
For March, Peter Weber is sharing the book, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina. It’s description says, “…readers travel to Amboseli National Park in the threatened landscape of Kenya and witness struggling elephant families work out how to survive poaching and drought, then to Yellowstone National Park to observe wolves sort out the aftermath of one pack's personal tragedy, and finally plunge into the astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the crystalline waters of the Pacific Northwest.” Below is a link.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22320456-beyond-words
Peter said, “I just finished reading Beyond Words a few days ago and my mind is still turning over thoughts and feelings I experienced from reading this book. If you think you care about animals you should read it, if you don't care about animals you should read it.”
Actor Scott Murdock says, “… For a blend of star-power and introspection, Dax Shepherd's podcast, Armchair Expert is one of my favorite listens. Dax is an incredible host who intently listens to his guests and investigates the finer nuances of the human experience. His main theme: vulnerability is sexy. Dax and his co-host/fact checker, Monica Padman are poignant in their research and deliver interviews that are just as casual as they are philosophical. When I say star-power, I mean it. From guests like Ellen DeGeneres to the infamously private Edward Norton, Dax and Monica knock it out of the park with their bookings. But they don't pigeon hole themselves to just the entertainment industry. Other guests include evolutionary-biologist Richard Dawkins, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, the first and current Surgeon General of California. Armchair Expert has been my go-to for podcasts in the past two years.”
Arts Ed Director, Brooke Smith says. “Like approximately 12% of Americans, one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to eat healthier. And though about 92% of Americans do not achieve their resolutions, I am desperately trying to be one of the 8% that will! So far, I’m doing pretty good. The biggest helper has been the app MyFitnessPal by UnderArmour. It has a huge food database that lets me easily keep track of all of my calories and portion sizes, and it syncs up with my iPhone’s pedometer to count steps throughout the day. I think there are some community features that allow you to support your friends as well. Also, it’s free which was honestly the biggest draw for me. So far, I’ve logged over 30 days in a row (we’ll say my new year started in February). You can get it in the App Store on your iPhone or Android.”
Executive Artistic Director, Jason Richards recommends Blown Away. “You can find it on Netflix. There is only one season so it doesn’t take long to watch. It’s a reality show like so many other reality shows where each episode introduces a challenge where you have a “winner” and then a “loser” who is forced to leave the show. Blown Away is about glass blowers and the unique talent it takes to create art out of glass. It’s amazing! One of the categories they are often judged on is “creative bravery.” I love this sentiment. I thought about it a lot when choosing the 2020 season. Do I have creative bravery and how does that manifest itself in my job? Anyway, it’s a great show about a unique skill. Give it a look.
I hope you enjoy this month’s recs! See you in April for the next installment of Festival Faves.