Why is this interesting? - The Monday Media Diet with Amy Schmidt

We continue our Monday Media diet series with friend of WITI Amy Schmidt (AS). She helps Diageo execute partnerships in culture and also has a very diverse and interesting set of media she pays attention to every day. Enjoy. - Colin (CJN) 

Tell us about yourself.

Brooklyn based, but still true to my Alabama roots; B2B Partnerships Director for Diageo representing their portfolio of brands including Johnnie Walker, Ciroc, Tanqueray, and Tequila Don Julio. Proud mother of two (Winona & William) who, when not raising children or connecting my brands with the likes of Zola, D.S. & Durga, or Black Tomato, can be found on a yoga mat or window shopping at WARM on the LES. 

Describe your media diet. 

We’re a Sonos family and enjoy BBC Radio 6 in the morning—songs range from Aretha Franklin to Gorillaz to Clairo and it’s refreshing to hear daily news discussed in a calming British accent. Music is THE BEST way to start your day.

During my underground commute, I read a mix of the below—varies depending on the day, mood, and how timely the subways are running:

• Mark Brown’s Newsletter [a beverage/alcohol (+ some cannabis) industry round-up of current news]

• Lean Luxe / The Future Party [go-to trusted source for what’s happening on the culture/brand frontier]

• Sight Unseen [design/art/travel/unique objects ….very thoughtfully curated]

• Fashion-inspo links shared by my husband, this week’s example: @checking_invoices

I listen to NTS Radio all day every day at work and then shift to “local” station a la WWOZ New Orleans to wind down in the evenings (this one is especially fun now that we’re closer to Mardi Gras).

On the weekends, I attempt (sometimes with success?) a Bon Appetit recipe or two—their writers offer solid aspirational suggestions with easy to follow instructions. This baked veggie pasta recipe from Alison Roman is divine!

I’m also an obsessive 90 Day Fiancé fan, currently watching HBO’s creepy The Outsider, LOVE Desus & Mero, and a sucker for Bravo unscripted shows.

What’s the last great book you read?

Mother American Night by John Perry Barlow—this is a wild memoir! I went to a tribute show last March and John’s daughter shared some advice (from her dad) along the lines of when you’re at a crossroads and need to make a decision, choose the path that you’ll remember most.

What are you reading now?

I worked at Columbia Records in the early 2000s…so I just picked up Open Book by Jessica Simpson, Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbs for Children’s Health (in my mind I want to make my own elderberry syrup), and Adam Grant’s Originals: How Non-Conformists Rule the World.

What’s your reading strategy when you pick up a print copy of your favorite publication?

The scene: my bathtub filled with botanicals or bath salts (currently loving this CBD-infused option—Vertly) and the door closed equals my happy place to calmly, luxuriously peruse my favorite publication from start to finish.

Who should everyone be reading that they’re not?

Fiction: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is a hilarious story set in the greatest city in the world aka New Orleans.

Non-fiction: for those seeking a path of mindfulness, I enjoyed Sharon Salzburg’s A Heart As Wide As The World and In This Very Life by Sayadaw U Pandita.

What is the best non-famous app you love on your phone? 

Mindbody: helps me find yoga studios/class times in any city I travel to within proximity of my location AND offers the ability to reserve a spot (to avoid having to wait in line and pay upon arrival).

Plane or train? 

Train all the way. My great grandmother met my great grandfather on a train ride in Louisiana—that story has always cast a romantic light on the whole train experience.

What is one place everyone should visit?

(disclaimer: I am biased because this is my hometown) Catching a sunset on the bluff of Mobile Bay in Fairhope, AL is an unforgettable experience.

Tell us the story of a rabbit hole you fell deep into. 

My most recent dive into the time-standing-still-universe was discovering Benny Drama—and watching every single astrology dating horoscope and Gen Z Intern clips…he’s hysterical and incredibly talented. Time well spent.

Thanks for reading,

Noah (NRB) & Colin (CJN) & Amy (AS)

Why is this interesting? is a daily email from Noah Brier & Colin Nagy (and friends!) about interesting things. If you’ve enjoyed this edition, please consider forwarding it to a friend. If you’re reading it for the first time, consider subscribing (it’s free!).