Written by: Kirk Shelton & Brandon Verastegui
Let’s face it: being in quarantine isn’t always fun. If you’re working from home, you’re probably more familiar with zoom than ever before. If you’re with friends or family members, you’re probably suffering from a major case of cabin fever. For those who don’t want to (or want a change in the routine) listen to audiobooks, read actual books, or watch the news all day for covid-19 updates, you should know that you have other options. why not come out of this hiatus with a new skill, new business idea, or a new perspective on a commonly-held belief? here are our recommendations for enriching content that you can check out during your downtime at home:
Netflix Series/Movies to Watch:
1. “Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker”
If you’re overwhelmed with choices of what to watch on Netflix, you’re not alone. With everything that is offered, it’s likely that you’ve browsed the new Top-10 list on the menu. One of the shows that stands out right now is “Self-Made”, the story of how Sarah Breedlove develops her own hair care product for women of color and establishes herself as Madam C.J. Walker, entrepreneur and hair-care extraordinaire! Set in the early 1900s right after the turn of the century, this series explores the perils of starting a family business, dealing with competition, hiring great help, and seeing a dream become a reality that lasts for generations. The 4-episode series is available now to view, and you won’t be disappointed!
2. “The Pharmacist”
Another hidden highlight show on Netflix right now follows the documented investigation of a New Orleans pharmacist, Dan Schnider, after the gruesome murder of his son Danny. While it may seem like just a murder mystery on the surface, Schnider is denied the help that he seeks and so he takes the investigation into his own hands. With detailed accounts from all parties involved, and the reputation of his own pharmacy at stake, Schnider records his discoveries on tape and uncovers not only the truth, but also a sinister epidemic that devastates his community and ultimately reaches the ears of the FBI. Based on true events, this 4-episode series hooks viewers and offers a unique perspective on the pharmaceutical industry as a whole.
3. “The Platform”
This is a must watch movie as it offers a poetical perspective of the human condition, reflected in our actions during these times of Coronavirus. It boils down to the worst defect in humanity: egoism.
There are plenty of theories about this movie since it's a new cult movie; but after watching it, come back to Millennials’ Era to read about our perspective and analysis of it's symbolisms.
Click on the image to read about the full analysis of this movie.
4. “Uncorked”
Netflix has been flooded with so much content lately, sometimes it’s hard to take risks and watch something outside of your favorites list. You won’t regret rolling the dice on uncorked. Elijah, the main character whose father’s bar-b-que restaurant has been established as a staple of black culture in Memphis, TN for decades, is on a quest to uncover his true potential. Right away, we learn that his dad expects nothing less of him than to take control of his historic bar-b-que enterprise after his demise. Little does his dad know, elijah has his heart set on pursuing the designation of master sommelier - a connoisseur of red and white wines from all over the world who curates restaurant wine menus and advises guests on pairing specific wines with food selections. it’s a sobering story of deciding whether to choose between family and passion, set in today’s modern world. The soundtrack has an upbeat, rugged southern hip-hop feel between each transitional scene, but the main character’s adaptation to his internal challenges is what truly makes it a standout on netflix. The plot is solid, the characters have believable motives, and the ending is fitting, albeit with a twist that may come as a surprise. If you’ve ever had to choose between what your parents want you to do and your dream career, this will hit home at your next movie night
5. “Ozark”
I've never been a fan of Netflix series to the point of not sleeping at all for a week due to the need of staying up to keep watching a series until it's finished, and that just happened to me last week with Ozark. It's filmatography style has such a melancholic but eerie atmosphere almost as if it was inspired by modern slasher flicks, but it offers such a huge smack of reality when offers the idea that Mexican cartels could be already running sectors of the Government of the USA that such criminal organization itself is a death machine, it just dips your judgment through the lense of the Cartel corruption power.
Podcasts to Hear:
1. NPR’s “How I Built This”
When it comes to business, lots of today’s entrepreneurs have stories about success and failure -- both of which are worth hearing. Host Guy Raz has interviewed everyone from Joe Gebbia of airbnb and katrina lake of stitch fix to Robert Johnson of bet and mark cuban of shark tank. These business people, along with the wide range of guests to appear on the show, have bared their souls in expressing the passion behind their respective businesses. Stories usually include the full journey from discovery of the idea to getting funding to losing business partners to seeing a product on the shelves of a nationally recognized store, and everything else in between. If you have ever considered starting your own business, buying into a franchise, or are just curious about the backstory of one of your favorite brands, this is the podcast to get your wheels turning on the next big thing!
2. Gimlet Media’s “StartUp”
After working in public radio for years, Alex Blumberg (cofounder of Gimlet) starts to wonder if there is more out there for him to explore in front of an audience.
His research leads him to meeting his business partner Matt Leiber to begin their journey into podcasting, while managing the expectations of family members and loyal staff members who are committed to success. The transparency of this show is amazing, from Alex’s conversations with his wife Nazanin about finding a
work-life balance while starting this business, to Alex and Matt’s discussions on risk assessment, negotiating ownership, and moving into new directions with the business. A few other shows, like “reply all”, actually spawned from this show and are produced by Gimlet media, so avid listeners can continue to keep up with their favorite topics. curious about the ups and downs of starting a business based on an idea that’s ahead of its time? this show will give a great overview of the journey that lies ahead.
