2025-08-17 08:00:00
Ridgeline subscribers — The first and only memory I have of a teacher of mine performing something resembling a stand-up routine was in eleventh grade. My AP bio teacher, Mr. Abelon, came back from a few sick days and explained, in graphic detail, what his recent passing of a kidney stone had been like. I had never heard of such a thing, this so-called “kidney stone.” Maybe it’s because I have a penis, but the thought of “passing” a “stone” (of any size) that was created in my kidneys (!
2025-08-04 08:00:00
Ridgeline subscribers — Some six and a half years ago I wrote the first Ridgeline sitting on the second floor of my Kamakura studio. I had been living there for two years by then, and the place had already subtly and not so subtly changed my life in so many ways, that I get a bit woozy just thinking about it. I moved down here (a quick, single, forty-five-minute train ride south) eight and a half years ago not because I had gotten a sick of Tokyo, or felt a compressed by it, but simply that I felt a shakeup was in order.
2025-08-01 08:00:00
Roden Readers — Hello from the swelterdome, the Cape O‘ Temperature Oppression, a.k.a. the Kanto area of Japan in July / August. It is so spectacularly, consistently hot that it’s hard to overstate just how bananas this heat is, how all consumingly present and manic it feels. Can’t outrun it, this Japan heat. “Outside” doesn’t exist from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and even then, you’re swimming through the air more than walking.
2025-07-10 08:00:00
Ridgeline subscribers — I’m Craig Mod and I’ve been buuuuuuurnt out this last month following my epic Things Become Other Things mega book tour. Finally, I’m gingerly emerging from my recovery cave. (But reserve the right to retreat again.) Here’s a fresh dispatch — in praise of small businesses and why overtourism can be anathema to them. A great city is typified by character and the character of great cities is often built on the bedrock of small businesses.
2025-06-16 08:00:00
Roden Readers — What a tour. My god. It’s going to take me a while to fully process the last six weeks. But the tldr is: What a tour, what a wonderful tour. Better than I could have imagined, far exceeding all expectations. Thank you to everyone who showed up. Did you come to an event and take pictures? If so, please drop them in this folder. Thanks. I did a terrible job documenting things and am grateful to everyone who has shared pics.
2025-06-04 08:00:00
Ridgeline subscribers — For years, Kevin Kelly and I have been inviting (to no avail) Rich Roll on Walk and Talks. So it was with great delight that about a month ago, I (Craig Mod, author of this newsletter, Ridgeline; thanks for subscribing) flew out to LA to go on the Rich Roll pod. Rich is one of those intriguing humans who has made a mega name for himself within a huge swath of narrowly defined people.