Kai Wright is the co-host of Stateside with Kai and Carter over at The Guardian. He’s a Peabody Award-winning journalist who’s profiled powerful men, explored what it means to be American, and chronicled the AIDS epidemic. He’s hosted Notes From America, The United States of Anxiety, and Indivisible. He’s also got impeccable taste in couches — avocado green, for the record.
The Verge sat down with Wright for their interview series, and one standout moment was his steadfast refusal to buy a new phone. In a world where tech reviewers and enthusiasts cycle through devices every year, Wright is holding onto his current phone for as long as humanly possible.
It’s a small but telling detail about how he approaches life. Wright isn’t chasing the latest gadget. He’s more interested in gardening, listening to John Coltrane, and doing meaningful work than in having the shiniest device in the room.
The full interview covers his daily routine, how he unwinds, and the advice he’d give to others. It’s a refreshingly grounded conversation in an industry obsessed with what’s next.
