January Reading List (Patreon)

 Sorry this is a bit late. Had second draft book deadlines and so only just found time to compile this. Enjoy and let me know what you think of any of them if you read/listen/watch. 

Videos

Why Shrek 2 is a Perfect Sequel - I haven’t seen Shrek 2 in years but this came up in my recommended and I was intrigued. Now I want to watch Shrek 2 again.

Meet the Happiest Guy in the World -  this old man just lives on cruise ships. I don’t get it. He’s so happy. He doesn’t even get off the ship when it makes a stop. 

The truth about ‘YouTuber Burn Out’ -  I’ve shared many articles in these reading lists about YouTuber Burn Out and now my friend Leena has made a video kind of in response to all these hot takes. I love what she has to say about it. Burn out isn’t a uniquely YouTuber problem!

Podcasts

Five Guys: Jerry Murrell (How I Built This) - one of my favourite podcasts How I Built This and really enjoyed this episode of Five Guys because I literally had no idea about its origins! 

Myth Busting HIV (Good Sex Bad Sex) - only recently found this podcast from the Metro and really been enjoying it. This episode with Alix Fox is a great 101 overview on getting tested and treatments available for HIV. 

Articles

Can relationship anarchy create a world without heartbreak - spoiler alert: it can’t. But it’s been interesting reading more about relationship anarchy recently although I still don’t think I can fully get my head around it. Basically there’s no hierarchy in types of relationships in the way that as a society we place romantic and sexual relationships at the top. 

The story behind the Medusa statue that has become the perfect avatar for women’s rage - I completely missed this when it was all over social media but it’s an interesting story. I definitely grew up with the idea that Medusa was a monster and only learned in adulthood that she was raped, cursed and killed and yet we villainise her.

Robotic dildo barred from top tech showcase, prompting sexism claims - I was so mad when I heard about this. CES (Consumer Electronics Show) revoked an award given to the company who made the female sex toy and banned them from showcasing the product at CES. CES has showcased sex robots and VR porn aimed at men so this kind of sexist double standard really makes my blood boil. I can’t find anything about CES’ response to the negative press though. 

Why I didn’t answer your email - very poetic piece. Doesn’t exactly apply to me because she’s a mum and talks about spending time with her kids over replying to emails but still I like that there’s a conversation happening around not needing to be available all the time. 

The Empty Mason Jar of the Influencer Economy: The Case of Caroline Calloway and her Creativity Workshop Tour - I’d never heard of this woman before and I’m not sure how I found this article but I have just spent way too much time reading it and going through the twitter thread and looking at her account because I am addicted to the drama and the tea. The same way I wanted to know everything about TanaCon. Not proud of myself here. 

Doctors Are Begging You Not To Use Lush’s New Bath Bomb As A Sex Toy - I mean this is just hilarious and I’m not really a bath person but I am so tempted to get an eggplant emoji bath bomb. 

Online women’s magazine The Pool enters administration - really sad this has happened to The Pool. Plenty of articles I’ve shared in these reading lists in the past have been from there.