Pedro Pascal, Crisp White Wine, and Resonant Reads

My experience as a guest on WSIRN.

On the episode, I briefly mention meeting Pedro Pascal. This is that moment. Summer 2014. Shakespeare in the Park. My face is hidden to preserve my nom de plume, as is one of my dear friend’s—though given his eagerness to literally touch celebrity, perhaps he would relish his identity being revealed. My wild gesticulating was captured by the camera, and shows exactly how nervous I was.

As I alluded to in earlier posts, I had the privilege of being a guest on Anne Bogel’s hit, bookish podcast What Should I Read Next. My episode is out today, and you can find it here (or wherever you normally listen to podcasts). If you’re interested in learning more about my reading taste or me as an individual, I hope you will check out the episode and find it to be an easy (and amusing) listen.

It was certainly surreal for me to listen to it—not only because I have never been on a podcast before, and it was odd to hear myself stumble over my thoughts and words, given that I talk for a living, but also because WSIRN has had such a profound impact on my life.

The infamous Libby Account! Since the date of recording, I’m down to 14 cards at 12 libraries.

A year ago, when I was agonizing over whether to leave my job (and downshift my career), I went for many, many long walks and listened to

Anne Bogel

for hours. I ultimately decided that life was meant for living and that included making more time for something as seemingly humdrum as reading for pleasure.

I took the leap and I am now in a much saner role. I have subsequently filled my life with things other than work—including this new hobby of writing a newsletter and processing my own feelings about art and culture through it.

And I owe Anne, and her team, a huge debt of gratitude for all of it. Without Anne’s gentle, articulate, non-judgmental guidance filling my ears each week, I am not sure I would have had the courage to prioritize something other than my career or family. Something (reading) just for the joy and pleasure in it. They say you should never meet your heroes… but I did, and I’m better for it. Anne is as gracious and generous as all of her fans (myself included) imagine her to be.

I’ll be writing newsletters about each of Anne’s recommendations and their impact on me in the coming months. If you are interested in those updates, please hit subscribe below. The newsletter is completely free and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Thank you for reading (and listening). If you have any questions about my reading life or recording with Anne please pop them in the comments or the subscriber chat.

The fun swag you receive after being on an an episode of WSIRN.