (Forbes)
#COTTAGECORE
Since lockdown, the rise of enjoying simple pleasures from baking bread, growing plants, and walks in nature has left some fantasising about a less complicated life in the countryside. Cities have lost their buzz and remote working is here to stay for the foreseeable future, so will more folks decide to move away to greener spaces? Online, the fantasy of country life is gaining momentum across TikTok, Tumblr and Instagram with images of pretty gardens, homemade jams, and even baby pink lambs (#Cottagecore on TikTok already has over 200 million views). Without our usual access to the outdoor world, Cottagecore offers relief from today’s uncertainty through calming aesthetics of a pastoral universe. “We revere what we can’t have, and today that looks a lot like what cottagecore celebrates: a taste of nature, the human hand and an aesthetic that soothes us to our very core.” (The Guardian)
GABA MEDITATION
If Cottagecore is visual ASMR, the equivalent audio-form antidote for right now might just be GABA meditation. Described as “next generation meditation that unfolds like a beautiful dream”, GABA is a unique mashup of soundscapes, storytelling, and meditation. Host Adam Martin poetically shares stories baring his own soul whilst a background of audio samples from films, TV, and old songs drift in and out. It transports you to another world and has been a refreshing pocket of escapism. (Apple Podcasts)
For our members of The School of Stolen Genius, be sure to check out our expert interview with Katy Bass and others in an index of all our expert interviews here.
:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::
:: Game :: Articulate
:: City :: Madrid
:: Book :: Figuring - Maria Popova
:: Podcast :: Dolly Parton's America
:: Album :: Beck - Morning Phase
:: #WHATLIFTSYOU ::
#WHATLIFTSYOU from our last night in Nashville <3
If you have any questions about voice, product strategy, or anything else, I’d love to have a chat.
Katy Bass
email: katy@altavox.co
linkedin | twitter | altavox
Know someone who could use some inspiration in their inbox? Send ‘em our way!
It's called Genius Steals because we believe ideas are new combinations and that nothing can come from nothing. But copying is lazy. We believe the best way to innovate is to look at the best of that which came before and combine those elements into new solutions.
Co-Founders Faris & Rosie are award-winning strategists and creative directors, writers, consultants and public speakers who have been living on the road/runway since March 2013, working with companies all over the world. Our Director of Operations is nomadic like us, our accounting team is based out of Washington, our company is registered in Tennessee, and our collaborators are all over the world. Being nomadic allows us to go wherever clients need us to be, and to be inspired by the world in between.
Hit reply and let’s talk about how we might be able to work together :)