SCREENSHOTS #13 - Dying for sex, Adolescence, Ricky Martin's memoir and more recs
Movies, series, books and more: everything I've watched, listened to, read, and tried in April.
TV Shows
Dying for Sex
I finished this show in probably 3 or 4 nights - I was particularly curious about it not only because of the unique storyline - based on a real story - but also because I have loved Michelle Williams since Dawson's Creek.
Well, if you are not familiar with it, let me give you some context: after Molly receives a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she decides to leave her husband Steve, and begins to explore the full breadth and complexity of her sexual desires for the first time in her life.
To support her through this adventure - and through the disease - she has the support from her best friend, Nikki.
Yes, there are a lot of - let's say… unique - sexual adventures, but what really fascinated me was witnessing Molly and Nikki's friendship.
Also, FYI: Molly's story was originally shared on a Wondery podcast created with her best friend, Nikki Boyer. You can check all episodes here.
Available on Hulu.
Adolescence
For me, Adolescence is the new Baby Reindeer. If you haven't heard about it, this is a "four-part British crime drama that dives deep into the psychological and societal factors leading to a tragic event involving a 13-year-old boy".
Jamie Miller is a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of his classmate, and each episode unfolds the story, showing different perspectives - the arrest, the investigation, the psychological evaluation, and the aftermath.
It's heavy - but not graphic - but it's so necessary, and so many layers are involved. It is fiction - but there's so much from real life… The cast is just incredible, and there's more: each episode was shot in a single take. Yep. No cuts or editing - and we are talking about 50-60-minute episodes. A piece of art.
Available on Netflix.
White Lotus - Season 3
I must say I wasn't that excited about the third season of White Lotus after watching the first episode. I guess everything looked and sounded so fake and forced. Although this was definitely not my favorite season, I must say I enjoyed it a lot - and perhaps the social media explanations and theories also helped me to appreciate it even more. I just love that the characters are just… human. Everything you think would happen just happens in the opposite way.
If you haven't watched season 1 and 2, you are missing out!
Available on Max.
Still streaming:
We recently started to watch the Great British Baking Show on Netflix and it's such a delight - especially if you love baking!
We are also addicted to the new Your Friends & Neighbors, on AppleTV - the storyline is very unique. It's about a a hedge fund manager that starts to steal from his neighbours' homes after being fired.
Book
Me, by Ricky Martin
I was browsing a library in Madrid when I found this book - it's Ricky Martin's memoir. Since I really like him as a singer - and in some effort to keep myself accountable with my contact with Spanish - I decided to buy the audiobook version, and it was such a nice one.
First, because you feel like you are listening to a friend telling a story. The language is simple, but Ricky is very vulnerable. He shares everything from memories of his early childhood to starting his career as part of the famous boy band Menudo, his struggles with his identity, and his reflections on coming to terms with his sexuality.
But I do think that celebrities' memoirs, most of the time, will only appeal to people who are interested in learning more about these people's lives. Regardless, it's a beautiful story, especially considering the space that he occupies today in the global music scene as a Latino singer.
I really enjoyed it - it would be even better if it was Ricky himself narrating.
Podcasts
In my previous newsletter, I highlighted some podcasts that really helped me to understand more about exercises and nutrition for women. One of them was with Dr. Stacy Sims, a world-renowned exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist - and she recently participated in an episode on The Mel Robbins Podcast and is another excellent source for women on how to eat, train, and take care of their health.
On another note, I've been listening to a lot of episodes from Bite Back by Abbey Sharp. I'm a fan of her content on social media - she is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and award-winning author and has established herself as a credible voice in the nutrition, health, and wellness space. And her podcast reflects that. She has episodes solo and also other ones with specialists, and the discussions are always based on scientific evidence.
Interesting readings
What frugal living ACTUALLY looks like - I could relate to so many things
shared in this post. Sometimes I feel money and consumerism distance ourselves from the things that really matter in life.No-Buy Challenges: Here’s What Happens In Your Brain When You Stop Buying - I shared more about our money mindset in this post - and when I read this post from
I couldn't relate more! Since limiting my time on social media and canceling our Amazon Prime subscription, I noticed how I lost interest in shopping.
Youtube
Ok, and to add to the topic of consumerism, I also found Levi Hildebrand channel on Youtube and I got obsessed with his content. It's about “breakdowns into the psychology of our consumerist world". So many interesting insights!
That's a wrap! What have you been reading and watching lately?
