Sunday Paper Recommends—Week of July 13, 2025
This week at The Sunday Paper, we're sharing three documentaries, a podcast, and two books that we believe will add inspiration to your days. We hope these suggestions open your heart and mind and encourage you to come together for meaningful conversations.
What We’re Watching
In the powerful documentary film Ocean, David Attenborough explores undersea habitats and invites us into the hidden depths of our planet’s most mysterious and awe-inspiring frontier. With his signature wisdom and reverence for the natural world, Attenborough reveals life beneath the waves, from bioluminescent creatures in the deep sea to the majestic journeys of whales. It’s a powerful reminder of the beauty that surrounds us, and the urgent need to protect it.
Netflix's Trainwreck: Poop Cruise chronicles the 2013 journey of the Carnival Triumph cruise ship engine fire that left 4,000 passengers stranded at sea without power and plumbing. What began as an average, four day cruise between Texas and Mexico turned into a floating porta-potty nightmare. It's eye-opening, absurd, and a watch that you just can't look away from.
Also from Netflix, Trainwreck: American Apparel details the rise and fall of the American Apparel clothing brand, documenting how it became drenched in controversy due to its founder Dov Charney's erratic behavior and allegations of sexual harassment. It's a thought-provoking and insightful watch!
What We’re Listening To
Are you asking "What does it mean to live a spiritual life?" and "Is God listening?" The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. tackles these big questions with practical wisdom and insights from spiritual masters and seekers. It’s a down-to-earth, inspiring guide to finding God in prayer and everyday life.
What We’re Reading
With the election of the first American pope, the Catholic Church stands at a historic crossroads. In Pope Leo XIV, veteran Vatican correspondent Christopher White offers a compelling look at the forces shaping Pope Leo XIV’s papacy and what his leadership could mean for the Church and the world. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand faith, power, and hope in a time of global change.
We're also recommending Maria's book What's Heaven?, inspired by real questions that came from her own children, nieces, and nephews when her grandmother Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy passed away. With warmth, honesty, and grace, Maria offers a gentle guide for families navigating the tender topic of death. What’s Heaven? opens the door to meaningful conversations between parents and children. A timeless resource for finding comfort, connection, and hope in life’s most difficult moments.
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