Podcast Recommendations

[FelixSH]

I started Revolutions recently. I liked History of Rome better, but then again Rome is just way more interesting than England. Hopefully the American Revolution is more compelling.

I'm trying it again, after falling off of it when it was newer. The American Revolution didn't do much for me - maybe because I know basically nothing about it. It was still interesting, but not much did stick.

But I just got through the French Revolution, and that one was really good. So, at least make it there. The closer the podcast got to the Terror, the more interesting it became for me, but maybe that's just me. I'm just fascinating by the escalation of these things.

Also, if you enjoyed History of Rome, you might want to check out History of Byzantium, by Robin Pierson. He kind of picks up where Mike Duncan stops, but switches to the perspective of the Eastern half of the Empire. From there, it's basically the same format, with a few things added, like regularly looking back at the last hundred years, or so, to give people a general overview. It's a good one.

 

[Patrick]

I couldn’t get into Byzantium. I just didn’t like the new guy as much.

 

[karzac]

The American Revolution is the weakest series of Revolutions by far, and I think Duncan has said that he would change a lot of it in retrospect. The French Revolution is where it starts getting really good (although I liked the English Revolution too). My favourite series was probably 1848 or the Mexican Revolution.

 

[FelixSH]

Oh, I did like the English Revolution, but it is very dense. There is so much to memorize in the first few episodes, that you can get lost very easily. But Duncan realized that too ("Yeah, you might have to listen to this episode a second time."). And I don't know anything about English History, so unlike with the French Revolution, where I know at least the basics, everything is new. It's a bit much.

But then, I generally don't remember too many details of each episode. I thought about, maybe, after each episode read up on a key component, so that I can remember more. But even now, I'm sure I know more about all three revolutions than I ever did before.

 

[karzac]

I think as the show goes on, he gets better at (and more interested in) talking about the background behind the events, which helps provide context if you aren't already familiar with the history. The current series on the Russian revolutions spends 8 episodes on the early history of socialism before even getting to Russia, and takes more than 30 episodes to get to 1905.

 

[estragon]

Austin Walker is now fully leaving Waypoint for a games development job he says he won't be able to publicly talk about for a long time. I'm glad for him, but sad for me. The current lineup of Waypoint is the first general games podcast since Idle Thumbs I've listened to regardless of topic, and he's an irreplaceable part of that dynamic. Hope he gets to make something cool.

A move away from criticism/commentary to development for him is a real end of an era.

 

[Falselogic]

Oh bummer. I like the rest of the Waypoint team but he's been a real anchor for me.

 

[JBear]

Same, on all counts. I'm really going to miss hearing his voice.

ETA: Also, it feels bad to say, but while I love him, his creative output isn't really my jam, generally. So although it's selfish, and I bet this is more personally fulfilling for him, it's all bad news for me personally.

I assume/hope they're going to be bring someone else on to the team. You can't replace Austin, but I feel like they're no longer at the critical mass of folks that they need to keep the podcast staffed for absences.

 

[Adrenaline]

This is definitely a bummer. It's not that they can't make a good podcast episode without him, there's just always a part of me that wishes he was there too. At least A More Civilized Age will continue.

 

[Falselogic]

He just officially announced it on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1428815914108076039

 

[Aleryn]

Count me as another sad at his departure. Personally I hope to hear him one-day on something just focused on social issues.

 

[karzac]

Yeah, very excited for him, but definitely the end of an era. He's been such a strong voice in games crit for nearly a decade now.

 

[Büge]

I need recommendations for podcasts to listen to at work. Right now I listen to Mission Log (a podcast about reviewing episodes of Star Treks to see if they hold up), Late Seating (where classic films are humourously reviewed to see if they hold up), and Unspooled (which Johnny Unusual mentioned). I'd listen to How Did This Get Made, but they paywalled their archive beyond the last 6 months.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

For what it's worth the request of Paul Scheer, How Did This Get Made does change the old "not behind the paywall episodes" every three months I think.

Anyway, it takes big breaks, but I do enjoy the Tobolowsky Files, a podcast of personal stories by character actor Stephen Tobolowsky.

I think older eps MIGHT be behind a paywall but if you want a comedy show were funny people shoot the shit and there's no greater premise, Threedom with Scott Aukerman, Lauren Lapkiss and Paul F Tompkins is very good. If you want an older one that's all done, I like... half of Spontaneonation. The premise is Paul F. Tompkins interviews a creative type (usually but not always a comedian) for half of the show and the second half is an improvised story often calling back to the interview. I actually like the first part more than the second but it's good.

 

[ThornGhost]

I need recommendations for podcasts to listen to at work. Right now I listen to Mission Log (a podcast about reviewing episodes of Star Treks to see if they hold up), Late Seating (where classic films are humourously reviewed to see if they hold up), and Unspooled (which Johnny Unusual mentioned). I'd listen to How Did This Get Made, but they paywalled their archive beyond the last 6 months.

Are you mostly just into movie podcasts then? Or do you want more general suggestions? Also how gauche is it to reccomend one's own podcast?

 

[Büge]

I mean, I'm flexible. I'd love to listen to more history or science podcasts, as long as they're interesting/entertaining.

 

[Patrick]

The History of Rome podcast is great.

 

[FelixSH]

Hardcore History is great too. The last few episodes are always free, but the earlier ones are worth the price too.

 

[ThornGhost]

In Our Time from the BBC is probably one of the best science/history shows around. Each week the host (who is so good at his job he was knighted) moderates a round table on a specific topic featuring professors and other leading academics who specialize in the topic. It's not exciting really, but it is interesting and informative, with a wide variety of topics.

Wild Thing from Foxtopus Ink is a show about "out there" topics, but focuses less on the kind of pop culture idea of this things and more on the communities that surround them, why people are attracted to them and the science (if any!) behind them. Season 1 is about Bigfoot, season 2 is about aliens. The host is a former NPR employee and boy can you tell it. It sounds so much like Serial and S-Town in style and production that I almost had to laugh the first time I listened. Still, a proper fun listen and not one I hear kicked around often.

Finally, I'll go into self-serving promotion. On my show Video Death Loop we watch a short video clip on repeat and use it as basis for long form improv storytelling. Here's a pretty recent episode that's a good representation of the gamut of what we do. If you can get through this, well, this show might be for you.

 

[WisteriaHysteria]

I will probably make a post about it in the TV/movies area, but anyone who likes to listen to podcasts, and also likes Batman/DC Comics stuff owes it to themselves to give Batman: The Audio Adventures an honest college try.

I'm only about 3/5ths the way through it and it's already the best Batman media that's been made since TAS in the 90s. It just gets Batman.

At its core, it's an old school radio drama - the kinds your grandparents used to listen to - but done with modern sensibilities. And it's freaking awesome. It's a wonderful blend of hokey, but taking itself serious. It's just so earnest in its love for the medium and for Batman. All of the versions of characters just feel like core versions of themselves, going back to their origins versus the distorted flanderizations that have mutated over the decades. And the acting here is top notch with a lot of really powerful talent here.

Jeffrey Wright as Batman/Bruce Wayne
Chris Parnell as Narrator
Ike Barinholtz as Two-Face/Harvey Dent
Rosario Dawson as Catwoman
Brent Spiner as The Joker
Jason Sudeikis as Hamilton Hill
Brooke Shields as Vicki Vale
John Leguizamo as The Riddler/Edward Nigma
Kenan Thompson as Commissioner Gordon
Bobby Moynihan as The Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot
Seth Meyers as Jack Ryder
Alan Tudyk as Alfred Pennyworth
Melissa Villasenor as Robin
Tim Meadows as Jeremiah Arkham
Fred Armisen as King Scimitar
Heidi Gardner as Harley Quinn
Ray Wise as Announcer
Paul Scheer as Mr. Charleyhorse

Every single person here hits it out of the park. Jeffrey Wright is slowly becoming my favorite Batman ever (And with him we're lowkey getting our first black Batman too!) and Brent Spiner brings his best Lore energy to the Joker. Everyone here is aces. I really really really really want this to catch on and be successful because I need more of this in my life. The internet might have been a mistake, but if it brings back audio dramas like this that's a good consolation prize in my book. The first two episodes are free on HBO Max and YouTube, but you need Max to listen to the full 10 episodes. Please give this a try, fellow tyrants. I promise it'll be worth your time.

At the very least, even if this flops, they should let this writer and most of this cast do a cartoon show. This is just too good to fall through the cracks.

 

[Octopus Prime]

There's only two episodes available in my podcast app; are they only releasing them very slowly or are they behind a p

 

[WisteriaHysteria]

They're behind the HBO Max paywall, unfortunately. If you've got HBO Max, you can listen to 'em on there. I have no idea if they plan on doing a wider distribution later. There's 10 episodes total.

It's such a weird thing, tbh. Like, they work perfectly as podcasts, and HBO Max even calls it a 'podcast'. But a video streaming service isn't exactly podcast friendly.

 

[Sprite]

Uhhhh, do I really have to keep my phone’s screen on to listen to Batman? Talk about setting yourself up for failure.

 

[Paul le Fou]

Does anyone know any podcasts in the style of The Adventure Zone or Critical Role that play Blades in the Dark or Lancer?

 

[Patrick]

I think this one was pretty good:

The Magpies Podcast – A Blades in the Dark Actual Play Podcast

magpiespodcast.net

I listened to it a few years ago and fell off at some point, but I don’t remember why. Bonus: all female cast.

 

[Octopus Prime]

This skews a bit younger than most of the shows recommended in this thread, but it's pretty fun and breezy for any Tyrants with kids; one of the main cast members of Mission to Zyxx has an educational podcast called Nice To Meet You, about animals meeting people in various jobs at the urging of a mad scientist. Doesn't talk down to kids, and the performances are pretty darn good. I'd put it at roughly a Beakmans World/Bill Nye level in terms of edutainment.

 

[shivam]

My podcast, Casual Magic, just hit episode 100! If you're into magic the gathering, check it out =)

 

[ThornGhost]

Congrats, Shivam!

 

[muteKi]

Wife and I have been rewatching New Girl and I just discovered there's a podcast by Zooey Deschanel, Hannah Simone, and Lamorne Morris called Welcome to Our Show. It's putatively about the behind-the-scenes circumstances of each episode in sequence but it's also a pretty casual show with (esp. thanks to Morris) some improv-y bits. If I had to describe it in a sentence I'd say something like "What if threedom but they talked a lot more about the craft services table?"

 

[jpfriction]

I think I or someone else recommended Threedom already. Its Scott Aukerman, Lauren Lapkus and Paul F Tompkins B.S.-ing for a bit before playing an improv game. I like their conversation better than the game part and often cut episodes short. That said, PFT screwing up a simple game of scattergories so throughly in the most recent episode made me laugh so hard I almost crashed my car. Listen carefully.