The Ex Talk Book Review

The hate-to-love narrative within the romance genre is a delicious one for both the writer(s) and the audience. It has the potential to set the story on fire and bring the audience along for a roller coaster of a ride.

Rachel Lynn Solomon‘s novel, The Ex Talk, was published in early 2021. Shay Goldstein has spent the last ten years climbing up the career ladder at her local NPR station in Portland, Oregon. Dominic Yun is fresh out of grad school and throwing his degree around as if it were a frisbee. Their initial relationship is as compatible as oil and water.

When the station manager announces layoffs due to a downturn in revenue, Shay comes up with an idea to save the station and everyone’s jobs. Her boss quickly gives the go-ahead. The new program is called The Ex Talk. Two people who are no longer together will give advice about life and love. Instead of choosing two real-life exes, Shay and Dominic pretend that they were once a couple. In spite of their mutual dislike, they agree to the deception.

The podcast soon becomes a hit. As Shay and Dominic go along with the story, they start to understand and fall for one another. But there is a growing suspicion that it is nothing more than an act. When the other shoe falls, where will Shay and Dominic land?

I loved this book. It is cute, charming, and gets the heart fluttering. Solomon’s writing is easy to read and quickly engrosses the reader. I found myself swept away on a tidal wave of a story that was is absolutely one of the best romance novels I’ve read in a long time.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

The Ex Talk is available wherever books are sold.

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Podcast Reviews: People of the Pod and Fever Dreams

Though podcasts are a relatively new form of media, they have as much power and influence as their predecessors.

The new podcast from The Daily Beast is called Fever Dreams. Hosted by reporters Asawin Suebsaeng and Will Sommer, they delve into political right’s various plans to take over the government. Examining the different aspects within the movement, each episode talks about how each subgroup is using different methods to reshape the United States into their own image.

The People of the Pod is a podcast that made its debut in the summer of 2019. Created by the American Jewish Committee, hosts Seffi Kogen and Manya Brachear Pashman talk to different guests about what is going on in the world, how these events can be looked at via Jewish eyes, and the connection to American Jews, Jews across the world, and Israel.

I enjoy both podcasts. The perspective that each takes is an open, honest, and sometimes difficult approach to talking about what are essentially important subjects.

Do I recommend them both? Yes.

Throwback Thursday: Here’s The Thing (2011-Present)

From the outside looking in, radio is not what it used to be. But, upon further inspection, one would discover that podcasts are the 21st century version of what was traditionally the radio.

The podcast, Here’s The Thing has been hosted by Alec Baldwin since 2011. After nearly a decade of airing on WNYC, it has recently moved to iHeartRadio. On the podcast, Baldwin sits down with influential people from the worlds of politics, art/entertainment, and sports.

I enjoy this podcast. Baldwin has an easy, down to earth demeanor, allowing his interviewees to open up and introduce the listener to the person behind persona.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Your New Favorite Podcast Should be Thank the Maker: A Star Wars Podcast

There is no doubt that the Star Wars film franchise has millions of fans around the world. This, naturally, results in a large variety of opinions on the subject.

One of my new favorite podcasts is Thank the Maker: A Star Wars Podcast. The podcast is hosted by musicians and Star Wars fans William Ryan Key (Yellowcard), Adam Russell (Story of the Year), and Nick Ghanbarian (Bayside).

The thing that hooked me with this podcast and keeps me hooked is the intelligent (and sometimes eye-opening) conversations between the hosts and the guests. The most recent episode talked about The Phantom Menace. Though I love the franchise as a whole, I loathe the prequels and The Phantom Menace in particular. As both a writer and a fan, these movies fall short of the reputation that was crafted by their predecessors.

One of the topics that were brought up during the most recent episode was the glossing over of midi-chlorians. In laymen’s terms, midi-chlorians are the microscopic-sized life forms that if exist in significant numbers in an individual, give that individual Force abilities.

Writing-wise, the question asked was why midi-chlorian and the role they played in the conception of Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) was not given it’s due. Instead of being a major part of the narrative, it was a throw-away line that only the most ardent Star Wars fan would have noticed.

With most of us locked in our homes nearly 24/7, intelligent conversation seems to be one of those things that we are relying on to keep us sane. I will take any intelligent conversation about Stars Wars, especially these days.

That, dear reader is why Thank the Maker: A Star Wars Podcast is my new favorite podcast and it should be yours as well.

American Manifesto: Saving Democracy from Villains, Vandals, and Ourselves Book Review

Democracy is not something that is automatically handed to us. It was must be fought for and maintained.

On the Media‘s co-host Bob Garfield‘s new book is entitled American Manifesto: Saving Democracy from Villains, Vandals, and Ourselves. In the book, Garfield examines how the United States has become a fractured country. Looking at the changing mass media, the influence of the internet and identity politics, Garfield not just names the problem, he provides a solution to bring this country back together.

I hate the feeling of being excited about a book and then feeling disappointed. This book is one of many to address the obvious societal and political change in America. I initially picked up the book because On the Media is one of the podcasts that I regularly listen to. The problem with this book is that Garfield gets so wrapped up in his ideas that he loses the reader. I wanted to be inspired by this book, but I was not.

Do I recommend it? Not really.

Two Podcasts You Should Be Listening To If You Aren’t Already: Can I Just Say & Unorthodox

These days, everyone and their mother has their own podcast.

But for me, there are two podcasts that I count myself as a fan of: Unorthodox and Can I Just Say.

Unorthodox

There is an old inside joke about Jews: For every two Jews, there are three opinions. From my perspective. is the backbone of Unorthodox. Created by Tablet Magazine,  the podcast is hosted by Mark Oppenheimer, Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz. Every week they talk about news relating to the Jewish world and have two guests: one Jewish and one not Jewish. What I appreciate about this podcast is that Mark, Liel and Stephanie not only mesh well together, but their unique world views allow all three to stand out in their own way. I’ve been listening for a couple of years; it’s a pleasure to wake up on Thursday morning knowing that the week’s episode is waiting for me.

Can I Just Say

Pop culture podcasts can sometimes get a little dull. Either they can veer too much into the fan boy or fan girl lane or they are just a tad too intellectual.

Thankfully, Can I Just Say is the perfect pop culture podcast. Hosted by Daphne Olive and Elizabeth Stevens, the ladies have unique and stimulating conversations about everything from Star Wars (their newest podcast about The Last Jedi was very interesting) to novels and their various adaptations (their comments about Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility got me thinking) to a hand-picked selection of Baz Lurhmann films opened my eyes to his abilities as a filmmaker. They also host a podcast entitled Fathoms Deep: A Black Sails Podcast, an equally interesting podcast about the television series Black Sails.

I recommend both.

 

Failure Is Merely A Part Of Life

I hate to say it, but we all fail once in a while. Whether is because of poor judgement, lack of knowledge or another reason, we all fail at least once.

One of the podcasts I listen to regularly is on a website entitled Problogger. Run by Darren Rowse, a successful blogger who has found a way to earn a living as a blogger, he talks about anything and everything that has to do with blogging.

This week’s podcast was about how to overcome failure in six steps. The thing that struck me about not only the subject of the podcast, but the suggestions laid out, is that the steps don’t just apply to bloggers and blogging. They can be used by anyone for any aspect of their life.

Failure is hard. It’s depressing, it’s ego bruising and not a fun experience to say the least. But we all go through it and the old adage is true. What doesn’t kill us really does make us stronger.

One of the most comforting thing I’ve heard about failure came from Oprah Winfrey. A failure is merely a course correction. Of course it’s difficult, but sometimes it is necessary.

I highly recommend this particular episode to all of my readers and Problogger in general to anyone who has a blog or is considering starting a blog. The experience will be well worth it.

The Brit List

There are many voices on the internet. We are clamoring for a piece of the internet pie.

A friend of mine recently started a podcast. The Brit List, started by my good friend, Brittany, is a podcast focusing on music, sports and entertainment.

Without a further a due, I give you The Brit List.

Enjoy.