Late Summer Superlatives

Hi. Hello. Everything is awful. Let’s dissociate together! Here are some things I’m enjoying that maybe you either don’t know about, or haven’t gotten around to yet.

LATE SUMMER SUPERLATIVES

Newsletters:

1. Here For It from R. Eric Thomas - - Hands-down, the funniest newsletter in the game. If you like the newsletter and haven’t read his book, please remedy that situation immediately. It’s one of the funniest books I’ve ever read.

2. Food Psych Weekly from Christy Harrison - - My nutritionist recommended Christy Harrison’s podcast, Food Psych, to me years ago and Christy, the podcast, her book, and this newsletter are a valuable resource for me. You’ve got to pay for this newsletter, but it’s worth it.

3. The Audacity from Roxane Gay - - I don’t feel like this one needs an explanation. I think there’s a free version, but I pay for it.

TV Shows:

1. Starstruck (HBO Max) - - Um, this show is AMAZING and I don’t know anyone talking about it. Watch this show!

2. Love Island (UK) Season 7 (Hulu) - - Listen, the heart wants what it wants. I have an insatiable media appetite for things being discussed in popular culture, and last year I realized I had never seen Love Island. When the pandemic hit, I thought I’d spend my 2 weeks (lolsob) finally watching this show. I watched Season 6 in a matter of weeks and now it holds a special place in heart because I associate it with March 2020 when I thought I’d have a “fun” 2 weeks at home and then go back to normal life. Timely that Season 7 is out now that we’re clearly never getting past this. Anyway, each season has approx. 3,000 episodes and it’s like vaseline for your brain. I love it and I will talk to you about it for hours on end.

3. Rutherford Falls (Peacock) - - A tv show with a fat lead actress who’s storyline isn’t about her being fat? Yes, please! Not for nothing, this show is fucking hilarious.

Podcast Episodes:

1. Maintenance Phase: The Obesity Epidemic - - In case you don’t know me, this episode is de-bunking the ob*sity epidemic, as opposed to, oh, say, encouraging more anti-fat bias. Listen, we all grew up steeped in this crap - thinking that fatness means diabetes and heart disease. At this point, if you’re still choosing to believe this, you’re choosing to be wrong. In the words of the infamous State Senator I worked for once, ‘You need to get yourself better educated.’

2. Object Of Sound: Oh Say Can You See? (feat. Wesley Morris) - - I could listen to Hanif and Wesley talk about nineties era Whitney Houston for hours. This episode is perfect, except I wanted it to be 45 minutes longer.

3. The Stacks: Ep. 169 Allowing Anger to Drive Passion with Ashley C. Ford - - I’m new to The Stacks podcast, but I love it. This episode with Ashley C. Ford about her debut memoir, Somebody’s Daughter, is so good.

Spotify Playlists:

1. new vibes 2021 by Ira Madison III - - Do with this information what you will, but Ira Madison III is my pop culture touchstone. This is his (updated regularly) playlist of new music out this year. It’s the only reason I know who Olivia Rodrigo is and it’s the reason I go buy iced lattes and drive around crying listening to Nick Jonas’ “Spaceman” on repeat.

2. Pose Official Playlist by Spotify - - Duh. I wish the Christmas music wasn’t on there though.

3. I May Destroy You Soundtrack by Rosanagh Griffiths - - I’m obsessed with this playlist. I recently deleted Twitter off my phone and paid $4.99 for an ad-free, iPad solitaire app. My new favorite way to self-regulate is to turn on this playlist and play hours of solitaire.

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Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got 4 hours of solitaire to play while listening to obscure French rap and contemplating domesticating the feral cat who lives on my porch.