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We’re all literary up in podland this week. We’re still obsessed with criminals, too.
Four pods about crime and criminal justice — The Wonderland Murders, BIKRAM, In the Dark and My Favorite Murder — anchor today’s iTunes Top 10.
8 Pod Takes: Provocative Thoughts From This Week’s Podcasts
1) “Reading that taco was like reading Moby Dick.”
Listen: The Sporkful: How to Read a Taco (28:37)
- So says host Dan Pashman, basking in the chilorio taco he ate at Taqueria Sinaloense during a taco crawl through Queens. It’s a pork dish, from the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
- His guide: Professor Steven Alvarez, who teaches Taco Literacy at the University of Kentucky.
- My take: Great pod for taco lovers. So everyone, amiright?
2) “Sports bars are such a rich hotbed of humanity. It’s like a Canterbury Tales of the different spectrums of humanity.”
Listen: Comedy Bang! Bang!: John Mulaney, Seth Morris, Betsy Sodaro (43:37)
- Another hot literary reference, from Morris, aka sports bar poet Clovis Mandrake.
- Spoiler: Sports bar poetry is amazing.
- My pick: “More TVs” (46:29).
- Excerpt: “What about college lacrosse and Canadian golf?/What about Greek basketball, horse and buggy racing, or ESPN Classics?/What about American Ninja Warrior?/This bar needs more TVs.”
3) “The internet subsidizes weirdness.”
Listen: The Ezra Klein Show: Tyler Cowen on the painful end of American complacency (48:32)
- That’s Cowen, arguing those subsidies are good for most people.
- Important point: Expect collateral damage as the internet grows, just as there was with the rise of the printing press and television.
- My take: A thoughtful, worthwhile hour-and-a-half conversation.
4) “Data and Bible quotes can be used to justify literally anything.”
Listen: The Indicator from Planet Money: Stacey and Cardiff Take on the Commencement Speech (7:16)
- A nugget of wisdom from Stacey Vanek Smith, part of the “never believe the data” advice she’d give to new grads instead of “another meandering cliche-riddled commencement speech.”
- Six more tips for grads from the pod: 1) Be appreciative of where you are. 2) Money helps with life satisfaction. 3) Don’t worry about looking stupid. 4) Aim for a short commute. 5) Avoid open workspaces. 6) Don’t be a workaholic.
5) “Why it’s been a lonely beat for me for 18 years I have never been able to understand.”
Listen: Popcast: Pursuing R. Kelly: The Reporter Who Never Gave Up (9:24)
- That’s Jim DeRogatis, talking about reporting the allegations against musician R. Kelly.
- Host Jon Caramanica’s take: DeRogatis actually does know why he’s been mostly alone chronicling of the allegations of sexual impropriety: The victims are people society doesn’t seem to value.
6) “The climbing gym is the new golf course, the new country club.”
Listen: Outside Podcast: Dispatches: Mikhail Martin is a Brother of Climbing(13:53)
- That’s host Peter Frick-Wright, highlighting outdoor sports like climbing as business and networking hubs.
- It’s the first of four pods about “the challenges minority groups face when engaging in outdoor recreation.”
7) “The fourth most powerful person in the fucking world is Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s bi-weekly trainer.”
Listen: Pod Save America: “Live from Radio City!” (29:31)
- That’s Jon Lovett, speaking for everyone holding their breath for the continued good health of Supreme Court Justice RBG. She stands as a bulwark against the Trump agenda.
8) “This movie exists to answer the questions that are on nobody’s lips.”
Listen: Pop Culture Happy Hour: Solo: A Star Wars Story and What’s Making Us Happy (1:25)
- That’s Glen Weldon’s critical framing of the latest “Star Wars” story. The questions at hand about Han:
- “How exactly did he win the Millennium Falcon?”
- “What’s with all the vests?”
- “If you’re gonna go with a feathered look, why go with the middle part when a side part would look less fussy?”
- My take: C’mon. Who doesn’t want to know these answers?
Go Deep
1) Bikram Yoga
Listen: 30 for 30
- The five-part pod chronicles the rise and eventual reckoning of Bikram Yoga founder, Bikram Choudhury.
- Spoiler: He revolutionized yoga. He’s also accused of sexual assault and harassment.
- Binge time: 3 hours, 11 minutes.
2) “Grit Week”
Listen: Pardon My Take
- Big Cat and no-longer-so-mysterious PFT Commenter take their circus on the road to SEC country for a week-long celebration of grit.
- Spoiler: Bortles is involved.
- Binge time: 4 hours, 11 minutes.
3) “Oh What A World”
Listen: This Song
- Clara-Nova talks about being influenced by the Rufus Wainwright song.
- Length: 24 minutes.
4) “The Social Network”
Listen: The Rewatchables
- A deep dive into the 2010 film about Facebook’s founding.
- Length: 1 hour, 17 minutes.
Guest Appearances By…
Ali, Ayaan Hirsi The Jamie Weinstein Show
Ben-Ishay, Melissa Skimm’d From the Couch
- Convo with Baked by Melissa founder.
Bloom, Howard The Joe Rogan Experience
- Convo with author of “How I Accidentally Started the Sixties.”
Branson, Richard Sir Danny in the Valley
Braunohler, Kurt Not Too Deep with Grace Helbig
- Comedian on fatherhood, butts and his driver’s license.
Brennan, Neal WTF with Marc Maron
Carter, Jimmy Off Message
Chabon, Michael Fresh Air
Crosley, Sloane Otherppl with Brad Listi
- Writer talks about her new essay collection and putting sweaters in her freezer.
Davis, Geena Bullseye
Dormer, Natalie ID10T, Maltin on Movies
Duplass, Mark You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes
Eggers, Dave The Children’s Book Podcast
- Author talks about his new middle grade novel, “The Lifters.”
Eisenberg, Jesse Upon Further Review with Mike Pesca
- The actor laments his role in the Phoenix Suns’ failure to with the NBA title in 1993.
- It involves a fan letter. Also: Mulch.
Farrow, Ronan Fresh Air
Fieri, Guy Beyond the Plate
- Your chance to make Chicken Marsala in Flavortown.
Goldblum, Jeff Bon Appetit Foodcast
- The actor talks oatmeal, butter and barbecue.
Handey, Jack Bullseye
Israel, Steve The Axe Files
- Convo with writer/former congressman touches on gun reform, midterm elections.
Jacobs, Gillian ID10T
Jensen, Billy My Favorite Murder
- Crime journalist checks in on the Golden State Killer case.
Jones, Doug Stay Tuned with Preet
- Convo with the Democratic Senator from Alabama.
Lauper, Cyndi Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me
Lin, Tao Otherppl with Brad Listi
- Author talks about his first nonfiction book in his third Otherppl appearance.
Lowe, Luther If Then
- Yelp VP has a beef with Google.
Malkmus, Stephen All Songs Considered
- “Abracadabra,” “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” among the his guest DJ song picks.
Maron, Marc Armchair Expert
Milian, Christina Curious With Josh Peck
Mulaney, John Comedy Bang! Bang!
Moore, Wes Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
Oppenheimer, Mark The Gist
- Unorthodox host talks about Philip Roth.
Pein, Corey Recode Decode
- Convo with the author of “Live Work Work Work Die.”
Pollan, Michael The Joe Rogan Experience
Raja, Omar The J.J. Redick Podcast
- Convo with the creator of huge-on-Instagram “House of Highlights.”
Rayo, Mando Eater Upsell
- “Taco journalist” talks Tex-Mex.
Rodriguez, Paul WTF with Marc Maron
Roker, Al Weather Geeks
Ronan, Saoirse Modern Love
- Oscar-nominated actress reads Emily Robbins’ essay about “an American woman who falls in love with a Syrian doctor while learning Arabic in Damascus.”
Schrader, Paul The Moment With Brian Koppelman, The Big Picture, Filmspotting
- Filmmaker and screenwriter makes the pod rounds promoting his latest, “First Reformed.”
Schwartz, Dr. Pepper Dear Sugars
- AARP columnist talks sex and aging.
Shawkat, Alia Queery
Watts, Shannon Pod Save America
- Moms Demand Action founder talks about fight to end gun violence.
Woodward, Bob Slow Burn
- Journalism legend talks Nixon and Trump at the pod’s live show.
Pick From a Podcaster
This week’s podcaster: Hilda Labrada Gore, host and producer of Wise Traditions, a podcast about ancestral health.
- Hilda adds: “I realized some years ago that in order to be healthy you need to fuel your body with real food, not just food-like products (think cheese, instead of Cheetos). The show covers everything from the benefit of healthy fats to protecting yourself from cellular radiation.”
Hilda’s pick: Radiolab’s Smarty Plants.
Hilda says: “There’s a reason Radiolab has over 17,000 reviews. They reveal truth in casual and often humorous ways. ‘Smarty Plants’ piqued my interest because it’s an episode that helps us see trees and flowers in a different light.”
- She adds: “Can they think? Do they learn? Maybe the phrase ‘dumb as a potted plant’ never applies!”
Notable New Podcasts
1) BIKRAM
2) Aftermath
- Amber Hunt hosts “an episodic look at survivors of gun violence. Two crime reporters travel the country talking to people whose lives changed in the blink of an eye.”
3) Converge
- Casey Newton hosts a game-driven pod. The crux: “Each week, one of the Valley’s most fascinating entrepreneurs steps into the hot seat to play games that are both funny and revealing.”
- It promises to go deep on big stories. It’ll also feature in-depth interviews.
- First episode: Primary Season in America.
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