MAY 10, 2019

Happy Friday! Sunday is Mother’s Day, so here’s wishing a restful weekend to all the moms out there—from the seasoned to the rookies.

The newest royal is here.

Welcome to the world, Archie! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, welcomed their baby boy earlier this week, and people everywhere are going bananas over his royal cuteness. Harry and Meghan have so much to look forward to: first smiles, first steps, and plenty of sleepless nights. Thankfully, the reassuring voice of Heidi Murkoff—who’s been guiding and consoling parenting newbs for 35 years—is here with plenty of sound advice for that all-important first year.

Thanks for the ray of sunshine, Archie…

Because the other big news this week was pretty dire. The UN summarized a major report warning of a mass global extinction of between 500K-1M species in the next few decades. While researchers have predicted a sixth extinction, this is the first time an international conglomerate of scientists has released such substantial, collaborative research. And the finger is pointed squarely at humans, which underscores how lethal a species Yuval Noah Harari describes us in Sapiens. (Did you know there was once a slew of mega fauna in Australia, including a polar bear-sized weasel called a Diprotodon? We digress.) Currently we’re looking at the loss of our smaller friends: the bees and other pollinators we count on for food; ocean species that feed the fish we eat. Ultimately the report does indicate we can turn things around with concentrated global and local efforts.

Maybe mushrooms will inherit the earth.

Not only did we learn that actor Luke Perry made the very plant-friendly decision to be laid to rest in a mushroom suit, a fungi-based burial garment that aids in decomposition to the benefit of surrounding flora, Denver voted to decriminalize the magical form of mushrooms. Shrooms—or more accurately, their psychoactive ingredient, psilocybin—have long been lauded for their mind-expanding attributes (some even conjecture they catalyzed humankind’s intelligence), and are getting a second look by intellectuals generally. Our recommended listens, before you head off in pursuit of that Rocky Mountain High: Food of the Gods, The Harvard Psychedelic Club, and How to Change Your Mind.

The perfect aperitif for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

It’s been 30 years since The Joy Luck Club was first published. At the time, Amy Tan’s book about four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American daughters was the first of its kind. In fact, she never expected it to get published and was shocked when her agent sold the manuscript on the hunch that there was an appetite for Asian American stories. Well, The Joy Luck Club went on to be an American classic. To celebrate its 30th birthday, author Celeste Ng called up Amy Tan to talk about what has changed (and what hasn’t) for young Asian American women who are telling their stories.

A light that continues to shine.

The world lost a beautiful soul when beloved best-selling progressive Christian author and speaker Rachel Held Evans died at the age of 37 on May 4. Glennon Doyle and Kerri Rawson were among the many who praised Rachel’s questioning mind and loving spirit. Her cofounders of the Evolving Faith Conference, Sarah Bessey and Jeff Chu, emphasized that though she was known as a rabble-rouser in the evangelical community because of her challenges and calls for inclusivity, it is important to remember that her true legacy is not what she went up against but rather the things she stood for: truth-telling and love.

May the best of May be with you.

If you’ve made it to the end of this newsletter, your stick-to-it-iveness shall be rewarded! Every month we editors clamor, jostle, and nitpick to bring you our absolute MOST anticipated listens, and this one was a real doozy. Heavy hitters David McCullough, Dervla McTiernan, Dennis E. Taylor, and Helen Hoang all have brand new work, Kate McKinnon plays the Evil Queen of our medieval comedy dreams, and a much-ballyhooed murderino memoir is finally ALMOST HERE. Check out everything we love for May, right this way.
Till Next Week!
—the audible editors