Mike Maney

Category: Fun

  • Stories That Stole the Spotlight: My Top Picks from the Big and Small Screens This Year

    Stories That Stole the Spotlight: My Top Picks from the Big and Small Screens This Year

    The work that pays the bills (and funds the fun) also happens to be something I love: crafting and telling stories. I’ve been doing it for more cake candles than I care to count. But great storytelling doesn’t happen in isolation. To tell a good story, you have to immerse yourself in others — reading, listening, and watching as much as you can. This year, I had the privilege of watching incredible stories on both the big and small screens, created by some of the finest storytellers in the craft. Here are the television shows, movies, and documentaries that stood out to me this year:

    Movies

    Lee
    Civil War
    Wicked
    Anora
    Road Diaries

    Television

    Black Sails
    Shrinking
    Resident Alien
    Loudermilk
    Acapulco
    Somebody, Somewhere
    Bad Monkey
    Nobody Wants This
    Man on the Inside
    English Teacher

    Documentaries

    Nothin’ But a Good Time
    It Ain’t Over

  • There’s literary beauty in cycling

    Write what you know, so the old adage goes. Which is exactly what two-time U.S. champion John Eustice does.

    The junction between the groups was made at the base of the famed Koppenberg climb, with 45-k to go, where Pogačar accelerated – of course, what else would one do? – and the big three, van der Poel, Van Aert and Pogačar were gone. The trio sliced through the fading riders of the early break, picking up and discarding them in turn.

    Pogačar the Conquerer — John Eustice
  • Pint of View, Episode 2

    Pint of View, Episode 2

    Episode 2 of the future Emmy-nominated “Pint of View,” wherein Eric Norlin and I drink a(nother) beer, discuss the explosion of content, and offer up some recommendations on what to add to your Netflix and Substack queues.

  • A Great Voice

    During last year’s South by Southwest, I had the opportunity to attend a VIP event at the renowned Austin City Limits. One of the bands on stage that evening was a band called Band of Skulls. The other was an artist with a unique sound: Nicole Atkins. You can watch her full set (courtesy of PBS).

  • Take Me Out to the Ballgame