Which Podcasts Fuel Your Listening Pleasure?

[SomeTameGazelle]

I recently stumbled across the BBC podcast The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry and I am quite enjoying it. The episodes are pretty short, sometimes with experts or experiments, and with a lot of silly joking around. I think because they are both academics  (Hannah Fry is a mathematics professor and Adam Rutherford is a geneticist) the silliness does not overwhelm the content for me. (I abandoned another podcast that I always hoped would be interesting because the silliness was not supported by any expertise and just felt dull and self-indulgent.)

[MsNewsradio]

I have to say I’m really loving The Deep Dive with June Diane Raphael and Jessica St. Clair. It really runs the gamut in terms of topics and they have on some great guests. It’s honestly a very empowering podcast and reminds me of some of the conversational deep dives I have with my own group of friends.

[chediavolo]

Does anyone know when Scientology fair game is coming back. It was supposed to return in August and there is absolutely nothing online about when it is going to be back. Not even a word that I could see from Leah Remini on Facebook or any other platform this is very strange I believe.

[grawlix]

The LA  based NPR station has a podcast that covers the history of Jet Propulsion Laboratory called "Blood, Sweat, and Rockets".  Really enjoyable and informative series!

https://laist.com/podcasts/la-made

[Fukui San]

A podcast that I recently started listening go but which I think would be of particular interest to people on this forum is Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast. It's been going for around 10 years now, and every show Ken invites a guest on and gives them a copy of a TV Guide from his personal collection, and they go day by day and say what shows they would be watching on that day. A real nostalgia trip, and Ken frequently has a shocking amount of information about obscure shows and episodes and inside information about things. A lot of "Oh yes, I can totally send you that episode of Manimal after we record." and "Yeah, I met [obscure 80's actor] on a gig years later and he was [really cool/a real dick]". 
http://tvguidancecounselor.com/

[Enigma X]

I am just getting back into podcasts. I like all types. I am currently loving the true-crime podcasts Buried Bones and Tenfold More Wicked. They deal more so with old to very old crimes.

[voiceover]

New Heights with the Kelce brothers is sublime, touching, and hilarious.  I love both those guys: Travis, because I’m such a homer; Jason, because I love me some OLinemen.

[SVNBob]

On 12/6/2021 at 12:55 AM, SVNBob said:

A podcast I forgot to mention when it first dropped back in June:

World's Greatest Con.

Brian Brushwood, professional magician, YouTuber and host of other podcasts, takes a deep-dive into some of the greatest "con jobs" in history.  The first season is all about Operation: Mincemeat.  But it's not just a dry telling of the facts.  There's personal anecdotes that relate to the story, comparisons to the principles of stage magic, other clever allusions to explain details, and lots of quality production.

It is only the one season thus far, and only 5.5 episodes long (the .5 is the teaser, and the 5th episode is a Q&A/commentary show about the previous 4 episodes).  But at a total running time of around 5 hours, it's entirely bingeable within a day.

 

On 3/7/2022 at 1:48 AM, SVNBob said:

Quoting myself because Season 2 has begun.

This season is a little different.  Instead of all the episodes being about the same story, this season is all about cheating scandals on game shows, with each episode looking at a different one.  First episode is about the grand-daddy quiz show cheating scandal on Twenty-One.  Second is about Michael Larson. the infamous Press Your Luck "cheater".

Self-quoting again, because Season 3 has started.

They're going back to the format of the first season, with all the episodes being about a single story.  But this time, they're telling the story of "Project Alpha"; the story of two teenage boys, with some help from James Randi, convincing the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research that they were actual psychics.  Even though they had as much psychic power as Uri Gellar; IE, none.  And since the two boys were teens in the early 80s, they're still around.  In fact, one is now stage magician Banachek  So there's interviews with both of them peppered throughout the series.

The first three episodes are up (#3 dropped earlier today, so I haven't listened to it yet).  And the first one is more prologue, talking about the zeitgeist of the late '70s and early '80s to give context as to why this con could have happened.  This includes audio of Uri Gellar's appearance on the Tonight Show, where Johnny (and Randi) had made sure he couldn't pull any of his usual tricks.

[TattleTeeny]

Can anyone recommend a pod of listener-submitted scary stories (like presumably true ones, paranormal OK, but I mean more like non-para). I like Radio Rental a lot, and Disturbed is OK, but some of the voice actors are so annoying and the submissions are often very poorly worded. 

[QQQQ]

Enjoying Under Cover of Knight:

 

In 1996, Sue Knight was found dead in her Athens, TX, home. Her will named a loose acquaintance as the executor of her estate, but after an alleged phone call from the CIA and a dire warning from the local sheriff, the executor stopped asking questions. More than 25 years later, Sue’s memory haunts the town of Athens and the people who knew her. Who was Sue, really? Why did this English expat settle in small-town Texas? And could she still be alive?

[Dirtybubble]

On 4/27/2023 at 2:28 PM, TattleTeeny said:

Can anyone recommend a pod of listener-submitted scary stories (like presumably true ones, paranormal OK, but I mean more like non-para). I like Radio Rental a lot, and Disturbed is OK, but some of the voice actors are so annoying and the submissions are often very poorly worded. 

Inhuman:  A True Crime Podcast is pretty good

[TattleTeeny]

TY -- I'm full up on true crime, but maybe I'll give that one a try. But I still want something similar to Radio Rental. I'm listening to one now that's sort of like it, but it's just...meh.

[RealHousewife]

Watch What Crappens really cracks me up. They do recaps of different Bravo shows. The guys are so talented, they make you want to watch all the shows just to listen to their podcast.

[Athena]

I've been listening to a coupled hyped celebrity hosted podcasts. I got into Smartless very late so I listened to a bunch. They were okay based mainly on the guests. Made me realize more than ever that Jason Bateman is a true nepo baby who is out of touch with the world. I like Sean Hayes more now though.

I listened to Strike Force Five with the late night hosts and it's one of my better new podcasts I've listened to in a long time. Like a lot of people, I loved the Strike Force Wives episodes and game. It was funny how badly Fallon made that game. Loved them roasting him on it while being really wholesome about their wives and families. I also love the story about Stephen's mom having dated a Nicaraguan dictator ("Poor Tacho") and how Stephen now has his pants. It's too bad the show is over and I really hope they do occasional specials for charity and bring Conan on.

[tessaray]

Is anyone listening to S4 of 13 Days of Halloween? I like Natalie Morales but horror is not my genre so I've been looking for reviews and not finding much.

[MissAlmond]

What happened to Max Baril’s Classic Movie Musts podcast? I can’t find it anywhere and even older episodes seems to have disappeared from both Apple Podcast and Spotify. 

[Hanahope]

if anyone stopped listening to Opening Arguments because of the dispute between Andrew Torres and Thomas Smith, Smith has retaken over the podcast and Torres is out.  

 

[EtheltoTillie]

I’m highly recommending a new podcast Inconceivable Truth.  It’s the only podcast I’ve found compelling since The Shrink Next Door. It’s about the journalist’s search for his genetic history after finding out he was product of a sperm donor. No spoiler here. He reveals it on an NPR promotional interview. I think it’s five episodes. I’m rationing because I have a work deadline. Otherwise I’d be bingeing. 

[chitowngirl]

I love Julia Louis Dreyfus’ Wiser Than Me. She’s a great interviewer. You can tell she’s really listening and asks great follow up questions. She’s not just ticking off a list of questions. Language can get a bit salty…

[SoMuchTV]

I caught a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about a journalist and his journey to find his biological father.  They mentioned at the end that he had made a podcast.  I checked it out, and I'm already half-way through the 8 episodes.  Very interesting!  It's called Inconceivable Truth.
 

Quote

 

Investigative reporter Matt Katz has been searching for his biological father since he was a little kid. But it wasn't until his 40s that he realized he was on the wrong journey altogether. The true story is wrapped in confusion and secrecy, and in the end it upended the truth about who he is – raising questions about identity, fatherhood, medical ethics and what family really means. But will finding answers make him whole, or just make things even more complicated?

 

 

[EtheltoTillie]

On 6/16/2024 at 5:20 PM, SoMuchTV said:

I caught a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about a journalist and his journey to find his biological father.  They mentioned at the end that he had made a podcast.  I checked it out, and I'm already half-way through the 8 episodes.  Very interesting!  It's called Inconceivable Truth.
 

 

I mentioned this same podcast in April. A couple of entries upthread. It’s really good. 

[SoMuchTV]

45 minutes ago, ams1001 said:

That was John Hodgman, right? (Judge John Hodgman?) 

 

42 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

Shut your pie hole!

^^^ from the Ghosts (US) latest episode thread. Based on reactions to my post, at least two other posters here share my love (or at least awareness) of Judge John Hodgman. 

And while I’m here, let me also recommend Normal Gossip. I am absolutely not a gossipy person in real life, but boy am I entertained by random strangers’ gossip. 

[ams1001]

11 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

 

^^^ from the Ghosts (US) latest episode thread. Based on reactions to my post, at least two other posters here share my love (or at least awareness) of Judge John Hodgman. 

And while I’m here, let me also recommend Normal Gossip. I am absolutely not a gossipy person in real life, but boy am I entertained by random strangers’ gossip. 

lol...I saw the notification for this quote and thought, "When did I ever post in that thread? Did I know that thread exists?"

I actually haven't really listened to JJH (but am definitely aware of it); I think just a couple of the Max Fun Bonus Content episodes, really. I listen to Depresh Mode and Sleeping with Celebrities. 

I laughed because I assumed "Shut your pie hole" was something from the show and you weren't telling me to shut up. 😜

[SoMuchTV]

1 minute ago, ams1001 said:

I actually haven't really listened to JJH (but am definitely aware of it); I think just a couple of the Max Fun Bonus Content episodes, really. I listen to Depresh Mode and Sleeping with Celebrities. 

I laughed because I assumed "Shut your pie hole" was something from the show and you weren't telling me to shut up. 😜

Yes that’s Bailiff Jesse Thorne’s catch phrase, although he hasn’t been using it as much lately. (In hindsight I probably should have put it in quotes. Maybe I’ll go back and edit so folks don’t think I’m picking on you.). Definitely recommend this one if you’re a Max Fun fan. And I’ll have to check out the ones you mentioned. 

[ams1001]

1 hour ago, SoMuchTV said:

Yes that’s Bailiff Jesse Thorne’s catch phrase, although he hasn’t been using it as much lately. (In hindsight I probably should have put it in quotes. Maybe I’ll go back and edit so folks don’t think I’m picking on you.). Definitely recommend this one if you’re a Max Fun fan. And I’ll have to check out the ones you mentioned. 

I've tried a few other Max Fun shows but never really got into them. I do plan to check out the new E Pluribus Motto; that sounds interesting. (I'm so behind on my podcasts, though!)

If you like Depresh Mode, you can also check out John Moe's earlier show, The Hilarious World of Depression. That ended when the public radio station that carried it made some budget cuts in 2020 (a few months into the pandemic); they owned the show so he couldn't continue it somewhere else, but the episodes are still available to listen to. He took some time off to regroup before joining Max Fun with the new show (which is basically the same concept but the original show focused more on comedians and on DM he talks to a wider variety of people, everyone from musicians I've never heard of to Jamie Lee Curtis). 

Sleeping with Celebrities started as a Depresh Mode Bonus Content thing and people liked it so much he turned it into its own show. He talks to the guest about some boring topic (like "John Hodgman Attempts to Memorize All of Maine's Coastal Islands" or Peter Sagal talking about running socks) meant to put you to sleep, and there are very few episodes that I've actually heard the end of, which is the whole point.

[SoMuchTV]

4 minutes ago, ams1001 said:

I've tried a few other Max Fun shows but never really got into them. I do plan to check out the new E Pluribus Motto; that sounds interesting. (I'm so behind on my podcasts, though!)

If you like Depresh Mode, you can also check out John Moe's earlier show, The Hilarious World of Depression. That ended when the public radio station that carried it made some budget cuts in 2020 (a few months into the pandemic); they owned the show so he couldn't continue it somewhere else, but the episodes are still available to listen to. He took some time off to regroup before joining Max Fun with the new show (which is basically the same concept but the original show focused more on comedians and on DM he talks to a wider variety of people, everyone from musicians I've never heard of to Jamie Lee Curtis). 

Sleeping with Celebrities started as a Depresh Mode Bonus Content thing and people liked it so much he turned it into its own show. He talks to the guest about some boring topic (like "John Hodgman Attempts to Memorize All of Maine's Coastal Islands" or Peter Sagal talking about running socks) meant to put you to sleep, and there are very few episodes that I've actually heard the end of, which is the whole point.

Oh I listened to the first couple episodes of E Pluribus Motto and I definitely enjoyed it. But I guess you might have to be a specific kind of nerdy to appreciate it. 

One more I’ll recommend is Bullseye with Jesse Thorne. Even when his guest is someone I’ve never heard of or someone I don’t think I’d be interested in, it almost always turns out to be an interesting interview. 

[SoMuchTV]

On 10/17/2024 at 11:13 PM, ams1001 said:

I've tried a few other Max Fun shows but never really got into them. I do plan to check out the new E Pluribus Motto; that sounds interesting. (I'm so behind on my podcasts, though!)

If you like Depresh Mode, you can also check out John Moe's earlier show, The Hilarious World of Depression. That ended when the public radio station that carried it made some budget cuts in 2020 (a few months into the pandemic); they owned the show so he couldn't continue it somewhere else, but the episodes are still available to listen to. He took some time off to regroup before joining Max Fun with the new show (which is basically the same concept but the original show focused more on comedians and on DM he talks to a wider variety of people, everyone from musicians I've never heard of to Jamie Lee Curtis). 

Sleeping with Celebrities started as a Depresh Mode Bonus Content thing and people liked it so much he turned it into its own show. He talks to the guest about some boring topic (like "John Hodgman Attempts to Memorize All of Maine's Coastal Islands" or Peter Sagal talking about running socks) meant to put you to sleep, and there are very few episodes that I've actually heard the end of, which is the whole point.

 

On 10/17/2024 at 11:23 PM, SoMuchTV said:

Oh I listened to the first couple episodes of E Pluribus Motto and I definitely enjoyed it. But I guess you might have to be a specific kind of nerdy to appreciate it. 

One more I’ll recommend is Bullseye with Jesse Thorne. Even when his guest is someone I’ve never heard of or someone I don’t think I’d be interested in, it almost always turns out to be an interesting interview. 

Well, I came here to recommend E Pluribus Motto and realized I already did, less than a couple weeks ago. Guess I’m excited because my state is coming up next. 
 

Quote

 

E Pluribus Motto

In each episode, Janet Varney and John Hodgman spotlight one state and chat about its motto, bird, beverages, songs, and–occasionally–muffins in a celebration of regional culture. Pack your snacks and jump on in!

 

 

[EtheltoTillie]

On 10/17/2024 at 9:43 PM, ams1001 said:

lol...I saw the notification for this quote and thought, "When did I ever post in that thread? Did I know that thread exists?"

I actually haven't really listened to JJH (but am definitely aware of it); I think just a couple of the Max Fun Bonus Content episodes, really. I listen to Depresh Mode and Sleeping with Celebrities. 

I laughed because I assumed "Shut your pie hole" was something from the show and you weren't telling me to shut up. 😜

Judge John Hodgman has a podcast?  I only know him from his weekly NYT “column.”  Which is delightfully silly. 

[SoMuchTV]

2 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

Judge John Hodgman has a podcast?  I only know him from his weekly NYT “column.”  Which is delightfully silly. 

If you enjoy his NYT column (and aren't anti-podcast) then you should definitely like the podcast.  He's been doing it for several years and it looks like all (or a lot) of the back episodes are still available.

[EtheltoTillie]

4 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

If you enjoy his NYT column (and aren't anti-podcast) then you should definitely like the podcast.  He's been doing it for several years and it looks like all (or a lot) of the back episodes are still available.

Well I tried one episode and I don’t know if it’s for me. I dislike most podcasts. Too dragged out. 

[ams1001]

On 10/17/2024 at 11:23 PM, SoMuchTV said:

Oh I listened to the first couple episodes of E Pluribus Motto and I definitely enjoyed it. But I guess you might have to be a specific kind of nerdy to appreciate it. 

I listened to the first couple and will definitely continue with it. I have MA up next.

[fastiller]

I'm just now scrolling thru the non-TV related chats and landed here.  Some good podcasts suggestions above.  I'll add a few that I find fun/informative:

1. One Song - DJs/Producers Diallo Riddle & Luxxury.  They also have a YouTube channel.  They break down a song per episode, with isolated tracks and a bit of backstory.  The songs chosen are from many genres and from many decades.
2. No Such Thing as a Fish - four of the producers of the UK panel TV show Qi (or as they're called by the show, 'elves') just sitting around and discussing various facts they've learned over the previous week.  I think they each find one fact and send to the other three who then go and do further research.  Very stream of consciousness in how they jump around.  Kind of like Qi, but audio-only.
3. Betwixt the Sheets - Professor Kate Lister of Trinity Leeds University discussing w/ guests "The History of Sex, Scandal, & Society".  
4. The Guilty Feminist - Deborah Frances-White, Australian comedian living in the UK discussing w/ guests "topics 'all 21st century feminists agree on' while confessing their insecurities, hypocrisies and fears that underlie their lofty principles."

[SVNBob]

On 11/11/2024 at 11:42 AM, fastiller said:

No Such Thing as a Fish - four of the producers of the UK panel TV show Qi (or as they're called by the show, 'elves') just sitting around and discussing various facts they've learned over the previous week.  I think they each find one fact and send to the other three who then go and do further research.  Very stream of consciousness in how they jump around.  Kind of like Qi, but audio-only.

Well, mainly audio only.  There's a smattering of video clip highlights from last year on their YouTube channel.  Also, a couple years ago, they did a 20-hour marathon Zoom call podcast special for Comic Relief with dozens of guests that they divided up into 30+ videos also on the channel.

[FirkeyZeldaX]

“The Daily” by The New York Times
This one is my morning staple for keeping up with current events. They dive deep into a single story every episode, making complex issues easier to understand.

[SnarkShark]

On 11/3/2024 at 6:59 AM, EtheltoTillie said:

Judge John Hodgman has a podcast?  I only know him from his weekly NYT “column.”  Which is delightfully silly. 

Hmm.  Why else would the Times grant him a fake Judge title?  Clearly being an existing fake Judge is a prerequisite!