Reviews by Kate Duncan, Charlie Hale and Jodie Wolf
BOOKS
The Motherhood
JAMILA RIZVI, PENGUIN
The only non-parenting parenting book you need, The Motherhood is a compilation of honest, hilarious, raw and real accounts of becoming a new mother from some of Australia’s smartest and savviest women — think Zoë Foster Blake, Clementine Ford and Clare O’Neil. The accounts are written in the form of letters to the contributors’ previous selves in those delicate first six weeks and are full of honest-to-goodness advice about asking for help, dealing with the emotional wrecking ball of a newborn and the often-tumultuous journey of breastfeeding. If you’re a soon-to-be mum or know one, The Motherhood would make a wonderful gift, or if you simply want a good old chuckle, do yourself a favour and get your hands on a copy. CH
Glimpses of Utopia
JESS SCULLY, PANTERA PRESS
“Let’s imagine a world in which we value our most human instinct: the drive to care for each other and our planet,” writes Jess Scully in her first book Glimpses of Utopia. In it, she educates you on the various ways that humans all over the globe are kickstarting aid. From cutting pollution and funding renewable energy to slums being transformed into sanctuaries and creative incentives to keep money in local communities, Scully explores it all. Scully has been Deputy Lord Mayor for the City of Sydney since 2019 and is also a public art curator, festival director and media producer. Glimpses of Utopia will guide you towards new ways to mould our globe for the better and to ensure a sustainable and kind future. JW
Untamed
GLENNON DOYLE, PENGUIN
Have you ever found yourself mid-existential crisis questioning your choices or searching for something new? Glennon Doyle has been there and done that and come out the other side wiser, stronger and more capable. Poetic and powerful, Doyle’s memoir speaks to your soul as she shares her story of slowly re-wilding, unfurling years of societal pressures and expectations to reveal the bold untamed woman at heart. If you’re looking for some guiding, big sisterly advice, Untamed will be your touchstone. From heartbreaking moments of choosing between her happiness and inner truth to exploring her sexuality and becoming completely unafraid to make bold decisions and mistakes, Doyle will teach you to march purposefully through life, never asking for permission to exist as your authentic self. JW
PODCASTS
The Priestess Podcast
JULIE PARKER
The Priestess Podcast is a thought-provoking and inspirational new podcast that invites you to step into your power as a woman. Podcast host Julie Parker gets intimate with subjects such as goddess culture, soulful business and sacred leadership. Parker, an award-winning sacred business leader, coach, speaker and priestess, opens up conversations with some of the planet’s influential, spiritual thought leaders, speakers and authors. The Priestess Podcast will build your confidence and strength as an empowered woman and instil a positive mindset. It’s the perfect podcast for any being who is looking to dive deeper into women’s spirituality or for those looking for guidance in all things soulful and sacred. JW
Rabbit Hole by The New York Times
It’s been a weird old year for the internet. A pandemic, global race protests and a US election cycle will do that. We are living in an increasingly polarised world and our social media echo chambers are only becoming more extreme. Rabbit Hole, a podcast by The New York Times, explores what this fantastical online world is doing to us. Hosted by investigative journalist and tech columnist Kevin Roose, the podcast miniseries focuses on how YouTube, and specifically social media algorithms, can radicalise viewers. Roose speaks to 26-year-old Caleb Cain, a college dropout who was sucked into far-right conspiracy theories. Cain’s journey into the alt-right rabbit hole is bolstered by stories from the other side; Roose interviews social media executives, Silicon Valley engineers and content creators to illustrate how the internet bewitches and manipulates its users. CH
CARD DECK
Fool The Game
LOUIS NUCCITELLI AND ATHENA KATSOGIANNIS
Party games are tricky business. Done well and they’ll be the highlight of any gathering, but getting them right is a fine art, one that requires uniting the scrooges of forced fun and the all-out extroverts. Fool The Game, a new card game by Sydney-based party enthusiasts Louis Nuccitelli and Athena Katsogiannis, is designed to do just that. Each round, the active player selects a “scenario” card and a “location” card and tries to act and describe the pair to the guessing audience. It sounds easy, but the catch is the bizarre and wildly comical combinations: think “asking for a divorce” “in a mosh pit” or “yodelling” “at the supermarket checkout”. The game requires no props or preparation and, most importantly, gives shrinking violets a chance in the spotlight. It’s a little box of laughs that is just as fun at Sunday lunch as it is at 3am. CH
