Issue 01
A random collection of media that I really liked this week.
Welcome to the first issue of The Weekly Ketchup!!!! Am I simply ecstatic about the name of this newsletter? Yes. But I’m more ecstatic about what’s in it. Let’s begin.
To Listen: Colin and Samir Show
You know when you find something and realize then that you have been looking for it your entire life? That’s how I felt when I found the Colin and Samir Show. If you are a content creator, aspire to be one or are just generally curious about the industry itself as it relates to entrepreneurship, advertising, marketing and multi media companies, then you will love this podcast / YouTube Channel.
Each and every episode is, whether it be a conversation with a fellow creator, CEO of a major media company or just the hosts alone, is packed with so much detailed education and information about the creator economy. I am always amazed at how thoughtfully articulated both hosts are and simple love how each episode tickles my brain.
To Hear: The Shrek Movie Soundtracks
Growing up, my family would always watch the Shrek movies together and any chance we get, we will make a Shrek reference. You can find a couple below. I find myself listening to movie soundtracks often and it’s so fun to visualize the respective scenes in my mind.
Some other movie soundtracks I love are Everybody Wants Some, La La Land and Whiplash.
“Donkey, get out of my Swamp!”
“I’m looking down Shrek!”
Okay I’m done.
To Watch: A Good Person
I recently re-watched A Good Person staring Morgan Freeman and Florence Pugh. I had just ate two bowls of noodle soup next to my Airbnb my first night in Bangkok and had a food coma so powerful I couldn’t leave my bed. I scrolled through all the streaming apps I had access to – Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix trying to find something that intrigued me enough to press play.
Would I watch a new movie tonight? No, I would not.
The first time I watched A Good Person was sometime last year and I remember it being such an emotional movie with superb acting. The plot is tangled between topics of addiction, grief, love and resilience. If you’re looking to cry, perhaps just shed a tear, I would definitely add this to your watch list. You can also follow me on Letterboxd where I occasionally post updates – I would probably benefit more from following you to avoid re-watching the same movies.
To Read: My Side of the River
Oh! Was this a page turner. This year was my reading renaissance. Since February, I have read 8 books. Okay for some of you book worms that may not be a lot but as someone who consistently read 0 books annually, this is a big deal to me OKAY?!
My reading genres of choice are more often than not, non fiction memoirs with a heavy emphasis on culture and food intertwined. Majority of the memoirs I’ve read focus on authors with backgrounds from Asian countries and this was the first book that wasn’t.
My Side of the River highlights the life of Elizabeth, a first generation American immigrant who’s family is tangled in the country’s immigration laws. This book taught me so much about Mexican-American culture, but shed light onto a group of individuals who’s story I knew too little about.
Below is an excerpt from the book.
It’s crazy that even when you sacrifice so much, when you work so hard for a goal and then you reach it, you are met with critics… But then again, that’s what this country does, what white supremacy does to families of immigrants. Families work so hard and sacrifice so much to come here for “a better life” and then are immediately criticized, ridiculed, racially profiled, and eventually turned away but the people who have never walked in their shoes. Even as a citizen, I had internalized the immigrant steotypes of this country–the ones that dehumanize us as monsters or marvel at us as exceptional. Maybe that’s why my mom’s words were always “you have to be the best.” She knew there was no escaping the dehumanization, so she wanted to ensure I was at least marveled at, and a Brown girl from my side of the river getting accepted into three Ivy Leagues and many other private colleges was sure as hell something to marvel at.
-Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez
To Learn: Laos History
Last week I was in Laos and the entire week I couldn’t help but think “I know nothing about Laos”. I’ve eaten sticky rice and jeow som but that’s it. I came to learn of it’s complicated history being the overlooked, landlocked neighbor to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Fun fact – actually very, very sad fact – Laos is the most bombed country in the world. Yes, read that again. In the WORLD. Here are some links where you can learn more.
That’s it for this week’s issue! Did you learn something? Are you inspired? Did you laugh? Tell me! I want to know! Like I actually do.
You can also follow me @rachcastellino on Instagram and YouTube!