culture porn 7/29
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
loot (apple tv+)
at the reco of my friend stuart, i used ferry time to/from islay, scotland to watch this delicious, maya rudolph vessel. i still miss her presence on SNL so this is a true treat. not too intense, goes down like candy, and at its core a workplace comedy that reminds one of PARKS + REC charm.
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birthday girl: lizzo (spotify)
this cancerian turned 59 the week lizzo released her new album, SPECIAL, with this well-timed track letting me know it must be my big day because i'm "lookin' like a present”!
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house of gucci
watching american actors speak english in italian accents to play italian fashion magnates reminded me of the leap of faith audiences were required to take to watch CHERNOBYL actors speak english in vaguely russian accents. needless to say, i still enjoyed the watch despite feeling like the film doesn't spend enough time on the aftermath of the main crime around which it's centered.
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rap shit (hbo max)
we fell in love with mia (@itskamillion) and shawna (@shutupaida) the first time we laid eyes on the script, partnering with HBO MAX on the launch of this fresh, sexy comedy about female friendship on the road to fame – and produced by issa rae.
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fboy island s2 (hbo max)
having worked on S1 i was excited to see where the team took S2. i'm pleased to say they've leaned into the humor of the show (thank you nikki glaser!) which makes watching it an exercise in self-awareness. i could watch a whole show of fboys paying their dues in "limbro" - it's so silly, but it works.
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bill burr: paper tiger (netflix)
bill burr is a comedian's comedian, and i loved watching him touch the third rail of cultural issues with mastery. be prepared to be offended.
insights + inspo
is senior housing the next big industry to go luxury?
my 94-year old mom is thriving in her senior living community – it's the happiest i've seen her in my entire life. no longer the place where seniors go to die, today's complexes are places where they go to LIVE – with wine tastings, screenings, parties and field trips among a vibrant circle of new friends. she's so busy these days, i've compared it to having a daughter in college. and she's not alone - with 65 million boomers reaching "retirement age" (whatever that means today), real estate developers are now shifting towards providing options – including luxury living with hotel-like amenities – to the "old age home."
- linda ong, @lindaong100
more here
CULTIQUE x 4 day workweek
marking the end of participating in the 6-month 2022 US pilot with 4 DAY WEEK GLOBAL, linda ong, sarah unger + 4 DAY WEEK GLOBAL CEO joe o'connor break down learnings from the experience, along with tips to boost efficiency.
listen to their full conversation on our linkedin here
for more of their conversation, head here
can biodigesters save america’s small dairy farms?
we read often about the shift from simply sustainable practices to true regenerative practices, but what does that really mean? biodigesters are a great example of regeneration in action, showing what renewable energy means on a working farm.
- sarah unger, @sarahjaneunger
for more insights, head here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
while europe broiled last week, people in the northeastern US like me got a taste of the extreme heat that's now becoming more common than not. at the same time, addressing the climate emergency is slipping in the polls to concerns about inflation and a coming recession. but it's not an either/or, and the conversation needs to change to a non-binary narrative, like in the "pro-topian" novel MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE by kim stanley robinson. one of my fave books of the pandemic, its protagonists seek diplomatic and global policy solutions (including a climate-centric currency!) that no longer seem like science fiction. it's a good read for the dog days of summer.
early in the pandemic, we anticipated the rise of private clubs. part evolution, part reaction to the closed-circuit socializing and "pods" we got used to in lockdown, these curated communities are becoming increasingly common for dinner, drinks, and networking – mirroring a longstanding tradition in the UK.
for linda’s full debrief, head here