News Page 170 - Boredwalk

Shoehorns & Shitty Side Salads

August 29, 2019

Boredwalk Greetings From No One Cares Shirt

You know what I really love? Things that are multifaceted. Stuff that works on multiple levels. Objects and art that can be appreciated at face value purely from an aesthetic standpoint, but that also reveal deeper, more nuanced truths about ourselves and the world in which we live. The high brow masquerading as low brow.

On the face of it, our new Greetings From No One Cares design is simply a well-executed graphic conveying the customary snark and metaphorical eye roll that you've come to know and love. OK, maybe not love per se, but at the very least tolerate. But it's also a commentary on the larger state of the world.

Does anybody really care? About anything? The older I get, the more I doubt it.

I keep wanting to believe that, as a species, humans are generally "good." That bad apples are outnumbered; that people, on balance, will tend to help rather than harm, and defend the less fortunate rather than attack or otherwise subjugate them. Sadly, I am confronted with evidence to the contrary several times a day.

No one cares about doing their job and doing it well.

No one cares about the Amazon rainforest going up in flames.

No one cares about baby prisons.

No one cares about animal welfare.

No one cares about women's reproductive rights.

No one cares about the steady erosion of gains made by the LGBTQX community.

No one cares about the degradation of democracy at the hands of the moneyed elite and a bumbling con man.

No one cares about gun violence.

No one cares about human rights abuses.

No one cares about sex trafficking.

Greetings from Earth, where no one fucking cares.

On that chipper note, we have a pretty sweet podcast episode below! This week Meredith and I share a customer review, describe a truly bizarre and raunchy candy commercial, lament the constant and continued theft of our designs, welcome our newest team member Valerie (whose sole job is to combat said theft), and chat with our very funny guest, comedian Abbi Crutchfield!

We talk to Abbi about how she got started in comedy, her preferred tools of self-care, how she connects with fans on social media, her love of a good shoehorn, and those shitty side salads that always come with your takeout orders:

We hope you enjoy the episode!

We'll be back next week with more new designs, another Boredwalk Community Spotlight Q&A, a new podcast episode, and hopefully a less despairing blog post — fingers crossed! Until then...

Peace, love, and caring,

Matt

p.s. - Don't forget to enter to win the American Herstory giveaway if you haven't yet! Entries close on August 30th, which is today!

Boredwalk Community: Having Double The Fun

August 28, 2019

My Head Says Pizza My Heart Says Salad Shirt

Welcome to our weekly Boredwalk Community series, where we ask Boredwalk fans fun questions! This week we're talking to Charlie R. of Chicago IL, who's looking sharp in a My Head Says Salad But My Heart Says Pizza T-Shirt.

1. What's your actual day job and what's your dream day job?

My actual day job is being the Nurse Manager for the Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Labs at the hospital I work for. I oversee a group of amazingly talented nurses, radiology technologists, and ancillary staff who, simply put, save lives everyday. When I was a kid I wanted to be a marine biologist and then a veterinarian after watching Free Willy and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies a million times growing up, but I soon realized my passion for taking care of humans and eventually followed both of my parent's footsteps into the nursing field. Honestly speaking, I am fortunate to be working my dream job everyday! (Ed. note: congrats, Charlie! That's awesome!)

2. What's your biggest pet peeve?

I have a couple basic pet peeves that kind of irk me on a regular basis, but two that have recently made a huge resurgence are the "know it all" types or those who truly believe that the world revolves around them. Whether it's in my personal or professional life, I have noticed that conversations have leaned towards a self-centered tone more than usual lately and I don't know where it's coming from — something in the air? (And here we thought it was just us dealing with those people...)

3. If you could have any super power what would it be and why?

Although my favorite superhero is Storm, if I were to have my own powers I'd definitely want the ability to heal people — cure illness/injury, mental or physical. Enough said.

4. What experience do you most want to cross off your bucket list?

Last year I was fortunate enough to cross off my top bucket list item — spending a day with an elephant (in Thailand) — and it literally was one of the best days of my life. With that off the list, I definitely am working on another one, which is to visit each of the six inhabitable continents during my lifetime — Africa & Australia, get ready!

5. Clear up a misconception (about your job, where you are from, some other topic you know a lot about.)

As a blonde and a brunette...I guess we have double the fun!!! 😉

6. You can curse your nemesis with a minor annoyance for eternity; what do you choose?

Great question, and I think I'd have to say being extremely prone to paper cuts. They don't necessarily hurt, but they stop you in your tracks! (Yikes! Don't cross Charlie, folks!)

7. Where can the rest of the Boredwalk community find you?

Instagram: @nursecharlie

Beauty? Pssh. It's braaaiiiinnnns you want!

August 22, 2019

It's not every day that you get to meet someone who is a model feminist, a creative powerhouse, a captain of industry, and a trend-setting fashionista. It's even rarer for that person to be a nine year old, yet that's just who Meredith and I had the pleasure of chatting with recently on the podcast!

We were joined this week by Riley Kinnane-Peterson and her dad John. Riley is the Creative Director (and, along with John, co-founder) of Gunner & Lux. Gunner & Lux is a jewelry and apparel brand featuring inspired (and inspiring) designs created jointly by Riley and John. What's more, they're also a co-sponsor of this month's American Herstory giveaway! If you haven't entered yet, don't delay — entries close on August 30th, and the prize pack is awesome!

We chat with Riley & John about how Gunner & Lux started, how Riley balances her work on the business with school and generally being a kid, their creative process, their favorite tunes to listen to while they work, how they resolve disagreements relating to the business, and some of Riley's favorite books & movies. They also weigh in on a recent Question of the Day post!

We'll be back next week with more new designs, another fresh podcast episode, and, if you're one of the cool kids that gets (and reads) our Tuesday emails, a new Boredwalk community spotlight Q&A with a fan just like you! Until then...

Peace, love, and brains,

Matt