Wow, it’s been a minute, guys. Sorry that it’s been like, over a month since I posted anything. A LOT of things have been going on in my life (mostly good things; a few things that were not the best thing, but this is a media blog, not one about fluffy feelings and such.) I moved, traveled a little, kept working at my freelance career.
So the blog took a backseat, because a) I was busy, and b) I really wasn’t consuming any new media that I could write about. I was even racking my brain as to what to write for my big comeback(tm.) Well, I figured it out, obviously. I’ve been obsessed with podcasts lately. Now that I can walk to work (and do a lot more walking in general,) it’s nice to plug into something other than music. Don’t get me wrong – I love music, but sometimes I want to hear a story.
Podcasts spark my creativity in a different way. If you’ve ever listened to one, you’ll understand that. Instead of listening to familiar music, you’re engaging your brain into something someone is telling you – whether it’s a personal story, some history, or some information relevant to your career or hobby.
So, for my big comeback(tm,) I thought I would introduce you to some of the podcasts I listen to on the daily. I have mentioned some of these before, mind you, but I’m going to bring them up again because this is my blog and I can do what I want.
Podcasts I Love:
Ear Biscuits with Rhett & Link. If you’ve ever watched Good Mythical Morning, which is one of my many Internet addictions, you already know about the hapless adventures of Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, where they taste test gross foods, bathe in a literal vat of ranch, or compete in games with various other YouTube celebrities. In their podcast Ear Biscuits, you get a bit more intimate view of Rhett and Link as they talk about behind-the-scenes of their hit Internet show, their literal lifelong friendship with each other, and their personal struggles. I’m a diehard Mythical Beast (Yo, I own The Book of Mythicality and I have a mug that says “Boiled for Safety”,) so I love listening to them basically shooting the breeze, so it might not be everyone’s cup ot tea if you’ve never dived into the show. But they can be pretty funny.
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd. I’m gonna start with some of the “lighter” stuff I listen to. I admit, I only listen to Armchair Expert occasionally, when there’s a celebrity on there that I actually know about. As an actor, I like hearing from other actors about their stories and struggles in their craft. I wouldn’t have known Bill Hader (Bill freaking Hader) struggled with crippling anxiety while he was on SNL, or that Ethan Hawke was turned down for several major roles in his twenties before he became a superstar. It really is a show where “experts” talk about their area of expertise and how they got to where they are now. Listen to the Jay Leno episode. You won’t be disappointed. Listener discretion: There is the occasional innuendo and four letter words, depending on who Dax’s guest is.
The Soundtrack Show. This show is for nerds only. Just kidding, it’s for everyone. Because it’s so interesting. Host David W. Collins takes you on a musical journey through some of the world’s favorite movie soundtracks, dissecting them down to the tiniest detail. He has an episode on scary movie music that is riveting, on certain themes that show up in multiple film scores, and a three-part series on The Fellowship of the Ring music that made my little heart absolutely sing. Collins has a way of re-introducing you to some of the most popular themes in film history and making things like music theory not boring at all.
Lore. Host Aaron Mahnke is the master of storytelling, and that’s not an overexagerration. Lore feels like you are sitting around a campfire on a dark night while Aaron Mahnke tells you a ghost story, or a story about a creature or cryptid, or a just plain freaky story. Even if you don’t love ghost stories, Mahnke gives you layers of history, legend, and myth to surround every story he tells. Also, his voice is just perfect for the job. Most episodes are equal parts thrilling story and history legend. Like the episode on H.H. Holmes? Terrifyingly good. Just maybe don’t listen to it in the dark. Listener discretion: Some stories can be intense, especially the ones that deal with murders or supposed hauntings.
Noble Blood. In the same vein as Lore, host Dana Schwartz tells stories in Noble Blood that specifially relate to royalty. From an Australian farmer who was found out to potentially be the heir to the English throne, to a Hawaiian princess in crisis to save her people, Schwartz is also a master storyteller as she dives deep into not only the history, but the intrigue of each story, along with some little-known facts about each one. Her stories are immersive in you almost feel like you’re watching a movie in your head. If you’re a history buff, you’ll eat this one up. Listener discretion: Since there’s intrigue in royal families, there’s also sometimes murder, betrayal, and other…indiscretions, which Schwartz talks about.
Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know. From the creators of the popular podcast Stuff You Should Know (which is also a fun and frivolous podcast) Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know talks about everything from government conspiracies to coverups. What are the Phoenix lights? Did death metal really cause a series of church burnings in the 90s? Have celebrities ever been replaced? The hosts of STDWYTK thoroughly research each topic and give you the myths, the facts, and everything in between. Listener discretion: Obviously, some subjects are going to be seedier than others, so content varies in intensity and typically the hosts will offer a warning if it’s going to get dark.
And That’s Why We Drink. A slightly more light-hearted podcast hosted by Christine, a true crime junkie, and Em, who loves the paranormal, where they each research and tell stories about various crimes, hauntings, and other supernatural sightings around the world. I’m a paranormal skeptic, but the stories are so wild that they make for great entertainment, and as a fellow true crime junkie, I enjoy following along with the story. Listener discretion: The hosts like to swear a lot. Also, it’s about hauntings and true crime, so. Yeah.
Monster: The Zodiac Killer. From How Stuff Works (a major podcast mogul) comes a limited podcast series documenting the crimes and decades-long manhunt for a California-based murderer who was never caught. The hosts interviewed actual survivors and their families, and traveled all across the Pacific Northwest to gather information. The police investigation for the Zodiac was fascinating and seems like it was ripped right out of a novel. You literally cannot make this stuff up. Listener discretion: I mean, it’s about the Zodiac. C’mon.
Monster Presents: Insomniac. Following on the heels of Zodiac as well as another podcast about the Atlanta child murders, host Scott Benjamin discusses his lifelong obsession with true crime and how it relates to his more recent bouts of insomnia. While he chronicles his struggle with the condition, he tells stories of some truly dastardly characters throughout true crime history, some of whom are not as well known as, say, Bundy or Zodiac. It’s no wonder that guy has trouble sleeping. He tells some incredibly intense stories of serial killers throughout recent American history. Listener discretion: Scott talks about serial killers in detail, and it can get nasty.
Broken Harts. In the mid-2010s, Jen and Sara Hart were driving with their six adopted children on the California coast when their SUV careened off a cliff and into the ocean, killing all of them. During the following investigation, authorities realized this wasn’t some freak accident. In this podcast, two journalists investigate the reason why. They dive into the Hart family and some of their secrets that hid just below the surface. The case remains unsolved and some of the children in the car remain missing. This limited series covers subjects like adoption in the US, institutional racism, and other aspects of the case. Listener discretion: Some of the secrets these journalists dig up about the Harts are pretty seedy, tbh, so just watch out.
You’re Killing Me, Grand Rapids. This one is my recent obsession, mostly because it is a product of and about my hometown. In each episode, Kenny and Dara discuss a different murder/weird crime that has happened in my hometown of Grand Rapids. Like, did you know Allegan county had a cult? Or that the Michigan Bell Telephone Company building might be haunted? Or that the McKay tower is named after a seedy politician who also might be a criminal? These stories feel more real to me because I walk past some of these buildings every day and the names and places are familiar, so it may not ring as true if you’re not a resident of GR. Listener discretion: The hosts swear a LOT. And they talk about various murders, sometimes in detail.
Audrey D. DeBoer 