What I’m reading…

Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser — This is a fascinating and very disturbing book detailing the lives and violent crimes of multiple serial killers throughout the 70s and 80s. Ted Bundy is the main focus so far (I’m only 150 pages in), and he, alongside all the other serial killers mentioned, grew up near a smelter in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Seattle, which polluted the air and water with lead and arsenic. I won’t rate it yet, but I’m really liking it so far. Caroline Fraser’s writing reminds me of Patrick Radden Keefe, one of my favorites. Caroline Fraser grew up mere miles from Ted Bundy. Read if you like investigative journalism, true crime, psychology, and environmental science.

(I don’t recall seeing a trigger warning before diving into the book about the traumatic, violent events discussed. WARNING. But I think serial killers in the title is probably warning enough)

Why We Die by Mick Herron — This is the third installment in the Zoë Boehm detective series, The Oxford Investigations. It is quite dark, but also a quick and mysterious read. I did not expect the twist at the end. I find Herron’s writing style to be super easy and fun to read. 4/5. Read if you like thrillers and morally questionable characters.

P.S. Mick Herron also wrote Slow Horses, the series about a team of outcast MI5 agents investigating terrorist attacks in London.

Subscribe now

What I’m Watching…

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix Live Action version) — I’m really enjoying this. I haven’t watched the original animated version in a while, so I haven’t been comparing plot points, but overall it’s feeling the same as when I watched it numerous times in high school. It is as beautiful and touching as always. The cinematography is so well done. I’m finishing up season 2 right now, and I hear season 3 is premiering soon.

Veep (HBO/Hulu) — I’ve always heard great things, and now Jack and I are a few episodes into the first season. It took me a couple of episodes, and now I’m laughing out loud at times. I think Jack finds it funnier because he works in the government, and I’ve heard and now see that this is the most accurate depiction of the government of all the various depictions. That really says something. I’ll give it another season, and then I will decide if it rivals Parks and Recreation.

What I’m Listening to…

Famesick: A Memoir by Lena Dunham (Spotify audiobook narrated by Dunham herself) — I’m 88% through and have been listening to it every time I walk. All I have to say is that I’m very grateful for my physical and mental health. And some of the best writing comes after experiencing mental or physical suffering.

And what I eagerly await…

Survivor Season 51 — Premieres 9/23. There’s a theory that this season will be themed and the tribes will be organized based on individuals’ careers.

Traitors Season 5 — Premieres 9/17. This is the first civilian season, and Jack went to high school with one of the participants. It will be interesting to see how the interactions between the players and the viewing experience change when the players are unknown.

Slow Horses Season 6 — Premieres 9/16. Shoutout Mick Herron.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Although I haven’t been writing and reading during the day as much as I had hoped, I have kept myself busy with three things in particular: babysitting, yoga, and watching Love Island USA & UK. Staying active, making money, and tuning in to one of my favorite TV shows and the subsequent online conversation do not feel like a waste of time, but they do distract me from my reading and writing goals. I guess that is the beauty of free time; even if you don’t spend it as planned, there is no wasted time.

Subscribe now

The end of this summer also marks a period of transition in my life. Two weeks ago, I moved into a beautiful new apartment with Jack, ending my roommate-ship with my mom and Fritz. Last week marked the end of my year-long, regular babysitting gig. Add in the aforementioned impending job, and I’m left reminiscing on the chapter that is closing and feeling grateful for the opening chapter. It is a special experience to exist with minimal responsibilities during this time of transition, appreciating the ebb and flow of life.

What I’m Reading…

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke — A lifestyle influencer, mother of five, and wife of a wealthy politician’s wayward son wakes up to find herself in what seems to be the American frontier. The narrator is unlikeable and unreliable, and sometimes those are the best ones. I’ll let you decide. Read if you want to feel uncomfortable, intrigued, and fascinated by the tradwife trend. 3/5

Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick — Phoebe Berman tasks herself with losing her virginity before her 30th birthday. Armed with her lists, trusty therapist, and her tight-knit group of friends, she embarks on this mission, hoping to fulfill her childhood dream of finding love and not vomit on a potential suitor. Read if you want an easy read and an endearingly awkward romance. 5/5

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans — An epistolary novel centered around Sybil Van Antwerp over the span of 10 years. Sybil lives alone, estranged from most of her family members and haunted by the past. When she begins receiving letters from someone from her time as a law clerk, she is forced to confront the past she is running from. Read if you enjoy a slow-burn novel; a novel that focuses on one individual, their inner world, and their relationships. 5/5

And finally… my most recent and most challenging read…

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Constance Garnett — Anna, an honorable woman in St. Petersburg, begins an affair with Count Vronsky, a military man, and the pair, and those around them — including Anna’s brother Stepan, sister-in-law Dolly, Dolly’s youngest sister Kitty, and Kitty’s suitor and Stepan’s friend, Levin — must grapple with the fallout and a changing society. I finally finished my self-assigned summer reading challenge, and I’m so relieved. It is an interesting look into life in Russia in the 1870s, but long-winded with too many characters — classic male writer in the 1900s. I appreciate it, but I didn’t like it. Read if you want a challenge. 3/5

What I’m Watching…

Love Island USA Season 8 — I was scared for this season after the train wreck that was season 7, especially when another islander was pulled pre-show for racist comments online, but this season proved me wrong. The casting directors took notes from last season and delivered us a batch of eager islanders with normal jobs (no influencers). We finally saw couples fall in love again, and the winners, Trinity & Bryce, were the perfect LI love story (so much yearning!). The classic tale of double standards and misogyny took center stage during Casa Amor, and the drama was outstanding; once again, the men infuriated me. The production twists all hit; my only note is to eliminate the disgusting slime and food challenges and take a page out of the LI UK challenge book. My favorite islanders: Trinity, Bryce, Carl, Aniya, and Kenzie (although my feelings toward her were a roller coaster). 5/5

Love Island UK Season 13 — The way I was booked and busy watching LI USA & UK simultaneously this June and July makes me grateful I was unemployed at the time. LI UK Season 13 was awesome. They cast individuals with star power this season, truly all of them. And a pair of brothers too! The islanders didn’t all clash, like last season, but instead created a hilarious, drama-filled, dysfunctional family, which I love to see. Since UK spans a longer period of time, you get to know the islanders and their relationships more; almost all couples get at least 2 episodes focused on them because they all go through chaos and “tests”. The challenges all stirred up so much drama, especially when the outside perspectives entered the villa. And the best part? The internet-created and internet-fueled love affair between Jasmine and Lorenzo that never came to fruition, but lives on in all our hearts. My favorite islanders: Jasmine, Lorenzo, Julia, Ellie, Simba, Ope, Aidan, and Robyn. 5/5

House of the Dragon — This season was epic — so much excitement compared to season 2. I loved Ormund Hightower’s plotline and character; James Norton always brings the most charm and chaos to his roles. We saw the Greens crumble and claw for power and the Blacks turn against one another and turn cruel with grief. Episodes 6 & 7 were the best. Episode 8, the finale, was disappointing and did not leave us on a cliffhanger as I hoped. And now we must wait two years for the fourth and final season… 5/5

Abbott Elementary Season 5 — Jack and I are catching up on this latest season and loving it. Abbott remains one of the best, most heartwarming sitcoms currently airing. The school crew navigates personal changes, the district’s incompetence, the temporary placement of the school in an abandoned mall, and Jacob's run for local office. 5/5

I’ve watched a lot of movies over the past week, and I’ll highlight the best:

1. The Invite - Directed by Olivia Wilde, starring herself, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz & Edward Norton. Beautiful cinematography, laugh-out-loud funny, chaotic, real, and endearing. 5/5

2. Forrest Gump - Rewatched this for the first time in years. An incredible story full of heart and so much history! Beautiful characters and storytelling. 5/5

3. Spider-Man: Brand New Day - A fun rollercoaster. All actors knocked it out of the park. I absolutely love Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and the villain of the movie, who is not what you may expect. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave it at that. 4/5

4. The Sheep Detectives - I love sheep! What a delightful murder mystery. Cheesy, but in the best way. Nicholas Braun stole the show for me personally; hilarious. Also obsessed with Brett Goldstein voicing the twin Rams. 5/5

What I’m Listening to…

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City & a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (audiobook) — I love PRK and realized quickly that I had read his shorter article about this story last year. Even knowing the outcome of the investigation into Zac Brettler’s death, lies, and connection to the London crime world, I still enjoyed listening to the audiobook. PRK goes on many tangents that can be hard to follow, but he always pulls it back together. Listen or read if you like true crime and investigative journalism. 3/5

Rihanna — specifically, Breakin’ Dishes, California King Bed, Take a Bow, and What Now.

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

This year, the infamous shows Love Island (UK) and Love Island USA are airing simultaneously, and I am watching both. To give you my credentials before diving into my comparative analysis, I have watched two seasons of Love Island USA (Season 6: Serena & Kordell and Season 7: Amaya & Brian), with Season 8 being my third season of LI USA. The current season of Love Island UK (13) is the 11th season I’ve watched. In total, that is 374 episodes of LI UK and 74 episodes of LI USA.

Although I am most up to date on Love Island USA, it is Love Island UK that will always have my heart. Some may think these two shows of the same franchise would essentially be the same, but when you turn on a LI USA vs. a LI UK episode, you are in for two very different experiences.

Subscribe now

Slow-burn vs. Fast-track

The culture on Love Island UK is that a kiss means something. In the first week, as the islanders explore their initial couples and any other connections, they tend to take it slow. Maybe one couple cuddles in bed the first night, maybe one couple shares a “little kiss” within the first few episodes. What you’ll never see is the orgy that is Love Island USA.

The first episode of LI USA Season 8 perfectly exemplified this cultural difference. Before the UAS islanders coupled up, they all played a game of would you rather, essentially, and if you stood behind the door signifying your answer and someone was on the other side, you made out. If there were multiple people on each side of a door, they all made out. It was long, noisy, and I did not like it. You think that is scandalous? Wait for episode 2… In this episode, two male and two female islanders go to a different villa with two new bombshells, and each trio shares a California King bed. As the bombshell makes out with one islander, the third sits awkwardly on the other side of the bed waiting their turn.

What do these couples have to look forward to if they’re making out off the bat and the norm is to get freaky in bed in the first week? As you can imagine, this really set the tone for the rest of the LI USA season because, oh boy, does a kiss mean nothing to most of these islanders. And if an islander chooses to take it slow, or rather more on the pace of a Love Island UK couple, they (or she, 9 times out of ten it’s a woman) are called a “grandma” by their couple! Yuck!

Is this a matter of cultural differences between the UK & USA and the respective dating norms? Or is this a difference in production styles with LI USA prioritizing makeouts and grinding over real connection? My guess is it’s a little bit of both.

Leave a comment

The Games

On a similar note to the slow-burn vs. fast-track point, the production-orchestrated games on each show are very different. On LI USA, most of the games feature the islanders barely clothed, making out and grinding in slime, forced to eat various phallic-looking foods. Although there may be one or two of these challenges in a LI UK season, mostly occurring toward the end of the season rather than the beginning, most of the challenges on LI UK take place around the fire pit with everyone in their best nightlife attire answering Would You Rather, Truth or Dare, Never Have I Ever, or Pick Which Islander games. This is objectively more interesting to watch and creates more natural conflict, a necessary part of this experience.

@dfkmukope falling in 2/2 episodes 😭 #LoveIsland #loveislanduk

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Casting

I don’t know if it’s a matter of feeling embarrassed by certain characters and personality tendencies of my generation in this country, or if the personalities on LI UK are more entertaining and less cringe, or if it’s a difference in casting between the two productions. Regardless, it is safe to say that every season, except for Season 6 of LI USA, I find the LI UK cast more entertaining, likable, and dynamic. I do not want to add to the tremendous amount of online hate the LI USA and LI UK cast receive every year, so I’ll focus on what I do like. What I like about the LI USA Season 6 cast and most of the LI UK casts is that their personalities are diverse, the cast balances each other out, and just about everyone has a great sense of humor. I feel like that needs to be a pre-requisite in casting. Where the LI UK casting gets it right, in my opinion, is that they prioritize individuals with strong characters and different opinions. And maybe European people are just more interesting (at least to Americans).

LI USA’s Season 6 cast meshed well together, creating real friendships and relationships and so many iconic moments, which is the norm on LI UK. LI USA Season 7 botched it, prioritizing influencers who were afraid of getting cancelled online, rightfully so, as many of them did, and they all hated each other. This season on LI USA, they cast real people with traditional, relatable jobs, and I do see real friendships and relationships forming, but they all seem hesitant to explore, and it’s making for dull TV. At least there are no triggering personalities exhibiting highly toxic behavior on national TV.

Share

A final note on the main difference between the two shows, which to me makes a big difference, is that there is no iconic dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun ad-break sound on LI USA. I don’t know why that was excluded from the LI USA franchise.

Despite these differences, some things are universal…

Bad extensions, explosive fights, boys lying, bromances, shock dumpings, and water bottles, to name a few.

All this to say, my dream would be for LI USA and LI UK to cross-over casts during Casa Amor: the crossover couples and singles all return to one villa and have to decide whether they’ll stay in their own franchise or switch mid-season to the other franchise. There’s a lot of online discourse around this theory/idea, and though it is unlikely, the fact that they’re filming concurrently and LI USA is happening earlier this season (maybe to line up with LI UK, who are a week ahead) gives me hope.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

The Raven Scholar (Eternal Path Trilogy, #1) by Antonia Hodgson— An epic political fantasy set on the imperial island of the Orrun empire during the festival tournaments, where contenders compete to be the next emperor. Neema, the Raven scholar, must navigate mystery and deceit after the murder of her fellow Raven and contender for the throne. This world is organized by the animal guardians: fox, raven, ox, bear, hound, monkey, and dragon. The next time they come… It’s said they’ll end the world. 10/10 An exciting page turner.

Monk & Robot (duology): A Psalm for the Wild Built (#1) & A Prayer for the Crown Shy (#2) by Becky Chambers— A science-fiction utopia centered around a tea monk, Sibling Dex, who finds themselves aimless and wandering into the wild forests where the robots live after they left human society. Dex meets robot Mosscap, whose mission is to travel around the world of Panga and answer the question: What do humans need? 8/10 A cozy, easy read.

Up next:

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Subscribe now

What I’m Watching…

Paradise (Season 1 & 2) — Xavier (Sterling Brown), the President’s right hand/secret service, investigates the President’s death while living in a bunker deep underground after an apocalypse. The bunker is made to look and feel just like real life, but things are not as they seem! The more Xavier discovers, the more he learns about what’s really happening in the bunker and what happened outside on the day the world ended. 10/10 Thrilling with a lot of heart and very smart. The third and final season is coming in early 2027.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles — Margo’s a college student sleeping with her creative writing professor. After dropping out of college and starting her new life as a young, single mom, she creates an OnlyFans to support her family, including her protective, biting mother and her absent, former pro-wrestler father. The cast is amazing, the conflicts are infuriating, and the comedy is top-tier. 10/10 Funny, ridiculous, and heartwarming. Renewed for season 2!

Big Mistakes — Nicky (Dan Levy, star & creator), a gay pastor, and his chaotic younger sister, Morgan (Taylor Ortega), find themselves entwined in a local crime ring after the death of their grandmother. The bickering siblings struggle to balance their relationships, careers, and the demands of Turkish criminals, all while their neurotic mother runs for mayor. 9/10 Hilarious, absurd, and dramatic. Renewed for season 2!

Survivor Season 50 — 24 returning players (and legends) compete for one million dollars and the title of sole survivor, except this season, the twists are bigger and the fans hold some power. For those who haven’t watched this season but are familiar with Survivor, the big players I was excited to see include Cirie, Ozzy, Devens, Christian Hubicki, and Mike White. For those who have not seen Survivor, I’ll recommend the following three seasons to get you started: Season 8 - All Stars, Season 20 - Heroes vs. Villains, Season 40 - Winners at War.

The ‘Burbs — Keke Palmer stars as Samira, a new mother and wife, who moves into her husband’s childhood home in the suburbs. The creepy, mysterious abandoned house across the street is suddenly purchased, and Samira and her new neighborhood friends sense something evil is afoot. 8/10 Funny, intriguing, and satisfying. Renewed for season 2!

P.S. Just found out this is based on a 1989 film starring Tom Hanks!

Honorary mention:

Off Campus on Prime Video — the heterosexual, college version of Heated Rivalry with an ensemble cast. I don’t dare compare the two, but they do both center around hockey and sex. It’s one of those cringey shows that are so bad they’re good. Highly recommend watching with the girls, it’s the only way I was going to watch it.

What I’m Listening to…

THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. by RAYE — Raye’s new album is one for when you want to dance and when you want to cry. She blends soul, R&B, pop, and jazz in a way that makes her listeners feel her joy, sorrow, and hope deep in their bodies. Where to start? Click Clack Symphony (ft. Hans Zimmer) & I Know You're Hurting.

Middle of Nowhere by Kacey Musgraves — I don’t love country music, but I do love Kacey Musgraves. This album feels similar to Deeper Well in the way that it takes you through her personal story while adding a fresh perspective on the universal themes of love, loss, and forgiveness. There are plenty of iconic Musgrave one-liners that capture something so simple in such a funny, witty way. Where to start? Middle of Nowhere & Mexico Honey.

And a few songs on repeat (and they are all in ALL CAPS):

EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED by Tiffany Day

PRETTY STRANGER & UNETHICAL by Faouzia

Parachute by Hayley Williams (except this one)

Subscribe now

Share

See you next time, xoxo.

Midnight Sun by Zara Larsson — A fun, nostalgic, dance album I’m so excited to see live in March! Her aesthetic is modern Lisa Frank. You’ve definitely heard the hit Midnight Sun, so check out Blue Moon, Puss Puss, Saturn’s Return, & Eurosummer. It’s very exciting to see her finally get her flowers after working in the industry since childhood.

It’s Not That Deep by Demi Lovato — She’s back! Another pop icon I’m seeing live in the Spring! Highlights: Let You Go & Sorry to Myself. Some say she’s ripping off Charli XCX’s aesthetic, but I say Ms. Lovato did it first.

Djo — I don’t listen to a lot of male artists, let alone a male artist’s entire discography, but for Steve Harrington, sorry, I mean Joe Keery, I most certainly will. His music is nostalgic, synth-pop (electric keyboard vibes), and psychedelic rock. It’s also very exciting to me that post-Stranger Things finale, Djo’s song End of Beginnings dethroned The Fate of Ophelia. Song highlights: Potion, Basic Being Basic, Charlie’s Garden, Carry The Name, Link, & Crux.

Subscribe now

What I’m watching…

Stranger Things Season 5 (Netflix) — I wrote a whole article about how much the ending of this show means to me. Check it out. The last I’ll say on this matter is that I won’t participate in the episode 9, conformity gate theories, nor tolerate finale hate.

Survivor Season 49 (Peacock) — I called it (spoiler alert ahead) a woman won, but it was pretty anticlimactic. One of my least favorite seasons of Survivor in a while, unfortunately. I had a few favorites, but not many, and the drama was there, but somehow not very compelling. Season 50 premieres at the end of February — a belated birthday treat for me! — I can’t wait!

Sean Combs: The Reckoning (Netflix) — I love 50 Cent and his pettiness for producing this documentary about all of Diddy’s crimes. 50 Cent and fellow producer Alexandria Stapleton did an incredible job weaving this story together; the former Bad Boy Records employees and friends interviewed, and the footage collected is damning and paints a surprisingly holistic picture of how Sean Combs became the infamous and dangerous P. Diddy.

I Love LA (HBO Max) — I still need to watch the finale, but I have enjoyed this Gen Z portrayal of LA and influencer life. Witty, hysterical, absurd, and most importantly, featuring Josh Hutcherson. Rachel Sennott is an impressive writer-producer-director.

All Her Fault (Prime Video) — Thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller and its commentary on motherhood. Highly recommend as a limited series to binge-watch over the weekend. The actors, especially Sarah Snook, were phenomenal.

Death of a Unicorn (HBO Max) — I loved the premise; it’s an eat-the-rich fable with a star-studded cast. A fun and somewhat scary watch, but not my favorite movie I've watched recently on the plane.

My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (HBO Max) — Mariska Hargitay (best known as Olivia Benson from Law & Order: SVU) created this documentary to learn more about her mom, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield. This one was a good plane movie I watched. I love a family history documentary.

What I’m reading…

Nobody Walks by Mick Herron — A short, page-turning thriller by the author who created Slough House (and this book’s in the same universe). A former MI5 agent returns to London to investigate his estranged son’s sudden death. Great twists.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan — A novella set in 1985 Ireland during Christmas about Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, and his grapple with morality and sense of purpose when he discovers something sinister at the local convent.

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang — A disappointing journey to Hell. To me, it came off too pretentious, which naturally it would, given it’s about Cambridge graduate students, but there’s a fine balance that was never found. I took a whole class on Hell in Literature and still didn’t catch all the references. All the characters were pretty unlikeable, and the magic system wasn’t great.

The Strength of the Few (The Hierarchy #2) by James Islington — An amazing follow-up to The Will of the Many that left me with many, many questions at the end, which only means one thing: a 3rd book is coming!

Subscribe now

Share

Happy New Year, and I’ll see you the next time I have a break from graduate school — my final semester is here!

Ever since I watched the season finale in the movie theaters on January 1st, hungover and hysterically crying, I’ve spent most of my waking moments thinking about this show, this universe. My intense emotional reaction to the series ending and its lingering presence in my mind transports me back in time. Back to 8th grade, screaming in shock in the theaters as I watched Aro land, holding Carlisle Cullen’s head during Breaking Dawn Part 2. Back to 5th grade, staring out the car window, crying because I stayed up late the night before finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I’m reminded that I’ve always been attached to long-running movie, book, and/or TV series. I’ve always been sensitive to endings.

Like the Twilight & Harry Potter sagas, the creation and release of the Stranger Things universe spanned a decade (the Twilight books and movies released over a span of 8 years, but I’m rounding up). The decade of Harry Potter coincided with my late elementary to early middle school years. The Twilight saga aligned with my late middle school years. There were a few key magical/sci-fi universes I frequented in my high school years, most notably The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, and the beginnings of Game of Thrones. However, my reaction to the endings of these series is not comparable to key 3: Harry Potter, Twilight, and Stranger Things. I attribute this to these shows losing their sparkle in their last seasons. Some could say this about Twilight: that the ending wasn’t good, but for a tween, it was perfect. I digress! Throughout my development, I’ve found comfort and an escape in fictional worlds. Who I am has and will continue to be influenced by the fantasy/sci-fi content I adore. With the end of the universe that aligned with the most recent decade of my life, I feel the loss of not only the characters of Stranger Things, but the loss of my own childhood and adolescence. The loss of the period of time when friendship was everything, and all your loved ones lived within a few miles of one another.

Subscribe now

On Friday, July 16th, 2016, the summer before my senior year of high school, Stranger Things premiered on Netflix. Within the ten years of new Stranger Things seasons, I graduated from high school, I graduated from college, I transitioned into adulthood, moved to a new city, and I’m a few months away from completing my Master’s degree. From 16 to 26, I’ve waited, watched, theorized, and grown up with Stranger Things. I’ve been on a curiosity voyage, and I don’t want it to stop.

After watching the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, debriefing with friends, and sitting uncomfortably with the heaviness in my chest, accompanied by waves of sadness that only calmed when immersed in Stranger Things content (cast press tour interviews & Duffer brothers’ podcast interviews primarily), I started the series over again. My main goal: to understand the elements of the series that made it so powerful, emotional, nostalgic, and my favorite TV series to date. Because, at the crux of it all, I want to create something that mirrors the universes I admire so deeply. Since then, I’ve watched 3 out of the 5 seasons and come to the following conclusions.

1. The magical combination for an iconic, long-lasting fictional universe full of heart: coming of age x epic adventure.

2. Multiple points of view and storylines create an audience’s connection or attachment to the various characters.

3. Great storytelling takes time and collaboration.

4. All adventure stories need a physical evil for the protagonists to fight.

5. Character development and distinct personalities are key.

6. Humor and child-like optimism make the darkest of storylines palatable.

7. Using different age groups and creating relationships between characters of different ages creates unlikely pairings and highlights the different age groups’ responses to the chaos.

8. Music makes a scene.

9. The best content comes when you write about things you are passionate about, personal experience, and the magic of overcoming obstacles with the help of your community.

10. Stranger Things is my favorite TV show ever made at this point in time.

Stranger Things marks an end, but also a new beginning. Stranger Things broke the mold of classic fantasy/sci-fi television shows, creating mini movies within each season. Allowing for an immersive, emotional experience I hadn’t felt since middle school. Shocking and inspiring a new generation of world-builders. Showing us the success that can come if only you believe. Now there is an opening, a new space for another fictional universe.

For those who read this, thank you for indulging me; it made me feel a lot better today. This week, preparing for a busy Spring culminating in lots of personal change and mourning/appreciating the end of Stranger Things, I’ve remembered three things about myself. One, I’m a deeply sensitive person who, over the years, has learned to dull the sensitivity to protect myself. Two, the deep sensitivities re-emerge when consuming fiction because it is the safest way to experience and access the intense range of emotions. Three, no matter how long it takes, I’ll create a fictional world to sit inspired by the greats who have come before, something worthy of a comparison to Stranger Things.

I believe.

Share

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

West End Girl by Lily Allen (Spotify)— The entire track list is a hit. The storytelling is unmatched. I highly recommend this album. Also, it is sending me down a fun online rabbit hole, right before the final season of Stranger Things, featuring David Harbour, Allen’s ex-husband and muse of the album (which I am extremely excited for).

Subscribe now

Everybody Scream by Florence + The Machine (Spotify) — My favorite musical witch released her latest album today (Halloween) — how fitting. I’m still working through my first listen, but I’m enjoying it so far!

Princess of Power (Deluxe) by MARINA (Spotify) — The early-2000s punk pop girls are having major comebacks right now! MARINA, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds, has an iconic voice. I love her sound and her aesthetic. She was awesome live.

Ana by Dasha (Spotify) — A superstar in the making. I’m not a country-pop person, typically, but Dasha breaks the mold.

Honorable Mentions: Club Husband by T-Pain, Griff, The Fame by Lady Gaga, The Life of the Showgirl by Taylor Swift.

Share

What I’m watching…

The House of Guinness (Netflix) — Steven Knight (creator of both HoG & Peaky Blinders) strikes again — another epic Irish family-drama saga (this one set post-death of Guinness founder and father to four plagued children)! The casting for the Guinness family and their lovers is awesome. I’m really excited to see these characters grow. I finished this series so fast, the second season couldn’t come fast enough!

Wednesday Season 2 (Netflix) — The perfect fall, Halloween series. I enjoyed this second season; it’s getting spookier! Wednesday and the rest of the Addams family (new characters introduced!) return to Nevermore to face cults, Hydes, Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital, and a zombie. Jenna Ortega is simply amazing. Also, Thing had a powerful storyline… tune in.

Slow Horses Season 5 (Apple TV) — The Slough House misfits, led by the repugnant Jackson Lamb, find themselves at the center of a national crisis once again. Another very clever series full of twists. Season 6 is set for next year!

English Teacher Season 2 & Abbott Elementary Season 5 (both Hulu) — If you’re looking for a light comedy this fall, all of English Teacher Season 2 is out in full, and new episodes of Abbott Elementary Season 5 drop Wednesdays.

Survivor Season 49 (Paramount+) — The season is finally picking up. Each year, the contestants get a little nerdier, and I’m here for it. My eye is on Sophi, Sage, Michelle, and Savannah. I’ll be shocked if a woman doesn’t win this season.

What I’m reading…

Nothing very noteworthy…

Win by Harlan Coben — A fun October read, very easy and mysterious. I’d never read Harlan Coben, but I have watched all of his Netflix adaptations. 4/5

Martyr by Kaveh Akbar — A book club pick I’m currently struggling through. I appreciate the writing and the storytelling. It’s beautifully done, yet I can’t seem to get myself to read this before bed. I’m craving mystery or fantasy escapism instead. We’ll see if I finish it.

On another note, I am highly anticipating the release of James Islington’s Hierarchy sequel: The Strength of the Few, on November 11th. It’s been pre-ordered.

See you next time! xx

My August playlist (Spotify) — We’ve got a mix of current pop-bops (Lorde, Justin Bieber, Conan Gray, Chappell Roan, CMAT, Audrey Hobert, Olivia Dean, Rachel Chinouriri) and chill, jazzy beats (Peter Cat Recording, Leon Bridges, Yuno, Bon Iver, LEISURE, Common Saints). And now that school’s back in session, I’m listening to a lot of instrumental jazz.

Subscribe now

Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter (Spotify) — It dropped today, it’s been downloaded to my phone, and I’m listening to it nonstop on my plane ride this afternoon. Big Expectations.

Leave a comment

Neuroscience Expert Dr. Tara Swart on Evidence We Can Communicate After Death & Her Experience Speaking to the Dead by The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett — The title speaks for itself. I found this so fascinating and affirming of my beliefs, although I haven’t directly experienced what Dr. Swart experienced with her husband after he passed.

What I’m watching…

Big Boys (Hulu) — Danny and Jack are freshmen at a University in the UK and matched as roommates in 2013. Each boy deals with family trauma and their own emotional turmoil while navigating parties and classes. It’s both sweet and heartwarming, while also tugging at the heartstrings.

Survivor Season 10 (Paramount+) — The castaways are on the island of Palau in Micronesia, where they introduce exile island (no idols). I’m back on my Survivor grind (just started Season 13) in preparation for Survivor Season 50 in the spring, where old icons come back to play. Also, Season 49 premieres September 24th.

Parks & Recreation (Peacock) — I watched Amy Poehler’s interview with Audrey Plaza on Good Hang and immediately started rewatching Parks & Rec. I wish I’d begun my re-watch sooner; it is such a funny, comforting show. It’s much more fun watching it as an adult who knows more about the government and has worked in a local government office.

What I’m reading…

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir — My current book club read, a science fiction novel about a space mission to save the world from an unknown sun-eating entity. The movie version premieres this winter with Ryan Gosling. It’s interesting, but the dialogue for the main character is off.

The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War #2) by R.F. Kuang — Rin, the young Phoenix (fire) shaman, joins the Dragon Warlord on his mission to defeat the Empress and establish a democracy post the first devastating poppy war. Themes include imperialism, colonialism, and religion. 4/5 (I recommend reading the series in one go, because reading the second a year after the first wasn’t helpful)

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore — I read this while in the Adirondacks, the setting of the novel, which was the perfect time to read about a camp, family mystery. Themes include: family dynamics, the history of the Adirondacks, and wealth disparities. 5/5

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett — I had high expectations as this has always been highly recommended, and I was disappointed. It was an interesting plot and beautiful writing, but slower than I expected. The plot: A diplomatic dinner party in an unidentified Latin American country is held hostage by a group of guerrillas. Themes include: power of music, human adaptability, unexpected relationships, and country stereotypes. 3/5.

Subscribe now

Share

School just started, and I’m about to get very busy, so if I even publish next month, I expect it will be much shorter.

XOXO

BEAUTIFUL CHAOS by KATSEYE — You heard about them when I first watched their K-pop girl group origin story on Netflix; now they’re on the rise. This EP is story-telling oriented and highlights each of the members’ abilities. The girls began touring the album recently, and their choreography and aesthetic are top-notch, as expected.

Sex Hysteria by Jessie Murph — Sensitive and spunky, Murph’s sound further genre-bends by featuring Lil Baby and Gucci Mane. Her music is the type you blast in the car or living room and learn the lyrics to after two listens.

You’ll Be Alright, Kid by Alex Warren — Warren’s music has been described as the soundtrack to epic romance novels (like ACOTAR). I would agree. The album is full of heart.

Cole Escola on Good Hang with Amy Poehler — I smiled the whole time I watched/listened to this interview with actor, comedian, writer Cole Escola. They’re best known for their dark-comedy play Oh, Mary, where they play a fictionalized Mary Todd Lincoln. Escola is witty, hysterical, and unafraid. I’d love to see this play even though Escola is no longer starring in it.

Amaya: Love Island Tell All on Call Her Daddy — Amaya Papaya, winner (with Bryan) of Love Island, was the first L.I. Season 7 cast member to interview on CHD, and the episode was light and fun. Alex interviewed her right after she landed in LA, so I’ll be interested to see how she views the season once she’s watched it vs. how she viewed it at the time of the interview.

Huda: Love Island Tell All on Call Her Daddy — I don’t recommend it, so I’ll save you the time and give a quick synopsis. Huda’s toxic behaviors are contextualized when learning about her abusive, strict household growing up. That said, it’s not an excuse for her behavior, and as the interview progressed, it became obvious that she doesn’t even know what she needs to take accountability for, as she hasn’t watched the show, and she’s allergic to it.

Leave a comment

What I’m watching…

Jurassic World Rebirth — In this installment of the Jurassic Park world, Zora, played by Scarlett Johansson, leads a skilled team to an abandoned research facility on an island where the remaining dinosaurs thrive. The team includes Dr. Loomis (Jonathan Bailey in his beloved “sluttly little glasses”) and Duncan (Mahershala Ali), who are tasked with retrieving dinosaur DNA for a large pharmaceutical company. Themes include the dangers of genetically modifying animals, climate change, corruption, and healthcare for all! Also, I enjoyed the gender reversal of the typical tough guy and female scientist. 4/5

Subscribe now

Superman — Another new extension of a cinematic universe! New Superman actor, David Corenswet, lived up to the name. Plus, a new character appeared on Superman’s team, Krypto the shaggy white super-dog who looked like a bigger Wally. I thought the conflict driving the plot was powerful and reflected the current state of the world. In short, an evil tech billionaire and Jeff Bezos look-alike (played by Nicholas Hoult - so good) attempts to destroy Superman and his reputation while creating international conflict (a more technologically advanced country allied with the U.S. invades a bordering, less-powerful country). Overall, very good. I cried a lot. 5/5

Love Island U.S.A. Season 7 (Peacock) — To keep it quick, it ended, and one of the two deserving couples won, thank god. I don’t know if I’ll watch next season; this season made me unreasonably upset/angry. You can read more about my thoughts on why it was upsetting below.

What I’m reading…

Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut — In classic fashion, Vonnegut writes a comedy about an American living in Germany during WWII who becomes a famous Nazi radio broadcaster after being recruited as a spy for America. Howard W. Campbell Jr. retells his life story while in an Israeli prison awaiting his trial for war crimes. Guilt and what people do to survive are on full display in this book alongside the overarching moral takeaway of: be careful who you pretend to be.

It’s Ok to Be Angry About Capitalism by Bernie Sanders (written with John Nichols) — I highly recommend this book. I think this is an important read, especially if you feel like our current systems are doomed. I took four pages of notes while reading, so I plan to write a separate review of it and the lessons I learned. For now, I’ll leave you with this quote:

“The simple truth is that unfettered capitalism is not just creating economic misery for the majority of Americans, it is destroying our health, our well-being, our democracy, and our planet.”

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway — I read this because Substacker Steven Reese of Read Your Color recommended it as a book that highlights the realities of war (this one is about WWI), and I already had it on my shelf. An easy read, kind of slow. It speaks of war very matter-of-factly without over-detailing violence.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune — My fantasy book of the month, and I loved it. It’s about a Case Worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth who is tasked with visiting an orphanage on a remote island. In building relationships with the magical children and their mysterious caretaker, he begins to question the morality of his work and society’s view of magical beings. One of the reviews said it best: reading the book is “like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket.” Cozy & sweet.

Share

See you again in a few weeks with the August roundup!

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

Lessons learned about Gen Z:

• Young people don’t know what a healthy relationship looks like, nor how to find one.

• Growing up in the age of internet culture leads to a hyperawareness of and concern with how people perceive you (online and in person).

• Internet sleuths

• The world would be a nicer place if people used their group chats to air out their negative opinions rather than the internet. Gossiping is necessary, but not in a way where the person you’re gossiping about can see it.

• And on the same vein, we love to call people out. There is no fear of being mean.

• As much as I’d like to think (and did think for a time) that everyone in my generation recognizes the dangers of Trump, that is most certainly not the case.

  • I wrote an unpublished Substack a few weeks ago called “Is Love Island USA Doomed?” with the subtitle “Not even Love Island can escape the realities of politics,” and abandoned it when I came to this(^) realization. LMK if you want to read it.

Lessons learned about culture:

• We love to diagnose people we don’t know.

• Genuine relationships (friendships and romances) win the audience every time.

• Internet culture is an industry, and reality TV is one of the best ways to break in and make it big.

• The polarization of politics has become so intense and personal that it seeps into all aspects of life, particularly interpersonal relationships.

• Real people on TV can become symbols of values that have been projected on them by the audience.

• Cancel culture is unforgiving and part of the problem of polarization in this country.

• Misogyny runs rampant; if you’re a woman on reality TV, you better not have done anything wrong ever before or during the show, and if you’re a man, you’re pretty much chilling regardless.

Lessons learned about Love Island USA as a franchise:

• If a contestant focuses too much on one person and isn’t “open,” all the other contestants will kick them off the show.

• The danger of editing a reality TV show to feature the most dramatic scenes is that the audience does not get to know the cast, and therefore, they are not humanized, and intense cyber-bullying ensues.

• Production needs to do more thorough background checks on contestants’ online presences.

• Casting influencers leads to gameplay > creating relationships, and that bores the audience.

• The plot has been lost, and the only way to save it is to use Love Island U.K.’s formula: 40+ episodes so the audience knows and humanizes the cast, focus on interpersonal dynamics and relationships rather than the few individuals who make the most interesting TV, and more frequent re-couplings and dates.

• I think there’s a psychologist on the show, and I’m confused about their role. If there isn’t one already, they need to hire a psychologist AND a therapist.

• Seemingly no concern for hygiene.

Leave a comment

I struggle to post this as I finish writing because it feels so silly, but I think it’s an interesting exercise that captures the moment we are living in right now, especially for young people. Love Island may be a vain, raunchy show, but it is also a showcase of psychological and sociological trends of a culture and a generation. The sheer amount of reflection and projection occurring online as a result of this season demonstrates the show’s power. Someone online said it’s reminiscent of the Stanford Prison Experiment, which has stuck with me. Something to think about…

Here’s to hoping that next season, at least one couple falls in love, the islanders don’t bully one another, no contestants are kicked off the show for saying racial slurs online, and the audience learns to use a group chat.

And if you’re wondering who I want to win? It’s Amaya and Bryan; preferably, Amaya takes all the money.

Share

The following three songs have been on repeat: “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Gucci Mane” by Jessie Murph, and “Sue Me” by Audrey Hobert, all of which are upbeat, cheeky songs to belt in the car with the windows down this summer. A new favorite in the mix is "Jesus and John Wayne" by Joy Oladokun (highly recommend checking out their 2023 album, "Proof of Life") and Allison Ponthier, which I discovered shortly after my book club meeting about the book by the same name. I bet these artists have read it…the song screams raised evangelical and growing up to question and “rebel.”

Funny enough, all of these songs share a common thread. “Jesus & John Wayne” touches on the hypocrisy of the white, church-going conservatives, while “Manchild” and “Gucci Mane” comment on the upsetting state of dating today, where women find themselves dating and/or affected by emotionally immature and unaware men. Many of whom, given that Carpenter and Murph were both raised in conservative areas (Quakertown, PA, and Tennessee/Alabama, respectively), are white conservative men. It all circles back to the unprecedented interconnection of politics and culture/lifestyle; one has always influenced the other, but it seems it’s never been so divisive.

Subscribe now

Therapuss with Jake Shane’s interview with Lorde — I’m excited for her newest album, Virgin. She’s so real and chilled. It sounds like this album is a real breakaway from her soulful, poetic bops, as she explores herself and her sound.

Alex Cooper on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard — I thought I was going to like this podcast episode more. I’m chalking my dissatisfaction up to the fact that I’d already watched “Call Her Alex,” and so this felt repetitive. Regardless, loved the snippets about how Dax, Alex, and their partners became friends.

What I’m watching…

Love Island USA Season 7 (Peacock) — Despite the premiere dropping 40 minutes late on Peacock, and the revelations of certain islanders’ upsetting social media presence/political leanings (thank God production pulled Yulissa—there’s also no way they didn’t know there were clips of her dropping the n-word on the internet, so idk what their motivation was in casting her), we’re finally getting into the groove with this cast (edit: maybe not). For once, maybe in all of LI history, the boys are the ones holding each other accountable (edit: I take it back, everyone’s just following Ace, who’s a little hater). Currently, Cierra (not pictured as she was the first bombshell), Olandria, and Amaya (another bombshell not pictured) are saving the show for me, and I want to see more of them. I had more positive things to say about this that are now deleted because everyone is making me angry, and I’m not liking this season anymore. More on this soon…

Call Her Alex (Part 1 & 2) (Hulu) — Alex Cooper is an absolute legend and delivers an intimate portrayal of her coming of age and rise to fame. You get a glimpse of her Unwell Tour alongside inside looks into her relationships and what she has overcome (trigger warning: sexual harassment) to become the top female podcaster. I hope one day she’ll dethrone Joe Rogan and become the top podcaster, period.

Sirens (Netflix) — Not what I thought it was going to be. I kept waiting for a big plot twist, and although I appreciate the overarching sentiment about how certain women, “sirens,” are judged and perceived, it fell flat for me. A redeeming feature is the cast.

What I’m reading…

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, translated by Ros Schwartz — A brilliant genre-bending science fiction novel told by a young woman coming of age in an underground cage with 39 other women; they don’t know where they are or why they are imprisoned. It is a powerful meditation on what it means to be human and how people survive trauma. Highly recommend, it’s a quick read.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, Gregory Rabassa (Translator) — My current read and one of my summer reading list picks. I love a generational saga, especially one where the figurative becomes the literal — magical realism, in other words. I especially appreciate how the author portrays historical events through the lens of one family’s relationships.

Subscribe now

Share

See you next month!

Therapuss with Jake Shane: Jay Shetty (session 73) & Ride x Therapuss (session 74) episodes (Spotify) — Listen to the Jay Shetty (author & podcast host of On Purpose) episode for a vulnerable Jake speaking about taking care of and being kind to oneself. On the other hand, the latest episode with Benito (Benny) Skinner and Mary Beth Barone, who host a podcast called Ride, features the trio speaking about Benny’s debut show, Overcompensating (more to come below on this one), and pop culture.

Subscribe now

I Am Digital, I Am Divine by Erin LeCount (Spotify) — I discovered Erin LeCount’s music on TikTok as she was beginning to release her latest EP, I Am Digital, I Am Divine. Her angelic voice, the epic echoing background music, and her heart-wrenching lyrics about love and mental illness remind me of Florence & the Machine. All five of the songs on this album are hits. The next big thing, mark my words.

Jessie Murph (Spotify) — We’re pivoting here to a very different vibe when it comes to Jessie Murph, another artist I found on TikTok. Her gravelly vocals and Priscilla Presley look reflect her unique genre, a combination of country, rock, and pop. Her big hit, Blue Strips, is the best example of her sound. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from her soon.

Rachel Chinouriri (Spotify) — Once again, another TikTok find. The app truly is the new primary way of discovering talent. I’m very excited to see her in concert on Sunday of All Things Go in DC. Her sound is more of a soft, indie pop.

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: “Philly Justice” (Spotify) — If you’ve listened to any of the earlier episodes with Parks & Rec guests, you’ve heard about the show Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, and Kathryn Hahn created as a joke while on set of Parks & Rec. Poehler brought together the actors and Parks & Rec creator Mike Schur to dive into the creation of the comedic, legal procedural, Philly Justice, and watch the unreleased trailer they filmed over 10 years ago.

What I’m watching…

Overcompensating (Prime Video) — A new show based on creator Benito Skinner’s college experience and coming-out story is a hilarious, spot-on portrayal of finding yourself in college and the absurdities of Greek-life culture. The cast is an iconic combination of Benny’s BFFs/big names in pop culture and comedy, including Mary Beth Barone, Adam DiMarco, Owen Thiele, Connie Britton, Caleb Hearon, Lukas Gage, Kaia Gerber, and Charlie XCX. I can’t forget co-lead Wally Baram, who I’m sure you’ll start seeing a lot more of. Season 2 couldn’t come fast enough.

Below Deck Down Under Season 1 (Peacock) — “The easiest reality show to get into” - Jack Berson. The show follows the captain, deckhands, & stewards on a luxury yacht in Australia as they cater to their charters throughout a season.

The Four Seasons (Netflix) — A remake of 1the 981 film of the same name, which follows a group of long-time friends (Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Colman Domingo, Will Forte) & their partners throughout four seasons/trips after one friend, Steve Carell, divorces his wife, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and starts dating a 30-something year old.

Sinners (currently still in theaters) — The best movie I’ve seen this year. Director Ryan Coogler killed it, no pun intended. A young, burgeoning blues musician, Sammie, and his twin cousins, Smoke & Stack, bring their community together for a night of music and dancing in 1930s Missouri when a supernatural evil unexpectedly arrives. Coogler balanced the violence and dark history with lovable characters and comedy. 11/10, highly recommend.

What I’m reading…

The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, Jim Rion (translator) (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi #8) — A former Count goes missing, and Detective Kosuke Kindaichi is called in to figure out if the Count truly is dead and who in the house is involved. This is the second book I’ve read in the series. I chose it because, although the writing style and structure are predictable, the plot is far from it.

Jesus & John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez — The latest book club book. I don’t think I need to explain it; the title says enough. I’m not very far into this one and am unsure if I’ll finish it. My current thoughts: I’m not learning anything new besides the names of a bunch of hyper-masculine white men who shaped modern-day Evangelicalism.

The Will of the Many (Hierarchy #1) by James Islington — The best fantasy book I’ve read since Harry Potter. I’m eagerly anticipating the second book, The Strength of the Few (release date: November 2025). The book is about an orphan, Vis, navigating life under the Hierarchy, a society/government centered around citizens ceding their will to the elite (a clever nod to capitalism). When Vis finds himself attending The Academy, where the next leaders in Military, Governance, and Religion are selected, he is tasked with unveiling a mystery that could change the world.

Share

Subscribe now

See you next month!

Good Hang with Amy Poehler (Spotify) — My newest comfort commute podcast. My favorite thus far is either Poehler’s interview with Tina Fey or Quinta Brunson.

Subscribe now

CUNTISSIMO by MARINA (Spotify) — As a long-time fan, dating back to my middle school years when she was known as Marina and the Diamonds, Marina’s new album, Princess of Power, is exciting. She’s performing at All Things Go DC, amongst other favorite artists of mine: Doechii, Djo, Role Model, Maude Latour (and others). I am so excited!!

At The Beach, In Every Life by Gigi Perez (Spotify) — Last night I saw Gigi P. in concert, thank you to my good friend Natalie, whose high school friend NIKOLE opened for Gigi P. I loved it! I was familiar with her before, specifically Sailor Song, but now I’m a fan. She’s a siren, like a female Mumford and Sons.

My Spring ‘25 playlist — I’ve been listening to various pop stars lately, check them out! Shoutouts to KATSEYE, ADÉLA, Dove Cameron, Grace VanderWaal, Lady Gaga, Jon Bellion, and MARINA. A lot of all-caps artists.

What I’m watching…

Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE (Netflix) — I watched this before knowing who was in KATSEYE, and it was a journey. It was like So You Think You Can Dance and Dance Moms. This show single handedly turned me on to KPop.

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (Hulu) — Watched this in one sitting. It is an alarming, sad, and intensely interesting story. I hope all the Franke children are in a safe and healthy environment, especially the younger kids. I recommend if you’re looking for a true crime culty watch.

The Residence (Netflix) — An amazing mystery! A funny modern-day Agatha Christie show. Cordelia Cupp is a Queen. Also, the name of the victim, A.B. Wynter, the Chief Usher, and the show as a whole are dedicated to Andre Braugher (Captain Ray Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine), who was cast as the Chief Usher before the filming was stalled during COVID and died before the show was filmed.

Conclave (Prime Video) — It took the Pope dying (RIP Pope Francis) for me to finally watch this Oscar-winning movie. My thoughts: dramatic and iconic.

What I’m reading…

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green — My first book club book! So far, it is a creative and empathetic portrayal of the history of Tuberculosis and global health inequities.

Lilith’s Brood Book 3: IMAGO by Octavia Butler — I finished the final book in Butler’s Lilith’s Brood series! I loved this series, it is so creative. The world-building is very impressive.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin — Thank you Maggie for this book! I’ve been recommended it many times and now I understand why! The character development and video game worldbuilding. Well written.

See you next month! Xx

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Anxiety by Doechii — She’s a woman for the people. After parts of this song Doechi recorded five years ago went viral online, the fans requested the full version. Doechii delivered.

Alex Warren — If you haven’t heard his big hit, Ordinary, you’re not chronically online. And that’s OK, I’m here to connect you if TikTok hasn’t already. Alex rose to popularity via TikTok while living out of his car and dating his now-wife, Kouvr (Ko-ver; she’s Hawaiian); he’s got a crazy young adulthood look it up (and here). Five years later, he’s touring his first album and hugely successful on social media, alongside Kouvr. I describe his sound as a mix of Lewis Capaldi (who’s releasing new music soon, BTW) and Teddy Swims. I’m hoping and praying that tickets are available for his concert in DC at the 9:30 Club when my credit card bill resets.

Armchair Expert: Suzanne O’Sullivan (on overdiagnosis) (Spotify)— A REALLY interesting interview about mental and physical health phenomena in the West. Spoiler alert: It is related to labeling overdiagnosing. I just finished a class on Human Development & Psychopathology, where I started thinking a lot about the dangers of using terms for mental health disorders and conditions colloquially. I highly recommend; she’s also Irish, which makes for a more fun listen.

I Said I Loved You First… by Selena Gomez & benny blanco — This album is a bop! My favorites are Don’t Take It Personally, Bluest Flame, and How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten.

WASH by Jon Bellion — He’s back after a 6-year absence! Now, he owns the rights to all of his music and is independently producing and marketing all of his music. His unique sound immediately transports me to driving around Phoenix at night in the back of an open jeep.

What I’m watching…

Running Point (Netflix) — Mindy Kaling’s newest TV show starring Kate Hudson & Brenda Song (there are others, but these are just the only two I care about, besides Drew Tarver from The Other Two, which should have had more seasons). It’s about a woman who takes over her family business, the LA basketball team, after her brother goes to rehab.

Survivor Season 48 (Paramount+) — UPDATE: People have mixed opinions about the new era of Survivor. I believe the new era approaches to strategy and the increased diversity in casting are essential and enhance the show's appeal. We’re three episodes in, and one tribe is already eating itself alive, which is always fun to watch. There are a few alliances I’m rooting for: Eva the young athlete & Joe the Fire Captain, Cedrek the surgeon & Sai who is so unabashedly competitive it’s amazing, her job - marketing -doesn’t represent her as accurately as the others. Bianca and Thomas are growing on me as an alliance as well. Read more about the Survivor 48 cast here.

Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney (Netflix) — A late-night show that briefly aired a few years ago and now is back for another try. JM’s going for an old-school talk show with callers and celebrity + expert guests. It’s not quite working, but I’m willing to watch one more. Honestly, if he kept Fred Armisen (one of his first guests) around on each show, I think it would be funnier.

White Lotus (MAX) — The conflict is rising! The murder weapon has been introduced. You could cut the tension with a knife. I appreciate Mike White’s storytelling and directing.

What I’m reading…

Lilith’s Brood Book 2: Adulthood Rites by Octavia Butler — This book focuses on the child of the original protagonist, a boy who is both human and alien (Oankali), and charged with saving the humans who have resisted mating with the Oankali.

The Feminist Killjoy (blog and handbook) by Sara Ahmed— Since I’m only in two classes right now, I finally had time to read the first chapter of this book that Gaby recommended and sent me after talking about feminist approaches in Social Work and Psychology. It’s now on my summer reading list, among other books I want to read for further social work education.

It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism by Bernie Sanders and John Nichols — This is my most recent purchase, and I am excited to continue reading into April. It’s helping me see a path forward and not drown in political nihilism.

Subscribe now

Share

See you next month! xx

Recent political actions and executive orders dismantling the Department of Education, imprisoning and deporting undocumented immigrants and legal citizens, creating more obstacles for voters, banning DEI in workplaces, and eliminating education about gender identity and race in schools have left everyone overwhelmed and panicked. I know this is the current administration’s tactic, to overwhelm the media and everyday Americans with new, upsetting information to demoralize and prevent community organization. Everyone seems to be barely hanging on. Most people’s jobs have gotten harder (senators, congress people, other government employees, social workers, educators, lawyers, and so on), leaving little free time and energy to organize and mobilize efforts to resist and bring awareness to what can be done. I know many people are doing this work and right now it is hard to see the difference because we’re at the beginning of it all. Yet the damage is already visible.

Today, I attended a student social work advocacy day on Capitol Hill. The day intended to provide students with advocacy knowledge and practice visiting congressional and senatorial offices. A few hours in, it became obvious that the day’s programming lacked organization and direction. We spoke a lot about how important it is to engage in civic duties and learn about policies directly affecting our communities and the populations we serve as social workers. We spoke about how historical this time is and how we have the power to direct and lead change. My question is, how? There are a lot of big ideas and general sentiments shared lately, but there are no actionable steps. We talk about this moment in time and the need for community organizing and action. But it’s all just talk. It feels like that’s all we ever do. Talk.

I hoped to leave the social work student advocacy day feeling empowered and hopeful. Instead, I left feeling more hopeless than ever and crushed by the weight of the growing social problems and inequalities. I know that what I want to do with my Masters in Social Work, providing behavioral and social-emotional-learning supports to students in middle or high school, will be an uphill battle. Equality and access to basic needs and resources will continue to be an uphill battle, and now that hill feels steeper. I pursued this degree for stable work and the ability to help people daily. Now, it feels like my ability to maintain both of those desires has dwindled. How will I help LGBTQ+ students understand their experience of developing their gender identity if I can’t talk about LGBTQ+ issues and gender-affirming care in schools? How do I provide social work services to schools when the funding providing my salary is questionable?

I read and watch too much science fiction not to think about the fact that we are self-destructing. I know we are not there yet, but it feels like we are well on our way. Right now, I’m on the third book (IMAGO) of Octavia Butler’s science fiction series Lilith’s Brood. The premise is that an alien species saves and rehabilitates humans after a nuclear world war destroys Earth and wipes out the majority of the population. The source of Earth and humans’ destruction is what is called “the contradiction,” which is that human beings are both highly intelligent and hierarchical, a destructive combination. I think this is an astute and correct observation by Butler. Most of the world’s problems and human suffering would be corrected if not for our hierarchical tendencies. It’s evident throughout history and especially right now as the billionaires of America maintain power and perpetuate poverty and inequality for their monetary gains.

There is no real conclusion to my thoughts here. I still feel a heavy weight on my chest. I still don’t have answers. Yesterday, in a meeting with my supervisor, we discussed some of what I have said here, and we concluded that we have to think small. Creating community is more important than ever. Doing something each day to connect with someone, help make someone else’s life a little bit easier, and listen to everyone, even those you don’t agree with. Understanding everyone’s point of view, especially the opposing point of view, is the only way to formulate your agenda and thoughts in a way where people will listen and consider things.

Writing this is my way of reaching out to the community today and sharing my point of view. I hope it reaches someone.

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President, Call Her Daddy (watchable here)— I believe this is Monica Lewinsky’s first public recount of her affair with Bill Clinton, the subsequent White House gaslighting, and brutal media coverage since her essay for Vanity Fair in 2018. Her story is never not relevant. I think it is so important we are reminded of how the public eviscerated Lewinsky as a young woman and ignored former President Clinton’s obvious and inappropriate abuse of power (even if he wasn’t the president, the age gap- 27 years- alone is a power dynamic).

Therapuss Session 57: Willa Bennett — Jake Shane’s interview with the new Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine. Her first issue features Macaulay Culkin & Brenda Song. We’re experiencing a Seventeen Magazine revival!

Goth Babe — Thank you, Dalia, for my beautiful playlist that officially introduced me to Goth Babe. His music feels like a sunny day in California when you drive home from school on an early-release Friday. Doug Fir is my current favorite.

Subscribe now

What I’ve been watching…

I’ve been trying to focus on upbeat shows.

Mo (Netflix) — A sitcom about a Palestinian refugee and his family in Houston, Texas. So far there are two seasons of the show. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a sitcom that balances humor and the realities of refugees in America. the show represents an important movement in TV to expand who and what is represented on the screen.

Abbott Elementary (Hulu) — We all know and love this Philly-based elementary-school sitcom. Quinta Brunson is a genius and after four seasons, it keeps getting better. Once again, this show balances humor and the realities of public school education.

Survivor Returns: Season 48 (Paramount+) — I am so happy to have this weekly escape again. Updates to come on my takes on the cast. I recently learned that Mike White has assisted in casting the show since his season (37), which leads me to my next highlighted show…

White Lotus Season 3 (Max) - Mike White takes us to Thailand! There’s a Duke vs. UNC family in the mix and I believe they are accurate characterizations of the wealthy, privileged white family Mike White is attempting to capture. Everyone is toxic, as usual. It’s hilarious.

SNL 50th Anniversary Episode (Peacock) — The best class reunion ever! This rivaled the Grammys and Oscars, in my opinion. We saw so many iconic skits recreated, including Domingo, Close Encounter (Kate McKinnon’s government interview post-alien abduction), and Kristen Wiig’s Dooneese with tiny hands. The only thing missing, in my opinion, was Bill Hader and his character Stefon. Also, I have a question, WHY was Kim Kardashian in the skit? I don’t get why she of all people got a spot to star in the 50th reunion after only hosting once. Did she pay for this exposure?

Dexter: Original Sin (Paramount+) — If you are a Dexter fan, you must watch the new spin-off series. They cast the characters so well and maintained the style and direction of the original show.

Subscribe now

What I’m reading…

Substack notes is my new form of social media since I am officially 3 days free of Instagram.

Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler — I had to stop reading The Ministry of the Future and pivot to my other new book: Dawn, the first of a collection of three science-fiction stories about a woman living amongst aliens in a post-apocalyptic world. The series includes Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago. It’s still freaky, but less realistic than my previous read, which led to spirals about climate change. Although these spirals may be necessary to be aware of the severity of the climate crisis, I don’t need to read about it right before bed. I’m currently open to other escapism books.

Share

Subscribe now

See you next month!

What I’m watching…

Lioness (Paramount+)

I’ve developed a thing against media about the military because I think it’s propaganda. My evidence is that I wanted to join the army for a time in middle school because of military TV shows/movies/commercials. But this show has changed my tune. The female leads (Nicole Kidman, Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira ) in this show are, *chefs kiss*, so dramatic.

Somebody Somewhere (Max): I watched this over the holidays, and it was so heartwarming. It is one of the best, most heartfelt comedies I’ve seen in a while. It gave me the same excitement, nostalgia, and attachment to the characters as Parks & Recreation, Schidtt’s Creek, and Fleabag. 

Traitors (Peacock): The memes alone are motivation enough to start this reality murder-mystery TV show. This show is three seasons old, and this season, they finally got it right. The cast is incredible. We’ve got housewives, Bob the Drag Queen, Survivor Legends, Brittany Spears’ ex-husband, Tom Sandoval, Dylan Efron (Troy Bolton’s brother!), Gabby Windey, and a bunch of Big Brother contestants I don’t know. The chaos and larger-than-life personalities are so entertaining. Also, host Alan Cummings has leveled up the reality game show host game.

A Complete Unknown (the Bob Dylan biopic) is the only movie I’ve seen lately besides My Old Ass (an amazing drama comedy featuring Aubrey Plaza) and it did its job. I now appreciate Bob Dylan more than I ever did before and I’ve been reminded that Timothy Chalamet is an amazing actor and also so funny (see him hosting and performing on SNL). I must note: typical Hollywood casting Timothy Chalamet, a heartthrob, as Bob Dylan…

Up next for me are Oscar nominees Anora, Conclave, Nickel Boys (based on the amazing book of the same name), and the documentary Sugarcane. Don’t worry, I’ve already seen Wicked and it was amazing.

Subscribe now

What I’m listening to…

Doechii: Her debut album Alligator Bites Never Heal just won Best Rap Album at the Grammys. She is so powerful. I’m obsessed. I know she’s about to blow up even more than she already has and I’ll just say this, I’ve been here since the album drop so add that to my list of artists (3 so far: Doja Cat, Chappell Roan, and Doechii) I was ahead of the curve on. Not to brag, but also, I’m bragging. (She was big on TikTok before her EP so I’m not that ahead, but that’s what I’m telling myself).

Black Eyed Peas: I’ve needed some feel-good music lately and listening to BEP’s throwbacks hit the spot.

Central Cee: Another artist I’ve been a fan of for a bit now who dropped their most mainstream album, although it is his third album, Can’t Rush Greatness.

History of Man by Maisie Peters on repeat.

My podcasts have remained the same (Therapuss, Call Her Daddy, Armchair Expert, and Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast) and no particular episodes have stood out to me to note here, but I will say, I’ve added a podcast to the rotation and that is So True with Caleb Hearon. He is hysterical.

Subscribe now

What I’m reading…

The Ministry for the Future: A science fiction novel on Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2020 list. It reads like nonfiction because of how accurately author Kim Stanley Robinson portrays the climate crisis and our future. It’s tough to read right now, but also so important.

Severance: Read this science fiction novel right before The Ministry for the Future. I thought it was the basis for the TV show Severance, but it is very different besides the fact that they are both science fiction. Regardless, great short read.

Share

Thank you for reading and I’m going to try really hard to get a RWL with me: February Roundup posted end of this month. I’ve got my MSW program and internship on my plate and it’s been a lot!

XOXO

There once was a boy named Larry

Who followed all the rules.  

He did everything right all through school. 

He graduated college and went out into the world.

It’s not that scary

he thought.

Little did he know,

something lived within him.

Larry complained of migraines

Nausea 

Hysterics 

And drowsiness. 

He couldn’t figure it out!

Until one day at the doctor’s office,

“You’ve contracted a parasite, son,”

the doctor proclaimed.

A parasite.

The cause of all the confusion, all the pain. 

“But I did everything right! I always took parasite preventatives, I was safe!”

In a state of panic and shame 

Larry racked his brain for what to do. 

“How can I get rid of it?”

“You can’t Larry. Not here.”

“What? It hasn’t even been around that long, only weeks, can’t you extract it!?”

“I can’t do that for you Larry, maybe a doctor in another state will, but here, you wait for the parasite to pass and either give it to the government or do with it what you’d like.” 

“I just have to wait? Wait for this parasite I didn’t know I had, something I don’t think I want to deal with?” 

“I’m afraid so.”

Larry left the doctors distraught and disheartened. Larry did not want to wait to pass the parasite. From what he’s heard, it’s a gnarly process. He racked his brain, running through all the possibilities. I don’t have the resources, I can’t take on the responsibility of the parasite once it comes into this world. I don’t want to go through this! This will affect me forever. I’ll be haunted by the process of passing the parasite and giving it to the government and burdened by providing for the parasite for its entire life. 

Larry went back home and hopped on the web.

On an obscure page, he found a third option. 

Subscribe now

The next day on his lunch break, Larry ducked out of his fancy new office building and headed to the park. Once there, he scanned the benches until he found who he was looking for. 

Red hat. 

“Hi, I’m Larry.”

“Hi Larry, I’m Angel. I’m sorry to hear about your parasite situation. I know that’s hard when it’s unexpected. It’s not for everyone.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope this helps,” Angel says, getting up to leave, but not before dropping a small plastic bag containing a tiny blue pill in Larry’s hand. “Good luck.”

Larry let out a sigh of relief, suddenly filled with hope again. 

That night, Larry took the pill and waited. He wasn’t sure what to expect, he’d heard that the pill was supposed to pass the parasite on release. But he did not know how long that would take or what it would look like. 

Before long, Larry was hit with an intense, visceral pain radiating out of his gut. It felt like sharp shock waves radiated from his core to the rest of his body every few seconds, paralyzing his legs and leaving him confused and scared. Hunched over the toilet, he convulsed, ready to vomit but nothing came. He lay in agony for what seemed like hours before the pain began to dull. Larry fell asleep on the cold bathroom tile, body exhausted and relieved. 

In the middle of the night, Larry awoke in a pool of his blood. Small holes had appeared around his abdomen and blood was seeping out of them. In a panic, Larry called out for his roommate. 

Within minutes, Larry and his roommate raced to the hospital. The doctor Larry saw the day before ran into the boys as they walked into the ER. 

“What did you do!” Exclaimed the doctor. 

“It’s supposed to pass,” Larry replied weakly before fainting. 

Larry lay in a hospital bed in and out of consciousness for hours. When he awoke briefly, Larry felt his mother grasping his hand, muttering a prayer while his roommate and dad yelled in the hallway, “Somebody, please help him!”

Why aren’t they helping me? Larry wondered as he drifted back to sleep, his sheets warmed with blood. 

Larry died in the ER, bleeding out on his hospital bed. 

His parents and roommate watched him die, racked with agony as they heard doctors pass by outside their room. The doctors refused to help him because “assisting with the passing of a parasite is illegal.”

No one wanted a lawsuit, revoked license, or jail time. 

So, at 23 years young, Larry died. 

Share

This is the reality of pregnant women living in modern America, whether or not they planned the pregnancy.

Vote to save women’s reproductive rights.

Leave a comment

1. Dasha: “What Happens Now?” & the deluxe version — she’s (and Shaboozey!) turning me on to country music… (she is number 1 for a reason, I think she’s the next big female artist. She just opened Alex Cooper’s West Coast Call Her Daddy Tour)

2. FLETCHER: “In Search Of The Antidote” (saw her in concert and she was amazing)

3. Maude Latour: “Sugar Water”

4. Sabrina Carpenter: “Short n’Sweet”

5. Camila Cabello: “C,XOXO”

6. Charli XCX: “brat”

7. Chapell Roan: “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”

8. Reneé Rapp: “Snow Angel”

9. RAYE: “My 21st Century Blues” & “Live at Montreux Jazz Festival”

10. Kehlani: “While We Wait 2”

    *honorary mention: Lady Gaga’s upcoming pop album. I have high, high hopes*

    I’m also realizing as I look at this list that these are almost all white girls and the two black girls on here are categorized as pop/R&B on the web. Something to think about…

    Subscribe now

Speaking of Chappell Roan… girl, log off social media PLEASE. The forgiveness for canceling multiple shows last minute is dwindling…

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives > Real Housewives. This one’s a great reminder of why the patriarchy blows chunks. Zach Affleck, Jen’s husband, is the scariest form of a white man.

Speaking of the patriarchy, did you see John Mulaney and Olivia Munn had another baby? Me too. All I’ll say is, read Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler. It’s not about John Mulaney (AMT’s ex-husband), but at the same time, it’s all about Him (capital H for the greater him aka the patriarchy).

Another chronically online writer whose book I’ll proudly display on my shelves: Caroline Calloway’s second book, Elizabeth Wurtzel and Caroline Calloway’s Guide to Life. For context, E. Wurtzel, who died in 2020, wrote the groundbreaking 1994 confessional memoir (CC’s bread and butter) Prozac Nation.

I aspire to channel my rage toward the people who’ve wronged me into a best-selling novel like AMT & CC.

The Perfect Couple on Netflix had a murder-mystery reveal I did not see coming. I love watching Nicole Kidman as a mysterious, intimidating matriarch and Dakota Fanning as a doe-eyed mean girl.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (the OG’s recent sequel) is a hilarious, fun viewing experience. Watching Jenna Ortega stand up for Winona Ryder to the press (who has always been brutal to Ryder) on the movie’s press tour was healing. Winona Ryder & Catherine O’Hara’s love for Jenna Ortega is heartwarming. I’d love to be in their fictional family.

I’m listening to the podcast series Seeing White for my Diversity in a Multicultural Society class. I think it’s a must-listen. Plus, it’s produced through Duke’s Kenan Institute for Ethics, so that’s a fun connection.

Subscribe now

Up next…

I’m finishing Try Not to Be Strange: The Curious History of the Kingdom of Redonda.

Nobody Wants This (Netflix series with Kristin Bell & Adam Brody).

50 cent’s docuseries sold to Netflix about Sean “Diddy” Combs (a scary, scary man).

I will not be watching Monsters, due to its inaccuracies and my growing dislike for Ryan Murphy, but I will watch the upcoming doc The Menendez Brothers coming to Netflix Oct. 7 because the brothers were actually involved in this version of their story.

Share

Highlights

☕ I read the most in the morning

💌 I subscribed to 5 new Substacks

📽️ I watched 3 minutes of video

❤️ I liked 2 posts

📜 I scrolled 24 meters in Notes

🕵️ I discovered 4 new posts via Notes

Top Substacks

Hung Up by Hunter Harris

A newsletter about movies, tv, the celebrity industrial complex, and personal pop culture obsessions. Delivered twice a week to your inbox, written by Hunter Harris.

Top post this summer: Check On Your Katy Cat Friends

Astro Poets by Astro Poets

poetry | astrology | mystery

Top post this summer: ♋ 💗 💗 ♋ 💗 ♋ Venus Enters Cancer ♋ | Read your LOVE horoscope 💗 ♋ 💗 ♋ 💗

Unsupervised by Anna Fusco

In clogs with a blog, wild at heart, and publicly learning to love myself. These letters make frequent stops at personal histories, relationships, communal living, and self-fulfillment. It ain't much but it's honest work.

Top post this summer: Captain Obvious

Share your own Summer Recap

You can see your own summer recap in the Substack app. I’d love to see what you’ve been reading.

Get my Recap