Hello!
I am VERY excited about this month’s roundup – the truest snapshot of my internet search “history” ever presented here. Before we get to it, I wanted to share one other thing…
Around this time last year, I was trying to figure out next steps for my career…I needed a pause on writing non-fiction books! After lots of conversations and exploring, working in research strategy (and also, ethnography) was something that really excited me. So I decided to pursue it.
The first research project I had the opportunity to work on was with Nonfiction (doing research interviews). And I’m excited to share the final report: The Invisible Weight. The mission of this study was to shine a light on the hidden side of pregnancy and the dire lack of emotional care in the U.S.
Over the span of nine months, Nonfiction studied the hidden, uncensored emotional experience of pregnancy (including navigating the healthcare system, medical trauma, and financial burden). The effort (led by Lindsey Wehking and funded by Twill) resulted in a final report and podcast that’s one of the most honest looks at pregnancy I’ve ever seen/heard.
The team who I worked with on this project (who have done hundreds of interviews) said these were the most difficult they had ever conducted. The report is both heart-wrenching and hopeful. And I hope that by sharing it, more people will learn about these struggles and help get pregnant people the care they need. Please check it out (and share).
The Things The Freaked My Week
Bijoy Jain's Paper Mache Chair for Hermès
I first saw this chair in an ad in Architectural Digest. I gasped when I saw it was made from paper mache and went on a deep dive to see how they made it. Not thinking I’d actually see the process…I FOUND THIS VIDEO! It’s only 40 seconds long and every second made me giddy. I dream of being able to paint lines this straight and have a giant mixer to make my mache…
Vardy VS Rooney on Discovery+
I was very invested in this feud between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney - and the “Wagatha Christie” trial that followed (what happened is way too long and confusing to explain in a few sentences, but you can get a brief-ish recap here). When my sister told me there was a short doc series on the trial, I immediately signed up for a free Discovery+ trial, ate a little edi, and dove in.
Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture by Sara Petersen
As a big fan of Sara Petersen’s newsletter, I pre-ordered her new book as soon as I could. Here’s some back cover blurb about it: On Instagram, the private work of mothering is turned into a public performance, generating billions of dollars. The message is simple: we're all just a couple of clicks away from a better, more beautiful experience of motherhood. Drawing on her own fraught relationship to momfluencer culture, Sara Petersen incorporates pop culture analysis and interviews with prominent momfluencers and experts (psychologists, academics, technologists) to explore the glorification of the ideal mama online with both humor and empathy.
Vaquera’s Giant Leopard Scrunchie
I wanted this so bad.
It’s now sold out.
I still needed to show it to you.
In case you missed it…
I am hosting a screening of Below The Belt in Charleston, SC on January 26th at the Charleston Library Society (which is one of the most beautiful spaces in the city). After the screening, I’ll be in conversation with the director of the film, Shannon Cohn. And I’ll also be signing copies of Know Your Endo.
If you’re not familiar with Below The Belt (watch the trailer here), it’s a documentary following the stories of people trying to navigate/get care for their endometriosis, while exposing the widespread problems in our healthcare systems.
Even if you live sort-of close by to Charleston, please come (we have people coming in from Charlotte and Atlanta)! It’s my mission to fill the seats and raise as much awareness as we can for endo – and I really want to meet you.
Tickets are $10 for CLS members and $15 for guests. You can purchase tickets here. And free for students by calling 843-723-9912.
If you are unable to purchase a ticket because of financial reasons, reply to this email and I’ll hook you up (no questions asked).
Hope to see you there!
Last!
My friend (and guest of the Should I Be podcast series) Joseph Hernandez has a new-ish newsletter called Lifestyle Content. I always love Joseph’s thoughtful writing and point of view and think you will, too! Check it out:
Oh and for real, last!
Know Your Endo is on mega-sale on Amazon. While I always try to support local book stores first…sometimes it comes down to cost whether you can afford a book or not. And the book is on sale for $13! Not sure how long this sale will last or why it’s all of a sudden on sale – so grab it if you’ve been wanting to purchase it for you or someone else.