5SR - January 18, 2024

Hitha on how to hygge, the podcast you should listen to, and two pieces of good news

Author

Hitha Palepu
January 18, 2024

Today’s curator is the founder of #5SmartReads, Hitha Palepu. She’s a consummate multihyphenate - CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, author of WE’RE SPEAKING: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris and How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip, and professional speaker. Hitha is an unabashed fan of Taco Bell, Philadelphia sports teams & F1, romance novels, and is a mediocre crafter. She lives in NYC with her husband and two sons.

The expanded child tax credit during the pandemic help lift nearly 3 million American kids out of poverty - for many, only temporarily. I’ve seen groups like Chamber of Mothers and Moms First push for this to be restored permanently.

And while this measure isn’t not as ambitious or permanent (lower income parents are eligible for a credit on taxes or cash refund of $2000 per child, until 2025 if passed), it is a start.

This will impact the families of 19 million children in this country who are currently getting less than the $2000 currently allowed, due to their incomes being too low.

While this deal will be a challenge to get through the House, I have some faith that Representative Jason Smith, the House Ways and Means Chair and the Republican sponsor in his chamber, can find the votes he needs to push this though.

I highly encourage you call your representatives and urge them to vote yes on this bill, particularly if they sit on the Ways and Means committee.

I had an incredible conversation with Ami Thakkar when she interviewed me on Tuckered Out. What feels like an effortless exchange is a testament to the work she’s put in as a podcaster, and how her multi-hyphenated, evolving career has guided her to being an Anthem-nominated podcaster.

Ami has worn some incredible professional hats - lawyer, Bollywood backup dancer - but being a storyteller (and an inclusive one) has been the through line of both her career and who she innately is.

“The reason I strongly believe in podcasting and the influence it has had in our society is because the medium feels a lot more personal compared to other forms of media. The long-form interviews, discussions, and stories have allowed us to really open up and talk to each other in a more honest, vulnerable way. It gives more space to really understand others’ stories and opinions, which is so important in this current climate of contention and conflict that we are witnessing around the world. This is especially important within the South Asian community since we are such a uniquely diverse and multicultural community.

We need to start supporting each other more and let go of the idea that there is only room for a few of us at the table.”

I don’t know if it was an all-nighter or waking up absurdly early, but the fourth book from Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood And Ash series gripped me until I finished it at approximately 4:50 am yesterday.

I’m giving myself a few days before jumping in to the final book (if only to get some sleep), and I’ll be continuing my journey in Armentrout’s works after a quick detour for Crescent City #3.

Fall of Ruin and Wrath is exactly up my alley. It’s got the gods-mortals battle she does so well, an underestimated FMC (female main character) with a doomed love interest, and a simmering war.

This excerpt moved the book high on my TBR list. And if bureaucratic, steamy fantasy is your thing, I recommend you add it to yours as well.

I think I overdid it on the hygge in our home, because I never really want to leave to attend events or catch up with friends. It’s a bit brutal on my social life, but has significantly improved my mood this winter.

It turns out hygge isn’t just about flickering candles, cozy blankets, and all the soups. Getting daily outdoor time, actually seeing your friends, and using your nice things instead of buying your way to happiness are three tenants we should all incorporate when practicing hygge this winter - and all year round.

But I do really recommend these items if you want to bring some cozy vibes to your space. Our home feels so happy, calm, and the perfect place to cocoon.

Can one have a crush on a public health program? Because I’m crushing hard on this one.

“This program [Fruit and Veg Boulder] is part of a growing wave of nutrition incentive projects across the country. The goal is not just to get food to people who can't afford it, but to allow them to buy and choose their own nutritious food. The federal government pays for many of these programs, but they are often supplements for federal benefits that aren't available to everyone, including people who are undocumented. Some places, like Boulder, are generating their own funding through a local soda tax, which has the added benefit of making unhealthy food less appealing.”

These coupons are redeemable at grocery stores and farmer’s markets and farm stands alike, giving these families more options to purchase nutritious food. And the impact is impressive (one person was able to lose 20 pounds and bring her A1C levels into healthy range thanks to the program and other lifestyle changes she was able to make).

Seeing the success of programs like these at the local scale is an opportunity to push for them at the state level, which can help push for greater investment and expansion of SNAP (1 dollar invested by the government yields a 170% return, predominantly going to local communities and promoting local jobs).

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