iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 29/09/2026

I keep my promises. Here's a topical fun fact that I've been telling everyone since the Lucas Museum opened: At the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the basement and “Avid dungeons” are named for George’s ex-wife Marcia, STAR WARS' Oscar-winning editor. I spent a semester down there in grad school.

A photo of the front desk/kiosk with a sign above that reads, MARCIA LUCAS POST PRODUCTION CENTER at USC's School of Cinematic Arts.

Screens in the MARCIA LUCAS POST PRODUCTION CENTER of USC's School of Cinematic Arts display Avid Media Composer and a guide to exporting a mixdown from my CTPR 507 class. What a time.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 27/09/2026

Love trivia & networking? Enjoy giving back? Volunteer for AAJA-LA Trivia Bowl! You get free fish tacos, boba & a T-shirt. EVERYONE is welcome. We have lots of non-Asian volunteers and players of all ages and racial identities. Come one, come all. Sign up: forms.gle/pA8BVmjiKp1J...

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 24/09/2026

"Which player did you just take a photo of?" "The Churu sign!" At Dodger Stadium, I'm always on Churu sign watch. Cat owners know. 🐱

Dodger Stadium after sunset during a game.

Dodgers sponsor, Inaba Churu, has a sign in the Dodger stadium outfield seats.

Oh look, a digital Inaba Churu sign in the Dodger Stadium outfield seats, under the scoreboard.

More Churu! Inaba, maker of North America's #1 cat treat and my cat's addiction, has a prominent ad right behind home plate in Dodger Stadium.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 17/08/2026

A cat who loves cheese? I need your wife's book! And my cat also loves hampers

Grey and white snowshoe cat rolling around in a hamper.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 17/08/2026

If you're wondering what it's like to start your pivot away from journalism and get certified in a whole other industry, here are some fun things I have to get used to! 🙃

Screenshot of the text: "§401(a)(9)(E)(ii)(IV),"

Screenshot of the text: "Sec. 1.168(i)-8(d) (2)(ii)(A)"

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 14/08/2026

To be fair, I got these tickets before the Dodgers went to the White House. Still, I love baseball and there’s no better way to close out the summer.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 08/08/2026

So hard picking just four! And only two Wong Kar-wai movies.

Screenshot of my Criterion closet picks: Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love, Network, Ghost World.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 07/08/2026

Thankful, honored, grateful to have a full house of LA freelancers who came to learn from our amazing speakers yesterday! My heart is full ❤️ It takes a village to put on an event like this and I'm very thankful to have one so dedicated to helping our freelance community feel seen.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 04/08/2026

My calls with my cat's pet health insurance are always 1,000x more pleasant than my own health insurance. They even ended the call by saying, "Please hug your fur baby for us." 🥺 Butters is fine! He might have urine crystals. Cat tax attached.

A grey and white snowshoe cat with blue eyes hides in a towel cabinet, one of his favorite places.

A grey and white snowshoe cat with blue eyes lies down in the towel cabinet (told you its one of his favorite places) with his head curled upside down and showing his belly.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 04/08/2026

Reminder: This AAJA-LA x @lapressclub.bsky.social freelancing event I helped organize is THIS THURSDAY! We're almost at capacity. 🤯 RSVP link below. Read more from one of our speakers, UC Irvine Prof. Erika Hayasaki, in her newsletter: thereportedessay.substack.com/p/fellowship...

Event graphic mimicking photo notifications. The text says:

"REMINDER
Freelance panel this week -
Thursday, August 6
3:00
The Business of Freelancing
3 - 5PM Followed by Networking
2535W Temple St,
Los Angeles, CA 90026
MESSAGES
Don't forget, there will be free boba and pizza!
THIS EVENT IS HOSTED BY AAJA-LA
AND THE LA PRESS CLUB

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 30/07/2026

A friend of mine asked me to text her photos of my recent crafts, so why not post them here, too? The more the horrors persist, the more intricate my crafting becomes. Because some folks requested it on IG, I'm doing a limited run of the bagel plate: www.instagram.com/p/DbV6AVbFLPs/ #craftsky

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 24/07/2026

When: Thursday, Aug. 6 at 3-5 p.m. RSVP link: lapressclub.wufoo.com/forms/zzspwh...

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 24/07/2026

One of my passions is helping people learn about the business of freelancing, so I was excited to help organize this event with AAJA-LA & @lapressclub.bsky.social Featuring UC Irvine Prof. Erika Hayasaki & Robert Lopez, McGraw fellow 🍕 & 🧋 provided. RSVP: lapressclub.wufoo.com/forms/zzspwh...

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 22/07/2026

Thank you for the reminder to post him more! This is Butters.

A large grey and white snowshoe cat with blue eyes commandeers part of a towel cabinet. He lies next to some towels. This is his favorite place.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 21/07/2026

I can admit it when I'm wrong: I actually have 6 sunflower blooms that reached 6-7 feet tall. And the aphids are now attacking my basil 🤷🏻‍♀️ #plantsky #flowersky

Screenshot from Instagram: A photo of six (6!) sunflower blooms reaching 6-7 feet tall on my balcony. I number each of them; they're all facing a different direction. One is wilting, so I captioned it "nearing retirement." And! I captioned the photo with text: "My 7-foot sunflower has 5 very tall friends around it. Should they play in the NBA?"

A sunflower in the process of blooming! Just about to open up, but not quite there yet.

A sunflower fully bloomed among its 5 other tall pals.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 17/07/2026

At the Lord of the Rings 25th anniversary concert last night, a woman screamed “Whew!” during a close-up of Aragorn and somehow it wasn’t me (I thought it, though). Great seeing it on the big screen and with an orchestra!

LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring on the big screen! With orchestra! And choral accompaniment! So cool!

LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring on the big screen! I snuck this photo, I’m sorry! Aragorn is even hotter on the big screen. 😍

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 15/07/2026

Very proud that my sunflowers this summer survived a massive aphid infestation and three blooms reached 7-feet tall! #plantsky

Three 7-feet-tall sunflower blooms in the sun.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 28/06/2026

It’s not the Mets, but when I’m not watching my team, one of my greatest joys is going to see two okay baseball teams play the in the closest seats to the field I can possibly manage.

The view four rows from third base and left field at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 28/06/2026

And that's a wrap! Thanks for a wild and wonderful time, VidCon.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 27/06/2026

And Mark Hamill spoke at VidCon Fan Expo!

It’s Mark Hamill! He’s on a large stage at VidCon.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 27/06/2026

I audibly screamed “Oh my God!” when I saw Tubby Nugget bouncing around at the VidCon VIP Expo Hall party last night. I asked his handler, “So is he boba or poop or…?” His handler told me, very seriously, “He is a nugget.”

Tubby Nugget, a nugget, bouncing around the VIP Expo Hall party at VidCon 2026.

Me, Mallory, posing with Tubby Nugget, a nugget, at the VidCon VIP Expo Hall party.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 24/06/2026

Because people keep assuming that I’m at AAJA, here’s a reminder that I’m actually at VidCon this week in luxurious (lol) Anaheim.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 19/06/2026

Yup!! I rarely see my name but it’s a such a treat when I do.

Me in front a store bearing my name, “Mallory’s”

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 19/06/2026

Spent the day with Team @thelalocalorg.bsky.social and our youth journalists covering the South Korea vs. Mexico watch party in LA’s Seoul International Park!

The crowd at the World Cup Mexico and South Korea watch party in Seoul International Park in Los Angeles

LA Local reporters and youth reports at the World Cup Mexico and South Korea watch party in Seoul International Park in Los Angeles

Fans surrounding a TV at the World Cup Mexico and South Korea watch party in Seoul International Park in Los Angeles

Giant ramen mascot at the World Cup Mexico and South Korea watch party in Seoul International Park in Los Angeles

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 17/06/2026

I won't be at this year's AAJA convention because I'll be at VidCon, but here are some cool events for the AAJA programs I co-run. And I'm supporting Frank Bi for President! I'll miss all my AAJA friends, but I'll see you next year.

Flyer with the text:
"2026 AAJA Convention
MENTOR MATCH MEETUP
Come meet your mentor or mentee in person!
4:00 pm Thursday, June 25th
2
The News Room
990 Nicollet Mall in
Minneapolis
a 6-minute walk from the convention hotel"

Flyer with the text:
"AAJA RADIO & PODCASTING
MIXER
THURS 6.25.2026
EAT STREET CROSSING
6-8 PM
2819 NICOLLET AVE,
MINNEAPOLIS
RECEPTION UPSTAIRS WITH LIGHT APPETIZERS HOSTED BY NPR & MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO"

Flyer with the text:
"AAJA 2026
SOUND WALK
An audio scavenger hunt
In this workshop, you'll get outside and take in the sights and sounds while recording audio in downtown Minneapolis.
With the guidance of seasoned radio and audio journalists, you'll learn how professionals gather tape and experience the joy of just collecting sound to tell a story.
i Saturday, June 27, 10:30am -1pm
& Meet first in the lobby
, RSVP at bit.ly/aajasoundwalk
Only a few spots
Left!
Brought to you by AAJA
Radio & Podcasting"

Flyer with the text:
"Vote Frank Bi for AAJA President
Vote June 11"

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 11/06/2026

Doing my best to support the Knicks from LA tonight: wearing orange (kind of, everyone said) and blue and taking public transit. 🏀💙

Me dressed in an orange-ish tank, blue denim jacket at an LA Metro stop (Little Tokyo).

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 09/06/2026

The streak is over 😭. I blame Trump. But now I can post about and watch the Knicks again. I explain below. Come on, boys, you can do it. 🏀🔵

Screenshot of Notes app with the text: "Knicks thoughts I can’t post until the streak ends/they win

I’m not allowed to post about or watch the NBA Finals because I’m trying to keep the conditions of their 20+ game win streak, in which I didn’t post about during and I didn’t watch the games.

Lest anyone think I’m a bandwaggoner, the Knicks family tradition started with my grandfather (in Cantonese: Gong Gong) who took my mom and her brother to games at MSG all the time in the 70s. They passed along that love for the Knicks to me in the 90s. Gong Gong knew little English and wasn’t 100% comfortable with speaking it but he could perfectly say Let’s go Knicks, Patrick Ewing and John Starks. He would’ve loved these finals so much."

Screenshot of Notes app, continued:
"Friend: Will the bar have the game on, because…?
Me: Yes, BUT I CAN’T WATCH IT. (I explain superstition)
Friend: But can I talk about what’s happening?
Me: Of course. I’m gonna be googling the score the whole time. BUT I JUST CAN’T LOOK AT IT.
(Side note: I learned just how hard it is to avoid watching the NBA Finals)

I went to a happy hour with friends to distract myself from the game and one of my friends’ friends is a celeb Netflix comedian. 'I don’t think you have that much power over the Knicks,' she said of my superstition, and she is wrong."

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 01/06/2026

And thank you to one of my fellow mentors for lovingly roasting me in our slides during the last week of our workshop. 😂 What can I say, I love reporting on niche topics!

A classroom slide that reads:
"Eerily Relevant Article References by Mallory: 20
'I actually wrote about this niche topic a few years ago….' - Mallory"

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 01/06/2026

Over the weekend, I helped celebrate the graduates of the @thelalocalorg.bsky.social Youth Journalism cohorts and got to be a small part of the ceremony. I was a mentor for the Koreatown cohort this academic year and I'm so proud of the community stories they wrote.

A sign that says: "THE LA LOCAL. WELCOME TO OUR YOUTH JOURNALISM GRADUATION CELEBRATION 2026." With the logos of The Boyle Heights Beat, Brotherhood Crusade and the Koreatown Storytelling Program.

Group photo of the students and mentors (including me!) of the LA Local Youth Journalism Koreatown cohort.

Photo of people sitting on white chairs under umbrellas. In the back, there's a banner that says "The LA Local."

Young student journalists pose for a photo in front of a banner that says "The LA Local."

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 29/05/2026

Summer break goal: get away from screens. A lot. Great decision so far, highly recommend!

The view from a celebration at a house in the Hollywood Hills

Behold, a grand ol’ turkey leg from the Renaissance Faire!! It has garlic Parmesan sauce on it. My hand is holding it in front of the other food stalls. Literally was dreaming about eating this when I was in the hospital last year. Dreams do come true!

Me looking cute in a black dress and denim jacket posing with Netflix’s Emmy collection.

Cute lil translucent d20 on a character sheet. If you know, you know.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 27/05/2026

We are so back!! It took three years of persistent emails, but the @aajaofficial.bsky.social Radio & Podcasting affinity group is finally revived and rebooted with me & @elichen.bsky.social as co-directors! Please follow us on IG and stay tuned for more: www.instagram.com/aaja_radio/

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 25/05/2026

Everyone else watching OFF CAMPUS: Fake dating! The chemistry! The "hockey" (lol), etc. Me: Wow, the philosophy professor's use of a spinning wheel to randomize students' final oral presentation topics seems a fun clever way to guard against AI use.

Screenshot from the Amazon Prime series OFF CAMPUS, showing students in a large lecture hall sitting and watching their professor at the front, near a student spinning a blue-and-white spinning wheel. The closed-caption text, which is the professor's dialogue, says, "Isn't this fun?"

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 22/05/2026

Thank you to my friends for putting up with 3 months of me talking, texting and posting IG stories about these old STAR WARS movies & to my dad for rewatching ATTACK OF THE CLONES with me, just like we initially did in 2002. letterboxd.com/mallorycarra...

My initial IG story review of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE on March 17, 2026 includes a screenshot of me googling "star wars gold guy" because I didn't know who C-3PO was back then, ok? I got him and R2-D2 confused. Anyway, in the screenshot, Google answers my question NOT with AI (thank goodness) but with photos of C-3PO. The text overlay says: "I've moved onto Star Wars! I loved the first one! A great intro to the world (and I needed it because this is what I googled during it). More on Letterbox when I gather my thoughts."

A screenshot of a May 13, 2026, IG story made in create mode with a purple gradient with white text and the STAR WARS posters for REVENGE OF THE SITH, THE FORCE AWAKENS and ROGUE ONE on top.

The text says:
"Fell behind on this due to traveling/end of the semester but yes I'm still watching STAR WARS.

REVENGE OF THE SITH:
I liked this one! Because stuff actually happens and Anakin gets his comeuppance and they finally play the Darth Vader theme (that shouldn't be a spoiler).

THE FORCE AWAKENS:
A breath of fresh air after the prequels. Incredible direction.
Nice to see old friends Leia and Han again (yes I know the ending [crying emoji]).

ROGUE ONE:
The last hour is so good but sad and I love Diego Luna.
Everyone says I have to watch ANDOR now."

And a screenshot from an IG story from 19 hours ago on May 21, 2026. Same create modpurple gradient with two STAR WARS posters this time: THE LAST JEDI and THE RISE OF SKYWALKER + white text.

The text says:
"I've been pretty sick for most of this week so I was able to finish STAR WARS. 11 movies down, just in time for one more to come out [laughing emoji].

THE LAST JEDI:
I liked it and I didn't. But at least it retained the characterizations, tone and joy of THE FORCE AWAKENS. Because...

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER:
What a joyless conclusion that sidelines all the POC and progress this franchise tried to make. Very disappointing. Don't get me started on Kylo Ren's so-called 'redemption.' This movie made me mad."

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 22/05/2026

I did it! I finished all 11 STAR WARS movies just in time for a new movie to come out 😂. Unfortunately/fortunately, I always have to finish what I start, so yes, I'll see THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU soon. But let me have this! It's my proudest #LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched yet.

A screenshot of my Letterboxd "Recent Activity" -- my Last Four movies watched were from STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, SOLO, THE FORCE AWAKENS, and ROGUE ONE.

A screenshot of Letterboxd, all 11 STAR WARS movies reviewed and rated, from the very original STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE to THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. I did it! It only took three months.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 17/05/2026

"It's not graduation unless you choke on your hood a little bit." - one of my faculty mentors, a professor with a doctorate 🙃 Congratulations to the Class of 2026! This proud professor only cried a little bit 🥲😭 #USCGrad

Two USC grads, wearing black caps and gowns, crash my selfie of me, also dressed in a black cap and gown and brown hood, holding my USC branded faculty marshal baton.

One of my beloved former students, Aditya, dressed in a black cap and gown and red sash, posing for a selfie with me, also dressed in a black cap and gown and brown hood, holding my faculty marshal baton.

Out of a cap and gown and hood, I’m posing with Prof. Chip Zukoski and our double graduate Natalie, who worked on the USC podcast ELECTRIC FUTURES for three years as an associate producer.

The sun setting on LA Memorial Coliseum on USC commencement day. A line of graduates dressed in bright red doctoral gowns and tams process down the stairs and onto the football field, where thousands of other grads are sitting.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 11/05/2026

Happy graduation season! I’m working at this year's ceremony as a faculty marshal and I’ve already helped a dozen students ace the final test of every master’s degree: wearing the hood correctly/not choking. Below, 2012 Baby Mallory, trying on her USC MFA hood and wearing it wrong. Lesson learned.

2021 Baby Mallory at USC's Ronald Tutor Center, trying on her graduation cap and master's hood, brown for Master of Fine Arts. The dangly loop is NOT being used so you can tell that despite the big smile on my face I'm likely hiding how much the hood is choking me. And now she's an adjunct professor, returning to USC's commencement for the first time in 14 years, this time as faculty, and master's students keep asking her: "How do I wear this hood?!?" A valid question.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 01/05/2026

Thank you to the @maynardinstitute.bsky.social for having me as part of the California Propel Regional Training Series’ first cohort last week in San Luis Obispo & @calpolyslo.bsky.social! I enjoyed meeting journalists from around the state and going on some Central Coast adventures.

Maynard Institute Regional Training Series badge that says:
"Mallory Carra
Freelance Journalist/Adjunct Professor/ Podcast Producer
USC Annenberg"

A big rock, known as Morro Rock, among some water, known as Morro Bay.

This one is hard to describe, but it's a gorgeous light exhibit with lit-up huge patterned lanterns at night and the patterns show up on the floor. And some of the lanterns spin! One of my favorite immersive art exhibits at Sensorio in Paso Robles.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 20/04/2026

Spotted the @usc.edu campus bunny on my walk to class this morning. Then one of the facilities folks told me there are now baby bunnies (!!) on campus, too. Stay tuned. @darthbluesky.bsky.social

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 10/04/2026

And today: ✅ Produced a live podcast recording event.

Photo from the live recording of the USC podcast, ELECTRIC FUTURES: Left to right, host Chip Zukoski as moderator, and three panelists.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 03/04/2026

I'm just glad THE PITT is bringing this and so many other medical issues to the mainstream. Proof from the other site that I've been dealing with this for years. I'm now on a generic, Breyna, which is fine, but it's no Symbicort.

An old tweet from me on Oct. 25, 2023: "I also just lost a two-year battle with my soon-to-be former insurance when it comes to covering my long-acting inhaler. Wild that asthmatics have to go through so much just to breathe."

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 03/04/2026

Love to recognize the names of my own medications on THE PITT, like it's an old friend making a cameo on my favorite show. This week, it was the Asthma Trio™️ -- albuterol, Symbicort, and montelukast (and an ER regular, EpiPen). And they mentioned the cost issues with Symbicort.

A screenshot of an asthmatic teen patient's mother on THE PITT. The closed caption says, "I've been giving him albuterol every hour."

A screenshot of an asthmatic teen patient's mother on THE PITT. The closed caption says, "He used to be on montelukast and Symbicort."

A screenshot of a doctor on THE PITT and closed caption dialogue on screen. Someone asks, "Mel, EpiPen."

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 27/03/2026

Happy #LetterboxdFriday! My #LastFourWatched: I finished the original STAR WARS trilogy and now I’m constantly asking everyone if I really have to watch the prequels again 😫 bsky.app/profile/lett...

My Letterboxd Last 4 Watched: Return of the Jedi, The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars and the 1977 animated movie The Hobbit.

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 20/03/2026

I had no idea cats loved hampers so much. I just thought my cat was a weirdo who loved them.

My grey and white snowshoe cat, Butters, flopping around inside a laundry hamper that is now his.

My grey and white snowshoe cat, Butters, clearly claiming this laundry hamper, meant and purchased for laundry, is now his and meant for Cat Only. To be henceforth known as "Butters' hamper."

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Mallory Carra @mallorycarra.com · 19/03/2026

Others: Go to a journalism happy hour to network with other journalists. Me: Goes to a journalism happy hour, meets a crafters group on the patio, bonds with them instead, paints this quick lil acrylic piece on canvas, and gets added to the group chat!

I painted a sunset in the mountains with acrylic paints on a small canvas. At a bar!

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