culture porn 7/21
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
ask iliza anything! (apple podcasts)
for elder millennial iliza schlesinger fans like me, get your fix between stand up specials! her weekly podcast follows a Q&A format which is a fun, easily digestible listen. the questions are legit questions -- and the life advice is pretty solid. also her deep love for her dog is really damn cute (and relatable).
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the best minds: a story of friendship, madness, and the tragedy of good intentions (penguin press)
when my friend anya epstein recommended jonathan rosen's recounting of a haunting childhood friendship gone awry, i expected a gripping literary journey. what i didn't anticipate was also getting a riveting accounting of the decades-long, systemic failure of mental health institutions – which ultimately spawned much more tragic "solutions" that led to bigger issues today.
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jane birkin playlist (spotify)
aside from inspiring an iconic handbag, the late jane birkin's musical oeuvre includes solo efforts as well as duets with – and covers of – her infamous lover (and father of actress charlotte), serge gainsbourg. in honor of her passing, i've put her "breathy voice" on rotation, giving off south-of-france-chilled-rosé vibes.
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the show goes on (bruce hornsby)
if you know me, you know (among many things) i love a soulful 80s synth pop croon. after linda put the soundtrack to THE BEAR on the playlist, i've been listening to this S2/E1 opener: a bittersweet song from genius soft rocker and pianist bruce hornsby (which was featured in BACKDRAFT, another nostalgic gem). if last summer's RUNNING UP THAT HILL phenom was any indicator -- summer makes us reflective and oh so 80s.
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folkocracy (rufus wainwright)
a mix and match of original and historic folk songs with a list of major collaborators all composed under the genius of rufus wainwright and sang in his signature theatrical style. his cover of hawaiian song kaulana nā pua was my favorite on the album.
- @juliarabbit21, CULTIQUE social media lead
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st. charles square (blur)
it’s been a minute since i’ve heard a new track from damon albarn (GORILLAZ). and the first single off the prickly band’s upcoming album, THE BALLAD OF DARREN, announces itself loudly. be prepared!
insights & inspo
the ‘lazy girl job’ trend romanticises the drudgery of work
if remote-only, 4 day work weeks tell us anything, it’s that burnout is real and the masses are feeling it. enter the 'lazy girl job' trend, encouraging us to seek less stressful and demanding roles with LOTS of breaks. but is this really a solution for a broken system that needs to be reworked to accommodate our values so we can find fulfillment in our professional lives? 👩💻
more insights here
energy drinks are surging. so are their caffeine levels.
concerns are rising as kids gulp down caffeine-packed cans and experts warn about the jolted-up risks as parents and schools take note. RED BULL promised flight and the new wave of energy drinks boast low-calorie, zero-sugar options with electrolytes and ginger-infusions, but are these seemingly virtuous concoctions really as safe as they claim? 🚨
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
with the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes in full swing and the fall TV season in peril, expect the growing hunger for live sports and experiences to reach their own peak. that's what i was thinking as i moderated a VARIETY panel with kat harwood and shawn bryant of DELOITTE. presenting takeaways from their inaugural SPORTS FAN INSIGHTS study, shawn & kat focused on younger fans driving demand for more personalization and optionality to more fully immerse themselves in the action they love.
young players like new Wimbledon champ carlos alcaraz (20!) are shaping the future of sports, defeating the very players (djokovic, federer, nadal) they idolized in their youth – and whose techniques they've weaponized into their game.
speaking of youth, drake recently showed up on a couch with a hologram of his younger self – or did he? and why does drake keep messing with us? and why do we keep paying attention?
more insights here