Melanie Kahl
@melaniekahl.bsky.social
Flourishing futures, together.
Meld Studio: Design research, strategy, facilitation, & teaching
fmr Meta, New_Public, Dalberg
📍www.melaniekahl.com
💌 melaniekahl.substack.com
📸 bio.site/melaniekahl
"to see small beginnings is clearness of sight"
Meld Studio: Design research, strategy, facilitation, & teaching
fmr Meta, New_Public, Dalberg
📍www.melaniekahl.com
💌 melaniekahl.substack.com
📸 bio.site/melaniekahl
"to see small beginnings is clearness of sight"
"I left our conversation feeling both grounded and lit up."
I love helping people root and reframe... and feel like more is possible. Getting this note after a coaching chat was affirming.
I love helping people root and reframe... and feel like more is possible. Getting this note after a coaching chat was affirming.
July 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
"I left our conversation feeling both grounded and lit up."
I love helping people root and reframe... and feel like more is possible. Getting this note after a coaching chat was affirming.
I love helping people root and reframe... and feel like more is possible. Getting this note after a coaching chat was affirming.
After last week’s attack, I remembered this exchange between @warren.senate.gov & @karaswisher.bsky.social:
🎙️“Are you yourself fearful of your safety?”
👩🏻🦳“…I don't want to publicly answer that question...”
🎙️“Well?”
👩🏻🦳“I don't want to talk about it.”
🎙️“Are you yourself fearful of your safety?”
👩🏻🦳“…I don't want to publicly answer that question...”
🎙️“Well?”
👩🏻🦳“I don't want to talk about it.”
June 20, 2025 at 2:36 AM
After last week’s attack, I remembered this exchange between @warren.senate.gov & @karaswisher.bsky.social:
🎙️“Are you yourself fearful of your safety?”
👩🏻🦳“…I don't want to publicly answer that question...”
🎙️“Well?”
👩🏻🦳“I don't want to talk about it.”
🎙️“Are you yourself fearful of your safety?”
👩🏻🦳“…I don't want to publicly answer that question...”
🎙️“Well?”
👩🏻🦳“I don't want to talk about it.”
I’m wondering how this whole “work to get social benefits” and “ai is wiping out jobs” thing is gonna shake out.
June 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I’m wondering how this whole “work to get social benefits” and “ai is wiping out jobs” thing is gonna shake out.
“We’re halfway between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day—the messy middle. Perhaps this in-between time is for thinking about all the in-between adults that love our children into being.”
My sparkly neighbor shared an excerpt of our piece on creative kinship this week
open.substack.com/pub/sparklan...
My sparkly neighbor shared an excerpt of our piece on creative kinship this week
open.substack.com/pub/sparklan...
🔭🗺️🧭 Explore: Guncles, Godmothers, and the Need for More Good Adults In Kid’s Lives
Welcome to Sparklandia ⚡️🪩⚡️
An alternative empire with a mission to spark better living—boosting your energy, renewing optimism, & building community. This ship is captained by Mary Bergstrom + the e...
open.substack.com
May 29, 2025 at 4:10 AM
“We’re halfway between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day—the messy middle. Perhaps this in-between time is for thinking about all the in-between adults that love our children into being.”
My sparkly neighbor shared an excerpt of our piece on creative kinship this week
open.substack.com/pub/sparklan...
My sparkly neighbor shared an excerpt of our piece on creative kinship this week
open.substack.com/pub/sparklan...
“The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place.” 🐚
🌀The edges are where life evolves.
In the sea, but also in our systems, organizations, and disciplines. Look to the edges.
Happy belated, Rachel Carson.
🌀The edges are where life evolves.
In the sea, but also in our systems, organizations, and disciplines. Look to the edges.
Happy belated, Rachel Carson.
May 29, 2025 at 1:14 AM
“The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place.” 🐚
🌀The edges are where life evolves.
In the sea, but also in our systems, organizations, and disciplines. Look to the edges.
Happy belated, Rachel Carson.
🌀The edges are where life evolves.
In the sea, but also in our systems, organizations, and disciplines. Look to the edges.
Happy belated, Rachel Carson.
Slides, cells, sticky notes, social missives—
Does your brain ever get tired from thinking in little boxes?
What’s gained? What’s lost?
What’s changed?
Does your brain ever get tired from thinking in little boxes?
What’s gained? What’s lost?
What’s changed?
May 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Slides, cells, sticky notes, social missives—
Does your brain ever get tired from thinking in little boxes?
What’s gained? What’s lost?
What’s changed?
Does your brain ever get tired from thinking in little boxes?
What’s gained? What’s lost?
What’s changed?
Here’s the thing about me:
I keep state fact sheets about Medicaid on hand when in the comments section.
It’s honest work.
I try to stay grounded.
www.kff.org/interactive/...
👀
I keep state fact sheets about Medicaid on hand when in the comments section.
It’s honest work.
I try to stay grounded.
www.kff.org/interactive/...
👀
May 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Here’s the thing about me:
I keep state fact sheets about Medicaid on hand when in the comments section.
It’s honest work.
I try to stay grounded.
www.kff.org/interactive/...
👀
I keep state fact sheets about Medicaid on hand when in the comments section.
It’s honest work.
I try to stay grounded.
www.kff.org/interactive/...
👀
Can we build a world worthy of our daughters’ dreams?
Reflections from an auntie and designer on Mother's Day on little worlds and worldbuilding.
open.substack.com/pub/themeld/...
Reflections from an auntie and designer on Mother's Day on little worlds and worldbuilding.
open.substack.com/pub/themeld/...
May 12, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Can we build a world worthy of our daughters’ dreams?
Reflections from an auntie and designer on Mother's Day on little worlds and worldbuilding.
open.substack.com/pub/themeld/...
Reflections from an auntie and designer on Mother's Day on little worlds and worldbuilding.
open.substack.com/pub/themeld/...
Apocalypse friends only.
May 2, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Apocalypse friends only.
This is disgusting.
But it also the type of move that sets back 20 years of progress in digital services and community engagement.
How will we reach communities in the future as a government if we’ve done the EXACT OPPOSITE from what we promised.
But it also the type of move that sets back 20 years of progress in digital services and community engagement.
How will we reach communities in the future as a government if we’ve done the EXACT OPPOSITE from what we promised.
Breaking News: The IRS agreed to share information with ICE to help locate people for deportation, court records show. This is a fundamental change in the IRS, which had gained the trust of migrants and encouraged them to file their taxes.
I.R.S. Agrees to Share Migrants’ Tax Information with ICE
The agreement is a major departure from the Internal Revenue Service’s efforts to gain the trust of migrants and encourage them to file their taxes.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
This is disgusting.
But it also the type of move that sets back 20 years of progress in digital services and community engagement.
How will we reach communities in the future as a government if we’ve done the EXACT OPPOSITE from what we promised.
But it also the type of move that sets back 20 years of progress in digital services and community engagement.
How will we reach communities in the future as a government if we’ve done the EXACT OPPOSITE from what we promised.
Reposted by Melanie Kahl
Although most abortions remain illegal in Alabama, the decision allows doctors and advocacy groups to tell patients about abortion options in other states, and help with travel and other costs.
Judge rules Alabama can't prosecute groups helping patients get abortions elsewhere
Although most abortions remain illegal in Alabama, the decision allows doctors and advocacy groups to tell patients about abortion options in other states, and help with travel and other costs
www.npr.org
April 3, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Although most abortions remain illegal in Alabama, the decision allows doctors and advocacy groups to tell patients about abortion options in other states, and help with travel and other costs.
April 2, 2025 at 2:56 AM
I’ve always thought that Facebook’s newsfeed was the equivalent of slapping an interstate highway through a vibrant neighborhood.
Now, they are “beta testing” a friends only feed.
Get real.
The damage is done.
Now, they are “beta testing” a friends only feed.
Get real.
The damage is done.
March 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I’ve always thought that Facebook’s newsfeed was the equivalent of slapping an interstate highway through a vibrant neighborhood.
Now, they are “beta testing” a friends only feed.
Get real.
The damage is done.
Now, they are “beta testing” a friends only feed.
Get real.
The damage is done.
Indi is one of the only people talking about the deeper, cognitive aspects of design research.
As someone who studied learning, I appreciate it so!
As someone who studied learning, I appreciate it so!
They promise "this new thing will save us time!" "We'll have time to play more." (No one mentions "volunteer more.") I am dubious.
People are not that simple.
People are not that simple.
March 25, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Indi is one of the only people talking about the deeper, cognitive aspects of design research.
As someone who studied learning, I appreciate it so!
As someone who studied learning, I appreciate it so!
“Head in the clouds”
“Blue sky thinking”
My 13-yo neighbor makes the most fanciful things.
“Blue sky thinking”
My 13-yo neighbor makes the most fanciful things.
March 24, 2025 at 1:10 AM
“Head in the clouds”
“Blue sky thinking”
My 13-yo neighbor makes the most fanciful things.
“Blue sky thinking”
My 13-yo neighbor makes the most fanciful things.
Reposted by Melanie Kahl
Today I lost an NIH grant training clinicians to do research about intimate partner violence with perinatal women.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
March 22, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Today I lost an NIH grant training clinicians to do research about intimate partner violence with perinatal women.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
Long-distance auntie tips:
🎊 Mark not-so-mini milestones (potty, big kid bed)
💌 Celebrate in between holidays (eg valentines)
🚌 Join school drop-off when home
📆 Schedule or squeeze in 15-min-calls
📫 Send postcards from biz trips
📚Start book club
🎊 Mark not-so-mini milestones (potty, big kid bed)
💌 Celebrate in between holidays (eg valentines)
🚌 Join school drop-off when home
📆 Schedule or squeeze in 15-min-calls
📫 Send postcards from biz trips
📚Start book club
March 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Long-distance auntie tips:
🎊 Mark not-so-mini milestones (potty, big kid bed)
💌 Celebrate in between holidays (eg valentines)
🚌 Join school drop-off when home
📆 Schedule or squeeze in 15-min-calls
📫 Send postcards from biz trips
📚Start book club
🎊 Mark not-so-mini milestones (potty, big kid bed)
💌 Celebrate in between holidays (eg valentines)
🚌 Join school drop-off when home
📆 Schedule or squeeze in 15-min-calls
📫 Send postcards from biz trips
📚Start book club
Don’t comply in advance.
Hold fast, USADF.
Hold fast, USADF.
Some "Russian Warship" vibes here from a tiny fed'l agency.
via Brett Murphy:
The African Development Foundation (budget ~$40 million) is putting up a fight and denying DOGE + Pete Marocco — the State Dept official dismantling USAID — access to their building:
via Brett Murphy:
The African Development Foundation (budget ~$40 million) is putting up a fight and denying DOGE + Pete Marocco — the State Dept official dismantling USAID — access to their building:
March 6, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Don’t comply in advance.
Hold fast, USADF.
Hold fast, USADF.
Whenever a house republican posts, remind them (and their comment section) of how much of their constituency is on Medicaid/CHIPS.
Link to fact sheet. Socialize facts.
State fact sheets: @kff.org www.kff.org/interactive/...
By county: ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/02/06/m...
Link to fact sheet. Socialize facts.
State fact sheets: @kff.org www.kff.org/interactive/...
By county: ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/02/06/m...
Medicaid State Fact Sheets | KFF
What percentage of people are covered by Medicaid in your state? Our State Medicaid fact sheets provide a snapshot with key data for Medicaid in every state related to current coverage, access, and fi...
www.kff.org
March 4, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Whenever a house republican posts, remind them (and their comment section) of how much of their constituency is on Medicaid/CHIPS.
Link to fact sheet. Socialize facts.
State fact sheets: @kff.org www.kff.org/interactive/...
By county: ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/02/06/m...
Link to fact sheet. Socialize facts.
State fact sheets: @kff.org www.kff.org/interactive/...
By county: ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/02/06/m...
Designers must craft and hold processes where people can practice together.
When people have a felt experience of what’s possible, they can make it reality.
Especially now.
When people have a felt experience of what’s possible, they can make it reality.
Especially now.
February 26, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Designers must craft and hold processes where people can practice together.
When people have a felt experience of what’s possible, they can make it reality.
Especially now.
When people have a felt experience of what’s possible, they can make it reality.
Especially now.
We need like 3 billionaire divorcées, stat.
Stave off the apocalypse and help us birth something new.
Stave off the apocalypse and help us birth something new.
If I were MacKenzie Scott, I would simply start a newspaper based in Washington DC.
February 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
We need like 3 billionaire divorcées, stat.
Stave off the apocalypse and help us birth something new.
Stave off the apocalypse and help us birth something new.
#TheOscars are next Sunday.
What if celebrities shared the mic with civil servants?
Here are some of the pairings I’d draft:
🎤Cynthia Erivo and the NEA’s Maria Rosario Jackson
🎤Timothèe Chalamet and Kennedy Center’s Deborah Rutter
🎤The Wild Robot and National Park Rangers
💭 Who would you add?
What if celebrities shared the mic with civil servants?
Here are some of the pairings I’d draft:
🎤Cynthia Erivo and the NEA’s Maria Rosario Jackson
🎤Timothèe Chalamet and Kennedy Center’s Deborah Rutter
🎤The Wild Robot and National Park Rangers
💭 Who would you add?
February 24, 2025 at 4:01 AM
#TheOscars are next Sunday.
What if celebrities shared the mic with civil servants?
Here are some of the pairings I’d draft:
🎤Cynthia Erivo and the NEA’s Maria Rosario Jackson
🎤Timothèe Chalamet and Kennedy Center’s Deborah Rutter
🎤The Wild Robot and National Park Rangers
💭 Who would you add?
What if celebrities shared the mic with civil servants?
Here are some of the pairings I’d draft:
🎤Cynthia Erivo and the NEA’s Maria Rosario Jackson
🎤Timothèe Chalamet and Kennedy Center’s Deborah Rutter
🎤The Wild Robot and National Park Rangers
💭 Who would you add?
This year is the 150th anniversary of Carmen.
The @detroitsymphony.bsky.social is putting on a show— and they are live streaming it Sunday at 3pm.
🎭🎶 Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=83CV...
(Bonus: My twin-in-law, Claire, is in the chorus.)
The @detroitsymphony.bsky.social is putting on a show— and they are live streaming it Sunday at 3pm.
🎭🎶 Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=83CV...
(Bonus: My twin-in-law, Claire, is in the chorus.)
BIZET'S CARMEN - Sunday Feb. 23
YouTube video by Detroit Symphony Orchestra
www.youtube.com
February 23, 2025 at 12:58 AM
This year is the 150th anniversary of Carmen.
The @detroitsymphony.bsky.social is putting on a show— and they are live streaming it Sunday at 3pm.
🎭🎶 Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=83CV...
(Bonus: My twin-in-law, Claire, is in the chorus.)
The @detroitsymphony.bsky.social is putting on a show— and they are live streaming it Sunday at 3pm.
🎭🎶 Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=83CV...
(Bonus: My twin-in-law, Claire, is in the chorus.)
Neighbors helping neighbors.
Who doesn’t need a giant cake to pop out of?
Less facisim, more joy.
Who doesn’t need a giant cake to pop out of?
Less facisim, more joy.
February 22, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Neighbors helping neighbors.
Who doesn’t need a giant cake to pop out of?
Less facisim, more joy.
Who doesn’t need a giant cake to pop out of?
Less facisim, more joy.
💯
I’ve always wanted to burst the bubble. If I was a foundation, I’d fund relational cross pollination:
Imagine if every professional conference reserved:
10% seats for other professions
10% seats for students
10% for everyday folks & enthusiasts
70/30 Rule?
Open to critique on ratios.
I’ve always wanted to burst the bubble. If I was a foundation, I’d fund relational cross pollination:
Imagine if every professional conference reserved:
10% seats for other professions
10% seats for students
10% for everyday folks & enthusiasts
70/30 Rule?
Open to critique on ratios.
Professions talk to themselves too much.
February 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
💯
I’ve always wanted to burst the bubble. If I was a foundation, I’d fund relational cross pollination:
Imagine if every professional conference reserved:
10% seats for other professions
10% seats for students
10% for everyday folks & enthusiasts
70/30 Rule?
Open to critique on ratios.
I’ve always wanted to burst the bubble. If I was a foundation, I’d fund relational cross pollination:
Imagine if every professional conference reserved:
10% seats for other professions
10% seats for students
10% for everyday folks & enthusiasts
70/30 Rule?
Open to critique on ratios.