The Cool Drop: Connection Over Consumption
Films, books, and conversations to deepen your sense of purpose
In a world of constant content, I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference between consuming and connecting. We’re exposed to more media than ever, but very little of it truly moves us. Lately, I’ve been making an effort to seek out what actually stirs something inside — the stories that inspire, that linger, that remind me why C’est Cool exists in the first place.
This week’s Cool Drop gathers a few of those moments: films, books, and conversations that deepened my sense of purpose and reminded me what it means to feel. I hope you find something here that does the same.
One The Basis of Sex
I recently rewatched this on a flight — and, embarrassingly, cried in public. Some tears were for heartbreak, others for gratitude. Written by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s nephew and directed by Mimi Leder, the 2018 film traces Ginsburg’s early years in law and her persistent battle to be seen as credible in a man’s world. At its center is a pivotal sex-discrimination case she argued with her husband, Martin Ginsburg, that changed the course of both her career and American law. It’s an unflinching look at the sexism that shaped our legal system, but also a stirring portrait of conviction, partnership, and progress.
Trick Mirror
I’ve written about Jia Tolentino’s Trick Mirror before, but it’s one of those books that continues to linger. Though shelved under nonfiction, it reads like cultural criticism disguised as confession — sharp, funny, and deeply self-aware. Across nine essays, Tolentino dissects modern womanhood, internet culture, reality TV, and the illusion of self-optimization. It’s witty and incisive but also profoundly human, offering rare clarity about what it means to move through the world as both participant and observer.
Ladies Who Launch
A friend recommended this podcast when I told her I was starting C’est Cool, and I’ve been listening religiously ever since. Hosted by Rochelle Humes, it’s an ongoing conversation with extraordinary female founders — Jo Malone, Emma Grede, Amy Liu, to name a few — about the realities of ambition, resilience, and building something from scratch. Each episode is candid and quietly powerful, illuminating the humanity behind success. Even if entrepreneurship isn’t your path, the insights on self-belief, identity, and creative purpose are universal.
The Substance
If you know me in real life, I’ve probably cornered you about this film already (with alarming enthusiasm). The Substance is as disturbing as it is mesmerizing — a biting satire of beauty, aging, and the female body as battleground. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley deliver electrifying performances, oscillating between horror and heartbreak. Visually, it’s stunning; emotionally, it’s brutal. Few films have captured the subconscious ache women feel as they grow older — the tension between identity and appearance — quite like this one. It’s a bold challenge to the standards we’ve been taught to accept, and a hauntingly beautiful call to redefine “beauty.” It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an unforgettable one.
Victoria Beckhamn
Not the pop icon, but the documentary — and yes, I cried again. After watching the David Beckham series, I was curious whether hers would measure up. It did. Victoria Beckham is an unexpectedly tender study in reinvention: from chart-topping girl group to global fashion authority. Beyond the polished surface, it’s a portrait of purpose — of a woman determined to be taken seriously, to create meaning on her own terms. It’s about art and ambition, yes, but also about self-definition.
What links these stories isn’t just strong women — it’s honesty. Each one, in its own way, challenges illusion: of perfection, of control, of the roles we’ve been told to play. They remind me that connection — real connection — happens when we allow ourselves to feel deeply, question boldly, and see beauty in imperfection.
That’s what C’est Cool is here for: to celebrate what moves us, to amplify the voices and visions that make us think differently, and to keep searching for the meaning tucked inside the noise.
Talk soon,
Kelly