Why I am starting a newsletter (and why it’s on Mondays)

The world can feel unbearable and overwhelming at times. Social media bombards us with information, quick sound bites, and — lets be honest — a bit too much chaos and anxiety. It’s easy to get lost in the noise.

That’s why I want this newsletter to be something different — a small reprieve where we can take a deep breath, and find a little joy. And what better subject to ground us than the manul — an animal that, I’m willing to bet, has become a safe haven for many of us scrolling Instagram, Youtube, X, and beyond, just looking for that much needed pick-me-up.

Why Mondays?

I chose Monday for a reason. As much as Mondays can be brutal — dragging many of us back into the office, into weekly routines and obligations. For some manul lovers, Mondays are different. A holiday of sorts. Manul Monday — a day where manul lovers can wake up excited to see new manul content, fresh photos, and yes, the occasional outlandish meme.

So, consider this newsletter your official Manul Monday jumpstart.

What to Expect Each Week

Each Monday, I’ll drop a manul-themed article covering a mix of topics including things like:

Conservation updates — The latest news about manuls in the wild, habitat concerns, and efforts to protect them.

Meet-the-manul features — Stories of individual manuls I’ve photographed and their quirks, backstories, and lore. Turns out manuls, much like humans, really are individuals (for better or worse, more on that in future articles).

Biology deep dives — The fascinating science behind manuls and their behaviors.

Pilgrimage insights — A glimpse into what it takes to do manul pilgrimages, and some of the behind-the-scenes from my trips. Hopefully to inspire others to take the leap and meet their first manul, if they haven’t already.

Manul mythology & cultural impact — Manuls are contributing more and more to internet subcultures, and have carved out some unique niches.

And of course, I want to hear your input! If there’s something specific you’d love to read about, let me know — I want this to be a space we build together.

Why I’m Writing This

At its core, this project is an outlet for doing what I love while directly supporting conservation efforts and, of course, my dearest Pazi (the manul). Sharing knowledge and enthusiasm about manuls isn’t just fun — it helps people connect with them, and the larger conservation issues facing manuls and other species across the world. Every new person who falls in love with these cats is another advocate for their future, and hopefully, for the planet as a whole.

I also want this newsletter to be an escape — a little pocket of positivity in a world that can sometimes feel like too much. Whatever brought you here — for the conservation, photography, or just because you think manuls are funny little goobers, I’m glad you’re here.