Hey there, This week, I'm sharing a quick recap of my favorite lessons, reads, and shares of the month. We'll be back to the usual articles next week.

If you came across anything great this month (whether it’s a book, podcast, or insight) I’d love to hear about it! Just hit reply and share what you loved.

May 2025 Recap

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Reads

Recently, I did something I don’t usually do: a tandem read. I picked up Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick and Remember Love by Cleo Wade around the same time, and surprisingly, they paired beautifully.

Co-Intelligence explores our future with AI and offers one of the clearest, most human-centered frameworks I’ve seen for how to think about this tech. It’s different from most AI books because it’s short, practical, and skips the hype and fear-mongering.

Remember Love is a poetic collection of essays on navigating change. It’s the kind of book that reminds you to breathe. The pairing worked unexpectedly well: one helped me think more clearly about what’s coming, the other was a reminder in staying grounded.

The Good: Both are quick reads with big impact. Co-Intelligence is hands down the best AI book I’ve read so far. I loved how it focused on real-life applications (chapters like “AI as a Creative” and “AI as a Coworker”). His philosophy felt especially aligned with the approach I take with Idea Kitchen.

Meanwhile, Remember Love was great because it was raw and brought up topics most people never say aloud.

The Bad: Only that tandem reads usually don’t work this well, so now my bar is high.

Highly recommend either on their own. But if you’re feeling both curious and a little overwhelmed by all the change lately, read them together.

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Some Highlights:

Co-intelligence perfectly describing where I think most companies are going wrong with their approach to AI integration -

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Remember Love on self care during unstable times -

(Side note: I have a Telegram group chat for people who like reading non-fiction books to share highlights and current reads. If you'd like an invite, reply to this email with the best nonfiction book you read last year and what you're reading next.)

Listens

I’ve been absolutely hooked on a new podcast called Meme Team by my friends Sonia and Amanda. If traditional marketing gives you the ick (think car salesman energy), this show is the antidote. It’s perfect for anyone trying to grow something without selling their soul.

Marissa Goldberg @mar15sa Just binged all three episodes! Obviously, this is great for marketers. But I am not a marketer, and it was great for me too. This hits two spots for me: 1. Getting more in touch with pop culture 2. Hearing relatable lessons I can apply to my business I've become horribly out https://twitter.com/SoniaBaschez/status/1917990657416691778 Sonia Baschez @SoniaBaschez Introducing the Meme Team podcast! @amandanat and I are demystifying viral moments in real-time, so that marketers can hone their spidey sense for viral potential Subscribe here: http://youtube.com/ style="color: #1B95E0">@MemeTeamPod or listen on any podcast app 10:52 AM • May 2, 2025 3 Retweets 7 Likes Read 2 replies

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Also, Freakonomics has been on fire lately. Their series, How to Succeed at Failing, is a must-listen. It’s not your typical fail-fast fluff. Part 2 hit me hard as a new parent, and I loved the failure stories in Part 3.

And if you’re in the mood for something a little more unexpected, their recent episode The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of is wild. It pulls back the curtain on commodity traders (people who profit off war, sanctions, and supply chain chaos). It sounds dry, but trust me, it’s fascinating. Feels especially relevant right now.

Shares

In case you missed it, I shared three new articles this month:

What the Best Remote Teams Do Differently Before remote work went mainstream, a few teams were already thriving. Here are the four strategies they’ve stuck with for over a decade. ​→ Read it​

The Goldilocks Guide to Leadership Too much control stifles progress. Too little creates chaos. Here's how to find the “just right” leadership style your remote team actually needs. ​​→ Read it​

Your Remote Team Cheat Sheet Personal ReadMe 101: What it is, why it matters, and how to write your own (including examples) ​​→ Read it​

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Work Forward Society Want to meet others who do work differently? Join us in making 2025 your year of less meetings and more real work! Join The Work Forward Society →

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What did you think of this issue? What do you hope to see in the next one? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this. Hope you have a lovely day! Marissa ​Founder, Remote Work Prep​ P.S. Did you enjoy this issue? Share the article with a friend. Struggling with a remote work problem? Book a coaching call. If you liked this, consider supporting this free newsletter by leaving a testimonial. ​

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