Each week two writers share their current obsessions. This week features staff writers Carmel Hickey and Nick Winebrenner.

Carmel Hickey

Tiny Desk Concerts

Shoutout to alum Jack Graham for showing me Tiny Desk Concerts, aka the holy grail of Youtube. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, they are basically 15-minute intimate concerts hosted by NPR at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. My personal favorites are Mac Miller, Coldplay (specifically Cry, Cry, Cry) and Sting and Shaggy. 

Chili & Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips from Trader Joes 

These things should be illegal and are definitely laced with some addictive chemical. The problem is they are so spicy you have to eat another one to combat the pain, creating an unending cycle that can sometimes be vicious. A few nights ago, for example, I consumed a majority of the bag and was left with sores all over my mouth for several hours. And guess what? I would do it all again. 

Speechless by Lady Gaga

This one is far past an obsession. I heard it randomly on the radio last week, and have been listening to it on a loop any chance I get. I was a Gaga fan in 2010 when she was a beast but don’t love her recent music. This song, however, is pure magic and undoubtedly boosts my serotonin levels. And I thought I just had a problem or something, but I’ve heard several people in my family sing it under their breath so it’s not just me. Give it a listen, you’ll see. 

Gallon water bottle

When I was in eighth grade I had this really odd phase where I kept passing out, so we thought something was seriously wrong. It took a long hospital visit to come to the conclusion that I just wasn’t drinking water. You would think that experience would be enough for me to change my habits, but I still forget to drink water all the time. Then, last week I ordered a gallon water bottle off Amazon. When filled it weighs around eight pounds but feels like 20, and the hot pink color of it along with the inspirational messages telling me to “keep chugging!” running down the side makes drinking from it rather embarrassing, but if water gurus were a thing, I would be one. 

Wearing crewnecks inside out 

I saw an influencer I follow, @maryralph (pictured above), wear one of her old crewnecks inside out and I liked the vintage look of it so I’ve been wearing them a lot. My good friend Avery Robb asked if I flipped it inside out to hide a stain, and my older brother told me it looks incredibly stupid, but I’m still convinced it looks cool. 

Nick Winebrenner

Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy

Let me just start off by saying, this show may be the most aesthetically pleasing show that I have ever watched. It combines the finest food in the world with the most gorgeous places in the world, all with the calming voice of the drippiest man in the the world, Stanley Tucci. Each 45 minute episode highlights a different region of Italy and discusses their food, culture, and history. He interviews the chefs, who all have phenomenal Italian accents, and discusses the history of their restaurants  With all the food Instagram accounts that I’ve seen pop up on my phone, there is no doubt in my mind that this show will take off.

John Denver

Ah, John Denver. The guy who I referred to about two months ago as the “Take Me Home Country Roads guy” whose music would only reach my eardrums while on a family vacation in Colorado. But after finally listening to my mom, I hopped on the John Denver hype train. Of course this hype train is more of a tranquil train that immerses listeners into the Rocky Mountains.  I’ve mainly been listening to this musical genius while shoveling snow and walking my dogs during the cold. I suggest starting with Starwood in Aspen, Sunshine on My Shoulders, Follow Me, and the classic, Rocky Mountain High. For some more upbeat, summer songs, The Eagle and The Hawk, and For Baby (For Bobbie) will definitely get you in the right state of mind. On top of all of these, my absolute favorite has to be Annie’s song. It’s right up there with Imagine by John Lennon and Halo by Beyonce as the best songs ever created. John Denver never seemed to me as someone whose songs I would describe as “bangers”, but after bumping his music for about a month and a half now, I can attest to the “bangers” title I have given his songs.

The Dark Knight trilogy

On a different note, I also have not been able to turn off Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. Streaming on HBOmax, these movies seem to make me want to run through a brick wall every 20 minutes. I’m so hyped that I have changed my morning alarm to the last 20 seconds of ‘Why do we Fall?’ from The Dark Knight Rises and haven’t pressed the snooze button once in the past week; a big feat for someone known to his family as “Nocturnal Nick”. On top of the unbeaten music, these movies have some of the best acting performances I’ve ever seen. Christian Bale as billionaire Bruce Wayne, the late Heath Ledger as the chaos obsessed Joker, and Michael Caine as the lovable Alfred Pennyworth have made these movies impossible not to love. While these movies do pump me up beyond comparison, they also truly, as the Joker would say, “Put a smile on my face.” 

Big Ten College Basketball

This college basketball season is particularly exciting, especially for the midwest’s very own Big Ten Conference. According to Joe Lunardi, 9 teams from the Big Ten are projected to make the March Madness NCAA tournament, which would tie the record for the second most of all-time.  What is so appealing about the Big Ten this year is the skill of the “worst” teams. Ohio State, currently ranked in the top 10 in the country, has lost to Northwestern, Minnesota, and Purdue (twice). Illinois, a top 5 team in the country, has lost to Rutgers and Maryland, and has also played close games with almost every team in the conference. And those examples are just the numbers. The eye test proves  every single big ten game to be fun to watch, no matter who is playing.