Sofie Hagen - Only open this email if you want to.

My friend asked me if the UK was going into a third or second lockdown and I had to admit; I simply didn't know. I've pretty much been locked down since March 2020. I've worn real clothes maybe ten times at most. It's been all about pyjamas, leggings with oversized sweatshirts and slippers, for me. I'm unlucky in that I would much rather the virus hadn't happened and hadn't wiped out my entire industry - I miss gigging so much, I had a little cry about it today. But I am, of course, lucky that I have you lot to support my work, get tickets for my online shows and get me through this. I can't wait to go back on tour. I don't even care - I'll gig to two people, I'll gig in ice cream shops, I'll gig at funerals, I'll even gig in Maidenhead. (Don't hold me to that.)

 

 I don't know if you feel the same way, but this current 'peak' is terrifying in a weirdly numbing way. There is something peculiar hearing people say 'it's really dangerous right now', when that's what you think it's been for nine months. Oh, but it's extra-extra dangerous now? My anxiety is already at 100%, I can't really turn it up. I'm already being as careful as I can be - how can I be more careful?

 

It's like December 2019 when we all got together and shouted about how incompetent and harmful the Tories are. Then they got elected. And they proved themselves to be even more incompetent and harmful than we said they would be. We already said they were the worst - how can we stress just how much worse than the worst they've been?

 

 

 In order to control my anxiety, I have begun focusing on very small things. I miss the mundane. So, full disclosure, I've started joining Facebook groups. First, I joined decluttering and cleaning groups, you know, for inspiration. Then it became money management groups. But the ones that are like 'Boss B!tches Moneyz Management For H0ez!!' for primarily women who've been conned by multi-level-marketing pyramid scams and thinks of themselves as 'business lady boss b!tches'. This led to a 'movement' called the NoBuy or the NoSpend Challenge. Which brought me to my favourite groups of them all: Frugal Living and Zero Waste groups.

 

Oh my GOD. It's my favourite thing ever.

 

I bring to you questions like:

- What can I use my dog's fur for? Can I use it to knit a sweater?

- How do I use the eyeballs of this animal I bought whole to eat?

- I've not spent any money in 2021 but my husband just bought me a Corvette. What do I do?

- I'm not buying presents for people this year, instead I'm writing poems. Will you read them?

 - Hey, if you want inspiration to not go shopping, just think of my cousin who went shopping and died in a car accident on the way. Stay home and you don't get into car accidents.

 - Ideas for Zero Waste toilet paper? Anyone?

- I only own a bed and a table - how can I own nothing?

 

And it goes on. It's gold. The arguments in the comments, the passion, the attitude. It's like a reality show but in writing and in real time. I've fallen in love with all of the people. Especially the people that announce that they're leaving a group because someone has spent money even though it's a NoBuy group. It always ends up with someone saying, 'Um, it's a NoBuy group, not a NoSpend group!' and no one seems to be able to differentiate between the two.

 

I highly recommend.

 

If you want some higher quality entertainment though, here's what I'm upto:

 

 January 14th, 8pm (UK time)

 

 

 I am so endlessly sick of hearing about diets. It infiltrates everything. Let's talk about food and not dieting. Let's talk about fat positivity and body positivity and just - let's celebrate bodies! I'll tell some facts, some stories and then we'll open the chat!

 

It will be available for 48 hours after it's been live, so if you're in other timezones, you can just watch it later!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, some 'hey, gotta pay my rent' shameless plugging:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My September show 'Let's Talk About Therapy' is now up for SALE. It's £5 (but you can, as always, pay whatever you want above that) and it's a whoooole two hour show...!

It's everything I know about trauma, CPTSD, OCD, anxiety... Finding therapists and finding the right therapist and all of that. Lots of stories of weird mental health experiences I've had. It was a lot of fun to do. I really, really like it.

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I released a new show for download and stream!

 

It's called 'But What About Health?' - it's a 90 minute 'funny chat' - 'comedy talk' - talkedy? - about fatness and health. It's full of stories and jokes and most importantly, SCIENCE, to back it all up. Is it unhealthy being fat? I will answer this question. Nuanced and accessible. Funnily. I'm really, really proud of it. I had so much fun researching it and performing it. I really hope you'll buy it and watch it. And if you like it: tell your friends.

 

But first - buy it here for just £5 - and you can, as always, pay more, if you're rich or if you think it's worth it. It has subtitles and it's there in both low res and high res. You can stream it or download it. I'm really, really excited about it.

 

 

 

My podcast Made of Human Podcast is finally being transcribed! In the beginning, we are just transcribing the new episodes, but with time (and money), I will start having the old episodes transcribed too. On the website, you can find all the ones that are already transcribed. I feel like I'm saying the word 'transcribed' too much now, it's losing all its meaning.

 

- Jameela Jamil: I don't need to tell you who this is.

- Actress Daphne Maxwell-Reid (Aunt viv from Fresh Prince of Bel Air!!).

- Rain Dove (!!).

- Mark Watson - our New Year's Special.

- Dawn Butler!!

- Sophie Duker!

- Jes Baker!!

 

I mean.. WHAT A LINEUP! 

 

Go listen here!

 

 

 

 

 

Sofie.