December 4 - 10, 2016
1. Undone - "The Ancient One (#2)"
Undone is quickly becoming a must-listen podcast for me. Part of the thrill is that I haven't heard about the stories that are being re-investigated, so the episodes unfold with a really satisfying narrative arc. "The Ancient One" follows a battle between scientific progress and the upholding of traditions - things that need not always be at odds but that so often are. Without putting an editorial spin on the debate, Undone sets up the controversy of old before delving into the details that make the story relevant to us today.
2. Startup - "Part 1: Labels"
The name Dov Charney did not sound familiar to me before listening to this episode, and I can't say that I was aware of any kind of issues surrounding American Apparel. This series of episodes from Startup dissects the rise, fall, and apparent rebirth of the man who built one of the trendiest American clothing operations in my lifetime. It's partially a guilty pleasure, as a lot of my enjoyment stems from wondering what Charney will do or say next...along with learning the salacious details from bygone mistakes. "Labels" is a compelling entry point to a story that spans at least five installments, a binge-worthy venture for anyone jumping in right now.
3. Homecoming - "PHONY (#3)"
I'll admit that audio dramas seem to fall flat for me. I've tried to listen to The Truth a couple of times, and while I admire the attempt at reviving an old-timey medium it just never hit me quite right. And while I did enjoy bits of The Message, a paid podcast sponsored by GE, the sum of the parts felt too conspiratorial and ultimately disappointing. Homecoming, another new show from Gimlet, takes a crack at serialized audio with a smattering of star power. David Cross, Oscar Isaac, David Schwimmer and Katherine Keener all lend their voices to the show that follows a former caseworker who helped war veterans re-acclimate to civilian life. There is a definite sense that there's more to the story, and that is intriguing, but the performances and writing is spectacular. "PHONY" contains an awkward reunion between Keener and Cross that has just the right amount of realism hanging off the constructs of premeditated dialogue. This is a credit to writer Micah Bloomberg, who spent years as a sound tech mixing audio from a wide range of television before jumping into writing. Each episode of Homecoming is buttoned with a brief interview with someone from the creative team, which could seem tedious or self-serving but really adds some extra depth to the whole affair.
Undone is quickly becoming a must-listen podcast for me. Part of the thrill is that I haven't heard about the stories that are being re-investigated, so the episodes unfold with a really satisfying narrative arc. "The Ancient One" follows a battle between scientific progress and the upholding of traditions - things that need not always be at odds but that so often are. Without putting an editorial spin on the debate, Undone sets up the controversy of old before delving into the details that make the story relevant to us today.
2. Startup - "Part 1: Labels"
The name Dov Charney did not sound familiar to me before listening to this episode, and I can't say that I was aware of any kind of issues surrounding American Apparel. This series of episodes from Startup dissects the rise, fall, and apparent rebirth of the man who built one of the trendiest American clothing operations in my lifetime. It's partially a guilty pleasure, as a lot of my enjoyment stems from wondering what Charney will do or say next...along with learning the salacious details from bygone mistakes. "Labels" is a compelling entry point to a story that spans at least five installments, a binge-worthy venture for anyone jumping in right now.
3. Homecoming - "PHONY (#3)"
I'll admit that audio dramas seem to fall flat for me. I've tried to listen to The Truth a couple of times, and while I admire the attempt at reviving an old-timey medium it just never hit me quite right. And while I did enjoy bits of The Message, a paid podcast sponsored by GE, the sum of the parts felt too conspiratorial and ultimately disappointing. Homecoming, another new show from Gimlet, takes a crack at serialized audio with a smattering of star power. David Cross, Oscar Isaac, David Schwimmer and Katherine Keener all lend their voices to the show that follows a former caseworker who helped war veterans re-acclimate to civilian life. There is a definite sense that there's more to the story, and that is intriguing, but the performances and writing is spectacular. "PHONY" contains an awkward reunion between Keener and Cross that has just the right amount of realism hanging off the constructs of premeditated dialogue. This is a credit to writer Micah Bloomberg, who spent years as a sound tech mixing audio from a wide range of television before jumping into writing. Each episode of Homecoming is buttoned with a brief interview with someone from the creative team, which could seem tedious or self-serving but really adds some extra depth to the whole affair.
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