EEDA Newsletter Vol 6, Res 33: Find Help & Cut Off the Spigot
This is a public issue of Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice. Feel free to share it!
Hi friends! I’m writing this a bit earlier in the week and scheduling it because my calendar is packed. Please forgive me if something major happens between now and Friday that I don’t speak to in this newsletter this week. Nicole and I have done a ton of cleaning in preparation for guests and it feels really good around here. The office is still a nightmare and our bedroom leaves much to be desired, but we are much better off than we were a few weeks ago. The cleaner space has helped alleviate some of my anxiety, which seems to be a lesson I need to re-learn periodically.
Don’t forget about the most recent EEDA Pod episode! Scroll Less, Live More: Being Intentional with Tech Use
Patricia and Nicole discuss their ongoing efforts to reduce smartphone usage, sharing personal experiences, research findings, and practical tips for being more intentional with technology. They reflect on the challenges of breaking phone habits, the psychological effects of constant connectivity, and the importance of adding "friction" to limit mindless scrolling.
You can find our show, Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts. You can also support the show on Patreon, where we have some perks for paid subscribers with even more coming this year. You can also just make a recurring donation through subscribing to our Patreon, as our show is independently run and without ads. It helps keep us going!
It’s a resource week so let’s get to it!
Resource 1: Cut Off the Spigot
It’s a Substack, I know. I do my best not to recommend things on Substack; however, sometimes that’s just where the resource is. Most of the posts are free, though, and you can send them a tip for their work here.
From the About Page: “My goal is to find alternatives to corporations that only care about enriching their shareholders and executive suite, and care nothing for the actual product or experience they create. Companies like Amazon do not want you to love their products or service, they want you to feel like there’s no other choice so you keep coming back.”
This is the post that currently has my attention: Spotify Alternatives That Pay Artists So Your Money Doesn't Go to AI Drone Warfare. I appreciate both the level of detail and that they tell you not only why they recommend certain companies but also why they don’t recommend other companies. I recently canceled our Spotify account and this is helping me find a new place to stream music.
Resource 2: FindHelp.org
“Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.” Many, many Americans are going to be losing their SNAP benefits come November 1st. If you need help finding food or other necessary resources, check out findhelp.org. If you are not using SNAP assistance and have some extra money to share, please donate to your local food bank.
Recent & Current Reads
Inclusion of a book in this section is not necessarily a recommendation and these books won’t always be added to my Bookshop. Links are affiliate links.
Recently Read:
An Unlikely Coven by AM Kvita (out 10/28)
The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women's Magic by Lindsey Stewart
Craftland: In Search of Lost Arts and Disappearing Trades by James Fox (out 10/28)
Having People Over: A Modern Guide to Planning, Throwing, and Attending Every Type of Party by Chelsea Fagan
Lore Olympus: Volume Nine by Rachel Smythe
Currently Reading:
The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
Smartphone Nation: Building Digital Boundaries When Offline Isn't an Option by Kaitlyn Regehr PhD (out 10/28)
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown
That’s it for this week! You can shop many books I’ve mentioned in this newsletter at my affiliate shop, The Infophile’s Bookshop, and support independent bookstores. In fact, any Bookshop, Amazon, or Etsy links in this newsletter are affiliate links so if you shop through those, it helps support my work. Or you can leave me a tip on Ko-fi, Paypal, or Venmo.
If you want to send me some snail mail, you can find me at P.O. Box 21481, Oakland, CA 94620-1481.
You can find our podcast, Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts.