Happy Monday! Welcome to a (long overdue) Favourite Things post. Usually these posts are a little bit more materialistic, and if that’s what you’re looking for, check out the older ones! But, as I have been alluding to, this is a really big time of transformation for me. I’ve been thinking a lot about the mind, reality, radical self love, creativity, and how many of us are trying to escape our pain. It has led me to some pretty interesting places in conversation with others, in my thought process, and on the internet.

Here are a few of the most thought-provoking things I’ve stumbled upon in the past week. I hope you enjoy them!

RUPAUL’S DRAG U
I’m such a massive fan of RuPaul, so I have no idea why I had never watched an episode of Drag U before. How did I miss this?! Drag U is a show where — essentially using the power of radical self love — three drag queens transform the lives of three women who have low self-esteem. It is AMAZING! I am obsessed. It’s useful, it’s uplifting, and it almost always brings tears to my eyes. The show streams on Amazon, so queue up a few episodes and get ready to have your perspective on life changed.

WHAT’S THE TEE?
RuPaul’s podcast with Michelle Visage is one of my new favourite things ever. I really love the podcasts where it’s just the two of them and they’re just having an average conversation, because they vacillate between fun pop culture chat and really deep existential shit. That having been said, my favourite episodes so far are when they interview Bianca Del Rio (so funny, and especially good if you’re a fan of Drag Race) and Henry Rollins (indispensable listening for anyone creative).

ELIZABETH GILBERT’S MAGIC LESSONS
Elizabeth Gilbert is a wonderful person. Did you hear the recent news about how she fell in love with her best friend? It made me adore her even more. She is such a stellar example of someone who is not just living her truth, but also experiencing the width of life. Her podcast, Magic Lessons, is a series of interviews with creative people, and it’s essential listening for writers. Two of my favourite episodes are with Neil Gaiman and Brene Brown. Get into it.

SUPERSOUL SUNDAY WITH GLENNON DOYLE MELTON
My incredible friend Louise Androlia, who is also going through a time of massive change, put me on to Glennon Doyle Melton. Her new book, Love Warrior, just came out, and so she was featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday. In this interview, they discuss being “perfect”, eating disorders and numbing out, infidelity, and how we can use pain as a tool for growth and transformation. It is excellent.

10% HAPPIER WITH DAN GILBERT
I found this interview by Googling “RuPaul podcast meditation” — just wondering if he had gone into the subject in some depth — and ding ding ding! This episode surfaced. I love hearing RuPaul talk about his meditation practice, observing his thoughts, the dark night of the soul, how life is not to be taken seriously, and the mystery of identity. It’s awesome.

[embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujR2wiMDKy8[/embedyt]
 

Love and the longest hug ever,

Illustration from Ban.do.