The Ambition Recession Poppy Loppers: Why Kiwis snark at success Welcome to the first piece in a six-part series on The Ambition Recession. We’ll move from New Zealand to the wider world, exploring culture, politics, economics, history, and philosophy By Alicia McKay / 27 Aug 2025
Systems "Isms" are not people Does calling people racist protect racist systems? Maybe. By Alicia McKay / 20 Aug 2025
McKayPedia Four empires, one square 2,500 years of Athenian empire and colonisation compete with cheap tourist trash. Travel was the winner on the day. By Alicia McKay / 15 Aug 2025
Identity and self You are who you aren't anymore Straddling the ravioli ravine with a Nashville musician to wonder about the cost of becoming yourself. By Alicia McKay / 13 Aug 2025
McKayPedia Mycenae If you're going to make your brother eat his kids' flesh, expect a run of family murders and eventual ruin, no matter how strong your city walls are. By Alicia McKay / 8 Aug 2025
McKayPedia Philosophy 101 Three wise men, three empty historic sites, one upturned rubbish bin By Alicia McKay / 3 Aug 2025
Reading and Writing / Paid-only June 2025 Book Report A mixture of crotch-wetting, tear-shedding and hope-for-humanity books to improve your month By Alicia McKay / 30 Jul 2025
Greek mythology Serifos Cutting off the heads of rape victims ain't pretty but this sunrise sure as hell was By Alicia McKay / 30 Jul 2025
McKayPedia Delphi Getting high as balls to tell the future (spoiler alert: the future is on fire) By Alicia McKay / 29 Jul 2025
The Ambition Recession Coming soon: The Ambition Recession A new essay series is on the way. By Alicia McKay / 27 Jul 2025
Local government Local government is back in the firing line They don't want reform, they want rates-capping. This is a bad idea, but it will play well in the 2026 election. By Alicia McKay / 21 Jul 2025