iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Big win? I’d say huge! Seeing results from local organizing and watching businesses listen is a reminder that change can happen and AI/surveillance take over is *not* inevitable in the way so many tech voices say it is. Thank you to these artists for providing hope and an example 👏👏👏

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

As a child during the DC Sniper attacks, indoor recess and parents afraid to stand outside at the gas station was bad, while 100% better than thinking the grown ups didn’t take safety seriously. I am so sad for the kids who have been failed by grown ups, be it lockdowns, vaccines, or gun control.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

You’re in great company there, Dr Brown!! Huge congrats

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

As an ex-pat, telling people I’m from the US can garner mixed responses, but I’m happy to shout from the rooftops that I’m a Marylander with public figures like @libradunn1.bsky.social

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Yes!! The power imbalance doesn't feel sexy, it feels unfair in a sad way. I think Sophie's naiveté compared to Benedict's experience adds to the ickiness; this isn't a sexually confident, assured woman seeking him out to prove she's as desirable as a society lady, she idolizes society life.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

I think the few extra steps to avoid Amazon is worth it! It's a shame that some media I like was only on Prime, but I don't think I'll notice soon. And ditto: eBay, I also find so much on Vinted these days, I can't believe I didn't use them sooner.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

I cancelled my Prime account this week. Yeah, I should have done it a long time ago, but finally stopped telling myself my one small participation didn’t actually matter. All of our participation, resistance, and votes with our wallets adds up.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

As an ex-pat Marylander who votes by mail-in ballot, it has been a great pride to tell folks that I come from a state whose leader is doing the work. Other countries view us with fear/sadness/pity/anger/disgust right now, and those like @vanhollen.senate.gov show that Americans are not giving up.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Great take from @kevinmkruse.bsky.social. Long live check out line news media!

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Perfectly worded by @marisakabas.bsky.social. As an American living abroad, the protests and vigils are a beacon of hope as I worry from afar. Thank you for continuing to exercise your First Amendment rights.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

We could also try, “Concerned parent worked with other concerned parents to make school a safe environment for kids,” CNN.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

AOC? More like CVS with receipts this good!!!!! 🥁 *scrambles back to the horror for more dad-joke material and the will to live*

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Highly recommend checking out Janice Hallett’s mysteries! She offers cooky ensembles, witty humor, and damn good twists much like the Knives Out series.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Going after them as stupid people seems to let them off the hook, as if their decisions are due to not knowing any better or lacking capacity. The reality is much more sinister. These decisions aren’t “stupid” when they’re so effective at achieving hateful goals; they’re highly calculated.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

One of the truly great evolutions of language

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Sadly, there are too many people who are knowingly, intentionally, and without confusion or stupidity choosing greed, hatred, xenophobia, racism, and violence. They shouldn’t be shamed for being stupid, they should be shamed for being immoral.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

A buddy comedy in which ex-CIA and ex-KGB rivals are each recruited to come back for One Last Job™️ realize they’re tasked with kidnapping the leader of each other’s nation, but discover the value of friendship along the way…coming to theaters summer 2026

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Reposted by Lauren Cortese

The Belladonna Comedy @belladonnacomedy.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

We’re counting down the best of 2025!

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Excited to share my first piece with @slate.com! Bringing conversation to a party isn’t just for your good time, but is one of the best things to take a host. Take it from me, the daughter who can’t cook but is in charge of keeping grandparents awake until Thanksgiving lunch. Thanks for reading!

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Fossil fuel dependence! Thank you to all these women for the things they ruined and here’s to the many more we will continue to ruin 👏

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

I’d like to add some of the best things women have ruined, starting with whooping cough!

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Reposted by Lauren Cortese

Sheila Liming @seeshespeak.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Mamdani got a humanities degree. His win helps to illustrate that one of the central forces driving higher ed’s dissolution of the humanities is the fear that teaching people how power works can also lead to their interest in seizing it on behalf of the less powerful.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Quote with what your WIP book scent would be! Mine is Cupcake Chardonnay, dull airplane coffee, and the smoky tar-like smell of the mystery smog that comes up through the vents of the DC Metro. @emilyhughes.bsky.social you’re up next.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Similarly, I learned about how to ask a boss for a raise, help a friend dealing with SA crisis, and tips for accessing healthcare from Cosmo! What happens behind the cover pages of women-centered magazines matters.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

An important article and a valuable take from @melissaryan.bsky.social. My mom became a People devotee after I was born in ‘93. She didn’t have time to read a full paper & look after a newborn, but wanted to stay connected to the world. Accessible media takes many forms and all are essential.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

This was a great listen, including @maris.bsky.social on nuclear apocalypse as a Type 1 diabetic. My T1D mom took comfort post-9/11 from living close enough to DC that she assumed we’d be wiped out and wouldn’t need to hunt for insulin. There’s no wrong survival instinct in unprecedented times 🤷‍♀️

podcasts.apple.com

Samantha Smith vs. the Cold War with Maris Kreizman

Podcast Episode · You're Wrong About · 09/16/2025 · 1h 19m

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

I love using the thesaurus! Worrying too much about finding the right word can pull me out of the scene I’m trying to write. Often I’ll see what the thesaurus suggests and realize I have a different nuance in mind, so it helps me be more discerning in my word choice. It’s a helpful process!

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Just added 2,500 new reasons (per year) to my list of why not to use AI for trivial personal use

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Thank you for this incredible show! I learned so much about the big scary algorithm in a way that wasn't scary and instead pretty empowering, especially in our AI fueled internet hellscape (in particular the Mormon Mom-Tok episodes!). Your guests were all rockstars. Can't wait to hear what's next.

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

As someone raised on Anne and Abby, they were original AITA discussed around the kitchen table with my mom. These ladies are iconic and @americanhysteria.bsky.social does them justice. Bring back the wet noodle! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

podcasts.apple.com

DEAR ABBY AND ANN LANDERS

Podcast Episode · American Hysteria · 08/18/2025 · 1h 13m

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

not could have direct consequences on their safety and wellbeing. If anyone who does have more knowledge in this area happens to find this thread and is inclined to respond I welcome learning from your input!

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

reframing and repositioning ourselves. FIN. *A different conversation by people much better informed and positioned than I am could consider how “let them” meets the needs of minority POC and/or queer men, women, and nonbinary people, the disabled, and the disadvantaged for whom “letting them” or

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

placed the responsibility of everyone else’s (especially boys’ and men’s) responses to their action/inaction entirely on their shoulders. As a member of Robbins’ target audience of professional white women*, this is a heavy lift that every woman I know has struggled with and requires significant

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

of the ways Robbins’ audience needs to consider how “let them” can fit in their life (as Mike and Peter point out, it does not apply equally in all areas!) really will require more than a (potentially plagiarized) poem or viral post. Let them take the time to unlearn YEARS of socialization that has

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

hyper awareness about how we respond to others is essential (rape culture that blames women requires a “mom friend” during girls nights out to see everyone get home safe, necessary vigilance around how we’re perceived by male coworkers, overthinking interactions with family to keep the peace). All

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

in my therapy journey and discussions friends that in our capitalist society, anxiety is a rewarded behavior (anticipating worst case scenarios, over preparedness, reliability due to fear of consequences) that begins early in school and continues into the work world. For women especially this

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

book vs a post to contemplate how that might work in their life seems essential! Especially the chapters on adult friendship (as Peter noted had good advice!) since a Google search of “articles about friendship breakups” yields many recent, lengthy results (screenshots for evidence). I’ve realized

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

our parents a nice holiday, considering the “let him” years yielded socks and an Ethernet cord under the tree while they spent months planning his gifts🤦‍♀️. For those who have done the mental gymnastics of peace keeping since childhood, sitting with the idea of “let them” over the length of a

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

liable for his antics when we were supposed to be the good girls. When I “let” my (adult, employed, fully functioning adult) younger brother fend for himself to pick out Christmas gifts for our parents it’s not just a decision about letting him figure it out, it’s a decision of wanting to give

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

permission to “let them.” I imagine Robbins and much of her audience are women like me who have feared the consequences of “letting them” since we were in elementary school and had the worst behaved boy in class seated by us so we could be a good influence. If his behavior didn’t improve, we were

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Finally listened to this episode (love the show!!) but I take issue with the idea that the length of the book was padding. Women (Robbins’ core audience) don’t need 200+ pages with examples of “letting them” to understand the theory, rather, the time to sit with the idea and give themselves (cont)

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Thank you so much to White Wall Review for featuring my short story! This suburban-gothic-satire about writing anxiety was so much fun to write and I hope fun to read. The Lover whitewallreview.com/the-lover/

whitewallreview.com

The Lover – White Wall Review

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

I've been sending it to everyone I know for a(highly necessary) mental reset

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

miracle worker @jamieloftus.bsky.social found a way, in the year 2025, to tell a story about the internet that is wholesome!?! she and @liamkylesullivan.bsky.social should be our emperors of the internet

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Lauren Cortese @lacortese.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Thank you! She deserves to hear how much her story has an impact.

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