[tl;dr: first-month observations of PRD launch, upcoming Volume 2 previews, and a question for readers to help us shape the future of POP ROCK DISCO]

[*produced for desktop, tolerated on mobile]

We launched POP ROCK DISCO last month with Volume 1, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

Our real-time journey following Ben James during his first 30 days as Crispin's new Chief Creative Officer was a blast to produce, and the conversations and experiences along the way were truly inspiring. 

With Volume 2 coming out next week (surprise! more below), I wanted to share a couple of quick observations from the past month as we've been testing out this four-on-the-floor experiment.

So keep reading for two thoughts on the PRD journey so far, a preview of POP ROCK DISCO's Volume 2, publishing next week, and a closing question for everyone (your individual response will ACTUALLY DECIDE future volumes of this publication). 

So here we go...

Observation #1: you're all f*cking fabulous

In addition to the tens of thousands of organic impressions across platforms for our first volume, the personal notes I’ve received from the community so far, and the weekly new subscribers that are finding their way here from friends and family referrals, there’s also been something very specific that’s caught my eye along the way in our first month: our new - and growing - community of creative people around the world is f*cking fabulous. 

The work you’re doing, the stories you’re telling, and the art you’re putting out into the world at all levels is incredible. Bravi!

Observation #2: sharing really is caring

We don't all know each other (yet), but this is the stuff I live for.

I love creative work and creative people. I love building, designing, testing, and exploring. I love the new and the old, the simple and complex. 

But what I love more than anything is sharing with others these crazy (read: magical), nuanced experiences that only exist in the work we do as creative professionals. I designed PRD to share those experiences with others as I moved through my own creative world, but I didn't expect the level of sharing you would do with your own world(s). 🌎

Over the past month, this growing little community of magic makers and vibe virtuosos has shared and forwarded POP ROCK DISCO newsletters, podcasts, and posts with your own individual worlds, and it means everything - especially as we get started.

So… a very sincere THANK YOU to all of you who have shared the DISCO with your communities and made it what it is so far. Welcome to the party, everyone - it’s so much cooler with you here. 

As for what's next...

Next week, we'll launch Volume 2 of POP ROCK DISCO (cue Iggy).

Volume 2 will consist of four independent issues, published once a week between November 9th and December 4th, 2026.

[Stay tuned to your emails for the official release dates 🪩]

For this volume, we designed each issue around a real-time check-in with four industry-leading creative professionals across Film & TV, Branding, Story Economy Intelligence, and Advertising. 

For these specific conversations, I wasn't interested in what projects or work they'd delivered before we talked; I wanted to explore what they were focused on right then.

What mattered to them and their teams on that day?

What were they currently working on, and was it working…or not?

As for our special guests…

Peter Debruge, SXSW's new Film & TV Director, was 3 months into his new role after transitioning from a 20+ year career at Variety as Chief Film Critic when we recorded his episode. 🎥

I talked with Dana Harris-Bridson on her literal last day as Editor-in-Chief at IndieWire, hours before she was officially off the corporate books and stepping into her own, brand-new venture for the story economy, Flamingo. 🦩

When I checked in with PJ Pereira, Creative Chairman at Pereira O'Dell and Founder of Silverside AI, he said that, when it comes to big corporations with AI, we can “take those fuckers down” as independent creatives, and I believed him. 🎯

And Jessica Rosenburg walked me through her full suite of built-with-AI internal tools, which she led the design, development, and implementation of as Head of Brand at AirOps…in a matter of weeks. 🤖

These talks spanned industries, disciplines, and processes, but they all shared one thing when recorded between this past July and August: Artificial Intelligence is everything everywhere all at once for creative professionals in 2026. 🤖 🎨 🪩

Stay tuned to your emails in the coming weeks for new podcast episodes + newsletters from Volume 2.

Lastly, now that PRD is up and running, I want to check in with everyone following along so far.

In short, I never intended for the DISCO to be a “me” thing.

I had ideas and preferences for the overall brand design, real-time format, and early volume concepts, but from Day 1 the plan has been to design this thing for and with the people who find enjoyment and value from it.

So I have a question for everyone reading this who has made it this far:

Reply to this email - or directly to [email protected] - and let me know what you think…REALLY.

I read every email, and I’d love to hear what you’re genuinely interested in right now in this ever-changing (creative) world we’re in.

I have ideas. You have ideas. Let’s make something cool together. 🪩

Happy Saturday -

No spam - ever.

Just creative things from creative people.

P.S. Feel free to forward this email/newsletter along to anyone you think might enjoy the DISCO (friend, ex-professor, Uncle Albert). It’s the best way to support this publication in its early days. 🪩