Until earlier this year I scarcely listened to that new art form podcasts but now there are quite a few and I must admit that they have made my workdays significantly more bearable. I’m going to share with you the podcasts I enjoy and what I am still looking for to add to the rotation. The podcasts break down into several categories; Writing & Craft, Politics &Current Affairs, Entertainment & The Arts, and, Tips & Hacks.
Right now only Writing Excuses occupies the sole position as subscribed to and regularly listened to for Writing & Craft. Boasting a weekly format and hosted by a rotating core of well-established writers this is one I would recommend to anyone seeking to improve their writing and their understanding of the craft.
For Entertainment & The Arts there are several podcast I enjoy and they are in fact the category that originally caused me to engage with the art form. PBS’s Pop Culture Happy Hour is a twice a week broadcast that covers all manner of popular arts, Film, TV, Books, Music, and Theater. They do a decent job of discussing the works without going deeply into spoiler territory. This podcast has introduced me to several new shows and films. Local KPBS film Critic Beth Accomando hosts Cinema Junkie is a twice-monthly celebration of all things cinema, drawing from her deep archives of interviews and love for all manner of film this podcast covers everything from Shakespeare to Zombies. Damn Dirty Geek sis more of an inside the industry podcast about Hollywood and movie making. The show is centered on three hosts and their special guests and usually is filled with loving behind the scenes stories of movies and movie making. The Good Place: The Podcast is dedicated to the NBC’s unusual sitcom The Good Place. Marc Evan Jackson – he plays Shawn – brings actors, writers, and all manner of technicians from the show to have in-depth and often hilarious discussions about the show and its production.
20 Minute Delay is a Tips & Hacks about travel hosted by writers Gail Carriger and Piper J. Drake. Both women have sharp minds, quick wits, and loads of practical tip for how to make travel go a little smoother.
Politics & Current Affairs is the largest category of Podcasts in my library. The list includes Today Explained, NPR’s Politics Podcast, 538’s Political Podcast, The Weeds, Intelligence Matters, Slow Burn which explores both the Nixon and Clinton Impeachments, The Daily from the NYT Trump Inc, a long term investigative podcast into Trump’s finances, and most recently added The Erza Klein Show. Erza does a great job of getting guests he does not agree with and letting them make their cases, explore their arguments, without any hint of shouting match. I really wish I could find someone on the right who did this same thing.
