January and Half of February 2021—Things That Were Good

Watching

Industry (HBO Max)—College grads vie for a spot at a London investment bank. Think crowded parties, bars, restaurants, harkening back to a time when we had never heard the word “epidemiology.” Lena Dunham is involved as director/producer, but it’s got a very distinct tone from anything I’ve seen from her which is to say that it is cold, brutal, yet infinitely compelling. Note: the intimate scenes are graphic+ (when I shared this detail with a friend, she replied, “perfect” :))—suffice is to say, don’t watch when the littles are around.

Your Honor (Showtime)—Remake of the Israeli show, Kvodo, about a New Orleans judge who engages in a cover up after his son kills the son of a crime boss in an accidental hit and run. The judge is played by Bryan Cranston whose face could launch a thousand ships.

Our Boys (HBO Max)—An Israeli-U.S. collaboration based on true events depicting the kidnapping and murder of a Palestinian boy in retaliation for the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers. On its surface, it is a police investigation drama but it actually is a multi-lensed look at the complexities of Israeli culture and identity. It’s as good as anything I’ve ever seen on TV (so much excellent storytelling coming out of Israel, btw).

Listening

The song “Patience” by Tame Impala—because I am pretty much out of it, but this song has a resounding melody that makes me dig deep to find more. Also the lyric, “And we're floating here, waiting for our wave to come, take us to the place, takin' us where we have gone…”

The Spotify playlist, “Best of British 80’s”—because the nostalgia kills me so much, I have to stop what I’m doing and text my high school friends. Also the bands that time forgot—The The, The Stone Roses, Haircut 100.

The podcast “In the Bubble”—created by Andy Slavitt, former Obama healthcare advisor, now part of the Biden team fighting the pandemic. Are you noticing a cottage industry of loosely-associated people making their brand on faux pandemic/vaccine expertise? This podcast features the people who are in the room where it happens. January 6—great episode where 15 top scientists weigh in on predictions for 2021 (short answer—“in like a lion, out like a lamb”) and when we can safely gather indoors again (short answer—Labor Day 2021).

The podcast “Brown Baby”—Brit writer Nikesh Shukla invites fellow parents of brown babies to talk about their parenting journeys. Brit-centric which, to me, makes it all the more endearing. Plus, never in my wildest dreams would there be a podcast focused on raising brown babies. Love it when the world shows it’s on an inclusive/representative trajectory.

The podcast “Pivot”—NYU Stern marketing professor and entrepreneur Scott Galloway and tech journalist Kara Swisher sound off on business, tech and politics. Prof. Galloway lives much of the time in the land of douchebaggery, but he is also king of the perfect sound bite. His observation literally haunts me, “Had COVID-19 preyed on wealthy white people and cut the NASDAQ in half, our response would have made the South Korean and Taiwanese responses appear amateur. Instead, the wealth of billionaires is correlated to infections and deaths…” Swisher’s talents are a bit wasted as she serves as Galloway’s dramatic foil (Watson to his Sherlock).

Reading

The article “The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship” from The Atlantic—I miss “all of those people I only sort of know.”

The article “Glennon Doyle’s Honesty Gospel” from The New Yorker—How many of us were madly DM’ing Doyle’s “we can do hard things” videos to one another at the beginning of the pandemic and also coincident with the release of her book, Untamed? This article illuminates Doyle’s journey from screw up to proselytizer…and it’s fascinating (I’m curious if after reading this article your view of Doyle is altered in any way, for better or worse).

The book Homeland Elegies—the most impactful book I’ve read in several years.

Appreciating

The news that Sex and the City will have a reboot (minus Kim Cattrall who is in a tiff with SJP) depicting love and friendship in one’s 50s. I couldn’t help but wonder…how fun is it going to be to watch the ladies get their colonoscopies? I read that the stars are getting paid a cool mill per episode, a great win for pay equity that also underscores just how peeved Cattrall must be to opt out.

The casting of Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz in an upcoming film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin called Being the Ricardos.

The Sleep Code—An online store dedicated to all the things you need (and didn’t realize you need) to wind down. When a pair of Japanese slippers I ordered for my dad as a Christmas present didn’t look like it was going to arrive on time, the owner (who I reached on her cell phone) immediately overnighted another pair and told me we would work out the price difference later—good old fashion customer service makes me a fan!

Sugarcraft—Sweetest Los Angeles-based custom cookie company with the best decorating kits. They ship all over but personally deliver in the L.A. area!

Using

Organic Pharmacy Deodorant Spray—Seems like a funny thing to recommend but it is oddly soothing (maybe it’s the sage). Smells divine, although not a great choice before an hour of tennis.

Sadhu Relief Oil—An incredible miracle balm for muscle aches (further to that hour of tennis), created by a woman named Jocelyne Stern and “inspired by her travels to India and studies of Yoga.” A little side rant—I really love this stuff, but I trip over the cultural appropriation on wild display here. The oil smells like my grandmother’s house and makes use of the enchanted spices in every South Asian pantry. Although South Asian or Ayurvedic wellness practices are for everyone, I want to amplify some beauty brands created and owned by South Asians (and hope that Jocelyne Stern will do so as well)—I have used products by all of the below and can vouch for their excellence:

• D.S. & Durga—Kavi Ahuja’s line of scents are next level—Radio Bombay is my personal favorite

• Fable & Mane—Sister and brother team Nikita and Akasha Mehta have a gorgeous hair care line—hair oil, shampoo and conditioner

• Live Tinted—Deepica Mutyala’s inclusive make-up line’s hero product is the Huestick for the hereditary dark circles that make many South Asian women wake up looking like they need a nap

• Reshma Beauty—L.A. Indian community OG Reshma Dordi’s products are ubiquitous at the Indian grocery stores; no snazzy packaging but products are as authentic as they come

• Uma Oils—Shrankhla Holecek has a family meadow in India that provides ingredients for her skincare and wellness oils

On the Fence

Saint Supply Living Elixir—This new wellness brand (in which Beyoncé is an investor) would have you drinking 1 tbsp. of its olive oil every morning for skin elasticity, immune strength, heart health and a host of other health benefits. I am about a week in, and the peppery, oily taste first thing in the morning is jarring/gross. I will report back on whether the rewards are worth it once I’ve finished the bottle (at this rate, I would have to turn into Beyoncé for this practice to be sustainable).

I am overwhelmed by and grateful for the response to Curated thus far. If there are any topics that you would like to see explored, please ping me. Thank you, a million thank yous!

Xo –P

Instagram: @priyaadesai1

Twitter: @priyaadesai1