We are one week out from Passover seders, so what better time to revisit Caroline's advice about preparing for the Spring holiday? New Haggadah alert - The Promise of Liberty by Stuart Halpern & Jacob Kupietzky Where are you leaving? Egypt Where are you going? Jerusalem What are you carrying? The bread of freedom Pesach (Passover) starts on Monday night and Caroline Musin Berkowitz joined Leah to talk about how she gets organized for the holiday. We talk about recipes, family traditions, finding the right haggadah, additions to the seder plate, and how to give gift to your future self with a good spreadsheet. Follow Caroline on Instagram and Twitter Keep up with Hashtag Daf Yomi on Instagram Follow @findingfavspod on Instagram and Twitter. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts Bread Machine Challah IIChicken MarbellaMatzah ToffeeCRC Pesach Guide 2022A Slob Comes CleanFly LadyGraphic Novel HaggadahMatza Pajamas Caroline's Legendary Passover SpreadsheetHaggadot.com Sunflower addition

Scott Smith, aka Our Man In Chicago, returns to Finding Favorites to talk about the Mission Impossible movies - why he loves them, how he watches them and where to start with the series. Scott first joined Leah to talk about The West Wing. Keep up with Scott online Our Man in ChicagoInstagram @ourmaninchicagoThe Frunchroom Facebook @thefrunchroom Show Notes  Regal Unlimited  The Mission: Impossible film series on Wikipedia Get Smart on Wikipedia OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies on WikipediaMusic Box Films: Music Box Films   Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop. Want to sponsor an episode or run ads on Finding Favorites? Email Leah

Blaise Miller, an actor/director/writer based in LA, joined Leah to talk about his new web series "Hi, Blaise Miller" and his love of sweatpants. "Hi, Blaise Miller" is a six episode series exploring life for actors in Hollywood today - the world of self tapes and self doubt. The series is distributed by Crafty and new episodes are available every Friday. Leah and Blaise have been friends for 20 years and are celebrating their birthday on March 23 - so we're celebrating with an early drop! Follow Blaise online Hi, Blaise Miller on YouTubeCrafty Short Films2Blazes.com@2blazes on Tik Tok Show Notes The Vacationeers on YouTubeIt's a Disaster on Peacock Chicago's PizzaSmashburger.comDMKAu ChevalAuntie Anne'sWetzel's PretzelsFat ChrisChubbies ShortsHome Run Innhttps://www.vons.com/Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.

Author Joyce Miller joins Leah to talk about her new book Joe Harris, The Moon, her love of greyhounds and her love of dancing with dogs. Keep up with Joyce online Look! You're Dancing: A Memoir of Dogs, Dance and DevotionJoe Harris, The MoonJoyceAMiller.comFollow Joyce on Instagram @joyceamillerwriter Show Notes Joe HarrisGreyhounds "rooing" Greyhounds Reach the BeachThe Grapehound Wine TourGreyhound zoomies Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.

Alabama based author Bradley Sides joined Leah to talk about his new collection Crocodile Tears Didn't Cause the Flood and his favorite band, The National. Keep up with Bradley online Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the FloodBradley Sides on FacebookBradley's website: Bradley-Sides.com Show Notes Those Fantastic Lives by Bradley SidesLeVar Burton ReadsCalhoun Community CollegeCommon Read U.S. Space & Rocket CenterOne City, One BookThe Best We Could Do by Thi Bui Alabama Center for the ArtsGabriel García MárquezBig Fish by Daniel WallaceThe Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon: Karen RussellKelly LinkRocket City Reading Fest at the Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, ALFinding Favorites on bookshop.orgThe NationalAlligatorHomecoming 2023"Secret Meeting": https://thenational.bandcamp.com/track/secret-meeting"The Geese of Beverly Road": https://thenational.bandcamp.com/track/the-geese-of-beverly-road"Mr. November": https://thenational.bandcamp.com/track/mr-novemberTrouble Will Find Me: https://thenational.bandcamp.com/album/trouble-will-find-me"Sea of Love": https://thenational.bandcamp.com/track/sea-of-loveA Conversation Between Matt Berninger and David LettermanCherry Tree, The National fan club: https://www.americanmary.com/cherry-treeSoundtrack to Garden State: https://open.spotify.com/album/24mCiOTIF5Ob1uwluRFERvPatti Smith: https://www.pattismith.netBartees Strange: https://www.barteesstrange.com/"Paul Scheer loves the L.A. Clippers": https://findingfavorites.podbean.com/e/paul-scheer-hdtgm-la-clippers/Tyler Childers: https://tylerchildersmusic.com/"Universal Sound": https://soundcloud.com/tylerchilders/universal-sound"Universal Sound" art print on Soundwaves: https://soundwavesartfoundation.com/products/tyler-childers-universal-sound-originalsFleet Foxes: https://www.fleetfoxes.co/Shore: https://fleetfoxes.bandcamp.com/album/shoreMy Morning Jacket: https://www.mymorningjacket.com/Jason Isbell: https://www.jasonisbell.com/Brandi Carlile: https://www.brandicarlile.com/Weezer: https://weezer.com/Soundwaves Art Foundation: https://soundwavesartfoundation.com/Sewanee: https://new.sewanee.edu/The Caverns: https://www.thecaverns.com/Cave Jam: https://www.thecaverns.com/featured/cavejamWatchhouse: https://watchhouseband.com/S-Town: https://stownpodcast.org/How Did This Get Made?: https://www.earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made/Doughboys: https://headgum.com/doughboysHigh and Mighty: https://headgum.com/high-and-mightyNicole Byer: https://www.nicolebyerwastaken.com/Rovos Rail: https://rovos.com/Nailed It!: https://www.netflixreality.com/shows/nailed-it/The String Cheese Incident: https://www.stringcheeseincident.com/Red Rocks Amphitheatre: https://www.redrocksonline.com/Jay Pritzker Pavilion: https://www.jaypritzkerpavilion.com/The Pavilion at Ravinia: https://www.ravinia.org/Pavilion Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.

Ben Tanzer, a Chicago-based author and consultant, joined Leah to celebrate the launch of his new novel The Missing (pre-order on Bookshop.org for March 21, 2024 delivery) and his love of the book The Basketball Diaries. This conversation is a trip down memory lane, because Leah and Ben have been friends for 15+ years. We briefly discuss the suicide of a mutual colleague. Follow Ben online The Missing release date March 21, 2024 The Missing book tourBen Tanzer on BookshopThis Podcast Will Change Your LifeTanzerBen.comtwitter @BenTanzerInstagram @tanzerben/Facebook @BenTanzer Show Notes Amy GüthJen Michalski on Finding Favorites The Missing on Kirkus ReviewsThis American Life: This American LifeExile in Bookville: Exile in BookvilleLee Matthew Goldberg: Lee Matthew Goldberg The Book Cellar: Book CellarFinding Favorites bookshop.org shop: Finding Favorites bookshop pageMichael Keren: Michael KerenWhen Words Count: When Words Count RetreatElizabeth Splaine: Elizabeth SplaineThe Basketball Diaries by Jim CarrollAdam LawrenceFlowers in the Attic by V. C. AndrewsSacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior by Phil Jackson and Hugh DelehantyJohn Edgar WidemanHendrick’s Gin: https://www.hendricksgin.com/Bombay Sapphire: https://www.bombaysapphire.com/us/en/Tanqueray: https://www.tanqueray.com/en-usDeath’s Door: https://www.dancinggoat.com/deaths-door-ginEmpress Gin: https://empressgin.com/Alan Heathcock:https://alanheathcock.com/Matilda: https://www.matilda-babyatlas.com/David Masciotra: https://davidmasciotra.com/Sunday Salon: https://sundaysalon-chicago.com/ P&T Knitwear: https://www.ptknitwear.com/A Novel Idea: https://anovelideaphilly.com/Village Well: https://villagewell.com/Eric Spitznagel: https://www.ericspitznagel.com/Megan Stielstra: https://www.meganstielstra.com/ Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.

Paul Scheer, an LA-based actor, writer, comedian, and podcaster, grew up in New York Knicks territory, but now loves the L.A. Clippers. He joined Leah to talk about his memoir Joyful Recollections of Trauma (available for pre-order now, shipping on May 21, 2024), picking the right sports team for your family, and the inherent drama of NBA basketball. Keep up with Paul Scheer online How Did This Get MadeUnspooledThe Friendzone on TwitchFollow Paul Scheer on SubstackPre-order Joyful Recollections of Trauma (and Paul will send you a postcard)@paulscheer on Instagram (Are you impressed by how calm, cool and collected I've been so far? Paul is one of the hosts of my favorite podcast and he's on MY podcast and that is very cool and I am not collected. I'm so uncollected, that I'm releasing this episode a week early! After the show notes, I'll link to a few episodes that include some links to related episodes of Finding Favorites). Show Notes “Hook” by Blues TravelerHamilton TourMiguel Cervantes on Saying Good-Bye to Hamilton After 2,013 Performances The Book of Mormon Tour The Curse: The Colorful & Chaotic History of the LA Clippers by Mick Minas and Jim Lynam30 for 30: 30 for 30 on ESPN HDTGM adjacent episodes of Finding Favorites Kevin Alves loves Letterkenny and Pirates - solid 20 minute tangent about the Halloween HDTGM in Chicago that I wore a 6 foot vinyl banner movie poster as a costumePam Rose loves Jason Mantzoukas, HDTGM and very bad movies (Pam is a second opinion super star and friend from the HDTGM fan community)Poet Dan O'Brien loves British comedies (Dan is Jessica St. Claire's husband, fair warning - lots of cancer talk between the two of us)Matt Zoller Seitz and The Deadwood BibleKevin T Porter loves Bruce Springsteen - Kevin's podcast Gilmore Guys was how I got to HDTGM Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com Support Finding Favorites by shopping for books by guests or recommended by guests on Bookshop.

Author Esther Goldenberg visits Finding Favorites to share her loves of pour painting and drumming (djembe, not snare). She's also celebrating the publication of her first novel The Scrolls of Deborah. The Scrolls of Deborah is available for pre-order and will ship on February 20, 2024. EstherGoldenberg.com Follow Esther on Facebook and Instagram   Show Notes StorahtellingThis Messy Magnificent Life: A Field Guide to Mind, Body, and Soul by Geneen Roth The Red Tent by Anita DiamantCyanotype (blue sun printing)Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere by Maria BamfordJenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess: Nowhere Bookshop, Jenny Lawson’s book storeKulu Sadira in Durango, ColoradoLeah's Shabbat Shirah d'var torah based on Esther's comments about Miriam A few days after I published Kathie Giorgio's interview, her beloved husband Michael was hit by a car while walking to the bus and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I've been following along on Facebook and am praying for Michael's full and complete recovery. Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com

Kathie Giorgio, a Wisconsin-based writer and founder of The All Writers Workshop, joined Leah to talk about her lifelong love of writing and her genre-agnostic publishing career. Kathie published her first short story as a teenager, her first book at 50, and will publish her 14th book in 2024. Content Warning: Kathie and Leah are both breast cancer survivors and discuss the illness, as well as bullying, death by suicide, and political violence throughout the episode. UPDATE: Shortly after this episode was published, Kathie's husband suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was hit by a driver in a minivan while walking to the bus. Go Fund Me available here. Keep up with Kathie online KathieGiorgio.orgFacebook @KathieGiorgioAuthorTwitter  @kathiegiorgioInstagram: Instagram @kathiegio1Don’t Let Me Keep You due for release October 3rd.Today's Moment of Happiness Despite the News: A Year of Spontaneous EssaysFind Kathie on Bookshop.org Show Notes Hope Always RisesAll Writers’ Workplace & Workshop, LLCMaria Bamford’s memoir Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong AnywhereThis Week's Moment of Happiness Despite the News, the blog the preceded the bookPoet Kelly Cherry Southeast Wisconsin Festival of BooksBrian Mazzaferri/I Fight DragonsThe E Myth RevisitedOddities & Endings Chicago Jewish Book Festival Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Got a question or want to suggest a guest? email Leah at FindingFavoritesPodcast@gmail.com

Some of your favorite guests are back for the Best of 2023 Call-In Show! Leah asked guests and friends to send in a voice memo with their favorite discoveries of 2023. It's important to find moments of joy during difficult times and that's what each of our callers found! Best of 2023 Show Notes   Carolyn Musin Berkowitz Snack hack!  Monica Reida  Prince Freya The Gilded Age on HBO  Marked Safe Podcast  Coaster radio  Cameron McKenzie An introduction to Mezcal Paloma cocktail recipe  Blindness by Jose Saragamo Roanoke, VA Vanessa Ricci-Thode Monarch butterfliesRedwoodsDogsDoctor Who 60th SpecialsWorld Running Down by Al Hess The Murderbot Diaries Shai Korman, Friday Night Movie podcast BarbieGuardians of the Galaxy 3 Jesse Dukes, Upper Middle Brow  Catch a Fire by timothy white  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver  Thea Lux The Wheel - https://www.thealux.com/wheel Amy Guth If you can’t fix it, feature ithttps://amyguth.substack.com/  Rocco Cotaldo Adventure, seeing the countryhttps://rocco.substack.com/  Jo McCawley SaltburnMitskiSufjan Stephens Pam Rose Surface on Apple TVLokiSquidgame The ChallengePeacock - The Traders (US, UK, Australia)Taylor Swift Eras TourTate McRae HDTGMFilms To Be Buried With - Brett Goldstein Barbie Oppenheimer Phil Mottaz The Hives https://www.thehives.com/ Women’s Soccer https://www.angelcity.com/  Chris Bagg Joe Haldeman, The Forever War Upper Middlebrow episode 1 about Forever War Steve Higgins HadestownBarbieDoctor Who 60th Anniversary

Chuck Zagorski was declared the King of Christmas by his family and joined Leah to talk about his favorite holiday. Chuck listens to Christmas music all year, but limits his seven trees and 100+ nutcrackers to a window between November 1 and Three Kings Day. Email a 1-5 minute audio clip to Leah by December 25th to be included in the Best of 2023 show! What did you love in 2023? email your clip to findingfavoritespodcast@gmail.com Get news on new Christmas songs from Chuck on Facebook. November 1: First Official Day of Christmas Music   Show Links Add to CartThe Deep DiveFunko Pops Polish Christmas Mushroom Soup Some of the music we cover Dee's Rock N Roll Christmas TaleA Very Special Christmas (all of the albums)Doris DayFrank SinatraKelly ClarksonMariah CareyWinter Wonderland by Eurythmics Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify.

Emily Drake, host of the podcast Who's Missing, loves a cozy game. Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Cozy Cafe and more! We talk about parallel play, building relationships and so much more.   Email a 1-5 minute audio clip to Leah by December 25th to be included in the Best of 2023 show! What did you love in 2023? email your clip to findingfavoritespodcast@gmail.com Follow Emily online Instagram @emdrakeWho's Missing Podcast Show Links Stardew Valley Cozy Grove Animal Crossing Triple Match 3D Merge Mansion Get Played episode "Now That's What I Call Video Game Music: Cozy Edition" Finding Favorites episode "Keidra Chaney loves #KPopDollstagram" The Deep Dive Doughboys How Did This Get Made Greens, Beans, Potatoes, Tomatoes Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Finding Favorites is edited and mixed by Rob Abrazado. Follow Finding Favorites on Instagram at @FindingFavsPod and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or Spotify. Thank you to Chris and Jesse at Upper Middlebrow for the shoutout!

It's a thanksgiving interlude with a few updates of what Leah's been up to and the trailer for season 2 of Upper Middlebrow Podcast.   Stand Up Comedy Nicole ByerKyle KinaneSamantha Bee Broadway Stuff BeetlejuiceWhat a Wonderful WorldHere We AreThe Lehman TrilogyCompany Podcast Stuff How Did This Get Made live showsWelcome to Rob AbrazadoUpper Middlebrow trailerSend your "Best of 2023" audio clip to findingfavoritespodcast@gmail.com Bring Them Home: Stories of hostages from October 7

Evonne Marzouk returned to the podcast to celebrate the release of the paperback edition of her debut novel The Prophetess. We talk about the process of finding an audience, her lifelong love of writing, and processing difficult times through writing. We talk about donations for pre-orders, but her publisher has extended the donations through the end of the war, G-d willing, soon. Donations are being made to Leket. Keep up with Evonne online: Substack Evonne on SubstackInstagram @heroinewhispererFacebook @HeroineWhispererOrder The Prophetess in paperbackEvonneMarzouk.comUplifting People and Planet: Eighteen Essential Jewish Lessons on the Environment Special thank you to Rob Abrazado who joined the Finding Favorites team as an editor and sound mixer.

Pensylvania-based author and professor Holly M. Wendt joined Leah to talk about their love of all things cycling - from professional races to riding long distances, Holly loves all things two-wheeled. Their debut novel Heading North will be available on November 8th and you can order it today. HollyMWendt.comInstagram @hmwendtTwitter @hmwendtHeading North   Show Notes Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crashEnd PapersThe Art of FieldingThe Cactus LeagueThe Desert Sky Before UsIndian HorseTour de FleeceSeagull CenturyBike Rally (Toronto to Montreal)Wild HorsesSepp Kuss (Durango, Colorado)DomestiqueTim DeclercqFarm to Fork

Bee Vargas, AKA the reigning Ms. Illinois, loves power lifting and joined Leah to talk about her journey to embracing her larger body in and out of the gym. Whether its rooftop yoga, crushing dead lifts or representing Illinois at the national level, Bee is a delight. Follow Bee online https://www.instagram.com/thatbeeword/ https://www.instagram.com/allbodiesaregymbodies/  https://www.tiktok.com/@thatbeeword   Show Notes https://www.swipefatpodcast.com/ https://www.instagram.com/well_rounded.wellness/ https://blog.nasm.org/powerlifting-for-women https://lipsticklifters.com/articles/female-powerlifters/ https://www.socalpowerlifting.net/post/how-do-powerlifting-meets-work https://www.northamericabeautypageant.com/divisions/ https://www.thewrpf.com/

Donate to American Friends of Magen David Adom   Jerusalem-based tour guide Joel Haber joined Leah to talk about Shabbat Stews ahead of the release of his ebook Chulent & Hamin: The Ultimate Jewish Comfort Food. There is so much more to Chulent than beans and meat! Follow Joel on Instagram and his blog Taste of Jew. Follow @findingfavspod on Instagram and Twitter. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts Show links The Red LadyFree Shabbat Stew Cookbook by Joel HaberMachne Yehuda marketGil Marks obituaryIshtabach in JerusalemShamburakBirateinuBeermiscuous in ChicagoCardoonCome for CholentCome for Cholent Again

Taylore Nicholl and Michael Lester, a pair of independent filmmakers from Texas, joined Leah to talk about their love of film, making films, and dream projects. Follow the pair online Support Taylore and Michael on Patreon Carry On (Taylore's first movie)@taylorenicholl on InstagramWhat We Become  Tik Tok @mediocre_michael Show Notes Duo of Greenville filmmakersJackassThe Disney VaultIra Glass, The Gap Danny McBride on Armchair ExpertPerks of Being a WallflowerLittle Miss Sunshine500 Days of SummerGarden StateLost in TranslationAway We GoLeah Jones - Piper Cub pilotHello, My BabyPretty Like Me

Jesse Dukes, co-host of Upper Middlebrow, returns to Finding Favorites to wrestle with Jimmy Buffett's legacy. We talk about internal rhymes, lifestyle brands, and songs with more meaning on the tenth listen than on the first. Keep up with Jesse online Upper Middlebrow Podcast JesseDukes.com Show Notes NeuromancerTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowThe Space Between WorldsJimmy Buffet - Songs you don’t know by heartJimmyBuffett.com MBMBAM and Jimmy Buffett Escape to Margaritaville Red Headed StrangerInternal rhymeBest rhymes in Hamilton  The melancholy of margaritavilleEater review of Margaritaville in NYC NY Times Jimmy Buffett does not live the Jimmy Buffett lifestyleSteve O interviewDelaney BuffettGo Cubs GoCowboy in the Jungle

Josh Mohr, Seattle-based author of Model Citizen, joined Leah to discuss his new novel Farsickness which he wrote this summer and is illustrated by his daughter Ava. We talk about teachers that change your life, collaborating with your children, making art during the pandemic, and grappling with PTSD.   Buy a copy of Farsickness today Silly Gooses with Josh Mohr and Ava Mohr at Valencia 826 (look for more workshops this year) Show NotesJuniper Shelley (father/daughter collab)Disney WeddingsTom WaitsFight ClubAlice in WonderlandGrace PaleyDown and Out in Paris and London by OrwellCesar Cruz