This Week in Podcasts a weekly roundup of mini-reviews of all of the podcasts I’ve listened to in a week. If you see any podcasts that you feel are missing from my list, there’s a good chance I haven’t listened to the show yet! Feel free to give me recommendations–as well as any feedback or discussion!–in the comments below, in my asks on tumblr, or on twitter.
Sunday, 4/30/17
Nancy
“#5: There Are No Gay Wizards”
This week’s episode of Nancy breaks down the role of LGBT+ characters in the Harry Potter universe, taking a sharp stab at both Dumbledore as a gay icon and the Albus/Scorpius relationship in The Cursed Child. The discussion is, I think, a bit of an old one with LGBT+ Harry Potter readers (there are plenty of us, trust me) so I’m honestly not sure who the audience is for this episode. It was enjoyable, but I can’t imagine someone who hasn’t read and appreciated the books caring much about the first half of the episode. When the episode started discussing Lev Grossman’s The Magicians, a book and TV series that isn’t my taste, I found myself tuning out pretty frequently–I can imagine it would have been the same for people who aren’t Harry Potter fans. The second half of the episode discussed the comedy of Pat Brown. The segment was interesting, but it worries me over Nancy‘s already evident curation problems; it was a completely separate topic from the first half of the episode.
Monday, 5/1/17
Welcome to Night Vale
“107 – The Missing Sky”
A̢̤̼͚̤̓ͅf̛͕̹̮̲̖̆ͩͤ̃̋͋͐ͅt̰͓̯̳̗̟̹̉̂̽̉͋͒͑e͙̫̙ͪͦ̓̚ṟ̞̹̬̗̋ ̭̫͈̲͂̆̽a̳ͮ͆̃ͫ͝ ̗̙̼̰̻̃ͮs̤̦̲͇̘̫̣̀̑̓t͔̫̱̣̩͉̼͌͡r̯͓̯̪̚e͕̣̅͞t̷͖͈̃c̛͇̠͚̼̜ḩ̙̱̯̩̼̮͚ ͍̇͌ǫ͎̮̬̫̈́̒ͧ̽̏̚f̐̓͊̓͑̂ͯ ̻͓̱̩̯̩͙ͫͫ̆̐̃̈u͓̺͔̲pͩ͗ͫ̇ͭ̀s͎͇̲͖̥̃ͮ̊̏̓̊͝ ̦̗̏ͬ̓a̮̤̯ͨ̓ͭṅ̦̖̻d̄͗̓̏̚͜ ̺̋ḏ͇͖̈̉̕o̴̩̐ͩͭ̆̾̆̓w̯͑̌́n̟̔ș̘̗̤͍͌͋̿͂͛,̻̫̝̹̺̞͙ ͉͔̳̫̼̘̪̅ͬ̑̊̾͋ạ̱͉͢s̭̫ͨ͒ͯ̍͆̕ ̪̹̝̱͍̀̒̀͆̀p̨̥̮͚̬̱̈́ͯͅe̲̱͙̰̖̦ͤṟ͚̺̾̅̐̈ ͊ͧ̍́̈́͏ų̪̭̰̄̋ͬ̇̀̎s͉͉͐̇̾u̹̖̳̘̣͞ằ͖̖͂ͤl̶̖͖̳̬̝͐͐̒̓̆ͭ̌ ͖̰̀ͤ͐͗̆ͩW̏ͭͅe͈͒ͯ͘l̙̟͚̗̙̣̞̅̅̍ͤ͜c̯͙͎͈̮̮o͇̘͞m̡̹̦̞͔̟͋͌ͩͮ̉ͪȅ͈ͤ̍͂ͥͮ ̻̪͇̞͊̓͐̀̏̉ͨt̺̘̲̳͍̗̤̎ͧͤ̓͌͛̚ỗ̳̟̤͒̓̚ͅ ̪͆N̘̮i̙̜̔̽̉ͩg̱̼̗̟̯ͩ͋͋͞h͉͓̣̗̜ͩ͐́̀ͅt̥̺̦ͯ̌͌̀ͭ͌ͬ ̆̑ͩ͑ͮ̓͝V̴̖̆̈̚ä̛̱̯̯̮͕̱̤̑̿̏̚̚l͕̩̅e͖ ̳̺̖͖̝͐ä̢̮̖̱́͒rͮͮ͆͟c͉̭̥ͩ̎̊̒̀͑̊͡s,̡͖͍̥͈̤̤ ̱̜̰͇͍̱̮̅t̡̲͔̺̳ͮͧh̳̝̲̐ͨͥ͛͛̔i͚͑͗̔̾̉͂͞s̫ͤ ̵̩̮̤̊ͯ͊e̳ͮ̔͌̏ͨ̽͞p̣̙̩̲̖ͤͯͣ͐ͮ̊ͮi͚̗͊̌͗̀ͪ̽̄s͙͔̜̝̏o̫̩̒̒͊ͧd̺̖̂̌ͫe̶͍̩̟ͪͦ̆̃ ̴ͯc̈ͯ͆̏̒e̲͚̫̦͎̝̽͋m̟͈͙ͤͣ̓ͯ̓̅ͪe̵͉̱̤̗n̷̜̺̘̯͚ͪ̿ͅt̙̦͎̺̘͎̖e̞͒̈͋d̜̈́ ̢̱̱̥ͣͫ̔Ń͇͎̟͙͙̦ͫ̓i͚̺͖̥͔̟̫̐̑̑̋ͬ͊ͩg̮͑͌ͨ̚̚h̶̏̅̅ͦ̑͛͆t̬̜̪͙͠ ̷͓̟̣͐̍̃V̡͕̭̟̝̹̫a̺͎͜ͅl̞̯̇̾͆ͣ̈́̚e̦ͮ͑̃ͫ͝ ̶͈̩ͦb͊͗͑͂̓̚a̲̬̭͓͒̆̀̋cͯͧ̐͛͒͗ͬk̴͖̟̺̝̯̮͕ͫ̓̾̂ͪ̓ ̳̝͛̏ͯ̐̓ͧi̒̒̉ͥ͋n̸̙̣̐̈́͆t͈̍̃͌ͮo̙̱ͧ ̲̦̠͔̤͑̑͑̐̑ͩm̶̱̙͚̞y͈̼͓̝̽̔͆̃ ͉͔̖̭̺̙͂̏̂ͭͮ̀ṃ͚͕̲̈́̇̄͊u̧̥͙̻̥̬͌ͧ̾͊͛ͣ̔s̨̹̼̮̾̃͒ͣ̆t̯̦̟̼̝ͤ͜-̣͉̎͘l̠̣̣ͦ̌̾̈i̹̪̘̫̻͌ͮͅs̙͔͋̉͛̚t̠͈̦̤̱̪̬e͖̱̰̙͙͕n̨̝̓̊̊̾̃s̸͇̮̰͎̫̟͌̋̄ ̮͓̩͔̠ͣ͗̋e̡͎̻̮͚̥̖̟a̡̝̼̳̩͇̺ͭ́́c̨̦͉̯̤͌͒̉ͯ̃̄h̻̽ͩ̀ ̥̑w̤͍̬̮̪eͭͮ͛͂̓ḛ͇̃̏ͨ̿̾̚k̸̭͚.͚̻͔͓̗ͧ̍͑͟ ̹̟̳̟͊ͯ͊ͨ̊̓ͭ͟T̠̞̺̦͍͗̃̎̑̈́͠ḧ̢̺̯̞̤́ͩ̐̀͆̿͒e̽̓ͮ ̠̘̗̱̖̐͆̈͑̌ͩͩe̟̮̊̀ͥͬ̽d̞̪̬̟̦̲͆́̈̈́ͅi̘͎̗̺ṭ̵̦̎̃̊͋i̩̯̳̮̞̓ͯn̮̭̜͖̪̜̏̐g̻̓̃̂ ̍҉͉̩̦̹̭̯̩w̛̞͚̖ͬͭ́̓a̩͋̉s̮ͣ̎͒ ̬̣ͫ̾ͧ̂̂͂̓͞ͅs̲̰̖̳͕͉͊̈́ͤ̌ͩṷ̞ͯ̿͝p͇͇̞͎͊̓ͨ̆̚e̷͒́ͭr̤̱̞͡ͅb̤̳͙̦̳̰̘̏,̞͆̏ͩͫ̀ ͐̍͏͕̰͕̜w̖̱̯i̵͈͚̰̼̽t̵̫̐͂̔͐h̹̬͎ͧͯͪ̔̂ͩ̔͜ ͈͖̜̻̥̮̬͒̐̎̂̊͡aͦ̾ͣ̓͏͙̲͚̗͉l͖̣̾͋̔̈͊͘t̢̰͍̥̺͚̙̄-̮͈̥͛ͦ͊C̭̤̣̭̙̱̍̽͑̎e͔͎̯̫̖͙c̰͍̹̤͔̲ͫ̈͗il̙̬̳̪ͫ̾̑̋’̷̭̭̘̥̰͓̼s̠̞̞̙̻͊̿͒̂̇ͪ̏ ̡̳̺̼̌ͣ́̒ͯ̃ͩv̑͋͌̕ō̔ͥ҉̲͔̹̣i̸ͬ͂͗̆ͨ̓ͭc̨̘̲̻̲̳̱̲̓eͭ͛ͮ̃̈ ̸͖̯̦̬͔͚̓ͪ̊̐̓s͉̹̭̰̗w̺͔̙ͣi͍͕̅ͥ̽̾̀t̙̯̞͓̲̊̓ͦ́c͚ͫ̑̆h͋̌ͤ̌i̴͒̅n̠̗̠̒ͭͨ͋̀g̖̠̱͔ͬ ̘̌̈́ͮo͇̎̂̈́̉v̥̹̂́e̴̲͂̑̉ͧͬͯͣr̺̘̜̬̼̓͆ͦ̑ ̝͚̲̺̱͔̫͋̊͆i̲̙͇̮͉̣ͮ̆ͪ̾̇ͦ̀n̸͚͖̪͉ͪ͐t͍̉͝ọ͍̯ͥͭͧ̿̀͝ ͔̼̮̼̪m̺̬̭͙͈̺̜o̼̙̹̟̯̞ͮ̍͗̈́̂n̙̭͔̄ͨ̓͒͛̋̑ͅo̜͍̗̹͜ ̤̯̰̓ͨ̊w̵̘̹͙̟̻h̡͎ͫ̃ͅi̲̞͎̣̳̟̓͂̑̾͡ͅĺ͟ẽ̥̥͑̌̎̐ͩͅ ͍̮͛ḓ̸͍̌̔ì̖̭ͩ̒ͯͅͅş̓c̰̬̹̤̣̅̅͛ͥư͈͓̥ͨ͂̉̚̚s͙̜͈͉͈̱̓̊̍̊̈̽s̱͚̼͈̬̺̏͛̿̽ͨi͐҉̼͕̼͎̰ͅnͣͦg̃̍ͨ ̭hͫ͑̌̿ͥ̈҉͔͍̳͕̫̹̥i͑̽ͮͧs̵͙̥͚̻̿̿̾ͨ͛ ͍̻̾͐͋͌ͧu̶̲̫̹n̑͂̃͂̀fͥ̓͆҉a̯͕ͦͨ̎ͥ̔m̓͊́̔̑̓i̡͗̀ͣ̎̾̍l̞̗̞͓͔̇͊ͬ̐ͬ̒̈i̼͚ͤ͑a̢̰̦r̦̠̂̅̃̒͊̈i͢t̞̹̗̓͂̀ͮ͗̐̑ͅy̛͓̐͌ ͐́ͣ̒ͥw̸̟̻͖͚͓͓̣͊̅͌͊̅̏i̭̮̠̠̥̰͓ͦt̥̟͔̼ͅͅh̗̦͍̉ͥ̅̀̈͝ ̵̯̣͉̞͈̖̳̇ͯ̄̀̽ͯ̊J̝̺͛͋ͤ̏ͮ̎o̠̗̠ͧͬ̇͑̈̏̍s̹͈̝̤͜į̪̱̰̼̰̇̽̏̅̆ͦͩe̺̰͛̽͋ͧͩ̑̓͞ ́͌̾ͅa̼̰̱̲͆̈́̕n͚͛ͣ̓̎̍ͨd̙͉̬̠͎͕̹ ̛͚ṫ̶̘̺̞͖ͩ͆̈́̓̑h̦ͬͭ̎̆̇͂ͬͅè̠͍̭̺ ͍̬͌͠t̲̲̺̪ͮ̑͛̊ͅo̮̭̩̟̠͐̽̿w̻̙̜͕͇͓̺͗͂̽̄n̠̒̑̿͊̄́ͫ̕ͅ’ͯ͂̐̇͒͏͕ş͓ͦ͒́͑ͦ ̴̫l̶͎͉̗̰̯̐͂̆̉͋̄̄ā̱̲̰̬ͫͨͣc̝͗ͬ̐͊̒̚̕k̗͕̓͋̽͒͛͑ ̴̝̱͗͆ͅȍ̡̼̌f̲̐́̽̒ͯ͂̚ ̧̹̫͔͈̺̫̇̅̿̔̐s̰̣̱̫͈̱͚ͨ̔ͭcͪ̿ͭ̊͜i͈̘̣̼̤ͮ̏ͦ͐̂̇êͫͤ̾̌͋ͩ҉͈̺̠̦͓n̽͛ͨ̅̊tͮ̏ͤ̓͐̃ͯ͏i̜̗̺̭̤͗̎͒̏͝s̙̬̻̬̩͇̱̈̚͞t̯͈̪̮̗̊͒̅ͩ͐s̭͖ͬ̌ͤ͒̐̎.̱͊ͯ̍̋̈́ͩ ̺ͤͩ̔͘ͅĄ̺͈̼̹͙̾̔ͅḻ̬̞͊ṭ̤̟͗̇̓ͣ͞-̢͋͐͂C͖͓͇ͥ̑éͨ̓̉͐̃ͥ͏̯͇̻͓c̡̖͚͙̫̮̤ͅi͕ͣ̈́ͧ̑͞l̢͕ͩ͂̐̂ͤ̇͊’ͩ̂̊͌ͥ͛́s̼̝͙̱ ̖̹̥̺̙̝̖ͩ̚w̼͕̣͍̃̄ͮ̿rͪͦͫ҉͎̖̜ǐͮͬt̐̓i̹̣͖̼̹͌ͦ͑ͨ̏̋ͭ̕ͅṋ̣̞͒̚g̗̹͍̙͡ ͈̃̀̉a̴ͭn̤͓̪͕̱̫͚ͤͤ́d̤͙̭̂ͩ͠ ̓ͥ̆͌a̹c̴̬̥̺̠̞̱̍̋͑t͌͛͊i̪̓͠n̮͍̙̆̄g̴̼͇̘͖͚̤̪ͮ̉̀ͫͭ ̡w̜͚̱̪̩ͯͩ͆̔aͭ̎ͯ̄̚s̪̳̖̱̽ͤͧ̿ ̫͈̥̹͙̺̂̅̒̓ͦ̐̋͢ḛ͊̾ͯş͎͓͚̤̓p̨͓̙̝̻͙̩̣̌̀ͧe͓̖̫̦̺̳̙ͯc̲̻̪͚̙ͮͅi̯̤̯̙͙͍̹a͓̪̟̟ͮͫ̿͋̾̎l͖͙̼̼l̫̼͙̗̦͛ͫÿ̵́ͯͦ̈ͥͥ̚ ͈̼̫̜ͮ͊͗ͅi̵͍̟̗̗̞̺͓n̤͙̜͓͎ͫ͆̚tͣ́͂̒e͕̙̼̙̭̞͗r͎̒̔̈́ě̴s̟̲̝̹͖͛́̏͞t̸̰̦͖͔̮̳ͤ̔̅i̛̥̭̤̓̉ͮ̒̎n̦̝̘̜̠̘͑ͩ̈͜g̖̍̌ͮ̒̅ ̲͇̯̺̼̄̀tͫͤ̃̍ͬ͏͈̜̼̙̰h͓̘͖̭̼̯̙̃̋ͧȋ̢̱̤̝̥͙͖ͨ̒̊͐̔̿s̘͑̍͌̾̚̚ ̺̝̲̪͕ͪ̒ͥͫͨͪ͑w̧ͩe̸̥̼ͮ̃̐̎̍ͭe̞̞͓̯ͨ͌ͤ̇͞ͅk̫͈̩͔͞,̱̙͕̲̂ ̺͓̱̫͎ͩ̀ͩ̃̃̑̀ǵ͕̱̮͓̱̟́ͧͅi̮̟͕̲ͧ̾̇̎̍̔́̚ͅv͓̪̫̪͉̲ͫͥ͌͋͐͗i̧̯̭ͫn̉̆͏̯̺͖g̻̉̍͋͋ͦ̚ ̜̞̠̱̯̂͡h̷̰̙̞̘̓͆̃̎ͪͪi̬̖̜̻̬̬ͬͮ̾̑͝ͅm͈̭͈͔ͭ̃͋ͮ͊́ͧ͢ ͇ͤ̉͂ͮ̇ͥt̨̳͕̗ͤ͗̇̾̀ͯ̚h͔̮̙̰̜̲̎̇͐͊̇̓e̻̙͕̟ͬ ̫͎̜̪̱̬͐́̋̕e͇̽m͈͚͉̑͟o̟̭͙̤̯̹̿ͯt͈̘̩̯̭̥ͫ̉̋i̱̼̳̱̅̂ỏ̳̰̗͍͉̞̌̃́͊ń̹͙̹͚̪a̩̫̽̊ͯ̏ͭ̀ḷ̲̐͐̚ ̶͓̮̳̊͒̔͂̍͋ͦd̞̎͒̋̋̃̏e͒́̽̄ͯp̝̫̰̜̥̖̀̍̈̓̇ͭ̓̀t̵̠͚͑͂ͦḫ͇͓͍̤̦̬̑̑̾͛͒ͪͭ ͈͖̳̬͕ͥI̺̮̬͐̄̑̏͛̉ͧ’͉͆ͥ͛͛ͤͫ͆v̵̻̙̣͖̲̻ͣ̍̓̈̄̚è̯ ̲̌̓̊̓̍͘b͇̐̍ͮͮ͗ͭ͝ë̫͎̪̹͚̖͈͛̐̇͜e̶ͧn̴ͥ̅ ͕̬̈́͝m̻͈̩͈̩͈̹̽ͦ͐̐ͦ̍̚į̥͐̔̿ͨ̅s͈̑͘s̩̭̻͕̏̍ͣ͂̋͊i̯͉̙ͤ̉̏ͫ̄̚ņ̗̗̜̺͖͈ͨ͋̊͐ͯģͭͭ ͍̭̻̝̫̤̏͆̑i̻̝͇͜ͅn̳̱̞̗̣͓̂̇͛ ̵̣̞̰̣̝̜͐ͪ̃̀̈́̉t̢̮̹̙̓͒ͨḥ̶̜͓̰̮̜e͕̟̺̻̱͇͍͂ͫ͒s̙͙ͥͮ̈ͫ̈ę̪̄ͧ̊ ͔͇͒͆ͫ̂ė̀͋ͣp̞̣ͯ͑͐͐́͡i̪̺s̘͔̦̘͍͈̈́ͣͅõ̪̭͙͔̻̜̌͌̒̇ͯ̆͠d̟̔̓͘e̥̯̟͕͚̓͛̈́ͬ̒ͭͣ̕ͅṣ̥͚̩̋̀͗̓ͦ̽̅͘.̗͠ ̼ͫ͋̓͆̀̚̚Nͭ̎ò̫̘ͤ͊̍̔ͤw̯̰ͪ͋͞ ̮̬̱́̄͊̇t̮̜͕͖̯̔̆͘h̥̀ͦͦ͘ͅa̍ͥ̈҉̬̟̱t̴ͨ ̯͂ͮ̑̌̈́́̚t̲̘͓̲h̶̬̩̬͈̳̠̩̒͋ẽ̤͈̣͑̍̚ ̖̠̩̃ͨJ͈̜͓̜͎͗̍͑ͤo͈ͪ͟ṡ̿̀ͨi̴͖̤̍ę͓͍̟̓̂͗͆̚ ̭ä͋r͓c̭̘̰̘̰̱̬̀͌ ͭ̂̀̑ͬ́ş̦̦̲ḛ͖͎̗͋̿̊ͤ̚͘ȅ͚͙̈͑̅̚m̩͖͍̻͓͇̍͋̽͂̅̍s̮̼̒̈́͆́͜ ̱ͣ̈́ͮ̈́̾̋t̡͉̳̉̈̈̐o͔̱ ̞̠̩̐ͦͅb̞̮̗̺͇̅̄ͬͤ̈̿̀e̬̜͎͕ͭͩ͂ ̺̝̩͖̤̿̄̈̌͘m̧͕̞͍͙̫̩ȍ̲̼͍̻̰̝̳s͍̝̙̻̩̓ͧ͝t̟͓̲͔͔͝ͅl̻̞̰͖̟y̸ ͉̠̥̜̏ͭ͂͝o̙̐̒́v̰͎͖̮̦̻̔̿̆̀͛ͪẹr̺̩͕̦͍ͮ̏̀ͅͅ,̀ ̟̟̣͑ͯ̒̂ͮ̋͜I͇̅̍͞’̈ͬ̉͂̂ͪm̰͔͉̦͐̍̂̽͑͒̀̚ ̥̩̬͔͌͒̍͡ĥ̜̻͔͓͎̤ͧ͒ͯ̓ͤͤ͘ơ̭̬̝̿p̖͎̤ͥ̽͋̂͞ȋ̛̞͕̜̘n̪͚͇̬͎g͙͚̰̬̬̊͋̎͜ ̥̝̬̓̂͗ͮ̒ͣ̿Ṇ̸͓̺͕̻̩ͮ͒͛̽̓̅͑i̳̪̲̲͘g̘̟̪̻ͭ̓h̎ͤ͑͊ͤ̉͢t̫ͬ̑̓͌̈́͜ ̬̲̯͖̗V̴̮̯ͩ͆͑̑ä̬̩̉ͩ̂̎̆͝l̼̱͔̆ͨͭ͊̒̓̈͘e̡͍̯͕̣͕̻̓̒ ̵̮̩͇̹ͨͯ̒ͅw̡̖̱̙̘̱̹͈̌͋ͩ͛͗́ȉ̛͙͕̬̖͔̠̎̒̑ͅḻ̹̗̑̆͆͆͐̄ͅl̲͙̬̲͍̝ͫ͐͒̽̓̿ͅ ̠̓̊ͯ̑ͦ̇͐b̦ͥ̔̑̉̐́e̖̮̝͛ͦͬͭͦ͡ ̙̖͔͖̋͊̚o͓̜̟̗̐ͮͦ̋̑n̠͎̣̝̠̋ͫ̄͂̍̽͜ ͉͍̥̋an̨̺͓͍̝͍͕̓̾ͧͪͧ̿̂o̷̫̻̐̀̐ͮt̲̹̥͓ͭḩ̺̗̤̝̝̪͋̌̅ȇ̝̻͙̬̠̱ͩ̀̊̉͘ř̡̰͕̳͍ ̸͈̩̙̺̲ͧ̎ͨͮu͚̳̳̘̭̰̠ͥ͐̍̈͑ͭ̽̕p̛̞̂̏̈́̍̈̌s̪͍̐͠w̶̝͉͙͓̽ͣ̈́̂ỉ͈̥̤̦́ͨ̐ͤ͑̊nģ̳͋̆͆̚.
Under Pressure
“1: Two and a Half Leagues Under the Sea”
Under Pressure is the new show from Procyon, the same network that produces The Strange Case of Starship Iris. Instead of going up to space, this show takes place in an undersea station. While I was excited to hear a new show from the already-promising network, Under Pressure has not yet impressed me. So far, the show is a bit over-written, and the audio quality is uncomfortably bad. The quality might be a style choice, but it’s not one that works–and I’m fairly certain I heard a Mac volume increase noise at one point. I’m going to stick with Under Pressure because I do have faith it’ll get better as it goes–just don’t expect the same spectacular first episode quality we got from Starship Iris.
Kind World
“#38: A Different Window”
This episode of Kind World features an optician who has slowly lost his vision. He discusses learning to live without sight and savoring his vision when he had it. As always, this episode was sweet and comforting. Kind World is such an unsung hero of hope and optimism in the world of podcasting. I might write a post about podcasts that help me get through the garbage chaos tornado that is the world right now soon.
ars PARADOXICA
“ODAR & You!”
This mini episode of ars PARADOXICA is a sort of training video or ad for ODAR. The editing on the episode is phenomenal. From the hammy acting to the music and the static crackle, everything about this episode feels meticulously produced. The writing is the ars PARADOXICA at its funniest, playing with the odd, somewhat upsetting juxtaposition of the content and the patriotic, old-timey structure. This was a delightful reminder of what makes ars PARAOXICA one of the most important fiction podcasts in the industry, and I’m so looking forward to season 3.
Tuesday, 5/2/17
Note to Self
“Parents Just Don’t Understand, Tech Edition”
This episode of Note to Self took a somewhat less terrifying direction than their last few episodes. Instead of talking surveillance, data mining, etc., this episode talks cross-generational miscommunications over text and social media. The episode was both funny and informative, but it felt meandering. Maybe I’ve come to expect more intensity from Note to Self, but this episode felt lackluster and unenthused overall.
99% Invisible
“257- Reversing the Grid”
I had never heard of net metering before this episode of 99% Invisible, and after listening, I’m not sure how; it seems like something that should be discussed more. Net metering is a method of measuring electricity used for utilities costs, and the show discusses how it was affected after solar panels started being manufactured. While the show got lost sometimes in its own jargon, it brought the content back to relatability with fun editing and silly jokes.
Beautiful Stories from Anonymous Strangers
“59. First Kiss”
This was a cute Beautiful Anonymous, if innocuous. Like Gethard, it was nostalgic to be brought back to early teenage years when things were all so new and exciting, but also like Gethard, I do not exactly know how to relate to a teenage girl much anymore. Really, the biggest takeaway from this episode for me was that the caller from last week did buy that record store! For now, you can find Culture Clash Records on Facebook.
Wednesday, 5/3/17
Millennial
“#41 Not By Accident”
This episode of Millennial is actually an episode from the podcast Not By Accident, an account by a woman who chooses to be artificially inseminated to be a single mother. The content is sweet and charming, but all in all too low-tempo for me. The episode had a sort of drifting, floating quality both in pacing and delivery that had me quickly tuning out. I can imagine this podcast being wonderful for those who are interested in the content itself–who either have had direct interaction with the content or have considered it–but for those who aren’t, I don’t imagine this podcast being especially appealing.
Imaginary Worlds
“Designing Bojack’s World”
This episode of Imaginary Worlds, one of my favorite podcasts, discusses one of my favorite shows, Bojack Horseman. I’ve sang Bojack Horseman‘s praises before, so I was delighted to see this would be the topic of the week for the podcast. The episode, though, wound up falling completely flat. Instead of analyzing the media and what it says about anything, like the show usually does, it more or less just summarized it. The show played out half like a long-form recommendation, half like a cobbled interview–neither of which I think were especially needed in a time when those already exist in so many articles.
Thursday, 5/4/17
The Adventure Zone
“Ep. 61. The Stolen Century – Chapter Two”
This sweet, short episode of The Adventure Zone was a delightful venture into the “beach episode” genre made famous by so many cartoons and sitcoms. As expected, TAZ‘s iteration of it did not disappoint. Between Magnus forcing everyone to stay alert, Merle making awful gifts for the team, and Surfer Taako giving Barry advice on love, this was exactly the lightheartedness the show needed in such a stressful, plot-heavy interlude.
Friday, 5/5/17
Bite
“30 – Sex, Drugs, and Oysters: What It’s Really Like to Work at a Fancy Restaurant”
This episode of Bite features Stephanie Danler, author of Sweetbitter. The interview is one of the sleepiest pieces of audio I have heard outiside of the sleepies segments of All Things Considered. The audio was also riddled with swallows and general . . . moist mouth noises. For a show that’s produced by Mother Jones, I can’t fathom why this audio was edited so poorly or so little.
Saturday, 5/6/17
Nancy
“#6: Here’s What It’s Like”
This episode was a shockingly dark and sobering turn for Nancy, which has been a fairly fun podcast until this point. This episode discussed the harsh realities of being a gay man during the AIDS crisis. It’s a story that’s been told many times, but never seems to get easier to hear–especially when it’s a first-person account like this story. When the guest started crying, the tears weren’t even the heartbreaking part. It was how used to the tears he was. The episode then pairs the guest with a much younger man who tested HIV-positive, which adds a new dynamic to the conversation. Of all of my listens this week, this episode of Nancy was absolutely the most impactful.
Wil Williams Writes 