The Pod Piper

1. Reply All - "Past, Present, Future 2 (#84)" Reply All takes the seemingly bland but responsible step of following up on stories in their final episode of 2016.  It's the journalistic equivalent of conducting research on a theory that has already been "proven" in the scientific field - necessary but hardly sexy.  This episode, however, turns the exercise on its head and yields an incredibly compact review of the exhilarating stories produced by the Gimlet juggernaut this year.  There is a lot of new content that undoubtedly took quite a while to pull together, and some of it is kind of deep. Yet the brisk pace of the show endowed it with mirth that tempers the gravitas for the winning combination so often found on Reply All . 2. Homecoming - "OPTIMISTS (#6)" Homecoming may be the most captivating new show in the 2016 podcast landscape.  It's serialized audio fiction at it's finest, and the last two episodes sunk particularly salient ho...

1. This American Life - "20 Years Later (#604)" Touted by Ira as one of the best radio pieces produced in 2016, "20 Years Later" is an incredible piece of documentary podcasting.  Samantha Broun revisits a truly terrifying day in her mother's life, when a stranger held her hostage and assaulted her in various ways over the course of five hours.  The retelling of the story on it's own would make for required listening, as Broun interviews her mother and opens some incredibly deep wounds to the world.  But the reporting goes on to investigate the long-lasting ramifications of legislation that was spurred by the case.  It is certainly not a comfortable experience and could be overwhelming depressing, but the sincerity redeems us from the depths of sorrow and turns the story into a larger probe into how our personal trials affect the complexities inherent in pursuing the greater good.  On top of all the stunning narrative qualities, it is quite evident that th...

1. Undone -  "The Ancient One (#2)" Undone is quickly becoming a must-listen podcast for me.  Part of the thrill is that I haven't heard about the stories that are being re-investigated, so the episodes unfold with a really satisfying narrative arc.  "The Ancient One" follows a battle between scientific progress and the upholding of traditions - things that need not always be at odds but that so often are.  Without putting an editorial spin on the debate, Undone sets up the controversy of old before delving into the details that make the story relevant to us today. 2.  Startup - "Part 1: Labels" The name Dov Charney did not sound familiar to me before listening to this episode, and I can't say that I was aware of any kind of issues surrounding American Apparel.  This series of episodes from Startup dissects the rise, fall, and apparent rebirth of the man who built one of the trendiest American clothing operations in my lifetime.  It's partia...

1. Placemakers - "When Good Placemakers Go Bad" While no actual collaboration took place, this episode comes across as a mix between 99% Invisible and Placemakers , and what an incredible combo it turned out to be.  This installment focuses on a man whose life reads like a legend: born into a wealthy Midwestern family only to lose his fortune before moving to New York to regain it all...whilst dabbling in the shadier side of society.  And as incredible as the narrative is, the larger theme of break-ins violating the sacredness of space-making made this an easy choice for my top episode this week. 2. Planet Money - "Russian Cowboys (#738)" Planet Money has done a lot of excellent reporting that has transported listeners to various places all over the globe.  But following the path of exporting an American cowboy to Russia, along with providing a glimpse of the faux-Western culture that has blossomed in Siberia?  This is going to be tough to beat.  "Russia...

1. Reply All - "Hello? (#82)" Channeling the ethos of a radio call-in show, PJ and Alex decide to open up a hotline and accept calls from listeners for 48 straight hours without sleeping.  It's a simple premise and may likely sound quite boring, yet I found it to be utterly compelling. Granted, the audio was cut down to a small fraction of the total experiment and surely underwent some painstaking editing.  Even still, I was more taken with the romance of the episode's scope than with any of the things the listeners had to say. 2.  The Cracked Podcast - "Why A Second Civil War Is Frighteningly Possible" The title of this episode may seem alarmist and conspiratorial in nature, and the conversation is rooted in a theory about America being divided into 11 nations that may appear to teeter on the brink of irrationality.  Make no mistake, the tone is somber and it's no coincidence that the show was originally released on the day before the election. ...

1. Kurt Vonneguys - "Player Piano" I love Cracked and I love Kurt Vonnegut.  I honestly don't think any other podcast in my stable of regulars could have been a better fit to discuss one of my favorite authors.  Player Piano is a flawed book, but it is such a great intro to Vonnegut and hosts Michael Swaim and Alex Schmidt strike the perfect balance of deference and humor in their analysis. 2. Millenial - "You Can't Go Home Again (#29)" Right now my future seems a little uncertain.  Many things are up in the air, but one of the foremost is where I want to settle down and live for the rest of my life.  The tension I face isn't the same as that of the host in this podcast, but there are similar themes and I found this to be a timely and semi-comforting listen. 3. This American Life - "The Sun Comes Up (#602)" Another wonderful This American Life episode centered around the election.  This edition of the show tackles public opinion in the ...

1. Radiolab - "One Vote" In the wake of an election where the losing candidate received more individual votes, I'm less sure than ever about the power a single vote has to make a difference.  The title alone of this episode earned an eye roll and a near-skip from me, but I had a craving for something election themed that ventured beyond explicit commentary and prediction.  Never doubt Radiolab .  The team came through with this episode, first acknowledging that in practice the importance of a single vote is over-hyped and often mis-mythologized.  Then the producers proceeded to report stories that pay homage to the metaphorical and uber-realistic importance of voting in a democracy.  It's worth a listen after the week we've had and seen and, honestly, pretty much just read about on Facebook. 2. This American Life - "Master of Her Domain...Name (#601)" Ira and company dig into the email scandal with a refreshing angle, thoughtfully interrogating the in...