Monthly Clickables #3
Useful? Weird? Wonderful?? Here are links I clicked this month, that you may also find of interest!
Monthly Clickables is a feature included with paid subscriptions to Making This up as I Go - a newsletter from me Aden Nepom, and the Art of Change, with posts about interpersonal communication, team dynamics at work, improv theatre, personal growth and more.
On the last day of each month I send out an update on what’s been filling my personal and intellectual time so that the things enriching my life might bring extra value to yours!
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April May be behind us…
Happy International Jazz Day! We’ve come through another month of 2023!
This month we filed our Taxes, celebrated Earth Day, and Twitter continued imploding while Substack continued to expand. In the news, Trump has gone to trial, Don Lemon parted ways with CNN and Fox said goodbye to Tucker Carlson. Meanwhile, RFK Jr has announced his candidacy for President against Joe Biden who announced his run at a second term.
On a personal note…
This month I traveled to New Orleans to facilitate leadership conversations around an important change initiative for a Fortune 500 client, which allowed me to reunite with my friend and mentor Shana Merlin. While there, the two of us enjoyed the Broadway Tour-co production of Moulin Rouge at the Saenger Theatre (What a party! Highly recommend!).
I also enjoyed more ridiculous make-em-ups at the Funhouse Lounge in Portland for a show called Unreal World-Nerd City where I enjoyed improvising as some of my favorite fictional characters: Ellen Ripley (Aliens), River Song (Doctor Who), Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) and Yeoman Rand (Star Trek Original Series).
And with a dramatic shift in weather this weekend, after sending out this newsletter, (fingers crossed!) this afternoon, I’ll be prepping my garden beds, and putting the seedlings I mentioned in last months Clickables into the ground finally!
In professional news - I am now booking Coaching Clients for September
If you want to master the art of great communication, then you need practice. Learning new skills in a training or keynote, or reading about them in a book are great early steps, but real transformation takes more energy and intention.
The good news is doing the work can be fun, easy and rewarding with the support of a great thought partner and coach.
I have room to take on new clients this Fall, but I only have room for five. Are you one of them?
Here’s what one of my previous clients had to say about working with me
“I wholeheartedly recommend working with Aden to anyone facing a life or work change! I first worked with Aden as I started my first job search in 15 years, with a personal coaching program that allowed me to get re-connected to my inner motivators and values. She compassionately helped me navigate through the uncertainties of the job and life changes I was facing and I am now well-prepared to take each next step towards reaching my goals, both now and in the future.”
Learn more about Art of Change Coaching —> here.
If you want to claim one of these five spots for yourself reply to this email.
And now… The Clickables!
This months links are broken down into these categories:
Readables (stuff I read)
Audibles (stuff I listened to)
Makeables (stuff I made!)
My intent in sharing things with you that have captured my free-time attention, is to help us connect as humans. Your opinions matter to me! So if you have strong reactions (positive or negative) to any of the links below, please share those thoughts so we can talk about them!
Readables - AKA Stuff I read:
My step-daughter and I belong to a book group (do this with your children! It’s incredible!). This month we read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, and it stimulated the most amazing discussion amongst our fourth grade girls. Inspired by Chinese Folklore, this story follows the journey of one brave girl who seeks to improve her families fortune. Along the way she encounters many characters, each with a story to tell.
After the launching of Notes this month on Substack, I was grateful for this grounding in un-reality from my favorite comedy writer (and subscriber of Making This up as I Go I’ll have you know!)
Audibles - AKA Stuff I Listened to!
Recommended to me by my colleague Brad (you’ve got to get a colleague who points you to fantastic material!) after we both listened to The Witch Trials of JK Rowling, I listened to this interview by Sam Harris of the host of that podcast Megan Phelps Roper from 2019. For those who don’t know Roper was raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, has now left the church and is a huge proponent of open, honest dialogue and the questioning of our own self-righteous confidence.
I am obsessed with the music from Hadestown. This soundtrack which we’ve been listening to on YouTube hasn’t just captured my attention, my whole family is into this! We’ve taken to listening to it in the car, when we’re cooking, while we’re cleaning house…. The music is haunting and sticky. The story from this multiple Tony award winning show follows the story of Orpheus & Eurydice.
Makeables - AKA Stuff i made (AKA She crafty)!
I finally finished a pair of crochet slippers following this tutorial. My friend and I get together once a month and crochet something. It took us two months… but they’re done!
This may not be too practical for you, but after years of dreaming about it, and because I needed one to wear in the show I mentioned at the top of this newsletter… I finally made my own Yeoman Rand wig! I did it following this tutorial. So you know… if you want to make one too, there you go!
What cool, interesting and weird stuff did you discover this month?
Let me know which if any of these links were interesting to you! I always look forward to hearing your thoughts.
But more importantly…
Are there things you think I would enjoy reading or watching or crafting?
Send your recommendations my way! If I love your suggestion, I’ll be sure to include it in next months Clickables with a special shoutout to you!