Restricting the content of best-of lists to things produced or released during a single year is, in many ways, fairly arbitrary. Books, movies, or TV shows don’t cease to be relevant as soon as the calendar changes. So we got together to talk about some of the things we particularly enjoyed in 2025. Here’s hoping they bring you joy, make you think, and entertain you in 2026.

In this episode:

 * The Bear [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14452776/]
 * Shameless [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1586680/]
 * Tales of the Shire [https://talesoftheshire.com/]
 * Japanese Rural [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/japanese-rural-life-adventure/id1634749545]
 * My Shipwreck Story [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/06/commercial-fisherman-shipwreck/682580/] by Alec Freedman
 * Mulholland Drive [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166924/] by David Lynch
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096438/]
 * Ludwig [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27846061/]
 * Extraordinary Attorney Woo [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20869502/]
 * Thursday Murder Club novels [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/TM9/a-thursday-murder-club-mystery/] by Richard Osman
 * Pee-Wee as Himself [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14419140/]
 * The American Revolution [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35328184/]
 * Long Live the Post Horn! [https://www.versobooks.com/products/815-long-live-the-post-horn?srsltid=AfmBOopZFWtwXOZlUvB8ixlBt58h5MhZRHf-tjADDPlHrULq15iGb-td] by Vigdis Hjorth
 * John Candy: I Like Me [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26683420/]
 * YouTube creators: Harry Mack [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ZRYCHev_IqjUhremZ8Tg], Josh Johnson [https://www.youtube.com/@JoshJohnsonComedy], Daniel Naroditsky [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHP9CdeguNUI-_nBv_UXBhw], Cracking the Cryptic [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwUXd_GMrzo]
 * Intermezzo [https://backcovebooks.com/item/f10yIDkbWsuzs8Kzxkl4hw] by Sally Rooney
 * Emma (2020) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9214832/]
 * K-Pop Demon Hunters [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14205554/]

Hosted by Nancy Boissonnet, Tiffany Carlson, Connor Ferguson, Ian Sutherland, Neal Kane, and Adrian Pio.
Produced and Edited by Tiffany Carlson
Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay.
© 2025 Libretto. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 13: Best of 2025

We're excited to welcome Matthew Barone to Well Put! Matthew is Executive Director, System Communications at Dartmouth Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in New England, and has been a longtime partner of Libretto. He spoke with Librettists Adrian Pio and Ian Sutherland about our work developing messaging for Dartmouth Health's network of hospitals, clinics, and specialty programs. 

In this episode:

 * Matthew Barone [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-barone-2582a66/], Executive Director, System Communications
 * Dartmouth Health System (website [https://www.dartmouth-health.org/]) (Libretto case study [https://www.libretto-inc.com/our-projects/dartmouth-health/])
 * Funny Because It's True [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/christine-wenc/funny-because-its-true/9780762484430/] by Christine Wenc
 * Josh Johnson [https://www.joshjohnsoncomedy.com/]

Hosted by Adrian Pio and Ian Sutherland
Produced and Edited by Tiffany Carlson
Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2025 Libretto. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 12: Dartmouth Health (with guest Matthew Barone)

Once a messaging platform is complete, the time comes to put it to use. Join Nancy Boissonnet and Adrian Pio as they share Libretto's approach to putting the messaging to use via workshops that teach organizations how to share compelling, authentic stories with a unified voice. 

Mentioned in this episode:

 * Project: United Way of Central Maryland [https://www.libretto-inc.com/our-projects/united-way-of-central-maryland/]
 * Project: Dartmouth Health [https://www.libretto-inc.com/our-projects/dartmouth-health/]
 * Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: engaged! [https://www.instagram.com/p/DN02niAXMM-/?hl=en]
 * Big Money (album) by Jon Batiste [https://jonbatistestore.com/products/big-money-digital-album?srsltid=AfmBOoqXIw-bZVjqYsyxFvtjTo6bMqAT9mFXclFAPySInd1sRNR3faZr]
 * The Bear (TV Series) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14452776/]

Hosted by Nancy Boissonnet and Adrian Pio
Produced and Edited by Tiffany Carlson
Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2025 Libretto. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 11: Workshops

Speaking with the public -- from boards of trustees to student groups and everyone in-between -- is an integral part of what we do at Libretto. Join Neal Kane and Ian Sutherland as they discuss how they prepare for their public speaking engagements, what to do (and not do), and the best way to conclude a presentation. 

Mentioned in this episode:

 * GK Training [https://gktraining.com/https://gktraining.com/]
 * Don't Say Um [https://dontsayum.com/buy-now/] by Michael Chad Hoeppner
 * The Atlantic [https://accounts.theatlantic.com/products/]
 * Ear Hustle podcast [https://www.earhustlesq.com/]
 * "Pee-wee as Himself" [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14419140/]
 * The Leftovers [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2699128/]

Hosted by Neal Kane and Ian Sutherland
Produced and Edited by Tiffany Carlson
Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2025 Libretto. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 10: Public Speaking

From creative brief, to group brainstorm, to presentations to the client team and beyond, the Libretto team are experts when it comes to naming fundraising campaigns, initiatives, and organizations. In this episode, Ian, Madison, and Tiffany talk about the creative process of "Themestorming" and the joys and challenges this facet of our work presents. 

Mentioned in this episode:

 * Neal Kane's thoughts on Naming: Part 1 [https://us22.campaign-archive.com/?u=dbf6c2d97eae01adea2a860c8&id=2773b4cabf], Part 2 [https://us22.campaign-archive.com/?u=dbf6c2d97eae01adea2a860c8&id=9ea78e2446]
 * Libretto's Names and Themes [https://www.libretto-inc.com/campaign-names-and-themes/]
 * The Bullet Journal Method [https://bulletjournal.com/] by Ryder Carroll
 * The Checklist Manifesto [https://atulgawande.com/book/the-checklist-manifesto/] by Atul Gawande
 * PicklePlay.com [https://pickleplay.com/] (referenced as Pickleballers.com in the episode)
 * Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/292954/barbarian-days-by-william-finnegan/] by William Finnegan

Hosted by Ian Sutherland, Madison Hunt, and Tiffany Carlson
Produced and Edited by Tiffany Carlson
Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2025 Libretto. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 9: Themestorming

From a change in leadership to the start of a major fundraising initiative, moments of transition represent opportunities for organizations to evaluate and refine their messaging. For this reason, Libretto is often called in to consult at these inflection points. In this episode, Nancy and Connor discuss three projects that demonstrate how taking the time to carefully develop messaging—even when certain aspects are still in flux—puts your organization in a strong position to weather whatever comes next.

In this episode:
Braiding Sweetgrass [https://bookshop.org/p/books/braiding-sweetgrass-robin-wall-kimmerer/16712606], by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Histories [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-histories-penguin-classics-deluxe-edition-herodotus/17236576?ean=9780143107545&next=t], by Herodotus (translated by Tom "Not Spider-Man" Holland)

Hosted by Nancy Boissonnet and Connor Ferguson
Produced by Tiffany Carlson
Edited by Connor Ferguson
Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2025 Libretto. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 8: Messaging for Transitions

Restricting the content of best-of lists to things produced or released during a single year is, in many ways, fairly arbitrary. Books, movies, or TV shows don't cease to be relevant as soon as the calendar changes. So we got together to talk about some of the things we particularly enjoyed in 2024. Here's hoping they bring you joy, make you think, and entertain you in 2025.

Hosted by Nancy Boissonnet, Tiffany Carlson, Connor Ferguson, Madison Hunt, Neal Kane, Adrian Pio, and Ian Sutherland.

Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay.

© 2025 Libretto. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 7: Best of 2024

From poring over pages of interview notes to find the best ideas that will distinguish our clients to wrangling schedules across timezones, the Libretto team has to unravel plenty of thorny challenges on a daily basis. In this episode, Tiffany and Connor reflect on turning challenges into puzzles and drawing on our intellectual curiosity to keep things interesting.

Mentioned in this episode:
Game of Thrones (https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones)
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (https://kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com)

Hosted by Tiffany Carlson and Connor Ferguson

Produced by Madison Hunt

Edited by Connor Ferguson

Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2024 Libretto. All rights reserved.

Episode 6: Uncomplicating the Complicated

Libretto operated out of a traditional office in Boston's South End for more than 20 years, but like many companies, we've been fully remote since 2020, and our team is now spread across six states. As the two Librettists who joined after the switch to remote work, Madison and Tiffany discuss connecting with colleagues virtually, as well as the challenges and opportunities afforded by a fully remote model.

 

Hosted by Madison Hunt and Tiffany Carlson

Produced by Ian Sutherland

Edited by Connor Ferguson

Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2024 Libretto. All rights reserved.

Episode 5: How to Stay Connected While Working Remotely

After almost 28 years, what's changed and what's stayed the same at Libretto? How is the business of communications different today than it was in 1996? The firm's newest employee, Madison, sits down with founder and president Neal to discuss how the firm has evolved.

 

Hosted by Neal Kane and Madison Hunt

Produced by Tiffany Carlson

Edited by Connor Ferguson

Music by Coma-Media, via Pixabay

© 2024 Libretto. All rights reserved.

Episode 4: Libretto Then and Now

Join the Libretto team as they expound and expostulate on trends and best practices in communications for mission-driven organizations.  

Libretto is a communications firm that helps organizations articulate what they do, believe, and hope to achieve. Our team of seasoned communications professionals brings curiosity, originality, and wide-ranging expertise to the business of words.  

Learn more about Libretto by visiting libretto-inc.com.

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