Reading · Media Musings with Cassandra Brooklyn

Happy Spring!

I’m preparing to head to Nebraska with my family next week to witness the sandhill crane migration, which I’ve been dreaming about for several years. (Here’s hoping the TSA mess is resolved by then!)

The pic above is of a big street tree care gardening event I hosted this weekend. When my brother died in 2024, I struggled to find community. Then, after the catastrophic election results, I found that many in my community were also seeking connection and sources of joy, so I started a garden group. We started with 6, and we now have over 100 people on our list. This weekend, 35 people came to our joint event with the NYC Parks Department to tend to dozens of tree beds.

Most of this week is blocked off for medical stuff (including waiting on scary breast biopsy results), which I mentioned in my latest newsletter about Grief & Tradition: Why I Still Have My Christmas Tree Up on St. Patrick’s Day.

I have some pitch calls below, but other than taking responses to specific article assignments, please do not pitch me now. I have too much going on with my health, family, and the book I’m writing about grief and loss, so I ask that you please pause all pitching that is not related to my pitch calls. I really, really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Cassandra

Subscribe to Some Days are Shit

I’m working on a piece for Slate about the intersection of nature and tech apps. Essentially, these apps can help us appreciate nature, but at what point do we stop focusing on nature and begin obsessing over posting on the app and reviewing its related metrics?

I’m seeking an expert who can speak to the “so what” about this. If people are getting out in nature more and they are hiking and biking more and they are identifying plants and birds more, why does it matter that they are now focusing more on the app than the nature?

I am specifically interested in hearing from psychologists, psychiatrists, and researchers with relevant experience.

Subject line: Slate Nature + INSERT YOUR EXPERT NAME
Email: cassandra@escapingny.com
Pitch by: Fri, April 3 EDT

I’m working on a piece about the benefits and drawbacks of different types of massage. I’d like to hear from physiotherapists and researchers (I’m all set on massage therapists, thanks!). To get an idea of what AARP Health articles look like, check out the piece I wrote for them (which was published last week) about Why Winter Nosebleeds Strike More Often After 50 - And How to Keep Them at Bay.

This piece will be about why different types of massage are beneficial (such as Swedish, deep-tissue, and Thai, which involves stretching), and what audiences (within the 50+ subset) would benefit from them. It will also touch on some things to look out for, such as only going with licensed massage therapists, avoiding strong pressure if you have certain health conditions, or skipping scented oils if you have sensitive skin.

To pitch me:

Please send a few sentences about why your expert is a good fit, and they can share a few sentences on the topic, but I will still need to interview them live over Zoom the first week of April.

This super-detailed AARP Pitch Call Explainer focuses on travel, but it also offers many tips on the AARP audience (50s-60s), and it would be very helpful to read before pitching.

Subject line: AARP Massage + INSERT EXPERT NAME
Email: cassandra@escapingny.com
Pitch by: EOD Fri, April 3 EDT

Upgrade to Paid

Thanks to those of you who helped me source products and quotes for these pieces.

Sierra Club: 4 National Parks to Visit on Earth Day

Reader’s Digest: Hybrid Solo Travel is the Genius Way to Travel Alone, Together

AARP: 5 Best Scenic Spring Road Trips

Hilton: Summer City Escapes - Best Places for Urban Adventures

Hilton: Best Cities for a Cultural Spring Break Escape

The New York Times: Can a Humidifier Help with Winter Dryness?

AARP: Why Winter Nosebleeds Strike More Often After 50 - And How to Keep Them at Bay

The Wall Street Journal: Why Yellowstone Is Better in the Winter

National Geographic: Where to Find the Best Winter Wildlife Watching in the U.S.

National Geographic: 9 Spectacular State Parks to Visit in Winter