Smart Nonsense, Breakdance Queen Jilou and a Free Fall Underwater
"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever" – Jacques Yves Cousteau
Hi folks,
It seems that this Wednesday newsletter is turning into a category of its own. I've toyed with titles like "Top Picks" and "Good Reads", but honestly, who cares about titles? I find stuff, I recommend stuff and I tell you why I liked it. Sometimes it's as simple as that.
When I started this newsletter, I vowed to experiment and see where it took me. And here we are - I guess it's official now.
Every Wednesday you'll get a curated roundup of articles, news, podcasts, videos, documentaries and more around the body-mind topic.
And if you like what I'm doing and know someone else who might, don't hesitate to hit the forward button. The more the merrier, right?
Okay, commercial break over. This week I have some smart nonsense, a breakdancing woman battling her way to the Olympics and one of the most iconic underwater music videos for you. Enjoy!
Cheers, Katie
Smart Nonsense: A Comic Explaining (Body) Stuff Like You’re 5
I’m a sucker for a good story, especially when it's paired with funny illustrations. That’s what the guys from “Smart Nonsense” do best. They answer the really important questions in life, like why do beans make you fart? Or, how do we survive quicksand?
Yes, my fellow survival strategists. Remember the scene in "The Never-ending Story" where Atreyu tries to pull his horse Artax out of the swamp of sadness? This was quicksand. I knew it when I was 8, and I’m still 100 percent sure: QUICKSAND.
If only Atreyu knew that you can survive quicksand just by …
Ha! I got you. Check out “Smart Nonsense” and you’ll know. Here are three of my favourite newsletter issues.
💉 How does the new diet (diabetic) drug ozempic work?
Who is it for? Comic lovers, fans of useless knowledge and everyone who likes chilli con / sin carne
Time to invest: less than a minute
Breaking Became Olympic and Jilou Will Rock the Cypher
I’m a dancer: always was, always will be. Over the years, I've tried many styles: ballet, tap, hip hop, salsa – you name it. But breaking? Not for me! The moves they pull off are simply nuts and nothing my 40something body would like to try.
But luckily we have women like Jilou, a 30-year-old German B-Girl who’s battling her way to the Olympics in Paris right now. Thanks to my day job, I've had the opportunity to write several stories about her and even discovered an English documentary on her journey.
So allow me to introduce you to a remarkable woman.
Here is the documentary: B-Girl Jilou’s story
Who is it for? Dance enthusiasts, fans of the Olympic Games, and lovers of hip-hop culture.
Time to invest: 7 minutes.
Free Fall Underwater with Guillaume Nery and Archive
I've always loved exploring the underwater world, hanging out with my parrotfish friends, listening to them nibble at corals. It’s a beautiful, meditative scenery that the guy with the hairy legs down there seemed to enjoy as much as I did.
However, the thought of squeezing into a wetsuit again somehow stresses me out and is one of the reasons why I haven’t been scuba diving for years. I've always thought that if I were to dive again, it would be without any gear – just with the power of a single breath. Free diving!
The first time I learned about this technique was through a music video by one of my favourite bands, Archive. Funnily enough, this video popped up again in my YouTube feed last week, and I thought: Why not share Guillaume Nery’s free fall underwater with you? This video is literally breathtaking. It’s fascinating what a human body is capable of. Enjoy your goosebumps!
Here is the link to the video: Guillaume Nery – Free Fall
Who is it for: Divers, snorkellers and music connoisseurs ;)
Time to invest: 4.17 minutes
Cheers, Katie