As an artist, and as artists we listen to A LOT of podcasts or something filling up the background while we work on our pieces. I started listening to something when I worked in high school. That “something” was just music. The me now can’t comprehend how the I growing up could just draw without deliberately listening to something in the background. Since then, I don’t listen to music much while making art anymore. It’s typically podcasts or watching/listening to How I Met Mother (surprisingly I’m able to focus on both) but HIMYM is not relevant in this post.
I love podcasts. I love material that by definition will be ongoing and I get to come back to it for an update. Blog posts, YouTube channels, TV shows, give them to me. Of course they have to have something that draws me back to them whether it’d be the person, the information or how they deliver that information.
Here is a list of some of the podcasts I’ve been listening to this summer some newly discovered, others tried and true that I haven’t given up on:
The Read
I found out about The Read via watching Kid Fury on YouTube. Crazy hilarious. The Read is just a continuation of the topics he discussed on that platform but much longer and with his friend, Crissle, thus, he doesn’t update his YouTube channel as much. The Read is all about pop culture and the two’s opinion on what’s going on especially with celebrities. This is not your E! or typical celeb gossip type commentary where “reporters” are either gushing about the celebrities or using buzzwords to talk about them critically. These guys are both hilariously snarky and are not afraid to express exactly how they feel. Their humor is why I go back, and their unrestrained criticism of celebrities when they feel is merited is admirable to me. Especially because these two as their profile increases, they will be known to those they criticize but Kid Fury and Crissle aren’t diplomatic or censor themselves with their opinions about celebrities to get on their good side. It’s weekly so have a ball.
Call Chelsea Peretti
I consider this podcast very polarizing but is a great (read ENTERTAINING) podcast if you like her. It’ll definitely reinforce how funny she is, but make no mistake, initially and even after two or three episodes, it was still a surprise to find out how short her attention span and how that comes across. Essentially, Chelsea loves a good bear story and she takes on calls from fans or hecklers with whom she has a chat with on any topic really, for a bit and I do mean FOR A BIT. She will hang up for any reason sometimes even when she considers it a great conversation. But, I love that for the majority of the time, she’s open to discussing whatever the caller wants to take about. Nothing is too mundane and she’ll really engage in it. Her sound effects are great too. Especially her sexy music one at random times. I don’t want to spoil too much for you though I’m dying to, but episodes to listen to are definitely the ones with Richard Marx or her brother, Jonah.
Tried and True
I’ve long since stopped watching both of these shows but have stayed with both podcasts for the reason I stated in the intro: likeable podcasters.
Josh, Jen and Ed. You’ll have their names entrenched in your head too after listening to their intro a few times. This podcast is about the show Glee. For those of you still watching that show, even if you’re hatewatching it at this point, which I’ll be honest, in the weeks prior to ending my relationship with that show, I couldn’t understand why I kept going back to it, as they say “No One Hates Glee More Than the Gleeks”, but this podcast finds something in Glee to keep talking about. But, make no mistake, they are fully aware of Glee’s problems, they do not fangirl in their podcast. They talk about the poor execution of storylines, or the characters that just never got a chance to shine. They analyze the show, but they also have hope in the show, an emotion many don’t have for Glee anymore, but Gleeful Podcast still relatively likes it. The great thing about these three is that they’re aware of how Glee has fallen while still going into each episode giving it a chance, not a chance to wow them, but they go in with fresh eyes to let Glee reveal to them what it wishes. And for me and those Glee watchers out there who listen to the show, they were really a place of support to go to when Cory Monteith died. It felt like a family up in there.
Pretty Little Recap
If you’re a Pretty Little Liars or a Emily/Paige fan (I can’t remember their ship name right now), this really is a gift for you. I myself love podcasts that are an hour plus and if you do too especially for shows you like, they really go in depth on scenes.
Admittedly, I don’t fully listen when it’s playing in the background ever since I stopped watching the show. It’s mostly used as background noise where I pick up little snippets here and there of what’s going on currently while I work on my projects. Of course it was the opposite when I used to watch the show. Now, I say because I love hearing Rose and Ryan’s interaction, the jokes they make and Ryan’s impressions of individual characters. These past months they’ve been sporadic with their episodes but they arrive eventually. In fact, checking their tumblr, I found out they’ve recently posted!
I’m always checking out podcasts. The Buffy Rewatch is pretty good but I couldn’t really recommend it here, though I’ve listened to a ton of eps. I just don’t think I’ll be listening to it in the long term. The Conversation podcast, about what’s going on in the art world, hosted by Michael Shaw looks promising. But, I’ve got more listening to do before I come to a stance on it.
Lemme know the podcasts that you you’ve been listening to for a long time or found and like and why. Recommend me something.
Happy Wednesday. Happy Listening
