Rapp Strategies Rundown – May 2019
What we’re reading, listening to and thinking about this month.
Todd R.: I completed the eighth season of Game of Thrones. I can’t say I understood what was going on, but the dragon was cool. I also finished John Sandford’s book Neon Prey, a great summer read. The whole Rapp household is mesmerized by the Stanley Cup playoffs – go Bruins! And we’re also looking for unique Old Fashioned recipes.
Alyssa: One of the most entertaining interviews I’ve ever listened to was when Joan Rivers was on Howard Stern’s Sirius XM show a few years ago. So, I was an easy sell for Howard’s new book, Howard Stern Comes Again, which is a collection of his best interviews. I also just finished reading the story of Suzi Weiss Fischmann, the co-founder of O.P.I. nail polish. I’m Not Really A Waitress is both the title of Fischmann’s autobiography and the name of one of the best-selling colors in the O.P.I. line of memorably named “luxury nail lacquers.” She’s got a great story of how she and her family escaped Communist Hungary, immigrated to America, and eventually transformed the dental supply company she worked for into a global nail polish empire.
Todd S.: I attended my first Minnesota United FC soccer game at Allianz Field. The new facility is a terrific venue for the sport, and the game was a lot of fun – a thrilling 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
Rich: I’ve enjoyed several Twins games at Target Field, where a lot of fair-weather fans are starting to show up. I took a family trip to New York City for my daughter’s birthday, and visited Brooklyn for the first time while I was there. I also watched my first Game of Thrones episode (the Battle of Winterfell) and have been checking in with friends to see if they survived legislative session.
Sarah: Like many Minnesotans, the Oliver family made the obligatory stop at the Judy Garland museum on one of our family vacations when I was young. Years later I’d see the ruby slippers in the Smithsonian. “The Case of the Stolen Ruby Slippers” gave me a new respect for the history and mystery behind them. Now that Game of Thrones is over, my weekly TV watching void has been filled with the new takes-no-BS Bachelorette, Alabama Hannah. She’s my favorite since Kaitlin Bristowe and makes this show finally fun to watch again (sorry, Minnesota Becca). “Dead to Me” on Netflix was a one-weekend binge and I highly recommend it.
Anna: I finished The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker, which was a surprisingly relatable and yet chilling read from the perspective of a German friar struggling to both protect his family and stand up to the Nazis during World War II. I also watched my first soccer game at Allianz Field, where the Loons were victorious over the Houston Dynamo and the hotdogs did not disappoint.
Andrea: One of my all-time favorite podcasts is the NPR’s TED Radio Hour. This past month I listened to many episodes. Three of my favorites were one on Keeping Secrets, Jumpstarting Creativity and Setbacks. One of the tips that I took away from the creativity episode was the power of walking while brainstorming. People who brainstorm while they walk come up with a substantially higher number of creative ideas than those who brainstorm while they sit. A grand reason for an afternoon stroll.