From The Female Quotient BookSHElf to a riverfront oasis at the Four Seasons, my first SXSW was filled with connection, storytelling, and gratitude at every turn
My first time at South by Southwest in Austin began with one clear intention: to show up fully, share my story, and say yes to every moment.
At the heart of my SXSW experience was the Female Quotient BookSHElf, a space alive with conversation, curiosity, and collaboration. I spent hours signing books, meeting readers, and engaging in the kinds of conversations that remind you why stories matter. There is something powerful about handing someone your book and seeing their reaction—recognition, excitement, and sometimes even emotion.
I am deeply grateful to Shelley Zalis and the entire Female Quotient team—Talia, Paige, Nikki, Hamsa, Erika, Fleming, and so many others—who created a seamless, welcoming, and thoughtfully curated environment where every detail felt intentional and every voice valued.
SXSW is known for its energy, but what stayed with me most were the people. Meeting Emma Grede, celebrating her upcoming book Start With Yourself, and watching her connect with the Broadlines podcast team was a powerful example of women supporting women. Connecting with Rae Williams felt equally meaningful; our shared background in storytelling made the moment feel both grounded and full of possibility.
Hearing Ilona Maher speak was another highlight. Her presence—strong, confident, and fully authentic—captured the spirit of showing up as your whole self.
A Riverfront Oasis: Four Seasons Austin
In the middle of SXSW’s nonstop pace, the Four Seasons Hotel Austin became both my home and my reset. Set along the water near the Austin Rowing Club, the hotel offers a rare balance of vibrant city energy and natural calm. The riverfront setting, framed by trees and skyline views, creates a sense of space that feels both grounded and expansive.
My day started with breakfast at Ciclo, and the hotel offered so many spaces and moments to pause—whether at the pool, with a margarita in hand, or simply taking in the view before returning to the energy of SXSW.
The Honey Rose spa ritual was a standout experience, combining grapefruit and rose oils with a decadent honey foot scrub and pressure-point massage. It offered a restorative pause that balanced the pace of the festival with a sense of calm and renewal.
Dining at Ciclo: Flavor and Experience
My dinner at Ciclo was a highlight of the stay, where the meal felt both elevated and inviting. From heirloom tomato and burrata to sweet corn empanadas, braised short ribs, and a perfectly cooked filet, the menu showcased bold flavors and thoughtful preparation. Signature moments—like a flaming Tomahawk steak and a dessert presented with dramatic dry ice—added a sense of theater that made the experience as memorable as it was delicious.
My thanks to Chef Juan Mateo and the entire team—Liz, Fernando, and Sophia—for creating a dining experience that felt both refined and personal.
Details That Make a Stay Unforgettable
What makes a stay truly memorable often comes down to the details.
Waiting in my room was a custom cookie featuring the cover of BRAVE-ish, alongside an SXSW-themed cookie, delicate macarons, and thoughtful touches that made the welcome feel entirely personal. Combined with a balcony overlooking downtown Austin and the soft glow of the hotel along the river at night, these moments created a sense of place that lingered long after the stay.
Gratitude—and Momentum
This experience was about more than attending SXSW—it was about showing up, sharing my story, and connecting with people who reminded me why that story matters.
I am deeply grateful to The Female Quotient for the opportunity to be part of the BookSHElf and sign BRAVE-ish, and to the Four Seasons Hotel Austin for creating a space that balanced energy with calm throughout the experience.
Most of all, I am grateful for the conversations, the connections, and the reminder that when we share our stories, we create something far bigger than ourselves—and open the door to what comes next.
SXSW’s 40th edition is going back to its roots: a campus-style event at venues across downtown Austin. From March 12–18, 2026 the city will be buzzing with visitors hopping from film screenings and technology workshops to panel discussions where innovators will discuss the future of every industry under the sun.
NewsNation host Batya Ungar-Sargon talks about her new book, “The Jews and The Left,” her rift with Megyn Kelly and why antisemitism has spread like wildfire in America.
The expanded campus will include multiple pavilions where visitors can explore the full arc of Holocaust history: the world that existed before, the horrors that unfolded during and the lasting consequences that continue to shape the present.
Historically, Jews have been accused of controlling politics, the banks and the media. I haven’t read yet that they control the weather, but that wouldn’t be any more bizarre than the other charges.
Once a society begins treating Jewish fear and/or pain as inherently dishonest, Jewish trauma as inherently political, or Jewish victimhood as uniquely undeserving of empathy, it creates a moral exception around Jews.
When we fall short — as individuals, as a people, whether everyday Jews or the Prime Minister himself — we must have the courage to face it honestly, call it what it is, and do better.
The problem is not Jewish joy itself. The problem is the growing belief that Jewish joy can replace the difficult work of protecting the conditions that make Jewish flourishing possible in the first place.
While disappointment over not being in Israel was real, the experience quickly evolved into something deeper: an exploration of what it means to be a Jew in America.
Nothing about the Jewish story—with its revolutionary insistence that there is one God, its history of relentless suffering, its triumphant return to the land it was expelled from millennia ago—is normal, and we shouldn’t try claiming it is.
Tomer Persico’s “In God’s Image: How Western Civilization Was Shaped by a Revolutionary Idea” is a tour de force — with a twist. Tracing the history of the concept, he suggests the Deity perhaps planted the seeds for His own modern demise.
There are moments in my own life that I would not have overcome without what my father gave me. His resilience became mine. His mindset became my foundation.
While I continue to personally believe that a two-state solution is preferable to sacrificing Israel’s Jewish or democratic foundations, I would never attempt to impose my priorities from 7,500 miles away.
Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman wants to be mayor of Los Angeles, but after her actions earlier this month, many Jewish Angelenos are left wondering whether her vision for the city truly includes all of us.
Whether backing long-shot candidates, weighing strategic votes or sitting races out altogether, many said they were still searching for leaders who reflected both their values and their concerns.
Maybe it’s because our 250th birthday is right around the corner. Or maybe it’s a statement of defiance, a way of telling Jew-haters I’m giving them the very opposite of what they want.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
Saying Yes at SXSW: Signing BRAVE-ish and Finding Gratitude in Austin
Lisa Ellen Niver
From The Female Quotient BookSHElf to a riverfront oasis at the Four Seasons, my first SXSW was filled with connection, storytelling, and gratitude at every turn
My first time at South by Southwest in Austin began with one clear intention: to show up fully, share my story, and say yes to every moment.
I arrived as an author, honored to sign my memoir, BRAVE-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, at the The Female Quotient Lounge. From the very first day, it became clear that this experience would be defined not just by events, but by connection.
The Female Quotient: Where Stories Meet Community
At the heart of my SXSW experience was the Female Quotient BookSHElf, a space alive with conversation, curiosity, and collaboration. I spent hours signing books, meeting readers, and engaging in the kinds of conversations that remind you why stories matter. There is something powerful about handing someone your book and seeing their reaction—recognition, excitement, and sometimes even emotion.
I am deeply grateful to Shelley Zalis and the entire Female Quotient team—Talia, Paige, Nikki, Hamsa, Erika, Fleming, and so many others—who created a seamless, welcoming, and thoughtfully curated environment where every detail felt intentional and every voice valued.
Moments That Define SXSW
SXSW is known for its energy, but what stayed with me most were the people. Meeting Emma Grede, celebrating her upcoming book Start With Yourself, and watching her connect with the Broadlines podcast team was a powerful example of women supporting women. Connecting with Rae Williams felt equally meaningful; our shared background in storytelling made the moment feel both grounded and full of possibility.
Hearing Ilona Maher speak was another highlight. Her presence—strong, confident, and fully authentic—captured the spirit of showing up as your whole self.
A Riverfront Oasis: Four Seasons Austin
In the middle of SXSW’s nonstop pace, the Four Seasons Hotel Austin became both my home and my reset. Set along the water near the Austin Rowing Club, the hotel offers a rare balance of vibrant city energy and natural calm. The riverfront setting, framed by trees and skyline views, creates a sense of space that feels both grounded and expansive.
My day started with breakfast at Ciclo, and the hotel offered so many spaces and moments to pause—whether at the pool, with a margarita in hand, or simply taking in the view before returning to the energy of SXSW.
The Honey Rose spa ritual was a standout experience, combining grapefruit and rose oils with a decadent honey foot scrub and pressure-point massage. It offered a restorative pause that balanced the pace of the festival with a sense of calm and renewal.
Dining at Ciclo: Flavor and Experience
My dinner at Ciclo was a highlight of the stay, where the meal felt both elevated and inviting. From heirloom tomato and burrata to sweet corn empanadas, braised short ribs, and a perfectly cooked filet, the menu showcased bold flavors and thoughtful preparation. Signature moments—like a flaming Tomahawk steak and a dessert presented with dramatic dry ice—added a sense of theater that made the experience as memorable as it was delicious.
My thanks to Chef Juan Mateo and the entire team—Liz, Fernando, and Sophia—for creating a dining experience that felt both refined and personal.
Details That Make a Stay Unforgettable
What makes a stay truly memorable often comes down to the details.
Waiting in my room was a custom cookie featuring the cover of BRAVE-ish, alongside an SXSW-themed cookie, delicate macarons, and thoughtful touches that made the welcome feel entirely personal. Combined with a balcony overlooking downtown Austin and the soft glow of the hotel along the river at night, these moments created a sense of place that lingered long after the stay.
Gratitude—and Momentum
This experience was about more than attending SXSW—it was about showing up, sharing my story, and connecting with people who reminded me why that story matters.
I am deeply grateful to The Female Quotient for the opportunity to be part of the BookSHElf and sign BRAVE-ish, and to the Four Seasons Hotel Austin for creating a space that balanced energy with calm throughout the experience.
Most of all, I am grateful for the conversations, the connections, and the reminder that when we share our stories, we create something far bigger than ourselves—and open the door to what comes next.
✨ Say yes. Share your story. And keep going.
See all my social media and articles from SXSW here.
WATCH all my videos from SXSW and Four Seasons Austin here:
SXSW and The Female Quotient
SXSW’s 40th edition is going back to its roots: a campus-style event at venues across downtown Austin. From March 12–18, 2026 the city will be buzzing with visitors hopping from film screenings and technology workshops to panel discussions where innovators will discuss the future of every industry under the sun.
SXSW
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