July 9 - 15, 2017
1. 99% Invisible - "The Pool and the Stream"
Skateboarding does not enjoy a breadth of support as either a sport or as an art form. This unique fusion of design, athleticism, gall and urban exploring tends to be couched as a dubious activity for troublemakers or slackers. But 99% Invisible, as an eternally cool and prescient fount of insight, manages to reveal how the evolution of skating is interwoven with the history of landscape architecture. I'll admit that, like the episode of Startup detailing the rise and fall and rebirth of Slamball, this appealed to me on a nostalgic level not likely to resonate with all listeners, but ahead of the sport's first appearance in the Olympics in 2020, this should have an increasingly broad appeal. "The Pool and the Stream" deserves special props for not attempting to tidy up the culture, meaning that this may be the most profanity riddled edition of 99PI to date.
2. Slate's Culture Gabfest - "Summer Strut 2017 Edition"
Slate's Culture Gabfest makes rare appearances on this blog, but it is one of a handful of podcasts I don't ever miss. The lack of representation is a product of the show's gabfest format - there are different topics each week, but the quality of analysis achieves such a consistent height that it rarely merits calling out any one discussion. Each year, however, the panelists come together with Slate music critic Chris Monlanphy to comb through a list of songs submitted by listeners. It's always fun to see which songs make the cut, and to hear Molanphy's encyclopedic brain hold forth eloquently on music that tends to elicit a minimal amount of critical appreciation. It's ideal for music enthusiasts and novices alike - I learned a lot about some very popular songs and was turned on to some lesser-known gems as well.
3. 30 For 30 - "Yankees Suck"
ESPN took the phrase "Yankees Suck" and turned it into a nearly hour-long audio documentary. While this might sound like a recipe for a grating piece for diehard-fans or a tedious exercise in northeastern seaboard linguistics, it turns out that the story behind this phrase is a good deal more interesting. To be honest, I didn't think affixing "suck" after a team name was exclusive to the Yankees, and that realization alone made this story a bit more compelling. What unfolds is a rags-to-riches story of class ascension, long-suffering sports fans, and even September 11th. ESPN continues to charm and surprise in this earnest adaptation journey, with genuine appeal to sports fans and curious podcast connoisseurs alike.
HONORABLE MENTION
Ear Hustle - "Misguided Loyalty"
All Songs Considered - "Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly And Bryce Dessner On Creating 'Planetarium' "
Planet Money - "The Money Fixers"
SOMETHING NEW
How do you entice listeners to stay with you on a topic that may appear a bit dry? Some producers may seek out slick production elements (seamless integration of music cues, incisively cut interviews, various evocative sound effects), while others might endeavor to add splashes of comedy to a subject with gregarious hosts. Guiding an audience to interact with your show? Well, that's another much more difficult and less frequently attempted angle, but it may just be the future of the form. Hosted by co-founders of the zany-brainy mag Mental Floss, Part-Time Genius intersperses mini games surrounding the episode's theme. These cheeky breaths of air mirror content from game-show-casts like Ask Me Another and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and allow a break in the somewhat heavily concentrated waves of (fascinating) information. The delivery of the majority of the content mirrors that of Futility Closet (featured a few weeks back) - solid research conveyed confidently, but with a healthy dose of verve and relaxation about the whole thing. I sampled the episode on tax havens, and though it may be the least gripping of all the subjects covered thus far, this aptly demonstrated the show's ability to captivate an audience. The format is new, the hosts are relatable without being overbearing, and I came away feeling like my time had been valued and well-spent.
Part-Time Genius
Recommended for: Game show nerds, trivia buffs, explorers of the seldom thought-of corners of culture that are just waiting to be discovered.
Rating: Gotta Have It
Skateboarding does not enjoy a breadth of support as either a sport or as an art form. This unique fusion of design, athleticism, gall and urban exploring tends to be couched as a dubious activity for troublemakers or slackers. But 99% Invisible, as an eternally cool and prescient fount of insight, manages to reveal how the evolution of skating is interwoven with the history of landscape architecture. I'll admit that, like the episode of Startup detailing the rise and fall and rebirth of Slamball, this appealed to me on a nostalgic level not likely to resonate with all listeners, but ahead of the sport's first appearance in the Olympics in 2020, this should have an increasingly broad appeal. "The Pool and the Stream" deserves special props for not attempting to tidy up the culture, meaning that this may be the most profanity riddled edition of 99PI to date.
2. Slate's Culture Gabfest - "Summer Strut 2017 Edition"
Slate's Culture Gabfest makes rare appearances on this blog, but it is one of a handful of podcasts I don't ever miss. The lack of representation is a product of the show's gabfest format - there are different topics each week, but the quality of analysis achieves such a consistent height that it rarely merits calling out any one discussion. Each year, however, the panelists come together with Slate music critic Chris Monlanphy to comb through a list of songs submitted by listeners. It's always fun to see which songs make the cut, and to hear Molanphy's encyclopedic brain hold forth eloquently on music that tends to elicit a minimal amount of critical appreciation. It's ideal for music enthusiasts and novices alike - I learned a lot about some very popular songs and was turned on to some lesser-known gems as well.
3. 30 For 30 - "Yankees Suck"
ESPN took the phrase "Yankees Suck" and turned it into a nearly hour-long audio documentary. While this might sound like a recipe for a grating piece for diehard-fans or a tedious exercise in northeastern seaboard linguistics, it turns out that the story behind this phrase is a good deal more interesting. To be honest, I didn't think affixing "suck" after a team name was exclusive to the Yankees, and that realization alone made this story a bit more compelling. What unfolds is a rags-to-riches story of class ascension, long-suffering sports fans, and even September 11th. ESPN continues to charm and surprise in this earnest adaptation journey, with genuine appeal to sports fans and curious podcast connoisseurs alike.
HONORABLE MENTION
Ear Hustle - "Misguided Loyalty"
All Songs Considered - "Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly And Bryce Dessner On Creating 'Planetarium' "
Planet Money - "The Money Fixers"
SOMETHING NEW
How do you entice listeners to stay with you on a topic that may appear a bit dry? Some producers may seek out slick production elements (seamless integration of music cues, incisively cut interviews, various evocative sound effects), while others might endeavor to add splashes of comedy to a subject with gregarious hosts. Guiding an audience to interact with your show? Well, that's another much more difficult and less frequently attempted angle, but it may just be the future of the form. Hosted by co-founders of the zany-brainy mag Mental Floss, Part-Time Genius intersperses mini games surrounding the episode's theme. These cheeky breaths of air mirror content from game-show-casts like Ask Me Another and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and allow a break in the somewhat heavily concentrated waves of (fascinating) information. The delivery of the majority of the content mirrors that of Futility Closet (featured a few weeks back) - solid research conveyed confidently, but with a healthy dose of verve and relaxation about the whole thing. I sampled the episode on tax havens, and though it may be the least gripping of all the subjects covered thus far, this aptly demonstrated the show's ability to captivate an audience. The format is new, the hosts are relatable without being overbearing, and I came away feeling like my time had been valued and well-spent.
Part-Time Genius
Recommended for: Game show nerds, trivia buffs, explorers of the seldom thought-of corners of culture that are just waiting to be discovered.
Rating: Gotta Have It
Comments
Post a Comment