Everyone's Special and No One Is

Why is it so easy to give up on our New Year's Resolutions well before the end of the year? In this episode, Martin comes up with a creative solution to bridge the gap between making short-term and long-term goals.

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The thumbnail for this episode is a picture of my cat. ... Does my cat have anything to do with the subject of this episode? Of course not. I just didn't have any other photos that fit.

Moving across the country, starting a new job, hiking, concerts, and more .... 2025 brought lots of changes! In this episode, Martin reflects on some of the highlights of the past year.

Listen to "And She Recycles" here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6dQdf86uM4jFbsQ1fnto81?si=6c482c6809fb439c

The cover of this episode is from the 39-mile section hike on the Superior Hiking Trail that I completed with my Mom in September 2025!

Why is it so hard to explain why I don't drink? And why do people care so much?

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The photo in this thumbnail was taken on a vacation in 2024 in Cozumel, Mexico. The beverage in the photo is fruit juice!!

How does one navigate the stigma around coming out as LGBTQIA+ at work? In this episode, Martin shares his own experience coming out as asexual in his first job, as well as discussing the potential pros and cons of coming out in his current job.

Here is the Sounds Fake But Okay podcast episode referenced in this episode:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Jicm51on6I4OwmQYWFy8M?si=9427808645d242d7

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When looking for a photo for the thumbnail of this episode, I was really hoping to find a photo of my old desk with the little pride flags on it. But unfortunately I couldn't find a good photo of it. This is the next best thing, a photo of my desk during the 'test trial' of returning to the office in 2021. The raise/lower mechanism broke, causing it to get tilted like this.

What is it like attending an avant-garde electronic concert in the dark? Martin shares his completely sober experience of having an out-of-body experience while attending an Autechre concert.

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The thumbnail for this episode is a photo of the marquee at Concord Music Hall on the night I saw Autechre!

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Thanks again to my friend Bobby Rethwish for hooking me up with a free ticket! Bobby is also the composer/producer of the theme music for this podcast.

Have you ever had to make a difficult decision about your priorities? In this episode, Martin discusses being at a creative crossroads -- that is, trying to decide which path to take next.

The thumbnail photo for this episode is a picture I took at The Museum Campus in Chicago. This is a sign along the road directing you to the various museums, including the FIELD Natural History Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. I thought this photo was a good symbol for a metaphorical crossroads.

What do repetitive, recurring dreams say about ourselves? What can they reveal about our real-life anxieties and traumas? In this episode, Martin shares some of his recurring dreams in the context of his own fears and insecurities.

NOTE: The photo in the thumbnail of this episode is a real-life funnel cloud that I encountered back in 2016! This was right outside my house. I snapped this photo on my phone right before quickly running into my basement to take shelter. Fortunately nothing happened; the funnel cloud did not touch down. (To show contrast between the clouds, I darkened the photo. The original version looked like it was almost daylight, but you couldn't make out the clouds.)

How do you translate a pop song into a solo piano version? In this episode, Martin and his mom discuss the process of arranging, recording, and promoting his new album, "Piano Tribute to Billie Eilish."

What do you do when you love reading but are also insecure about it? What do you do when you want to find a new book but have no idea where to start? In this episode, Martin shares some of his personal experiences with reading, and compares shopping in bookstores to shopping in music stores.

As kids, making friends is easy, but what can you do to make friends as an adult? Martin shares some of his thoughts on friendship and moving, sharing some of his personal experiences on the topic.