Let's pretend it's still summer

Heartwarming listening picks and sunny summer photos

Dec 07, 2025

This time, I have some fiery and heartwarming listening recommendations for you. And my photos are from summer because I miss her (and tbh I still need to finish some rolls!). Hopefully, this heats you up a bit as the polar vortex bears down on us.

What I’m listening to

Note: I’m now linking with Pod Link, which should have your favorite app, whatever it is.

Pie Down Here from audio magazine Signal Hill includes real interview clips with Alabama sharecroppers and communists who organized for better wages. They’re beautiful and inspiring. Two of my favorite quotes were: “The worst thing about the Communist Party is they didn’t know the South was the center of radicalism.” and “You can kill me, but you won’t scare me.”
Those oral histories became Robin D. G. Kelley’s groundbreaking book Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists During the Great Depression. If you’re seeing this today, Audible has the book on sale for $3! I just bought it, so let me know if you’re reading this one, too, so we can discuss.
I initially heard about this going through back episodes of The Dig because I caught The Dig: 500th Episode Party w/ Brace Belden and Liz Franczak on Jacobin Radio. This celebration was so sweet and reminded me of how special both this podcast and these kinds of gatherings are. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon at a holiday party!