I’m just getting back from vacation/getting into the week when my kids go back to school, so I’m taking another week off essay-ing. But there have been many requests, over the past few months, for a better way to find something you remember us recommending in the podcast’s Butter For Your Burnt Toast segment. And I’ve decided a master link round-up, which we’ll update periodically, is the way to do this.
I’m listing these in the reverse chronological order that they appeared on the podcast, so the most recent recs will always be on top. Is there a more efficient way to do this? Surely! But this is what you’re getting! I’ve also linked the episode in which each guest appears in their name, in case you want to go back and get the full Butter discussion for a particular item.
Let me also say that none of these recommendations were comped or sponsored in any way because Burnt Toast is 100 percent reader-supported. (If you want to help with that, go paid!)
And we can’t guarantee that any particular product will work as well for you as it did for us! It’s just stuff we like (or liked at the time!). Your mileage may vary.
OK, onto the links!
October 2022
Linda Gerhardt: Adopting a kitten.
Virginia: Bad Sisters on Apple TV.
Shelly Anand: Self care, including crystals, incense, Reiki, and gong baths.
Nomi Ellenson: The Cycles Journal
Virginia: Dahlias, which start to bloom at the end of July but they really hit their stride in September and October.
Virginia: Lizzo playing James Madison’s flute and Lauren Leavell Fitness.
Corinne: This chocolate sheet cake with brown butter frosting.
Virginia: The movie Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Pam Luk: Freshly baked soft pretzels, from Trader Joe’s or any grocery store freezer section.
Virginia: The Ivy & Bean show on Netflix.
September 2022
Hilary Kinavey: The show on Apple TV called Home and her golden retriever.
Dana Sturtevant: Hot tubs, water generally, and english muffins from Sparrow Bakery.
Virginia: Heating pads, like this $29 one from Target.
Serena: This poem by Andrea Gibson
Virginia: Bluebird boxes.
Chelsea Conaboy: The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes.
Virginia: Planting a meadow!
Virginia: This brand of tupperware called Ello at Target
Corinne: The Merlin app, where you can record bird sounds and it will identify them for you.
Virginia: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, going hiking with this amazing group, and the new A League of Their Own show on Amazon Prime.
August 2022
Dana Miranda: Literal butter on burnt toast and playing the flute just because she loves it.
Virginia: Maui Mats for awesome Great Lake hangs.
Julia Turshen: The Hudson Valley’s Body Liberation Hiking Club.
Virginia: Cutting up the cheese on your cheese plate like Julia taught me.
Mia O’Malley: This silicone-free priming moisturizer from Good Molecules.
Virginia: In Her Boots by KJ Dell’Antonia.
July 2022
Sharon Hurley Hall: Her new gig as head of anti-racism for at Diverse Leaders Group.
Virginia: Don't Touch My Hair by Sharee Miller (more great body positive picture books here).
Mary Summers: Eating breakfast outside, on her front porch.
Virginia: Hard same.
Jessica Grosman: Ice cream!
Virginia: The Great Umbrella Plant, Darmera Peltata, which, full disclosure, has since died SO HARD in this summer’s drought.
June 2022
Corinne: She’s a Beast, which is Casey Johnston’s newsletter about being strong and lifting weights, and her couch-to-barbell program called Liftoff.
Virginia: An absurdly large water jug
Amy Palanjian: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Virginia: Our dear friend Kate Tellers' book How to Tell a Story
Jessica DeFino: “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen and more art about plain, ugly people.
Virginia: This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub and also the Spotify playlists she makes for each of her novels.
Virginia (solo episode): Houseplant Summer Camp!
May 2022
Amanda Martinez Beck: Jon Batiste’s new album.
Virginia: Ghost Church by Jamie Loftus
Corinne: The Solar Face Shield
Virginia: An app for your house plants called Planta.
Angela Garbes: Falling in love with your friends.
What is better than friendship? There’s nothing better. Sex is great, but have you had a friend?
Virginia: All the romance novels by Talia Hibbert and Jasmine Guillory
Virginia (solo episode): A bunch of plus size swimsuits and bras.
April 2022
Sara Louise Petersen: Jessica Defino’s newsletter
Virginia: Becoming a Person Who Does Puzzles and also this portable puzzle mat.
Leanne Brown: Yoga
Virginia: Libraries! (Specifically my library’s amazing elementary school bookclub. We also renewed our kids passports there! Libraries are so great!)
March 2022
Anna Maltby: Spending a little time with some dirt.
Virginia: The new Pixar movie, “Turning Red”
Mia O’Malley: Universal Standard’s foundation turtlenecks and the Tee Rex.
Virginia: Go buy yourself some flowers. (Here’s my favorite local flower shop.)
Debi Lewis: The Food Network’s “Kids Baking Championship”
Virginia: Planting poppy seeds when it’s still the dead of winter.
February 2022
Signe Darpinian: Making collages.
Virginia: The old Pixar movie “Inside Out”
Kyeshia Jaume: Atlas Of The Heart by Brene Brown. “And I recommend that you journal and drink your water every day.”
Virginia: A winter-blooming houseplant like an African Violet or Christmas Cactus.
Sara Louise Petersen: these tortillas
Virginia: Smitten Kitchen’s ultimate banana bread recipe
January 2022
Gregory Dodell, MD: Alexis Conason’s book, Diet Free Revolution
Virginia: The podcast Julie’s Library, which is Julie Andrews reading kids books.
Sara Louise Petersen: Knitting while listening to a podcast. Especially Once Upon a Time at Bennington College, and The Plot Thickens.
Virginia: Ignore your children to read books.
Amee Severson: Succession! (And Virginia suggested The New Yorker profile of Jeremy Strong.)
Virginia: The Sound of Metal (movie)
December 2021
Amy Palanjian: Her recipe for gingerbread muffins
Virginia: Xpand Laces so you can stop tying your shoes. (Also Veja sneakers.)
I'm telling you - I have yet to meet a soul who doesn't love the tortillas!
LOVE this! So much to check out!!!