The Monday Media Diet with Anna Doré

Anna Doré (AD) is a pal of WITI and currently runs comms at Rothy’s. She was kind enough to share what is catching her attention these days. Have an excellent week! -Colin (CJN)

Tell us about yourself.

I came up as a publicist, spending my early years at an agency working across fashion, tech, beauty and more. I’m a sucker for a great story, so when Rothy’s came across my desk, I knew I had something special. 

Rothy’s sits at the intersection of art and science, transforming recycled plastics into premium shoes and accessories. We make everything we sell in our own factory, have cultivated a fiercely loyal community, and will be one of the first to close our loop. As our industry goes through a seismic shift—with both DTC and heritage brands reckoning with change—I believe Rothy’s will emerge as a company with true staying power.

After many years in Des Moines and St. Louis, I’ve spent the last seven in Astoria, Queens. I’m very loyal to both this neighborhood (running a hyperlocal IG for years) and my apartment building, nesting in three different units on the very same floor. 

Describe your media diet. 

Growing up with two academics, NPR was always on. Audio is the best way to ease into my day, starting with WNYC, Up First, and The Daily. 

I’m a massive fan of newsletters. Before answering any emails of my own, I’ll absorb the dailies over coffee and sort out my reading list: WWD and BoF for industry news, Bloomberg and Quartz for business, Cool Hunting and Wallpaper* for design, and N.Y. Today for metro. As soon as they hit my inbox, I’ll devour LeanLuxe and The Sociology of Business for sharp takes on fashion, culture, and luxury. If it’s Saturday, I’m indulging in Air Mail, Gossamer’s High Praise, and WSJ Mag for some lighter fare. To stay current on celebrity gossip (while avoiding the depths of Daily Mail), the Page Six newsletter is a true guilty pleasure.

That said, there is no substitute for holding a newspaper or magazine in your hands. In addition to the New York Times Weekend Edition, we subscribe to The New Yorker and a slew of fashion mags that I’m hoping will remain in print for years to come.

What’s the last great book you read?

A friend recently recommended Color Scheme: An Irreverent History of Art and Pop Culture in Color Palettes by Edith Young. It’s a delightful read that distills art history and pop culture through pages of color palettes. From the many pinks of Marie Antoinette’s cheeks to a chronology of Dennis Rodman’s hair dyes, it revisits history through the enlightening lens of color. I savored every page.

What are you reading now?

Since hearing Michelle Zauner’s deeply personal interview on The Cut podcast last spring, Crying in H Mart has been on my list. It’s a beautiful memoir about losing a mother and climbing out of the depths of grief through Korean cooking. The writing transports you to the most intimate moments in a mother-daughter relationship, and I have not been able to put it down.

What’s your reading strategy when you pick up a print copy of your favorite publication?

After battling with my husband about who needs to go grab the NYT Weekend Edition from our lobby, I’ll spend an hour or two in my favorite chair devouring Real Estate, Sunday Styles, and Sunday Business before covering the rest. T Mag is always an added delight. 

When a new edition of Gossamer’s print magazine comes out, I can’t get my hands on it soon enough. Their latest issue, Touch, has a fuzzy cover and is an ode to all things tactile—rather than reading it front to back, I’ll flip through and let a story or image draw me in.

Who should everyone be reading that they’re not?

Rebecca Jennings at Vox writes an incredible column on all that is The Internet. From predicting last summer’s return of Prep to unpacking the saga that was West Elm Caleb, she’s always one step ahead of trends. Plus, she’ll attend NFT warehouse parties so you don’t have to.

What is the best non-famous app you love on your phone? 

Google Translate always comes in in the clutch. 

Plane or train?

I find the train oddly romantic (except when originating from the old Penn Station), but it’s plane for me. As the world finally opens up, I’m dreaming of the world’s farthest possible destinations. Japan is next on my hit list.

What is one place everyone should visit? 

Plug for my favorite Astoria Greek taverna, Elias Corner for Fish. No reservations, no menus, and most certainly no frills. Scan the display case upfront for the catch of the day, but trust your waiter and don’t look back. 

Tell us the story of a rabbit hole you fell deep into.

I’m an interiors nerd and recently pored over decades of vintage IKEA catalogs. While the design has so clearly evolved, everything is cyclical. I think we’re all feeling nostalgic these days, which is acutely reflected in the latest trends—flip through a few pages of 1972 and you’ll see just how much has come back around, 50 years later. (AD)

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An ongoing partnership where we highlight interesting McKinsey research, writing, and data.

Healthcare at home. Up to $265 billion worth of care services for Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries could shift to the home by 2025. Explore how the pandemic catalyzed the shift, how patients can benefit from the Care at Home model, what factors could affect adoption, and how payers and other stakeholders could accelerate potential growth. 

Thanks for reading,

Noah (NRB) & Colin (CJN) & Anna (AD)

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