Postell with his wife Allison and sons Luke, age 11 and Ben, age 6.
Courtesy | Joseph Postell
In this Quick Hits, Associate Professor of Politics Joseph Postell talks little league baseball, strange foods, and board games.
If you owned a five-star restaurant, what kind of cuisine would you serve?
Korean. I cook some Korean dishes at home, but I wouldn’t call my work anywhere near five-star quality.
In a movie about yourself, what actor would you want to play you?
My first instinct was to say Matt Damon, but Jason Bateman would probably be a better fit.
What’s the weirdest food you’ve tried?
Maybe not the weirdest, but the most memorable: The Slovakian ambassador to the U.S. and his family hosted me (and Matthew Spalding) for dinner, and they served borscht. I disliked it very much, but ate as much as I could handle to avoid causing offense.
What’s your favorite way to spend a completely free Saturday?
Watch Premier League soccer (go Toffees!), cook an indulgent brunch around 10:30-11 (or grab donuts from Ethan’s or Meckley’s), relax, spend some time outside, then go for an evening drive on country roads with the family.
How did you propose to your wife?
I was working in D.C. at the time, and Allison was finishing her coursework and comprehensive exams at the University of Dallas. She visited me one weekend in D.C., and I took her to the Memorial to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. It’s a well-kept secret on the National Mall, on a small island reachable by bridge. There, I pledged to her my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor.
What is a favorite childhood memory?
Going to little league baseball practices and games with my dad (who coached me) in his old, red pickup truck. No A/C, just driving down Ohio country roads with the windows rolled down, listening to Cleveland Indians baseball on the radio. My dad was an exceptional pitcher who nearly made it to the majors in the 1960s. I had potential, but nothing like his talent.
If you had to participate in one TV competition show, which one would you choose?
“The Amazing Race.” It bundles several of my favorite things: traveling, teamwork, and solving puzzles.
What movie should everyone watch?
“The Shawshank Redemption”
What’s a trend from your childhood you wish would come back?
A common pop culture. My sister and her high school friends would all watch “Seinfeld” together at our house on Thursday evenings. Sometimes she would let her little brother, a mere middle schooler, join the watch party. We used to talk at school and work about TV shows, music, and movies that we all saw and heard. Today, the culture is far more individualized, and I think we are a more fragmented nation because of that.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I am extremely into strategy board games (like Frosthaven, Robinson Crusoe, and Pandemic Legacy). I have a group with several of my best friends from childhood, and we travel to Bourbon Country once or twice a year for a multi-day board game getaway, playing 15-16 hour days.
