Originally published in June 2022
Block Club brand manager Taylor Augustyn exudes a natural curiosity—a trait that comes in handy when collaborating with clients. In this installment of 37 Questions, a humble nod to Vogue’s 73, she chats with us about major life changes, her time as an English teacher, and the situations she thrives in.
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What’s the last major thing that changed in your life?
Getting a dog
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What kind of dog is it?
Boomer’s a Tibetan terrier. They’re made for the mountains, so I’m excited to go hiking with him when he gets a little older.
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In 2014, you worked at Block Club as an intern. How have things changed?
The team has grown, our range of clients has expanded, and our reach extends far beyond Buffalo.
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Before coming back, you taught English. What was that like?
Incredible. I felt privileged to create a space where teenagers could use literature to explore ideas and start defining themselves. I have so much respect for educators—it’s a demanding line of work filled with unsung heroes.
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Are there any grammar sins you’re guilty of?
My greatest “sin” is actually overthinking grammar. I get lost in the weeds for fear of making a mistake, which can halt my creative flow.
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Where or when do you find that your creative flow is most uninhibited?
Late at night
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What’s one thing that helped you get where you are today?
Curiosity
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Hot take: What great work of literature is overrated?
Hotter take: no book is overrated. If one person connects with it, it has value. (That being said, Wuthering Heights)
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What would you recommend instead?
I like asking people what kinds of stories they’re drawn to and making recommendations based on that. But if you’re forcing my hand, East of Eden, There There, and The Worst Hard Time.
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How do you transition from a “work” mindset to a “relax” mindset?
When I lived in Buffalo, I found a lot of comfort in my commute. I would drive to the Outer Harbor to watch the sunset and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet. Now that I work from home, I rely on little things to cue that transition. Closing my laptop, lighting a candle, or taking a walk all signal my brain that it’s time to transition out of work mode.
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Was it difficult to go from being a commuter to working from home?
Not at all! I’m a homebody at heart.
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What’s your best work-from-home habit?
Daily walks
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What’s your worst?
All the cute outfits hanging untouched in my closet
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You currently split your time between Buffalo and Schenectady. If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would you choose?
I fantasize about moving to a cottage in the Cotswolds.
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Do you have any pet peeves?
Littering
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What scenario do you enjoy or excel at that others might find difficult?
I excel when a task requires a deceiving amount of concentration, like baking a complicated dessert and having to follow each step exactly. Growing up doing ballet taught me that sometimes the simplest things are the most difficult to get right, so I’ve always enjoyed that kind of challenge.
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How long did you study ballet?
From 6 years old all the way through college
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What would you perform if you were put on the spot?
I’m not sure you’d get a performance out of me, but you would see my face turn an interesting shade of red.
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What’s something you’d like to do more of this year?
I’d like to spend this summer exploring New England, antiquing, and discovering new swimming holes.
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What’s your best antiquing purchase?
I’m always on the hunt for treasures. A recent favorite find is a set of Audubon prints I discovered in the Finger Lakes.
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What’s the scariest thing you’ve done that you’d do again?
This is more unwise than scary, but when I was a teenager, I used to meet my friends on top of a rickety railroad trestle. We’d dangle our feet off the edge and listen to the creek rushing far below.
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What’s something the world needs more of?
Grace—in how we treat ourselves, each other, our planet
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What are you passionate about?
Music, interior design, and any and all carbs
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Besides this one, in which historical era do you think you’d be most suited to live?
The ’70s, so I could see Led Zeppelin play.
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What’s something you wanted to be passionate about but just couldn’t get into?
Boondoggle
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What’s your golden rule?
The Golden Rule. It reminds me to be empathetic.
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Do you have a favorite feeling or sensation?
Awe
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When was the last time you experienced awe?
Flying at night with a front row seat to the constellations
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If past lives are a thing, what was one of yours?
Being a Roycroft artisan would have been fascinating. I’m not sold on past lives though.
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If you weren’t at your current position, what would you be doing?
I’d either be an interior designer or running a bookstore.
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What’s your favorite movie quote?
“Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year, it’s just not really widely reported.”
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Do you have any superpowers we should know about?
I’m very good at untangling things. Give me a knotted shoelace or a snarled necklace, and I’ll smooth it out in seconds flat.
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If you could choose, what superpower would you want to have?
Teleportation
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What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Your life right now doesn’t have to be your life now. Things are temporary, they pass, and you can always make a different choice.
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Can you tell us about one of your best different choices?
Changing my major in college
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From what to what and why?
I started as a history major because I wanted to work in a museum. Then, I took English 101 and was hooked.
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What does a perfect day look like to you?
65 degrees, no alarm clock, Butter Block croissants, drinks outside with friends, pasta for dinner, then staying up late with a book and nowhere to be in the morning