Strands of Genius: Unpacking the Patriarchy Globally, Making Friends Outside Your Country, Your Brain on Art

Guest curated by Whitney Bryan, Head of Strategy, The Gate NY

May 02, 2024

:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, WHITNEY BRYAN ::

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY

Hi, I'm Whitney! By day I lead strategy at The Gate New York; by night (and sometimes early mornings, if I don't sleep in) I'm an aspiring screenwriter and poet. I met Rosie and Faris through my husband who went to college with Rosie [redacted number of years] ago at UGA and have been in awe of their intelligence and kindness ever since.

Editor’s Note (Rosie): We met Whitney when we were living in NYC. She is one of those people who is kind and articulate and smart, which means she's always a joy and a delight to be around, and I miss our NY hangs back in the day. In 2019 (pre-pandemic) she emailed me something that I randomly ended up re-discovering during the pandemic. I couldn't remember what it was, and went back to find her email. It was in reply to an edition of our newsletter, and she said “This is something that's been on my mind a LOT. Holding space for the very real fear and anxiety we all feel, but also cultivating a mindset that embraces compassion and generosity.” It's such an important thought, well-articulated. Way back in 2015, she had a project called 99% fit, which I had the pleasure of participating in. She emailed me saying, "The elevator pitch goes like this:) we live in a world that promotes one very specific and inaccessible ideal of health and fitness, and the first step to changing that paradigm is by showcasing what health really looks like - that is is in fact a diverse experience filled with people who have found really unique paths to mind/body wellbeing. So I'm doing an interview series where I talk to people who have found really interesting and sustainable paths to health and fitness." I loved the series, and the concept more generally. We're excited to see and share what's been percolating in Whitney's mind this week!

:: THE LINKS ::

UNPACKING THE PATRIARCHY, GLOBALLY

I'm obsessed with Alice Evans' Substack “The Greater Gender Divergence”. Her original qualitative research examines gender dynamics across the world and sheds light on the very specific challenges women and gender non-confirming people face, on a country by country basis. One of her posts from February looks at East Asian cultures and the ways the surprising combination of meritocracy and collectivism impact gender norms. (The Great Gender Divergence)

MAKING FRIENDS OUTSIDE YOUR COUNTRY

This is an old link; but this 2020 episode of Hidden Brain speaks to something close to my heart - making deep connections with people outside of your own culture. It delves into the benefits of surrounding yourself with collaborators, friends, and even romantic partners that are from different countries. Per the usual Hidden Brain format, there are some great studies cited in between incredibly interesting personal stories (in this instance, one about a green-haired Spanish bagpiper). (NPR)

YOUR BRAIN ON ART

This article brings proof to something I've inherently believed - that engaging with art boosts empathy and analytical thinking. I'm personally hopeful that more evidence-based research about the importance of the arts will not only keep them in the education system, but also bolster their presence and increase funding.(Psychology Today)

Looking for more from Whitney Bryan? Coming Friday, look for an interview from her in your inbox!

:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::

:: Game :: Mario Kart 8

:: City :: Amsterdam

:: Book :: Station Eleven

:: Podcast :: Ten Percent Happier

:: Song :: Caroline Polachek's cover of “Breathless”

:: QUOTE OF THE DAY ::

I follow Rick Rubin on Instagram and of course he always has the best quotes. The current one:

“The synergy of a group is as important, if not more important, than the talent of the individuals.” —Rick Rubin

Thanks so much for the opportunity to contribute! Hope you all enjoy

- Whitney
LinkedIn | Instagram

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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.

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