October Recommendations

Roundup of what we've been loving this month

Hey everyone! Avani here. I’ll be sharing what I’ve been reading, watching, listening to, and overall loving this October.

If you want to contribute any ideas for November - submit them here! We absolutely love hearing from you, and getting to know the wealth of resources you all have.

PS - none of these are sponsored, just some favorite things we have been trying and loving :) So let’s get into it!

I’m a huge podcast fiend, and this episode of Esther Perel's Podcast, called “Self Love Isn’t Something I Grew Up With,” is excellent. Esther talks to a woman who straddles two cultures, and finds that it’s impacting her work and personal life more than she realized. Relatable, much?

I also loved this episode of Glennon Doyle’s Podcast, particularly the definition of “spider love.” This reframing of how our society defines love, vs. what it actually is, was truly mind-blowing.

When I’m not devouring podcasts, I love putting on my noise-cancelling headphones and jamming around my apartment. A recent song I’ve been loving is the Djadja Remix, featuring Maluma. It’s rare to hear both Spanish and French in the same tune - and the beat is impossible to sit still to!

I’d be remiss not to recommend Prachi Gupta's Book - They Called Us Exceptional: And Other Lies That Raised Us. If you didn’t catch our Author Interview from this month - here is a link to get a sense of her story. Briefly, the book is about an Indian American daughter who reveals how the dangerous model minority myth fractured her family. Pro tip: take the book in chunks - it is both beautiful and heavy.

Next up on my list is Kerry Washington's Book, Thicker than Water. Kerry is an award-winning actor, director, producer, and activist. She shares the journey of her life so far, and the bravely intimate story of discovering her truth. (This fascinating podcast episode is what initially got me interested in the book!)

This article sounds morbid, but is oddly inspiring. A hospital chaplain reveals the two things people worry about most on their deathbeds - and the perspective is quite illuminating.

I want to shout out a beloved community member, Dalia, for the next book recommendation: Healing Your Lost Inner Child. The book takes you on a personal journey to explore your unhealed inner child wounds that keep recycling. It came up naturally in a recent Conversation Club from this month, and felt too powerful not to share - thank you, Dalia! (PS - if you haven’t come to a Convo Club yet, what are you even doing…?)

And finally, in the vein of inner-child activation, this article was a powerful one to read. It sheds light on the invisible impact of parenting with complex PTSD.

Y’all - we can’t be productive and learning all the time. So it’s time to sit down and chill. What’s keeping you company on the couch these days? For me, it’s been Season 2 of Made in Heaven. The show chronicles the lives of two wedding planners in Delhi, and each episode serves as social commentary for big fat Indian weddings (read: many secrets and many lies).

A lighter fave of mine this month has been Live to 100. Author Dan Buettner travels around the world to discover five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and make you want to eat a ton of pasta!

I also came across this fascinating Instagram Reel about the colonial history of pumpkin spice. It was upsetting to learn, but will not stop me from consuming copious amounts of PSL’s this season.

Last but not least, Hasan Minhaj very recently responded to the New Yorker article we included in last month’s recommendations. I have tons of thoughts - you?!

A little capitalism moment - but for the force of good ;)

I’ve had my eye on this company, Mae, that allows you to upcycle your old saris into pieces you’ll actually wear! Bomber jackets with bandhani print? Yes, please.

Tricia Hersey is the founder of Nap Ministry, and she just came out with this Rest Deck - which includes 50 powerful rest practices to help you embrace rest as a form of radical communal care and personal liberation. (Brb, bout to take a nap for the revolution).

I’m also a massive fan of author

Meera Lee Patel

- and she recently released a beautiful and empowering journal for embracing what makes you special, and charting your own path. If that’s your jam - buy Go Your Own Way, here.

Okay folks - that’s all I’ve got for this month. Let me know what you’ve been loving in the comments. Wishing you a nourishing start to November!

-Avani