Meet Gail Worley | Writer and Publisher of WorleyGig.com

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gail Worley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gail, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
When I first started Worleygig.com, I called it “A Blog of Neat Things.” Over the past 22 years, it’s evolved beyond a simple blog into a full-fledged website, so I recently updated the tagline to “Your Destination for Neat Things.” That’s really what Worleygig is — a place people can visit to find out what’s happening, what’s fun, what’s cool, and maybe get a little bit of relief from the stress of daily life.

Let’s face it: modern life can be tough. Through my writing, I try to project a positive attitude that celebrates joy, humor, and beauty — the things that remind us life can still be wonderful if you stay curious and engaged. While the site isn’t overtly political, I think it’s clear from my tone and perspective that I’m left-leaning and always on the side of the underdog.

I’m not thrilled with the direction the country’s heading right now, but I believe the only way forward is through — and that means staying hopeful. In that sense, my goal is to uplift people, from the local community to readers around the world. We can’t stop looking ahead to brighter days. Truth will out, as they say.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Over more than two decades of building the website that has become both my brand and creative home on the internet, I’ve polished and expanded Worleygig.com into the ultimate platform to showcase my writing and photography. I’m 100% dedicated to publishing diverse, engaging content that reflects my love for art, design, food, and travel. In recent years, I’ve broadened the site’s focus to include thoughtful coverage of health and wellness, as well as a growing House and Home section, which has really resonated with readers.

What I love most about Worleygig.com is how it allows me to keep evolving creatively. Nearly all of the photos featured on the site — aside from a few stock images — are ones I’ve taken myself during my everyday life and travels. This practice has not only sharpened my photography skills but also deepened my appreciation for the beauty and humor in the world around me, whether here in New York City or wherever I happen to wander. Beyond my passion for art and design, I enjoy introducing readers to new, unexpected, and fun topics. My hope is that the site sparks creativity and curiosity in others, just as it does for me. Every day brings fresh discoveries, and that’s what makes this journey so rewarding.

If there’s one quality that’s been key to my success, it’s perseverance. Never give up, and never let anyone convince you that you can’t achieve what’s in your heart. Early in life, I allowed my parents to dissuade me from pursuing my true passion when they insisted I focus on academics rather than anything artistic. I ended up majoring in foreign languages — but ultimately, my path led me right back to where I belong: the world of art and design. Sometimes I wonder where I’d be if I had followed that instinct from the start, but I’m deeply grateful for how things unfolded. Every experience has brought me here, and it’s been an amazing, unpredictable, and fulfilling journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is such a fun question, because my best friend Geoffrey actually visits me every year for a week — and yes, we make a spreadsheet to plan each day because there’s just so much we want to do!

We’re both huge art lovers, so we usually dedicate entire days to exploring New York’s gallery districts — one day in Chelsea, another in SoHo — plus plenty of time for must-see museums like The Met, MoMA, The Guggenheim, and The Whitney. We also make a point to seek out public art installations and love strolling the High Line, which offers gorgeous views, changing seasonal landscapes, and surprise art pieces tucked along the path.

Food-wise, you can eat like royalty in this city without breaking the bank. I’d take a visitor to my favorite Greek restaurant on Seventh Street, or a tiny Italian spot that only seats about twenty people. Of course, no New York trip is complete without starting your morning with coffee and a bagel, and grabbing a slice of pizza for an afternoon pick-me-up.

If you’re into theater, there’s always something exciting happening both on and off Broadway. And if you love nature, you can’t beat Central Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx — which has everything, including a forest and even a waterfall.
As The Ramones said, “New York City really has it all.” And they weren’t kidding.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m eternally grateful to the people who’ve helped me build and improve Worleygig over the years — especially those who’ve guided me through the technical side of things, because I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a luddite.

The biggest shoutout goes to Ian Koss, who designed the original Worleygig website 22 years ago and has been involved in every redesign since. Ian and I still talk regularly, and he’s always willing to offer technical advice or help me update something I’m unsure how to tackle.

Ken Pierce of the PiercingMetal website has also been an incredible resource. He’s helped me get up to speed on the behind-the-scenes workings of running a site and has shared invaluable insights about things I didn’t even know I didn’t know — if you follow me. Ken’s also introduced me to fun pop culture events like Anime NYC and Toy Fair, which are an absolute blast.

And of course, my best friend and partner-in-crime in Los Angeles, Geoffrey Dicker, continues to inspire and encourage me. Geoffrey is a talented author and abstract artist who never rests on his laurels. He constantly pushes me to stay authentic and creative — and for that, I’m endlessly grateful.

Finally, I’m thankful for all of my friends who’ve supported this two-decades-long project with their encouragement and belief in what I do. I couldn’t have kept it going without them.

Website: https://worleygig.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worleygigdotcom/

Other: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worleygig.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/worleygigdotcom/

Image Credits
Personal photos no credit needed