Hey Poddy People,
I hope everyone is doing well! Hello to the new subs! In the past two weeks, I’ve been going to campus (USC) for the startup Incubator and business school event. One of the reasons was to investigate all the podcast studios that exist on campus. I have a list of four so far.
Regardless, I did finally get to see the Business school’s podcast studio. I was impressed by the size of the small room and how they made it work. I felt invigorated to do more to build relationships with campus departments. I encourage folks to check out their campuses to see what they have available to alumni, students, and the community in terms of podcasting. That includes college radio station studios. I was doing the college radio to podcast thing at KUCI back in ‘09.
Let’s GOOOO!!!
The Round-Up
Campus Protest: Speaking of USC campus, protests on the day I went last Thursday were quiet. The podcast connection you ask? Annenberg School of Communication has a daily news podcast, From Where We Are. Student journalists interviewed folks on the ground and gave me, the listener, the information I needed among other stories from the day. I also learned from the podcast, California law protects the 1st amendment on college campuses even if they are private, like USC, otherwise known as the Leonard Law. Listen here. #PowerToTheStudents
Podcast to TV: Donald Sterling, the embattled old former LA Clippers basketball owner, subject of a fantastic 30 for 30 podcast season, “The Sterling Affairs”. Hulu is launching an adaptation based on the series on June 4th starring Ed O’Neill and Laurence Fishburne. Unfamiliar with the story? Start here.
Max Cutler, founder of Parcast Studios (Supernatural with Ashley Flowers, Internet Urban Legends), later acquired by Spotify, has started a multimedia network PAVE (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Video, and Entertainment). Read more here.
Earth Day was last week. Feet in 2 Worlds: Home Interrupted. Home, Interrupted explores the intersection between the lives of American immigrants and today’s new climate reality.
I’m USC heavy in this edition, so I’m going to drop in Electric Futures again. USC Provost and current professor Charles Zukoski explores the tradeoffs California's Imperial Valley faces as the lithium extraction industry comes to town.
One more thing on USC. It played host to the LA Times Festival of Books. Crooked Media produced a live podcast show of Pod Save America in support of their new book Democracy or Else. Here’s the episode link.
Webby Awards Winners were announced here. Watch the ceremony on May 13th on all your social media.
Podcast nominees for the Peabody Awards were announced. Read about the nominees here.
I’m in the middle of planning a meetup with The Podcast Academy and Dolby in London for The Podcast Show. If you’re a brand that wants to support, hit reply and shoot me a note.
On to my picks this week…
Podcast: Talking to Death
Genre: Conversation
Publisher: Tenderfoot.TV, iHeart
About: Up and Vanished host and creator Payne Lindsey wants to talk you to death in his first “true crime” talk show (that may or may not actually be about true crime). Pull up a chair as Payne and guests talk about all things crime, life, mystery and fun. Take a listen… odds are, you won’t die.
True Crime host, Payne Lindsey (Atlanta Monster, Up and Vanished) has added a weekly interview podcast to his resume. It’s quite the listen with some structure regardless of how loose it' seems to be. Payne does let the conversation go where it needs to go.
All this to say, that posting on social media should be a part of your marketing list if you are a podcaster. Having followed Payne and Tenderfoot, it wasn’t until the teaser for the latest episode with Joe Gotto (Impractical Jokers) popped up did I tune in. Joe is the push-the-joke-a-little-further type of guy. I loved listening to his history and himself building his experience around what he loved to learn behind the scenes. One of Payne’s first questions was F***, Marry, Kill the Impractical Jokers. Great start to an episode.
Stephen O. • Podcast Delivery
"...you get your fill of real stories, unsolved crimes, pop culture commentary, and deep dives into the human psyche and it doesn't ramble on or suck."
Agreed. It' doesn’t suck.
Podcast: The Belgrano Diary
Genre: History
Publisher: The London Books of Reviews
About: The sinking of the General Belgrano was the bloodiest and most controversial military action of the Falklands War. This is the story of government cover-ups and conspiracies; of whistleblowers, crusading politicians and journalists fighting for the story. And caught in the middle of it all, a young officer whose account of what happened contradicted Margaret Thatcher’s in every crucial detail.
When I read James Marriot’s review, I thought, a diary? It isn’t just that. It’s an audio retelling with archives, and descriptions from the British Navy inside the submarine that sunk the Belgrano, and the ultimate regrets in their voices in episode 2 is a standout moment for me.
I do like history and there’s so much we don’t know. The Falklands War with Argentina is one of them. This is a compelling listen in my opinion.
James Marriot • The Times UK
“There’s brilliant archive audio...The central character is most compelling...the journey to get there makes this podcast worth your time. It’s a remarkably vivid account of the anticipation and fear of war. The diary is matched with great editing.”
Podcast: Truth Be Told: She Has A Name
Genre: True Crime
Publisher: APM Studios
About: Host Tonya Mosley has spent most of her career telling other people’s stories, now she is focusing on her own family. In the summer of 1987, Tonya’s sister Anita disappeared without a trace. It took 33 years of searching and her son’s DNA to connect Anita to a grave just outside of Detroit. But finding the body was just the beginning: Anita had been murdered. This isn’t just another whodunit, She Has A Name peels back the layers of Anita’s murder to reveal a city fighting for its own survival.
If you like revelations via storytelling, then yes, listen. If you like family mysteries that get uncovered, yet remain positive and loving, then listen. Yes, Anita was murdered, but Tonya (co-host of NPR’s Fresh Air) makes this podcast into a beautiful life story about her sister she didn’t know she had. Tonya had known Anita since she was a kid but as her sister? Well, that was new.
I had a quick minute to ask Tonya what the podcast was about back at On Air Fest - Brooklyn earlier this year. A great clear voice on the microphone.
Hannah Verdier • The Guardian
"...she’s not just another podcaster on a cold case. Instead, she tells an immensely brave and personal story as she hears about a young Detroit mother who disappeared in the 80s – and who happens to be the sister she never knew..."
#Healing and #Redemption
Just Added This Past Month
There are a lot of podcasts I couldn’t fit here. Instead of writing them all out, you’ll need to click on the link to see them.
‘Top of the Pods’ this past week on Great Pods:
5. Murder in the Hollywood Hills - Dateline NBC
4. Diary of a CEO - Steven Bartlett
3. Miss Me? - Lily Allen, Miquita Oliver, BBC Sounds
2. Wiser Than Me w/ Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Lemonada Media
1. A Muslim and a Jew - Instinct Productions
Stay safe, be kind, and donate to a worthy cause!
Listening with you,
Captain Ron
Great Pods is your best friend in podcast discovery. Get immersed in engaging critic reviews and ratings to help you decide on your next podcast listen. Tell a friend!