Favorite books, songs, and shows of the year.

Published: Wed, 12/27/17

Happy holidays!

Today, I'd love to share some of my favorite books, songs, TV shows, and podcasts of 2017. Things that moved me. Things that made me think, laugh, and cry. I had so much fun putting this list together for you, and I hope you discover a few new gems...

— FAVORITE BOOKS —

— The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth. In a troubled world, Fred Rogers' simple philosophy of compassion, generosity, and "being a good neighbor" is one we all need to hear, again and again.

— You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson. Phoebe is a comedian, actor, and podcast host. I'm a huge fan, so I pre-ordered her book as soon as it was available. She covers everything from women's rights to racism to her lifelong obsession with the band U2. Her writing is thought-provoking, yet hysterically funny.

— Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day by Todd Henry. I've recommended this book every year for the last several years in a row. A powerful reminder to bring your best, brightest work into the world now—not someday later. Because eventually we all run out of "laters."

— Gracious: A Practical Primer on Charm, Tact, and Unsinkable Strength by Kelly Williams Brown. Kelly is a modern-day etiquette guide who's witty and wildly funny. I actually cried with laughter while reading this book—especially the part about how to graciously handle a colleague who's making a request that makes absolutely no sense.

— Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards. An excellent book about how to read people's body language, how to prevent conflict in relationships, how

to become better at "being with people" in pretty much every setting and scenario.

— Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel. I could not put this book down. A fascinating exploration of long-term relationships, why infidelity happens, and how we can balance our (sometimes contradictory) desires for stability and adventure.

— Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and It's All Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life by Richard Carlson. A timeless classic. Like so many people, I often find myself fussing over "little things" (a typo in a newsletter, being 5 minutes late, making a minor mistake) that really don't matter. This book reminded me that we can spend our entire lives fretting, worrying, and spiraling with stress, or we can choose to just... relax. It's a choice we can make (or not) every moment of every day.

— FAVORITE SONGS AND PLAYLISTS —

— Like most human beings, I listened to "Despacito" approximately one billion times this year. (Dear Luis Fonsi: thank you for creating this treasure!)

— And if you love songs like "Despacito," you need to listen to CNCO immediately, without delay! Reggaeton and Latin pop vibes. So good.

— Fluidified creates free music playlists that are super dreamy and chill—perfect background music for reading or working—like this one and this one.

— This mellow jazz playlist is great for work-time, too. It always gets my brain into a nice creative groove.

— This song is so catchy, sugary, and fun. I loved it eight years ago. I still love it today. It makes me want to do a swirly-slide-dance across the living room in my socks.

— I love this beautiful playlist of songs inspired by Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Beauty and Abundance.

— For a great workout song that will inspire you to move, move, move, try this one. Or this one. Or this one.

— I listened to this Bachata playlist pretty much nonstop for about a month. (Note to self: in 2018, I need to learn how to dance the Bachata!)

— My mom and I are obsessed with this recording of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony singing "Olvídame y Pega la Vuelta." Oh, the drama! Our goal is to learn the song and sing it together while mom plays her ukulele.

— This Winter Heat playlist is... very hot. Soundtrack for your next date night, perhaps?

— Earlier this year, I was having an extremely stressful, panicky day. Everything felt overwhelming—even really small tasks, like picking up the phone to make a call, or signing a document. Then I discovered this song by Walk the Moon. It changed my whole day!

— FAVORITE TV SHOWS —

— 13 Reasons Why is one of those shows that I watched and then couldn't stop thinking about. Brilliant writing. Tremendous performances. Big messages about bullying, cruelty, and mental health. Not a "fun" show to watch, exactly, but a moving, important one.

— The Great British Bake Off feels like a warm hug wrapped in croissant dough and then dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with an angel's whispered blessings. Mary Berry is my new hero.

— Ryan Hamilton is a comedian and his new special, Happy Face, made me laugh harder than almost anything I've seen this year. Favorite bit: when he talks about "hot air balloons." Please just watch it and see.

— FAVORITE PODCASTS —

— Listening to 2 Dope Queens has become one of my favorite rituals. If you love stand-up comedy, storytelling, and hilarious friends bantering back and forth, you'll love this show.

— Terrible, Thanks for Asking is a show where people talk about their most painful experiences—from public humiliation and career sabotage to the agony of losing your partner or child. Such vulnerability and honesty. This show leaves me in a state of awe.

— I was honored to be a guest on several wonderful podcasts this year, including: Urban Curiosity ... The Pivot Podcast ... Being Boss ... Real Talk Radio ... The Radiance Project ... Raise Your Hand, Say Yes ... Jumpstart Your Joy ... Launch Rebels Radio ... Grace and Grit ... Claim the Stage ... The Freedom Seeker Podcast ... Creating Space ... The First Four Years ... Talking Shop ... Tarot Bytes ... The RenWomen Salon ... and others that I'm probably forgetting to mention. To all of those hosts, thank you for having me!

— While it's not a podcast, exactly, I need to give a shout-out to Cassey Ho from Blogilates. She's a fitness instructor who puts together fun, quick routines that don't require any fancy gym gear—just a yoga mat and maybe a pillow. Her personality is infectiously positive. I love her!

— A FRIENDLY REMINDER —

A few days ago, I realized (with great embarrassment):

"I have listened to literally EVERY single episode of 2 Dope Queens—it's my favorite podcast—but I STILL haven't made a donation to support the podcast. I've been meaning to do it, but I keep forgetting. Oops. I am fixing that right now."

I zoomed over to my laptop and made a donation. A long overdue demonstration of support? Yes. But, better late than never.

I encourage you to do the same thing.

Say "thank you" to the people who make your life better.

Whether it's with a 5-star review, a hug, a handwritten note, an appreciative email or text, a payment, a bonus check, a donation, a gift, or spreading the word to your community, take your love and put it into action. It usually only take 1-2 minutes, tops, and it makes such an impact.

Whatever you need to do, or say, please say it now.

— SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! —

Enjoy the last few days of 2017. Rest. Exhale. Set intentions. Listen to "Despacito." Contemplate the immensity of the Universe. Be kind to yourself and others. Repeat.

I'm sending love in your direction ... and I'll see you in the New Year!

-Alex

PS. If there's a typo in this newsletter, sorry about that, except I'm not actually "sorry" because it's the holiday season and... who cares? Haha! I'm giving myself a break this week. "Don't sweat the small stuff," right? :)