Soul Nourishment
In Persian culture, before somebody eats, we say "نوش جون – noosheh joon," which literally translates to "may your soul be nourished." In Hebrew, the words for soul and breath—essential to life itself—share the same root: "נשמה". And every time I walk into an Erewhon for a matcha latte, I’m reminded of the wellness lifestyle in my city.
However you resonate with the idea, we can all agree that nourishment is necessary to stay alive! Out of love and nerdy excitement, I wanted to share some things that nourish my soul with you. Every month, I’ll highlight a few glimmers from my life below in hopes of getting you thinking about how you can nourish yourself, too.
Noosheh joon, my friends!
July 2025
Earlier this month, I went to see the musical Parade with my friend Emma. (Hi Emma!) I have such a deep appreciation for this piece of art – it’s timely, it sparked difficult yet meaningful conversations, and frankly it was comforting to sit in a room of 2,000 people learning about and supporting a Jewish story. For those who don’t know, Parade tells the true story of a Jewish factory superintendent in Atlanta who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1913. The case was reopened in 2019 and is still ongoing. I absolutely sobbed when Leo’s character sang the Shema before (spoiler alert) he was killed, but that heaviness was soon wrapped in a blanket of love when Emma and I stopped by the stage door after the show to say hello to a friend. The energy that radiated through the air as we watched loved ones connect and support each other was pure magic. Thank God for theater.
Recording session for Anilee List
The way I gasped, screamed, and cried in the span of, like, seven seconds when this beautiful human texted me asking to sing background vocals on her new song… lol. I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on how the literal people I once dreamed of collaborating with – Anilee included – are now my friends. I feel so lucky. This session was beautiful on multiple levels; the group of people that gathered to sing together are phenomenal vocalists and human beings that I’ve coincidentally spent time with in a few different spaces. It was a really special moment for me to be in the studio and step fully into my true self. Whew. So much gratitude. I’m excited to see how it all comes together.
Deepa’s full moon sound bath
I guess this month is really just a love letter to my community! Another friend of mine, Deepa Mehta, hosted a sound healing and reiki event in Malibu on the night of the full moon. It was so calming to my nervous system to be immersed in the soundscape that Deepa and her co-facilitator Flora created. Flora also made delicious chocolates that paired perfectly with the moonrise over the ocean at Paradise Cove. Nature is WILD. And so is sound healing! I finally ordered my own set of crystal sound bowls that I’m excited to play and heal with. Keep an eye out for their appearance in next month’s post – I’m eager for their arrival.
Did you go to an event that moved you this month? Did your friends do something you’re proud of? I want to hear about your glimmers.
June 2025
I have to be honest, I’ve been putting off writing this month’s post because June has been BUSY. Every time I found myself with downtime, I just wanted to lie on the ground and breathe. But I discovered this new Mexican grill, and my post practically started writing itself as I stuffed my face with a steak taco trio. Their menu made me so happy I literally sent a picture to my sister nerding out over it. Organic ingredients, no seed oils, grass-fed and pasture-raised proteins, no plastic in their kitchen, gluten free… the list goes on. Obviously it’s delicious. They opened their storefront in Venice a month ago, and I highly suggest giving them a try!
I was in a musical at the Hollywood Fringe Festival!!! The last time I properly did theater was in high school, and I feel so grateful that my first jump back into it was one of the most heart-filling, synchronistic, fun, silly, inspiring, connective, overall lovely experiences I’ve had this year. Carly, Asher, and EJ (director/writer/costar) are the sweetest and most talented humans. We only had eight rehearsals, we ate so many snacks, and we crushed it. I keep thinking– and people keep echoing back to me– that the role I played was unknowingly written about my life. I don’t know what to do about that piece of information yet, but I am so thankful to be a theater kid.
My favorite tree
Keeping this one short and sweet because, as I said, I’ve been busy and I want to get back to lying on the floor. Here’s a picture of my favorite tree. He’s such a good tree, and he lives at such a good park! (Yes, I’ve decided the tree is a he.) He made a seat out of his roots that I like to lie in while reading and listening to podcasts. Last week I saw a toddler wave goodbye to him before she ran off to another area in the park. It was precious, and nature’s really fucking cool.
Tell me about your favorite nature thing or taco spot! I wanna hear about them all.
May 2025
My family went on the most magical trip this month. Tulum– and the Nômade Hotel in particular– is special to me in a way that’s difficult to explain. I felt like I was living out my Moana dreams: almost always barefoot, connecting with the ocean, befriending a local beach dog, creating a Shabbat evening with another group of LA travelers, and savoring my favorite breakfast on the planet (the hotel’s coconut chia parfait). The list goes on... SO many coconuts were devoured. One of the most moving experiences was the temazcal ceremony I participated in; I went in blind and came out feeling so clear and connected in mind, body, and spirit. I’m still basking in the afterglow of this much-needed vacation, and I can’t wait to go back with friends and do some circlesinging around a beach bonfire.
I stumbled upon Kristin’s 2025 calendar while waiting for a prescription to be filled at CVS. (Wandering the aisles of that store is a dangerous game for someone who loves tchotchkes as much as I do.) Her art is beautiful, full of soothing patterns, earthy tones, and intentional messages. Turning the page each month to reveal the next design gives me a little burst of excitement and reminds me how important the small joys in life are. Plus, the monthly overviews include the moon phases and Australian holidays – I may not live in Sydney yet, but even small nods to a future in my favorite city make me smile. Kristin’s work is truly stunning. Check it out if you’re looking for something to brighten up your walls.
Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out – episode with Questlove
Mike Birbiglia is one of my favorite comedians. He’s so real and relatable, with this unique way of weaving jokes into a beautiful, cohesive story in every show. Questlove is also someone whose creative mind I deeply respect. Whenever I spot his name in the credits of something I’m enjoying, I catch myself thinking, "Oh, duh. Of course he’s behind this” – almost like bumping into a familiar friend. Getting to be a fly on the wall for their conversation while sitting in traffic was a really sweet experience. The episode, titled The Art of Self-Sabotage, touched on a theme I’ve been exploring in my own life lately. A quote that I wanted to share was: “What I realized about jealousy is if you want something that someone else has, you can't just one for one have what they have and be you at the same time.”
I’d love to hear what’s been feeding your spirit lately! Don’t hesitate to share your favorites with me anytime.
April 2025
This place brings me so much joy. The employees are the sweetest, the facilities are clean, and each private room is equipped with a TV and speakers so you can play anything from meditation tracks to Netflix. Lately, I’ve been adding salt therapy and watching my comfort shows while trying to nourish a cough. I’m not sponsored—but if their owner, Felicia, ever sees this: I’d love to run your social ads!
Speaking of comfort shows, I’m rewatching mine… again. I don’t think I’ll ever stop reveling in the perfection that is all seven seasons of this sitcom. It’s also been fun to notice which characters I connect with during different phases of my life. I currently feel like a healthy mix of Jess, the quirky artist; Cece, the brown girl hopelessly in love with a nerdy Jew; and Schmidt, the nerdy Jew. What feel-good shows are you watching?
Ed Sheeran - Making of “Azizam”
Hearing one of my all-time favorite artists create a song that honors Persian culture was truly astonishing. Parts of this BTS video gave me full-body chills, especially when the producer suggested the term “azizam” for the first time and when Ed tried on Persian dancing. On a personal note, my mom recently had some friends over, including one of her first friends from when she moved to America from Iran in 1978. They reflected on how, back then, they never thought they’d be accepted, and now, to feel embraced on such a grand scale is beyond their wildest dreams. Manifesting a duet someday, Ed!
And if you have any nourishment you want to share with me, my inbox is open! Podcast episodes, the fun art project you made yesterday, pictures of your dogs…