The Pod Piper

1. The Room Where It's Happening - "Kristin Chenoweth: My Shot" From the first notes of Travon Free singing 'Popular' in the shower to the moment when he and Kristin Chenoweth are poised to take on the establishment in some kind of crusade for social justice, this episode is full of gleeful moments both Hamilton related and simply delightful to hear.  Chenoweth brings an amiable earnestness to the table that encapsulates the average fan of the hit musical.  No doubt she is in awe of the genius required to pen such a work, but you can tell she isn't a die-hard fangirl...and in a way that's rather comforting. It's just an absolute joy to listen to this bubbly person gush and dissect the musical in a way that is at turns both insightful and silly. 2. Hang Up and Listen - "The Joy Is Retroactively Applied Edition" Hang Up and Listen is one of the must-listen shows in my ever-growing stable of podcast thoroughbreds, delivering the best ...

1.  Love and Radio -  "The Enemy Within" Love and Radio is one of the most consistently challenging podcasts I've encountered, presenting intimate stories of people maligned in some part of society.  "The Enemy Within" digs into the life of one of the most enigmatic people I've ever encountered.  The phrase 'black conservative intellectual' is as good of an introduction phrase I can give for this episode, and I think it's just a good reminder of how varied the American (and human) scale of opinion and emotion can be - especially in this contentious election season in the U.S. 2.  Reply All -  "Boy in Photo (#79)" Reply All always has some tie to culture on the internet, but the element of humanity almost always shines through.  "Boy in Photo" is a shining exemplar of hitting both marks brilliantly, telling the story of human quirkiness that is so readily manifested on the internet.  If you ever put together an elaborat...

It's been a whirlwind of a couple (ok, three) weeks, and I've not had the time needed to dive into the usual wealth of podcasts.  Here is a list, more or less in order, of all the shows that passed through my ears from September 25 - October 15, 2016.  Cheers! Show Ep Hidden Brain What Are The Odds? (#45) Love and Radio A Girl of Ivory 99% Invisible Project Cybersyn Sampler Ladies of Flavor' (#30) Criminal Money Tree (#51) Placemakers Placetaking: Squatting for House and Home Strangers Blue Astringent Blues Reply All Very Quickly to the Drill (#78) Slate's Culture Gabfest Darkness On The Edge Of Reason Edition Song Exploder Phantogram - You Don't Get me High Anymore Pop, Race, and the '60s Bob Dylan and Sam Cooke (#1) The Room Where It's Happening Tracy Clayton: Hamilton Privilege The Cracked Podcast Screw Sully: 7 True Stories That Would Mak...