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Articles by Avery Thatcher
'The Devil Wears Prada 2' survives the sequel trap with a story everyone wants
Lifestyle Red heel with cityscape in the background. Editorial Board Member May 21, 2026, 11:04 PM This spring and summer brings us new patterns, reemerging 2000s trends and layoffs at major news outlets. We itch for aestheticism and heels tapping across NYC streets amid dizzying changes in media and communication. "The Devil Wears Prada 2" tries to give this to us by addressing the commercialization of journalism, but forsakes both a satisfying narrative and fashion itself.
'Jackson' is stunning, but this new biopic lacks substance
Lifestyle Michael Jackson illustration May 20, 2026, 11:56 PM I was sold on “Michael” before I even walked into the theater. Antoine Fuqua’s film comes with the nearly impossible task of turning one of the most documented people in modern culture into a fully realized movie character. The result is less a traditional biopic and more of a visually impressive concert performance that relies on Jackson’s magnetism and music over a well-developed plot.
Farewell Column: A mostly unproductive love letter to the DTH office
Opinion DTH Digital Managing Editor Avery Thatcher poses for a portrait on a blue box on Monday, April 20, 2026. Digital Managing Editor Apr 23, 2026, 10:41 PM According to my calculations, I have spent approximately 1,500 hours in the DTH office over the last three years. That sounds impressive until you talk to anyone who has ever worked a shift with me. If you asked most of my coworkers, they would probably be very skeptical about how many of those hours I actually spent working.
Review: PlayMakers' 'Steel Magnolias' feels like one big family affair
Lifestyle Kathryn Hunter-Williams, Elizabeth Dye, Caroline Marques, Sharon Lawrence, and Thursday Farrar on the set of Steel Magnolias. Photo courtesy of Playmakers/HUTHPHOTO. City & State Editor Apr 19, 2026, 2:54 PM When the audience is overwhelmed with laughter before the actors have spoken their first lines, you know you’re in for a treat of a play.
Review: ‘The Drama’ isn’t what you think
News Robert Pattinson, top, and Zendaya play an engaged couple in "The Drama." (A24/TNS) Digital Managing Editor Apr 17, 2026, 12:31 AM Content warning: This article discusses gun violence in schools. I was not physically or mentally at ease for a single second when watching "The Drama." When I saw that a new movie was coming out starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, I metaphorically booked my ticket months in advance. Unknowingly, I was falling into the very trap that the movie relied on me to.
UNC brings back DEI — for whites
News Photo assets courtesy of Adobe Stock. Apr 1, 2026, 10:00 AM Editor's note: This article is satire. Happy April Fools' Day! When UNC released its admissions figures for the Class of 2030, its historic diversity was noted. What the press release omitted was less than one percent of admitted students were white. It is, depending on who you ask, a civil rights crisis. The shift traces directly to the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v.
Q&A: Orange County Board of County Commissioners candidate Beth Bronson talks sustainable development
City & State Photo courtesy of Beth Bronson. Digital Managing Editor Feb 24, 2026, 8:32 PM The Daily Tar Heel's Avery Thatcher spoke with Orange County Board of County Commissioners candidate Beth Bronson about her experience and aspirations for the role. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. The Daily Tar Heel: What do you want voters to know about you?
Satire: How to be the perfect boyfriend this Valentine's Day
Opinion Photo assets courtesy of Adobe Stock Digital Managing Editor Feb 9, 2026, 9:33 PM Dear local boyfriends, I come to you with extremely shocking and upsetting news: Valentine’s Day is this Saturday. But fear not! Luckily for you, I’ve written a comprehensive guide to help you put on a performance so convincing that even your girlfriend's friend who hates you the most will struggle to find fault. To start, be sure not to actually ask her to be your valentine.
Column: Haunted by futures that never were, returning to 2016 reminds us of the hope we once had
Opinion Senior Writer Jan 26, 2026, 11:21 PM Each day in 2026 has been bleaker and more absurd than the last. The specter of capitalism blows through our streets, stirring institutional violence and widespread unrest like dry leaves from a gutter. There does not seem to be an end in sight; we are battered at every turn and forced not to look forward, but instead to peer backward in time for inspiration and hopeful sentiment.
North Carolina's protest laws have become stricter. North Carolinians protest anyway
City & State Photos courtesy of Mason Miller, Viyada Soukthavone, Abbey McKee, and June Brewer. Jan 20, 2026, 11:00 PM On Feb. 1, 1960, four African American college students sat at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro and refused to leave, igniting a sit-in movement that spread nationwide and greatly influenced the Civil Rights Movement.
From the Speaker Ban to Dwayne Dixon: How student activism breaks the mold of speech limitations at UNC
University Photos courtesy of Angelina Katsanis, Viyada Soukthavone, Allison Russell, UNC Library, and 1987 Yackety Yack Digital Managing Editor Jan 20, 2026, 11:00 PM During the 1960s, UNC became a testing ground for how far students at a public university could go when challenging the boundaries of free speech and political expression. The disputes at UNC mirrored national conflicts over free speech and student activism at public universities during that era.
Column: Ins and outs of 2026
Opinion Jan 12, 2026, 3:59 AM Culture critics today contend that the new year is not actually a good time to reinvent yourself. Having never subscribed to the resolutions or linear glow-up promised in Planet Fitness coupons, I am auditing habits and trends — both personal and societal — to decide what makes the cut for 2026. What’s OUT: Staying up late for no reason No more sacrificing sleep without a cause, especially if the culprit is your phone and the unending rabbit holes hidden within.
Loud division, steadfast resilience: 2025 Year in Review
News DTH Editor in Chief Alli Pardue, Print Managing Editor Kaitlyn Cano, Digital Managing Editor Avery Thatcher, and Community Engagement Managing Editor Daneen Khan. Dec 2, 2025, 11:52 PM Technological innovations of the 21st century have connected Americans with each other and with the rest of the world, bringing them, in many ways, closer together than ever before. And yet, as this quarter century comes to a close, divides are ever deepening across the nation. And it all starts at the top.
Redefining Success for Burnout Recovery: Is Your Definition Serving You?
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- Redefining success for burnout recovery It’s a strange moment when you realize that the very thing you’ve been striving for is the thing that’s chipping away at you. Success, for many, is the shining light at the end of a long, demanding tunnel. But for those of us who’ve been walking through that tunnel for what feels like forever, it might be time to pause and ask ourselves a simple, yet transformative question. Is my definition of success still serving me?
Why is it Hard to Stay Consistent with Yoga Practice
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- Why is it hard to stay consistent with yoga practice? Let’s talk about it I’ve been thinking a lot about how yoga can feel so inviting yet oddly elusive at the same time. You roll out your mat, stretch out your body, and for a moment, it feels like you’ve unlocked something — calm, connection, maybe even clarity. And yet, staying consistent with yoga practice? That’s the tricky part, right? I get it because I’ve been there too.
7 Subtle Signs of Burnout in High Achievers
Avery Thatcher · Follow 7 min read · -- 7 Subtle Signs of Burnout in High Achievers: Why It Doesn’t Always Feel Like “Burnout” I used to think burnout was loud. I imagined it was this dramatic collapse — burnt-out shells of people slumped over their desks, teary-eyed and barely able to function. Don’t get me wrong, burnout can look exactly like that and it’s what one of my experiences of burnout looked like for me.
How to Find Strength in Uncertainty
Avery Thatcher · Follow 10 min read · -- How to find strength in uncertainty I’ve been looking for a way for how to find strength in uncertainty, without invalidating my experience. For a long time, I believed that pushing through meant I was being strong, resilient, and grounded. In the ICU, that’s how I operated, holding onto that constant need for control amidst chaos.
Body Mapping for Emotional Awareness
Avery Thatcher · Follow 7 min read · -- Body mapping for emotional awareness Sometimes, I feel like my body is carrying around little pieces of my past. Almost like bookmarks for emotions I haven’t fully processed. I never really noticed it until I started paying closer attention. I used to think emotions just lived in the mind, and that if I was anxious or stressed, it was just some kind of mental storm I had to wait out. But over time, I’ve realized there’s more to it.
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome for High Achievers
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- Overcoming Impostor Syndrome for High Achievers Impostor syndrome: it’s a term that feels all too familiar for so many of us. It’s that voice that questions our worth, our skills, and our belonging, no matter how much we’ve achieved. For years, I thought I was the only one feeling this way. But then I learned it wasn’t just about my self-doubt. It was part of a much larger system of beliefs that keeps us all questioning ourselves.
How to Stop Feeling Stuck - By Choosing Not to Move Just Yet
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- How to Stop Feeling Stuck — By Choosing Not to Move Just Yet I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what it means to feel “stuck.” It’s easy to think that being stuck is something to push through as quickly as possible, something to fix or conquer. But what if that’s not always the right answer? I’m beginning to realize that sometimes, staying put and embracing that stuckness can actually lead us to something far more valuable.
How to Prioritize Tasks When Everything Feels Important
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- How to Prioritize Tasks When Everything Feels Important Does it ever feel like your to-do list is so packed that it’s impossible to know where to start? Like you’re drowning in a sea of priorities, each one as urgent as the next? Yeah, I’ve been there. A lot. In fact, just last night, I found myself staring at my own list, wondering how on Earth I was going to make progress on anything with all of these spinning plates.
How to Stay Grounded During Life Transitions
Avery Thatcher · Follow 7 min read · -- Navigating Life Transitions: How to Stay Grounded When Everything is Changing Life transitions are inevitable. Whether it’s a new job, moving to a different city, the end of a relationship, or even a significant shift in your health, change has a way of unsettling us in ways we don’t always expect.
How to Find Balance as a Highly Sensitive Person (hint: it’s a myth)
Avery Thatcher · Follow 7 min read · -- I used to believe in balance, particularly when struggling with how to find balance as a highly sensitive person. It was this elusive goal that always seemed just out of reach — a perfect equilibrium between work, rest, social life, self-care, and every other aspect of life. I think for many of us, this idea of balance is drilled into our minds.
Everyday Creativity for Highly Sensitive People is Beyond Creation
Avery Thatcher · Follow 7 min read · -- Growing up, I was told I was ‘gifted’ in everyday creativity for highly sensitive people through art. It felt like something to live up to — a badge of honor that I didn’t quite know what to do with. Objectively, sure, I could draw or paint pretty well, and I even won a scholarship to a local art college. But deep down, something about it never felt like mine. Let me tell you about the piece that won me that scholarship.
How to Process Unresolved Emotions
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- How to process unresolved emotions and start healing Music has always had a way of sneaking past the logical barriers I’ve built around certain emotions. Helping me to feel things I didn’t even realize were still simmering under the surface. It’s one of those art forms that can bring clarity without needing direct articulation. I can go months, years even, without thinking about something painful or unresolved.
A Year-End Reflection Ritual to Celebrate Your Growth - Part 1 of 3
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- Celebrating Our Journey: A Year-End Reflection Ritual As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to turn our thoughts to the future. For many, that means resolutions — new goals, changes we want to make, habits we hope to leave behind. Resolutions are valuable, yes, but they often carry an unspoken assumption: that who we are now isn’t quite enough. They imply that to start fresh, we need to “fix” ourselves in some way.
5 Reasons Why It’s So Hard for Highly Sensitive High Achievers to Create Calm in Our Chaotic Modern World
Avery Thatcher · Follow 6 min read · -- Why It’s So Hard to learn how to create calm as a highly sensitive person in Our Chaotic Modern World Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it is to find calm. Especially when you’re highly sensitive and constantly tuned in to everything going on around you. Let’s be real: the world feels overwhelming. There are days when it seems like every news notification is a new crisis — fires, floods, wars, political upheaval, economic instability. It’s a lot.
How to Stop Judging Yourself
Avery Thatcher · Follow 7 min read · -- For years, I’ve been working with my clients through my own model of viewing our inner world, specifically focusing on how to stop judging yourself. It’s really grounded in observing the mind’s fluctuations rather than trying to change or merge them. At the time, I didn’t know this approach had a name or a deeper philosophical tradition behind it. As I continued to develop my therapeutic model, I felt like I needed a more structured framework for my work.
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