ICYMI, every week in the Glowreel newsletter we share a recommendation of our favourite things! Books, podcasts, films, recipes, workouts and products - we love to dabble in it all, and share it with you!
In the spirit of sharing and spreading some goodness this holiday season, we've rounded up all of our recos for 2021 - so you can enjoy the best of the best as you sit back and relax heading into the holiday season.
So, let's get glowing!
Read
Non-fiction
Make It Happen: How To Be An Activist by Amika George. The 21-year-old founder of Free Periods breaks down how you can be an activist and make history - from anywhere in the world.
For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Colour by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez. Rodríguez's book guides women of color toward a sense of pride and sisterhood through storytelling. She crafts powerful ways to address the challenges Brown girls face, from imposter syndrome to colourism, and empowers women of colour to decolonize their worldview.
Growing Up Aboriginal In Australia - Compiled by award-winning Aboriginal Australian author, Anita Heiss, this anthology highlights a range of voices, experiences and stories in order to answer the question 'what's it like growing up Aboriginal in Australia?'
Raising My Voice - The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dares to Speak Out. In this memoir Malalai Joya shares her experiences of being a powerful public figure and the horrors she faced being an outspoken woman in Afghanistan.
Consumed by Aja Barber. Aja Barber wants change and is breaking down colonialism, climate change, consumerism, and the need for collective change in her latest book.
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks. Ain't I a Woman is essential to understanding the complex dynamics black women have with racism and feminism. The book examines the impact of sexism on black women during slavery, the historic devaluation of black womanhood, black male sexism and black women's involvement with feminism.
Fiction
In honour of the Lunar New Year, Glowreel community member Sruthi shared her top 10 books by leading female, asian authors. One of our personal favourites from the list is Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (it's so good, you can't put it down!)
The First Woman, by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. Set in a small village in Uganda, The First Woman tells the story of a young girl named Kirabo who is discovering what it means to become a woman in a family, community and country determined to silence her. Finding her place in the world will take all the courage she has.
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré. The Girl with the Louding Voice is an inspiring story of a teenage girl growing up in a rural Nigerian village who longs to get an education so that she can find her “louding voice” and speak up for herself. It is both a heartbreaking and triumphant tale about the power of fighting for your dreams.
Frangipani by Célestine Vaite - This story focuses on a mother (Materena) and daughter (Leilani) relationship, and the challenges of raising a young woman in an ever-changing world.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - Four mothers, four daughters, four families, whose histories shift with the four winds depending on who's telling the stories. In 1949, four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, meet weekly to play mahjong and tell stories of what they left behind in China - aka, the Joy Luck Club.
Iep Jāltok: Poems from a Marshallese Daughter by Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner - In this book, poet Jetnil-Kijiner’s highlights the traumas of colonialism, racism, forced migration, the legacy of American nuclear testing, and the impending threats of climate change.
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri - Whereabouts shares the story of a woman questioning her place in the world, wavering between stasis and movement, between the need to belong and the refusal to form lasting ties.
White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht - The heartbreaking history of Korea is brought to life in this deeply moving and redemptive debut that follows two sisters separated by World War II.
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. From the sultry cane fields of the Caribbean to the frozen Far North, Washington Black tells a story of friendship and betrayal, love and redemption, of a world destroyed and made whole again - and asks the question, what is true freedom?
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. Joshi's debut novel follows the story of a young woman, Lakshmi, who secretly escapes from her abusive marriage to become a henna artist in 1950s Jaipur. The story highlights the struggles of the independent woman in a traditional and conservative society.
Where Hope Comes From, by Nikita Gill. Where Hope Comes From is a beautiful collection of poems that embodies strength and hope. This week's recommendation is brought to you by Sruthi Ravi, Glowreel's resident bookworm. Sruthi will be sharing her must read recommendations with you once a month. Get ready to devour some excellent books!
First Woman 🚀 - The fictional series of graphic novels and interactive experiences by NASA tell the tale of Callie Rodriguez, the first woman to explore the Moon. Callie's character is inspired by real life BIPOC woman astronauts like Mae Jemison, Ellen Ochoa and Kalpana Chawla.
Swing Time by Zadie Smith. A story about friendship and music and stubborn roots, about how we are shaped by these things and how we can survive them.
Minor Details by Cat Yen. Cat won a recent emerging writers competition by SBS. You'll see why after reading her raw and honest account of a marginalised woman who is so focused on survival that she doesn't dare allow herself to chase her dreams.
A Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory. Add a little bit of spice to your festive season reading list with this story about a spontaneous holiday vacation that turns into an unforgettable romance. Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of six romance novels, so you know you're in for the perfect festive season read with A Royal Holiday.
Listen
Bre Mitchell's Brown Girl Self-Care podcast. The 'self-care pusher' shares life experiences, weighs in on current events, amps up her wellness/health habits and finds clean(ish) products to try all for the sake of taking her physical, spiritual and emotional well-being to the next level. The end goal? To inspire other women of colour to do so as well. It's time to become obsessed with our self-care, so let's get to it!
Tea with A & Phee. WNBA All-Stars A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier discuss all things hoops and pop culture while taking listeners on a journey into their personal lives. Fun fact, they're currently at the Olympics! Not a fan of basketball? No worries! You might be interested in the Burn It All Down podcast. It's all about breaking down the big sporting moments with a feminist edge. The panel of five hosts includes Shireen Ahmed and Amira Rose Davis.
Let's Go Together Podcast, hosted by Kellee Edwards. The podcast features diverse voices sharing their unique travel experiences and inspiring others to explore the world. The perfect inspo for your post-pandemic travel! Our recommended episode is this interview with London-based podcast and video duo Kym Oliver and Jumoke Abdullahi, aka The Triple Cripples.
Fufu & Tibs podcast - Ok if you haven't tuned into Fufu and Tibs before, you're in for some excellent banter! Join African Aussie girls Gillean, Mary, Rebka and Vanessa as they dish out relatable content, with a side of bants.
Tune into the Bittersweet Podcast. Rahel & Wintana bring your weekly dose of excellent conversations, with a little bit of spice! You'll be hearing a familiar name/voice on this week's episode 😉
To The Window - the new song by YSSY. Singer Elliot Caroll wrote The Window to share her experience as an Asian-Canadian woman in music and as an anthem for representation. The single seeks to amplify the #stopasianhate movement and celebrates the change happening right now across the media. We've been listening to The Window non-stop since it was released. We have a feeling you'll be doing the same!
Watch
Fiction films and tv series
Nomadland - All about a woman who goes on a journey through the American West after losing everything during the recession. History making Oscar win: Nomadland Director, the brilliant Chloé Zhao, is the first Asian woman (Zhao is of Chinese descent) and the first woman of colour to win the Oscar for Best Director. She's also only the second woman in history to win this award.
Minari - The film follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home. History making Oscar win: Yuh-Jung Youn is the first South Korean person to ever be nominated for, and to win, an Oscar for acting. She plays the sassy grandma in Minari!
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - The film covers an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer Ma Rainey. Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. History making Oscar win: Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson are the first Black women to ever be nominated for, and to win, an Oscar for hair and makeup team for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Neal and Wilson won the award alongside fellow stylist Sergio Lopez-Rivera.
Creamerie - a brilliant dystopian series straight out of New Zealand! The series is set in the not too distant future, where a viral plague has swept the earth. In a matter of weeks, it decimated 99% of men. The 1% were sent to The Facility in New Zealand but didn't survive ... or did they? Created by Roseanne Liang, Ally Xue, JJ Fong and Perlina Lau, they wrote the three Kiwi-Asian lead characters for themselves after years of being offered roles as sex workers or 'dragon ladies'. Creamerie is currently streaming in Australia on SBS On Demand and in New Zealand on TVNZ On Demand. Keen to watch the series from elsewhere in the world? Follow these steps.
Fardosa - The short coming-of-age fiction film is about a Finnish-Somali teenager (Fardosa) in Helinski. The film has an ethereal feel to it and explores Fardosa's identity and her experience of life and relationships growing up as a teen in Helsinki. Fun fact, the entire cast consists of Finnish-Somali non-professional actors, and they are brilliant!
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker. Starring Octavia Spencer, this limited series shares the story of Madam C.J. Walker and how she became on of the first female self-made millionaires.
Documentary
Period. End of Sentence. A 2018 Oscar winning documentary short film about Indian women leading a quiet sexual revolution. Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, the documentary-film follows women in rural India - where the stigma of menstruation persists - who make low-cost sanitary pads on a new machine and stride toward financial independence.
Eat
Meals
Chef Priyanka's delicious vegan recipes! Whether you're vegan or not, you'll be drooling over Chef Priyanka's globally inspired Indian cuisine. A crispy skillet pasta pizza - with a hint of spice, rose lassi, crispy stuffed poblano and sweetheart scones are just some of the delights that await you (yuuuuum!) We're drooling just writing about Chef Priyanka's delicious dishes.
Priya Sharma's Dad's Special Spice Mix. Made famous through Sharma's Tik Tok videos, which always start off with "Hi my name is Priya". The spice mix is an amalgamation of spice blends that saw Sharma through her childhood and she now uses to flavour everything - from fresh fruit through to cooked meals. Available to purchase on Etsy, each batch of the spice mix is homemade and will be sure to make your meals just that little bit extra.
All the delicious recipes by Sweet Potato Soul. Founder Jenné Claiborne loves to use fresh, local ingredients to make the most mouthwatering vegan dishes you'll ever taste! Check out her banana peel recipe/vegan carnitas for something that's a bit different, delicious and helps you to reduce food waste - winning!
This delicious Afghan feast by Sadia Badiei, aka Pick Up Limes. It comes complete with Afghan dumplings and Bolani (stuffed flatbread). Yep, we're drooling. Badiei's parents fled Afghanistan during the war of 1979. Her Afghan feast video includes beautiful snippets of conversations with her mum, and a message from both her parents about what's happening in Afghanistan now.
Take a seat at Dora's Table. For some of the most delicious and easy to make Mexican (and vegan) recipes. We're here for the red chile jackfruit tamales (apparently you can't even tell they're vegan) and the pineapple tepache - yum!
This Burmese meal from The Rangoon Sisters Cookbook.
Cook up a delicious Korean meal thanks to Maangchi.
Sweet treats
Cooking with Ayeh's Choc-Chip Hot Cross Buns recipe - keeping the Easter spirit alive today! Feeling extra adventurous? Give her Hot Cross Bagels recipe a go - yum! (Plus it aligns with our #teamfruit stance). While you're at it, have a scroll through Ayeh's Tik Tok account. Cooking is her happy place (and her escape from the pain of a back injury), and it'll be yours too after you've spent an hour or ten enjoying her Tik Toks.
The Fresh Frozen Blueberry Lime Margarita by Andy, aka, Beautiful Eats & Things. Andy is a body positive dietitian with recipes that are chefs kiss. As for her beautiful Margarita recipe - it'll go down a treat as those of you in the Northern Hemisphere head into summer, or help you squeeze in that last bit of summer if you're in the Southern Hemisphere like team Glowreel. Not a fan of margaritas? No worries! Andy's Strawberry Mint Lemonade or Green Apple & Ginger Iced Tea recipes are sure to go down a treat.
Try
Products
The Live Tinted Huestick! Live Tinted is a woman of colour founded digital community and beauty brand driven by the principle that every person belongs (yaaaas!) The Huestick is a a 4-in-1 multistick that can be used as a colour corrector to balance discoloration and dark spots under makeup, and as an eye shadow, blush and lipstick. It's available in nine shades that work for every skin tone - now that's a win!
Zove Beauty's facial rollers & gua sha tools. Zove Beauty was founded by Adeline Yeak in 2018 with the mission statement "Confidence Breeds Beauty". Zove's beauty tools help with improving blood circulation, relaxing facial muscle tension, and promoting lymphatic drainage - to help get rid of puffiness! Made from 100% genuine materials, these beauty tools will amp up your self-care regime. We can't live without our Zove Beauty tools!
Bush Medjina - Translating traditional indigenous native botanical knowledge into modern skincare, the Indigenous Australian women behind Bush Medjina sell a beautiful range of products for your face, body and hair. Yes, they ship internationally!
OMA THE LABEL. Founded by Neumi Anekhe in 2018, OMA is focussed on challenging homogenous industry standards, while creating quality and affordable pieces. Anekhe was driven to create OMA because she saw a need for more brands representing people of colour. She wanted to help diversify the markets and shake up the typical imagery that we see in fashion today.
Workout routines
Joanna Soh - for an easy to follow (no equipment needed) HIIT workout.
Yogalates with Rashmi - improve your flexibility and relax under the soothing guidance of Rashmi.
If you haven't got on to ClassPass yet, you need to check it out. A few of our Glowreel community members use it and they can't get enough! ClassPass is a monthly subscription service provides you with access to tens of thousands of different studios, gyms, and wellness (think massages, facials and manicures) options. Founded by Payal Kadakia in 2011, ClassPass is available in over 2,500 cities across the globe, including cities in Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK, Canada, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Add some movement to you week c/o Healthy With Kelsey. There's something for everyone from a gentle stretch through to full body HIIT workouts. Kelsey is a Vancouver based Body Positive Health and Wellness Coach who's "on a mission to help folx take the shame out of their wellness game through joyful movement."
A fun dance workout with Tara 💃🏾Bonus points if your speak French - which is the language Tara speaks in. But we guarantee you'll be dancing your heart out, even if you don't speak French - dance is a universal language, people! Tara's videos are super easy to follow.
