Hi everyone,
In April’s prescription I recommended Mel Robbin’s podcast ‘How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over’. Three changes I have made since are: text less, call more and no dual screening.
The only place I was not dual screening was at the cinema. Now I have stopped this habit at home and not only has it improved my concentration, I enjoy what I watch much more. Maybe you have always been disciplined but if not, try a phone free zone and let me know what you think.
Emily
emily@emilysgroup.com just not as affirming as a ‘live’ conversation. I have also become so conditioned to my phone not ringing, when it does I think it’s an emergency and can feel my heart racing. Is it just me who suffers from this condition?
Mind & Body
Face Yoga
During the pandemic, I signed up for online face yoga. There was something surreal about watching other women alongside me doing a strange mix of facial expressions. The exercises are meant to help relieve facial tension and claim to make you look younger and more rested.
l spend a lot of time coaching clients online so I decided to give it another go. I only do the exercises for a few minutes, whether it makes any difference is up for debate. However, there is something therapeutic and calming about massaging your face and neck after staring at your screen all day. As an alternative to Face Yoga you can try Facial Pilates with Lisa (Anti ageing face exercises). I would like to see her grandmother!
I know, I know, you are thinking another Mel Robbins podcast? But this is really interesting and enlightening. The guest is Dr Stacy Sims, she’s an exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist.
Her research which she discusses in this podcast has made me re-evaluate my eating habits before exercise and there’s other useful advice. Sim’s findings apply to all women, regardless of age so share it with your friends and family. It’s an episode you will want to listen to more than once.
To Read
Image: Jiang, J. (2005) Rejection Proof. Harmony books.
Rejection Proof
Jia Jiang
I have just finished working with a group of women on a professional development programme. I worked with them reviewing and re-working their CVs, as well as helping them pitch themselves on paper and in person. In many of the 1-2-1 sessions I found myself recommending the book Rejection Proof. Often, when we apply for a job and are not successful, our default is to think we are not good enough, we lack skill or didn’t impress in the interview.
That’s where Jia Jiang’s book comes in. Jia had allowed the fear of rejection to rule his life so he took extreme action. He left his job and spent 100 days deliberately seeking out scenarios where the chances of rejection were very high. In a nutshell, the book is about how to cope with rejection and not make it about you. It’s also about how to turn a no into a yes, the skill of charm and negotiation! I love his theory that you get so used to being rejected that you see it as just part of every day life rather than a soul destroying experience.
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe
I have just spent the weekend in Belfast, I had a fantastic time, great people, delicious food, wonderful live music venues, museums, art galleries, the list goes on. When Lucca, my godson heard I had been he asked me if I had watched the series Say Nothing. I hadn’t but my mum lent me her book club copy. The author is New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe. It’s about the troubles in NI and the book was adapted and made into a drama series for Disney +. I am only a couple of chapters into the book and it is brilliantly written but not an easy read.
Whilst we were in Belfast we did a tour of the west of the city, where so much of the conflict written about in the book took place. We visited both the Shankill Road and the Falls Road. Our guide, a local man had grown up in the area during the height of the troubles. He spoke about both the political and historical background to the conflict and gave us the perspective from both sides.
With so many conflicts taking place around the world you may think it would be the last book we should or would want to read. But I am keen to understand and learn more, particularly now that I have visited the city.
To Listen
The Media Show
Do you ever stumble across a programme and wonder if you are the only person who hasn’t listened to it before. The Media Show is presented by Katie Razzall (Culture and Media Editor for BBC News) and Ros Atkins, (the BBC’s News Analysis Editor.)
It’s all in the title, it’s about media, real news, fake news, social media and the latest trends. You don’t have to work in the media industry to appreciate this show. The range of subjects Katie and Ros investigate and the lively discussions they have with guests makes this series both informative and entertaining.
For long car journeys on your own, there’s nothing worse than heading off and then realising you haven’t downloaded the podcasts you want to listen to. Finally, I have created the Long Car Journeys playlist where I have added hours of chat. I love the fact when I press play I don’t get any eye rolls or comments as it’s just me in the car.
One episode I thought was interesting although take it with a generous pinch of salt is the world of Dr Peter Attia. He does not live an average life. However, setting that aside Attia, as a former doctor and author of Outlive – The Science & Art of Longevity (and a NY Times Bestseller) does give us plenty of research and ideas to think about when it comes to longevity. As we have heard many times before, movement is medicine. I’d love to know what you think if you listen to it.
Everyone should listen to this TED talk presented by Eric Berridge, formerly of IBM, now CEO of Coastal. It puts into perspective what creatives bring to the world of STEM. At school, in further education and the media, there can be a view that to do well you should choose STEM subjects as it is the future of the world we live in. I am not disputing the importance of STEM subjects. But there is a huge population of talented students who are studying other subjects, often creative who deserve equal respect and should be more valued for their contribution in the workplace. This TED talk from Eric Berridge was recorded in 2017. But the message is still just as important.
Spread the word.
I’ve just spent a few days in Ibiza and when I got home I started playing all the old Café Del Mar tracks I haven’t listened to for years. I have included the ‘Greatest Hits’ below. It’s the perfect nostalgic play list for a picnic in the park or a summer’s evening when friends come round.
To Investigate
Recently I chatted to a woman locking up her bike and shoving her Closca helmet into her bag at the gym. I asked her what she thought of the foldable helmet and she said how amazing it was. This is not a product review, just a link to some of the companies I have been reading about who specialise in fold up helmets. If you have one you recommend do let me know as I plan to invest in one. I can also share any feedback you have in the next prescription and on the website.
To Entertain
Copyright © 2025 The Studio Apple TV
Here’s my comfort watch for May
The Studio
My sister Martha recommended this series to me on Apple TV. Seth Rogen co-created and stars in it. I watched the first episode and I wasn’t convinced but Martha said stick with it and I am so pleased I did. Seth Rogen plays Matt Remick, the new boss of a Hollywood Studio. It is such a happy, easy watch. I found myself really chuckling when I watched it and it’s not dissimilar to the world of TV production. There are various star cameos as well as Ted Sarandos, the Netflix boss making his acting debut on a competitor streamer. It demonstrates the power of Seth Rogen!
Copyright © 2025 Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey Netflix
Pangolin : Kulu’s Journey
I don’t want to say too much about this documentary except to watch it. It’s made by Pippa Ehrlich, the director of My Octopus Teacher so if you have seen that documentary you’ll have a good idea of what to expect. It may be my current mood but this is the most moving television I have seen in a long time.
I totally fell in love with Kulu. His relationship with his ‘helicopter parent’ volunteer Gareth Thomas is incredible. I also really liked Gareth, (almost as much as I liked Kulu.) Pangolins are an endangered species and are rapidly disappearing from their homelands in Africa and Asia. They are also apparently (according to London Zoo) the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world and some species are on the brink of extinction.
https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81708252
Featured Restaurant
River Cafe Cafe
I went for my first outing to the River Cafe Cafe a few weeks ago and had a delicious, early evening supper tucked up inside looking out onto the river. It’s the offshoot of The River Cafe and has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. You can just go for a coffee and cake or tuck into a delicious plate of pasta. You can book online at rivercafe.co.uk for inside tables but not for the outside terrace which is walk in. It’s also dog friendly. (Inside and Out). The Cafe menu serves Breakfast/All Day/Dessert/Drinks.
The River Cafe Cafe (don’t confuse it with The River Cafe) is very generously offering Emily’s Group Members a free coffee or tea per person when you visit. This offer is available Monday -Friday (excluding weekends). Just mention you are an Emily’s Group member to receive your free hot drink.
EG Member: Lavinia Thomas
Executive Director of
GrandFriends The Company of Elders
| Q&A |
| Could you tell us about your charity Grandfriends? I set up GrandFriends in 2022. Having moved to Bath a couple of years before, I was sorely missing the company of elders for my children and myself. We were typical of the many people who move across the country to chase housing and schools, but as strangers to the city we found it hard to meet local people of my parent’s generation, and even more so through the Covid crisis. Almost 10% of people over 65 are often lonely, and there is devastating evidence showing how loneliness directly causes psychological damage and physical ill health in elders, and can ultimately increase the risk of early mortality by 26% We recruit elders who may be missing the company of younger people. We empower them to volunteer as GrandFriends and give their time and company to younger generations through our innovative programmes. In turn the GrandFriends feel an increased sense of purpose, value and community. In the UK we tend to treat age as something to fear and ‘the elderly’ as objects of pity – look at the unconsciously patronising language used by the government and some charities. This jars against my experience, having grown up in a large multigenerational family in Cornwall and having spent time in Africa and Asia, where elders are respected and cherished as central to community. The benefit of what we do has been immediate and manifold. It’s really working, and in under three years we have created thousands of powerful moments of intergenerational connection. What do you enjoy most about being the Director and Founder ? Having worked in the charity sector for about 25 years and from all perspectives I have seen the best and worst of practices. I believe that a not-for-profit business must be as professional as any other, if not more, and now I get to practice what I’ve preached. The gaps left by the Welfare State are many but they do leave room for nimble solutions from local people. As the Director of GrandFriends I witness the generosity of our volunteers every day and the important benefits their company gives. What do you enjoy doing in your time off? Having moved home to Cornwall last year we are beyond lucky to be back by the St Ives Bay. I missed the seaside colours, light, and nature, all of which change daily. I try to get to the coast as much as I can for energy and perspective. Where are your favourite local places? The Cornwall Museum and Gallery in Truro has been recently renovated and it is, with revived spirit, the champion of Cornish history. They also now have a rotating exhibition of some incredible art from their archives. Ice Cream Sallie’s Vintage Van next to Godrevy Lighthouse is a local institution and a top tip for an old-fashioned ice cream treat, and to support small local business. The Buttermarket in Redruth is a new collective of local up-and-coming creative kitchens. You can choose from an incredibly varied and delicious menus. What book are you currently reading? Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez and Eva Ibbotsen’s A Song For Summer for comfort. What do you love about being an Emily’s Group member? The nurturing tone of voice of Emily and the other members who contribute such good advice: it’s a sisterly hive, and I have loved watching it grow over the years. How can members get in touch with you if they would like to know more about Grandfriends? After nearly three excellent years, GrandFriends is bursting to grow. In order to flourish we need good people and, like all charities, funding. We are looking for potential trustees at a national level with insight and interest in tackling the loneliness crisis, fighting ageism, community building and strategic growth. Donations of any size are incredibly valuable. We currently have a fundraising campaign at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/franks-cliff-edge-marathon-for-grandfriends |
| Get in touch with Lavinia You can contact Lavinia at: 01225 967 680 lavinia@grandfriends.uk |
Drop me a line with any comments or feedback on what you have read. I really appreciate hearing from you.
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