Randy Fertel
@rfertel.bsky.social
New Orleans- and NYC-based author of Winging It: Improv's Power and Peril in the Time of Trump.
For more info or to buy your copy, visit: https://linktr.ee/randyfertel
No DMs
For more info or to buy your copy, visit: https://linktr.ee/randyfertel
No DMs
In my latest Substack piece, I argue that the laurels for both cogency to the moment and prescient divination go to George Lucas, whose Revenge of the Sith takes both cakes.
George Lucas as Cassandra
Star Wars and the Autocralypse
randyfertel.substack.com
June 3, 2025 at 6:52 PM
In my latest Substack piece, I argue that the laurels for both cogency to the moment and prescient divination go to George Lucas, whose Revenge of the Sith takes both cakes.
Speaking of @margaretatwood.bsky.social and her once “dystopian,” now prescient novel… At the 2019 Key West Literary Seminar, I asked her to sign my copy of The Handmaid’s Tale and gave her a copy of my second book, A Taste for Chaos. When she saw the cover with Hermes she said,
May 14, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Speaking of @margaretatwood.bsky.social and her once “dystopian,” now prescient novel… At the 2019 Key West Literary Seminar, I asked her to sign my copy of The Handmaid’s Tale and gave her a copy of my second book, A Taste for Chaos. When she saw the cover with Hermes she said,
Between @margaretatwood.bsky.social's Handmaid's Tale, #Andor, and #Daredevil Born Again, Hollywood—or Disney+ at least—clearly has Trump’s number.
May 13, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Between @margaretatwood.bsky.social's Handmaid's Tale, #Andor, and #Daredevil Born Again, Hollywood—or Disney+ at least—clearly has Trump’s number.
Hollywood—or Disney+ at least—clearly has Trump’s number.
Many readers wondered at the precision with which @margaretatwood.bsky.social’s 1985 Handmaid’s Tale anticipated Trump’s patriarchal MAGA world. Then, the very year Trump gained the White House,
Many readers wondered at the precision with which @margaretatwood.bsky.social’s 1985 Handmaid’s Tale anticipated Trump’s patriarchal MAGA world. Then, the very year Trump gained the White House,
May 12, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Hollywood—or Disney+ at least—clearly has Trump’s number.
Many readers wondered at the precision with which @margaretatwood.bsky.social’s 1985 Handmaid’s Tale anticipated Trump’s patriarchal MAGA world. Then, the very year Trump gained the White House,
Many readers wondered at the precision with which @margaretatwood.bsky.social’s 1985 Handmaid’s Tale anticipated Trump’s patriarchal MAGA world. Then, the very year Trump gained the White House,
Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn with an op-ed in the NYT this weekend, where she, like me, champions the power of improv to both bring joy and provide a way forward:
Opinion | Watergate-Era Washington Was Less Toxic Than This
www.nytimes.com
May 12, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn with an op-ed in the NYT this weekend, where she, like me, champions the power of improv to both bring joy and provide a way forward:
Continuing on the theme of Vietnam this week and last, I'm reflecting on how lucky we are to have a vibrant Vietnamese community in #NewOrleans, and to enjoy some truly incredible Vietnamese restaurants. I’ve rounded up a list of my favorites.
Do you agree with my list? Which would you add?
Do you agree with my list? Which would you add?
May 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Continuing on the theme of Vietnam this week and last, I'm reflecting on how lucky we are to have a vibrant Vietnamese community in #NewOrleans, and to enjoy some truly incredible Vietnamese restaurants. I’ve rounded up a list of my favorites.
Do you agree with my list? Which would you add?
Do you agree with my list? Which would you add?
This week's Substack piece, on #JazzFest, #NewOrleans and #Louisiana music, and seizing the opportunity to practice listening — and experience joy.
randyfertel.substack.com/p/a-lesson-i...
randyfertel.substack.com/p/a-lesson-i...
A Lesson in Listening at Jazz Fest
The joys that energize us—and are worth fighting to retain.
randyfertel.substack.com
April 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This week's Substack piece, on #JazzFest, #NewOrleans and #Louisiana music, and seizing the opportunity to practice listening — and experience joy.
randyfertel.substack.com/p/a-lesson-i...
randyfertel.substack.com/p/a-lesson-i...
Tariffs are the 21st century’s Trickle Down Economics.
April 16, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Tariffs are the 21st century’s Trickle Down Economics.
"It was on these streets—South Rampart between Perdido and Gravier—where #LouisArmstrong walked along in 1910 singing for coins with his “spasm band,” named for their jerky dancing style. His singing was so good that a friend dragged Jelly Roll Morton across Canal from Storyville to hear him...
April 14, 2025 at 10:31 PM
"It was on these streets—South Rampart between Perdido and Gravier—where #LouisArmstrong walked along in 1910 singing for coins with his “spasm band,” named for their jerky dancing style. His singing was so good that a friend dragged Jelly Roll Morton across Canal from Storyville to hear him...
What can Bugs Bunny's shape-shifting, cunning intelligence teach us about dealing with a Tasmanian Devil of whirling, dim-witted chaos, a one-man kleptocracy without a base?
April 8, 2025 at 8:16 PM
What can Bugs Bunny's shape-shifting, cunning intelligence teach us about dealing with a Tasmanian Devil of whirling, dim-witted chaos, a one-man kleptocracy without a base?
Trying to make sense of Trump’s hold on America and the havoc he and Elon Musk wreak, I struggle to find “an adequate metaphor” jazz commentator Albert Murray thought we should seek for “contemporary actuality.” How can I delineate #Trump and #Musk’s power and suggest perhaps how to contain them?
April 7, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Randy Fertel
Reposted by Randy Fertel
I can’t believe this is real! It’s like the worst caricature of how the right says Soros does politics.
In a video posted by Elon Musk’s PAC, a $1M check recipient linked voting to receiving the money:
“My name’s Ekaterina Deistler. …I did exactly what Elon Musk told everyone to do: sign the petition, refer friends and family, vote, and now I have a million dollars.”
“My name’s Ekaterina Deistler. …I did exactly what Elon Musk told everyone to do: sign the petition, refer friends and family, vote, and now I have a million dollars.”
March 31, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I can’t believe this is real! It’s like the worst caricature of how the right says Soros does politics.
Reposted by Randy Fertel
And yet Joe Rogan puts guests on who say "Vaccines aren't actually responsible for the reduction in infectious diseases.”
March 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
And yet Joe Rogan puts guests on who say "Vaccines aren't actually responsible for the reduction in infectious diseases.”
Reposted by Randy Fertel
He said he was going to make things cheaper and now he’s saying “I couldn’t care less if they raise prices.”
March 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
He said he was going to make things cheaper and now he’s saying “I couldn’t care less if they raise prices.”
Reposted by Randy Fertel
Are you READY?! 🤚
Let’s. Do. This. 😎✨
Let’s. Do. This. 😎✨
March 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Are you READY?! 🤚
Let’s. Do. This. 😎✨
Let’s. Do. This. 😎✨
The Orange Man. Almost ruins citrus for me.
March 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The Orange Man. Almost ruins citrus for me.
Reposted by Randy Fertel
This Saturday, March 29th at 10 am in the Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom, I’m speaking at The Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival on the panel “Early New Orleans Jazz and its Neighborhoods." Given the topic, and the impending arrival of #JazzFest visitors from around the world,
The Fertel Funky Tour
Part 1 in a 2-part series on New Orleans culture and music
randyfertel.substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This Saturday, March 29th at 10 am in the Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom, I’m speaking at The Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival on the panel “Early New Orleans Jazz and its Neighborhoods." Given the topic, and the impending arrival of #JazzFest visitors from around the world,
I’m looking forward to tomorrow night’s Edible Evening 2025, in support of Edible Schoolyard #NewOrleans. As president of the Ruth U. Fertel Foundation, we’re proud to be a supporting sponsor of the event. Tickets are still available, via esynola.org/edibleevening
March 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I’m looking forward to tomorrow night’s Edible Evening 2025, in support of Edible Schoolyard #NewOrleans. As president of the Ruth U. Fertel Foundation, we’re proud to be a supporting sponsor of the event. Tickets are still available, via esynola.org/edibleevening
Thought I’d employ a little improv in this corner of the internet… Welcome to “Winging It With Randy” Part 1: favorite #writers and #NewOrleans #books.
What do you think? What questions should I answer next?
What do you think? What questions should I answer next?
March 21, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Thought I’d employ a little improv in this corner of the internet… Welcome to “Winging It With Randy” Part 1: favorite #writers and #NewOrleans #books.
What do you think? What questions should I answer next?
What do you think? What questions should I answer next?
Reposted by Randy Fertel
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Violets are blue
March 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Violets are blue
I had a great time talking New Orleans, improv, politics, trickster, Jung, Hillman, and the Greeks on Jon Wilson’s podcast, “Jung and the World” last week. Listen to the whole episode here: open.substack.com/pub/jonwilso...
March 19, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I had a great time talking New Orleans, improv, politics, trickster, Jung, Hillman, and the Greeks on Jon Wilson’s podcast, “Jung and the World” last week. Listen to the whole episode here: open.substack.com/pub/jonwilso...
Reposted by Randy Fertel
When you erase the history of the code talkers, you are erasing the history of the Second World War.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
Amid ‘DEI’ purge, Pentagon removes webpage on Iwo Jima flag-raiser
Pages celebrating Navajo code talkers and other minority service members were also erased.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
When you erase the history of the code talkers, you are erasing the history of the Second World War.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...