stacy benedict

I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to the end of 2025. Between the election of Content Creator in Chief DJT, the turbulent economy because of DJT’s tariffs & policies, costs rising, wars, mass shootings, the horror that is/was DOGE, the destruction of USAID, The Sword of Damocles (aka DJT’s One Big Beautify Bill), the looming nightmare of ICE, the USA government murdering people off the coast of Venezuela, CECOT (aka the Abu Ghraib prison scandal remake), the threats to democracy & freedom of speech, the breakdown of the rule of law by our government & DOJ, and the persistent presidential self-dealing corruption, 2025 needs to be put down like a rabid Tyrannosaurus.

Everyday I tell myself to just turn off the news, but I can’t look away or zone out no matter how hard I try.

Seriously, 2025 was worse than 2020. Who could have thought that possible?

I could write a long rant about all of the things and media that I hated this year, but negativity is as pointless, toxic, and destructive as DOGE turned out to be.

So, here is a list of things that I enjoyed in 2025.

Favorite Writing YouTube Channel:

BookFox: Solid writing advice

Favorite Books:

Tress of the Emerald Sea, by Brandon Sanderson

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, by Brandon Sanderson

I know Sanderson published his secret projects books in 2023, but I didn’t read any until this year. Boy, were they good. Both books had Sanderson’s great worldbuilding, uniqueness, well developed characters, good pacing, and humor.

I read all four of the Secret Projects, but these two were my favorite.

Favorite Sports Moments:

I’m so happy for these two great American women tennis players. I was afraid that once GOAT Serena Williams left the sport, there wouldn’t be another American star who could fill her Nikes, but Keys and Gauff stepped up to the baseline and proved me wrong.

Madison Keys won the Australian Open 2025

Coco Gauff won the French Open 2025

Favorite Podcasts:

I think everyone and their mother has a podcast these days. It’s gotten to the point where I feel FOMO for not having one myself. Truth be told, me having a podcast would be a disaster of hilarious proportions.

Pod Save America:  Funny and informative about politics

Brian Tyler Cohen: Gives me my daily dose of Trump outrage

The Brutality Podcast: Awesome Deathcore music related interviews

The Metal Roundup: Fun metal, metalcore, and other rock & metal music commentary

Favorite TV Shows:

This year I didn’t watch much TV. I haven’t felt like sitting down to watch a program.  These shows, however, keep me tuned in.

South Park: I used to watch South Park all the time, but like many things, it fell off my radar as new shows caught my attention. Oh My Satan! They went HARD AS FU*K on Trump this year and I loved it. Every episode was side splittingly funny.

The Daily Show: This show has always been must see TV in my household for decades now. I’m happy Jon Stewart is back and all of the guest hosts have been terrific as well.

Favorite Movie:

Okay, I must confess, I only saw one movie this year. But, I picked it because it was the only movie I wanted to watch in theaters.

F1: A fun and exciting movie. Solid acting by Brad Pitt and Damson Idris.

Favorite Music:

Music was what really kept me sane this year. I’m first and foremost a Nu Metal fan, but a few years ago I challenged myself to try new music. I can’t keep being stuck in the 90’s – 00’s, musically speaking, forever. So, I forced myself to get into current metal and I’m so grateful I did.

Album:

Sleep Token: Even in Arcadia

Sleep Token keeps getting better and better. I loved This Place Will Become Your Tomb. I thought it would be difficult to improve on that. Then Take Me back to Eden came out. Every song is perfection. Every. Single. One. That was their magnum opus. There is no way to improve on perfection. Then Even in Arcadia came out. I have listened to this album from first to last song everyday since it came out. I’m not kidding. Amazing vocals, writing, and instrumentals. They have a unique sound and vibe that no one else in music can match.

Songs:

Lorna Shore: Oblivion

Bad Omens:  Specter

Alt Blk Era: Okay (Cyber Racing)

Black Veil Brides: Hallelujah

Ghost: Satanized

Electric Callboy:  Elevator Operator

Knocked Loose: Don’t Reach for Me

Architects: Blackhole

Novelists: All for Nothing

Tetrarch: The Ugly Side of Me

Limp Bizkit: Making Love to Morgan Wallen

Ad Infinitum:  Regicide

The Pretty Wild: Paradox

Dorothy: Tombstone Town

White Chapel: Hymns in Dissonance

Kublai Khan TX: The Mountain of Corsicana

Bloodywood: Tadka

BabyMetal: My Queen

Imminence: God Fearing Man

Mudvayne: Sticks and Stones

Stray from the Path: You’re Not That Guy

Chevelle: Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1)

Linkin Park: Up From the Bottom

Jinjer: Green Serpent

Slaughter to Prevail: Behelit

Erra: Gore of Being

Health: Ordinary Loss

Bush: I Beat Loneliness

Deftones: Infinite Source

Spiritbox: Soft Spine

The Browning: Not Alone (Evolved)

Gaera: Hellbound

Allt: Aquila

10 Years: No Light, No Light

P.O.D.: Don’t Let Me Down

Dying Wish: Revenge In Carnage

Sleep Theory: Static

Seether: Lost All Control

My Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2lyKEQb3pUFZZFNiT6LeK5?si=g55PM0ydSTiRnHtstJZK5A

Concert:

Cold.

Admittedly, I only went to one concert this year. Times are expensive, okay, and I don’t have much to spare. They were awesome. Cold played in a small venue so I actually got to see the stage. Also, they played one of my favorite albums in its entirety, 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage.

Hopefully my favorite bands, Korn and Slipknot, will release new music in 2026.

What were your favorite books, movies, music, TV shows, podcasts, food, etc. that got you through 2025?

I hope you liked this month’s blog post. The books in my urban fantasy series are available on Amazon. Please let me know your thoughts by liking, commenting, and/or subscribing. Also, you can join my mailing list by clicking here.

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