So much time,so little to do

A Podcast Review

I have a fairly long daily commute to work; about 5o miles, or an hour and a half round trip. That allows me lots of time for listening. For some reason, as I’ve aged I’ve become more interested in podcasts to fill the silence. And since no one asked nor cares, here’s a quick list of the podcasts I listen to — warning, it’s a lot of podcasts (in no particular order):

Stories

1. This American Life
   I remember the first I heard TAL while sitting in the parking lot of College Hill Presbyterian Church as I waited for my daughter to wake from her nap in her carseat — about 14 years ago.
   Favorite Episode: Fear Of Sleep
2. Radio Lab
   I have to credit Radio Lab with rejuvenating not only my interest in podcasts (as a creative and engaging medium, not just one where people boringly talk for over an hour) but challenging my thinking on human behavior from a fact and science based perspective.
   Favorite Episode: Words
3. Serial
   As a long time fan of This American Life, I jumped on Serial when it was announced and was as obsessed as seemingly the rest of the entire world (that knew and listened to podcasts).
   Favorite Episode: The Best Defense Is A Good Defense
4. Invisibilia
   Same as above … heard about it through TAL and have thoroughly enjoyed their first run of episodes.
   Favorite Episode: How To Become Batman

Learning

1. No Such Thing As A Fish
   Most American’s are unaware of the BBC show “QI” (which stands for Quite Interesting) hosted by Stephen Fry. It’s a celebrity fact quiz show. The researchers from that show gather together their unused research and facts into this fun and informative podcast.
   Favorite Episode: No Such Things As Testicle-Retracting Sumo Wrestlers
2. Stuff You Should Know
   From HowStuffWorks, this podcast has good insight on things you might often wonder, like how bitcoin works or what will happen when we reach the Singularity.
   Favorite Episode: How Terraforming Will Work
3. Common Sense with Dan Carlin
   As a one-time journalist Dan has a passionate, balanced and well-rounded view of our current history.
   Favorite Episode: The Specter Of Dissent
4. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
   Dan again takes on historical topics and exhaustively examines them — and I mean exhaustively. Each episode is like an audiobook. Deeply researched and informed, though seldom released (because what I just said)
   Favorite Episode: Thor’s Angels
5. Ask Science Mike
   User submitted questions to non-scientist (but well read and researched) host Mike McHargue related to faith and science.
   Favorite Episode: Pangea, Prayer, and Pretending God is Real
6. Skeptics Guide To The Universe
   Often feels a bit long and meandering, but the hosts are knowledgeable and vigorously examine various topics from news and culture (like the actual science around vaccines or GMO’s).
   Favorite Episode: Episode #489
7. Daily Knowledge Podcast
   Short, interesting facts about a specific topic read by a dude with a British accent.
   Favorite Episode: The Billion Dollar Speech

Comedy

1. WTF With Marc Maron
   The comedy interview podcast to end all other comedy interview podcasts. Marc was first and is best at this format; with rare misses (which are usually isolated to when he interviews musicians).
   Favorite Episode: #145 Gallagher
2. The Nerdist
   Show host and comedian extraordinaire Chris Hardwick (and sometime co-hosts Jonah Ray and Matt Mira) interviews a wide variety of comedians, actors and musicians with the charm and ease that he’s cultivated through over 600 episodes.
   Favorite Episode: Nick Offerman Returns
3. You Made It Weird
   Another comedy interview show. Pete Holmes is an acquired taste. His boisterous, chatty, and high-energy persona can be overwhelming at times, but given the right guest the interaction can have amazingly deep, insightful and revealing conversations.
   Favorite Episode: Moshe Kasher Returns
4. Harmontown
   The creator of Community hosts this inebriated, rant filled, random live sometime interview show that is brilliant, chaotic and often hilarious; and the show ends where everyone on stage plays a RPG.
   Favorite Episode: Jim Belushi’s Basement (with Mitch Hurwitz)
5. Doug Loves Movies
   Doug Benson hosts a live movie-based game show with fellow comedians and actors — which often devolves into hilarious showmanship and banter.
   Favorite Episode: Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Rory Scovel
6. Never Not Funny
   Jimmy Pardo is the warm-up man for Conan O’Brien, and he’s hilarious. He’s a fast talking, quick witted, charming man. When Jimmy knows his guests well, the podcast is at it’s best.
   Favorite Episode: #1302 With Paul F. Tompkins
7. The K Ohle With Kurt Braunohler
   I’m a huge fan of Kurt’s comedy (and he made an appearance on my own podcast) and he approaches his podcast with creativity and playful glee. Kurt doesn’t just interview his friends, he might blindfold them and take them to a strange and interesting location, or makes them talk about pets or boats.
   Favorite Episode: Get Lost With Rory Scovel
8. Sklarbro Country
   Comedian twins Jason and Randy Sklar have an obvious chemistry and bring their energy to the interactions with their guests. It’s not so much an interview as just funny friends talking. Also, they have great taste in music.
   Favorite Episode: Stalking An Old Nugget
9. Comedy Bang Bang
   The ultimate improv podcast, hosted by Scott Aukerman. The show can be very hit or miss, depending on the guests; but when everything aligns the show is brilliant.
   Favorite Episode: Honorary Mayor of Hollywood
10. By The Way, In Conversation with Jeff Garlin
    You most likely would recognize/know host Jeff, as “Jeff” from Curb Your Enthusiasm, and his podcast focuses on his live interviews with his friends (or people he just wants to talk with), and his easy conversational style often leads to revealing and hilarious insights you’d not hear elsewhere.
    Favorite Episode: Larry David
11. Walking The Room (RIP)
    This one of my very favorite comedian-based podcasts from friends Greg Behrendt and Dave Anthony (full disclosure, I did vast amounts of designs for them because of my love for the show). It was vile, vulgar and hilarious and I miss it’s weekly assault on my ears and soul. Patton Oswalt wrote a eulogy for the show.
    Favorite Episode: Tiny Shirts and Sow’s Ear

Interviews/Other

1. The Dollop
   Comedian (and friend) Dave Anthony and co-host Gareth (aka Gary) Reynolds talk about the often unknown warped, insanely unbelievable side of people and events in American history.
   Favorite Episode: Hugh Glass
2. Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!
   A weekly news quiz show that I’ve loved for years.
   Favorite Episode: October 20th, 2007
3. Maltin On Movies
   The legendary film critic Leonard Maltin and co-host comedian Baron Vaughn review three movies based on a single theme and explore the best, worst and less known aspects of each theme.
   Favorite Episode: Liam Neeson

Honorable Mentions

I don’t often listen to “industry” specific podcasts, not because they are bad but I try to spend my excess time learning or being entertained by things that don’t remind me of work, but here are some other podcasts that I will listen to now and again.

1. The Shakes
2. The Big Web Show
3. The Gently Mad
4. ShopTalk
5. The East Wing
6. Let’s Make Mistakes
7. The Businessology Show