Not a bad week, yeah? For podcasts, too. Let’s get to it.
The counts: 43 notable guests, seven new podcasts, six deep dives and one malarkey-free new president.
Pod Take of the Week
“If I choose not to speak out of fear, then there’s no one that my silence is standing for.”
Listen: Ted Talks Daily: Using your voice is a political choice (2:07)
- That’s National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, whose reading of her poem “The Hill We Climb” transfixed the U.S. at Wednesday’s inauguration of President Joe Biden.
- Gorman explains the power of poetry in her Ted Talk: “Poetry has never been the language of barriers. It’s always been the language of bridges.”
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Go Deep
1) President Joe Biden
Listen: The Daily, Pod Save America, FiveThirtyEight, Checks and Balance
- Yes it really happened and podcasters are on it. A few highlights:
- The Daily took the temperature of Biden supporters. The overwhelming sentiment: Relief.
- Pod Save America breaks down Biden’s inauguration ceremony and his first day in office.
- The Economist’s Checks and Balance asks, “How will the new administration reboot Washington?” while FiveThirtyEight wonders if Biden’s vision of unity is even possible.
2) Was Donald Trump Good for Comedy?
Listen: Good One
- Six comedians — Anthony Atamanuik, Sarah Cooper, Roy Wood Jr., Ayo Edebiri, Jenny Hagel and Hayes Davenport — wrestle with the question for 1 hour, 29 minutes.
3) Junk Food
Listen: Doughboys, A Hot Dog Is a Sandwich, Stuff You Should Know
- Three shows for the stress eaters in Podland:
- Doughboys visits Popeyes with Phil Rosenthal.
- A Hot Dog Is a Sandwich asks: Is deep dish pizza really a casserole?
- Stuff You Should Know investigates the “most disgusting candy on the planet”: Necco Wafers.
4) The Beer Hall Putsch
Listen: Behind the Bastards
- The two-parter looks at Adolf Hitler’s failed 1923 coup in Munich.
5) Mission to Mars
Listen: American Innovations
- The multi-part series looks at the efforts to reach the red planet.
6) The Eagles Feuds
Listen: Rivals
- The series on the many, many feuds among the band’s members and with others in the music biz spans three parts.
- Binge time: 2 hours, 57 minutes.
Guest Appearances By…
Allende, Isabel Spark & Fire
Anderson, Anthony Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Bettany, Paul You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
Brennan, John The Jordan Harbinger Show
Bridgers, Phoebe Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!
Brown, Samantha Women Who Travel
Burr, Bill Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson
Carlson, Gretchen Your Fave’s Faves
Common Armchair Expert
Cooper, Sarah The Last Laugh
Couric, Katie Life is Short with Justin Long
Cranston, Bryan Sway
Gates, Melinda Unlocking Us with Brené Brown, What’s Her Story with Sam & Amy
Glazer, Ilana Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
- She reads a bio of new U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.
Hackett, Grant The Tim Ferriss Show
Hudson, Ernie Inside of You
Kesha Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know
- It’s UFOs. UFOs and paranormal activity, according to the singer.
Kimmel, Jimmy The Bill Simmons Podcast
Knox, Amanda Good For You
- The second of a two-parter with the exoneree and journalist.
Lanois, Daniel WTF with Marc Maron
Lee, Tommy Walking the Floor
Lethem, Jonathan Working
Longoria, Eva Table Manners with Jessie Ware
Lopez, George Literally! With Rob Lowe
Louis-Dreyfus, Julia SmartLess
Madden, Steve The Jordan Harbinger Show
Mattel, Trixie Las Culturistas
McConaughey, Matthew Talks at Google
Mosseri, Adam Decoder with Nilay Patel
Myles, Eileen Bookworm
Nanjiani, Kumail Too Long; Didn’t Watch
Nas Broken Record
Pelosi, Nancy You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton
Phelps, Michael The Tim Ferriss Show
Scheer, Paul The Three Questions with Andy Richter
Schreck, Heidi All Ears with Abigail Disney
Schumer, Amy Anna Faris is Unqualified
Sharapova, Maria Skimm’d From the Couch
Shue, Elisabeth ID10T
Sorkin, Aaron The Treatment
Springer, Jerry The Adam Carolla Show
Tweedy, Jeff Sodajerker on Songwriting
Zaltzman, Andy WTF with Marc Maron
Notable New Podcasts
1) The Apology Line (Jan. 19)
- Marisa Bridge hosts the Wondery show, which recalls the “groundbreaking conceptual art project developed and operated by Allan Bridge from 1981 to 1995. Using repurposed telephone answering machines not long after they first introduced to the market, Allan recorded messages from anonymous callers.”
- Apple Podcasts rank: No. 1.
- Spotify Trending Podcasts rank: No. 4.
2) How It Happened (Jan. 18)
- Axios political reporter Jonathan Swan “reveals the inside story of Donald Trump’s last few months in office.”
- Apple Podcasts rank: No. 5.
- Spotify Trending Podcasts rank: No. 8.
3) The Kennedys (Jan. 19)
- The pod marks the 60th anniversary of JFK’s inauguration with “some of the most important moments in the Kennedy dynasty.”
- Spotify Trending Podcasts rank: No. 2.
4) Race to 270 (Jan. 20)
- The podcast/game show spinoff from Armchair Expert features two friends “on a race to see who can reach 270 pounds first. Aaron starts out the competition at 306 pounds and has 36 pounds to lose. Charlie starts at 230 pounds and has 40 pounds to gain.”
5) First Take, Her Take (Jan. 21)
- Charly Arnolt, Kimberley Martin and Chiney Ogwumike “discuss and debate the biggest sports stories while also providing insight into their personalities as the three women delve into other topics about their lives and culture in the First Take style.”
6) Life Skills (Jan. 21)
- Tavi Gevinson’s Audible pod “dives into difficult situations with nuance and specificity, defying platitudes and embracing the expertise of the writers featured,” according to Teen Vogue.
7) Facing Forward (Jan. 22)
- Margaret Brennan “asks the tough questions of key business and political leaders, CEOs, and economists to get answers about how the fallout and recovery affects you, your family, and your future.”
For five more podcasts that launched this week, plus upcoming debuts, visit the This Week in Podcasts website.