summer break [programing]
list of media consumed so far.
Hi, is it me or does this year so far, feel like it’s been a decade? I don’t have much to report since last week, so here’s a list of some of the media I’ve consumed. My summer break has altered my routines, i.e., podcast / music listening is down (no driving and walking) whereas reading / watching is up (more sitting and staring).
So, here’s what I’ve read, listened to, and watched. Would love to know your recs.
I've honestly been feeling pretty down, but making lemonade of lemons, more soon.
: )
KD
READING…
-I bought a copy of Hugh Prather’s Notes to Myself to give as a gift and accidentally ordered two, so since I have it with me here I’ve been picking that up too from time to time, open it to any page, it’s soothing. See some pages here.
-Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black by Cookie Mueller- Sophie gave me this book for my birthday and I’ve been loving it so far.
*Note: If you want book recs from someone much more equipped than I, may I direct you once again to Maddie’s publication, ‘Wait have you read this…’
WATCHING…
I’ve had more time inside but I haven't watched much since the week I fell. I was staying with a friend who always laughed at me and said if a movie hadn’t played at Vidiots then it meant I hadn’t seen it… he wasn’t that wrong. I tend to watch the same few movies over and over unless someone tells me to watch something or better yet watches it with me. I stayed with him for that week when I couldn’t get up the stairs to my place. So he chose movies he thought I’d like and, well, he did a good job, but it’s a real eclectic bunch:
-L.A. Story (1991)
-Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
-Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)— (I guess they’re making it into a musical)
-Rosemary's Baby (1968)
-Beginners (2011) - in the theater! The first time I watched it, on a plane to Michigan, I wrote this about it…
-Heartburn (1986) - at Vidiots, they brought a chair for me to keep my swollen toes elevated, so nice. 🥹
-GIRLS (2012-2017) - Inspired by the hilarious and insightful rewatch podcast…where two gen-z comedians compare Lena’s Brooklyn to theirs, which brings me to….
LISTENING…
PODCASTS
I’m used to listening while walking or driving, but now I listen while getting ready, cleaning, or cooking (or in my case, preparing food—I wouldn’t call it cooking). The good news for my audio consumption is that those tasks take double the time on crutches giving me time to catch up on episodes.
I like to listen to NPR’s quick news podcast called Up First, but other than that it’s really all pure comfort listening lately….
Maddie’s a big fan of Sentimental Garbage- I dabble in the show but usually only tune in when they’re discussing a movie or book I particularly love, but when I saw the most recent 4 episodes were on 4 of my favorites… I was like, um am I being trolled? Is this my make-a-wish? If I can’t walk I'm at least getting a feast to listen to…
NYT Popcast’s episode about Brat this week.
Bandsplain- 3 hours on The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr. and, best of all, Yasi’s Q&As.
99 PI- I’m a casual listener but lately I sure do like learning random facts on a topic. I will think about this episode on the history of leaf blowers in LA every time I hear one, which is most waking [and sleeping] hours.
HLG - I never miss a chance to eavesdrop on Jason and Chris. I’m in a long-term parasocial relationship with them; since I tune in all 3 times a week. They’ve come with me to Michigan at Christmas time and reminded me of the world I live in outside of the holiday stress at home, they’ve made me laugh on long drives in traffic, and most recently, kept me company while I’m down bad crying in a cast. This is earnest and they’d hate it but listening to HLG is one of the few consistent things I’ve had for 4 years.
When Bri and I went to their live show, someone came up to us to say they’d heard about HLG on our podcast. Then, Christine said this, which made me realize I must talk about it?
Not that they need my PR but even, my midwestern-non-elite-mom texted me that she saw, “my friends”on Bravo, which at this point I ceased correcting. She doesn’t remember the parasocial part, however loves to remember the fact that I’m 1 degree of Kevin Bacon away from co-host Jason Stewart, which is why I started listening from the jump…
Peak pandemic, Katie, my close friend from college, mentioned her boyfriend’s twin brother started a podcast. Now 4 years later, her boyfriend Stew has become a close pal too, yet I know more about his brother’s travel schedule, than one should about a friend’s sibling they’ve barely met. But that’s parasocial podcasting I guess, it’s bizarre and kinda embarrassing, but also comforting, especially rn. It’s gooey and earnest to say, but I hope LIO keeps someone company like Chris and Jason have for me.Speaking of… Let it Out is back! Sorry for ghosting you for 2 months, 2 sad 2 talk…
PODCAST NEWS:
The Longform Episodes We Won’t Forget - after nearly 600 episodes, one of my favorite shows is ending, it will be missed.
NYT to Move Podcasts Behind Paywall- honestly didn’t go behind the WSJ’s paywall to read this in full, but this medium’s monetization model keeps changing.
MUSIC
Merideth, one of the coolest people I know by a stretch, said to me, ‘I needed a palette cleanse and 2024 has done nothing but give and give and give to us via pop…’ Music is for the car and hikes, but when I’m doing a boring mat workout, I’m turning up pop bangers and it kinda helps…
Since Zoë moved to London, long stretches of time pass between our catch ups. On a day we did talk I happened to have a date later that night. When she asked how it went when we caught up next, months had past. I didn’t know where to begin, so instead of telling her the entire saga— I let pop music speak for me. This feels intimate, but here’s the playlist I sent her in lieu of a long voice note:
She got the gist. Then, when she told me a story of her own, I made this playlist about it.
My cast got out to a concert: I made it all the way up to the nosebleeds at the Adrianne Lenker show with friend of the podcast, Buck Meek opening.
Lauren wanted us to wait for the elevator, I wanted her to not miss Buck, we took the stairs and lived to tell the tale.
MISC…
-Erika, this week’s podcast guest, featured me in her publication Long Live. She asked me to write an ode to my favorite secondhand clothing item. I chose this skirt I bought at a garage sale, look even goes with the cast.
-My friend Ella, founder and designer of The Series, had me as the first guest in her Friends in The Series Series… and Pretzel the dog too!
-Christine had me back on her channel with my simple skincare routine, and I made this for every product in it. She's one of my best friends and one of the best at making videos and has been for over 15 years!
-Painted my nails this color, an excellent summer color, added it to the shop here.
EATING…
- I made a list but it ended up long enough for a stand-alone dispatch. If you guess one or more of the items that will be on this list correctly in the comments, you will win a free year long paid subscription and perhaps another prize I will think of during the week ahead. May the best subscriber win!
LATEST EPISODE…
#452 Long Live: Erika Veurink Is Here (Part 1 of 2)
This week is the first half of my conversation with second hand-fashion-obsessed writer Erika Veurink. She’s written everywhere from Vogue to WSJ, and now writes Long Live. In Part 1, she shares how her religious upbringing led to her work ethic, her love of the personal essay and why publications are no longer running them. She breaks down exactly how she structures her daily writing practice, and much more.
Next week in Part 2, we cover everything from how she met her husband, to her go-to outfit, and in the meantime… today I’m on Long Live!
:)
kale salad