Long Reads
As Senior Editor at Mpora I headed up the long read features section, and I was lucky enough to write a few long form pieces myself. I took a deep dive into Instagram and colonial narrative, the genetics of Olympians, the subcultural forces of biohacking and met the people prepping for the end of the world. I recently wrote my first long read for the Economist’s 1843 Mag on the effects of global heating on the ski and snowboard industry.
Here are some of my favourite features.
“We used to talk about doing first descents of mountains, but now we’re starting to use the phrase ‘last descent’…”
1843 Mag – A Mega Resort On The Horizon, A Glacier On The Brink
“As a keen snowboarder, I might once have been excited about this development. But it’s impossible to spend time in the mountains and not witness the impact of climate change.”
I wrote about a pristine Austrian glacier which faces an uncertain future due to the climate crisis, but it’s also a piece on the power of international tourism.
“How social media is changing the ground-level reality of the places we travel to…”
Mpora – How Instagram Has Changed Travel
“One can imagine the local staff of the Maldives resort waiting patiently for the photograph to be taken, before continuing down the boardwalk to change the bedding in the huts…” I looked at the impact of the crowds, colonial narrative and privilege in the world of Instagram.
“The key to Olympic success is to choose your parents well…”
Mpora – How Genetic Science Will Decide The Future Of The Olympics
“Predicting future Olympians according to the DNA of unborn babies might seem a ridiculously far-fetched proposition, but in the next few decades it will almost certainly be scientifically possible to do so…” I look into the genetic science of sporting talent, and assess the effectiveness of home-testing kits.
“Each time you’re facing north, it gives a short vibration…”
Mpora – The People Hacking Their Bodies To Change The Way We Feel
“Each time you’re facing north, it gives a short vibration. So now I know north is the way my living room faces the garden, and the direction my boy goes into his school… The whole connection between places in my brain happens in a different way now; it starts to embed into your memories…” I meet up with some biohackers, who are implanting technology into their bodies to change the way they feel.
“The science behind your summer holiday…”
Mpora – Why Do We Travel?
“We travel to places we’ve already seen countless times on screens. We collect the countries we’ve been to, and the experiences we’ve had there, so we can tell a story about ourselves, both for our own benefit and for our social standing amongst friends… ‘A chimpanzee alpha-male would never think of utilising his power in order to go on vacation into the territory of a neighbouring chimpanzee band…’” I look at the science and psychology behind our summer holidays.
“People were always getting ready for tomorrow. I didn’t believe in that. Tomorrow wasn’t getting ready for them…”
Mpora – The Man Who’ll Help You Prepare For The End Of The World
“I watch too much end-of-the-world telly and read too many dystopian books. Though judging by the healthy sales of the UK’s only preppers shop. I’m not alone… they sell three or four of these unused, ex-army gas masks a day…” I delve into the weird and wonderful world of UK prepping.