June 18, 2018
THE LIST
1. Upon Further Review - "What If the 1999 U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Had Lost the Women's World Cup?"
Part real audio footage, part dystopian future, all set against the backdrop of a USA-less World Cup.
2. Hang Up And Listen - "The Monday Morning Center Back Edition"
Prime advice for which squad to take up with in lieu of your home country (if you live in the US).
3. Caliphate - "The Briefcase"
A treasure trove of ISIS documents.
HONORABLE MENTION
Sleepover - "Native Child and the Full Moon 4: Jordan"
Hidden Brain - "When Everything Clicks"
SOMETHING NEW
As a proud podcast connoisseur with 12+ years of listening under my belt, I’ve developed a bit of a tendency to overcommit. So many excellent shows with no signs of stopping roped me into subscribing, and there is a real companionship that such long-running affairs engender. Much as I crave the intimate consistency of a long-tenured run, this subscribe-or-bust mentality can and has caused me a crazy amount of stress over the years, but it really needn’t be so. Podcasting is a genre that is perfect for dabbling, and I think I finally made that connection after listening to If These Ovaries Could Talk.
Now I know what you’re saying, men. Probably something like “I don’t have ovaries! Give me one reason I should I stop reading right now.” To which I’d respond “Well, you DO have ears, right? Use ‘em!” Yes, this show is most definitely about pregnancy - specifically as it applies to lesbian and non-binary couples and the struggles of non traditional childbearing - but that doesn’t mean it can’t resonate with anyone who is curious about anything related to the struggles and joys of bringing life into the world. Despite my distinction as a non-parent myself, I chalk my intrigue with this show up to two main things: the hosts and the guests.
Jaimie Kelton and Robin Hopkins are hosts, but their dynamic is rather unique in the world of the interview podcast. The women develop a friendly rapport that is just the right amount of self-deprecation and serious reflection on complicated and very personal life stuff. It’s a refreshing middle ground between the comedian and the investigative narrator, where the emotion is genuine and the delivery sincere. As for guests, the show has nabbed a wide spectrum since their launch in January. An acupuncturist, former reality TV stars, Jaimie’s wife Anne, a lawyer and a fertility expert are but a few of the folks that step behind the mic for some illuminating banter. This list might lead an average podcast voyeur to presume the hosts aim for provocation, but the content is simply honest and (likely) unfamiliar to the general public. Take, for example, the episode titled “C-Sections, Epidurals and Destroyed Nipples. Jaimie Had a Baby.” This is the sort of intimacy and connection that podcasts are capable of providing! Who among you, dear readers, would dare discuss any of the aforementioned titularity with your close friends, let alone unleashing it on the masses?! Even on this occasion, when the two co-hosts mine the depths of personal anecdote across a full episode, the resulting conversation nestles itself amongst the finest metaphorical top shelf spirits.
If These Ovaries Could Talk delivers what is at the heart of almost all podcasts: human stories. Pregnancy may be niche - and the lesbian angle doesn’t make it less so - but straight parents and perspective parents (or just adults without kids who are curious about expanding their horizons) have much to glean from this show. It might not be in my rotation every week, and I’m not promising that every one of you all will enjoy it, but you owe yourself the variety your life and podcast feed deserves. Catch a glimpse into a new world, where lived experiences of people you’ve probably walked by on the sidewalk come into focus.
Now I know what you’re saying, men. Probably something like “I don’t have ovaries! Give me one reason I should I stop reading right now.” To which I’d respond “Well, you DO have ears, right? Use ‘em!” Yes, this show is most definitely about pregnancy - specifically as it applies to lesbian and non-binary couples and the struggles of non traditional childbearing - but that doesn’t mean it can’t resonate with anyone who is curious about anything related to the struggles and joys of bringing life into the world. Despite my distinction as a non-parent myself, I chalk my intrigue with this show up to two main things: the hosts and the guests.
Jaimie Kelton and Robin Hopkins are hosts, but their dynamic is rather unique in the world of the interview podcast. The women develop a friendly rapport that is just the right amount of self-deprecation and serious reflection on complicated and very personal life stuff. It’s a refreshing middle ground between the comedian and the investigative narrator, where the emotion is genuine and the delivery sincere. As for guests, the show has nabbed a wide spectrum since their launch in January. An acupuncturist, former reality TV stars, Jaimie’s wife Anne, a lawyer and a fertility expert are but a few of the folks that step behind the mic for some illuminating banter. This list might lead an average podcast voyeur to presume the hosts aim for provocation, but the content is simply honest and (likely) unfamiliar to the general public. Take, for example, the episode titled “C-Sections, Epidurals and Destroyed Nipples. Jaimie Had a Baby.” This is the sort of intimacy and connection that podcasts are capable of providing! Who among you, dear readers, would dare discuss any of the aforementioned titularity with your close friends, let alone unleashing it on the masses?! Even on this occasion, when the two co-hosts mine the depths of personal anecdote across a full episode, the resulting conversation nestles itself amongst the finest metaphorical top shelf spirits.
If These Ovaries Could Talk delivers what is at the heart of almost all podcasts: human stories. Pregnancy may be niche - and the lesbian angle doesn’t make it less so - but straight parents and perspective parents (or just adults without kids who are curious about expanding their horizons) have much to glean from this show. It might not be in my rotation every week, and I’m not promising that every one of you all will enjoy it, but you owe yourself the variety your life and podcast feed deserves. Catch a glimpse into a new world, where lived experiences of people you’ve probably walked by on the sidewalk come into focus.
From: Independent
Recommended for: People who want to expand their horizons and/or those interested in a nontraditional route to becoming a parent.
Drop Schedule: Monday, Weekly
Average episode length: 45 minutes
Rating: Make It Work
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