Connecting with real life

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
— Annie Dillard

I’ve been back in my hometown for a week now, and this place is so full of memories and feelings that it takes a little time to adjust and settle into a rhythm that fits here. Among all the changes, one feeling keeps resurfacing: several times a day, I’m struck by a sense of what real life is.

It’s as if I’ve been living in a bubble for the past nine months—and honestly, I think that’s partly true. Real life—in this case, my case—means the kind of life most people around me live. And it’s very different from the one I was living before I came back.

Here, life feels more rooted:

• Community: It’s a small village, so people talk to each other a lot—which I love. There’s also plenty of gossip (which I love just as much). I can almost see the web of connections between people.

• Work: Most folks don’t spend their days in front of a computer. Their jobs are varied—working in vineyards, running shops, waiting tables.

• Trends: People here aren’t plugged into the same (mostly internet) things I follow. So when I bring something up, I often have to explain it from scratch.

Plus a million micro events that quietly remind me: Oh, they’re not the aliens here, I am!

Even though I come from here, it’s clear my cultures is pretty much out-of-sync with others. Whose to blame? The Internet.

Well, not to blame; I don’t see that as a bad thing, at all. On the contrary, I love stepping back into this different ecosystem. I feed off these contrasts.

Feels good to escape the echo chamber now and then.

— James

Tools & Websites

• Delphi is a cool use case of AI where you dump everything you've ever created in terms of content (writing, videos, podcasts, etc.), and it creates your Digital Mind, which you can interact with (and let others interact with) via SMS, WhatsApp, Slack, websites, voice, etc.

• Life & Supercontinents is an awesome website that lets you browse the history of Earth's supercontinents and their impact on evolution with an interactive globe. Masterpiece.

• The Way of Code is a Rick Rubin concept, based on Lao Tzu, and vibe-coded as a website by Anthropic, the team behind the Claude LLM ↓

MAKER OF THE WEEK

Lautaro is an Argentinian, Spain-based industrial designer whose work keeps appearing in my Instagram feed. I’ve been following him for a while now, and I’m consistently amazed by three things: (1) the precision and beauty of his drawings, (2) the craftsmanship of his finished pieces—mostly 3D-printed objects—and (3) the quality of the photos and videos he shares to document his process.

If I had to sum up his work in one word, it would be care.

James’ Library

…Aesthetic Corner…

Dream Recorder

Dream Recorder is a magical, DIY, open-source bedside device that captures your dreams and transforms them into ultra-low-definition visual dreamscapes. Just wake up, speak your dream aloud, and watch it come to life in your chosen aesthetic—no phone, no distractions, just a soft glow and your subconscious on replay.

Cinnamon Toothpicks

After switching from cigarettes to vapes to nicotine gums to regular chewing gum, I'm now trying to eliminate chewing gum completely. Because I'm dumb and prefer replacing to stopping, I bought these cinnamon oil-infused toothpicks, and it's been super easy and actually quite pleasant. They also sell mint flavor.

Sustainable Living

Guillermo and Elvira turned an abandoned 60sqm apartment in central Madrid into a bright and creative home. They redesigned the space to feel open and fluid, removing false ceilings and small rooms to create a peaceful atmosphere where ideas can flow. The apartment is filled with custom-made furniture, personal objects, and warm light—perfect for cooking, working, playing music, or simply relaxing.

Their home isn’t just beautiful—it’s also sustainable. Many of the materials they used were leftovers from past projects, like the large dining table made from reclaimed wood. Instead of buying new decorations, they collect meaningful objects found on the street or at the beach and turn them into souvenirs. By reusing, repurposing, and avoiding waste, they’ve created a space that reflects their values while being gentle on the planet.

For Trapiello, the apartment is more than a place to live—it’s a living prototype. It’s a space to test furniture ideas, play with design, and explore creativity without limits. Inspired by Japanese architecture, the couple focused on simplicity, natural light, and emotional connection to objects. The result is a home that feels calm, personal, and always evolving.

Friends of James

• Beehiiv — the powerhouse behind all my newsletters, helping me craft, design, grow my audience, and monetize effortlessly

• Notion — my go-to tool for the last 6+ years, where I store all my notes, manage tasks, and essentially run both my life and businesses

• Screen Studio — the secret sauce behind my slick screen recordings; turns raw captures into polished, high-quality videos in minutes

• Make — the tool that runs my business on autopilot, handling all recurring and time-consuming tasks

• Lookaway — my gentle productivity companion that nudges me to take smart, screen-time breaks—keeping eye strain, headaches, and digital fatigue at bay

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