Throw the Damn Thing
Time to get the gang back together.
I’ve been to too many weddings and birthdays lately.
Not because I don’t love the people. But because it’s a little depressing those are the only times we ever manage to get a group together anymore.
Weddings, birthdays, and, eventually, funerals. That’s it.
We’re more “connected” with people we love than ever — and somehow barely ever in the same room.
Most of our social lives now live in quick catch-ups over coffee, or shared content in the DMs.
The time and space for real connection has become rare.
And it’s costing us.
Loneliness Is a Public Health Crisis
We don’t talk about it enough — but we are living through a full-blown loneliness epidemic.
Roughly 1 in 5 U.S. adults say they feel lonely every single day. That’s over 50 million people. Among young adults, it’s closer to 30%.
The U.S. Surgeon General compared the health impact of chronic loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And it’s not just about emotion — it’s about what happens when you no longer feel like you belong anywhere.
And the physical places that once gave us that sense of belonging? They’re fading too.
Remote work is up. Office culture is down. Fully remote jobs account for 15% of the U.S. workforce.
We’re no longer bumping into each other by accident and we’re forgetting how to do it on purpose.
If You Want Connection, You Have to Create It
If you aren’t finding a good reason to get together with folks you love, you might just have to make a reason to get together.
Last week, I played my second-ever show with my band, Bimbo Summit.
The most memorable part for me wasn’t the music. It was all of the different groups of people in the room.
My family stood next to people I work with. Friends since birth shared drinks with friends I met only a few months ago.
It was bizarre. It was beautiful.
And it would never have happened if we didn’t put something on the calendar.
That’s the thing.
The show was a reason to get the people in the same room.
Someone has to make the excuse to get people together.
And, at times, that someone might have to be you.
What I’m Building for the Room
As our feeds are increasingly filled with AI slop, doing the things that don’t scale is starting to matter more.
People crave real connection. They always have.
And the best way to cut through the noise isn’t with more content.
It’s by getting boots on the ground and (metaphorical) asses in seats.
That’s why I’m orienting my work (and play) toward experiences that are better felt in person:
Interactive artwork and data driven pieces, experienced in a gallery setting (🔜👀)
An interactive live show, inspiring connection between audience members
And of course, more music with the Bimbos (although this isn’t work related)
Yes, distribution will still live in mobile and web apps. I’ll keep rolling out ideas there.
But the future I’m interested in building is one where people actually show up, even when it’s less convenient than opening Twitter, TikTok or some other app.
And I’m excited to see how far we can push that through our data, technology, and music.
So Throw the Damn Thing
Host a dinner to show off your favorite recipe.
Invite people to see your gallery of photography.
Jam with a few friends.
Find a way to get together in person.
Give the people in your life an opportunity to show up for you and your work.
Make the room. Throw the damn thing.
What I Did This Week — Light Work
Outside of the Bimbo show this week, I worked on a lot of pieces of the interactive live show.
I wish I had taken a video, but this week we were able to turn MiDi input into a light show across people’s phones.
So…guess this section is a little light this week.
But!
I’ll start diving into more of the technical breakdowns in the coming weeks.
We’ll find the right cadence as we go — and if there’s ever something you want to learn more about, let me know!
Something Beautiful — Try
I am a sucker for motivational quotes and quotes that are visualized.
This one was a really nice decision tree courtesy of PROJECT MELIORA.
Elegant and powerful visual!
reading this intro the day after inviting you to my birthday
so true pete