FNC - Thank you for being nice

Emily Writes

24 Jul 2026 — 8 min read

Hello! Welcome to Friday Night Chats! It's so nice to have you here. Let's chat about the week - I saw two films this week at the movies, which is unusual for me, one was The Odyssey! I've got reviews! Basic ones. I mean, don't get too excited. Oh, that's not a good way to introduce FNC is it?

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So, last week, right after I published FNC I had an unsubscription. It never feels great, but I try not to take it too personally. We are in a cost-of-living crisis. and I know everyone is struggling.

Anyway, I usually check to see if a reason is given. They're usually pretty nice - things like 'sorry Emily, I just can't afford it!' that kind of thing.

Anyway, last week I got this and oooof.

Now, I obviously don't know this person, but gosh, they did such a good job of hitting me right where it hurts! I had a big cry for honestly about two hours it was pretty pathetic. But also, I guess it isn't? Because I don't think we're made to have performance reviews all the time by people who are just mean?

I do worry all the time about delivering 'value' here. And being consistent. And trying to be funny when things really aren't funny in the world. And writing about important things. But also giving people a brain break. And also using my platform responsibly while also being light and fun and making a difference but also recognising my limitations and yeah...It is hard to be consistent when you are publishing three times a week.

Not everything I write will be something people are into! My hope is that maybe two pieces out of 12 every month will make it worth paying $8.50.

Am I tired? Yes. But I've been tired for 14 years and I reckon I've written some good stuff. Do I complain all the time? I didn't think last week's FNC was much a moan, I mean, what parent doesn't complain about parenting sometimes?

Am I unfocused? Well, as much as someone with chronic ADHD is naturally unfocused. I mean, I'm publishing three times a week, on deadline, and I'm proud of what I'm putting out.

Anyway, it put me in a spiral which I guess was the point? If you're struggling with life I guess you want to take down others with you so that's why people are mean for no reason. Anyway, it made me stress out a lot about my writing this week.

But I spent some quality time with people I care about who I think know me and whose opinions I trust - and I feel better. And thankfully Josh helped.

I don't know what I'm sharing this for, other than I suppose to say: Thank you. Thanks for just unsubscribing if you don't want to be here instead of being mean. And thanks for not expecting me to be a superhuman hot takes machine. And thanks for just being here and letting me be imperfect.

OK, big news - how gorgeous is this? Suzy Cato read Eddie's story from Kiwi Health Heroes!! You can buy Kiwi Health Heroes here.

I wish Suzy would do like an ASMR for adults where she tells us we are good people and everything is going to be OK. She truly is a national treasure.

What I'm reading:

This is very funny - A New York sculptor has been left furious after spending $100,000 of his own money to build a life-size statue of Charlie Kirk, only to find that no one wants to buy it.

“Sergio Furnari, originally from Italy, had hoped the statue of the deceased far-right activist, which he intends to display in Times Square, would raise “millions” of dollars. Instead, he said he has been inundated by messages from people saying they intend to urinate on the sculpture.”

What I'm watching:

I saw The Odyssey with Ronnie last Sunday. He's been so excited about it. I thought it was quite good? I really liked Circe and the pigs. Calypso and Odysseus (Halloween couples costume??) are my favourite part of The Odyssey (book) but I didn’t like how sexless they made their time together in the film?

I’ve always thought of Calypso as just being like an insane sex goddess and Odysseus as forgetting everything because he’s so obsessed with Calypso and her insane sex goddess abilities so I didn’t love the lotus flower emphasis? But if it’s all Nolan’s allegory about America and imperialism then I guess it should be sexless?

I liked how they fleshed out Penelope a bit more. I did think it didn't quite have the fun surreal quality I like about Greek myths but I always enjoy Robert Pattinson being a creepy gross dude.

It also wasn’t gay enough.

The Trojan horse is very impressive.

Also I liked this analysis:

On Wednesday night we all say I, Object as a family with review tickets. It is a visually really beautiful film. The kids enjoyed it. It's quite odd, like I'm somewhat unsure what age the target audience is. I think any kids under 10 and any sensitive kids would find it a bit scary?

But it's always cool to see Wellington on the big screen. And yeah, I don't really know how to explain it. It's about a boy and girl who see faces in everything? And the boy's dad has died so it's like a grief reaction. Anyway, Karl Urban is good in it. Very camp.

I managed to get tickets for three films for the NZ Film Festival! I never do this. I always talk about how I want to go and then I never actually get tickets. But this year I did! Would love to know if you're seeing any of the films on this year's programme!

I saw this trailer for a doco out 3 September. It looks like a must-watch.

International human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson takes audiences inside the courtroom and behind the global headlines, to fight against the weaponisation of defamation laws by alleged perpetrators to silence survivors and journalists. From International Emmy Award-winning director Selina Miles.

As for streaming - I've been very unsuccessful. I tried to watch Heartstopper Forever (Netflix) and look, I just do not want to watch teenagers have sex. And I know the actors are like 20, but they look very young. But I'm glad this show exists anyway.

And I really wanted to love The Vampire Lestat (Netflix), but I just couldn't get into it. Even though it's fun and gay and camp.

Would love your recommendations for good TV!

What I'm listening to:

Okay, even though Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter is like excessively needlessly violent, I am now unfortunately hooked on it. So I am going to finish it. But I'm not going to recommend it.

Next week, Eddie will be on Sweet As - the diabetes podcast.

I think this is such a great podcast and I hope lots of people listen to it.

Last week, I said I was listening to A Fig for All the Devils. I stopped listening to it. It's gross and really over the top. I don't recommend.

But I continue to be obsessed with What To Carry What To Burn. I'd say it's currently absolutely my favourite podcast.

What are you reading? Listening to? Watching?

Here’s a thing I’ll be MCing that you should come to if you’re in Pōneke! I would love to see you there! RSVP here. Tamatha Paul's launch is here.

If you're not in my neck of the woods, have a look at the Green events across the country.

Also, it's The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever in Pōneke on Sunday.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and I really can't tell you how thankful I am that you're here. Winter sucks and so I hope this little spot on the internet is a little bit nice for us. Thanks for sticking around even though I complain so much and I'm so tired and unfocused aghhh!

Arohanui Emily