What Your Chamber Team is Reading This February
W
hether we’re motivated to embrace big ideas and new insights that challenge the status quo or champion a fulfilling future, or are craving entertainment and being whisked away to another place, the staff at the GMC is always on the lookout for a new read, audiobook, or podcast. We thought you might be too, so here are the printed words [or audio] we’ve managed to put in front of our faces [& in our ears] lately!
Lauren G’s Pick!
Title & Author:
By Katie Clarke – Founder of Untold Italy, travel blog Untold Morsels, and Facebook group Italy Travel Planning, Katie likes to bring a little piece of Italy into each and every day. A renowned coffee drinker, she is also a spritz connoisseur who loves helping others plan their dream trips to Italy!
Summary:
Are you dreaming of a trip to Italy? This podcast takes you on a virtual trip to the land of stunning landscapes, ancient sites, and a whole lot of pasta! It also helps you plan so that when it’s possible, all your dreams of sauntering in the sun with your daily gelato come true. If you’re dreaming of those cobbled streets, ancient sites, picturesque towns and sipping on chianti, then check out this podcast and escape to Italy for a few moments each week.
Why I chose it/what I learned/favorite part:
I have been DEVOURING this podcast. A big dream of mine has been to travel to Italy, and my husband and I are finally going this Spring! When I started planning this trip, I didn’t know where to start. It can be SO overwhelming, trying to fit in everything that you think you want to do in such a tight amount of time. What this Podcast taught me is that…you CAN’T do it all. To think more about what kind of travelers we are, what are the most important things we want to see, and where we should slow down and just experience the culture around us. This podcast covers it all by highlighting major destinations, off the beaten path secrets, best ways to get around, favorite food spots, cultural insights, and so much more! I learned how to plan my Italy itinerary to align best with the experiences I want to have and have been dreaming of, to create memories to last a lifetime.
Podcast host Katy Clarke interviews special guests with a goal to help the listener plan a vacation that suits their unique travel style. What I also love is that the host puts links to everything mentioned throughout each episode into her show notes – so you don’t need to vigorously jot down and misspell Italian restaurant names and attractions they recommend.
If you’ve also been dreaming of traveling to Italy, you could make it a reality sooner than you think! At the Greater Manchester Chamber, we’re introducing our new Global Discovery Program with a trip to Tuscany, Italy in 2023! We’ve partnered with Aventura World, leader in the group travel industry, to bring their exclusive, first-class programs to the Greater Manchester Community. This trip, and future adventures, are an opportunity to travel with others in your community and be enriched by the splendors of the world! Adventura’s professional, experienced staff will handle all of the details, including off-the-beaten-track events. You’ll visit the sights and sounds of the region, but you’ll also meet locals and have people-to-people interactions to understand their life, culture, social aspects, and economy. CLICK HERE to learn more about our November 2023 Group Trip to Tuscany, Italy!
Cole’s Pick!
Title & Author:
Gravity and the Stars Above, album by Donaher
Summary:
“Gravity and the Stars Above” is the second album from Manchester based power pop band, Donaher!
Why I chose it/what I learned/favorite part:
I love local music and Manchester has a large variety of talented musicians and artists! Donaher’s follow up album to their debut LP, I Swear My Love Is True, has a wonderful mix of grit and joyfulness. “Fixer Upper” leads off this album that drives all the way through to the final blissful ballad “Believe”. You may have seen Donaher’s front man and founder Nick Lavallee recently promoting his campaign for recognizing Manchester as the “Chicken Tender Capital of the World”, but make sure to check out him out with Donaher next time they are playing live!
Lauren C’s Pick!
Title & Author:
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Summary:
This is a coming-of-age murder mystery that follows a young girl named Kya as she grows up in the marshes of North Carolina. Kya grew up in an abusive parental environment which eventually left her in isolation in her family home on the marsh. Where the Crawdads Sing follows Kya as she finds love for others as well as nature, but also follows a murder investigation of a local resident of Barkley Cove, a coastal town in North Carolina near where Kya resides.
Why I chose it/what I learned/favorite part:
I really enjoyed how this book followed two different story lines that ended up connecting paths. It touched upon a lot of genres that I believe would appeal to a wide array of readers – love, mystery, thriller. With the multiple genres involved, it grabbed my attention immediately as I wasn’t sure where the story line was going to bring me as each story developed. This book taught me that while what you learn in your childhood impacts the way you see others as you mature and grow, these mindsets and behaviors can shift and develop as you experience new things and create relationships with others. Fun fact: this book was made into a movie which is also just as great!
Heather’s Pick!
Title & Author:
The Diversity Factor: Igniting Superior Organizational Performance by James T. McKim, Jr.
Summary:
This book provides a strong foundation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion definition and concepts, as well as the barriers to social change despite the best intentions. After the reader is presented that framework, James builds a compelling case for the positive impact of DEI not only for organizational culture, but also for organizational results. The WHAT to WHY flow is very effective to both inform and inspire business leaders.
Why I chose it/what I learned/favorite part:
To state the obvious – it is awesome to read local authors! I was eagerly awaiting the release of this book, as I knew from conversations with James that he was nearing the finish line. What I love about this book is the organization of the material. Each topic begins with a thesis that James proceeds to prove through examples, anecdotes and data. The sequencing of the information allows the reader to go along a mindful journey, one building block at a time. And the beauty of reading a local author’s work…is that you are bound to know some of the people quoted therein, which imparts flavors of true complexity and relevance! No matter how long you have been studying and exercising DEI in the workplace, a beginner or a pro, I am confident this book will benefit you.
