Don't you just love listening to other people's favorite podcasts?
And then making them *your* favorite podcasts...
What’s up, Plungers!
We are officially on a roll. A few weeks ago, I asked y’all to let me know what you think of this newsletter experiment: you read, you comment about your favorite shows, then I feature those shows. And so on and so forth forever more.
We’re in a great groove. So let’s get to it!
This newsletter is reader-generated. You listen to podcasts. You comment on these posts telling me about them. I recommend your recommendations.
Thank you to the Plungers who commented on last week’s post with their recommendations: Keelin, Paulette, Tracy, and Eric.
Here are the podcasts you recommended:
Recommender:
Podcast: Beyond with Mike Kelton
Why do you recommend it: It's an independently produced comedy docu-pod that follows the host, Mike Kelton, as he tries to solve his everyday problems via supernatural means. There’ve been two seasons in which he explored topics like mediums, psychics, and searching for your guardian angel. Now the show is back with a third season after a pandemic-induced hiatus!
The first episode is about hexes and the host’s foray into what he considers "dark magic" after a deep, life-altering betrayal. It’s a hilarious, heartfelt, beautifully sound-designed show.
Recommender:
of Mentally? A MagpiePodcast: House of Skulls (Audible exclusive)
Why do you recommend it: I’m currently obsessing over House of Skulls. Mostly, I wanted to listen to this because I love Marc Fennell’s work and rather than a season of short stories (a la Stuff the British Stole), it’s a whole season deep dive into one issue: the Morton skull collection.
Recommender:
ofPodcast: The Hotel
Why do you recommend it: The Hotel is also an audio horror drama that is equally as immersive as Re: Dracula. Each episode is only minutes long but tells a different story of a guest’s demise at the hellacious hotel through the POV of The Lobby Boy, The Manager, or The Owner.
It’s deliciously scary. The hotel would get zero stars, but the podcast gets 5!
Recommender:
ofPodcast: Ruined!
Why do you recommend it: Because it's spooky season, I have been listening to a lot of Ruined! recently. In every episode, a horror superfan (Halle Kiefer) spoils a scary movie for her squeamish friend (Alison Leiby).
I like a few horror movies, but I am much closer to Alison on the scaredy-cat spectrum, so it's a valuable service! Halle narrates the story in much the same way that Kelsey McKinney would tell you a Normal Gossip story, taking breaks to invite Alison to explain what *she* would do and make predictions. A good starting place is the episode from 2021 about The Descent, which has some infuriatingly stupid characters and a creepy twist.
What next?
Listen to some podcasts and then recommend one by commenting on this post. Yes, you can recommend your own show.
My podcast, Trailer Park: The Podcast Trailer Podcast, is coming back soon!
This week in the EarBuds newsletter, podcasts on the theme Latinx Podcast Scene.
I think you’d like this newsletter.
Until next time, happy listening!
It's spoopy season, so I'm suggesting a few of my favorite individual podcast episodes that fit the theme!
The Magnus Archives — Lost John's Cave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T0qCUxTyHg
This is a "classic" spooky horror show (somehow it came out more than seven years ago!) but I didn't discover it until a few years after it's released, so hopefully it's new to other people ☺️ It is SUPER creepy and will most certainly give you goosebumps. Would probably recommend listening to it at home, but not before bed. Unless you like sleeping with your eyes wide open, then it's great!
Criminal — Unexpected Visitors: https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-81-unexpected-guests-12-15-17/
This is another one I heard a while ago but regularly think about. It probably doesn't hurt that I know one of the people featured in this episode, but even without that, it's still super interesting. For anyone that's a fan of mysteries, you'll be left either scratching your head or coming up with a few wild theories of your own — or both, which is the must fun.
Good People, Cool Things — Chasing Ghosts and Weird Moments in History with Marc Hartzman: https://www.goodpeoplecoolthings.com/episodes/marc-hartzman
This is shamelessly my own show, but it's topical since Marc has another book coming out this month! He loves studying the strange and bizarre stories out there, and this episode covers our fascination with ghosts (including why ghosts never seem to have feet), the tallest man in the world, and the embalmed head of Oliver Cromwell. I'd recommend listening while fleeing from a haunted house — or, perhaps more reasonably, while admiring Halloween decorations around your neighborhood.
Hi Arielle,
Thanks for this!
Here are a couple of recommendations that readers may like, especially if they are tired of social media click bait and want to take action on issues that impact so many of our lives.
I'm currently working with the friendly and practical folks at Convergence Magazine who have two new podcasts to help the left find its way. And they don't count as screen time on your phone! (One reason I love podcasts.)
Indebted is a weekly exploration of debt and race in America, hosted by economic and racial justice organizer Maurice BP-Weeks, that begins with his new baby’s first piece of mail: a $4000 hospital bill. The show breaks down the financial institutions that control our economy through debt, to detail why debt in America works this way — and how to fight back.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indebted-debt-and-race-in-america/id1707254374
Hegemonicon is a weekly investigation into the workings of power hosted by Sunrise Movement co-founder Will Lawrence, including what organizers have learned from recent movements and crises and how we can apply it to build power from below.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hegemonicon-an-investigation-into-the-workings-of-power/id1707254228
Hope your readers enjoy them!
- Sarah