At Murmuration, we have a history of curating lists of favorites and other recommendations. We typically ask our staff, our partners, and others in our network whose work we deeply admire to share with us the books, podcasts, TV shows, films, stores, and similar that they felt helped them to get through the year, inspired them, or opened their eyes to new possibilities. In honor of Women’s History Month, and with deep gratitude to USA TODAY for selecting me as one of their Women of the Year, we thought it only fitting that I redirect that spotlight to a curated list of books, films, podcasts, brands, shops, and similar, written, directed, envisioned, and created by women around the world.
Books and Memoir Written by Women
I’m an avid reader of dystopian fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy, and there are so many incredible novels out there written by women. To highlight two in particular, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite dystopian novels of all time. The whole MaddAddam trilogy is excellent, but that first book and its juxtaposition of the timeless human emotions of friendship and love with the futuristic genetically engineered new world order captures what I love most in fiction—the connection of something familiar with something new or otherworldly.
More recently, I really loved N.K. Jemisin’s The City We Became. As a lifelong New Yorker, the idea that each borough has its own personality, and yet that there’s one spirit for the city as a whole, just feels right. Place is so important in shaping all of our experiences, just as each of us helps to shape the places in which we live, so I loved the concept of that relationship as much more of a human give and take.
Angela Buchdahl’s memoir The Heart of a Stranger offers a window into her life as a Korean, an American, a Jew, a mom, a wife, and a Rabbi. I recommend it for anyone—regardless of religious affiliation—who has struggled with identity, grappled with feelings of being other or different, or felt the chaos of trying to serve family, friends, colleagues, and community. Buchdahl opens up to the reader, sharing her feelings and vulnerabilities and her struggles to juggle the sometimes competing pressures of her congregation, her commitment to God, and her husband and children. It’s a moving and spiritual memoir of a hard-working mom, and for me, a helpful reminder that all of us face tradeoffs and grapple with questions of whether or not we can ever truly be enough.
Song Sung by a Woman
I have a tendency to read a lot into the lyrics of songs, and am much more likely to listen to music in which I feel a shared connection and experience. With that as context, two songs immediately come to mind.
First “Supercut” by Lorde. In “Supercut,” that line, “in my head I do everything right,” pulls me right in. When it comes to relationships of any kind—whether you are looking back on how something ended or playing out the scenario that might have made it different—we are all prone to selective memory from time to time. It’s human. It’s also very much part of my personality to remember the best and try to let the worst go. My father often told me that regret is a waste of time, and I’m convinced his advice is why I mentally categorize negative experiences as life lessons, and fill my mental memory box with positive reflections on the past.
And second, “Flawless” by Beyoncé. Part II of the song starts with “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls: 'You can have ambition, but not too much; you should aim to be successful, but not too successful.'" For as much progress as we have made as women to rise up, show our strength, maximize our impact, and shatter glass ceilings, I know that undercurrent is still always hovering there. That there are still so many people all around the world who think man = boss, and woman = bossy. With that in mind, I try to live every day as an example to my daughter. I am not perfect. I do drop balls. There are days when I look disheveled, when I feel scattered. And it’s ok. We aren’t striving for perfection. We’re striving to be the best contributors to our family, team, community, country, and world that we can be in any given moment. Being a woman is a gift, not something that should hold any of us back from our aspirations or our efforts. And even though we won’t always succeed, we won’t always achieve perfection, we can look ourselves in the mirror, nod and say “I woke up like this, we flawless,” and face the day with strength, courage, and endurance.
Movie Directed by a Woman
"All We Imagine As Light," written and directed by Payal Kapadia, is a beautiful depiction of three strong women in India, each struggling to live in a world where autonomy and freedom are constrained, and yet they are still responsible for themselves, family, friends, and community. It offers a window into life for women in urban India, and a reminder of the quiet strength that is possible even when systems create obstacles at every step. India is so very different from New York City, where I have lived my entire life, and yet I found myself drawn into the lives of these three women, connected to them through a shared sense of responsibility and a shared understanding of the importance of female friendship and support in a world still largely run by men. It’s beautiful, moving, and particularly resonant in this moment where we see loneliness and disconnection spreading through our countries and around the world.
Woman-Led Organizations
Run for Something, co-founded by Amanda Litman, reminds all of us that rather than just demanding more from our existing elected officials, we “can change the system by changing who is in it.” Launched in 2017, they’ve helped over 200,000 people across all 50 states raise their hand and run for state or local office. They understand that investing in the next generation of leadership in this country is essential to ensuring a future in which America can live up to its promise and communities across the nation can truly thrive. Amanda leads with passion, and believes deeply in the potential for young people to reshape America. Her books, “Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself,” and “When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership,” are both must reads for anyone who is frustrated with the pace of change in this country, or who looks around at our leaders—local, state and federal—and thinks, those people don’t know what my community needs and maybe, just maybe, I could try to do better.
Zearn is a math learning platform that helps kids explore concepts, discover meaning, and make sense of math. I had the honor of working with Shalinee Sharma, co-founder, when she was at Bain and I was at Robin Hood, and I am so very excited by what she has built at Zearn. Shalinee’s persistent drumbeat—that every kid is a math kid—and her focus on creating resources that serve children, parents, teachers, schools, and districts have revolutionized math. Her commitment to ensuring that resources will never be the reason a school or district can’t provide its teachers and students with high-quality tools and curriculum is game-changing for communities that tend to struggle most. And her development of lessons that actually can help any kid understand and even learn to love math means numeracy in this country could someday be truly universal.
Woman Community Organizer
Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, is proof that one woman and a Facebook page can start a national movement for change. Shannon is a mother of five, and was so outraged in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy that she felt she had to speak up. Channeling her anger into a demand for change gave so many other women (I believe they currently have over 10 million supporters now!) an opening to speak up and demand that our country do better. She is living proof that one woman can make a difference, can inspire, outrage, inflame, and connect millions of people for a common cause. Her books “Fight Like a Mother” and “Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at any Age” are passionate memoir-style books for all women on how to show up as a mother, a woman, and a leader in your community in the quest for a better America. I had the distinct honor of interviewing Shannon at an event for Women Moving Millions last year, and her soft-spoken determination reminded the room full of women that you don’t have to be an extravert, an agitator, or an organizer by training to inspire others, spark a movement, and demand (and effect) change.
Woman-Owned Small Business
My favorite bookstore is Books Are Magic on Smith Street in Brooklyn, owned by author Emma Straub and her husband. It’s this wonderful, small space on the corner that somehow packs in everything you could ever want and more. They’ve got a wonderful kids and teens section, a great little sci-fi section, and if they don’t have what you are looking for, the staff is always helpful and able to order. I don’t live in Brooklyn anymore, but it remains my go-to spot.
Woman-Hosted Podcast
Normal Gossip, hosted by Rachelle Hampton, is my guilty pleasure go-to when I need a distraction from my own life and the increasingly chaotic world in which we live. It’s curated escapism at its best.
But I would be remiss if I did not thank the incredible women hosts who have invited me on their podcasts over the past year: Kristine Michie of the PlayFull Podcast, connecting joy and play to hard work and social change; Dana Snyder of Missions to Movements, highlighting social entrepreneurs and people across the country working to grow their impact, L. Joy Williams of Sunday Civics, highlighting civic engagement and its direct impact on community thriving, and Tanya Nathan and Sarah Andrews of Momarchy, who are creating a space for moms to stay connected civically.
Woman Visual Artist
Es Devlin. Her recent work re: refuges, Congregation or Face to Face: 50 Encounters with Strangers, was a beautiful window into the mosaic that is the refugee community in London today. I took my children with me to see it when it was at the PAC NYC. It was impossible not to be moved by the images of people telling their own stories of hardship, triumph, and life.
Woman-Founded Brand
Argent, founded by Sali Christeson—affordable, well-made clothes designed for working women. Sali realized the struggle to find well-fitting, affordable work clothes for women was totally solvable - and she set out to do it. Argent wants all women to be able to feel that superhero feeling of looking at yourself in the mirror before an interview or a big meeting and knowing that even if you don’t feel 100 percent sure on the inside, you look the part. I don’t actually know if men have this issue, but I know as a woman that being able to just trust that your appearance screams confidence actually increases confidence. In their own words: “Argent designs clothes that embolden modern, multi-dimensional women to be their best, most confident selves through functional, fashion-forward apparel with useful details to optimize your work-joy balance. The premise is simple: We give you the tools, you make it work.” (For me, the inside pockets and in-sleeve elastic of their blazers are just game-changing. How did no one ever think of those before? Oh, they weren’t women designing for women.)
Woman-Owned Restaurant
King in Soho, owned by British co-chefs Jess Shadbot and Clare de Boer. For my 40th birthday, my husband surprised me with a dinner party with my family friends in their small private room, and I was blown away by the gesture and the love—but also by the food and the warmth of the overall experience. I’ve been back many times since, but will always cherish that moment when I walked in to find the people I love convened to celebrate with me.
Then also, not quite a restaurant, but Duane Park Patisserie in Tribeca—founded, owned, and run by the force that is Madeline Lanciani—is a really special spot. We’ve done cookies and cupcakes and ring dings for our kids’ birthdays and random Tuesdays when everyone just needs a pick-me-up and even office birthday celebrations, and Madeline never lets us down. She opened the Patisserie in the 90s, and to this day continues to put her personal touch on everything they make.
I hope my recommendations lead you to think of your own list, and pass it on to friends and family - spreading the stories and creations of and by women that are giving you inspiration this Women’s History Month. From math instruction to fashion design to community power and more, women around the country are doing extraordinary work that keeps us informed, delighted, cared for, and uplifted. Let’s share and celebrate and spotlight them together now, and throughout the year.