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 in hopes of getting you thinking about how you can nourish yourself, too.
Noosheh joon, my friends!
May 2026
New York
I had the most incredible time in New York last month. While I’m grateful to be back in my own bed, I’m honestly bummed I wasn’t there longer. Here’s the highlight reel: Luciana Souza’s set at Smoke Jazz Club and Rogério Boccato’s shaker made from a supplement bottle. The freedom and ease of public transportation. Soup Soup. Hugging my East Coast friends. Snagging a last-minute ticket to Every Brilliant Thing. Riding a carousel. Journaling in Central Park. The beauty of the Jewish Museum. Marie’s Crisis. Watching a recording of Spring Awakening’s original Broadway cast at the public library. Brick buildings. The vulnerability in Joshua Colley’s voice at Hadestown. Kind strangers. Missing my return flight, but having an entire row to myself on the next flight home... Take me back?
Singing with Open Temple
It was recently the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. This usually involves eating a lot of dairy (a confusing tradition definitely sponsored by Lactaid) and commemorating receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. This year, I was fortunate enough to perform with the band at Open Temple for a Shavuot Shabbat service! It was definitely not your typical event – we arrived at Venice Pier in the late afternoon to begin setting up our live-band silent disco. Our five-piece band played throughout the night, congregants lay on pillows and blankets during parts of the service, and my friend Becca guided us through a meditative gong practice as the sun set along the horizon. A Shabbat shalom was had, indeed!
Jazz at LACMA
I’ve attended Jazz at LACMA a few times, but this was the first time my family went together, and it was so cute. My mom made a delicious picnic for the four of us. We found ourselves nestled beside some sweet neighbors who aptly named themselves the Blue Umbrella Social Club, and we spent a few hours chatting about our weeks and laughing about the Farsi word “hosseleh.” Next time I’ll get there earlier to avoid the mess that is parking near Miracle Mile, but overall, I’m looking forward to spending more time this summer sitting in the grass and soaking in live music, community, and the joy of my loved ones. Message me if you want to go together before they wrap up in the fall.
What nourished you this month?
April 2026
As I’m sitting down to write one of these entries, I’ve noticed two things: 1) it’s been about six months since I last posted here on Soul Nourishment, and 2) my original post was exactly one year ago. It’s a sweet return to this practice, not only as a way to connect with you all, but also as a way to drop in with myself for a moment of gratitude. April was a full month, and to honor that while making up for lost time, I’ve included—not three, but—six things that made the month special below. Enjoy!
The Last Five Years
The Hollywood Bowl is one of my favorite venues, Ben Platt is one of my favorite artists, and I spent the night with some of my favorite people. I’m not sure I could’ve asked for any more, except for maybe winning the show’s songbook and having the evening kick off a full weekend of birthday celebrations. Well… that all happened, too. And Rachel Zegler’s vocals blew my mind. Saying I felt lucky is an understatement.
Later that week, I had one of the best meals of my life – no exaggeration. Rustic Canyon is a beautiful restaurant in Santa Monica that opened 20 years ago and sources its food weekly from the local farmers market. The dishes were so fresh, and the indoor seating had such good vibes. Highlights included fried Japanese sweet potatoes with miso and aged gouda, bluefin crudo with blood orange and chipotle, and making everyone at the table wear sparkly gold crowns (though my dad wanted nothing less than that last one).
WalkGood LA– a non-profit wellness organization– hosts BreatheGood once a month to offer free community yoga in outdoor spaces designed to be welcoming, accessible, and grounding for all attendees. I met some sweet people, rehydrated with Omi’s Juice, and experienced what I think is the first time I ever enjoyed exercise. Thanks Marley Rae for leading! See you at the next one.
English
Though I drive by the building at least weekly, this was my first time seeing a show at The Wallis in Beverly Hills. English, a play by Sanaz Toossi, is set in a rotating Iranian classroom where four adult students and their teacher prepare to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It explored themes of language, identity, and cultural assimilation that made me laugh, cry, and leave with a much deeper understanding of what my family’s experience immigrating from Iran was like. I really hope you had a chance to catch it.
Fourth Wing
I’m one of those people who has a million books, the intention to read all of them, and the undying impulse to buy a new, exciting book even though I have many unread ones at home. Can anyone relate? I opened Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros last week and cannot put it down. I feel like Belle in that bookstore scene from Beauty and the Beast where she’s raving over “far off places [and] daring sword fights,” but it’s way steamier and has dragons. Let’s gab about it – no spoilers, please!
I am blessed to be surrounded by creative friends. Sometimes those friends come up with awesome ideas that I can’t help but insert myself into, and offering to help Anilee, Asher, Matt, and Max with some digital marketing for their vocal music campout was one of those times. Connecting with nature and community? Singing structured and improvised songs under the redwoods? Stargazing and roasting marshmallows by the campfire? Say less. Who’s joining us?
I want to hear about what you’re reading, eating, and seeing!
September 2025
I saw an Instagram ad for this event at UCLA and immediately knew I had to go. It was incredible to be surrounded by researchers, musicians, and clinicians all exploring how sound impacts our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. I met people from all walks of life – from med students to one of Leonard Bernstein’s collaborators on West Side Story – and loved learning about how sound frequencies can influence our physiology in measurable ways. The sound bath introduction was powerful; it was amazing seeing medical professionals participate in such a thing, and I had a profound personal experience during the meditation. While there's still a lot of work to be done in the field, I left feeling inspired to help bridge the gap between musicians and clinicians as we continue using music to connect and heal.
High Holidays Choir
Later that night, I sang in the choir at Stephen Wise Temple’s Rosh Hashanah services. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year: a time to reflect, let go, and call in what you’re hoping for in the year ahead. I grew up attending that temple and working at their summer camp, and while I see myself as more of a spiritual person than traditionally religious, it was really beautiful to sing with such a talented group of musicians and reconnect with my heritage in a way I haven’t in many years. I’m so grateful to be Jewish and to have community spaces that feel like home. There’s nothing like kicking off the new year with yummy harmonies and apples dipped in honey.
Beach Walk
Sometimes you have to channel your inner ocean-loving spirit and take an aimless walk along the water. I parked at my favorite spot in Santa Monica, took off my shoes, threw my earbuds in, and walked for hours. It was the perfect way to clear my head and lift my spirits. Connecting with nature always gets my creative juices flowing, and there’s something about the ocean that’s especially calming for me, particularly while brainstorming something as immense as what I want this next phase of my life to look like. Cute dogs, lots of shells, and the sun shining on my face as I dipped my toes in the ice-cold water… Here's to living in a home right along the shore one day.
I’d love to hear about the little moments that made you feel alive this month!
August 2025
Esperanza Spalding x Songwrights Apothecary Lab
I watched Esperanza Spalding’s show at The Music Center, and it was a phenomenal night. She’s such an authentic, talented, and playful performer, and watching her collaborate with the Songwrights Apothecary Lab was really inspiring. The music created in the lab explores themes of healing and personal growth, and this cohort partnered with UCLA researchers to make music that enhances therapeutic benefits for listeners. This experience made me even more excited about the idea of building a musical career with the intention of uplifting people’s minds, bodies, and spirits. It was a great reminder that music can be both playful and profoundly meaningful.
Cleo the Cavapoo
I dogsat my friends’ dog Cleo!! It was honestly the sweetest week I’ve had in a long time. She’s a floofy little cavapoo girl, and after losing our family dog in February, a week with Cleo was exactly what we all needed. Sarah (my friend and Cleo’s mom, who can literally do everything well) is a dentist but also a phenomenal dog trainer, which made it feel like Cleo was taking care of me rather than the other way around. All she wanted was to cuddle and zoom around the backyard, and I couldn’t help but fall in love and give her so many treats along the way. Unfortunately, I had to give her back, but next time, I might not be so nice. Watch out, Sar…
I spent an afternoon painting Shabbat candleholders at Color Me Mine. I’ve loved this place since I was a kid, and I still find it so relaxing to listen to music and paint with no agenda for a couple of hours. I went in with a pretty simple idea, but when I saw that they now allow patrons to use paint pens in every color, I completely flipped the script and doodled the way my heart knows best. It was such a fun, creative afternoon, and now that the pottery is glazed, the leftover candle wax pops out so easily – big win! I’m grateful to get to enjoy them every Friday.
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
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 a future 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…