Mel Woods
@melwoods.me
Senior Editor, Audience Engagement at xtramagazine.com 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
(they/them) from the prairies, now in Vancouver
I also play Magic: The Gathering a lot
Subscribe to my newsletter, Ranch Baby: https://ranch-baby.ghost.io/
Work with me: melwoods.me
(they/them) from the prairies, now in Vancouver
I also play Magic: The Gathering a lot
Subscribe to my newsletter, Ranch Baby: https://ranch-baby.ghost.io/
Work with me: melwoods.me
Pinned
Mel Woods
@melwoods.me
· 5d
2025’s been a long year (and a hard year), but I did a lot of work I’m proud of this year—particularly for a variety of outlets and in a lot of different formats!
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
Reposted by Mel Woods
It would be nice if Canadian journalists started asking our politicians why they continue to use X despite all of the CSAM and fascism, but a lot of Canadian journalists still use it, too.
January 2, 2026 at 5:25 PM
It would be nice if Canadian journalists started asking our politicians why they continue to use X despite all of the CSAM and fascism, but a lot of Canadian journalists still use it, too.
Reposted by Mel Woods
I have expressed this sentiment before, but every day I am amazed at the gulf between the people with legitimate concerns over using AI chatbots for day to day stuff, and the people who are like "AI is inevitable and you're just a stick in the mud for not using it!!"
August 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I have expressed this sentiment before, but every day I am amazed at the gulf between the people with legitimate concerns over using AI chatbots for day to day stuff, and the people who are like "AI is inevitable and you're just a stick in the mud for not using it!!"
Reposted by Mel Woods
Generative AI is not another news industry trend like pivoting to video or podcasts or listicles.
It is an actual threat to the core of what journalism is and why we do it. And I just know there are going to be some deep tensions in adequately covering it in the coming year and beyond.
It is an actual threat to the core of what journalism is and why we do it. And I just know there are going to be some deep tensions in adequately covering it in the coming year and beyond.
January 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Generative AI is not another news industry trend like pivoting to video or podcasts or listicles.
It is an actual threat to the core of what journalism is and why we do it. And I just know there are going to be some deep tensions in adequately covering it in the coming year and beyond.
It is an actual threat to the core of what journalism is and why we do it. And I just know there are going to be some deep tensions in adequately covering it in the coming year and beyond.
Thinking a lot about this prediction of mine from one year ago, and how much worse everything has gotten
I think a key theme in journalism in 2025 is going to be the deep divide between journalists attempting to cover the dangers that generative AI presents as a threat to truth, and news organization leaders pushing to utilize generative AI themselves.
January 2, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Thinking a lot about this prediction of mine from one year ago, and how much worse everything has gotten
Reposted by Mel Woods
AI’s got nothing on good quality dumb entertainment—and only people can make that
2025 was about finding solace in the human-made slop | Xtra Magazine
AI’s got nothing on good quality dumb entertainment—and only people can make that
xtramagazine.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:49 PM
AI’s got nothing on good quality dumb entertainment—and only people can make that
I opted to take Christmas Eve off which means I'm ~ technically ~ back at work today and the vibe is really giving "Friday but make it Monday"
January 2, 2026 at 5:41 PM
I opted to take Christmas Eve off which means I'm ~ technically ~ back at work today and the vibe is really giving "Friday but make it Monday"
I appreciate all of the under-the-radar suggestions, and I'll certainly get to most of them this year at some point!
But do know that the first artist I'm going deep on in 2026 is Celine Dion ... because THIS is the energy I want to set for this year!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJsa...
But do know that the first artist I'm going deep on in 2026 is Celine Dion ... because THIS is the energy I want to set for this year!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJsa...
January 2, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I appreciate all of the under-the-radar suggestions, and I'll certainly get to most of them this year at some point!
But do know that the first artist I'm going deep on in 2026 is Celine Dion ... because THIS is the energy I want to set for this year!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJsa...
But do know that the first artist I'm going deep on in 2026 is Celine Dion ... because THIS is the energy I want to set for this year!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJsa...
Glad to see my story about leaving Twitter at number 2 on this list!
"You don’t have to keep shopping at the grocery store run by fascists if it’s not somewhere that carries the food you need ... Grow your own tomatoes. Trade for a cup of flour with your neighbour."
thetyee.ca/Culture/2025...
"You don’t have to keep shopping at the grocery store run by fascists if it’s not somewhere that carries the food you need ... Grow your own tomatoes. Trade for a cup of flour with your neighbour."
thetyee.ca/Culture/2025...
January 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Glad to see my story about leaving Twitter at number 2 on this list!
"You don’t have to keep shopping at the grocery store run by fascists if it’s not somewhere that carries the food you need ... Grow your own tomatoes. Trade for a cup of flour with your neighbour."
thetyee.ca/Culture/2025...
"You don’t have to keep shopping at the grocery store run by fascists if it’s not somewhere that carries the food you need ... Grow your own tomatoes. Trade for a cup of flour with your neighbour."
thetyee.ca/Culture/2025...
Reposted by Mel Woods
In 2026 I want to expend my music listening beyond what the algorithm serves me by picking one artist a week to go deep into the discography of.
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
December 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
In 2026 I want to expend my music listening beyond what the algorithm serves me by picking one artist a week to go deep into the discography of.
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
Reposted by Mel Woods
Thinking about how Carly Rae Jepsen takes BC ferries to get to the island ... she's just like us
December 31, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Thinking about how Carly Rae Jepsen takes BC ferries to get to the island ... she's just like us
Reposted by Mel Woods
2025’s been a long year (and a hard year), but I did a lot of work I’m proud of this year—particularly for a variety of outlets and in a lot of different formats!
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
December 30, 2025 at 5:36 PM
2025’s been a long year (and a hard year), but I did a lot of work I’m proud of this year—particularly for a variety of outlets and in a lot of different formats!
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
Also I will have you know that this resolution was partially inspired by watching Song Sung Blue and realizing how few Neil Diamond songs I know lolol
In 2026 I want to expend my music listening beyond what the algorithm serves me by picking one artist a week to go deep into the discography of.
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
December 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Also I will have you know that this resolution was partially inspired by watching Song Sung Blue and realizing how few Neil Diamond songs I know lolol
Reposted by Mel Woods
In 2026 I want to expend my music listening beyond what the algorithm serves me by picking one artist a week to go deep into the discography of.
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
December 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
In 2026 I want to expend my music listening beyond what the algorithm serves me by picking one artist a week to go deep into the discography of.
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
Any genre, any era, doesn't even have to be new to me.
All to say, reply or quote this with suggestions! Help me find good new music this year!!
2025’s been a long year (and a hard year), but I did a lot of work I’m proud of this year—particularly for a variety of outlets and in a lot of different formats!
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
December 30, 2025 at 5:36 PM
2025’s been a long year (and a hard year), but I did a lot of work I’m proud of this year—particularly for a variety of outlets and in a lot of different formats!
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
From calling out Danielle Smith’s lies about trans kids to making a gay reality TV podcast, it’s been busy!!
A thread ~
Reposted by Mel Woods
canada’s national identity should just be exporting yaoi we got people fantasizing about OTTAWA
December 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM
canada’s national identity should just be exporting yaoi we got people fantasizing about OTTAWA
Wait, does Netflix have Manti Teo'o on its NFL Christmas broadcast as a brand tie in to the 2022 Netflix original doc about the catfishing thing?
Because that would be craaaazy.
Because that would be craaaazy.
December 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Wait, does Netflix have Manti Teo'o on its NFL Christmas broadcast as a brand tie in to the 2022 Netflix original doc about the catfishing thing?
Because that would be craaaazy.
Because that would be craaaazy.
Merry Christmas from Goo Goo and Hobgoblin ❤️
December 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Merry Christmas from Goo Goo and Hobgoblin ❤️
Gonna try and not be on here for the next week or so and take a break from scrolling.
While it's not nearly as bad as Twitter was, I'm conscious enough that being on here all the time isn't actively good for me.
Time to go craft and clean and play video games for the next little while 😌
While it's not nearly as bad as Twitter was, I'm conscious enough that being on here all the time isn't actively good for me.
Time to go craft and clean and play video games for the next little while 😌
December 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Gonna try and not be on here for the next week or so and take a break from scrolling.
While it's not nearly as bad as Twitter was, I'm conscious enough that being on here all the time isn't actively good for me.
Time to go craft and clean and play video games for the next little while 😌
While it's not nearly as bad as Twitter was, I'm conscious enough that being on here all the time isn't actively good for me.
Time to go craft and clean and play video games for the next little while 😌
Reposted by Mel Woods
"While I’ve appreciated the excellent high-quality art and culture that 2025 has produced ... what I will remember from this year is the pure volume of slop I’ve consumed to keep myself sane through it."
2025 was about finding solace in the human-made slop | Xtra Magazine
AI’s got nothing on good quality dumb entertainment—and only people can make that
xtramagazine.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"While I’ve appreciated the excellent high-quality art and culture that 2025 has produced ... what I will remember from this year is the pure volume of slop I’ve consumed to keep myself sane through it."
All 12 of Xtra's year-end stories (featuring my graphic design ✨) are up on the site now!
Was happy to contribute a bunch to this package
xtramagazine.com/series/rainb...
Was happy to contribute a bunch to this package
xtramagazine.com/series/rainb...
December 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
All 12 of Xtra's year-end stories (featuring my graphic design ✨) are up on the site now!
Was happy to contribute a bunch to this package
xtramagazine.com/series/rainb...
Was happy to contribute a bunch to this package
xtramagazine.com/series/rainb...
Reposted by Mel Woods
As I transition into being "mid-career" and talk more and more with young journalists, I'm hyper aware of how few entry-level opportunities exist for them even compared to when I graduated from my undergrad in 2017.
This AI garbage will exacerbate that problem, I guarantee it
This AI garbage will exacerbate that problem, I guarantee it
I've recently heard the sentiment that "AI is like interns" for journalism all over my LinkedIn feed in that it can do base work but you shouldn't fully trust it.
Ok ... but what happens to actual interns in this world? Where do people learn and fail and grow in their skills and judgement?
Ok ... but what happens to actual interns in this world? Where do people learn and fail and grow in their skills and judgement?
December 18, 2025 at 11:10 PM
As I transition into being "mid-career" and talk more and more with young journalists, I'm hyper aware of how few entry-level opportunities exist for them even compared to when I graduated from my undergrad in 2017.
This AI garbage will exacerbate that problem, I guarantee it
This AI garbage will exacerbate that problem, I guarantee it