Good Stuff: What I Used and Watched in 2020.

Seems like everyone is posting some form of humble-braggy year in review these days. (OK, I did one too. You can check it out at paulstansik.com if you’re so inclined.) I’m sharing a shorter 2020 list here: The stuff I used and watched that I really, really liked.

Hope you enjoy.

The Best Stuff I Used in 2020

Roam Research — A big thanks to Hilmon Sorey at ClozeLoop for this one. For the past two years, I’ve used the notecard system to categorize important quotes, lessons, stories, and frameworks from everything I read and do at work. But notecards aren’t perfect: They aren’t searchable, and it’s difficult to draw parallels between different subjects without spreading the cards across the table and manually flipping through them. Roam lets you create a personal database, journal, and knowledge repository that takes the notecard system to the next level. I’m still learning how to get the most out of it, but it’s become a super important part of my research process, journal ritual, and getting the most out of what I read.

Vidyard — Sometimes you need to get back to someone, and your intended reply lands somewhere in-between an email and a phone call. Sometimes you need to show someone something — even for 15 seconds — to make your point. Vidyard lets you create free, quick videos (complete with screen sharing) that save me multiple meetings a week. Try it the next time you’re sharing a slide, file, or just want to avoid another 30-minute zoom meeting to hit on something quick.

Readwise — I prefer physical books, but they take up space and are hard to take on the road. As a result, I spend a lot of time highlighting stuff in my Kindle, and Readwise helps me get back to it, categorize it, and put it somewhere where I can use it later. It has a great “daily review” function — sort of like Tinder for your Kindle highlights — that keeps you coming back to what you’ve highlighted. It’s also a much better use of time than Instagram (which I am taking a break from for at least part of 2021).

Sonos Beam — This has replaced a high-end 3:1 surround system in our living room, and we haven’t missed the old speakers yet. You don’t need the bigger one. You don’t need the subwoofer. This is plenty. We liked it so much we bought one for my sister. She loves it too. If you’ve just got a TV in your living room, this is the perfect add-on. It makes everything sound better.

Uni-Ball Onyx pens — My Mom has a great 4th of July tradition: She asks everyone to spend less than $10 on a “favorite thing”, which we then bring and exchange in a sort of White Elephant ritual. These pens were my Mom’s favorite thing from this year. I ended up with them, and they’re awesome. You can find them on Amazon. Thanks Mom.

Chobani Hazelnut Coffee Creamer — I’m a year-round iced coffee guy. This is the best creamer there is. It only has 4g of sugar, and a little goes a LONG way. It’s frowned upon to have milkshakes for breakfast, but this isn’t a bad compromise.

The Best Stuff We Watched in 2020

Jojo Rabbit — The funniest, most heart-warming movie ever made about an 8-year-old boy and his imaginary best friend (who also happens to be Adolf Hitler.) Trust me on this one. It’s fantastic.

What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu) — As my wife says, “It’s the Office. If The Office was about vampire roommates in Staten Island.” We watched it twice this year start-to-finish. It’s very, very funny. And at 25 minutes an episode, it’s a great wind-down to bedtimeshow.

Castle Rock (Hulu)- This is like The Shining with a cast you can root for. Both seasons are fantastic. A little dark, but really good.

Night on Earth (Netflix) — Planet Earth with high-end night vision.

The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) — A horror show that ends up being less about ghosts and more about deep and emotionally complicated family ties. Nice to look at, more creepy than scary, and comes complete with some of the best-written character development you’ll find anywhere.

Narcos (Netflix)- My wife loves this one, along with Drugs Inc. for a more documentary feel on the same topic. All the seasons are good.

Palm Springs (Hulu) — A millennial take on the classic Groundhog Day plotline. Nails the slow build of a good friend’s wedding day. The best scene might be the drug-fueled bro-fest between Andy Samberg and Farmer’s Insurance guy.

Chef’s Table: BBQ (Netflix) — Visual poetry but about meat.