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cover of episode How Not To Go Insane: Chloé Valdary on leaving Twitter, the new Puritanism, and the virtues of reading aloud.

How Not To Go Insane: Chloé Valdary on leaving Twitter, the new Puritanism, and the virtues of reading aloud.

2025/2/12
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The Unspeakable Podcast

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Chloé Valdary shares her experience of deleting her Twitter account after having 110,000 followers. She discusses how this decision led her to rediscover the joy of long-form writing and how the platform's algorithm hindered deep thought and meaningful engagement. She reflects on the changes brought by Elon Musk's influence and the altered incentive structure on the platform.
  • Deleted Twitter account with 110,000 followers
  • Returned to long-form writing
  • Algorithm hindered deep thought
  • Elon Musk's influence changed dynamics
  • Platform felt sleazy

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February 10, 2025 edition

Recorded December 16, 2024

Chloé Valdary was last on the podcast in May 2021, talking about Theory of Enchantment, an enterprise devoted to more nuanced and art-focussed approaches to DEI. She’s back to discuss what she’s been up to since then. A lot!

In this conversation, recorded in December, Chloé talks about her journey from prolific tweeting to long-form writing and the impact of social media on mental health and creativity. She talks about psychosomatic work, the influence of Elon Musk on Twitter, and the cultural response to Luigi Mangione's killing of a health insurance executive. In her view, Luigi fandom connects to themes of Puritan heritage, as she discusses in her (then) recent piece Luigi Mangione and the Puritans).

GUEST BIO

Chloé Valdary, educator, artist, and founder of the Theory of Enchantment, is on a mission to address the shortcomings of DEI by teaching love and harmony. Chloé received her bachelor’s in international studies with a concentration in conflict and diplomacy from the University of New Orleans. She has been published in the WSJ, the New York Times and the Atlantic Magazine, and she spends her days helping schools and businesses build trust in their organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys bird watching, reading, and DJing.

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