Lydia Laurenson
@lydialaurenson.bsky.social
single mom with a hell of a backstory
lydialaurenson.substack.com // thenewmodality.com
lydialaurenson.substack.com // thenewmodality.com
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
I recall reading an interview with a fella a few years ago in which he said, “Yeah, I met Epstein once. Vibes were off.”
I am acquainted with @lydialaurenson.bsky.social. She is not exaggerating about living a Weird Stuff life, such that her Vibes Were Off account here is terrifying.
2/2
I am acquainted with @lydialaurenson.bsky.social. She is not exaggerating about living a Weird Stuff life, such that her Vibes Were Off account here is terrifying.
2/2
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I recall reading an interview with a fella a few years ago in which he said, “Yeah, I met Epstein once. Vibes were off.”
I am acquainted with @lydialaurenson.bsky.social. She is not exaggerating about living a Weird Stuff life, such that her Vibes Were Off account here is terrifying.
2/2
I am acquainted with @lydialaurenson.bsky.social. She is not exaggerating about living a Weird Stuff life, such that her Vibes Were Off account here is terrifying.
2/2
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
❝
⋯the entire interaction had been so weird that I was sure something sketchy was happening, somewhere, in Epstein’s orbit. But at the same time, I did not feel that I had any power to affect things: He was operating right out in the open; he obviously felt that he had impunity.
❞
1/2
⋯the entire interaction had been so weird that I was sure something sketchy was happening, somewhere, in Epstein’s orbit. But at the same time, I did not feel that I had any power to affect things: He was operating right out in the open; he obviously felt that he had impunity.
❞
1/2
"It's Just Politics:" The Time I Met Jeffrey Epstein, Twice
The single most bizarre meeting of my life
lydialaurenson.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
❝
⋯the entire interaction had been so weird that I was sure something sketchy was happening, somewhere, in Epstein’s orbit. But at the same time, I did not feel that I had any power to affect things: He was operating right out in the open; he obviously felt that he had impunity.
❞
1/2
⋯the entire interaction had been so weird that I was sure something sketchy was happening, somewhere, in Epstein’s orbit. But at the same time, I did not feel that I had any power to affect things: He was operating right out in the open; he obviously felt that he had impunity.
❞
1/2
(screenshot of text posted with permission)
October 22, 2025 at 11:30 PM
(screenshot of text posted with permission)
I wrote a post-Slutcon update! Also reposted an old interview that I did a while back, with an anthropologist who studies poly families. Plus some links to other stuff I mentioned in my Slutcon session, including a post about intergenerational co-living communities
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
Poly Family Anthropology: Interview with Eli Sheff (2018), Plus A Slutcon Update
Decades of research into polyamorous families
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I wrote a post-Slutcon update! Also reposted an old interview that I did a while back, with an anthropologist who studies poly families. Plus some links to other stuff I mentioned in my Slutcon session, including a post about intergenerational co-living communities
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
"If you think merely being brilliant is enough to make a person successful — or even good at surviving — then you haven’t met enough brilliant people. On the other hand, what is survival? What is success?"
A poignant, immensely courageous and most thought provoking essay, by a fellow alumna.
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children.
By Lydia Laurenson
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children.
By Lydia Laurenson
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children
open.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:19 PM
"If you think merely being brilliant is enough to make a person successful — or even good at surviving — then you haven’t met enough brilliant people. On the other hand, what is survival? What is success?"
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
A poignant, immensely courageous and most thought provoking essay, by a fellow alumna.
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children.
By Lydia Laurenson
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children.
By Lydia Laurenson
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children
open.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:44 AM
A poignant, immensely courageous and most thought provoking essay, by a fellow alumna.
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children.
By Lydia Laurenson
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
College at Age Sixteen: What Is Intelligence For?
Simon's Rock College, and the Center for Talented Youth, and the challenge of gifted children.
By Lydia Laurenson
open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
If anyone can teach us about the real-world consequences of cancel culture, it's @lydialaurenson.bsky.social
For the season finale of The Ick, her essay brings down the house: www.emilybynight.com/p/how-i-got-...
For the season finale of The Ick, her essay brings down the house: www.emilybynight.com/p/how-i-got-...
How I Got Canceled by the Left and Right
What cancel culture reveals and conceals about redemption
www.emilybynight.com
September 6, 2025 at 5:35 PM
If anyone can teach us about the real-world consequences of cancel culture, it's @lydialaurenson.bsky.social
For the season finale of The Ick, her essay brings down the house: www.emilybynight.com/p/how-i-got-...
For the season finale of The Ick, her essay brings down the house: www.emilybynight.com/p/how-i-got-...
If you’re an American with aging parents: TIL each state has a Department of Aging. You can call them for your parents’ state and ask what local resources are available.
This might include advisors for all kinds of problems and even physical (non-medical) help, e.g. for cleaning or space organizing
This might include advisors for all kinds of problems and even physical (non-medical) help, e.g. for cleaning or space organizing
September 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
If you’re an American with aging parents: TIL each state has a Department of Aging. You can call them for your parents’ state and ask what local resources are available.
This might include advisors for all kinds of problems and even physical (non-medical) help, e.g. for cleaning or space organizing
This might include advisors for all kinds of problems and even physical (non-medical) help, e.g. for cleaning or space organizing
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
seen on fbook this morning
August 23, 2025 at 3:58 PM
seen on fbook this morning
You would think I’d already know this, but I don’t:
Is there any process whatsoever by which an individual mentioned in the media can complain to the media organization in question, about how a journalist handled the situation?
Or is the only recourse a defamation lawsuit?
Is there any process whatsoever by which an individual mentioned in the media can complain to the media organization in question, about how a journalist handled the situation?
Or is the only recourse a defamation lawsuit?
August 23, 2025 at 12:21 AM
You would think I’d already know this, but I don’t:
Is there any process whatsoever by which an individual mentioned in the media can complain to the media organization in question, about how a journalist handled the situation?
Or is the only recourse a defamation lawsuit?
Is there any process whatsoever by which an individual mentioned in the media can complain to the media organization in question, about how a journalist handled the situation?
Or is the only recourse a defamation lawsuit?
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
Whoever is giving out the bunny stickers and things, bring some to reg? 🥺
August 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Whoever is giving out the bunny stickers and things, bring some to reg? 🥺
My talk at @hope.net went well :) I’m happy to be meeting so many interesting people here - and I’m lucky my talk was on the early side, so I can now chill and watch other people’s talks :) I’ll post the talk recording link soon!
Check out our very own @heretic.li at @hope.net later this week! You won't want to miss Bitpart, our 5-in-1 platform that works over Signal.
Hey if you're going to be in #NYC on 8/15 come see my talk @hope.net about a project I've been working on for the last couple years! schedule.hope.net/hope16/talk/...
August 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
My talk at @hope.net went well :) I’m happy to be meeting so many interesting people here - and I’m lucky my talk was on the early side, so I can now chill and watch other people’s talks :) I’ll post the talk recording link soon!
While refactoring a lot of my personal security protocols, I recently started using privacy dot com. This is a service that connects to your bank account and generates individual “card numbers” you can use to pay for things without giving your main credit card number, which means that…
July 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
While refactoring a lot of my personal security protocols, I recently started using privacy dot com. This is a service that connects to your bank account and generates individual “card numbers” you can use to pay for things without giving your main credit card number, which means that…
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
Supreme Court justices trying to recreate feudal monarchy entirely within the framework of a constitutional republic like a bored programmer trying to run DOOM on a smart fridge
June 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Supreme Court justices trying to recreate feudal monarchy entirely within the framework of a constitutional republic like a bored programmer trying to run DOOM on a smart fridge
June 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I’m at the Norman Rockwell Museum @normanrockwellm.bsky.social today.
I was today years old when I learned that this picture, often used in memes, (a) was painted by Norman Rockwell and (b) is actually titled “Freedom of Speech”
I was today years old when I learned that this picture, often used in memes, (a) was painted by Norman Rockwell and (b) is actually titled “Freedom of Speech”
June 8, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I’m at the Norman Rockwell Museum @normanrockwellm.bsky.social today.
I was today years old when I learned that this picture, often used in memes, (a) was painted by Norman Rockwell and (b) is actually titled “Freedom of Speech”
I was today years old when I learned that this picture, often used in memes, (a) was painted by Norman Rockwell and (b) is actually titled “Freedom of Speech”
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
Worthwhile account of what it was like to start questioning our ability to know what's actually going in our own country in the current media landscape.
Not explicitly stated, but I read this as partly about death of local news removing an empirical check on national outlets
Not explicitly stated, but I read this as partly about death of local news removing an empirical check on national outlets
June 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Worthwhile account of what it was like to start questioning our ability to know what's actually going in our own country in the current media landscape.
Not explicitly stated, but I read this as partly about death of local news removing an empirical check on national outlets
Not explicitly stated, but I read this as partly about death of local news removing an empirical check on national outlets
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
Thrilled to announce Season 4 of The Ick, featuring writing from @eurydicelives.blogsky.venki.dev, @jakee.bsky.social, @lydialaurenson.bsky.social, @ninatummyache.bsky.social, @deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com + more surprise guests TBA!
June 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Thrilled to announce Season 4 of The Ick, featuring writing from @eurydicelives.blogsky.venki.dev, @jakee.bsky.social, @lydialaurenson.bsky.social, @ninatummyache.bsky.social, @deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com + more surprise guests TBA!
ok fine I wrote something about the New Yorker article open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
About the Curtis Yarvin "New Yorker" Profile
A statement on my ex-fiancé
open.substack.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
ok fine I wrote something about the New Yorker article open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
Just posted my interview from yesterday with @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social about his book, “The Reactionary Spirit.” 💫
Audio, background notes, and transcript are all here: open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
Audio, background notes, and transcript are all here: open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
"The Reactionary Spirit:" Interview with Zack Beauchamp of Vox
Zack and I discuss reactionary politics, polarization, and hints of cultural transformation
open.substack.com
June 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Just posted my interview from yesterday with @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social about his book, “The Reactionary Spirit.” 💫
Audio, background notes, and transcript are all here: open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
Audio, background notes, and transcript are all here: open.substack.com/pub/lydialau...
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
One of my husband Robert's favorite quotes comes from Horace Greeley, a newspaper man who founded the New York Tribune so many years ago. I think of it often:
“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.”
“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.”
May 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
One of my husband Robert's favorite quotes comes from Horace Greeley, a newspaper man who founded the New York Tribune so many years ago. I think of it often:
“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.”
“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.”
Reposted by Lydia Laurenson
I have a deep aversion to local TV news, but now I am ON it because last year, the power company Arizona Public Service cut off electricity to my mother’s house outside of Phoenix, killing her.
82-year-old APS customer died after power was shut off in May 2024
An 82-year-old woman died in May 2024 after her power was cut off on a very hot day. Her son and an advocate say this shows an issue with state policies.
www.12news.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:55 AM
I have a deep aversion to local TV news, but now I am ON it because last year, the power company Arizona Public Service cut off electricity to my mother’s house outside of Phoenix, killing her.
I learned to vibe code and made an artificial intelligence fact-checker in an afternoon. Now I have new thoughts about the future of media
lydialaurenson.substack.com/p/vibe-codin...
lydialaurenson.substack.com/p/vibe-codin...
Vibe Coding and The Future of Media: I (Sort Of) Built An AI Fact-Checker
How I learned to stop worrying and love what artificial intelligence will do for journalism
lydialaurenson.substack.com
April 14, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I learned to vibe code and made an artificial intelligence fact-checker in an afternoon. Now I have new thoughts about the future of media
lydialaurenson.substack.com/p/vibe-codin...
lydialaurenson.substack.com/p/vibe-codin...
I have an ongoing fascination with how it’s affected Twitter/X for all users to infer that the website owner can probably see their private likes on posts
April 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I have an ongoing fascination with how it’s affected Twitter/X for all users to infer that the website owner can probably see their private likes on posts