Are You Inside the Work or Outside the Work?

Are you inside the work or outside the work? It’s basically another way of talking about status and mastery, but I think it’s a nice shortcut. Where are you? Are you in it—actually doing the thing—or are you outside, staring at the finished product, obsessing over how other people are going to receive it? My new theory is this: the only real home is inside. That’s the only place you can actually live. ...

October 3, 2025 · 2 min · Alex Dobrenko

Inspirations

As I venture forth into this new wilderness, I find myself returning again and again to influences and inspirations. Specifically, I want to write them down, for myself, and share them, for y’all. It’s way too easy to forget about them in the maelstrom of the day, the hubbub of the night. So, in no particular order, here are some people whose work inspires me and to whom I look when thinking about this next chapter: ...

October 3, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

Links

Inspired by this I am starting a links page. What will I put here is to be determined of course. Update (09-20-25): I need multiple link pages. One is probably best for self-promo and BAT-promo.

October 3, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

Site I Like: Ryan Hemsworth (Musician)

https://www.ryanhemsworth.com/ I mean come on. Also this ‘submit a drawing thing’ (Note: Original had images that couldn’t be transferred - check out the site itself!) Here’s the one I did: (Drawing reference in original)

October 3, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

BATCAVE Promo

Check out this piece on rituals and members clubs: https://shindy.substack.com/p/rituals-members-clubs

September 28, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

Blend vs Mix

I just want to give a big shout out to the word ‘blend.’ Coffee is a blend. I just made a blend when i took beans from two different bags and tossed it all into my grinder. That is a blend! The word blend is powerful. It is a marketing word. Imagine if you were paying for a ‘coffee mix’ - I would not pay top dollar for that. Blend though, now blend sounds good. ...

September 28, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

Don't Spoil Your Effort by Seeking for Shelter

Love this line so much from “not always so” by Shunryu Suzuki. And the line he says a bit earlier: “if you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment.” But when you go to the restroom and seek shelter inside your phone, there is no chance for enlightenment. Of course there is, still, because the person who is looking in their phone is also enlightened but he does not know it to be so. ...

September 28, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

Idea: A Website for BAT Workshops

spec: ADD ideas: have a chat like this

September 28, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

People Who Seem Awesome That I'd Love to Work With

https://sundogcowboy.com/ - Jess Hererra who designed Cody Cook-Parrott’s website which seems awesome

September 28, 2025 · 1 min · Alex Dobrenko

The Internet Is a Temper Trap Hell Hole

I wrote this at Sept 28 at 4:04am I don’t know how else to put it. Today, this morning (Sept 28), just now, at 4:04am, I cut my journaling into my little notebook with my little pencil short - I cut it short so I could get on and write into my big computer with my big keyboard the big idea I had about the word blend. But when I got onto the computer, this vegas strip with its bright lights and flashing distractions all hand crafted and premium made for me truly, exactly as I left it last night, I forgot all about blend. ...

September 28, 2025 · 2 min · Alex Dobrenko