July 30 - August 5, 2017
THE LIST
1. Reply All - "Long Distance" (Part I & Part II)
Reply All occupies an almost singular space in the world of podcasts. It is narrative story telling in the vein of This American Life. It is relatable personalities gabbing about of-the-moment topics. It is theme-driven podcasting with results that are consistently not contrived. And this week, with "Long Distance" (a two-parter that should be consumed in order), Alex and PJ wrap it all up into a single succulent package among the most compelling episodes of the year. The topic? Tele-scammers who infect the computers of unsuspecting civilians and then swoop in to sell antivirus software. Sure, on it's face that setup is far from novel, and I'd wager there are several excellently researched and produced journal articles or even podcast episodes that explore the relevant areas of inquiry therein. But in "Long Distance" the story grows legs as Alex and (Gimlet producer) Damiano Marchetti journey to India to seek out a man and a company that targeted the wrong persistent podcast host. With all the flavor of a VICE-style exposé conducted by Mr. Bean, this episode thrills and amuses with the guile and fortitude you can count on from Reply All.
2. 30 For 30 - "The Fighter Inside"
"The Fighter Inside," the excellent 5th episode in ESPN's 30 For 30 podcast adaption of the popular television documentary series, focuses on the life and career of a prolific boxer James Scott. From the regrettable circumstances surrounding incarceration of this veritably unknown boxer to his unbelievable (borderline exploitative) ascendance into momentary fame, the mere facts of the narrative are enough to propel listeners through the episode. But of course, this being an ESPN joint, the selection of interviewees and audio excerpts enrich the tale exponentially. In addition to the story's inherent entertainment value, I came away pondering the extent to which a crime should inhibit the future progress of an individual. Sports can redeem a person in the eyes of a community, but there is much more fickle and intricate posturing from authoritative bodies that seek to control perception of what counts for morality.
3. Revisionist History - "State v Johnson"
Malcolm Gladwell dips an audience like a yo-yo, expertly dangling a rich tapestry of string before cradling us in a cocoon of deeper meaning. That gift is hyper-evident on "State v Johnson," where the pop-sociologist begins by reading a rudimentary description of a scenario from a legal brief. The details all seem standard in the world of law, and they form a picture of an open-and-shut case. Gladwell implores, "Do you know all you need to know?" Certainly, I respond to myself. This is very simple, and I'm sure the accused party is guilty. The show then promptly proceeds to turn my self-assured folly on it's head. "State v Johnson" is rife with injustice and tragedy, and the story is carefully plotted in a way that maximizes surprise while minimizing pulpy titillation. Power dynamics have been a point of emphasis in the second season of Revisionist History, and the topic is elegantly explored in this recounting of racial injustice in the American south of the 1950s.
SOMETHING NEW
I've made it perhaps annoyingly clear in the past that podcasts leaning on unscripted riffing and hot-takes are not my cup of tea. From the intro of this show where the hosts invoke the buzz-wordy phrases "social justice warrior" and "snowflakes" I was pretty certain that this would be some mix between talking head comedy and a shock-jock call-in show. As it turns out, the dudes who co-host surprised me a bit. No doubt, there is a lot of "authentic" guy-speak where things get "real" and frankly pretty asinine, but there is some degree of nuance that an average talk radio show might lack. It helps that there is some structure to the show - each episode features a few current events up for discussion, and the guys don't linger too long. This is the advantage of the podcast world, where there are not (usually) contractual obligations to fill air time.
The show unabashedly presents a male-oriented view on the world that does acknowledge validity of differing opinions. The topics on this particular episode (#9, which can be found here) were intriguing and at least somewhat unexplored by other podcasts in my listening portfolio. Unfortunately the tough-guy shield turned me off at times. Can you really take anyone serious who doesn't understand how calling a transgendered person "tranny" might be offensive? The length was also a bit of an issue. An hour and a half is just too long for me to abide with this format, regardless of the relative economy with which the hosts deal with subjects. I can see myself tuning into this show for 10 minute chunks if it happened to align with my commute, but I don't see it entering the stream of regular podcasts.
Stuff Dudes Say with Jones and Mike
Recommended for: The talk-show curious, centrist 30- or 40-somethings with mild disdain for the perceived rigors of PC culture
Rating: Make It Work
1. Reply All - "Long Distance" (Part I & Part II)
Reply All occupies an almost singular space in the world of podcasts. It is narrative story telling in the vein of This American Life. It is relatable personalities gabbing about of-the-moment topics. It is theme-driven podcasting with results that are consistently not contrived. And this week, with "Long Distance" (a two-parter that should be consumed in order), Alex and PJ wrap it all up into a single succulent package among the most compelling episodes of the year. The topic? Tele-scammers who infect the computers of unsuspecting civilians and then swoop in to sell antivirus software. Sure, on it's face that setup is far from novel, and I'd wager there are several excellently researched and produced journal articles or even podcast episodes that explore the relevant areas of inquiry therein. But in "Long Distance" the story grows legs as Alex and (Gimlet producer) Damiano Marchetti journey to India to seek out a man and a company that targeted the wrong persistent podcast host. With all the flavor of a VICE-style exposé conducted by Mr. Bean, this episode thrills and amuses with the guile and fortitude you can count on from Reply All.
2. 30 For 30 - "The Fighter Inside"
"The Fighter Inside," the excellent 5th episode in ESPN's 30 For 30 podcast adaption of the popular television documentary series, focuses on the life and career of a prolific boxer James Scott. From the regrettable circumstances surrounding incarceration of this veritably unknown boxer to his unbelievable (borderline exploitative) ascendance into momentary fame, the mere facts of the narrative are enough to propel listeners through the episode. But of course, this being an ESPN joint, the selection of interviewees and audio excerpts enrich the tale exponentially. In addition to the story's inherent entertainment value, I came away pondering the extent to which a crime should inhibit the future progress of an individual. Sports can redeem a person in the eyes of a community, but there is much more fickle and intricate posturing from authoritative bodies that seek to control perception of what counts for morality.
3. Revisionist History - "State v Johnson"
Malcolm Gladwell dips an audience like a yo-yo, expertly dangling a rich tapestry of string before cradling us in a cocoon of deeper meaning. That gift is hyper-evident on "State v Johnson," where the pop-sociologist begins by reading a rudimentary description of a scenario from a legal brief. The details all seem standard in the world of law, and they form a picture of an open-and-shut case. Gladwell implores, "Do you know all you need to know?" Certainly, I respond to myself. This is very simple, and I'm sure the accused party is guilty. The show then promptly proceeds to turn my self-assured folly on it's head. "State v Johnson" is rife with injustice and tragedy, and the story is carefully plotted in a way that maximizes surprise while minimizing pulpy titillation. Power dynamics have been a point of emphasis in the second season of Revisionist History, and the topic is elegantly explored in this recounting of racial injustice in the American south of the 1950s.
SOMETHING NEW
I've made it perhaps annoyingly clear in the past that podcasts leaning on unscripted riffing and hot-takes are not my cup of tea. From the intro of this show where the hosts invoke the buzz-wordy phrases "social justice warrior" and "snowflakes" I was pretty certain that this would be some mix between talking head comedy and a shock-jock call-in show. As it turns out, the dudes who co-host surprised me a bit. No doubt, there is a lot of "authentic" guy-speak where things get "real" and frankly pretty asinine, but there is some degree of nuance that an average talk radio show might lack. It helps that there is some structure to the show - each episode features a few current events up for discussion, and the guys don't linger too long. This is the advantage of the podcast world, where there are not (usually) contractual obligations to fill air time.
The show unabashedly presents a male-oriented view on the world that does acknowledge validity of differing opinions. The topics on this particular episode (#9, which can be found here) were intriguing and at least somewhat unexplored by other podcasts in my listening portfolio. Unfortunately the tough-guy shield turned me off at times. Can you really take anyone serious who doesn't understand how calling a transgendered person "tranny" might be offensive? The length was also a bit of an issue. An hour and a half is just too long for me to abide with this format, regardless of the relative economy with which the hosts deal with subjects. I can see myself tuning into this show for 10 minute chunks if it happened to align with my commute, but I don't see it entering the stream of regular podcasts.
Stuff Dudes Say with Jones and Mike
Recommended for: The talk-show curious, centrist 30- or 40-somethings with mild disdain for the perceived rigors of PC culture
Rating: Make It Work
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