A gentle close to the week

Plus, 5 neat things I wanted to share with you. / Issue 1,530

Kara Cutruzzula

Jul 12, 2025

Oh, hi friends!

The rare weekend newsletter…

Time moves differently in July. Or that’s what I’m telling myself.

At the end of the week, as we gently close it down, I like to ask, “What went right?”

Here’s one answer from my world: I had my first Open Skies Day on Thursday.

It was AMAZING.

I had four 15-minute conversations with people who are working: working hard, working creatively, working to find new paths.

So exhilarating and inspiring.

And made me remember this is one of my favorite things to do: help people figure out what to do next, and how to do it.

(Also holding more of these free spaces later this summer — sign up here if you’re interested!)

You can’t solve everything in 15 minutes, but having a set meeting does help you ask very tight, specific questions.

It makes you get to it.

My first question to everyone was, “What’s on your mind right now?”

Then we talked about songwriting strategies and process book recs and how to approach a novel revision and much more.

It really showed me the power of 15 minutes.

I even turned back to my own work with fresh ideas and energy.

And so that’s what I’m holding as I close down the week — the belief that a simple quarter of an hour can change your mind.

Because it can.

Now on to the fun stuff…

5 Neat Things I Wanted to Share With You

A hat: I’m a believer that the right tools help us do our “work” more often and more easily. I threw this white Uniqlo hat into my cart on a whim and it’s my new favorite tool? Why was I running in a black hat for YEARS? It’s out of stock at the moment, but had to tell you in case it encourages you to upgrade a little tool for yourself, in whatever activity you love.
A song: My friend Ben Jones released a new single “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” with incredible pianist Laurence Hobgood. It’s EXCELLENT.
A memoir: So this book has been on my to-read list for 15 years: Rebel Without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player by Robert Rodriguez. I finally listened to it on Audible this week — he recorded the audiobook last year — and it feels like getting a Celsius and Red Bull cocktail injected straight into my veins. Super encouraging and inspiring. Rodriguez played by his own rules and then the industry came to him. Hmm!
A scare series: Colin and I are back on our summer horror kick. We watched the first two seasons of Channel Zero on Shudder — really solid writing and acting. Plus the second series has John Carroll Lynch, who is just so good in everything. (Zodiac!!!) Also watched the indie Caveat (huge scares) and Oddity (HUGE scares). Don’t worry, I still like my rom-coms, too :). But my twisted brain, now: SHOULD I WRITE A ROM-COM FOR JOHN CARROLL LYNCH?!
A snack: French onion dip and Ruffles. If there’s a better snack…don’t tell me about it, because I won’t believe you.