The Pod Piper

THE LIST 1. Planet Money  - "Why Did The Cow Cross The Border?" International trade is one of those subjects that seems really important and all-encompassing, and altogether too massive a concept to ever set out to tackle. While implications of the multinational swapping of goods evade easy understanding, it seems like a closer physical proximity to a trading partner can’t hurt in the quest for demystification. Mexico borders the US, so why not start there? The Planet Money team takes on a zany sounding story that got me thinking about how these conceptual monoliths we call government dictate the movement of real things in confounding patterns. In this case, we're talking cows, and the ways in which it does (and, really, doesn’t) make sense for the noble beasts to traipse to and fro across our southern border.  2. 30 for 30  - "The Loophole" Continuing the theme of swapping exports, this 30 for 30 episode details the tumultuous journey of Japane...

THE LIST 1. Decoder Ring  - "The Incunabula Papers" Yes, this was my number one pick last week. And yes, I did listen to it again this week, in part for  my review of Decoder Ring  for Podcast Review (a channel of the LA Review of Books ), but also because it is very good. It's an exceptional episode of an incredible show, and intrepid listening leads to the revelation of a secret episode. Try to solve the puzzle yourself, or appeal to the power of the Reddit hivemind for the link. 2. Reply All  - "The Snapchat Thief" No doubt you've heard that securing your digital identity is incredibly important. But you might still not be completely compelled to do anything to protect yourself. What's that? You need a vivid narrative to spur you to act? This is it. A podcast host puts a lot on the line to foster a meeting between a scared teen and the thief that preyed on her. 3. Planet Money  - "Hot Dog Hail Mary" Why are prices so hig...

THE LIST 1. Decoder Ring  - "The Incunabula Papers" Through her years as a television critic for Slate, Willa Paskin has developed an impressive critical eye. Now she has her own unique take on cultural criticism in podcast form. As the host of Decoder Ring, Paskin and producer Benjamin Frisch examine integral aspects of cultural that escape the bounds of a traditional review. On "The Incunabula Papers," the most ambitious episode to date and one of the most intriguing podcast episodes of 2018, the duo diabolically writes and executes a mesmerizing crossover from straightforward audio reporting to performative auteurism. The episode is about the original alternate reality game (ARG), and it really drives home the idea that crafting such a thing is a new form of literary art.  2. Breach  - "Midterm Election Special" Our voting system is susceptible to hacking in ways you may and may not have considered, and the duo behind Breach highlights th...