I am optimistic. The rise of the independent pod-caster and the popularity of long-form nuanced conversations have been wonderful counter-trends to the mainstream that millions have come to appreciate.
There is nothing I enjoy more than doing my paintings and illustrations while listening to an honest debate by self-confessed flawed human beings in search of a higher understanding without fear of deplatforming or censorship.
Meanwhile, the yellowfin tuna, like the artist and the writer, often travels in schools with similarly sized companions. They sometimes school with other tuna species, with dolphins and porpoises or even with larger companions such as whales and whale sharks. As an artist and a creator, I too seek other similar sized companions with whom to travel through these shark infested waters.
