Podcasts
I listen to a lot of Podcasts, so I thought I’d have a wee review of a few I’ve been listening to lately. I don’t like writing reviews, some seem easy to write, others don’t. Are they of a decent quality or not? I don’t know, just do yourself a favour and give some of these a listen.
Radio 4’s Wireless Nights
Jarvis Cocker narrates together a list of stories and experiences of people who work at night. The background sound will draw you in so it’s best to get some good quality headphones and block out the world, lie down in a dark room and immerse yourself in this.
Frequency: Infrequent series
Current Episodes: 16
Average Length: 30 mins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01sg4kg/episodes/downloads
The Janey Godley Podcast
This is my favourite podcast. The no holds barred Janey Godley and her daughter Ashley Storrie talking about what they’ve been up to and the state of the world. Janey and Ashley are consistently funny and thought provoking about the issues they discuss, over nearly 300 episodes.
Warning: May include characters such as Dave the paedo ice cream man or tales of THE BOLD ALEC!
Frequency: Weekly
Current Episodes: 288
Average Length: 30 mins
http://janeygodley.podomatic.com/
Welcome To Nightvale
The creepy goings on of a town somewhere in an American desert. It’s in the style of a local radio show, updating the residents of Nightvale about what’s happening in and around their town. Narrated by Cecil with occasional interactions from radio station interns and some of the towns more unusual residents. The show also features a track by an unsigned artist and slot it in at an appropriate point and it ‘The Weather’.
It like Twin Peaks meets the ambience and atmosphere of Radio 4’s Wireless Nights. It sits nicely in the middle ground never leaning to far either way being creepy, imposing and comedic. It has also featured guest appearances from Wil Wheaton.
Frequency: Fortnightly (Every 2 weeks)
Current Episodes: 83 (and some pay what you want live shows)
Average Length: 20 mins
http://nightvale.libsyn.com/
Alice Isn’t Dead
This is a new podcast from one of the Nightvale writers, I’ve only listened to the first one, it was out this week. Not sure about it, premise is good, but language used by the narrator was a little bit grating for me in places. As with anything these things take a while to get used to , so I’ll be happily listening in to see where it goes.
Frequency: Fortnightly (Every 2 weeks)
Current Episodes: 1
Average Length: 20 mins
http://aliceisntdead.libsyn.com/
Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP!)
Comedian Richard Herring interviewing comedians. Off the back of this and his Edinburgh Fringe podcast, I ended up listening to The Guilty Feminist, Janey Godley, The Parapod Mysteries and The Comedian’s Comedian as a result of the various people Richard has interviewed.
I’ve found that it has changed my views on some comedians and made me more tolerant towards people who I thought were unfunny and now find more interesting as a result of talking to them, rather than just their material. Though the ’emergency questions’ do start to head towards unbearable territory after a while.
Frequency: Weekly series
Current Episodes: 100
Average Length: 60 mins
https://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/richard_herring_lst_podcast/
The Guilty Feminist
Comedians Sofie Hagen and Deborah Frances-White perform this podcast live in front of an audience. They set themselves a challenge related to the theme of the show. Themes so far include food, pornography, advertising and apologies and they are also joined by a different special guest each week. It’s been really funny so far, so get subscribed.
Frequency: Weekly series
Current Episodes: 5
Average Length: 45 mins
http://www.guiltyfeminist.com/
The Comedian’s Comedian
Stuart Goldsmith discusses what it’s like to be a comedian with other comedians, unlike Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP!), Stuart is more focused on the work side of it, how they develop ideas and how they got started down that particular path.
Frequency: Weekly series
Current Episodes: 180
Average Length: 60 mins
http://www.comedianscomedian.com/
The Parapod Mysteries
Ray Peacock and Barry Dodds are the hosts of the paranormal podcast, Barry is the believer and Ray the hardline skeptic. I was expecting this to be a nice friendly discussion about strange goings on, debunking myths with some fun poking and leaving some unexplained.
Unfortunately Ray puts the “cock” in Peacock by acting like a complete bell-end most of the time. I realise is there to debunk Barry, he does it in the most irritating way possible. Like a budget version of the torment that Gervais and Merchant dole out to Karl Pilkington. Ray constantly interupts when Barry is explaining a story or premise to make Barry look like a tool rather than have a sensible discussion about it. It would be nice for Ray to allow Barry to build up a story, even let it be a bit spooky, before telling him it’s all bollocks. All is not lost though, you can pick through the info and it does prove interesting and for all his faults Ray occasionally pulls it out the bag by either setting up Barry with or turning up to a ghost hunt in his own Ghostbusters costume.
#TeamBarry
Frequency: Weekly series
Current Episodes: 180
Average Length: 60 mins
https://player.fm/series/the-parapod
Distraction Pieces
Scroobius Pip conducts in-depth interviews an array of guests from artists, musicians, actors, comedians and activists. Pip offers a unique windows into the subjects that matter to and the lives of his guests. Even if you’ve never heard of a guest, these podcasts manage to be engaging. Another podcast that manages good solid material week after week.
Frequency: Weekly
Current Episodes: 1
Average Length: 60 mins
http://www.scroobiuspip.co.uk/distraction-pieces-podcast/
