Last Week In Hive Mind

Sundance wraps, the housewives reconcile, and I owe all macaron success to a local pastry chef.

First, a giant thank you to everyone who has signed up to support Hive Mind on Patreon. Our fourth episode of the Patreon exclusive Bridgerton series is available now. My co-host Emily became an accidental historian after reading too many Regency romance novels so there’s no one more qualified to talk about the Bridgerton family and the society in which they live. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll become a patron to access our exclusive episodes and support everything we do here at Hive Mind.

Second, I wish I could play it cool and pretend I’m not freaking out about having my name appear in a Ringer article, but I’m not that kind of person. It was a literal dream come true to speak with staff writer Katie Baker for this piece about The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City, influencers and Mormonism in the hands of Bravo. And I am grateful to her for not including some of the weirder stuff I said. I think I mentioned Seagull Book And Tape? Yikes.

The Ringer published the piece just in time for the RHOSLC Finale. You can read my recap of the final episode here.

And then listen to Emily and I rehash every detail of the finale on our latest episode of The Green Room:

I can’t believe it’s over. I mean I’m glad, because I’m tired, but also sad, because I’ll miss the women. It really is all about the friends we made along the way, isn’t it?

You know who’s not making friends? Our Bachelor villain Victoria. Irene and I discuss her departure from Nemacolin and her need for better undergarments on Trash Talk:

After you’ve listened, don’t forget to make your predictions for tonight’s episode here.

We’re halfway through the season and it’s anyone’s game at this point, so there’s a good chance you could still win $100 by having the most correct predictions at season’s end.

On Hive Mind proper, I got pretty worked up thinking about all the time I wasted on men in college who had seen Garden State and decided to make it their entire personality.

I would like to formally apologize to my co-host Eli and our guest for the episode Lindsey Encinas for letting my emotions get the better of me. I know now that the music of The Shins is a trigger.

I’m glad society’s tastes have moved away from the white guy mopey-ness of 2004, and independent films are offering new and exciting perspectives, many of which make their debut at the Sundance Film Festival. Contributor Benjamin Wood attended this year’s virtual festival and wrote capsule reviews of seven films:

“An early breakout from this year’s festival, Coda is the coming-of-age tale of Ruby (Emilia Jones), the only hearing member in a deaf family of Massachusetts fishermen. Ruby is approaching high school graduation, necessitating a choice between her life as the family’s de facto interpreter and pursuing her love of singing at music school (the film’s title being a play on musical terminology and the acronym for “Child of Deaf Adults”).

Few Sundance films are as wall-to-wall charming as Coda. There’s a recognizable formula to the story structure, but it adds to a feeling of sincerity that is magnified by the excellent, and often hilarious, ensemble cast. Jones’ character is the center of the story, but it’s the familial chemistry between her and co-stars Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, and Daniel Durant that makes the film pop and creates the tension pulling Ruby in two directions.”

In other great work from contributors, this piece from Samantha Aramburu highlights the best 30 Utah restaurants established in the last 30 years.

“While thirty is young in the realm of human achievement, every one of those years is a mark of greatness in the restaurant world. The food industry can be a vicious place. While numbers vary, researchers from Ohio State University concluded that 26% of restaurants close within their first year of business, with that percentage rising to 57% by their third year. While all restaurants deserve to be celebrated, those within their first three years especially need our support. 

Salt Lake City is a hub for both emerging food talent and bedrock industry favorites, and they all deserve to be recognized.” 

Coming This Week On Hive Mind

Tomorrow we’re launching a fun new podcast on the Hive Mind channel called The Hive. Each episode will feature a Hive Mind contributor interviewing members of our community, starting with Jon Eyre interviewing Dane Sandberg and Spencer Sayer from Quiet Oaks. Jon will also be publishing the history of the band and their rise to local prominence on our site. Later in the week contributor Jordan Davidson will share her five favorite albums released during quarantine.

Taylor and Jordyn of Girl Meets Show join us to discuss Search Party season 4 on Hive Mind, and we’ll have a reunion to recap on The Green Room, more Bridgerton, and another episode of The Bachelor to discuss.

Around the Internet

RIP, Christopher Plummer, who I just learned hated The Sound Of Music and called it The Sound Of Mucous, so I don’t think he’d mind if I shared my favorite McSweeney’s piece second only to Gourd Season, “I Regret To Inform You That My Wedding To Captain Von Trapp Has Been Cancelled.”

Alexis Norlin from Normal Ice Cream posted a macaron tutorial, which I took as a personal challenge. I’ve tried to make macarons many times in the past, and was never successful, until I followed the VERY demanding instructions in Alexis’ stories and, after spending my entire Saturday night weighing egg whites and watching sugar boil, I ended up with light, almond-y clouds sandwiching rich, chocolate mascarpone. If you’re going to spend four hours on a cookie, make it the Normal Macaron.

There’s only one Super Bowl ad that matters. I don’t even care that it’s an ad within an ad for a probably evil company. I love it.

Here it is if you want to watch it again. And again.

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