In every monthly post, I like to share the articles I’m reading, the shows I’m watching, and the podcasts I’m listening to. They’ll remain free to read but there will continue to be affiliate links to recommended products to support site upkeep.
If you’re looking for a way to support my work, buy my book, read my articles, or sign up for my courses. Thanks again for following along! Be sure to share what you’re loving this month below!
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Reading
I finished reading Furious Hours by Casey Cep, a story about a serial killer in Alabama and an unfinished book by Harper Lee. I also finished Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, a book about the writing process. I also picked up a copy of Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner when I was at Serenbe last month so I’m a couple of chapters in. It definitely lives up to the hype.
In terms of stories, I enjoyed reading Alexandra’s story about a coastal Georgia community’s division over whether to put in a spaceport for the New York Times. My friend Jim wrote about the Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia, Mississippi, which I got to visit in October, for Smithsonian Magazine.
This story for Tripsavvy about the role Instagram plays in new hotels is an interesting read. My friend Nneka’s story for Vox about an almost forgotten event in Georgia history was a powerful read. So was this story by my friend Kae Lani about food insecurity for Food & Wine.
I’d also like to give a shoutout to the newsletters I’m paying for. My friend Jodi is a longtime supporter of longform stories and shares the quirky and interesting, with special emphasis on birds, in her newsletter “Curious About Everything.”
My former editor Teddy shares really cool stories with pop culture deep dives, books, and fashion-related content in “Hello from Theo.” I’ve also signed up for journalist David Farrier’s stories about conspiracy theories in “Webworm.”
To see what else I’m reading, check out my Goodreads Profile here (which is also my author page!).
Listening
I’m in the market for new podcasts! I’ve listened to the first episode of Summer of Gold, a podcast about the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, specifically the “Magnificent Seven” gymnastics team. Up and Vanished is also about to come back so I’m excited about that too. This season, the story focuses on a missing Indigenous woman in Montana.
Watching
I’m looking for a new show to watch but I’m a bit overwhelmed with options. I’ve already watched the second season of Outer Banks as well as Amazon’s The Pursuit of Love (it was okay). I’m also watching Teenage Bounty Hunters on Netflix, a fun one-season teen comedy filmed in Atlanta, and the Love is Blind reunion.
I started Dr. Death but it was a bit intense for me so I switched to old episodes of Travel Man and Travels with My Father, two British travel series. I’m also enjoying Dark Tourist and The White Lotus.
The Challenge is back and so is The Walking Dead so I’ll be insufferably discussing both on Twitter for a while. What We Do in the Shadows is also back! And if you’re not watching Ted Lasso, do it now! The Christmas episode was everything.
Loving
I don’t know if I would usually categorize this as “loving,” but I’ve had some odd animal encounters lately. When I was in South Carolina I LITERALLY stepped on a copperhead and somehow did not get bitten but I screamed like a maniac into the phone with my dad.
I took a picture for my sister to ID. It left me feeling rattled for a bit. Then, when I got home, we spotted a massive snapping turtle in front of a neighbor’s house that looked like a dinosaur. Next were raccoons in broad daylight. What’s next?!
Causes
I’ve been tinkering with the idea for many years, but next month I’m going to be choosing a charity to support every quarter and donate a percentage of my income from my second website (This Is My South, if you’re new here) to an organization in the region. If you have one to suggest, let me know!
I’m also supporting Miles for Migrants this month, donating travel miles to help refugees in Afghanistan and beyond escape. I’m again supporting the International Women’s Media Foundation, specifically with the journalists targeted by the Taliban. I’ve also donated to Imagine Water Works, a mutual aid group in New Orleans supporting the people after Hurricane Ida.
Working
For someone that started in media at an alt-weekly, I still get a thrill out of seeing my name in print. Most of my career has been online stories so I loved getting to see the latest issues of The Local Palate, where I wrote about a Mississippi gin distillery, and Fifty Grande, which has my words AND photos on Tennessee whiskey. My story on pint-sized hotels is also in this quarter’s Go Escape magazine, published by USA Today and in stores now.
My story on a pipe maker I met in Tennessee was published by InsideHook. A story that was originally killed by another outlet, about Stuckey’s CEO Stephanie Stuckey, was published by Roadtrippers.
I wrote another story on the Mississippi rice farm and their creative products for 10Best. I also updated my professional website, moving from Squarespace to WordPress!
Traveling
I’ve again dipped my toe into traveling for work. I’m trying to limit myself to one per month but it’s getting hard to stick to. This month, I visited Spartanburg, South Carolina and Greensboro and High Point, North Carolina. There were so many interesting stories in these former mill towns that I hope to write about soon.
Next up, I’m going to a trade show in Las Vegas that was postponed from last year. I’m hoping to have a little bit of down time so share any recommendations!
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