Supporting The Clave Chronicles and Shiv Roy's pregnancy
Hi all,
First just a note to say that my latest podcast episode is out and it’s a special one for me, as it’s about the topic I did my doctoral research and dissertation on: Rumba
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2158804/12913636
I really hope you’ve gotten a chance to check out The Clave Chronicles. Last week, I released my first interview episode, which I recorded with my friend and an incredibly knowledgeably Cuban music scholar, Robin Moore!
To be honest, I could really use your help with podcast promotion.
Can you take a minute to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Follow on Spotify/Google/Amazon or just download/listen to a few episodes on whatever other platform you use. Downloads/plays are really important in getting more visibility for small, independent podcasts. So even if you’re not that interested in the topic, I’d be so grateful if you could subscribe or give it a listen for a minute or two just to help me out.
I’ve really thrown myself into podcasting in the past month, and it’s been quite an undertaking since this particular podcast requires research, writing at least an outline of a script, choosing musical examples, recording, editing (which takes the longest time!), and promoting. It’s a part-time job!
I know it will take some time to get more visibility and exposure, which will be needed if I ever want to try and get monetize the podcast (which of course I do!). But in the meantime it involves a lot of unpaid labor to put together (I’d say 10 hours/week), and that’s why I’m asking for your support - both with the downloads and with any financial support you might be willing to contribute.
You may or may not remember that I have a Patreon page for people who would like to support my various creative activities, whether writing or podcasting. Patreon is best for people who want to support me on a recurring/monthly basis.
I now have another option for you to support the podcast specifically, and you can choose whether to give once or become a recurring contributor. It’s called Buy Me a Coffee and you don’t even need to create an account to be able to donate:
Whether it’s financial support or subscribing to the podcast, I’m grateful for your help!
I know I haven’t really been doing pop culture recommendations lately but you all know one of my favorite shows of the last few years has been Succession.
The show is ending its run this coming Sunday night and I’m already pre-grieving! (if you know, you know). God what a supremely written and acted show. It’s already in my top-10 TV pantheon. Simultaneously the funniest and most tragic show on TV.
Anyway, I wrote something about it this week, which was published at CNN Opinion. I felt a way about the portrayal of Shiv Roy’s pregnancy:
Since I’m talking TV anyway, here’s a list of my favorite shows in 2023 so far:
Shrinking, Apple TV+ - best new comedy on TV, and I think we’re gonna get Harrison Ford an Emmy this fall!!
The Last of US, HBO - I thought this post-apocalypse show couldn’t measure up to Station Eleven, but it got pretty damn close! Pedro Pascal + Bella Ramsey = sublime
The Great, Hulu - I’m still trying to get more people to watch one of the best comedies on TV. I know you think it’s set in the 18th century and is probably boring. But it’s like Veep masquerading as a period show - so vulgar and raunchy. I need for Nicholas Hoult to win an Emmy for this role!
Bad Sisters, Apple TV+ - Incredibly entertaining Irish show, created by Sharon Horgan. Kind of a mix of comedy and drama, about 4 sisters who hate their 5th sister’s incredibly villainous husband (you truly can’t imagine how fucking terrible this guy is) and set out to get rid of him.
Mrs. Davis, Peacock - This is the weirdest, zaniest show you can imagine. It involves a nun (the great Betty Gilpin) on a quest to find the Holy Grail. But Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers, Watchmen) is the co-creator, and I’ll watch anything he makes. It’s out there, but the Lindelof themes of grief are still right beneath the surface.
Finally, a show that has completely fallen off a cliff: Ted Lasso. I don’t know what happened, but this season has been AWFUL. Boring, unimaginative, repetitive beats, character arcs that make no sense. And on top of all that the episodes are 100% longer than they were in first two seasons! I’m really glad it’s ending.
What are your favorite things you’ve watched this year?