Big Sugar, Oh, Honey Honey
+the worst Podcast Movie I've ever seen & Just Added!
Hey Poddy People!
Time. Where does it go? Marvel’s Loki Season 2 trailer came out and time is a significant construct of the show. My point is, it’s already August! Let’s go! Hi new subscribers! Subject line reference here.
The Round-Up
Speaking of Marvel, they are cutting staff from their podcast team. It was that big, to begin with, but it’s going from 6 to 3. Read more here.
Celebrity: Craig Ferguson released his new podcast, Joy, A Podcast. Trailer here.
Just Announced: SoCal Podcast Meetup 4
If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, joining the industry, or you are already in the space, come hang out. The Eventbrite is now live.
Sponsored (our first sponsor) by APM Studios!
Speaking of APM Studios (Brains On Science, The Splendid Table), they have a new podcast coming soon, Tiny Huge Decisions. Trailer here.
The Podcast Academy’s Ambies awards are now open for submissions. Enter here.
Did I ever tell you guys and gals that I watched probably one of the worst podcast TV movies? The setup, recording studio, and everything. I watched it all.
The Podcast Murders on Lifetime
It’s on Hulu or Lifetime. I would link to a trailer in all its glory, but I can’t even find that. Even on the official Lifetime page. Just me looking for the trailer gave me PTSD. Go watch it! If you want to know who the killer was, scroll to the bottom for the spoiler.
Here’s a video clip from the podcast studio in all its glory (also the first time using Substack’s video upload feature):
On the subject of TV, there is a much better story in the comedy-thriller-true crime podcaster parody arena, Based on a True Story, starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina. Will report back next week when I’m done watching this.
I was invited to a podcast this week. It’s a combo of video and audio as it was done at the Spotify Downtown LA campus. It wasn’t for Spotify, but for new pod friend Lloyd, whom we connected via LinkedIn/Podcast Movement Vegas earlier this year. I’ll keep you posted when the episode is released.
My calves are looking good bottom right
On to my picks this week…
Podcast: Big Sugar
Genre: Documentary, News
Publisher: iHeart
About: Come explore the secretive, multi-billion dollar sugar industry and the epic court battle that exposes how sugar is grown, cultivated and sold. Big Sugar is a deep dive into the inner workings of the industry. Hear firsthand from the workers, lawyers and journalists exposing the lies, exploitation and ultimately the truth. We travel from the Oval Office to the nightclubs of Havana to the sugarcane fields of Florida. This is a story of our time, an untold story that focuses on human rights, lobbying, nutrition and the environment.
Shoutout to my pod friend, Jenn from Salad With a Side of Fries, for getting me obsessed with looking at nutrition labels and Added Sugar on products, especially cereals.
We hear Big Pharma and Big Tech all the time. Never on my radar was Big Sugar on that list. Well, there it is. It’s mind-boggling how many products have Added Sugar.
Some highlights from the podcast:
Learn about worker’s compensation and the slave-like conditions in Florida
Lawsuits and investigations within the Florida Sugar industry
Cuba and its history with sugar
The Cuban billionaire brothers and their ivory towers of a corporate building and home
The Farm Bill and how taxpayers are funding Big Sugar
My only comment is that episodes 1 and 2 could’ve been a little tighter and maybe one episode. Other than that, every episode has an important story to tell because it affects our lives, our health, our humanity. Who would’ve thought? Not me.
Lauren Passell • Podcast The Newsletter
“...it feels like a box office thriller...It’s an industry that is driven by actual slave labor. It’s a real shit sandwich, and I bet there’s tons of sugar in the bread. But Big Sugar is exciting and fun.”
I may not call the podcast ‘fun’, but it is good at educating the listener in an entertaining way. I’m plowing right through it. Overall, a thumbs up from me.
Side note:
Podcast: Rachel Maddow Presents: Déjà News
Genre: History, News
Publisher: MSNBC
About: In each episode, Rachel and co-host Isaac-Davy Aronson seek a deeper understanding of a story in today's headlines by asking: Has anything like this ever happened before? Would knowing that help us grapple with what’s happening now… and what might happen next?
If you’ve listened to Bag Man or Ultra, you know Rachel Maddow’s podcast style. Interspersed with newsreels of the past, historians, and present-day connections, it’s pretty well-paced.
Mara Davis • Paste Magazine
“…history really does repeat itself. Going back provides a new perspective as to why these things are happening today.”
It sure does seem history does repeat itself, constantly. For example, in the last episode of the season, the Russia-Ukraine war in its current form compared to Italy invading Ethiopia in 1935, post World War 1. I am intrigued by stories when today is just groundhog day of history. Heck, Ultra/Bag Man was all about the parallel stories. Thumbs up.
Podcast: Offline with Jon Favreau
Episode: The Strike to Keep Hollywood Human, with Adam Conover
Genre: News
Publisher: Crooked Media
About episode: Straight off the picket line, comedian and WGA negotiator, Adam Conover gives a behind the scenes look into Hollywood's historic dual strike.
Background on the Hollywood strikes here.
For me, Adam Conover is the host of the excellent Adam Ruins Everything, an excellent communicator and host, which could easily be a podcast too. He debunks popular ideas or reasons with the truth. Popping that balloon so to speak.
Adam Ruins The Mattress Industry (there’s podcast parody in this video #casper)
Forget Big Sugar, where is the Big Mattress investigative podcast
In this episode of Offline with Jon Favreau, Adam doesn’t ruin anything we already know but gives us to cold hard truth because he is part of the negotiating table. Coming out of those meetings he informs us with additional context on what the Writers Guild is asking for and what the Studio heads are telling us. Did you know that when streaming was starting off, the WGA had to fight to get any type of residuals in the contracts because it didn’t exist via the TV contract version? Just to get it on the contract, they get pennies on the dollar. Adam mentioned his residual checks for Adam Ruins Everything were something like $30-50k one year on TruTV, but streaming was $500.
Anyway, it’s an informative episode. Get to it.
PR Staff • PodcastReview.org
One of the show’s greatest strengths is its scope: Favreau conducts interviews with anyone…offering breadth and depth to a topic that is all too often glossed over.
Just Added This Week
Help I Sexted My Boss - Audio Always
You Should Have Been There - Mick Webb, Simon Calder
Stephenville - Texas Monthly
Smoke Screen | Season: Betrayal on the Bayou - Auddy
Vergil A Mythological Musical - Audible
Born To Love with Ellie Kemper and Scott Eckert - Big Money Players Network, iHeartPodcast Network
OUTLAWS: The Good Thief - iHeartPodcast Network, Kaleidoscope
Levian - Hug House Productions, Samy Souissi
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week - Popular Science
The Really Good Podcast - Bobbi Althoff
Search Engine - PJ Vogt
Wish I Knew - Bessemer Venture Partners
Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms - LWC Studios
Agatha Christie and the Dandelion Poisoner - Audible
I’m Not Here to Hurt You - independent.ie
MVP (Most Viewed Podcasts) on GP from July 24-July 30:
5. The Witch Trials of JK Rowling - The Free Press
4. The Girlfriends - Novel Podcasts *new to the chart*
3. The Retrievals - Serial
2. Scamanda - Lionsgate Sound
1. Under Cover of Knight - Apple/Spoke Media (3rd week at #1)
The killer was… the podcast host. Sigh.
Stay safe, drink water, and help each other out!
Listening with you,
Captain Ron
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