The news doesn’t always have to be serious. Sometimes it can be funny.
Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me has been part of the WNYC and NPR schedules since 1998. Currently hosted by Peter Sagal, it is part interview show and part comedic news program. Both panelists and contestants are quizzed about the latest headlines while laughing along the way.
I’ve listened to the show a couple of times. It’s entertaining, but not enough to keep me coming back for more.
Do I recommend it? Maybe.
Among the 6 million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust were 1.5 million young people. This cumulative experience of the lost generation speaks to us via The Diary of Anne Frank.
In 1955, the book was turned into a play. The new 7-part podcast, Playing Anne Frank, tells the behind-the-scenes story of how the play was made and its impact on everyone (both the audience and the creators) involved. Mixing historical media with interviews of surviving cast members, it brings the drama to life and reinforces the importance of the work.
I have enjoyed listening to the first 3 episodes. For obvious reasons, both the original text and its various stage/screen incarnations are still relevant, even after all of these years. What I am appreciating is the insights of the cast and that they understood the necessity of sharing Anne’s story.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
New episodes of Playing Anne Frank are released every Tuesday.
Every generation has its own musical artists that define the era. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, boy bands were everywhere. Many young girls (myself included) screamed our lungs out for our favorite performers.
Frosted Tips with Lance Bass is the newest podcast on the nostalgia block. Hosted by former NSYNC member Lance Bass and his husband, Michael Turchin, the guest in each episode is a member of one of the boy bands that specifies that time period.
I am loving this podcast. I am laughing, I am smiling, and I am enjoying myself. It is the perfect time machine that for a brief time, takes me back to when life was not so complicated.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
New episodes of Frosted Tips with Lance Bass are released every Monday.
As I get older, I find myself getting more and more nostalgic for a time when life was simpler. Adding to this nostalgia is the flow of media that delves into the past for content.
The new podcast, Hey Dude… The 90s Called! is hosted by Hey Dude (1989 to 1991) stars Christine Taylor and David Lascher. In addition to reminiscing about the time on this 1990s Nickelodeon show, the actors take a plunge into the last decade of the 20th century.
I am two episodes in and I am loving it. The behind-the-scenes aspect is so far most the fascinating aspect of this rewatch podcast. Hearing the stories of the experiences of the cast and creative team makes me appreciate the program even more.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
New episodes of Hey Dude… The 90s Called! is released every Monday.
The media in its various forms (television, radio, etc) is by itself a tool. How it is used is based on the individual’s needs and perspective.
The new five-part podcast, On the Media: The Divided Dial is a part of the long-running WNYC produced On the Media program. The focus of this short-lived series is how a certain company (which I will not name in this blog) has used the media to share its right-wing perspective with its listeners.
So far, three of the five episodes have aired. From my perspective, it is a reminder that this perversion is here to stay and has been part of our cultural landscape for many years. Though the argument for free speech is valid, relevant, and important, there is the question of what happens when the line that leads to violence and hatred is crossed.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
New episodes of On the Media: The Divided Dial is released every Tuesday.
Every once in a while, a year comes along that is so culturally important that it changes us in some way.
The new podcast, Where Were You in ’92? examines the most iconic songs from 1992 and the impact that music has had since its initial release. Host Jason Lamphier interviews artists, producers, music video directors, and others to examine why this specific year opened the door to the world that we live in today.
To provide some context, I was in junior high school in 1992. So obviously, there were certain things that were over my head at that point. That being said, I have enjoyed the two episodes that have aired so far. The insights provided have given me a rearview perspective that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It is also a nice trip down memory lane for those of us who remember that time.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
New episodes of Where Were You in ’92? are released every Wednesday.
It is easy to assume that the world is saved by Generals and Presidents. While it is true that they have a hand in restoring normalcy, we should never forget that one ordinary person can make a difference.
The new podcast, Exile, started airing earlier this month. it is sponsored by the Leo Baeck Institute and hosted by Mandy Patinkin. Each episode tells the story of a person of German Jewish descent who fought against fascism during World War II. Using archived letters, stories, and first-hand accounts, each subject is given their due as a hero or heroine in their own right.
As I listened to the episodes that have been released, I can’t help but think that history is one more repeating itself. Around the world, democracy is slowly being replaced by other forms of government that do not respect the rights of the average citizen. The lessons are there, if we are willing to stop and listen.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
New episodes of Exile are released every Tuesday.
It seems that everyone and their mother has a podcast these days.
Back at the end of September, Randy Rainbow added another accomplishment to the list: podcaster. Each episode is broken up into two sections: responding to fan questions and an interview with a celebrity friend or admirer.
With his trademark wit, honesty, and musical styling, he is as entertaining as ever. I find myself laughing, and wishing I was in the room as he was recording it.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
New episodes of The Randy Rainbow Podcast are released every Thursday.
Politics is a common subject for many a podcast. What makes one stand out from the pack (at least from my perspective), is the ability to laugh through the anger and frustration.
The new podcast, Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast, is a deeply truthful and slightly comedic take on the current state of the American political system. Hosted by Molly Jong-Fast (previously of The New Abnormal), she gets to the heart of the issues and what can hopefully be done to resolve them.
She is one of those political commentators that does not shy away from the real problems. While calling out the bullshit on both sides of the aisle, she speaks for us while encouraging us to do the same.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
New episodes of Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast are released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The Civil War was one of the bloodiest and most historically important events in American history. 150 years after the fact, the same political, cultural, and social schisms still play a role in our everyday lives.
The new seven-part podcast, The Last Resort, presents the following question: What if California seceded from the United States? Founded by Marcus Ruiz-Evans and Louis J. Marinelli, the movement is called Calexit. Each episode examines the state’s past and the potential effects should this idea become a reality.
It’s an interesting concept, both as an idea for a podcast and an exploration of who we are as Americans. If nothing else, it asks the listener to consider difficult questions about who we are as a country and what we imagine our future will be like.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
New episodes of The Last Resort are released every Tuesday.
Writergurlny 
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