Podcasting, Part II
Last month we started looking at some of the great podcasts available. Here is a continuation of what I’ve been listening to through my mobile application.
Star Trek: The Next Conversation - I wasn’t exactly the social butterfly through middle school and high school. I wasn’t sitting at home every night but I also wasn’t hitting the party scene like a pimp. Probably you can tell by the language I used in that previous sentence that I wasn’t the party type. Instead, I would pop on DC50 at 10pm and watch Star Trek: The Next Generation. I loved that show! I wanted to be part of the crew of the Enterprise NCC-1701D. I loved the show so much that when I earned the rank of Eagle Scout when I was 15 (I must sound like the coolest guy ever!) I invited one celebrity and one celebrity only to attend. That celebrity was named Patrick Stewart, Captain Jean Luc-Picard himself. He didn’t attend but it was an honor to even invite such an amazing actor.
When I learned a couple of writers from the hit series The Goldbergs were starting up a podcast where they watch every single episode of the show and then talk about it I knew I had to start listening. OK, that wasn’t really why I started listening. I just didn’t want to sound like a creepy stalker. I heard about this podcast from James Bonding because Matt Mira is a host on both shows. I subscribe to many Matt Mira productions because, well, we seem to have the same interests. You read about James Bonding in last month’s blog and you read about another Matt Mira podcast in Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs the first time I wrote about podcasts in the blog Video Killed the Radio Star. And guess what? This isn’t the last Matt Mira production you’ll read about.
Sorry, I got sidetracked for a second trying to defend my listening pleasures. This podcast brings Matt Mira, a Star Trek: TNG expert together with Andrew Secunda, a first time viewer of the show, together to bring a laugh filled show to the masses. As any TNG watcher will tell you, the first two seasons are nearly unwatchable so get right to season three. In the case of this podcast and at this point in listening, the guys are nearly done struggling through season two and you can hear Mira push to continue onward until the show gets good and Secunda try to power through with wandering thoughts of what hellish landscape must he endure. If you are a lover of late 80’s/early 90’s sci-fi then this podcast is for you.
Matt & Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure - I don’t you that the last show wasn’t the end of the Matt Mira collection of podcasts. Next on our list I give you Matt & Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure. In this show, Matt and spouse Doree talk in exorbitant detail about their struggle with infertility and the journey through In Vitro Fertilization. Listens call and email the show looking for advice or simply to share their stories about the struggles with trying to have a baby.
Anyone who may be having problems conceiving should check out this podcast. Matt and Doree put it all out of front street sharing their trials and tribulations with trying to have a child. There is no holding back. The discussion ranges from Matt’s dumb sperm, Doree’s old eggs, and ridiculous hurdles required to get money from insurance companies, and even the “jerk off” rooms used for sperm testing. This show provides a great forum for listeners to share stories of just to listen and know that they are not alone with their struggles.
We are lucky that we were able to conceive both our kids the old fashioned way so I can’t necessarily related to the issues Matt and Doree (and the listeners) struggle with every day. However, it doesn’t matter because Matt and Doree are funny and lovable people that share their life story every week with us and there is always something entertaining. It is fun just to listen to an everyday couple share the quirks of a relationship is a great listen.
NPR Politics Podcast - In case you didn’t notice, we citizens of the United States are living in, how shall I say this without being rude, an interesting political climate. To a certain extent I’ve tried to avoid my personal politics on this blog. Even when I have discussed politics I think I’ve done a pretty good job of avoiding the “us versus them” dynamic or the “republican versus democrat” angle. Most of my political writings have concerned the outdated mode in which we elect (or, as I believe, don’t elect) our President through the Electoral College (go check out Electoral College, Part I; Electoral College, Part II; and Electoral College, Part III).
Even though I try to keep partisan politics out of my blog as much as is reasonable, I still need and want to know what is going on in the world. I don’t trust Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, or other cable news outlets of the world because I’m convinced they are not providing news but are selling entertainment under the guise of news coverage. It is my opinion that cable news outlets believe it is more important to sell ad time then it is to report what is actually happening in the world. So what is one to do in order to stay at least reasonably informed about what is happening in the nation?
I decided to subscribe to the NPR Politics Podcast. The podcast is a twice weekly (occasionally more of something outstanding happens) podcast that gives provides a roundup of what is going on in national politics. Each episode includes a panel of Congressional reports, White House reports, and political correspondence to give some detail on what legislation is being considered and to provide some analysis on how laws, politicians, and yes, our President, are addressing the issues on the table. While I know many of you believe NPR is a left-leaning news organization (and you may be correct) at least they are a nonprofit organization that doesn’t have to sell advertising in order to keep the light on. So, a decision had to be made and I decided to go with this podcast.
That is what I’m currently listening to on my mobile device. What podcasts do you enjoy? What podcasts should I avoid?
