Lee Tran Lam
@leetranlam.bsky.social
Freelance journalist, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry podcast, New Voices On Food book editor, Should You Really Eat That podcast, Diversity In Food Media Australia and more. Yes, there once was a sandwich named after me!
“She was so unpleasant I called her priMadonna.”
“People say that he kept rejecting Donald Trump from coming into Danceteria.”
“There was no better place for Run DMC to first play than Danceteria.”
Plus WW2 bombs, piss wands, the wildest of antics & more. Amazing story by @joypress.bsky.social!
“People say that he kept rejecting Donald Trump from coming into Danceteria.”
“There was no better place for Run DMC to first play than Danceteria.”
Plus WW2 bombs, piss wands, the wildest of antics & more. Amazing story by @joypress.bsky.social!
This Danceteria oral history is one of the most fun stories I’ve worked on. The club was a home for artsy misfits, incubating future stars like Madonna and Beastie Boys, Keith Haring, and Karen Finley. New wave, drag and hip hop rubbed up against each other. Enjoy! www.vanityfair.com/story/dancet...
When Freaks Were Chic: An Oral History of Danceteria
Debi Mazar, Rick Rubin, Michael Musto, Fab 5 Freddy, and more remember the legendary ‘80s nightclub that inspired a new Madonna single—and where she, RuPaul, Beastie Boys, and more invented themselves...
www.vanityfair.com
July 18, 2026 at 3:21 AM
“She was so unpleasant I called her priMadonna.”
“People say that he kept rejecting Donald Trump from coming into Danceteria.”
“There was no better place for Run DMC to first play than Danceteria.”
Plus WW2 bombs, piss wands, the wildest of antics & more. Amazing story by @joypress.bsky.social!
“People say that he kept rejecting Donald Trump from coming into Danceteria.”
“There was no better place for Run DMC to first play than Danceteria.”
Plus WW2 bombs, piss wands, the wildest of antics & more. Amazing story by @joypress.bsky.social!
RIP to Sam Neill: his wide-ranging roles included playing the Pope, the Antichrist, a cat burglar on The Simpsons and
real-life winemaker, where he dealt with the "heartbreak grape".
Loved interviewing him many years ago about all of the above and more. www.gourmettraveller.com.au/dining-out/c...
real-life winemaker, where he dealt with the "heartbreak grape".
Loved interviewing him many years ago about all of the above and more. www.gourmettraveller.com.au/dining-out/c...
How I eat: Sam Neill
The actor and winemaker on pinot noir, on-set catering and hurricane shelters.
www.gourmettraveller.com.au
July 13, 2026 at 8:07 AM
RIP to Sam Neill: his wide-ranging roles included playing the Pope, the Antichrist, a cat burglar on The Simpsons and
real-life winemaker, where he dealt with the "heartbreak grape".
Loved interviewing him many years ago about all of the above and more. www.gourmettraveller.com.au/dining-out/c...
real-life winemaker, where he dealt with the "heartbreak grape".
Loved interviewing him many years ago about all of the above and more. www.gourmettraveller.com.au/dining-out/c...
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
hilarious and thought-provoking www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
I tried to live for 24 hours without using oil-based products. It was ridiculously impossible
The world’s economy is completely dependent on petrochemicals. Is there any way to avoid them?
www.theguardian.com
May 2, 2026 at 12:01 AM
hilarious and thought-provoking www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
The Wikipedia article “Meaning of life” has been edited 10,713 times in its 25 year existence, and 23% of those edits have been reverted as vandalism. One common pattern is for vandals to delete the entire article and replace it with a single line. I collected some examples from the old days:
April 22, 2026 at 12:01 AM
The Wikipedia article “Meaning of life” has been edited 10,713 times in its 25 year existence, and 23% of those edits have been reverted as vandalism. One common pattern is for vandals to delete the entire article and replace it with a single line. I collected some examples from the old days:
I love how Milo has been so thoroughly embraced worldwide, from Nigeria to the Philippines.
I've talked to many people who grew up overseas with such
foundational Milo memories, they assumed the choc-malt powder was a local creation. Unlike Vegemite, they had no idea it was an Aussie invention!
I've talked to many people who grew up overseas with such
foundational Milo memories, they assumed the choc-malt powder was a local creation. Unlike Vegemite, they had no idea it was an Aussie invention!
I grew up thinking Milo is a Malaysian drink so imagine my surprise when I moved to Melbourne and found out it was created in AUSTRALIA?!
www.theguardian.com/food/2026/ap...
www.theguardian.com/food/2026/ap...
Vegemite is recognised globally – but how many people know Milo was invented in Australia?
The chocolate malt powder is sold in more than 40 countries, and Australian cafe owners say there’s ‘jingoistic pride’ in serving it on their menus
www.theguardian.com
April 28, 2026 at 5:23 AM
I love how Milo has been so thoroughly embraced worldwide, from Nigeria to the Philippines.
I've talked to many people who grew up overseas with such
foundational Milo memories, they assumed the choc-malt powder was a local creation. Unlike Vegemite, they had no idea it was an Aussie invention!
I've talked to many people who grew up overseas with such
foundational Milo memories, they assumed the choc-malt powder was a local creation. Unlike Vegemite, they had no idea it was an Aussie invention!
Yasuo Yamamoto is a 5th-generation soy sauce maker who brews the condiment the traditional way: in wooden kioke barrels (some over 150 years old)! Only 1 per cent of soy sauce is made this way in Japan - which is why visiting his brewery is so special. Here's my story
www.sbs.com.au/food/article...
www.sbs.com.au/food/article...
On the Japanese island that’s brewed soy sauce for 400 years, you should head here
On Shodoshima, Yamaroku Shoyu ferments soy sauce in 150-year-old barrels – a method that’s rare and remarkable. Its global fan club includes renowned cookbook authors Samin Nosrat and Emiko Davies.
www.sbs.com.au
April 10, 2026 at 4:14 AM
Yasuo Yamamoto is a 5th-generation soy sauce maker who brews the condiment the traditional way: in wooden kioke barrels (some over 150 years old)! Only 1 per cent of soy sauce is made this way in Japan - which is why visiting his brewery is so special. Here's my story
www.sbs.com.au/food/article...
www.sbs.com.au/food/article...
Inspiring to see @weareravenous.com emerge: it's run by "award-winning journalists fed up with the conversation around food being reduced by AI slop, 'best of' lists, and influencer-driven trends"
I especially liked what @jayasaxena.com was doing at Eater and bet Ravenous will be brilliant.
I especially liked what @jayasaxena.com was doing at Eater and bet Ravenous will be brilliant.
We are Ravenous — food media with teeth. Ravenous is worker-owned food and culture media company founded by @francesdoingthings.bsky.social, @aemccarthy.bsky.social, @jayasaxena.com, @shokdiesel.bsky.social, and
@thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social.
@thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social.
Ravenous Is a New Worker-Owned Food Culture Media Company
For too long, food media has felt toothless. Help us take a bite out of it.
www.weareravenous.com
April 9, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Inspiring to see @weareravenous.com emerge: it's run by "award-winning journalists fed up with the conversation around food being reduced by AI slop, 'best of' lists, and influencer-driven trends"
I especially liked what @jayasaxena.com was doing at Eater and bet Ravenous will be brilliant.
I especially liked what @jayasaxena.com was doing at Eater and bet Ravenous will be brilliant.
When I interviewed a Sydney cafe owner who showcases Viet coffee culture in inspired ways (exhibit A: his iced brûlée-style egg coffee!), I didn’t expect him to tell me he was repeatedly blown up in Furiosa and also battled alongside Michelle Yeoh in Shang Chi. www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
Review: Try Vietnam’s viral egg coffee at Canley Vale’s coffee-fuelled Tina & Po
Michael Tang was repeatedly blown up in Furiosa, but now torches his popular beverage until brulee-like.
www.smh.com.au
April 7, 2026 at 12:24 PM
When I interviewed a Sydney cafe owner who showcases Viet coffee culture in inspired ways (exhibit A: his iced brûlée-style egg coffee!), I didn’t expect him to tell me he was repeatedly blown up in Furiosa and also battled alongside Michelle Yeoh in Shang Chi. www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
OpenAI ”acknowledged in its own research that LLMs will always produce hallucinations due to fundamental mathematical constraints that cannot be solved through better engineering, marking a significant admission from one of the AI industry’s leading companies.”
You can’t trust chatbots.
You can’t trust chatbots.
OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws
In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limi...
www.computerworld.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:25 PM
OpenAI ”acknowledged in its own research that LLMs will always produce hallucinations due to fundamental mathematical constraints that cannot be solved through better engineering, marking a significant admission from one of the AI industry’s leading companies.”
You can’t trust chatbots.
You can’t trust chatbots.
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
Amen
I know journalism is a rapidly deteriorating industry, but it also feels like fighting a losing battle when folks on here are mostly sharing articles to dunk on them, rather than solid pieces from journos and critics out here trying our best every day to stay working and writing
March 4, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Amen
David Chang called it back in 2018: “The best pizza in the world is in Tokyo.”
And one of its best pizzerias opens soon in Sydney.
PST (run by “one of the most talked-about pizzaioli in the world”, according to @nytimes.com) arrives here in May.
My story here:
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
And one of its best pizzerias opens soon in Sydney.
PST (run by “one of the most talked-about pizzaioli in the world”, according to @nytimes.com) arrives here in May.
My story here:
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
One of Tokyo’s best pizzerias, Pizza Studio Tamaki, is opening in Sydney’s CBD
It’ll be its largest global location to date and will sell its famous five-cheese pizza sweetened with honey, plus local-inspired options.
www.smh.com.au
March 4, 2026 at 2:03 AM
David Chang called it back in 2018: “The best pizza in the world is in Tokyo.”
And one of its best pizzerias opens soon in Sydney.
PST (run by “one of the most talked-about pizzaioli in the world”, according to @nytimes.com) arrives here in May.
My story here:
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
And one of its best pizzerias opens soon in Sydney.
PST (run by “one of the most talked-about pizzaioli in the world”, according to @nytimes.com) arrives here in May.
My story here:
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
I cheered when I recognised @praddenkeefe.bsky.social in Industry’s S4 finale (finally, some sound journalism on the show!); it led me to his new book, which aptly shares the murky, false glitz of Industry’s universe. Say Nothing was unputdownable, am excited/impatient for London Falling’s release!
March 2, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I cheered when I recognised @praddenkeefe.bsky.social in Industry’s S4 finale (finally, some sound journalism on the show!); it led me to his new book, which aptly shares the murky, false glitz of Industry’s universe. Say Nothing was unputdownable, am excited/impatient for London Falling’s release!
“To plant is to believe in tomorrow,” my father said, as he pressed them gently into the soil.
Taqwa Ahmed al-Wawi on gardening in Gaza as bombs fall. Corn is a highlight: "30 kernels, bought as popcorn seeds, grew into proud green stalks up to my chest"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Taqwa Ahmed al-Wawi on gardening in Gaza as bombs fall. Corn is a highlight: "30 kernels, bought as popcorn seeds, grew into proud green stalks up to my chest"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
As the Israeli bombs fell, my family committed an act of rebellion: we planted a garden in Gaza | Taqwa Ahmed al-Wai
Amid constant danger, each planted seed was a tiny act of resistance. As they grew, they offered us food – and a sense of achievement amid the devastation, says Taqwa Ahmed al-Wai, a writer, poet and ...
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:43 AM
“To plant is to believe in tomorrow,” my father said, as he pressed them gently into the soil.
Taqwa Ahmed al-Wawi on gardening in Gaza as bombs fall. Corn is a highlight: "30 kernels, bought as popcorn seeds, grew into proud green stalks up to my chest"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Taqwa Ahmed al-Wawi on gardening in Gaza as bombs fall. Corn is a highlight: "30 kernels, bought as popcorn seeds, grew into proud green stalks up to my chest"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
We stand in solidarity with all those who are calling for accountability, transparency, and the reinstatement of Dr Abdel-Fattah to the Adelaide Writers’ Week program: diversityarts.org.au/diversity-ar...
January 12, 2026 at 1:01 AM
We stand in solidarity with all those who are calling for accountability, transparency, and the reinstatement of Dr Abdel-Fattah to the Adelaide Writers’ Week program: diversityarts.org.au/diversity-ar...
Even during a heatwave, the first Australian outpost for a Kyoto vegan ramen restaurant is attracting queues. I wrote about Sydney's Towzen noodle joint (which I liked better than the original in Japan). www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
Review: Japanese vegan ramen restaurant Towzen opens first Australian outlet in Sydney
Japanese vegan restaurant Towzen is pushing boundaries at its third international offshoot, with ramen that incorporates Thai- and Sichuan-style flavours.
www.smh.com.au
January 2, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Even during a heatwave, the first Australian outpost for a Kyoto vegan ramen restaurant is attracting queues. I wrote about Sydney's Towzen noodle joint (which I liked better than the original in Japan). www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
What is it about movies that turns everyone into number-crunching accountants? We don’t talk about books or other art forms this way. This year, I wrote about how box office talk is ruining movies (via @sydmorningherald.bsky.social's Spectrum) www.smh.com.au/culture/movi...
Putting the gross in ‘gross earnings’: Box office talk is ruining the movies
When did we all become voluntary bean-counters for Hollywood studios?
www.smh.com.au
December 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
What is it about movies that turns everyone into number-crunching accountants? We don’t talk about books or other art forms this way. This year, I wrote about how box office talk is ruining movies (via @sydmorningherald.bsky.social's Spectrum) www.smh.com.au/culture/movi...
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
If you have a moment I’d be very grateful if you read this.
December 21, 2025 at 1:14 AM
If you have a moment I’d be very grateful if you read this.
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
December 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
Here’s my Spotify Wrapped 🎵✨
December 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Here’s my Spotify Wrapped 🎵✨
According to @usc.edu data reported on @james.crid.land's @podnews.net, 64% of the most popular US podcasts were hosted by men. Such shows are far less diverse than the top movies, TV or music. Worst gender gap? Business & tech shows: men host 92% of 'em! More stats here:
podnews.net/update/woefu...
podnews.net/update/woefu...
Podcast diversity is ‘woeful’, says new report
We are much worse for diversity than film, TV, or music.
podnews.net
November 15, 2025 at 8:27 AM
According to @usc.edu data reported on @james.crid.land's @podnews.net, 64% of the most popular US podcasts were hosted by men. Such shows are far less diverse than the top movies, TV or music. Worst gender gap? Business & tech shows: men host 92% of 'em! More stats here:
podnews.net/update/woefu...
podnews.net/update/woefu...
Reposted by Lee Tran Lam
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions
OpenAI is facing seven lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
At Sydney's only full-time Mexican bakery, you'll find coffee spiked with horchata (it's creamy, cinnamon-sweet & delicious!), an ancient hot chocolate that predates Euro-style cocoa by thousands of years and other rarities. Here's my write-up on Pancho Bakery:
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
Review: Sydney’s only bricks-and-mortar Mexican bakery specialises in hard-to-find treats
Pancho Bakery’s busy location means it’s easy to overlook, but its conchas, coyotas and molletes mean this one-of-a-kind shop deserves to be noticed.
www.smh.com.au
October 13, 2025 at 2:47 AM
At Sydney's only full-time Mexican bakery, you'll find coffee spiked with horchata (it's creamy, cinnamon-sweet & delicious!), an ancient hot chocolate that predates Euro-style cocoa by thousands of years and other rarities. Here's my write-up on Pancho Bakery:
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
www.smh.com.au/goodfood/syd...
Taylor Swift releasing (needing?) 30+ variants of her new album in 1 WEEK to knock off Adele’s sales record feels cynical. Should a billionaire really squeeze her fans this way? @defector.com on how ‘good art doesn’t come from greed’ is the BEST piece I’ve seen on TLOAS
defector.com/taylor-swift...
defector.com/taylor-swift...
October 10, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Taylor Swift releasing (needing?) 30+ variants of her new album in 1 WEEK to knock off Adele’s sales record feels cynical. Should a billionaire really squeeze her fans this way? @defector.com on how ‘good art doesn’t come from greed’ is the BEST piece I’ve seen on TLOAS
defector.com/taylor-swift...
defector.com/taylor-swift...