I'll go out on a limb and suggest Dolly Parton's America. There's no true crime in it but it's vast and glorious and will catch you off guard as it draws you in.
It looks at Dolly as a musical powerhouse rather than the familiar boobs-and-rhinestones trope and takes fascinating turns into music history (the episode on the origins of the fiddle in southern music was excellent), mountain homes, feminism, and how she navigates today's political climate as an activist but not a shouty one. www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america
I listen to history and law podcast religiously so here are some of my recommendations. You probably have heard about Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History already and my favorite episodes, to name a few, is the first ever episode called Lady Vanishes about this famous painting called the Roll Call in the 19th century and The King of Tears about country music and that's funny because I don't listen to country music at all.
Then there's WNYC Studio's More Perfect― it's a little America–centric considering it's a deep dive about some tried landmark SCOTUS cases. I particularly loved the episodes called Enemy of Mankind and American Pendulum I. The former literally is a crash course about International Law and I could attest to the fact that I learnt more in that hour long episode about the subject than seating through a full semester of International Law class. Then the latter is about a case called Korematsu vs United States about the displacement of Japanese during WWII.
Here's a wild card I listen to for fun called Flash Forward. Basically, the host gives a prompt for a possible or not so possible future (ie What would happen if California decides to secede from US, a world without bees, or a future with so much fake news we don't know what's true anymore) then discuss it with experts. She did an episode on a possible pandemic last 2018 where everyone of the infectious disease experts she interviewed agreed that, yes, another pandemic is coming and if we are ready for one. Spoiler alert: we aren't.
There you go, David. I hope some of these are new for you.
Now here's a wild idea: START A PODCAST. You're like a male Mary Roach. It'd be entertaining and informative. Stay warm!
Thanks so much for these. Some solid recommends. I’m toying with the idea of a podcast that runs alongside Webworm — just figuring out logistics and time/format...
Mean! Needed some new reccos for my daily two hour prison break walks. My all time favourite podcast is the Adam and Joe BBC Radio 6 Music show, an oldie but a goldie that I've re-listened to many times, and always makes me look like a crazy person walking around on their own laughing to themselves. You need to start from the beginning otherwise you won't understand a lot of stuff they refer too. If you enjoy that, also check out the Adam Buxton podcast (episode 100 is hilarious). Also very, very excited about Grounded with Louis!
I spend so much time listening to podcasts (especially lately), and go through them so quickly that I've been needing some new ones to check out. Really appreciate these recommendations! One of my current favorites that I've always thought you might enjoy is called Matt D'Elia Is Confused. The host, Matt D'Elia (comedian Chris D'Elia's younger brother), offers hilarious - and astute - takes on politics, society, conspiracy theories, religion, music, film, etc. In earlier episodes, he interviews guests ranging from conservative commentators/columnists, QAnon researches, flat-earthers, to Neurosurgeons and (my personal favorite) exorcist Bob Larson. He also has a non-ironic affinity for gospel music, which is somehow fucking rad. Definitely good quarantine listening, and has provided me hours of entertainment.
Don’t forget The Cryptid Factor!! I would recommend Lifestyle Disease or The Voice Limbo to start. Always fun, informative, and now dead. You’ll never have to worry about missing a new one.
Thanks for this. I've considered listening to In The Dark before but it's hard to tell which true crime podcasts will treat the subject matter seriously and aren't just hopping on the trend train. Have you listened to any of the CBC original podcasts? In particular, I love both Someone Knows Something (skip s1 and go back to it) and Missing & Murdered. They're well-researched, engrossing, and incredibly humane. They often blend in Canadian politics, small town culture, and indigenous issues in an organic way. Also, the host of SKS always describes the house and pets of everyone he interviews, so now when I try to listen to other true crime podcasts and they just jump straight into the dialogue I'm like, "UM, but do they have a dog?!"
Hey! I've been listening to In The Dark for days now and just got to the Supreme Court decision during season two and had to stop to thank you again for the recommendation. The first season got me through a very tough and unexpected trip last week (weird to say about a podcast about murder, but we find stability in strange places), and season two has me making a mental conspiracy board like Charlie in Always Sunny. I have such a thing for docs and podcasts that lead to real-life changes, so this is right up my alley. Cheers, hope you're well!
(also, I have accidentally learned so much about the Fall Webworm Moth while trying to Google my way back to this post. Shout-out to that guy, even though he's "considered a pest")
It's funny... I did the same thing while figuring out what this newsletter was going to be called! Hey, I am so glad you had this experience. Sorry you had a full on week, but glad you got through. And aren't podcasts and amazing companion to help?! I feel you so much. And man - no spoilers - but that decision!!!
There's a couple of Podcasts I can really recommend - ;True Crime Bulls**t' if you like a really deep dive into a little known serial killer, 'The Lady Vanishes' for an ongoing mystery from over the ditch. Another one, called 'Death in Ice Valley' was one of the first podcasts I listened to, and is still one of the best. I agree, In the Dark is awesome. I'm missing my podcasts at the moment as I usually listen to them on my commute. I'd like to listen to them while working from home - but I think I'd get too engrossed in them.
There's a couple of Podcasts I can really recommend - ;True Crime Bulls**t' if you like a really deep dive into a little known serial killer, 'The Lady Vanishes' for an ongoing mystery from over the ditch. Another one, called 'Death in Ice Valley' was one of the first podcasts I listened to, and is still one of the best. I agree, In the Dark is awesome. I'm missing my podcasts at the moment as I usually listen to them on my commute. I'd like to listen to them while working from home - but I think I'd get too engrossed in them.
Hi there, thanks for your suggestions! I will definitely give some of these ago, although I usually listen to podcast during my commutes and now my commute times are really short, about 3.5 seconds (I know, wild estimates).
Anywho, thank you for sharing. And if I can recommend a couple of podcasts, those would be S-Town and Root of Evil. Both super-deep rabbit holes!
Great list - I've listened to enough of these to know the ones I've never heard of will be right up my street. Adding Preet Bahara to my list right now.
Can I add "The End of the World with Josh Clarke" as my suggestion. Beautifully presented, thought provoking, and sound design which really deserves some attention including original music written to compliment the story/message. Given the times we're in, it's message is more uplifting than anxiety inducing, but still hard-hitting when he wants to drive a message home. I loved it.
I'll go out on a limb and suggest Dolly Parton's America. There's no true crime in it but it's vast and glorious and will catch you off guard as it draws you in.
It looks at Dolly as a musical powerhouse rather than the familiar boobs-and-rhinestones trope and takes fascinating turns into music history (the episode on the origins of the fiddle in southern music was excellent), mountain homes, feminism, and how she navigates today's political climate as an activist but not a shouty one. www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america
Look forward to trying this one out. You are not the first person to tell me about this, so I should start taking notice!
"(They’re not your friends, it’s all in your imagination, okay?)"
Well, obviously, David, because that's what tall, quirky journalists are for.
giving James Acaster the love he deserves
I listen to history and law podcast religiously so here are some of my recommendations. You probably have heard about Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History already and my favorite episodes, to name a few, is the first ever episode called Lady Vanishes about this famous painting called the Roll Call in the 19th century and The King of Tears about country music and that's funny because I don't listen to country music at all.
Then there's WNYC Studio's More Perfect― it's a little America–centric considering it's a deep dive about some tried landmark SCOTUS cases. I particularly loved the episodes called Enemy of Mankind and American Pendulum I. The former literally is a crash course about International Law and I could attest to the fact that I learnt more in that hour long episode about the subject than seating through a full semester of International Law class. Then the latter is about a case called Korematsu vs United States about the displacement of Japanese during WWII.
Here's a wild card I listen to for fun called Flash Forward. Basically, the host gives a prompt for a possible or not so possible future (ie What would happen if California decides to secede from US, a world without bees, or a future with so much fake news we don't know what's true anymore) then discuss it with experts. She did an episode on a possible pandemic last 2018 where everyone of the infectious disease experts she interviewed agreed that, yes, another pandemic is coming and if we are ready for one. Spoiler alert: we aren't.
There you go, David. I hope some of these are new for you.
Now here's a wild idea: START A PODCAST. You're like a male Mary Roach. It'd be entertaining and informative. Stay warm!
Thanks so much for these. Some solid recommends. I’m toying with the idea of a podcast that runs alongside Webworm — just figuring out logistics and time/format...
Mean! Needed some new reccos for my daily two hour prison break walks. My all time favourite podcast is the Adam and Joe BBC Radio 6 Music show, an oldie but a goldie that I've re-listened to many times, and always makes me look like a crazy person walking around on their own laughing to themselves. You need to start from the beginning otherwise you won't understand a lot of stuff they refer too. If you enjoy that, also check out the Adam Buxton podcast (episode 100 is hilarious). Also very, very excited about Grounded with Louis!
Hey David,
I spend so much time listening to podcasts (especially lately), and go through them so quickly that I've been needing some new ones to check out. Really appreciate these recommendations! One of my current favorites that I've always thought you might enjoy is called Matt D'Elia Is Confused. The host, Matt D'Elia (comedian Chris D'Elia's younger brother), offers hilarious - and astute - takes on politics, society, conspiracy theories, religion, music, film, etc. In earlier episodes, he interviews guests ranging from conservative commentators/columnists, QAnon researches, flat-earthers, to Neurosurgeons and (my personal favorite) exorcist Bob Larson. He also has a non-ironic affinity for gospel music, which is somehow fucking rad. Definitely good quarantine listening, and has provided me hours of entertainment.
Love your work - cheers!
Matt D'Ella sounds great. I'm down. Thanks!
Don’t forget The Cryptid Factor!! I would recommend Lifestyle Disease or The Voice Limbo to start. Always fun, informative, and now dead. You’ll never have to worry about missing a new one.
Thanks for this. I've considered listening to In The Dark before but it's hard to tell which true crime podcasts will treat the subject matter seriously and aren't just hopping on the trend train. Have you listened to any of the CBC original podcasts? In particular, I love both Someone Knows Something (skip s1 and go back to it) and Missing & Murdered. They're well-researched, engrossing, and incredibly humane. They often blend in Canadian politics, small town culture, and indigenous issues in an organic way. Also, the host of SKS always describes the house and pets of everyone he interviews, so now when I try to listen to other true crime podcasts and they just jump straight into the dialogue I'm like, "UM, but do they have a dog?!"
I love Canadian culture (I address a small part of it in tomorrow's newsletter) - so count me in. Favourite'ing them now.
Hey! I've been listening to In The Dark for days now and just got to the Supreme Court decision during season two and had to stop to thank you again for the recommendation. The first season got me through a very tough and unexpected trip last week (weird to say about a podcast about murder, but we find stability in strange places), and season two has me making a mental conspiracy board like Charlie in Always Sunny. I have such a thing for docs and podcasts that lead to real-life changes, so this is right up my alley. Cheers, hope you're well!
(also, I have accidentally learned so much about the Fall Webworm Moth while trying to Google my way back to this post. Shout-out to that guy, even though he's "considered a pest")
It's funny... I did the same thing while figuring out what this newsletter was going to be called! Hey, I am so glad you had this experience. Sorry you had a full on week, but glad you got through. And aren't podcasts and amazing companion to help?! I feel you so much. And man - no spoilers - but that decision!!!
There's a couple of Podcasts I can really recommend - ;True Crime Bulls**t' if you like a really deep dive into a little known serial killer, 'The Lady Vanishes' for an ongoing mystery from over the ditch. Another one, called 'Death in Ice Valley' was one of the first podcasts I listened to, and is still one of the best. I agree, In the Dark is awesome. I'm missing my podcasts at the moment as I usually listen to them on my commute. I'd like to listen to them while working from home - but I think I'd get too engrossed in them.
There's a couple of Podcasts I can really recommend - ;True Crime Bulls**t' if you like a really deep dive into a little known serial killer, 'The Lady Vanishes' for an ongoing mystery from over the ditch. Another one, called 'Death in Ice Valley' was one of the first podcasts I listened to, and is still one of the best. I agree, In the Dark is awesome. I'm missing my podcasts at the moment as I usually listen to them on my commute. I'd like to listen to them while working from home - but I think I'd get too engrossed in them.
Michelle - haven't heard either of those. Added to my listen-list. Thanks.
Hi there, thanks for your suggestions! I will definitely give some of these ago, although I usually listen to podcast during my commutes and now my commute times are really short, about 3.5 seconds (I know, wild estimates).
Anywho, thank you for sharing. And if I can recommend a couple of podcasts, those would be S-Town and Root of Evil. Both super-deep rabbit holes!
I really loved S-Town. It's not in my top 10, but it's masterful.
Indeed!
It was obviously "a go", not "ago". Auto-correct can be quite illiterate!
I've been bingeing on The Guilty Feminist's New Normal series of interviews with comedians in lockdown.
Great list - I've listened to enough of these to know the ones I've never heard of will be right up my street. Adding Preet Bahara to my list right now.
Can I add "The End of the World with Josh Clarke" as my suggestion. Beautifully presented, thought provoking, and sound design which really deserves some attention including original music written to compliment the story/message. Given the times we're in, it's message is more uplifting than anxiety inducing, but still hard-hitting when he wants to drive a message home. I loved it.
You should listen to the podcast Bros before Hoes
Totally interesting.
The second one is great for deepening your last post!
Thank you❤ for the suggestions, i will def check them out because quarantine is having its effect on my sanity 😂
Hope you find one you enjoy. The list has some comedy, some drama, some information. Take your pick!