Iterate Weekly - Issue 66
This week we listen to the sounds of Earth.fm, public libraries are the new hot co-working space, spray some perfume on your ice cream, MrBeast influences his hometown, and The Longing For Less!
Welcome to issue 66 of Iterate Weekly!
Just a reminder that you can always reply to this email or leave a comment on the web version. I read all of them, and I appreciate the feedback, questions, and insights from all you.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Spotify for nature sounds?
I’m typically a big fan of any technology that adds “.fm” to the end of it.
Last.fm was a great way to keep track of music listening trends. Brain.fm is my go-to audio source while I’m working (I’m listing to it right now). But there is a new .fm that I’m eager to try. It’s called Earth.fm and it hopes to be the “Spotify of Nature Sounds”.
While nature sounds have obviously been available on a variety of platforms before (including Spotify and brain.fm), Earth.fm aims to gather unique sounds from specific contributors. You won’t just find “bird sounds”. You will find sounds of “bird species in Malaysia” or “forest sounds in Ghana”.
The hyper-specificity is great for nature nerds, but it can also be helpful for the average person too. It’s much better to know which specific species you like to listen to and which ones don’t agree with your tastes. You’ll be able to craft specific playlists around the sounds that help you relax, be productive, or whatever else you need. It definitely seems like a great service to try out.
Anyone already listening to nature sounds to relax or get work done?
🎓 Education/Productivity
The public library is the new WeWork
Public libraries are so underutilizated in the United States.
I’ve long been a fan of holing up in the local public library to get some work done. I used to live right across the street from one and it became an extension of my home office.
Well, it seems like this idea is starting to gain some ground as The Future Party believes that public libraries are becoming the new WeWork.
What makes public libraries so great? Well, for starters, they are free! And many libraries in urban centers are being connected with fiber internet connections that rival the speeds found in any coffee shop and many offices.
In a post-pandemic world, people are increasingly looking for variety in their workspaces. Public libraries may just be the perfect way to change up your work environment.
When was the last time you visited your local library?
♻️ Health & Environment
If your ice cream isn’t tasty enough, spray it with perfume!
Here’s a fun summer story about ice cream!
Famous purveyor of frosty treats, Salt & Straw is now topping their ice cream with perfume.
Mark your calendars for July 17th as it’s national ice cream day. It’s also the day that Salt & Straw will debut its new fragrances that will be offered as a topping within their nationwide stores. It’s in-tandem with perfumery Imaginary Authors and will bring a whole new sensory experience to the ice cream shop.
Initial flavors will include “A Cloud of Cocoa,” with notes of Ecuadorian chocolate, malted milkshake, and Japanese whiskey; “A Swoon of Citrus,” which incorporates the scents of key lime pie, lychee, and Italian lemon grove; and “A Plume of Blooms,” a floral blend of jasmine, honeysuckle, and wildflowers.
Those all sound fantastic. The idea is also for these flavors to act as stand-alone fragrances even when you aren’t eating ice cream. And if you don’t live near a Salt & Straw, you can still purchase the fragrances online as well.
Who is ready to enhance their ice cream experience with perfume?
🛍 Grab Bag
MrBeast is the (unofficial) mayor of Greenville, NC
Are you all familiar with YouTuber extraordinarie MrBeast?
He has nearly 100 Million subscribers and has become one of the most influential influencers in the world today. My company has even personally run some sponsorships on his channel.
But MrBeast is making a real difference in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina. Some may even say he’s become the de facto mayor.
His real name is Jimmy Donaldson and he has avoided the temptation to relocate to a big city after all of his online fame. No, MrBeast still calls Greenville home and he’s doing everything possible to improve that home.
He shoots all of his major stunt videos in town. This includes giving a waitress a $10,000 tip and giving away a Lamborghini. Local businesses have seen an uptick in sales after being featured in his most popular videos.
MrBeast has even started having monthly calls with the actual mayor of Greenville to discuss projects that may require city resources or permits to execute.
This concept is pretty refreshing. I can envision a future economy where online celebrities are able to weave their way into the fabrics of other small towns like this. It’s really a win-win for everyone involved. Kudos to MrBeast for blazing a new path.
💬 Quote of the Week
“Independence is happiness”
- Susan B. Anthony
📕Content Recommendation
The Longing for Less: Living with Minimalism
I have a book recommendation this week for those looking to live a more minimal life. The title is called “The Longing for Less: Liiving with Minimalism” by Kyle Chayka.
And no, this isn’t a Marie Kondo style how-to book. Chayka doesn’t really push the concept of minimalism as somthing to strive for. Instead, he looks at several case studies that embody this vague concept.
I was first tipped off to this book by Outlier co-founder Abe Burmeister who has found himself leading a clothing brand that often gets wrapped into the world of “minimal fashion”. Companies like Uniqlo and Ikea are also mentioned in the book as brands that abide by a “minimalist aesthetic”.
Lots of great nuggets to pull out of this one. I particularly learned a lot about Japanese culture and the ways it’s perceived as minimal. Whether you’re looking to sell all of your posessions or consider yourself a maximalist hoarder, this book was great.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
P.S. - Are you looking for a coach? I’m looking to work with some potential new clients and would love to help you out. Click here for more info!
thanks for mentioning earth.fm - we're doing our best to improve the library and the UX every day :)