A Brief History of What is Even Going On Here

First, HOW I LEARNED was a show:

A live, monthly storytelling/comedy/reading series that ran for a decade in New York.

Created, produced, and hosted by Blaise Allysen Kearsley, HOW I LEARNED featured writers and performers holding forth on a different theme every month.

Guests included Alexander Chee, Ayo Edebiri, Mira Jacob, Anna Sale, Hugh Ryan, Starlee Kine, Mara Wilson, Jami Attenberg, Isaac Fitzgerald, Aparna Nancherla, Dodai Stewart, Baratunde Thurston, Jo Firestone, Emma Straub, Maggie Estep, Sadie Stein, Josh Gondelman, Ophira Eisenberg, Jiji Lee, Mike Albo, and many more.

The show was born on the Lower East Side at a beloved, sticky-floored, fire hazard known as Happy Ending (RIP the original one, not the bad one). Over the years, there were more shows in lower Manhattan, at venues like The Bowery Electric, Housing Works, The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge, and Caveat, and at Brooklyn’s Union Hall, plus a two-night sold out reading at Le Chat Noir in New Orleans.

Everything was going great and HOW I LEARNED was basically the best thing for everybody (one time, we were sponsored by Carvel Ice Cream — there was so much cake).

Then, some life things happened. And Covid happened. And everything split into the Before Times and the After Times. You know, it’s that famous opening line from A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times.”

Also, during that time, we got old.

Now, HOW I LEARNED is a magazine:

Resurrected in 2025 and re-formed into what you’re looking at right now (is it a magazine, or a newsletter, or a Subs**ck, who even knows).

But we know it’s an outlet for writers and other creatives; true personal stories from diverse vantage points and new and emerging voices, launching into the universe. It’s about unfolding slant ways of seeing the horror and the hilarity of the world. A chaotic core and the nature of things, a big unlearning, a hovering question mark, that might lead to the getting of wisdom — or something like it. It’s about just trying hard to be a person.

New nonfiction runs once a week (mostly) in FEATURED ESSAYS. You’ll find stories about involuntary celibacy, researching family folklore, getting nothing done, talking to strangers, finding what you like, losing what you know, what happens when you find ladybugs fucking, or when you get your period, or when you can’t hear, and so much more.

In addition, there are three other corners of HOW I LEARNED: LAST THING I’LL SAY, MY NEXT GHOST, and DREADLINE — sections that are written by me.

We’ve reached the part of the About page where I switch to first person.

I’m a writer, teacher, artist, and that lady from the HOW I LEARNED live series and digital pub. I’m an awkward introvert with a self-image problem and confusing personal style, but sometimes — with one right cocktail and a great crowd on a good hair day — I’ll get up almost anywhere to read (or tell) a story about my bad decision making.

There will be [a] HOW I LEARNED show[s] in the future, but I’m really excited to see how this venture evolves as an online outlet for writers and other creatives.

This is an indie project, a big labor of love, 100% supported by The People. Join the fold: read, comment, like, share, become a free or paid subscriber — or make a one-time donation. It’s really whatever you want. I’m just delighted and grateful you’re here (but don’t come for me about typos, unless you’re being nice).

You can learn how to pronounce all my names at www.blaiseallysenkearsley.com. If you’d like, you can follow me, and HOW I LEARNED, on Instagram, and also on this weird notes thing that we’re doing now for some reason.

I think that’s it. Let’s get off the internet for a bit. We can meet back here later.

xo Blaise

Got a solid HOW I LEARNED story? Read the Submission Guidelines, then hit me with your best shot.