Amy Key: Romance Isn't Everything

Amy Key: Romance Isn't Everything

Author: Kollo Media, Caitlin Schiller January 25, 2024 Duration: 32:57
In 1971, Joni Mitchell released Blue, an album teeming with stories of a life shaped by romance, desire, longing, and the default path of sharing life with another person. The ideal might persist to this day, but what happens if the romance we are told will give life meaning... never shows up? How gorgeous and fulfilling can we make our lives, sans romantic partner? Amy Key, the celebrated British essayist and poet, sets out to explore exactly these questions in her memoir, Arrangements in Blue, with Joni's seminal album as its scaffolding. Amy embarks on an intimate, sometimes painfully candid journey to search for all the things a soulmate was supposed to deliver, working out how to live well in this culture that prizes romantic love. And she shares her findings with us. Amy’s wisdom and tenderness guide us from an important shift in ideas about intimacy and solitude to the painful feelings we are often too ashamed to discuss: loneliness, envy, grief, and the sensation of wanting. In this episode, learn about the importance of building a home, how to travel alone, the importance of recognizing your own milestones, and why we should consider expanding the remit of friendship. Recommended by Caitlin and Ben: Living Your Best Single Life Simplify episode - Rebecca Traister and The Power of Being Single All the Single Ladies by Rebecca Traister Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab Recommended by Amy: Kick the Latch by Katherine Scanlan Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify\][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code arrangement. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at podcast@blinkist.com [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

Hosted by Ben Schuman-Stoler, the Blinkist Podcast is a series of conversations that feel more like a focused chat than a formal interview. The premise is straightforward: take the expansive concepts from psychology, business strategy, and personal development and translate them into practical, personal terms. Each episode sits down with a thought leader or entrepreneur, not just to recap their ideas, but to unpack the real-world application behind them. You’ll hear how these principles actually function outside of a book or a theory, focusing on the lessons that can be directly applied to your own growth and daily challenges. The discussions naturally weave through topics like productivity systems, the psychology of decision-making, and the nuanced realities of building a business. This isn't about abstract inspiration; it's about finding actionable insight. By making big ideas personal, the podcast serves as a companion for anyone looking to cut through the noise and extract meaningful, usable knowledge from today's leading minds. Tune in for thoughtful dialogues that prioritize depth and clarity, offering a tangible takeaway from every conversation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Simplify
Podcast Episodes
Heather Widdows: Pretty Privilege Is Real [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:46
When did "I resolve to be a better person" get replaced with "I resolve to tone my arms" in the register of resolutions?For a long time, philosophy treated caring about how you look as proof you weren't serious. Heather…
NEW FORMAT EP1: Nobody Calls a Horse Ugly for Being Large [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:41
What if the fastest way out of the beauty standard is deciding you're a horse?This is the first of a new thing. On the weeks there's no interview, Caitlin and Ben take turns bringing each other one idea they found out in…
Joanna Walsh: Amateurs Made The Internet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
What did you make on the internet, back before anyone was paying you to?This time around, Ben takes the interview chair. He's talking with Joanna Walsh, writer, artist, arts activist, author of twelve books, several of t…
Nicola Guess: How To Tell What's BS in Wellness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:52
What if almost everything you're doing to "optimize" your health is, at best, doing nothing at all?Caitlin sits down with Dr. Nicola Guess—dietitian, Oxford nutrition scientist, and quite possibly the best BS detector in…
Christine Armstrong: AI is Messier Than You're Told [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:50
AI replacing our colleagues, feeling lonelier than ever despite enforced physical presense at the office. What is going on with the workplace?Caitlin sits down with Christine Armstrong, researcher, author, and founder of…
Dr. Yoni Freedhoff: There Is No Ideal Weight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:50
Diets fail us all the time, and yet we usually blame ourselves. This physician says that neither the blame nor the failure are necessary.In the episode, Caitlin sits down with Dr. Yoni Freedhoff—Canadian physician, obesi…
Amy Morin: 50 Plays for Your Worst Day at Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:56
What if the thing standing between you and a better day at work isn't a new habit—but just knowing which play to run?Amy Morin is the psychotherapist behind the 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do series, which has…
Deb Caulet: Essential Leadership Skills for the Age of AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:36
What happens in the gap between updating your LinkedIn title and actually knowing how to do the job? Caitlin sits down with Deborah Caulet—leadership coach, former VP of People at Blinkist, and someone who's spent 15 yea…
Deb Caulet: Essential Leadership Skills for the Age of AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:56
What happens in the gap between updating your LinkedIn title and actually knowing how to do the job? Caitlin sits down with Deborah Caulet—leadership coach, former VP of People at Blinkist, and someone who's spent 15 yea…