Amanda Sum’s ‘Different Than Before’ takes home the 2023 Music Video Jury Award at SXSW. Directed/Written by Mayumi Yoshida, the music video stars Tzi Ma and Olivia Cheng. It was selected as Vimeo Staff Pick and won Best Music Video at the 45th annual Asian American International Film Festival in New York City, among selections at HollyShorts Film Festival and Aesthetica Short Film Festival (a BAFTA qualifying festival).
Category: Things I Love
Listen List: The Jerry Cans “Ahead by a Century”
I love this Indigenous cover of the Tragically Hip’s song “Ahead by a Century” by Iqaluit’s The Jerry Cans, featuring throat singer Avery Keenainak. It is awesome. I have included the original below, so you can listen to both. Let me know what you think!
Something to Inspire
May God bless us with discomfort At easy answers, half-truths, And superficial relationships So that we may live Deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger At injustice, oppression, And exploitation of people, So that we may work for Justice, freedom and peace. May God bless us with tears To shed for those who suffer from pain, Injustice, starvation and war, So that we may reach out our hands To comfort them and To turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness To believe we can Make a difference in the world, So that we can do What others claim cannot be done.
Listen List: Jessia, “Nobody Hates You”
Heart Centered Learning: Rachel Cargle
Rachel Cargle is an Akron, Ohio born writer, entrepreneur and philanthropic innovation. Her work centres the reimagining of womanhood, solidarity and self and how we are in relationship with ourselves and one another. In 2018 she founded The Loveland Foundation, Inc., a non-profit offering free therapy to Black women and girls.
Her umbrella company, The Loveland Group houses a collection of Rachel’s social ventures including The Great Unlearn, a self-paced, donation-based learning community, The Great Unlearn for Young Learners – an online learning space for young people, and Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre – an innovative literacy space designed to amplify, celebrate and honour the work of writers who are often excluded from traditional cultural, social and academic canons. I encourage you to check out her great work.
In the Times In Life
In the times in life when it all gets to be too much and you feel yourself breaking and you wonder how on earth we got here and where on earth we are going and it feels like the gods have deserted the weakest and the meekest in their most fragile hour. It helps a little bit to put your naked feet on the naked ground or to rest your head on a pillow of grass or to find some sun to sit in or a star to gaze upon. And as you rest here, being held by the earth or the sun, or a star, know that a mystery and an order and a future creation may be lurking deep within the current chaos. In much the same way that a once swirling and formless hot mess of energy and stardust slowly morphed into a now living and loving and heart-beating miracle who can now sit in the sun and put her feet on the earth and lay her head on the grass and feel the joy and the pain of being alive.
Listen List: Rihanna, “Same Ol’ Mistakes”
Heart Centered Learning: Jully Black
“As an artist, Jully is a truth teller and she represents how artists are a part of the conscience of society. She created an energetic shift in February when she changed one word in ‘Oh Canada’.” ~ RoseAnne Archibald, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
Watch List: Daisy Jones & the Six
Watch List: Live to Lead
Live to Lead feature interviews with world leaders and influencers, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Greta Thunberg, Bryan Stevenson, Jacinda Ardern, Siya Kolisi, Gloria Steinem, and Albie Sachs. It is an inspiring series that highlights how the efforts of a single person can meaningfully change the world.
Listen List: Pixie Geldof, “Woman Go Wild”
Heart Centered Learning: Menopause
In my quest to educate myself about healthy aging and menopause, I have been keeping my eyes open for good resources: especially ones focussed on providing support to women. I have been particularly impressed with the work of Dr. Sara Gottfried, Dr. Mary Claire and Dr. Jenn Gunter. I follow them all on Instagram and they provide easy, actionable advice on a daily basis. I recommend that you check them out!
Breath by Breath 