Podcasts for the Picky
November 19, 2022 8:13 AM Subscribe
For whatever reason, I am very picky about podcasts. Please help me find some for my commute.
I bike or drive, and either way, I'm getting tired of listening to music for some reason. I've been enjoying "There's No Such Thing as a Fish" (trivia + british comedy), and in the past I used to enjoy "Full Glass, Empty Clip" (craft beer + socially conscious PC game chat), but I've bounced off of or couldn't convince myself to start most other podcasts. I sort of enjoyed listening to Hardcore History in a coworker's car years ago, but I have a vague feeling that guy was a milkshake duck? (please correct me if I'm wrong there)!
Non-podcast stuff I enjoy: A few days ago there was a question here from someone looking for more maker/fabricator/DIY YouTube creators, and I had very little to add because I already watched most of the same channels. I follow any number of public transit advocacy things (Not Just Bikes, etc). I also enjoy history deep-dive nerd stuff (Drachinifel / Rex's Hangar) but I often listen to those to shut my brain up when I'm trying to sleep, so I probably shouldn't conflate those with things I listen to while operating a car/bike.
Things I am fairly certain I not enjoy: Radio plays/audio dramas; true crime. I'd be willing to give audio drama a shot if it's agreed to be really, really good, but no thank you to true crime. Most PC gaming community stuff these days gives me hives, so unless it's from a pretty mature perspective or industry insider perspective, no thank you. I'd also rather avoid politics, current events, and climate change. I know the future's very likely fucked, I know I need to work to change it, I also know that ruminating on it while biking or driving is probably not going to do great things for me.
So, given my absurd constraints, who/what should I be listening to?
I bike or drive, and either way, I'm getting tired of listening to music for some reason. I've been enjoying "There's No Such Thing as a Fish" (trivia + british comedy), and in the past I used to enjoy "Full Glass, Empty Clip" (craft beer + socially conscious PC game chat), but I've bounced off of or couldn't convince myself to start most other podcasts. I sort of enjoyed listening to Hardcore History in a coworker's car years ago, but I have a vague feeling that guy was a milkshake duck? (please correct me if I'm wrong there)!
Non-podcast stuff I enjoy: A few days ago there was a question here from someone looking for more maker/fabricator/DIY YouTube creators, and I had very little to add because I already watched most of the same channels. I follow any number of public transit advocacy things (Not Just Bikes, etc). I also enjoy history deep-dive nerd stuff (Drachinifel / Rex's Hangar) but I often listen to those to shut my brain up when I'm trying to sleep, so I probably shouldn't conflate those with things I listen to while operating a car/bike.
Things I am fairly certain I not enjoy: Radio plays/audio dramas; true crime. I'd be willing to give audio drama a shot if it's agreed to be really, really good, but no thank you to true crime. Most PC gaming community stuff these days gives me hives, so unless it's from a pretty mature perspective or industry insider perspective, no thank you. I'd also rather avoid politics, current events, and climate change. I know the future's very likely fucked, I know I need to work to change it, I also know that ruminating on it while biking or driving is probably not going to do great things for me.
So, given my absurd constraints, who/what should I be listening to?
Stronger by Science scratches the same itch as No Such Thing, for me. It's about powerlifting, nutrition, etc, but I don't know how much you have to care about such things for it to be an enjoyable podcast; it's two guys who know a lot about their field, sharing their knowledge in a positive and clear way. (Warning: it's the only podcast I listen to sped up. The hosts said in a recent episode that they'd never met anyone who listened to it at normal speed.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:57 AM on November 19, 2022
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:57 AM on November 19, 2022
Another good history podcast is History on Fire.
I also really love Marlon and Jake Read Dead People, but enjoyment might depend a lot on how familiar you are with books by dead people (enough to enjoy a Laura Ingalls Wilder/Louisa May Alcott grudge match?). Also, they don't seem to be making new episodes.
posted by FencingGal at 11:03 AM on November 19, 2022
I also really love Marlon and Jake Read Dead People, but enjoyment might depend a lot on how familiar you are with books by dead people (enough to enjoy a Laura Ingalls Wilder/Louisa May Alcott grudge match?). Also, they don't seem to be making new episodes.
posted by FencingGal at 11:03 AM on November 19, 2022
For history, my favorites are Byzantium and Friends by Anthony Kadellis and Tides of History by Patrick Wyman.
Anthony Kadellis is a well respected scholar of history and brings on a lot of different guests to get very interesting perspectives on Byzantine history, there are great episodes on fashion, homosexuality, social class, that are from scholars who have researched this deeply.
Wyman is a former academic, the first season talked about the early modern period and the late medieval, then he swung into prehistory. It's all well researched and informative. I like his style as it's not too dry, but also doesn't go overboard trying to be exciting or anything.
I liked both of them because they're not just narrative history. They both have the grounding to talk about bigger picture trends and put together what it means.
posted by Carillon at 11:29 AM on November 19, 2022 [4 favorites]
Anthony Kadellis is a well respected scholar of history and brings on a lot of different guests to get very interesting perspectives on Byzantine history, there are great episodes on fashion, homosexuality, social class, that are from scholars who have researched this deeply.
Wyman is a former academic, the first season talked about the early modern period and the late medieval, then he swung into prehistory. It's all well researched and informative. I like his style as it's not too dry, but also doesn't go overboard trying to be exciting or anything.
I liked both of them because they're not just narrative history. They both have the grounding to talk about bigger picture trends and put together what it means.
posted by Carillon at 11:29 AM on November 19, 2022 [4 favorites]
You’re Dead to Me is history-based as well, but has a similar feel to No Such Thing as a Fish only it’s history+British comedy. (In fact the host, Greg Jenner, has been a guest on No Such Thing…). Its basic premise is some facet of history being explained to a comedian by the host and an expert.
posted by scorbet at 12:08 PM on November 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by scorbet at 12:08 PM on November 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
You might like Unboxing, which is about the games industry but from the perspective of two NYU professors. Laine Nooney is a media studies scholar and games industry historian, and Joost van Dreunen teaches in the business school.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 12:24 PM on November 19, 2022
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 12:24 PM on November 19, 2022
I've been (surprisingly, for me!) enjoying Behind the Bastards. The part I have been enjoying is that it is basically a different and entertaining view of really interesting bits of history that I otherwise would never have thought to look into, from the perspective of the "bad guys" (yes, usually guys though there are exceptions) who made a lot of stuff happen. Also it's generally pretty funny and entertaining.
Good in a different way is the BBC In Our Time podcast.
Saga Thing is another one I've enjoyed.
posted by flug at 1:06 PM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
Good in a different way is the BBC In Our Time podcast.
Saga Thing is another one I've enjoyed.
posted by flug at 1:06 PM on November 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’m recommending this because of your like for No Such Thing As a Fish: the archive of Answer Me This Podcast. Sadly, they have retired (and have other podcasts, like The Allusionist and The Modern Mann), but you can still access over 200 episodes of AMT.
The whole conceit of the show was that listeners would write or call in with questions and Helen and Olly, the hosts, would answer them, with Martin the Sound Man weighing in sometimes. The questions ranged from personal to fact-based, and were always entertaining.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:31 PM on November 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
The whole conceit of the show was that listeners would write or call in with questions and Helen and Olly, the hosts, would answer them, with Martin the Sound Man weighing in sometimes. The questions ranged from personal to fact-based, and were always entertaining.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:31 PM on November 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
Do you have any spiritual/religious inclinations? I could possibly recommend some podcasts in that direction.
posted by brainwane at 9:58 PM on November 19, 2022
posted by brainwane at 9:58 PM on November 19, 2022
If your interest in trivia includes pop culture, you might consider checking out The Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show.
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:41 AM on November 20, 2022
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:41 AM on November 20, 2022
Eggplant: The Secret Lives of games is a gaming podcast hosted by 5 (it is rare that all are present) people in indie game development, speaking with the creators of an indie game. It's thoughtful discussion of video games by people who make them.
Dear Hank and John is a show wherein two Internet-famous brothers known for talking to each other answer questions from their large community. It is similar to No Such Thing in that the topics are wide-ranging with regular tangents and the people are smart and usually thoughtful. It is usually funny but also can be poignant.
posted by cCranium at 7:14 PM on November 20, 2022
Dear Hank and John is a show wherein two Internet-famous brothers known for talking to each other answer questions from their large community. It is similar to No Such Thing in that the topics are wide-ranging with regular tangents and the people are smart and usually thoughtful. It is usually funny but also can be poignant.
posted by cCranium at 7:14 PM on November 20, 2022
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posted by mmascolino at 8:45 AM on November 19, 2022