OUT OF OUR ELEMENT with Dan Malossi and Lauren Roedy Vaughn

The Players:

LRV = Lauren Roedy Vaughn

DM = Dan Malossi

LRV: I don’t want to be weird because I value reading, writing, and thinking. Those values should not be abby something….”Abby normal.”

They should be normal. 

I don’t mind being weird for other reasons. That’s fine. Abbynormal has its place in this world. 

Essentially, reading, writing, thinking…they tend to make the world better, kinder, more compassionate. That’s what I’m obsessed with…the world being better. More supportive.

Lately, I’m ever more super-worried we are moving away, like far away, from those ideals, when I really believe that if enough of us imagined it were possible for the world to be kinder, it would be. 

That’s how imagination and creativity work. I know this is simplistic, but what’s wrong with that? I’d like to know. (Credit to Paul McCartney.)

We know people can be assholes. But nowadays, we seem to celebrate the assholery. How about some heartholes, huh? Let’s celebrate those more. I don’t think it’s easier to be an asshole than a hearthole. 

DM: Huh? Heartholes?

LRV: It should probably be heartvalves, but I don’t like that as much rhetorically. And, don’t act like you don’t know what I mean!

DM: Yes, yes. Heartholes. I’m thinking of Extreme right now.

But in LRV’s defense, she told you she was abby-normal.

LRV: Exactly. I think it’s a matter of values and consciousness. (Sometimes we are all assholes. I know. It happens. I believe in forgiveness. Assholes need forgiving; heartholes need celebrating so they flourish.)

Okay. Okay. I’m sure, somehow, we can figure out how to monetize being heartholes. Right now, money seems to be the thing. 

DM: Now I’m thinking of the brilliant quote in Idiocracy: “I like money.”

LRV: Yes. Along with metrics and clicks and such. Okay. For now, perhaps we might consider, imagine, think about, invite in ways that heart-centered, compassionate, intelligent concepts might make a comeback…or even an entrance. 

Heartholes probably need a branding expert to make an impact. Some socials at the very least, I’m sure. Let’s get on that, Heartholes.

Although, I gotta make a case for this: living from the heart and soul is its own kind of magic. I believe this. That energy might find different, invisible, not-yet-known channels in which to flourish. Still. It might at least need an agent.  

DM: Well, when it comes to heart and soul…is anyone buying?

LRV: Let’s start with being. Management will figure out the buying.