July Recommendations

The espresso soda: It’s a shot of espresso (for me usually decaf, my anxiety disorder doesn’t need HELP) in seltzer, with ice. It’s a little bitter and so bubbly and so refreshing. You can order this either by name or “espresso spritz,” or, in a lot of places, by saying something weird and winding like “hey, do you have seltzer and could you give me some with a shot of espresso in it?” or “could I get a decaf iced Americano but like, with seltzer instead of water,” or “that funky sparkling espresso drink on the summer menu? Would it be possible to get it without any of the syrups?” Tip extra well if you have confused the barista. 

cute rabbi with espresso soda

“adrienne maree brown: On Radical Imagination and Moving Towards Life” on the On Being podcast: I aspire to be the kind of person who listens to On Being, but honestly I prefer advice podcasts and Normal Gossip (and really, I like the advice podcasts for the gossip element). But I still keep On Being in my podcast feed, with the conviction that one day I will become a person who listens to inspiring and soothing podcasts. And I was in the right mood this week to want to listen to a re-aired episode with adriene maree brown this week. It hit all the right notes for me: it was galvanizing while also being soothing, inspiring without being trite. I often struggle with making organizing FEEL spiritual even when I know it is, and this was really helpful on that front. Give it a listen.