Newsletter 015: January 2025

All Blog Posts, Newsletter

January 31, 2025

Hi, friends!

🌟 Welcome to January 2025’s Newsletter! 🥳📝💻

This month, I’m excited to announce the launch of my 2025 Book Club! 📚 We’ll be diving into powerful reads that examine history and explore how the lessons of past struggles are still deeply relevant today. Books like The Diary of Anne Frank, The Handmaid’s Tale, 1984, Animal Farm, Night, and others will guide us through understanding the connections between historical and current events in the United States of America. I’d love for you to join me in reflecting on these works, how they shape the world we live in now, and how we can resist these changes that would send us back into dark and dangerous times.

Alongside the book club, I’m continuing my commitment to celebrating and supporting queer love. As an officially ordained minister, I’m now able to offer marriage services to all couples. With the potential changes in federal protections for queer marriage, I want to ensure couples who want to marry before the possible overturn of Obergefell v. Hodges have the opportunity to do so. If you or someone you know is planning to get married sooner rather than later, please reach out! I’d be honored to marry you and document your special day with the ones you love.🥳❤️📸

On a more personal note, I want to share a decision that has been a long time coming: having both of my fallopian tubes removed this month. Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, I and so many women have been living with the fear and uncertainty that came with losing our reproductive rights on a federal level. This decision from our government reversed nearly 50 years of federal protections for a woman’s right to choose what to do with her body. As a woman born, raised, and currently living in Texas where abortion and basic healthcare are now illegal, I knew as I enter my 33rd year of life I needed to take control of my own future and ensure my safety and well-being. I know how hard and emotional these decisions can be, and I want to offer my support to anyone considering this option. You are not alone in navigating this, and I’m here to listen or provide any guidance as you make your own choices.

This year I’ll also be focusing on giving back to the National Parks that inspires me. Sales from my Neature Coffee Table Book featuring photos from Big Bend National Park will continue to support these parks, which are federally funded and at risk due to recent detrimental executive orders. National Parks like Big Bend are facing increasing challenges to their funding and preservation, and they need our help now more than ever. By purchasing the book or individual prints, you’re not just supporting my work, you’re also supporting the continued conservation of these beautiful, irreplaceable places for future generations.

Thank you for being a part of this journey and the Wisch You Were Here community. Your continued support means the world to me and I appreciate you! 🤗❤️✨

📝 Questions or feedback? Please reach out by replying to this message or email me directly at hey@emilywisch.com or visit my website at www.emilywisch.com ✨ If you wish to no longer subscribe to this email newsletter, please click the “unsubscribe” at the very bottom.

Cheers,

Emily

2025 Book Club:

The Diary of Anne Frank
The Handmaid’s Tale
Animal Farm
1984
Brave New World
Night
The Giver
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Outsiders
The Hunger Games
The Kite Runner
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
White Fragility
The Great Gatsby
The Hate U Give
Fahrenheit 451

and so many more…

MOVIE OF THE MONTH: “Inglorious Bastards” — I chose this movie for January because on January 20, 2025 after the Presidential Inauguration one of the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, stood in front of world and on the podium representing the United States of America and did the Natzi salute, TWICE! It’s been almost 2 weeks and he not only hasn’t said anything to negate this but has in fact gone over to Germany and said that they “have too much focus on past guilt”. My friends, we are living in a Oligarchy era of government where the rich control our government, not the people we elected. This is a moment in history where people will look back at the American people and ask, “how did you not see this coming?”. This current administration with Project 2025 in place is dangerously parallel to Nazi Germany and I fear the LGTBQ+ and POC population will be on the chopping block. This isn’t to fear monger, but to clearly show you that history repeats itself and currently right now, history is repeating itself in the United States.

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PLAYLIST // This month’s January playlist was inspired current world events. Please enjoy 🤟😎❤️🎶

TOP FAVORITE SONGS FOR JANUARY 2025:

“New Year’s Day” by Taylor Swift
“Begin Again” by Taylor Swift
“Stay Fly” by Three 6 Mafia
“The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco
“Sun Salutation” by Namaste Flute
“I’ll Tumble 4 Ya” by Culture Club
“XO” by John Mayer
“Let Me Love You” by DJ Snake, Justin Beiber
“Intention” by Justin Bieber, Quavo
“Lean On” by Major Lazer, DJ Snake
“Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee
“Titi Me Pregunto” by Bad Bunny
“bad guy” by Billie Eillish
“Calabria 208” by Enur, Natasja
“Mi Gente” by J Balcin, Willy William
“You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon
“Better Year” by Sam Barber
“Appalachian Fiction” by Christina Camarao
“Underneath it All” by No Doubt, Lady Saw
“Wanna Be Loved” by The Red Clay Strays
“Scorsese Baby Daddy” by SZA
“Restless Mind” by Sam Barber, Avery Anna
“Sleeping Alone” by Flatland Cavalry
“Diamond In My Pocket” by Cody Johnson
“All Falls Down” by Kayne West, Skyleena Johnson
“Fearless” by Taylor Swift
“Like Real People Do” by Hozier
“Wish You Were Here” by Piano Candy Music, Candy Music Group
“NUEVAYoL” by Bad Bunny
“LA MuDANZA” by Bad Bunny
“BAILE INoLVIDABLE” by Bad Bunny
“LO QUE LE PASO A HAWAii” by Bad Bunny
“EL CLuB” by Bad Bunny
“PIToRRO DE COCO” by Bad Bunny
“TURiSTA” by Bad Bunny
“CAFe CON RON” by Bad Bunny
“BOKeTE” by Bad Bunny
“EoO” by Bad Bunny
“WELTiTA by Bad Bunny
“VeLDA” by Bad Bunny
“VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR” by Bad Bunny
“KETU TeCRE” by Bad Bunny
“5 Dollar Pony Rides” by Mac Miller
“LA CANCION” by J Balvin, Bad Bunny
“Suavemente” by Elvis Crespo
“Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby” by Cigarettes After Sex
“Charmed” by Estella, Redinho
“Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex
“Wish” by sign crushes motorist
“Sparks” by Coldplay
“i was all over her” by salvia palth
“Show Me How” by Men I Trust
“Oo La La” by Faces
“DENIAL IS A RIVER” by Doechili
“Falling For You” by Tom Misch
“Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” by Doechii
“A N X I E T Y” by Sleep Hallow, Doechii
“un x100to” by Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
“Venom” by Little Simz
“Bella ciao” by Fonola Band
“You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana

I chose this quote for January 2025 because I see disturbing patterns in history that seem to be repeating themselves, especially in the parallels between Nazi Germany in the 1930s and current events in America. The situation is alarming. I believe it’s vital for Americans to open their eyes to history—specifically, to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the regime’s treatment of marginalized groups, including immigrants and the Jewish community.

While I’m not trying to incite fear, I want to raise awareness about the constitutional crisis our country is facing. Right now, certain policies and rhetoric mirror past injustices, particularly against immigrants and the queer community. We must learn from history to ensure we don’t repeat it.

If you support our current leadership, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect. Read about world history, especially the horrors that unfolded under dictatorships. Ask yourself: what side of history would you have stood on in the 1930s? We stand at a crossroads in America, and the decisions we make now will shape the future of our country.

WORD OF THE MONTH: Words are the foundation of human communication and expression. They allow us to convey our thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences to others, creating a bridge between our inner world and the external reality. Every word carries its own unique power and nuance, shaping the way we perceive and interact with the world. Having a “Word of the Month” has been me a source of inspiration, sparked creative thinking, and promoted my love for language. This month’s word is “GRIT”.

Advocacy: (noun) the act of supporting or defending a cause or individual, especially when it comes to justice, equality, and rights.

Example: “Emily’s advocacy for women’s reproductive rights has inspired many to join the fight for equality and justice in our communities.”

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: Tuna Salad — Whole30 approved

This section of the newsletter is dedicated to my Mom, who loves cooking our favorite Cajun recipes that were passed down to her from her Mom, my MawMaw. Starting this month I’ll be sharing my favorite recipes from Whole30, inspired by April 2020 when I started the process of figuring out what foods I was allergic to. I hope you enjoy this one 🙂 from my kitchen to yours —

INGREDIENTS: 1-2 cans of tuna, grapes, apple, green onions, cilantro, celery, mayo, lemon juice, seasonings (pepper, garlic salt, paprika, chili powder, ginger powder)

I personally like a lot of grapes, apples, green onions, cilantro, and celery in my tuna salad, but you can choose however much you want depending on your preference.

INSTRUCTIONS:

drain can of tune, sprinkle seasonings, 1-2 tbsp mayo, and lemon juice on top.
cut up about 1-2 dozen grapes, half or whole apple, 1/2 stalk of green onions, 1/2 bunch of cilantro, 1-3 stalks celery, and combine with tuna.
add more seasoning to taste, refrigerate, and enoy!

LATES ON THE PERSONAL GRAM:

WISCH’S WORDSEARCH:

January 2025

Would love to hear you feedback on the Wisch You Were Here Monthly Newsletter now that we’re 15+ months into it. Please submit your feedback HERE, I appreciate you!