Hitha Palepu

New York

Author of #WereSpeakingBook. Curator of #5SmartReads. Lover of politics, the @Eagles, books, and @tacobell. Wife and mom of 2 rascals.

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Articles

the economy, emergency departments, and two small things to do for yourself

1 week ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu |Elizabeth Holmes |Suleika Jaouad

#5SmartReads is a Webby-honored weekly news digest that amplifies underreported news and underrepresented perspectives. My goal is to help you stay informed without being overwhelmed, and to embrace nuance and reflection over picking a side. What Trump’s Tariffs Mean for One Small Business ()Politics doesn’t usually come up in the parties I attend. But last week, as we gathered to celebrate Mom Curious’ fourth season, tariffs were the main subject of conversation.
what are your joy triggers?

1 week ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

What is a joy trigger? Coined by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, they are “little moments of joy have the power to instantly transform your mood.” Her essay on joy triggers is a must-read, as is her new book. A joy trigger can be a specific song, that first sip of a cup of coffee, the need to hug a book that you just finished and loved. For me, they’ve been a bit of a lifeline when I feel like I’m getting pulled down into the noise of the news or mentally spiraling about work or family matters.
menopause, mortality, and the mind-boggling state of the world

2 weeks ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

#5SmartReads is a Webby-honored weekly news digest that amplifies underreported news and underrepresented perspectives. My goal is to help you stay informed without being overwhelmed, and to embrace nuance and reflection over picking a side. The most important number in the world (Vox)Finding hope about the future can feel impossible right now. I’ll spare you the state of things right now (the vibes are awful, find joy and rest wherever you can), and direct your attention to some rare good news.
on messy wins

2 weeks ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

I finally cleared off the top of my dresser last week. The pile of clothes that needed tailoring? I dropped them off on Monday. The messy detritus from switching out handbags over the past few weeks has finally been tossed, recycled, or put away. All of those bags are neatly stuffed on a shelf in my closet, waiting to be organized. I’ve also been slowly adding goodies to a box for a newsletter subscriber giveaway, which is now full (entry details are at the end of this section).
one smart publication - Teen Vogue

3 weeks ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

#5SmartReads is a Webby-honored weekly news digest that amplifies underreported news and underrepresented perspectives. My goal is to help you stay informed without being overwhelmed, and to embrace nuance and reflection over picking a side. Feeling informed without being overwhelmed feels impossible right now, and it’s been my thesis of #5SmartReads from the very beginning.
let's catch up

3 weeks ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu |Annika Sharma

Hi, friend. How are you? March has been an intense month - filming That Desi Spark (a podcast-turned-show that I’m hosting), speaking at SXSW, our annual team offsite and in-person meetings with all of our partners and vendors, Rho’s 10th birthday, and tending to some personal matters. My friend was the creator and one of the original hosts of That Desi Spark, which she sold last year.
the plan - april 2025

3 weeks ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

March was a major re-prioritization month. In order to prioritize work (managing some big things at work, being in production for That Desi Spark, SXSW), I had to downshift virtually everything else. My bare minimum routine was one I successfully stuck with most days, and I didn’t stress out over the days I missed one or all the practices in the routine. My first impulse is to crank things back up to my January/February levels, but I’m forcing myself to slow down and gently step things up.
Smart Conversation: Roya Mahboob

1 month ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

Roya Mahboob is a real life superhero. She faced immense challenges (putting it lightly) to study computer science, establish a startup that brought STEM education to thousands of girls in Afghanistan, and created and brought the Afghan girls’ robotics team to compete against the best in the world - and win. Their stories are beautifully told in the new film Rule Breakers, out March 7 in the United States and Canada. Rarely does a film leave me inspired, comforted, and ready to take on the world.
the plan - march 2025

1 month ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

Rather than fighting the chaos of March and setting unattainable fitness goals, I’m focusing on consistency and doing less. Much less, when you compare it to previous months. March is not for hitting specific numbers, but to find calm in being consistent with my habits (and resetting those habits to an attainable level right now).
the beauty of being a beginner

2 months ago | hitha.substack.com | Hitha Palepu

I haven’t skied on over 20 years. Back then, I had only skied twice. But on Friday, I was making slow, wide turns down a fairly empty hill with ease and the biggest smile on my face. Rho had sped past me moments earlier, and was waiting for me at the bottom. Our instructor was gently coaching Rhaki up the magic carpet, and my husband was making his way down a more challenging run.