Comforting Spaces on the Internet
Here we are, with 9 months of pandemic life under our belts... It's been a strange, stressful, and tragic time, not to mention one where it's been extremely difficult to find any bright sides. As I try to summon some positive thoughts during this period, I am comforted in a small way by certain internet creators who have gone out of their way to be a calming and positive force for people during this pandemic. Today, I'll mention five such creative endeavors that were conceived during the time of the pandemic. While nothing can make up for the losses that have been experienced this year, these series may help you to relax, and think a little more positively, as they have helped me.
Tasting History with Max Miller - This is a food/history YouTube channel that foodie/history buff Max Miller started while furloughed, due to the pandemic. In each episode, Max cooks a historical dish as faithfully as possible to the original recipe. He also spends time in each video covering the historical context of the food he is discussing. Check it out if you're interested in learning about, or even trying something new... or, actually, really old.
Stories from Your Gaffer - I dedicated an entire blog post about Clint McElroy's public endeavor to keep in contact with his grandkids during self-isolation. While the series has finished, there are still tons of storytime episodes to keep you enthralled and occupied, as Clint and his wife, Carol, read a chapter a night from stories such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1900), Coraline (Neil Gaiman, 2002), and The Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman, 2008). As a bonus for all you McElroy brothers fans out there, Clint usually wraps up a story session with a childhood photo of one of his kids. If you haven't given it a watch yet, the series can be viewed on the McElroy Family YouTube channel.
Bob Saget is Here for You - When I learned about this podcast, it made my heart swell! Bob Saget (most well-known for playing Danny Tanner on Full House, on ABC from 1987 to 1995), sometimes along with guests, endeavors to support people who are struggling during these chaotic and terrible times. From free-association monologuing, serving as company for the lonely and stressed, to calling listeners who leave messages and helping them with their problems, Saget is taking the time to genuinely be there for people. Of course, if you know Bob Saget, you know that he can't help but engage in bawdy comedy from time to time (definitely not for kids), but he gets to very serious, deep, and personal places in the podcast as well. I encourage you to give the podcast a listen (or a watch, as the episodes are often posted on YouTube as videos) if you're interested in a mix of distraction from, and direct address of, pandemic life.
Brie Larson - Star of movies like Room (2015, dir. Lenny Abrahamson), Captain Marvel (2019, dir. Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck), and Just Mercy (2019, dir. Deston Daniel Cretton) Brie Larson has used her downtime during the pandemic to create a YouTube channel. Larson's channel features everything from her cooking, or working out with special guests, to personal stories from her life and career. Larson's mission is to be open and honest about her experience and struggles as a woman and to actively support current movements, such as Black Lives Matter. From tips on how to remain calm, to serious conversations about social issues, Larson is using her power and influence as a positive force on the internet, as she believes it is her responsibility. It's a charming, calming, and empowering channel that I highly recommend.
Bake On - Who doesn't need more The Great British Bake Off talk nowadays? Each week, husband and wife duo Travis and Teresa McElroy discuss the most recent episode of the current season of The Great British Bake Off. The couple shares their take on the bakes of the week, their predictions of who will stay and go in the future, and gushes over the chemistry between hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas. If you're like me, and the rest of the week is a struggle as you wait for a new episode to be dropped on Netflix, this podcast serves as a nice little bit of Baking for the middle of your week. You can find Bake On wherever you download podcasts, or on YouTube on the McElroy Family channel!
Do you rely on any content that was created from the pandemic? What little things have been keeping you going during this challenging time? Let me know in the comments below, and take a little vacation to your happy place!
Copyright © 2020 Bailey Lizotte
