(barely) keeping it together

Vol. 01 · October 2026

You're not broken. You're just under-explained.

Psychology, behavior, philosophy and culture for people who want to know why they do the things they do. Zero therapy jargon.

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On the cover: 10 Random Stuff: psychology · 9 min
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Beauty

10 Random Stuff: psychology

10 Stuff · Curated Discovery Your brain is running 10 background programs and nobody warned you. You’re not unpredictable. You’re just executing cognitive biases with decades of research behind them — some as solid…
9 min read
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What's your brain up to?

Psychology Why does my brain refuse to start the things I genuinely want to do? Behavior Why do I keep repeating patterns I can see perfectly well? Philosophy Why do we keep searching for meaning like it's a lost wallet? Culture Why does a beautiful object feel more trustworthy?

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Fresh from the investigation

A small, honest sample of what "barely keeping it together" looks like in practice.

FBI

FBI – The Case of Villanelle

FBI fictional behavior investigation. please stay seated Case Status: Active · Interpol: Also Filing · Threat Level: Couture unHINGED · FBI Case…
5 min read
FBI

FBI – The Case of Emily Cooper

FBI fictional behavior investigation, obviously Case Status: Active · Marketing Team: Unbothered · Funded By: Brioche unHINGED · FBI Case File No.…
4 min read
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One big question, one flagship, a few sharper angles. Pick your own way in.

Long-form flagship

The Architecture of Frustration

The Architecture of Frustration · Long-form flagship · The Architecture of Frustration Frustration is what happens when reality refuses to follow a blueprint you didn’t know you’d drawn. Here’s how the plans…

  1. 01 Why Can’t Some People Just Take The L? Short Essay · 6 min
  2. 02 Coping Mechanisms: Your Brain’s Very Questionable Customer Service Practical Guide · 7 min
  3. 03 Your Reality is Not My Reality Short Essay · 7 min
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Psychology, behavior and culture, written by people who read the actual studies. Side effects may include sharper opinions at dinner parties.