Hello Reader, from your friend Nick, author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party.

In this issue: Palmer Luckey article, $100 scans for your heart, why modern dating is hard, trad wives, my best Bali tips, some interesting people I met, a good podcast episode if you're a moderate, my July 2024 life recap, and more.

NICK GRAY FRIENDS NEWSLETTER

Why you’re getting this: I'm Nick Gray and this is my Friends Newsletter. I send this every month to interesting people I’ve connected with and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can un-subscríbe any time and I won't be mad. I won't even be notified.

Random Links

this is a section of my newsletter where I add interesting articles you might like

📄 Congress Accidentally Legalized Weed Six Years Ago​

I live in Texas and there are these Delta-8 fake weed places everywhere. Neat to see why: "When lawmakers voted to allow hemp production in 2018, they quietly opened the door to legal THC in all 50 states." also I haven't smoked in 10+ years so I dunno.

📄 American Vulcan by Jeremy Stern​

Profile of Palmer Luckey, one of my favorite entrepreneurs. Founder of Oculus and Anduril. "From virtual reality to remaking our bloated defense industry, Palmer Luckey is trying to forge a new America. Will it let him?"

🩺 Alexis Ohanian calls this ‘the highest ROI $100 you can spend on your health​

Please tell your 40+ years friends to get a calcium CT scan! Everyone should do this. It only costs like $100 without insurance, tons of places do it, you’re in and out, and is EASY early indicator of heart issues / heart disease / risk for heart attack.

🎧 You Can't Say That (Part 1)​

Spotify link to a podcast episode that follows-up from The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling (Spotify, Apple Podcasts). If you're curious about trans discourse and skew moderate in your politics, you might like this follow-up. I did. Apple Podcasts link here.

🤓 Meet the queen of the ‘trad wives’​​ (and her eight children)​

Many claimed this was an unfair portrait of Hannah Neeleman and quotes were taken out of context. I dunno. But everyone was talking about it. "Known to her nine million followers as Ballerina Farm, (she) milks cows, gives birth without pain relief and breastfeeds at beauty pageants. Is this an empowering new model of womanhood — or a hammer blow for feminism?

💁🏻‍♂️ why is modern dating so hard? By Isabel​

Interesting article. I’ve been thinking about the challenges of modern dating a lot lately. I hosted another one of my dating salons last week and my post about it went sorta viral.

📚 Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew Wilkinson​​

New book from my friend Andrew that people are loving. It is very well written.

🌍 My July 2024 Life Recap, by Nick Gray (me)​

I don’t talk much about my private life online, but I do a little here. Plus lots of travel.

~ ~ ~

More of my travel guides see my tips for: Tokyo, Mexico City, NYC, Bangkok, Bali, and more here.

My Best Articles on my blog such as: Tokyo Blind Date, Men’s Hair Loss Tips, Travel Gear Guide, Why I Give Free Airport Rides.

​

Interesting People Profiles

I've been writing little stories of interesting people that I've met. These are some of the most popular ones. Now posted on my blog with additional photos. Featuring best friends, a matchmaker, a famous artist, college students, and more.

Bali: My Top Tips

If you’re going to Bali, Indonesia for the first time, here’s what you need to know:

• Get a bit of cash at the airport. But most places accept cards.
• For your phone, get an eSIM. My recommendation below.
• Try the krupuk beras, my favorite local snack.
• If you have lots of Marriott Bonvoy points, do a night or two at the St. Regis in Nusa Dua.
• Canggu, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua were over-touristed. But I found a few secret spots.

Plus I typed up 75+ restaurants, yoga teachers, private waterfalls, and more.

The End

Thanks for reading my Friends Newsletter.

I'm happy to be back in Austin, Texas now after a few months on the road. Sleeping better, eating better, and working out. I'm starting a new project soon but have to think some more about it.

The future is bright!!

🤠 Nick Gray

p.s. Here's the About Me on my website if you forgot who I am. We met [HOWWEMET GOES HERE].

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