The rest of this week’s newsletter? Trump free.

Thanks to everyone who sent feedback during the last few weeks. I tightened things a bit, and I’ll continue to calibrate. Send more suggestions my way and, as always, thanks for subscribing!

7 Pod Takes: Provocative Thoughts From This Week’s Podcasts

1) “Computers don’t understand brains. Brains don’t understand computers.”

Listen: WSJ The Future of Everything: Hacking the Brain’s Code (6:07)

• That’s Justin Sanchez, director of the biological technologies office at DARPA, setting the playing field for a discussion about hacking human brains.

• Sanchez adds: “We’ve got to figure out what the dialog is going to be there.”

• Scientists are already connecting computers to paraplegics.

• My take: Fascinating pod. Humans can be amazing.

2) “There’s no cost to cruelty.”

Listen: Crazy/Genius: Is Online Dating Destroying Romance? (10:25)

• Host Derek Thompson sums up the position of his guest, sociologist Eric Klinenberg, who argues online dating is destroying romance.

• Spoiler: When dating outside of our traditional communities, he says, there’s less incentive to be polite.

• Adds Klinenberg on the rise in cruel behavior: “It can be a little titillating. People get off on it.”

• My take: Fascinating pod. Humans can be awful.

3) “You don’t have to be a natural to get really, really good at something.”

Listen: Hidden Brain: When Everything Clicks (41:49)

• That’s Shankar Vedantam, stating the position of his guest, Martin Levy, who uses a clicker — you know, the kind used to train dolphins and animals — to teach skills to humans without verbal feedback.

• Spoiler: It works. Removing emotions from learning can improve it.

• Levy adds: “Everyone isn’t going to be a wizard. We just want you to be really, really good.”

• My take: Another terrific, enlightening Hidden Brain ep.

4) “If you look at moon rocks, most of ‘em are kind of boring to look at. They have a bit of an image problem.”

Listen: Houston We Have a Podcast: Moon Rocks (2:31)

• So says planetary scientist Ryan Zeigler, who does his part to rehabilitate that image. The NASA pod goes 34 minutes on rocks from the moon.

• My take: It’s 34 riveting minutes.

5) “Imagine having that much power that people just want to applaud you for existing.”

Listen: Pop Culture Happy Hour: Ocean’s 8 and What’s Making Us Happy (4:11)

• That’s Bim Adewunmi on the power of Rihanna, as evidenced by audiences’ responses to her on-screen appearance in early screenings of “Ocean’s 8.”

• My take: I love heist movies. Can’t wait to see this.

6) “All the stat nerds are like, ‘Momentum doesn’t matter. Momentum’s a myth. There’s no statistical proof for momentum.’ Momentum exists.”

Listen: The Bill Simmons Podcast: Curry’s Electric Game 2, Plus Andy Samberg and Desus and Mero (40:14)

• Simmons gonna Simmons. His Exhibit A: Overtime of game one of the Warriors/Cavaliers NBA Finals, in the wake of J.R. Smith’s boneheaded play that extended the action.

• He and Samberg talk basketball and the parallels between NBA teams and “Saturday Night Live” casts.

7) “If you’re not punchable in your twenties for a while you’re doing something wrong.”

Listen: Inbox: Snickers Bar Mysteries with Rembert Browne (1:13)

• That’s co-host Matt Stroup, highlighting a pitfall of youth.

Go Deep

1) Stories of the World Cup

Listen: Men in Blazers, Ringer FC, American Fiasco, We Came to Win, Planet Futbol with Grant Wahl

• Soccer pods are acing Cup coverage before the games even start. Previews are table stakes. Deeper coverage abounds. Binge-worthy highlights:

• American Fiasco dropped the first five episodes of its series about how not to win a World Cup, aka the story of the U.S. men’s soccer team’s failure at the 1998 World Cup.

• We Came to Win has so far dropped nine episodes chronicling the Cup’s most memorable historical moments.

• Ringer FC covers the USMNT’s failure to qualify for 2018.

• On Planet Futbol, Wahl poses a question to Russian chess master Garry Kasparov: “Should we feel conflicted about being excited to watch a World Cup from Russia?”

• MIB goes the preview route, but host Roger Bennett deserves shouts. He recently became a U.S. citizen. Welcome, Rog!

• My not-so-hot World Cup take: Go Iceland!

2) What’s Happening in “Charm City”

Listen: The Daily

• The daily news pod goes long with a five-part series “about the life and death of a Baltimore teenager known as Nook, who was fatally shot by a police officer a year after the killing of Freddie Gray.”

• Binge time: 3 hours, 54 minutes.

3) “The Dynamo of DNA”

Listen: American Innovations

• The pod wraps up its seven-part series on the revolution spurred by our knowledge of DNA.

• Binge time: 5 hours, 1 minute.

4) An Outsider in Silicon Valley

Listen: StartUp

• StartUp completes its six-part series on Silicon Valley outsider Arlan Hamilton.

• Hamilton’s “a venture capitalist like no other — black, female, gay — and she’s out to prove that investors in the Valley are overlooking big returns they could tap into by investing in more outsiders.”

• Binge time: 3 hours, 3 minutes.

5) “Blue”

Listen: Sound Opinions

• A 59-minute dissection of Joni Mitchell’s classic album by hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot.

Guest Appearances By…

Aster, Ari The Big Picture

• Convo with the filmmaker behind “Hereditary.”

Auletta, Ken The Moment With Brian Koppelman

• Author and The New Yorker writer talks curiosity.

Baker, Simon Talkhouse

• Actor-turned-director in conversation with actor-turned-director Griffin Dunne.

Batuman, Elif Longform Podcast

• Convo with the novelist and writer of “Japan’s Rent-a-Family Industry” for The New Yorker.

Brand, Russell The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

Brewster, Paget Curious with Josh Peck

Brooker, Charlie The Watch

Brooks, David Conversations with Tyler

• Writer and New York Times columnist on Springsteen, “religious bisexuality” and why failure is overrated.

Burke, Doris The Lowe Post

Byrne, David This Must Be The Gig, The New Yorker Radio Hour

Chang, Dave Eater Upsell

• Convo with the chef recorded at the Code Conference.

Chastain, Brandi Upon Further Review with Mike Pesca

• Soccer star on “the mixed legacy of women’s soccer in the U.S.,” with Julie Foudy.

Christensen, Erika Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Clapper, James The Gist with Mike Pesca

Cusack, John This Song

• Actor talks about the influence of The Clash on his life and politics.

Dunne, Griffin Talkhouse

• Actor-turned-director In conversation with actor-turned-director Simon Baker.

Farrow, Ronan The Axe Files

Fitzgerald, Pat Stay Tuned with Preet

• Convo with the former federal prosecutor, current attorney for former FBI director James Comey.

Foudy, Julie Upon Further Review with Mike Pesca

• Soccer star on “the mixed legacy of women’s soccer in the U.S.,” with Brandi Chastain.

Fuzz, Fakkah Lost in America

• Convo with the Singaporean comedy star.

Gaitskill, Mary Bookworm

Griffin, Kathy Keep It

Guthrie, Savannah The Axe Files

Harbour, David WTF with Marc Maron

Hardwick, Chris Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum

Hart, Hannah Forked Up

• YouTuber talks pasta, food texture.

Hayden, Gen. Michael The Josh Marshall Podcast

Hernandez, Keith Fresh Air, Pardon My Take

• Convo with baseball player arguably best known for his guest appearance on “Seinfeld.”

Khosrowshahi, Dara Recode Decode

• Convo with Uber’s CEO, recorded at the Code conference.

Kim, Chloe The Dave Chang Show

• Gold medal-winning snowboarder talks Pyeongchang Olympics, growing up Korean American.

Klein, Naomi If Then

• Writer/activist on how corporations and politicians are approaching Puerto Rico’s rebuild.

Jae, Lady Ear Hustle

• On being transgender in San Quentin State Prison.

Long, Brock Weather Geeks

• Convo with the head of FEMA.

Mandel, Howie ID10T

Mayer, Jane The Ezra Klein Show

• One of the investigative reporting greats talks breaking stories, right-wing politics.

Mendelsohn, Spike Beyond the Plate

• Convo with the chef who made his name on Top Chef.

Murdoch, James Recode Media with Peter Kafka

• Media mogul talks about the media biz.

Oakley, Charles The Bill Simmons Podcast

• Simmons calls him “the toughest guy in NBA history.”

Peace, Metta World Bullseye

• The man formerly known as Ron Artest talks about his new book, “No Malice: My Life in Basketball.”

Prine, John Death, Sex & Money

• One of Bob Dylan’s fave songwriters talks about his elevated, late-career profile.

Reynolds, Dan Pardon My Take

• Imagine Dragons singer (and musical invader of my house, whenever I give my 10 year old DJ power) talks songwriting, show riders.

Rose, Jalen The Bill Simmons Podcast

Scovell, Nell Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

Spiegel, Evan Recode Decode

• Convo with Snap’s CEO, recorded at the Code conference.

Thurston, Baratunde Remade in America with Bassem Youssef

• Writer/comedian/activist on being black in America.

Taitz, Hope Skimm’d From the Couch

will.i.am Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

Notable New Podcasts

1) The RFK Tapes

• The creators of the excellent Crimetown are back with a 10-part series on the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.

2) American Fiasco

3) Great Women of Business

• The pod “spotlights inspiring careers, savvy decisions, and catastrophic failures.”

4) Obscure with Michael Ian Black

• In reading “Jude the Obscure” out loud and commenting along the way, Black does some “light caressing” of the classic. Also, “a lot of complaining.”

5) Smashed

• Ali Bloom and Olly Robinson “get smashed and talk SMASH, episode by episode.”

6) Committed

• Jo Piazza promises to chronicle “the hilarious, heartbreaking and inspiring stories of couples of all kinds who’ve soldiered through unimaginable circumstances”

RIP Anthony Bourdain

I’m devastated by Anthony Bourdain’s death. He was such a lively, intelligent and important voice. We once published one of his stories on World Hum. It’s a highlight of my career as an editor.

Of course, Bourdain once went long with Marc Maron, who re-posted their 2011 interview yesterday. It’s a snapshot of the man’s depth and brilliance. The New Yorker, where Bourdain got his big writing break, also re-posted an interview.

RIP Anthony Bourdain.

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8 Pod Takes: Provocative Thoughts From This Week’s Podcasts

1) “Probably the biggest intellectual change in my lifetime is the fact that we’ve moved from this period where knowing about the past meant you were smart, and now knowing about the past kind of means you’re irrelevant almost.”

Listen: Celebration Rock: Chuck Klosterman On The Rise And Fall Of Classic Rock (47:31)

• That’s take-machine Klosterman, who blames Twitter for fostering a culture that elevates ignorance.

• Klosterman’s exhibit A: The response when Kanye and Rihanna made “FourFiveSeconds” with Paul McCartney. Klosterman says it inspired a Buzzfeed listicle of tweets from people who had no clue Macca existed.

• My take: Bad take, Klosterman. My exhibit A: Slow Burn, American History Tellers and many more popular backwards-looking podcasts. There’s a cultural thirst for understanding the past.

• One more (good) take from host Steven Hyden: With streaming services, “no genre of music really ever has to die.”

2) “Synchronous movement is a language of its own.”

Listen: Hidden Brain: Baby Talk (8:25)

• That’s Shankar Vedantam, highlighting guest Laura Cirelli’s insight about the power of synchronization in human communication.

• It’s a language of affection, says Cirelli.

• My take: A fascinating and enlightening pod that cracks some of the mysteries of baby babbling.

3) “Scientists must be free to fail.”

Listen: Ted Talks Daily: Scientists must be free to learn, to speak and to challenge (4:32)

• That’s Kirsty Duncan, Canada’s first Minister of Science, on how most science doesn’t lead to Hollywood endings.

• But failures can lead to unintended discoveries that, nevertheless, contribute to science.

4) “Ruth Bader Ginsburg did change the way the world is for American women whether they know it or not.”

Listen: It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders: How Ruth Bader Ginsburg Became ‘Notorious RBG’ (8:25)

• So says NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, summing up the life and legacy of the U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

• Sanders adds: “She was living this kind of Sheryl Sandbergian have-it-all life before we had a name for that.”

• Adds guest Julia Cohen, co-director of the film “RBG”: “She was leaning the heck in before leaning in was a thing.”

5) “It’s like they loaded a shotgun with commas and fired it at the Second Amendment.”

Listen: Revisionist History: Divide and Conquer (19:15)

• That’s Malcolm Gladwell, clearing his throat during an (inevitable?) Gladwellian deep dive about “the world’s most controversial semicolon.”

• Spoiler: An obscure law review article leads Gladwell to punctuation that means Texas could break into five different states and “turn American politics upside down.”

• My take: Gladwell and grammar. Great combo.

6) “What more does she have to do on this Earth to be regarded as a genius?”

Listen: Still Processing: We Unpack Black Male Privilege (25:18)

• Rembert Browne’s talking, of course, about Beyoncé.

• Context: In the wake of Donald Glover’s elevation to genius post-”This is America,” Browne and Wesley Morris discuss how our cultural genius bar has evolved.

• Spoiler: Black women, they say, don’t seem to make the cut.

7) “Nixon retained the soul of a benchwarmer throughout his aborted presidency.”

Listen: Upon Further Review: What If Nixon Had Been Good At Football? (17:48)

• Host Leon Neyfakh ties Nixon’s Nixon-ness back to his days as a football wannabe at Whittier College.

• Neyfakh speculates how Nixon’s life — and American life — might be different had he been better at the sport he loved.

• My take: Love this premise for a pod: revisiting what ifs from sports history.

8) “Now we can lose money legally, Cousin Sal. What a day. This is the greatest day of our lives.”

Listen: The Bill Simmons Podcast: Sports Gambling Is Legal (!) With Cousin Sal, and Ethan Hawke Breaks Down Every Fun Movie He Ever Made (3:19)

• So says Simmons, loving the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate the federal ban on sports gambling in the U.S.

• My take: You’re exaggerating, Simmons. But only slightly.

Go Deep

1) The Royal Wedding

Listen: When Meghan Met Harry

• Hurry! There’s only a little time left to binge all 22 full episodes of this royally obsessed pod before Meghan and Harry get hitched.

• Binge time: 11 hours, 34 minutes.

2) The Saga of the Bundy Family

Listen: Bundyville

• A seven-part pod chronicles armed uprisings in Nevada and Oregon by the Bundy family.

• The central question: Are the Bundys patriots or domestic terrorists?

• Binge time: 3 hours, 23 minutes.

3) “Yeezus”

Listen: Heat Rocks

• Dissect’s Cole Cuchna helps dissect Kanye’s album.

• Length: 43 minutes.

4) “No Tears Left to Cry”

Listen: Switched on Pop

• Nate and Charlie break down Ariana Grande’s latest track.

• Length: 39 minutes.

Pick From a Podcaster

This week’s podcaster: Conor Reid, whose Words To That Effect is a literary podcast of the intriguing, the curious and the unexplored.

• Conor adds: The show is created in Dublin, Ireland, and it’s a research-based, storytelling show which explores the places where literature, history and science collide. Why did the creator of Sherlock Holmes fervently believe in ghosts and fairies? How do we reach utopia? What is transhumanism? What is the cultural history behind zombies?

Conor’s pick:  Documentary on One’s “Don’t Go Far”

• Conor says: I love storytelling podcasts with great sound design that really bring you into the world of the story. Documentary on On, the multiple award-winning documentary unit of RTE (the Irish national radio station), has been producing stories of this type for decades.
• He adds: “Don’t Go Far” tells the story of two young Dublin boys, aged 10 and 13, whose spur-of-the-moment adventure made national news in the 1980s. After a quick journey on a local train, they bluff and lie their way past security guards onto a ferry to Britain, a train to London… and a plane all the way to New York City. It’s a great story, recounted years later by one of the boys, and full of mischief and humour.

Guest Appearances By…

Albright, Donald The Adam Carolla Show

• “Atlanta Monster” podcaster talks murder, with co-producer Payne Lindsey.

Ames, Jonathan Otherppl with Brad Listi

• Convo with “You Were Never Really Here” author.

Andrés, José The Axe Files

Avenatti, Michael Pod Save America

Bloom, Rachel Scriptnotes

• Convo with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” co-creator, with Aline Brosh McKenna.

Brolin, Josh WTF with Marc Maron

• Thanos!

Brooker, Charlie The Adam Buxton Podcast

• Convo with “Black Mirror” creator.

Cena, John The Adam Carolla Show

Corcoran, Barbara How I Built This With Guy Raz

• Mogul recounts path from real estate to “Shark Tank.”

Donelly, Tanya This Song

• Throwing Muses and Belly musician talks about the influence of “All You Need is Love” on her life and music.

Falcone, Ben The Big Picture

Ferguson, Niall The Jamie Weinstein Show

• Famed history professor on Trump, China, North Korea.

Fieri, Guy Beyond the Plate

Filkins, Dexter Why is This Happening? with Chris Hayes

• Convo with The New Yorker foreign correspondent.

Gil, Gilberto The Bob Lefsetz Podcast

• Convo with the eminent Brazilian musician and social activist.

Guthrie, Savannah Skimm’d From the Couch

Hachisu, Nancy Singleton Bon Appetit Foodcast

• Convo with the author of “Japan: A Cookbook.”

Hawke, Ethan The Bill Simmons Podcast

Heti, Sheila Longform Podcast

• “I think my mom always had this idea that writing is playing, and it is playing, but it’s a serious kind of playing,” says the author of “Motherhood: A Novel.”

Ifill, Sherrilyn Stay Tuned With Preet

• Convo with the president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Jacobs, Gillian Bullseye

Johnson, Rian The Dave Chang Show

• “The Last Jedi” director talks innovation and criticism, with Karina Longworth.

Kelly, Kevin Deviate With Rolf Potts, The Tim Ferriss Show

• “If you have a chance to travel, just do it. You won’t regret it,” says Wired magazine co-founder.

Kotb, Hoda Skimm’d From the Couch

Laguens, Dawn Queery

• Convo with EVP of Planned Parenthood.

Lanier, Jaron Danny in the Valley

Leist, Libby Skimm’d From the Couch

Lindsey, Payne The Adam Carolla Show

• “Atlanta Monster” podcaster talks murder, with co-producer Donald Albright.

Longworth, Karina The Dave Chang Show

• “You Must Remember This” host talks innovation and criticism, with Rian Johnson.

McKenna, Aline Brosh Scriptnotes

• Convo with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” co-creator, with Rachel Bloom.

Mitski All Songs Considered

• Musical artist talks about her new album.

Nolan, Christopher The Treatment

• Filmmaker talks about reviving 70mm reprint of “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Notaro, Tig Fresh Air

Oates, Joyce Carol Bookworm

• Prolific author discusses her 2,923rd* book. (*estimated)

Pao, Ellen How It Is

• She talks about her stand against sexism in Silicon Valley.

Penn, Mark Recode Decode

• “The first thing people get rid of when they get more money is kids,” says the pollster and author of “Microtrends Squared.”

Pollan, Michael The Ezra Klein Show, Fresh Air, Recode Decode

• Food guru talks and talks and talks about his new book about mind expansion.

Rexha, Bebe The Dan Wootton Interview

Richardson, April R U Talkin’ R.E.M. RE: ME?

• Comedian talks “Monster” with Scott and Scott.

Scheer, Paul The Watch

• Convo with the actor/filmmaker/podcaster.

Scovell, Nell How to Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black

Serrano, Shea House of Carbs, The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Gist

• Teacher turned best-selling author on Houston and San Antonio as food cities, “Cobra Kai,” bank robbery movies, Becky Hammon.

Sietsema, Robert Eater Upsell

• Chemist turned food critic takes food tour of Queens.

Smigel, Robert Bullseye

Solo, Hope We Came to Win

• Convo with U.S.A.’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper.

Steenburgen, Mary WTF with Marc Maron

Thomas, Louisa The Gist

• Convo about Becky Hammon’s potential to be the NBA’s first female head coach.

Thompson, Tessa Late Night Whenever with Michelle Buteau

Tyler, Steven The Joe Rogan Experience

Union, Gabrielle Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

Urban, Keith Required Listening

Waithe, Lena How It Is

• On the importance of giving zero fucks.

Yang, Jimmy O. Sooo Many White Guys

Notable New Podcasts and New Seasons

1) Unspooled

• Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson kick off 100 podcasts, one for each of the films on AFI’s list of the 100 best movies.
• First episode: “Citizen Kane.”

2) The Wonderland Murders

• It’s “the tale of a violent home invasion robbery and the revenge rampage that followed. It involves a drug-fueled gang of criminals, a crazed crime kingpin — and the world’s most famous porn star on a downward and deadly spiral.”

3) Dissect

• Cole Cuchna’s song-by-song dissection of albums returns for a third season, exclusively on Spotify.
• This season’s albums: Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange” and “Blonde.”

4) Upon Further Review

5) Business Wars

• The Wondery pod’s latest season recalls the Sony vs. Nintendo video game wars.

6) The Space Race

• American History Tellers begins a deep dive into the post-war space race.

7) Revisionist History

• Gladwell’s pod’s back for its third season.

8) Love + Radio

• Another season of “otherworldly-produced interviews.”

Meta Podcast Moment of the Week

“Every time they say podcast, drink.”

Listen: The Gist: Becky Hammon’s Next Big Shot

• On his podcast, Mike Pesca shares the drinking game he created for “Alex, Inc.”, a TV show about a podcast company where they say “podcast” many, many times.
• Spoiler: “Alex, Inc.” has been cancelled.
• Perhaps Pesca can revive the game for the TV version of “The Daily.”

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Enter your email below and every Friday I’ll email you a skimmable recap of the week’s podcasts, highlighting provocative takes, great binges, new pods and a comprehensive list of notable podcast guests.

8 Pod Takes: Provocative Thoughts From This Week’s Podcasts

1) “Nothing cuts tension better than Rick Astley.”

Listen: Love Letters: The Night I Became Roy Orbison (3:35)

• So says Patrick Garvin, maker of song mixes for people who’ve been dumped. The episode explores “the healing power of music after a breakup.”
• A “breakup mix is a Trojan horse for letting someone know they’re not going through it alone,” says host Meredith Goldstein.
• Here’s Garvin’s go to Astley song.
• My promise: I’m never gonna Rickroll you.

2) “We had to wake up and watch Fox & Friends, which is something I would not wish on my worst enemy.”

Listen: Pod Save America: “It’s your Justice Department!” (1:47)

• Cracks Dan Pfeiffer, about Trump’s interview on the Fox News morning show. His ramblings gave political pods material to fuel panel conversations for weeks.
• Or at least until the next thing happens in … a few hours?

3) “You have to let people be disappointing.”

Listen: It’s Been a Minute With Sam Sanders: Meg Wolitzer on “The Female Persuasion” (16:33)

• That’s Wolitzer, author of book-of-the-moment, “The Female Persuasion,” being persuasive about why some of her characters annoy each other — and readers.
• My take: That’s life.

4) “Usually children’s books challenge us to be better, and adult novels don’t really do that anymore.”

Listen: Ministry of Ideas: Child’s Play (24:04)

• The insight comes from Christina Phillips-Mattson, children’s literature scholar and guest on this terrific pod exploring why we shouldn’t be dismissive of adults reading “Harry Potter” and others books primarily marketed to younger readers.
• “When you finish a children’s book…most of the time you’re not holding an object that’s morally neutral,” says Phillips-Mattson.

5) “There is a rhetoric…of panic right now. Something has gone wrong at a level that is almost unique in American political history.”

Listen: The Ezra Klein Show: Is American democracy really in decline? A debate. (19:27)

• So says Klein, who cops to being part of the problem at times.
• This episode isn’t part of it. It’s a welcome, sober, fact-filled discussion about just how panicked we should be.

“6) Do you think that 18 million people moved here because of Hollywood?”

Listen: The Indicator from Planet Money: 3 Things You Didn’t Know About L.A. (2:36)

• That’s NPR’s Sonari Glinton, repping the economic diversity of Los Angeles.
• The Indicator spends the week reporting stories from a city that’s as much “There Will Be Blood” as it is “La La Land,” says host Cardiff Garcia.
• Biased newsletter maker from L.A. says: “Tell ‘em, guys.”

7) “Aren’t we in the post-4/20 world at this point?”

Listen: The Press Box: Trump and Haberman, LeBron’s Sideline Interview, and the Meltdown at Harper’s (1:10)

• David Shoemaker’s tired of the media’s 4/20 obsession.
• He adds: “If we’re at a point where professional athletes are smoking weed on camera for sports media outlets, aren’t we past the point where we need to peg this on, like, national elbow-you-in-the-ribs, tee-hee, weed-smoking day?”
• My take: Yes.

8) “We are New York City public high school graduates. And that is like Navy SEAL training for roasting people.”

Listen: The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Craziness Plus the Return of Desus and Mero (1:34:33)

• Viceland’s Desus & Mero know their edge. You’re warned.

Go Deep

1) The Golden State Killer

Listen: My Favorite Murder, Generation Why, Crime Writers On…

• It’s a justified nine fucks, two shits intro for Karen and Georgia on My Favorite Murder. Like everyone in the true crime podcast community (and all of humanity, presumably), they’re blown away by the arrest of the Golden State Killer.
• Background: A decades-ago string of unsolved murders and rapes in California became an obsession for writer Michelle McNamara. She tragically passed away before publication of her book on the GSK, “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.” The book became a bestseller, and helped lead to this week’s arrest.
• Crime Writers On… commemorates the moment with the release of its inaugural true crime book club pod about IBGINT, and a second pod reacting to the arrest.

2) The Struggle for Equality in Global Women’s Soccer

Listen: Planet Futbol with Grant Wahl (Part 1, Part 2)

• A panel discussion comprises this two-part pod about the status of women’s soccer worldwide.
• Panelists: Jean Williams, Shireen Ahmed, Gwendolyn Oxenham.

3) “Mr. Brightside”

Listen: Punch Up the Jam

• PUTJ goes deep on The Killers’ classic.
• My take: Stop it. The song needs no punch up.

4) “Put Your Money On Me”

Listen: Song Exploder

• Arcade Fire’s Win Butler takes 22 minutes to break down his band’s song and declares his love for the 808.
• His other inspirations: Marvin Gaye, Harry Nilsson and ABBA.

Guest Appearances By…

Burgess, Tim This Must Be The Gig

• The Charlatans frontman once put a headlock put on Iggy Pop.

Burke, Tarana WorkLife with Adam Grant

• Founder of #MeToo movement appears with Ronan Farrow and Ashley Judd.

Crosby, David Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin

Danner, Blythe The Goop Podcast

• Gwyneth and her mom on mothers and daughters.

Farrow, Ronan The Josh Marshall Podcast, The Gist, WorkLife with Adam Grant, Stay Tuned with Preet

• So. Much. Pulitzer. Winner.

Gawande, Atul Freakonomics Radio

• Surgeon/professor/writer for The New Yorker on the state of health care.

Gay, Jason House of Carbs

• WSJ sports columnist tried to eat at a nice restaurant accompanied by children, talks about it.

Green, Seth Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

• Actor talks zero gravity and working with bears.

Hader, Bill The Watch

Inslee, Jay Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

• Gov. of Washington on decarbonization, standing up to Trump.

Jacobson, Abbi Modern Love

• “Broad City” actress/writer reads an essay about a carboholic.

Judd, Ashley WorkLife with Adam Grant

• “Silence breaker” talk’s #MeToo with Ronan Farrow and Tarana Burke.

Kendzior, Sarah Otherppl with Brad Listi

• Convo with the author of “The View from Flyover Country.”

Manning, Chelsea Talkhouse

• In conversation with Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokno.

Martin, Giles The Bob Lefsetz Podcast

• Convo with legendary producer George Martin’s son.

Nissenblatt, Arielle Bitrate

• EarBuds Podcast Collective founder talks about the power of listening.

Oswalt, Patton Maltin on Movies

Payne, Alexander Cooking by Ear

• Make vegetable gratin with the director of “Election”/former Chez Panisse intern.

Riggle, Rob The Adam Carolla Show

Robinson, Phoebe Comedy Bang! Bang!, Late Night Whenever with Michelle Buteau

• On the beginnings of “2 Dope Queens,” a visit to a hot tub.

Ross, Tracee Ellis Ted Talks Daily

Schumer, Amy Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

• Oprah goes 64 minutes with the comedian/actress/author.

Sinclair, Ben Late Night Whenever with Michelle Buteau

• Convo with the “High Maintenance” star.

Smith, Ben The Jamie Weinstein Show

• Buzzfeed’s EIC talks politics, defends publishing the Steele Dossier.

Srinivasan, Balaji Conversations With Tyler

• CTO of Coinbase on the promise of the blockchain.

Tapper, Jake Fresh Air

Thile, Chris You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes

Thompson, Nicholas The Tim Ferriss Show

• Convo with the EIC of Wired.

Tolokno, Nadya Talkhouse

• In conversation with Chelsea Manning.

Vande Hei, Mark Radiolab

• The astronaut dials in to the pod. From space.

Whitford, Bradley WTF with Marc Maron

• “If you’re good and you want it, maybe you won’t be an actor, but you can have a life in storytelling,” says the actor.

Winkler, Henry The Watch

Yorn, Pete Celebration Rock

• Musician talks about his upcoming collaboration with Scarlett Johansson.

Zhao, Chloé The Treatment

• Convo with the director of “The Rider.”

One Podcast That Mesmerized Twitter

The Habitat

Gimlet’s seven-part pod about six volunteers living in an imitation Mars habitat dropped last Thursday. Listeners are still digesting it. Also, they havefeelings.

• “Stop what you’re doing and listen to The Habitat by @Gimletmedia. Most bingeable podcast since Serial.” — @mentink21

• “It sure is a podcast about six people who do fuck all for a year.” — @ThePodReport

• “I literally threw my headphones across the room. Lookin at you@Gimletmedia. I loved Habitat but the chewing was TOO MUCH” — @Bazteki

• “Highly recommend if you like science, claustrophobia and gossiping.” — @pageantmalarkey

• “i never thought i would be into a podcast about space and rockets and@NASA but turns out: i just needed @LynnRLevy.” — @almutheva

Pick From a Podcaster

This week’s podcaster: Adela is founder of Podcast Brunch Club, which is like book club, but for podcasts. The PBC podcast is a podcast version of the monthly conversations that are happening at Podcast Brunch Club chapter meetings IRL all over the world.

Adela’s pick: The Moth Radio Hour: Surviving Being Human

• Adela says: “The episode includes stories about overcoming adversity, fear, and the power of the human spirit. The second story wrecked me. When given an opportunity to find out about his past, he asked, ‘My mother?’ and his voice cracked as he told the audience about that conversation.”
• She adds: “That was the moment during his story that I got the chills and tears welled up in my eyes.”

Are you a podcaster who’d like to be featured? Let me know.

Notable New Podcasts

The Dave Chang Show

• A food and culture pod from influential chef/aspiring media mogul Dave Chang.

• “Dave and a rotating cast of smart, thought-provoking guests talk about their inspirations, failures, successes, fame, and identities.”

How It Is

• A pod from Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine media brand, where “women tell our own stories, in our own words, and share the truths we’ve learned and lived through.”

• Diane Guerrero hosts.

We Came to Win

• Gimlet’s first sports pod focuses on the stories of “the greatest moments of the World Cup.”

The Infinite City

• “[S]tories of people and place, design and belonging, survival and celebration.”

• The first six-episode season focuses on Belfast.

Thanks for reading! Find us on Twitter @WeekInPodcasts.