May Favorites: Podcasts, Streaming and...Perfume?
May’s favorites is a bit sparse and a bit random. We are nearing the end of Ramadan and I have spent the majority of the month not listening to music or doing much. Which is kind of the point. I usually listen to music on the way to work every morning, but since I haven’t been doing that I’ve been all about the podcast life. Now - I am always about that podcast life anyway, but I’ve discovered a few new ones and I am including an old fave that I’ve mentioned before because I have found this month’s episodes particularly interesting. I’ve also discovered two shows that I loved and a new fragrance to my collection that I have been wearing most of the month because I love it.
As stated above I have been loving podcasts for my morning commute and two of my latest discoveries have been standouts for me. If you love movies - or specifically John Wick starring Keanu Reeves (which I do), then I highly recommend With a Pencil. A six episode breakdown and discussion of the John Wick universe. The convos are hilarious and the commentary about teh films are great. A nice light, funny listen.
If you want something deeper the new NPR podcast, White Lies is a great option. This is not a light listen folks. At all. But it’s an important and compelling one. White Lies follows two reporters who venture to Selma Alabama to investigate the 1965 murder of James Reeb. A white Unitarian minister who had traveled to Selma to join protests for voting rights for African Americans and was beaten to death on a residential street leaving a restaurant with his colleagues. There have only been three episodes uploaded so far. But they are so compelling.
The Daily is the only part of the New York Times that I pay any attention to lately. It is a beast of it‘s own and a far better one in my opinion. The stories this month have been amazing and I have really been enjoying them. I always feel like I learn something new when I listen to this podcast.
I am late to the party on Fleabag. I had vaguely heard of it when it’s first season premiered but never watched any of it. I didn’t see how a show about a woman so awful, the title is her nickname, would be interesting. I was so wrong! What I thought would be a story about a thoroughly unlikable character turned out to be a thoughtful, super funny and touching tale about grief, depression and addiction. Now don’t get me wrong, I hated “Fleabag” in the first couple of episodes. But as the story unfolds we are given the “whys” of her behavior. It is nice to see a female character written in such an honest, unvarnished and unflinching way. Fleabag isn’t written to make you want to like her. You are meant to dislike her. Until you don’t. Where the first season is heartbreaking, the second is slightly more hopeful and still really really funny.
I started Dead To Me back in late April and had every intention of binge-watching it. But I haven’t. I still have some episodes left (so no spoilers) - but it is by far one of the best shows I’ve watch on Netflix in a while. Two well written female characters in their 40’s who are dealing with real loss and pain. Christina Applegate is a whole damn mood in this show. She’s amazing. Linda Cardellini gives a fantastic performance in the type of role I don’t think we’ve ever seen her do before. I will be finishing this series up soon and I’m excited to know how it ends. Because where I left off…whoo, BOY.
And just to keep things super random…I have a perfume. I recently posted about my favorite fragrances for Spring/Summer and this one was on the list. The reason why I am adding it to this list is because after thinking about it - it’s the one I’ve worn the most often recently. I was going to wear it today and then told myself I needed to wear one of my other perfumes because they were just sitting here staring at me. But yes- I have been living Gucci Bloom lately.
