Since joining the world of podcasting, I have fully embraced the medium in many ways. Not just by contributing, but by seeking out other people’s work that interests me. I love the specificity of podcasts and the way I can search by specific niches. My main genres tend to be media, entertainment and nostalgia.
The five podcasts I am recommending here are tailored to my own taste, and may not be your cup of tea. I would love to hear what you’re listening to, and I may check it out myself.
1. Pod Meets World – IHeart Media
This podcast series, dedicated to Boy Meets World, is one of my regular choices. The show is presented by Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) and Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), as they interview people involved, recap episodes, and take other deviations along the way.
The key to a successful podcast is chemistry, and Danielle, Rider and Will have it in spades. It’s like they never stopped working together, and it makes for an insightful podcast that can occasionally have me laughing out loud.
They have been venturing into other areas of 90s and 00s nostalgia in recent times, and I’ve loved it! I look forward to seeing what they do in the future.
2. The Rest is Entertainment – Goalhanger
There was a time when I was an avid listener to The Media Show on BBC Radio 4. I still listen occasionally, but I became tired of the repetitive nature of the subjects, mostly covering parts of the media that aren’t my interest. They’ve also extended their show to an hour, making the show much drier than it should be
I decided to give The Rest is Entertainment a go, a lighter affair that places itself more in the showbusiness category, but does drift towards media quite pleasingly. Marina Hynde and Richard Osman are the perfect hosts for this; they clearly know their industry. It is more opinion-based than the radio equivalent I mentioned, but it makes me feel like an active participant.
There are two episodes per week. One of them focuses on relevant news topics of the week. The other month they talked about the future of the Bond franchise; When it was announced the next day that Amazon had got creative control, my first thought was “What would Osman think of this?”.
The other episode is a Q&A, where the hosts answer media-related queries from listeners. I’m always hesitant to listen to these, but I always end up learning something through enjoyment.
3. The Extras – Tim Millard
I’m a huge advocate for film and television preservation, and this podcast hits right into that sweet spot! Tim is a former employee at Warner Bros Home Entertainment, having been part of collating “Extras” for DVD releases for many years. The podcast delves into upcoming physical Media releases of classic titles, most notably those of the Warner Archive.
My favourite episodes of these feature Warner’s own George Feltenstein, a titan in the world of media preservation. I love the rapport between Tim and George, it leads to lots of interesting information about how a film was restored in HD. Everything is laid bare, explaining the history of a movie, its cultural relavance and the internal geek notes on the production materials.
Without Tim’s podcast, I would have no clue how intricate these things can be or the fight that experts like George and Jerry Beck have. Their honesty and passion for keeping the most niche titles in the public eye is amazing. I’ve particularly enjoyed the recent episodes of releases of animated series from the Hanna-Barbera and MGM libraries; A reappraisal of content often touted as kiddy fare but treated with the respect each thing deserves.
Lastly, I should point out that I find Tim’s voice incredibly soothing. Once that familiar theme kicks in, I await to hear his deep tone that is reassuring. Perfect for late-night or early-morning listening!
4. Toon’d In With Jim Cummings
I am a huge fan of the universe of classic animation. Any enthusiast will be able to tell you of the work of Jim Cummings. His voice is a Mainstay in American animation, having voiced such characters as Darkwing Duck, Disney‘s Pete and later iterations of Winnie the Pooh.
I’ve been listening to this podcast for about two years, but I still have a lot of episodes to catch up on. In each one, Jim talks to a figure working in the animation world, which can become a real meeting of two legends on many occasions. I’ve heard interviews with voice actors, including Tara Strong, E.G Daily and Bill Farmer, among many others. It’s always interesting to hear people’s take on their job, and the effect it has on people.
Jim Cummings brings a lovely amount of warmth and humour to the job of podcast host. He strikes a nice balance between giving his own perspective and letting the guest have their moment. His producer probably plays a part in getting things moving, but I’d like to think Jim is responsible for most of it.
The mark of a great podcast is listening regardless of personal interest in the content. I have heard a large number of episodes with people I didn’t know, mainly because I like the vibe that Jim brings. Then, I’ve found myself laughing and learning all at once, and it leads me down new paths. Fresh appreciation for all voiceover artists!
5. Rosebud. Gyles Brandreth
This is one of my newest listens. Hosted by Gyles Brandreth, he interviews many well-known celebrities about their early life. I must admit, I have only listened to two or three episodes, but I’m loving it thus far.
The beauty of this podcast is that it has been framed differently. I’ve been in many situations where I’ve interviewed somebody, and it feels like they’ve given that interview before. Celebrities will often have rehearsed stories that they’ll bring out to tie into specific questions. There is no problem in this, but sometimes, as an interviewer, it can be frustrating because you’d hoped for something different.
With the focus on early life, stories come out that have most probably never been touched on before. This is why, unless they’re a child star, you shouldn’t expect to hear about their greatest successes when listening to Rosebud. This podcast. This is about the shaping of their early life that led to those successes.
Gyles does an excellent job of making his guests feel at ease; He’s had practice for many years. I look forward to hearing more episodes!
Thank you for reading my Podcast recommendations. All of the above is presented in no particular order, as my preference differs depending on mood. All of these podcasts can be enjoyed on Amazon Music and other platforms. Have you heard any of these podcasts before? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
CREDITS:
Photo by Markus Winkler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/scrabble-tiles-forming-words-on-wooden-table-30917898/
