Brenna Clarke Gray
@brennacgray.bsky.social
She/her. Li'l EdTech; big mouth. Settler. Feminist. Reader, writer, teacher, scholar, doozer.
Podcasts too much: creator of Community of Praxis; co-host of @hkhspod.bsky.social.
Opinions yours.
Podcasts too much: creator of Community of Praxis; co-host of @hkhspod.bsky.social.
Opinions yours.
Pinned
That’s a wrap for 2025: 84 books. I didn’t make my 100—and I think 84 is my lowest count ever. But that doesn’t matter.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
Ok so over on Instagram I used to track my reading and always had nice chats with people about books so I’m going to move that over here now that I’ve deleted my Insta. (I’m also on StoryGraph as mittenstrings.)
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
Here starts the thread for 2026. For a second time. Because the first one I said was for 2025. Because the idea of 2026 feels fictional.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Today: @brennacgray.bsky.social and @joelipsett.bsky.social discuss Lena Dunham's 2022 adaptation of Catherine Called Birdy
Starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott, there's some queer subversion embedded in the film
Plus: Billie Piper, modernizing a classic, and a new YA BINGO board for a new year
Starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott, there's some queer subversion embedded in the film
Plus: Billie Piper, modernizing a classic, and a new YA BINGO board for a new year
Film: Catherine Called Birdy (2022)
Podcast Episode · Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr · 2026-01-06 · 33m
podcasts.apple.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Today: @brennacgray.bsky.social and @joelipsett.bsky.social discuss Lena Dunham's 2022 adaptation of Catherine Called Birdy
Starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott, there's some queer subversion embedded in the film
Plus: Billie Piper, modernizing a classic, and a new YA BINGO board for a new year
Starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott, there's some queer subversion embedded in the film
Plus: Billie Piper, modernizing a classic, and a new YA BINGO board for a new year
Sabbatisnaps, day 1: ready.
January 6, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Sabbatisnaps, day 1: ready.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Tomorrow on the podcast: @brennacgray.bsky.social and @joelipsett.bsky.social close the book (and press play) on CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY.
This week we're checking out Lena Dunham's 2022 film adaptation, starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott!
This week we're checking out Lena Dunham's 2022 film adaptation, starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott!
Catherine Called Birdy - Official Trailer | Prime Video
YouTube video by Prime Video
youtu.be
January 5, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Tomorrow on the podcast: @brennacgray.bsky.social and @joelipsett.bsky.social close the book (and press play) on CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY.
This week we're checking out Lena Dunham's 2022 film adaptation, starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott!
This week we're checking out Lena Dunham's 2022 film adaptation, starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott!
Today is my first day of my sabbatical so I went to Staples and bought post-it notes (no but also I sent some emails).
January 5, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Today is my first day of my sabbatical so I went to Staples and bought post-it notes (no but also I sent some emails).
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
if you are talking today about how bad maduro was and were alive, at all, during the run-up to the iraq war you are potentially the dumbest person to ever live
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
if you are talking today about how bad maduro was and were alive, at all, during the run-up to the iraq war you are potentially the dumbest person to ever live
Hey American Liberals making “jokes” about Venezuela being the “51st state.”
1. Shut the fuck up.
2. The sovereignty of the rest of the Americas isn’t like a hilarious bit you get to riff on.
3. This is colonialism. “51st state” rhetoric concedes the “bringing democracy” canard.
1. Shut the fuck up.
2. The sovereignty of the rest of the Americas isn’t like a hilarious bit you get to riff on.
3. This is colonialism. “51st state” rhetoric concedes the “bringing democracy” canard.
January 3, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Hey American Liberals making “jokes” about Venezuela being the “51st state.”
1. Shut the fuck up.
2. The sovereignty of the rest of the Americas isn’t like a hilarious bit you get to riff on.
3. This is colonialism. “51st state” rhetoric concedes the “bringing democracy” canard.
1. Shut the fuck up.
2. The sovereignty of the rest of the Americas isn’t like a hilarious bit you get to riff on.
3. This is colonialism. “51st state” rhetoric concedes the “bringing democracy” canard.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
As you read the news today, watch who phrases the news as an "illegal invasion and regime change" versus "bringing democracy". It'll tell you everything you need to know about the news source you're reading, and frankly should decide whether you ever read them seriously again.
January 3, 2026 at 1:05 PM
As you read the news today, watch who phrases the news as an "illegal invasion and regime change" versus "bringing democracy". It'll tell you everything you need to know about the news source you're reading, and frankly should decide whether you ever read them seriously again.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Right now Greenland and Canada are watching the world's response to the motherfucker doing the illegal invasion he said he was going to do.
January 3, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Right now Greenland and Canada are watching the world's response to the motherfucker doing the illegal invasion he said he was going to do.
America fucking sucks.
January 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
America fucking sucks.
It’s a “the baby ain’t sleeping and the lullabies are getting weird” kind of night. Here’s where we are at this moment.
Joel Plaskett Performs "On A Dime" on Vault Sessions | JUNO TV
YouTube video by The JUNO Awards
m.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:42 AM
It’s a “the baby ain’t sleeping and the lullabies are getting weird” kind of night. Here’s where we are at this moment.
Here starts the thread for 2026. For a second time. Because the first one I said was for 2025. Because the idea of 2026 feels fictional.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
That’s a wrap for 2025: 84 books. I didn’t make my 100—and I think 84 is my lowest count ever. But that doesn’t matter.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
Ok so over on Instagram I used to track my reading and always had nice chats with people about books so I’m going to move that over here now that I’ve deleted my Insta. (I’m also on StoryGraph as mittenstrings.)
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Here starts the thread for 2026. For a second time. Because the first one I said was for 2025. Because the idea of 2026 feels fictional.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
You should leave Substack in 2026, because they platform fascists regularly, but even before that I am *begging* you to stop referring to your writing as "my Substack" because why give them that agency. It's your writing, your posts, your words, on their platform.
January 3, 2026 at 3:54 AM
You should leave Substack in 2026, because they platform fascists regularly, but even before that I am *begging* you to stop referring to your writing as "my Substack" because why give them that agency. It's your writing, your posts, your words, on their platform.
That’s a wrap for 2025: 84 books. I didn’t make my 100—and I think 84 is my lowest count ever. But that doesn’t matter.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
Ok so over on Instagram I used to track my reading and always had nice chats with people about books so I’m going to move that over here now that I’ve deleted my Insta. (I’m also on StoryGraph as mittenstrings.)
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
December 31, 2025 at 7:52 PM
That’s a wrap for 2025: 84 books. I didn’t make my 100—and I think 84 is my lowest count ever. But that doesn’t matter.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
When I think about how many rural Canadian elder millennial bookish girls read Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, and Margaret Laurence way too young because we'd blown through the kids books at our town libraries and were looking for anything with a girl in it...
It's a miracle any of us got married.
It's a miracle any of us got married.
December 31, 2025 at 6:00 AM
When I think about how many rural Canadian elder millennial bookish girls read Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, and Margaret Laurence way too young because we'd blown through the kids books at our town libraries and were looking for anything with a girl in it...
It's a miracle any of us got married.
It's a miracle any of us got married.
Let us know what you think of the new structure! I think @joelipsett.bsky.social is worried he’s given me space to run loooooooooong 🤣🤣🤣
Today on #HKHS: @brennacgray.bsky.social and @joelipsett.bsky.social talk Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy (1994) about a headstrong 14 year old Lady in the Middle Ages who refuses to marry.
Plus: the +s and -s of using a diary as a narrative structure, eel pies, and plenty of women's issues
Plus: the +s and -s of using a diary as a narrative structure, eel pies, and plenty of women's issues
Book: Catherine, Called Birdy (1994)
Podcast Episode · Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr · 2025-12-30 · 26m
podcasts.apple.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Let us know what you think of the new structure! I think @joelipsett.bsky.social is worried he’s given me space to run loooooooooong 🤣🤣🤣
David Frum occasionally says clever things about Trump but he's the definition of "the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend."
Moving into David Frum’s house to start an open-pit mine in his living room. Confident he won’t stand for “the country’s courts…inventing new obstacles to development.”
December 29, 2025 at 8:57 PM
David Frum occasionally says clever things about Trump but he's the definition of "the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend."
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Day 4685 - Strong Theory stillwellgray.ca/blog/day-468... #everydayart #everyday #art #artsky #snapseed #glitchlab #design #lines #shadow 📷📸🧵
December 28, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Day 4685 - Strong Theory stillwellgray.ca/blog/day-468... #everydayart #everyday #art #artsky #snapseed #glitchlab #design #lines #shadow 📷📸🧵
Wasn’t aware of McLuhan till now is the most telling part of this truly wild discourse.
I wasn't aware of McLuhan till now. From a quick skim, roughly and tentatively yes, but pending me learning more.
December 28, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Wasn’t aware of McLuhan till now is the most telling part of this truly wild discourse.
Just a reminder that there’s nothing legally stopping you from putting all the leftovers, especially leftover gravy, from yesterday in a pie crust.
I call it Christmas Pie and it’s the best.
I call it Christmas Pie and it’s the best.
December 27, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Just a reminder that there’s nothing legally stopping you from putting all the leftovers, especially leftover gravy, from yesterday in a pie crust.
I call it Christmas Pie and it’s the best.
I call it Christmas Pie and it’s the best.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
🎶 I don’t want a lot for Christmas
I just want one thing from you.
For that A.I. bubble to burst,
And all the tech bros get sued. 🎶
🎄
I just want one thing from you.
For that A.I. bubble to burst,
And all the tech bros get sued. 🎶
🎄
December 25, 2025 at 5:43 PM
🎶 I don’t want a lot for Christmas
I just want one thing from you.
For that A.I. bubble to burst,
And all the tech bros get sued. 🎶
🎄
I just want one thing from you.
For that A.I. bubble to burst,
And all the tech bros get sued. 🎶
🎄
A very merry Muppet Christmas Carol to all who celebrate.
December 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
A very merry Muppet Christmas Carol to all who celebrate.
All the holiday socializing is wrapped up and all the errand running is done and it is finally snowing and now it actually feels like Christmas.
The elves always bring everyone matching pyjamas and a new book for Christmas Eve and it’s a perfect day to play outside with the kids and then get cozy.
The elves always bring everyone matching pyjamas and a new book for Christmas Eve and it’s a perfect day to play outside with the kids and then get cozy.
December 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
All the holiday socializing is wrapped up and all the errand running is done and it is finally snowing and now it actually feels like Christmas.
The elves always bring everyone matching pyjamas and a new book for Christmas Eve and it’s a perfect day to play outside with the kids and then get cozy.
The elves always bring everyone matching pyjamas and a new book for Christmas Eve and it’s a perfect day to play outside with the kids and then get cozy.
Does anyone in America know fucking anything about how anything works? Jesus Christ. It’s like living above a sentient novelty t-shirt store.
The Atlantic suggesting, without evidence, that Canada's Global TV broadcasting the '60 Minutes' segment on CECOT that CBS distributed to it may have been an act of "treachery."
🔗: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
🔗: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 24, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Does anyone in America know fucking anything about how anything works? Jesus Christ. It’s like living above a sentient novelty t-shirt store.
Seconding @joelipsett.bsky.social’s review: it should have been great and it’s only okay. It’s a disappointment only because my hopes were quite high.
@brennacgray.bsky.social and @joelipsett.bsky.social's annual holiday episode is Whiteout, written by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon.
Which is why we and listener Tea, Books & Chocolate are left wondering: why is this so...slight?
Which is why we and listener Tea, Books & Chocolate are left wondering: why is this so...slight?
Book Club: Whiteout (2022)
Podcast Episode · Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr · 2025-12-23 · 28m
podcasts.apple.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Seconding @joelipsett.bsky.social’s review: it should have been great and it’s only okay. It’s a disappointment only because my hopes were quite high.
Today I’ve been thinking a lot about GenAI teaching us that writing — words — should not be laboured over. That time spent on words is time wasted.
This week I’ve stumbled upon discourse about using ChatGPT or similar to help with writing reference letters, obituaries, and family Christmas letters.
This week I’ve stumbled upon discourse about using ChatGPT or similar to help with writing reference letters, obituaries, and family Christmas letters.
December 23, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Today I’ve been thinking a lot about GenAI teaching us that writing — words — should not be laboured over. That time spent on words is time wasted.
This week I’ve stumbled upon discourse about using ChatGPT or similar to help with writing reference letters, obituaries, and family Christmas letters.
This week I’ve stumbled upon discourse about using ChatGPT or similar to help with writing reference letters, obituaries, and family Christmas letters.