Marla Lepore
@marlaink.bsky.social
Nashville-based writer/compulsive editor. I write the Muck Rack Daily newsletter. Essays in North American Review, Hippocampus, Points in Case, Sky Island Journal, plus others. Usually covered in dog and/or cat hair.
Pinned
Marla Lepore
@marlaink.bsky.social
· Oct 4
Our newest issue is out now!! Find it online here: northamericanreview.org/magazine
Thrilled to have my essay published in the fall issue of North American Review! "Real People" is an ode to inventing yourself and realizing the power of not "fitting in," featuring Fiorucci, Klaus Nomi, Richard Hell, David Bowie, the new wave, and seventh grade villains and allies.
A terrific essay. I still don't think I'm ready for Proust, but it's inspired me to put down the phone in the morning and pick back up where I left off in Anthony Powell's monumental "A Dance to the Music of Time."
This life gives you nothing
Your attention is all you have. Wasting it is annihilating. Blackbird Spyplane saves literacy in a monumental Year-End Essay.
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
A terrific essay. I still don't think I'm ready for Proust, but it's inspired me to put down the phone in the morning and pick back up where I left off in Anthony Powell's monumental "A Dance to the Music of Time."
Once again appreciating People's refusal to sugarcoat things: “The Kennedy Center, a living memorial for murdered President John F. Kennedy ... opened as an interactive memorial for the late president, per Public Law 88-260, which explains why no other memorials are permitted within the center.”
The Kennedy Center, a Living Memorial to JFK, Is Renamed After Donald Trump
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the Kennedy Center board had unanimously voted to rename the living memorial for President John F. Kennedy after sitting President Donald Trump
people.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Once again appreciating People's refusal to sugarcoat things: “The Kennedy Center, a living memorial for murdered President John F. Kennedy ... opened as an interactive memorial for the late president, per Public Law 88-260, which explains why no other memorials are permitted within the center.”
Reposted by Marla Lepore
For over a year I’ve been gathering documents from the Washington state department of archaeology, trying to understand why it’s so hard for tribal nations to protect their cultural heritage, even when the state archaeologist is trying to help. Here's what I found.
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
Washington approves over 99% of archaeological permits, records show - High Country News
As tribes struggle to protect their heritage, the nation’s leading state archaeologist says she lacks the authority to to stop development projects.
www.hcn.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:21 PM
For over a year I’ve been gathering documents from the Washington state department of archaeology, trying to understand why it’s so hard for tribal nations to protect their cultural heritage, even when the state archaeologist is trying to help. Here's what I found.
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
www.hcn.org/articles/was...
"It’s not just that he made so many great films; it’s that, in multiple genres, he made the film, the standard of its type against which others will forever be compared ... Reiner basically remade the romantic comedy in his own laughing, neurotic, incomparably Jewish image."
Love story / Green day
Rax King remembers Rob Reiner; the metamorphosis of Amy Chu
flaminghydra.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:26 AM
"It’s not just that he made so many great films; it’s that, in multiple genres, he made the film, the standard of its type against which others will forever be compared ... Reiner basically remade the romantic comedy in his own laughing, neurotic, incomparably Jewish image."
Reposted by Marla Lepore
The overuse of delve (until recently one of my favorite words) by AI is likely because it was disproportionately trained on Nigerian English.
One of the very many great nuggets in this piece:
Why Does AI Write Like... That
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
One of the very many great nuggets in this piece:
Why Does AI Write Like... That
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
December 3, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The overuse of delve (until recently one of my favorite words) by AI is likely because it was disproportionately trained on Nigerian English.
One of the very many great nuggets in this piece:
Why Does AI Write Like... That
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
One of the very many great nuggets in this piece:
Why Does AI Write Like... That
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
Reposted by Marla Lepore
you know a lot of very dumb people like to point at weird-shaped districts (like IL's 'earmuffs' VRA district) and yell 'gerrymandering' but TN-07 is a perfect example of what to actually look for when you see its relationship to Nashville
December 3, 2025 at 12:53 AM
you know a lot of very dumb people like to point at weird-shaped districts (like IL's 'earmuffs' VRA district) and yell 'gerrymandering' but TN-07 is a perfect example of what to actually look for when you see its relationship to Nashville
It's always a good day to shop indie, and it's always a good day to buy some books (or a gift card for a book!). If you need some recommendations beyond the same old-same old, check out my store on @bookshop.org. I promise there will be at least one you've never heard of!
bookshop.org/shop/marlaink
bookshop.org/shop/marlaink
Marla Ink Bookshop
Marla Lepore (aka Marla Ink) is a freelance writer in Nashville, Tenn. She writes the Muck Rack Daily newsletter, a digest of media news, longreads, and trending stories, and previously wrote for WNYC...
bookshop.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
It's always a good day to shop indie, and it's always a good day to buy some books (or a gift card for a book!). If you need some recommendations beyond the same old-same old, check out my store on @bookshop.org. I promise there will be at least one you've never heard of!
bookshop.org/shop/marlaink
bookshop.org/shop/marlaink
Reposted by Marla Lepore
It's the first day of the month. Rabbit rabbit peeps!
a white rabbit is sitting on a table with a bunch of pink balls on it
ALT: a white rabbit is sitting on a table with a bunch of pink balls on it
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:43 PM
It's the first day of the month. Rabbit rabbit peeps!
I’m lucky to have the physical copies, but everyone needs easy access to the Let’s Active catalogue 🎶 fab news
Indie bands from the 1980s “honed their craft on the road, connected with fans and had an authenticity that can't be replicated by AI-generated music.”
journalnow.com/life-enterta...
Indie bands from the 1980s “honed their craft on the road, connected with fans and had an authenticity that can't be replicated by AI-generated music.”
journalnow.com/life-enterta...
No Let's Active music on streaming services? It's an omission that will soon be fixed
"When I looked on Spotify and saw that Let's Active was not there, I thought it must be a mistake," Timothy J. Smith said of the beloved indie band from
journalnow.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I’m lucky to have the physical copies, but everyone needs easy access to the Let’s Active catalogue 🎶 fab news
Indie bands from the 1980s “honed their craft on the road, connected with fans and had an authenticity that can't be replicated by AI-generated music.”
journalnow.com/life-enterta...
Indie bands from the 1980s “honed their craft on the road, connected with fans and had an authenticity that can't be replicated by AI-generated music.”
journalnow.com/life-enterta...
Reposted by Marla Lepore
Good old Woz. Good for him.
November 21, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Good old Woz. Good for him.
Reposted by Marla Lepore
49 years ago today
Richard Hell and the Voidoids made their debut at CBGB in New York, November 19, 1976
Richard Hell – vocals/bass
Robert Quine – guitar
Ivan Julian – guitar
Marc Bell – drums (soon to adopt the name Marky Ramone)
#punkrock #punklegends #richardhell #cbgb #punkrockhistory #otd
Richard Hell and the Voidoids made their debut at CBGB in New York, November 19, 1976
Richard Hell – vocals/bass
Robert Quine – guitar
Ivan Julian – guitar
Marc Bell – drums (soon to adopt the name Marky Ramone)
#punkrock #punklegends #richardhell #cbgb #punkrockhistory #otd
November 19, 2025 at 3:56 AM
49 years ago today
Richard Hell and the Voidoids made their debut at CBGB in New York, November 19, 1976
Richard Hell – vocals/bass
Robert Quine – guitar
Ivan Julian – guitar
Marc Bell – drums (soon to adopt the name Marky Ramone)
#punkrock #punklegends #richardhell #cbgb #punkrockhistory #otd
Richard Hell and the Voidoids made their debut at CBGB in New York, November 19, 1976
Richard Hell – vocals/bass
Robert Quine – guitar
Ivan Julian – guitar
Marc Bell – drums (soon to adopt the name Marky Ramone)
#punkrock #punklegends #richardhell #cbgb #punkrockhistory #otd
“It made me dare to hope.”
Read it and your day will get better. www.hcn.org/issues/57-11...
November 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
“It made me dare to hope.”
Very strange feeling to have a congressional race in Tennessee that anyone at the national level cares about. This is the first time I've been on the receiving end of a postcard campaign...
November 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Very strange feeling to have a congressional race in Tennessee that anyone at the national level cares about. This is the first time I've been on the receiving end of a postcard campaign...
"People always ask, 'Who’s your ideal reader?' Mine is somebody who reads a few pages and then falls asleep and has a fantastic dream." @parisreview.bsky.social
www.theparisreview.org/interviews/8...
www.theparisreview.org/interviews/8...
Eliot Weinberger, The Art of the Essay No. 4
“Except for my less than two years at Stony Brook, I’ve never been in any scene or community, ever.”
www.theparisreview.org
November 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM
"People always ask, 'Who’s your ideal reader?' Mine is somebody who reads a few pages and then falls asleep and has a fantastic dream." @parisreview.bsky.social
www.theparisreview.org/interviews/8...
www.theparisreview.org/interviews/8...
“Tulane taught me not to give up, that community is real, culture matters and the road less traveled is scary but rewarding.”
Love this story about Tulane's Katrina generation--and that 450+ colleges offered to take in Tulane students, tuition free, that fall.
tulanian.tulane.edu/fall-2025/tu...
Love this story about Tulane's Katrina generation--and that 450+ colleges offered to take in Tulane students, tuition free, that fall.
tulanian.tulane.edu/fall-2025/tu...
Tulane’s Katrina Generation
More than two decades after Hurricane Katrina, Tulane alumni reflect on the storm that tested their resolve, shaped their purpose and strengthened a community.
tulanian.tulane.edu
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
“Tulane taught me not to give up, that community is real, culture matters and the road less traveled is scary but rewarding.”
Love this story about Tulane's Katrina generation--and that 450+ colleges offered to take in Tulane students, tuition free, that fall.
tulanian.tulane.edu/fall-2025/tu...
Love this story about Tulane's Katrina generation--and that 450+ colleges offered to take in Tulane students, tuition free, that fall.
tulanian.tulane.edu/fall-2025/tu...
the very best Tiny Desk
Pulp: Tiny Desk Concert
Jarvis Cocker croons, coos and dances his way through this career-spanning Tiny Desk with Pulp.
www.npr.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:26 AM
the very best Tiny Desk
A very cool interactive deep dive.
40 years ago, three Norwegians turned a homemade melody into a pop revolution.
“Take on Me” fills dance floors and still earns a formidable income for A-ha.
The Post caught up with the 80s band to discuss the song’s unexpected afterlife.
“Take on Me” fills dance floors and still earns a formidable income for A-ha.
The Post caught up with the 80s band to discuss the song’s unexpected afterlife.
‘Take On Me’ has been stuck in our heads for 40 years. Here’s how it got there.
“Take On Me,” the 1980s synth-pop hit song from the band A-ha, marks 40 years of global ubiquity even while personal disputes have chilled the Norwegian trio.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:51 AM
A very cool interactive deep dive.
Great reporting. (Also, we need a new season of The Wire)
November 8, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Great reporting. (Also, we need a new season of The Wire)
Fun visiting my high school in Shreveport, Louisiana, as part of our reunion weekend. Back when I was editor, The Enterprise was a newspaper -- now it's a magazine. Looks like Captain Shreve is doing a good job of inspiring student interest and opportunities in journalism!
November 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Fun visiting my high school in Shreveport, Louisiana, as part of our reunion weekend. Back when I was editor, The Enterprise was a newspaper -- now it's a magazine. Looks like Captain Shreve is doing a good job of inspiring student interest and opportunities in journalism!
Happy Halloween from Lucy and Emmylou Hairy (stress-eating her treats). They are thrilled, I tell you, thrilled to once again don their costumes. #cats #dogs #halloween
October 31, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Happy Halloween from Lucy and Emmylou Hairy (stress-eating her treats). They are thrilled, I tell you, thrilled to once again don their costumes. #cats #dogs #halloween
Obviously I blame myself. Impossible to resist plopping down and getting comfy-cozy on a freshly dry-cleaned formal gown. #cats #catsofbluesky
October 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Obviously I blame myself. Impossible to resist plopping down and getting comfy-cozy on a freshly dry-cleaned formal gown. #cats #catsofbluesky
“The scenario was incoherent. Yet it could not have happened differently on this earth. If it could have it would have.”
A lyrical, devastating meditation on time, death and Gene Hackman's last days
A lyrical, devastating meditation on time, death and Gene Hackman's last days
One Four Two Five Old Sunset Trail, by Joy Williams
On the last days of Gene Hackman
harpers.org
October 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
“The scenario was incoherent. Yet it could not have happened differently on this earth. If it could have it would have.”
A lyrical, devastating meditation on time, death and Gene Hackman's last days
A lyrical, devastating meditation on time, death and Gene Hackman's last days
Reposted by Marla Lepore
A coalition of charitable foundations are creating the Literary Arts Fund, which will distribute at least $50 million to various organizations over 5 years. n.pr/3WYkn3o
A new fund will route millions to the literary arts
A coalition of charitable foundations are creating the Literary Arts Fund, which will distribute at least $50 million to various organizations over 5 years.
n.pr
October 28, 2025 at 4:27 PM
A coalition of charitable foundations are creating the Literary Arts Fund, which will distribute at least $50 million to various organizations over 5 years. n.pr/3WYkn3o
Reposted by Marla Lepore
October 18, 2025 at 5:13 PM