The best things I watched, read and listened to in 2022
We’re in the final, slow-moving ‘what day is it’ moments of 2022, and while I’m reflecting on the business year that was, I’m also thinking back to my favourite books, tv shows and podcasts from the year.
As someone with very limited downtime (I’m sure you can relate), I want to spend my leisure hours wisely, and love getting recommendations from people I trust on the things they’ve really enjoyed. So in the interest of sharing, I hope this list gives you some inspiration - and please do let me know of your favourites too. Is there anything better than getting lost in a good book or hooked on an amazing series?
Top reads
Atomic habits, James Clear
Yes, yes, I’m late to the party, but this was the year I finally got around to reading Atomic Habits, and it absolutely blew me away with its clarity, wisdom and straight-forward advice about building good habits (and breaking bad ones). I’d heard James Clear on podcasts and read excerpts of this book before, but it was really worthwhile sitting and reading in full, while also taking copious notes on the habits I want to establish and improve on this year.
American dirt, Jeanine Cummins
You know those books you just cannot stop thinking about? American Dirt was this for me. Wow. What a story. So much drama, character and humanity, the pace is unrelenting and I couldn’t put it down. It’s still so vivid in my memory, and is the kind of (rare) book I might actually read again one day. Prepare for a big ride with this one, highly recommend.
This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch, Tabitha Craven
I listened to the audiobook version of this and loved it. It really isn’t a book about Benedict Cumberbatch, but it is a book about one woman’s attempt to find meaning, joy and playful moments in her otherwise responsibility-driven life. A great memoir, one that made me laugh, and also had plenty of ‘ah ha’ moments about what it’s like to be a parent juggling ALL the things (with nothing left for yourself). TOP TIP: Download the Borrowbox app and you can borrow audiobooks like this one for free from your local library. It’s the best.
Heartsick, Jessie Stephens
This is a narrative nonfiction book, retelling three true stories of heartbreak, and truly unlike anything I’ve read before. It was a beautiful examination of the grief and loss that comes from relationships ending, and was another book I couldn’t stop thinking about (and recommending to anyone who’d listen). I’m a big lover of Jessie’s podcasts (Mamamia Outloud and Cancelled are two of my favourites), but this book was a revelation, a completely different style of storytelling. I was blown away.
Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus
Don’t be fooled by the title: this is a novel about a scientist, but it’s also not a story about science at all. Instead, it’s about the role of women in the 1950s, with an intriguing central character who doesn’t fit the mould, and is determined to make her own way in a hostile world. It’s a book about relationships, about parenthood, about feminism, and about love. I loved every page of it, and it made me cry. Enough said.
Crawling Through the Darkness, Linda Goldspink-Lord
When my beautiful friend and client Linda lost her daughter Molly in a tragic accident ten years ago, her world fell apart. This is Linda’s story of reconnecting with life and love again, but it’s not a grief manual, it’s an inspiring, honest and uplifting memoir of Linda’s experiences, the things she’s learned along the way, and how Molly has shaped her life in amazing and unexpected ways. A special book by a special person.
Top watches
Only murders in the building, Disney+
Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez make for an unlikely trio of detectives in this highly watchable whodunnit. It’s a bit quirky, a bit funny, a bit creepy. It’ll keep you guessing until the very end. I loved hanging out with this gang of amateur sleuths, a clever whodunnit is just about my favourite thing, and this one is a good kind of different.
Everything I know about love, Stan
Based on the memoir of Dolly Alderton, this brought back all my memories of share house living in London. Don’t be fooled by the title, while there’s plenty of romance in this series, the real love is about the love within female friendships. Highly watchable: great cast, great stories, great clothes, great music.
The Rescue, Disney+
This has got to be one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen - it examines the amazing cave rescue of a group of stranded boys in Thailand in 2018. While I remember watching this unfold on the news in real time, I had no real idea of the scale of the cave system, and the intricacies of the rescue. That those boys got out is truly miraculous - so many twists and turns make-up this story, and some unlikely heroes risked everything to bring them back. Absolutely incredible.
Special, Netflix
This was an unexpected delight - based on Ryan Connolly’s memoir, he plays himself in this semi-autobiographical series about a gay guy with cerebral palsy, making his way in the world after he decides to take a chance on a new direction in life. It’s funny, sweet and sometimes heartbreaking as he navigates love and life, friendship and family. And the episodes are super-short, so it’s easy to squeeze in.
Starstruck, ABC
Season 2 of Starstruck came out this year, and I couldn’t wait to watch it after falling in love with season 1 in 2021. It’s a series set in London, with the central idea of: what happens when a movie star and an average Jill fall in love and try to make it work? Think Notting Hill, but for the modern day. It’s really funny, full of loveable characters, and full of adorable awkward moments and will they/won’t they tension. A fun watch.
Schitt’s Creek, Netflix
I rewatched the entire six seasons of Schitt’s Creek in 2022. And I’ll probably do the same in 2023. Need I say more?
Top listens
How I work, Amantha Imber
Organisational psychologist Amantha Imber interviews some of the most successful and well-known people in the world to get their tips on how they make the most of each day. It’s about productivity, but it’s also about the psychology of work, and how we can all get the most out of our time, while enjoying what we do. It’s full of practical advice and take-home tips, and the shorter ‘my favourite tip’ episodes are a great way to binge some of the best advice from the episodes. I’ve learnt a LOT.
Forty, Those Two Girls
Described as the podcast ‘little black book equivalent for the middle years’, Forty is on high-rotation in my ears. From ‘Those Two Girls’ AKA Sarah Wills and Lise Carlaw, it’s a mix of interviews with inspiring women in their forties and beyond, and ‘Inner Circle’ episodes where Sarah and Lise share their own life stories, lessons and challenges. It’s laugh out loud funny, but also wise and enlightening, and as a 41-year-old woman, I darn-well love it.
Cancelled, Clare and Jessie Stephens
Twins Clare and Jessie Stephens host this comedy podcast, where they explore celebrities who have been cancelled, and what their crimes were in the ‘Cancelled Courtroom’. Together they unpick the ridiculous nature of cancel culture, looking at celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Kourtney Kardashian, King Charles, and everyone else in between. It’s totally silly and laugh-out-loud funny.
Clever copy chats, Kate Toon
As a copywriter, I love any chance to get tips and tricks on how to run my copywriting business better and write better copy for my clients. Clever Copy Chats by Kate Toon is full of tips and practical advice, and also great interviews with real life copywriters (ahem, including me), on how they’ve built their businesses and what they’ve learned along the way. Great for anyone in the copywriting world - whether you’re just starting out or are well established. It’s full of gold.
Your business boost, Michelle Broadbent
This is like getting sage business advice from your business bestie, alongside a serve of inspiring business interviews with brilliant business women. It really does give me a boost - and I look forward to tuning in every Monday for the latest tips from Michelle, or engaging chats with amazing people who teach me something new. I especially love Michelle’s episodes on preparing for different periods throughout the year - for example, reflecting and resetting before the new year, and getting your ducks in the row at the end of each quarter.
Best Friend Therapy, Elizabeth Day and Emma Reed Turrell
As a long-time listener to Elizabeth Day’s podcast How to fail, I was excited when she launched a new podcast with her best friend Emma Reed Turrell this year. Emma is a psychotherapist, and together Elizabeth and Emma unpack a range of issues - from people pleasing to imposter syndrome, jealousy to divorce. The episode on boundaries is a great place to start - it gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to have good boundaries. Worth a listen for the insights, but also the lovely banter between two friends.
What did you love listening to, reading and watching in 2022? Drop me a line, I’d love to know.
