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Axios
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Jim VandeHei to Mel Robbins: Sorry!
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei writes: I owe a huge apology to Mel Robbins, author of the bestselling book in the world. Maybe it was author envy, or bad "blink" instincts, or both. But I must confess to hearing the premise of " The Let Them Theory" and thinking: No shit! "Let Them" argues that we need to stop letting others' actions or words bother and control us. The inner Jim's response: "Duh? If I could just let people be moronic, selfish and make-me-want-to stab-myself annoying, I would — but I can't!" Why it matters: I was wrong, at least about Robbins' book. I went down the Mel Robbins rabbit hole this past week and discovered how valuable her insights are. I get why she has sold 6 million copies in just under eight months — more books in a shorter time than any author in history. I also listened to her on several podcasts, including a visit to Kara Swisher's "Pivot." A few quick takeaways: Robbins' theories are persuasive and impressive. She provides specific tips and tools to flip the script and control things on your terms. Her examples resonate. She's normal and likable. People trust authenticity. She nails this with a mix of cursing, humility and self-deprecation. So much of self-help feels preachy or unrelatable. She listens. This is something most people, often including me, suck at. But she listens to her guests and seems to cling to what they say, without an urge to inject her own smarts or wisdom. It was as if Kara and Mel were talking to me, personally, when they made fun of dopes who dismissed her book as obvious. "The reason this is so successful is because I'm reminding you of what you already know to be true," she told Kara. Robbins gives credit to the Stoics and therapists and scientists who have said the same things in a different context. But there's magic in creating a modern template to put the oldest of thinking into a contemporary plan. "It's very easy to make something complicated," Robbins said. "It is extraordinarily difficult, and takes a lot of rigor, to distill complicated things and do a simple thing that anybody can use and you can remember." The big picture: Some people dismissed our first book, " Smart Brevity," as obvious. But the truth is: Writing shorter, without losing any value, is harder than people think. The book helps. With 350,000 copies sold, it's been a big success. It was self-evidently hypocritical of me to have a "no shit" reaction to Robbins' big idea. As an author who would relish her success, the smart response would be to learn from her. The bottom line: Mel Robbins' advice is useful. At Axios, we're obsessed with usefulness. It's an underrated gift: People listen, act and share something if it's truly useful and actionable. Her book and podcast often frame topics around specific, useful applications. I'll leave you with what she describes as one of the most meaningful conversations she has ever had, with Dr. Jim Doty, a Stanford neuroscientist and bestselling author who died last month. The topic: manifesting the outcomes you want. Three useful steps: Write it. Visualize it. Say it, silently and aloud. The repetition, pulling on — and in — three senses literally creates a neural network to force action. Shift out of fear mode. Fear triggers biological stress and makes it a lot harder to do what you're trying to do. Doty argues you need to downshift to "heart mode," where you are calm and open. If you can, your body has a literal physiological response that vastly enhances your chance of getting what you want. Lose the negativity. Your mind and body react positively if you spend more time thinking good things about yourself and others. No one can do this always. But everyone can do it more. 🎧 The first 30 minutes of the podcast are time very well spent. The full podcast is here.
Axios
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Local Limelight: Donovan Zimmerman of the Paperhand Puppet project
For more than two decades, the artists Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger have used fantastical puppetry to captivate audiences and promote environmentalism across North Carolina. Why it matters: The Paperhand Puppet Project — which Zimmerman and Burger co-founded in 1998 — is now one of the Triangle's most iconic and unique artistic endeavors, mixing music and acting with intricate handmade masks, dreamlike sets and giant puppets. Driving the news: The nonprofit arts organization will take over Chapel Hills' Forest Theatre this summer to unveil its 25th play, "The Gift," which explores the wisdom of grandmothers as well as how water influences the world. It features a collaboration with Jaki Shelton Green, the state's poet laureate, and singer and songwriter Dawn Landes. What they're saying: "I think the common thread [of our plays] is that Jan and I both share a real healthy sense of wonder when it comes to like looking at the phenomenon and the miracles of this earth," Zimmerman, 55, told Axios. "I think we try to bring people back that sense of interconnectedness [with nature] because I think that there's a real tendency to feel disconnected in our busy modern lives." What's next: " The Gift," will be shown at the Forest Theatre every weekend between Aug. 8 and Sept. 28. Tickets are now on sale. We talked with Zimmerman for our latest Local Limelight conversation. The Q&A has been edited for Smart Brevity. 🚗 How did you end up in the Triangle? I fell in love with my wife-to-be and we are still together on the piece of land we bought. That was probably around 1991. I had been traveling around a lot, living in Oregon and in Connecticut. One of those times coming through here I met Lea and I canceled my other plans and stayed here. 🍛 Favorite place to eat in the Triangle? Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe in Chapel Hill. She provides food for our whole cast every Saturday during our run of shows. 📖 What is the last great book you read? " Is a River Alive?" by Robert Macfarlane. 🗣️Why are the arts important to a city? I see it as a basic need, like people need food. I don't think we want to live in a society that doesn't have artists reflecting the world back to us in beautiful, interesting and compelling ways that enrich our existence here. 💸 What is the Triangle missing? Prioritizing funding artistic endeavors like we do sporting events. 🐶 How do you unplug? I hang out in my yard, pet my dog Koki and eat mulberries off the big old mulberry tree in my front yard. Or I go swimming in a pond that's just adjacent to our land.
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Axios HQ & Qwoted Partner to Transform Data-Driven Storytelling
NEW YORK, NY - May 19, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Qwoted, the network for newsmakers, connecting thousands of journalists with experts and brands, is excited to announce a new partnership with Axios HQ, the company known for its innovative Smart Brevity(R) communication methodology. As a kickoff to their ongoing collaboration, the two organizations will host a Tech Week 2025 event on June 5 in New York City. As part of Qwoted's Media Mixer series, the event will bring together leading voices in PR, business, and media to build relationships and connect with tech leaders and venture capitalists. Qwoted CEO Dan Simon noted the partnership's benefits: 'Our mission has always been to empower communication professionals and journalists with tools that make their work easier and more impactful. Our partnership with Axios HQ is an important step toward this goal by integrating their communication methodologies into our innovative tech. I can't think of a better time to launch this partnership than NYC Tech Week.' Axios HQ CMO Chris Willis added, 'At Axios HQ, we're committed to simplifying and elevating communication. That makes Qwoted a natural partner for us. This collaboration is a win-win for the entire ecosystem, and we're excited to introduce it during Tech Week.' The organizations' affiliation will continue throughout 2025, providing Qwoted users access to Axios HQ's Smart Brevity(R) tools during the pitching process. At the same time, Axios HQ will begin incorporating Qwoted's data into its editorial pipeline to inform its strategies and storytelling capabilities. Together, Qwoted and Axios HQ are setting a new standard for how PR professionals pitch and how companies create stories in a rapidly evolving industry. About Qwoted Qwoted uses innovative technology to connect PR professionals and journalists, making it easier to create better stories together. Trusted by hundreds of thousands of media and communications professionals, Qwoted offers valuable insights and tools to empower the PR and media community. Learn more at About Axios HQ Axios HQ helps organizations communicate more effectively - with software, training, and editorial consulting. Our team has merged a decade of Axios and Axios HQ's human expertise, proprietary data, and comms best practices with cutting-edge AI, all proven to help any leader strengthen internal comms, better achieve business goals, and amplify workforce connection. Nearly 1,000 organizations trust Axios HQ for their vital communications, from American Airlines and bp to the University of South Carolina and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Built for communicators by communicators - Axios HQ breaks through. For more information, or to schedule a demo, visit Media Contact Liz Sweeney Public Relations Manager Qwoted [email protected] View the original release on
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Axios HQ & Qwoted Partner to Transform Data-Driven Storytelling
NEW YORK, NY - May 19, 2025 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - Qwoted, the network for newsmakers, connecting thousands of journalists with experts and brands, is excited to announce a new partnership with Axios HQ, the company known for its innovative Smart Brevity(R) communication methodology. As a kickoff to their ongoing collaboration, the two organizations will host a Tech Week 2025 event on June 5 in New York City. As part of Qwoted's Media Mixer series, the event will bring together leading voices in PR, business, and media to build relationships and connect with tech leaders and venture capitalists. Qwoted CEO Dan Simon noted the partnership's benefits: "Our mission has always been to empower communication professionals and journalists with tools that make their work easier and more impactful. Our partnership with Axios HQ is an important step toward this goal by integrating their communication methodologies into our innovative tech. I can't think of a better time to launch this partnership than NYC Tech Week." Axios HQ CMO Chris Willis added, "At Axios HQ, we're committed to simplifying and elevating communication. That makes Qwoted a natural partner for us. This collaboration is a win-win for the entire ecosystem, and we're excited to introduce it during Tech Week." The organizations' affiliation will continue throughout 2025, providing Qwoted users access to Axios HQ's Smart Brevity(R) tools during the pitching process. At the same time, Axios HQ will begin incorporating Qwoted's data into its editorial pipeline to inform its strategies and storytelling capabilities. Together, Qwoted and Axios HQ are setting a new standard for how PR professionals pitch and how companies create stories in a rapidly evolving industry. About Qwoted Qwoted uses innovative technology to connect PR professionals and journalists, making it easier to create better stories together. Trusted by hundreds of thousands of media and communications professionals, Qwoted offers valuable insights and tools to empower the PR and media community. Learn more at About Axios HQ Axios HQ helps organizations communicate more effectively - with software, training, and editorial consulting. Our team has merged a decade of Axios and Axios HQ's human expertise, proprietary data, and comms best practices with cutting-edge AI, all proven to help any leader strengthen internal comms, better achieve business goals, and amplify workforce connection. Nearly 1,000 organizations trust Axios HQ for their vital communications, from American Airlines and bp to the University of South Carolina and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Built for communicators by communicators - Axios HQ breaks through. For more information, or to schedule a demo, visit Media ContactLiz SweeneyPublic Relations ManagerQwoted press@ View the original release on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Axios
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Local Limelight with Wake County Sen. Sydney Batch
State Sen. Sydney Batch, a Triangle native, is North Carolina's first Black female minority leader in her chamber. Why it matters: Since she burst onto the political scene when she won her race for a Wake County House seat in 2018's blue wave, Batch has become a rising star in her party and made a rapid ascent in the ranks of state politics. She assumed one of the most powerful positions in North Carolina politics in December, when Senate Democrats ousted political giant and longtime lawmaker Sen. Dan Blue as minority leader and installed Batch in his place. We talked with Batch for our latest Local Limelight conversation. The Q&A has been edited for Smart Brevity. 🥩 Favorite place to eat in the Triangle? Oak Steakhouse or Salsa Fresh. 🏀 What do you think the Triangle is missing? Another professional sports team. 🤳 What's your first read in the morning? Text messages. 📖 Last great book you read?" The Good Lord Bird" by James McBride. 🎧 Go-to podcast?" How Stuff Works." ⛱️ Favorite place to go for a long weekend? The beach, and if she had to pick one: Carolina Beach. 🎓 How did you end up in the Triangle? Batch grew up in Chapel Hill and has three degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill, including a law degree and master's in social work. After graduation, she founded Raleigh law firm Batch, Poore & Williams with her husband. "It would fundamentally change people's lives," Batch said. What's something you're looking forward to, unrelated to politics/your work? Going on family vacation with her extended family in Cancun this summer. How do you unplug at the end of the day? Putting a jigsaw puzzle together while watching a TV show.
