My Favorite Things of 2025
Sharing some of my favorite things of this year! Mainly the forms of media that helped keep me distracted from the tough year that was 2025.
Note: the below links are NOT affiliated and I'm not being paid to say any of this.
Podcasts:
National Park After Dark - If you love True Crime but also our National Parks, this podcast is for you. My favorite episodes are the Trail Tales or listener submitted stories.
60 Songs That Explain the '90s: The 2000s - Music critic Rob Harvilla wrote a book called "60 Songs That Explain the '90s" and hosted a podcast by the same name. Now he's moved onto the next decade. He has a unique (and slightly absurd )way of weaving through music history, pop culture, and correlating songs and artists that leave you wondering "where's he going with this??" almost every episode. Some of my favorite eps are "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson, "How to Save a Life" - The Fray, "Yeah!" - Usher, and "Complicated" - Avril Lavigne.
Home Cooking - Listening to Samin and Hrishi is like catching up with friends. This podcast started during the pandemic in 2020 when we were all at home cooking and were trying to use up the food in our pantry. They answer listener questions about food and how to cook certain things and often have on guest chefs or food writers sharing theri favorite foods.
Hrishi has another podcast called Song Exploder where he breaks down songs with music artists. And Samin's recent cookbook "Good Things" is a favorite of mine this year!
TV/Streaming:
The Pitt (HBO Max) - I haven't been this excited for a new show in years! I couldn't stop talking about it or telling people to watch it. The cast is amazing and the writing is superb. Noah Wyle is phenomenal. I laughed, I cried, I can't wait for the new season in January!
Stranger Things (Netflix) - I love all of these characters so much! The Duffer Brothers have created one of the best series ever.
My Lady Jane (Prime)- sorry to say this was cancelled after just one season but I loved it! Justice for Jane!
Man on the Inside (Netflix) - This show gave me the warm fuzzies. Ted Danson goes "under cover" at a retirement home and meets an assortment of characters while trying to help solve the mystery of a missing necklace. Ted
ER (Hulu) - Yes, I watched all 15 seasons of ER this year and I highly recommend you do the same! And yes, I started this after watching The Pitt and little baby Noah Wyle is adorable.
Books:
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten - I highly recommend listening to this memoir as an audiobook as Ina reads it herself! Probably my favorite book of the year. Friendly reminder that if you have a library card you can check out audiobooks on the Libby App.
Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson - Andrea's words hit me straight in the heart. The first time I heard their poetry was on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast in 2023 where she shared her poem "Tincture." Please go watch Andrea perform this poem which starts "Imagine when a human dies, the soul misses body.."
Sadly, they lost their battle with cancer a couple months ago and Andrea's wife Megan Falley has been continuing to share their story and love on their newsletter: Things That Don't Suck.
Before Andrea died they made a documentary called Come See Me In The Good Light.
Awake by Jen Hatmaker - If it's not obvious yet, I love a good memoir. As an ex-vangelical who grew up going to church and have spent a lot of time unraveling how what I was taught has not served me, this book was a balm.
A Walk In the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko - I technically finished this end of 2024 but I kept thinking about it and then watched the documentary about it on NatGeo/Disney+. Flagstaff writer Kevin Fedarko decides to walk the length of the Grand Canyon with his photographer partner in crime Pete McBride.
Pete has his own book of photography from this misadventure: "The Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim." I checked it out from the library to see all of the photos of their amazing trip.
YouTube:
Hey Wanderer - I started following Casey and Savannah on Instagram and soon started watching their weekly videos about their off-grid life in the mountains of Tennessee. In the 4 years they've been on their land they've built everything by hand: their tiny home, garden, bath house, and sew shack. I love watching their cozy videos every Sunday morning with a cup of coffee.
Under A Tin Roof - Kayla shares her family's life living on a small farm in Iowa. From gardening to baking to crafting, she shares it all in a warm, welcoming way. Her videos set the tone ofr how I want to spend my days.
Homemade Wanderlust - Thru-hiker Dixie shares her hiking adventure and backpacking tips on this channel. She hiked all 800 miles of the Arizona Trail this year and it was so fun to follow along!
Favorite Local Coffee:
I start every morning with a freshly brewed cup of coffee and I've only been using whole beans from local roasters this year. I drink my coffee black so the flavor of the beans are very important to me. I love a medium roast, here are some of my favorites.
Le Buzz - 9291 E Tanque Verde Rd & 2930 N Swan Rd
My most recent go to for whole bean coffee. Quail Run is the best! I also love Le Buzz's fresh made pastries, especially the Le Buzz cookie.
Sonoran House - 1610 N Tucson Blvd & 2513 E Sixth St
I love their Sonoran Roast whole bean coffee. And their seasonal drinks are delicious too!
Yellow Brick Coffee - 800 N Country Club Rd.
Guatemala blend is my favorite!
Presta - Inside Mercado San Agustin, 2052 N 1st Ave & 501 E 9th St
All of their roasts are delicious, I can't pick a favorite!
I first found their coffee at the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park gift shop and have ordered a couple times. This brand is owned by members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. My favorite whole bean flavor is Resilient.