My Favorite Things

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 28 is podcaster and writer Paddy O’Connell. 1. Blockbuster Video2. The Cripple of Inishmaan, a play by Martin McDonagh3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain4. “And the days are not full enough” by Ezra Pound5. The Dirtbag Diaries[Paddy’s first Dirtbag Diaries episode, “Catching Hope”]Special mention: The 1988 Dodge Caravan This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 27 is filmmaker, photographer, and artist Malik Martin.Malik’s favorite things are:1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles2. Terminator3. The Legend of Zelda4. Gundam Wing5. Ludacris’s Word of Mouf This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 26 is writer and running coach Peter Bromka. Peter’s favorite things are:1. A huge slab of stone in his house2. Once a Runner by John L Parker3. Sunrise running4. The Belting Bronco, created by Zach Bryan5. Baking cookies (this recipe plus two cups of walnuts) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 25 is writer and entrepreneur Steve Kamb, who is author of two books, including his newest, How to Try Again: An Approachable Guide to Navigating Chaos and Making Change That Sticks.Steve’s favorite things are:1. The Redwall book series by Brian Jacques2. Bo Burnham’s Kanye Rant Burrito Ballad3. Season 2 of Nathan Fielder’s “The Rehearsal”4. Outer Wilds created by Möbius Digital5. Movies about Anthony Bourdain: Tony and RoadrunnerOther things we mentioned:* The Strike* Dave* Forgetting Sarah Marshall* J.R.R. Tolkien* C.S. Lewis* Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 24 is writer Chris La Tray, who was poet laureate of Montana from 2023 to 2025, and is author of three books:* Becoming Little Shell* One-Sentence Journal* Descended from a Travel-worn SatchelChris’s favorite things are: 1. Water of the Sky: A Dictionary of 2,000 Japanese Rain Words by Miya Ando2. Heilung, LIFA Iotungard3. Perfect Days4. The art of John Isaiah Pepion5. Small Island, Big Picture by Alexandra de SteiguerOther things we talked about:Braided Creek by Ted Kooser and Jim HarrisonAnna BronesAaron DraplinMirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone by Eduardo GallianoKeith HaringPatersonStar WarsFellowship of the Ring This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 23 is writer and podcaster Amanda Monthei. Amanda’s favorite things are:* Booter Crunk by Rage Films * The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway* The writing of John Jeremiah Sullivan (specifically “Upon This Rock” and “The Ballad of Geeshie and Elvie”* The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion* King Gizzard live on KEXP (specifically the song “Billabong Valley” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 22 is woodworker, artist, and art handler Derik Penny.Derik’s favorite things are:1. Coffee2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind3. Essex County trilogy by Jeff Lemire4. Sour Soul by BadBadNotGood5. Ishitani furniture (by way of George and Mira Nakashima)6. The Utility of Boredom by Andrew Forbesother things we mentioned:* The Hustler* Denver’s Esquire Theater (RIP)* Denny’s* 10,000 Ink Stains by Jeff Lemire* Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire* Oddissee* George Nakashima* The Only Way is the Steady Way by Andrew Forbes* The Billy Ripken error card This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Support My Favorite Things on Patreon here. Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 21 is Ian McLeod, musician, composer, founder and owner of Cleod9 Music, husband, and dad of two. Ian’s favorite things are: 1. Bill Evans — Everybody Digs Bill Evans2. A Tribe Called Quest — Midnight Marauders 3. Tinker Hatfield's sneaker designs4. Stevie Wonder — Songs In The Key of Life5. Keith Haring's paintingsOther things we mentioned:* Stevie Wonder — Innervisions* Stevie Wonder — Fulfillingness’ First Finale* Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 20 is Nick Triolo, writer, editor, and author of the book The Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere. Nick’s favorite things are:1. The Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram2. Darkside, Psychic(entry point: “Paper Trails”)3. Tom Killion’s woodcut prints4. Perfect Days5. Salsa Verde DoritosOther things we mentioned:* Nick’s essay about air saloons* Goosebumps by R.L. Stine* Captain Ron* Tango & Cash* The Blues Brothers* Paterson* Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe

Each guest on the My Favorite Things podcast brings a list of a list of five books, movies, music, art, and other creative works that have helped shape their lives. My guest for Episode 19 is Heather Hansman, journalist and author of three books, including her latest: Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America’s Love for the Wild. Heather’s favorite things are:1. The Fugees, The Score2. Alex Katz’s Maine paintings(including Tracy on the Raft at 7:30)3. Raven’s Exile by Ellen Meloy4. The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White5. Lisa Grossman’s river paintings This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semirad.substack.com/subscribe