Good morning, friends!

Today’s Profile is late not because I hadn’t done it or because I had technical difficulties, but rather because I thought today was Saturday, not Sunday 💀 Wow. My sincere apologies. Thank you for those of you who emailed me asking where the hell it is. I appreciate you all!

On with our regularly scheduled programming:

—

On Thursday, ‘More to That’ creator Lawrence Yeo participated in an hour-long, live "Ask Me Anything" with readers who are part of The Profile's members-only Telegram chat. (To join, consider becoming a premium member here.)

We discussed the nuts and bolts of his storytelling process, why he writes about the human condition, and how he finds inspiration on a regular basis.

Below is an excerpt from our Q&A. (Read the full Q&A here.)

Q: Why did you select to write about the human condition? And how do you normally work through topic selection?

YEO: One thing that’s interesting about the classic “variable vs. fixed expenses” concept in business is that it’s applicable to the human condition as well. The variables are technology, culture, etc., while the fixed aspect is good ole human nature. And while the variables might have some definitive answers, I think human nature is all about asking the right questions. The question is far more important than the answer, as they say.

I was listening to Lex Fridman’s interview with Mark Zuckerberg the other day, and one interesting thing that Mark said was that he believes most of the technological problems will be sorted out.  That the solutions will inevitably be mapped out.  But the problems to sort through will be philosophical, and those are the ones we need to think through most.

I write about the human condition because, in a sense, it’s what matters most. The variables will keep shifting; what’s important today will be forgotten tomorrow. But the questions of what it means to live a good life will be forever pertinent and will endure as long as we don’t blow ourselves up or some other existential risk befalls us.

For topic selection, I write about so many disparate things, and it plays to the notion that I write whatever I’m curious about, but it’s mostly timeless issues. Instead of writing about the latest market crash caused by speculative investing, for example, I’ll instead write about why speculation itself is a game we can’t win because of the moral problem inherent in it (which is an actual post I published). So I think the combo is: Curiosity + Timelessness, and that’s what I end up choosing to write about.

Read the Full Q&A Here

—

THE PROFILE DOSSIER: On Wednesday, premium members received The Profile Dossier, a comprehensive deep-dive on a prominent individual. It featured Robin Arzón, the workout warrior. Become a premium member, and read it below.

The Profile

The Profile Dossier: Robin Arzón, the Workout Warrior

If you’ve ever taken a Peloton class, you may be familiar with Robin Arzón’s powerful mantra: ‘Movement is medicine.’ She’s my favorite instructor because of her humor, attitude, and ability to push me until the very end of the ride. It’s almost as if she knows when you’re about to slow down or give up that she comes through with a motivating one-liner l…

Read more

4 days ago · 5 likes · 2 comments · Polina Pompliano

—

✨ A WORD FROM OUR PARTNER: I wanted to draw your attention to a newsletter I really enjoy. It’s called 1440, a daily email with the most interesting reads across culture, science, tech, sports, business, and everything in between. There's a reason more than 1 million people read 1440 — it's the most unbiased, high-quality source for news I've found. Sign up for 1440 for free here.

—

PROFILES.

— The man who controls computers with his mind [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The 26-year-old investor cracking the private debt market
— The death chamber doctor
— The philanthropic hedge fund manager
— The founder of the ‘Nap Dress’
— The human factory
— The loneliest post office in the world

PEOPLE TO KNOW.

The man who controls computers with his mind: Sixteen years ago, Dennis DeGray was paralyzed in an accident. Now, implants in his brain allow him some semblance of control. DeGray has spent more than 1,800 hours spanning nearly 400 training sessions controlling various forms of technology with his mind. He has played a video game, manipulated a robotic limb, sent text messages and emails, purchased products on Amazon, and even flown a drone simulator all without lifting a finger. Here’s how DeGray and similar volunteers are exploring the frontier of a technology with the potential to fundamentally alter how humans and machines interact. (The New York Times)

“I think the capacity of the human brain is actually going to increase.”

The 26-year-old investor cracking the private debt market: Eva Shang is cracking the private debt market. After she raised $400 million in six months, Wall Street began to take notice. The 26-year-old’s investment firm has a flagship strategy of litigation finance—where fund managers back plaintiff lawsuits in exchange for a percentage of court-awarded judgments. Its gross annual returns hover at around 25%. Here’s how she is doing the hedge-fund thing her way. (WSJ; reply to this email if you can’t access the article)

“She’s an interesting kind of smart.”

The death chamber doctor: Almost never do doctors who have worked in death chambers speak for themselves. Weeks after the S.C. Department of Corrections announced it was ready to execute by firing squad, physician Dr. Green Neal shares his story publicly for the first time. “Death is death, no matter whether it’s by disease, by homicide, whether it’s state-sanctioned or murder. But it’s just, here I am, I’m supposed to be saving people, not killing people,” he said.

“You’re trying to sanitize killing someone in the way that you can, and your claim is that by doing this, ‘we are not acting with cruelty.’”

The philanthropic hedge fund manager: Chris Hohn isn’t your stereotypical hedge fund manager. The TCI Fund Management founder has differentiated himself through philanthropy, activism, and an enviable track record. He launched The Children’s Investment Fund Management in 2003 — pledging to donate 50 basis points of his management fee to a charitable fund. Hohn is currently the chairman of the foundation, which aims to improve the lives of children in poverty in developing countries. Over the years, it has given away $3 billion. Here’s how philanthropy became the defining mission of his fund. (Institutional Investor)

The founder of the ‘Nap Dress:’ Nell Diamond is the founder and CEO of Hill House Home, the direct-to-consumer brand she launched in 2016 to offer nesting millennials cozily traditionalist linens their grandmothers might recognize. Then in the spring of 2019, Hill House introduced the “Nap Dress,” a $125 cotton pinafore, practical, relatively affordable, and somehow both a little modest and a little sexy. When COVID arrived, it turned it into a sensation. Here’s how Diamond convinced so many women to wear pajamas in public. (New York Magazine)

“People have strong reactions to me. That’s always been the case.”

COMPANIES TO WATCH.

The human factory: A company called Engineered Arts is behind the humanoid robots that have the power to scare the crap out of us. The company makes its money selling its robots for entertainment and education. They’re used by academics for research; by marketing teams for publicity stunts; and placed in museums, airports, and malls to welcome visitors. As technology improves and androids become more realistic, the question of how we relate to such machines is going to become more pressing. Take a look at the company on a mission to build the world’s most realistic robot. (The Verge)

“It’s an inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality.”

The loneliest post office in the world: Each year, hundreds of people compete for four jobs at the post office on Goudier Island in Antarctica. They hope for a chance to live on an island the size of a football field for five months at a time, without internet, cell service, or even running water. Take a look inside the loneliest post office on the planet. (Atlas Obscura)

"The most touching letters were written by people experiencing hardships.”

✨ This installment of The Profile is free for everyone. If you would like to get full access to all of the recommendations, including today’s audio and video sections, sign up below.

AUDIO TO HEAR

Richard Wiseman on how to engineer luck: After spending more than 30 years of studying why magicians often fool believers—and fail with skeptics— Richard Wiseman examines the potency of the mind in willing mere thoughts into reality. His findings do much to expand the little we know about ‘mind over matter.’ (Link available to premium members.)

Terry Crews on ordered chaos: When most people see a celebrity, they instantly focus on the glamour that accompanies being a public figure. But what they don’t see are the 4 a.m. wake times, 15-hour shifts, and contractual obligations to be on social media. While many buckle under such pressure, actor Terry Crews is one of few who lifted his regimented lifestyle above the chaos of the pandemic. (Link available to premium members.)

Sarah Jones Simmer on identifying false priorities: When you’ve worked in industries focused on dating and weight loss, you gain a unique insight into the earnestness of the human experience. But when cancer takes you by surprise and the doctor admits the possibility of you only having five years left to live, what happens to that clarity? Sarah Jones Simmer, the former Bumble CSO, shares how being diagnosed with cancer helped restructure her priorities and utilize her time more intentionally. (Link available to premium members.)

VIDEOS TO SEE

Grimes on human evolution: To millions around the world, Grimes is either the dystopian-style EDM artist or romantic partner to billionaire/Twitter meme lord, Elon Musk. But what is often left out of the tabloids are her thoughts on AI, evolution, and using music to modify morality—all of which are quite progressive. You can watch her thought-provoking opinions here. (Link available to premium members.)

👉  The Profile is the perfect gift for any occasion! Give a gift subscription to a loved one through the link below:

Give a gift subscription