The [Tuesday] Media Diet with Dominic Scalise

Not sure how I came across the work of Dominic Scalise, but it might have been his review of friend of WITI Robert Spangle’s Seabag. His newsletter is essential reading. -Colin (CJN)

Tell us about yourself.

I’m Dominic Scalise, and I’ve spent the last 10 years split between high-growth startups and building businesses of my own.

Currently, I'm building my marketing agency Growth Bureau, making videos, writing a newsletter, and have investment efforts focused on real estate.

I’m a life-long lover of art and craftsmanship, as well as an automotive enthusiast with an affinity for completely impractical cars. In my spare time I enjoy tending to aforementioned impractical cars, subjecting myself to really uncomfortable fitness challenges, and learning new ways of thinking - always with great music playing in the background (probably 90s R&B).

Describe your media diet.

Nowadays, I try to be pretty intentional with what I’m taking in and how how I access it: I moved IG & Substack off my phone and over to my iPad Mini, which has been a gamechanger. I’m just simply on apps less.

Media-wise, being real, lotta YouTube. I’m watching basically 3 things: product reviews, car reviews, and live music performances.

It’s easy to let algorithms take the wheel and start serving stuff that gets you excited (including negatively), so I’m proactive about telling the apps what I don’t want to be served to me any more.

I also try to watch at least a couple movies a week, lately trying to go beyond just the story and paying more attention to the nuance that goes into the creation of each shot. It’s been really fun and has given me an even deeper appreciation for cinema.

What’s the last great book you read?

Breathe by Rickson Gracie, but less for being a masterpiece and more because of how fascinating it was to me. My dad started training jiu-jitsu back in the 90s, so naturally martial arts became an interest of mine as well. Rickson Gracie is a legend in mixed martial arts (MMA) and took the world by storm with his elite jiu-jitsu in the 80s and 90s. He was the golden child of the Gracie family, who are credited for bringing jiu-jitsu to the US. Rickson was undefeated in his career.

What really captured me in this memoir was not just how brave he was but how sensitive he was too. I’ve always thought of fighters as being hardened and maybe having a few screws loose - this was not at all the case with Rickson. Despite being the greatest fighter of that time, he really had the mind of an artist. He was practicing yoga, doing breathwork, and really being in-tune with his emotions back before any of that was in vogue.

What are you reading now?

I’m currently re-reading A Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy. I’ve never laughed out loud so much reading a book.

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

Set and setting, baby. For me, this is early weekend mornings, in a very particular chair in my living room, and a hot cup of coffee. It’s the best.

Who should everyone be reading that they’re not?

Boyd Varty - Maybe his book, A Liontracker’s Guide to Life, found me at the right time, but it’s one of my most-gifted books.

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

A guitar tuner that doesn’t require a monthly subscription.

Plane or train?

I’m a man of efficiency, but I’m going train. Ya boi likes space to roam and I’m all about taking the scenic route. Plus, watch Before Sunrise just once and tell me you aren’t going train too.

What is one place everyone should visit?

The sketchy hole-in-the-wall taco joint or deli in whatever town you’ve landed in. No guts, no glory. Let’s slop ‘em up!

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

Well, my YouTube and Substack is effectively just that - going into rabbit holes on products, music, cars, interior design, and then coming up for air with my findings on what I feel is the best.

My latest was last month, when I went down the headphones rabbit hole. I am a HUGE music lover and work mostly from cafes, so I figured it’d be worthwhile to invest in a premium set of headphones. I spent hours of research, reading and watching reviews, then ended buying a number of pairs and spent hours testing them against each other.

It was actually a very surprising (and frustrating) endeavor. I thought it’d have a clearcut answer out of the gate, but each set had its pros and cons (better comfort, better bass, better clarity, better looks, etc.) and it took unlearning the sound signature I was familiar with for the past 5 years with my Sonys to finally appreciate the others. (Winner was the Bang & Olufsens if y’all were curious). (DS)