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
Pinned
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.
For anyone grieving this Christmas
10 Should-Be-Classic Records about Grief
Some unconventional picks for your listening and grieving catharsis.
joshfrmusic.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
For anyone grieving this Christmas
!!!!!!
Let this also serve as your annual reminder that “War Pigs“ can be sung to the tune of Deck the Halls, and vice versa. (“Generals gathered in their masses / fà la la la la, la la la la, just like witches at black masses / fa la la etc”)
On the subject of Christmas songs: a newsletter containing 3 tunes I come back to this time of year, and some "yes I am once again on my bullshit / re-reading Hogfather" thoughts about the season
buttondown.com/MaxGladstone...
buttondown.com/MaxGladstone...
December 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
!!!!!!
linktr.ee/joshfriedberg
Featuring my TEDx talk, Substack, and a lot more!
Featuring my TEDx talk, Substack, and a lot more!
December 20, 2025 at 3:20 AM
linktr.ee/joshfriedberg
Featuring my TEDx talk, Substack, and a lot more!
Featuring my TEDx talk, Substack, and a lot more!
I can now announce that I was selected as a 2026 Disability Lead Institute fellow for their Chicago cohort!!!!!!! The Institute provides leadership training and networking opportunities for disabled professionals. This is a huge honor and I am very excited!!!
www.disabilitylead.org/stories/fell...
www.disabilitylead.org/stories/fell...
Announcing Our 2026 Chicago Institute Fellows
Read the full announcement for a milestone Institute cohort!
www.disabilitylead.org
December 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I can now announce that I was selected as a 2026 Disability Lead Institute fellow for their Chicago cohort!!!!!!! The Institute provides leadership training and networking opportunities for disabled professionals. This is a huge honor and I am very excited!!!
www.disabilitylead.org/stories/fell...
www.disabilitylead.org/stories/fell...
Reposted by Josh Friedberg
Hello friends, I recently lost my health insurance + benefits & am currently looking at a bill of over $16,000 for which I cannot pay. This would not necessarily be an issue if I were not visually impaired and currently out of full time work, but I am humbly asking for assistance now. Any bit helps.
Donate to Help EmissaryOfNight Pay Emergency Expenses, organized by Y, Al-Sheikh
I'm a blind writer and analyst who was just recently removed from receiving S… Y, Al-Sheikh needs your support for Help EmissaryOfNight Pay Emergency Expenses
gofund.me
December 14, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Hello friends, I recently lost my health insurance + benefits & am currently looking at a bill of over $16,000 for which I cannot pay. This would not necessarily be an issue if I were not visually impaired and currently out of full time work, but I am humbly asking for assistance now. Any bit helps.
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