Happy new week. I don’t have a weekend update so I was creatively thinking about what to post instead. I don’t know about you guys but I always appreciate suggestions from others when it comes to everything from playlists to books to podcasts to articles and more…so I thought I’d do a round up of things I’ve been listening to and reading this summer.
listening to: music on heavy rotation
I am almost always listening to low-key/chill music when I’m working on the computer and one of the first things I tell Alexa to do when I walk in the house is, “play X on Spotify.” I put together a playlist for y’all with some of my favorite songs for background/relax music. I also love this playlist on shuffle for a home yoga practice or for a long meditative walk.
If you missed my recent workout playlists, be sure to check them out. They are super fun and motivational! Here’s a link to JUNE and JULY.
reading: best summer reads so far
Summer reading has certainly not been super deep or meaningful but these easy, breezy reads have been enjoyable for bedtime, breastfeeding and beaching.
- Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
- The Ladies’ Room by Carolyn Brown
- That Month in Tuscany by Inglath Cooper
All courtesy of my grandmother’s loaned Kindle, which has hundreds of books on it!
listening to: podcasts
I listen to podcasts alllll the time…when I’m walking, driving in the car, folding laundry, doing food prep, traveling, etc. Here are some favorite episodes as of late!
- The 30 for 30 5-part series on Bikram Choudhury
- Food Blogger Pro: How to Get Your Content to Stand Out on Pinterest with Yuka Ohishi
- The Birthful Podcast: Structural Body Changes During Pregnancy & Postpartum with Molly Deutschbein
- The Goop Podcast: Postpartum Anxiety & the Motherhood Shift
- Oprah’s Supersoul Conversations: Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love
- The Longest Shortest Time: BONUS Katie Couric and Sheryl Sandberg on Living Option B
- Oprah’s Supersoul Conversations: Elizabeth Gilbert, Part 1: Your Life’s Calling and Part 2: What Is A Soulmate?
reading: around the web
- Hospitals Know How To Protect Mothers: They Just Aren’t Doing It via USA Today
- Mercury Retrograde: 10 Things Not To Do {7/26 to 8/19} via Elephant Journal
- The Vindication of Cheese, Butter and Full-Fat Milk via The Atlantic
listening to: audiobooks
If I’m not listening to a podcast, I’ve got an audiobook cued up on my Audible app. Here are four that I have been listening to in recent months.
- Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant To Be by Rachel Hollis. This was highly recommended and an easy listen with some great reminders about personal power and taking responsibility for your life and your health and happiness.
- The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Dr. Shefali Tsabary. I am not even halfway through this one but REALLY loving it.
- Tears to Triumph by Marianne Williamson. This is probably my third listen of this book. It is so, so good for anyone going through a difficult time.
- Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown. How can you not take something away from Brene Brown’s work? She’s so gifted at what she does and her work is a service to the world.
your turn
Please share your favorite summer reads and listens so far. I’d love any book or podcast suggestions you might have!
Great post! I’ll definitely give Food Blogger Pro a listen. I absolutely love Brene Brown too, and love listening to her books.
I’ve been listening to a lot of Armchair Expert. It’s a podcast with Dax Sheperd interviewing other celebrities. It’s a really fun listen!
Love all things Brene Brown and Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations! Also a fan of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast (so funny!), Anna Faris’ Unqualified podcast, The Happiness Podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, and Something You Should Know.
Thanks for the audiobook recs!
I love listening to all of your playlists on Spotify! Before Finn was born, you had mentioned sharing your labor/delivery playlist. Are you still planning on posting that?
I don’t watch much TV but for some reason I am enthralled by The Bachelor/Bachelorette. Maybe it’s the ridiculous edited and scripted drama?? Katitlyn Bristowe started her own podcast after her show aired and it is quite funny if you need something just casual so listen to and laugh at. Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe is my go to when nursing the babe.
I have a kindle but for some reason I just love the feeling of holding a book. I picked up A Nest of Vipers by Andrea Camilleri from my local library. It’s a detective sorry by a popular Italian author. Pretty good so far, halfway though!
I just read Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd. It is about her life with George Harrison and Eric Clapton. It was really interesting to read about the early days of The Beatles. After finishing it my interest was piqued and I checked out of our library John by Cynthia Lennon. Again, very interesting and a light read. I love those books that leave you with wanting more.
Thanks for all the recommendations! Lately I’ve been catching up on episodes of the OnBeing podcast. I also just finished an exceptionally good novel: A Place For Us, by Fatima Farheen Mizra. It was a somewhat difficult read at times because the main characters reminded me so much of members of my own family and some of our struggles, but I love novels about families and family dynamics. Now I’m reading Why Buddhism is True, by Robert Wright. I’ve been in sort of a music rut, so the playlist is much appreciated! Already listening and love it. 🙂
Jen, I am a long time follower, I have a dumb question so here goes. I just got a Garmin watch that I can use for music when I run and being an old fart I know nothing about music/artists. Is there a music service that I can just sign up for and download an already assembled playlist for running? I looked at a few of them (Iheartradio, Spotify, and some others) but they all say you can create your own playlist. I just want to use an already created playlist. Worst case I could make a playlist from a google search, I prefer the easy way out. Thank you, Best Wishes, Russell
I listed to that Goop podcast on anxiety and the motherhood shift last night and felt like someone was beautifully articulating so many of the things I felt 22 months ago when I had a baby. Mothers are born, just like babies and WHOA is that an experience. Thank you so much for that recommendation, it really was exactly what I needed to hear. I’ve been enjoying hearing about your journey into motherhood. I so wish I had documented mine more formally but it was such an all encompassing experience I really couldn’t write about it while going through it. You’ve given me a lot of food for thought and perspective on my own experience over the last 10 weeks. Thank you for sharing so honestly.
For podcasts i love the LadyGang, Pod save america, and Forever35.
for books..i just finished the Handmaids Tale and i sorta hated it ? maybe im the only one ? i also just finished Camino Island by John Grisham and i did like that one. Just started The 4 Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin in the car. For music i feel like i havent really listened to anything in particular all summer. i need to change that !
Thanks for the summer chill playlist! I’m always looking for good background music for work. My favorite podcasts are Death Sex & Money, This American Life, Strangers (currently on a break but you can listen to the archives), and Revisionist History.
Some audiobooks that I’ve really enjoyed recently are Tribe by Sebastian Junger (very quick and it really hit home for me), Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (perfect for road trips and/or dog lovers who are longing for a road trip), Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (one of the few novels I’ve read recently and I loved it), and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (SO inspirational).
You are so welcome! THANK YOU for the podcast suggestions as well as the audiobook recommendations!
Stumbled across this post just in time for my long run tomorrow! I have never tried podcasts while running (though they’re a lifesaver for my commute). Do you have a recommendation on what podcast or audiobook to try first? Thanks!
So many good ones! Totally depends on your preference!
Hi Jen! I just finished listening to “How To Walk Away” by Katherine Center on Audible, and it was a great read! Not too heavy, but a great story with a good message! Great summer read (or listen!). Thanks for sharing with us all these years- I have loved your blog for a long time and cheering you on from Memphis! All the best to you and Finn!
Jen, I’m loving your laidback/relaxed playlist that you shared. It’s perfect after my yoga and long lap swim workouts when I’m riding my bicycle back home. Would love more playlists like this one. Thanks for sharing!
Great to hear! I will for sure share more of these! 🙂