Loving the world: spring 24 edition.

what I'm reading, watching, doing & listening to

Hey friends,

How is it already the second week of June? Please tell me in the comments how it’s already the second week of June.

Lately I’ve been writing, working, and living, and planning for future writing, working, and living. How’s that for an update? I posted an actual writing and life update here for my paid members on Buy Me a Coffee, if you’d like to join for $10/month to support my work. I would be honored to have your support.

I’m still in the thick of navigating entrepreneurship, book editing, and other spheres of life, all on top of witnessing horrific massacres and genocide in Palestine, so today’s letter is a roundup of what I’ve been reading, watching, doing, and listening to lately. (I chose the above quote because I love the world through reading, listening, watching, and doing. Felt fitting for a list of things that don’t suck/that which I’m loving lately.)

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1. I had the immense privilege of seeing Andrea Gibson, spoken word poet, author, and activist, perform poetry at the Paramount Theater in Denver last week with my friend Sarah, who flew in from Spain for the show. The live event was incredibly moving and surreal, their words still stuck in my ears and on my bones. I was so grateful to be in the room for this special event. Subscribe to their newsletter,

   Things That Don't Suck
   .

2. Slowly savoring Mosab Abu Toha’s Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear, poetry from Gaza.

3. Loving my friend Dani De Luca’s new book, Of Lost Things. Order this poetry chapbook because this woman’s way with words will make you feel things.

4. Making my way through my friend Chris Fields’ new book, Meaning Making. Unlike any he’s written before, this one gets real and honest about change, growing up in your 40’s, believing your worth, and learning what matters (and how it's much quieter and subversive than the big moments and success we were conditioned to chase for meaning.)

5. I have many favorite cookbooks, but lately I’ve been snagging them from the library in rather large quantities. They’re fun to read on the patio after work with an aperitivo and an appetite for things that look good. Rarely cooking from them, I borrow them for the stories, photography, layout, and design. I love cookbooks. I designed one a few years ago for a non-profit, and it was my favorite publication to design to date. I’m also dreaming about writing my own food memoir someday where I bring stories from around the table, gorgeous food photography, literal dinner parties over the course of making the art, and thoughtful design to read like a cookbook. Favorite foodie reads lately have been Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy, The Cook’s Book: Recipes for Keeps & Essential Techniques to Master Everyday Cooking, and two I’ve just cracked open but already invested: Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes and Cocina Libre: Immigrant Resistance Recipes (thanks for the recs, Kanitha!)

6. Watching Hamada cook in Gaza. I came across an interesting article about the food blogger feeding refugees in Gaza and bringing us along in his kitchen, which we can see on his Instagram.

7. My friend Camal, who was on my NOLS horsepacking expedition (which I wrote about here), is in a new documentary about bike packing and mentorship that I can’t wait to see – it’s premiering soon. Watch the We Ride trailer.

8. Reading

   Stephanie
   ’s and
   Mesa Fama
   ’s newsletters, “Light it up” and "Let The Words Fall Out” (respectively). In their unique voices, they are prolific writers and artists, and every post they both publish inspires me to keep creating. So grateful to be in writing community with them! Here’s are two recents I loved:

   So easy a child could do it

   The Taunting Cursor

9. Watching (soon) Where Olive Trees Weep, a new documentary about life in Palestine. Let me know if you want to have a watch party soon in the comments?

10. Listening lately to 47SOUL, one of my favorite Palestinian bands. Their Tiny Desk Concert is one of the all-time best, in my opinion. The energy of the music is contagious.

11. Super easy way to support Palestinians in Gaza through this horrific genocide: buy an eSim at Nomad (Middle East region), use the code SHEL64QG for a discount. Then email a screenshot of the QR code in your confirmation email to gazaesims@gmail.com. This proven project is distributing the cell data we purchase to the thousands of people have suffered more than 245 days of bombing and inadequate basic needs of food, water, and electricity. Help Palestinians in Gaza stay connected to each other and the world.

12. An organization I’m supporting that has a long history in the Middle East and is helping Palestinians where they can in Gaza is Donkeysaddle Projects. The genocide has meant an always-changing situation, but I’ve witnessed important ways they’ve been leveraging their resources and network to help with immediate needs, specifically with distributing aid and getting funds to Palestinians in Gaza for basic necessities during this massive crisis. At its core, DSP is an organization of storytellers who use film, art, advocacy, and education to engage liberation movements and inspire justice.

13. I’ve been slowly making my way through my friend Kari’s audiobook version of her memoir, Truth Has a Different Shape. In her own voice, it’s even more powerful and intimate than my first pass on her ebook, which I loved. Kari is a great writer, Grief and Rage workshop space holder (next one starts June 24), and is also editing my memoir!

14. Speaking of: I finished drafting my memoir. It’s currently with a couple of early readers and editors (thank you soooo much Hannah, Maddison, Kari, and Sarah.) There’s still a lot of work ahead, but I’m thrilled to be in the next stage. I’ve shared excerpts on Buy Me a Coffee - join as a monthly member and you can see behind the scenes of my book!

The world feels especially heavy right now. Things are so freaking noisy. So what are we inputting and intaking, and how much of it is goodness? Maybe your jam isn’t cookbooks and poetry, but I hope some of the above might fill your cup and bring you joy, awareness, or at least good distraction while we keep going.

I am so grateful for you being here! If you've enjoyed this email, then would you please consider showing your support here? It's the support that keeps these emails free for readers and keeps me editing my memoir. And you’d be pitching into my tip jar for the art I’ve already shared. Let’s keep asking our friends who are artists and leaders, “how can I support you?” and “what are you making right now?” I promise it means the world to the people trying to love it and make it beautiful. Promise.

Please tell us in the comments what you are working on and sending out into the world? What are you loving or finding new understanding in lately?

Here’s to loving the world,