Coming out Jan. 26, Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women is a new “mini” book celebrating 25 women leaders from around the world. As with the other Rebel Girls books, each story is accompanied by art from female artists around the world. You can pre-order it here.
You’ll find an array of women leaders from all walks of life, including gymnast Aly Raisman, activist Stacey Abrams, Cleopatra, Lady Gaga, VP Kamala Harris and more.
There are Several New Episodes of the Podcast!
To celebrate VP Kamala Harris’ historic inauguration into the White House, they’re also released a podcast narrated by actress and comedian Ilana Glazer.
So far season four of the Rebel Podcast is off to a great start: the first African-American woman in space, Mae Jemison, chemist Alice Ball, and designer Diane Von Furstenberg.
Visit rebelgirls.com to learn the latest news and check out all the books.
We have an unspoken rule in our house, “If it’s funny, you’re not in trouble.” My kids seem to know that if they can make me laugh, my anger seems to diffuse. It’s a win-win because when my kids are funny and creative enough, it makes me feel like I’ve done something right.
Humor was always part of my life growing up. Some might say it was my compensatory strategy. As far as compensatory strategies go, it’s not the worst one to have. As I grew up it served me well. I could always see a different, funny perspective, make my glass half full, and laugh at myself when I made a mistake. In short, I never took life too seriously.
Research shows that humor increases the immune system and safeguards against depression, lowers stress, and even aids in better digestion. People with a developed sense of humor are happier, more resilient, and smarter than their non-humorous counterparts.
As I grew up, a sense of humor helped me through those early days of parenting just, as it’s helped me through every challenge I’ve faced in my life—I liked it so much, I decided to make it my job and become a comedian. However, you don’t need to do it professionally to reap the benefits of a good guffaw.
Kids model your behavior, if they see you approaching life with ease and not taking things or yourself too seriously there’s a higher chance they will do the same. If it doesn’t come naturally, that’s ok. Here are some steps to making it happen:
1. Be a humor model. Let your kids see you using laughter as a way to deal with the harder things in life. Try to find the bright side or the learning in your challenges.
2. Use laughter as a way to connect. Tell jokes, use wordplay, and slapstick humor. When your kids are upset, find a way to make a joke or at least make them smile. Play funny games with your kids to build connection and trust.
3. Surround them with humor from an early age. Age-appropriate joke books, movies, and songs. Encourage your kids to write their own jokes and always laugh loudly! Encourage them to read about funny people and watch funny shows. When they do laugh, ask them what was funny about it so they can begin to understand how to craft a joke.
A good sense of humor is just one of the tools I want to give my kids for mastery of their life. All I can do is model.
Andrea Levoff is a writer, comedian, and self-proclaimed ‘Dope Ass Mom.’ With a MA in Spiritual Psychology, Levoff combines her passion for inner transformation with her love of comedy in order to empower women to break free from social constraints, judgment, and to find more joy and authenticity in motherhood.
Shaun Johnson knows kids. The comedian may not have his own toddler to contend with, but his hilarious Instagram video proves he’s got the whole bedtime battle down.
In the clip, Johnson (who plays the roles of both mom and kiddo) does whatever he can to extend his bedtime for just one more moment—and yes, we all know this routine very, very well.
As mom-Johnson asks, “Why are you out of bed?” child-Johnson gives the all-encompassing answer, “I can’t sleep.” Like any of us would, mom-Johnson quickly (and firmly) responds, “It is past your bedtime.”
In a page from just about every mama’s world, child-Johnson then proceeds to try every toddler trick in the book to stop bedtime from happening. From tossing a stuffed animal down the stairs to suggesting he needs to put his shoes by the door for the next day, the clip is filled with every excuse us mamas hear on a nightly basis. That is except for, “I’m thinking whether you’re gonna be one of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.”
Last week Disney+ announced beginning Dec. 25, Disney and Pixar’s feature film Soul would be available exclusively on the streaming service. The new animated film introduces Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher with a serious passion for jazz music. The story is particularly relatable to the artists behind it.
Jamie Foxx, who lends his voice to Joe, said “Like Joe, I hear music in everything. When you’re a jazz artist, man, you talk a little different: ‘Hey, cat!’ I got a chance to go to a few jazz fests and meet Herbie Hancock, Chick Correa—hang out with those guys. They have a way of talking, a way of dressing—everything funnels toward their music, toward the jazz.”
Director Pete Docter, who shares Foxx’s love of music, conceived of the character before jazz entered the picture. “I’ve been so lucky to work with some incredible people and make movies that have been seen around the world,” he said. “But I realized that as wonderful as these projects are, there’s more to living than a singular passion—as expressive and fulfilling as that may be. Sometimes the small insignificant things are what it’s really about. This film is about broadening the idea of a singular focus to thinking more widely about what life has to offer and what we have to offer life.”
Likewise, co-director Kemp Powers, who initially joined the project as a writer, didn’t have to look far to find inspiration for Joe Gardner. “We’ve been working on Soul for years, but the film feels timelier now than we ever could have imagined back when we began,” said Powers. “In a year where everything we know has been turned upside down, we’ve all been forced to find new meaning both in the relationships we have and the small moments that truly make life worth living.”
In the film, Joe is on the brink of getting his big break playing for a jazz quartet. But he finds himself on an unexpected detour from the streets of New York City to The Great Before, tasked with helping new soul 22, voiced by Tina Fey, find her spark to earn her way to Earth. “He’s sure if he can share his life story with her—his passion for jazz—she’ll be inspired and they’ll both get to go to Earth,” said producer Dana Murray. “They do make it back to Earth, but that’s really the beginning of their adventure. It’s a funny and touching story of friendship and self-discovery, and we can’t wait to show it to the world.”
Five-time BAFTA winner Graham Norton (The Graham Norton Show) revealed last weekend that he lends his voice to spiritual sign twirler Moonwind. The voice cast also includes Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnaraok) as the count-obsessed Terry, and Alice Braga (Elysium), Richard Ayoade (The Mandalorian), Wes Studi (Woke, The Last of the Mohicans), Fortune Feimster (Bless the Harts) and Zenobia Shroff (The Affair) as the voices of the Counselors. Comedian Donnell Rawlings voices Joe’s barber Dez, and June Squibb (Nebraska) provides the voice of Gerel. They join Foxx, Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Angela Bassett and Daveed Diggs.
Rated PG, Soul features jazz compositions & arrangements by globally renowned musician and GRAMMY nominee Jon Batiste, and an original score by Oscar-winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network).
What’s it like to be a parent? PBS science series NOVA just premiered a new digital series, Parentalogic, focused on the science behind parenting. The series launched in partnership with PBS Digital Studios and has its own YouTube channel.
Parentalogic is here to help you navigate the ups and downs of parenting from tantrums to fevers to sleepless nights. Co-hosted by Dr. Alok Patel, pediatrician and on-camera medical news expert, and Bethany Van Delft, comedian and mother of two, the episodes address common parenting conundrums with humor and honesty. Packed with useful health and science research, the series is a great resource for science fans and expecting and current parents everywhere.
“Having kids can bring so much joy, but it can also—at moments—cause panic,” says Julia Cort, NOVA Co-Executive Producer. “Together with PBS Digital Studios, we’re delighted to provide parents with some much-needed relief and support. Parentalogic is the perfect opportunity to do what we do best— bring evidence-based clarity to otherwise mystifying challenges.”
The first episode breaks down the science behind tantrums. Dr. Alok Patel discusses the ways children develop control over their emotions, and our best understanding of the brain processes that culminate in what we see as meltdowns. Bethany Van Delft approaches the topic from the perspective of a parent who has experienced firsthand the mayhem of a tantrum. We gain insight into what is going on in a child’s mind when tantrums occur, and get expert advice on how best to handle them.
“We’re very excited to partner with NOVA on this digital series. Parents are juggling more than ever right now, including an infinite amount of information and misinformation available online,” says Brandon Arolfo, Head of PBS Digital Studios. “With Dr. Patel and Bethany Van Delft as trustworthy guides, Parentalogic is timely programming that explores the art and science of modern-day parenting through a very informative, relatable, and entertaining lens
Other episodes in the series will be posted bi-weekly to the Parentalogic YouTube channel. They will aim to tackle the complex and often taboo questions parents are confronted with. How do you decide between breastfeeding, formula, or a combination of both? Where do allergies come from, and does exposure to allergens make a child more or less likely to develop allergies later? Why do fevers happen? How do you know if a child’s bathroom habits are okay?
“Parentalogic is proof we can deliver high-quality information about a serious topic in an engaging and lighthearted fashion. I’m thrilled to be working with Bethany, an all-star, Renaissance mom who can dance circles around me when it comes to raising children. This juxtaposition comes across on camera and it’s hilarious,” said Dr. Alok Patel, Parentalogic Co-Host. “This show is a blend of intricate medical physiology, practical knowledge, and humor. It doesn’t feel like a lecture, it feels more like a conversation you could have with someone at a bar—assuming you were talking about poop, sleep training, and vaccines, of course.”
“Growing up, I was a big fan of NOVA, especially how easily they explained complex science and how they were consistently trustworthy,” said Bethany Van Delft, Parentalogic Co-Host. “I hope Parentalogic helps lessen the chaos and uncertainty of the Internet from parenting by providing science, and clear, evidence-based answers. I also hope it offers parents confidence, a little relief, and some laughs, and sets an example for a respectful relationship between a doctor and a parent.”
If you are looking forward to the upcoming new anthology docuseries Marvel’s 616 from Disney+ then you are in luck. Today, the streaming service gave us a sneak preview of two of the upcoming episodes. Individually, each documentary in this series tells a compelling story that brings its filmmaker’s vision to life.
The first clip is from the episode “Higher, Further, Faster” directed by actor/director Gillian Jacobs, which shines a light on the trailblazing women of Marvel Comics and how they found ways to tell stories of representation and inclusion. The second clip is from the Paul Scheer-directed episode “Lost and Found,” following the actor and comedian’s eye-opening and hilarious journey to discover the “forgotten” characters of Marvel Comics.
Join Jacobs, Scheer and executive producers Sarah Amos and Jason Sterman with moderator Angélique Roché (host of Marvel’s Voices and The Women of Marvel Podcasts), tomorrow, Thurs., Jul. 23 at 1 p.m. PT for the virtual Comic-Con@Home panel; “A Look Inside ‘Marvel’s 616’”, where they will discuss the making of this new Disney+ original docuseries.
Marvel’s 616 explores how Marvel’s rich legacy of stories, characters and creators exist within the world outside your window. Each documentary, helmed by a unique filmmaker, explores the intersections of storytelling, pop culture, and fandom within the Marvel Universe. Films in this anthology series will cover topics including Marvel’s world-spanning artists, the trailblazing women of Marvel Comics, discovering the “forgotten” characters of Marvel, and much more.
Marvel’s 616 is produced by Marvel New Media with Supper Club. The series is executive produced by Joe Quesada, Shane Rahmani, Stephen Wacker, John Cerilli, Harry Go, and Sarah Amos for Marvel; and Jason Sterman, Brian McGinn, and David Gelb for Supper Club.
Everyone is getting their fair share of Zoom meetings lately, and Freshpet is making sure that no furry friend is left behind. The company is partnering with comedian, actor and writer Rainn Wilson for the first ever “Zoomies” conference meeting for pets!
Wilson will host with his pitbulls and potbelly pigs, and will be chatting with pet parents about work from home “pet peeves.” The Zoomies meeting will take place on Thursday, Apr. 30 from 2:00 to 2.30 pm ET.
photo: Courtesy of Freshpet
The event is free and open to everyone! If you’d like to join (and hear some top-secret news from Freshpet), you must register in advance for the event here.
Jim Gaffigan is giving us a peek inside his home during the COVID-19 lockdown. The comedian has started up a few new series highlighting dinnertime and cooking on his YouTube Channel. Recently he also hosted a Q&A with his children and healthcare expert, Andy Slavitt.
Jim Gaffigan and his children interviewed Slavitt, the former Acting Administrator f the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Obama Administration. Gaffigan posted the video on his YouTube page to help families better explain the virus in a relatable way to their young children.
Gaffigan also has a new hit series on YouTube, Dinner with The Gaffigans, a fun family-friendly show that invites viewers to peek inside what goes on at the Gaffigan family dinner table each night during social distancing. Gaffigan, his wife and 5 kids stream their dinner live on Gaffigan’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
In conjunction with the nightly dinner series, Gaffigan is also providing cooking tips during quarantine with a series called, Let’s Get Cookin!.
When facing hard times it’s always best to channel your inner joy and face your challenges with a smile. Ethan LyBrand, a 10-year-old with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has a secret to making other people smile, and he’s sharing it with the world via social media. For the past week, Ethan has been delivering a virtual “Joke-a-Day” every day through the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s social media channels.
Filmed by his family at their Decatur, Alabama home, the budding comedian’s favorite jokes provide a daily dose of happiness for those who need it. Ethan’s parents, Jordan and Josh, share that their son is always a source of positivity, so making people smile just comes naturally to him.
According to the LyBrand family, “Ethan’s Joke a Day for MDA is his way of spreading virtual joy across our communities. It’s also his way of raising awareness and advocacy for people with neuromuscular diseases at this pivotal time. The neuromuscular disease community – people with ALS, muscular dystrophy, SMA, Duchenne and related rare diseases – are among the highest risk populations for COVID-19 and they need our help and support more than ever.”
Ethan was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy two days before his second birthday. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement. Ethan is ambulatory but tires easily and periodically needs his powerchair, which he affectionately calls “Bumblebee” after his favorite Transformer.
Since his diagnosis, Ethan and his family have created a movement to advocate for other kids living with neuromuscular disease. His efforts were recognized by Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), who named Ethan its 2020-2021 MDA National Ambassador. As MDA’s National Ambassador, Ethan represents the 250,000 people nationwide who are living with neuromuscular disease.
An important way to support research for treatments and ultimately cures for the neuromuscular disease community is by going to MDA.org to make a donation at any level you’re able to. Your support helps ensure MDA’s 150 Care Centers are equipped to provide critical medical care to kids and adults who are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. It also supports ongoing care for families like the LyBrands, through telemedicine and enriching activities like virtual game nights.
Check out MDA’s Twitter and Instagram every afternoon for a new daily joke!
—Jennifer Swartvagher
All photos courtesy of the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Congratulations are in order for Kevin and Eniko Hart. Eniko announced the good news on Instagram , sharing a black and white maternity photo. The comedian also shared the same photo on his page.
“Baby #2 in the midst of all of this we’re counting our blessings and couldn’t be more grateful! Soon to be a family of 6 #glowingandgrowing,” Eniko captioned her post.