“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” ~Thomas Jefferson
In my ongoing pursuit to understand the strange economic climate that Mr. Trump is generating, I read this article about non-partisan investor Seth Klarman one of the most interesting reads as of late. (Hat tip to my friend, Alex, for sending it to me.) While the societal impact Mr. Trump is having garners most of the press and public opinion, what his leadership style and actions are doing, and will potentially continue to do, to our economy makes me increasingly nervous. Mr. Klarman has communicated the same fears.
Though the journalist who wrote this piece doesn’t share the entire contents of Mr. Klarman’s letter to his investors, he pulls out some of the most salient and relevant points. One point is that Mr. Trump’s protectionist trade policies, which he dubs as “America First”, are dangerous and historically have proven to be harmful to the U.S. in the long-run. Eventually, it will drive prices higher, harm all manner of relations with countries around the globe, comprise safety, and increase interest rates and inflation. For all those voters who said their number one reason for voting for Trump was that he promised to cut taxes, Mr. Klarman also views that as a short-sighted reason. These tax cuts could ultimately harm the U.S. because they have the potential to balloon national debt with rising interest rates and cause societal unrest by growing economic disparity. Essentially, they make the poor poorer and the rich richer. And that my friends, is a recipe for revolution that has toppled leaders, and at times entire governments.
I highly recommend reading this brief article but if you don’t have time, here’s the crux of it: buckle up, keep reading and discussing to stay educated on the issues, and don’t be a bystander. To borrow Mr. Klarman’s turn of phrase, be an upstander. Democracy needs each one of us, now more than ever.
Published by Christa Avampato
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
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