🕺I want you to want me...to listen
Elyse, Gourley, and DERRRULLLOOOOO + lotsa of links and just added
Hey Poddy People!
And hey to the new subscribers! I hope you enjoy your stay here at Casa de Great Pods. I usually don’t write a hot take summary in the intro, but why not?
I just came back from night one of On Air Fest - LA Annex. A mini-podcast festival that’s open to the public. Hosted by KCRW public radio in LA. It was a special moment for me having listened to KCRW, a local staple of LA radio and good music curation, to finally check it out! After a brief networking hour, there was a program featuring three podcasts. For me, it ranged from interesting, and fascinating, to drop-dead hilarious.
Hot Takes from Night One:
Lost Notes (featured a while back in the newsletter) with a new season - Interesting that Soft Cell’s Tainted Love was a cover - maybe a tad bit too short of a segment.
Felicia Day’s Third Eye - Fascinating of the immense work that goes into a fiction fantasy podcast - it was maybe a tad too long of a segment, and my attention started to wane.
As soon as the segment ended, half the crowd left as it was almost 9 PM on a work night, which was disappointing to see because…
Let’s Make A Horror - Featured two weeks ago, was drop-dead hilarious with the live show and Paul F. Tompkins as a guest. I was in stitches I wished more people could’ve waited. Go see them live if they tour.
Here’s a clip from Ryan Beil’s pitch. I do hope they post this on the podcast feed.
Night Two features Spooked Live with the amazing Glynn Washington, the just-released Interval Presents' Underwater with Jason Derulo featured below, and Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso. I love live podcast shows…
On Air Fest will see more activations on Saturday and for FREE!
“Ear Hustle, Deep Routes: Songs from Tovaanger, Age of Audio, Step Inside Dolby Atmos, Tenderfoot TV Experience with Dear Alana and High Strange, The Wind, Inside Every Shell a Story, Finches: Two Poems by ricky sallay zoker”
Shoutout to the Dolby Atmos team! Check out their Dolby immersed car for the sound demo. It’s mind-blowing each time I sit in it. RSVP HERE.
Let’s GOOO!!!
The Round-Up
Patreon is hosting Creator Fest in Downtown LA this Saturday. Unfortunately, it’s homecoming for USC football, so I’ll only be there for an hour or so. I’ll try to see what podcast activations they may have. More info.
I almost forgot to mention I went to Crooked Media’s Lovett or Leave It Live last week. It was also just as entertaining as I thought it would be. I have my notes, so I’ll do a hot take and an Instagram post. The touring schedule can be found here.
Launched today, Tenderfoot.TV’s Down Range. Trailer here with links to the first episode.
iHeartPodcasts announced a new historical true crime, Who Killed JFK? launching next week. Trailer here.
I’m still enjoying the Class of ‘88 w/ Will Smith. It’s actually, if I may say, dope.
Influencer JoJo Siwa launched her podcast, JoJo Siwa Now. Trailer here.
Remember the Good Morning America anchors scandal? It’s Instagram official, AMY and T.J. have a podcast coming out in December. I’ll have more when the trailer comes out.
From PodNews
The Economist has some pretty stellar podcasts, so it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out as others go in the other direction like Spotify exclusives going back on other platforms.
There are a lot of podcasts to choose from this week that are linked. Seriously though, let me know in the comments or reply if something caught your eye. I need the validation this week.
On to my picks this week…
About: Each week on my podcast Funny Cuz It’s True, I’ll be sitting down with my favorite creators, friends and comedians to find the stories that have stuck with them and changed their lives in small ways. Not so funny moments that have become funny over time. I want to know how they handled these situations and learned to laugh about them years later. How do they do it? Great question, I’d love to tell you (but you have to listen to find out).
I‘m disappointed in myself right now. How did I forget this about Elyse and not put two and two together? Elyse was the person who bought 100 tacos for a date because he didn’t have the cash (there’s more to it, it’s wild). I didn’t hear about it via TikTok. I heard about it via This Is Dating podcast. I even made an IG reel on it and tagged her last year. Yet, here I am. Ooof. At least, now I know.
I loved the way guests broke down their thought process in real-time with question or situation that was presented to them. More specifically, I listened to the episode with Penn Badgley (Podcrushed) episode. It was like hearing a music artist breaking down their lyrics, and instrumentation, with their internal approach. A little bit like a Rick Rubin-lite.
Diana Baron-Moore • Common Sense Media
“a playful and casual tone, with simple production and a silly intro theme. Invariably, episodes are genuine and full of kindness.”
Podcast: Keys to the Kingdom
Genre: Society, Theme Parks
Publisher: Amanda Lund, Matt Gourley
About: Keys to the Kingdom is an unprecedented, eight-part docuseries exploring the peculiar backstage life of theme park characters, performers, and fans. Hosted by recovering theme park employees Matt Gourley (Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Mallwalkin’) and Amanda Lund (Earios Co-founder, The Complete Woman, New Girl), each installment promises insider secrets, stories of absurd guest interactions, and fascinating tales of workplace minutiae.
Amanda with her podcasting aficionado husband Matt Gourley stepped up to the plate in this new podcast about theme parks. Interviewing Disneyland Park princesses of their not-so-friendly guest stories as well as the amazing heartfelt ones. One former princess keeps in touch with an autistic child’s family because of the impact she had on the kid. <3
•“Matt and Amanda are delightful, funny, and they are not holding back.”
Miranda Sawyer • The Guardian
“Lund and Gourley are witty and warm, and I laughed out loud on several occasions. There’s a lot of work in this series; great use of music, good interviews and research, an excellent script.”
Podcast: Underwater
Genre: Fiction-Romantic-Noir
Publisher: Interval Presents, Warner Music Group
About: Ana is a woman on the run. Nico was sent to find and return her. Their instant connection changes everything and threatens both their lives. UNDERWATER is a sexy, neo-noir thriller and a first-of-its kind narrative album, featuring original music by Jason Derulo.
I always find it hard to talk about a story without just enough to entice you to maybe want to listen. Only episode one has been released thus far so I’m reserving my hot take for the following week in the Round-Up. However, so far it’s not bad at all.
Featuring pop artist, influencer, and now podcast actor, Jason Derulo, I was more curious about how the team would product place Jason’s original songs. I was not disappointed.
I didn’t find any of the characters to be taking me out of the story, although the introduction drama scene, had me visualing some Goodfellas type of action. Stay to the end for that original Derulo music. If there’s a TikTok dance to the song, I’ll try to do it.
One thing is for sure, Jason can entertain. I saw him live at a small club in SF a few years back for an event. Bro is crazy good.
Have you listened yet? Comment below.
Hannah Verdier • The Guardian
“It’s glossy, sexy and Derulo has the right level of swagger for the role. He also debuts new music – yes, there is a trademark “Jason Deruuuuulo” or two.”
Just Added This Week…
House of Skulls with Marc Fennell - Audible
Marvel's Wastelanders: Doom - Marvel, SiriusXM
Travel Diaries Podcast - Holly Rubenstein
Cirque du Sound - Cirque du Soleil
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story - Audible
Bloodlines - BBC, CBC
Shaun Keaveny's Daily Grind - Global Media & Entertainment
The Conflict: Israel-Gaza - BBC
Battle Lines: Israel-Gaza - The Telegraph
Tortoise Investigates: Dr Anti-vax - Tortoise Media
60 Songs That Explain the 90s - The Ringer
We're Having Gay Sex - Ashley Gavin, Studio71
Girls on Porn - Headgum
Sex with Emily - Dr. Emily Morse
Top of the Pods this past week on greatpods.co. These are folks looking for professional podcast reviews to help them decide on what to listen to:
MrBallen's Medical Mysteries (Ballen Studios/Wondery)
Ghost Story (Wondery/Pineapple Street Studios)
The Kids of Rutherford County - NEW (Serial/The New York Times)
13 Days of Halloween - NEW SEASON (iHeartPodcast Network/Aaron Mahnke/Blumhouse/Grim & Mild)
From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast (Audible UK)
Did I miss a professional review to be added? Submit it here.
Did you want to add YOUR podcast to the database, especially for a new podcast or season? Submit it here.
Hang in there, drink water, and take a breath!
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!