I hosted some friends in my parents’ backyard this weekend — far from the chaos of the city. We ate chicken kebabs and grilled peaches while marveling at two butterflies swirling through the air together. (Though we may have been interrupting something, I've heard this is a mating dance.) It was exactly the kind of juicy summer moment that I’ve been craving.
The conversation was even juicier. One of us, maybe me, asked the group: What illegal thing would you do if you knew you would get away with it?
Now, I’m not naming names, but there was mention of theft and sabotage and tax evasion, among other things. In this harmless hypothetical setting it was fun to imagine ourselves being just a little bit villainous.
The question works as a conversational doorknob: a prompt that invites others to join in. Conflict resolution facilitator Priya Parker calls these magical questions and says they’re a way to meaningfully connect with people without having to agree or have the same life experiences. I interviewed Priya about magical questions for Life Kit and ever since then I’ve found myself coming up with my own:
If you could perform in drag as one Disney villain, who would it be? I would be Gaston. He’s cocky and obnoxious, and nobody needs to eat 5 dozen eggs a day, but I’d like to try on just a little bit of his swagger.
What’s your favorite part of your body? We so often pick ourselves apart. Why not show a little appreciation instead? I can’t name just one favorite part of my body but for now let’s say my calf muscles.
Try those on for size, and check out our episode of Life Kit for more (plus -- how to come up with great answers).
🕊️ Grace is amazing
I’ve been deep diving into American history lately, and I loved this episode of Throughline, reported by scholar and classical pianist Lara Downes. It explores three songs that have come to represent America, including “Amazing Grace,” written in the 1770s by a slave trader who later became an outspoken abolitionist. He found his redemption in God, but I think the song resonates regardless of your spiritual beliefs.
🦜 “The Americans… they want the cage, but they reject the birds.”
After Spain granted Puerto Rico autonomy in the late 1800s, the United States came in and claimed the island. As Alana Casanova-Burgess lays out in this episode of La Brega, Puerto Ricans were not granted automatic U.S. citizenship. But a boricua named Isabel González took her case to the Supreme Court and won, laying the groundwork for Puerto Ricans to become citizens. Thank you, Señora González. (También lo puedes escuchar en español.)
🐦⬛ Speaking of birds…
In this episode of Outside/In from New Hampshire Public Radio, birdwatchers lurk for hours at a literal dump in Texas, in the hopes of spotting a particular species of crow. They remind me of the folks who camp for hours outside late night studios, all for a fleeting glimpse of J.Lo or some other celebrity. I admire the dedication – and the optimism – of these birders. As reporter Michaela Elias says in the episode, “You can't really be a birder if you're not an optimist.”
➕ "Pretend to honk if you like mimes"
What's the best bumper sticker you've seen lately? In this delightful episode from the Car Talk archives, the Magliozzi brothers talk bumper stickers (in between giving car advice, of course). To get access to this bonus episode from — plus sponsor-free listening — sign up for NPR+.
One to Watch
I used to love watching fireflies light up the sky of my childhood backyard. They’re so magical that I would temporarily abandon my fear of insects and hold them adoringly in my cupped hands. Unfortunately, fireflies are disappearing in many places, but you can help. Chelsey Zhu from KUT Austin has more on that.
@kut_austin/Instagram
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