The Freaked Out Issue

Big Momma is the Florida Rapper tapping into the dark horrors of life
Music

Big Momma is the Florida Rapper tapping into the dark horrors of life

"The voice of the voiceless" — Rapper Big Momma, aka Maurice Montgomery, has always been something of an outsider. As a child he was fascinated by serial killers, bullied by his peers, the only black kid on his scene. With an aesthetic he describes as a combination of Lil' Kim and WWE's The Undertaker, his music sings to a harrowing past and a difficult future.

Written by: Edward Siddons

Here's how to stop the coming dystopia (and Donald Trump)
Culture

Here's how to stop the coming dystopia (and Donald Trump)

The Optimist's Guide to Tomorrow #3 — We've faced our demons and come out fighting. Even Trump can't get us down. Join us as we close off Generation Why Not - our series on millennial hopes and fears - with a celebration of people power.

Written by: Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson

More proof that it's never too late to stop destroying the planet
Culture

More proof that it's never too late to stop destroying the planet

The Optimist's Guide to Tomorrow #2 — We've spent all week contemplating our fears. Here are two more reasons to be hopeful.

Written by: Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson

Saying goodbye to job security to find a more affordable life
Culture

Saying goodbye to job security to find a more affordable life

Generation Why Not — After studying fashion at university, Tim Whitehouse turned his back on a creative career for the security of teaching. But something wasn’t right. He quit his job to set up The Hub, a live/work warehouse space that enables emerging creatives – like younger brother Joshua Whitehouse (vocals More Like Trees, lead actor Northern Soul) – to survive in unaffordable London.

Written by: Amrita Riat

Six reasons to not freak out about the future
Culture

Six reasons to not freak out about the future

The Optimist's Guide to Tomorrow #1 — If, like us, you lose sleep at night worrying about the future, it’s worth knowing that some good news lies on the horizon. We found two experts who amid all the doom-and-gloom have found reasons to be optimistic. In this three-part series, they'll break down some of your deepest, darkest fears.

Written by: Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson

How this social entrepreneur overcame her fear of not making a difference
Activism

How this social entrepreneur overcame her fear of not making a difference

Generation Why Not — With a stellar education in politics and investment management, 25-year-old Paula Schwarz was destined for a successful career in financial consultancy. Instead, she launched a social initiative, which is now helping to tackle one of the greatest crises facing mainland Europe since the Second World War.

Written by: Daniel Tapper

The self-taught bike builder who left his dead-end job behind
Bike

The self-taught bike builder who left his dead-end job behind

Generation Why Not — A near-death experience inspired former factory-worker Ricky Feather to leave his dead-end job and follow his dreams. It was a gamble that paid off. Without any formal training, Feather has built a career as one of the world’s most respected young bike builders.

Written by: Daniel Tapper (interview)

The fifteen-year-old environmental activist fighting to save our future
Activism

The fifteen-year-old environmental activist fighting to save our future

Generation Why Not — An environmentalist veteran at just fifteen, Xiuhtezcatl is the face of Earth Guardians, a collective of young activists determined to prevent the world from plummeting into further environmental disaster. Now he’s suing the US government for endangering his future.

Written by: Adam White

Busting myths and reminiscing with Hunter S. Thompson's son
Culture

Busting myths and reminiscing with Hunter S. Thompson's son

Son of a Gun — Hunter S. Thompson lived his life on the verge, surrounded by guns, booze and drugs, and people who never made it. But the gonzo persona was just one layer of a man who put writing before anything else. Now his son, Juan F. Thompson, is peeling back the myth of an icon who once famously said: never turn your back on fear.

Written by: Daniel Dylan Wray

The self taught-coder overcoming fears of not being good enough
Activism

The self taught-coder overcoming fears of not being good enough

Generation Why Not — An enviable CV doesn’t make you immune from feeling inadequate. Under pressure to work harder and longer, talented young coder Maxim Cramer, 25, transformed the way she lived, resulting in a healthier, happier and more productive approach to her career.

Written by: Daniel Tapper

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