Recommendations (July 2019)
Newsletter July 2019
Summer is not my favourite season. The tight humidity and impenetrable bright-ness usually leave me feeling frayed and over-extended. This year has been no different though I am grateful that it hasn’t been too, too hot. Not like the great heatwave of 2018 when it didn’t rain for months and we ran out of water*. I’m more of an autumn fan. I've taken advantage of a string of 'meh' days to consume some really great podcast/tv/film etc. The highlights are below. Enjoy!
*actually happened, not hyperbole.
Podcasts
I finally invested in a podcasting app. For 10+ years, I’ve been diligently uploading podcasts to my iPod once a week. I kept random lists of podcasts to add to the queue and ended up with dozens of downloaded mp3s with nonsensical names cluttering up my computer. I finally accepted the fact that there must be an app for this and downloaded both Pocket Casts and Stitcher.
Loved this interview with Martha Nussbaum.
Jane Mayer discussing the case against Al Franken on Fresh Air
Is the media amplifying Trump's racism? (Short answer: yes, and it's complicated)
Brené Brown on Under the skin
TV/film etc
Season 2 of Vida - an epic queer story. The party episode of has some of the best costumes I’ve ever seen on TV.
Big Little Lies - I, like many people, was worried when they decided to go beyond their excellent first season. But, I should never have doubted Meryl!
When they see us - Powerful story of the notorious miscarriage of justice in the 1989 Central Park Five case. Ava Duvernay masterfully conveys the horrific stories of Yusef, Kevin, Antron, Korey & Raymond.
Misc
Re-visiting Mary Beard’s great work on women in power in the context of America 2020
Loved this deep dive on the typography and design of the 2020 candidates.
I still don't understand what this was but it was kind of epic.
