Three Minute Squiz with
Kate Watson
Kate is Executive Director and Editor at The Squiz.
What keeps you busy?
Well, my husband Sam and I have three young kids under 6 (Emily, Annie and little Jack) so they take up most of our time when we're not working. As far as hobbies, I am also in the ocean at any opportunity - swimming, surfing, I am also in the process of becoming a lifesaver… basically, if it involves the ocean, I am there.
What do you like to do in your down time?
See above… I love days at the beach with the family. Love a family bike ride or bush walk. I read - mostly fiction these days. I used to read a lot of non-fiction and love a good biography (any recs anyone can give me are welcome?) You know what you won’t find me doing in my spare time, cooking. I wish I was a better cook… but alas, so far in my life, it hasn’t been a priority.
Give us 4 people (living or dead) at your ultimate dinner party?
Oooooo… this is really hard. Do I go down the path of people who I want to suss out or do I just go for a good time? If it’s the former it has be Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk so I can make an assessment of whether I trust them or not with the power they wield. If it's the latter, it’s going to sound a bit mushy but it’s my three best mates from uni. Since our twenties, life has taken us all sorts of places which has meant we have only had one dinner all together in a decade. I’d really like to sit down with them all again.
What’s something you’ve seen/read/listened to recently that you’d recommend?
The Pope’s encyclical on AI? That’s a bit much… how about Game of Thrones, I never watched it at the time and just did it all end to end. If you haven’t watched it, it's worth it. I understand so many more cultural references now.
What’s been in your social feeds lately?
A lot of surfing videos. I have recently taken it back up as a hobby after not surfing since my teens and I get fed a lot of surfing technique videos… I need them.
What do you consider to be an overrated virtue?
Prudence… I think some things aren’t always about reason and being comfortable with risks is liberating.
What would you say is the most overlooked news story Aussies should pay attention to?
I am not sure it is overlooked… but the repeated warnings from experts for years on the risk to our critical infrastructure and the threats to our democracy if we don’t combat them strikes me as something we should be more informed about. I get it though, it’s ‘hurts-your-brain’ kind of stuff that feels very overwhelming.
What’s one thing you would tell your younger self?
Buy a property… any property
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