Albert Einstein told us things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. This episode’s conversation with product leader and entrepreneur George Valdes has us trying to find that balance as we discuss some pretty complex works:

A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History by Manuel De Landa

Let’s Not Shit Ourselves by Bright Eyes

The Century of the Self, directed by Adam Curtis

George’s personal website: GeorgeValdes.com

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit podcasting. In this episode Maine comedian Matt Dundas brings us from ancient Greece to 35,000 feet with his favorite book, song and movie:

The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton

Jessica by the Allman Brothers

Airplane! directed by Zucker, Zucker and Abrahams

Check out Matt’s comedy and music here:

MattComedy.com

DoorKnobFever.com

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Are you feeling uninspired? We’ve got the cure for what ails you! Listen as artist and musician Jonathan Grogan talks about the book, song and movie that keep his creative juices flowing:

The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida

Devil Chugging by Cody Sherman

Dune directed by Denis Villeneuve

Check out Jonathan’s art and music here:

JonathanGrogan.com

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Sometimes things are better the next time around. Colin Rote, a project manager from Frederick, Maryland, shows us this through his favorite Book, Song and Movie— all of which are remakes of previous works.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right by Billy Strings

The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese

Clara Hardy is a social worker in Providence, Rhode Island, out there making a better place for those who need it most. Let’s see what book, song and movie inspire her to fight the good fight:

Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

Harold and Maude, directed by Hal Ashby

Clara’s website is claraforri.com

On one hand our guest Matt Konopka is a hard-charging emergency manager and ultra endurance athlete. On the other he’s a real sucker for 1980’s nostalgia. Check out his favorite book, song and movie to see how he squares that circle:

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

Space Age Love Song by A Flock of Seagulls

The Breakfast Club directed by John Hughes

Walter White’s got nothing on this guy. Chemistry teacher, football coach and golf coach Jim Cancellari takes a time out to talk about his favorite book, song, and movie:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by JK Rowling

Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses

Major League, directed by David S. Ward

It’s better than blue meth, I swear.

Badar Tareen wears a lot of hats. A civil rights lawyer by day, he is also an internationally performing stand-up comedian. Oh, he’s a filmmaker, too.

Today Badar takes some time from his busy schedule to talk about his favorite book, song and movie:

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Dreams by the Cranberries

The Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont

Badar’s monthly comedy show in Washington DC: Brown Town

Badar’s short horror film: Breathe

During the podcast Badar also references Coke Studio, a popular Youtube channel for Pakistani music

What does it take to be a world-class vocalist? Why are fairy tale curses so universally appealing? What’s with that 1980’s synthesizer music?

We explore these questions and more in writer Ann Claycomb’s favorite book, song and movie:

The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

Taking You Home by Don Henley

Ladyhawke directed by Richard Donner

Ann’s own novels, The Mermaid’s Daughter and Silenced, can be found here.

Today we indulge our taste for complexity, with three epic favorites from Donald DiPaula. Donald is a patent attorney who lives in Falls Church, Virginia.

His favorite book, song and movie are:

The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe

Far Beyond the Sun by Yngwie Malmsteen

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, directed by Tom Stoppard