TikTok has taken over our lives since early 2020, with over 1 billion active users now on the platform. Famous for its dancing, challenges, makeup videos and pranks, its short-form, attention-grabbing videos offer users an escape from a reality that hasn’t been so pleasant as of late. If you’re active on TikTok, then you know how easy it is to lose yourself for a couple of hours without even realizing it. 

But it’s not all carefree content. On the other end of the spectrum, people use the platform to share heavy, traumatic, and heartfelt personal videos relating to their mental health; from stories of abuse to loss and self-harm. While some of this sharing can be beneficial by normalizing mental health conversations, the lack of content warnings can sometimes do more harm than good. On top of this, there are millions of self-described mental health experts on the app whose unregulated advice can be misleading and damaging, especially to vulnerable children and teens aged 10-19, who comprise over 30% of TikTok’s users. 

However, like most things, whether TikTok is good for our collective mental health is not black and white. We spoke to three experts in the space, below, to weigh the pros and cons.

There are over 290 million views under #TherapyTikTok, a sign that talking about therapy has lost some of its stigma. Lindsay Fleming, a licensed therapist (LPC) who’s active on the platform, says that the biggest positive of TikTok is that people who are struggling have found a community and a place to share their experiences with therapy. It also provides education on the many different types of therapy that often go unexplored, she says.

On top of that, it shows us that therapists are people just like the rest of us, moving away from the silent nodding, never-smiles characters that are often portrayed on TV. Seeing friendly therapists on TikTok helps disrupt this image. “When appropriate, bringing ourselves into our practice as flawed human beings can be incredibly impactful. TikTok allows therapists to normalize that we are not a blank slate and gives people a sense of our personality, humor, and skillset,” says Mary Tate, LCSW, the founder of Tate Psychotherapy.

Given that therapy sessions range from $100-$400, therapy is not something that everyone can afford. The beauty of TikTok is that it’s accessible to a wider range of people, with no payment needed. “TikTok provides access to information and to what different diagnoses involve,” Fleming says, noting that this is especially valuable for underprivileged teens who often need therapy the most but have the least amount of access to it. 

When watching clips from reputable experts, teens can better understand their symptoms and get tips on how to manage them. It can also clear up confusion around different diagnoses, like the difference between clinical anxiety and simply feeling stressed.

Feeling like we’re not alone and that we have people who understand us is a vital part of the mental health journey. On TikTok, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you will find people who have gone through something similar to you. This sense of community can destigmatize mental health issues and also help you better understand your situation. “Especially for people who live in areas that aren't as accepting of their gender or their sexuality, TikTok can provide them with a community who they can really relate to,” Fleming notes. 

Just as TikTok normalizes therapy, it also helps to decrease the stigma surrounding mental health issues. “There have been long held negative stigmas about mental health issues where people may be afraid of being judged or viewed negatively,” says clinical psychologist Dr. Ashlyne Mullen. But in providing a platform for people to talk about these things openly, TikTok is helping to change that narrative. “[TikTok is a] space where people talk about the good, bad and sometimes ugly parts of suffering with mental health symptoms. The more that these are discussed and exposed the better chance there is that stigma decreases,” agrees Tate.

As a result of this openness, people are also being introduced to new coping skills to help them navigate things like anxiety and depression, says Dr. Mullen. Videos teaching meditation and deep breathing techniques, as well as art-related skills (like drawing, origami, crocheting), offer an outlet for people who are feeling down or stressed.

While self-diagnosing can prompt some people to seek professional help, doing it from a TikTok video can also be really dangerous. “Users are providing colloquial advice for disorders such as PTSD, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder,” says Dr. Mullen. “People may not seek treatment because they believe the information [they’re getting on TikTok] is enough.” Looking through videos like “5 signs you might have depression” and believing that’s info to make a diagnosis is the main issue. Mental health diagnoses are very individual and complicated and can only be confirmed by professionals, who will get to know you, your symptoms and history in depth. Jumping to conclusions and self-diagnosing because of a video you’ve seen online is just as dangerous as attempting to diagnose physical health issues via WebMD. 

One of the most dangerous aspects of TikTok is that anyone with an internet connection can pretend to be an expert. People can influence others simply because of their large followings and take advantage of vulnerable people in the process. “TikTok is filled with people who are providing advice that don’t have the qualifications or background to do so. I think many are providing advice from personal experience, which does not translate for everyone,” says Dr. Mullen. It can also confuse people into thinking they have a diagnosis, when they don’t. “We all get anxious sometimes, but to have a diagnosed anxiety disorder looks different than someone who's anxious,” Fleming says.

Sadly suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10 to 19 year olds and videos that promote self-harm, trauma, personal stories of abuse and more, are often seen on TikTok. Though they can be helpful, they can also re-traumatize you. “Essentially it can trigger people to re-experience their own trauma, and without the proper tools provided, someone may be unable to deal with these issues on their own,” Dr. Mullen says. Similarly, we can get secondhand trauma from watching something dramatic over and over again.

If you feel like sharing a mental health issue you have/have had, Tate advises to be careful of the following; “Always give a disclaimer that this is your own personal experience and provide trigger warnings (TW) if posting about sensitive topics. We should not support content that exploits those struggling with mental health in any capacity.”

It can be difficult to express our feelings and talk about our mental health, which is why open conversations on TikTok can feel like such a bright light. To help counteract this reality in the long term, though, we should be educating people on mental health from a young age. Fleming, who specializes in teen mental health, believes children should be taught about mental health and how to express their feelings in school starting at 5-years-old. We learn about our physical health so why not our mental health, too?

When we do turn to platforms like TikTok, it’s important to check the sources and legitimacy of the “experts” before we take their advice. You can look up whether or not therapists are actually licensed via the APA Psychologist Locator or follow this state-by-state guide. If you find a piece of information interesting, do further research via reputable sources like scientific studies (rather than Wikipedia) to learn more about it and ​​see if there’s solid support behind it. 

“Mental health professionals can have different opinions and beliefs, too,” Tate says. Dr. Mullen advises that experts whose advice you follow should have a PsyD or Ph.D. (doctorates in clinical or counseling psychology) or be licensed psychotherapists (with degrees like LCSW, LICSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAT, LP, LMSW). Ultimately, though, the experts agree that TikTok shouldn’t be the first place you go for mental health advice. As Tate put it: “Mental health is not so black and white, and we work in a world of gray that cannot be explored in a 15-60 second video.”

Keep the conversation going by commenting on this story below. You can also connect with us about whatever’s on your mind by texting The Local Optimist Hotline at 310.299.9414 and subscribing to our bi-monthly newsletter here.

Weighing the pros and cons of mental health content on TikTok.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Mental Health TikTok

We are so excited to share our team’s favorite gifts to give and receive this holiday season. Whether you are looking for a gift for your parents, your siblings, your friends, or your co-workers, our gift guide includes something for everyone – from the purely fun, like an AMC Stubs A-List subscription for movie lovers, to the mental health-saviors, like silly putty to help distract from anxious nail-biting and a weighted blanket for more restful sleep. Check out the full list, below.

This might be the best thing I have going for me right now. I am using this subscription multiple times a week. Perfect for anyone who even kind of likes movies. You basically have to see two films a month and the thing pays for itself. 

Full transparency, I have never used one of these in my life but everyone I know is always saying how great they are so they must be worth a try. It seems like an easy appliance for the less kitchen-savvy people like myself. 

I’m the most sensitive sleeper on the planet, which is its own kind of hell, so I’m always looking for tools to use to make it easier for me to actually get some rest. A weighted blanket is top of that list right now, and I hear this one is a great Bearaby dupe. 

This past year I started having anxiety attacks for the first time, and they are especially bad when I’m in bed at night trying to fall asleep. One of the only things that has helped is CBD, and even though I’m still on a mission to find the least-gross-tasting gummies on the market, these are the best I’ve found so far.

Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie - $14

I love this book because it has different short and insightful meditations for each day of the year. I try to read one meditation (typically in chronological order) daily. It’s a fun book and the messages really hit home. 

Flour Bakery Assorted Frozen Cookie Dough - $90

A friend of mine sent me this last year and I had so much fun with it. It’s essentially four different flavors of frozen cookie dough made by an award-winning pastry chef that you can easily bake on your own. I can tell you firsthand that they are DELISH. 

The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook - $15

This was a recommendation from my therapist and I highly recommend it as a guide to working on your personal self-talk and inner confidence. 

The original fidget spinner. As someone who is constantly picking at my nails or my clothes because of anxious tendencies, I love Silly Putty as a way to keep myself busy.

This one is a recommendation from my girlfriend! I got this kit for her last year and she has loved it. They are tiny adhesive beads on acupressure points that stimulate your brain.

I’m a big cold brew girl! I make a big batch and it lasts me a few days. It’s a great way to start the morning and it’s super cost effective (especially considering I have multiple cups a day!) 

These are cute, great smelling candles (which my friends got me when I moved from NY to LA). They have a number of states and cities which are popular, but also holidays, memories, etc! 

A roundup of our team’s favorite gifts to give and receive this holiday season.

TLO Holiday Gift Guide

Fictional friendships from movies and television can feel so real that we actually become emotionally invested in them. We root for them, laugh with them, and even cry with them, no matter how unrealistic what we’re watching may be (see: 6 best friends living together and spending every second together on Friends). But despite the fact that these friendships don’t really exist, they can inspire us and offer a roadmap for what we want our IRL friendships to look like.

In honor of our monthly theme of friendship, and our latest Madhappy collection in partnership with Disney & Pixar’s Toy Story (a heartfelt tribute to the power of friendship), we asked our team to choose their favorite on-screen friendship and tell us what makes these fictional duos so special.

There are a lot of onscreen friendships that I love, but I don’t think any of them have impacted my perspective as much as the relationship between Joy and Sadness in Inside Out. At the beginning of the film, it seems obvious that Joy is the goal for any of us. She’s full of life, she’s always optimistic, and she’s fearless – but her relationship with Sadness is strained. In the end, Pixar does a wonderful job of bringing these characters together and using friendship to encapsulate the moral of the story: life needs balance. Joy needs sadness and sadness needs joy. It’s the silence between the notes that makes the music. - Alex Brands, Head of Marketing 

I want it to be on record how particularly challenging this question is because my brain immediately wants to take so many different routes. A larger-than-I’d-like-to-admit side of me wants to curate a perfectly clever and intelligent literary duo that’s just the right amount of pretentious. Another part of me thinks I should just say Mary-Kate and Ashley to satisfy my inner child's nostalgia. But, at the end of the day, I have to give it to the girls who defined my twenties: Abbi and Ilana. Broad City came to me at the perfect time in my life, during the end of my college career and beginning of my “real life” while, just like the characters, I was living in a city with my best friend and had to navigate the world one hilarious fuck up at a time. In fact, to this day I have a Broad City note on my phone with all the shenanigans said bestie and I got into that we thought would make for some great sketches for the show. But it’s really the niche accuracy of an early twenties female friendship in the 2010s that makes Broad City my comfort show. The undeniable support, the room for error, the way they grow together and apart – it fills my heart up with memories from the same phase in my life and for that, they’ll be my girls for life. (But also, Keeley and Rebecca from Ted Lasso are my very close second!) - Meadowlark Monaghan, Mental Health Lead

Larry David & Leon Black, Curb Your Enthusiasm

Of the many iconic fictional friendships that exist, my favorite is that of Larry David & Leon Black’s (played by Larry David & J.B. Smoove) on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The beauty of Curb is that it speaks to the incredibly mundane and minute social conventions that we all face in life, and finds its best moments when confronting those conventions (usually, in an incredibly cringey way). Leon’s introduction onto Curb was one of the best things that happened to the show, particularly because of his dynamic with Larry. On paper, their friendship shouldn’t make sense. Larry wanted nothing to do with Leon & his family upon their introduction to the plot, and even up to current episodes, Leon still lives in Larry’s house rent-free. But the beauty of their relationship lies in the subtle ways they complete each other, or the hilarious reasons they often find themselves on the same page. They are the epitome of an unconventional, opposites attract friendship. We can only hope to all someday find the Leon to our Larry. - Ravi Shah, Brand Marketing Manager

Philip Jennings & Stan Beeman, The Americans

What’s worse, that I couldn’t think of a great fictional female friendship or that this one stands out for being such a rare depiction of non-hyper masculine friendship between two men? Regardless, I love these guys. It might seem weird to pick a relationship predicated on a big fat lie (for the uninitiated, Philip is a KGB spy cosplaying as a boring suburban dad who befriends his FBI-working neighbor, Stan) so let me explain. Throughout the show, they become unexpectedly close confidantes – having honest discussions with each other about their relationships, kids, existential dread, etc. Although they’re technically enemies fighting for entirely different causes on paper, there’s this palpable love between them that ultimately transcends what they’re fighting for. It’s a complicated, nuanced relationship that feels very human to me, even if the stakes are TV-level high. Without revealing too much, what Stan does (or really doesn’t do) in the series finale (arguably one of the best episodes of television ever made) feels like the ultimate depiction of loyalty and forgiveness to me, two ingredients that, IMO, are what makes a good friendship great. - Jessica Schiffer, Managing Editor

Meredith Grey & Cristina Yang, Grey’s Anatomy

“Dance it out!” That’s what Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang would do on Grey’s Anatomy when they were feeling stressed, anxious, or sad. When I was in college, I actually stole their invention of “dancing it out” with my best friend whenever we felt worked up, homesick or stressed. I swear it works. Meredith and Cristina’s friendship can be complicated and messy at times, as two women working together in a highly competitive field as surgeons, but it is also so real and relatable. And in fact, they’re friends in real life, which makes me love them even more. We see them yell at each other and fight like sisters, and then we see them laugh their asses off, drink together, and love each other. As a young woman, I find Mer and Cristina’s friendship inspiring: two incredibly strong, powerful women who are high achievers, extremely smart, different in many ways, carrying a lot of their own baggage, and are also best friends. They are honest with each other (sometimes too honest), encouraging, and supportive. If you have watched Grey’s Anatomy, you know that no friends have each other’s back as much as Mer and Cristina do. They are truly a great depiction of what friendship is all about. - Hallie Belle Sheinbaum, Project Manager

Despite the fact that these friendships aren’t real, they can inspire us and offer a roadmap for what we want our IRL friendships to look like.

TLO Recommends: Our Favorite Fictional Friendships

In early episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, it isn’t uncommon to see male members of the Starfleet roaming the USS Enterprise rocking the hell out of a minidress. While it may have been shocking then (it premiered in 1987 and ran until 1994), the show is set in the 24th century, when society, the show presumes, will have progressed past gender constructs. The fashion wasn’t simply for shock value — it signified the achievement of total gender equity, aiming to link the long-fought battle for equality to fashion. The male mini, however, didn’t last long, and was eventually phased out of the show altogether after rumored disputes with the network. 

While Star Trek is obviously fantastical, its costume choices were a response to very real gender roles in our world, and its predictions about gender and fashion were spot-on. While we will never know for sure how fashion will evolve in the next 250 years — unless we really get crackin’ on the whole cryogenics thing — if the past few years serve as a litmus test, we appear to be on a high-speed train barrelling towards androgyny. Today, we are able to wear clothes that many people in the LGBTQ+ community were ostracized, attacked, and even killed for wearing, but that didn’t stop them from fighting for decades for the right to be themselves. The result of that long-fought battle is a growing acceptance of genderless clothing in mainstream culture, allowing us all to more comfortably be ourselves, in whatever clothes we want.

When we think of androgynous or unisex fashion, we tend to think of women choosing to wear more traditionally masculine styles of dress. Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, and Joan Jett are all women who rocked the boat with their boundary-breaking style back when Star Trek was nixing the male minidress. However, in the years that followed, the shock of women in suits and pants faded quickly, and it was the men who wore traditionally feminine clothing that really made waves. A man in a dress became a form of anarchic social currency. David Bowie and Prince were renowned for their envelope-pushing femininity. Kurt Cobain famously donned dresses, from the “In Bloom'' music video, to his performance at Hampshire College, to that famous cover of The Face. Cobain possessed an innate understanding that life is much more exciting when freed from the boundaries of gendered clothes: “It just feels comfortable, sexy and free wearing a dress. It’s fun,” he told Melody Maker.  These famous dissenters have modeled a new way forward, in which a man can wear traditionally feminine clothing without sacrificing his masculinity. 

Brands are also hopping on board, finally realizing that gender constructs are so passé. Within Gen Z, one in six people identify as LGBTQ+ and they’re also four times more likely to identify as non-binary than people over 40. As younger generations grow more and more dissatisfied with the limitations of labels, fashion houses have begun rethinking the way that clothing is modeled, advertised and sold. The change in thinking along binaries signifies a greater social shift, one in which self-expression is freer and less stigmatized. Alessandro Michele, the creative director of Gucci, put it best when he said: “My idea of masculinity is beauty, and if you want to be beautiful you can be beautiful the way you want.” This trajectory of gender fluidity has opened doors to more interesting fashion and more genuine self-expression: Harry Styles, a muse of Michele, recently turned heads when he wore a dress on the cover of Vogue.

In fact, as fluid fashion becomes more ubiquitous, many male celebrities who have long worn traditionally masculine clothes have started rocking more feminine pieces. Both Post Malone and Kid Kudi recently donned floral frocks in honor of the 27th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death, while 2 Chainz, Diddy, and Kanye West have all worn skirts publicly. Jewelry has also become a gateway to gender-nonconforming fashion: A$AP Rocky, Bad Bunny, Machine Gun Kelly, and Jaden Smith have all been known to incorporate pearl necklaces, pendants, chokers, and a medley of rings into their accessory rotation. While none of these men are the first to wear traditionally feminine clothing — and saying so would be a disservice to those who came before them — seeing the über-famous shamelessly wearing skirts, dresses, and jewelry sends a message that dressing outside of the binary doesn’t have to be so taboo. 

Keep the conversation going by commenting on this story below. You can also connect with us about whatever’s on your mind by texting The Local Optimist Hotline at 310.299.9414.

As gender’s grip on clothing continues to loosen, we’re getting closer to a world in which self-expression reigns supreme.

The Beauty of a Genderless Fashion Future

Marketing that claims a product will "change your life" has been around forever, and it’s rarely the reality, but every once in a while we purchase something that really does shift our lives for the better. These upgrades don’t have to come from big, flashy items that are inaccessible: many small, everyday items that we pick up on a whim while online shopping can end up transforming our day-to-day routine and improving our overall wellbeing. You can’t buy your way to happiness, but you can buy things that leave you feeling better off than before. In case you’re looking for a little upgrade yourself,  we asked The Local Optimist team to share some of the purchases that have changed their lives for the better, below. 

I purchased these headphones around three years ago now and they are without a doubt the best purchase I have ever made for my anxiety. Especially when the first lockdowns began happening, having these bad boys while living in an apartment complex was crucial. I use them to meditate, I use them on planes if I’m having flight anxiety, I use them to listen to podcasts while I do the dishes, I use them when my Soundcloud rapper neighbors want to impede upon my strict sleep schedule. They are my desert island product. - Meadowlark Monaghan, Mental Health Lead

I had thought about getting a tattoo for years by the time I was 26. I always worried that if I picked something, I wouldn’t like it when I got older, or it wouldn’t resonate as my life changed. Years beforehand, I had heard the phrase “everyone wants to be Cortés, but no one wants to burn their ships,” and it stuck. To really create something new or do something that goes beyond, you have to be willing to risk it and commit. (Note: Hernan Cortés was not a model human being by any means, but the sentiment lives on). Also, by choosing a first tattoo with the theme commitment, I had to go through with it. I have a burning ship on my left leg, and I think about what it means to truly commit all the time. It’s the best $350 I’ve ever spent. - Alex Brands, Head of Marketing

Motivational Water Bottle with Time Marker

As humans, the importance of staying hydrated is always stressed to us from a young age. Water accounts for 60-70% of our body weight, so “drink more water” is frequently listed as the secret to better skin, better beauty, and better overall health. I’ve always known this, but never really took it to heart. I tried to drink water, but was always the type to get lost in other things and before I knew it, it was 7PM and I hadn’t had a glass since that morning. When we began lockdown in March of 2020 and were spending all of our time at home, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally try to drink lots of water. I purchased a GIANT water bottle I had always heard about, that included times on it to help you stay hydrated throughout the day. While it was incredibly challenging, after a week of drinking a gallon of water per day I felt like a new person. In the past, I’d dealt with stomach issues like bloating and acid reflux. Quickly, those ailments were no longer part of my regularly scheduled programming. It sounds silly, but it’s amazing what hydration can do for you. This was a small, inexpensive change that totally shifted pain points in my life that constantly bothered me, and I highly recommend it to everyone who’s looking to feel better physically. - Ravi Shah, Brand Marketing Manager

Apologies for sounding like every wellness influencer on the ‘gram, but my morning routine legitimately keeps me sane. Just yesterday, my boyfriend woke up early and I was a little annoyed at not getting my usual dose of quiet alone time. But unlike said influencers, it’s not meditation or a vigorous workout that keeps me happy first thing: I just want a delicious breakfast that I can really savor while reading the news or getting some writing in. No disrespect to the anti-breakfast contingent out there but it’s the best meal of the day and one of the few I make myself (to the dismay of my bank account). Pre-pandemic, I was hooked on buying açaí bowls multiple times a week and it got pricey. In the early days of Covid, when simply going outside felt like a threat, I had to pivot and figure out a new routine, but the blender I had – a leftover relic from my childhood home that was likely made before I even existed – was not cutting it. After my tenth time spending 20 minutes trying to blend some frozen fruit (really not a big ask), I finally bit the bullet and splurged on a Vitamix. Unfortunately, everyone who sang its praises was right: it took my morning routine to the next level. Now I make my own bowls multiple times a week, saving money and feeling accomplished (because this is the closest I’ll ever get to “cooking”) all before 9am. Paired with some Stumptown cold brew, it gives me at least an hour every day of pure bliss that I can count on, regardless of whatever else is going on. - Jessica Schiffer, Managing Editor

Okay, I confess that my product choice may sound cliché; however, I was writing in journals back in the day when they were still called “diaries!” I love my journals, and I have hundreds of pages of entries dating back to when I was 11 years old. Whenever I start a new journal, I feel like I am starting a new serious relationship. I have different journals that represent different parts of my life—a business one for work notes and goal setting, a personal one for deep inner work, a creative one for scrapbooking, and one that is more like the diary I had when I was a kid, where I write down everything that’s going on in my life. I’ve saved all of my journals throughout the years and still heed the advice of my 11-year-old self, who wrote, “Mean people suck.”  That wise entry was in a journal that had silver sparkles and a sticker of a deer that I placed on top of the word “Diary.”  My journals are typically cathartic in the moment and then can provide solace and a good laugh when I look back on them.  - Hallie Belle Sheinbaum, Project Manager

These AirPods didn’t necessarily change my life, but they made traveling a lot more enjoyable with the noise-canceling feature. Considering I am on a plane every other month, having a good set of headphones was super important to me because I couldn’t focus without noise-canceling headphones. I like to get a lot of work done while traveling, and with my AirPod Pro’s, I can’t hear a thing outside of them while I'm on the plane. While I am listening to a new podcast or some music, it feels like I am the only one in the room. It has definitely made traveling a lot easier and more enjoyable for sure. - Andrew Wetmore, Graphic Designer

The TLO team weighs in on the purchases that have changed their lives for the better.

TLO Recommends: A Purchase That Actually Changed Your Life

We want to start by addressing the needless shooting of Jacob Blake. Jacob continues to fight for his life in the hospital. You can donate to Jacob's medical bills here. 

As racism and police brutality continue, we want to make it abundantly clear that we stand with our BIPOC community. If you're looking for updated information, you can check here. Please be mindful of violent or triggering images, especially if you are a Black or BIPOC person. Your mental health is so important each and every day, and understanding that every person will have a different tolerance of such images. 

For more information on the Black Lives Matter Movement, resources, and Black mental health guides, please read our BLM Toolkit. 

If you're looking for healthy content to read, watch, and listen to, the rest of this post is a couple of our picks for those options. It is possible to consume content to learn more and feel a healthy amount of distraction. Take care of yourself. 

Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell. 

As the title alludes, this nonfiction read (or listen) is all about how humans interact with the unknown, and how misconception and assumption plagues us all. Along with overviewing fascinating historical events from an eclectic investigative standpoint (Nevil Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler’s amicable friendship? The CIA is not so intelligent after all?), this book goes deep into the downsides and upsides of human communication (or lack thereof) and will certainly make you think about your approach to truth, trust, and talking. 

If you were a fan of our Internal Roommate pieces, this book is the next step. This book covers everything from the power of thinking, to ego, to “the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death.” While that sounds like spiritual foo foo, the book is written in Q&A format and has real, tangible explanations on how to leave your ego behind and create your own happiness. 

ANY of the speeches from The 19th's 2020 Virtual Summit. 

The 19th is a non-profit organization founded to empower underrepresented women in all aspects of civic engagement. The 2020 virtual summit commemorated the women's suffrage centennial of the 19th amendment and included powerful speakers from powerful women across the board, with focuses on the intersection of race and gender, electoral equity, and much more on the ongoing fight for gender equality. 

“Everything Is The Best” with Pia Baroncini, Episode 16

This podcast episode is quite literally called “IF YOU HAVE FEMALE HORMONES, LISTEN TO THIS! w/ Alisa Vitti” and I couldn't agree more emphatically. Alisa Vitti is a specialist in hormonal biochemistry, functional nutrition, endocrinology, epigenetics, and neuropsychology. She covers everything from why intermittent fasting doesn’t work for women in reproductive years to the best exercise, diet, work behavior, and sex to have during different stages in your hormonal cycle. For anyone with a period - this is a must listen. 

If you’ve ever considered starting a meditation practice, Weslie’s realistic journey is inspiring, practical, and helpful if you’re a newbie or an OG that’s looking to be re-inspired in quarantine. 

This Oscar winner was completely robbed of Best Picture at the 2018 Academy Awards. Some argued that it paved the way for Parasite's best picture win last year. I know that it is a black & white foreign language film that runs just over 2 hours, but I have failed to find someone that says they didn’t like this film. It takes place in 1970’s Mexico City and deals with a family with four kids and two domestic workers who help care for the children. It is a film that both moves you and makes you think. The movie is nearly completely autobiographical of the upbringing of Alfonso Cuaron, the writer-director of the film who took home his second Best Director Oscar for Roma. Making this movie was a therapeutic exercise for Cuaron and that is clear with every shot. Inner child, family of origin, traumas as a youth, sibling dynamics; they are all addressed. It is nothing short of a masterpiece. 

P.S. - There is also an hour long documentary on the making of the film called “Road to Roma” which shows in depth just how personal this film is, and the lengths that the cast and crew went through to completely recreate Cuaron’s childhood home. The documentary is just as essential as the film itself. 

Sean Baker’s Florida Project is an absolute gem, packed with tons of heart and dreamy visuals. Moonee and her single mother reside in a lavender colored motel right outside Disney World. There, she tries to occupy her days playing with friends and eating ice cream, with the depressing and subtle reality of poverty in the background. But never in your face. Baker, like his first feature  “Tangerine,” shows us a part of American life that is often forgotten. But we see this world through a child’s eyes, imbuing the story with innocence, curiosity and hope, despite the harsh reality the characters face. This will leave you thinking about poverty in America, the troubled bond between mother and daughter, and most of all, the enthusiasm for life children have that often fades

Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj is the brown, millennial John Oliver we always wanted that Netflix just seven days ago decided to pull the plug on. Conspiracy in the comments section of his videos attribute it to one of his latest episodes, “Why Doing Taxes Is So Hard” where he revealed that “Netflix hasn’t paid federal taxes in 2019”...

I know it’s hard to convince you to watch another news satire commentary blah blah, especially in 2020 but let me tell you: this show is different. As the Verge so perfectly summed it up, “Patriot Act was already mad, and it knew you were, too. It wasn’t interested in getting you riled up about something new, but all that shit you already slog through to get through the day? The show wanted to break that stuff down to its disparate parts and tell you what could be done about it.” 

If you don’t have Netflix, don’t fret! Hasan also posted each episode on Youtube because we’re all about accessibility to information regardless of SES over here. They also have a series called Deep Cuts where he chats with the live audience before the show to answer questions. Place your bets in the comments on what network we think will pick up Hasan next. 

Donate to Jacob Blake's medical bills here. 

Support CA Wildfire & Disaster Relief via the CA Fire Foundation here. 

Support the Equal Justice Initiative (a Black founded nonprofit organization) here. 

Content Balance

We have spent a lot of time as a team trying to comprehend the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and the broader inequality and systematic racism evident in our country. It is hard to know what to say. As individuals - we are overcome with emotion. Pain, anger, sadness, confusion. As a brand that preaches optimism - we have found it difficult to remain optimistic in this situation. 

It is easier to not speak up in uncomfortable situations when it is hard to find the right words. But for us, some words are better than none. As a brand with a platform trying our best to create conversation around mental health; it is critically important for us to stand up to the injustice around us and be there to support the Black community. As human beings, we must be outraged by this and we must act. Speak your mind, protest peacefully, and refuse to stand idly by as we witness violent acts of racism in our country everyday. 

It is okay to not feel okay. If you want to cry, cry. If you want to scream, scream. Just know that when you feel overcome with your emotion, you are not alone. Support each other. Be there for each other. And listen to those that need to be heard the most. 

It is hard to find a reason to be optimistic, but in the words of Killer Mike, "I hope we find a way out of it, because I don't have the answers, but I do know: we must plot, we must plan, we must strategize, we must organize, and mobilize." We will be sharing ways that we are getting involved and encourage you to join us in building a brighter future. 

FOR OUR BLACK BROTHERS & SISTERS: 5 SELF CARE TIPS TO NAVIGATE TRAUMATIC EVENTS

Affinity Group. Gather safely with those similar to you to process, unpack, grieve, breathe, feel, without having to apologize for being triggered or hurt. It is not your job to educate others while trying to rehab your own wounds. Check in with community. 

Art. Read. Write. Listen. Sing. Draw. Art is extremely therapeutic. It can be a very effective way to process. 

Do nothing. Take time to collect your inner peace.

Log off. Get off social media when you feel you need to. Replaying and reposting can be activating or re-traumatizing. Unplugging can control what you let in. Give yourself permission to log off.

Feel. Your reaction, whatever it is, is your reaction. You have every right to be tired, angry, frustrated, terrified, sad, scared, numb, etc. Rage if you must. Let rage visit but do not stay in your rage. Share your emotions with others. 

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY

National Association of Black Social Workers

National Black Child Development Institute

National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network

Donate to black led organizations and bail funds

Protest. Putting your body into protest spaces changes the rhetoric from 'Black people are angry' to 'people are angry'

Call out racist language, actions, attitudes, and behaviors of people around you

Call, email, text city and government officials. Sign up for petitions. 

Start conversations with other white friends and talk to them about what is going on

Be informed. Debate the issue. Don't be afraid to be opinionated

Stay educated. Read from Black authors, read from Black perspectives. It is not your Black friends jobs to educate you. It is your job to educate yourself. 

Understand that when you are talking to your Black friends right now that without mentioning what is going on first is insensitive. Give them the space to talk and show them you are with them. 

Run With Maud - Justice For Amaud Arbery Fundraiser 

Justice For Breonna Taylor Petition and Fundraiser

Wear black head-to-toe and please continue to wear masks. Black folks are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Show support but continue to protect them from the virus as well. 

Pad your dominant forearm to absorb baton blows.

White folks place yourself between Black folks and cops. 

Bring extra medical supplies and assist in whatever way appropriate when you see someone who needs medical assistance.

Call for a medic with both arms crossed over your head. 

In the event that chemical irritants are deployed, wash eyes with cold water. Hot water by any means will open your pores and cause more pain.

Do not wear contacts if you can help it/wear eye protection. 

After the action, check in with medics. Show them care and emotional support.

Tear gas canisters will burn a naked hand. 

Stay mobile. Avoid being cornered. Concussion grenades are meant to rattle and disorient you. Stay vigilant. 

Never turn your back to an attacker, do not run.

In the event that trans/nonbinary folks are arrested or detained, cis people must go to jail with them. Never let them go alone. 

This also applies to white people when Black people are arrested. We protect the most marginalized in our ranks. 

Learn more about Policy Solutions, including establishing alternative approaches to mental health crises

NYTimes "Our democracy’s founding ideals were false when they were written. Black Americans have fought to make them true."

i-D "How to take action online in the wake of George Floyd’s death"

Black Lives Matter

I’m the type of person that is relentlessly optimistic. When crisis, challenges, life happens, you have two options: you either act in accordance with your emotions and your ego and therefore, unravel. Or… 

Or. That’s it; period. In my mind, you say “or” and I pick or. I pick to not fall into the emotional turmoil of hardships and instead, be as present as I can with them and find meaning for myself. 

That being said, I am working on present positives everyday. Right now, it’s food. A recurring, positive theme in my quarantine thus far is the relationship of food with mental health. Food is tied to nostalgia (“just how my grandma makes it!”), self identity (“I take my steak medium rare, and anything else is blasphemous!”), social connectedness (everything happens around the dinner table), religion (“breaking bread”), the list goes on. 

I come from a family with a big priority for food. I grew up watching Top Chef with my mom and brother constantly, and Giada, Bobby, and Ina on the Food Network promptly at 3PM after school. Nowadays, I am binge watching Bon Appetit videos, Chef’s Table, Mind of a Chef, and Ugly Delicious Season 2 for my fix of food content. I’ve been cooking and baking for as long as I can remember. Two of my relatives were professional chefs. I’ve dated a chef (do not recommend). I’m re-reading The Nasty Bits by Tony Bourdain currently. Shoot, we don’t even have time to get into Bourdain right now, but you better believe that will be for another time. Just know my heart still aches. 

All of this is to say that my favorite quarantine moments have been the anticipation of the next meal. Whether I was able to brace my local Trader Joe’s for provisions or am challenged to what’s left in my pantry, getting creative in the kitchen has brought me solace. 

I’ve been using the same stash of ingredients to make a smorgasbord of new and innovative snacks. Just yesterday, this delightfully edited and silly video of Brad Leone inspired me to throw some tomatoes on my stove and make a delicious charred tomato toast. 

From the content consumption of books, Youtube, Netflix, podcasts, etc to gain inspiration, to the act of getting in the zone and finding my anxious thoughts simmer down (pun intended) while doing the actual cooking, to being able to smile and enjoy a meal with my “essential” worker boyfriend, allows us to connect, relax, and nourish our bodies and our happiness. It is the much needed moment of solace to bring us together and comfort us in these objectively chaotic times. 

I ASKED THE TEAM, HOW HAVE YOUR QUARANTINE DIETS BEEN? WHAT'S BEEN YOUR GO TO FEEL GOOD MEAL? HAV EYOU BEEN COOKING FROM HOME MORE AND SUPPORTING RESTAURANTS WITH TAKE OUT? 

Josh: My quarantine diet has been so off my normal eating regiment. I normally eat less and eat healthier but being that we are quarantined and eating as a full family, the meals are bigger and therefore I am eating a lot more food. Especially carbs. My go-to, feel good meal has been turning on the grill and having a chicken burger and a salad. Breakfast and dinner is home cooked but sometimes we take out lunch. Loving açaí bowls. Refreshing and sweet. Going forward, I want to prep my menus and have healthy snacks in the fridge ready to go.

Noah: I have been using this time to implement better habits & routines into my life. I read a quote that really inspired me... "the biggest loss in the end is if we come out on the other side of this unchanged". With that being said, I've been eating "healthy" during the week and I'm having fun on the weekend. Smoothies in the morning, salad, sweet potatoes, chicken for lunch & dinner. On the weekends you best believe I'm crushing a burger, fries and a banana cream pie from The Apple Pan. 

Peiman: Not much has changed in my diet. Cooking a bit more now that I'm home for longer. Trying to keep it healthy - as that helps me with how I feel day to day. :) 

Mason: I can not talk about food during quarantine and not immediately address my wonderful girlfriend Sophia. She has been prepping all of our meals and I am so grateful. I try to return the favor by clearing the table and loading the dishwasher. I feel like my diet has been healthier, greens with every meal. Something about cooking all your food just makes it feel cleaner and more fresh. 

Going to feel good is probably pasta or chicken cutlets. Sophia enjoys baking as well so I have been spoiled with homemade chocolate chip cookies and banana bread which has made me feel pretty good.  

We cook at home most of the time. We try and treat ourselves to take out maybe once or twice a week from some of our favorite spots. We got All Time last night which was delicious. We try and stock up at the grocery store to have enough food for two weeks so we can limit our trips.  

Overall my food situation has been something I look forward to, I feel super lucky to be quarantined with someone who loves to cook and is naturally gifted at doing so. 

The only thing keeping us all sane: eating.

Mh. Team Picks: Quarantine Food

Hello Everyone! We're back with an Isolation Coping Guide Edition. Let's see what the Madhappy Team has been consuming this quarantine. 

Chuhk: Bottle Rocket, Oldboy, The Holy Mountain, The Skin I Live In, About A Boy.

Mason: There are three hall of fame PTA movies on Netflix right now. Magnolia, There Will Be Blood and The Master. They also have Space Jam on there which I watched with my roommate and found it to be a big anxiety reducer. What I have been doing mostly is picking directors that I love and running through their filmography. A few of my favs: Sidney Lumet, Billy Wilder, Akira Kurosawa and Martin Scorsese. 

Meadow: I’ve been trying to catch up on all the movies everyone raved about last year that I haven’t gotten around to yet. I started with 1917 (loved it). On the list next are Queen & Slim and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. 

Josh: Legends of The Fall, Good Will Hunting, Shawshank Redemption, Semi-pro, Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Noah: The Godfather, Good Fellas, Finding Nemo, Entourage, McMillions.

Peiman: Curb Your Enthusiasm, McMillions.

Chuhk: Porches - Ricky Music, The Durutti Column - Another Setting.

Mason: Music makes me feel better. Music is good. I have been wanting to listen to old music, the more nostalgic the better. Try listening to your favorite songs from middle school and high school.

Meadow: One of my best friends texted me a “movement break” playlist that she made on Spotify the other day to inspire her friends to move around the house more. It’s my jam right now. Oh, and her spring playlist "tulips n goldfish"! It’s also a reference to Nowruz, Persian new year and the celebration of Spring Equinox. 

Mason: For some reason the only books that I find myself reading are autobiographies. All my favorites in no particular order: Open, Scar Tissue, Acid for the Children, The Emperor of Sound, Eleven Rings, Coach Wooden & Me, Those guys have all the fun and The Autobiography of Gucci Mane.

Meadow: I just finished A Song of Achilles which taught me that I knew nothing about Achilles. Now, I’m re-reading The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. Podcast wise, I used to listen to The Daily every morning but right now the news is a little much for me. I’m loving Woke with Weslie and exploring old TED talks. 

Josh: The Corp (Podcast), Ride of a Lifetime (Book), Shoe Dog (Book).

Chuhk: Painting has been very calming and therapeutic. Downsizing, organizing the things you have versus the things you need. Mindfulness, Breathing Exercises, Meditation. 

Mason: I have been cleaning and organizing a lot. My girlfriend got a TikTok which I refuse to participate in. Playing old video games, checking in with people I love and just taking this thing day by day. 

Meadow: I have been working on the same puzzle for so long and it’s so hard it’s driving me nuts and keeping me occupied. I’m upping my meditation game and in addition to Headspace, started meditating to 432hz sounds on youtube. Also, living room dance parties have been fun. 

Josh: Long walks, Group Zoom w/ friends, Monopoly Deal.

Noah: Daily Mediation + Runs. I'm hooping a little too!

Leave us your quarantine picks in the comments.

The team is back with what they've been occupying themselves with during quarantine.

Mh. Team Picks: Quarantine

Last night concluded the 92nd Annual Academy Awards. In what has been a confusing night in years past, this year was a monumental night for not only the Oscars, but the entire film industry. This year was still not without some confusion; why did Eminem perform? Why was Blac Chyna in attendance? Why were Luke Perry (and others) left out of the in memoriam? Why are Renee Zellweger’s speeches so strange? 

It really seemed like the Academy tries to make up for the lack of diversity amongst the nominees with curating the opening presenters very carefully. The show opened with an original song my Janelle Monae that was engaging and…interesting. Then Chris Rock came out with Steve Martin and made some jokes, and then Regina King came out to present. Despite a valiant effort, we see right through you Academy. To be honest as we neared the 2 1/2 hour mark everything was going according to plan. I was getting bored as all the favorites had won. The night was on pace to be straight chalk. 

Then came the Best Director award. Spike Lee was presenting the award and I had nearly forgotten that he won best director the year before. Then I looked it up realized that he hadn’t won, you almost got me there Academy! It was actually Alfonso Cuaron. When he announced Bong Joon Ho had won for Parasite, the theatre exploded, and so did the people I was sitting alongside. Bong got up and proceeded to say that he had thought he was done for the night after already taking home two Oscars for original screenplay and international film. The first being not the sexiest but for some people the most sought after award. Sam Mendes was the favorite here, and it was the first real upset of the night. Bong shared a quote that he had “carved deep into his heart” that was said my Martin Scorsese decades ago…

With Marty in the audience as a fellow nominee in the category, it became one of the most touching Oscar moments I have ever seen. To see someone winning and give thanks to a fellow nominee in that same category, for actually teaching him about directing, the exact thing he won for! Bong has nothing but respect for his competition. Once this happened, the film twitter’s collective dream heading into the night was starting to gain momentum. Could Parasite really win best picture? It would be the least Academy like thing that the Academy has ever done. Let’s all remember that Green Book was awarded best picture last year. 

In the interim, Renee Zellweger and Joaquin Phoenix were awarded best actor for Judy and Joker respectively. Both were huge favorites heading into the night as they had swept every other awards show thus far. Renne gave an on brand rambling speech in which she mentioned Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, Dolores Huerta, Venus and Serena and Selena, Bob Dylan, Scorsese, Fred Rogers and Harriet Tubman, all within what seemed like eight seconds. Joaquin got up there and gave a beautiful stream of consciousness speech that seemed so genuine and natural. He spoke about feeling so grateful and is the only person I have ever seen accept such a big award and not thank the academy or even acknowledge his own movie. (Besides the most legendary speech of all time) He spoke about the collective fight against injustice, about the creativity and inventiveness behind the human race and about his own past to which he called himself a “scoundrel” and “selfish”. Now it was time for the big one, we all know what happened. Jane Fonda announced Parasite with the perfect pause, and the crowd erupted like a buzzer beater had just been scored and history was made. Parasite was the 10th foreign language film to be nominated for best picture, and it is the first to win. It took 92 years for the Academy to crown a non - English film as the best picture of the year. Bong Joon Ho, who was probably exhausted at this point having already proclaimed to the world multiple times that he was going to drink until the morning, got up on stage with everyone and didn't even speak. He didn’t need to. There was nothing to say at this point. The entire energy of the room shifted in what has the potential to be seen as a real turning point for the reputation of the Academy. They finally did the right thing. 

Before I leave you, below are just some random thoughts and facts about the night that I felt should be shared…

It is an absolute travesty that Lupita Nyongo was not nominated for her performance in US, and therefore we didn’t get to see her last night. That also reminds me of Janelle’s opening number in which dancers were dressed up as characters from several movies that should have been nominated but weren’t, US included. It felt out of place. 

1. Shia presented an Oscar with his Peanut Butter Falcon co-star Zach Gottsagen which was awesome. 

2. Martin Scorsese's went 0-10 at last night’s awards, tying himself as the only director to have two movies go 0-10. The other was Gangs of New York. We need justice for The Butcher. 

3. The Obamas production company Higher Ground won an Oscar for best documentary feature in their first ever release. Flex. 

4. The Academy announced the opening of the Museum of Motion Pictures in December 2020 and is a project that has been in the works for 80 years. 

Some closure on the historical 92nd Annual Academy Awards

Oscars Recap

As I sit here trying to write about what has been going on in pop culture it's hard for me to think about anything else besides Kobe. My top movies from last month or predictions for the super bowl don’t seem nearly as important to me anymore. I don’t think there has ever been a time in my life where I have felt this. I have lost people before. People that I had a personal connection to, even people who were my blood. But I have still never felt this. I may have been more sad, or more affected. But this is different. Growing up in LA, Kobe is someone who has been with me forever. I don’t remember my life without him in it. When he got drafted in 1996 I was 2 years  old. There are no words to explain how much he meant to this city. He was our king. He was our leader. He was our example of hard work. And he was putting it on display with our city across his chest almost nightly for twenty years. 

All you had to do this last week in LA was go outside. The air, the energy, you could feel it. Walking around and looking at people faces, buses displaying RIP Kobe messages, buildings being lit up purple & gold at night, Kobe was everywhere. It feels like the city is more united than ever, as we grieve this massive loss together. I went down to the LA Live/Staples Center area on Monday afternoon and while it was extremely emotional it felt right to be there. Hundreds of people stood around wearing Kobe jerseys and Lakers gear. Kobe had an impact on everyone. As I walked around the plaza I was surrounded by every kind of person you could imagine. And everyone was feeling the same pain. It seemed like nobody really knew what to do. Including myself. There was nothing to say, there was nothing to do, we all just gathered in silence and reflected on how much this person meant to us. Together. Although there really is no silver lining here, it has been so moving to see how big of an impact Kobe had on the world. You have tennis players wearing Kobe jerseys in the Australian Open, golfers wearing jerseys on the tour, players in the NHL changing their numbers. It goes beyond sports too, people like Bob Iger, John Williams and Barack Obama have all shared their thoughts on Kobe. To hear all the stories, all the times he reached out to people to pick their brain on something or congratulate them on an achievement, have only cemented Kobe’s legacy even further. 

What makes this story even more tragic is that it wasn't just Kobe. It was his 13 year old daughter Gianna, Sarah Chester and her 13 year old daughter Payton, John & Keri Altobelli and their 13 year old daughter Alyssa, pilot Ara Zobayan and coach Christina Mauser. This took it from a story of losing an NBA legend and the greatest Laker of all time, to parents losing their kids, children losing their parents, brothers losing their sisters and five families being forever changed. This will be one of those defining moments in history where everyone remembers where they were. The NBA will forever be different. It will be remembered as before this happened and after this happened. Both the league and the Lakers will take a big step in the healing process as the Lakers play their first game in 6 days and first since the passing. No one including myself really knows what to expect or how the team will honor Kobe. 

As I think about the future, and the life that we must continue to live despite all of this, I think about how Kobe would have lived it. Don’t settle for anything less than your best. Don’t let anyone box you in or tell you what you can and can’t do. Be true to yourself and who are you. Try new things. Be curious. Always be learning. Don’t be scared to ask questions or ask for help. Be there for the ones you love the most. Help others. Inspire people. Truly make the world a better place. And above all, find your mamba mentality. Thank you for my childhood Kobe, you will be remembered for all of time. 

A week after Kobe's passing, we wanted to share a brief message on what he meant to us as we all try and continue on after the horrific tragedy.

Kobe Bean Bryant

Another month has passed, and another slew of highly anticipated films have been released. What made this month special is the range of films, there is truly something for everyone. 6 of the 10 are based off true stories, all powerful and inspiring. We get to see movies from people who have been making important films for over 40 years (Malick), and new film makers that the industry is both excited about and counting on (Shultz, Johnson, Waititi.) We have A-List movie stars (Johansson, Damon, Bale, Hanks, Driver, Evans, Craig) and some new favorites (Kaluuya, Jupe, Brown, Jojo’s chubby friend.) This movie year continues to be an insanely strong year just off last months and this months lists alone. Check out my top 10 from November below and go support your local theatre! 

10. Queen & Slim - A beautiful movie, with a near perfect soundtrack. Was so excited for this and left the theatre feeling a bit empty. 

9. Ford v. Ferrari - Incredible true story, great racing scenes, good acting, very average film. 

8. The Report - A stain on our nations history that coincided with the biggest counter-terrorist win of my lifetime. The crazy true story of the US Senate vs. The CIA. Takeaway: Torture is bad, the truth is good. Shoutout Sally from Barry getting a nice role in this one, acting class pays off!

7. A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood - Tom Hanks is a little snack in this one. Such important messaging about the inevitable suffering that comes with life, and how dealing with our feelings is truly life changing. 

6. Jojo Rabbit - A very smart movie. Funny and wonderfully written. Still hard for me to be all in on Wes Anderson nazis. 

5. Waves - The best use of both modern music and perhaps music in general of any film I’ve ever seen. When Frank gives you full access to his catalogue you know you have a special piece of art. 

4. A Hidden Life - This isn’t an easy movie to watch by any means, but if you love Terrence Malick like I do than you will love this film. The true story of an Austrian farmer refusing to fight for Germany in WWII. 

3. Knives Out - It’s so nice and refreshing to see original IP these days. This movie is just a good time. Not too serious but not stupid at all. Loaded with star power, Toni Collette MVP. 

2. The Two Popes - I had no idea about the true story that this movie told and was absolutely fascinated by it all. The 2014 World Cup was God’s plan. 

1. Honey Boy - The most cathartic movie I have ever seen. This one hits home for me in a lot of ways. The bravery and vulnerability that it took to write and make this movie can not be overstated. 

Another month has passed, and another slew of highly anticipated films have been released. What made this month special is the range of films, there is truly something for everyone. 6 of the 10 are based off true stories, all powerful and inspiring.

November Recap

While I’m well aware that we are a full week into November, I would be remiss if I didn’t take some time to talk about what a special month October was in the world of sports and entertainment. Last month alone we had: the start of the NHL and NBA seasons, the NFL and NCAAF seasons continue and the end of an extremely enjoyable MLB Playoffs (unless you are a Dodger fan.) We also saw the once unimaginable passing of NCAA athletes being able to profit off their likeness! Shoutout California and Gavin for leading the way there. On the entertainment side, we had: Oscar Hopefuls release in theaters, Kanye West drop a forgettable album, Tame Impala announce their follow up to Currents (five years later) and a new season of Big Mouth. Below you will find my very early NBA thoughts and my top 10 movies that I saw in October. Enjoy. 

While I’m well aware that we are a full week into November, I would be remiss if I didn’t take some time to talk about what a special month October was in the world of sports and entertainment.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Mental Health TikTok

TLO Holiday Gift Guide

TLO Recommends: Our Favorite Fictional Friendships

The Beauty of a Genderless Fashion Future

TLO Recommends: A Purchase That Actually Changed Your Life

Content Balance

Black Lives Matter

Mh. Team Picks: Quarantine Food

Mh. Team Picks: Quarantine

Oscars Recap

Kobe Bean Bryant

November Recap

October Recap

Mh. Team Picks: October

July Recap

Mh. Team Picks: July

June Recap

Mh. Team Picks: June