Just occasionally, the universe speaks to you. Not every day. But occasionally, you have the chance to change everything.
Recent Posts
Xmas giving ideas: #FiveQuidFoodBank Secret Santa and #ReverseAdvent!
As the Christmas frenzy begins, here are some ways to help others while celebrating the festive season: #FiveQuidFoodBank Secret Santa; #ReverseAdvent calendar; and Ocado food bank donation matching.
Yesterday was a lesson
Yesterday was a lesson. Whether you choose to learn from it or to ignore it is entirely in your gift. This choice is a miracle of life.
#FiveQuidFoodBank
The #FiveQuidFoodBank campaign encourages people to donate £5 to their local food bank, or directly to the Trussell Trust. Russ Jones – who originated #FiveQuidFoodBank in 2017 – explains how #FiveQuidFoodBank came to be, and why it’s just as necessary today.
You will do great things
Self-worth cannot come from anywhere else but within. This post that can be read from first sentence to last, or from last sentence to first. The answer’s still the same.
A farewell to ink
Inktober 2019 is over! Here’s my final sextet of drawings, taking in stormtroopers, Shogun Warriors and skeletons!
My top 5 podcasts of 2019 (so far!) Part III
My third pick of the podcasts that have meant the most to me in 2019 (so far!), featuring: Laurie Ruettimann; Rich Roll; Jeff Gordinier; Richard Herring; Tony Slattery; Joey Diaz; Andrew Schulz; RuPaul; Michelle Visage; Nile Rodgers; Leonard Maltin; Jessie Maltin; and Fred Willard.
The pedants strike back?
How does pedantry make you feel? Are you a current, reformed or relapsed pedant? Is there a pedant in your life?
A touch of chaos in the air
Inspired by his travels with Noma chef René Redzepi, Jeff Gordinier’s Hungry is a feast of insight and wisdom on risk and chaos, creativity and reinvention, leadership and excellence.
So pure
What was the last thing that moved you to tears? What gives you the strength to carry on? Inspired by Idles, this post celebrates the sustaining power of love, friendship and heartfelt honesty.
Ruthless clarity
Our “post-truth, post-shame” world needs the comedian’s ruthless clarity and respect for the audience. This post is inspired by wise words from Nitin Sawhney, Whitney Cummings, Matt Stoller and Sean Jones QC.
Left in the dust?
Change never stops. Change is a challenge. Change always gives you a choice. This is as true as ever in today’s “post-shame, post-truth” world.
Kirsten Shiel interview: A little smattering of doodles
An interview with Kirsten Shiel – a phenomenal Dublin-based artist, art director and illustrator.
Walk out a different person
When was the moment your life changed? If you open your senses to them, moments of synchronicity can usher in profound change, or simply render the present moment magical.
My top 5 podcasts of 2019 (so far!) Part II
My second pick of the podcasts that have meant the most to me in 2019 (so far!), featuring: Joe Rogan and Naval Ravikant; Samira Ahmed and Katherine Ryan; Adam Buxton and Marlon James; Rich Roll and Kevin Smith; and Cariad Lloyd and Sali Hughes.
Éilis McDonough interview: Drawing with an adventurous spirit
An interview with Éilis McDonough – a fantastic artist operating out of lovely Portland, Oregon.
Olivia Kemp interview: Building worlds and imaginary places
I am delighted to host an interview with Olivia Kemp – an artist who creates mesmerising, intricate worlds in pen and ink.
They’d fight the sun for each other
Things fall apart. The next generation is organising itself to put them back together again, for the good of one another and for the good of all.
The voice of a friend: Bryan Wempen’s Sober Is Better
I am honoured to share here my foreword to Bryan Wempen’s excellent new book Sober Is Better: My Note to Self.
The Skeleton Collection: My debut postcard set!
I am delighted to announce the launch of my debut Skeleton postcard collection: A set of three pictures of Mr Skeleton living his best #SkeleLife, available to buy right now!
Giles Paley-Phillips interview: Spread a little light
A short but sweet interview with Giles Paley-Phillips – author, podcaster, musician, huge-hearted Twitterer, and all-round good gent.
Bryan Wempen interview: Sober is Better
An interview with Bryan Wempen, whose new book Sober Is Better: My Note to Self talks movingly – and with great warmth and humour – of his life, his experiences of addiction, and his journey of recovery and discovery.
Nicola Budd (Howell Illustration) interview: Art inspired by nature and sustainable living
Nicola Budd is the excellent artist behind Howell Illustration, which “is all about pen and ink art, inspired by nature and slow, simple, sustainable living.” I am honoured to host this interview with Nicola about her art and her commitment to sustainability.
My top 5 podcasts of 2019 (so far!)
My pick of the podcasts that have meant the most to me in 2019 (so far!), featuring: Scott Adams and Naval Ravikant, Tim Ferriss, Richard Herring, Sam Harris, and Brian Koppelman (plus honourable mentions for Michael Rapaport and Leonard Maltin!).
My top 5 Yoga With Adriene videos
In this post, I celebrate Adriene Mishler’s Yoga With Adriene videos, look at how yoga can help everyone, and share my top five Yoga With Adriene videos.
Everybody here belongs
Abundance and addiction. Choice and recovery. Learning and belonging. This post is inspired by wise words from Naval Ravikant’s conversation with Scott Adams, and from my friends Bryan Wempen and Heather Bussing.
Fractured
Our times are fractured, how we see the world is fractured. If we could piece it all back together, what would we see?
The joy of Twittersising, by @MaryJaneFurniss
I am honoured to share this lovely guest post from Jane Furniss on what Twitter means to her.
Seven books that mean the world to me
What seven books mean the most to you? This is my selection of seven books that mean the world to me right now – a mix of current raves and lifelong faves. At the start of this year, my friend Steve Tovey tagged me in a social media challenge to share covers of seven books that […]
Ten ways Twitter changed me in ten years, by @HelReynolds
It is my honour to share this excellent guest post from Helen Reynolds (aka @HelReynolds on Twitter), marking the occasion of her tenth Twitterversary by looking at ten ways Twitter has changed her in ten years.
My 10th #Twitterversary toast to Twitter
A toast to Twitter! To mark the occasion of my 10th Twitterversary on Thursday 17 January 2019, here are five things I love about Twitter.
Three foundations of creativity
Where does creativity spring from? Brian Koppelman’s fascinating podcast conversation with Geddy Lee of Rush offers some possible answers to this impossible question.
My top 5 podcasts of 2018
My pick of the five podcasts that have meant the most to me in 2018, featuring: Adam Buxton; RuPaul and Michelle Visage; Michael Rapaport; Cariad Lloyd’s Griefcast; and Tim Ferriss.
MJCarty.com: The top 5 posts of 2018
As 2018 draws to a close, here are the top five posts from MJCarty.com in its first (less than) half-year of existence.
Griefcast live: Matter, energy, Attenborough
Some words on Griefcast live, in which Cariad Lloyd, Katherine Ryan and Emma Freud met at BFI London for an upbeat and cathartic podcast chat on death, mortality and the grieving process.
Will Carruthers: What music means to me
Will Carruthers – author (Playing The Bass With Three Left Hands), musician (Spacemen 3, Spiritualized) and gent extraordinaire – takes us through his life in music, and shares his 10 favourite albums.
MJCarty.com – my brand-new home for #Blogulence and #Sketchulence!
Welcome to MJCarty.com! This here website is the new home for my blogulent musings. I’ll be publishing all my new blog posts here henceforth. It also works as the new home for all my previous blog posts.
#GE1979: The tumultuous revolution to come
With campaigning in full force for the UK’s 2019 general election (#GE2019), it is interesting to take a quick glance back to the 1979 general election (#GE1979), which swept Margaret Thatcher to power.
#Inktober2019 (IV): Mr Ringo Starr, Mrs Mia Wallace!
Ringo Starr tops the bill in this collection of Inktober 2019 pictures! We also celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pulp Fiction’s UK release, catch up with Mr Skeleton, and enjoy some floral loveliness.
#Inktober2019 (III): Double Freddie, triple Skeleton!
My third weekly #Inktober2019 round-up featuring Freddie Mercury, Mr Skeleton and a spider monkey!
#Inktober2019 (II): Charlie Watts, Chewbacca, Vincent Price!
My second weekly round-up of pictures for Inktober – a month-long challenge involving the drawing of a pen and ink picture for each day of October. The Buddha, Vincent Price, Chewbacca and Charlie Watts all put in appearances this week!
