In this day and age, I think we all have a little ADD. "Check out this YouTube video while I channel surf and IM with Betsy, oh yes, and write a work email too." Multitasking is our lifestyle, except of course when we're meditating during yoga class (which I consider to be both spiritual and physical... check two things off my list).
The Memory Palace podcast by Nate Dimeo plays well to this ADD audience. Episodes are 3 to 10 minutes long, and are a deep dive into a very specific part of history. I'm not once of those history buffs who longs for more information about what went on the past. I took history classes just because they were required, and because I felt like I should, not because I actually was all that interested.
But the Memory Palace is changing that for me. Dimeo personifies the historical event by looking at the individuals involved - not just what they did, or what happened to them, but who they were, why they were in that situation, what they thought about the event. He speaks quickly and paints a clear picture.
Subjects range from this guy who jumped off of high objects to President Walker to Ben Franklin's death ray. Quite a variety. I only wish he published more often.
Title: The Memory Palace
Subject: Non-fiction historical events and individuals
Length: 5 - 10 minutes
Available: iTunes
Cost: Free
Quality: High
Interest: History
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Showing posts with label Podcast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Podcast. Show all posts
Sep 7, 2009
Sep 3, 2009
Podcast Review Monday: Selected Shorts (PRI)
A few weeks ago, my boyfriend, little sister, and I were on the looonnngggg drive back from the Finger Lakes. It was raining. I was driving. They were sleeping. I was bored. Hello, radio! I tuned into the local public radio station, willing to listen to just about anything. And I got lucky -- it was a radio show about two of my favorite things combined -- reading and dogs!!!! WOW!
It was "Selected Shorts," a broadcast of a [previously] live taped reading of several related short stories.
I'm a voracious reader... but have a hard time getting into short stories, so this certainly isn't something I would have chosen. Boy am I glad it chose me! The individuals reading the stories made me laugh, made me cry, kept me interested. Some of the stories involved a little fantasy -- as in things that couldn't really happen, not unicorns and vampires, more like a talking dog -- which made them fun, and a little different than the non-fiction stories I had heard on The Moth or This American Life.
The collections of stories that are read are sometimes grouped around a common theme, like dogs, or similar genres, like two authors who have complementary styles. The podcast is an hour long, and several stories are read. It was great accompaniament on my drive, while I was repainting some furniture, when I was out on a walk... you get the idea.
Yes, I admit it - I have a thing for Public Radio. I'm even one of those people who donates to my local station! However, WBUR doesn't have all of the worthwhile public radio programming that is available, and/or I'm not always available to listen to it all. Thank you, Podcasts, for existing. And thank you "Selected Shorts," for making a select few of your live recordings available. They're so enticing, I may just buy a CD so I can get another fix.
Title: Selected Shorts
Subject: Short fictional stories, live performance
Length: 1 hour
Available: iTunes
Cost: Free (for a few select downloads)
Quality: High
Interest: Literature
.
It was "Selected Shorts," a broadcast of a [previously] live taped reading of several related short stories.
I'm a voracious reader... but have a hard time getting into short stories, so this certainly isn't something I would have chosen. Boy am I glad it chose me! The individuals reading the stories made me laugh, made me cry, kept me interested. Some of the stories involved a little fantasy -- as in things that couldn't really happen, not unicorns and vampires, more like a talking dog -- which made them fun, and a little different than the non-fiction stories I had heard on The Moth or This American Life.
The collections of stories that are read are sometimes grouped around a common theme, like dogs, or similar genres, like two authors who have complementary styles. The podcast is an hour long, and several stories are read. It was great accompaniament on my drive, while I was repainting some furniture, when I was out on a walk... you get the idea.
Yes, I admit it - I have a thing for Public Radio. I'm even one of those people who donates to my local station! However, WBUR doesn't have all of the worthwhile public radio programming that is available, and/or I'm not always available to listen to it all. Thank you, Podcasts, for existing. And thank you "Selected Shorts," for making a select few of your live recordings available. They're so enticing, I may just buy a CD so I can get another fix.
Title: Selected Shorts
Subject: Short fictional stories, live performance
Length: 1 hour
Available: iTunes
Cost: Free (for a few select downloads)
Quality: High
Interest: Literature
.
Aug 24, 2009
Podcast Review Monday: The Moth
Raise your hands if you have heard of "This American Life."
Keep your hand up if you love it.
That's what I'm talking about, peeps. TAL love, in da haus!
At one point in my earlier career, I had a series of mind-numbingly boring tasks to do in my otherwise OK job. I listened to ALL of the TAL archives during that time, and it saved my life. Or at least my mind. And since the weekly radio show is often re-runs, I'm pretty much always up to date on it. The result? I'm a TAL-lover, with no fresh TAL. What's a girl to do?
This girl found "The Moth" podcast. It's live recordings of people telling true stories from their lives. It's not "around the bonfire" style, it's performance style. Clearly they have rehearsed their stories, which vary from tales of father-son relationships gone awry, prison life, a fainting problem, and more. They all involve some kind of emotional ride --- both for the teller, and for the listener.
Oh my. Yes, this DOES sound like TAL, doesn't it? Only it's less scripted, less comprehensive, it's just one person's story, the way they choose to tell it. And I can't get enough.
Title: The Moth
Subject: Non-fiction stories, live performance
Length: 10-20 minutes
Available: iTunes
Cost: Free
Quality: High
Interest: Broad
Photo Credit: Andrew Steele
.
Keep your hand up if you love it.
That's what I'm talking about, peeps. TAL love, in da haus!
At one point in my earlier career, I had a series of mind-numbingly boring tasks to do in my otherwise OK job. I listened to ALL of the TAL archives during that time, and it saved my life. Or at least my mind. And since the weekly radio show is often re-runs, I'm pretty much always up to date on it. The result? I'm a TAL-lover, with no fresh TAL. What's a girl to do?
This girl found "The Moth" podcast. It's live recordings of people telling true stories from their lives. It's not "around the bonfire" style, it's performance style. Clearly they have rehearsed their stories, which vary from tales of father-son relationships gone awry, prison life, a fainting problem, and more. They all involve some kind of emotional ride --- both for the teller, and for the listener.
Oh my. Yes, this DOES sound like TAL, doesn't it? Only it's less scripted, less comprehensive, it's just one person's story, the way they choose to tell it. And I can't get enough.
Title: The Moth
Subject: Non-fiction stories, live performance
Length: 10-20 minutes
Available: iTunes
Cost: Free
Quality: High
Interest: Broad
Photo Credit: Andrew Steele
.
Aug 17, 2009
Podcast Review Monday: The Sound of Young America
Inspired by Jen's schedule of posts, I have decided to start a more disciplined approach to blogging. Yes, discipline. Schedules. With that in mind...
Podcasts are something I have recently discovered. Ok, so I've known about them for a few years, but have had trouble finding ones I really like. Sure, I'm an NPR junkie, but I hear most of my public radio live on public radio, so I don't need a podcast for most shows. I will be exploring the deep and murky depths of the podcast world because from now on, moving forward, forthwith, Monday will officially be "Podcast Review Monday."
This week, I'll be listened to PRI: The Sound of Young America, one of themost more popular podcasts available on iTunes. It's put out by the same people who do This American Life, only it's not well sculpted stories, it's interviews of varying lengths by Jesse Thorne of people of interest.
Yes, I realize that's a broad description, but the interviews vary widely from Ira Glass to Jenna Fischer, Brother Ali, and Malcolm Gladwell. The other day I listened to an interview with a guy who wrote a book about the history of comics. I was *not* excited about listening to this. But somehow, between Jesse's questions and comments, and the interviewee's enthusiasm, I enjoyed myself. I learned a lot about both the author's personal history (he loved superhero comics growing up), but also about the role comics have served in our own history, and how they are a reflection of culture.
I have dozens of past interviews archived on my iPhone, ready for my listening pleasure. The ecletic mix of topics ensure I'm never bored. I pretty much will listen to any of the interviews all the way through - they vary in length from 20 to 35 minutes, a reasonable dedication of time.
Verdict? I'm on board with the crowd - definite yes.
Title: PRI: The Sound of Young America (also known as MaximumFun.org)
Subject: Real live interviews
Length: 20-35 minutes
Available: iTunes
Cost: Free
Quality: High
Interest: Broad
Podcasts are something I have recently discovered. Ok, so I've known about them for a few years, but have had trouble finding ones I really like. Sure, I'm an NPR junkie, but I hear most of my public radio live on public radio, so I don't need a podcast for most shows. I will be exploring the deep and murky depths of the podcast world because from now on, moving forward, forthwith, Monday will officially be "Podcast Review Monday."
This week, I'll be listened to PRI: The Sound of Young America, one of the
Yes, I realize that's a broad description, but the interviews vary widely from Ira Glass to Jenna Fischer, Brother Ali, and Malcolm Gladwell. The other day I listened to an interview with a guy who wrote a book about the history of comics. I was *not* excited about listening to this. But somehow, between Jesse's questions and comments, and the interviewee's enthusiasm, I enjoyed myself. I learned a lot about both the author's personal history (he loved superhero comics growing up), but also about the role comics have served in our own history, and how they are a reflection of culture.
I have dozens of past interviews archived on my iPhone, ready for my listening pleasure. The ecletic mix of topics ensure I'm never bored. I pretty much will listen to any of the interviews all the way through - they vary in length from 20 to 35 minutes, a reasonable dedication of time.
Verdict? I'm on board with the crowd - definite yes.
Title: PRI: The Sound of Young America (also known as MaximumFun.org)
Subject: Real live interviews
Length: 20-35 minutes
Available: iTunes
Cost: Free
Quality: High
Interest: Broad
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