Things I Like- June Round Up
Hey, it's June already! How did this happen? (Actually, I do know about the revolution of the Earth around the sun, so I guess that's how this happened). But I'm a couple days late for my definitely monthly round up of cultural/literary things I liked this past month!
At this point in my life I'm deep in the podcast game. But it all started 4 years ago when I started listening to the weekly show by the creators of Relevant Magazine. Most people who know me have heard me talk about the Relevant Podcast. Even more people have listened to me reference the podcast without knowing what I'm talking about. I'm a person of extremely varied interests!
So I was very excited to hear about the launch of the Relevant Podcast Network, featuring an existing favorite of mine, The New Activist, a new show from Shauna Neiquist, and one that is quickly rising to the top of my listening queue- The Red Couch Podcast with hip hop artist Propaganda and his wife, Alma.
1. The Red Couch Podcast
The show is an extended conversation between Prop and Alma about current events told through the lens of "hood politics," a breakdown of what's happening in culture, what's happening in activism, and how they live their everyday life. I like it for a lot of reasons (including finding out in episode 1 that Prop's first name is Jason), but the way these two blend humor, hot takes, and incredible insight on life and faith is unprecedented in any circle, and especially in Christian circles. Their wisdom and openness are a gift.
2. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
For those who don't know, last month I finished going back to get my Masters to become a School Librarian. Being finished is amazing, and not just because I don't have to do any more homework assignments (although that is AMAZING), but also because I love what I do. Honestly, completely love it.
Another perk of this lifestyle is that I can read kids' literature for the rest of my life and call it research. Ghost is one of those books that I read to see if it was a good one for elementary school kids and I was completely captivated.
The story's protagonist, seventh grader Castle Crenshaw (self-appointed nickname "Ghost"), is flawed and likable and real. Reynolds captures the voice and experience of a young black man trying to figure out who he is, while life conspires to keep him on the fringes, going from one "altercation" to the next- until he discovers he has the drive and the talent to be one of the greatest sprinters. Beautiful and truthful storytelling from a skillful writer.
3. She Reads Truth by Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams
This book is the product of the collaboration between these two women that also produced the blog and online community shereadstruth.com. The book is warm-hearted and filled with what I can only describe as the text version of Southern hospitality. The book is written much like a series of blog posts, linked together by the theme that nothing is permanent but the Truth of God's Word. The vulnerability and honesty in the stories they share with their community inspire me to be more open about my own journey, no matter how disheveled or incomplete it looks to me.
