Navel Gazing Slate Podcasts

This episode will be available for free starting May 18th

In this week’s essay, John discusses the differences between moving around New York in 1991 and 2021; remembering September 11th twenty years later; and more.

Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75, page 12. September 2021
Notebooks to Garret


Notebook 75, page 13. September 2021
Can you make a typo with handwriting? What’s a typo with handwriting called?

Notebook 4. 1991
We have to unplug the light to run the vacuum, so we do a lot of our vacuuming in the dark.

Notebook 75. September 11, 2021
Fritz want something?


References:
Smythson Notebooks in Blue

9/11 ceremonies, events and coverage on 20th anniversary - CBS News

Richard Drew on Photographing the “Falling Man” of 9/11 - CBS News


Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s essay, John discusses the Pomodoro Routine (among other productivity routines), why he especially needs a meditation pillow, and how a particular teacher captured his heart. 
 
 
Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75, pages 8 and 9. September 2021
OReinstating the Pomodoro Routine…
Starting Marshall again…
Write Brice…
Send Laura the larger project list…
Work on budget to get accounts in order
Meditation pillow upstairs.

Notebook 18. December 6, 2009
Instapaper
Alpha Smart
Richard Hugo on poetry
Degrees of Gray In Philipsburg.

Notebook 18, page 105. June 4, 2011
Visit to Mr. Mead. He was playing piano as we entered. [During our conversation, he asked]: do you find your work fulfilling? Do you have a close circle of friends? Questions about life and living it well…


References:
Getting Things Done - David Allen
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey 
The Questions That Will Get Me Through the Pandemic - John Dickerson
43 Folders - Merlin Mann 
The Hardest Job in the World - John Dickerson
Essays of E.B. White
“Merlin Mann” - Tina Essmaker for The Great Disconnect
More about Ernest “Boots” Mead
“Because Buying New Running Shoes is More Fun Than Actually Running” - Merlin Mann for 43 Folders
Atomic Habits - James Clear
The Creative Habit - Twyla Tharp
Free Agent Nation - Daniel Pink
“Sharon Salzberg On: Openness, Not Believing the Stories You Tell Yourself, and Why the Most Powerful Tools Often Seem Stupid at First” - Ten Percent Happier

Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.
 
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s essay, John discusses an onboarding memo for his assistant Laura, and recounts his early days living and working in New York City. 
 
Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75
Onboard memo for Laura

Notebook 3, page 44. May 1991
June 17 start job. Good stuff

Notebook 3, page 46. May 1991
Tips on buying renting in NYC
Ask about broker
20s and 30s East side. Murry Hill
Live on no major avenue
Interest bearing account for security deposit
Medeco locks

Notebook 4, page 15
Scared standing on 34th and Broadway
$6 cab fare

Notebook 4, page 42
Getting lost in the village

References:
The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman 
Medeco Locks
“Here is New York” by E.B. White
“Silly Job Interview” - Monty Python 
John Cleese on Creativity in Management
Herbie Hancock: Miles Davis’ Essential Lesson On Mistakes

Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.
  
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com
 
Host
John Dickerson

In this week’s essay, John discusses the art of attention and how to develop the skill of slow-looking.
 
Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75, page 8. September 2021
1016
 
Notebook 1, page 54. June 1990
-   Magna carta 1215 at Salisbury
-   Girls skipping
-   The Haunch of Venison
-   Chris
 
References:
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
A Little History of the World by E.H Gombrich
Artist Jeff Koons
“The Art of Divination: D.H. Lawrence on the Power of Pure Attention” by Maria Popova for The Marginalian
“Gabfest Reads: A Woman’s Life in Museum Wall Labels” for Political Gabfest 
One Woman Show by Christine Coulson
“Grammy-winning artist Jason Isbell talks about the craft of songwriting and his latest music” for CBS News
A Journey Around My Room by Xavier De Maistre
“Just think: The Challenges of the Disengaged Mind” by Timothy Wilson, et.al for Science
“Our Rodent Selfies, Ourselves” by Emily Anthes for the New York Times
One Man’s Meat by E.B. White
 
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com
 

Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.
 
Host
John Dickerson

In this week’s essay, John dives deep into the loss of his beloved dog, George, the essayist’s dilemma, the comfort of quiet mornings, and more.
 
Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75, page 5. September 5, 2021
I go to the morning alone.
 
Notebook 75, page 6. September 6, 2021
Phantom nails on the stairs
 
 
References:
“Every Dog Is a Rescue Dog” by John Dickerson for The Atlantic
“Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds” by Miho Nagasawa et.al for Science
Haikus by Jennifer Gurney
“Which Pet Will Make You Happiest?” by Arthur C. Brooks for The Atlantic
“The Family Dog Is in Sync With Your Kids” by Gretchen Reynolds for The New York Times
 
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com
  
Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.

Host
John Dickerson

In this week’s essay, John remembers dropping his son off at college, and trying to hold onto moments and feelings while you can. 
 
Notebook Entries:
Notebook 75, page 6. September 2021:
They chose you.
 
Notebook 15, page 4. April 2004:
Sitting with Brice by waterfall. Throwing rocks in stream. Loading sand from dump truck and loader and back again.
 
References:
What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
Songwriter Nick Cave
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
 

Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.
Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com
  
Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.
 
Host
John Dickerson