🎧 Middle Country Public Library Podcast Blog — Best of 2024 Recap Episode 🎉
As the curtain closes on another whirlwind year, the Middle Country Public Library Podcast team — Sal Di Vincenzo, Sara Fade, and Nicole Rambo — gathered for one last 2024 episode to reflect on what brought them joy, curiosity, and a bit of calm this past year.
Here’s a rundown of the memorable moments, favorite shows, cultural highlights, and personal milestones shared in this heartfelt year-end wrap-up.
🎬 Sara’s 2024 Favorites: Sci-Fi, Horror, and Hip-Hop Nostalgia
Sara dove deep into pop culture and came back with some stellar picks:
🔹 Silo Season 2 (Apple TV+)
A standout for dystopian drama lovers, Silo returns with its claustrophobic underground world, mystery-driven plot, and standout performances from Rebecca Ferguson and newcomer Steve. With seasons 3 and 4 already greenlit, this Apple TV+ series is gaining traction as a must-watch.
“It’s dystopian, but also very humanistic. Think relics like a Pez dispenser being illegal — it’s wild.”
🔹 Smile 2
The psychological horror sequel surprised Sara with its compelling storyline following a pop star haunted by fame — and fear. Bonus: she now craves Voss water thanks to the movie’s slick product placement.
🔹 Alien: Romulus
Returning to the gritty, suspenseful roots of the original Alien films, this 2024 entry thrilled Sara. It was on her “looking forward to” list — and it delivered.
🎤 Live Music Highlights
Sara saw Cypress Hill live with The Pharcyde and Souls of Mischief. For hip-hop fans, this nostalgic lineup was a blast from the golden era.
🌒 Other Notables:
- Witnessing the total solar eclipse
- Watching Simone Biles dominate the Paris Olympics
- Welcoming a new dog, Finn the Pomsky, into her life (“I overcompensate with treats for the others!”)
👶 Nicole’s 2024: Parenthood, Peaceful Chefs, and Quiet Joys
Nicole may not have a long list of pop culture hits, but her year was rich in personal growth and cozy content.
🧸 Life with a Two-Year-Old
Her biggest joy? Watching her son grow from one to two. Zoo trips, farm visits, and library classes brought delight to everyday life.
“It’s such a big jump — they really start to ‘get it’ at that age.”
🍳 MasterClass: Cooking with Thomas Keller
Nicole started exploring cooking through the famous MasterClass platform and stumbled upon Thomas Keller — unknowingly first spotting him in The Bear Season 3. Now, she finds his calming tutorials a source of relaxation and culinary inspiration.
“He’s the most decorated American chef, but it’s his calm voice that gets me.”
📺 Other Highlights:
- Bridgerton (always a reliable escape)
- The Bear Season 3 (“It featured real chefs this time — very cool.”)
- Still loves watching skilled craftspeople on YouTube or Instagram: sewing, woodworking, gardening (shoutout to Monty Don, British gardening icon).
🎙️ Sal’s Year in Media, Music & Milestones
Sal kept things eclectic this year — a little bit of public speaking, streaming favorites, AI tools, and music throwbacks.
🗣️ Speaking at Podfest
Sal kicked off the year by representing Middle Country Public Library at Podfest, giving a lightning talk about the podcast. It was nerve-wracking but rewarding.
“I had five minutes to explain everything. It was a whirlwind, but I’m proud of it.”
🏠 Only Murders in the Building (Season 3)
Still a fan of the Hulu comedy-drama, even if this season didn’t quite live up to previous ones. Bonus love for Martin Short and his old-school character Jiminy Glick.
🎥 Inside Out 2
Surprisingly moving and family-friendly, the Pixar sequel tackled emotional growth with nuance. It wasn’t better than the original, but it had value — especially for sparking family conversations.
✈️ Noel Phillips YouTube Channel
This British travel vlogger turned Texan won Sal over with his humble style and immersive airline reviews.
🎵 U2’s “How to Reassemble an Atomic Bomb”
A new album of unreleased tracks from the Beautiful Day era gave longtime fans something to celebrate — including a reworked song originally from the ill-fated Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Broadway musical.
🤖 AI Art Tools
Sal enjoyed experimenting with generative AI — especially in visual formats. The creative possibilities amazed him.
“A bird playing tennis on a pizza. It exists now. And it’s…beautiful.”
🎶 Bonus Mention: The Cure Returns
The iconic band released a new album with a strong, moody single. If you’re a fan of Disintegration-era Cure, it’s worth a listen. (Fun fact: Sara’s yearbook quote was a Cure lyric!)
🎉 Wrapping Up 2024
From major milestones to small joys, the team shared a mix of reflections, pop culture deep-dives, and warm humor — all the ingredients that make this podcast a favorite in the community.
As the team signs off for the year, they extend heartfelt thanks to all their listeners and viewers for another great season.
“Thank you for joining us every week. We hope to continue bringing you the same level of professionalism and quality in 2025.”
🎙️ Middle Country Public Library Podcast
📅 New episodes weekly (except next week — we’re on holiday!)
📍 Available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube
Happy New Year — see you in 2025! ✨
