I’m not watching television or many movies right now. I don’t know if this happens to anyone else, but if I’m working on a writing project, I can’t watch anything else. The words and themes of the film will make me rethink my track. I also don’t care about many stories when I’m working on a long-form one. The solution is a podcast. Let’s delve into the ones that I’m listening to.
Pivot
This is my favorite podcast right now and it has been for over a year. I like listening to Scott Galloway. He predicts the market by what America is gorging itself. Swisher is the guru of that industry because when she talks about the latest in that business world, she talks about it like a school principal who has known that hedge fund investor since they were in elementary school. Her history with Galloway’s quick takes makes for a lively show that you can play in the background.
Also, I’ve figured out my bias when it comes to podcasters. I prefer podcasters who come from a public speaking background. Galloway is a professor, and he’s naturally a great public speaker. Bill Maher’s dad was a newscaster and I’ve been watching Maher for over twenty years, yes, he sounds like a newscaster. Newsom is also our Governor, which is why he can clap back so fast on any show he’s been invited on. I talked about this with someone recently and she explained that it’s not their podcast content, it’s that they’re trained in public speaking and can memorize the talking points fast. There are podcasts I havent given a chance because if the voice doesn’t work, then I can’t continue.
The Adam Friedland Show
This show can make me uncomfortable, but I can’t tear myself away from it. Friedland is a millennial who interviews public figures from all denominations and political POV’s, and goes for comedic goals on most questions. I just listened to him interview Michael Knowles, and he didn’t pull his punches. He went after all of the far-right conservative views that he detests. I have to give it to Knowles; he took it like a champion and didn’t fluster once. They’re both millennials, but I kind of only saw one adult on that stage.
Friedland is funny and creative, and I hope he gets more guests who actually challenge him back just as much as he does. Having watched Maher for over two decades, if you have a conservative on the show and they can slide past without answering any of the hot topic issues, you haven’t done your due diligence, but I don’t think Friedland is there to land a perfect interview; he’s just ranting.
Subway Takes with Kareem Rahma
Another millennial podcast. The production value is nonexistent, but it’s interesting to watch. He recently had Ethan Hawke on an episode where they went into detail about whether it was better to be singing lead to either Paul McCartney or John Lennon on backup. I’d never heard the question asked, and I couldn’t make up my mind on it. Could you handle singing back-up for you without completely forgetting what was going on?
I like the idea of running into really cool people and having a conversation similar to the ones on this podcast. The episodes are only 15 minutes long. You happen to sit down next to Hasan Minhaj on the subway, and you just shoot from the hip for a few minutes about anything. Another great show to have running in the background. I used to take Bart into the city for work, but I had on massive headphones and usually had the hood of my jacket on as well. Yeah, I never met interesting people to chat with.
Honestly with Bari Weiss
I’m giving her a shot. I’ve listened to her podcast and I’ve read her work with The Free Press prior to her getting the CBS News gig, and I don’t see anything wrong. I think she’s a centrist. I don’t mind if someone has opinions that lean to both sides. I’m not listing them out, but she and I align on most issues, and her controversial opinions, I thought the same, albeit in my head.
I look forward to what she’ll do with CBS, and I’d like it if they broke away from reactionary reporting and just had people on the shows that knew what they were doing. Seriously, I need certain podcasts and shows to be from people who know what they’re talking about and can give an unbiased report.
Short Wave
The random questions that will come to your mind about jellyfish, AI, and the rules of baccarat are covered on this show. 15-minute episodes that review a particular topic. Similar in its short format to Subway Takes, I wonder if short bursts of information are all most people can handle. I can play a two-hour podcast in the background. Remember Serial, a few years back, that’s now an HBO series?
Check out the entire NPR line-up. They’re a safe bet for music, news, and TED Talks.
Club Random with Bill Maher
Of course, we’re ending it with this guy. I don’t agree with everything he says, and he can be a jerk sometimes, but he’s funny. His podcasts run about ninety minutes an episode. I think it’s nice for someone who’s a great conversationalist to sit down with an interesting guest and produce an episode where the topics change with a lot of current events. It’s a time stamp on how certain beliefs were held about topics at a certain time.
I notice how his guests can keep up with him, but if he gets guests from certain industries, the conversation will begin to dip. The best is when he’s interviewing other comedians. Those are the best. These longer interviews are just as good as his Overtime shows at the end of Real Time, where the guests riff for about twenty minutes.
Wrap-up
That’s my list for right now. I’m toiling away at my project, and I listen to these in the background to help me keep track of time. Check them out and let me know what you think.