Fall Vibes

Tings Newsletter #24

Who am I? I’m Michael Karnjanaprakorn. Back in the day, I founded Skillshare and Otis. Now, I’m focused on content creation. I share my journey through a monthly newsletter about life, work, and random tings.

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1. I’m still running non-stop, with avoiding injuries as my top priority. While running marathons is the big goal for many, I’m sticking to half-marathons or shorter. Can we make half-marathons cool? I just discovered SuperHalfs in Europe, where you earn a supermedal by completing six races. I might go for it. In the meantime, my next big target is to hit a V02 max of 50+ within the next 12 months.

2. I'm thinking of introducing a new segment on my podcast called "Unsolicited Advice" — either solo or with a guest. Sharing advice, seeking advice, or answering listener questions. Got a question about business, longevity, or just general advice? Reply to this email, and I’ll try to answer it in an upcoming episode.

3. After a year in the making, I finally shared my journey with heart health. During my sabbatical, I found out that I have a genetic predisposition to high Lipoprotein(a), a heart disease risk factor that affects 20-30% of the population. I cover what I’ve learned, my treatment plans, and test results. Read the essay, listen to the podcast, or watch the video.

4. I also went on the Greg Campion Podcast to discuss optimizing key health metrics in our 40s. We covered tests, metrics, and routines we've tried, along with what's working and what’s not.

5. I'm optimizing my sleep, and the one thing that has worked better than anything else has been sticking to a consistent bedtime. I've also been experimenting with sleep supplements—high doses of melatonin leave me feeling drowsy the next day, while magnesium and theanine help me sleep deeper but lead to more restless sleep.

6. If I were to start a software company, I’d want it to be like Good Enough. They build software products like Pika (where my blog is hosted), Jelly, and Letterbird. They’re a small team that “likes to make things that are fun. Or good. Or good enough.”

7. I recently wrote about minimalist finances, sharing the tools I use to simplify money management, and thoughts on designing an ideal work life.

8. Beyond financial diversification, people are diversifying their passports too. Political instability is driving many people to consider a plan B. Here’s a video essay on the popularity of the ‘golden visa.’

9. Paul Millerd published Good Work: Reclaiming Your Inner Ambition. It's a great book for anyone questioning traditional career paths and looking to create a more meaningful approach to work.

10. I'm noticing a trend of social clubs that focus on niche interests like table tennis, running, and chess. There is a shift away from nightlife toward hobby-focused gatherings. And they’re doing it with style.

11. Do we live in a simulation? I think it’s possible, with chances around 50-50. The universe operates on precise mathematical laws, like a computer program. The idea that future civilizations could create countless realistic simulations makes it more likely that we’re currently in one.

12. I’m exploring unconventional approaches to mental well-being. I recently tried Kanna, which is described as nature’s MDMA, but it wasn’t for me. Now researching ketamine therapy and curious about services like Mindbloom. Has anyone tried it?

13. Mike Posner's song ‘Beautiful Day’ captures his journey from battling depression to finding joy again. It’s about gratitude and living in the moment. If you're going through a tough time and need inspiration, check out the video here.

14. Some fun things to do with kids: create custom songs on Suno, make custom coloring pages with ChatGPT, or watch Wild Robot in the theaters (the best kids’ movie I’ve ever seen).

15. I recently discovered Anylist, and it's a game-changer. It lets you download recipes and automatically creates a shopping list, making meal planning so much easier.

16. No one sings hooks like Kid Cudi. He’s back with new songs that bring happy, positive vibes. “SUPERBOY” makes me want to go to Seoul, and “DONT WORRY” makes me want to go to downtown NYC.

17. Diplo DJing on the NYC subway is just peak Brooklyn vibes—playing on the L train from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

18. It’s no secret that I’m a big Israel Adesanya fan. He recently released the Stylebender documentary and did an interview on the JRE podcast. Both give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life.

19. The Netflix documentary Inside the Mind of the Dog explores how dogs connect with humans and develop cognitive skills for service work.

20. This golden retriever picks up children and brings them home after school.

And that’s a wrap for this month’s newsletter. Until the next one!