Why do we stand in front of great art — in the world's finest museums, surrounded by masterworks — and feel absolutely nothing? The answer, according to experience designer Abraham Burickson, has nothing to do with the art. It has everything to do with how we arrive. In this piece, drawn from a conversation on the Magic Academy podcast, Abraham unpacks what he calls the infrastructure of wonder: the hidden conditions that have to exist before any experience — a painting, an event, a human encounter — can actually land. What gets in the way of being moved? Why does physical movement unlock emotional openness? How does clarity of role make people feel safe enough to receive something? And what does any of this mean in a world where AI is quietly engineering away the conditions for genuine human experience? If you have ever wondered why transformative experiences feel so rare, this is where to start.

What if there's a different way to think about developing skills? In this @MAGICademy conversation, Dr. Mark Johnson shares some fascinating insights through a simple paper-folding exercise that reveals something surprising about how we master new abilities. 

We explore ideas like "latency"—the gap between hearing instructions and applying them—and why storytelling seems to help skills stick better. 

Whether you're developing your own capabilities, helping others build theirs, or just curious about how we get better at things, there might be something here worth discovering. Feel free to grab a piece of paper and follow along.

A great conversation with Jenna Mikus, founder of Eudae Group. Eudaemonia design aims to cultivate flourishing and optimal health in built environments by incorporating principles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness from self-determination theory. It focuses on workplace wellness, healthcare environments, and supporting neurodiverse individuals through tailored spaces.