Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
….for reading & listening to Hiding in Plain Sight this year.
I appreciate and value the time you have taken to read posts or listen to interviews I’ve shared on HIPS in 2023.
As this year draws to a close, I thought it may be interesting to share the most read or listened to posts of 2023 by the number of views recorded.
I’ve enjoyed all the posts and interviews (thank you guests!), but it’s interesting to see what resonated most with YOU when HIPS arrives in your inboxes 2x a month.
So, without further delay…
HIPS top 5 of 2023
#5. Myth of High Performance (242 views). As a long-time fan of Saturday Night Live, I knew Hans & Franz (comedy sketch on bodybuilders) were solid candidates for the cover of this post inspired by the work of Thomas Gilbert, an influential organizational psychologist. Gilbert’s theories poked useful holes in my ideas about what makes high performance more (or less) likely to occur in businesses, schools, and airplane cockpits. I explored some of Gilbert’s key ideas in this post.
#4. Awe Inspiring (303 views). A trip to the ocean is always awe-inspiring for me, but I’ve only recently learned about a growing body of scientific research on this phenomenon. I love when science helps us access our better angels and I found some of the studies and examples shared in this post easy to apply to my own life.
#3. Learning to Value Our Connections (304 views). This was by far the most challenging post (emotionally) for me to write this year for many reasons. I was inspired to write something exploring my relationship with my son. I also found the metaphor of a butterfly’s life cycle especially helpful for touching on aspects of interconnectedness in a hyper-digital/virtual world where it can be easy to feel isolated and disconnected. Luckily, my son has a gift for connection that he has shared with me and many others.
Here’s the last line of the post:
When I slow myself down enough, I am sometimes lucky enough to catch a glimmer of the butterfly in action, hoping one day I’ll learn to fly along with him.
#2. Walking the Narrow Ridge (394 views). This interview came out of an urgent need for me to find guidance on how to navigate a new document (A Catholic Response to Gender Identity) released on January 25th by the Archbishop of Portland. It turns out many archdioceses across the US are applying similar policies that blatantly discriminate against transgendered youth & families. My conversation with David Palmieri, a life-long educator, helped me navigate what he describes as the “narrow ridge”.
#1. Meet the Apes (733 views). I had the good fortune to interview the Mulligan brothers in-person at KBOO studios here in Portland in May. The brothers, a filmmaking team, were on the cusp of launching a new documentary called Apes Together Strong that documents events related to the GameStop short squeeze from the perspective of everyday “retail” investors (i.e., apes). It’s a classic David and Goliath story. It was delightful to meet and interview the brothers about their creative journey and the story behind the release of this fascinating film. It was also a good reminder whenever possible to interview people in person. I hope to do more “field recording” and in-person interviews in the year ahead.
What’s ahead in 2024?
I hope to continue to find stories for HIPS that highlight promising ideas, inspire creativity, and build resilience.
I look forward to doing more in-person interviews and field reporting - such as the piece I did this year on T.C. O’Leary’s Irish Pub and how it survived the pandemic.
I hope I can continue to earn your support and invite new readers /listeners to join HIPS in 2024. If you are new to this newsletter, please consider subscribing (see below).
If you are currently a subscriber, please consider sharing HIPS with a friend or colleague this coming year.
Seeking collaborators!!
Please contact me if you are interested in becoming a contributing writer or podcaster in 2024.
I’d love to explore if HIPS is a good fit to share your work or ideas.
You can reach me here: eoinbastable@gmail.com
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Lastly, in the closing moments of 2023, I’d like to wish you a very happy new year and a fruitful, peaceful, and joyous 2024.
Be well and stay curious.
Eoin