No phones. No feeds. Just conversation.
I have a habit of sharing just one more idea.
My friends have a habit of replying with just one more “cool.”
Most of the time, that’s where it ends — an enthusiastic wall of text from me, followed by a gentle thumbs-up emoji or a vaguely supportive “sounds interesting.” It’s a familiar rhythm. I’ve learned to spot the moment when I’ve said too much, too fast.
But a few weeks ago, something shifted.
I brought some friends together for a dinner party. Amidst the chaos of hosting and cooking, and calming down over-stimulated pets, a strange thing happened. I floated a new idea and this time, no one changed the subject. No one reached for their phone. Everyone just… listened.
It was a little unsettling, honestly.
But it also felt like the signal I needed: maybe this idea wasn’t just another tangent. Maybe it was worth following through.
A few days later, I gave it a name: Algorithm Free Quarterly.
What is Algorithm Free Quarterly?
It’s a face-to-face gathering where people recommend creative work without using their phones.
Each event starts with a featured artist sharing their story and a few of their personal recommendations. Then, the rest of the room takes part. Everyone prepares at least one recommendation — a book, film, song, artwork, poem, or creator — to share in real conversation.
The only rule?
No phones, no searching. Be ready to talk about your personal choice without needing to find that actors name on IMDB, or play a video off your phone.
It’s an attempt to return to the joy of discovering your new favorite song from a friend's mixtape. Or the buzz that builds when something spreads because people care about it, not because it’s being pushed by a platform.
The Trial Run
We're doing a trial event on July 27th, starting at 3PM, at Café Han Dee in Busan, South Korea.
Our first guest is Marcia Peschke, a filmmaker, poet, and movement artist from South Africa. Her film Seek Body Contour was selected for the 2024 Contact Dance International Film Festival, where it won both Audience Choice and Outstanding Art Direction.
Marcia will open the event by sharing her story and a few of her personal creative recommendations — setting the tone and offering some inspiration before the rest of the room joins in.
How It Works
There are two ways to take part — choose one, or move between both.
🗣 Share a recommendation
Talk with others about something you want to recommend. It could be a book, an album, a film, an artwork, a place. Anything creative that’s stayed with you.
No phones, no screens, just real conversation.
✏️ Or draw it
If you’d prefer a quieter moment, visit the drawing table. There’ll be paper and markers where you can sketch something connected to your recommendation. Maybe a cover, a character, a place, or just a simple visual idea.
All drawings will be collected for Algorithm Free Quarterly — a free zine that documents each gathering. More on that in the next newsletter.
What to Bring
One creative recommendation you’d share in conversation
A sweet tooth (Café Han Dee makes excellent cookies)
Join Us
Whether you’re coming to listen, talk, or draw — you’re invited.
Join us for the very first Algorithm Free Quarterly on July 27th at Café Han Dee, Busan. Hear from Marcia Peschke, connect with others, and take part in a different kind of creative exchange.
If you can’t make it, I’d still love to hear from you. Reply to this email and tell me what you’d recommend — I’m excited to start this conversation with you.
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/seek_body_contour/
https://www.instagram.com/marciapeschke/