NOAH RETTINGER

WORST PET

Guinea pig: They are essentially high-maintenance potatoes that scream for lettuce. I quickly learned that I prefer pets with a bit more personality and a lot less cage-cleaning.

FAVORITE CHARACTER

Will Hunting from Good Will Hunting: I’ve always been drawn to his raw intelligence and the idea of being a diamond in the rough. Plus, who doesn't love a character who can shut down a pretentious grad student with a library card?

HOBBY

Carpentry: There is something incredibly grounding about working with your hands and seeing a project take shape from raw lumber. It’s my favorite way to disconnect from the digital world and build something that lasts.

FIRST CD

Taylor Swift, Fearless: We all have to start somewhere, and honestly, it’s a classic for a reason. To this day, those songs are still surprisingly catchy.

CHILDHOOD NICKNAME

“No.” Apparently, I was a very opinionated toddler with a strong sense of boundaries. It’s a nickname that has followed me long enough to become a family legend.

FIRST CAR

1965 VW Beetle in cream white: It was a classic beauty, though it required as much mechanical work as it did gasoline. Driving it felt like being a character in a movie, even when it was breaking down.