Not Yogurt
Not Yogurt
Mark Ayzenshtat's Writing
My essays and notes.
Latest posts
Two Ways to Be Funny
A split runs through comedy, vulnerability, and everything we do in front of other people. One side brings you closer - the other only feels like it.
The Buzzing
The Buzzing
Say Nothing
Say Nothing
Every Spruce is Sacred: Generating Unique Tree and Boulder Sprites
Every Spruce is Sacred: Generating Unique Tree and Boulder Sprites
Ambition Rebranded
Ambition Rebranded
Love as a Second Language
My dad and I speak different languages. What happens when we keep reaching across a gap we can't quite close?
Deals and Vows
The two hidden games of human connection, and how to spot which one you're actually playing.
How to Steal a Car Politely
After midnight on the expressway, something felt off. The evidence mounted. I was wrong about all of it.
The Draining Middle
Not great, not terrible. The most dangerous situations are just good enough to keep you trapped. Here's the way out.
My Weapon of Choice
What was my antidote to years of relentless striving? Chasing the world's best Christopher Walken impression.
Two Kinds of Vulnerability
Two Kinds of Vulnerability
Cherry Luden's and a Weightless Heart
A single cherry lozenge. A quiet afternoon with my mom. A rare feeling I wouldn't understand for decades.
The Anchor Score
Some friendships drain you. Others become your safe harbor. This is a simple language for seeing where to invest your heart.
It Waited in the Attic
My phone buzzed with a late-night alert. What turned on me was biding its time in the dark. So was what saved me.
Substance vs. Sheen
A vulnerable speech. A room full of applause. What really endures after the spotlight fades?
Parental Advisory
As my parents entered their 80s, I feared their stories would be lost. This is how a conversation game opened a door I thought was permanently closed.