How about a fun little chat for our Friday? A few months ago, my friend Olivia posted one of the best conversation starter questions I’ve ever heard: what rabbit holes do you always go down? You know those topics that will, without fail, get you to click on a headline (or two or three), watch a documentary (and then beeline to the internet for more details), or pick up a book if you see it on the shelf at the library? Your rabbit holes can be literally anything: a historical figure or event, a time period, a celebrity, a field of study…anything that unfailingly captures your interest. Here are a few of mine!
Pretty much anything ballet-related, especially if it involves ultra-talented kids trying to make it or an inside look into a company. I should probably just go ahead and dust off my ten-years-ago Pointe magazine subscription to fuel this one, don’t you think?
The people in the wine world. I’ve shared a little about this before, but Dave and I are big fans of the Somm documentaries. We joke that our hobby isn’t wine itself; it’s wine documentaries! (Though we have certainly deepened our appreciation and enjoyment of wine over the last year or so too!) We love asking the sommeliers at restaurants or our favorite wine shop questions and learning from them, especially if they can share more details with us about where a bottle of wine came from.
Anastasia. I loved the movie as a kid and my interest in her never waned! Everything from her childhood to all the people throughout the 20th century who claimed to be her is just fascinating to me.
The Kennedys, especially Jacqueline. This one stems from my time interning for Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin in college and reading their first book, Mrs. Kennedy and Me (Highly recommend! Also, I know Mrs. McCubbin is kindly a Something Pretty reader, so hi to her! :)) I don’t have any interest in the conspiracy theories or even the politics, really—just the history and stories of this intriguing family.
The fashion world in New York City (fact or fiction). The September Issue, First Monday in May, select Gossip Girl episodes, The Devil Wears Prada, NYFW coverage…sign me up for all of it, please and thank you.
The Inklings. The mental image of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and their other writer buddies chatting, sharing their writing, and clinking pint glasses in Oxford pubs warms my heart. To have been a fly on the wall!
Okay, your turn! What random topics fascinate you? I can’t wait to hear!
Photo by Rachel Linder
Jane Austen, Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars, anything science-y that’s way above my capacity to understand but interesting to read, gymnastics (especially history on gymnasts famous in the 90s/00s), Ancient Egypt (no clue where this fascination originated but it’s my favorite section to visit at museums)
I am with you on Anastasia and the fashion world of NY. I also love Jane Austen, baking shows, greek mythology (although this was bigger when I was in grade school), and sloths. Jess atJust Jess
I also love documentaries or shows about dancers trying to make it in the ballet world! I am fascinated by talented kids and the concept of being born with natural talent (because I was not born with a natural talent…HA!).
Also, random fact: my friend’s sister was Anastasia in the musical on Broadway! Christy originated the role. :) I know she is not touring with the company, but I know the musical is currently on tour around the country. You might want to see when they are visiting Raleigh!
I am fascinated by entrepreneurs in design and fashion who work for themselves (I also love hearing/reading how they built their businesses), people working in the entertainment world in LA, bestselling authors, Walt Disney World (I LOVE planning trips to Disney, and I would happily plan other family’s trips as a career), tennis (the US Open is my favorite tournament every year), and travel.
Anything Italy/Italian Culture (food, history, etc. I like reading books but also love the podcasts and movies/documentaries), lesser known saints stories (for example Japanese martyrs, I think this was inspired by the movie Silence), travel (especially Europe), and natural living/wellness.
My goodness, sometimes I forget just how much we have in common! I love this list and plan on posing this question to our friends at tonight’s dinner party!
As an Enneagram five, rabbit holes and useless information are my JAM. I’m sure I could have a bazillion answers, but the first two that immediately pop to mind are Mormons and the Mormon church, and North Carolina summer camps. (Whyyyy?!) And of course, I will never not click on an article, pick up a book, or listen to a podcast about the downsides of technology/kids and technology/slow parenting/getting kids outside :)
Ha! I think I could’ve guessed most of these, minus Mormons?! That one I didn’t know, haha!
Since you mentioned the Enneagram, I would guess that is one topic a lot of people would say lately, but honestly, I just don’t get it…someone please explain to me what the big deal about it is :)
This is fun! A few random ones:
1. Entrepreneurship or “how I built this” stories, esp. from female entrepreneurs or owners of businesses I love!
2. Anything about animals dramatically improving the lives of humans
3. Floor plans for new homes, even though I’m a passionate owner of a 100-year-old home and hope I always will be! I’ve been into this- my hometown newspaper used to publish a floor plan every Sunday and my dad used to cut them out for me starting around 3rd grade :)
“How I Built This” stories are so fun! If you’re interested in the fashion industry, I recommend The Glossy Podcast–they have had guests from tons of brands I love/admire and it has been a fascinating way to peek into those businesses.
I hope you have a floor plan scrapbook–that is so sweet! :)
Oh this is so fun! I’ll be on a road trip with 3 girlfriends tomorrow and will certainly ask this question at some point in the car ;-) Here are a few of mine:
– Mindful consumerism, how to avoid plastic waste and plastic free alternatives
– Biographies of interesting people (when I get a glimpse of somebodies story and want to know more about it I become a legit researcher and find out everything about that persons story)
– Interior design (Pinterest is my frenemy – I just love redesigning and reorganizing my home)
– Dream vacation destinations (when I hear about a new place I google and research until I have basically planned a whole vacation there)
Amen to biographies! I love finding out where someone came from and the stories surrounding what I may initially know about them. Fact is always more interesting than fiction, in my book :)
Since you enjoy the Kennedys, I highly recommend the book “Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy.” I found it fascinating. Also, since your pro life you might find it extra interesting. I hadn’t realized the extent of eugenics in the early 1900s. ???? I have added your Kennedy book to my library list. Do you have any favorite Anastasia books? I loved the topic as a child.
I love stories on disabilities, helping the disenfranchised, interior design, travel especially to national parks, and productivity.
Great post!
I looked up that book, but I don’t know if I’d be able to handle it, to be honest! Rosemary’s story is so tragic :( On a lighter note, I hope you enjoy Mrs. Kennedy and Me!
Hmm, Madison Finn, but that’s a pretty exclusive group to converse with :P
HAHA! Always and forever <3
I love this!
I also have a fascination with the Kennedy’s, especially Jackie. I also can deep dive into blogs, but mainly those that actually write (not really fashion bloggers). I can never pass up a good birth story. I love to plan vacations we won’t go on and look for new jobs in other cities.
Ooh, it’s been a long time since I did a deep dive into a blog, but I remember scrolling waaaay back when I first started reading them. Feels like forever ago! For the best birth story I’ve ever read, look up Hildie’s birth story on the Carrots for Michaelmas blog. She’s a fantastic writer and told the story so vividly!
This is such a great question!
I really love reading about and talking about our perception of danger and an acceptable level of risk. For example children used to walk to school unaccompanied more often than they do now, but is it really more dangerous or are we just more cautious? So random!
Such an interesting topic!!