Best of 2025

Here’s my compilation of the best moments and my favorite things from 2025.

Music

Albums

My favorite album of 2025 was Fust’s Big Ugly. The folksy indie sound hits me where I live, and the poignant lyrics about life in the modern American South are remarkably well-crafted.

Concerts

My favorite show of the year was Mumford & Sons at the Greek Theatre on June 9. It was a really fun, energetic show that took full advantage of the band’s arena-ready sound.

I also had a great time at two other shows this year: The Who at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in September, and Josh Ritter at Hardly Strictly in October.

Movies

It wasn’t a year where many movies inspired me, but my favorite was Wake Up Dead Man.

Television Series

My favorite series of the year was the first season of The Pitt. My wife is an emergency doctor, so this one hit especially hard. The acting and writing are incredible, and the show’s message about the state of America’s health system—and the toll it takes on the doctors, nurses, EMTs, and everyone else who works in its most stressful corners—feels critically important.

Books

The best book I read this year was Anne Applebaum’s Autocracy, Inc., a haunting account of modern autocracy that emphasizes the kleptocratic network of autocratic leaders around the world who cooperate to keep each other in power (and rich).

Photos

At Laguna de los Tres in Argentinian Patagonia, an unforecasted fall snowstorm dropped a few inches of snow the night before we hiked up. The cold, challenging climb through the unexpected snow made the view of Mount Fitz Roy feel all the more rewarding, and this shot is one of my favorites from the year.

Another favorite was this shot of a rainbow bisecting some of Iguazú Falls’s cataracts. The way the rainbow separates the light and dark is striking.

Travel

My trip to Argentina and Chile was absolutely amazing. The natural beauty of Patagonia and Iguazú Falls was truly breathtaking. We got to combine that with the culture and history of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires and historic Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, as well as fantastic food and wine throughout.

Culinary Experience

My favorite culinary experience of the year was at The Asadores in El Chalten, Argentina. The restaurant served fantastic Argentinian steaks cooked in traditional fashion, paired with an excellent list of local wines.

Goodbye, 2025

It was a wonderful year, and I’m looking forward to what 2026 has in store!