Happy November!
Before I get into this week's email, I need to issue a correction. Last week, I was writing about Halloween and I said "Everyone starts watching scary movies, which I hate. But they also make pumpkin pie, which I love." My friend Katie pointed out to me that that is... not a thing. People do not bake pumpkin pies for Halloween. And you know what? She's 100% correct. But doesn't it feel like pumpkin pies should be a Halloween tradition? There's so much pumpkin going on. Why do we not use them for their most delicious possible outcome? I'll never understand. Anyway, it's November now and that's all in the past.
This week’s list
GREAT:
Like a lot of us, Bianca Giaever feels like she doesn't know as much about history as she'd like. So she asked her friend Will, a high school history teacher, to tell her the story of the United States. Eleven hours later, Will finished describing each and every American president. Bianca recorded the whole thing, edited it down, and the result is a hilarious, accessible, and eye-opening look at how we got to where we are today. For anyone like me, who feels overwhelmed by the constant barrage of Trump news, this podcast is a great way to put today's political moment in perspective. As Will puts it, "it's about recognizing that this office has a story of its own." I've been recommending this podcast to everyone I can. It's fantastic. My new favorite president is James Garfield. All the Presidents, Man (start at the very beginning and listen in order!)
FUNNY:
Tom Thakkar's Comedy Central half hour just premiered last night. It's so good. Tom is funny and natural on stage and a great joke writer. You can't help but laugh the whole time. (He also co-hosts a great podcast about music, where comedians have to defend a band they love that everyone else hates.) If you can't access his special online, I believe you can see it on the Comedy Central app. It's really worth watching the whole thing. But in the meantime, here's a clip: The Question Half-Indian People Always Get Asked
INTERESTING:
Emily Silverman is a physician who, in addition to treating her patients, is working hard to humanize the medical profession and get doctors talking about their own stories, emotions, and experiences. In a field that values clinical detachment, she's pushing for more acknowledgment of the human need for connection. I'm a big fan. She created a live show and podcast, The Nocturnists, where doctors speak about their lives. And in this weekend's NYT, she has a fantastic essay about technology in hospitals and "the insecurities that come with being a doctor." Our Hospital's New Software Frets About My 'Deficiencies'
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Have a great week,
Chris