January Podcast Review

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. My job ensures at least a few hours, and sometimes all of them, are spent at a computer and so I can listen. Podcasts are interspersed with music.

To me, podcasts are defined in two categories: Ongoing and Term. The first is as it says - an ongoing podcast that revolves around a topic or a presenter. The latter is one that is a limited number of episodes based on the topic. The last set are the ones on deck for my next listening.

I've linked to the podcasts and I listen on Google Play, to which I have a subscription. These should all be available anywhere you listen.

Let me know if you start listening and what you think. Also, I'm always looking for recommendations!

Ongoing

Anthropocene Reviewed - John Green - monthlyish - This is my first introduction to podcats. John Green (of vlogbrothers and authorial fame) reviews 2 unrelated aspects of the anthropocene (the era of humans) on a 5 star scale.

Awesome Etiquette - Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning - weekly - This is presented by two of the Post kids on behalf of the Emily Post Institute. An ongoing foray into modern and historical etiquette.

Cults - Greg and Vanessa - weekly on Tuesdays - This covers a cult, usually in two episodes. I find cults and the psychology of the people who lead and join them really fascinating. My only quibble is this group puts everything older than 6 months behind a paywall at Stitcher. These hosts also host one on Serial Killers, which might end up on my list at some point.

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness - Jonathan Van Ness - weeklyish - JVN, of Queer Eye fame, goes into a different topic each week with an expert. I've gotten a lot of other podcasts from him and he's the reason I joined Instagram. Mostly, he's pure joy, though some people might find his boundless enthusiasm, quick delivery, and vernacular somewhat grating. He's definitely a post-tea listen for me, but then I can listen for hours.

Lifemancy - Rachel Wilkinson - 2x a month (new moon and full moon) - The newest podcast on my ongoing list, this one is presented by my friend Rachel and explores various aspects of magic and the occult, where it overlaps with science and culture, and how you can take aspects away from it even if you don't buy into it all. If nothing else, listening to Rachel will make you laugh and leave you happier.

Marketplace - Kai Ryssdal - daily Monday-Friday - I loved Marketplace on NPR, but I'm never in my car anymore since I bike to work. I listen to the previous evening every morning. My understanding of world and national economics is due to this program and Kai's voice doesn't grate me early, so this is the first one I listen to at work.

On the Media - Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield - 2x a week- Another NPR segment I like that looks into various issues related to the media, usually around a central topic. Brooke's issues with Roseanne Cash was incredible and made me very sad that I couldn't get her albums via Google Play.

This Movie Changed Me - Lily Percy - biweekly - I caught an episode of this on a long car ride on NPR and started listening to it when it released. Every episode is a conversation with someone about a movie that changed their life. It's amazing.

Unladylike - Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin  - weekly - I'm almost caught up with this one! These girls are great in their continued exploration of the patriarchy and its effects. A personal favorite - they are the first to say that, as white women, they don't have a full view of the damage patriarchy does since they're protected by whiteness, so they have taken a lot of efforts to showcase women of color, as well as queer women.

Term

Dear Franklin Jones - I like cults (see above) and I found this one via another one (there's a lot of recommendations in podcasts). A man who grew up in a cult unpacks his parents' involvement and his own feelings towards the cult leader. It's really interesting. 7 episodes

Solid in America - I cannot recommend this one enough. Noor Tagouri created a documentary about sex trafficking and the sex trade in America and this podcast was produced in conjunction with it. It's incredible and goes into sex work from a variety of angles, talking to people we don't often hear from in conversations about the sex trade - the people who work in it. It's a challenge to all assumptions and may require quite a bit of introspection. 9 episodes though Noor has commented there might be some ongoing work here which I would love.

Unerased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America - This one was a bit rough to listen to, but it goes trough conversion therapy and it's history. This was released in conjunction with the film Boy Erased and talks to some of the subjects that inspired the film. Everyone should listen to this, especially if this has never been something in your face before (as it hasn't for most straight people and even a large number of queer people who may have come out later or were from accepting communities). If conversion therapy as a topic brings back bad memories, proceed with caution. 4 episodes.

On Deck

Boom! Lawyered - I heard about this one from Unladylike when one of the hosts was on the show. Looking forward to getting a better view of the legal system.

Katie Couric - I listened to Katie on JVN's podcast and adored her, so I want to give her show a listen.

Tilted: A Lean In Podcast - So I have some serious issues with the whole Lean In thing, mostly because it was aimed a very specific segment of the population but presents itself as doable for anyone. That said, the podcast is supposed to be about the challenges and ingrained misogyny in the workplace. I'm withholding judgment.