One of the great journeys in life is to continually better yourself. Self-help is a billion-dollar industry and motivational speakers and authors make a living selling you advice on how to fix your life.

At the end of the day, though, most of their advice will not really improve your life if you're not psychologically ready to embrace change. For that reason, a lot of people spend way too much money over-complicating their costly self-help rituals.

Here are 3 easy ideas for how to think practically about self-improvement:

Virtually no one is completely healthy. Everyone's got something, whether it's bad knees, a congenital heart arrhythmia, or something simple like a minor allergy. While great strides have been made in destigmatizing medical conditions, especially in matters of mental health, many people still forgo discussing problems with their doctors because they are sheepish about disclosing personal details.

One of the most obvious and common examples of this is erectile dysfunction, which affects some 18 million American males. More and more men and their partners are acknowledging this condition and trying to do something about it. In the past, you could spend exorbitant amounts of money trying out pills, pumps, and even surgery to combat ED. These days, a safe and simple ED device can realign your blood flow and physiology without the side effects reported in other treatments.

Another example would be smoking. Smoking cigarettes is widely known to cause cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and a variety of other grisly health conditions. Many smokers are embarrassed by their habits and hide it as best they can instead of confronting their addiction head-on and seeking help. There is a new generation of smoking cessation aids that are more effective and less expensive.

The longer you kick the can down the road on treating your medical problems, the worse - and more expensive - they will become. Embrace the journey.

In previous decades, pretty much everyone had a checkbook. They used checks for groceries and other larger purchases. Nowadays, with debit cards, Apple pay, Paypal, Venmo, Cash App, and the rise of online commerce, checkbooks are not nearly as common. People have checking accounts, yes, but much fewer people - especially younger people - actually carry around a checkbook and they are much more likely to use a card or make an online payment.

However, that doesn't mean that the principle of "balancing your checkbook" can't still be applied. The basic premise is keeping track of all your outgoing payments so that you always know your bank balance and can plan accordingly. The concept holds up even in this new post-check world.

New online bank account portals and even third-party apps allow you to easily organize your finances in a new digital incarnation of "balancing the checkbook." These tools are usually free.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the finances of millions of Americans, causing millions of job losses, defaults, and evictions. If you're living off your credit card right now, you should know that you are not alone. Many families are dependent on loans, cash advances, and credit right now to pay rent/mortgage, put food on the table, and keep the heat on during the winter.

However, if you have enough money, either in savings or as an on-going salary, you're much better off not driving up a credit card debt. It can really come back to haunt you later in life.

Once you reach a certain point with a large credit card debt, your monthly payments are no longer even chipping away at the balance - you're literally just paying off the interest that has accumulated. This is a morbid cycle to get into and one you should avoid at all costs.

Do you have any simple, frugal methods for self-improvement? Share them with us.

See more here:
A Guide to Substantially Improving Your Life in 3 Frugal Ways - University Herald

There are things that fans love about Dan, and still, there are many reasons why he's not a fan favorite.

Luciferis an epic story with characters that have evolved from Season 1. While many fans love characters like Ella, Maze, and Lucifer, characters like Dan get less of the love. When the show started, Lucifer nicknamed Dan "Dan the Douche", and he seemed to fit the nickname. He wasn't showing up for Trixie (his daughter with Chloe), and he constantly doubted Chloe.

RELATED: 16 Shows to Watch If You Like Lucifer

However, over time, Dan's character has grown, showing more nuances and interesting traits. There are things that fans love about Dan, and still, there are many reasons why he's not a fan favorite.

Initially, Dan didn't show up for likable and sweet Trixie as much as Chloe did. This changes, and he becomes a good father for Trixie. She is the key part of his family. Although he and Chloe are no longer together, he has retained a good relationship with her. He still sees her as family. Due to this, he is extremely protective of Chloe.

While he may act without knowing the full story, he often does so out of pure motivation to protect his family.

In the first season, Dan often second-guesses and doubts Chloe. In earlier cases, he encourages her to not make them complicated, to go for the easy answer. At this point, Chloe isn't as certain of her natural detective gift, and his opinion matters and causes her to doubt herself. Luckily, Chloe still follows her hunches despite Dan's doubt.

In time, Dan does come to trust Chloe. However, this is a trait that he has a hard time getting rid of completely. It results in a self-righteousness where Dan thinks he knows better for Chloe without asking for her point of view.

When Mum (the Goddess, Lucifer's mother) brought Charlotte back to life, Charlotte was confused. Dan and Mum (housed in Charlotte's body) had a relationship. Dan, not knowing that the real Charlotte had been absent from her body, assumed that his relationship was the same. However, when Charlotte says she doesn't know who Dan is, nor seems to feel at ease with him, it hurts him. Later, after Charlotte and he begin to get to know each other again, he tells Charlotte, "I like you, Charlotte. So if you need time, I can wait. You're worth it."

RELATED: Lucifer 10 Hilarious Quotes From Each Main Character

Apparently, waiting isn't quite Dan's strong suit, so in an episode shortly after, he tells her that if she wants space, he'll respect that, but he needs to tell her where he stands. He decides to tell her what he wants and says, "I want you. All in. The whole deal." It's a vulnerable moment. He opens himself up to her, and it works. They become a great couple.

No doubt, fans may not have expected Dan and Ella to hook up. The fact that they hooked up was interesting, not bad. They provided solace and understanding to each other as well as the comfort that both needed at the time. What was bad happened afterward. Dan tried to distract Ella from finding out his dubious role on a recent hit on Lucifer. Then after that didn't work, he tried to cast doubt in Ella's theory that a cop had been involved.

Later, when she discovers the truth of his involvement and decides to help him by hiding his role, he gets mad at her. He wants to be punished. So, basically, Ella can't do anything quite right. Luckily, their interlude never resulted in a relationship.

Dan comes across as pretty serious much of the time. This makes the moments when Dan is willing to try new things extra special. In Season 5, Dan tries to change, using self-help and improvement strategies. He borrowed a stack of self-help books from Linda. Also, he starts to wear an amethyst bracelet for chakra cleansing.

In previous seasons, Dan also does improv. He uses it to help him work through things. Dan also helps others use improv to heal and loosen up, such as when he brings Amenadiel to work through his issues. Unfortunately, each skit Amenadiel is in turns into one about his father. God, and how he may have to kill him.

There are multiple times that Dan has been the corrupt cop, such as when he tried to kill Lucifer by arranging a hit on him. Also, he once teamed up with Maze, to work outside of the law and get forced confessions. Even in the beginning of the show, Dan was a corrupt cop.

RELATED: Lucifer 10 Most Hated Storylines

Now, that Dan is becoming a more interesting and layered character, his corrupt cop role feels tired and flat. Hopefully, Dan will fight against his corrupt cop past and continue to grow into a more intriguing character.

When these two get on better, they have great humorous and petty interactions like siblings sometimes do. Lucifer steals Dan's pudding, which is a big deal to Dan. The two both mock each other. In Season 3, the two watch over a teen, who is part of a murder investigation. At first, they think she's an innocent witness. They take her to an amusement park at her bequest. Both tease each other; Lucifer even makes shirts of sick-Dan on the roller coaster.

When their relationship is like this, teasing, it's something to love. Dan also gives Lucifer advice from time-to-time, proving that the two might be a bromance yet (that is, if Dan stops trying to kill or harm Lucifer.)

At times, Dan sees all red with Lucifer. This leads him to think that he's doing a "good thing" by trying to get rid of Lucifer. When he thinks that Lucifer is human, he actually arranges a hit on Lucifer. When he finds out that Lucifer isn't human, he automatically believes that Lucifer is evil and must be stopped at any means possible.

Dan isn't always so good at listening to others during the best of times. But during the worst of times when he starts to hate and fear Lucifer, it brings out potentially disastrous conclusions--like his actions almost leading to Trixie's death.

This is a bromance fans can get behind. These two truly connect and respect each other. After all, Dan does bring Amenadiel to improv so that he can work through things. When Amenadiel becomes a father, it's Dan who gives him advice and helps him out. These two connect on many levels. They both are self-righteous, but they both are also extremely protective of their family.

The scenes with these two together truly shine and displaythe best parts of Dan. With Amenadiel, Dan doesn't come across as a "douche" but as a really good and wise friend.

While Dan has evolved throughout the series, he is still one of the easiest characters to manipulate. Michael proves this in Season 5, Part 1. In this season, Dan has finally seen Lucifer's true face, and he's terrified. He thinks that Lucifer is evil, and that he must save Chloe from Lucifer's influence. Michael tells Dan to shoot Lucifer, and Dan obeys easily. Normally, Lucifer would be dead because he was with Chloe and being with Chloe usually makes him vulnerable. However, things are changing, and luckily, Lucifer lives.

Still, after all of Dan's self-reflection and self-improvement in Season 5, this is a call back to the original Dan, the one who wasn't so popular with fans.

NEXT: 5 Ways Supernatural And Lucifer (The Show) Are Similar (And 5 Ways They're Totally Different)

Next Game Of Thrones: Cersei's 10 Shadiest Burns, Ranked

Heather Frankland is a writer, teacher, and public health advocate. She has had creative work published in literary journals and online websites. She enjoys analyzing her favorite shows and movies and is happy to exercise that talent at Screen Rant, previously exercised in long conversations over beer with friends.

See more here:
Lucifer: 5 Things We Love About Dan (& 5 Reasons We Hate Him) - Screen Rant

Wednesday, 02 December 2020 Lifestyle

30 Nov, 2020 07:04 AM5 minutes to read

A Reddit user shared that one of their best life hacks is "smiling in the mirror when you're feeling down". Photo / 123rf

We all have a way of doing certain things that we know doesn't sound like it would work but actually does, a tip or a trick that we've learnt or has been passed down to us and that we know is worth doing.

A Reddit user asked people to share the life hacks they use that sound "crappy" but work really well. The answers did not disappoint.

"A knitted fake wasp nest. Our wasps buggered off the same day, haven't been seen since," one Reddit user replied with.

Other people replied to the same thread confirming the hack works as wasps are extremely territorial and will fly off looking for another spot if they think that one is taken.

"They actually are territorial and will leave if they think a specific area has already been claimed. I have heard a paper bag stuffed with newspaper and hung up will also work for this. Wasps don't have great eyesight," a user suggested.

Another user shared the always insightful piece of wisdom that "writing things down by hand helps you remember them better".

"Bending your knees up using a little stool to support your feet while pooping. It has changed my life," another Reddit user shared.

"Don't save your banking information on online stores. Makes impulse buying much more difficult if you have to track down your wallet," another user suggested. Very good advice for the upcoming holiday season, actually.

"If you keep forgetting if you locked your door/car/lock, do something silly after locking it. It will help you remember if you have to think back," one Reddit user posted.

Other users agreed, with one further adding: "I would always say "it's [day of the week] and I locked the door. The act of figuring out what frickin day it is helped me remember."

A Reddit user shared that one of their best life hacks is "smiling in the mirror when you're feeling down". "The act of smiling releases molecules in the brain that help relieve stress, pain and sadness," the user added.

A Reddit user took the opportunity to share some incredible advice on the importance of befriending what the user describes as "invisible" people.

"Befriend the "invisible" people that everyone overlooks, the hotel maids, the janitor at your office, anyone doing a thankless job that people often look down upon. Treat them like valuable human beings because they are. These are people working far harder than most of us can imagine, taking care of themselves and their families and often barely scraping by. You never know in this life when you're going to be the one interaction that saved someone's life, or at least made it a little bit better for a day or a moment. And you never know when some person who nobody paid attention to could end up being there for you, especially if they know and like you," the user posted.

Another user shared that they started saying "silly" instead of "stupid", "for example 'Oh I'm so stupid or 'that was stupid'". According to the user, saying the word "silly" instead improved their self-esteem.

"Kiwi juice has enzymes that break down meats, tenderising the steak," another user shared.

"Pineapple does the same thing, but has a much stronger flavour. So put a bit of kiwi mush on your steak about 30 minutes prior to cooking it and it will be amazingly tender without a strange flavour added."

And finally, one of the best pieces of advice on an already very useful thread: "If something's worth doing, it's usually worth doing badly."

A Reddit user went to great length to describe how you're better off doing something badly than not doing it at all.

"Half-assing the dishes is better than leaving them to fester in the sink. Sending old friends a happy birthday message when Facebook prompts you is better than losing touch entirely. Taking a quick shower without soap is better than not showering at all. Piling your laundry up in a basket instead of putting in the wardrobe is better than leaving it scattered over the floor," the user wrote.

"Also applies to self-improvement stuff as well as maintenance. Don't worry so much about doing 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and a 10km run that you do nothing, just walk around the block and do one of each of the others for now. Just write one page a day of that novel, and allow it to be terrible. Write simple, buggy programs. Draw badly. Watch YouTubers cook or fix their car or put on make-up or build something, even, if you can't find the energy to yourself," the person continued.

"If you're having trouble finding a date start pre-emptively assuming that everyone is off-limits and just focus on finding genuine friends who match your orientation.

"Somewhere along the line you'll lose your discomfort and start getting better at doing what you want or need to do."

For more useful life hacks, check out the full thread on Reddit.

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People share the life hacks that sound terrible but really work - New Zealand Herald

There are many times when I speak to students or clients about establishing business relationships, especially financial ventures and I have their attention of them constantly. At one point, I want them to ask the question, If you had your entire business going today and no-one bankruptity or losing the ability to work because of an illness, how would your business be? asks Sofiya Machulskaya.

Sometimes they estimate that they will be unable to get paid for their life insurance, leanings or supplements and this keeps them trapped in financial traps that are not attractive to most customers. At other times, they tell me about a family member and/or friend who was fired for poor work performance and now they are also trapped as they can pay their own premium or personal event insurance with the persons personal insurance policy. No wonder business relationships arent what they need to be.

I mention this question because I have seen many small business owners and executives in this position I refer to as trapped. Although I never actually asked them if this term describes them, as I believe my students and clients could look at their business like I do for them.

Typically, in an established business relationship business owner and employee have a personal relationship, one that is strictly professional, one that adds value and is relatively good at solving my problems. Initially, the person represents a huge value; they overcome all my benchmarks and specifications and meets some objective of a successful business relationship. During the time, however, I constantly have to spend more time and effort NOT to let the person slip away. There is often a great deal of frustration, anxiety and worry because it is clear that my relationship is NOT as good as it used to be.

Before anyone wants to say Thats not the way life is, stop and ask yourself if you have chosen a good business partner. Have you put into practice the following three simple questions that will aid you in deciding if a person has the skills to keep your business relationship in the good driver range.

After answering all these questions:

If you arrive at the conclusion your relationship is ONLY at the good driver or great driver stage how do you proceed to either mitigate or remove the uncertainty and begins to move towards your goal of a mutually beneficial business relationship explains Sofiya Machulskaya.

If I have chosen the best partneris there a remote possibility that they will actually want to close a deal with me? If the answer is no, ask yourself what you can do to make this relationship mutually beneficial and take the necessary steps to reduce the anxiety and intensity of the situation.

Have I asked for a 60% reduction in my business insurance rate during the next sixty days that I will stick to? If the answer is no I must ask myself why? What needs to be done to achieve improved or at least efficient business relationship?

If any of these questions are answered with a resounding No of course please ask yourself another one. If you have answeredallof these questions with agreement, operate in a business partnership and stick with it! There is nothing worse than someone developing an expectation that you will NEVER budge when it seems like a relationship is going nowhere. Once the relationship is going down the road you can now move on to the other two main reasons why business partnerships dont or dont work out.

The first is that you have chosen a self partner and not a partner owner.

I have been most successful in business when I have found a John Assum who is willing to give 100% to the John Assums idea and not take anything for himself for years, years! I would have eventually developed an expectation that it will take me way too long to ever be able to do anything. It was great in the beginning because I could proudly tell the world I had created a relationship that was the envy of the industry much to my surprise I never even had to tell my family and my friends. That death-defying feeling of success has now been replaced by feelings of feelings of negligent partners, dishonest partners and picked dominoes!

I must be realistic and admit the risk is a little high having partners who are self-extended but in my opinion I have found if I have a John Assum or John Assum Big Fish who dont care, who refuse to grow and change, who are out to hurt anyone, which consists of your John Assum and your John Assum Big Fish of course I must look out for myself. On the other extreme, I have found that many seemingly self-improvement gurus/teachers, despite the best of intentions are actually someone who is most likely a perpetually poor or a self-improvement guru/teacher and who operates out of spite and destruction of the self vs personal growth of the person/team.

More:
The 3 Most Important Questions to Ask Before If and When You Stop and Ask for the Business by Sofiya Machulskaya - ABCmoney.co.uk

The social barometer is flailing wildly as you read. In twos and threes and more, it is being discussed in hushed tones and sometimes openly that Aiteo will be celebrating 21 years in business in few days. Age 21 is a significant milestone for an individual or an institution. It is the age that is globally accepted that one is fully welcomed into adulthood. For Aiteo, however, it had long been a primus inter pares in the continents oil and gas industry, taking on challenges and charting new terrains where otherwise established companies dither. Attaining this new age in an industry famed for its high mortality rate is, therefore, a testament to Aiteo longevity, consistency and commitment to truly serving the needs of communities across Africa, helping the continent to reassert its energy independence and building a high-quality asset base, while increasing market share, revenue and shareholder value, writes Lanre Alfred

With just a clear-cut vision and a bullish ingenuity and industry, Benedict Peters, the CEO/Founder of Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited, has built an integrated energy group with the experience and assets necessary to provide oil and gas on a regional and global scale. Over the past two decades, the company has grown from a peripheral player in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry into a leading full-service energy company exploring and conquering territories that others dare not allow cross their imagination. In the intervening years, the company now discovers, produces, stores and delivers energy resources to marketplaces worldwide.

Aiteo, which contributes over 5per cent of Nigerias daily oil production, has one of the largest private storage facilities (with a capacity of more than 320 million litres at Port Harcourt and Apapa) for refined petroleum products in sub-Saharan Africa while it is also involved in refining and production, bulk petroleum storage, trading, marketing, supply, power generation and distribution. The company states on its website that each of these areas holds massive potential, with a global focus on the future of energy generation, significant oil and gas reserves still to be found throughout Africa, and a large number of alternative revenue streams to be found in the refinement of different petroleum products and derivatives.

A conglomerate with a turnover of over $20billion annually and a downstream business of bulk storage of over 300 million litres per annum, Aiteo has evolved into an integral contributor to the advancement of the African energy industry. Its integrated value chain in the upstream, downstream and power sectors is underpinned by extensive local capacity development with significant opportunities to sustain its future business. Aiteos major fields now include Nembe (Flowstation), Santa Barbara, Ogoroba, Oloibiri and Nembe Creek Truckline.

Aiteos strategy is to be a vital part of the worlds energy solution by developing its core assets in the areas of oil, gas and electrical power areas. As such, it has acquired three power plants that have a combined capacity of 2300 megawatts and it believes that Nigerias power shortage could be resolved through optimal utilisation of the nations huge gas deposits.

Twenty-one years is a long way from when Peters launched Aiteo. A native of Onicha Oloma in Delta State., the University of Benin graduate of Geography and Town Planning, he began his career in the oil and gas industry in the early 1990s, working with Ocean and Oil, the entity now known as Oando Nigeria Plc. He moved to MRS Oil Nigeria PLC as Group Executive Director, ending as its Managing Director, before leaving in 1999 to establish Sigmund Communecci, a petroleum products supply and trading company, which gave birth to Aiteo. When Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) announced its decision to divest some onshore assets it considered disposable in the Niger Delta, Aiteo raised the single largest debt-financing in the Nigerian oil and gas sector from local banks to become a successful bidder for 45per cent per cent of OML 29 at Nembe Creek Trunkline in 2014. The same year, Ventures Africa magazine named him the 17th richest person in Africa and the 7th richest in Nigeria.

He has also diversified, through his Bravura Holdings Company, into the development of a platinum mine in Zimbabwe by investing an initial $1bn. The 3,000 hectare (7,413-acre) concession where it plans to dig the mine is in Selous, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Zimbabwes capital Harare and close to existing platinum mines. Peters Bravura, which has little experience in mining, also intends to explore mining lithium, rare earth minerals and tin in the landlocked Southern African country. The big time came but with its variegated pitfalls.

Trashing Stereotypes

Commerce is far too precious and fundamental to be left to the wiles and exploits of villainous characters hence Benedict Peters believes that the doctrine of altruism and love must be preached as counteraction to the doctrine of mercantilism, cut-throat competition and greed that has overtime become the norm in business circuits.

Indeed, the story of Aiteo can never be disentangled from the founder, Peters. It is the story of a man who was bold enough to brave the odds of the uncertain and unstable international oil business because of a personal and profound belief in the Nigerian system.

Sigmund Communecci was Aiteos forebear. Sigmund Communecci owned and operated a petroleum storage terminal in Abonnema Wharf, Port Harcourt. In October 2000, the company sought and secured a credit line of N250million from City Express Bank with a 365-day repayment window. Having satisfactorily fulfilled its end of the bargain with an inspiring performance of the first loan, the company got another loan of N500million from the same bank in May 2002, and another N350million a month later. The company became attractive to several top banks as facilities were extended to it on the strength of its corporate uprightness. In his quest to make it a 360-degree energy conglomerate and ensure phenomenal growth and transformation, Peters rebranded Sigmund Communecci in 2008 and renamed it Aiteo.

There is no gainsaying billionaire extraordinaire, Benedict Peters is an inspiration to most of his peers; he paved his path to acclaim like the proverbial fortune hunter who dared the odds and braved through storms to create eternity from a moment. Peters wealth bears the sweet, dazzling glow of infinity; pundits would say its because he worked for it. Even his detractors would acknowledge that he toiled really hard to attain his current height.

Yes, in top business schools across the continent and beyond, the corporate exploits of Peters are veritable case-studies for academic researches. And there seems to be unanimity of opinions that the patently self-effacing businessman has created phenomenally successful businesses and changed the world in significant ways.

A force of nature; a towering force of hope and entrepreneurial depth, indeed, very few men can knead the tripartite traits of genius, modesty and character into that moral and human centaur that remains unattainable to generations of tycoons and multi-billionaires like this entrepreneur extraordinaire.

No doubt, becoming an industrialist however, is not mere lip service. It requires consistent effort and focus to grow from just being an entrepreneur with interest in a particular business to becoming a respected and renowned empire builder. Nigeria is blessed with many of such men who started from the scratch, kept their nose to the grindstone and turned seemingly insignificant ideas into behemoth industries. Yes, billionaire extraordinaire, Benedict Peters is one of these great Nigerians.

He is one man that would be sent to Mars and still treat it as a stepping stone to Saturn the quality of constant invention and self-improvement that has earned him worldwide acclaim and prosperity.

Peters has become the high watermark by which his contemporaries are measured. Innovative and insightful, he is a ruler of his world and not bound by a time clock, yet he does not abuse the privilege. Today, he is celebrated at home and abroad as one of Nigerias league of extraordinary entrepreneurs.

Interestingly, however, there is no gainsaying the business terrain is like a wilderness riddled with storms. But despite its inherent dangers, Peters navigates through its perilous paths with a stubborn resolve and unyielding spirit, like bog-hardened seekers.

Aiteos Arrival and Continued Financial Integrity

Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited, the succeeding entity for Sigmund Communecci, was founded with a commitment to provide responsible energy extraction and production and fuel economic growth while improving the quality of life of Nigerians through its diverse activities.

Many had expected that the change in its corporate identity would come with concern and uncertainties from banking partners and perhaps, the likelihood of withdrawal of the financial goodwill that the company used to enjoy under its former name. Rather, the credit facilities increased as Aiteo became more audacious and ambitious.

Precisely on Friday, March 6, 2009, Aiteo got a $30m Inventory Finance Facility from Ecobank to part-finance the local purchase/importation of petroleum products unde

Continued here:
Aiteos 21 Years of Consistency and Commitment to Serving Africas Communities - THISDAY Newspapers

On May 29, Chrissy Rutherford set up her phone in her bedroom and pressed Record. A beauty and fashion expert with over 145,000 Instagram followers and a decade-long career working in fashion media (including at Hearst), she was accustomed to using social media to express herself. But this time was different. I dont know George Floyd and the many that came before him, she said to the camera. But understanding that someone has been murdered for having the same skin color I have, its a lot to deal with. And the last 36 hours, Ive just felt so overwhelmed trying to process whats happening.

Rutherford, 34, described the physical toll the news was taking on her: stressed body, stiff neck, lack of sleep. She went on to explain the differences between covert and overt racism and stressed the importance of speaking out on social media, rather than letting the news cycle pass. Its not enough anymore to just be like, I have good intentions. Im not racist. You need to actually take the time to educate yourselves to be antiracist. And thats where white people are falling short right now, she told her followers. Antiracism is the name of the game right now. And thats it.

As the video racked up millions of views, Rutherford began to receive a flood of DMs, texts, and calls from non-Black friends and acquaintances in the fashion world, most of whom were unsure of how to proceed on social media during such a critical moment. They needed guidance on continuing to live life online in a way that was both tactful and impactful. And many of their peers had made missteps they wanted to avoid. A lot of influencers Im friends withand these are top girlswere all blowing up my phone, wanting to get my advice, Rutherford tells me. Should I post? What should I say?

Makeda Sandford

Her close friend Danielle Prescoda 32-year-old Black woman with a large following and a long career in fashion and beautywas in a similar position. The two had spent years trying to advocate for Black representation in fashion and beauty, often struggling to make their voices heard. But during this summers Black Lives Matter uprising, there was a widespread social media reckoning that pressured many, from giant corporations to small brands, from influencers to civilians, to finally publicly grapple with racism in themselves, in their companies, and in society as a whole. Overnight, everyone needed to do the worka call for antiracist education and action that became so widespread it felt like a clich within weeks. But the reality was that most couldnt do the work alonethey needed help trying to figure things out.

Danielle and I were DMing each other, commiserating over how everyone was coming to us and it was overwhelming, Rutherford says. They wanted to help disseminate antiracist messaging, but they couldnt exactly spend all their waking hours giving friends free advicereviewing statements, offering up antiracist resources, gut-checking content. She and Prescod had a mutual epiphany: We need to teach themand charge them.

A lot of influencers Im friends with were all blowing up my phone, wanting to get my advice. Should I post? What should I say?

The ideals of equality and social justice, along with bursts of activism in the wake of police brutality, are not new. But after the murder of George Floyd, something shifted dramatically. With tens of millions of people unemployed, and much of the country sitting at home in quarantine with little to do besides check social media and read the newsand with a presidential election rapidly approachingthere was an unprecedented collective opportunity. And it was not just police brutality that drew attention; the downstream effects had implications across every professional and social dynamic. Criminal justice reform, workplace discrimination, the pay gap, and hiring practices that systemically disadvantage Black Americans, to start. There were also more abstract issues to consider: representation of Black people in advertising and pop culture; tokenization in media; and more covert expressions of racism, like microaggressions, tone policing, and spiritual bypassing.

When internal bias reveals itself in subtle wayslike when, say, people of color are complimented for speaking perfect Englishthat leave them feeling uncomfortable or insulted.

Using notions like Were all one human race! to avoid doing the real work of dismantling systemic racism.

Criticizing or invalidating arguments if they are not delivered in the right gentle tone rather than addressing the substance.

A white person who provides help to nonwhite people in a self-serving manner. For example: when white people on vacation post photos on social media posing with impoverished orphans of different races.

Taking action to up your own social capital rather than a cause, from posting a black box on Instagram without doing further antiracism work to using Black people as virtue-signaling props in photos.

If you looked, there was more and more evidence of underhanded or overt racism to be foundand people were keeping track. Spreadsheets began to circulate, tracking how major brands or businesses had responded to George Floyds death. For some, there was a deafening silence. Others drew ire by making statements so vague as to be meaningless. Predominantly white industries and non-Black individuals were compelled not just to coast on the assumption that they couldnt possibly be racist, but to provide proof that they were proactively investing in an antiracist society. And to do so, they needed professional assistance.

Americas economy is crumbling, but the business of allyship is booming. Antiracism, once just a passive stance, has become both an aspiration and an outlet for ambitionfor some, it is yet another realm in which to prove one can excel in a self-improvement-driven culture. I dont think theres ever been this kind of outpouring from millions of people in this country to acknowledge, Hey, I really dont know enough about racism. I dont think theres ever been millions of people within a compressed amount of time saying Yes, I am willing to do some of this work, says Crystal Marie Fleming, PhD, a professor of sociology and Africana studies at SUNY Stony Brook and the author of How to Be Less Stupid About Race. In June, she saw her book sales soar and received an influx of media and public speaking requestsan exciting turn of events that also felt overwhelming, given the emotional turbulence she was experiencing as a result of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others.

Fleming was not alone in the increased spotlight she gained as Black Lives Matter activity ramped up. Publications began producing lists of Black-owned businesses to patronize. By late June, the New York Times best-seller list was dominated by titles about race. Print editions of How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo (who is a white woman) were sold out, with readers eager to post photos of their new reading materials on social media. If they wanted to get more serious, they could pay for an elective training program.

The antiracist educator Monique Melton, for example, offers an antiracism 101 course ($97 for five audio lessons), a 12-week interactive online course ($3,500), and a four-day in-person antiracism intensive. Her Instagram following jumped from 17,000 to 220,000 in a single week. I would refresh, and it would be another thousand every couple of minutes. It was overwhelming, Melton says. The prominent antiracist educator Rachel Cargle offers a sliding-scale model for access to The Great Unlearn, her program dedicated to deconstructing historical narratives and relearning them through the eyes of educators of color.

For those with less time or a limited budget, there were hundreds of free spreadsheets and documents filled with antiracist resources being passed around on social media. More inventive initiatives began to sprout up, too, like a new program from the text messagebased platform The Nudge. For $5, participants could sign up for something called The Ally Nudge, a monthlong antiracism education program developed in collaboration with longtime diversity and inclusion consultant Akilah Cadet. During its first month, over 10,000 people signed up for The Ally Nudge in 1,700 cities.

Americas economy is crumbling, but the business of allyship is booming.

Even Black people who previously hadnt been positioned as formal educators were suddenly receiving an influx of attention: Chrissy and I both got this surge of followers in June, Prescod says. Because people realized they werent following anyone Black. As Patia Borja, who compiled a popular antiracist resource guide, said in a podcast interview, social media suddenly began to feel like Americas Next Top Ally.

Cadet says she has spent the last five years advising leaders at major corporations on how to make their workforce more diverse and inclusive. Before May, those were the kinds of neutered, corporate-friendly terms she needed to use. To many white higher-ups at the companies she worked with, concepts like antiracism and dismantling white supremacy were too confrontational. Cadet says she even struggled to suggest that workplaces should foster a sense of belonging for all their employees.

Then, everything changed. On May 27, there was an influx of requests, saying What can we do? Cadet says. What you saw, which was really fascinating, was a lot of big brands and companies saying Dismantle white supremacy. Or Being part of the problem, we need to change our leadership. Black lives matter. Cadet quickly made some revisions to the language she uses. I was able to put antiracism on my website, she says. And now when people are interested in engaging and putting together a contract, Im bringing up white supremacy and antiracism.

Not only did brands understand there were new standards of accountability on social media, Cadet says, but a lot of these companies are recognizing the importance of the Black dollar, the $1.3 trillion that Black people spend. Emily Heyward, a cofounder and chief brand officer of the branding and business development company Red Antlerresponsible for the brand identities of Casper and Allbirdssays that antiracism must be part of the DNA of any new brand or company. Every human, every business in America is playing a role in social justice, Heyward says. I would put antiracism more in the category of something like sustainability. Part of launching a modern business is caring about sustainability, and it is also looking at your own hiring processes.

Makeda Sandford

Within a week of Rutherford posting her viral antiracism video, she and Prescod had their first brand clients. Soon they launched a weekly antiracism seminar, geared toward fashion and beauty influencers. For $300a third of which is donated to a Black charityan influencer could participate in a two-hour Zoom call that was part race studies class, part consciousness-raising course, part career coaching session. It is very much tailored to the influencer space, [essentially showing] them how they have benefited from and upheld the standards of white supremacy, Rutherford says.

Each session is divided into two parts. First, theres an hour-long presentation about race and antiracism. We give tips for navigating conversations around race, and tips on how to hold brands accountable. We talk about how to be a good ally, Rutherford explains. The second hour is a Q&A during which participants are invited to ask everything from broad theoretical concerns about race to tactical, targeted queries about social media. Well get questions like, How do I apologize without making it about myself? How do I navigate this, balance my normal content with my activist content? Rutherford says.

Tracy Reese on How Fashion Can Become Anti-Racist

Katie Sturino, a body acceptance advocate and founder of the cult skin care brand Megababe, had known Rutherford and Prescod personally for years. When she saw that they were doing seminars, she quickly enrolled. My main goals in attending were to listen and learn on behalf of both myself and my business, she tells me. I read all of my comments and DMs, and I receive a lot of feedback. But you have to be careful about how you value, interpret, and act upon that feedback. Chrissy and Danielle talked about what voices to listen to, and that resonated with me.

There was even interest from outside the U.S., from influencers who wanted to get a better grasp of what was happening in America. Since I dont live in the U.S., hearing what is going on firsthand was very important for me, says Xenia Adonts, the founder of Paris-based clothing brand Attire The Studio, who has 1.5 million followers. Of course, Europe is not very different; we have similar challenges with racism and the systemic disadvantages faced by minorities. As a white, privileged girl, its easy to overlook those issues.

As Patia Borja, who compiled a popular antiracist resource guide, said in a podcast interview, social media suddenly began to feel like Americas Next Top Ally.

Of course, participating in an antiracism seminar may give influencers a line of defense against their worst fears: cancellation and public shame. Shame is a powerful motivator, Prescod admits. In the early Zoom seminars, when dozens of major brands and influencers were being publicly called out, anxiety levels were high. Most influencers and brands are pretty paranoid about the potential that they might get canceled, Prescod says. This is the largest anxiety we see: how to avoid cancellation, what to do if you get called out, how to respond, and how to apologize.

The Anti-Racist Reading List

For a lot of these girls, Rutherford says, its the first time theyre really even considering the privilege they have. Paying $300 for tutelage was certainly a start. The bigger question was whether theyalong with all the businesses and individuals newly awakenedcould continue to absorb the lessons beyond the Instagrammable moment. These seminars give us a formal place to ask questions, listen, and learn in a way that is far from casual conversations, Sturino says. [But] I know the burden is on me to continue learning.

People have been listening and learning for decades in a way that hasnt always led to meaningful change. The business of diversity, allyship, anti-biaswhatever you want to call ithas cycled through many waves as corporate America has woken up, fallen back asleep, and reawakened. Bias and diversity training took prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s, after a spate of discrimination lawsuits required major financial firms to shell out hundreds of millions of dollars. (In 2013, Bank of America Merrill Lynch alone paid out $160 million to settle a race discrimination suit.) Shaken by the idea of such massive payouts, companies began to expand diversity initiatives. Anti-bias training became de rigueur at seemingly every corporation in America (training that, this summer, many corporations refreshed, made mandatory, or overhauled).

The positive effects of diversity training rarely last beyond a day or two.

Yet these initiatives did not result in meaningful change in boardroom representation. A landmark study in 2016 in the Harvard Business Review by Frank Dobbin, PhD, professor of sociology at Harvard University, and Alexandra Kalev, PhD, associate professor of sociology at Tel Aviv University, found exactly the opposite. It turns out that while people are easily taught to respond correctly to a questionnaire about bias, they soon forget the right answers, they noted. The positive effects of diversity training rarely last beyond a day or two.

This year, a few months removed from the surge in antiracism, some educators have already noticed deflated levels of commitment. People are on to talking about blueberry muffins, Melton says. It was an eight-week time span of demand. And now its like, Oh, weve checked that box.

According to Dobbin and Kalevs research, companies that institute diversity training to avoid lawsuits found that force feeding employees could actually activate bias, thwarting progress. What does show lasting impact are programs that spark engagement, increase contact among different groups, and draw upon peoples desire to look good to others. Voluntary behaviorlike the elective reading so many have sought out since Junemay also impact attitudes long term. We tend to respond more favorably when we believe we have agency, Fleming says. When we feel we have an opportunity to learn, but were not being forced to view the world in a particular way.

Makeda Sandford

Prescod and Rutherford note that once their influencer clients have acknowledged the social justice movement publicly, many have asked, How do I go back to my regular content? Even for girls whove taken our course, it resonates with them in the immediate moment, but it doesnt really have the long tail wed hoped it would, Prescod says. It isnt like theres an expiration date on this, Rutherford adds. Sure, they dont need to be posting 10 slides on antiracism for the rest of eternity. But you know, make sure youre doing the right things. Build relationships with Black creators.

But some newer elective programming that offers a starting point for a more sustained mindset might be more effective than stodgy corporate versions. By July, Prescod and Rutherford had received so much interest that they formalized their antiracism training, launching a new business called 2BG (Two Black Girls) Consulting. Even if the changes spurred by the postGeorge Floyd activist movement do not prove to be long-lasting, at least Black educators are being paid for their work. Three months after they began, Prescod and Rutherford are still conducting Zoom antiracism seminars. They now also offer a version for noninfluencers at a discounted rate of $75.

One Friday in August, Prescod and Rutherford hold their first noninfluencer seminar. They begin the class by addressing 21 women on camera. They share a slick PowerPoint primer on racism and antiracism: They discuss the terms and offer a set of dos and donts for social media and beyond, folding in personal anecdotes. Crucially, they also give examples of brands and influencers whove gotten it right, and wrong.

After about an hour, its time to pass the mic to the students. Most questions are not about these attendees own racism. Many need help navigating racist circumstances at work, or they want to help guide colleagues or family members. One woman says her company decided to feature a number of Black creators on their social media in June, only to receive backlash from non-Black clients. Is it best to just ignore them, and write them off as racist? she asks. Prescod advises her to respond to these clients openly, explaining why they were taking the initiatives and saying We hope youll join us.

"Some of the antiracism work has to be recognizing the limitations you have."

Many women preface their inquiries by apologizing for asking a really dumb question. Nothing is too dumb. This is a safe space, Rutherford assures them. Then Prescod chimes in: We literally had someone ask why its not okay to say All Lives Matter. The group laughs, comfortable in their collective understanding of why this was actually a dumb question.

After one query about dealing with racist colleagues, Prescod gives the groupa collection of obviously earnest, well-meaning womena disclaimer. I would not encourage anyone to do something that is going to put your job in danger, she says. Its almost not worth it. One day you might have the power to hire whomever you want. But it doesnt sound right now like theyre receptive to noticing where they have blind spots.

Some of the antiracism work has to be recognizing the limitations you have, she continues. The relief among the group is palpable, as if theyve been told they can relax for a moment, and that the future of racial justice in America does not lie squarely on their shoulders.

As the class winds down, one woman asks a tricky question. Shes in charge of a campaign at work featuring creators of color, and feels its necessary to get feedback from a colleague of color on another team. In other words, she wants to ask the lone Black person to do extra unpaid work. When is it appropriate to ask a person of color their opinion on something? she asks. Prescod and Rutherford take a long pause. After all, doing the work of antiracism doesnt mean shifting more work onto Black people. Unless youre paying them, that is. It sounds like your company should hire us, Rutherford says. Because thats what we do.

This story appears in the December/January 2021 issue of ELLE.

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The Big Business of Being an Ally - ELLE.com

In this Tuesday, May 7, 2019, file courtroom drawing, defendant Keith Raniere, center, leader of the secretive group NXIVM, is seated between his attorneys Paul DerOhannesian, left, and Marc Agnifilo during the first day of his sex trafficking trial. Raniere, a self-improvement guru whose organization NXIVM attracted millionaires and actresses among its adherents, faces sentencing Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, on convictions that he turned some female followers into sex slaves branded with his initials. (Elizabeth Williams via AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) Disgraced self-improvement guru Keith Raniere, whose NXIVM followers included millionaires and Hollywood actors, was sentenced to 120 years on Tuesday for turning some adherents into sex slaves branded with his initials.

U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis handed down the sentence in federal court in Brooklyn after a lengthy hearing featuring statements by victims of a sex-trafficking conspiracy that resulted in Ranieres conviction last year.

Prosecutors had sought life in prison while defense lawyers said he should face 15 years behind bars.

Raniere, 60, had shown no remorse, with his lawyers telling the judge before the sentencing that their client wasnt sorry for his conduct or his choices.

The sentencing culminated several years of revelations about Ranieres program, NXIVM, which charged thousands of dollars for invitation-only self improvement courses at its headquarters near Albany, New York, along with branches in Mexico and Canada. Adherents included millionaires and Hollywood actresses willing to endure humiliation and pledge obedience to the defendant as part of his teachings.

NXIVM has been the subject of two TV documentary series this year, HBOs The Vow, and the Starz series Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.

Prosecutors said Raniere led what amounted to a criminal enterprise, inducing shame and guilt to influence and control co-conspirators who helped recruit and groom sexual partners for Raniere. He was convicted on charges including racketeering, alien smuggling, sex trafficking, extortion and obstruction of justice.

They said that among other crimes, Raniere began a sexual relationship in 2005 with a 15-year-old girl and confined another teenager to a room for nearly two years.

Raniere had come under harsh attack on Tuesday from former followers during sentencing in his sex-trafficking case.

India Oxenberg, the daughter of Dynasty actress Catherine Oxenberg, called him an entitled little princess and a sexual predator and lamented that she may have to spend the rest of my life with Keith Raneires initials seared into me.

The likelihood of leniency had seemed to dissipate with the recent sentencing of Clare Bronfman, 41, an heir to the Seagrams liquor fortune, for her role in what has been described by some ex-members as a cult. Bronfman was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison. Prosecutors had only sought five years.

Ex-followers told the judge that Bronfman for years had used her wealth to try to silence NXIVM defectors.

Renieres followers called him Vanguard. To honor him, the group formed a secret sorority comprised of female slaves who were branded with his initials and ordered to have sex with him, the prosecutors said. Women were also pressured into giving up embarrassing information about themselves that could be used against them if they left the group.

Along with Bronfman, Ranieres teachings won him the devotion of Hollywood actors including Allison Mack of TVs Smallville. Mack also has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

In a sentencing submission, lawyers for Reniere said he continues to assert his complete innocence to these charges.

They wrote that his jury conviction at an unfair trial resulted from a media campaign involving witnesses who were motivated to testify falsely as part of a heavy-handed prosecution that threatened potential defense witnesses.

His lawyers said the life prison term prosecutors sought was excessive.

No one was shot, stabbed, punched, kicked, slapped or even yelled at, they said. Despite the sex offenses, there is no evidence that any woman ever told Keith Raniere that she did not want to kiss him, touch him, hold his hand or have sex with him.

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Books to help you centre yourself and realign your goals.

The feeling of getting lost in a book is incomparable not even a binge-worthy TV show comes close to the peace, quiet and grasping power of literature. Self-improvement is a genre of reads on rise, more so in the recent years end especially right now when the circumstances of 2020 have forced us to take a long, hard look at ourselves and how we want to life our lives to truly be happy. Its a journey, and a good next step forward is to escape (ironically inwards) with books that people have praised for helping them reshape their outlook on life. These are our favourites of the best self-improvement books today.

With a title immediately gripping, the New York Times Bestseller is a modern day self-help guide with all the cuss words, good jokes, and cold hard truths. Mark Manson, who also blogs, believes the key to life is living without trying to be happy or positive all the time. The author believes in embracing the mediocracy of human nature and the world itself while defining what matters, and who matters, to drive your everyday choices. As he not-so-subtly puts it, there are only so many things we can chose to truly care about and this books help you define yours and why some of those cares are the reason for any feelings of being stuck or unfulfilled.

Buy it here.

Pema Chdrn is a very well respected American Tibetan Buddhist, ordained nun, former acharya of Shambhala Buddhism and disciple of Chgyam Trungpa Rinpoche. In this book, Pema collects all the lessons and insight gained from softening through hard times in life, touching on the hardest experiences we all have like death and other losses. Her advice draws from Buddhist wisdomswhile including personal stories of her hardships, and how she uses the teachings to transform. The book is now released with a cover for its 20th-anniversary edition.

Buy it here.

Oprah Winfreys Super Soul Sunday is a spiritual-themed series you can thankfully also catch on YouTube. Each episode is as Oprah puts it an aha moment. This book is a collection of all the biggest aha moments of the three-time Emmy Award-winning show, organised into ten different topics or branches of spirituality. These insights come from guests includes Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hahn, and Elizabeth Gilbert. There are also accompanying photographs and a personal essay by Oprah herself.

Buy it here.

To know where were going, we have to know where we came from and what a lot we can learn our own biological engineering. The no.1 international bestseller is the work of renowned historian,Yuval Noah Harari, who explores the way our history throughout existence has shaped how we function as a human race. All the data forces us to look ahead at the possibilities for evolution of human kind, and within ourselves.

Buy it here.

This is a book for women whove clung so tightly (without even realising) to the ideas of womanhood: what being a good mother, partner, sister, friend or colleague looks, and how we should feel in these roles. If youve ever thought to yourself, Wasnt it all supposed to be more beautiful than this?. are you in for a ride. Glennon Doyle was already a best-selling author of a book about her happily ever after with a husband and kids after overcoming her addiction to alcohol and bulimia. The more she learns what it is to be brave, the more she is inched towards her true self and her knowing, ultimately finding out what it means to be living courageously and authentically.

Buy it here.

(Main image credit: Min An on Pexels)

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5 self-improvement books that will change your life - Prestige Online

Whos leading the way when it comes to cutting back on meat consumption? Women, Democrats, and non-white peopleat least according to a Gallup poll released earlier this year. According to their survey, 23% of Americans are eating less meat, or report that they have reduced their meat consumption in the past year from when the poll was conducted. And when it comes to eating meatless,that was before the coronavirus had more people searching for meat alternatives than ever. Women are about twice as likely as men to say theyre eating less meat, clocking in at 31% to 15%, respectively. Overall, its been estimated that 80% of vegans in the U.S. are womenthats a whopping four out of five plant-based people you meet.

In light of the uptick of women making the plant-based plungewhich we can only assume is growing in the wake of the growing interest in a nutrient-dense, vegan lifestyle to support health in wake of the coronavirus pandemicwe asked experts to weigh in on the gender disparity, sharing both the good and the bad. Below, we dive into the main reasons more women than men might be #GoingVegan.

Women in society are cast to be more nurturing and protectors, which also carries on to their nurturing and protective nature towards animals and the environment, offers Bansari Acharya, MA, RD. It is easier for a woman to show compassion towards animals and provide reasons to her friends, family, or society on why she became vegan as most people will be more accepting towards a woman becoming vegan than a man due to the role society plays in how we differently men and women are perceived. Of course, this isnt to say men arent compassionate people, simply that in mainstream culture, a woman may feel more comfortable publicly avowing her stance on animal cruelty and protecting our planets natural resources.

Women are more likely to undergo change processes in their lives, and this may result in more women than men applying that ethos (or feeling pressured) to their diet. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, A Harvard trained clinical psychologist currently working at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, in New York City, weighs in: Women are [more susceptible to embarking on journeys of change] and therefore inclined to change their diet because they are primed towards self-improvement processes in other domains of their lives.

Of course, this can be an empowering thing, as many women may be inspired to go vegan proactively as a decision to reduce their risk of diseases like diabetes or cancer.

Alas, those The Grill Sergeant and Licensed to Grill macho man shirt logos may simply be a source of eye-rolling at a barbecue gathering, but the underlying psychology of such shirts is telling: Many men feel like grilling is an important part of their identity. Jamie Hickey, NASM, FMS certified trainer, and ISSA nutritionist. and founder of TruismFitness.comhas seen this time and time again with mens egos.

Ive spent years talking to clients and have heard more than a handful of men tell me they have thought about going on a vegan diet but were worried about what their friends would say, says Hickey. Mentally men feel like they need to be tough and a carnivore diet instills the hunter mentality whereas a vegan diet has the stigma of being more of a womens diet.

Societys cultural notions of masculinity have linked meat and manliness together for centuries. Just notice how meat marketing often targets men, not women, comments Marie Elena Bitar, MPH, RD, Founder and Owner of Beyond Food Rules, harkening back to our discussion above about grilling and barbecue culture. On the flip side, Bitar adds that women are often at mercy of the stigma associated with overeating and feel pressured to maintain a trim physique. For some, in turn, this could inspire them to opt for low-calorie vegan meals.

Unfortunately, in these cases, going vegan gives women (or anyone for that matter) an opportunity to shield loved ones from an eating disorder.Its a lot easier to decline a decadent dessert by saying I cant eat that, Im vegan rather than I cant eat that, I have an eating disorder, comments Bitar.

Many women find themselves going vegan as they continue to see the link between plant-based diets and hormone balance. The woman's body is designed to store fat more easily than men so that it can both grow and nurture life, comments Best. Because of this fact, a diet inclusive of animal sources means higher rates of saturated fat and an increase in fat stores. A plant-based diet provides the dieter with nutrient rich-calories that are used more readily by the body as energy rather than excess being stored as fat.

Additionally, as Best elucidates, hormones serve a key role in fat stores. Eating estrogen from animal sources, even organic grass-fed sources causes something known as estrogen dominance. This equates to higher levels of estrogen in the body, excess stress on the liver, and inevitable weight gain and potential toxicity. Plant-based diets are connected with lowering estrogen in the body to a level that is safe and effective, says Best.

From joint pain to skin conditions, inflammation is no fun, and many women want to take the reins on their health and fight that with the powers of plant-based foods and are perhaps more attuned to this than their male counterparts. Another reason for women turning to a vegan diet is the anti-inflammatory nature of the diet itself. Foods on a vegan diet are both void of inflammatory foods and rich in anti-inflammatory foods making it an ideal eating pattern for anyone with chronic inflammation, offers Richards. As women age, the inflammation in their bodies can increase, but this inflammation can also exacerbate existing health conditions like pain, arthritis, energy, and weight gain.

As the wellness industry is more dominated by women than men, its no surprise that more women are inspired to make lifestyle changes than men. One area of particular focus? Sanity.

I follow a plant-based diet, myself, and my reasons are primarily for my mental health and clarity. Cutting out potential allergens and inflammatory foods has improved my personal cognition, says Best. There is certainly research that shows these benefits, but for me, I've observed the proof for myself.

Ready to see the proof in the pudding, ladies? To get started on your vegan journey, check out our 21-day plant-based challenge.

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7 Reasons Vegans Are More Likely to Be Women Than Men - The Beet

Anyone who has seen Stop Making Sense knows that David Byrne puts on a good show. If Jonathan Demmes rousing 1984 concert film embodies the galvanizing physicality of the Talking Heads frontman, American Utopia is a full-throated sequel. Nearly four decades later, Byrne has matured into a socially-conscious performance artist, but he still brings the house down with the same catchy tunes. Spike Lee directs the dazzling feature-film version of Byrnes hit Broadway show, which found raves in 2019 and had a 2020 revival on the books before the pandemic took charge. The world has changed dramatically since then, but American Utopia is more than prescient; its a call to action that somehow meets the divisive moment surrounding its release.

The HBO production opened TIFF and next plays at two drive-in dates for New York Film Festival (where Byrne is expected to attend) along with virtual screenings. Like the show, the movie (which was recorded at a single performance in New York) finds Byrne addressing the audience in between a vibrant blend of song-and-dance numbers with a robust team of performers behind him.

It also finds the singer-songwriter settling into an activist role that eluded him for much his career. In between songs and monologues that address everything from immigration to police violence, he advocates for voter registration and urges audience members to make sure they enroll in the lobby. Now, Byrne is taking things one step further, joining forces with Participant Media to launch a voter registration campaign around the release. Hes also working with his journalistic initiative, Reasons to Be Cheerful, on a new project called We Are Not Divided. How did Byrne go from apolitical rock star to infuse his work with advocacy?

A few days before the New York homecoming of American Utopia, Byrne spoke via Zoom with IndieWire about his political awakening, making art in the pandemic, and confronting his own flaws including a recently unearthed video of him in blackface for a promotional video tied to Stop Making Sense. Looking back on those days, he also provided a definitive answer on whether the Talking Heads will ever reunite.

In one of the more striking moments of the show, you visualize Americas low voter turnout in local elections by using the audience as a prop, shining a spotlight on 20 percent of the room. How did this idea come to you?

Greg Allen/Invision/AP

I was doing the show first as a concert tour. Id been doing the pitch for people to vote, and Headcount, a voter organization, would have a table in the lobby. We continued that on Broadway, but it was then that I realized I had an opportunity since were parked in one theater for me to play with this and talk to people more. When youre on tour, they dont want you talking too much. Theyre like, Play the music, were here to have a good time. This was a nice opportunity. It wasnt my idea. Somebody else I forget who suggested to me that the percentages of voter turnout that I mentioned could be visualized. We could actually see it when I say that 20 percent of the audience turns out for local elections, light that up, so you could picture what it looks like. [laughs]

I dont know if itll make everybody vote, but it sure made it much clearer than if you just say it. I emphasize turnout because in the United States the turnout is best for national elections, but its still only 55 percent, and you wonder what the other 45 percent are thinking about. Are they thinking, Ill just go along with whatever they decide?

You became an American citizen in 2012. How has your relationship to participatory democracy evolved since then?

I feel like, yes, the system we have is far from perfect. Theres a lot of chicanery and gerrymandering and voter suppression. At the same time, were never going to change anything unless we can vote in representatives who are willing to address those kind of issues. Thats the voice we have. We can demonstrate on the streets, but really, every citizen has a voice and the ability to vote. It took a long time to get that. People died to get that. Dont treat it lightly. A lot of countries dont have this. We really have to do this.

How would you like to see the system improve?

Im a big proponent of rank choice voting, which addresses the problem of people thinking their vote doesnt matter: This thing is going red or blue or whatever, so why should I even bother? It always goes that! With rank-choice voting, you put your first, second, third choice, whatever. If your first doesnt get in, the votes that you and others cast for that person go to your second choice. So now youve got more people supporting that person. Rather than losing all sense of voice at all, youve got somebody who might not be exactly what you want, but at least in that direction of what you want.

How do you understand undecided voters? You travel the world and must have fans whose views are all over the place.

My understanding from things Ive read is that there are fewer undecideds than we think. It does happen but its really harder to change peoples minds than we give credit to them for. So I just put effort into this: Whatever you feel, get out there and vote. Lets at least get as close as we can to representing the collective feelings we have so we can get around voter suppression and everything else. People do change their points of view when they find some common ground.

When you were living here, but not a citizen, how did you relate to these aspects of our society?

I spoke out about specific issues, but for the most part, I was less active. Maybe its a function of getting older, but I just started to feel like, Oh, this wont matter to my career now, so I can say whatever I like. So I started speaking out a bit more not in a partisan way, I have my own personal feelings there, but insofar as equality, race relations, voting, immigration, all these specific issues that I have a personal connection to.

To what extent do you believe your art actually become a catalyst for change?

Ive been asking myself this question how much influence art can have and I dont know the answer yet. In some cases, it definitely has an effect. In most cases, I think what it does is let people know that there are other people like them out there, whether its a movie they all like or a song. People create little communities around cultural stuff and they find a way to come together over that. It lets them know theyre not alone, and that whatever crap theyre going through in their lives, there are other people going through things too. That gives them the feeling that its possible to surmount these things. Its less about specific issues and policies; its more

Some critics have written about Stop Making Sense as a truly political work. It was made in the middle of Ronald Regans America, a lot of the songs deal with feeling sort of out place in society, and so on. How much of that seems accurate to you?

I havent watched that film in a while.

You should! Its still great.

[laughs] Thank you. I was aware that in that film especially the way that Jonathan [Demme] filmed it, the way he gave time for all the band members, you had a sense of it being like a little community. You got to know each of the people as personalities. Then you saw them interact, playing together. That was a major statement. It was never stated but I think it had a big effect on the audience, the audience felt that, that each of these people were individuals. It wasnt just me and a backup band. And I think you get that from this one, too the sense that sometimes Im in the background. Everybody gets the spotlight at some point.

Greg Allen/Invision/AP

American Utopia climaxes with Road to Nowhere. The lyrics to that song are almost despondent at times, but you perform it in such a hopeful way especially in American Utopia, where youre literally dancing and partying with the audience as you sing.

Its always been a song that has that contradiction built into it. Listen to it literally, and it sounds like its talking about death. Were going down this road to nowhere. And yet it feels very joyous, and I always felt thats what makes the song work. Were all heading down the road to nowhere, but we can all enjoy the trip. Its really a wonderful thing.

American Utopia is such a physical show. Youre almost always in motion, dancing, pacing, engaging the audience throughout. How emotionally and mentally exhausting was it to do this night after night?

It was more mentally exhausting than it was physically. Some of the other performers, especially the ones that dance a lot, I get a little bit of their reflective glory. Theyre dancing their assess off around me and Im not moving half as much, but it feels like Im part of their energy. I get a little more credit than Im due, but it is totally nonstop. Youve got 10 seconds when you finish one song to move somewhere else and boom youre starting the next one. Catch your breath and off you go! Being on tour is one thing but doing a show like that where youre there every night and on Saturdays doing it twice is really something.

The show is so rooted in the concerns of 2020. It almost feels like a recap of recent history. When you stage it live again and I certainly hope you do how do you expect to modify it to reflect an ever-changing world?

Were hoping to do it live again. I think Id probably do a few adjustments to acknowledge all the stuff weve been through. Its kind of amazing. The concert part of the show was put together before the election. I was pooling the elements together, writing songs. The Broadway show and the filming was obviously before the pandemic. Yet when you watch it, it seems like its talking about whats happening now, which is kind of sad in that not much has changed, but it does keep the film current.

What compelled you to approach Spike Lee to direct the film?

Im a fan and wed crossed paths many times over the decades in New York. Wed been in contact a little bit, not a lot. I thought, hes going to get this show, and if hes free, it might be something hed like to do. He has done live shows before. Its in his wheelhouse. All of his films are dealing with contemporary issues in one way or another. Thats a big part of this show. Also, Jonathan Demme was a friend of Spikes and similar to that film, its kind of an ensemble piece. Youve got these characters who interact on this set, everything happens within that, were not going to go out and break into other places. He knows how to capture that stuff.

The part of the film where his voice is most visible is the performance of Janelle Mones Hell You Talmbout, when you and the rest of the cast name Black victims of police shootings. Spike has crafted this montage with the relatives of the victims and works in recent names, including George Floyd, who hadnt been shot when you did the show.

Yeah, he had some ideas on that. Mostly he just wanted to capture what we were doing, but on this one, he said, My office and I have been in contact with some of the families of these people the wives, the husbands, mothers. Wed like to incorporate them into the show. He did it seamlessly. He figured out in an afternoon how to get everyone onstage so it all fit in there. The song was already incredibly emotional but it just takes it to another level, seeing those family members there.

In light of all this, lets talk about how you responded to the promotional video from 1984 that resurfaced where you were wearing blackface. In the show, you almost seem to allude to this kind of issue from your past. Introducing Hell You Talmbout, you say, I need to be better. So what you were actually thinking about when you decided to include that line?

I wasnt thinking of this old promo video I did 30 years ago. I was just thinking back on my life, how much my attitude has changed, and I can only assume that if its changed that much over my life that I still got a ways to go, that Im not done. Im still learning, adjusting my thinking, and being aware of stuff I didnt know about.

I just had a talk earlier this afternoon with a theater company in Denver that Im working with in like two years from now. We started talking about this issue and lots of people had similar stories from their own lives. One woman was watching the movie Splash with her daughter and realized, This is not a good message for a little girl to see, and yet it was one of my favorite films as a child. Another guy said, I was in high school and I decided for something I was doing that it would be funny to dress up as Osama Bin Laden?

Oh, God.

Yes. We change. Thats the whole point. At the time, this guy said, everybody thought it was hilarious. Now, of course, we think about it the way you did. Oh, God. Ugh! You cringe! You cringe at some of the stuff we liked years ago! We can evolve. That was my point. With the statement, I decided, Im going to put this out there and Im not going to try and hide from this. Its a good thing to accept that we can evolve.

How are you dealing with the pandemic as an artist and finding ways to create new work?

Sipa USA via AP

Im mainly focusing my journalism project, Reasons to Be Cheerful, and that thing I mentioned thats two years off. Theres another project that might happen in December, I hope, that could actually get people together. It wont have a performance from me, but Im involved in it remotely in some ways. Im very lucky that way.

What about music?

Not a lot of music. I feel like Im trying to puzzle out how I respond to all of this not just the pandemic, the marches, the police stuff. Everything thats going on. Its almost like the curtain hasnt parted; its been ripped down. I dont want to just do an op-ed piece. That doesnt really work as a song.

You started Reasons to Be Cheerful after the 2016 election, when the concept provided a contrast to the national mood. How do you see its future, especially in an America where Trump actually wins in November?

Wow. I cant say whats going to happen in November, but my feeling since Ive been doing this now for a few years has been that I have to look for local initiatives, things in different cities and states around the world where theyre actually solving problems, offering solutions, and maybe those can be copied or scaled up. That gives me some kind of encouragement that when the national level fails us, on the local level, things are still happening.

Youre a famous New Yorker. During the first presidential debate, Trump called New York City a ghost town, and I was reminded of an editorial you wrote in The New York Times a few years back where you said the city was pricing out artists. How do you feel about the way it stands now?

Oddly enough, in some areas, the rents have come down because of the pandemic and so I have friends who are artists and musicians who are now looking at better apartments in the city. Its too early to tell but its almost like the artists are moving back in. That might be premature, but you never know. Im sticking around.

Its impossible not to think about this last question while watching American Utopia, but Im almost afraid to ask it. How sick are you of being asked whether the Talking Heads will get back together?

[laughs] Well, Ive been asked enough that I have a stock answer!

Give me something better before you default to that.

What can I say? Its just not going to happen. It is kind of sad that we arent friendly because we were all very close at one point, but as we know, that sometimes happens, too. But artistically, in terms of what we do, its actually not that much of a surprise. People grow and change and become interested in other things. They want to do things in a different way. Thats just what happens.

David Byrnes American Utopia premieres on HBO on Saturday, October 17.

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David Byrne on Voter Suppression, Self-Improvement, and Why the Talking Heads Still Wont Reunite - IndieWire