I swear, next week my post (about starting seminary, yay!!!) should be in your inbox at 2 Pacific / 3 Mountain / 4 Central / 5 Eastern. But not tonight, lol, I know the East Coasters will be seeing this on Monday morning unless they’re up super late.
I figured after the two posts where I have emotionally unpacked various aspects of myself and my upbringing, I wanted to keep it lighter this week and just chat about what I’ve been into these days. (I’ll get into the “what I’m reading” next week, because besides newsletters on Substack, I’ve been reading my books for classes in advance ‘cause although I’m an avid reader, I’m a slow reader, so I need to get a head start).
A lot of the trash shows I had been watching during the summer (Riverdale, FBoy Island on HBOMax) have ended their seasons, so now I just have The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise (and I have a good, intense show coming back soon, The Handmaid’s Tale!). If anyone here is a Bach fan, please feel free to give your thoughts on the latest season below. I have been mostly disappointed. But as always, I also live for the drama.
Here are some Youtubers I’ve gotten into recently (whether their accounts are new or not, they’re new to me):
Savy Writes Books: content about books (reviews, indie publishing world), the writer’s life, small businesses (and anti-MLM and anti-scam/grifting). She has wonderful criticism of folks like Rachel Hollis and is great at reviewing books, and is enjoyable to watch.
Good Mythical Morning: I know they’ve been around for a long time, but I ended up watching through several of their videos after DL Mayfield mentioned Rhett (one of the hosts) in a recent post, quoting his experience of deconstruction and I was like, “Oh yeah. They did a video about their deconstruction and evangelicals got all mad and scared that this would cause youth who watch their content to lose their faith. I wonder what other videos they create…” and when I found all their weird food videos, I fell in love (I think food is one of my special interests! And I think looking at photos of food online is a way of destressing for me, a kind of visual stim). I honestly don’t care too much for their banter a lot of the time, but seeing what their (paid staff of) chefs can do is so fascinating—all kinds of weird combos, like lasagna brownies and peanut butter potato chips.
Izzzyzzz: If you like to hear about weird niche internet history (especially when it comes to online virtual worlds of the 2010s??), this channel is for you.
Several autistic women whose videos I find to be really helpful: Paige Layle, Yo Samdy Sam, and The Thought Spot, and Sydney Zarlengo (who reviews autistic rep in media!)
Recent content from creators that I watch religiously:
Doctor Who’s Pro-Life Episode by Sarah Z: I didn’t even watch a lot of the 12th Doctor (I stopped at the 11th’s regeneration), but I still found this video to be really cool (to be clear I am pro-reproductive rights and so is Sarah). Sarah has so many great video essays on various nerd media/aspects of fandom culture, and even a video essay analyzing the commodification of nerd culture in the 2010s!
How The World Ends In Christianity & Mormonism by Jordan and McKay (ex-Mormons): I can listen to these two talk about anything (often when I get home from work and get ready for bed I listen to the “livestream” they’ve done recently and it’s just fun and chill. They snark on various fundies, both mainstream Christian and LDS ones, and do various deep dive videos on Mormon theology and practice and the ways they were harmed by much of it.
Is Art Meaningless? by PhilosophyTube All of this woman’s content is perfection—the costumes, the editing, the music, the script and how she presents lots of academic research and theories in such an approachable way!! It’s so fun and I learn a lot and it makes me think.
The Wild Stories of Historical Gay Nuns by Strange Aeons: In this house, we stan gay nuns!! Go Hildy of Bingen (even tho she had a lot internalized homophobia). This lesbian YouTuber is always a fun watch.
If you’re not subscribed to Fundie Fridays yet and are, like me, obsessed with watching stuff on religious fundamentalism, what are you doing? Go and see Jen and James in all their snarky glory.
The Church Play Cinematic Universe by Jenny Nicholson: You might have seen memes going around in the spring about this church that does really cringe Easter pageants based off of various movies…well, she watched as many as she could find and discusses them in-depth, and it is great.
Music I have on repeat:
All the songs of Maddie Zahm’s EP You Might Not Like Her, two songs in particular:
Title track: “Someday you’ll kiss a girl and you’ll panic…and you’ll learn to let people have their opinions, and talk about your traumas, and like the body you live in. Some day you’ll learn to keep your own secrets. Say you’re doing ok and really mean it. You’ll lose your faith a bit and question if she’s you. For a while, you might not like her, but I do.”
“If It’s Not God”: “All the Sundays I worried, I’d disappoint my mom, ‘cause I never understood some types of love being wrong. Something inside me was always steering left. What Father picks a few just to leave the rest? I heard a voice inside my head—it disagreed. So if it wasn’t God, well thank God—it was me! Thank God it was me!”
JOY by Kings Kaleidoscope. Dang it when is the album dropping, and why did they tour in Seattle when I was still in VA and then performed in DC like the weekend I moved to Seattle?? Their music is so much more interesting and innovative than other contemporary Christian music. And so is…
The Porter’s Gate! Their new album focusing on climate justice is so cool, especially the track “Declaring Glory” which is from THE EARTH’S PERSPECTIVE. Look at these gorgeous lyrics:
When I was young you woke me with the sound of song The wind and rhythm drew me along I echoed in the hymn of the dawn I turned, and turned This dance that all the planets learned In circles, 'round the stars as they burned I praise You as I orbit and turn Declaring glory, glory Declaring glory, glory The mountains rise The forests grow before my eyes The moments and the seasons in mind Then turn again, embracing the tide The waters fall And carve their way across my soil Their canyons cut in deep in my soul I praise You while the rivers still roll Declaring glory, glory Declaring glory, glory New life begins Your creatures dance across my skin Like me, they have Your Spirit within But soon they fade away as I spin They fall to dust And dress me in decay and rust Their secrets buried deep in my crust I praise You in the layers of dust
Plowshare Prayer by Spencer LaJoye—we love all the songs that have “fuck evangelicalism” energy, and this has it. So does “You’re Not My Friend” by Semler.
I’ve also been listening to several songs from the Everybody’s Talking About Jamie soundtrack (the West End production, not the movie), because it is filled with queer joy and resilience (about a gay boy in the UK who wants to be a drag queen), several songs from Netflix’s Heartstopper soundtrack (playlist available on Spotify), and my all time fave song ever and not-an-Ariana-Grande-cover, “God is a Woman” by Rett Madison.
These are things bringing me joy these days, in addition to my excitement about starting classes next week! Also, I’ve been having some great food. Pumpkin stuff is arriving in grocery stores and cafes, and I am here for it, and I bought an apple cider scented candle today. Tonight, I just tried Zeek’s Pizza, a local Seattle franchise, and it was delicious! Olive oil base with spinach, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, goat cheese, and sausage. Once my work hours lower when my classes start, I’ll also be able to cook more, so I’m looking forward to that.
What have you been into these days, whether it’s something you’re watching, listening to, reading, eating, cooking, etc? And are you excited for fall? What ways do you enjoy the season, whether that includes pumpkin spice or not? Info-dumping on special interests of all kinds is welcome!!
These are great recs and now I want to search for a lot of them!! When it comes to music, I tend to listen to one album until I wear all the dopamine out of it, lol. Currently it’s Phantoms by Marianas Trench. I love their themed albums. And the angst! Bonus, its haunted themes are perfect for spooky season.
I don’t watch a ton of things, but we watched the first episode of The Rings of Power last night. I can’t say I love it, but I definitely don’t hate it and want to watch the second episode. As a LOTR fan, I have a feeling more elements will come to the surface for me the more I think about it.