Dolly Saves America
This American Life is 25, take that Jolene, Jolene, Joooleeene, and learn to choose your struggle
There are two weeks left in 2020 and I realized while working on the newsletter that I have worked in the audio/radio/podcast space for over 10 years. So it feels only right to take the idea of this newsletter and also make my own weekly news and recommendations podcast! I’m currently in pre-planning mode and the release is TBD. Stay tuned!
Reminder: Don’t forget to share the newsletter! Let’s goooooooo!
On to my picks this week…
This American Life turns 25
Episode: 726: Twenty-Five
The radio show that revolutionized storytelling from all walks of American life turns 25 this month. Its shows have been on-demand or podcasted (whatever definition you’d like) for a while now. The anniversary episode theme revolved around stories told by 25-year-olds. Stories were about the researcher at Regeneron(COVID therapy cocktail), an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a Palestinian-American bachelorette living at home. But the one story that made my heart sink was that told of Ahmaud Arbery’s profile written by Mitchell S. Jackson. He read an adaptation of his well-known profile essay that he wrote in Runner’s World magazine. Flipping emotional.
Sam Wolfson of The Guardian said of This American Life, “This American Life’s approach was so revolutionary, the results didn’t seem like documentaries at all.”
Extra: PodcastReview.org picked their top 25 episodes of This American Life list if you want extra listening.
Dolly Parton’s America (2019)
Why am I posting about a one-year-old podcast? First, because you might not have listened to it. Second, because if you have actually paid attention to the news these days, Dolly is rocking it. She made a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine research earlier this year. For this recommendation, why not listen or re-listen to this amazing woman’s history and her impact in this well-reviewed podcast.
Jad Abumrad(WNYC’s Radiolab), host of the podcast, told Rolling Stone magazine, “I started noticing this person I grew up with was being looked at by a whole different group of people in a new way,” says Abumrad. “Particularly at this moment in America when we don’t have too many unifying figures, everybody loves Dolly.”
AV Club’s Gwen Ihnat review said, “(Dolly)She’s an amazing example of the impact one life can have, and during a time when most of us are starved for inspiration, Dolly Parton’s America can make for a much-needed, soul-soothing listen.”
Choose Your Struggle (Mental Health)
Storytime. As I was pre-planning my podcast, I decided to join a virtual networking event put on by Podcast Movement. The largest organization for podcast creators. I ended up networking with several creators that already publish their podcasts. One person, in particular, was Jay Shifman, creator of the Choose Your Struggle podcast. He shared his feedback and answered any and all questions I had. The dude has 46 episodes already! It really was such a positive and uplifting experience to learn from this group.
With big names taking most of the headlines in the podcast world, there is a huge chunk of independent creators doing great work. That is why I am recommending his podcast this week. I listened to the episodes with ex-Congresswoman Katie Hill and Entrepreneurship with Sharifah Hardie. Both conversations were different and had lessons to be learned. Hopefully, we all learn something.
Dhipa Stoltenberg from VURBL.com writes, “Choose Your Struggle is a podcast that enables you to identify stressors in your life that could potentially trigger a depressive state in you. This podcast maintains an upbeat and objective tone in tackling somber themes.”
XOXO
Captain Ron
P.S. I’ll continue to deliver the newsletter through December!
Great newsletter!