Belle (2021) - Anime scifi-musical directed by Mamoru Hosoda. Incredible visuals and a touching story about a grieving high school girl who becomes an overnight global pop sensation – but only on the internet. Accurate depictions of online culture and a unique take on the Beauty and the Beast story. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell…

This talk by journalist/author Ed Yong from the 2024 XOXO Festival – Ed Yong wrote long-form stories about the pandemic for the Atlantic and won a Pulitzer for it. He also gave a voice to people suffering from long COVID, as well as health workers who were being gaslit for doing their jobs, and emphasized that public health is a collective responsibility. www.youtube.com/watch

Magical/Realism: Essays on music, memory, fantasy, and borders – Book of essays by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal, a latina writer who talks about her experience as an immigrant to Texas and the role of fantasy franchises like Game of Thrones, Baldur’s Gate, and The Witcher in her self-discovery. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704…