The Pod Piper

1. The Room Where It's Happening - "Kristin Chenoweth: My Shot" From the first notes of Travon Free singing 'Popular' in the shower to the moment when he and Kristin Chenoweth are poised to take on the establishment in some kind of crusade for social justice, this episode is full of gleeful moments both Hamilton related and simply delightful to hear.  Chenoweth brings an amiable earnestness to the table that encapsulates the average fan of the hit musical.  No doubt she is in awe of the genius required to pen such a work, but you can tell she isn't a die-hard fangirl...and in a way that's rather comforting. It's just an absolute joy to listen to this bubbly person gush and dissect the musical in a way that is at turns both insightful and silly. 2. Hang Up and Listen - "The Joy Is Retroactively Applied Edition" Hang Up and Listen is one of the must-listen shows in my ever-growing stable of podcast thoroughbreds, delivering the best ...

1.  Love and Radio -  "The Enemy Within" Love and Radio is one of the most consistently challenging podcasts I've encountered, presenting intimate stories of people maligned in some part of society.  "The Enemy Within" digs into the life of one of the most enigmatic people I've ever encountered.  The phrase 'black conservative intellectual' is as good of an introduction phrase I can give for this episode, and I think it's just a good reminder of how varied the American (and human) scale of opinion and emotion can be - especially in this contentious election season in the U.S. 2.  Reply All -  "Boy in Photo (#79)" Reply All always has some tie to culture on the internet, but the element of humanity almost always shines through.  "Boy in Photo" is a shining exemplar of hitting both marks brilliantly, telling the story of human quirkiness that is so readily manifested on the internet.  If you ever put together an elaborat...

It's been a whirlwind of a couple (ok, three) weeks, and I've not had the time needed to dive into the usual wealth of podcasts.  Here is a list, more or less in order, of all the shows that passed through my ears from September 25 - October 15, 2016.  Cheers! Show Ep Hidden Brain What Are The Odds? (#45) Love and Radio A Girl of Ivory 99% Invisible Project Cybersyn Sampler Ladies of Flavor' (#30) Criminal Money Tree (#51) Placemakers Placetaking: Squatting for House and Home Strangers Blue Astringent Blues Reply All Very Quickly to the Drill (#78) Slate's Culture Gabfest Darkness On The Edge Of Reason Edition Song Exploder Phantogram - You Don't Get me High Anymore Pop, Race, and the '60s Bob Dylan and Sam Cooke (#1) The Room Where It's Happening Tracy Clayton: Hamilton Privilege The Cracked Podcast Screw Sully: 7 True Stories That Would Mak...

1. Radiolab - "Update: Eye In the Sky" This story originally aired last year and gave me the creeps.  I'm all for crime prevention, and probably more in favor than most for compromising my individual liberties in favor of increased safety for all.  But implementing a large surveillance system ripe with possibilities for corruption without first meticulously evaluating the implications of this technology seems worrisome at best. On the other hand, the narrative example from Juarez, Mexico clearly demonstrates the life saving potential of such a system.  Shouldn't a decrease in death make this new world of crime prevention worth exploring, regardless of any hypothetical consequences? The update provides some info on a pilot program getting traction in Baltimore, thanks to the underwriting of funds from wealthy donors who heard about the story after it was initially aired on Radiolab .  If this doesn't speak to the growing societal influence of podcasts, I don't...

1. Reply All -  "Lost in a Cab (#76)" Reply All  regularly puts out episodes of their show under the theme of 'Super Tech Support.'  Just as the name implies, the Reply All team tackle an internet-related problem submitted by a listener.  Not only do these shows unravel stories worth following, but they typically resolve in a way that empowers the average person and speaks truth to shadiness on the web.  In "Lost in a Cab" we hear about a man who treads a thin line between being a forward thinking businessman and a conniving scam artist. Host Alex Goldman seeks out justice for a customer/victim and in the process sheds light on a whole world of commerce operating in a misleading manner. 2. The Cracked Podcast -  "How Evolution Made Us Unfit For The Modern World" Cracked operates on a frequency that is both down to earth and incredibly thought provoking.  This episode takes that ethos to a new level and speaks in earnest to the burgeoning pre...

1. 99% Invisible -  On Average (#226) Every once in a while a podcast produces an episode that perfectly encapsulates the ethos of the show.  For 99% Invisible, 'On Average' is that episode. Hidden forces of design that dictate untold amounts of things in your life?  Check.  Rich and quirky evolution of said forces?  Check.  A contemplative takeaway that will make you rethink your surroundings?  Check.  It's all here, delivered in Roman Mar's signature purr. 2. Our National Conversation About Conversations About Race -  Cold Empathy For Nate Parker My recollection of the show (which has been on hiatus for 6 months or so) was conflated with the excellent NPR podcast "Codeswitch" - both tackle stories in the media surrounding issues of race and identity, after all.  While both are nearly always must-listen, "About Race" does a little better with playing devil's advocate or at least presenting ideas from multiple perspectives.  The r...

1. Radiolab -  The Girl Who Doesn't Exist Many people fleeing their home in this world scarred by war must face the perils of finding documentation in their new country.  But what happens when a person who was born in the United States suddenly realizes their existence has never been officially documented?  Radiolab tackles this existential question faced in reality by a young woman whose parents were inspired by the sovereign citizen movement .  In addition to being a compelling mystery, this episode dredged up questions about what exactly parents should be able to foist upon their children and how long any such decisions should affect the child. 2. Reply All -  Making Friends (#74) Reply All does it again, turning over a stone that uncovers some previously unknown niche of internet-reliant culture.  'Tulpas' are apparently like imaginary friends that are more real than not real, and this episode follows the tragic story of a woman who finds a commun...