While we seem to be on the precipice of better days to come, I’m definitely still scraping the bottom of the barrel to find peace, comfort, and hope. To get me through, I’ve been searching the corners of the internet for anything to cling to, and especially for things to give my tired brain a brief respite. Basically, I need some easily accessible, mindless entertainment to soothe my troubled soul. If your soul also needs something uplifting or at least distracting to stay on the rails, check out a few of these “fuzzy blankets” I’ve been snuggling in.
Podcasts
It never ceases to amaze me how much entertainment, knowledge, and community is so easily accessible, right at our fingertips. With the touch of an icon, I can instantly be laughing (or gasping) along with my favorite podcasts while I fold the laundry and decompress. Here are some of my current favorites.
- The Popcast with Knox & Jamie– The hosts of this podcast never fail to make me snort-laugh. The opening line of every episode describes the aim of their podcast perfectly: “The Popcast is a show dedicated to delightful idiocy, and we’re committed to educating you on things in entertainment that do not matter.” The Popcast gives me my daily LOLs while keeping me up to date on what’s going on in current pop culture, without having to actually “follow” any Kardashians. With delightful and hilarious episodes of everything from recapping The Tiger King and The Bachelor/ette to exploring topics like true crime in pop culture, Knox and Jamie do a great job keeping it light and clean.
- The Bible Binge– Call me a fangirl, but Knox and Jamie take up two spots on my top podcasts list. Also hosted by Knox and Jamie, The Bible Binge is explained by them as follows: “What if there was a podcast that used pop culture literacy to enhance your Biblical knowledge? All with the flair and authority of a movie review? What if you could listen to a recap of the Bible like a recap of your favorite TV show?” Enter The Bible Binge, where the hosts do a deep dive into Bible stories in a fun and inventive way by “casting” each of the stories as if it were a movie. Did you know that Leonardo DiCaprio is a perfect fit for King David at all stages of Leo’s/David’s lives? I learn a lot from this podcast and have a ton of fun while tuning in.
- Tom Brown’s Body– Decidedly less fun and light, Tom Brown’s Body, a limited series by Texas Monthly’s Skip Hollandsworth, is terribly interesting and pulls you in immediately. It follows the story of what happened to Canadian, Texas, high school student Tom Brown in 2016. This series follows the model of the Serial podcast, and you’ll want to hear the mystery through to the end.
Oh Instagram, I do appreciate how you try to stay positive while Facebook and Twitter burn down around you. Instagram has long been known as the more positive and uplifting of the social media channels, and following these accounts will only enhance that opinion.
- @sharonsaysso– Self-proclaimed “America’s (not boring) Government Teacher,” Sharon McMahon is leading a political #factrevolution on her feed. Sharon has spent years studying and teaching government and gives ongoing, daily, non-biased, fact-based government lessons, Q&A style, that are equal parts educational and refreshing. I don’t ever feel preached to or lectured by her (Sharon has famously never revealed her own political party affiliation), and I’ve learned so much about U.S. government through following her. Her IG account, particularly her Stories and Highlights, is a true delight.
- @weratedogs– Look. Sometimes I need some cute puppy pics to make it through the day. Weratedogs delivers with the pics, and their captions giving each pupper a rating (always at least a 12 out of 10 possible points) bring me so much joy and so many giggles. It’s the fuzzy blanket follow we all need.
- @enneagramashton– Whether you’re well-versed in the Enneagram or just getting curious, this account is a great follow. The owner, Ashton, is very clear about not letting your Enneagram type control or define you and instead gives insight as to possible motivations behind some of your behaviors and thoughts. This 1w2 is all about it!
- @collincountymoms– Of course! I love all the advice, stories, tips, hacks, inspo, and laughs Collin County Moms IG puts out every day. Their local spotlights help me with planning and staying in the loop, and the pieces they share warm my heart to know that there are so many other moms just like me out there, probably just around the corner.
Netflix
And finally…Netflix, where discovering just the right binge can take your week from meh to better-than-average. Here’s what I’ve been watching on Netflix lately.
- Call the Midwife– Set in Poplar, London, shortly after the end of World War II, Call the Midwife follows the daily trials, tribulations and triumphs of Poplar’s midwives and nursing-nuns. It’s a gritty portrayal, but so very dear and heartwarming. Get the tissue box ready, because this one will hit you in all your feelings. And with nine seasons, you won’t have to scroll Netflix for a long time to come. (Trigger warning: miscarriage and infant loss.)
- Bridgerton– Bridgerton is receiving a lot of hype right now, but it is well deserved, in this writer’s opinion. Bridgerton is exceptionally entertaining with the just right amounts of drama, comedy and, well…heat. It’s definitely worth a watch if you haven’t already.
- Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel– This one heads into dark territory, but it’s captivating all the same. This docu-series lays out the story of what happened to 2013 Los Angeles Cecil Hotel guest Elisa Lam. It’s intriguing, kind of dark, and more than a little creepy. If that’s your thing, you’ll dig it.
What online gems are you currently turning to when you need a laugh or a break? I need to go like and subscribe!
