As October brings cooler days and nights as well as the arrival of the spooky season, we reach for things that make us feel cozy and warm as well as entertain us.
As the leaves fall outside my bedroom window and I can hear the whistle of the wind, I want something to help me relax in the midst of midterm stress and indulging in media is a perfect pass time to help relax.
Listen
One of my favorite pastimes is finding new music and podcasts to listen to, as I have too much free time and enjoy any form of media. Recently my go-to podcast has been The Broski Report by Brittany Broski which can be listened to on Spotify, Audible, Apple Podcasts and more. Broski came into the social light during COVID-19 after posting a video of her trying kombucha. Her reaction quickly went viral, leading her to gain over 1.7 million followers on Instagram and over 7.5 million followers on her TikTok account. Broski switches between serious and silly topics in every episode — all while going on long meaningless tangents about random topics, keeping listeners engaged.
Recently in her episode titled “Love Island & Michelangelo,” she ends up talking about reconnecting with yourself and letting go of things that do not satisfy you anymore — regardless of how hard that may be. The whole conversation resonated with me and brought up emotions I was not prepared to feel going into the episode. It also kept me entertained and engaged, and now I continuously think about it.
The episodes range on a variety of topics and no two episodes are ever the same. I enjoy listening to them while I drive or go for walks and it keeps my mind busy. She also has a spin off YouTube channel called Royal Court where she interviews guests in a medieval setting. Recently, Broski had Conan Gray and prior to that hosted Cole Sprouse in her court. During these meetings they talk about various topics from their careers to personal lives. Broski is an amazing host and even if I may not be interested in what she is talking about, it always ends up being very entertaining.
If I want to listen to music, I have been going back to Renee Rapp’s album Snow Angel-Deluxe which was released in November 2023 following the initial release of Snow Angel in August. Multiple songs throughout the album resonated with me – it felt like she said things I have never been able to put into words. Rapp has an angelic voice that can capture any emotion from lust to anger in a matter of seconds.
It is hard to pick a favorite song from the album but I would probably go with “I Do.” The lyrical work along with the soft instrumental tones mixes together so well that when you listen to the lyrics you can hear the story she is portraying, which is both heartbreaking and beautiful. This is one of my favorite albums to blast while I drive around at night with the windows down and feeling the brisk autumn air on me.
Read
My all time favorite book is “Speak,” by Laurie Hales Anderson — it is not so much a cozy read, but a captivating quick read. It covers heavy topics such as rape, sexual assault, abuse, PTSD and mental health.
Readers follow the main character, Melinda Sordino, in a first person perspective as she learns to navigate the struggles of high school. During this time she is also battling the aftermath of a traumatic night that happened over the summer that has left her with many enemies.
“Speak” takes readers on an emotional, descriptive roller coaster, which makes it hard to put down. Between feeling both sympathy and empathy for Sordino as well as rage, it kept me roped in the whole time.
While it is not a cheery read, it is definitely one that I recommend to everyone. Especially now, as the weather is getting cooler and some may reach for something that sparks more emotion and thought.
Watch
Season one of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” aired on MAX on Nov. 21, 2021 and was quickly followed up by a second season in November 2022. Fans, myself included, are eagerly anticipating the arrival of season three, set to come out next month and will be the perfect time to relax and watch it.
The show follows Kimberly Finkle, played by Pauline Chalamet, Leighton Murray, played by Reneé Rapp, Bela Malhotra, played by Amrit Kaur and Whitney Chase, played by Alyah Chanelle Scott. The group starts their freshman year at Essex College and are accidentally placed as roommates.
The show takes on comedic effect while also covering difficult topics like sexuality, assault and more. It takes place during the fall in Vermont surrounded by all the changing leaves, making it a perfect watch as we transition into fall. Although somewhat stereotypical in explaining college, it is extremely entertaining and easy to binge.
Create
Recently I have been in a very crafty and artsy mood. But I do not always have the time or space to sit down and make an organized mess. This has led me to develop a newfound love for Shuffles, an app created by Pinterest.
Shuffles is kind of what it sounds like, it is an app that you can use to make collages for numerous things — then can either post to your Pinterest account or save privately.
The app will walk you through everything, you are able to save Pins to your Pinterest account then access them through Shuffles to cut out certain elements and add them to your collage.
I am obsessed with all forms of media and art that allows me to express myself. This app does just that, allowing anyone to mix different aspects of media in one place.
October brings warmth and coziness to the atmosphere, brewing up the perfect chance to bundle up under a warm blanket with hot apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte and take a brain break to enjoy time for yourself.
Edited by Alyssa Royston | aroyston@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Ava Mohror and Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com