This article first appeared in The Tribune Weekend section of December 30.
Over
the past year, I've reviewed more than 70 different podcasts, covering
all kinds of topics - from the US elections to health and fitness, from
readings of stories to discussions of culture. As we reach the end of
the year, it's time for a look back - and here are my top five shows of
the year.
The
shows I'm picking aren't always the biggest, aren't always the most
polished - but for me are the shows that go that bit further, that bit
beyond what you might expect, and awaken a sense of wonder.
Entwined
It was
a very tough call to choose between this show and The Memory Palace,
but for me Entwined edges it because of the clever way in which it draws
together different threads to show unexpected connections in life. PS
McKay and Elliot Gladstone are the creators of the show, and though the
episodes are not overly long, they join a world of dots together as they
go. Dive in at any episode - but I was particularly touched by episode
nine, Mama Tried, in which the landscape of Great Depression-era America
is illuminated in the most insightful of ways.
Website: www.entwinedpodcast.com
Stride And Saunter
One of
my picks for shows of the year last year - and still very much on the
list. Stride and Saunter is a relatively simple format - conversations
on a host of topics. Show regulars Kip Clark and Caroline Borders are
smart and worth listening to. As Caroline says, the show is by nature
exploratory. They admit they're not experts on the topics, but they ask
good questions and explore issues honestly and thoroughly. This year,
one of their shows mirrored the big name Serial, talking about the Bowe
Bergdahl case in the US, but taking an interesting different tack,
discussing the issue of loyalty, and when disloyalty might be useful.
It's that different kind of thinking that makes Stride And Saunter a
show that continues to be well worth your time.
Website: www.strideandsaunter.com
Broadway Backstory
A new
podcast, but one that already is strong enough to go on my list of best
shows of the year, is Broadway Backstory. I only encountered this one a
few weeks ago, but it's a deeply thorough exploration of the history
behind the shows that people flock to on Broadway. Host Patrick Hinds
starts off the show with a two-party look at the Thomas Kail and
Lin-Manuel Miranda show In The Heights, and it's the detail that
fascinates. Sometimes it seems that hit shows are so unstoppable that
it's hard to imagine all the work that went in for years behind the
scenes, when the creators had no idea that they would ever even reach
the stage, let alone create a hit. For theatre lovers, this is
absolutely essential listening - even if it's only five episodes old.
That'll just leave you hankering for more.
Pseudopod
Another
show to return from last year's top five is Pseudopod, and with very
good reason. The show has now hit its ten year mark, and that's no small
thing in a world where podcasts come and go. The focus of the show is
horror stories - with stories by a range of authors being narrated
professionally by talented voice actors. More than that, it's the nice
touches in the presentation that give it added class, the sometime
analysis, the gentle pointing the way of where you can find more by the
writer, the mood-setting introduction. Pseudopod is part of a wider
family of podcasts covering Young Adult fiction, fantasy, science
fiction and more, but for me, the intimate connection you get listening
to a horror story with the headphones on and the lights turned low is a
perfect combination. Just don't blame me if you can't sleep easily
afterwards…
Website: www.pseudopod.org
Song Exploder
Music
has always been a big part of my life - and Song Exploder neatly goes
behind the music to look at the creation process. As its title suggests,
they explode the song into its individual parts and examine how those
pieces came together into the whole. The songs they examine range from
movie soundtracks to hip hop, rock to soul and all parts in between.
They talk with the artists, their producers, and everyone involved in
the process of creating the final song. There are big names here, and
with 92 episodes and counting, a wealth of previous shows to dive into. A
great show for expanding your knowledge of how the songs you sing along
to came to be.
Website: songexploder.net
What will 2017 bring? Got a podcast you think should be on my review list? Drop a comment below or throw me a tweet at @AlteredInstinct.
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