Art by Foxanne Designs

Written by Jackson Bird

This week, reflecting on divisions and double standards, sitting with our emotions, and taking time to connect.

What we’re checking out…

As cities around the world experiment with reopening, a battle is simmering throughout the nation. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes about the class divide being thrust into an ever brighter light for The New York Times.

And for a first-person perspective on being an essential worker, please read this account from Sujatha Gidla, an MTA conductor and author.

As more world leaders shed tears, showing their genuine compassion for the moment, Jessica Bennett writes about the very gendered history of politicians crying in public.

If you want to get lost in some truly exquisite writing this weekend, we recommend this medium-length read from Sabrina Orah Mark in The Paris Review about bread and fairy tales (but not at all about bread and fairy tales) and this longread from Jerry Saltz about his eating habits (and so much more).

There’s a lot of amazing new podcasts coming out right now, which is inconvenient because many of us are no longer commuting and are therefore lacking a previously designated podcast listening time. Nonetheless, the great journalists and storytellers of the world continue to make rich podcasts for us to listen to and one of our latest faves is Together Apart from The New York Times, hosted by Priya Parker, about how to maintain meaningful connections in this time of distance.

No matter you’re present situation, we’re all feeling a bit at the end of our ropes. Rachel Fairbank shares some practical tips for our present time to avoid burnout.

In lieu of warnings this week from the WHO and the UN about a rise of anxiety and depression occurring in kids during the pandemic, our reFRESHing Talk of the Week is college student Hailey Hardcastle’s TEDx talk, “The case for student mental health days.”

What We’re Watching…

Susan McPherson’s McPherson Memo Live will feature upcoming speakers including Allie Ottoboni from the eBay Foundation, Sherrie Westin from Sesame Workshop, and Julia Pimsleur from Million Dollar Women. You can tune in for free multiple times a week.

On Monday, May 18, Shannon Watts will be interviewing Senator Kamala Harris as part of the Demanding Women series, presented by Everytown and Moms Demand Action. You can watch on Everytown’s Twitter or Facebook.

Mia Birdsong will be in conversation with Dani McClain on Wednesday, May 20th to discuss her upcoming book How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community. Click here to register for the event and go here to preorder the book, which comes out June 2nd.

Alicia Garza joined a virtual panel to discuss what Vice President Biden needs to do to earn the support of black women.

On June 3rd, Ai-jen Poo will be joining a panel hosted by the Aspen Institute on the topic of policies we can implement to avert the next crisis. Register to watch here.

Do you have high schoolers in your life? Teen Vogue is hosting a virtual commencement ceremony on May 31st and has teamed up with TED to find graduating seniors to give speeches during the show. Submit an entry here!

Missing your local bookstore events? Join the Quarantine Book Club! A few times a week, authors hop on Zoom to chat about their books, writing, and more.

The latest from our speakers…

Aisha Nyandoro was on MSNBC discussing the benefits of universal basic income.

Nilofer Merchant answered the question “should I say no to that big job offer?” in her latest piece.

Jamil Smith wrote a powerful and gut-wrenching piece about Breonna Taylor.

Simran Jeet Singh wrote about the Sikh doctors who shaved their beards and why it’s not necessarily the heart-warming story it was presented as.

Jackson Bird started as the host of the new daily podcast Good News Ride Home, which provides you with the most important pandemic news you need to know and then chases it uplifting, thought-provoking stories.

Like what you see? Get the reFRESH in your inbox each week.