media consumption: articles, video essays, and media to make you smarter (vol. 1)

hello.

welcome back to articles.

i received several messages from readers recently about missing when i use to share articles (almost every day). truthfully, i stopped sharing them because i felt like there was an overabundance of creators who were article sharing and i didn’t feel like i was adding anymore value to the table.

looking back on my analytics, sharing articles with you every day is how i grew this platform on substack. despite the fact that there are many writers on here (like

Emily Sundberg

and

Casey Lewis

) who do a brilliant job at providing this type of content, i do feel there is something unique i can bring to the conversation. as someone who is chronically online and reads the news almost obsessively, i do a good job sifting through content and separating the good articles from the bad ones. (and by good, i simply mean, content that added something significant and meaningful to my day). i also enjoy sharing a short snippet with my thoughts on the piece- bullet point summaries if you will, to give you my perspective and opinion.

with all of this said, i will be adding this content back into my newsletters again, mostly on weekends for you reading enjoyment. this type of writing, coupled with my love for seasonal living, feels like a more well-rounded newsletter of all the things that make milk fed feel complete and whole.

articles, video essays, podcast episodes, and other media that i’ve found interesting and impactful:

articles:

loving the limitations of the novel: a conversation between sally rooney and merve emre

sally rooney’s novels often have a way of quietly conversing with past literary works, while maintaining her distinct voice and focus on human dynamics. what’s compelling about her writing is how her characters, no matter how flawed, manage to find brief moments of understanding amidst the mess of miscommunication and self-deception. her latest novel intermezzo continues this thread, exploring sibling relationships with the same depth she brings to romantic ones, offering a complex look at human connection. what makes rooney stand out is her subtle commentary on modern life’s discontent—grappling with identity, time, and societal norms—all while keeping the characters’ personal dramas front and center.

the paris review

tears of dog: the bluey method of reducing grown-ups to tears  

this article examines how *bluey*, an australian children’s show, emotionally resonates with both kids and adults. while kids enjoy its fun and imaginative play, adults often tear up at the deeper messages about family, time, and the bittersweet moments of growing up. episodes like "camping" show fleeting childhood friendships and evoke a nostalgic understanding of life's impermanence, drawing out powerful emotions in grown-up viewers.  

vulture

call me pretty, not hot

in this article, ellery weil delves into the nuanced difference between being "pretty" and being "hot," exploring how beauty without sexiness has been a long-standing concept in art, fashion, and culture. using examples from history, literature, and modern fashion, the article reflects on how femininity is often disconnected from sexual appeal and how attempts to subvert the male gaze can sometimes backfire. it’s a thoughtful look at the complexities of beauty standards and societal expectations.

byline