A few months back (it was five months back; it was in April; the
older I get, the less I understand how time works), I recommended some of my
favorite bookish podcasts. I've been meaning to do a follow-up post about other
podcasts I love, podcasts that might not be so closely tied up in books in
reading. *clutches pearls* And here it is! Other podcasts I put in my ears
weekly, recommended for your very much listening pleasure:
Dear Hank and John, weekly,
Tuesdays
Hank and John are Hank Green
and John Green, that is the VlogBrothers. Also,
yes, that John Green, who wrote The Fault in Our Stars and has
a new book coming out in a couple of weeks. They describe their show as "a comedy podcast about death where two brothers answer your questions, give you dubious advice, and bring you the week's news from Mars and AFC Wimbledon." Listeners write in with questions, sometimes silly, sometimes quite serious, and Hank and John give answers, often both silly and serious. It's funny, it's sometimes informative, it's often thoughtful, and it's just a great time. Also: news from Mars and AFC Wimbledon. Where else are you going to get that all in one package?
Pantsuit Politics, varies, ~2x
per week
Two women talk about the most
pressing national political topics of recent days (and sometimes their local
politics), often interviewing expert guests. They do a great job representing
both the right and the left, and this is one of my go-to places to get
thoughtful, careful discussion of all the news that's carving a hole in my gut.
Their tag-line is "Sarah from the left. Beth from the right. No shouting.
No insults. Plenty of nuance." No echo chamber here, folks.
From the Front Porch,
weekly, Thursdays
Hosted by Annie Jones, the
owner of independent bookstore The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia, and Chris
Jensen, a Bookshelf staffer, From the Front Porch provides
"conversations on books, small business, and life in the South."
Episode formats vary, sometimes comprising recaps of the books Annie and Chris
have read in the past month, sometimes taking the form of a round-table
discussion ("Love It or Loathe It") involving several staffers from
the shop about a particular book, and sometimes featuring discussion and
recommendations about books on a certain topic. Whatever the format, it's
always a thoughtful, delightful half hour of book and bookstore talk.
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text,
weekly, Tuesdays
Hosts Vanessa Zoltan and Casper
ter Kuile, both graduates of Harvard Divinity School, discuss the Harry
Potter novels as sacred texts, looking at one chapter a week and
reading that chapter through a chosen theme and through one of several
spiritual practices drawn from various spiritual traditions. The podcast is a
perfect blend of fun, serious, and spiritual, with most episodes calling on
listeners to examine their lives and choices through the lens of the week's
theme. They've gotten through HP3 at this point; I recommend starting at the
beginning. I usually listen to this podcast as I'm getting ready for bed, and I
find it a lovely way to close out the day.
The West Wing Weekly, weekly, Tuesdays
This is a recap and discussion
show about The West Wing, hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway and Joshua
Malina (who played Will Bailey on The West Wing from season
four on). They go episode by episode, discussing each as viewers and fans, with
some behind-the-scenes stuff from Malina, as well. They also frequently
interview former cast and crew members. Fascinating stuff.
(Podcast links above take you to a web presence for each
show, sometimes a website, sometimes a patreon, whevs, something associated
directly with that podcast. Invariably, the best way to listen, however, is to
subscribe through your podcatcher of choice. If you're looking for a new (or
your first) podcatcher, your Google-fu should snag you some good recommendation
lists for Iphone and Android. I use Podcast Addict. It does the thing.)
