Josh Friedberg
@joshfrmusic.bsky.social
Author, TEDx speaker, music historian, staff writer at PopMatters 🏳️🌈
linktr.ee/joshfriedberg
joshfrmusic.substack.com
linktr.ee/joshfriedberg
joshfrmusic.substack.com
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Redefining Creativity as an Autistic Person | Joshua Friedberg | TEDxEarlhamCollege
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
youtu.be
My TEDx talk. I wouldn't change my autism if I could.
Reposted by Josh Friedberg
Linda Ronstadt peaks at #5 today in 1977 with her cover of “It’s So Easy”.
It was “an afterthought that we threw in,” she said, while recording her “Simple Dreams” LP. “We needed an uptempo song because we had so many ballads.” In arena-concert tours, “anything with nuance or subtlety got lost.”
It was “an afterthought that we threw in,” she said, while recording her “Simple Dreams” LP. “We needed an uptempo song because we had so many ballads.” In arena-concert tours, “anything with nuance or subtlety got lost.”
December 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Linda Ronstadt peaks at #5 today in 1977 with her cover of “It’s So Easy”.
It was “an afterthought that we threw in,” she said, while recording her “Simple Dreams” LP. “We needed an uptempo song because we had so many ballads.” In arena-concert tours, “anything with nuance or subtlety got lost.”
It was “an afterthought that we threw in,” she said, while recording her “Simple Dreams” LP. “We needed an uptempo song because we had so many ballads.” In arena-concert tours, “anything with nuance or subtlety got lost.”
I am happy to report that last night I quickly delivered a densely packed lecture in a college class on James Baldwin's work last night. That was my first time teaching in a classroom is nearly four years. And it was fun. Does this point to anything in the future . . .?
November 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I am happy to report that last night I quickly delivered a densely packed lecture in a college class on James Baldwin's work last night. That was my first time teaching in a classroom is nearly four years. And it was fun. Does this point to anything in the future . . .?
I felt this deeply.
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I felt this deeply.
Tomorrow I'm sitting in on a college class about James Baldwin to discuss my research about his critical reception. I'm thinking of the connections between aesthetics and politics and how Baldwin's later work and its craftsmanship are underrated because critics disagree with its politics.
November 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Tomorrow I'm sitting in on a college class about James Baldwin to discuss my research about his critical reception. I'm thinking of the connections between aesthetics and politics and how Baldwin's later work and its craftsmanship are underrated because critics disagree with its politics.
Reposted by Josh Friedberg
If you're looking for another way to divest from Amazon and instead support your local community, hi, nice to meet you 👋
When you buy audiobooks through us, a portion goes to your independent bookstore. It's an easy way to shop small all year long.
When you buy audiobooks through us, a portion goes to your independent bookstore. It's an easy way to shop small all year long.
November 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
If you're looking for another way to divest from Amazon and instead support your local community, hi, nice to meet you 👋
When you buy audiobooks through us, a portion goes to your independent bookstore. It's an easy way to shop small all year long.
When you buy audiobooks through us, a portion goes to your independent bookstore. It's an easy way to shop small all year long.
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
My new review of a very strong Emmylou Harris reissue is live @popmatters.com!!!
Establishing a secure connection ...
www.popmatters.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:16 PM
My new review of a very strong Emmylou Harris reissue is live @popmatters.com!!!
My new blog on the books that made the biggest impact on me this year!!
5 Books I Read in 2025 That Made the Biggest Impact on Me
In a tumultuous year, these books kept me the most invested in reading.
joshfrmusic.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:59 AM
My new blog on the books that made the biggest impact on me this year!!
My new blog on some of the music that moved me the most this year!!
10 Songs I “Discovered” in 2025 That Made the Biggest Impact on Me
I didn't discover anything, but . . .
joshfrmusic.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:56 AM
My new blog on some of the music that moved me the most this year!!
My blog on education and race is live @goodmenproject.bsky.social!!!
goodmenproject.com/featured-con...
goodmenproject.com/featured-con...
10 Things I Learned From My Toughest Teacher
What a Black Studies genius taught a suburban white boy about education.
goodmenproject.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:04 PM
My blog on education and race is live @goodmenproject.bsky.social!!!
goodmenproject.com/featured-con...
goodmenproject.com/featured-con...
My blog of books I read in 2025 is going to be "lit" (get it?)
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 AM
My blog of books I read in 2025 is going to be "lit" (get it?)
This week, I ran into a former student graduating from college with honors, went to OUTspoken LGBTQ Stories, attended Kenny Chesney's book talk after almost getting hit by a car, had oral surgery (went well), read from three books, worked on an album review, wrote a blog, and had an annual eye exam.
November 9, 2025 at 2:15 AM
This week, I ran into a former student graduating from college with honors, went to OUTspoken LGBTQ Stories, attended Kenny Chesney's book talk after almost getting hit by a car, had oral surgery (went well), read from three books, worked on an album review, wrote a blog, and had an annual eye exam.
Oh my! Well . . .
Wordle 1,603 2/6
🟩⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,603 2/6
🟩⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
November 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Oh my! Well . . .
Wordle 1,603 2/6
🟩⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,603 2/6
🟩⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
New blog on education, race, and lessons learned from the toughest teacher I have ever had
10 Things I Learned from My Toughest Teacher
What a Black Studies genius taught a suburban white boy about education.
joshfrmusic.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
New blog on education, race, and lessons learned from the toughest teacher I have ever had
I'm once again entering a lot of published work into a communications contest, and this is one of my favorite pieces I've written this year. For anyone grieving right now, I highly recommend these songs: for breakups, for deaths, for any catharsis needed.
joshfrmusic.substack.com/p/10-should-...
joshfrmusic.substack.com/p/10-should-...
10 Should-Be-Classic Records about Grief
Some unconventional picks for your listening and grieving catharsis.
joshfrmusic.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:58 AM
I'm once again entering a lot of published work into a communications contest, and this is one of my favorite pieces I've written this year. For anyone grieving right now, I highly recommend these songs: for breakups, for deaths, for any catharsis needed.
joshfrmusic.substack.com/p/10-should-...
joshfrmusic.substack.com/p/10-should-...
Reposted by Josh Friedberg
I love the little free pantry library things, but please remember that canned foods are hard for a lot of people for a lot of reasons, and if you are going to stock cans, stick to ones with pop tabs.
Please remember the varied needs of the real people experiencing food insecurity.
Please remember the varied needs of the real people experiencing food insecurity.
November 6, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I love the little free pantry library things, but please remember that canned foods are hard for a lot of people for a lot of reasons, and if you are going to stock cans, stick to ones with pop tabs.
Please remember the varied needs of the real people experiencing food insecurity.
Please remember the varied needs of the real people experiencing food insecurity.
25 years ago, I sang and played on piano Patti Smith's "Because the Night" at an overnight arts camp, wearing a hoodie; I was eleven and didn't understand the lyrics' sexual implications. I just heard the song overhead somewhere and remembered that moment.
November 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
25 years ago, I sang and played on piano Patti Smith's "Because the Night" at an overnight arts camp, wearing a hoodie; I was eleven and didn't understand the lyrics' sexual implications. I just heard the song overhead somewhere and remembered that moment.
Reposted by Josh Friedberg
NEW: “I Don’t Feel Safe.” Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force, by @wendicthomas.bsky.social @katieburgess.bsky.social w/ @mlk50.com
“I Don’t Feel Safe”: Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force
A pastor was pulled over for looking lost. A 72-year-old was marched out in his bathrobe due to mistaken identity. Memphis’ mayor welcomed the federal law enforcement surge, but some residents say the...
www.propublica.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
NEW: “I Don’t Feel Safe.” Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force, by @wendicthomas.bsky.social @katieburgess.bsky.social w/ @mlk50.com
Reposted by Josh Friedberg
sure you can put on a horror movie but this halloween you can also put on death cab for cutie and let yourself be haunted by your high school self
November 1, 2025 at 12:08 AM
sure you can put on a horror movie but this halloween you can also put on death cab for cutie and let yourself be haunted by your high school self
It's easy to lose perspective on my life, but when someone whom I met over a decade ago says about my perseverance, "I've watched you not give up," I have to take that compliment seriously.
October 29, 2025 at 11:55 PM
It's easy to lose perspective on my life, but when someone whom I met over a decade ago says about my perseverance, "I've watched you not give up," I have to take that compliment seriously.
A reminder that "He Didn't Have to Be" is my choice for the best written country song of the '90s. And yes, there are a lot of incredible contenders, but none moved me quite like that song. I've often said that I was crying so hard that the song "slaughtered me alive and served me up for breakfast."
Calling Secret Base.
variety.com/2025/music/n...
variety.com/2025/music/n...
Brad Paisley on Singing the Anthem Before the Only Two 18-Inning Games in World Series History: ‘I Had No Idea There Would Be Major Cosmic Ramifications’
Country star and Dodgers fan Brad Paisley has now sung the national anthem at the two longest World Series games ever: 'Call me Mr. More Baseball.'
variety.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:50 PM
A reminder that "He Didn't Have to Be" is my choice for the best written country song of the '90s. And yes, there are a lot of incredible contenders, but none moved me quite like that song. I've often said that I was crying so hard that the song "slaughtered me alive and served me up for breakfast."
Reposted by Josh Friedberg
cancel completely. this is only their latest bullshit. they treat artists terribly and want free reign over their work.
Cancel Spotify.
Cancel Spotify.
FYI if you have a Spotify membership, Indivisible is asking people to cancel until they stop running ICE recruitment ads. Instructions on how to do it here: www.youtube.com/shorts/TKp7c...
Tutorial: How to cancel your Spotify subscription
YouTube video by Indivisible
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
cancel completely. this is only their latest bullshit. they treat artists terribly and want free reign over their work.
Cancel Spotify.
Cancel Spotify.
I have at least three recently completed essays that I'm waiting to hear back about. One's about the 20th anniversary of the films Brokeback Mountain and Crash, another is about a lost friendship, and the last one is about an ex who passed away. Coincidentally, so much writing about loss!
October 29, 2025 at 5:04 AM
I have at least three recently completed essays that I'm waiting to hear back about. One's about the 20th anniversary of the films Brokeback Mountain and Crash, another is about a lost friendship, and the last one is about an ex who passed away. Coincidentally, so much writing about loss!
Neuro/Queer personal essays on music
10. If you had to write a book, what would it be about?
October 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Neuro/Queer personal essays on music
"Ode to Billie Joe"
15. What song do you consider a literary masterpiece?
October 29, 2025 at 4:51 AM
"Ode to Billie Joe"