Compendium Fall 2025

Sprinkles of goodness for you.

It’s been a hot second…a long hot summer, and a hot second. New Mexico is just now starting to get a little winter, but I’m spending this week in Texas, where it is muggy and 80 degrees. Christmas decorations in my beloved HEB mock me while I wear t-shirts and sandals.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has endured a half a year of slow Substack posts about grief. I’ll probably keep talking about that, but I’m starting to miss blabbing about other stuff, which I take as a good sign. Real quick, though…if you’re grieving someone or you know someone who is (that’s all of us, I imagine), Jamila Reddy’s post about how to help is a must read.

Music

Everybody Scream | Florence + The Machine: what a record. A luxurious sprawl of great songs, great production, and meeting the moment. “Buckle” and “One of the Greats” are stand outs for me this week.

You’ll bury me again, you’ll say it’s all pretend
That I could never be great being held up against such male tastes
Because who really gets to be one of the greats, one of the greats
But I’ve really done it this time
This one is all mine
I’ll be up there with the men and the 10 other women and
The 100 greatest records of all time
It must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan, you’re my second favourite front man
And you could have me if you weren’t so afraid of me
It’s funny how men don’t find power very sexy
So this one’s for the ladies
Do I drive you crazy?
Did I get it right?
Did I get it right?

Bonus: this “Sympathy Magic” performance from Fallon features my Berklee professor Xenia Rubinos in the choir. 😍

“Bite My Tongue” | Cassandra Coleman: I found this doom scrolling one night, and it’s moments like that I’m glad music discovery is not dead. I love this song.

Jagged Little Pill | Alanis Morissette: Thought I’d hip you guys to this unknown record by an up and coming artist. I had the joy of seeing Alanis at her Caesar’s Palace residency last month and I am still (STILL!) vibrating from it all. She’s always been a force, and JLP holds up still today, every lyric, every note. What a feat. Also it’s good to scream Alanis lyrics really loud. Bonus: Here’s Thank U from Glastonbury.

Portland, Maine (10th Anniversary) | Donovan Woods and LeAnn Rimes: Donovan is one of my favorites of faves, and Portland, Maine has been at the top of my list for a long time. Having LeAnn join in is absolute ecstasy. Here’s the original, too.

Father Figure | Taylor Swift: So much discourse about this new Taylor record. I dig some of these tracks. I really dig “The Fate of Ophelia”, “Elizabeth Taylor”, “Ruin the Friendship”, and “Father Figure”. Curious how this one will settle in the Swift pantheon as we go.

Other Stuff

I’m obsessing over podcasts because I’m ruminating on the idea of me and a podcast. Stay tuned. My favorites in the game right now are:

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: just…goodness all around. Amy is a master at conversation, and I feel better after every listen. This recent Kate McKinnon interview is full of golden nuggets.

The Consult: my Criminal Minds + true crime dabbler brain brought me to this which is actual real life profilers from the real Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI. It’s cut to the core dissection of human behavior without a lot of the salaciousness of other true crime pods. This podcast has gotten me through a few drives to Austin and back already.

Pluribus: yes, everyone is talking about it. It was filmed in Albuquerque and I love that for us. I watched the first episode and I am hooked. Apple TV.

Famous Last Words - Dr. Jane Goodall: Watch with tissues and get some hope. What a presence and a light that continues to shine. Netflix.

Tell me what you like so I can add it to my list, and keep on out there.