# Sinkholes, Shopping Carts, and Modern Anxiety | Melbourne News

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838/sinkholes-shopping-carts-and-modern-anxiety-melbourne-news
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838/sinkholes-shopping-carts-and-modern-anxiety-melbourne-news.md
Podcast: [Melbourne News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838)
Published: 2026-07-24T01:16:08+00:00
Episode link: https://sources.thednn.ai/5e34b3e84898e339
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/b6056efa-9420-46b3-b588-c49d61a6c08a.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838/episodes/sinkholes-shopping-carts-and-modern-anxiety-melbourne-news
Duration seconds: 127

## Resource

Chris Ames drops a wild, surreal collection of short stories called “I Made This Just For You,” where sinkholes erupt in Melbourne backyards, online carts become emotional lifelines, and floating plastic islands host political “everything machines.” These absurdist tales mirror our fractured digital lives—where anxiety hums beneath the surface of curated content, and characters grapple with grief, climate dread, and the desperate need for connection in a world that feels like it’s falling apart. Sharp, tender, and wildly inventive, Ames captures the millennial and Gen Z struggle to hold onto humanity amid chaos, proving that even in the most ridiculous times, real longing still matters. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/5e34b3e84898e339

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