30 Degree Shift

William T. Torgerson
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Weekly essays from beyond the rift. Enjoy 5-10 minute episodes every Wednesday at 11:11am as read by the author, William T. Torgerson 30degreeshift.substack.com

  1. Show and Tell

    8H AGO

    Show and Tell

    In This Episode Why meaningful experiences resist language How sharing changes memory itself The limits of communication The Parthenon and the illusion of perfection Journaling as a personal monument Shared versus solitary awe Why humans keep trying to express the inexpressible Read the Full Essay https://www.30degreeshift.substack.com/show-and-tell Related Reading If you’re interested in my attempts at describing the indescribable, check out It’s Loud, But Not Loud Enough About 30-Degree Shift 30-Degree Shift collection of essays exploring absurdity, perception, and the quiet mechanics of being human, published every Wednesday at 11:11am. Credits Written and narrated by William T. Torgerson Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min
  2. The Cell Phone

    MAY 20

    The Cell Phone

    Episode Summary I went to a wedding expecting discomfort and left carrying less than I arrived with. This episode starts with a DND group during COVID, moves through a divorce I didn’t fully understand how to process, and ends years later with a forgotten cell phone in a wedding bathroom and a conversation I never expected to have. Read the Essay Related Reading It’s not all trauma in here. If you want to read about how my 65-year-old roommate learned to love mowing the lawn, check out “The 30 Degree Shift” About 30 Degree Shift 30-Degree Shift is a weekly series exploring absurdity, perception, and the quiet mechanics of being human. Written and narrated by William T. Torgerson Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    14 min
  3. It’s Loud, But Not Loud Enough

    MAY 13

    It’s Loud, But Not Loud Enough

    In This Episode The strange physical feeling of true darkness Small thoughts that surface when there’s nothing left to drown them out Read the Full Essay https://www.williamtorgerson.com/30-degree-shift/its-loud-but-not-loud-enough Related Reading If this resonated, a companion piece is:“The 30-Degree Shift”‍ ‍ About 30-Degree Shift 30-Degree Shift is a weekly exploration of absurdity, perception, and the quiet mechanics of being human. Credits Written and narrated by William T. Torgerson Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min
  4. What I Learned by Staring at a Dog Dick for Five Hours

    MAY 6

    What I Learned by Staring at a Dog Dick for Five Hours

    What This Episode Explores - Why we avoid asking for help even when it’s clearly needed - The gap between solving a problem and admitting we can’t do it alone - How pride disguises itself as independence - The role of discomfort in forcing clarity - What accepting help actually looks like in practice Core Idea Sometimes the hardest part of solving a problem is letting someone else see your struggle. Read the Full Essay here Curious why the dogs have such a complex scedule? Read another fun adventure Start Here If you’re new, check out my short essay “The 30-Degree Shift,” which explores how difficult tasks can be weirdly appealing. About the Show 30-Degree Shift explores the small distortions in everyday life and what can happen when you follow that feeling instead of ignoring it. Credits Written and narrated by William T. Torgerson Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min
  5. The 30 Degree Shift

    APR 29

    The 30 Degree Shift

    What This Episode Explores Why harder tasks can feel more satisfying than easy ones The difference between efficiency and engagement How routine compresses memory and makes time feel shorter Why we choose “faster” options that aren’t actually faster If you’re new to 30-Degree Shift, this is a good entry point into how these essays approach everyday systems and strange patterns 30-Degree Shift explores the small distortions in everyday life, those times you say “hmmm that’s interesting.” If this idea sticks with you, there’s more like it each Wednesday at 11:11am Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    6 min
  6. When Did Compromise Become Dangerous?

    APR 22

    When Did Compromise Become Dangerous?

    Episode Notes When Did Compromise Become Dangerous? “Compromise” didn’t always mean losing something. At some point, it stopped feeling like resolution, and began feeling like risk. This episode traces how a word tied to agreement and settlement came to signal exposure, and what that shift reveals about how we relate to each other now. In this episode How “compromise” moved from solution to liability and what we give up when compromise becomes something to avoid Read the full essay:https://williamtorgerson.com/30-degree-shift/when-did-compromise-become-dangerous More from 30-Degree Shift at 30DegreeShift.com Written and narrated by William T. TorgersonPart of 30-Degree Shift Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min
  7. Passion Isn’t About Success

    APR 15

    Passion Isn’t About Success

    Passion Isn’t About Success Passion isn’t about whether you succeed. It’s about whether you love the work—even when it doesn’t lead anywhere. This episode explores the difference between passion and ambition, why they often get tangled, and how that confusion shapes the way we work, create, and define success. I explore: The difference between passion (process) and ambition (outcome) Robert Vallerand’s Dualistic Model of Passion Obsessive passion vs harmonious passion Why external validation (money, status) distorts what we think we love How early success markers can reshape motivation over time Why finding your passion later might actually protect it Case Study: WhiplashA story about talent, suffering, and the cost of confusing greatness with love of the craft. Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    10 min
  8. Why is it So Hard to Listen to the Voice in Your Head?

    APR 8

    Why is it So Hard to Listen to the Voice in Your Head?

    I almost lost my thumb the other day. The worst part wasn’t the injury, it was knowing I'd ignored the red flag from my brain This episode looks at what actually happens in the moment of decision. Not just “bad v. good decisions,” but the quiet mechanics underneath them: intuition, emotion, and the cognitive shortcuts that tip the scale when it matters most. In this episode: Why intuition can feel clear—and still get ignored The affect heuristic and how feelings substitute for thinking Present bias and why immediate emotional costs outweigh future risk A simple model for decision-making under pressure (Motivation → Feeling → Reaction → Action) Why “what we do” matters less than “why we did it” Read the full essay:https://30degreeshift.substack.com/why-is-it-so-hard-to-listen-to-the-voice-in-your-head More from 30 Degree Shift: https://30degreeshift.substack.com Links from this week's full article: Thinking, Fast and Slow - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow Heuristics - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuristic Present Bias - https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/present-bias/ The Prominence Effect explored - https://www.williamtorgerson.com/30-degree-shift/burn-your-art MRU Article - https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/writing-the-perfect-scene/#Small-Scale-Structure-of-a-Scene:~:text=Small-Scale%20Structure%20of%20a%20Scene Techniques of the Selling Writer - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/408230.Techniques_of_the_Selling_Writer Get full access to 30 Degree Shift at 30degreeshift.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min
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About

Weekly essays from beyond the rift. Enjoy 5-10 minute episodes every Wednesday at 11:11am as read by the author, William T. Torgerson 30degreeshift.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    William T. Torgerson
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © William T. Torgerson
  • Show Website
    30 Degree Shift