Hey there!
Another week. We did it! Things are still strange and challenging, but we're still here. We're still moving forward. Growing up in an interfaith household (my mom is Jewish and my dad is Christian), Passover/Easter was always a big deal. We'd do a big seder and then do a big Easter lunch too. Some years, I ate Easter ham with a side of Hillel sandwich. Not traditional, not kosher, but delicious.
I was sad to not be with my family this week, but I'm also grateful for technology that lets us see each other's faces. And I'm grateful everyone is in relatively good health and spirits. I'm also glad that we got to have two holidays that insist on the possibility of good emerging from struggle. That sometimes terrible things will happen in the world but when we get through them, there's joy and opportunity on the other side. I've found that very meaningful this week. Maybe that's helpful for you too. Or maybe you're just using this week as an excuse to order Peeps online and then eat them whole. Either way is fine! You do you. Just make sure to chew.
Upcoming Events
LIVESTREAMS:
- TODAY Saturday, April 11th at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET
COME ON DOWN, YOU'RE ALREADY HERE! I'm hosting another edition of my Zoom game show where audience members from around the internet compete for prizes with celebrity guests. Link
- Monday, April 13th at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET
BUTTERBOY. I'm telling some jokes at the best comedy show in Brooklyn, which is now the best livestream on the internet. Hosted by Jo Firestone, Aparna Nancherla, and Maeve Higgins. This week features me, SNL's Melissa Villaseñor, Jordan Carlos, Manolo Moreno, and more. Link
- Tuesday, April 14th at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET
COME ON DOWN, YOU'RE ALREADY HERE! The weeknight edition of my gameshow. It's been fun, so I think I'll keep doing the show on Tuesdays and Saturdays as long as people are enjoying it. Sign up to play or watch this edition of the show here: Link
This week’s list
GREAT:
Bill Buford is an amazing food writer. I've loved reading his stories from the kitchen for a long time. This week, he has an absolutely incredible piece about Bob, a man who ran a small neighborhood bakery in Lyon, but made the perfect French bread. It's everything I want from a story right now: an escape to a different, simpler world. A world filled with perfect baguettes and friendly strangers. And since it seems like everyone I know is baking bread today, I imagine there's going to be a lot of interest in the story of a true master. Baking Bread in Lyon
FUNNY:
Ann Friedman is not a comedian, per se. She's a journalist and a podcaster. But she often makes me laugh a lot. One joke I think is just about perfect is her pie chart explaining "How Are Extroverts Coping Right Now?" I can't tell you how many people I've told about that chart and laughed at how perfectly it nailed me. Particularly the slice that says "Mentally replaying a pleasant 3-minute convo we had with the neighbor from a safe distance." I honestly have done that at least once a week. You can see more of Ann's pie charts here, or sign up for her fantastic weekly newsletter, or buy her new book about maintaining friendship despite distance. Everything she does is worth checking out.
INTERESTING:
Last but not least, here's a project that I've been working on for the past few weeks. I've been feeling overwhelmed by the firehose of news and information and wishing that I could hear about what matters from the experts directly, so I called a few friends up and put together a video I'm calling Smart People Talking Calmly. I interviewed an immunologist and a clinical psychologist about how to stay mentally and physically healthy and why they feel like there are real reasons to be optimistic about the future. Also a book recommendation from Karen Chee! Check it out here and please feel free to share: Smart People Talking Calmly
(Edited by the talented and generous Matt Porter)
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Have a great weekend,
Chris