Podcasts

When Gladwell did the Lexus history, that was very interesting. I also very much enjoyed his podcasts on McDonalds fries, Taco Bell, the obstacles that lower-income disadvantaged gifted students face, the US News College Rankings, etc. But yeah, its too bad its not great topics every week.

 

His tics can be annoying — he describes everyone with two traits — like “strong jaw, dark eyes” or “white hair, easy smile”

 

For the 40th anniversary of "The Thing," Sean Fennessey at "The Big Picture" podcast (The Ringer) got an interview with John Carpenter for 30 to 45 minutes. It's good stuff: https://www.theringer.com/2022/7/19/23269766/john-carpenter-the-thing-at-40-with-john-carpenter

 

If the Murdaugh saga coming out of the South Carolina low country is fascinating, the Murdaugh Murders Podcast by independent journalist Mandy Matney is worth a listen. She's done the research for years on the family and does not fill up the podcast with a lot of rumors and hearsay, but rather fact that they can confirm from sources.

 

Yeah but her voice. Ouch.

 

Her voice doesn't bother me like it does others, clearly. I also loathe the sound of my own voice on playback, so I feel so sorry for all the people that attack her online for her vocal fry.

 

Her voice doesn't bother me. The constant self congratulating does but I keep listening for the excellent information.

 

My latest binge .. "Who Killed Daphne" about the murder of Maltese journalist/blogger and the collection of 45 international journalists who formed The Daphne Project to pursue the case. The opening of the first episode completely hooked me.

 

The first episode of the Brian Phillips 22 Goals podcast was really good.

It’s embedded here.

https://www.theringer.com/platform/...22-goals-diego-maradona-1986-mexico-world-cup

 

Bump! My app, Pocket Casts, does a Spotify-like "wrapped" as well which is kind of neat. I'm kind of surprised Russillo's is so high - I mostly listen to the Life Advice segment, which is the last 10 to 20 minutes of each episode, but he has 2 or 3 episodes a week.

 

This may have been mentioned up thread but the best crime series I have ever listened to is "The Bear Brook Murders". Frequently I feel cheated when I listen to crime podcast because at the end of the series the conclusion is that the reporters have strung you along and have found nothing really relevant. I don't want to reveal the story line in "Bear Brook" but the case goes in strange directions and winds up with a resolution you will not see coming.

 

I have that on my list to check out, so that's an endorsement for me to push it up the list.