Justin Laidlaw

Founder at Buddy Ruski.

Durham

It Takes A Village

The house across the street from me sold for $163,000 in February of 2020. Honestly, I’m shocked the person who bought it didn’t have to just trade the owner a Snickers bar. It was a complete wreck. A homeless person lived on the porch behind plastic covers

The Buddy Ruski Show

How the Super Secret Dance Party / Buddy Ruski Show Crossover Came Together

When ideas collide, chaos ensues.

Updates

Buddy Ruski Newsletter 06.25.21

INTRODUCTION Hello, friends! There is a lot packed into this week’s newsletter, so I’m gonna keep this short. We’ve got new essays, new podcasts, works in progress, a fundraiser, and an exciting event announcement. Let’s get into it! New Content Why is no one on their

The Joys of Friendship, the Rhythms of Comedy, and the Pressures of Success with Josh Harmon | The Buddy Ruski Show (Ep. 21)

On episode 21 of The Buddy Ruski Show, Justin interviews comedian, musician and writer Josh Harmon.

Durham

Fundraiser for the East Coast Greenway Alliance | Happy Father’s Day

A 2-day, 125-mile adventure to test the limits of my mind, body and soul.

Why is no one on their porch?

What's the point of having a porch if no one is ever on it? What does that say about our communities?

Members only

Updates

Buddy Ruski Newsletter 06.08.21

Los Angeles

Venice: Slum by the Sea

This is the first in a series of reflections from my trip to Los Angeles at the end of May. I don’t get out much, so I try to be observant when I visit new places. You could drop me off in the middle of the desert and I’

The Buddy Ruski Show

Manifest Dismantling, Nature’s Teachings, and the Importance of Independent Media with Mike Shields | The Buddy Ruski Show (Ep. 20)

On episode 20 of The Buddy Ruski Show, Justin interviews prolific media professional and arborist Mike Shields.

Members only

Updates

Buddy Ruski Newsletter 05.04.21

Homestar Runner, the Pre-Internet Era, and a Yearning for Simplicity

Is the Internet past the point of no return?

The Trauma of Urban Cycling

What will it take to convince you that I'm worth it?

SNDTRK Volume 17: The Spirit House of Buddy Ruski

If you're looking for spiritual enlightment, let music be your guide.

Members only

Updates

Buddy Ruski Newsletter 04.08.21

Updates

Why I Ghosted Squarespace

My goal is to connect with you less on social media and more on this site, in your email inbox from time to time, and perhaps a future Discord server (I cannot and will not stop talking about my affection for Discord. You can’t make me).

Members only

Updates

Buddy Ruski Newsletter 03.29.21

That Year in Prague and Post-Traumatic Growth with Margaret McNab | The Buddy Ruski Show (Ep. 19)

On episode 19 of The Buddy Ruski Show, Justin interviews marketing and communications powerhouse, Margaret McNab.

Members only

Updates

Launching Buddy Ruski Into New Territory

The Future of Work

Work is broken. We work too much, we work on the wrong things, and we prioritize work over more important human needs.

Mastering Your Craft and Getting Lost in the Sauce with Nevy Ramadanovic | The Buddy Ruski Show (Ep. 18)

Nevy is a DJ and producer based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He and I talked about how he got into DJing, who his inspirations are in the industry, and how he’s been able to maintain during COVID.

Two Ways To The League: A Story That Begins At The End

What if I told you… that the end of the draft is just the beginning?

Storytelling and Reimagining the World with Saleem Reshamwala | The Buddy Ruski Show (Ep. 17)

Saleem is an accomplished videographer based in Durham, North Carolina. We discuss the future of various institutions like education, why empathy is important to fostering strong communities, and how technology has changed his own approach to filmmaking.

Branding

What Does Buddy Ruski Mean?

In honor of the man, the myth, the legend; my Daddy, my Ruski Buddy.

Branding

An Inside Look At The New Buddy Ruski Branding

Today, I unveiled the new branding for Buddy Ruski! For the past several months, I’ve worked alongside the incredibly gifted designer Jason Clary [https://www.sollos.co/] to bring to life a visual representation of what the brand stands for. I want to pour all I have into the

Retirement and Guinness World Records with Daniel Watkins | The Buddy Ruski Show (Ep. 16)

On episode 16 of The Buddy Ruski Show, Justin interviews Daniel Watkins, aka Danny Blaze, former rapper and your favorite rapper’s favorite Twitter follow.