Fourth of July insurance mistakes to avoid

Planning a road trip or holiday hosting this Independence Day weekend? Many Americans are excited to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial in just a few days. If last year’s travel numbers are repeated — an estimated 72.2 million people journeyed at least 50 miles or more from home over the Fourth of July holiday period in 2025 — we can expect a lot of drivers hitting the highways soon.

But while this July 4 is a surefire cause for celebration, it’s also peak season for insurance claims. Learn how to lower your liability risks and when to think twice about filing a holiday-related claim by reading my newest article on the topic, published by MSN. 

Should you DIY a home renovation or hire a pro?

With real estate and financing costs remaining sky high, it makes sense that many homeowners are choosing to stay put and invest dollars into upgrades and remodeling projects. In fact, a whopping 91% of homeowners surveyed by Houzz say they expect to renovate in 2026, and improvement spending is anticipated to reach $518 billion by the end of this year, per the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. 

Plenty of these folks will try to tackle the work themselves. Recent polling by Angi reveals that 71% of surveyed homeowners attempt DIY projects to save money, with nearly 3 in 4 respondents revealing they have confidence in their ability to manage a home improvement endeavor; yet 70% of homeowners fess up to experiencing problems with their DIY project, with 1 in 4 needing to hire a professional to fix or complete it.

Before attempting to fly solo on a home improvement job, it’s smart to carefully consider the hidden financial and insurance risks that can lead to serious DIY regret. Learn more by reading my newest article for The Zebra, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 75th birthday of Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train

In Cineversary podcast episode #95, host ⁠Erik J. Martin⁠ commemorates the 75th birthday of Strangers on a Train, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Seated adjacent on this train ride is Stephen Rebello, contributing screenwriter on the 2012 film Hitchcock, and author of Criss-Cross: The Making of Hitchcock’s Dazzling, Subversive Masterpiece Strangers on a Train. Erik and Stephen swap insights and opinions on why this film is essential viewing, its subversive sexual dynamics, salient themes, and much more.

Stephen Rebello

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