There’s something about October – new and returning TV shows, the cooler weather and I always seem to fall out of a good reading habit. If I’m going to make my Goodreads Challenge for 2019 I need to step up my game – I’m at 23 of 30 books for the year so far. Totally do-able, but I need to get it in gear!

Reading

I started Michelle Obama’s autobiography – Becoming and it’s great. I started while traveling earlier this month. I’m on a plane in a couple of weeks and hoping to make some good time for reading to get back into the groove. My comic book collection is also stacking up nicely…

I am REALLY excited for the new Erin Morgenstern book – she wrote The Night Circus a few years back which I loved! Her new book – The Starless Sea comes out next week and there’s a strong chance it will end up on a flight with me throughout the month.

Listening

I’ve gotten some GREAT podcast recommendations this month!

Preach – a friend suggested this podcast a few weeks ago about the “messiness” of faith. It’s really fascinating. I started with the married Mormon couple and have been hooked since. Also – if you grew up watching VeggieTales make sure to listen to that great two part series!

So far I’m liking What a Day – I have wanted a quick news recap in the morning – I love The Daily but it’s only one topic. So far What a Day is 3-4 topics which is helpful when I don’t have time to watch Rachel Maddow or miss other stories.

My latest cult themed podcast was The Gateway: Teal Swan. She certainly is an interesting character, and yes, very cult-like. I’m occasionally (always) terrified at what people will believe and do.

I’m being interviewed for a podcast this week so keep an eye out for that news next month…

Watching

I finally cleaned up my Netflix queue and finished a couple of series this past month. Mindhunter continues to be a great series, and I was shocked to learn that the Atlanta child murders are still unresolved. (sorry, spoiler there, except it’s not)

I devoured the new season of Big Mouth, and why YES the Queer Eye episode DID live up to all my wildest hopes and dreams. Another fantastic season of a show that I think all teenagers should watch. (This may also be a good indicator that not having kids was a smart move.)

I’ve started watching The Family on Netflix and it’s FASCINATING. It’s about a conservative Christian group who has been courting and supporting politicians in DC for decades. It’s really really interesting.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner with David Chang is great so far – we watched the Chrissy Teigen episode and as always, she’s amazing.

The Politician was a GREAT (and quirky) series and the final episode introduces one of the best comedic duos I didn’t realize was missing from my life. I can’t wait for Season 2!

I tried a couple of episodes of Modern Love on Amazon and it’s not my jam. I’m not a rom-com kind of girl anyway and these stories are very New York, and very meh. However this new season of Saturday Night Live has been great – I’m LOVING the two new cast members…

Righteous Gemstones finished their first season and it wrapped up so well that I’m curious what they’ll do with season 2. But I am glad to see Walt Goggins on The Unicorn which is a sweet show about a widow with two daughters. It’s a great cast and premise.

I’ve watched the first episode of Mrs Fletcher on HBO and I love Kathryn Hahn so am all in on this show. I continue to watch Perfect Harmony which is sweet, and I think I may just wait for Nancy Drew to hit Netflix at the end of the season. I haven’t started Watchmen yet but will try to get to that this weekend. I feel like I’m supposed to love Stumptown but something about it has it filling up on my DVR lately. I am however liking the new season of The Good Place and love all the continued twists and turns.

What pop culture are you enjoying as you cozy up on the couch from these cool fall days?

September meant the arrival of The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s long awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale and I devoured it. September also means the Emmys and return of fall TV and a change in the weather so more time inside to consume pop culture. Here’s what I’ve loved…

Reading

The Testaments – I have been excited about this book since I finished The Handmaid’s Tale years ago, I always wanted to know more about the story and the world of Gilead. It did NOT disappoint.

I also finished Life Will be the Death of Me from Chelsea Handler and really liked it. If you’ve been turned off by her in the past, maybe give this a shot. She’s changed.

Bored and Brilliant is very thoughtful and realistic and manageable. I was nervous that it would be a lot of phone use shaming. It’s not. It’s all about being aware of your relationship with technology. You may not have an issue with it, or you may want to change something. I haven’t been able to bring myself to remove apps from my phone, BUT I have turned off more notifications and that’s helping a lot of my constant jumping at my phone.

Listening

I was chatting with a friend the other day and shared my love of cults. He suggested I check out the first season of Uncover Escaping NXIVM. Holy bananas is this story crazy. And recent. And scary. And a cult. If you love a good cult story as much as I do, make sure to check out this season. I devoured it in less than a week.

I’m still listening to a lot of Lizzo and The Rolling Stones. Speaking of Lizzo, make sure to watch her Tiny Desk Concert… and it’s time to catch up on the latest Black Keys album since we’re going to their concert in November!

Watching

Watching the Emmys this weekend made me realize just how many GREAT shows have ended this year. Veep, Game of Thrones, Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend…

I finally jumped on The Great British Baking Show bandwagon. I get it. It’s lovely and fun and calm. I talked about it in my latest newsletter so hopefully you already know how much I love it.

I decided to rewatch the latest season of The Good Place in advance of the final (sniff…) season starting this week. I love this show and am so glad they aren’t going to play it out to death, but I will miss it a lot…

I’m still enjoying The Righteous Gemstones, it’s SUCH A great series, even if I have occasional PTSD moments from growing up in a tight knit church community. I know I’m supposed to like Fleabag but I can’t get into it – am I alone here?

I watched Late Night over the weekend and it was good-not-great. I’m glad I waited for it on Amazon. I felt it had the reverse Apatow problem (his movies are 45 minutes too long). It took an HOUR to get into the real meat of the story. I wish it had been done in 20-30 minutes so we could get to more of the fun.

New series this fall I’m getting excited for include…The Politician, Perfect Harmony, The Morning Show, Stumptown, Watchmen and Nancy Drew…

What shows and pop culture are you excited for this fall?