SCREENSHOTS Special Edition: Favorite Books, Podcasts, and TV Series of 2025
The year has barely started… so I guess recaps are still allowed?
After a whole year of sharing my monthly recommendations, I figured it would be nice to bring you a recap of my absolute favorites of the year. If you’re a new subscriber, SCREENSHOTS is my monthly post with a roundup of recs: everything I read, listened to, or watched that month, including books, audiobooks, articles, movies, TV series, and podcasts. I reviewed each of these posts and picked my absolute favorites.
Also, since we’re here: what were your favorites in 2025? Books, podcasts, articles, movies, it doesn’t matter. I want to hear from you, so drop your rec in the comments or feel free to reply to this email. 😊
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Books
I will start with this category because it’s the one that makes me the most proud. As I mentioned in my annual recap, between audiobooks and physical books, I read 17 books. And although I know this is probably not a super impressive number, I will allow myself to celebrate this achievement, especially considering how much time we waste scrolling. Anyway, here are my favorites:
Conversations with People Who Hate Me
I really feel the end of 2025 was a period that brought a lot of clarity to my life, and I believe this was the result of many actions I took, and content I consumed that really stayed with me. This book was certainly part of that process. I can’t stress enough how I loved the reflections that Dylan Marron brings up. So many good points and observations about the cancel culture and online fights. It’s an easy and engaging read - I actually highly recommend the audiobook version.
Here's one of my favorite parts of the book:
“Social media platforms flatten other human beings into two-dimensional avatars, making it all the easier to see our enemies—or perceived enemies—not as fellow people, but bullseyes on which we can perfect our aim […] But what does winning a debate actually do? Does it change minds? Does it advance social justice causes? That would be lovely if so, but I worry that it is more of a performance for those who have already made up their minds. An opportunity to impress those who already agree with us.”
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Another book I listened to it and it was very easy to follow. And looking back, I'm sure this book also contributed to my self development.
The whole argument about Essentialism is around doing fewer things—but better - while it challenges the idea that we must do everything, urging us to focus only on what is truly essential.
The author shows real-life examples and shares practical strategies and mindset shifts, to help readers eliminate noise and reclaim control of their time and energy. The most interesting thing is that we can apply that in so many areas of our lives - including, of course, work.
Now, the next books are all memoirs - which is probably my favorite genre.
Me - this is Ricky Martin’s memoir. I listened to the audiobook version, and it was such a nice one. First, because you feel like you are listening to a friend telling a story (although Ricky is not the narrator). The language is simple, but Ricky is very vulnerable. He shares everything from memories of his early childhood to starting his career as part of the famous boy band Menudo, his struggles with his identity, and his reflections on coming to terms with his sexuality. But I do think that celebrities’ memoirs, most of the time, will only appeal to people who are interested in learning more about these people’s lives. Regardless, it’s a beautiful story, especially considering the space that he occupies today in the global music scene as a Latino singer.
The House of my Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom - I was browsing on Audible when I found this title that caught my attention - and it was the first time I heard about the Ruby Franke’s case, a popular family vlogger arrested for child abuse in August 2023. If you are not familiar with this case, I recommend you check the documentary - but like I said, I didn't know anything previously, and that didn't impact my experience with this book, a memoir written by the oldest daughter, Shari. We learn not only about Ruby’s journey on YouTube but also about her previous life, more about her personality and how that deeply impacted Shari and her non-existent capacity to identify abusive relationships. Shari is super vulnerable - and I love that she is the one narrating.
Born a crime - Trevor Noah, the comedian, writer, and host shares stories from his childhood growing up in South Africa - surviving fear, poverty, and violence while being raised by his mother, Patricia, a stubborn and strong woman who makes the story so interesting. For me, this book was also a History class - I learned so much about South Africa’s social context. It’s also a book about privileges and racism. Shop here.
If you don’t like this, I will die - I had never heard of Lee Tilghman when I found out about her memoir. Lee was a wellness influencer who built an audience on Instagram of nearly 400,000 followers. She started before the era of short-format videos and even before stories. Eventually, she stepped back from it and, in her memoir, she talks more about her journey. From the early days as an insecure teenager seeking attention on online chats to how she started her influencer career, Lee shares the behind-the-scenes: the severe fixation on healthy eating, to perfectly taken photos and also the fixation on pleasing her audience and being obsessed with the algorithm. I devoured her book in 2 or 3 days.
Maid - if you are not familiar, this book inspired a series on Netflix with the same name, which is pretty good, by the way. In her memoir, Stephanie Land shares everything about her years being a single mother after an unplanned pregnancy, seeing her dream of attending a university and becoming a writer dissolve, and working as a maid to provide for her and her daughter, while living on food stamps and depending on government programs. I’ve learned so much about another side of life in the States by reading her memoir - not to mention it’s so well written, there’s so much vulnerability.
Care and Feeding - Laurie Woolever worked as an assistant for Anthony Bourdain after working with Mario Batali. In her memoir, she talks about her beginning in the food/hospitality industry, navigating culinary school, some complicated relationships, and addiction. When I read a memoir, I look for vulnerability, and Lauren strongly delivers that. Her reflections and self-analysis are deep and complex. I also loved to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of her work with Anthony Bourdain.
Podcasts
Here are some shows or specific episodes that I really loved to discover/listen to it in 2025:
InnerFrench podcast is about “learning French naturally through topics that matter”. The host speaks slightly slower than most real-life conversations in order to “effectively improve your oral comprehension and easily expand your vocabulary in an enjoyable way.” And they also offer free episodes’ transcripts and translations on their website!
I was not even aware Emma had quit acting - and it was so enlightening to listen to her being so vulnerable about her truth and her values. “If it costs me any part of my peace, it’s just too expensive.” Wow, just, WOW!
TVAnd this was probably one of the most inspiring things I listened to in 2025 - a conversation with Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York. His final advice has really stayed with me:
“You have to believe that it’s beautiful or that it will become beautiful, for so long, before anyone else agrees with you. […] It’s such a long and personal journey that if you’re rooted in any sort of thing outside of your control, like people’s reception, you will just run out of gas before you get there. You have to root it into doing of it. […] It is too torturous, it involves too much doubt, too much insecurity, if you’re judging yourself on anything else. […] It’s the only thing that I know 100% positive that I can control.”
TV Series
Apple Cider Vinegar
I got obsessed with this series! Apple Cider Vinegar is “a true-ish story based on a lie” - it follows the dramatic story of the rise and fall of Belle Gibson - and Australian influencer who fooled the world by lying about having cancer and building an empire around the wellness speech. I didn’t know anything about Belle until the series launched, and I was shocked. It reminded me of Inventing Anna.
Available on Netflix.
Shrinking
This dramedy starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford follows a grieving therapist, Jimmy (played by Segel), who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. I just love love love how the series portrays so many conflicts and issues we have as human beings and how the characters are fun but deep at the same time and not perfect.
Available on Apple TV.
Dying for Sex
I was particularly curious about this series not only because of the unique storyline - based on a real story - but also because I have loved Michelle Williams since Dawson’s Creek.
After Molly receives a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she decides to leave her husband Steve, and begins to explore the full breadth and complexity of her sexual desires for the first time in her life.
To support her through this adventure - and through the disease - she has the support from her best friend, Nikki. Yes, there are a lot of - let’s say… unique - sexual adventures, but what really fascinated me was witnessing Molly and Nikki’s friendship.
Available on Hulu.
Your Friends and Neighbors
Jon Hamm - aka Dom Draper, how can we forget him? - is Andrew “Coop” Cooper, a hedge fund manager, still trying to move on from his divorce, and then he is fired. And because of the circumstances, he finds a very particular way to maintain his lifestyle and his obligations as a father of two: he steals from his rich neighbors.
Besides some adrenaline moments and funny jokes, I love how the show is also a critic of the forever cycle of maintaining appearances. It is interesting how the main character also starts to question some of this status quo. The cast is incredible, too. I love the final episode - and the series was renewed for a second season.
Available on Apple TV.
Call her Alex
I knew very little about Alex Cooper before watching the two-part documentary about her life and her journey as a podcaster. And I know that, like any famous creator, she has fans and haters. If you are not familiar with Alex, she is the host of Call Her Daddy, which is Spotify’s most-listened-to podcast by women.
The project, which started with Alex and a friend talking freely about sex, is now a popular interview-style podcast - featuring guests like Sarah Jessica Parker and even Kamala Harris. I know there’s probably a lot of privilege in her journey, but I don’t think it should diminish her success. Learning more about her story and what’s behind the scenes was really inspiring - especially because she’s a woman thriving in a format that was once dominated by men.
Available on Hulu.
Hacks
We got so invested in this series - there are 4 seasons available and I can't wait for the next one. This comedy follows Ava, a writer who moves to Las Vegas, kind of against her will, let’s say, to work for Deborah Vance, a famous comedian who is looking to “update” her jokes. The cast is really good, not only the two main characters, but the other supportive actors are incredible too.
Available on HBO Max.
Have you followed any of my recommendations featured on SCREENSHOTS over the year? Let me know! :)