In episode 27, we introduced a new segment at the end of our book discussion episodes: Mike And Tom Recommend, aka The MATRs.

This segment, probably the most beloved segment in show history, is our attempt to improve your lives just a little bit via the power of suggestion. Suggestions range from essays we think you should read to foods we think you should eat to ways to conduct yourself in public places. Please don’t try to figure out any particular logic to the episode numbers, or how, when and why recommend things on the episodes that we do.

Scroll down to browse the archive of our past recommendations, listed in chronological order, and be sure to actually listen to the episode so you can hear the rationale for our picks:

EPISODE 27

Mike: Pitch Perfect, a movie

Tom: New Girl, a sitcom

EPISODE 28

Mike: ESPN 30 for 30 (particularly the episodes “Once Brothers” & “The Best That Never Was”)

Tom: BRING THE NOISE: The Best Pop Culture Essays From Barrelhouse Magazine

EPISODE 29

Mike: “Pregnant Girl, Smoking” a short story by James Boice

Tom: Grilled cheese sandwiches (specifically apple-bacon-cheddar grilled cheese and a goat cheese & red pepper pesto GC)

EPISODE 30

Mike: Corn dogs

Tom: Faithful Man, an album by Lee Fields & The Expression

Guest Matthew Jakubowski: Dorothy, A Publishing Project

EPISODE 31

Mike: Indie Game, a documentary

Tom: Manna, a Philadelphia-based charity

EPISODE 32

Mike: Phosphorescent, a musician, and his album To Willie

Tom: Flimsy Little Plastic Miracles, a novel by Ron Currie, Jr. (here’s Tom’s review of it in the Philadelphia Review of Books)

EPISODE 33

Mike: A TV Guide article about what ever happened to the actors who played Jethro and Elly May on The Beverly Hillbillies

Tom: Jill Talbot’s Lost Paragraphs book project

Guest Kevin Greway: A variety of suggestions from that week’s TV Guide

EPISODE 34

Mike: Battlestar Galactica 

Tom: “Babydoll and the Ring of Chastity,” a short story by Katie Chase

EPISODE 35

Mike: Anatole Broyard’s memoir Kafka Was The Rage

Tom: Green Flash (aka Beach Kings), a B-movie about beach volleyball

Guest Dave Thomas (not the Founder of Wendy’s): Terraform, an album by Shellac

EPISODE 36

Mike: Beauty is Embarrassing documentary

Tom: Word Wars documentary

EPISODE 37

Mike: If you’re ever married to someone and they start doing heroin, and they can’t kick it after a year, kick them out.

Tom: “Out in the Great Alone,” an essay by Brian Phillips

EPISODE 38

Mike: Sleep in more often. Like Descartes.

Tom: Edward Carey’s novel Observatory Mansions

EPISODE 39

Mike: “Letter from Majorca,” an essay by J.D. Daniels

Tom: John Lee Hooker’s album Live at the Cafe Au Go-Go (And Soledad Prison)

EPISODE 40

Mike: Aquarium Drunkard, a music blog

Tom: Buzz Bissinger’s book A Prayer For the City

EPISODE 41

Mike: Papa, a band (also, Mike’s second [or maybe third?] sub-recommendation that people listen to KEXP)

Tom: Coverville, a music podcast

EPISODE 42

Mike: Leave your kids at home if you’re going to crowded public places and/or relatively nice restaurants

Tom: Roomba, provided that you maintain vigilance in the presence of robots

EPISODE 43

Mike: the music of Jackson Browne

Tom: Sherlock on BBC

EPISODE 44

Mike: Starlet, a movie

Tom: Don’t shop at Guitar Center; Guitar Center employees shouldn’t follow Tom around the store like he’s a potential shoplifter

Guest Justin St. Germain: Men We Reaped, a memoir by Jesmyn Ward. Plus a BONUS recommendation: musician Neko Case

EPISODE 45

Mike: Writers should cultivate a circle of friends who are not writers

Tom:  Donate to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and/or learn the symptoms, and also cut it out with all the pinkwashing

Guest Katherine Hill: F’real milkshakes, purchased at Wawa (and elsewhere)

EPISODE 46

Mike: The Last Days of Disco, a movie by Whit Stillman

Tom: Frontline’s documentary League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis

EPISODE 47

Mike: Episode 83 of the Partially Examined Life podcast, with philosopher Frithjof Bergman

Tom: Get a corgi, because corgis are good.

Bonus recommendation: COMMERCIAL FICTION, a new book by our friend Dave Housley

EPISODE 48

Mike: Eat Thanksgiving dinner “at the right time,” i.e., the early to mid-afternoon

Tom: Read Zach Lowe’s NBA coverage, learn more about basketball

EPISODE 49

Mike: What Maisie Knew, a movie

Tom: Donate to local food banks, especially during the holiday season

Guest Jaime Fountaine: R. Kelly’s autobiography, Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me

EPISODE 50

Mike: celebrate Christmas by yourself in your apartment, away from the demands and stresses of family

Tom: Olive, The Other Reindeer, an underrated Christmas movie (based on the children’s book by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh)

EPISODE 51

Mike: Make at least one of your New Year’s resolutions about something or someone besides yourself. Also: (bonus recommendation!) Four Roses bourbon

Tom: The Novelist, a video game

Guest Josh Isard: Justified, a drama on FX

EPISODE 52

Mike: The IFC  TV show Maron

Tom: Stop fucking shooting people, come on.

EPISODE 53

Mike: The movie The Spectacular Now

Tom: Steve Martin’s memoir Born Standing Up

EPISODE 54

Mike: The local TV game show Philly Pheud

Tom: The short book The Diary of Edward the Hamster 1990-1990

EPISODE 55

Mike: The Solar Anus by Georges Batailles (also: write more aphorisms, writers)

Tom: Old Weller 107 Antique, a high-quality value bourbon

EPISODE 56

Mike: the 2011 film 50/50 , and the music of Wesley Stace/John Wesley Harding

Tom: Notes from No Man’s Land, an essay collection by Eula Biss, specifically the essay “No Man’s Land”

Guest Wesley Stace: The complete James Bond box set (maybe buy it on Black Friday and save some money)

EPISODE 57

Mike: Elisa Gabbert’s poetry book The Self Unstable (see a review here)

Tom: Unprecedented THREE-BOOK recommendation: 1) The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison, 2) Thunderstruck by Elizabeth McCracken, and 3) Cabin Fever/Fossil Record by Barrelhouse poetry editor Dan Brady

SPECIAL SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK BONUS EPISODE 

Mike: The comedy podcast Stop Podcasting Yourself

Tom: Give the People What They Want, an album by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

EPISODE 58

Mike: Jason Isbell’s 2013 album Southeastern

Tom: For the sake of the public good and common decency, just be an adult and flush the toilet when you use a public toilet.

EPISODE 59

Mike: The Punk Singer, a documentary about Kathleen Hanna

Tom: Watch the NBA playoffs; they’re better than you remember.

 EPISODE 60

Mike: Summer Blonde, a collection of graphic short stories by Adrian Tomine

Tom: A Band Called Death, a documentary

EPISODE 61

Mike: Playing House, a new sitcom on USA

Tom: When We Were Kings, a documentary

Guest Dan McQuade: You Only Rock Once: My Life in Music, Jerry Blavat’s autobiography

EPISODE 62

Mike: Stevie Wonder Live at the Rainbow Theatre  in 1974 (a free and legal download)

Tom: Columbine, Dave Cullen’s definitive investigation of the Columbine shootings

EPISODE 63

Mike: Days of the Bagnold Summer, a graphic novel by Joff Winterheart

Tom: Issue 10.2 (Winter 2014) of the literary journal Cincinnati Review

Guest Leslie Jamison: desserts embedded within other desserts (i.e., pie shakes from Hamburg Inn No. 2 in Iowa City)

EPISODE 64

Mike: Beware of Mr. Baker, a documentary about drummer Ginger Baker

Tom: Issue 6 of Sundog Lit, which includes Tom’s story “On the Way to the Killing Spree The Shooter Stops for Pizza“

EPISODE 65

Mike: Avoid the Salinger documentary, and also just leave people alone. Don’t be an asshole

Tom: Don’t own a home. Your home will hate you.

EPISODE 66

Mike: The sometimes hilarious drug use stories on Erowid

Tom: “The Shame of College Sports,” an essay by Taylor Branch

Guest Matt Jakubowski: Read books by Nadine Gordimer.

EPISODE 67

Mike: Travel to Detroit, and also think about staying in Hostel Detroit

Tom: The Dead Wrestler Elegies, a book of poems by W. Todd Kaneko

EPISODE 68

Mike: invest in higher-quality earbuds. Mike specifically recommends Shure brand products

Tom: Raccoon Nation, a PBS documentary available online

 EPISODE 69:

Mike: College: What it Was, Is, and Should Be, a book by Andrew Delbanco

Tom: Review, a show on Comedy Central

EPISODE 70:

Mike: The Book of Duels, a book by Michael Garriga

Tom: Lockjaw Magazine, a new literary magazine co-founded by our friend (and past guest) David Thomas

EPISODE 71:

Mike: Heal, an album by Strand of Oaks

Tom: Wooftrax, a dog-walking app that donates money to animal shelters based on distance covered

EPISODE 72:

Mike: Follow Ravi Mangla on Twitter

Tom: The animated series Bojack Horseman, available on Netflix

EPISODE 73:

Mike: The Gotham Bookmart Project blog

Tom: Inquiring Minds podcast; episode 54 (“The Science of Writing Well”) is a good starting point

Guest Gina Myers: Detropia, a documentary

EPISODE 74:

Mike: Allen Carr’s book Stop Smoking Now

Tom: Run the Jewels 2, by Run The Jewels

EPISODE 75:

Mike: Have a happy holiday? Or go ice skating? Or something?

Tom: Christmas, Low Schmaltz, Extra Soul, our friend Dave Housley’s Spotify playlist for the holiday season.

EPISODE 76:

Mike: The Passing of Anatole Broyard, an essay by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Tom: Just put your god damn dog on a leash already.

Guest Annie Liontas: The Secret Life of Santa Claus, a weird little illustrated book about Santa

EPISODE 77:

Mike: Benji, an album by Sun Kil Moon

Tom: Feathers & Fishhooks, an album by Rayland Baxter

EPISODE 78:

Mike: Mister Wonderful, a graphic novel by Daniel Clowes

Tom: Andrew Brininstool’s story collection Crude Sketches Done in Quick Succession

EPISODE 79:

Mike: Alice Bolin’s essay A Meditation on Britney’s “…Baby One More Time”

Tom: The Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus

EPISODE 80: 

Mike: Salt Block Cooking, and also the general practice of “fooding your salt”

Tom: Andrew Ervin’s forthcoming novel Burning Down George Orwell’s House

Guest Dave Housley: Touch Me: An Erotic Tale of Rock, Roll, Romance, Re-animation, and Redemption (An eROCKtica production Book 1) by Appolonia Fox, plus a BONUS recommendation for the music of Merry Clayton

EPISODE 81:

Mike: The TV show Intervention 

Tom: if you’re going to give money to panhandlers on the street, give to to people with actual needs, not upper-middle-class high school students who want new lacrosse sticks.

EPISODE 82:

Mike: Dead Horse, a book of poetry by Niina Pollari

Tom: The documentary Third Ward Tx, which chronicles the efforts of a nonprofit arts organization called Project Row Houses

EPISODE 83:

Mike: the 2014 film Life Partners

Tom: Stripped, a documentary about the comics page

EPISODE 84:

Mike: Millenials, save your music playlists so that when you’re in your 30s and trying to get back in shape, it’ll be good for you or something?

Tom: Policy, an album by Will Butler

EPISODE 85:

Mike: Atari: Game Over, a documentary

Tom: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a televised comedy show

EPISODE 86:

Mike: Days and Nights of Candlewood, an essay by Paul Lisicky

Tom: Ongoingness, The End of A Diary, a memoir by Sarah Manguso

EPISODE 87:

Mike: The Hound Tall Discussion Series, a podcast

Tom: Take public transportation sometimes, because it’s a universal good

EPISODE 88 (special sad documentary edition):

Mike: The documentary Rich Hill

Tom: The documentary Virunga
(also the Twitter feed @AfAmHistFail)

Guest Asali Solomon: The documentary Let the Fire Burn

EPISODE 89:

Mike: use Instagram, and follow Mike, and maybe sometimes take pictures of your face, but never your food.

Tom: The Sea Inside, a book by Philip Hoare

EPISODE 90:

Mike: Drinking: A Love Story, a memoir by Caroline Knapp

Tom: Inkwood Books, a new indie bookstore in south Jersey

EPISODE 91:

Mike:The Search for General Tso, a documentary

Tom: The Science Vs. podcast

EPISODE 92:

Mike: Go see Stevie Wonder in concert

Tom: A Most Wanted Man, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last film

EPISODE 93:

Mike: the movie The Skeleton Twins

Tom: Parkopedia, a site that collects information on parking lots in most cities

Guest Helen McClory: Americans should pay more attention to what they call food, and be less accepting of things like this

EPISODE 94:

Mike: If you’re going to listen to music or watch videos in public, be a decent person and use some headphones

Tom: The Timbre, a site devoted to discussing and reviewing podcasts

 

EPISODE 96:

Mike: pizza-flavored beer (which Mike maybe didn’t even like? And which he recommends not very strongly? And does this even count?)

Tom: Unprecedented repeat recommendation – watch Review on Comedy Central.

Guest Kelly Phillips: watch more cartoons, especially Steven Universe and Rick and Morty

Guest Claire Folkman: Allow yourself to cry at pop concerts. Allow yourself to cry in general.

EPISODE 99:

Mike: What Happened, Miss Simone? an authorized documentary about Nina Simone

Tom: S’mores, a classic American snack food that you’ve perhaps forgotten about.

EPISODE 101:

Mike: Check out the “Words” feature on Spotify, which includes a huge selection of audiobooks, stories, poems, and more.

Tom: Blackthorn, a 2011 movie about Butch Cassidy

EPISODE 103:

Mike: Tig, a 2015 documentary

Tom: Valletta 78, a short novel by Erin Fitzgerald

EPISODE 105:

Mike: Getting Lucky, a book of poetry by Nicole Steinberg

Tom: The modern Christmas kidnapping classic Holiday in Handcuffs

EPISODE 107:

Mike: The 2014 movie Love & Mercy

Tom: A little-known TV show called Kojak (or at least season 3, episode 15, which is pretty good!)

EPISODE 108:

Mike: My Love is Cool, an album by the band Wolf Alice

Tom: One of Us: Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway, a book of reportage by Åsne Seiserstad

EPISODE 110:

Mike: Dear Daughter, Your Mom, an essay by Sarah Smarsh

Tom: Necco Wafers, for the patriotic child who prefers candy that is only sort of good

EPISODE 112:

Mike: Ivy Tripp, a 2015 album by the band Waxahatchee

Tom: Blankets, a graphic memoir by Craig Thompson

EPISODE 114:

Mike: US States, embrace the absurdity of the Presidential primaries and just have ludicrous contests that are somehow related to the character of your state.

Tom: Baskets, a new comedy show on FX starring Zach Galifianakis

Guest Andrew Brininstool: Journey Through Heartsongs, a book of inspirational poetry by Mattie Stepanek

EPISODE 116:

Mike: When you enjoy a story, book, or some other work, send the creator a note to let them know, because it makes the world a little nicer

Tom: HP Laserjet 1022 printer, a fine, affordable printer, and a totally legitimate recommendation

Guest Jason Fagone: Everything that Happens will Happen Today, an album by Brian Eno and David Byrne

EPISODE 118:

Mike: Big Night, a movie starring Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci, and, according to Mike, one of the best food movies he’s ever seen

Tom: Shader, a memoir/essay collection by Daniel Nester

EPISODE 120:

Mike: Sail Far Away: At Sea With America’s Largest Floating Gathering of Conspiracy Theorists, an essay by Anna Merlan

Tom: Reckoning, a short essay by Lisa Mecham

EPISODE 122:

Mike: Rick and Morty, an animated show once recommended by past guests Kelly Phillips and Claire Folkman

Tom: Rosalie Lightning, a graphic memoir by Tom Hart

EPISODE 124:

Mike: Happy Valley, a TV show on BBC (and Netflix)

Tom: Kids in Philly, an album by Marah

EPISODE 126:

Mike: Listen to college radio

Tom: Man & Wife, a story collection by Katie Chase

Guest Jen Miller: Can I Pet Your Dog, a podcast on the Maximum Fun network

EPISODE 128:

Mike: Song Book, a collection of essays by Nick Hornby

Tom: Put your shopping cart away rather than just letting it sit out in the middle of the lot, if you value the basic underpinnings of society at all

Guest Josh Fruhlinger: If you’re in, or headed to, New Jersey, take a ride on the PATCO train.

EPISODE 130:

Mike: Arcadia Magazine, a literary magazine

Tom: Cartel Land, a documentary available on Netflix

EPISODE 132:

Mike: The Stanley Classic Vacuum Bottle, recommended by Grandma Blondie

Tom: The Honourable Woman, a BBC miniseries (available on Netflix)

EPISODE 134: 

Mike: Wildlike, a movie currently on Netflix streaming

Tom: Stand up more often so you die less often. Here are some exercises you can do at your desk.

Guest Sandra Newman: The Russian band Auktyon, “the only great contemporary Russian band I’ve found.”

EPISODE 136:

Mike: 84 Charing Cross Road, a book by Helene Hanff

Tom: The 4-part On the Inside series on the Reply All podcast

EPISODE 138:

Mike: I Am Not Your Guru, a Netflix documentary about famous self-help guy Tony Robbins, who is definitely not Tony Randall.

Tom: Our Debut Album, a short-run podcast in which two comedians try to write a hit album

EPISODE 140: 

Mike: Give people gifts of books with personal inscriptions, so they can one day wistfully remember you.

Tom: Elbow Room, a celebrated story collection by James Alan McPherson

EPISODE 142: 

Mike: Flight Behavior, an essay by Amy Butcher

Tom: The documentary The Imposter, plus this New Yorker profile on the same topic, in that order.

EPISODE 144: 

Mike: broadly, you should do the things you enjoy doing but always talk yourself out of doing. More specifically, you should do karaoke.

Tom: The Kill Fee podcast, hosted by past guest and freelance writer Jason Fagone

EPISODE 146:

Mike: The TV Show Freaks and Geeks

Tom: If you’re renting a home and you have a serious leak, please let your landlord know about this, okay thanks

EPISODE 148:

Mike: Extra Toasty Cheez-its

Tom: The Good Place, a new sitcom in 2016

Guest Jim Miller: The Supernerd playlist on Spotify

 

EPISODE 152:

Mike: Hanover Blended proteins, a poorly named frozen food, and also more generally Mike recommends beans.

Tom: Subscribe to your local community newspaper (like Tom subscribes to The Retrospect)

EPISODE 154:

Mike: The Official Preppy Handbook, a 1980 book

Tom: Three’s Company, a much better sitcom than you remember

Guest Sam Allingham: Hedgehog in the Fog, an animated short from Russia

EPISODE 156:

Mike: Think about the small ways you can get involved in and contribute to your community, and actually act on one of those things.

Tom: Ivory Tower, a documentary about the current state of college education

Guest Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib: When I Grow Up, I wish to Become a List of Furhter Possibilities, a poetry book by Chen Chen; Black Beatles, a song by Rae Sremmurd; There are Things More Beautiful than Beyonce, a poetry book by Morgan Parker; and Ology, an album by Gallant

EPISODE 158:

Mike: Get a Christmas tree.

Tom: The website Rover.com, a good service for dog owners who need dog sitting/dog walking

EPISODE 161:

Mike: Retail Nightmares, a podcast on the Maximum Fun network

Tom: Mooncop, a graphic novel by Tom Gauld

EPISODE 163:

Mike: Finding Traction, a documentary about ultra-marathoners

Tom: Checked Out OK, a book by Corwin Ericson that is particularly good for writing prompts

EPISODE 165:

Mike: Sing Street, a movie Mike describes as “good, but not great”

Tom: Chances With Wolves episode 353, 2+ hours of streamable protest music

EPISODE 167:

Mike: Aretha Franklin, who Mike would like to remind you is “good.”

Tom: Cheers, a little-know television sitcom

EPISODE 169:

Mike: Glass Actress, a book of poems by Nicole Steinberg

Tom: The Drive & Kick podcast, for people who want smart basketball talk without the dumb hot takes

EPISODE 171:

Mike: Cecil and Jordan in New York, a graphic story collection by Gabrielle Bell

Tom: The Slumber Rest heated mattress pad

Guest Lauren Grodstein: H Mart, a chain of Korean grocery stores

EPISODE 172: 

Mike: Don’t amplify the voices of crazy conspiracy idiots on Twitter, even if you happen to agree with their politics

Tom: The White Helmets, an Oscar-winning documentary

EPISODE 175: 

Mike: Jimmy and Rita, a poetry book by Kim Addonizio

Tom: If you’re looking to help a friend/loved one who’s going through a difficult time or a family death, offer to do a specific thing to help them, i.e., instead of “let me know if I can do anything,” say, “I want to come over and mow your lawn” or something like that.

EPISODE 176: 

Mike: The Simplehuman kitchen trash can

Tom: There are places where dogs belong and places where humans belong, and these are not always the same places, and (service dogs exclused) sometimes you just can’t bring your damn dog on the plane, or into the restaurant, or wherever.

Guest Dave Housley: Calmly, a free writing interface you can use to not be distracted by all the other nonsense online, and also the Book.Record.Beer podcast

EPISODE 178: 

Mike: Follow Branson Reese on Twitter, because he’s funny and does good comics

Tom: American Experience: Ruby Ridge, a documentary

Guest Andre Carrington: “Parents,” an episode of the show Master of None, and also Black Youth Project,

EPISODE 180: 

Mike: The movie Boomerang

Tom: If you’re a teacher, don’t share your students’ work online to mock them or shame them

EPISODE 182: 

Mike: Take a road trip, he says, with very few specifics.

Tom: The Propaganda Game, a documentary

Guest Kelly Phillips: If you’re going to a friend’s house, bring a bottle of brut Champagne

Guest Claire Folkman: Park Bench Philly, a doggy daycare in Philly with a good Instagram

EPISODE 184: 

Mike: Remember you can use the slow cooker in the summer. I swear this is the recommendation.

Tom: Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookie

EPISODE 185: 

Mike: Give Jimmy Buffet’s early albums a chance; you may find they’re pretty good.

Tom: The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

EPISODE 186: 

Mike: Spotify premium, which is totally worth it

Tom: Finders Keepers, a documentary

EPISODE 187: 

Mike: Good Times, the TV show from the 70s

Tom: 20th Century Ghosts, a book of horror stories by Joe Hill

EPISODE 188: 

Mike: Out in the Storm, a 2017 album by Waxahatchee

Tom: Nothing is True and Everything is Possible, a book about modern-day Russia, by Peter Pomerantsez

EPISODE 189: 

Mike: “Stop telling people how to live their fucking lives,” he says.

Tom: “What Bullets Do to Bodies,” an article by Jason Fagone

EPISODE 190: 

Mike: The Big Sick, a 2017 movie

Tom: Sweetland, a novel by Michael Crummey

EPISODE 191: 

Mike: Get a waffle iron, and be aware it can be used for things besides waffles (like falafel)

Tom: The Defiant Ones, an HBO docuseries

EPISODE 192: 

Mike: Bodyglide, an anti-chafing product for runners

Tom: Peaky Blinders, a crime drama on Netflix

EPISODE 193: 

Mike: Roseanne, the beloved sitcom of the past

Tom: Broken River, J. Robert Lennon’s 2017 novel

EPISODE 194:

Mike: Fierce Attachments, a memoir by Vivian Gornick

Tom: Tower, a semi-animated documentary about America’s first mass school shooting

EPISODE 195:

Mike: Later at the Bar: A Novel in Stories by Rebecca Barry

Tom: Killer Mike’s guest appearance on the Politically Reactive podcast