Of Podcasts - who has two hours to listen to strangers having a conversation?

Yakoob on 8/8/2013 at 01:27

I like to have "something" in the background when I do menial tasks like updating websites, cooking simple stuff, or even eating, that is different than music once in a while. So I started taking a look at various podcasts.

At first I was daunted by just HOW LONG so many podcstas are. Two hours? seriously? Hmm, but I wasn't discouraged and still gave it a shot. After a while it finally dawned on me...

I am spending two hours listening to a bunch of strangers having a conversation. Not op-ed, not news - casual banter.

I mean the likes of (http://crateandcrowbar.com/) Crate and Crowbar recently launched by a few PCGamer people like Tom Francis of Gunpoint fame, "Casual Fridays" on Rev3Games with Adam Sessler and many others (GiantBomb, Polygon Besties, tho these at least tend to be amusing). From the numbers they seem quite popular, and I can't quite grasp why - you might as well sit in a pub and evesdrop?

Sure they may be "accomplished" or "recognized" but... they're just talking random crap. Contrast that with, say, Total Biscuit's Content Patches (not his 2hr long videocasts), Adam Sessler's Something or SummerTomato foodie/nutrition podcasts that are actually informative or provide interesting viewpoints making them worthwhile.

I donno where I'm going with this to be honest, just musing some thoughts I guess and fishing for new podcast ideas :p

Aja on 8/8/2013 at 05:00

I've been listening to Marc Maron's podcast lately, and while I'm not generally interested in comedians, he tends to interview comedic actors I've heard of as well as musicians. And while I agree with you in principle, when the interviewer is good, casual conversation can become more meaningful and interesting. Maron tends to ask intelligent questions and usually directs the conversations to interesting places. I find them almost educational in a way, learning about people's lives and how they've dealt with their problems. Maron also inserts himself into the conversation a lot, which sounds obnoxious but is actually just another means of exploring what tends to be the main topic of his interviews, dealing with personal struggles. Occasionally it can get self-indulgent, but that's sort of the price you pay for the lesson in human nature that comes with it.

Xorak on 8/8/2013 at 05:41

I listen to Marc Maron sometimes too. Norm MacDonald has an awesome podcast, but only around ten episodes (I think it's funnier to watch his podcasts on youtube though). Who knows if there will be more, as he just stopped showing up to do more.

Obviously others are going to mention that you try Joe Rogan, he has a wide range of people including actors, comedians, scientists, drug addicts, conspiracy theorists, etc. Kevin Pollack is pretty good too, though he brings in many comics and guests that were popular 10-20 years ago. Oh, if you're a fan of the magician Penn Jillette, he has a new podcast, though I've never listened yet.

I've probably listened to over 2000 hours of Opie and Anthony. I know they're not strictly a podcast (well they do have one now I guess), but they trump all the podcasts imo. They even more easily trump Howard Stern. Though they aren't for everybody, that's for sure. Their main comedian guests all have their own podcasts as well, if you're looking around for more humor choices.

henke on 8/8/2013 at 05:50

Quote Posted by Yakoob

I like to have "something" in the background when I do menial tasks...

[...]

I am spending two hours listening to a bunch of strangers having a conversation. Not op-ed, not news - casual banter.

So, which is it? Are you listening to podcasts while doing menial tasks or are you devoting 2 hours just to listen to them? Just because they're 2 hours doesn't mean you have to listen to the whole thing at once, y'know.

Anyway, PODCASTS! :D

Here's what I've been listening to lately:

(http://www.earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made/) How Did This Get Made

Felt like they had a dip in quality about half a year ago or so, but recently they're coming back strong. Two of their recent episodes I'd class amongst their best ever: (http://www.earwolf.com/episode/howard-the-duck-live/) Howard The Duck (with guest Kristen Shaal), and (http://www.earwolf.com/episode/demolition-man-live/) Demolition Man (with Wyatt Cenac). Give those a listen if you wanna get into the show.

(http://www.earwolf.com/show/analyze-phish/) Analyze Phish

A podcast where one guy tries to get another guy to like Phish. It's great.

(http://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast) This American Life

They recently had their 500th episode. It was a "best of". Turns out there's a lot of great stuff I've missed. :erg:

Even though I'm not a fan of it, I feel like I have to at least give the (http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/nerdist/) Nerdist a mention here, simply because of all the great guests they've managed to rope in lately. Ken Levine, George RR Martin, Joss Whedon, Jeff Bridges, Tig Notaro, Charlie Day, Randy Pitchford. I mean who wouldn't wanna listen to that?

Muzman on 8/8/2013 at 05:57

Quote Posted by Yakoob

From the numbers they seem quite popular, and I can't quite grasp why - you might as well sit in a pub and evesdrop?

Sure they may be "accomplished" or "recognized" but... they're just talking random crap. Contrast that with, say, Total Biscuit's Content Patches (not his 2hr long videocasts), Adam Sessler's Something or SummerTomato foodie/nutrition podcasts that are actually informative or provide interesting viewpoints making them worthwhile.

This amuses some people more than others, yes. It's entirely personality based. If you don't like the personality or the content you are in trouble.
Things like QT3 and Idle Thumbs seem to be able to straddle the line a bit better. They have some structure for their rabbiting on (in truth most of them should. Many think its cool to hide it). But,yeah, 2hrs isn't much really. The Game Station weekly one is three hours, and as mentioned the satellite radio guys can provide hours upon hours of laddish dribble of no consequence.
Try something else like This American Life or Radiolab or proper journalism like that. There's plenty of that.

Oh yeah, what else is long these days is Hardcore History; 3hrs, 4hrs, 5hrs... usually worth it though. The pause button is your friend.

Xorak on 8/8/2013 at 07:29

Hey thanks for the suggestion of Hardcore History. I've listened for a couple hours and I'm already hooked.

SubJeff on 8/8/2013 at 08:32

Hmm. I'll be checking some of these out.

I only really listen to Radio 4s comedy podcasts and only the topical news comedies. But also The Infinite Monkey Cage.

PigLick on 8/8/2013 at 09:58

ok I'm gonna be an old man here but wtf is it with podcast, surely that term has no meaning anymore?
BROADCAST
wtf is a pod?

henke on 8/8/2013 at 10:30

The term "broadcast" is a too broad. I mean that can be anything from TV to radio to internet-stream.

"Podcast" is useful because it instantly lets you know that:

* it's audio.
* it's something that can be downloaded/streamed, and listened to at your leisure.
* it will (most likely) be free, and there's a good chance it'll be conducted by amateurs/enthusiasts.
* it will (most likely) be a solid hour of people just discussing a topic or conducting an interview with no, or minimum, commercial/music interuptions.

edit: also I'm listening to Hardcore History right now. I'm about as far from a history-buff as you can get but I'm loving this. The narrator is fantastic. Good rec Muzman! :thumb:

Queue on 8/8/2013 at 15:25

Quote Posted by Xorak

I've probably listened to over 2000 hours of Opie and Anthony. I know they're not strictly a podcast (well they do have one now I guess), but they trump all the podcasts imo. They even more easily trump Howard Stern. Though they aren't for everybody, that's for sure. Their main comedian guests all have their own podcasts as well, if you're looking around for more humor choices.

Like Stupid Rich Vos and Bonnie McFarlane's: (http://www.riotcast.com/mywifehatesme/) My Wife Hates Me. Vos can be one the funniest bastards out there, and he stole the show as an opener when we caught the Virus Tour when it landed here in Michigan a few years ago.

... and you can't forget Fat Bobby Kelly's podcast: (http://www.riotcast.com/robertkelly/) You Know What Duuude

Warning: It can be some pretty vicious humor.

SE - I've been getting some old recordings from BBC 4, like Saturday Night Theater (sorry...stupid American spelling) and the quality of the productions are all top-notch.

Yakoob - Have you considered listening to OTR radio? The (http://otrrlibrary.org/) Old Time Radio Researcher's Library has a plethora of shows (some great, some not so great) to choose from. I particularly like Arch Oboler's stuff (Arch Oboler's Plays & Lights Out), Escape, Suspense, Adventures of Philip Marlowe, Rod Serling's Zero Hour, Quite Please, and any of the South African productions. Also, if you're a mystery fan, try the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, which can be found here: (http://www.cbsrmt.com/synopsis.html) CBS Radio Mystery Theater.

For the most part, I can figure out why anyone would want to listen to 90% of the podcasts out there--seems like mostly no talent nobodies giving themselves kudos by showing off exactly how little of a reason they have to be broadcasting.