hello friends,
a big source of joy for me is discovering a podcast that’s been running for a while and proceeding to spend the next two to six business weeks binging the whole back catalogue and developing emotionally robust parasocial relationships with the hosts. there is something so cozy about knowing you have hours of content to keep you company while you go about your little daily tasks.
most recently i’ve been streaming exploration: live!, which falls squarely into my favorite genre of two cerebral but un-self-serious friends chatting about mostly silly but sometimes profound topics. the parasocial aspect goes especially hard because i gather that one of the hosts attended the new york branch of the same jewish day school that i did and also graduated from northwestern one year before i started grad school there — natalie, if you’re reading this, let’s hang!
anyway, on an episode i listened to yesterday they were talking about the immense usefulness of the word ‘schlep’ (okay, obviously i’m already on board) and charlie, the other host, brought up that he recently started keeping a note on his phone to remember words he likes and / or wants to use more. i was tickled because i have been doing this for years! i just checked and my list currently has 247 entries. i add to it when i have to look up a definition in something i’m reading, or when i find a great synonym on thesaurus dot com, or when a combination of syllables is just particularly pleasing on my eardrums. could i tell you the meaning of all of these words if put on the spot? absolutely not! but you bet i’ve used ‘memetic,’ ‘temerity,’ and ‘perspicacious’ more times than i would have had i not logged them in ye olde notes app.
so i’m putting out a prompt for the class: what would be on your words list? have you come across any particularly potent lexical units lately? do you have a different system that brings you word related joy? please comment below.
i’m about half way through symphony of secrets by brendan slocumb and wowie wow it’s making me feel things
really enjoying this entrancing tune lately
kate mangino on the state of money earning and housework dynamics in american marriages today: ‘if i am taking a 20-minute walk, but the whole time i am thinking about what needs to go on my to do list, and making notes on my phone, is that leisure?’
entering my goo era
i hope you’re all already listening to maintenance phase by now but i must emphasize the sobering importance of this episode
my art collective is selling merch for earth month! i’m particularly partial to this denim moment and of course the mycelium sticker
the ultimate guide to cooking tempeh
remember: everyone thrives differently
if you’re enjoying plant matter, let your friends know what good taste you have by forwarding this email or sharing it on social meeds
thanks for being here <3
I don’t keep a dedicated list, but I do often jot down notes of words or keep them tucked away for a surprise for my future self. Recently, “ensorcel” has been on there, though I’m yet to use it in day to day conversation (at least how it’s meant to be used) ✨