iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Good morning and I hope you’re having a great day. I am about to ruin it with this long form story I did on how private equity is ruining cookies but also people are building shit cookie companies to get money from private equity on @weareravenous.com. www.weareravenous.com/the-curious-...

weareravenous.com

The Curious Case of the Soulless Private Equity Cookie

If you’re going to pay more than $5 for a single cookie, it should at least have some soul.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 16h

I am listening to an AI voice read me an article on The Atlantic about what the biggest tell that someone writing was done by AI is. Because I guess the publication is unwilling to pay anyone to read and produce the audio versions of their articles.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 21h

This is entirely true and I will never run out of ways to tell you what a dork I am and always have been.

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Amy McCarthy @aemccarthy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

it’s my birthday today and if u wanted to get me a gift you could: - delete chatgpt - k*ll the cop in your mind - cuss out a racist - subscribe to @weareravenous.com, just $7/month for the best indie food journalism around www.weareravenous.com#/portal/

weareravenous.com

Ravenous Is a Worker-Owned Food Culture Publication

For too long, food media has felt toothless. Help us take a bite out of it.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I once wrote an entire essay about how The OC didn’t “break” Death Cab because if the music wasn’t amazing this moment never would have happened. But that outlet got sold and deleted off the internet so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

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Ravenous @weareravenous.com · 06/10/2026

Feeling like the giant corporate entities that don't pay taxes can take a long walk off a short pier today? Well our friends at @bookshop.org are offering an anti-Prime Day deal on October 6 and 7. We have curated several of our favorite food books to tempt you. buff.ly/lak9cXt

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Add These Ravenous-Approved Books to Your Reading List

Do you like books? Are you one of the people who actually read at least one book (or 50) each year? Great news: Ravenous has an online bookstore and some recommendations for you.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

That feeling when you complete an assignment you were dreading and actually it wasn’t so hard.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Sharing the best thing you’ll read today by @aemccarthy.bsky.social and you’re welcome.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Episode 2 is out today! And while there are a lot of stories I like, the one about my friend Kris Chen buying plane tickets for Franz Ferdinand to come to the US for their first show using his personal credit card because Domino Records US only barely existed is my favorite.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Episode 2 drops tomorrow, and we go back the just before 2004 to figure out why 2004 was 2004-ing so hard.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Every day I wake up and think, how can I wear a flowy bag that doesn’t touch my skin today?

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Good morning from the State Fair of Texas. This is called a corny dog, not a corn dog. I will not be taking any questions at this time.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Wish more places would give that blonde woman’s bad songs the attention they deserve; none.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Surprise of the night: Some stellar wine from Uruguay. I need to know more.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I am once again eating my way through Houston but this time I’m old enough to ask, during my afternoon coffee shop stops, do y’all have decaf espresso? ☕️

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Hello today is the day I break that indie rock broke back in 2004. You are welcome for this news update. And go listen to this podcast, my god.

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Ravenous @weareravenous.com · 22/09/2026

As you may know, we’ve been working over the last month to secure 300 new paid subscribers in 30 days. Welp, today’s day 30, and it’s the final day to score our biggest discount ever. Join @katkinsman.bsky.social and the rest of the flock today! Here's 30% off a subscription: buff.ly/EYirJYs

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Amy McCarthy @aemccarthy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

ONE SUBSCRIBER DOWN, NINE TO GO!!

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

So the new Katie Pruitt album is good but these are exactly the songs women in country music would be taking to radio for their third slow dance single in the 90s. Weird how things evolve and this is now Americana.

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Ravenous @weareravenous.com · 22/09/2026

Today’s the LAST day to subscribe to Ravenous for 30% off! The sale ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET. Be like Sutton (@ryansutton.bsky.social), and subscribe now buff.ly/EYirJYs

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Hi, I just want people to know that yes there is an entire episode on how better physical and digital distribution improvements were a literal game changer for you actually being able to buy indie albums in the 2000s. And you’re gonna love it.

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Amy McCarthy @aemccarthy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Today is the LAST DAY to score 30% off a Ravenous subscription *and* help us bring some more freelance writers into the mix to do even more of the best food journalism on the internet

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

All I wanna do is… <cries in Dothraki>.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I can’t enter because I co-own the joint but you should (as long as you’re an @weareravenous.com subscriber)

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I went in to just do a top edit on this story and ended up adding a dozen (??? maybe more ???) additional restaurants. The emails with places we missed today were thick. It’s wiiiiiild.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

So those of you who know me from private equity cookies may be surprised to learn I come from music, and a podcast I’ve been working on since about 2021 is making its way into the world. This is 2004: The Year Indie Rock Broke.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Trying to remember how people used to exchange AIM handles.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

All I have to contribute is that I had to interview Ed Sheeran while working at CBS Radio for an event we put on where he performed. Trying to get him to say literally anything that sounded like anything was an exercise in testing my fucking patience. So, this feels on brand.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Wow this is an honor. And if you want more then two stories a month, we are closing out the @weareravenous.com subscriber drive for the next week with a 30% off offer to subscribe! www.weareravenous.com/feed-the-bir...

weareravenous.com

Feed the Bird and Help Us Soar

Feed the bird with 30% off a Ravenous subscription

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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 14/09/2026

Cis people do not understand how much trans people's rights have regressed in just 5 years. 5 years ago, there were none of these restrictions. 19 states banned legal recognition 21 states have bathroom bans 8 states ban gender marker changes on DLs 25 ban gender affirming care for trans youth

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Andrea González-Ramírez @andreagonram.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Friends, I want to talk to you about ✨ smut ✨ I'm working on a piece for @thecut.com about people who love reading/writing smut, but are not having sex. Is that you? Reach out via andrea.gonzalez@voxmedia.com or andreagonram.43 on Signal if you'd like to chat. We can protect people's identity!

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Hey so one of the many the reasons Live Nation needs to be broken up as a monopoly is so that a group of your promoters in middle American can’t tell Ed Sheeran to kick Macklemore off as the opener after he calls for peace in Palestine.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

If you didn’t get a chance to read this yet, maybe today is the day.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

There is really nothing that beats the Jordan Marsh recipe for blueberry muffins, for my money and time.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

You’re kidding, an influencer/podcaster who calls themselves not skinny but not fat is also unaware of ethics and has bad taste? You could knock me over with a feather.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Petition for @natalieweiner.bsky.social or @marissarmoss.bsky.social to do an explainer on how hard Luke Bryan is crashing out about people on TikTok asking if his terrible new album was written by AI.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This is such a huge deal for us and has been a help. It’s so meaningful to be in community with so many other independent publishers, and we’re thrilled that TNC is acting as our fiscal sponsor so we can now accept tax deductible donations. If you trip over a bag of cash, we can help you spend it!

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Someone had to write an oral history of the “fart goes the butt” line on Luke Bryan’s TikTok as commentary on his clearly AI written lyrics for this new album. I haven’t laughed so loud at the internet in ages.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Good morning to the woman on Threads arguing with me that not all millionaires and billionaires are unethical, may the ghost of Antonio Gramsci lecture her about cultural hegemony in her dreams, with his poofy hair and glasses.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

We’ve got a deal for 25 percent off a subscription to @weareravenous.com happening now. Support independent media!

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I was born and raised in Texas and y’all can kiss my ass about using the word y’all, especially in an informal setting like social media.

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Jaya Saxena @jayasaxena.com · 28/08/2026

As a reminder, @weareravenous.com is running a subscription drive and you can get 25% off any of our subscription levels! www.weareravenous.com/feed-the-bir...

weareravenous.com

Feed the Bird and Help Us Soar

Feed the bird with 25% off a Ravenous subscription

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Support independent food media and get a great new book to read in one fell swoop! @weareravenous.com

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The story in my new @weareravenous.com piece from a sommelier who was challenged by a diner to beat ChatGPT with her recommendation is something. You might leave this story sympathizing with people who use AI to order anyway.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

AI can’t be punk rock until it gets a mohawk that it dies pink with Kool-Aid and becomes anarchist.

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Courtney E. Smith @thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

You know what, at the first Texas Michelin ceremony, I introduced some chefs from Dallas to each other who had restaurants on the same street. www.weareravenous.com/this-micheli...

weareravenous.com

This Michelin Awards Ceremony Could've Been an Email

Texas rolled out the red carpet for Michelin in 2024. Now, the tire company is letting us know how they really feel.

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