Summertime sounds like...

Happy July! This month has been joyfully, abundantly full. Five out-of-state weddings. My birthday. Aram’s birthday. A sister’s birthday. Our anniversary. Two trips to visit family. Three house guests. (And a partridge in a pear tree!!)

I’m taking a small break from the normal Weekly Word to tell you about a cool summer reading challenge where the hours you log become $$$ donations to nonprofits and to share a few podcasts and audiobooks that have been great travel companions this month.

Make sure you check out The Messy Middle reading challenge. If you log hours on Fridays and send a picture of what you’re reading to the host, your minutes fuel financial donations to a new nonprofit each week. Check out the rest of the details for the reading challenge here.

With July 4^th just around the corner and summer travel and pool time in full swing, I also wanted to send you a few audiobooks and podcasts that I have enjoyed recently. May they delight and inspire your own flights, car rides, and long summer afternoons.

1. Audiobook

   Ina Garten’s memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, is a fantastic story about her life as a chef, author and businesswoman. She narrates the audiobook herself, and it is a beautiful collection hope, lessons, and memories of making the most of life. I highly recommend it. This would be great for road trips!

2. Podcast

   This podcast interview is engaging, inspiring, and terrifically practical. While it gives a lot of advice about workplace relationships, negotiating, and leading with confidence, I think this interview between Mel Robbins and Harvard Business School’s #1 Professor, Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, PhD, is for anyone who wants to grow in interpersonal skills and communicate with confidence and clarity (things we’re all about at Wordsmith Services!). Check the podcast about brilliant communication out here, and make sure you listen to the end!

3. Ted Talk (video or podcast)

   The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters, by Priya Parker, is one of my favorite books of all time. Catch her TED Talk, “3 steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings” video or audio (just skip the first 3 minutes of podcast ads). This TED talk is a good start, but truly the book is a MUST if you like stories and want to gain practical skills to grow in creative, successful hospitality.

That’s all from me this week—but I’d love to hear some of your favorite audiobooks and podcasts! REPLY with one thing that’s been top on your list recently.

Happy 4^th !

Emily M