naddpod - Mixed Bag of Holding: NaddPod Recommends! (Our Favorite Things from 2024)

Jake, “Laundry” was a really beautiful poem

Sami Kerwin

2026-01-19 10:37:43 +0000 UTC

Fred again! mentioned hell yea

Tommy Self

2025-11-18 15:29:34 +0000 UTC

PLEASE read Gideon the Ninth. Specifically Emily but I think everyone should read it

Sarah Wallace

2025-05-07 22:22:43 +0000 UTC

Did not expect the CZARFACE plug! 🙌🙌🙌

Luke

2025-04-13 19:31:25 +0000 UTC

Emily should absolutely read Thistlefoot, it’s like Baba Yaga retelling but from a jewish folklore. these two siblings are gifted a house with chicken legs from an ancestor in russia. it’s a really cool magical realism style fantasy

Oli

2025-04-02 16:08:00 +0000 UTC

So far have read The French Exit & Parable of the Sower, both of which were 5 stars. Thanks for the recs Emily!!

Sydney Cooke

2025-01-23 15:55:40 +0000 UTC

Book Recommendations: The Kamagawa Food Detectives, Sweet Bean Paste Also it’s not a 2024 book but I’ll always recommend Battle Royale the novel not the movie.

Darkrisky

2025-01-22 20:00:50 +0000 UTC

Reporting back after having read the Bright Sword. It slapped ass. 10/10. It was riveting, and funny as hell!

Becca W

2025-01-21 01:24:53 +0000 UTC

Now we need a cyberpunk ttpg one shot or mini series

Ross Wright

2025-01-19 00:58:45 +0000 UTC

Book recommendation: Fascism and Social Revolution by RP Dutt Very possibly the best anti-fascist work of theory ever written

MoltenPanda

2025-01-16 22:37:59 +0000 UTC

As a fellow Arthur brain, I have to recommend the Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. If you want general recs there’s a great video recommending different Arthurian books depending on what you’re looking for in the story

John Horan

2025-01-16 21:48:56 +0000 UTC

Emily Axford, MTG rec you should check out using Brian stoutarm as an commander, with creature stealing spells. You can steal their creatures( including commanders) and launch them at them. Pretty sure this counts as commander dmg and you can choose where the dmg goes. I had a few people conceded after stealing their commanders and getting ready to launch them at them. include fling and any iteration of creature steal and buffing artifact/ spells, pretty sure he's red/white so not many spells .

Tannictor

2025-01-15 19:04:28 +0000 UTC

Emily, please drop the letterboxd (if you have one)!

Mike Cathcart

2025-01-15 15:56:45 +0000 UTC

Gotta give a huge shoutout to the Bloodsworn trilogy by John Gwynne. I love reading but i fully cannot remember the last time i got so immediately lost in a book series like this one. Great read if you’re into fantasy, especially if you like Nordic culture

LeCurve52

2025-01-13 23:17:02 +0000 UTC

Books wise, beautiful hug of a book "a psalm for the wild built" by Becky chambers. Very positive utopian feeling solarpunk.

Spooply McQueen

2025-01-13 19:42:40 +0000 UTC

Arcane is such a murph and Emily show. Its a steampunk masterpiece.

Dale Durham

2025-01-13 18:49:00 +0000 UTC

Late to the game, but if Emily invests in new sweatpants look at Roots! It’s a Canadian brand that lasts forever and is so comfortable.

Katie Oyama

2025-01-13 17:13:18 +0000 UTC

"Super What?" was MF DOOM's last project before he passed away I believe. I guess I recommend the song Somersault - Zero 7 ft. MF DOOM

Kingzley Sparkman

2025-01-13 08:23:34 +0000 UTC

Not a 2024 rec but Faceoff: inside the NHL is so good!

sami clements

2025-01-12 16:13:24 +0000 UTC

So I just learned of the Animorphs tv series… we’ve never needed anything more than for the crew to do an animorphs mixed bag

Jake Klein

2025-01-12 06:23:59 +0000 UTC

Wind and Truth was my book of the year for sure. Gotta love the cosmere

Luke

2025-01-11 08:54:20 +0000 UTC

Emily, please read Gideon the Ninth! I promise you'll love it, incredible and hilarious sci fi book

Geraint

2025-01-10 18:35:32 +0000 UTC

That was such a fun weird book. Great rec!

Aaron Brown

2025-01-10 18:29:02 +0000 UTC

The Bright Sword sounds like it was written specifically for my own interests. I have never before heard a book recommendation from someone and put it on hold at the library before they finished talking about it, and yet...

Joe S

2025-01-10 16:37:30 +0000 UTC

My 2024 rec is the Everybody Loves Large Chests book series written by Neven Iliev. It follows around a Mimic that levels up to be too powerful for the dungeon it grows up in and so it goes out and explores the world.

Magestain

2025-01-10 03:13:16 +0000 UTC

Massive thanks to Murph for turning me on to Czarface holy shit this rules

Jovi89

2025-01-09 23:58:15 +0000 UTC

rosemary and peach are so wonderful together!! i once got a big haul of infused balsamic vinegars and olive oils from a specialty shop and a favorite combo in our house was a vinaigrette made with a white peach balsamic & rosemary evoo!! so yummy, especially on a good summer salad w/ the fresh fruit in there too.

Amelia Granato

2025-01-09 21:21:13 +0000 UTC

Seconding this!

Parrot Paramour

2025-01-09 20:45:26 +0000 UTC

My recs for this year are Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson (if you haven't gotten into the cosmere books you gotta, Brandon is the king of modern fantasy books), Bookshops and Bonedust the sequel to Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, The Cradle Series by Will Wight just finished last year and he released a book of short stories for the series (very anime power up feel!), Marvel Rivals has been a lot of fun these last few weeks. I'm sure I've got more but those are some great ones!

zach stewart

2025-01-09 18:10:30 +0000 UTC

Sports rec: SUMO WRESTLING! It's so much fun to watch and rightfully gaining support in the West

Cody Faye

2025-01-09 17:31:06 +0000 UTC

Also the Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Jess Wagoner

2025-01-09 16:17:46 +0000 UTC

Emily, I think my top book this year was Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell and i feel like it's a book that you'd love, especially given the campaign 3 ending lullaby

Jess Wagoner

2025-01-09 16:08:51 +0000 UTC

Omg!! I first read Jason Schreier because of Murphs recommendations!!!

Maygan

2025-01-09 05:17:10 +0000 UTC

Highly recommend Epic the musical if no one has listened to it yet

ShrimplyAwesome

2025-01-09 03:33:58 +0000 UTC

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames is so good! Not 2024 but I strongly recommend it. Big NADDPOD vibes

Jeb Milling

2025-01-09 03:17:35 +0000 UTC

Recommendation for the gamers (sorry john) the binding of isaac! The games a super fun rouge like, personally it's my lock in with a podcast game! You can beat a run in like 40 minutes or less and has a ton of replay value also it's on like everything

iamnotjackblack

2025-01-08 21:57:04 +0000 UTC

My Rec: Hero’s Die by Matthew Stover. Don’t judge the book by its cover (the cover is shit) but it rocks. Sci-fi / fantasy setting with a bad ass main character

Petmygoldfish

2025-01-08 20:50:49 +0000 UTC

I know I'm super late to the party, but these songs were recommended to me this year and quickly went on heavy rotation/repeat: 1. "Coming Home Song," by Sammy Rae and the Friends 2. "How Much is Weed," by Dominic Fike

Cicely Hodges

2025-01-08 20:14:45 +0000 UTC

Emily PLEASE check out the MTG card Baba Lysaga. It is such a fun commander and I think of Emily every time I see it. (Remember that you can sacrifice UP to 3 permanents but if you have let's say an "artifact creature" that counts as 2 types for the price of 1)

Brittany Flamond

2025-01-08 17:15:21 +0000 UTC

https://butternutbakeryblog.com/spice-cookies/ These cookies are my contribution. They are so soft and I take them everywhere as gifts

Ian Holden

2025-01-08 16:55:40 +0000 UTC

Amazing! I hope you enjoy it/hope to hear a review later this year!!

Nick Neverman

2025-01-08 04:12:20 +0000 UTC

I refuse to be influenced by anything and yet I guess I’m starting Pilates now

Charloot

2025-01-08 02:29:00 +0000 UTC

Emily! I immediately read Nettle & Bone after I listened to this. First read of the year and got me so excited about diving into some more fantasy reading this year. Thank u!! ☺️

Lexi loves the 2 crew!

2025-01-08 01:44:31 +0000 UTC

It’s so lovely! Such a fun delightful read.

Aaron Brown

2025-01-08 01:04:57 +0000 UTC

Two Crew really needs to get on that Long Way goodness

GGCoopie

2025-01-08 01:03:38 +0000 UTC

Oooo haven't read that but i really loved Sharp Ends! I juat started The Brightsword but I will put this on my list for sure, thank you!

GGCoopie

2025-01-08 01:02:05 +0000 UTC

Oh man I feel like Jake would actually love the First Law trilogy.

Aaron Brown

2025-01-08 00:22:46 +0000 UTC

Hah I just put that too! It’s so good

Aaron Brown

2025-01-08 00:20:12 +0000 UTC

Got some book recs that I think y’all will like based on what you’ve put! All in the sci-fi or fantasy space. Probably mostly for Emily cause our tastes align a lot and most books she mentions are ones I’ve read and liked: The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar The Fifth Season trilogy by NK Jemisin Children of Time by Adrien Tchaikovsky Alien Clay also by Adrien Tchaikovsky The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett The Bone Orchard by Sara Mueller All of the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells Lots more that I can’t think of right now but these are all awesome. :)

Aaron Brown

2025-01-08 00:17:54 +0000 UTC

I went wild about Scavengers Reign, it’s one of the most beautiful pieces of animation I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, I’m so glad Caldwell gave it a shout out. I’m holding out hope it’ll get picked up for a second season and maybe if we can get some more traffic it’s way it might.

Gavin L.

2025-01-07 20:31:37 +0000 UTC

I recommend Crypt of the Necrodancer! It is a roguelike game that you don’t have to overly invest your time into it, but it is super fun! It is a rhythm rougelike/dungeon crawler game, so you have to move and attack on the beat. I believe you can add MP3s to it, so you could listen to whatever song you wanted to. It’s chill and fun!! My partner and I are playing co-op, which just makes for a fun chill night 😊 * worth noting this is not a new game, just a new game to me haha

Kara

2025-01-07 16:03:14 +0000 UTC

i recommend “the great pottery throw down” i think if you like Bake off, Sewing Bee or shows like that you’ll like throw down.

Mark Kingcombe

2025-01-07 15:23:17 +0000 UTC

You guys should check out Crawl if you're still looking for a fun couch co-op game. It's a dungeon crawler up to 4 people, 3 people play as ghosts that possess monsters & try to kill the human character. When the human is killed the monster that got the kill becomes human & so on until you defeat the boss of the dungeon.

irlBeaker

2025-01-07 15:01:29 +0000 UTC

My 2024 rec is breakfast cookies! Which is really just any baked oat recipe baked into cookie shape for added delight + portability. My specific go-to is banana, peanut butter, cinnamon, oats, seeds (chia, flax, pumpkin, sesame, or anything), nuts (hazelnuts are tastiest imo but I use walnuts for the Omega-3 s), and dark choco chips. No recipe but combined in that order to taste + consistency, baked 200C for 10min+

erug

2025-01-07 13:09:18 +0000 UTC

My recommendation is Resident Evil 4 Remake in VR (PSVR2 exclusive) First time I've ever played RE4 and the VR mode puts every game made specifically for VR to shame Truly a masterpiece, can comfortably say it's my 2nd favorite game after Dark Souls 1

Slappy Dave

2025-01-07 02:40:40 +0000 UTC

Seconded for fourth wing! So hyped for the 3rd book

Kevin Garcia

2025-01-07 01:19:12 +0000 UTC

It's not from this year but my poetry recommendation is "An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow" by Les Murray.

j

2025-01-07 00:49:12 +0000 UTC

Lost my mind listening to Emily describe listening to a podcast while playing Hades while I'm playing Hades listening to Naddpod

bacchicbasileus

2025-01-07 00:26:23 +0000 UTC

Probably nobody will see this, but I think Emily (and maybe Caldwell) should read the West Passage by Jared Pechaček! Extremely strange and delightful book, very whimsical with a dark underbelly. I don't even really know how to describe the premise but it's awesome

Kestrel

2025-01-06 23:21:16 +0000 UTC

Haven't yet but you know I gotta! ~Caldwell

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-06 20:24:54 +0000 UTC

LOVED Shoresy. Honestly feel like it made me appreciate Murph's love of Hockey more haha. ~Caldwell

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-06 20:23:11 +0000 UTC

Damn this looks sick, thank you! ~Caldwell

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-06 20:22:15 +0000 UTC

Legolas in mtg is a control deck. Give him death touch and target him with instants and he will spot-remove everything including your friends.

The Overthinker

2025-01-06 20:17:32 +0000 UTC

My 2024 rec - Uprooted by Naomi Novik! Not a new book (it came out in 2015) but I just read it and it’s so good! It is a dark fantasy that draws from Polish folklore, and while not a horror novel per se, there are some genuinely very creepy scenes that really elevate the whole book. Plus the dynamic between the main two characters (he’s grumpy and by the books, she’s wild and chaotic) I found genuinely very enjoyable. I feel like Emily would really enjoy the book.

Rachel Steiner

2025-01-06 15:34:13 +0000 UTC

emily mentioning both fred again AND edinburgh? made my day 🩷

hag

2025-01-06 14:25:46 +0000 UTC

5: Soft boiled eggs (bring eggs in water to a boil 1 minute then take of heat and cover for 4.5 minutes, tap the cap off and eat with a sppon - perfect). 4: The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by CM Waggoner - based on our shared enjoyment of similar books (Priory of the Orange Tree, Black Tongued Thief, Between Two Fires) I'd also say look at authors Mark Lawrence (broken empire trilogy and his the ancestors trilogy) and Joel Shepard (his Kassandra Kresnov books and his trial of blood and steel series). 3: the anime Dandadan, 2: replaying the Witcher 3, 1: NADDPOD -please keep up the great work you guys rock

Joseph Petty

2025-01-06 12:52:33 +0000 UTC

I ride motorcycles at race tracks Murph, don't worry about what we your audience may or may not be interested in, we will probably just be happy that you are doing a thing you have passion for Let's hear about the hockey next time!

Slappy Dave

2025-01-06 03:01:05 +0000 UTC

I need Murph to read the entire Malazan Book of the Fallen series and then dm again

Chris Pike

2025-01-06 00:13:22 +0000 UTC

we need like a routine stream where yall play video games id definately watch some elden ring or lies of P

munch lax

2025-01-05 22:16:39 +0000 UTC

omg and there’s a maintenance phase episode about Pilates (that is very uncharacteristically wholesome iirc) !!!

Kasia

2025-01-05 18:52:24 +0000 UTC

My big rec is Bird watch!! I would say I am an adept bird watcher and before the end of 2024 I was lucky enough to witness a family of Swans in the Seneca River in Upstate NY!! In regards to Magic i also run a Jon deck that I titled "Ratspionage" it's secretly a relentless rat deck which has always been a dream of mine to build and people usually have a blast at the table when I pull it out. If people want the deck list, let me know :)

Benjamin Bulgrien

2025-01-05 18:09:31 +0000 UTC

I LOVE this format, thanks for the recs all

Georgie

2025-01-05 17:45:34 +0000 UTC

Recs! -TV: Kaos on Netflix. Greek mythology rehash with sumptuous production design -Non-fiction: Alfie Kohn's body of work has been rocking my world and making me totally rethink learning. -Emily, do you ever watch Florian Gatsby? He makes soothing pottery videos and gives great tips. I also recommend going to museums and finding inspiration from the pottery there! it's so fun!

Claud Josh

2025-01-05 16:53:33 +0000 UTC

Caldwell would love both Like a Dragon games - friendship mechanics, insane sidequests, high melodrama story. And Metaphor: Refantasio is not something I've played but does have incredible enemy design. Emily, read Claymore. It's the witcher with women who fight monsters and is incredible. Murph, please try Hardwired Island, a cyberpunk style ttrpg that has capitalism be the enemy. Very fun theatre of the mind shit. Jake, try 8-bit book club. Really hilarious podcast!

Billie Ash

2025-01-05 15:12:48 +0000 UTC

Jake you should check out the album Revelation by Leif Vollebekk but especially the song Surfer’s Journal from it—really beautiful lyrics and this building strings instrumentation. It’s one of my favorite songs/albums of the year and I think you’d really dig it

Baird Linke

2025-01-05 14:28:01 +0000 UTC

Emily got me desperately wanting to play commander after sitting on the fringes of “I don’t think my wallet could take a MTG addiction” and now me and several friends and my spouse are all in. “But Emily Axford thinks it’s cool” is all anyone needed

Ruthie Pinion

2025-01-05 12:09:16 +0000 UTC

Emily and Caldwell! You would love the Monstress series by Majorie Liu with art by Sana Takeda. It’s incredible both art and story wise

Natalie Hales

2025-01-05 11:26:23 +0000 UTC

I started listening to this podcast about a year and half ago and y’all have been such a great new addition to my listening collection- thank you!!

Amanda

2025-01-05 11:01:58 +0000 UTC

love these with rosemary

Amanda

2025-01-05 10:59:10 +0000 UTC

Ok baby would only fall asleep to “Big Iron” by Marty Robbins and it would have to go on repeat for hours. I played it almost 1000 times in the last year. I feel you Jake on this, I have no idea how it started!

Cheese of the Lake

2025-01-05 03:50:13 +0000 UTC

It didn't come out in 2024, but I read "How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse" this year, and I highly recommend it!

v_squared (Vanessa)

2025-01-05 02:34:36 +0000 UTC

Hockey Rec: Shoresy!

Joe K

2025-01-05 02:24:05 +0000 UTC

I’ve recently gotten back into poetry. I’ve rediscovered David Whyte, an Irish poet who helped me get through a tough time a decade or so ago.

Joe K

2025-01-05 02:23:37 +0000 UTC

2024 recs!!! nonfic: age of magical overthinking, running w the kenyans fic: carmilla (the OG dracula) podcasts: you’re wrong about, if books could kill, worst bestsellers, maintenance phase

Caroline Fenyo

2025-01-05 02:22:13 +0000 UTC

high noon over camelot !!

Axel Kennedy

2025-01-05 00:47:33 +0000 UTC

I know the Green Knight poem has the explanation being that Morgan Le Fay was the one who was taught by Merlin and eventually was the one who betrayed him and locked him away, but that is not the explanation Mallory's version gives.

Summer, Autumn Eladrin

2025-01-04 23:04:50 +0000 UTC

My problem with Le Morte D'Arthur is that I always get distracted by Morgan Le Fay's backstory being that she got really good at magic because she learned to read very well at the convent she was educated at. Like I would like more of an explanation for the magical women please (I know the meta explanation is that a lot of the stories come from pre-Christian oral traditions where it would have been goddesses interacting and guiding with the heroes).

Summer, Autumn Eladrin

2025-01-04 23:03:19 +0000 UTC

Seconded!

Summer, Autumn Eladrin

2025-01-04 23:00:52 +0000 UTC

Not a 2024 but i think emily (and many naddpoles) would LOVE the book This Is How You Lose the Time War. One of my favorites from the last few years

Julia Comer

2025-01-04 22:55:09 +0000 UTC

If Emily has never listened to them she should give King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard a listen.

Dragothor

2025-01-04 22:53:58 +0000 UTC

My 2024 recommendation, since he just put out a new book, are the entire works of Micheal J Sullivan. He has 4 series Riyira Revelations, Riviera Chronicles, Legends of the First Empire, and The Rise and the Fall. And they all basically tell the story of a 3000 year period of time with a fantastic plot. It really plays around with the idea of what it means for Elves to have such long lifespans. As well as just being fun to read. The Riyira books are about a pair of professional theives that save a kingdom and the Empire books are prequels about an ancient war for humans to be seen as real people by the elves and to establish the first empire of the world. Super fun books. He just put out the 5th book in the Riyira Chronicles which are prequels about the theives Early adventures.

Sean Boyle

2025-01-04 22:03:05 +0000 UTC

My 2024 recommendations: Books with maps at the front of them (I always feel like I’m about to go on an adventure, and I’ve read some great ones this year, not limited to: The Silver Bone, A. Kurkov; Zealot, R. Aslan; The Triumph of the Sun, W. Smith; The Clan of the Cave Bear, J.M. Auel); the song ‘Tuareg Attack’ from the opening to 1999’s ‘The Mummy’ (I listen to this as my first song whenever I’m traveling by plane or rail, and it makes it feel like I’m on an expedition); printing out photos and framing them (great way of taking stock of good things); the show Fallout (just excellent work all around); finally getting into cardigans.

Nikolaus Cox

2025-01-04 21:18:59 +0000 UTC

There is a very sweet manga called the Cat in the Hero’s Lap, about a dnd style adventurers, but every time they are about to go into battle a cat curls up in one of the hero’s lap. They don’t have the heart to remove it, and as such the party gets defeated frequently. It is a really fun and wholesome read!

Sanjana Chandhok

2025-01-04 20:59:53 +0000 UTC

I’ve also been looking for the best tshirt! 😅 my favorite from last year was the cotton tshirt from Uniqlo not the airism but I’ll definitely have to get me one from Randy’s garments.

Apollo Sullivan

2025-01-04 20:19:38 +0000 UTC

Murph and Emily cuddling up together and he reads to her 💕

Teo R

2025-01-04 20:14:29 +0000 UTC

For more Hockey documentaries definitely check out Crimes and Penalties about the Danbury Trashers. Infamous mobster buys his 18 yr old son a hockey team in Danbury, CT that combined WWE with shit-tier hockey and eventually Mike Rupp plays for them, what else do you need?

Veronika

2025-01-04 19:24:30 +0000 UTC

A poem rec for Emily (and all): The Raincoat by Ada Limón. Really lovely. https://poets.org/poem/raincoat

Calla

2025-01-04 17:25:21 +0000 UTC

How did you search it up? I looked for it and couldn’t find it

Scoutmaster Denny

2025-01-04 09:45:14 +0000 UTC

more fruit for emily: since it seems you're on an asian fruit kick, i'd highly recommend asian pear if you haven't already had it! flavor of a pear, texture of a very crisp, slightly grainy apple. super juicy and refreshing, def one of my all time faves

Rissa

2025-01-04 07:30:28 +0000 UTC

I hope Caldwell watched Dune Prophecy.

Jordon Brown

2025-01-04 05:06:09 +0000 UTC

I tried to watch 100 movies in 2024 I think I made it to 40 some of my favourites were: Wicked, The Holdovers, and The Wild Robot. Another rec I gotta give is the frozen baguettes from Costco those things are addicting!

Damodar

2025-01-04 04:55:20 +0000 UTC

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang. It’s Joan of Arc meets Evangelion

Matthew Chen

2025-01-04 02:17:53 +0000 UTC

A great man once said, “Even if you’re playing an elf, you can be human.” Of all the things I thought I’d get out of listening to this podcast, the testament to humanism that you boobs represent is downright inspirational. To uncertainty and all its wonders To expression guided by curiosity make space welcome celebrate sing! Here’s to you, Two Crew 🥂

Pali Endi

2025-01-04 00:58:56 +0000 UTC

Jake - I read laundry and I totally understand the tears. So good. Thanks for the rec

Lexi loves the 2 crew!

2025-01-04 00:57:28 +0000 UTC

Talking books is my FAVORITE thing to do!! If you’re looking for a YA twist on Arthurian lore with magic and secret societies, try Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. I DEVOURED it. Cannot recommend highly enough! (I read it last year so it can’t be my 2024 rec) My two favorites of this year: - The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang. It’s a slow burn at first but then oh my god does it pack a punch. Samurai plus magic plus amazing character evolution. - Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. The premise is that the MC’s husband is slowly turning into a shark. It was the most surprising book I read all year—what I thought would be a funny book turned into a beautiful meditation on love and grief. And as a new parent this year, Laundry HITS thank you Jake 😭😭😭 such a tender thing.

Emma

2025-01-03 23:55:46 +0000 UTC

thank you!! I spent way too much time curating this list of only four books lol

Katie

2025-01-03 23:53:40 +0000 UTC

Second this!

Emma

2025-01-03 23:38:05 +0000 UTC

These are top tier recommendations!!!

Emma

2025-01-03 23:32:46 +0000 UTC

happy new year, i got the grinch to shoutout the two crew! https://x.com/bstrgold/status/1875294033708511726?s=46

cas

2025-01-03 22:40:41 +0000 UTC

I ran to brat today!!

Olivia M

2025-01-03 21:43:10 +0000 UTC

the book martyr! by kaveh akbar

Lila Goldenberg

2025-01-03 21:41:57 +0000 UTC

Robin Hobb's trilogy The Liveship Traders were my favorite books this year! Multiple point of view fantasy series with ships that have living figureheads that awaken once 3 generations of captains die on their decks, spectacularly deep characters with amazing arcs, and the best villain I have ever read. This trilogy is within a greater world that she has multiple trilogies in but this was the first I have read from it and it stands alone well, can't wait to read her other work!

Henry Whittington

2025-01-03 21:01:37 +0000 UTC

emily i think you would love city of brass if you havent read it!

Iris

2025-01-03 19:42:38 +0000 UTC

that’s so sweet!! 💞💞

lily 😦

2025-01-03 18:34:09 +0000 UTC

My recommendation of the year is Epic the Musical! “EPIC (Official Concept Album)” on Spotify by Jorge Rivera-Herrans for those who wonder. I’ve never enjoyed musicals before this one and it really opened up the whole genre for me. It’s a retelling of the Odyssey, which I was unfamiliar with. I know Emily and Caldwell have spoken about it before on some old mixed bags. If you guys get the chance check it out! It’s so good!

Cody

2025-01-03 18:32:54 +0000 UTC

Technically a 2023 book, but I read it this year. Clytemnestra by Constanza Casanti. I loved this book so much. I had fallen out of love with reading for a couple years but my sister gave it to me as a bday gift and I couldn’t put it down. Casanti does an amazing job of expanding on Clytenmstra’s life and of her family.

Ames

2025-01-03 18:22:14 +0000 UTC

You're welcome! I hope you find something you enjoy. I made another comment about hockey comics I remembered: Dogsred is a new hockey manga that's just now getting English translations. https://www.viz.com/shonenjump/chapters/dogsred https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogsred Check, Please! was webcomic that centered itself around the relationships of a college hockey team. You can read the original webcomic or pick up the book(s) with redone art and color. https://www.checkpleasecomic.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Check,_Please!_(webcomic) https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/check-please/list?title_no=954251

Zack

2025-01-03 18:12:31 +0000 UTC

These eggs ARE so easy to peel!!

Katherine

2025-01-03 17:50:52 +0000 UTC

My rec is both not 2024 and also 2024. But I hopped on the bandwagon for the show Arcane on Netflix. I didn’t realize that season one was back in like 2021 or something and I must have missed it when it was popping, but since season 2 came out this year it caught my eye and it was the first show I’ve binge watched in years! I highly recommend! I think it’s a great show! (Worst thing about it is that Imagine Dragons is the theme song, but thank God for the “Skip Intro” button). Go watch it, the show kicks ass!

Tyler Rountree

2025-01-03 16:44:35 +0000 UTC

Also, my actual 2024 recommendation is I discovered The Deku Trio that has two truly inccredible three piece jazz cover albums of Zelda music. Top 1 for me.

GGCoopie

2025-01-03 15:45:00 +0000 UTC

I knew I forgot something in yesterday's comment. Hockey comics! Dogsred is a new hockey manga that's just now getting English translations. https://www.viz.com/shonenjump/chapters/dogsred https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogsred Check, Please! was webcomic that centered itself around the relationships of a college hockey team. You can read the original webcomic or pick up the book(s) with redone art and color. https://www.checkpleasecomic.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Check,_Please!_(webcomic) https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/check-please/list?title_no=954251

Zack

2025-01-03 15:33:42 +0000 UTC

my biggest rec is also reading! the stormlight archive was huge for me this year (magical storms and an ever expanding world/lost history that you’re trying to figure out along with the characters) and reprieve by james han matteson for a great novel (what if there was a murder at a full contact scare experience and also it was a metaphor for how we are manipulated by the powerful)

Laura !

2025-01-03 14:31:21 +0000 UTC

My rec of the year (although it came out in 2022) is the book Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It's a cozy book about a grizzled orc who decides she wants to retire from adventuring and start a coffee shop in a city that has no clue what coffee is. I loved every minute of reading it. It is incredibly low stakes but still captures some fantasy intrigue, and I can't wait to read his next book Bookshops and Bonedust (which came out last year).

Janaga

2025-01-03 10:19:28 +0000 UTC

Always love an Emily book recc!

mikel_pickle

2025-01-03 09:54:19 +0000 UTC

For those people who love BLOODBORNE!! There is an amazing audio book on YouTube for the lore of Bloodborne! It’s called “The Paleblood Hunt” by Redgrave and it’s read by a man with literally the perfect voice for it, Jay Britton! Bloodbore is one of my favorite games and I can’t recommend this audio book enough for people who love the game!!

Thrath the Demon Lord of Spite

2025-01-03 07:32:26 +0000 UTC

Julio Torres, who made Problemista, has a show called Fantasmas on HBO that is so fun

Maureen Tuohey

2025-01-03 06:40:45 +0000 UTC

Honorable mention to Novellas. Sometimes when I have a lot going on I can’t fully immerse myself in a full novel or series but I can definitely devour some 50-200page novellas! Cozy mysteries and spicy romantasy are my fave genres!

Elizabeth Morgan

2025-01-03 05:35:25 +0000 UTC

Emily: Have you read the Fourth Wing books? The 3rd comes out this month and they are so good! All about dragon riders. As for movies, my toddler highly recommends Moana 2 and is excited for live action Moana.

Elizabeth Morgan

2025-01-03 05:31:14 +0000 UTC

I love Isshin and Alesha Who Smiles at Death! Wulfgar 1000% has Hardwon energy and gruul are great colors to get familiar with all aspects of commander

Myka

2025-01-03 05:07:09 +0000 UTC

Saw this in the movie theater down the street with my wife on our first date a few months after our second baby was born... this was such a refreshing cinematic experience for us.

GGCoopie

2025-01-03 05:03:59 +0000 UTC

Oh yea and Edgerunners was f*cking so dope. Haven't seen a next-level Akira style anime like that in a long time.

GGCoopie

2025-01-03 04:58:21 +0000 UTC

Feeling alive in 2025, here's some tailored book recs for the crew! I will be reading Brightsword. Murph: Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie. Absolutely well done one-shot GoT-esque sword fantasy short stories. Jake: Recursion by Blake Crouch. #girldad action movie, but a it's a book! Great in audio format. Emily: To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Beck Chambers. Not part of her other popular series (also good), this is a shorter more obscure science-based science fiction. Caldwell: When The Sparrow Falls by Neil Sharpson. One of the most unique debut novels I have ever read, sci-fi noir. Was a stage play at first that turned into a novel.

GGCoopie

2025-01-03 04:53:17 +0000 UTC

can’t recommend I Saw the TV Glow enough to anyone who hasn’t seen it!! favorite movie of the year by far and most devastating for me personally

lily 😦

2025-01-03 04:42:24 +0000 UTC

Also Way of Kings and Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson if you haven’t

mugabi rubamba

2025-01-03 04:01:04 +0000 UTC

truly such a delight to be able to actually name and attract lil critters.

foster the boneless duck

2025-01-03 03:53:06 +0000 UTC

oh wow i don't know if he's still in need of any cast members but i would give anything for you to collaborate on EPIC

foster the boneless duck

2025-01-03 03:52:10 +0000 UTC

Some book recs!! Beautyland is about a child who realizes that she’s actually from a faraway planet sent to Earth to report back on her findings. The book follows her through her life, and it’s really tender and lovely. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries is about a professor of faerie studies who travels to a remote Icelandic town to study the faeries of the area. Love this book, great if you like fae and footnotes. Piranesi is so difficult to describe but it’s so mysterious and fascinating and beautiful. I really can’t figure out how to describe it, all I can do is tell people to start reading and just get swept into the mystery of it all. This Is How You Lose the Time War!!! Sapphic love story between two rival time travel agents!! Beautiful, almost poetry-like love letters written across time. Not to be all “girl who watches Dimension 20” but I immediately thought of this book when Ayda sent her letter to Fig in FHJY. Hope you enjoy if you check out any of these, and thank you for the book recs (and all the other recs)!!

Katie

2025-01-03 03:51:58 +0000 UTC

I LOVE RIN & SERI!!!!!! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:59:14 +0000 UTC

I had thought of isshin for jake! I have an isshin deck. And wulfgar of ice wind dale was the commander I was trying to think of! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:58:30 +0000 UTC

I read pachinko this year, I didn't even know there was a tv show! that must be such a tearjerker. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:57:32 +0000 UTC

annihilation is INCREDIBLE. I've only read a couple chapters of one china mieville, but i think I need to check out more. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:57:04 +0000 UTC

a few other people have recommended this! it is going to the top of my list along with the buried giant so I can really drench myself in arthurian atmosphere. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:56:27 +0000 UTC

I will check it out! And yes, the golden bough definitely does not feel entirely accurate and I dismiss some stuff because it was written so long ago, but in general, it's a fun look into comparative mythology. I'll check out ronald hutton! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:54:11 +0000 UTC

He actually started with elden ring, and has dug his heels in and refuses to give up. I am so surprised, but the man loves to grind hard games so I shouldn't be that surprised. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:52:06 +0000 UTC

INCREDIBLE - this sounds awesome -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:50:25 +0000 UTC

you know, I DO want these things -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:49:50 +0000 UTC

wow I will check it out!! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:48:27 +0000 UTC

murph LOVES moo deng, and we talk about moo deng at home, and one of our cats is short and stubby like moo deng so we call her mew deng. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:47:48 +0000 UTC

okay yes I wlil!!! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:46:41 +0000 UTC

LOVE sabriel. I will check out tales of the otori! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:45:36 +0000 UTC

Oops forgot to mention that i feel like Jakey poo would like that style of deck. If you want a deck list id be happy to send it!

Dingdongdang55

2025-01-03 02:45:24 +0000 UTC

I will DEF look into this. I love sleep accessories. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:44:45 +0000 UTC

circe is incredible. If you like circe, a book I also loved that reminded me of it was The Witch's Heart. It's about Angrboda, the mother of Loki's monstrous children, but from her perspective. It was really beautiful and meditative. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:43:44 +0000 UTC

Imagining her as fan casted Callie!

Shel B Kennas 1st fav sprite girl! celebrating turning 32 by seeing D20 at MSG dressing up as Sofie Lee!

2025-01-03 02:43:12 +0000 UTC

I lOVE naomi novik, I'll have to check it out. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:41:43 +0000 UTC

Other people have recommended this! If its about greek mythology, I will have to wait till I've finished my little greek mythology album, just to avoid creative cross contamination (not the best way to describe it, but you know what I mean!) -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:41:18 +0000 UTC

I do not! I would feel too bad giving anything less than 5 stars or saying anything even vaguely negative. I think I am a glowing review or nothing kinda gal. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:39:51 +0000 UTC

oh shit, that sounds awesome. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:39:16 +0000 UTC

Ella Purnell is incredible, I loved her in both shows. and hell yes to funky rings! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:38:54 +0000 UTC

I started this a year or so ago but got distracted, this is a good reminder to get it from libby again! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:37:59 +0000 UTC

I should check that out, I love the actor who plays the kid too. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:36:36 +0000 UTC

this book has been on my "to read" list for way too long! It's very popular and has a crazy wait time at the library and it keeps becoming available when I'm actively reading several other books. one of these days! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:35:40 +0000 UTC

someone else recommended this! I will def check it out. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:34:46 +0000 UTC

this is such an interesting sell, I will check it out! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:33:50 +0000 UTC

that's awesome, I will check it out! I just started bloodbourne based on caldwell's recommendation, though, so it'll have to wait till I've tired myself slaying prey and talking to dolls. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:32:44 +0000 UTC

I took a class during pandemic about horticulture and we had to get a california natives book, and it was awesome. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:32:31 +0000 UTC

I had A Darker Shade of Magic on my list of recommendations that other people suggested this year! I'll have to check it out. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:31:14 +0000 UTC

awwwww I was just cleaning out my closet the other day and found my Rock Lee halloween costume. Such a great show. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:30:40 +0000 UTC

this is such a wild recommendation I have no clue if it's a joke or not. I'll find out when I try it. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:30:00 +0000 UTC

"lonesome october" is a beautiful phrase, I will def add this to my list! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:28:53 +0000 UTC

love terry pratchett, I will def check this out. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:27:32 +0000 UTC

a recommend AND a second?? I'm listening!!!! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:27:04 +0000 UTC

this is going STRAIGHT to the top of my list -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:25:48 +0000 UTC

whoa, good luck with your last semester at law school, that's huge! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:25:13 +0000 UTC

brat is a great album, ESPECIALLY to run to, imo -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:24:28 +0000 UTC

I just had a doechii song come up a few days ago and added it to my faves playlist. I will check out more -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:24:10 +0000 UTC

a lOT of my friends have recommended Junji ito to me this year!! dallergut dream and verge also sound sick. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:22:55 +0000 UTC

I hung out with some people on Murph's hockey team yesterday, and one of the people was talking about how fun curling is! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:22:07 +0000 UTC

That is SO impressive that you rewired your house. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:21:10 +0000 UTC

I will def check out Joan in the Garden! -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:20:18 +0000 UTC

I will check it out! I am ready for my arthurian phase. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:18:31 +0000 UTC

running would've been on my 2023 best of, that was the year I started doing it again. It's been so helpful for my mind and focus. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:17:38 +0000 UTC

I loved snack shack, it was really fun. I saw it in an entirely empty theatre in the middle of the day. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:16:09 +0000 UTC

I liked magicians, but not enough to finish the trilogy. I LOVE the bright sword. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:15:07 +0000 UTC

these both sound great. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:14:44 +0000 UTC

thank you!!!! I will greedily devour these music recs on my runs. -Emily

Not Another D&D Podcast

2025-01-03 02:13:41 +0000 UTC

It’s so cool to listen to you guys talk passionately about stuff that you liked on the year! Very wholesome. I have followed Jake giving unsolicited advices and looking for the perfect shirt for a while so it was nice to hear that he found the one! Also Emily, I like Fred again as well, and if you’re on the House Music vibe I’ll give you 3 recommendations of artists that I like a lot for different reasons to see if any of you appeal to you: - Barry can’t swim (recommend his album and his O2 academy show - it’s on YouTube) - Lane 8 - Salute

Nathann Morais

2025-01-03 01:59:36 +0000 UTC

Well I didn’t really read books it was a web novel year and my recs are 1. Shadow Slave 2. Lord of the Mysteries

Nixon Perez

2025-01-03 01:20:50 +0000 UTC

There are two books out of the 120ish I read last year that pleasantly surprised me (hopefully the stats on that will encourage people to read them.) There are other books I liked but these two came out of nowhere. 1. Lady Eve's Last Con. A sci-fi book with a 1920s aesthetic about a con artist seeking revenge on her sister's terrible ex. The voice of the book is super fun and it was a refreshing, delightful surprise. 2. The fall that saved us. A contemporary book about a relationship between... Kind of an angel and kind of a devil, it's more complicated than that but you'd have to read it. It's about breaking unhealthy family bonds and religious trauma and I found it deeply moving.

Ilana Galpert

2025-01-03 00:57:13 +0000 UTC

Is The Bright Sword anything like Lev Grossman's magicians trilogy? Murph really sold me on the book but I'm kind of lukewarm on the other books I've read by Grossman so I'm on the fence

Ilana Galpert

2025-01-03 00:44:08 +0000 UTC

Murph!!! If you loved Iron Claw, be on the look out for Queen of the Ring, the story of Mildred Burke's wrestling career. Truly my favorite wrestling film ever. I saw it at a festival and it's slated for a March full release.

Jovi89

2025-01-03 00:32:15 +0000 UTC

Jake, the Pilates mom we didn’t know we needed

Trevor McDaniel

2025-01-02 23:50:51 +0000 UTC

Plato, best of 2024!

Spaghetti Spawn

2025-01-02 23:50:49 +0000 UTC

I appreciate it! I’ll for sure check these out too

Fig

2025-01-02 23:38:23 +0000 UTC

Me yelling to my boyfriend in the other room “BABE Murph says you need to play lives of p! Babe it’s bloodborne 2!!!!”

Grass

2025-01-02 23:30:16 +0000 UTC

My top 5: 5. Snack Shack - A coming of age movie that follows two best friends as they operate a public pools snack shack over the summer of 1991. Its really endearing and it was everything I love in this kind of story. 4. Yoga - Kind of like Jake I had back issues for years here and there and finally started doing Yoga in late July. I do it every morning before work now and I've been back pain free for around 3 and a half months now. 3. Cooking - Just actually cooking and (mostly) following recipes. 2. Reading Gothic Horror - I've always loved this genre but for some reason I never read Frankenstein, or Dracula, or Carmilla, or The Picture of Dorian Grey but I finally did and I really enjoyed it. 1. Baldur's Gate 3 - I know everyone and has already played it probably but I played it in 2023, I played it in 2024, and I'm definitely going to play it again in 2025 when Patch 8 adds 12 extra subclasses.

Bany

2025-01-02 23:17:17 +0000 UTC

Just want to call that it's either twilight sanctorum or mavrus chronicles next.

Clay Brannam

2025-01-02 22:57:41 +0000 UTC

my recommendations 1. You Did This To Yourself by Cortez Del Mar. beautifully haunting folk album. 2. games, ffxiv, sims 4, marvel rivals, sea of stars, been getting back into ACNL too 3. just being an absolutely unabashed weird person. absolutely no holds barred. 4. muscle tees. i don't care if you look like a douche they're really comfortable 5.No party for Cao Dong. taiwanese band, really good stuff

Jorgus

2025-01-02 22:41:10 +0000 UTC

Some of my favorite books this year, which I think Emily would love if she hasn't read them yet, is The Singing Hills Cycle, a series of novellas by Nghi Vo. The first is The Empress of Salt and Fortune, and the whole series is set in a fantasy world vaguely based on/inspired by East and Southeast Asian mythology.

Ella

2025-01-02 22:37:04 +0000 UTC

Honorable mention to the play Oh, Mary! which was one of the funniest things I’ve seen and reaffirmed my love for live theater and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 6 because La Voix was a delight to watch and the makeover episode made me cry.

Shane C

2025-01-02 22:34:09 +0000 UTC

The way I was actively thumbing through The Food Lab by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt at the start of this episode and instantly was stunned by the serendipity of Caldwell's first (fifth) recommendation. He's right though, the egg is incredible.

ohayres

2025-01-02 22:24:20 +0000 UTC

Alright here are my recommendations: 1. Metaphor Re:Fantazio: really fun game, great characters and story, visuals were fantastic. I also suffer from overstimulation in open world games and I appreciated that it was open enough but still kept me on the main story. 2. Books: I read The Realm of the Elderlings series (which came out before 2024) but it was very fun to read through. I also read The Tainted Cup and that was a really fun mix of mystery and fantasy and I thought it was really engaging. 3. Smoothies: Got into smoothies this year and I don’t know what I was doing pre-smoothies in my life. It’s healthy and filling if you put protein powder in them. 10/10, everyone should drink smoothies. 4. Running: I used to run competitively in college and it’s been hard to rediscover the love for running that I used to have but this year something clicked and I’ve been running more than I have in the last few years. I’d like to run a marathon and see how I can do after training a bit more. 5. Tie dyed shirts: I dunno, I think tie dyed shirts are neat and I bought a few this year that I really like to wear.

Shane C

2025-01-02 22:21:53 +0000 UTC

Best part of Soulslikes is the catharsis you get from beating your head against a wall for an hour and finally beating the boss!

Brandon Wiens

2025-01-02 22:15:32 +0000 UTC

Poetry foundation (poetryfoundation.org) is a great place to find poetry too! I just read Laundry and gosh, it was great. A poet I love is anything by Richard Siken, but special shout out to his book Crush

Gill

2025-01-02 21:55:35 +0000 UTC

China Mieville is pretty great. Assuming I've got the right person. And if so, their Dial H comic from a while back was fuckin' rad. So weird.

Lonestar

2025-01-02 21:38:17 +0000 UTC

Cannot second this enough!!

Brendan Archbold

2025-01-02 21:08:01 +0000 UTC

You didn't waste your time Caldwell! Chapterhouse Dune is craziness in the best way

Austin Wiggin

2025-01-02 20:47:30 +0000 UTC

Following that up with a decidedly not 2024 rec, but for my fellow lovers of all things King Arthur, I gotta reccomend The Once and Future King by T.H. White. (Disney's The Sword in the Stone is based on part one of this book!) It's my favorite piece of Arthurian media, and in my top 10 books of all time. The writing is beautiful, the characterization is painfully human, and it makes me laugh out loud, weep, and experience all emotions in between. (Heads up that there are, at times, some uhhhh rough takes on women, Jewish people, and people of color. I cringe while acknowledging that this book was written in the 1930s-1950s and is in many ways a product of its time and of the author's flaws. But no one owes that grace to a book, so if that means you'd rather avoid it entirely, it's always a heads up I like to give.)

Maggie

2025-01-02 20:46:13 +0000 UTC

These are all awesome reccomendations but WOW I am so stoked to read The Bright Sword and I'd never heard of it until Murph reccomended it.

Maggie

2025-01-02 20:16:25 +0000 UTC

My two video games of the year: 1) Unicorn Overlord: Played the hell out of this one, and I love playing on the hard difficulty and coming to a difficult part and thinking "okay how do I rearrange my army to get past this" 2) Vampire Therapist: Just funny, compassionate and fascinating. After playing it, I listened to "Tales of the Body Thief" the fourth Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles book, and couldn't help but analyze what cognitive distortions were being demonstrated by Lestate. Music/Book of the Year: I loved the new Decemberists album, in particular the last track "Joan in the Garden" which is a 19 minute epic song about Joan of Ark and the creative process. Then reading about "Joan in the Garden" I found out that it was in part inspired by the 2017 Linda Yuknavitch novel "Book of Joan" which is a distopian sci fi interpretation of the Joan of Ark mythos, that kind of defies explanation.

Ben Helford

2025-01-02 20:15:22 +0000 UTC

2) Tools that you think you don't need but would make your life way easier, even if they cost a hundred dollars. I bought a battery powered worklight while rewiring my house (rather than just stick to my flashlight and headlamp) and it's SO MUCH NICER. Get yourself tools to assist you even if they're not vital!

Gearbox

2025-01-02 19:43:33 +0000 UTC

1) Boroscopes. They're one of those tools you see that you never consider buying yourself but it's a game changer. Everyone has had something fall in a tight space or needed to do something blindly and it's so nice to have extra eyes. You can get one for like 150 bucks

Gearbox

2025-01-02 19:42:01 +0000 UTC

I've genuinely loved listening to the audio book for My Vampire System by JKS Such a great series in my opinion

Darion Aronson

2025-01-02 18:40:55 +0000 UTC

2024 is the year I fully dove into the sport of Curling. Definitely my mid-life catharsis and I love it. There's curling clubs across the U.S. - just look them up and book a Learn To Curl lesson! 🥌

Shrimp Loaf

2025-01-02 18:38:36 +0000 UTC

Hoppin in with: Graphic novels: My favourite thing is monsters by Emil Ferris (incredible drawings! very heavy story) Anything Junji Ito does (so so spooky! Have you ever been scared of your head falling off and turning into a snail? I am now!) Books: The only one left by Riley sager (so many twists!!! Twists upon twists) Verge by Nadia Attia (futuristic folk horror) Dallergut dream department store by mi-ye Lee (it’s about a departments store for dreams staffed partially by animals and is as cute as it sounds)

Ro

2025-01-02 18:30:46 +0000 UTC

Go out and play hockey Go Knights go

Timothy L

2025-01-02 18:26:17 +0000 UTC

I’d recommend listening to Doechii, she’s awesome

ananarama

2025-01-02 18:16:39 +0000 UTC

My top 5 from 2024: 1. Sudoku 2. Brat (Charli XCX album) 3. Pumpkin oat cups from Sally’s baking addiction 4. The Daily (NYT podcast) 5. Running Honorable mentions: road trips, themed parties, joining a choir

Olivia M

2025-01-02 17:33:28 +0000 UTC

You guys should do this every year! This was interesting!

Nick Andrusin

2025-01-02 17:33:27 +0000 UTC

Thanks for the episode, folks! I asked everyone at my New Year's Party to come with their Top Fives of 2024, and it was such a fun activity. I also appreciated y'all shout-outs to activities/hobbies used to find balance outside of work. I graduate this year from law school as an election law/voting rights lawyer and while I love my work and think it's important, I also need to find things outside of it! Thanks for the reminder that no matter how much you enjoy your work, you need to be more than it!

Maggie Schaller

2025-01-02 17:29:38 +0000 UTC

If you like Arthurian legend, read The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro! Set in the years following the death of King Arthur, it is beautiful book about war and memory, featuring knights, warriors, a weird boy, and dragons, centered on an elderly couple who just wants to visit their son.

Julia Arbanas

2025-01-02 17:00:49 +0000 UTC

Saw your comment and wanted to leave the links from my hockey recs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo12SYwt93SSLiXQaiTqphByHNd5IZWAT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUXSZMIiUfFQRjVOKPAkLtvw0tlBzXxjc I don't know of anywhere that this doc series is streaming, but it's at least on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkJIscd4gJkmCccNO0ycyEdKHCLlr232L https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_(Dryden_book) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1NbHSfosBuFnwGJcXwsDG-wl8SNDzOu2 Enjoy!

Zack

2025-01-02 16:37:22 +0000 UTC

Poetry recommendations: Charles Simic has some wonderful weird poems about cutlery (“Fork” is my fave) and Murph might enjoy W. Todd Kaneko’s work (he has a book called The Dead Wrestler Elegies). His poem “Elegy for Bruce Lee” is gorgeous.

Insufficiently Caffeinated

2025-01-02 16:33:06 +0000 UTC

I would be remiss if I didn't also take this opportunity to recommend The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, an American history podcast

Zack

2025-01-02 16:29:54 +0000 UTC

I'll leave some hockey recommendations here: Hey Burkie Animated shorts of Brian Burke telling stories from his life in hockey. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo12SYwt93SSLiXQaiTqphByHNd5IZWAT The Secret Base YouTube channel has done entertaining videos on various things from the NHL. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUXSZMIiUfFQRjVOKPAkLtvw0tlBzXxjc Hockey: A People's History by the CBC is a ten episode documentary series about the history of the sport itself. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkJIscd4gJkmCccNO0ycyEdKHCLlr232L The Game by Ken Dryden is an intimate look into the life of a professional goalie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_(Dryden_book) And finally if anyone needs a crash course on the rules, here is Hockey 101 with Snoop Dogg: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1NbHSfosBuFnwGJcXwsDG-wl8SNDzOu2

Zack

2025-01-02 16:26:28 +0000 UTC

Unsouled series by Will Wight really satisfying power ups for the characters over 12 books

Liam

2025-01-02 16:23:38 +0000 UTC

EPIC: the musical concept album by Jorge Rivera-Herrans!!!!!!!!!

Benjamin Hake

2025-01-02 15:55:35 +0000 UTC

I thought Parable of the Sower was exceptionally well written but too sad for me to really enjoy. If anyone is considering picking it up, you should reflect on your tolerance for tragedy before you dive in.

Peter Christy

2025-01-02 15:46:41 +0000 UTC

I also tried persimmons for the first time this year! An unexpected new treat!

xatlern

2025-01-02 15:44:43 +0000 UTC

Book Rec: Orconomics by Zachary Pike. Clever, funny, and enough heart to keep people engaged. Reminds me more than a little bit of Terry Prachett, who’s my favorite of all time.

Peter Christy

2025-01-02 15:43:27 +0000 UTC

Crit on reading

just a little bawn

2025-01-02 15:35:55 +0000 UTC

Games: BG3, No Man's Sky TV Shows: Dandadan, The Expanse S3, Dropout Shows Best Live Performance: Modest Mouse on their anniversary tour! Books: H.P. Lovecraft free audiobooks on youtube

Glenn Dowdle

2025-01-02 15:10:16 +0000 UTC

LOVE Parable of the Sower!! I read it in college in 2020 (pre-covid) and I’m sure it’s even more eerily accurate in 2025

Rain

2025-01-02 14:42:52 +0000 UTC

My 2024 recommendations for the 2crew: Frieren: Beyond Journeys End (absolutely stunning fantasy anime that laments life and death) Mouthwashing (a short horror game with great vibes) The Like a Dragon games (the latest game Infinite Wealth came out this year and ruled but I'm recommending the whole series because its so much fun)

verityisoki

2025-01-02 14:41:02 +0000 UTC

I recommend staying on the blizzard train and reading the diablo trilogy: the sin war. I may be biased and a huge diablo nerd. But i absolutely love the first book. Just got the second book for chirstmas. And hearing Murph say he was reading about blizzard and y'all talking d3 made me think it might be a decent read for you guys to enjoy 🤷 die hard fan of the podcast. Great recommendations to look into. Thanks

Blaine Moses

2025-01-02 14:35:50 +0000 UTC

Lies of P was an all time game for me, so damn fun! Emily should read A Night in the Lonesome October, I know she probably doesn’t read these but had to give my book rec somehow😂

Nick Neverman

2025-01-02 13:57:20 +0000 UTC

I never comment but I wanted to jump in and say I’ll take ALL the hockey recs Murph. Can’t wait to watch that documentary this weekend

Fig

2025-01-02 13:35:51 +0000 UTC

I recommend wrapping an orange wedge in a basil leaf and eating it with your eyes closed, imagining whatever the flavors evoke. Bonus points if you do the same thing with rosemary and peach

The Wizard Spring

2025-01-02 13:07:15 +0000 UTC

I am projecting psionic power into these comments to compel every member of NADDPod to read One Piece

clevername

2025-01-02 12:24:48 +0000 UTC

You guys need to put Emily's b-sides in the store. I can't imagine a better Christmas present for my partner next year!

Brian McAree Murphy

2025-01-02 11:38:23 +0000 UTC

Mine was inspired by you! Got into Naruto after re listening to the mixed bag about it and absolutely loved it

Rotem Cohen

2025-01-02 09:56:28 +0000 UTC

Caldwell: Did you watch “One Piece Fan Letter”? If not, it’s incredible!

Joseph Christodoulou

2025-01-02 08:17:11 +0000 UTC

i highly recommend any of octavia butlers books. they’re all afrofuturist and often bridge the gap between sci-fi and fantasy. she is also a literal prophet when it comes to the future of the united states unfortunately

lily h

2025-01-02 07:44:14 +0000 UTC

For an amazing fantasy book/series is V.E. Schwab’s, A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, A Conjuring of Light, and The Fragile Threads of Power.

Cameron C

2025-01-02 06:59:29 +0000 UTC

the pwhl is absolutely where the venn diagram of hockey and naddpod fans meet (consider this a plug if you enjoy the beautiful butch lesbians of naddpod you will love the pwhl i promise)

Oliver Gullikson

2025-01-02 06:40:07 +0000 UTC

i really reccomend getting local flora/fauna guide books, i got really into identifying mushrooms in 2023 and then birds for 2024. i think bees for 2025

foster the boneless duck

2025-01-02 06:39:06 +0000 UTC

Caldwell and Emily should try Frogmonster. It's a shooter game where you play as a frog with a gun in a fun lo-fi kind of aesthetic and a kind of fairy tale sorta vibe for the story. It is extremely charming, all of the guns' audio is done by the game's creator going "pew pew".

Nicolas R

2025-01-02 05:06:26 +0000 UTC

In terms of egg cooking, I've been actually marinating my soft-boiled, jammy yolk eggs in a soy sauce and mirin mixture (with garlic, green onions, and gochujang). Good shit.

Nicolas R

2025-01-02 04:56:07 +0000 UTC

Stardew valley Dinner parties Midwest sweet corn Noise cancelling headphones Costco

Kailey Langer

2025-01-02 03:38:36 +0000 UTC

i just found out about them earlier this year and i’m obsessed!

Kayli

2025-01-02 02:56:46 +0000 UTC

My top movie of 2024 was “My Old Ass” on Prime, I still wake up in the middle of the night thinking about the ending 😭

Rachael Essen

2025-01-02 02:28:14 +0000 UTC

In no particular order 1. Tatsuya Kitani, Japanese musical artist. Heard Moonthief out on a cold January night and was hooked with the vibe ever since. It's got a good dance element to it but still has that unrefined feel to his vocals 2. Ultraman Rising: My SO got really into Ultraman over the past few years and we were excited about this movie. It was incredibly heartwarming and a really good mix between Western sensibilities and franchise traditions. 3. Rollerblading: I actually started at the end of 2023 but broke my wrist so I couldn't really get into it until 2024. There was a lot of summer days where I'd pop on the short rest, hit the park and skate till I was tired 4. Lethal Company: Such a simple game, go in, get treasure, get out. Its led to so many funny little moments. I genuinely look forward to when I can get my friends together to play 5. Going to concerts: I did three concerts this year, my first fly away concert for Hatsune Miku and an impromptu for Sonic Symphony. It was just a treat for both. One of my friends flew back in to see Miku and it was just a treat to see him and hang out again. Oh and hearing an orchestra play classic Sonic songs? Extremely cool I absolutely loved it

Takowowo

2025-01-02 02:23:12 +0000 UTC

Red Rising the Book Series by Pierce Brown !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mugabi rubamba

2025-01-02 01:58:37 +0000 UTC

fwiw, i’m not a wrestling fan but i loved the iron claw. as for recs, the book “the long way to a small, angry planet” was my favorite read of the year and it also reminded me a lot of starstruck so that was fun. the wild robot is one of the best animated films to come out in recent years imho. not specific to 2024 but there’s this tabletop game called fantasy realms that i’m obsessed with. you use cards to build worlds and there are bonuses/penalties depending on your deck. anyway, thank you all for the recs and all the joy you’ve brought us this year!

lioreo

2025-01-02 01:56:59 +0000 UTC

I have to recommend the book Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. Fantasy about a junior librarian and gods and SO well written

Lauren

2025-01-02 01:39:37 +0000 UTC

On the topic of random Apple TV shows, watch Ted Lasso! Season one especially was very emotionally effective! Great for sports fans like Murph and especially Jake since it’s a bout a soccer coach moving to Britain, but I think the whole crew would like it! Def not a 2024 rec but that’s when I watched it.

Elijah C.

2025-01-02 01:01:49 +0000 UTC

Jake, the jock among nerds.

Agiddysea

2025-01-02 00:30:38 +0000 UTC

So fun hearin' y'all talk about Edgerunners considering its setting is from a TTRPG. Cyberpunk Red (the newest edition) is super fun, though I have no idea how well it lends itself to a custom setting.

Lonestar

2025-01-02 00:09:55 +0000 UTC

the french exit movie adaptation is really funny. michelle pfeiffer!

9on

2025-01-01 23:56:23 +0000 UTC

I rediscovered SMOSH in 2024 and if you were ever a fan or not I recommend going to their YouTube and watching as much of their content as possible. They brought so much joy and laughter into my life this year!

Colin Kilzer

2025-01-01 23:56:06 +0000 UTC

Looking forward to the 2 year. Hope y’all didn’t stay out past murphew last night 😉

Miranda the Dungeon Court Stenographer

2025-01-01 22:59:57 +0000 UTC

2024 book of the year for me was “Voices of Morebath” by Eamon Duffy! It’s nonfiction and is about a small English village during the English reformation, where the local priest wrote everything that was going on down! Really interesting view into a subject I knew very little about

Dakota Jahn

2025-01-01 22:33:41 +0000 UTC

2024 Book Rec: This is how you lose the time war. New favourite book of all time.

Addie K

2025-01-01 20:26:25 +0000 UTC

We got those Dragonball manga’s for Christmas. They are heavy!

A. Lee. S

2025-01-01 20:24:55 +0000 UTC

Shelby’s 2024 recs: -Trading with neighbors for service tasks (house sitting, dog walks etc) instead of hiring out. Pros: builds community. I got to meet my favorite window cat and discover she has thumbs AND stomps when she walks like a trotting horse -Shows with Ella Purnell: Yellowjackets and Fallout were both perfect shows, no notes. -Traveling to Malta: cheaper than domestically traveling in the US, friendly people, gorgeous scenery, literally the best place I’ve ever visited. The country also LOVES cats down bad. -Artichoke Pizza in NYC (restaurant): Best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. I normally don’t eat at the same place twice when traveling, I went 3 times and I regret not going more. The vodka slice well done is in my top 5 of all foods all time -Regular Pedicures: Especially helpful if you’re a long distance runner Honorable mention: Walking pad for standing desk, wearing funky rings, croc Chelsea rain boots

Shel B Kennas 1st fav sprite girl! celebrating turning 32 by seeing D20 at MSG dressing up as Sofie Lee!

2025-01-01 20:24:30 +0000 UTC

Saw i had a credit on audible and bought bright sword. I love lev Grossman's magicians series so had to get it

Vampire the Assquerade

2025-01-01 19:58:58 +0000 UTC

I have a Sarkhan Unbroken is an amazing and simple deck. all dragons all big numbers.

Dingdongdang55

2025-01-01 18:53:23 +0000 UTC

Pilates has been my thing I sought to be somewhat decent at as a 31 year-old! I started a reformer Pilates class in February 2024 and have kept up with it throughout the year, 8 classes per month. I fully agree that my body feels so much better to exist in, and I'm a lot more aware of the control I have over its movements. My core feels stronger, and my body itself has become more toned. It's truly a beautiful thing. I've never really liked exercise, but I want to grow old and be able to touch my toes.

Breana Miller

2025-01-01 18:24:36 +0000 UTC

Hockey rec: The PWHL is in their second season and stream games live on Youtube. I've been watching at the gym for motivation and it's been super fun

Iris Dewey

2025-01-01 17:38:16 +0000 UTC

Got it Brown Shirt, White Shirt books and Pilates

Alex Herndon

2025-01-01 17:28:51 +0000 UTC

Does anyone know if Emily has a Goodreads we can follow

Elise Brinkmann

2025-01-01 17:22:44 +0000 UTC

Also, not 2024 at all, but I think (despite it being horribly dated in parts) that the DMs of the two crew (Murph in particular) would really like the Black Company series of books as an interesting framing of a fantasy story. Mercenaries working for the big bad during the final campaign is the basics, but I think the depiction of magic might also interest the crew.

Gnaeus Corbulo

2025-01-01 15:33:07 +0000 UTC

Beyond delighted to get a shoutout from Murph. I just discovered CZARFACE this year and it brings me so much joy that it was appreciated! Happy Hoglidays!

Gnaeus Corbulo

2025-01-01 15:30:56 +0000 UTC

Personal Top 5: (i only watch anime, listen to actual plays, and read old books) 1) Kingdom Season 5 (Historical Fiction anime about the unification of China under Qin Shi Huang) 2) Dungeon Meshi (Fantasy anime, one of Caldwell's honorable mentions) 3) Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (Historical Fiction anime about heliocentrism) 4) Hibike! Euphonium S3 (SoL anime about a high school band -- last season :() 5) Witch Watch (SoL/Romance/Supernatural manga -- started in 2021 but still serialized, so I think it counts)

Magma

2025-01-01 15:08:28 +0000 UTC

So this rec is thanks to Emily because I listen to her music all the time and Spotify recommend “Epic the Musical”. A guy started it on TikTok and would have auditions through it and he’s been doing it for years. It actually just finished in December. I love all the music and it’s based of The Odyssey which is my favorite Greek tale!

Terrence Jackson

2025-01-01 14:55:09 +0000 UTC

So many great recs!!! I'm added to my book pile now.

Kristina LaPointe

2025-01-01 12:33:07 +0000 UTC

If Emily is looking for any books recs, there is a series called the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. It is an alternate history fantasy book taking place during the Napoleonic Wars where they use Dragons 🐉 as an Airforce. (The first in the series is called 'His Majesty's Dragon'). There are about 9 books in the series

Shawn Harrison

2025-01-01 11:49:40 +0000 UTC

Always been a reader/listener of stories and two really blew me away this year. Circe by Madeline Miller - A greek epic about a woman who was a minor character in Homer’s Odyssey, but her story is told in a way that feels definitive. Gorgeous performance on the audible version. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - going in blind, it’s a book that starts out with so little of our world for you to hold on to, but by the end (short book) everything resolves beautifully. And when things start clicking into place, it is rapid and satisfying. Performed by Chiwetel Ejiofor who captures the earnest and industrious tone of the main character perfectly.

Boris Bokchoy

2025-01-01 11:18:45 +0000 UTC

if you think you have sleep apnea you probably wanna get that like legit checked out because it's linked to several medical conditions and not just a sleeping thing (recently diagnosed with sleep apnea at 23). a cpap or autopap can really change your life, and if you don't have obstructive sleep apnea then it's not something that can be fully fixed externally because it can also be your brain just. not sending the signal to your body to breath. my doctor had recommended that I sleep elevated while I waited for my autopap (machine that ensures im breathing and increases oxygen if i don't), which helped a bit, but when I actually got it I had the best sleep I'd had since I was like 14 because the machine makes sure that oxygen is getting to your brain in a way that external stuff can't. anyway, if you have insurance or try to save up money for it, getting diagnosed with sleep apnea and finding a machine that works for you is genuinely life changing and I just wanted to give a psa because not formally treating sleep apnea can end up being super serious

Aiyana

2025-01-01 10:57:02 +0000 UTC

If you want to improve sleep you HAVE to get a cervical neck pillow. It changed my life!

Claire and Cal

2025-01-01 10:13:09 +0000 UTC

I'm a hobby collector and my favorite things about this year was getting into crochet and knitting! I feel the same way about crochet as Emily feels about pottery. I'm not very artistic, but crochet has been a fun mix of expression and meditation. It helped me with my focus a lot over the last year. I managed to go through a lot of movies and longer shows only through the power of granny squares and coasters!

heartswell

2025-01-01 10:10:58 +0000 UTC

Top 5 of the year. 1. The Witcher: I read the books after the many Witcher references on the podcast and I loved it. Now I'm playing the games. 2. Sabriel: First book to a very cool fantasy series about magic and necromancy. Heard Emily mention it once and it turned out to be one of my favorite book series. 3. Dead Cells: Very fun very charming rougue like. Has a ton of indie game references and the game play is great. 4. Tales of the Otori: Another book series I discovered this year on recommendation. Great low fantasy samurai novels. 5. Audio Books: I used to read more when I was younger but as an adult I don't have a lot of time to sit and read. Audio books have reignited my love for literature. I can listen while I'm working or doing busy work and I noticed I retain information better through Audio books since reading isn't my strong suite. Spotify and Audible have great catalogs of books.

Shy-senpai

2025-01-01 09:03:54 +0000 UTC

The Aragorn pre con helped me get more into magic with the way it plays.

Matthew phillips

2025-01-01 08:51:06 +0000 UTC

Dan Da Dan and De DE De ( dead dead demons destruction) are both anime that are the highest level sci-fi I've ever enjoy the medium in the subject of extraterrestrial up next to Scavenger's regin and honestly the "My Adventures with Superman" on max i guess 2024 was a scifi heavy year

Captain Morgan Pirate Wizard

2025-01-01 07:59:50 +0000 UTC

J Alfred Prufrock hits so fucking hard

Nathaniel Levy

2025-01-01 07:53:26 +0000 UTC

Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Trilogy is a really good "historical but not bitterly dry" Arthurian Legend series!

Neil Dutton

2025-01-01 07:27:50 +0000 UTC

Nice Plato's Allegory of the Cave reference big shout out to Plato

Gecko Extraodinare

2025-01-01 07:20:30 +0000 UTC

First off, I love Emily supporting proxies on the show. Also suggestion for Jake’s Magic deck, would be some sort of Voltron deck. Maybe Wolverine??? Seems the type of guy that would like to beef up a his commander and swing big

JustSomeKnob

2025-01-01 07:18:35 +0000 UTC

Another doorstop fantasy fan I see!

Joshua Sanders

2025-01-01 07:12:04 +0000 UTC

This year I started a high fantasy series my dad read when he was about my age (28 or so), “The Wheel of Time” series, and it’s amazing! A NY Times book review says that Jordan (the author) “…has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal” and it’s fantastic!

Joshua Sanders

2025-01-01 07:11:47 +0000 UTC

Tony Chocolonely is my favorite! I just introduced all my coworkers to it. Great mention.

Becca_rebaker

2025-01-01 07:06:20 +0000 UTC

Emily, please read The Scar by China Mieville. Some of the most creative fantasy races I’ve ever read + pirates!

Adrianna Champagne

2025-01-01 05:53:03 +0000 UTC

Do y'all do signings? I have the perfect mtg card that I'd like to get signed :). I love hearing y'all talk about magic. Would be so cool to watch a game play.

Robert Islas

2025-01-01 05:38:07 +0000 UTC

Also highly recommend reading Patrick Stewart's memoir, Making It So.

JR Lonergan

2025-01-01 05:37:10 +0000 UTC

I recommend The Echoes Saga books by Philip Quaintrell. They’ve got all the classic Tolkien-esque fantasy elements but feel more like the movies with a lot more action. They’ve also given me a bunch of ideas to incorporate into my DnD campaign and even inspired me to try my hand at writing

Ryan M

2025-01-01 05:31:33 +0000 UTC

I recommend Gravity Falls. I know it's been out for years but dang it if this show isn't perfect

KingHalt

2025-01-01 05:26:25 +0000 UTC

I recommend if you like funny fantasy lit rpg books with sentient talking cats and sadistic killer aliens try Dungeon Crawler Carl. The audio book is fantastic. "The Apocalypse will be Televised!"

Rogue 398

2025-01-01 05:21:17 +0000 UTC

I play Stardew Valley and podcast listen so I feel this, Murph

JR Lonergan

2025-01-01 05:13:23 +0000 UTC

For myself: 1: (album) Porter Robinson - Smile! :D hard to narrow down to one album but I loved this one 2: (manga) Akane-Banashi, Ao Ashi, Sakamoto Days, Hunter x Hunter just a quick shout out to various ongoing manga from 2024 3: Beyblade X got into Beyblades with the newest gen and it's been super fun 4: Karaoke just a lot of fun with friends and very cathartic to scream 5: Fighting Games my forever recommendation

Great Molasses Flood of 1919

2025-01-01 05:07:18 +0000 UTC

Also, they have the best depictions of depression and PTSD, along with DID that I've ever read or seen in media

Jeremy W

2025-01-01 04:38:26 +0000 UTC

Big recommendation for The Stormlight Archive in honor of Wind and Truth releasing this year. Incredibly long reads, but equally fulfilling

Jeremy W

2025-01-01 04:28:44 +0000 UTC

on the note of poetry, I recommend sick4sick by torrin a. greathouse also on poets.org or it'll come up if you google it

Aiyana

2025-01-01 04:19:38 +0000 UTC

EMILY check out the card "Thassa's oracle" for your mill commander deck!!! :)

Jack

2025-01-01 03:36:56 +0000 UTC

My recommendation and highlight for 2024 was getting into natural fabric clothes. Picked up a wool sweater and was gifted a pair of wool slacks and I’ll never go back to plastic clothes.

wick

2025-01-01 03:25:24 +0000 UTC

I love Recs!

Shane Murphy

2025-01-01 03:14:21 +0000 UTC

I am 100% going to take a day trip up to Glendale for the Neon Museum thanks Cauldy

Babbles The Clown

2025-01-01 02:56:50 +0000 UTC

Top 5 of the year (these were things I first found in 2024) 1. Tony Chocolonely (chocolate bars) 2. Poytopia (video game) 3. Monkey Man (movie) 4. Abroad in Japan (YouTube) 5. “Give me the beat” by Ghostland Observatory (Song and artist)

Natural Dragon

2025-01-01 02:55:53 +0000 UTC

I just got sucked into a fantasy book reddit whirlpool looking up someone's recs from here but I'm back! Phew! I would just like to say, Lois McMaster Bujold! She has a fantasy series and a sci-fi one, quite different but equally potent. Her world building is immense, her characterization is such that I sometimes ask for advice in my head from specific characters, her expansive notions of faith and the Divine literally kept me going through hard times, her emotional intelligence is both brutal and cleansing, her action scenes are absolutely balls to the wall. The Vorkosigan Saga and the World of the Five Gods, get on in there

Elizabeth Gunn

2025-01-01 02:53:22 +0000 UTC

My big recommendation this year is the Musical 42 Balloons. While they don't have a full cast recording, the songs that are out are so good. It's very 80's synph pop and mtv music video inspired.

Anna Barnes

2025-01-01 02:53:09 +0000 UTC

How does nobody mention moo deng???

Blake

2025-01-01 02:47:11 +0000 UTC

This isn't really about things that came out in 2024 but things I really enjoyed in 2024: 5. REDLETTERMEDIA (YouTube channel that talks about bad movies; my favourite go-to for background listening) 4. POKEMON CONCIERGE (a super cozy stop-motion series about a girl working at a tropical Pokemon resort) 3. NI NO KUNI: WRATH OF THE WHITE WITCH (remastered rpg with lots of cute ghibli creatures and some great traditionally animated cut scenes) 2. Not succumbing to the negativity that the world generally brings (literally has been the worst year of my life) 1. THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE series by Brandon Sanderson (Journey before Destination y'all) Honourable mentions: NADDPOD (no brainer), Fantasy High: Junior Year, Chicken snack wraps, Tim Horton's Iced Capps

Shawn Harrison

2025-01-01 02:13:20 +0000 UTC

Little Thieeeeeeeves! Do you want a pretty intense exploration of consent in an incredibly inventive YA fantasy world? Do you want extremely pissed off female protagonists? Do you want an author who always turns towards mess and complexity rather than cutting it away by sacrificing characters and relationships? Little Thieves.

Elizabeth Gunn

2025-01-01 02:11:37 +0000 UTC

As someone who played ice hockey for 15 years. I will go play hockey, Murph. Roller hockey is a lot easier on the bones these days.

Mason Shucart

2025-01-01 02:02:51 +0000 UTC

okay, murph, if you like king arthur stories, you should absolutely listen to the album "High Noon Over Camelot" by The Mechanisms. the mechanisms are a story-telling cabaret, as they put it, and each of their albums tells the story of a fictionalized version of their band (who are immortal space pirates) going to different planets and universes and interacting with classic folklore/mythologies but in space and also styled after a specific genre. high noon over camelot is a western where king arthur, lancelot, and guinevere are all cowboys, galahad is a zealous preacher whos saying their all gonna burn in hell, and the G.R.A.I.L is actuakky the control seat for the space station they are in that is orbitting into the sun. also half of the songs are titled after tarot cards. i know this sounds like an insane mishmash of shit, but i swear it is So Good. they also have sone other albums including a lovecraftian cosmic horror retelling of ragnorok, a horrific cyberpunk blues oddysey, and a bloody folksong parody of classic fairytales. also, if you know of jonathan sims, creator of the magnus archives podcast, this was actually the band he was the lead singer of, fun fact. idk if jake will be cool enough to enjoy it (or if trevor even lets him listen to music 😔) but i think everyone else will at least have fun with it? (please excuse any typos, im writing this on the subway omw to a friend new years party lol) anyways, happy new year to the most two crew of all!

Will Cousineau

2025-01-01 01:43:48 +0000 UTC

Ah ah i see, still, if he starts with BB at least he will be ready for what's to come :3

Broghar The Bugbear

2025-01-01 01:29:24 +0000 UTC

Emily please please please read or listen to Natile Haynes, Divine Might. Please please please. Funny and factual examination of goddesses in greek myths. Oh and one of my top things in 2024 was Naddpod

Ben Beckwith

2025-01-01 01:20:18 +0000 UTC

She said she gave him both, Elden Ring and Bloodborne as an alt

MC

2025-01-01 01:19:51 +0000 UTC

Book recs: Emily & Caldwell, if you haven't read Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, you should. Short read. Monks, robots, tea, and hope. For Dune fanatics: check out DUNE THE MUSICAL in any way you can. I was lucky enough to see it live at Fringe. One man show by a real-life bard. (The metal song he does for the Baron...slayed.) Other books that blew my socks off: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh, Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Little Thieves series by Margaret Owen, and--my heavens! Please tell me that you've read Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao! Feminist revenge fantasy in giant piloted robots--!! Happy two year!

muskadillo

2025-01-01 00:48:56 +0000 UTC

As someone who's recently gotten back into Magic in a big way, highly recommend the occasional draft or prerelease if you have the time. Trying to cobble together a decent deck from what you're given is highly rewarding and fun for a competitive itch. Some of my fav MTG moments outside commander come from trying out a draft with some buds

James Cherenzia

2025-01-01 00:48:01 +0000 UTC

but they're versatile for both summer and winter!! and you can buy a medium and dry it on high!

Kellyd

2025-01-01 00:18:45 +0000 UTC

If people here are looking for additional Best of 2024 recs: go watch Frieren Beyond Journey’s End!! It’s a fantastic anime

thiswayjose

2025-01-01 00:06:26 +0000 UTC

Looked up Randy's Garments. $48 tees. Jake's 2025 list needs to include his new spending advisor.

Patrick Shannon

2025-01-01 00:06:24 +0000 UTC

my forever rec, but that includes 2024 (for Emily specifically) is Ghost Quartet— an eerie folkloric concept album that tells a circular story about ghosts, sisters, the stars, whiskey featuring the dark, an erhu, 14th century Persia, a NYC subway platform, and the folk song The Wind and Rain (also featured in Nettle & Bone!)

Toe

2025-01-01 00:03:16 +0000 UTC

There are several versions of all the LOTR characters. There is a white green Legoland and 3 Aragorns a 4 color 3 color and a 2 color!

Jordan Marschke

2025-01-01 00:02:31 +0000 UTC

Omg Emily giving her dad BB instead of Elden Ring may just emolden him to try it.

Broghar The Bugbear

2024-12-31 23:35:21 +0000 UTC

Does Emily have a Goodreads account? or some kind of book tracker? I like a lot of her reccs, so it'd be cool to have a go-to list I can frequent! (also I was so surprised to hear Hooky mentioned! I love webtoons)

Zanna

2024-12-31 23:32:24 +0000 UTC

Much love to you all. Happy New Year.

Gustavius

2024-12-31 23:29:41 +0000 UTC

also have some manga recs for Emily! All of them are gonna be magic based but I think how they use magic is very fascinating & versatile in their functions! Witch Hat Atelier has a beautiful fairy tale/classic art style and I think it's very hopeful as a manga :3 there's also Magi Lumiere, where it twists the genre of magical girl powers into more of an actual industry, alongside having to genuinely strategize in order to defeat enemies or overcome a company issue! Its very interesting!

Thuc Nguyen

2024-12-31 23:29:34 +0000 UTC

Zone out game? Balatro

Cody Bennard

2024-12-31 23:28:09 +0000 UTC

Hey a fellow st. Louis native! Here is hoping we get a live show soon!

Jordan Marschke

2024-12-31 23:23:23 +0000 UTC

We have the Missouri Botanical Garden (aka Shaw’s Garden) here in St Louis. Come check it out!

Jeffrey Steck, Lord of the Fjord

2024-12-31 23:19:03 +0000 UTC

Netflix's Twilight of the God's is awesome!

Colby Greer

2024-12-31 23:15:17 +0000 UTC

Hm, I don't have much to rec but if u want a fun series abt fae/humans/dragons, I'd recommend the invisible library by genieveve cogman! As for nonfiction, I rly loved reading Jo Van Gogh-Bonger by Hans Luijten, which is the biography of the sister in law of Vincent van gogh and responsible for spreading his name out! There is a long page count but like, half of it is literally the countless amt of notes they put into it! I haven't finished it but I'm super close haha >_< sadly can't make another separate paragraph but I have a few manga recs for Caldwell! Undead Unluck is a simple shounen that just goes straight to the point and I like it since it doesn't require too much brainpower haha. And since u like Dungeon Meshi so much, I would also recommend Kuutei Dragon by Kuwabara Taku! Its kinda like fantasy whaling where you have this ecosystem of dragons in the air who are both predators to humans but also they get used as food! It has a very detailed yet simple art style i think you'd love! It's kinda relaxing but has some good stakes at hand! I rly think you should try this >_<

Thuc Nguyen

2024-12-31 23:11:55 +0000 UTC

I got a marvel unlimited subscription a few months ago and I’ve been getting my money’s worth. The Claremont run of New Mutants may be my favorite, but Ewing’s Immortal Hulk goes absolutely crazy. Highly recommend both!

Robert Z.

2024-12-31 23:11:46 +0000 UTC

Going into this season of D20, you saaaayyy?

I Want My Name To Be Spaghetti

2024-12-31 23:11:11 +0000 UTC

Happy New Year guys! Hey Murph, also big Arthurian fan- have you read the T.H. White series The Once and Future King? It's what the Disney movie The Sword and the Stone was based off of. Will absolutely check out The Bright Sword, thanks for the rec!

Katie P.

2024-12-31 23:01:25 +0000 UTC

Very unoriginal rec as Brando sando is already extremely popular, but the stormlight archive books have changed me as a person. Currently reading WaT and am just so happy to be back in Roshar!

preston packer

2024-12-31 22:58:49 +0000 UTC

Excited for mixed bag Grinch madness in march.

Canid

2024-12-31 22:56:25 +0000 UTC

P. Djèlí Clark is amazing! The book before, "A Dead Djinn in Cairo" is awesome. LeVar Burton read "The Angel of Khan el-Khalili” on his podcast and its so good.

Cj Ferrigno

2024-12-31 22:47:02 +0000 UTC

My own rec? 'Sea of Souls' is the best warhammer 40000 book ever written. Nothing else has captured the horror of the setting so well for me, slow burn for the first third, but when it hits, it hits.

ACK

2024-12-31 22:38:12 +0000 UTC

Re Herbert dying, his son wrote a conclusion based on his notes. They are better than his other works, presumably for that reason, although I also read it in my teens a decade and a half ago, so take that with a pinch of salt!

ACK

2024-12-31 22:26:18 +0000 UTC

Emily (and anyone else interested) you should read some of Ronald Hutton's work in relation to the Golden Bough. My Pagan sister recommended it to me, he writes about the history of modern Paganism, and what we can know about the original "Pagans"/Pagan survivals (supposed hold outs in Christian Europe post Rome, rather than the broader use of the term). He does the same for witchcraft/magic. The Golden Bough was a major influence on modern Paganism/Witchcraft as he tells it, has some inaccuracies, but is also now a record of its time (how we interpret "Pagans" in Britain tends to depend on the hopes and anxieties of the time, although we likely have a more rigorous approach now than in the past). Hutton writes respectfully about these belief systems, accepting these modern faiths as legitimate in the same way the major world religions are.

ACK

2024-12-31 22:21:20 +0000 UTC

Oh man, I caught the Rebirth: Distant World in Toronto. Such a dream. Edit: F@#k Chadley. Let me take my time.

I Love Not Finishing My Sentences

2024-12-31 22:15:58 +0000 UTC

I recommend The Bifrost Incident by The Mechanisms. It's a narrative album that tells the story of Ragnarok in a sci-fi setting with lovecraftian doom.

Noell S.

2024-12-31 22:11:12 +0000 UTC

"You fight the same boss like 50 times, so it's repetitive" Let Me Solo Her has entered the chat

Myka

2024-12-31 21:55:34 +0000 UTC

One of my favorite things this year was finally starting to read manga especially jjk and Vinland Saga

Hunter Biberos

2024-12-31 21:53:01 +0000 UTC

The sequel to Parable of the Sower; Parable of the Talents is also incredible!

Josh K.

2024-12-31 21:43:50 +0000 UTC

1) The Dungeon Crawler Carl series - I saw the audiobooks recommended but the regular books are great also 2) Your Monster 3) knitting socks 4) using compression packing cubes 5) airplane mode on your kindle to keep your library books longer

Justine G

2024-12-31 21:37:30 +0000 UTC

Very much agree with Emily about seeing movies in theaters! My fav purchase this year was getting a film society membership to support my local theater (shoutout to the Minneapolis Film Society).

Kerry

2024-12-31 21:33:21 +0000 UTC

Gratitude for book reccs! 🥳

Pali Endi

2024-12-31 21:24:21 +0000 UTC

A huge rec is the D&D podcast Hell or High Rollers. I started listening to them in August and they're amazing from episode 1. Cast of the comedy troupe Mischief Makers, who created The Play That Goes Wrong, Goes Wrong Show, etc. started the pod a few years ago and I stumbled upon it after going on a Goes Wrong Show binge earlier this year.

Vaelyhn

2024-12-31 21:21:41 +0000 UTC

Omg the love song of j Alfred prufrock was the first poem that really hit me too

Ollie

2024-12-31 21:14:21 +0000 UTC

As someone who is about 8 years behind the crew in age and just trying to figure out my 30s…. I found this very aspirational

Hammy

2024-12-31 21:00:32 +0000 UTC

Everyone interested in MTG should watch Emily play against some Critical Role people on YouTube!! (Search: Critical Role Magic the Gathering)

thiswayjose

2024-12-31 20:59:13 +0000 UTC

I think that Murph and especially Emily should give the manga Hells Paradise a read. Very spooky Buddhist horror/ shonen

Beau Rydman

2024-12-31 20:56:58 +0000 UTC

Also I think Em might click with Jeff Vandermeer (start with Annihilation/Area X I guess) and China Miéville (maybe start with Un Lun Dun bc it's charming and not that much of a commitment)

Shan

2024-12-31 20:55:34 +0000 UTC

Emily talking over the years about enjoying being bad at things and enjoying failure has genuinely been inspirational in my own life, god I love this show Ps hate the show never listened to it

Kellyd

2024-12-31 20:54:43 +0000 UTC

Yay, shout out to Hong Kong (from Emily's books recommendations). If you ever come travelling here, you have a couple of loyal fans here who will be happy to show you around :)

Полина Милашевская

2024-12-31 20:54:23 +0000 UTC

Murph, if you haven't read The Once and Future King by TH White you gotta check it out! The classic Arthurian saga in my opinion, that and Tolkien shaped my early years.

Ben

2024-12-31 20:53:18 +0000 UTC

Definitely recommend Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Nostalgia for 80s and 90s video games and a great story at its heart

Pamphleteer

2024-12-31 20:51:46 +0000 UTC

My top recommendation of 2024 is to watch Arcane. Season 2 and the series finale just happened and it's honestly one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Adam Kepper

2024-12-31 20:50:50 +0000 UTC

Happy new year!! Hell yeah poetry rec, thank you Jake ✨

Kitty

2024-12-31 20:48:18 +0000 UTC

I still immediately looked 😅

Adam Kepper

2024-12-31 20:48:13 +0000 UTC

I’m about 100 chapters into the manga and can confirm I’ve teared up multiple times. Great rec! ~Caldwell

Not Another D&D Podcast

2024-12-31 20:48:04 +0000 UTC

For Caldwell: the anime Dandadan. So incredibly animated and funny, then when you think you know what it’s about episode 7 comes around and makes you bawl your eyes out.

John Larson

2024-12-31 20:46:57 +0000 UTC

It was great to have such an endearing and honest episode! I can handle these once every couple of years

Declan Konesky

2024-12-31 20:46:44 +0000 UTC

I love it when you guys talk about books. I wish you had a book podcast or something.

Shan

2024-12-31 20:45:47 +0000 UTC

My recommendation would be the 2019 movie Klaus. It's the first film I've watched in over 10 years that has become an annual watch

Daniel Griffin

2024-12-31 20:42:04 +0000 UTC

I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by the quality shows I’ve found on AppleTV, and Slow Horses is phenomenal television. Gary Oldman is an all time great. Pachinko is another one that flies under the radar but is a truly superb show. Makes me cry every episode contemplating humanity. (Also, both shows are based on books! Double the fun!)

Anna Sun

2024-12-31 20:38:17 +0000 UTC

That's a tough rec and it isn't easily accessible. I get it.

DemonLordSparda

2024-12-31 20:29:10 +0000 UTC

Can confirm that soft boiled egg method works super well

Ollie

2024-12-31 20:26:51 +0000 UTC

huge Mac energy when Murph said "This Egg thing is really important to you."

joel

2024-12-31 20:24:59 +0000 UTC

Gotta check out “The Negg” egg peeler! My wife makes party sized batches for deviled eggs and this thing has her peeling 30-40 eggs perfectly in 10 minutes! Happy 2 Year!

Kyle Harmon

2024-12-31 20:24:07 +0000 UTC

I’d like to point out that Caldwell had a kid this year and that didn’t make it onto his list

Ray Matford

2024-12-31 20:19:33 +0000 UTC

Just want to mention I ALWAYS love Emily's book suggestions, so I hope they never stop! Many of my favorite books were Emily recommendations

Lizzy French

2024-12-31 20:10:07 +0000 UTC

Speaking of books The AUDIOBOOK FROM AUDIBLE version of Dungeon Crawler Carl. 11/10 for real

Declan Konesky

2024-12-31 20:06:51 +0000 UTC

Mine is seeing live music and getting fun tattoos. I got to see Hockey Dad, Saturdays at your place (twice!), mom jeans., and ginger root this year. I also got a pigeon tattoo, a hot dog, and an orange wheel.

Jenna H

2024-12-31 20:04:47 +0000 UTC

I want more of these! I love hearing about what you guys enjoy!

JustAce

2024-12-31 19:51:39 +0000 UTC

Naddpod and Lies of P are a great way to spend an afternoon

Michael P Mendoza

2024-12-31 19:49:59 +0000 UTC

Love this.

Nick Wesell

2024-12-31 19:47:09 +0000 UTC

For Jake, 3 suggestions: Wulfgar of ice wind Dale Isshin, Two Heaven's as One Tetsuo, Imperial Champion Yes! Absolutely try decks with proxies, then buy singles from your LGS and maybe look into commander nights and drafts! Best way to build a community for paper magic

Myka

2024-12-31 19:46:41 +0000 UTC

Pushed our lists below the fold, now they should be hidden! ~Caldwell

Not Another D&D Podcast

2024-12-31 19:45:45 +0000 UTC

Please please please do a video mixed bag for the nadd pod commander game!!! I would love to see that

Jordan Marschke

2024-12-31 19:45:23 +0000 UTC

I love Nettle & Bone!!! T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors.

Jackie Hale

2024-12-31 19:41:40 +0000 UTC

Bruh you put spoilers in the description.

David

2024-12-31 19:39:00 +0000 UTC

You guys gotta watch X-men 97!

PunchBeams

2024-12-31 19:38:07 +0000 UTC

Emily! Make jake a voltron deck and proxy the commander to be hardone!

iamnotjackblack

2024-12-31 19:36:53 +0000 UTC

Emily, I hope you might enjoy the Rin & Seri cat deck that was sent to the PO box. MTG rules!

Jesse Dunlap

2024-12-31 19:27:33 +0000 UTC

HELL YEAH one of the few movies I saw in theatres this year. Such a blast. ~ Caldwell

Not Another D&D Podcast

2024-12-31 19:27:33 +0000 UTC

HAPPY 2 YEAR

Daniel Griffin

2024-12-31 19:22:32 +0000 UTC

2024 recommendation: Alien Romulus!

Colby Greer

2024-12-31 19:20:11 +0000 UTC

What a fun way to start the new year! It’s 8am here on the 1st and I’m off to work, will be listening on the way!!! Thanks team HNY!

Claire and Cal

2024-12-31 19:20:05 +0000 UTC

Happy New Year

Tim M

2024-12-31 19:18:28 +0000 UTC

"presumed innocence" with no context is hilarious

Tavitafish

2024-12-31 19:18:26 +0000 UTC

The hoglidays are over but the party never stops!

Jesse Dunlap

2024-12-31 19:18:03 +0000 UTC

FIRST!!! happy new year! :) thanks for everything!

Andrew Gilson

2024-12-31 19:12:38 +0000 UTC

Mixed Bag of Holding: NaddPod Recommends! (Our Favorite Things from 2024)

Comments

Jake, “Laundry” was a really beautiful poem

Fred again! mentioned hell yea

PLEASE read Gideon the Ninth. Specifically Emily but I think everyone should read it

Did not expect the CZARFACE plug! 🙌🙌🙌

Emily should absolutely read Thistlefoot, it’s like Baba Yaga retelling but from a jewish folklore. these two siblings are gifted a house with chicken legs from an ancestor in russia. it’s a really cool magical realism style fantasy

So far have read The French Exit & Parable of the Sower, both of which were 5 stars. Thanks for the recs Emily!!

Book Recommendations: The Kamagawa Food Detectives, Sweet Bean Paste Also it’s not a 2024 book but I’ll always recommend Battle Royale the novel not the movie.

Reporting back after having read the Bright Sword. It slapped ass. 10/10. It was riveting, and funny as hell!

Now we need a cyberpunk ttpg one shot or mini series

Book recommendation: Fascism and Social Revolution by RP Dutt Very possibly the best anti-fascist work of theory ever written

As a fellow Arthur brain, I have to recommend the Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. If you want general recs there’s a great video recommending different Arthurian books depending on what you’re looking for in the story

Emily, please drop the letterboxd (if you have one)!

Gotta give a huge shoutout to the Bloodsworn trilogy by John Gwynne. I love reading but i fully cannot remember the last time i got so immediately lost in a book series like this one. Great read if you’re into fantasy, especially if you like Nordic culture

Books wise, beautiful hug of a book "a psalm for the wild built" by Becky chambers. Very positive utopian feeling solarpunk.

Arcane is such a murph and Emily show. Its a steampunk masterpiece.

Late to the game, but if Emily invests in new sweatpants look at Roots! It’s a Canadian brand that lasts forever and is so comfortable.

"Super What?" was MF DOOM's last project before he passed away I believe. I guess I recommend the song Somersault - Zero 7 ft. MF DOOM

Not a 2024 rec but Faceoff: inside the NHL is so good!

So I just learned of the Animorphs tv series… we’ve never needed anything more than for the crew to do an animorphs mixed bag

Wind and Truth was my book of the year for sure. Gotta love the cosmere

Emily, please read Gideon the Ninth! I promise you'll love it, incredible and hilarious sci fi book

That was such a fun weird book. Great rec!

The Bright Sword sounds like it was written specifically for my own interests. I have never before heard a book recommendation from someone and put it on hold at the library before they finished talking about it, and yet...

My 2024 rec is the Everybody Loves Large Chests book series written by Neven Iliev. It follows around a Mimic that levels up to be too powerful for the dungeon it grows up in and so it goes out and explores the world.

Massive thanks to Murph for turning me on to Czarface holy shit this rules

Seconding this!

Sports rec: SUMO WRESTLING! It's so much fun to watch and rightfully gaining support in the West

Also the Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Emily, I think my top book this year was Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell and i feel like it's a book that you'd love, especially given the campaign 3 ending lullaby

Omg!! I first read Jason Schreier because of Murphs recommendations!!!

Highly recommend Epic the musical if no one has listened to it yet

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames is so good! Not 2024 but I strongly recommend it. Big NADDPOD vibes

Recommendation for the gamers (sorry john) the binding of isaac! The games a super fun rouge like, personally it's my lock in with a podcast game! You can beat a run in like 40 minutes or less and has a ton of replay value also it's on like everything

My Rec: Hero’s Die by Matthew Stover. Don’t judge the book by its cover (the cover is shit) but it rocks. Sci-fi / fantasy setting with a bad ass main character

I know I'm super late to the party, but these songs were recommended to me this year and quickly went on heavy rotation/repeat: 1. "Coming Home Song," by Sammy Rae and the Friends 2. "How Much is Weed," by Dominic Fike

Emily PLEASE check out the MTG card Baba Lysaga. It is such a fun commander and I think of Emily every time I see it. (Remember that you can sacrifice UP to 3 permanents but if you have let's say an "artifact creature" that counts as 2 types for the price of 1)

https://butternutbakeryblog.com/spice-cookies/ These cookies are my contribution. They are so soft and I take them everywhere as gifts

Amazing! I hope you enjoy it/hope to hear a review later this year!!

I refuse to be influenced by anything and yet I guess I’m starting Pilates now

Emily! I immediately read Nettle & Bone after I listened to this. First read of the year and got me so excited about diving into some more fantasy reading this year. Thank u!! ☺️

It’s so lovely! Such a fun delightful read.

Two Crew really needs to get on that Long Way goodness

Oooo haven't read that but i really loved Sharp Ends! I juat started The Brightsword but I will put this on my list for sure, thank you!

Oh man I feel like Jake would actually love the First Law trilogy.

Hah I just put that too! It’s so good

i recommend “the great pottery throw down” i think if you like Bake off, Sewing Bee or shows like that you’ll like throw down.

My recommendation is Resident Evil 4 Remake in VR (PSVR2 exclusive) First time I've ever played RE4 and the VR mode puts every game made specifically for VR to shame Truly a masterpiece, can comfortably say it's my 2nd favorite game after Dark Souls 1

Seconded for fourth wing! So hyped for the 3rd book

It's not from this year but my poetry recommendation is "An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow" by Les Murray.

Lost my mind listening to Emily describe listening to a podcast while playing Hades while I'm playing Hades listening to Naddpod

Probably nobody will see this, but I think Emily (and maybe Caldwell) should read the West Passage by Jared Pechaček! Extremely strange and delightful book, very whimsical with a dark underbelly. I don't even really know how to describe the premise but it's awesome

Haven't yet but you know I gotta! ~Caldwell

LOVED Shoresy. Honestly feel like it made me appreciate Murph's love of Hockey more haha. ~Caldwell

Damn this looks sick, thank you! ~Caldwell

Legolas in mtg is a control deck. Give him death touch and target him with instants and he will spot-remove everything including your friends.

emily mentioning both fred again AND edinburgh? made my day 🩷

I ride motorcycles at race tracks Murph, don't worry about what we your audience may or may not be interested in, we will probably just be happy that you are doing a thing you have passion for Let's hear about the hockey next time!

I need Murph to read the entire Malazan Book of the Fallen series and then dm again

we need like a routine stream where yall play video games id definately watch some elden ring or lies of P

omg *and* there’s a maintenance phase episode about Pilates (that is very uncharacteristically wholesome iirc) !!!

I LOVE this format, thanks for the recs all

Jake you should check out the album Revelation by Leif Vollebekk but especially the song Surfer’s Journal from it—really beautiful lyrics and this building strings instrumentation. It’s one of my favorite songs/albums of the year and I think you’d really dig it

Emily got me desperately wanting to play commander after sitting on the fringes of “I don’t think my wallet could take a MTG addiction” and now me and several friends and my spouse are all in. “But Emily Axford thinks it’s cool” is all anyone needed

Emily and Caldwell! You would love the Monstress series by Majorie Liu with art by Sana Takeda. It’s incredible both art and story wise

I started listening to this podcast about a year and half ago and y’all have been such a great new addition to my listening collection- thank you!!

love these with rosemary

Ok baby would only fall asleep to “Big Iron” by Marty Robbins and it would have to go on repeat for hours. I played it almost 1000 times in the last year. I feel you Jake on this, I have no idea how it started!

It didn't come out in 2024, but I read "How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse" this year, and I highly recommend it!

Hockey Rec: Shoresy!

I’ve recently gotten back into poetry. I’ve rediscovered David Whyte, an Irish poet who helped me get through a tough time a decade or so ago.

2024 recs!!! nonfic: age of magical overthinking, running w the kenyans fic: carmilla (the OG dracula) podcasts: you’re wrong about, if books could kill, worst bestsellers, maintenance phase

high noon over camelot !!

I know the Green Knight poem has the explanation being that Morgan Le Fay was the one who was taught by Merlin and eventually was the one who betrayed him and locked him away, but that is not the explanation Mallory's version gives.

Seconded!

Not a 2024 but i think emily (and many naddpoles) would LOVE the book This Is How You Lose the Time War. One of my favorites from the last few years

If Emily has never listened to them she should give King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard a listen.

I’ve also been looking for the best tshirt! 😅 my favorite from last year was the cotton tshirt from Uniqlo not the airism but I’ll definitely have to get me one from Randy’s garments.

Murph and Emily cuddling up together and he reads to her 💕

omg and there’s a maintenance phase episode about Pilates (that is very uncharacteristically wholesome iirc) !!!