Independence Day (Derogatory)

Jul 2, 2026 • Extra Ordinary

Call to action at the top: I need a new job. If you want to hire someone with professional experience in writing, marketing, audio / video editing, graphic design or programming, you should hire me. Send me an email and I’ll reply with my résumé.

And now, what happened

I was finishing up an article two days ago when Leander called to let me know that I had to be laid off from Cult of Mac.

I don’t think Leander expected me to spend most of the call thanking him. It always felt too good to be true blogging and podcasting for a living; even when I got burned out, I was doing what I loved.

Leander would patiently listen to a new, wild, and often terrible idea of mine about once a month, and occasionally, would be foolish enough to let me follow through. I had only known him for about three months when he paid for my flight and hotel to California to attend WWDC22. He bought me a Vision Pro — which I (slowly) paid him back for.

I couldn’t ask for better coworkers. I have great respect for Lewis as an editor. Ed, Dave and Rajesh have all been very kind, helpful and supportive. And Erfon, who let me join the podcast, barely knowing each other — it quickly became my favorite part of the job.

What’s next

I thought long and hard about launching my own podcast. I had a (mediocre) name, placeholder artwork, and started setting up a host service. It would be different — me and one guest, less of a set schedule, more casual and less structured.

But I also know myself. If I gave myself that project, I would never find a new job. I would be thinking about it every idle moment of the day and I would find ways to work on that instead of literally anything else.

If I have a thought that’s so great I have to share it, instead of finding a guest, scheduling, recording, editing and publishing… I could just bang out a few hundred words for the blog I already have.

So I’m doubling down on Extra Ordinary. That means adding a new way for you to get my writing: in email newsletter format. Sign up here.

However, if you would like me to guest on your podcast… you know where to find me.