This episode begins with books, buying them, gifting them, annotating them, and slowly opens into a conversation about identity, taste and who we’re becoming at 21.
We talk about bonding over recommendations, crying over fictional characters, arguing about melody versus lyrics and why passing someone a book can feel strangely intimate. The conversation moves between music, ambition, comfort, research, teaching, friendship and the fear of getting too settled, without trying to pin anything down too neatly.
There are reflections on growing up, on whether anyone ever really feels certain, and on how time and attention might be the most generous things we can offer each other.
This one contains copious amounts of giggling, dramatic tangents and at least a few moments where we forget what we were originally talking about.
Books discussed:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Swallows by Natsuo Kirino
This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Dan Brown novels
Films & shows mentioned:
La La Land
Me Before You
A Man Called Otto
How I Met Your Mother
Music & artists mentioned:
Hozier
Cody Fry, “I Hear a Symphony”
Lauv
Peter Cat Recording Co.
Arctic Monkeys
“La Vie en Rose” Emily Watts vs Annapantsu
Kishore Kumar
R.D. Burman
This was one of my favourite episodes to record. It felt easy, curious and genuinely fun.
If something in this episode stayed with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can leave a comment, share the episode, or reach out to me on Instagram @jeevtisamani.
If you want more conversations like this, following the podcast really helps.
– jeev