March 13 - 19, 2016

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RankPodcastEpisodeLowdown
1RadiolabDebatableA longtime podcast favorite, RadioLab delivers stories akin to those found on This American Life. The show used to be more scientifically minded - and still is on ocassion - but recent episodes have focused more on stories about pivotal moments in the human experience. The latest edition focuses on the racial politics of collegiate speech and debate. It is particularly timely in our world where politics and race are constant under- or over-tones in most conversations, and it got me to rethink the importance of speech and debate as an institution. More importantly, it shows how disrupting a system can be accomplished best from the inside out.
2SamplerDisney (#8)Disney has a weird hold over many Americans. Most have encountered the cultural force in some manner, and love it or hate it the brand is ubiquitous. Like anything with such a wide reach, there are inevitably factions of loyal adherents to the Disney way...so of course it should come as no surprise that there are several Disney-focused podcasts. Episode #8 from podcast-advocating-podcasts Sampler zeroes in on "Window to the Magic," which takes it's listeners inside the sounds of Disneyland. I'm not all that interested in listening to audio recordings made by some random dude walking around Disneyland, but Sampler succinctly highlights the love story playing out in the background and drew me in. I'd even go so far to say that I'm now at least curious to check out an episode of WTTM!
3What's The PointWall St. vs. Internet (#38)"Data" is a buzzword as prevalent as it is amorphous. Most people are probably aware of data's centrality to our lives, but does anyone apart from the brainiest of pundits really grasp how this vague topic applies to daily life? Numbers-driven site 538 strives to do shed light on this subject of burgeoning import with their aptly named "What's The Point" podcast. Typically the hosts discuss data's relevance to a specific area of life, but on this episode the show welcomes guest Doug Rushkoff to discuss his thoughts on the dark side of funneling our most capable modern minds toward trying to get people to click banner ads. It's provocative stuff that questions systems behind wealth and innovation in a world where habits are becoming commodities.

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