Everything is a conversation

So what's one you'd genuinely like to have?

Jan 30, 2025

Hi from LA, my friends. This is the first Review of 2025, and what a year it’s been so far. So much to say as always, and if I reach a point of completion on this thing I’ve been writing for the last couple of weeks, I will. But for now, for whatever it’s worth, I’ve decided to continue the tradition I began last year of starting the year in March, and to continue with my ongoing practice of continuing on.

Still, there’s some new around here: Voice Notes! I’ve been thinking for a while now about just how much we take in all the time, and how I can not play a part in the overwhelm. I could talk about talking about yourself forever, but I also want to help bring some clarity and ease to everything we’re carrying.

So Voice Notes will be short, weeklyish interludes on Wednesdays, ft. one idea to think about as you share your voice with the world, and maybe a few questions for the follow-up-question enthusiasts. Notes from my voice to yours, if you will.

For the longform enthusiasts, invitations and wrap-ups will remain in the mix along with other fun things in the works, and we’ll still be following our ongoing themes; I’ve just opened up the aperture to explore them quarterly instead of monthly, to give us all some more synthesis time.

OK! Without further ado, here’s your first note:

1×

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-3:13

Nora Ephron famously believed that everything is copy.

I believe that everything is a conversation. Or at least, it can be.

And what I mean by that is this:

Any time you share your voice is a chance to have one. And not just any conversation. A good conversation. One you’d genuinely like to have.

A portfolio is a chance to have a good conversation. A brand identity is a chance to have one. It might sound obvious, but it’s really easy to forget that an interview is a chance to have one. The same thing goes for a workshop, a work of art, or whatever else you might be cooking up.

My hope for what you’re reading right now is that it’s a good conversation. I’m fully aware that I’m the one doing all of the talking here, but the whole time I’m thinking about you—or at least what I imagine about you, knowing that you’ve landed in this corner of the internet—and wondering: What are your thoughts? What are you wondering about? What might be helpful for you to know?

The word “conversation” comes from the Latin word conversari, which means: familiarity, intimacy, and living among. It’s such a beautiful meaning, and it feels more important than ever to remember right now—as my beloved city heals from burning, as life continues to life, and as the world spins madly on—that we’re all in conversation with each other. We’re all living among each other. We’re all in this together.

Every conversation is, by definition, a means of connection. An opportunity to invite in more familiarity, more intimacy, more life.

When sharing our work and our ideas feels hard, often what’s happening is that we forget that we’re not alone. The conversation goes away, and it feels like we’re in a void, or it’s all on us, or we’ve got to stand and deliver or do some song and dance or get something right.

But if we can remember that we’re never alone, that there’s always at least one other person in the conversation with us, then all we have to do is our part in making it a good one.

A conversation that we’d genuinely like to have.

A few follow-up questions:

Think of a conversation you recently had that you genuinely enjoyed. How did you feel while you were having it? How did you feel when it ended? What did you give in the conversation? What did you get back?
As you scroll through your feeds this week, start to notice what people, places, and posts feel like they’re actually having a conversation with you. Then notice what doesn’t feel like it’s a conversation at all. What’s the difference?
What’s one thing you can share with one person this week? It could be as simple as sending a voice note like this one to someone you love, or writing your newsletter for a specific person you imagine would find it especially helpful.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this conversation! Leave a comment and tell me what your idea of a really good conversation is.

I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

Some announcements:

If you’d like 1:1 support in crafting your next direction or positioning your transition, the Ecstatic Session and Ecstatic Rx calendars are officially open for February. These tend to book quickly and will likely go away for a while beginning in March, so now’s the time to grab a spot.
Annual paid subscriptions to The Ecstatic Review are 25% off in February and all paid subscriptions will support LA fire relief for the foreseeable future. If you’re in LA and have been impacted by the fires, send me a quick note and I’ll happily comp you one.
And finally, I’m opening up Office Hours on Friday mornings in February. I’ve been craving more conversation in my life and maybe you have, too. So if you’re interested in connecting, curious to know more about me or EV, or just want a quick sounding board because the world, grab a spot, bring a snack, and let’s talk!