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Looking for something uplifting? Start here. This week's wellness picks feature honest convos, unexpected wisdom, and stories that celebrate what connects us.
Podcasts That Will Make You Feel Better About the World
Joy 101
Hoda Kotb infuses her signature authenticity, curiosity, and warmth into conversations with the world’s most fascinating people in her brand-new podcast. The first four episodes are out now, but if you’re looking for more, her YouTube series Joy Rides is, well, a joy to watch.
Wild Card
Rachel Martin skips the small talk and gets right into the real stuff with comedians, authors, and thinkers. When life feels chaotic and overwhelming, it’s a joyful, grounding reminder of our shared humanity.
The Stack
Together with ThriftBooks
The Best New Books on Confidence, Commitment, and Success
From self-love and resilience to perseverance and purpose, these new books are packed with inspiration for becoming your best self this summer. Grab a copy for less at ThriftBooks, and enjoy free shipping on all U.S. orders over $20.
Be Your Own Bestie: A No-Nonsense Guide to Changing the Way You Treat Yourself
by Misha Brown
If your inner critic is working overtime, this one's for you. Misha Brown's practical S.A.S.S. Method helps you build confidence, set healthier boundaries, and start treating yourself with the same kindness you'd extend to your best friend.
The Courage to Commit: Embrace the Radical Power of Sticking with Something
by Shawn Johnson and Andrew East
Shawn Johnson East knows something about showing up when it's hard; she's an Olympic champion, after all. Together with her husband, former NFL player Andrew East, she makes a persuasive case for why commitment—to people, to goals, to yourself—is where the good stuff lives.
The Power of Beliefs: How Strengthening Seven Core Beliefs Predicts Greater Success and a Better Life
by Shawn Achor
The science of optimism, minus the toxic positivity. Shawn Achor's research-backed framework identifies seven core beliefs that quietly shape everything from your resilience and relationships to your sense of what's possible. A useful reset if you've been running on empty.
Trailer of the Day
Spa Weekend
Sometimes the best way to reconnect is a weekend away with your oldest friends. Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris star as burned-out besties overdue for a break. They head to a luxury spa retreat for what turns out to be an unforgettable weekend dedicated to fun, laughter, and some questionable decisions. In theaters August 21.
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Download 📺: Endeavour | Pack 📚: His Dark Materials
Check In: The Store Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom
Housed in a former department store in the heart of Oxford, The Store blends centuries-old architecture with fresh, contemporary design. 101 rooms, across seven unique styles, offer a mix of moody tones, plush textures, and handcrafted details—some with views of the “dreaming spires”. Start your day with breakfast on the rooftop terrace before exploring the city’s famed streets, bookshops, and colleges just outside your door. See more.
Worth the Listen with Steve Raizes
Relationships, regrets, and reconnecting. This week, Steve is sharing the podcast that inspired him to text a long-lost friend.
“Heavyweight is the funniest show I know that will also genuinely wreck you, and it is the only one I can think of that takes the unfinished thing every single one of us is quietly carrying around and actually goes and does something about it. That is a big claim, and I both own it and am sticking to it.”
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Download 📺: The Beach | Pack 📚: The Island of Sea Women
Check In: Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and Spa | Bay Islands, Honduras
Nestled between a pristine forest sanctuary and the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and Spa offers 122 rooms and villa suites with ocean views and hand-crafted local details. Situated along the world's second-largest barrier reef, guests are in a prime location to experience world-class snorkeling and scuba diving. After a day in the sun, enjoy Mediterranean-coastal dishes at Alera. See more.
Screen-Free Summer
If Toy Story 5 (and a little too much doomscrolling) has you wanting to—literally—touch grass this summer and reconnect IRL, we’ve got your next read.
The Anxious Generation
by Jonathan Haidt
This bestseller explores how being online has deprived young people of crucial experiences and milestones. Without being critical, it provides practical suggestions on how to turn things around.
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Download 📺: Fleabag | Pack 📚: The Thursday Murder Club
Check In: COMO The Halkin | London, United Kingdom
Steps from Sloane Street and Hyde Park, COMO The Halkin occupies one of Belgravia's most peaceful streets. Its 41 modern-classic rooms and suites feature large marble bathrooms and an abundance of natural light, some with private garden balconies. With Buckingham Palace and St. James's Park 15 minutes in one direction and King's Road shops the same in the other, COMO The Halkin is an ideal home base. See more.