The Futur's Finds #31

Hello, everyone! Happy Friday the 13th and welcome back to another round of The Futur's Finds.

This week, we're focusing on facing our fears, cooking some delicious and comforting food, and admiring the beauty of the new Playstation 5. (Who are we kidding, we're actually looking for the best deal on this new console.)

If you missed our last email, catch up on last week's list here.

Enjoy this week's picks!

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This week's assignment

You've heard of goal-setting, but what if we put a little spin on it this week and give fear-setting a try? It's easy to write out a list of the things we want to accomplish, but oftentimes we forget to confront the fears that stand in our way. So this week, try fear-setting: define the hard choices that scare you and plan ways to overcome them. If you need a little help moving through it, watch this TED talk with Tim Ferriss.

Book of the week

A Drop of Midnight: A Memoir by Jason Diakité - World-renowned hip-hop artist Jason “Timbuktu” Diakité takes readers on a vivid and intimate journey through his own and his family’s history—from South Carolina slavery to twenty-first-century Sweden. The book collects conversations with his parents, personal experiences, long-lost letters, and pilgrimages to South Carolina and New York to paint a vivid picture of race, discrimination, family, and ambition.

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Get moving

With 2020 being the year of at-home workouts, we found another online fitness program that's totally worth the try: obé fitness. Choose any kind of workout—pilates, dance, HIIT, yoga, boxing, strength training, and more—to get your sweat on during any one of their live classes daily.

Meals to make

• Spice up your typical taco night with these Crispy Tofu Tacos with Avocado Lime Crema.
• It's cold out, so cozy up to a big, warm bowl of this Chungdi Malai (Coconut Shrimp Curry).
• While the fall season is still here, whip up a batch of this Carrot Cake.

Podcasts to tune into

• If you have a hard time falling asleep, check out the Nothing Much Happens podcast. Hosted by Yoga and meditation teacher Kathryn Nicolai, you'll be drifting off to dreamland with her short bedtime stories.
• Life can sometimes get messy, so when you need advice for the things you can get a grip on, listen to Real Simple Tips. It's your daily news update featuring smart, practical solutions for everyday life, from cleaning and organizing to cooking and home decor.

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Articles to read

• Gamers, rejoice: the new Playstation 5 is here. And it is one good lookin' console. So who is the brains behind this gorgeous machine? Chief designer Yujin Morisawa shares his process in this article from Fast Company.
• Good news for vegetarians! McDonald's is launching the McPlant, the first plant-based burger from the fast-food giant. Find out when you can grab a bite in this article.
• Do you listen to music while you work? If you feel like it makes you more productive, the science might say otherwise. In this article, you can find out how and when music makes you more effective at work, backed by science.

What to watch

• An unexpected chess player rises to superstardom for her exceptional skill. But as she takes the chess world by storm, she battles with her difficult past and addiction. Watch every episode The Queen's Gambit on Netflix.
• “Onion,” an enslaved boy, becomes a member of a motley family of abolitionist soldiers battling slavery in Kansas, and eventually finds himself in the famous 1859 Army depot raid at Harpers Ferry. The Good Lord Bird takes viewers through Antebellum America and the ever-changing roles of race, religion and gender in American society. Watch the series on Hulu.

And finally, a quote to keep in mind throughout the week

“We are all experts in our own little niches.” — Alex Trebek