Beyond Type 1 December Staff Picks: What We’re Reading, Watching, Listening To… And Eating!
Editor’s Note: We have a simple goal: tap into the power of the global diabetes community to save lives. Learn more about what you can do as a person with diabetes to keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19 until we’re all safe.
The Beyond Type 1 physical office has been closed since March and—particularly since so many staff members live with or have loved ones with diabetes and need to stay extra safe—we’ve been trying to keep ourselves sane and busy, just like you!
As we continue to practice physical distancing, we’ve been leaning on loved ones via video chat, connecting with each other over what we’re watching, reading and listening to since these are some of the only experiences we can truly share right now.
A few members of our team consolidated our December favorites to share some of the things that are helping us laugh, cry and just hang in there. Check out our picks and let us know some of yours!
Christel Marchand Aprigliano, Chief Advocacy Officer
Reading: The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter, far too much Politico.com, and re-reading Neuromancer by William Gibson
Watching: Secret City, Wynonna Earp and like everyone else… The Queen’s Gambit
Listening: Relax Melodies because 2020, Metric and Sofi Tukker
Eating: Roasted Cauliflower Soup, pistachios and pumpkin muffins
Dana Howe, Director of Brand Communications
Reading: Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi and The Nix by Nathan Hill
Watching: We Are the Champions, The Holiday, Great British Baking Show Holiday Limited Release
Listening to: Phoebe Bridgers, because it’s been that kind of mood all year long
Eating: Sauerkraut, like, tubs of it. Is that weird?
Dez Lopez, Social Media Manager
Reading: Tweets + Instagram captions
Watching: American Horror Story, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Selena: The Series, Tiktoks until the sun comes up
Listening to: Music! Evermore by Taylor Swift, Plastic Hearts by Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones. Podcast! Who Made You Great with Lala Jackson (Lala says aw shucks)
Eating: Dried Mango, Holiday Lattes (iced only), Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Eugenia Araiza, Project Manager: Spanish Properties
Reading: For the hundredth time, I’m reading the draft of a new book I co-wrote with Mariana that we hope will be published in January
Watching: Defending Jacob
Listening to: Christmas is Coming
Eating: Homemade sugar/gluten free brownies
Jordan Dakin, Director of Programs
Reading: The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Comfort Me With Apples by Ruth Reichl
Watching: Gilmore Girls (again… this year calls for the kind of comfort only Stars Hollow can provide!), Dolly Parton: Here I Am, Stuck In Love, Get Organized with The Home Edit
Listening to: Music! The Babys, Touch Sensitive, Marvin Gaye, Wild Nothing, JoJo. Podcast! The Rewatchables Podcast (thanks to Todd!)
Eating: Pumpkin Crunch Cake (a recently rediscovered family favorite + probably the best dessert you’ll ever have), DuGood’s Keto Fudge Bites, lots of homemade popcorn
Katrina Fadrilan, Project Manager: Business Operations
Reading: Blue Nights by Joan Didion, All About Love by bell hooks, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Watching: The Queen’s Gambit, re-watching holiday favorites (Love Actually, It’s a Wonderful Life)
Listening to: Podcasts! Bill Gates & Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions, Armchair Expert
Eating: Whatever Mariana is eating (which is always chocolate)
Lala Jackson, Senior Project Manager: Digital Unit
Reading: Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser, A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir, The Witches of New York by Ami McKay, The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (I sense a theme…)
Watching: His Dark Materials on HBO, Jingle Jangle on Netflix (over and over and over and over again)
Listening to: Music! Kid Cudi, SiR, Masego, Spillage Village. Podcasts! Longform, Sports? with Katie Nolan and Who Made You Great with… me!
Eating: These excellent gluten free chocolate chip cookies + far too much Coquito
Mariana Gomez, Director of Emerging Markets
Reading: Does reading the draft of your own soon-to-be published book count? My co-writer Eugenia makes me read this at least ten times per day.
Watching: All of the Christmas movies and shows on Netflix including Dash & Lilly
Listening to: My now bigger COVID-19 Spotify list that I originally made for the “15 day quarantine” 😭
Eating: chocolate, always chocolate
Sara Jensen, Chief Creative Officer
Reading: Sisters by Daisy Johnson, Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
Watching: The Queen’s Gambit, The Walking Dead (with the kids) and New Girl (with the kids)
Listening to: Music! Playlists on Spotify. Podcasts! Armchair Expert, Smartless, Brought to you by…, and No Stupid Questions
Eating: Toby’s Tofu Paté, popcorn with San Juan Popcorn Salt with all the butter, and Waldron Island apples
Thor Jensen, Web Developer
Reading: Florida Man by Tom Cooper, Decoding Your Cat by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Watching: Not Even A Show on YouTube
Listening to: Onra, the Tymes, Yasushi Ide, the Revolutionaries, Julian Cope
Eating: Carrots, cashews
Looking for other ways to stay safe, sane and healthy over the holidays? Check out our 2020 Holiday Guide
