Summary: In this episode, I share some of the books, podcasts, and conversations that inspired me over the winter break—and how they’re shaping the way I’m thinking about goals and intentions for the year ahead. From audiobooks that kept me company on long runs to podcast episodes that got me rethinking resolutions, I dive into what stuck with me, what I’m trying to do differently this year, and why I think February might actually be the perfect time to reflect and reset. I also share some personal stories, including a childhood encounter with Gwyneth Paltrow, and how that moment came full circle with a recent interview on Amy Poehler’s podcast. Plus, I explore the power of intentional gathering, new routines, and bundling goals in a way that feels doable and meaningful. It’s part reflection, part recommendation list, and hopefully a gentle nudge to reconnect with what matters most to you this year.

✨ Mentioned in This Episode

🎧 Podcasts

• Good Hang with Amy Poehler – Episode featuring Gwyneth Paltrow
• The Oprah Conversation – Young Men Are Struggling Right Now featuring Scott Galloway
• Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus –
  • Ina Garten
• Life Kit by NPR
  • How to Set Resolutions You Can Actually Keep (feat. Gretchen Rubin)
  • How to Build a Village (feat. Priya Parker)
• The Post Reports – “The Trick to Making a New Year’s Resolution Stick”
• HuffPost’s Am I Doing It Wrong? – Goal-setting & habits episode

📚 Books & Audiobooks

• Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
• Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
• Diane: A Signature Life by Diane von Fürstenberg (2016 memoir)
• Glossy by Marisa Meltzer – Inside the rise and fall of Glossier
• The Dollhouse and The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis

🌟 Let’s Connect:

• Instagram: @virginia.markman
• Facebook: @virginiacrablemarkman

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