Morning Brew - 🍻 Brewstorm

Brainstorming (or Brewstorming, as Morning Brew calls it) with coworkers used to be fun, but when that calendar invite pops up one year into the pandemic? It can feel more extracurricular than essential. Thing is, if we can bust out of Zoom Zombie mode, brainstorms are key for solving problems and inspiring creativity. 

A recent article by The Drum offers actionable steps for any team looking to have a successful brainstorm, including how to get everyone–not just Chatty Cathy–to talk. (Research shows that in meetings with eight people, only three people do 70% of the talking. Yep, that hits the mark.) To get the most out of a session, The Drum says leaders should include “a wide range of perspectives” and “assign time for every attendee to contribute.” 

Just like a one-size-fits-all hat that is, in fact, too small, there’s no one correct way to brainstorm. Mind-writing is one method that’s conducive for a remote work setting. Each person writes down an idea, passes it along, and the next person expands on that thought. No one feels the pressure to speak up, and the “You’re on mute” problem becomes less likely. 

Another tactic is what author Courtney Martin calls the “Hunch Hour.” It’s a designated time to share half-baked ideas and solicit feedback in a casual setting. 

• The 10 cake decorating supplies you need to impress Chef Duff. 
• Peer inside New Yorkers’ eclectic apartments. Adding forest green bathtub paint to my shopping list. 
• This is not an ad for two MIT grads who developed a seven-question quiz to match wine to your taste. It’s a cool explanation of how statistical models work, via one model that predicts a wine’s quality. 
• A guide to the 13 Oscar-nominated movies you can stream from your couch. Nomadland is the talk of the town amongst the Brew editorial team.
• “No-recipe” chef Frank Prisinzano knows how to make one of the tastiest spaghetti dishes out there. The lemon, butter, and Parmigiano Reggiano trifecta is unbeatable. 

Your first introduction to improv might’ve been watching a live show at the Upright Citizens Brigade, playing Kitty Wants a Corner in theater class, or being forced into Improv 101 as a team-building activity. Putting yourself out there in front of an audience can be awkward and terrifying. You might feel like you need to be funny, but that’s not always the point. Pippa Evans, comedian and author of Improv Your Life, argues that improv is actually great practice for life. 

In her Google Talks chat, Pippa explains how the principles of improvisation serve as failure training. Sometimes you do a scene and fall on your face, but you get back up because there is no other choice—the show must go on. 

If you’re ready to give it a try, The Second City has online improv classes available now. If for no other reason, do it because you’ll have one more thing in common with Amy Poehler. 

Now THIS is a mean spring clean.

There’s the boring spring cleaning where you do some sweeping or whatever, and THEN there’s HAY spring cleaning, which involves brightening up your home with 15% off gorgeous furniture and organizational pieces.

Okay, we’ll do it the HAY way.

From bold cleaning accessories and organizational essentials—like the handmade Bead Basket and fun Leo Sponge—to their modular shelving and vibrant outdoor furniture, a little bit of HAY will spritz a lotta revitalization into your living space this spring.

Spring on this: Pick up anything from HAY for 15% off and get free shipping on accessories.

• I was wandering around Foxtrot (a convenience store with locations in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Dallas), and I stumbled upon one of my favorite products, the Omsom bundle. These flavorful, delicious Asian sauces jazz up any savory dish, and I recommend checking out the quality recipes that come with each pack, especially the Vietnamese Lemongrass BBQ Chicken. Bonus: Omsom collabed with Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon on a limited-edition sampler. 
• One of my “Aha!” moments this year: Matching pajama sets make everything better. I spent my weekend snoozing and cleaning my room in this silky soft Sani loungewear set. Sani was founded by two sisters who wanted to make South Asian fashion more accessible in the US.
• We have a Zoom lighting rec from the Brew’s very own Director of Social Media, Laura: a wall mounted Dimmable Touch Tap Light Bar. It’s easy to install and more low-key than a ring light.