NPR's activity on Twitter

The NPR Network remains committed to independent journalism

View this email online As you may have seen, NPR's organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter. The platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent. After great consideration, we will not put our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of editorial independence.   Millions of Americans depend on NPR and local NPR Member stations for the factual, independent journalism they need to stay informed. I want to reassure you that while we are turning away from Twitter, we will never turn away from you. A vital part of what makes it possible for us to uphold the non-negotiable values of independent journalism are donations from people like you. If you'd like to show your support, please donate. Support Independent Journalism There are still plenty of ways to stay connected and keep up with NPR's freely available news, music, and cultural content. You can subscribe to additional newsletters covering a variety of topics. Download the NPR app to read, listen and connect to your local Member station.  You can find us on other social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Now, more than ever, public access to factual, non-biased journalism is crucial. As always, thank you for your support. John Lansing NPR President and CEO Donate Now You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

Plus: Super Mario, Boston celebrities, and 'Succession'

View this email online by Linda Holmes Welcome!  It was the week when Mario seemed Super, indeed. It was the week when people went wild for Barbie. And it was the week when we learned that they are not waiting very long to make the live-action remake of Moana. Let's get to it. This notebook will change everything From time to time on social media, you'll see reflections on a now-familiar idea: a blank notebook as a sign of a magical fresh start. Sometimes, this is treated as particular to writers, but not always. Perhaps the notebook is not for large writing projects, but just for journaling, or planning the week. Maybe it's not a notebook at all, but a new rainbow of pens, laid out in a row, next to a blank book with a colored cover -- I favor the Leuchtturm1917, myself, in the dotted format.  Let's be honest: In a lot of ways, electronic calendars are much easier, more efficient and clean. You can click on an appointment and move it around, delete it, copy it. Recurring meetings multiply neatly, and if you like, you can tell your calendar that they continue forever into the future, as if in 2052, you'll still be going to that 12:30 standup on Wednesdays. Filling up a notebook with blue lists, purple appointments, red to-do items, and tiny x-marks populating a habit tracker takes longer. You might even need, I kid you not, white out -- AKA liquid paper -- which we used to use in the olden days to cover mistakes made in pen. They make it in the form of tape now, so you don't have to paint it on like nail polish and blow on it. Getty Images There is always something self-deprecating about these "this notebook will solve all my problems" confessions. Of course the notebook will not solve anything on its own, we know this. But can I tell you something? I really, really love a new notebook. I love drawing lines with a ruler. I have a set of stencils for journaling that I can use to draw rows, as well as columns of small boxes, circles, and hexagons I can color in one at a time as I finish tasks, like a modestly more sophisticated version of the gold stars stickers I always hoped for from my teachers. When I was in law school, my brain was a jumble, but the notes I made to study for exams were beautiful. I put cases in one color, rules of law in another color -- it got to the point where at the end of each semester, classmates would watch me go to work and say, "Ohhh, here come the pens." I wish I still had those outlines. Not for the information they contained, but for the way they memorialized the most organized moment of my academic life.  For the good of the trees, it is admittedly not ideal to accumulate paper notebooks you don't use up. So I wish I could tell you it scratches the same itch to turn to a new page in a blank book I already have rather than getting a new one, because it would mean less paper, not to mention less clutter. But I think the fact that I itch for it to be a whole new volume connects on a cellular level with the very idea of a new book, and that a new book is a new story. Maybe because I grew up opening books written by other people as starting points for discovery, opening a book hits different pleasure centers than firing up an app -- even if the book is blank.  I wish I were too rational to be heartened by a new book crying out to be decorated by a pretty array of pens, but I never will be. I will always believe in the profound power of this ritual of the new journal, just like so many other people do. This time, for sure, I will gather up all the complicated fragments of planning and controlling and scheduling my life, connecting myself to all the people I care about, and getting myself out of the house now that I work at home. I will put it all in a book, and anything that's in a book ... well, it might not be literally true, but it will feel true.  Newsletter continues after sponsor message We Recommend The lovely John Moe invited me to appear on his new podcast Sleeping With Celebrities, in which various people explain some topic or other in the most sleep-inducing way possible, to help you drift off. I covered one of the subjects in which I have an unreasonable amount of expertise: the early seasons of Melrose Place.  I strongly recommend this interview with Philadelphia Phillies player Bryce Harper, in which, among other things, he discusses his affinity for the work of the romance writer Elle Kennedy.  Also recommended: Josh Gondelman has a list out of the 12 Most Boston Celebrities, Ranked By Boston-ness.  What We Did This Week David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah star in Rye Lane/Hulu I recapped the second episode of this season of Succession, in which karaoke made an appearance. I'll be recapping the one this weekend, as well, so stay tuned.  Stephen talked to our great pal Ayesha Rascoe about ChatGPT -- in fact, they made it write a song.  Aisha and I spoke with Monica Castillo and Cate Young about the delightful romantic comedy Rye Lane.  Stephen, Aisha and Glen talked about the Apple TV+ series The Big Door Prize, which they like a lot.  Aisha was not impressed by the movie Air, and she wrote about why.  We revisited a conversation that Stephen and I had with Kat Chow and E. Alex Jung about Top Chef, which is in the early stages of a new season.  I very much liked Beef, the new Netflix series starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. We'll also be covering it on the show soon, so check it out.  Stephen, Amil Niazi, Ronald Young, Jr. and Daisy Rosario talked about The Super Mario Bros. Movie. And Stephen also hosted New Music Friday over at NPR Music.  What's Making Us Happy Every week on the show, we talk about some other things out in the world that have been giving us joy lately. Here they are: Amil Niazi: Murder Mystery 2 on Netflix Ronald Young Jr.: If The Shoe Fits, by Julie Murphy Daisy Rosario: Dear Prudence by Daniel M. Lavery, You Will Find Your People, by Lane Moore Stephen Thompson: boygenius’ new album “the record” Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+. Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free episodes. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: pchh@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Books, Daily News and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Pop Culture Happy Hour emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

Let's talk about sex-ual health

Plus, watch Life Kit on YouTube

View this email online Becky Harlan/NPR Hi all,  April is STI Awareness Month. With over 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections estimated each year in the United States, put simply, they are very common. So common that the American Sexual Health Association says one in two sexually active people will get an STI by age 25.  It’s important that people get tested and treated for STIs (and have access to those services in the first place). But beyond testing and treatment, how do you talk about STIs with sexual partners? When and how do you disclose that you have one? How do you know what level of risk you’re comfortable with? These topics might feel uncomfortable or even unfamiliar.  Whatever level of comfort and information you’re coming to the proverbial STI table with – we have tools to help you start talking more openly and honestly about sexual health.  In a recent Life Kit interview (which you can watch on YouTube!), Dr. Evalene Dacker laid out her S.T.A.R.S framework – an acronym she shares with patients for discussing sex and sexual health. I like that her framework goes beyond the nuts and bolts of sexual health, like using barriers during sex or disclosing STI information, and helps people consider their limits and desires. It’s helpful to have a roadmap for talking about sex because, for something that can be so fun, it can be pretty awkward to discuss.  VIDEO: How to talk about STIs Newsletter continues after sponsor message You don’t have to bring up the S.T.A.R.S acronym directly with a partner, but using these prompts to think through your wants and needs can make it "much easier to communicate that with somebody — and communicate it early in the relationship," says Dacker. Life Kit’s Marielle Segarra and Dacker actually walk through how to talk about STIs in their conversation if you want to watch an example.  The S.T.A.R.S Framework for conversations around sexual health and intimacy: Sexual health: For example, when were you last tested for STIs? Which STIs were you tested for? Have you tested positive for one? Turn-ons: What are you into sexually? What would you be open to trying and when? Avoids: What would you like to avoid? Maybe you don't want to be physically intimate if you have had too much to drink, for example. Relationship intentions and expectations: Maybe you're looking for a monogamous relationship. Or maybe you’re more interested in a casual, consistent connection.  Safety needs: Share what you need to feel safe, physically and emotionally. For example, maybe you’re not comfortable spending the night together yet.  Dacker says the best time to raise the topic of STIs with a potential sexual partner is before your clothes come off (though, of course, it's never too late to discuss sexual health and boundaries.) One thing Dacker stressed is that STIs are just one of the risks we take on in relationships. “Some of the hardest things that people give you are not STIs. It could be broken hearts,” she says. We take a chance because the benefits are worth the risks. Hopefully, with S.T.A.R.S, you can manage those risks.  -Clare Marie Schneider, Life Kit Producer   ⬇ Keep scrolling for more tips from Life Kit. Access Sponsor-Free Episodes Want to support our show? Try a subscription to Life Kit+ and get all the tips and tricks you love sponsor-free! Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit.  Learn More More from Life Kit on sex and sexual health: 💊 How to pick an effective birth control. Between pills, patches, IUDs, implants, shots and condoms, picking a form of birth control can be overwhelming. It involves understanding how birth control works, your preferences, side effects and more. We lay out the facts so you can choose the contraception that works for you. 👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Sex education often leaves out queer people. Here's what to know. School health classes in the U.S. rarely include instruction about sex for LGBTQ students. Here's what that could look like. ⚡️ Touch and pleasure are essential: Learn how to give them to yourself. Human touch is essential. Figuring out what feels good to you, from a long hot bath to something more intimate, can be the first step to getting that much-needed touch. (Yes, this episode includes discussions of sex and sexuality.) 🤝 Navigating consent is all about communication. Everyone has different boundaries. In this episode, we'll talk about what consent is and how to get clear about what you're comfortable with. 💛 What your teen wishes you knew about sex education. It can be challenging to have conversations about sex and relationships with teens. Life Kit has a few tips to help make those talks your kids feel more comfortable. And we have an episode about talking to younger children about the birds and the bees, too!  We want to hear your advice! 🌸 🧵 💻 🌱 🚲  Do you have tips for living more sustainably while also saving money? Maybe you mend your clothes or participate in a buy-nothing group. Email your favorite tips to lifekit@npr.org with the subject line “Sustainable” by Friday, April 14, and include your full name and location. We may feature your answer in a story on NPR.org or an upcoming episode! Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy