Friday the 13th. And it doesn’t scare me at all.

I don’t find myself frightened all that often. Nervous? That’s another story. I worry. Okay, I worry a lot. I worry about my loved ones. I worry about their health, and their relationships, and the health of their relationships. I worry about the planet and how we are depleting its resources. I worry about saying the wrong thing or worse, not having anything to say. Here’s what scares me: Stampeding crowds – commuters on crowded and slippery stairways, or aggressive shoppers elbowing one another. I am scared of some heights – mostly getting down from them. And, oh yes: The idea that Donald Trump might somehow win another term as president.

Our guest this week is one of the bravest people I know. It is the standup comedian and activist Lizz Winstead, who among other accomplishments co-created “The Daily Show” and Air America Radio. She is cofounder of Lady Parts Justice, now known as Abortion Access Front, and has dedicated the lion’s share of her stand up income to women’s reproductive freedom.

NOTE: If you are reading this, this is my written Blog. To listen, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio – or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s the ONLY WAY get my podcast noticed. And if you’d like to rate it as well, PLEASE DO!

Now for the five things that made my life better this week:

1. Cher. My friend Dan took me with him to see Cher at Madison Square Garden. I hadn’t realized her farewell tour was ongoing. (She joked that it wasn’t her first farewell tour and probably wouldn’t be her last.). She is 73 years old and still fits into those bodystockingy costumes that are her trademark. But there’s something about her strength: she is a feisty, smart, patriotic American – a native American at that. Whatever she wants to do, let’s let her do it.

2. Buying and wrapping presents. I love finding the perfect present for my friends and family. I work at it, and it gives me pleasure. Standing on line at the post office? Not so much.

3. Tom in “Succession.” It’s the actor Matthew Macfayden who plays the sacrificial son in law, Tom Wambsgans, married to terrifying heiress Siobhan Roy, played by Sarah Snook. Does he know he’s marrying a devil? Is Tom willing to give up his humanity to become a member of the Roy media dynasty? He tries so hard to be cool and thick-skinned, but at the same time shows us his vulnerabilities. (And in case you didn’t know, Macfayden is British and has played Mr. Darcy, at that!)

4. Linda Ronstadt. I have loved Linda Ronstadt’s voice when she was a young singer and I was a teenager. I have loved its mellowness and occasional huskiness. Now I admire her for being outspoken. She’s told us she suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, and she had been forthright about her views on politics. I am delighted that she has been heralded as a Kennedy Center Honoree, and consider her a cultural gift to us all.

5. Peter Asher’s live show, Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the 60’s and Beyond. I saw it last night and it captivated me. Besides being the Peter of Peter & Gordon, Asher was part of the British Invasion, and tells the story of how 60s pop became a means of change and waking up old norms. With archival footage and an easy give and take with the audience, it felt like Peter was walking us through the last few decades musically, and intimately. Go see it if you can! He’s in San Francisco on December 15th, and on tour throughout January. He’ll also be on our podcast next week.

Before Lizzo, there was Lizz!