The final post on podcasts

Okay I promise this is my last post on podcasts. I could go on indefinitely because I'm discovering new ones almost every day, but in the interests of brevity and fading reader interest I will contain myself (albeit somewhat begrudgingly).

Spontaneanation with Paul F Tompkins (this is the last podcast that I will mention that includes my hero) is an improvised show that features Tompkins plus a special guest and some of his improvisational partners in crime. The guest provides fodder for the improvisation that follows and the results are usually hilarious. It has given me a whole new respect for improvisational comedy. Highly recommended.

Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey host another podcast that has earned my listener seal of approval – Stuff You Missed in History Class. Though it has a different flavor than the Stuff You Should Know podcast, this is just as informative and interesting in its own way. Tracy and Holly do a wonderful job of researching and presenting obscure historical topics in a fascinating manner. Just this morning I listened to their episode on "The Black Hole of Calcutta" and learned a lot. They also did a good job of pointing out what evidence was hearsay and what was substantiated. Other favs include "The Iroquois Theater Fire," "Villisca Ax Murders" (since I'm from Iowa) and "A Culinary History of Spam." Give it a listen.

This last podcast is a great example of cross pollination. I heard about it on the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast this week: Can I Pet Your Dog? I listened to a few episodes and love it so far. It is exactly what you would expect – two young women and a man talking about dogs. Great for dog lovers everywhere.

Podcasts are a big part of my life and I am so thankful for
them. Keep 'em coming!

More podcasts that I love…

Did you think I was done after only one post? Oh you're not that lucky… Here are some more podcasts that I dearly love.

The Pop Culture Happy Hour is a podcast that I've been listening to for quite a while and liking more and more. The moderator, Linda Holmes, keeps the panelists like Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson and Barrie Hardymon in line (quite a task sometimes). They are an astute group and very interesting to listen to plus each has a unique personality that comes through in their comments. I have learned a lot from the podcasts, which are entertaining even if I haven't seen the movie or read the book etc. I found out about Orphan Black, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Bo Jack Horseman from this podcast and I respect the panelists' opinions about books and movies.

Josh and Chuck

Josh and Chuck from the podcast Stuff You Should Know seem like guys who might be my younger brothers. They have a real unique vibe and I trust them implicitly. They are very well informed on subjects that interest me and they have a great chemistry – they are very nice to each other and seem to like each other a lot. They've been on the air for years and their topics are those that I really want to know more about like:

• Does Gum Stay in Your Stomach for Seven Years?
• Are Dogs Really Man's Best Friend?
• Why Does Toothpaste Make Orange Juice Taste Bad? 
• How Face Transplants Work and 
• How Can a Lake Explode?

It is hard to describe Welcome to Night Vale and harder to explain why love I it. But I'll give it a try anyway. Cecil Palmer is the radio host of the podcast, with news announcements and advertisements from the desert town of Night Vale. All the incidents are presented as news but they all are very strange and unusual even though Cecil does not acknowledge it. For instance,The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home makes an appearance in almost every show along with sci-fi nightmare Hiram McDaniels. This show is very strange and very addicting.

Stay tuned for more podcasts! Yes you're right, I do have unlimited time to listen to these!

Did I mention that I love podcasts?

Okay I know that I did a post already on podcasts back in 2011. But now, after four years, I think I love them even more (if that's possible).

My tastes have changed -- I don't like the same podcasts I did four years ago. I am more educated about the choices available and there are many more podcasts out there now to choose from (and the number is growing every day).

It's an embarrassment of riches but I love it. All for free, of

Oscar

course, and somehow podcasts are the perfect company for someone who is often alone (if you don't count Oscar).

Liking a podcast is somewhat idiosyncratic –  it's very important to have a good host or hosts. "Good" means someone who is well-informed, likable, and would probably be a friend if I knew him or her better.

The topics covered are also important to me: I tend to like podcasts that talk about faith, movies, TV, books, or popular culture. But I also like those that entertain. 

Here are some of my current favorites.

The Dead Authors Podcast. Hosted by my current obsession, Paul F Tompkins, this monthly podcast features HG Wells (Tompkins) who brings a dead author such as Confucius, Lucy Maud Montgomery, L Ron Hubbard, Gertrude Stein, Mark Twain to the present day via his time machine. Tompkins as Wells is a delightful host and never breaks character. He has a running feud with Jules Verne and an ability to be tickled by many of his guests' antics.

Wells and Lucy Maud Montgomery

The visiting authors are played by a host of young comedians, often with men portraying women and vice versa, and the whole thing is extremely funny. Tompkins is quick-witted and his guests are informative as well was being laugh out loud hilarious. Highly recommended! http://deadauthorspodcast.org/

The Thrilling Adventure Hour. Billed as a podcast in the style of old-time radio, this wonderful show features three non-serialized segments such as Sparks Nevada: Marshall on Mars, Beyond Belief, Captain Laserbeam and The Cross-Time Adventures of Colonel Tick-Tock as well as songs and commercials.

The cast includes the WorkJuice Players and usually at least

Beyond Belief (Tompkins is at left)

one special guest. Paul F. Tompkins (there he is again) is one of the Players and stars with Paget Brewster in the Beyond Belief segment, featuring the adventures of married mediums in the vein of Nick and Nora Charles.

Very funny and extremely well acted, I was sad to hear that this podcast has ceased doing new segments. However, the old ones are all on iTunes or online at http://thrillingadventurehour.com/

That's all for now. My next post will continue the list of my favorite podcasts (I have a bunch).