From time to time, instead of my usual email with one big idea you can read in 3 minutes or less, I share with you the best of what I’m reading, watching, and exploring. Enjoy!
Books
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl. Grohl was the drummer for Nirvana and later founded the Foo Fighters. I knew nothing about him before I listened to his memoir and absolutely loved it—particularly the narration and the behind-the-scenes rock’n’roll stories. To give you a flavor, here’s a beautiful passage about Kurt Cobain: “It’s when I sit down at a drum set that I feel Kurt the most. . . I can still picture him in front of me, wrestling with his guitar as he screamed his lungs raw into the microphone. Just like staring at the sun will burn a spot into your retinas, his image will forever be burned in mine when I look past my drums to the audience before me. He will always be there.”
Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World by Gretchen Rubin. As someone who’s spent much of my life stuck in my head, I enjoyed Rubin’s latest book on appreciating life through the five senses—and using them to connect with yourself and the world. (The book will be available on April 18th, but you can pre-order now.).
Podcasts
Unfolding with Kathy Varol. If that last name sounds familiar, it should. This is a brand new podcast by my wife Kathy. Each episode is short—around 5 minutes long—and shares the type of life-changing wisdom that I’m fortunate to hear from her on a daily basis.
Films
I say very little about the plot of the films that follow—in large part because I don’t want to ruin the fun. I refuse to watch trailers—or even read film descriptions—because I want to be surprised from minute one.
Sleeping with Other People. (Apple TV+) With the intensity of my upcoming book launch, I’ve watched primarily light-hearted films this past month and really enjoyed this rom-com. Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis are the perfect on-screen pair.
Living. (Amazon Prime | Apple TV+) I’m so glad Bill Nighy got an Oscar nomination for his role in this film. He’s brilliant in this heart-warming movie about a British civil servant set in his ways. It’s never too late to start living.
A Man Called Otto. (Amazon Prime | Apple TV+) Another heart-warming film about another grumpy man, played by Tom Hanks.
Shows
Fleishman is in Trouble. (Hulu) A miniseries about a relationship crisis that’s really about the “Is this really it?” malaise that often comes with middle age. Lizzy Caplan should be in everything.
Music
“Sunset” by Caroline Polachek. The newest album by this indie singer-songwriter is stunning. My other favorite tracks include “Welcome to My Island” and “Bunny Is a Rider.”
Related
Bold
