It’s my birthday today. And instead of a post about money, I wanted to write another post about some of my favorite things I’ve watched, listened to, and read recently. I’m giving you the gift of some great stuff to check out.
*The content is linked in the green titles.
So, here’s what I’ve been into:
I Will Teach You To Be Rich podcast by Ramit Sethi
Ramit Sethi, author of the popular finance book I Will Teach You To Be Rich, came out with a new podcast about a month ago. However, this isn’t a typical finance podcast where you learn tips about investing or budgeting.
Ramit sits down and interviews couples about their real money problems. You’re a fly on the wall as he talks with these people about their relationship with money.
In my favorite episode, which I’ve linked in the title, he interviews a couple who has a net worth of over a million dollars but has developed a reputation for being cheapskates and their friends are starting to avoid them. They’re on track to retire early as multimillionaires, yet the husband spends his time driving to multiple stores to find the cheapest berries and the wife returns gifts, and never orders wine at restaurants.
Obviously, they don’t think they’re cheap but rather smarter than their friends about how they spend. The husband in particular wears his cheapness as a badge of honor. It’s a great listen to learn about different money issues and how people think about their money.
GREENLIGHTS BY MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY
This is the best book I’ve read in a long time. I’m usually more of a fiction guy, but McConaughey is such an incredible storyteller that it’s hard to put this book down. The book is a story of his life and the lessons he’s learned along the way. What reels you in are his crazy experiences, honesty, and zest for life. He calls the book his love letter to life.
You do have to listen to the audiobook for this one. He reads it himself and it adds a whole other dimension to his storytelling that you shouldn’t pass up. Here are a few of my favorite quotes to give you an idea of what to expect:
“I’d rather lose money havin fun than make money being bored.”
“I have a lot of proof that the world is conspiring to make me happy.”
“We don’t live longer when we try not to die, we live longer when we are too busy living.”
“The question we need to ask ourselves is: what is success to us? More money? That’s fine. A healthy family? A happy marriage? Helping others? To be famous? Spiritually sound? To express ourselves? To create art? To leave the world a better place than we found it?
Your answer may change over time and that’s fine but do yourself this favor – whatever your answer is, don’t choose anything that would jeopardize your soul. Prioritize who you are, who you want to be, and don’t spend time with anything that antagonizes your character. Don’t depend on drinking the Kool-Aid – it’s popular, tastes sweet today, but it will give you cavities tomorrow.”
THE WHITE LOTUS
I feel like HBO has mastered the single-season, limited TV series. Just this year I’ve enjoyed Mare of Easttown and The Undoing, but The White Lotus is probably my favorite so far. The series takes place at a Hawaiian resort and follows a few of the rich guests as they attempt to enjoy their vacation.
While there is a crime element to the story, the show is mainly about the relationships between the over-the-top characters. It’s a satiric comedy that touches on the inequality of social classes but also offers up some sincere moments of introspection. If nothing else, it’s a fun watch because you get to spend time in Hawaii for six episodes.
The White Lotus: Official Trailer | HBO
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
If you’re not a sports person, you’re not going to care about this one but I had to mention it because it’s “that time of year.” Nothing quite compares to watching college football on Saturdays in the fall.
The pageantry and tradition are what makes college football unique. The tailgating, the marching bands, the student sections, the gigantic stadiums, the rivalries, along with the importance of every game make it special. It’s a regional sport. Some of the biggest football programs in the country are in small college towns where the team means the world to that community.
There is little that trumps the goosebump-inducing sound of a packed college football stadium on gameday. As opposed to last year, there are finally fans back this year and the first few weeks have been great. Below is a clip of Virginia Tech’s entrance for the first game of the year:
Virginia Tech’s Entrance vs. #10 North Carolina
If you have any other content recommendations, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email. I’d love to hear them!
Thanks for reading!