Columnists
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 · Saint Cloud
The Affirmation Nobody Tells You About—And Why It Changes Everything
Most affirmations fail because they ask you to believe something you don't yet. Here's the one that actually works because it starts with what's already true.
The Dead Bug Actually Works—Here's Why, and How to Stop Screwing It Up
The dead bug is boring and unsexy, which is exactly why most people butcher it. Here's what the exercise actually does and why your lower back will thank you for doing it right.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Skip the State Capital—Head 90 Minutes East Instead
That charming county seat everybody photographs? The real action is in the farm towns along the state route where you can eat better, park free, and actually have a conversation with someone who grew up there.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Stop Overcrowding Your Cast Iron, and Other Truths About Searing Meat
The difference between a golden crust and a sad, steamed surface comes down to one thing: leaving enough space between your pieces. Here's why your cast iron has been lying to you.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
How to Build a Raised Garden Bed That Won't Rot in Three Years
Stop buying those flimsy cedar kits that cost $80 and fall apart before you harvest a tomato. Here's how to build one that'll last a decade for under $40.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Fall Largemouths Are Stupid Right Now—Here's Why That Matters
The pre-spawn feeding frenzy is turning five-pound bass into suicidal idiots, and if you're not out there this week, you're leaving fish on the bank.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Rattlesnake Ledge Taught Me Why People Abandon Hiking Plans at the Parking Lot
The 4.2-mile round trip near North Bend, Washington is deceptively brutal—and absolutely worth the cursing on the way up.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Viral Concert Livestream Scam Is Out of Control and We Need to Talk About It
Your favorite band isn't really performing from their living room, and the $40 ticket you just bought is definitely not legitimate.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Brutalist Is a Masterpiece That Proves Slow Cinema Doesn't Have to Be Punishment
Brady Corbet's 215-minute opus is getting dragged online for its runtime, but everyone complaining about the length is missing why it absolutely matters right now.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Peculiar History of People Taking Things Way Too Literally
A man once collected 46,000 beer bottles to prove a point. A woman sued her dry cleaner for $54 million over a lost pair of pants. Sometimes the absurd part isn't the initial incident—it's how committed people get to being right.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Sad Girl Autumn Has Peaked, and We Should All Be Relieved
Dark academia TikTok has officially jumped the shark—and it's time we admit that performative melancholy is just depression with a better lighting setup.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Museum Audio Guide Is Dead, and Good Riddance to Boring
Those headsets you rent at the entrance? They're turning art appreciation into a theme park. We need to talk about why the best museums are finally ditching them.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Paradox of Forgetting: Why Hemingway Was Right to Write Badly First
Ernest Hemingway's famous advice to "write hard and clear about what hurts" only works if you're willing to produce garbage first—and most writers skip this essential step.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Fed Just Admitted It's Been Wrong All Year—And Nobody's Acting Like It
Jerome Powell conceded yesterday that inflation stays stickier than his team predicted. Here's what that confession means for your mortgage, your job, and the rate cuts you thought were coming.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Why We Keep Misreading Emily Dickinson—And Why It Matters
Her dashes aren't random pauses. They're a revolution. Here's what your high school teacher never told you about how to actually read her work.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The Affirmation Trap: Why "I Am Enough" Might Be Gaslighting You
Turns out, telling yourself you're enough when you're falling apart doesn't fix anything—and that's actually okay.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026