🍁 Fall '23
A round-up of recommendations from Fall 2023.
Hey friend,
Happy first few days of winter. I’ve been on a wintering vibe for a couple of months now, which has led me to some wonderful resource discoveries I’m excited to share with you.
As a reminder, this list reflects the books, essays, podcasts, shows, videos, and experiences that made a positive impact on me and others subscribed to The Pause over the past three months (a big thank you to those who shared your recs with me). Explore what looks interesting, and if you happen to read, watch, or listen to something that positively affects you these next few months don’t hesitate to send it my way.
To our continued evolution 🥂,
~ L
P.S. A reminder about formatting before we jump in…
Each recommendation will have a brief description and link to access it.
If a recommendation has a “*” next to it, it means it has been recommended before or was recommended twice this time around.
P.P.S. You can revisit the past year’s recommendations below:
☀️ Summer 2023 Recommendations (here)
🌸 Spring 2023 Recommendations (here)
❄️ Winter 2022-2023 Recommendations (here)
🎧 Listening Recommendations
Podcasts
Never Fast the Week Before Your Period! The Shocking Science About Intermittent Fasting & Women’s Health | The Mel Robbins Podcast
This podcast is a must if you’re a woman and you practice intermittent fasting. I had no idea the effect that fasting was having on my hormones/cycle until I listened to this podcast and subsequently read Dr. Mindy’s book. Highly highly recommend you listen and share with any woman in your life who is practicing intermittent fasting.
Oprah Shares “The Letter from Glennon that Freed Me” | We Can Do Hard Things
It’s not often that Oprah is an interviewee, so this episode was a delight to begin with and lived up to the hype. Oprah’s wisdom, humility, and grace are always inspiring, but her vulnerability in this episode made this an especially beautiful listen.
DaBaby | What Now? with Trevor Noah
I really appreciated this interview. Trevor Noah sits down with Grammy-nominated rapper DaBaby and talks through DaBaby’s controversial moment at Rolling Loud in 2021 that changed DaBaby’s career. What I appreciated so deeply was Trevor’s ability to give context of who DaBaby is outside of being a rapper (by diving into things like DaBaby’s challenging upbringing in North Carolina, how DaBaby is as a father, and giving DaBaby the opportunity to talk through whether he has any regrets) while also holding him accountable for what he said at Rolling Loud. Master interviewing by Trevor Noah, and respect/admiration for DaBaby bringing his vulnerability and full-self to the table.
Music
The Mother Load | Farideh
This album made me laugh. Satirical and hilarious, if you’re a mom I encourage you to take twenty minutes and get into this woman’s clever musical exploration of motherhood.
📖 Reading Recommendations
Books
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment | Thich Nhat Hanh
https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Here-Discovering-Present
A short, life-resetting read that reminded me of how important it is to practice mindfulness and be in the present. Thich Nhat Hahn offers a range of practices to help cultivate that mindfulness and presence in this book. I love the effect reading this has had on me. Highly recommend.
The Woman in Me | Britney Spears
https://britneybook.com/
Oomph. This book was a ride. I walked away feeling heartbroken for Britney (it seems everyone she has ever loved has tried to exploit her in some way), and also thoroughly amazed by her self-awareness, tenacity, and strength. Appreciate how vulnerable she was, and highly recommend if you were/are a Britney fan in any capacity.
Fast Like a Girl: A Woman’s Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones | Dr. Mindy Pelz
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/fast-like-a-girl-by-dr-mindy-pelz/
If you’re a woman and practice intermittent fasting, or are intermittent fasting curious, I highly highly recommend reading this book. Dr. Mindy Pelz is out here giving women the middle school education we never got but have always needed regarding how to set our bodies up for success during our cycle. She makes it easy and lets you know exactly what foods to eat when in your cycle, as well as lays out a fasting schedule that supports hormonal balance (like how we’re not supposed to fast the week+ before our cycle to support progesterone production… WISH I HAD KNOWN). Love love love this book and reference it often in my everyday life.
This Is How Your Marriage Ends: A Hopeful Approach to Saving Relationships | Matthew Fray
https://www.amazon.com/This-Your-Marriage-Ends-Relationships
I loved this book for many reasons, but one of the biggest ones was that it was written by a man who wanted to take radical accountability for himself in his relationship. I so appreciated his vulnerability and insight into why his marriage ended, as well as his cheeky way of reminding the reader that good people can be bad at relationships and that some good intentions can actually cause us to alienate our partners and form mistrust. An enlightening and insightful read for anyone in or pursuing a romantic relationship.
Essays
The Friendship Dip | Culture Study by Anne Helen Petersen
I very much appreciated this deep dive into friendship by Anne Helen Peterson. The way she breaks down the waning of friendships starting in our late 20s and asks questions about what we can do to combat “The Friendship Dip” was a welcomed poke to be thoughtful about my approach to my friendships.
📺 Viewing Recommendations
YouTube
Metro Boomin - Red Bull Symphonic | Metro Boomin
Hip-hop and the symphony? All day. Masterful arrangements and show put on by Metro Boomin and Maestro Anthony Parnther at the Dolby Theatre in LA (I especially loved Father Stretch My Hands 🙏🏻).
Songwriters Roundtable Preview: Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa & More on Making Film Music | The Hollywood Reporter
I loved this glimpse into the making of music in movies. Getting to hear each of the artists at this table talk through their songwriting processes (and be genuinely interested in each other) was a treat.
What Men & Women Need to Know About The Menstrual Cycle with Dr. Mindy Pelz | The Diary of a CEO
Can you tell I was on a Dr. Mindy Pelz kick? I loved this video. It gives basics that we all really should know but most of us don’t. A great watch/listen for anyone.
Seniors vs. Children - Middle Ground | Jubilee
I really enjoyed the concept and discussions in this video. It was heartening to watch 90-year-olds and 9-year-olds discuss things like death, love, people being good, and life being difficult. One of those videos that’ll give you a little burst of love for humanity.
Streaming
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones | Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/live-to-100
Love, love, loved this short series. It’s all the stuff we already know just researched and packaged beautifully. I especially enjoyed the interviews he did with people in their 90’s and 100’s—it’ll be a wholesome and inspiring investment of your time.
Lessons in Chemistry | Apple TV+
https://tv.apple.com/us/show/lessons-in-chemistry/
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. From the writing to the set design to Brie Larson and the other actors’ performances, the experience of watching this was a delight.
Tom Segura - Sledgehammer | Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/sledgehammer
If you’re a parent, weed enthusiast, or comedy lover, please watch this. Legit made me cry with laughter multiple times.
Love so many good recommendations! I REALLY loved the video of the 90 vs 9-year-olds. Thank you for sharing these!