Dear Community,
As we head towards Thanksgiving, I've been thinking about everything we've been through in the last 20 months -- as well as the silver linings I hope will ultimately move us to a better place:
- The big re-examination of life
- Social justice progress
- Worker rights progress
- Telemedicine
- Teletherapy
- More handwashing, fewer handshakes, fewer colds
- More outdoor dining
- Global collaboration of researchers for vaccines
- Better understanding of the pros and cons of technology
- More of us got dogs, which means more love and more time in nature.
I'd love to hear what I may have missed.
In this November newsletter, some updates from me and my team and lots of great art shows to see, books to read, films to watch, podcasts to listen to and more.
I'm super honored/excited/happy to receive the 2021 Creating the Future Award from the Maui Film Festival this week. One of my favorite screenings happened at the Maui Film Festival ten years ago when my feature Connected screened on a gigantic inflatable screen on the beach. It was a dream I didn’t even know I had.
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At the festival, I'll be sharing a new talk about the moment we're in and how to best move forward with what we've learned. It brings together ideas from so many of our films into one framework. Very energized working on it.
To a month focusing on what we are thankful for,
xo
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| Maui Film Festival Award + Talk
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I'll be giving my talk on Thursday (they're also screening our film 30,000 Days). For the full lineup of the Maui Film Festival, click here.
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"The Future of Work: Creating a Thriving Hybrid / Remote Workplace"
Free 30 min Overview of New Program
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It's been fantastic working with companies on the new program we are offering to inspire a thriving hybrid workkplace and address the issues so many institutions are facing: How do we create a work culture where both the company and the employees thrive? How do we maximize both wellbeing and productivity? How do we use technologies in ways that don't burn us out?
Join us for a 30 minute free zoom overview of the 4-week program.
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I really enjoyed this interview with Fortune Magazine. She has great advice for working with others and carving out space for your own work and creativity. Read here.
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| Anita Hill on Our Body Politic with Farai Chideya
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Don't miss Farai Chideya's wonderful interview with the extremely wise Anita Hill. Listen on Our Body Politic here.
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Gary Gulman is one of my favorite comedians. He just performed at Carnegie Hall and I cannot wait to see him here in SF. Highly recommend. He is touring the country, so find your city here.
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| David Byrne's American Utopia on Broadway
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This show featuring the Talking Heads' David Byrne's music is electric, inspiring, and moving. I saw it before the pandemic and then again in a bigger theater on Broadway recently. It only got more poignant. Learn more here.
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| Jagged Little Pill on Broadway
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I saw this last month and loved it. Learn more here.
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My good friend Michael Dorf's City Winery survived the pandemic and is now in twelve locations including NYC, Hudson Valley, Chicago, Nashville, Boston, Atlanta, DC, and Philadelphia. Come out and see some great music and comedy, drink great wine, and eat some delicious food. Learn more here.
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| Daylight Savings Movie Trailer
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This parody movie trailer for daylight savings is hysterical. HT Gina Pell and her newsletter The What for sending it to me. Watch here.
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FILMS, SERIES, & DOCS TO STREAM
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Rachel Felt's documentary about Selma Blair and her MS diagnosis is so powerful. Stream on Amazon here.
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| Nuclear Family Doc on HBO
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This three-part documentary by Ry Russo-Young about her pioneering lesbian parents and the legal battle that threatened to tear their family apart is riveting. Watch on HBO and learn more here.
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| Harry Styles Love On Tour
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Just took Blooma to see Harry Styles for her birthday present and let's just say, that was one of the best performances I have experienced. Remaining concert tour dates here.
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| Give the Gift of Time for the Holidays
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I will be doing personalized notes again for the holidays. Here's our remote way to do it: You get the book from your local indie bookstore, or any of these online places. Then fill out this form, and I will send a signed sticker made out to the person of your choice that you can place right where I would sign in person. Easy breezy.
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| The What List of Best Fiction 2021
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Gina Pell's annual list of the best fiction is a curated list of the best things to read. I'm deep into The Every by Dave Eggers right now and it is so funny, disturbing, and on point. See the full list here.
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| Please Scream Inside Your Heart by Dave Pell
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Dave Pell's new book came out! Whoot. He writes one of my favorite newsletters Next Draft and I know this book will make me laugh and I heard, also make me cry. Next on my book list. Learn more here.
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| Bewilderment by Richard Powers
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I loved Richard Powers's Overstory and this book also takes you to unusual places in nature and space. Read more here.
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| Minimalista by Shira Gill
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I love Shira Gill's approach to living and am so excited about her new book. Learn more here.
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| "Leaf Me Alone" by Tanya Selvaratnam
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Tanya Selvaratnam's recent article in ELLE on connecting with nature to heal is so moving. Read here.
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This powerful exhibit at SF's Cliff House by For-Site & Cheryl Haines invites visitors to discover artwork in unlikely places and to consider the planet’s health. Participating artists include Shumon Ahmed, Doug Aitken, Chester Arnold, Daniel Beltrá, Andrea Chung, Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood, Ólafur Eliasson, Elizabeth Ellenwood, Adam Eli Feibelman, Ana Teresa Fernández, Angelo Filomeno, Andy Goldsworthy, Carsten Höller, Suzanne Husky, Brian Jungen, Tony Matelli, Tuula Närhinen, One Beach Plastic, Gülnur Özdağlar, Maja Petrić, Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, Iris van Herpen, Pae White, William T. Wiley, Jana Winderen, and Ai Weiwei. Learn more here.
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| Making Knowing: Craft in Art, 1950-2019 at the Whitney through February 2022
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This exhibit at The Whitney in NY is just stunning. Learn more here.
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| Surrealism Beyond Borders at the Met through Jan. 30
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So much of my favorite surrealist art in one place. If you're in NYC, be sure to check it out. Learn more here.
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| Uprising at Catherine Clark Gallery in SF through Dec. 23
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I found this show so haunting and powerful. The show by Deborah Oropallo and Andy Rappaport explores how we engage with public monuments, while imagining how social justice movements and subsequent removal of racist monuments enables us to imagine spaces for collective healing. Learn more here.
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| Woven by Jock McDonald at Martin Design in St. Helena, Nov. 13
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I love Jock McDonald's photography and am excited for his upcoming show. Learn more here.
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| Experience Leonard Cohen at Contemporary Jewish Museum in SF through Jan. 13
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I'm such a fan of Leonard Cohen and it's wonderful to experience his music in a whole new way. Learn more here.
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| 52 Shabbats with Faith Kramer at Book Passage Corte Madera, Dec. 11 4 pm PT
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I'm looking forward to joining Faith Kramer in discussion at Book Passage to celebrate the release of her new book, 52 Shabbats: Friday Night Dinners Inspired by a Global Jewish Kitchen. Dec 11, 4pm, Corte Madera. Learn more here and preorder the book here.
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| Hanukkah Homecoming Weekend, Dec. 3-5
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Join a worldwide "open house" of Jewish communities inviting you to celebrate Hanukkah onsite and online together during Hanukkah Homecoming Weekend, December 3-5, 2021. Learn more here.
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| "I Reversed the Gender of Every Person in the Torah -- and It Finally Feels Complete"
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This op-ed in the Forward by Yael Kanarek really resonated for me. Read here.
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| How to Block Your Phone from Interrupting You
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Apple and Android finally have the settings that we need for more focus. I hope these new tools will help us all keep our tech use in check. Thanks to Catherine Price for alerting me to this incredibly useful article in the NY Times that explains the new features. I can't wait until we can have a Tech Shabbat mode. Read more here.
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So many great things to say about our friends at Forshay. If you're looking for recruiting, diversity + inclusion training, or organizational development, I highly recommend. Learn more.
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Real sleep is an all-natural sleeping pill customized for your own particular issues and I highly recommend it. Learn more here.
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