Cineversary podcast celebrates 30th birthday of Before Sunrise

Kim Krizan and Rob Stone

In Cineversary podcast episode #78, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ celebrates the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest romance films of the last three decades, Before Sunrise, directed by Richard Linklater. Joining him in this installment is the film’s Oscar-nominated co-screenwriter Kim Krizan, author of Original Sins: Trade Secrets of the Femme Fatale; and filmmaker Rob Stone, a professor of film and television studies at the University of Birmingham in the UK and author of The Cinema of Richard Linklater: Walk, Don't Run. Together, they examine why Before Sunrise still matters, the many movies it influenced, its major 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.

How to refinance your mortgage without income verification

Before the 2008 financial crisis, it was relatively easy to purchase or refinance a home without having to verify your income. Although those days are long gone and traditional no-income-verification refinance loans are a thing of the past, alternative options exist that those with unsteady earnings or financial hardship can explore. Thankfully, lenders are often willing to work with borrowers in need, as both parties want to avoid foreclosure.

Learn more in this article about why the no doc refinance is unavailable, how government-backed streamline refis may allow you to refinance without income verification, alternative refi options when you have unsteady earnings, strategies to consider when you face financial hardship, and more by reading my latest piece for Refi.com, available here.

Eights foods you should be eating more of if you're over 50

If you’re age 50 or older, you know by now that you can’t eat whatever you want without some consequences. But just because experts increasingly recommend curbing junk foods and high-calorie indulgences as you get older doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice flavor, fun or food variety. It’s possible to change your diet for the better without punishing your taste buds or going hungry after meals.

Learn more about eight healthy and appetizing edibles that can easily be added to your diet by reading my latest article for CTW Features, available here.

Housing market predictions for 2025

The year 2024 has been a noteworthy one for the national real estate market. Although mortgage rates have dipped since 2023, high home prices and continued low inventory have kept many potential buyers on the sidelines. With the holiday season upon us and the calendar about to turn the page to a fresh year, it’s a fitting time to assess the current landscape and consider what the future might hold for home buyers and sellers.

Key questions linger: Will home prices drop in 2025? Is now a smart time to buy a home? When might mortgage rates and the housing supply numbers improve? To find answers, I consulted industry experts to share their predictions for the housing market. Read their prognostications in my latest article published by The Mortgage Reports, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 80th birthday of Meet Me In St. Louis

Jeremy Arnold

In Cineversary podcast episode #77, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ commemorates the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved musicals in Hollywood history, Meet Me In St. Louis, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Judy Garland. Joining him to discuss this seasonal favorite is Jeremy Arnold, a film historian, commentator, and author of Christmas in the Movies, and The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter. Together, they examine the many musical, mirthful, and melodramatic merits of the movie, how it has stood the test of time, its brilliant songcraft, 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. 

Make your holiday wreath pop with a more personal touch

If there’s one holiday custom that never goes out of style, it’s hanging a holiday wreath on your exterior door. This tradition hails back to ancient times when wreaths were considered to be symbols of honor, victory and eternal life in Rome and Greece. In Europe, pagan rituals also used wreaths to represent the cycle of the seasons. By the 16th century, Christians in Europe began using evergreen wreaths during Christmas to symbolize eternal life and God's endless love. This custom spread throughout the continent and reached North America, where, by the 19th century, it became widely practiced, especially in the U.S., where wreaths came to embody the themes of hospitality and the holiday spirit.

Learn how to personalize your holiday wreath and create a more festive, eye-catching appearance by reading my latest article for The Daily Herald, available here.