Fernando Gros
@fernandogros.com
Writer
Granta Memoir Workshop alumni
Shortlisted for The Deep Creek Residency Fellowship
Lived in 🇨🇱🇦🇺🇬🇧🇮🇳🇭🇰🇸🇬🇯🇵
Worked in academia and music
TCK
https://fernandogros.com/blog/
Made in Chile, grown in Australia, polished in Japan
Granta Memoir Workshop alumni
Shortlisted for The Deep Creek Residency Fellowship
Lived in 🇨🇱🇦🇺🇬🇧🇮🇳🇭🇰🇸🇬🇯🇵
Worked in academia and music
TCK
https://fernandogros.com/blog/
Made in Chile, grown in Australia, polished in Japan
Pinned
Fernando Gros
@fernandogros.com
· Oct 19
If you're new to Bluesky here's a few things to check out
1. Content moderation is customisable. Choose show/warn/hide for everything from sexual content to engagement farming.
2. Custom feeds. Want a feed that's only about science, fountain pens, UK politics? Subscribe to as many as you want.
1. Content moderation is customisable. Choose show/warn/hide for everything from sexual content to engagement farming.
2. Custom feeds. Want a feed that's only about science, fountain pens, UK politics? Subscribe to as many as you want.
Here's where I exist on Bluesky. Somewhere between Tech and Science journalists and Intellectuals, Artists, and Science communicators.
February 13, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Here's where I exist on Bluesky. Somewhere between Tech and Science journalists and Intellectuals, Artists, and Science communicators.
I've formally studied 7 different languages. And picked up words and phrases from several others. I also lived in 7 different countries. I didn't quite have 7 careers, but I did have 3 or 4.
And no-one ever finds any of that interesting.
Some or all of it comes in because people ask. Not sure why.
And no-one ever finds any of that interesting.
Some or all of it comes in because people ask. Not sure why.
February 12, 2026 at 2:49 PM
I've formally studied 7 different languages. And picked up words and phrases from several others. I also lived in 7 different countries. I didn't quite have 7 careers, but I did have 3 or 4.
And no-one ever finds any of that interesting.
Some or all of it comes in because people ask. Not sure why.
And no-one ever finds any of that interesting.
Some or all of it comes in because people ask. Not sure why.
The former Olympic ski jumper's lounge used in the Nagano '98 Winter Olympics as been turned into a restarutant. I ate there last night. Food was OK. But the highlight was getting to go stand next to the ski jump ramp. Hard to grasp the unique courage required to even attempt that sport.
February 12, 2026 at 1:38 PM
The former Olympic ski jumper's lounge used in the Nagano '98 Winter Olympics as been turned into a restarutant. I ate there last night. Food was OK. But the highlight was getting to go stand next to the ski jump ramp. Hard to grasp the unique courage required to even attempt that sport.
Towards the end of last year I went to see a GP because of foot pain and concern over my anxiety levels. He said "I can't do anything about your anxiety and proceeded to give me antibiotics for my foot. They did nothing. A week later I went to see a podiatrist who has helped my foot heal.
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Towards the end of last year I went to see a GP because of foot pain and concern over my anxiety levels. He said "I can't do anything about your anxiety and proceeded to give me antibiotics for my foot. They did nothing. A week later I went to see a podiatrist who has helped my foot heal.
I miss the old idea that travel was supposed to change and humble you. That it was a chance to learn how other people live. And to see the foibles and limitations of the place you came from.
February 7, 2026 at 1:34 AM
I miss the old idea that travel was supposed to change and humble you. That it was a chance to learn how other people live. And to see the foibles and limitations of the place you came from.
Back in Tokyo for a few hours
February 6, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Back in Tokyo for a few hours
Narita is doing the best they can to cope with increased tourism numbers. Lots more staff. Evoking processes. But the physical space is too small.
February 6, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Narita is doing the best they can to cope with increased tourism numbers. Lots more staff. Evoking processes. But the physical space is too small.
Since November the featured comedy special on Qantas’ inflight entertainment on this sector has been a Bill Maher thing. I can’t imagine who watches him. Or maybe I don’t want to. I don’t like to yuck other people’s yum. But Bill Maher? Really?
February 5, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Since November the featured comedy special on Qantas’ inflight entertainment on this sector has been a Bill Maher thing. I can’t imagine who watches him. Or maybe I don’t want to. I don’t like to yuck other people’s yum. But Bill Maher? Really?
“Had Bad Bunny taken the stage, he could have — I feel safe saying, would have — offered something no other artist on the Grammy stage did: openly political music.”
Here's a version of my essay on recent protest music, which began life in the NPR Music newsletter -- I've expanded it to include thoughts on Benito at the Grammys www.npr.org/2026/02/05/n...
Where are all the protest songs?
Protest requires people to take a stand and hold firm. Pop songs are designed to appeal across demographic lines. In music, as in the rest of the world, resistance takes place closer to the ground.
www.npr.org
February 5, 2026 at 9:20 PM
“Had Bad Bunny taken the stage, he could have — I feel safe saying, would have — offered something no other artist on the Grammy stage did: openly political music.”
Back in Melbourne for 13 hours. To think I lived here once.
February 5, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Back in Melbourne for 13 hours. To think I lived here once.
All the way through school I was chastised for being lazy and not trying hard enough because my spelling and occasionally my grammar wasn't great. But, if I went to school today, I would've had English as a Second Language support all the way through, probably into university. Life is like that.
February 4, 2026 at 1:01 PM
All the way through school I was chastised for being lazy and not trying hard enough because my spelling and occasionally my grammar wasn't great. But, if I went to school today, I would've had English as a Second Language support all the way through, probably into university. Life is like that.
I'm thinking about all those podcasts in the US have a guest every week, but never ever feature voices of Latin American or Indigenous descent. They are part of the problem? Right? We should boycott them? Yes?
February 4, 2026 at 6:55 AM
I'm thinking about all those podcasts in the US have a guest every week, but never ever feature voices of Latin American or Indigenous descent. They are part of the problem? Right? We should boycott them? Yes?
Most of the time I don't bother opening links to substack articles. Largely it's because you don't know what kind of lucky dip ticket you're getting. The link to open substack tells you nothing. There's no author name. It's just a link lottery.
February 2, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Most of the time I don't bother opening links to substack articles. Largely it's because you don't know what kind of lucky dip ticket you're getting. The link to open substack tells you nothing. There's no author name. It's just a link lottery.
Bad Bunny got a loud cheer when he said Ice out.
But when he tried to explain that Latin Americans are also humans the reply was *a lot* more subdued.
But when he tried to explain that Latin Americans are also humans the reply was *a lot* more subdued.
February 2, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Bad Bunny got a loud cheer when he said Ice out.
But when he tried to explain that Latin Americans are also humans the reply was *a lot* more subdued.
But when he tried to explain that Latin Americans are also humans the reply was *a lot* more subdued.
When the house next door was sold a couple of years ago the new owner took out every tree, shrub, and ornamental plant. Last year a house nearby was sold and the same thing happened. Another flat non-garden. Now the house opposite, sold late last year, is being denuded as well. Is this some trend?
February 2, 2026 at 12:33 AM
When the house next door was sold a couple of years ago the new owner took out every tree, shrub, and ornamental plant. Last year a house nearby was sold and the same thing happened. Another flat non-garden. Now the house opposite, sold late last year, is being denuded as well. Is this some trend?
So the podcast dude who came from nowhere to have the podcast that makes all the dudes say "you have to listen to this podcast" was actually a trojan horse for manosphere misogyny? How shocking.
February 1, 2026 at 10:53 AM
So the podcast dude who came from nowhere to have the podcast that makes all the dudes say "you have to listen to this podcast" was actually a trojan horse for manosphere misogyny? How shocking.
Addition is a charming Melbourne based Rom-Com. It's also one of the most fascianting cinematic portrayals of anxiety I have scene. Warm, sincere and delightful, it does everything I could ask for this in kind of film. Recommended.
February 1, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Addition is a charming Melbourne based Rom-Com. It's also one of the most fascianting cinematic portrayals of anxiety I have scene. Warm, sincere and delightful, it does everything I could ask for this in kind of film. Recommended.
Hide trending videos? Yes. Only because I can’t launch them into the sun.
February 1, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Hide trending videos? Yes. Only because I can’t launch them into the sun.
"...quitting always leaves a hole. A hole in the sense of the thing we’ve quit. But also a hole in terms of the person we were trying to become through doing that thing."
This Week I Quit Dreaming About Internet Radio - Fernando Gros
I’m not going to start an internet radio station. It hurts to look at those words on a screen. It stings even more to say them out loud.
fernandogros.com
January 31, 2026 at 11:19 PM
"...quitting always leaves a hole. A hole in the sense of the thing we’ve quit. But also a hole in terms of the person we were trying to become through doing that thing."
I only published 14 blogposts in 2025. My lowest number since 2003.
Have just sent my latest essay off to be copyedited. That will be the 4th one for 2026. At this rate I could easily double the number of blogposts I publish this year.
Have just sent my latest essay off to be copyedited. That will be the 4th one for 2026. At this rate I could easily double the number of blogposts I publish this year.
January 31, 2026 at 2:41 AM
I only published 14 blogposts in 2025. My lowest number since 2003.
Have just sent my latest essay off to be copyedited. That will be the 4th one for 2026. At this rate I could easily double the number of blogposts I publish this year.
Have just sent my latest essay off to be copyedited. That will be the 4th one for 2026. At this rate I could easily double the number of blogposts I publish this year.
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
Ancient Greek
Apocalyptic Literature
Philosophy of Religion
Film Scoring
Music Cognition
Ancient Greek
Apocalyptic Literature
Philosophy of Religion
Film Scoring
Music Cognition
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
1. Rationality
2. Biology 1 & 2
3. Philosophy of Mind
4. 20th Century American Literature
5. Writing Fiction
1. Rationality
2. Biology 1 & 2
3. Philosophy of Mind
4. 20th Century American Literature
5. Writing Fiction
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
1. Suetonius
2. 12th Century Renaissance
3. Historiography of War in the Roman Republic
4. Russian and Soviet Film
5. Population Problems
1. Suetonius
2. 12th Century Renaissance
3. Historiography of War in the Roman Republic
4. Russian and Soviet Film
5. Population Problems
January 31, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
Ancient Greek
Apocalyptic Literature
Philosophy of Religion
Film Scoring
Music Cognition
Ancient Greek
Apocalyptic Literature
Philosophy of Religion
Film Scoring
Music Cognition
And in an unbelievable development it’s raining. First time this month.
January 31, 2026 at 12:19 AM
And in an unbelievable development it’s raining. First time this month.
Platforms I have used (roughly in order)
ICQ
MySpace
LinkedIn
Flickr
YouTube
Facebook
Last fm
Twitter
Indaba
SoundCloud
G+
ReverbNation
Instagram
Foursquare
Pinterest
Ello
Ping
Goodreads
Mastodon
Discord
Circle
TikTok
Hive
T2
Bluesky
Threads
Upscrolled
Some were great. Most were a waste of time
ICQ
MySpace
Flickr
YouTube
Last fm
Indaba
SoundCloud
G+
ReverbNation
Foursquare
Ello
Ping
Goodreads
Mastodon
Discord
Circle
TikTok
Hive
T2
Bluesky
Threads
Upscrolled
Some were great. Most were a waste of time
Platforms I have used (roughly in order)
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
Bluesky
Upscrolled
Each have their foibles.
Bluesky
Upscrolled
Each have their foibles.
January 30, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Platforms I have used (roughly in order)
ICQ
MySpace
LinkedIn
Flickr
YouTube
Facebook
Last fm
Twitter
Indaba
SoundCloud
G+
ReverbNation
Instagram
Foursquare
Pinterest
Ello
Ping
Goodreads
Mastodon
Discord
Circle
TikTok
Hive
T2
Bluesky
Threads
Upscrolled
Some were great. Most were a waste of time
ICQ
MySpace
Flickr
YouTube
Last fm
Indaba
SoundCloud
G+
ReverbNation
Foursquare
Ello
Ping
Goodreads
Mastodon
Discord
Circle
TikTok
Hive
T2
Bluesky
Threads
Upscrolled
Some were great. Most were a waste of time
Sometimes I feel like the Tiny House movement might just be a PR campaign to get younger people used to living with less and in smaller spaces. Like imposed economic downward mobility.
And that's me, who already believes in Minimalism, hates McMansions, etc.
And that's me, who already believes in Minimalism, hates McMansions, etc.
January 30, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Sometimes I feel like the Tiny House movement might just be a PR campaign to get younger people used to living with less and in smaller spaces. Like imposed economic downward mobility.
And that's me, who already believes in Minimalism, hates McMansions, etc.
And that's me, who already believes in Minimalism, hates McMansions, etc.
This heatwave has me in the mood for Indian food. Making Chicken 65 for dinner. Might make a Kathi Roll or two for lunch tomorrow.
January 29, 2026 at 9:56 AM
This heatwave has me in the mood for Indian food. Making Chicken 65 for dinner. Might make a Kathi Roll or two for lunch tomorrow.