My Favorites of the Decade

I’m doing a 2019 wrap-up in a year-end Latest Lazy Letter if you’re interested (things I learned, favorite books, podcasts, albums, Instagram accounts, and all the most popular blog posts and podcast episodes, too!), but it’s also the end of a decade which feels arbitrary and also awesome.

I’m a reflection newbie, so it was fun to think about some of the best things I consumed over the last ten years. Clearly, unless you keep detailed records (which I do not) or possess a Sherlock-level memory (which I also do not), a list like this is our very best guess. But, man, is it fun to think about.

If you post a similar list, share it in the comments, or just write it out in the comments themselves! It’s fun to see what everyone is thinking after another decade has gone by.

We’re sticking with five categories today: favorite shows, favorite movies, favorite books, favorite podcasts, and favorite musical artists. These will a) give you a window into what I really love, b) give you some potential ideas for your own future favorites, and c) scratch the ever-present List Itch this time of year.

Here we go.

My Favorite TV Shows of the Decade

There are fifteen. I tried to get it down to ten but felt myself dying in the process, so here we are. And these are not in order. I have to draw the line somewhere.

Broadchurch

Genre: British crime drama that’s as good as they come
Vibe: Serious, human, randomly snarky
Number of seasons/episodes: Three seasons, eight 45-minute episodes in each
Plot: All three seasons have different crimes but mildly related and with recurring characters. (One is child related FYI.)
Why I love it: It’s fantastic from top to bottom: storytelling, writing, acting, the setting (those cliffs! that beach!). Crime dramas are interesting because why would we want to watch a story about a child being abducted or a woman being raped or any number of horrible horrible things? Because when justice is served and when people are vulnerable about how grief affects them, we get to experience a little bit of our own humanity.
Can I start in the middle? The beginning is as good as the end; do it all.
Watch-alikes: Happy Valley, The Killing, The Fall, Luther
Favorite character: David Tennant and Olivia Colman (yes, that Olivia Colman) have to count as a singular favorite character because their chemistry elevates the show from “perfectly fine” to “perfect.”
Where to watch: Netflix

Sherlock

Genre: British crime drama but very specific because of, you know, Sherlock Holmes.
Vibe: Smart, funny, fast-paced, intriguing
Number of seasons/episodes: Four seasons, three main 90-ish minute episodes per season with a couple of bonuses.
Plot: Sherlock and Watson solve various mysteries but often with a connective thread of one or two criminal masterminds.
Why I love it: The crimes themselves are a delight, but the chemistry between Sherlock and Watson is top notch. I also love that the way the show is filmed; it’s fresh and fun which is helpful when the stories usually involve dead people.
Can I start in the middle? You caaaaan, but I think it’s absolutely worth starting at the beginning. If you have to skip, skip the middle episode in the first two seasons.
Watch-alikes: The Blacklist, Fargo, Black Mirror, and Dexter, but those last three are far more, um, startling than Sherlock.
Favorite character: Martin Freeman plays the best Watson ever. He makes Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock even more perfect. They need each other.
Where to watch: Netflix

The Great British Baking Show

Genre: Competitive baking show
Vibe: Kind, fun, inspiring, and absolutely dear
Number of seasons/episodes: Seven seasons (available to stream, more exist in the dark corners of the Internet), ten episodes per season at about an hour a piece.
Plot: Adorably perfect contestants with fabulous accents and repressed British emotions bake beautiful things to be judged, working their way each week to a winner.
Why I love it: I love to bake, I’m quite competitive, but I’m not mean. This is basically my perfect show. It ticks all my boxes.
Can I start in the middle? Every season is a delight. Truly. You’ll want to watch all. And don’t be thrown when you start at the beginning, love Mel and Sue and Mary, and then see new faces in Noel, Sandy, and Pru. But - hot take - I think the last three are better than the first three I KNOW IT’S BASICALLY SACRILEGE WHAT I’M SAYING.
Watch-alikes: There’s seriously nothing like it. American competition shows just don’t hold a handle.
Favorite character: Noel. Forever and always.
Where to watch: Netflix

30 Rock

Genre: Offbeat comedy
Vibe: Weird, hilarious, brilliant
Number of seasons/episodes: Seven seasons, 22 22-minute episodes per season except for only twelve in the final season.
Plot: Liz Lemon runs a live comedy show with a variety of crazy characters around her. I love that the setup is so simple and the episodes are so utterly ridiculous.
Why I love it: It’s one of the smartest things that was ever on TV. The stories are bonkers and absurd but somehow believable. Plus, I think one of the hardest things to do in TV is to make characters to highly developed that any combination of characters works. This show does it better than any. You can take any two characters and create a story around them, and it will land. Any pairing. That’s magic.
Can I start in the middle? Nah, start at the beginning. It definitely gets its stride a few episodes into the first season (like many comedies), but that pilot is a sight to behold. You’ll love the characters too much to quit.
Watch-alikes: Parks and Rec, Arrested Development, Brooklyn Nine Nine
Favorite character: This is likely the hardest place I’m asking myself this question, and after sitting here for five minutes, I can’t actually answer it. Low-key side character favorite? Matt Damon as Liz’s pilot boyfriend Carol is a top contender. Or OOO Elaine Stritch as Jack’s mom Colleen. Vicious.
Where to watch: Hulu
[Bonus] Favorite episode: The Bubble

Breaking Bad

Genre: Super dark drama
Vibe: Dark, darker, extra dark, a little more dark, keep going…
Number of seasons/episodes: Five seasons, seven episodes in the first, thirteen in the next three, sixteen in the final. All episodes are 47ish minutes. Be prepared; watching more than two episodes a day leads to emotional breakdowns, yelling for no reason, and locking your doors due to fear of drug lords.
Plot: A high school chemistry teacher gets cancer and can’t afford treatment or has any money to support his family after he’s gone, so he recruits an old crime-adjacent student to help him make and sell meth. Main lesson, guys: don’t do drugs. Or make them. Or sell them.
Why I love it: I’ve said this for a long time; this isn’t my favorite TV show ever, but it’s the best I’ve ever seen. That was a few years ago when I first watched Breaking Bad, and TV has come a long way since then. In fact, Breaking Bad was one of the groundbreaking shows to make television a quality storytelling medium. It’s perfectly shot, so well written, the acting is unreal, and the stories will break you. Again, limit yourself to two episodes a day when you get in deep, or else you won’t like the person you become. But, man, is it worth it.
Can I start in the middle? Absolutely not.
Watch-alikes: Dexter, The Wire, Sons of Anarchy
Favorite character: I will always root for Jesse Pinkman. Always.
Where to watch: Netflix

Stranger Things

Genre: A fantasy horror but also in the 80s so it’s nostalgic and cool?
Vibe: Fun, the best kind of scary, endearing, super exciting
Number of seasons/episodes: Three eight-episode seasons, 50 minutes a piece.
Plot: The first season follows Will, a middle schooler who goes missing under very mysterious circumstances, one of which is the appearance of a bald girl in a white hospital gown who can crush metal with her mind. Totally normal.
Why I love it: It’s just so fun! I didn’t know a show about an underworld with weird lizards and gawky teenagers and 80s nostalgia would be so fun, but it is. It’s just so easy to root for all of the characters, and the stakes are the right amount of “high.”
Can I start in the middle? Very much no.
Watch-alikes: It’s really unique, but we’ll go X-Files.
Favorite character: Steve Harrington. Without question.
Where to watch: Netflix

Fleabag

Genre: Comedy
Vibe: Irreverent, emotional, hilarious, sharp
Number of seasons/episodes: Only two seasons, and I actually only watched (and only recommend) the second season. You don’t need the first to enjoy the second, which is only six 22-minute episodes. You can watch the whole thing in one night.
Plot: Fleabag is a screwup with a dead mother, a dead best friend, a perfect sister, an emotionally vacant dad, and a godmother-turned-stepmother who holds a degree in passive aggression. The second season is her finding redemption from her past choices and… some other stuff.
Why I love it: It’s perfect. Season two is perfect. It’s heartfelt, heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, heart-stopping, and heart-attack-inducing because of the random spurts of laughter. These shows aren’t ranked, but Fleabag is top of the list.
Can I start in the middle? Again, skip the first season. The second is a literal work of art on its own. It won every Emmy for a reason.
Watch-alikes: Crashing, Schitt’s Creek, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Favorite character: Hot Priest. Or Pam.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Downton Abbey

Genre: Period drama
Vibe: Dramatic but only in secret
Number of seasons/episodes: Six seasons with seven or eight episodes per season at a solid hour each.
Plot: It’s all about the Crawley family, an aristocratic family in England in the early 1900s. Lots of upstairs-downstairs business, unrequited love, and fancy dinners. So many fancy dinners.
Why I love it: I’m usually not a fan of sprawling storytelling, but there’s something about this family. You want to know what happens to them, and there are so many well-developed characters that there’s never a chance to get bored. Plus, the creator Julian Fellowes is a master at upstairs-downstairs dynamics. (His movie, Gosford Park, is one of my all-time favorites.)
Can I start in the middle? You know how if you’re married, those first few years of being with your spouse’s family are like playing catchup? There are just so many relational nuances and stories that are part of everyone’s subconscious that you don’t have. That’s what it’s like starting in the middle of Downton. You can, but you’ll have to ask a lot of questions.
Watch-alikes: Poldark, The Crown, Upstairs Downstairs
Favorite character: Oh. The Dowager. Maggie Smith is the only choice here. (I also really love Anna.)
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

The Walking Dead

Genre: Zombie horror drama but the zombies are just a vehicle for character development
Vibe: Exciting, dark, incredibly human
Number of seasons/episodes: The show is currently in its tenth season, and an eleventh is apparently already booked. Seasons have about sixteen 45-minute episodes.
Plot: Rick Grimes wakes up in the hospital to find that everyone is dead. There’s been a zombie apocalypse, and the whole show is about survival and family that isn’t connected by blood.
Why I love it: Most shows, I either stay in because the story and the action are so compelling or because I have such an affection for the characters that I have to know what happens to them. This show is both.
Can I start in the middle? Here’s what you do. Start at the beginning (the pilot is fantastic) and then stop at the end of season six. Some people might argue, but I went past that a bit and felt like the show lost its way. It got too sidetracked by action and the actual zombies rather than the characters you really grown to love. But those first few seasons? Absolutely brilliant.
Watch-alikes: The Watchmen, Daredevil, iZombie
Favorite character: I will never choose between Daryl and Glenn.
Where to watch: Netflix

Parenthood

Genre: Family drama
Vibe: Real, relatable, happysad
Number of seasons/episodes: Six seasons. The first five are the traditional TV season of 22 episodes at about 45 minutes each. The last season was a half season with thirteen episodes.
Plot: The Braveman family is made up of a mom and dad and their four grown children, all with families of their own, and all living in the same area of California. There’s something for everybody in the relational energy department.
Why I love it: It’s been said many times and far better than I ever will, but this show is one of the truest TV shows around. These people exist. You know them. You might be them. The writers invite us into these stories and somehow make them our own. I think that’s why we cry during so many episodes; they just feel so real. I usually go for dystopian over real, but Parenthood is worth the emotional exhaustion.
Can I start in the middle? No, start at the beginning. Again, it’s about this family, and knowing the family as well as you can makes every episode better than the last.
Watch-alikes: Friday Night Lights, This Is Us, The West Wing, Gilmore Girls
Favorite character: Joel. I freaking love Joel.
Where to watch: Hulu

Bob’s Burgers

Genre: Animated family comedy
Vibe: Hilarious, absurd, ordinary, endearing
Number of seasons/episodes: Ten seasons and I think still going? It’s a network comedy, so you’re looking at 20ish episodes a season at 22ish minutes an episode.
Plot: The Belcher family is perfection: Bob, the uptight, irritable dad; Linda, the eager, aggressively loving mom; Tina, the hopeless romantic, slightly sex-crazed, unicorn/zombie-obsessed, socially awkward oldest daughter; Gene, the fun-loving, kind, super gross middle brother; and Louise, the sociopathic little sister. They run a family burger restaurant, and every story is absurdly weird and perfect.
Why I love it: They’re just so likable and weird. Plus the writing is stellar. So many great one-liners.
Can I start in the middle? Sure, but give yourself four or five episodes to get familiar with the characters before you make a call.
Watch-alikes: The Simpsons, Brooklyn Nine Nine
Favorite character: Tina.
Where to watch: Hulu and Fox.com or on the actual Fox network

The Hour

Genre: Period workplace drama
Vibe: A cool, sexy but buttoned-up thriller
Number of seasons/episodes: Two seasons with six hour-long episodes in each. Super short relatively speaking.
Plot: The story centers around a television news show and three main characters: the show’s producer, Bel; the show’s main writer, Freddie, and the show’s anchor, Hector. There’s a weird love triangle, some great spy stuff, major cultural and political implications in the story, and it’s so pretty to look at.
Why I love it: This is one my unsung heroes of the decade. I absolutely loved loved loved this show. It’s so interesting, a quick watch, you immediately get invested in the characters, and it’s a page-turner, if a TV show had pages. Just fantastic.
Can I start in the middle? Nope.
Watch-alikes: Newsroom, The West Wing, Mad Men
Favorite character: Freddie. Freddie is my everything.
Where to watch: Nowhere for free from what I can find, unless you have BBCAmerica on demand. It used to be on Prime; maybe it’ll come back somewhere soon.

Orphan Black

Genre: Sci-fi adjacent thriller
Vibe: Edgy, sexy, surprisingly funny, mind-blowing
Number of seasons/episodes: Five seasons, ten episodes in each, 45 minutes long.
Plot: Sarah Manning is kind of a con artist drug dealer who witnesses the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her. She quickly discovers that her life is not what she thought and has to solve the mystery of who she really is.
Why I love it: Disclosure: I only watched the first two and a half seasons. That’s how good the first season is; it gets a top decade spot. Tatiana Maslany plays almost every character in this, and the genius of the show is that you forget that. It’s other-worldly really. And I love a good mystery.
Can I start in the middle? Very much no. At least watch the first season.
Watch-alikes: The OA, Fringe, Killing Eve
Favorite character: Helena. I love how hungry she is all the time. Also runner-up to the hotness that is Michiel Huisman in a handful of episodes. Gee willikers gee.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Parks and Recreation

Genre: Workplace comedy
Vibe: Quirky, funny, dear
Number of seasons/episodes: There are 125 22-minute episodes spread across seven seasons. Season two is where it really starts picking up.
Plot: Leslie Knope is an overly eager government official trying to make her beloved town of Pawnee, Indiana a better place. Her coworkers are the most lovable nut jobs ever, as is she.
Why I love it: Again, it’s the 30 Rock thing. Any combination of characters with just about any storyline works. It’s just so dang funny.
Can I start in the middle? Sure, but if you’re not going to start at the beginning, skip season one, and you’ll be fine. It’s only six episodes anyway.
Watch-alikes: The Office, 30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine Nine
Favorite character: Ron Swanson
Where to watch: Netflix

New Girl

Genre: Relationship comedy
Vibe: Funny. Just super funny.
Number of seasons/episodes: 146 22-minute episodes spread across seven seasons.
Plot: Jessica Day is bright-eyed Pollyanna who moves in with three guys after she finds out her boyfriend cheated on her. The show is about them just learning to be people.
Why I love it: Schmidt and Nick are why I love it. Truly. When the writing is good (like in the first three seasons), it’s a show that makes me laugh like no other. I watch it when I’m sad, and then I’m not sad anymore.
Can I start in the middle? The beginning of the show is better than the end, so start at the beginning for sure. There’s a hump to get over towards the end, but if you love the characters, you’ll likely push through to find out the resolution.
Watch-alikes: Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother, The Office
Favorite character: It’s a tie between Nick and Schmidt. I just can’t choose.
Where to watch: Netflix
[Bonus] Favorite episode: “Jess and Julia” from season one. The polka dots. The damp towel. Nick’s relationship phobias. It’s everything.

My Favorite Movies of the Decade

Here’s the thing about all of these movies: if they’re on TV, I stop and watch. Favorite movies of mine always require a rewatch which why these aren’t the best movies but my favorites.

Inception (2010)
It got me. An ensemble cast, a crazy plot that you don’t fully understand, great acting, lots of action, a grunty Tom Hardy… I’m in all the way.

The Social Network (2010)
I was surprised at how much I liked this movie, and I think if it had been anyone other than Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield as the leads, it wouldn’t have been as good. They were just incredible. I also love a story where someone’s circumstances slowly change who they are or bring out who they always were. This movie is just so well done.

The Town (2010)
This is Ben Affleck’s best movie, and this is the kind of role Jeremy Renner was meant to play. A group of friends go on a crime spree, and it tears them apart… obviously. Movies and stories that make you question who you’re rooting for? More of those, please.

Crazy Stupid Love (2011)
I have watched this so many times it’s ridiculous. This might be my favorite romantic comedy ever. Well, not above While You Were Sleeping probably, but top three easy. Every single character and performance is perfect. It’s absolutely magical.

The Avengers (2012)
I’m a sucker for the Marvel universe. I loved this movie and will watch it again and again. Again, ensemble. All of these movies so far as ensemble movies, and The Avengers is one of my favorites.

About Time (2013)
I watched this with zero expectations. I think I was home sick with the flu or something. Wow. I freaking love this movie. Domhnall Gleeson plays Tim, a guy who finds out he comes from a long line of time travelers, so when he uses his powers to get a girlfriend, things don’t quite go according to plan. It sounds like the plot of a screwball comedy, but it’s one of the most heartfelt, non-sappy movies I’ve ever seen. And Rachel McAdams plays his love interest, so bonus on that one.

World War Z (2013)
I have no idea why I love this movie so much, but clearly I do to call it a favorite of the actual decade. It’s probably the movie I most excitedly stop to watch when I’m flipping channels, and it doesn’t matter where we are in the movie. Brad Pitt is perfect, the story is simple but compelling, the action is so intense but not scary… I love it love it love it.

Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
This was the first franchise I stood in line to go see. (I read Harry Potter too late to do that for the movies.) While I love the entire four-movie series, Catching Fire is my favorite. Again, ensemble and a story that’s so dang good. While I loved the first one and didn’t mind the hand-held filming, I like the crispness of this second movie a lot better. It was so beautifully shot and felt more epic than the first. Plus it wasn’t as dark (visually and content-wise) as the final two films.

Divergent (2014)
Hear me out. The book series is solid, albeit a little crammed toward the end. The subsequent movies in this franchise? Complete garbage. I don’t know how a movie can be as good as Divergent and then spiral out of complete control one movie later. It was just bad. But I love Divergent so much. Again, the plot is simple and just mysterious enough to keep your attention without being confusing, the acting is solid, the chemistry between Tris and Four is dope, and it shockingly has Kate Winslet in it so there you go.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
This movie isn’t for everyone. It’s weird both visually and in the story itself, but man oh man. Kaz and I both love it which is always fun. It’s a dystopia that’s way dark and depraved with a hardcore Charlize Theron leading the way to rescue women from becoming just objects to the men in power. Stellar and an Oscar winner, too.

Logan (2017)
Speaking of Oscar winners, this movie didn’t win but was nominated for best adapted screenplay. When we’re talking about the X-Men universe, that’s kind of a surprise. I do love the X-men movies, even the bad ones, but Logan doesn’t fit in the best possible way. It’s way darker, raw, and focuses on what it’s like psychologically and emotionally for Logan to have been Wolverine all these years. Plus Patrick Stewart is a dream as always. An incredible movie and very easy to watch even if you’ve never seen another X-Men film.

Wonder Woman (2017)
Kaz and I went to see this in the theater on our anniversary, and I cried multiple times. I never realized how few strong women I’d seen in film before I saw Wonder Woman. I was seriously moved by it. Plus the story is fun, the cinematography is so great to look at, Gal Gadot while not the most accomplished actor ever looks the part and acts it well enough, and Chris Pine is everything.

Black Panther (2018)
Speaking of everything, this movie is literally everything. It’s the best Marvel movie by an actual mile. And I love Marvel movies, so that’s saying something. The perfect ensemble, the perfect story, the perfect characters, the perfect villain… it’s just perfect.

Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce (2019)
I was surprisingly moved by this documentary slash concert movie. I love Beyonce, I have a casual relationship with her music, but I absolutely loved watching her not only put this concert together but performing it like the icon she is. It was so excellent, and I think about it often.

My Favorite Books I Read This Decade

Fiction

The Red Rising Trilogy - Pierce Brown
Obviously. It’s my favorite trilogy of all time. Gripping, page-turning, class warfare, love stories, beautiful friendships, high stakes, space wars… it’s awesome.

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
One of my favorite stand-alone novels of all time. It’s magical but grounded, and I like any book set in a circus.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
We’ll count the whole trilogy here, but these books shaped how I read. They opened me up to dystopian YA which I will without shame say is my favorite genre.

The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
I read these as a new, lonely mom, so these characters have a special place in my heart. It’s an iconic series for a reason, so there’s no need to go into it. I will say that the final book is one of my favorite books of all time. It’s hard to nail the landing on a series this complex, but somehow J.K. Rowling did and better than any of us could’ve imagined. A treasure.

The Wingfeather Saga - Andrew Peterson
This is another treasure I need you to know about. The Wingfeather Saga is a four book series about three siblings that takes place in a world that’s obviously but beautifully inspired by the imaginations of Lewis and Tolkien. The first book has a lot of setup, and I’ve heard of a few folks who stopped midway through. I implore you to either commit to reading the first so you can enjoy the rest of the series, or you can have someone who has read the series give you a recap of the first book or just read this. He sticks the landing so perfectly in the final book as well. Such a worthy read and great for elementary / middle grade kids, too.

The Hazel Wood - Melissa Albert
You know how Michael Scott says he’s not superstitious but he is a little stitious? That’s how I am with horror. I like just a little horror, and The Hazel Wood is my perfect horror-ish book. Full of dark fairy tales and great characters, it’s such a great read.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman
Obviously a favorite book of the decade but probably top five of all time. Probably. It’s magical realism, slightly word, slightly scary, and full of heart. I think people either love it or hate it, so choose your own adventure.

The Dublin Murder Squad Series - Tana French
I’m the boss, so I can include a series. The irony is that I’ve only read two of the books in this one (that you don’t have to read consecutively by the way), but I have no doubt I’ll love them all. These are crime mysteries without a lot of gore but not quite as cozy as Louise Penny. They definitely have an edge but not an uncomfortable one. The Likeness made me lose a lot of sleep because I didn’t want to put it down.

The Winternight Trilogy - Katherine Arden
Who am I kidding? There are so many series on this list. The Winternight Trilogy starts off with the book The Bear and the Nightingale which, if you’ve been around here for awhile, you’ve likely heard me talk about. The first book does have a ton of setup and feels a bit like a slog, but it’s so incredibly worth. The series follows a young girl whose family is important in Russian culture, but she has powers her family doesn’t know about. There’s a lot of folklore and political maneuvering and a winter demon that you’re somehow attracted to. So good.

The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker
If you haven’t picked up yet that I like stories that involve magic, this one does, too. A man creates a golem (a figure made out of clay) to be his wife, but he dies on his voyage to his new home with his new “wife.” The story involves her, this magical clay being, trying to figure out how to live without being found out. Her story is woven together with that of the jinni (or genie as we know it) who is also magical and in hiding. It’s so creative and awesome. I loved it.

Nonfiction

The Sacred Enneagram - Christopher L. Heuertz
My favorite book on the Enneagram by a mile.

The Next Right Thing - Emily P. Freeman
The only book on decision-making slash just living a life that you’ll ever need.

Cozy Minimalist Home - Myquillyn Smith
My favorite and only home decorating book. It’s your Bible.

Atomic Habits - James Clear
A game-changing book on habits. And I don’t like habits.

At Home in the World - Tsh Oxenreider
Part memoir, part travel diary, this book of a family spending a year traveling the world was a delight.

The Ministry of Ordinary Places - Shannan Martin
There’s no better book on teaching us to be human and compassionate exactly where we are.

Courage, Dear Heart - Rebecca K. Reynolds
I get tired of platitudes about suffering, and this book gives such beautiful words to such a complicated subject.

Burnout - Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
If you’re a woman, this book will change your life. I use tactics from this book every single day in my life and have felt far less stress because of it.

The Art of Gathering - Priya Parker
Gathering people together is my favorite thing in the whole world, and this book is my kind, thoughtful blueprint on how to continue doing that with intention.

The Soul of Discipline - Kim John Payne
A terrific book on parenting. Changed our lives completely.

My Favorite Podcasts of the Decade

This American Life
The original. The GOAT. It continues to provide excellent storytelling.

S-Town
I mean. This mess was bonkers. One of the most compelling listens of the decade.

The Popcast with Knox and Jamie
I have listened to literally every episode, and I pay money every month to listen to even more. Knox and Jamie make me laugh harder than anyone else and are just a gift.

Serial
Obviously. So stinkin’ good.

Off Camera with Sam Jones
I love long-form interviews with celebrities, and Sam does a great job. He’s a photographer and super artsy, so he likes asking questions about creative process and all that. Sure, it’s a little meta at times, but it’s also really interesting. I only listen to episodes when I like the person he’s interviewing, but there are tons to choose from.

You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
Same as with Off Camera. I only listen to people I’m interested in (especially because some of the episodes are over two hours long for real), but Pete is a strange, beautiful bird. My two favorite episodes that come to mind are Keegan Michael Key (absolutely hilarious) and Hillary McBride (absolutely freeing). No one but Pete can marry humor and religion so beautifully.

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
The two hosts read Harry Potter as if it were a sacred text, applying classically sacred reading practices to one chapter at a time, and it’s so good.

What Should I Read Next
I get most of my book recommendations from this podcast. Anne Bogel knows her stuff.

The Next Right Thing
Emily offers a short episode every Tuesday, helping us to the next right thing in love. It’s also the slow breath I need.

The Daily
Excellent in-depth reporting on one singular news story every day.

Startup
I loved the first and last seasons the most, mostly because I love Alex so much. A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what it means to start a business.

Making Oprah
I found this series surprisingly compelling. I mean, it’s Oprah, so of course, it’ll be great. Still, I looked forward to every new episode with an anticipation I didn’t expect.

Heavyweight
My favorite storytelling podcast. The host, Jonathan Goldstein, is equal parts absurd and deep. It’s such a strange vibe which makes it unlike any other podcast I’ve heard. These stories will rip you apart, and Jonathan finds weirdness and hope in every single one.

Mystery Show
This show only lasted a season with just six episodes, but it was an absolute favorite. Starlee Kine investigated specific mysteries that even the Internet couldn’t solve, and they’re so great.

The Longest Shortest Time
I listened to this religiously when I was in the throes of new babies. It’s such a life-giving show about motherhood in all its forms. So well done.

My Favorite Musical Artists I Enjoyed This Decade

Penny and Sparrow
All-time favorite. I listened to Finch over a hundred times this year easily.

Andrew Peterson
My longest love. I’ve been a huge fan of Andrew’s music since he was an opener for Caedmon’s Call, and we’ve seen him in concert over 30 times easily.

Patty Griffin
Patty. Patty Patty Patty. She was my first foray into music that wasn’t on contemporary Christmas radio, and I’ve never been the same since.

The Gloaming
This decade, my musical tastes have really solidified, and The Gloaming are a prime example of the vibe I love more than just about any vibe.

Slow Meadow
Same as The Gloaming. Vibes for days.

Jill Phillips
She’s a fantastic songwriter and a lovely human. If you’ve been to any of Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God shows, she’s always there singing Labor of Pain and making us all weep.

Andy Gullahorn
He’s married to Jill Phillips and can make you laugh and cry in the same song, sometimes even in the same line. He’s a masterful songwriter. I love his music so much.

Alessia Cara
If I’m not going hard on Christian songwriters or instrumental vibes, I’m going here. Alessia Cara is the best kind of pop, and I’ve loved discovering her music the last couple of years.

Ben Howard
SO GOOD. He’s in the family of Penny and Sparrow. Beautiful music, a great voice, solid vibe.

Matthew and the Atlas
Same as Ben and Penny and Sparrow. The lead guy’s voice is very particular and not to everyone’s taste, but it is to mine.

Kate Rusby
She’s an English folk singer-songwriter who’s been making music for a real long time. Her voice is perfect, and the songs have a certain lightness that I haven’t found anywhere else. She’s iconic for a reason.

The Oh Hellos
Give me all the voices and all the guitars and all the joy. The Oh Hellos make music you want to dance to. I love them and probably will for more decades than this one.

The Brilliance
Beautiful music, illuminating lyrics, a peaceful voice, a top-tier Christmas album… I love The Brilliance.

Sleeping at Last
A lot of people like Sleeping at Last because of the Enneagram songs (as do I), but his instrumental Space album? Walk on the beach to that and try to not have your life changed. His composition skills are bonkers.

Sandra McCracken
We jokingly call her the patron saint of our church because we sing so many of her songs, but I’ve loved her for such a long time. Springtime Indiana still comes to mind every now and then, and I’m surprised at many of the lyrics I remember. Such a great voice, a talented songwriter, and a seemingly beautiful soul.

If you have any favorites you want to share, pop them in the comments or link up to a post you wrote about yours! Or even just name some decade favorites for yourself. It’s nice to name what we love.