Tag: motivational

‘Space Cadet’ Star Emma Roberts and Filmmaker Liz W. Garcia Reveal Their Top Tracks for Getting Motivated

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Just ask Emma Roberts, star of the new comedy Space Cadet. In the movie, streaming July 4 on Prime Video, Emma plays Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a woman determined to become an astronaut against all odds.

Rex has always dreamed of going to space, but life isn’t unfolding quite as planned. Hoping to turn things around, she sets her sights on NASA’s highly competitive astronaut training program. With a few embellishments courtesy of her best friend Nadine (Poppy Liu), her application is accepted—and thus begins the journey of the unlikeliest NASA recruit ever.

In over her head, Rex relies on quick wits and some serious moxie to get to the top of her class. One thing that helps spur motivation? Music. During a workout in the film, Rex turns to a playlist called Brains & Butts, both of which must be in tip-top shape in order for her to get through training without blowing her cover. Curated by Emma and Space Cadet writer, director, and executive producer Liz W. Garcia, the playlist features the ultimate collection of upbeat, inspiring music, from Beyoncé to Outkast. And just in time for the movie’s release, you can stream it on Spotify.

For the Record sat down with Liz and Emma (who is also an executive producer on the film) to discuss their creative processes, the power of a good movie soundtrack, and what it means to shoot for the stars.

How does music play into your creative process?

Emma: Music absolutely helps me get into character. Rex is an outgoing, positive party girl who exudes confidence and kindness. Music that I think Rex would have loved really helped me channel my inner Florida girl.

Liz: Music plays such an important role when I’m writing a movie. I often make a playlist that can act as my personal soundtrack and get me into the vibe when writing. At a certain point when the writing process feels tough, I’ll often zero in on one song that has great pace. And like a maniac, I’ll play it over and over just to push me through the end of the draft.

What was your approach to the playlist you created for Rex?

Emma: I thought about Rex’s personality and motivations. The songs are a mix of karaoke bangers and deep cuts that represent Rex’s journey to chase her dreams of being an astronaut.

Liz: The playlist is designed to make you feel how Rex feels when she’s chasing her dreams at NASA. These are songs that put you in a motivated mindset, pull you out of a tough mood, and get you on your feet and moving.

If you could pick one anthem for Rex, what would it be?

Emma: Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson. Period.

How does the Space Cadet soundtrack help express some of the movie’s main themes?

Liz: Space Cadet is a fun movie about a fun, determined heroine. Often, days of writing don’t feel so fun, and that’s where the soundtrack—the songs I listened to and the ones provided by our music supervisor, Brienne Rose—came in. Music can completely change your mood and transport you, and in the process of creating, you need that vibe shift sometimes.

What three words would you use to describe Space Cadet?

Emma: Fun, aspirational, moxie.

Space Cadet is a story about being true to yourself and following your dreams. Liz, how has your experience as a female filmmaker shaped your perspective on this?

I absolutely love being a writer and director, but as a woman, making that leap seemed crazy at times. I’m here now, though, and I’m doing what I love. The idea that there are talented people who don’t pursue their dreams because they don’t have support at home or in school—or they haven’t seen people like them achieve something similar—really breaks my heart. I hate that privilege and chance play any role in who gets to realize their personal dreams.

Space Cadet is meant as an encouraging call to arms to audiences to bet on themselves and not turn their back on their dreams. It’s also my fantasy about how the world should work—that the best candidate should win, regardless of pedigree or resume.

What are some of your favorite movie soundtracks of all time?

Emma: I know this seems so spot on, but Legally Blonde just totally encapsulates how that movie makes audiences feel (and I hope Space Cadet can do the same!). Another fun favorite is Practical Magic. Has there ever been a better music cue than “This Kiss” by Faith Hill? And any movie with a Stevie Nicks song is undeniably good.

Liz: Love & Basketball is pretty much perfect; that sexy, aching groove. Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums are both so eclectic and surprising—only Wes Anderson would have The Clash and the Charlie Brown Christmas score on the same soundtrack. The score to The Piano will put you in the mood to sit down and write and feel emo any old day. Morphine did the entire Spanking the Monkey soundtrack, and that captivated me back in the late ’90s when I was first falling in love with film.

Stream Emma and Liz’s playlist to get pumped before Space Cadet premieres July 4 on Prime Video.

Level Up With These 12 Motivational Audiobooks for a Productive Workday

There are times when the daily grind might not leave you feeling the most inspired. But it doesn’t always have to be like that. Words of wisdom may be just the thing you need to boost your confidence, shift your 9-to-5 mindset, and motivate you. Does your workload also have you feeling like you don’t have any time to read? Have you blown through your Daily Wellness playlist and all the motivational podcasts? Tune into an audiobook. 

Featuring titles from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Jenn Lim, Ben McKenzie, and Gary Vaynerchuk, these 12 motivational audiobooks range from blueprints for success to tales about the inner workings of the business world. So find a selection that inspires you and start listening on Spotify.  

Beyond Happiness: How Authentic Leaders Prioritize Purpose and People for Growth and Impact

Written and narrated by Jenn Lim

The cofounder and CEO of Delivering Happiness updates its namesake model with the aim of showing organizations of every kind how to cultivate a culture that can adapt to change, be highly profitable, and support all its people.

Over the course of Beyond Happiness, author Jenn Lim sets out to show how bringing your whole self to work allows you to do your best work every day, no matter what role you play at your company, or what crisis might come at you next. Making the argument that true happiness comes from living your true purpose, Lim points to case studies that show how companies can help individuals align their purpose with the company mission.

Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud

Written by Ben McKenzie and Jacob Silverman

Narrated By Ben McKenzie

At the height of the pandemic, TV star Ben McKenzie says he was the perfect mark for cryptocurrency: a dad stuck at home with some cash in his pocket, worried about his family, armed with only the vague notion that people were making heaps of money on something he—despite having a degree in economics—didn’t entirely understand. Lured in by the promise of taking power from banks, possibly improving democracy, and a touch of FOMO, McKenzie dove deep into blockchain, Bitcoin, and the rest of the cryptocurrency world.

But after scratching the surface, he started to question if it was all a scam. In Easy Money, McKenzie enlists the help of journalist Jacob Silverman for a caper and exposé that points to what he says are the climactic final days of cryptocurrency now upon us. Weaving together stories of average traders and victims, colorful crypto “visionaries,” Hollywood’s biggest true believers, anti-crypto whistleblowers, and government agents searching for solutions at the precipice of a major crash, Easy Money delivers an on-the-ground look into cryptocurrencies’ inner workings. 

The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure

Written and narrated by Grant Cardone

In the eyes of author Grant Cardone, extreme success lies beyond the realm of normal action. He believes it requires breaking from the status quo and removing luck and chance from the business equation. And with The 10X Rule, he wants to show you how. 

With step-by-step guidance on how to achieve phenomenal success, this audiobook explains the amount of effort needed to achieve and sustain success. Cardone says that four degrees of action exist, and in order to achieve your dreams, you must learn to operate at the fourth degree of action: massive action. The 10X Rule aims to help you dissolve fear, increase your belief in yourself, eliminate procrastination, and provide you with an overwhelming sense of purpose. 

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less

Written by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

Narrated by Alex Sims

Overwork is the new normal. Rest is something to do when the important things are done, but it seems like they are never done. Looking at different forms of rest, from sleep to vacation, Silicon Valley futurist and business consultant Alex Soojung-Kim Pang dispels the myth that the harder we work the better the outcome. 

Combining rigorous scientific research with a rich array of examples of writers, painters, and thinkers—from Darwin to Stephen King—Rest challenges our tendency to see work and relaxation as antithetical. “Deliberate rest,” as Pang calls it, is the true key to productivity and will give us more energy, sharper ideas, and a better life. This audiobook offers a roadmap to rediscovering the importance of rest in our lives, and a convincing argument that we need to relax more if we actually want to get more done.

Reset: Powerful Habits to Own Your Thoughts, Understand Your Feelings, and Change Your Life

Written by Debra Fileta and Christine Caine

Narrated by Debra Fileta

Want to break free from unhealthy habits and replace them with positive patterns? Finding yourself returning to old behaviors? With Reset, author and professional counselor Debra Fileta wants this time to be different for you. 

Guiding listeners through 31 powerful and sustainable practices, this audiobook aims to help you transform your thought patterns. Instead of focusing on external actions, you’ll work on reshaping the default settings of your heart and mind so that you’re able to accomplish the growth you want to see in yourself. You’ll get to the bottom of why you do what you do, and then you’ll learn how to do it better. Discover invaluable lessons you can return to again and again, and begin your journey of changing from the inside out. Get ready to reset.

100 Things Productive People Do: Little lessons in getting things done

Written by Nigel Cumberland

Narrated by Qarie Marshall

100 Things Productive People Do will help you boost your productivity and get things done. Packed with great ideas for achieving more and creating success, author Nigel Cumberland explores the habits, tools, techniques, and mentalities of highly productive people and reveals how to effortlessly take on your to-do list. Every chapter in this audiobook features a new idea that will help you work smarter rather than harder. Mixing simple explanations with activities and exercises, you’ll learn the optimal mindset and habits you need to succeed.

Can’t Stop Thinking: How to Let Go of Anxiety and Free Yourself from Obsessive Rumination

Written by Nancy Colier and Stephan Bodian

Narrated by Kitty Hendrix

Are you stuck in your head? In today’s world, it’s easy to get stuck in an endless loop of negative thoughts. And if you’re like many people, you’ve maybe tried to think your way out of one of these thought cycles, leading to anxiety, self-criticism, resentment, catastrophizing, and hopelessness. Now it’s time to learn how to stop obsessing and start living with the help of Can’t Stop Thinking.

Using a powerful blend of mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), psychotherapist and spiritual counselor Nancy Colier offers a solution for breaking free from repetitive and obsessive thinking. In this audiobook, you’ll learn how to surrender your thinking mind, freeing you up to discover a life of self-compassion, presence, peace, and joy.

We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power

Written and narrated by Rachel Rodgers

We Should All Be Millionaires offers a step-by-step path to help you create the support, confidence, and vision you need to own your success.

In this book, Rachel Rodgers—a Black woman, mother of four, attorney, business owner, and self-made millionaire—shares the lessons she’s learned both in her own journey to wealth and in coaching hundreds of women through their own journeys to seven figures. Whatever is stopping you from financial success, this book will help you clear every obstacle in your way, show up, and glow up.

Rodgers says it’s time to construct an entirely new attitude about money so you can stop just surviving, and start thriving.

Unlearn: 101 Simple Truths for a Better Life

Written and narrated by Humble the Poet

Rapper, spoken-word artist, poet, blogger, and influencer Humble the Poet has traditionally shared his message of self-discovery, creativity, and empowerment with his fans through music and written word. That message has now been extended to Unlearn, offering insights and wisdom that challenge conventional thinking and help you tap into your best, most authentic self.

In Unlearn, Humble wants to open listeners’ eyes to their own lives, helping them recognize the possibilities that await and the challenges that stand in the way of dreams. By shedding the problematic lessons we’ve learned throughout our lives that limit us—from sabotaging habits to fixed mindsets to past regrets—Humble believes we can relearn new, unconventional ways of moving through life.

Best Self: Be You, Only Better

Written by Mike Bayer

Narrated By Mike Bayer and Phil McGraw

If you dream of a better life, author Mike Bayer believes now is the time to turn your dream into reality. The tools you need are within your grasp to design a life that is fulfilling on the deepest levels. Best Self will show you how.

By working through each of the seven SPHERES of life—social, personal, health, education, relationships, employment, and spiritual development—Best Self offers listeners an accessible and interactive audiobook that distills all of Bayer’s wisdom into a compact, focused guide designed to ignite anyone’s desire for change. With a foreword from Dr. Phil McGraw, Best Self asks listeners to embrace their authenticity, acknowledge what is holding them back, and break through to live a passionate life to the fullest.

Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too

Written by Gary Vaynerchuk

Narrated By Gary Vaynerchuk, Rich Roll, and Amy Schmittauer

Four-time New York Times bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk offers new lessons and inspiration drawn from the experiences of dozens of influencers and entrepreneurs who rejected the predictable corporate path in favor of pursuing their dreams by building thriving businesses and extraordinary personal brands.

In Crushing It!, Vaynerchuk explains why that’s even more true today, offering his perspective on what has changed and what principles remain timeless. He also shares stories from other entrepreneurs who have grown wealthier—and not just financially—than they ever imagined possible by following Crush It principles. According to Vaynerchuk, the secret to their success has everything to do with their understanding of social media platforms, and their willingness to do whatever it took to make these tools work to their utmost potential. That’s what Crushing It! teaches listeners to do as it dissects every current major social media platform so that anyone can learn how to amplify their personal brand. 

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Written by Cal Newport

Narrated by Jeff Bottoms

According to Deep Work author Cal Newport, deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It’s a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Newport says deep work can make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. 

Instead of arguing distraction is bad, he instead celebrates the power of its opposite. Dividing this book into two parts, he first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a deep work ethic will produce massive benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four “rules,” for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill.

A mix of cultural criticism and actionable advice, Deep Work takes listeners on a journey through memorable stories, ranging from Carl Jung building a stone tower in the woods to focus his mind, to a social media pioneer buying a round-trip business-class ticket to Tokyo to work on a book from the air. For anyone seeking focused success in a distracted world, this is a must-listen audiobook for a motivated workday. 

Eligible Spotify Premium users in the U.K. and Australia can now look forward to 15 hours of audiobook listening per month on any audiobook marked “Included in Premium.” Learn all about it.