🧭 Cultural Compass #9
A round-up of culture influencing my navigation of life.
🎧 Listening to a Literary Powerhouse
First up this week, a podcast ep I had been saving for a listen when I knew I could really get into it, anticipating the warmth and wonder it would provide as I chewed on every word spoken in Zadie Smith’s deep and dulcet tones, in conversation with Annie Macmanus. This was actually the second time Smith has graced the airwaves of Macmanus’ now much loved Changes podcast, the first being around the time of her short essay collection Intimations being released (which I remember eagerly picking up at West End Lane Books during an inter-lockdowns catch up day with a friend).
The familiarity between interviewer and interviewee is clear, much more so than in the earlier episode though which makes me wonder if that was actually the impetus for a new found close-connection between the two, as Smith had returned to London after a period of living in New York. But this display of friendship through a deep, intimate conversation feels in no way exclusionary. Rather we, the listeners, are invited into their world for around 50 minutes of glorious chatter, leaving with solid life advice, crucial lessons in history, and perhaps even a desire to go for a stroll along Kilburn High Road.
Not unlike
who referenced the episode in a recent substack post, I too am a big fan of listening to Zadie Smith, and learning from and contemplating her non-fiction work. Although I will forever be in awe of how she produced something as wild at White Teeth so early in her career, and On Beauty always has a special place in my mind - no doubt because New England feels like a dreamworld to me (and one year I will visit in fall!).In the latest
post, Marisa Bate, along with Sykes, also highlighted how Smith talks about domesticity, and the freedom, even pleasures, of parenting and household chores. Perhaps unexpected from someone we (rightfully) put on a literary pedestal, but her musings on this, and how it relates to the individualism marketed by capitalism, really made me think about my own take on domesticity, family life, and being in community. I briefly touched on this in my last post; the idea that we can find joy in doing things we don’t necessarily want to do, for others, because of our love for them. I can sometimes so easily be taken by the messaging that my own interests are paramount - whether from a brand looking to attract some of my cash, or from a woo-woo wellness coach dishing out life advice to any willing millennial. But without others around us to share love and care with, whether children, parents, partners or friends, what is life?If you’re reading this with no idea who Zadie Smith is (or indeed Annie Mac, as she was for a long time known) I would encourage you to start with this episode then dive into the treasure trove of Changes, and the back catalogue of Smith’s writing spanning 23 years. Both will likely have something for everyone, with ample fodder for insights on navigating life.
Enjoy.
📖 A Toolbox for the Brain
Last month I read Dr Julie Smith’s Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? after spotting the tell-tale multi-coloured spine on a charity shop shelf and nabbing the bargain without a second thought. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but had read/listened to a few interviews with the author around the time the book came out and had kept it in the back of my mind as one to get around to reading.
Dr Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience, who has long tried to make her knowledge and expertise more accessible through online channels. It was during the pandemic that her TikTok account really took off (an unsurprising time for a surge in psychological support searches!). Through the book she draws on experiences of providing therapy sessions, the arduous training to become a psychologist, plus the research behind why certain tips and tricks actually work to help people deal with emotions in a healthy way.
I won’t say it changed my life, or that everything I read was totally new to me, but I did find it to be a collection of cleverly collated nuggets of information that cause a lot of pennies to drop for a reader working through explanations of why and how we think the way we think and feel the way we feel.
From anxiety to relationships, low mood to motivation, the bitesize chapters neatly present helpful insights, points to consider, and ways of re-framing outdated or unhelpful beliefs, helping to optimise our mental health. And I think it’s this structure that I found particularly engaging, as I know it’s a format I can easily return to. When I’m feeling a bit stuck with a certain emotion, or having a wave of grief for lost loved ones, I’ll spot the jazzy spine on the shelf, pull down the book for a gander, and be able to flick to the section that specifically addresses how I’m feeling there and then, to gain some insight into my whirring brain and guidance on how to work through that moment; that day; that week.
An accessible read, with practical “life skills” for navigating life’s ups and downs, I’d recommend for anyone interested in the inner workings of our complex brains, wanting some support for dealing with tricky times, or building knowledge to help others do the same.
📑 3G(s)
Speaking of tricky emotions, when I first read Growing through Grief and Gratitude from
, the words on struck me so vividly it was as though they were written to me, for me. I re-read the piece about three times back-to-back there and then, in disbelief at how these lines had reached me in a moment I so needed them without even knowing. The encouragement to embrace uncharted territories, nurture curiosity and make space for new things are such simple, pure, messages, but Elle manages to take these ideas to a higher level, yet one that is intensely personal. Even reading it back while I write this, I’m wondering how I can etch these words into my brain…It’s not always easy to recognise when we are growing; when a period of difficulty feels too hard to move through, until we realise the ease or the joy waiting for us on the other side. Working through the challenges of getting to grips with a new role in a new company, trying to figure out a long-term career path, navigating the ebbs and flows of relationships, figuring out personal priorities to dedicate limited time too, generally fretting over what the future holds … all of these are challenges I have been, and often still am, grappling with this year. I have a wonderful life, but sometimes it can still feel hard. I wonder if I’m doing life right. But as Elle offers, “each step you take will serve a purpose,” and peace can be found in moving in a new direction, even if unexpected.
I first discovered Elle last year through the This Morning Walk podcast which she co-hosts with Libby DeLana (and it is indeed excellent company on a morning stroll). While the podcast has been on hiatus, I’ve been enjoying her insights, and images, via
. Not every piece strikes me as this one did. Not every post resonates to this extent. But for anyone open to a little bit of introspection in your inbox, this account is a good one to follow, and pondering what Growing through Grief and Gratitude might mean for you is a great place to start.What’s getting you thinking deeply this autumn?
PS…
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