The Guardian’s Kai Wright refuses to buy a new phone

Kai Wright is the co-host of Stateside with Kai and Carter over at the Guardian. But Wright has been bringing his unique insights to listeners for years. He’s also hosted Notes From America , The United States of Anxiety , and Indivisible . He’s a Peabody Award-winning journalist who has profiled powerful men, explored what it means to be American, and chronicled the AIDS epidemic. When he’s not diving deep on sex, race, and politics, he’s gardening, listening to John Coltrane, and steadfastly refusing to buy a new phone. Wright was kind enough to give us a glimpse into his daily routine, how he unwinds, and offer some simple but powerful advice. What is your most indispensable tool? Which is the most underappreciated? Wheelbarrow. Seriously, though. Haul around enough dirt and rocks, and you will come to appreciate the brilliant utility of this basic design. What is one thing you wish you could change about your phone? I wish I could have bought one smartphone and never ever had to buy another one again, forever. Why must it constantly go obsolete? (Of course, I haven’t actually bought a new phone in I dunno how many years; I just take my partner’s hand-me-downs. So I’m complaining on cranky principle.) How many tabs do you have open right now? In the window I’m using right this moment, I have 10 tabs open. Yes, this is quite a reasonable number, thank you. I do have 11 more windows open, however, and cannot bring myself to account for what’s in them. …