Courtesy | Brita Stoneman
Brita Stoneman is a lecturer in Rhetoric and Public Address at Hillsdale College. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is one fictional town that you would love to tour or live in?
Springfield from “The Simpsons.”
What is your favorite piece of clothing you own?
I have always been really fond of Nancy Drew. So, I found some old fabric and then a pattern from those times, and I made this really cool Nancy Drew-looking dress.
What is your favorite video game?
My all-time favorite is World of Warcraft. Playing World of Warcraft on my laptop sitting on my lap actually gave me burn marks from playing so long. To play with other people, I like Mario Kart.
Who is one author you would love to co-write a book or story with?
Jo Nesbo. I’m really into Scandinavian crime fiction.
What is something funny or memorable that one of your kids has said to you?
My daughter says that I’m a “doctor of the brain.”
If you could pick any historical or contemporary figure to give a lecture at Hillsdale, who would you choose?
George Santayana. He was a prolific writer, and most people have forgotten him. You’ve probably heard of his sayings, but very few people recognize that it’s him. “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” that’s actually him.
What is one thing you didn’t learn until you were an adult?
Humility. And, that you can’t do it all. I think that’s important as a woman, too, because if you become a mother, you have to devote a lot of time to children which means that that can take away time from other things you want to do. There are choices to be made, and there are real consequences to those choices.
What is one movie you think everyone should watch?
“The King of Comedy.” It’s a young Robert De Niro who plays this failing comic and becomes totally obsessed with this talk show host and tries to get on his show. “The Joker” actually took some ideas from “The King of Comedy.”
If you could have an unconventional pet, what would you choose?
A potbelly pig. They’re really smart, and you can train them to do tricks and take walks.
What is one trend from your childhood or teenage years that you wish would come back?
Being playful outside. These days, you have to be so cautious. There are legitimate fears, but it’s sad. We live out in the woods so my kids get to go explore in the woods.
What is one thing a lot of people don’t know about you?
I am an introverted homebody.
When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A doctor. I really wanted to be a pediatrician because I loved working with kids.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
I’d love to visit Norway. My father has done genealogy for as long as I can remember, and there are relatives that still exist over there and that we are in communication with through the genealogical research.
What is one thing you used to believe that you have since changed your mind about?
I used to be an atheist, and I am now Catholic. My family and I just converted three years ago. You really have to learn to think that there is something to God’s will that may not align with your own will.
Who is your confirmation saint?
St. Therese of Lisieux.
What is one piece of advice you try to live by?
Let go of anger.
