We all want something authentic. What that means and what that may look like to each one of us is different, but there’s a “real-ness” we all crave, something deep, connective, and evocative of a feeling.
As more of the world gets catalogued, digitized, and regurgitated by the ouroboros that is AI platforms, there’s a hunger to hold something tangible in our hands, to talk to a real person with real eyes and a real human soul. The more technology roots itself into our lives, the more we find ourselves pushing against the current and fighting to reclaim spaces we once took for granted. Independent bookstores, for example, are growing again. Fast Company, citing data from the American Booksellers Association, wrote, “Over the last five years, the number of independent bookstores in the U.S. jumped by 70%.”
Not to be outdone, the Los Angeles Times reports that physical media is making a comeback. The decline of DVD and Blu-rays, which was reported to be about 20% year-over-year in the early 2020s, has slowed. Total sales declined 9% in 2025 over 2024, and niche markets, like 4K UHD Blu-rays, saw a growth of 12% year-over-year. Boutique Blu-ray distributors like Criterion Collection told the LA Times that they are seeing “significant year-over-year increases,” and this is despite the increased competition from companies like Kino Lorber, Arrow Video, Shout Factory, and other distributors.
Some people want these physical releases for a shelf display, taking the place of a tchotchke. Others want it for the special features or for a way to connect and share with friends and family. In the same article, there is a reported push for rental stores again, with some new rental companies popping up in major cities. This feeds the need to not only watch films on streaming-alternative device again, but to share that passion with others in the store.
I wrote about one such place (read: Adventure #1: Terrorvision) that was located near the Music Box Theatre in Chicago.
Did you enjoy reading my adventures to third spaces in-between issues of Because We Can? Books & Boards has officially moved to its own list, which you can subscribe to here.
Amidst these business-oriented third spaces, there is also a resurgence of people rediscovering and advocating for their public library. This last point holds a special place in my heart, as the public library gave me so much access to knowledge, entertainment, and resources as a child (thanks Mom), and as a public service, it’s one of the last free spaces for the benefit of all.
There’s an element that threads all these third spaces together, and it’s not just the tangibility of what’s contained therein. My day job involves constant communication and collaboration; it also involves presenting sometimes uncomfortable data and finding common ground, so that we can unite to build something or solve a problem.
Regardless of whether it’s good news or bad news, I’ve learned that the key ingredient to success isn’t polished shoes or a friendly smile. It’s empathy. It’s being true to one’s self and approaching each person with genuine interest and a desire to form a bond. It’s being inquisitive, curious, and interested.
The people who are open with their hearts and authentic in this way are the ones everyone wants to orbit. They’re the ones their peers are comfortable giving a second chance to when they fail. They’re beacons of light, shining through the darkness and electrifying those around them. It’s attitude, sure, but it’s also courage—the courage to be so openly human, in both good moments and challenging ones.
With how easy it is to fake authenticity with AI, along with how unstable the world feels, there’s a real hunger for warm, genuine people. Like those third spaces people are drawn back to, we want that connection, that shared experience with others.
Whatever you’re working on, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
That unique touch or strange, surreal approach to your latest work of art that’s so totally your style? It’s terrifying to be judged, sure. It’s near-paralyzing to feel all those eyes gazing into your soul.
But if you do it genuinely, with warmth, affection, and love for your fellow human? It’ll work out.
Be brave.
Because someone else is waiting for that person to come along to help them inspire the courage to be themselves, too. Because there are others out there who need your work of art, your story, or your dreams to help them push through the darkness.
Be that person. Be that person to someone like you. Reach out and make a connection.
It’s going to save the world.
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This short story of mine, “We’ve Come A Long Way,” has been popular lately. I’m not sure why, but I’m grateful that people are finding it and reading it. Maybe you should, too.
P.P.S. Here are the latest happenings in my neck of the woods:
I reviewed The Phantom vs. The Sky Band #1 one-shot by Mad Cave Studios
I’m back on X-Band: The Phantom Podcast this month to chat about the first 5 issues of The Phantom from Mad Cave Studios. Listen here:
No AI is ever used in the writing of Because We Can.
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