Dairy Products and Dudes Behaving Badly [#60]
Oh hi again!
Spent most of November in the "United" States. When in America, dairy products really dominate my food intake because there is a far more expansive variety of it, and all the cheese is way cheaper. I would have destroyed my go-to snack, "french fries dipped in a Wendy's Frosty," every damn day had I the opportunity. This might gross some of you out (*cough* Anna Fifield *cough*) but, it is what it is.
I'm Reading
A dying chimpanzee recognizes an old friend (a must watch). The important, enduring link to your middle school best friend. We shouldn't talk about predatory men without considering what cultures teach about manhood. For every story of harassment and predation seeing the light of day, reporters are hearing dozens more. Americans report we are freaking out. Google and Facebook now have direct influence over 74 percent of Internet traffic. The real crisis we're in is the dwindling agreement on objective truth. The emoji Americans use the most (none of these come close to Asian messenger app stickers). The robots making us terrible at relationships. Food puns.
(Doodle above by my thoughtful co-worker Kim, after brainstorming with other badass ladies.)
Werk Werk Werk
Riffed on Sam Sanders' podcast about the post-sexual harassment cultural struggles at NPR. Gabbed on Fareed Zakaria's show a couple times. North Korea missile news woke me up before 4am this week. South Korea's public schools perpetuate rape culture. While on host duty, I interviewed the surgeon general, the former FCC Chairman, a lawmaker behind the #MeToo bill who was assaulted in Congress 40 years ago, the head of Canada’s only HIV/AIDS treatment hospital, David Brooks, EJ Dionne, the aforementioned Anna, NPR’s East Africa correspondent Ofeibea Quist-Arcton three separate times about the fall of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, NPR’s media correspondent David Folkenflik about more sexual harassment trouble at NPR, author Megan Hunter about her dystopian novella, comedian Hari Kondabolu about what’s wrong with The Simpson’s character Apu, my friend Megan Garber about why women don’t speak up about sexual harassment, reported longer-length pieces about the meaning of statues in the ongoing Korea-Japan conflict and the decline of the golf industry in Japan, and narrated as co-host Ari Shapiro put leftover Thanksgiving stuffing into a waffle iron.
Aside: In order to consider all things, I conducted a crazy amount of interviews across a vast terrain of topics each day. Ira Glass says interviewing "has the intimacy of any actual conversation with somebody you're super close to," so creating that kind of chemistry with each guest meant by the end of each day, I was smarter thanks to the conversations, but also emotionally depleted in a way I'd never felt before. What an awesome privilege though, to host our flagship show for a bit. And to learn from the greats, like Robert Siegel, who will retire in January.
Recommendations
The book Sex Object, by Jessica Valenti, which is a good education/backdrop for this harassment moment
The writer Megan Garber, who is always brilliant but on fire lately
Liz and Honey. Friend Virginia had the cutest earrings on when we hung out last and that's how I learned about this Dallas boutique. Low low prices!
I love adult onesies and I cannot lie. Currently in this one, which feels like pajamas.
Finally, I didn't get to come up for air long enough to send a Thanksgiving message but I want you to know how grateful I am to you for patronizing this letter. I'm also so appreciative of the links you share and delighted when I receive your responses. Subscriber Andy Brown consistently tweaks me if he finds a broken link, which cracks me up because, damn, did you need that link that much? But I guess it means you care. THANK YOU.
With deep appreciation,
Elise
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