July 17, 2025

Cineversary podcast celebrates 40th anniversary of Back to the Future

Bob Gale and Michael Klastorin

In Cineversary podcast episode #84, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ powers up the old DeLorean and takes a scenic drive around Hill Valley to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future. Joining him for the ride is the film’s co-screenwriter Bob Gale; and Michael Klastorin, author of Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History. Together, they examine the movie’s lasting impact on pop culture, the clockwork precision of its script, key themes, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

July 8, 2025

Fabric-cadabra

Look closer at your living room sectional or corner recliner. Chances are it’s laced with dust or bearing a blemish you didn’t notice before. Which begs the question: When was the last time you cleaned your furnishings?

Learn tips on how to properly clean and maintain your furniture by reading my latest Costco Connection magazine article, available here.

June 30, 2025

Here's how to finance 5 top home remodeling projects

We’re a country that likes to upgrade our homes. For proof, consider that Americans forked over more than $600 billion last year on home remodeling projects, according to a Harvard study. Putting dollars and elbow grease into home renovations that add value and generate homeowner happiness makes sense. Every year, the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, publishes a list of projects that meet these criteria.

Curious as to which home updates add value as well as leave owners highly satisfied? Read my latest article for US News & World Report, available here.

June 24, 2025

Does unemployment impact your credit score?

It’s natural to be concerned about immediate practical matters if you lose your job. From paying your bills to qualifying for unemployment benefits and getting a new job, there's a lot to think about. The good news is that you can cross your credit score off your worries. Unemployment won't directly affect your credit score. Your credit score is a reflection of your history with credit accounts, not your situation. But if your financial behavior changes because of job loss, that's a different story. For example, your score may drop if you miss payments or lean too heavily on your credit card.

Learn more by reading my latest article for Yahoo!Life, available here.


June 17, 2025

Is now a good time to refinance your home?

Pondering a mortgage refinance? There’s much to consider before pulling the trigger on this significant financial decision. Namely, how would a refi benefit you? What are the pros and cons of refinancing your home? Do the benefits of refinancing your home outweigh any disadvantages? And what refinancing alternatives exist?

Read my latest article on this topic, published by The Mortgage Reports, available here.

June 11, 2025

Cineversary podcast celebrates 50th anniversary of Jaws

Ben Mankiewicz and James Kendrick
In Cineversary podcast episode #83, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ takes a deep dive to search for the perfect summertime thriller and finds it in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, which celebrates a 50th anniversary this month. Accompanying him on this voyage is TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, and Baylor University film professor James Kendrick, author of Darkness in the Bliss-Out: A Reconsideration of the Films of Steven Spielberg. Together, they explore how Jaws marked a sea change in cinema, dissect the elements that make it a masterwork, hunt for key themes, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com