Introducing A New ISC Category - [Riffs]!
Obviously, the concept of a riff isn't new.
There's two main intentions in creating Riffs as a new category/feature for the podcast, blog etc, which I'll delve further into below.
So what do I mean by 'riffs', exactly?
To 'riff' has two major connotations. Musical, and verbal.
The Dictionary of Oxford Language defines a riff as per the following:
noun
plural noun: riffs
a short repeated phrase in popular music and jazz, typically used as an introduction or refrain in a song."a brilliant guitar riff"
a monologue or spoken improvisation, especially a humorous one, on a particular subject."subsequent riffs on the same themes fail to amuse"
verb
3rd person present: riffs
play musical riffs."the other horns would be riffing behind him"
perform a monologue or spoken improvisation on a particular subject."he also riffs on racism and the economy"
You can see an emerging pun here, right? Riffs? GEDDIT? Riffing?
Yeah, so clever.
p.s. Clever Girl? Unironically a cool band.
Riffing is something I feel I do a lot on our social media. And I'll be honest - I'm really, really fed up with the trajectory Meta apps in particular are taking.
Endless walls of short-form Reels and other TikTok-lite content, difficulty engaging with just about anyone I'm familiar with in favour of Sponsored-Post-Sponsored-Post-Sponsored-Post-Sponsored-Post-Sponsored-Post, etc.
It's just.... shit? And to be honest, I feel the blog deserves a bit more attention that is diverted to some almost-essay-length posts from Yours Truly on socials. Not to big-note too much, nor to even feign assumptions that my mental verbiage is worth preserving like some historical artifact, but it's feeling increasingly futile to share content-related thoughts between the lengthier podcast episodes on a user-unfriendly, frustrating platform/s.
So that's the first reason for why I aim to repackage some of these thoughts, threads ready to weave and congeal into longer-form episodes on a later time, etc, into more short-form essay-style format. Dubbed affectionately as [Riffs].
Second of all - me. I'm the second reason.
Call it ADHD, hyperfixation, whatever, but I'm very prone to being all-or-nothing and unrealistic in a lot of my self-expectations when it comes to longer-form content. I'm acutely aware the most recent episode, especially the blog post, is a leviathan undertaking for even a committed reader with plenty of time.
I'm also aware what's also an obstacle, particularly with the level of overall strain and burnout I'm experiencing presently (and likely to for a while yet), to shoehorn written and spoken content purely into the more... monolithic, research-heavy and conceptually dense episodes.
I figure why not meet both myself and the team where we're at (it's been a time all-round this year for our staff as well), we figure introducing shorter written pieces is also a nice way to break up lengthier diatribes.
As well, we're all looking to engage in a manner that's a little more consistent. And to do so, as strapped and stressed writers, at times that involves taking stock of that's feasible.
EDIT - Update for New Website 08.01.25:
So yeah.
When you see ‘Riffs’ under the post title as a Category, this indicates additional non-podcast-episode content.
Additionally, as per my previous post here on the new site, there’s also a chance that some Riffs (many, even, time/energy pending!) be narrated and added in to future Inner-Strength Check podcast episodes. Depending on length, theme, topic etc, this could one, several or many!
That’s all. Nice and quick. For once! (That’s what she s-)
Peace, Love and Grindcore xoxo - Brady.