Delightfully Random Recommendations

It’s a good week for those in need of a break. Monday was a holiday in a dozen countries and territories, and today—and even tomorrow—is a holiday here in the Netherlands. This week, I'm leaning into the holiday relax and sharing some recommendations.

But first, are you thinking, Laura, why do you have today off? Good question. I wondered the same. It’s Ascension Day—a Christian holiday (that part I knew). But as it turns out, it’s celebrated in 40+ other historically Christian countries (that part I didn’t).

How is it that, having grown up in the US and lived in Italy—two countries with plenty of religious holidays and traditions—I knew nothing about this one? Turns out, it mostly comes down to tradition: the US never adopted it as a federal holiday, and in 1977 Italy phased it out when it cut six Christian holidays from the public calendar in an effort to boost economic productivity.

Now you’ve got a new fun fact—and we can move on to the recommendations. Enjoy!

Recommendations

🎧 Are you listening to Amy Pohler's new podcast? You should be. 

🧠 This article ties together themes I’ve written about before: AI, work, and untangling your identity from your job. The twist? The author suggests that knowledge workers might be the next to go—and maybe it’s time to start picking up a manual trade. Existential? Yes. Thought-provoking? Also yes.

🤖 Trying to figure out which careers to avoid next? (Kidding. Sort of.) Here’s HBR’s breakdown of how people are actually using Gen AI.

🔁 A reminder all entrepreneurs need (on repeat)

📚 My 9-year-old daughter loved this. Last night, in the middle of one of her regular pre-bedtime stress spirals, she told me she was worried about getting rejected multiple times before publishing her hypothetical graphic novel... in 20 years.

😬 Just reading this made my chest tighten. Which probably means I should actually do it.

🌙 What I fall asleep to most nights. And yes, that’s exactly what it’s designed for.

🎨 Creative lessons that double as great reminders for entrepreneurs.  He also has a new special just that just came out that I can't wait to watch. 

📺 Rewatching this with my 11-year-old, and she’s fully identifying with Eleanor Shellstrop. Should I be worried?

Got something to add? Share your favorites in the comments.