What we’re Reading/Watching/Listening to: July
Hi, guys! Jenn here. I hope you get a chance to check out what our team has been reading, watching, and listening to this month. Enjoy!
Reading
Naomi Osaka: ‘It’s O.K. Not to Be O.K.’ by Naomi Osaka, published in TIME Magazine
The Olympic tennis player, Naomi Osaka, was featured in Time Magazine after withdrawing from French Open press conferences to take care of her mental health. Naomi, in the article, writes about the pressure she faced and the support she was given for making this decision.
Hardwiring Happiness by Dr. Rick Hanson
Dr. Hanson explains in his book that we are hard-wired to feel negative experiences more intensely than positive experiences, because of that we must train our brains to appreciate the positives. One way to do that, explained by Dr. Hanson, is to create a “Good Year Box.” At the end of each night write one positive thing that happened and put it in the box. This will train your brain to recognize these events more easily.
The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
A Japanese analysis of the work of 19th-century psychologist Alfred Adler, who established that happiness lies in the hands of each human individual and does not depend on past traumas. One of my favorite quotes is, “The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked. When you have gained that courage, your interpersonal relationships will all at once change into things of lightness.”
Watching
Mysteries of Mental Illness a PBS docu-series
Mysteries of Mental Illness explores the story of mental illness in science and society. The four-part series traces the evolution of this complex topic from its earliest days to present times. It explores dramatic attempts across generations to unravel the mysteries of mental illness and gives voice to contemporary Americans across a spectrum of experiences.
Listening
Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast with Caroline Foran
This practical and relaxed series explores everything from what anxiety is and why it happens to us, how our brains work and why it’s actually very normal to the various tools and techniques necessary for owning it. Author Caroline Foran shares her story, along with some expert input, in an attempt to help you show your anxiety who’s boss. Most importantly, this is a series that tackles the reality of anxiety from a refreshing and relatable perspective.
Be Well Sis with Dr. Cassandre Dunbar
After being consistently left out of wellness conversations, Be Well Sis is a podcast dedicated to providing resources for Black millennial women to be their best selves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Hosted by Dr. Cassandre Dunbar, the conversations are candid, informative, and unapologetically Black.
We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle
New York Times best-selling author Glennon Doyle’s new podcast We Can Do Hard Things is a collection of heartfelt conversations on life topics so many of us struggle with: body image, self-care, addiction, anxiety, and much, much more. Their stories make us feel less alone and more equipped to keep going when things feel unbearable. Even if the topic doesn’t pertain to your life directly, Glennon and her sister Amanda (with the occasional addition of G’s wife Abby), share how we can all better support each other through life’s challenges. Form your own pod squad and tune in – I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.
We’ll be back next month with a new list of our favorite books, shows, and listens. If you have a suggestion for us, please send it to us via our Contact Us page.
