Wild Geese has been a podcast I’ve been listening to for the better part of a year. It seems to be a common complaint that there is nothing left to watch on YouTube, but this channel has resolved the issue for me. Anna talks in such a methodical and poetic way; from episodes on bringing joy back into your life, to how languages shape the way we think. This week, I listened to ‘Become Your Own Muse’, where she begins talking, inspired by her own creative practice, and continues to the restriction of female thought throughout history.
It has such a lighthearted tone and is so addictive, which helped me to relax when there was a deadline looming over me.
A show I’ve absolutely devoured this week was Banjo & Ro’s Grand Island Hotel. This follows an Australian couple who buy an abandoned stately home on the Isle of Mull and renovate it, transforming it into a hotel. It has such a lighthearted tone and is so addictive, which helped me to relax when there was a deadline looming over me. One I would definitely suggest everyone watches!
The show presents the influence of arts and media on humankind—a ray of hope in a detached, AI-obsessed world.
A BBC Sounds show recommended to me was Desert Island Discs, where the host talks to a famous guest, asking them for eight songs they’d take to a deserted island, a book, and a ‘luxury item’. The show presents the influence of arts and media on humankind—a ray of hope in a detached, AI-obsessed world. I listened to Margaret Atwood’s episode, a person whose life always astounds me, and how she thinks never fails to be impressive.
Richard Siken’s Crush is a stunning poetry collection, fully immersive and allows you a small look into his mind. The poem that completely hooked me this week was ‘Unfinished Duet’, a conversational poem between the speaker and a fragment of himself. The way Siken writes is all-consuming and extremely emotive; just look for yourself: ‘there is no other choice. Everyone in this / room got here somehow and everyone in / this room will have to leave.’
I’ve been listening to Elbow’s album The Seldom Seen Kid recently, inspired by a conversation with someone in a seminar. ‘The Bones of You’ takes me back to the long car journeys of my childhood every time. The nostalgia it provides, while also bringing new people together today, really shows how media allows for human connection, so don’t underestimate it!