With
the end of the year approaching, this week we take a look back on the
podcasts we've reviewed this year - and pick out five of the best. It's
been a tough task choosing some of the best of the year, and we've only
listed shows that are still running, which has eliminated one or two
across the course of the year. Without further ado, our countdown
begins…
5 Freakonomics
You
have to pay attention if you're listening to Freakonomics, but they
cover subjects that are worth paying attention to. They take subjects
and look at them a different way, at the consequences behind how things
operate, and the unintentional effects of economic decisions. For
example, the podcast I reviewed this year looked at private healthcare,
and how the financial emphasis changes the way in which healthcare
operates - keeping patients in hospital more often, for example, if
beds are available, because you can charge for that and insurance will
pay up. They tackle a broad range of subjects - but always with a
forensic eye for detail and asking the question "What does this mean?".
Website: Freakonomics.com/radio
4 Love + Radio
Love
+ Radio brings stories of the unexpected. The goal of the site is to
present interviews with unexpected subjects. It illuminates the lives of
everyday people, and discusses their reasons for doing the things they
do. There's the interview where a woman was catcalled by a man as she
walked past him, so she picked up her microphone and asked him why,
leading to an intriguing conversation exploring who this man was and
what his life was filled with. There's another chat with a man who runs a
strip club from his home - and why. It's brilliant stuff, that looks
deeper than the surface of our everyday life.
Website: loveandradio.org
3 Stride and Saunter
Also
looking more in-depth at subjects is Stride and Saunter. Covering a
range of subjects, the hosts, Hector Marrero and Kip Clark focus on a
single issue and its implications. They've discussed philosophy and body
language, reviewed other podcasts and tackled cultural appropriation.
That might sound heavy going, but the show keeps it accessible, and all
within the context of two people chatting. Not easy to do, but somehow
they do it very well.
Website: www.strideandsaunter.com
2 Pseudopod
I've
covered a few fiction podcasts over the year - but Pseudopod remains my
favourite. It's a website featuring horror stories - partner podcasts
cover fantasy, science fiction, young adult fiction - and while the
audio readings themselves are top notch, what I really like is that
episodes also feature a mood-setting introduction and a discussion
afterwards of the themes featured in the story. Many years ago, on the BBC, there was a fantastic series of movies as part of their Moviedrome season, introduced and discussed by director Alex Cox. Pseudopod is the Moviedrome of horror podcasting. It's like those moments
sitting chatting with friends about what you loved in a story, all done
with keen insight into the issues laid bare by the writer, and by the
actor reading the story aloud.
Website: www.pseudopod.org
1 Serial
The
first series of Serial was a phenomenon, going beyond the usual
audience of podcasts to draw people in. It was, fittingly for its title,
a serial of connected podcasts, all focusing on reporter Sarah Koenig's
investigation of a single criminal case, that of the murder of
18-year-old student Hae Min Lee in Baltimore. Her boyfriend, Adnan Masud
Syed, was jailed for the murder. But there remained loose strands in
the investigation, strands that Koenig picked away at, revealing
potential flaws in Adnan's conviction. It's fascinating, revealing the
inner workings of the justice system, and how it ends… well, I wouldn't
want to spoil it for those who have yet to listen. But do listen. You'll
be hooked, and wanting to play the next episode right after the last.
Series two has just begun… and we'll be looking at that in our next
review.
Website: serialpodcast.org
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