It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of digital media at our fingertips in today's world; this tech overload is especially prevalent in the midst of the social movements that have been sweeping across our timelines and our everyday social interactions. This combination has created a chemical reaction that is both powerful and daunting for millennials who are eager to educate themselves, but unsure of where to look. Luckily, today we have journalists who appeal to millennials, either by being one themselves or by understanding the way that our minds inherently work when it comes to information intake.
After many years of fumbling through the world of podcasts and blog posts, I have found the journalist-lady of my dreams. Ann Friedman, a woman with an official degree in LadySwagger, has become an internet heroine of mine. She writes a weekly column for NYMag.com, co-hosts a weekly podcast, sends out her own newsletters, and contributes for several different online publications including The Los Angeles Times and The Guardian.
If you find yourself drawn to the topics of feminism, gender, culture, technology, or if you just love the hell out of a good pie-chart, sign up for Ann’s weekly newsletter. Ann, a Jill of all trades, originally caught my ear when I first started listening to the podcast “Call Your Girlfriend”. A few of my friends had recommended it to me, saying it was their favorite new podcast, and something that so many women could relate to. At the time I was in the midst of exploring my beliefs and myself as a feminist; and like two feminist angels sent from podcast heaven, the hosts of CYG entered my life.
Ann co-hosts this weekly podcast with the equally-amazing Aminatou Sow (who is one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in tech- go girl); these ladies are long distance best friends who discuss a variety of topics all over a recorded long distance phone call. Their conversations range from pop culture, to politics, to current social issues and beyond. This range in topics makes the podcast thoroughly enjoyable and informative at the same time. Both well-spoken women, I have truly found a friend and mentor in both of them. Listening to their podcast feels like sitting down with a long distance friend over coffee.
Since I started listening, I’ve passed the word on to many ladies that I know. I recommended the podcast to my older sister who immediately fell in love with it. Now at least once a week, we discuss the most recent CYG podcasts, always ending in a praise for the two women who made it. Ultimately, the podcast gives us endless food for thought, and is constantly challenging us to evaluate ourselves and the world around us, especially as women today. Most importantly Ann and Aminatou have coined the “Shine Theory” (I don’t shine if you don’t shine), which is a feminist motto to live and breath by.
Beyond CYG, Ann is also a free-lance journalist, blogger, news-letter creator and public speaker. So let’s get down to the point here: why should you make room for Ann Friedman in your media diet? After becoming devoted to her podcast, I decided to sign up for Ann’s weekly newsletter. Every Friday, my inbox is bedazzled with an array of articles, gifs and inspiration that I sift through as the week progresses. “The Ann Friedman Weekly” is split up into 8 different sections:
- This week: a list of articles, interviews and podcasts that Ann has either written/conducted herself or been featured in that week.
- I’m Reading: usually a fairly extensive list of articles that she’s read up on- ranging in topic as well as sources. Similar to “Call Your Girlfriend”, the topics of these articles widely differ in sources and subject. With more than a dozen articles per newsletter, Ann has previously included poetry from The American Poetry Review, political articles from The Washington Post and pieces from Broadly VICE (which according to VICE is their new women's interest channel, with a focus on original reporting and documentary video).
- DVR: a list of videos, ranging anywhere from music videos, to YouTube clips and segments of public broadcasts.
- GIFspiration: a GIF meant to give you just a little bit of inspiration to keep shining and tackle the weekend ahead.
- Pie chart: Ann creates weekly pie charts, full of wit and truth. See below:
(credit: Ann Friedman)
- I endorse: this section is basically an amazing Pinterest. Ann includes links to products on the internet from pins and mugs, to book and cocktail recommendations.
- Live! In Person: a list of events where you can see Ann as a guest speaker, live on a podcast or part of a panel.
- Testimonials: quotes of people gushing over Ann’s incredible ladyswagger.
Not only does “The Ann Friedman Weekly” gift me with incredible gifs and sassy pie-charts, but it gives me platforms to learn about things I would have missed otherwise. It’s almost like a challenge for myself; when I have down time I’ll circle back to the newsletter and sift through articles or interviews that could better fill my time than scrolling through Facebook or checking Twitter.
In a way, subscribing to the newsletter and following “Call Your Girlfriend” has given me a platform to expand my horizons on current political events, the new feminist movement and the tense social justice issues - whether they address them specifically or not. And the best thing about these outlets are that they’re enjoyable; they appeal to me and so many people alike. It doesn’t feel like reading a textbook chapter about “The Feminist Movement”, but rather joining in on a conversation with your girlfriends.
In a world where there is a variety of media nonsense to get lost in, it’s incredible to have a source that feels like real people talking to you, giving you sources and encouraging you to explore beyond the points being made. But beyond it all, it makes me feel inspired and heard as a young woman today. If nothing, I am thankful for Ann’s work and CYG's encouragement for women to be the best they can be. Shine on!
