Happy Saturday! Every week, I send out an email with my upcoming shows, one thing I think is great, one thing that made me laugh, and one thing I found interesting.
Upcoming Shows
EVERYWHERE:
Don't forget to vote! You can find your polling place, check your registration, preview your ballot, and get reminders at Vote.org
The newest episode of You're the Expert features Dr. Bianca Jones Marlin, a neuroscientist who studies how the physical structure of children's brains are affected by their parents' lived experiences. Our panelists Josh Gondelman, Ashley Brooke Roberts, and Dylan Marron learn why they are the way they are. Link
Pre-order the very funny, interesting, and great book "No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work" now! It's written by my wife, Mollie. Link
NYC:
Saturday, November 3nd at 9:30 p.m. at the Brick Theater. I'm hoping I'll win over the sharks on Bit Tank tonight. It's a parody of Shark Tank where comedians try to sell jokes for an investment stake and cold hard cash. Link
Sunday, November 18th at 7:00 p.m. at Caveat. It's the final You're the Expert live taping of the year! Featuring Wyatt Cenac, Maeve Higgins, and NYU's Dr. Wendy Suzuki. Link
As always, you can find my schedule with all upcoming dates online here.
This week’s list
GREAT:
Darius Clark Monroe is a documentary filmmaker who looks at structural injustice, activism, and the possibility of redemption. His newest short, Black 14, is about a group of college athletes protesting in 1969. I don't want to give too much away, but it's a reminder that we have been pushing back against injustice in this country for many years and it's a long, slow process. At the same time, Darius' films are not cynical. He clearly believes in the possibility of change, both as individuals and as a society. That level of nuance and masterful storytelling is probably what attracted Spike Lee to be an executive producer of Darius' work. Black 14
(You have to pay to watch it online, but I cannot recommend his feature length doc,Evolution of a Criminal, enough. It's one of the most moving and beautiful films I've ever seen. Here's a link to iTunes but it's also on Google Play and paid YouTube)
FUNNY:
Amber Ruffin is so funny and charming that she can deliver extremely dark jokes while staying completely likable. A perfect example is this very timely and hilarious song about why you need to vote (and I mean REALLY need to vote). I'm so glad that Seth Meyers sees Amber's comic genius and uses her so frequently on his show. It's only a matter of time before she has a television show of her own. In the meantime: Amber Ruffin Wants You to Vote or Else
INTERESTING:
And last, but not least, a reminder about the power that voting can have (especially for less-covered elected positions). Larry Krasner was an activist and public defender who won an election in Philadelphia and now is the district attorney. District attorneys have incredible power to shape criminal justice in America and decide how and why citizens are charged with crimes. Krasner is using that power to try and transform Philadelphia's office into a more just and equitable system. It's a fascinating and inspiring story and a powerful reminder that our votes really can make a difference. In Philadelphia, a Progressive D.A. Tests The Power— and Learns the Limits— of His Office
Thanks for reading! If you like these emails, please forward to a friend or come say hi at a live show. If you're reading this for the first time (maybe someone forwarded you this email?), you can subscribe here.
Have a great weekend,
Chris