Hey party people, there is a lot of celebrating going on this week! Happy inauguration week and welcome to our new subscribers!
Today I launched a podcast!
Podcast update: I finally jumped in and released the trailer and first episode of Great Pods: The Podcast. A podcast that compliments the newsletter with recommendations from guests explaining why they liked an episode or podcast. It’s a little rough around the edges, but you have to start somewhere! On the first episode, I asked Jefferson Graham, former USA Today tech columnist with whom I collaborated at TuneIn, for our first guest episode recommendations clip - (under 3 minutes). It will include what he listened to this week and why he liked it. You’ll be able to find the newsletter version of his recommendation below. Take a listen!
Also, if you liked the newsletter or know someone that might enjoy it too, share it!
On to my (our) picks this week…
Podcast: Freakonomics Radio
Publisher: Dubner Productions and Stitcher
This year Freakonomics radio/podcast celebrates its 10 year anniversary. A spin-off of the popular book, it’s garnered awards and downloads for its storytelling and reporting.
“If you enjoy taking a fresh, data-driven look at what is happening in the world today this may be the podcast for you. The emphasis is generally on the United States but concepts and examples from around the world and history are incorporated to help the listener grapple with those trickiest of questions, the ones that begin with: Why?” - Robert Nease from Quill.inc.
In that celebration, they are releasing 10 years of archives from behind their paywall on Stitcher and freakonomics.com. Their normal podcast release is available everywhere else. Have at it!
About: Each week, Freakonomics Radio tells you things you always thought you knew (but didn’t) and things you never thought you wanted to know (but do) — from the economics of sleep to how to become great at just about anything. Dubner speaks with Nobel laureates and provocateurs, intellectuals and entrepreneurs, and various other underachievers.
The button above links to Spotify, Apple, Google, Breaker, Castro, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castbox, and RadioPublic
Guest Podcast Recommendation: Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast
Publisher: Starburns
Another thing worth celebrating this week is the launch of the Great Pods podcast. As mentioned in the intro, this podcast and episode (Abbot and Costello) is a recommendation from Jefferson Graham. Listen to his audio recommendation above. As always, I like to supplement a recommendation with a review to assist in your decision to listen.
Marc Hershon from Huff Post writes, “With all of the rampant fun that this episode brings, my favorite touchstone throughout is the syncopated rhythm of Gottfried’s relentless cackle and Black’s throaty chortle. Those sounds alone are enough to pull laughs out of your piehole.”
I saw that Gilbert has episodes with Bob Costas and Neil Degrasse Tyson. I genuinely want to know what Gilbert and his signature cackle discuss with them.
The episode button above links to Spotify, Apple, and Google
The button above links to Spotify, Apple, Google, Breaker, Castro, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castbox, and RadioPublic
Jefferson Graham, the former USA TODAY tech columnist, is now launching a new travel video series on Amazon. Photowalks launches 2/19. Follow him at his newsletter, http://jeffersongraham.substack.com
Podcast: Planet Money
Publisher: NPR
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby entered the public domain this month after 95 years of copyright law expired! What does that mean? It means anyone can perform, record, publish, and more without any publisher rights as it belongs to all of us now.
Not to be outdone by Freakonomics 10th anniversary, NPR’s chill economic podcast Planet Money, released a special episode this week reading the entire book with their staff on the podcast without having to pay for it.
Planet Money writes, “As much as anything, The Great Gatsby is about money. It's a book about why people want money, what they do with it when they get it — and what money does to them. The Great Gatsby is the perfect novel for Planet Money.”
Consider it your free audiobook!
The episode button above links to Spotify, Apple, and Google
Honorable mentions: It’s Dolly Parton’s 75th birthday! The singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and vaccine-funding queen is amazing, to say the least. We’re re-recommending Dolly Parton’s America in honor of her birthday and this interview with Willie Geist on NBC’s Sunday Sitdown podcast.
The button above links to Spotify, Apple, Google, Breaker, Castro, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castbox, and RadioPublic
Stay safe and wear a mask!
XOXO
Captain Ron
GP Logo: Laura
Music: Levi
Copy editor: Brew
So many celebrations this week AND Episode 1 of the podcast!