Idiots on Inc. (Insight into the “Behr-Swanson relationship”)

by Matthew | Jul 24, 2014 | Media

It’s been a while since we’ve talked about it here, but a few years ago we were the subject of intense scrutiny by our friend Joshua Wolf Shenk, a nonfiction writer who has devoted the past few years of his life to researching and writing a book about collaboration.

Back when the book was in its very preliminary stages, Josh tested his theories in a four-part series about Robbi’s and my collaboration on Slate.com.

Now, four years later, the book is done and due out August 5.

It’s called Powers of Two: Finding the Essence of Innovation in Creative Pairs. You should get this book, not only because it is a fascinating and ground-breaking exploration of the collaborative dynamic, but also because Robbi and I are included. We have not yet read the finished version, but apparently we play a supporting role to such other, slightly better known duos as Paul McCartney and John Lennon, Marie and Pierre Curie, and Vincent and Theo Van Gogh.

The book is kind of a big deal. So much so that it was excerpted for the cover story of last month’s Atlantic.

As the release date approaches, various folks in the media are reading the book and either reviewing it or writing smart things about it. Just yesterday on Inc.com, writer Ilan Mochari posted an article about a pair of collaborative co-founders named Renee Robbie and Giorgia Rossi. After introducing their story and describing their tendency to buoy one another emotionally, he jumped into discussion of Josh’s book and made specific reference to the “symbiotic emotional management” of the “Behr-Swanson” relationship,” which is, apparently “archetypal of how healthy creative pairs often help each other through role playing and turn-taking.”

In simpler terms, Robbi and I almost never get depressed or demoralized at the same time. We take turns crashing, and when either one of us is having a bad day, the other, almost reflexively, steps in and picks the sad one up. It’s an incredibly useful (and seemingly intuitive) aspect of our relationship and partnership. And now it is being discussed by writers and scholars we don’t even know.

The fun thing about being included in someone’s book is getting to read a smart and scholarly breakdown of one’s inner mechanisms. Which is to say, Thanks, Josh.

Here’s the article. It’s pretty interesting, and not just because our names are in it.

And here’s the link to Powers of Two.

Idiots’ Interview in Spry

by Matthew | Apr 30, 2014 | Media

On Monday, an interview with Robbi and me was published in an online literary journal called Spry.

The interview is notable for the enthusiastic kindness of its introduction and for the surprising feistiness of Robbi’s language. Which is to say, don’t let your six year old read this interview unless your six year old is a pirate. Put a microphone in front of the girl and she tends to get carried away.

I like this piece. It contains some nice ideas and captures a spirit that feels pretty well aligned with who we are and what we do. If you’ve been curious about these things, perhaps you’d enjoy having a read.

Thanks, Zac, for taking the time to talk with us, and thanks Spry for being interested in what we have to say.

Nice Props from USA Today

by Matthew | Apr 17, 2014 | Media

Whitney Matheson of USA Today’s Pop Candy blog was the first person of note in the national media to write about us Idiots back in 2007, when she listed us above her “personal faves” in the independent comics world (alas, that link seems no longer to be available). Not long after, she wrote a piece about the series of One Page Wonders DIY recombinables we did for Tor.com. (Feel free to download, print, and make these free, single-page comic/book/whatsits).

Back then, we were thrilled to be counted among pop cultures “hip and hidden treasures,” and were not just a little grateful for Whitney’s help in becoming slightly less hidden.

It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from her, but yesterday Whitney paid us the compliment of sharing our TEDx talk with her readers, as well as linking to several of our titles and filling them in on the past few years of our creative evolution. It’s a nice little piece if you care to read it. Now, instead of being hip and hidden, we are “charming,” which seems like a fair substitute. 

Pop Candy has a new look now, but it’s the same old fun, interesting, timely content. Plus, the new format gives us the ultimate thrill of being included in a grid that includes Nic Cage.

Thank you, Whitney! Hello, world.