Where do podcasts fit in

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
I spend a lot of time these days listening to podcasts, and it's funny cos I think in a sense talk radio is more popular than ever. Which you might not have predicted.

Not sure how much artistry comes into them. Most of my favourites are just conversations. Tempted to connect modern isolation and loneliness with the burgeoning podcast industry. But maybe it's like Big Brother - we will watch or listen to other people all day, if they're remotely interesting (and even if they're not).
 

pattycakes_

Can turn naughty
Have been an avid listener to 2 for years. Wtf and pep talks. Both hosted by comedians. Wtf is pretty famous but the arc of its humble beginnings in his garage to becoming the #1 downloaded podcast, to getting Obama when he was president and the continuing success Marc the host has in his career is really something to behold. He was literally a wreck at the start, his career going nowhere, freshly out of a 2nd divorce. He just started doing it, and before you know it he builds this reputation as one of the great interviewers. Which is partly down to his confessional nature about all of his own plights which puts his guests at ease to open up and reveal things they probably never would on any other platform and also the fact that he's genuinely interested in most of the people he interviews. The main line running throughout the 1000+ hour long episodes of which I've listened to all and maybe 7/800 multiple times is truth. It's rare these days to hear such candid discussion between two professional people. Rare to hear two adults admit to all kinds of things people generally avoid talking about. I think I learned more and gained more compassion for people through wtf than any other medium. Funnily enough I got into it because I read on some other forum that he was shitting on Ricky Gervais a lot.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
Just listened to his interview with Letterman.

He's one of many stand up comedians with highly successful podcasts who I find totally unfunny. Rogan being the obvious other one. (Richard Herring and Adam Buxton are funny, but the host of the Comedians Comedian isn't.) Conan O'Brien is very funny, too.

I find I get pissed off with the hosts of podcasts, however much I initially like them.

But this isn't so much about favourite podcasts (although by all means) as the medium itself, the appeal of them, the potential, etc.

Although Rogan is by no means the most informed of hosts, I do agree with him insofar as he says podcasts offer a new form of conversation with a media platform. They can be three hours long, cover any topic, and (so far as I'm aware) remain relatively uncensored.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
Rare to hear two adults admit to all kinds of things people generally avoid talking about. I think I learned more and gained more compassion for people through wtf than any other medium. Funnily enough I got into it because I read on some other forum that he was shitting on Ricky Gervais a lot.

Yeah this is one thing - even my friends I don't have such long, uninterrupted conversations with.

Ricky Gervais's podcast was one of the big early ones, wasn't it? I do find him to be a twat but I did enjoy those early ones.
 

muser

Well-known member
I think people reading less could be factor, also that now anyone who has gained enough exposure can start one and probably get allot of listeners independently with low cost/ risk.
 

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
Constantly trying to listen to audio books and just can't crack it

Get distracted, have to rewind bits, etc.

For some reason I've no problem concentrating on a podcast
 

CrowleyHead

Well-known member
It's sad because podcast providers have worked exceptionally hard to cripple the chance of engaging with music thanks to copyright and etc. etc. and you'd think the ability to talk about music in depth like that would be cool and good but it's just a lot of post-radio celebrity puff.

Most of the podcasts I've listened to concern wrestling because Pro-Wrestlers and the people in the companies are usually good storytellers and can bullshit to fill hours worth of time (ironically resulting from having listened to Mick Foley's book via audiobook; though I agree w. Corpse on the need to rewind constantly). Besides that it's been two music podcasts but one's currently discontinued and the other only just restarted after a hiatus.

I can't do the celebrity in-and-out model, frankly because I mostly don't care about 'gets'.
 

pattycakes_

Can turn naughty
Yeah this is one thing - even my friends I don't have such long, uninterrupted conversations with.

Ricky Gervais's podcast was one of the big early ones, wasn't it? I do find him to be a twat but I did enjoy those early ones.

I often seek out people who are into those kinds of discussions but they're rare. Long form interviews like this really give people freedom to get into the nity gritty of things without that talk show pressure of knowing you've got 15min before the next guest.

The RG podcasts are the only time I've enjoyed him directly, but most of the time it was his co-hosts providing the major laughs. RG is a good instigator because he's a bully which then provoked the other two into doing whatever they did best. Still remember Karl's story about befriending a crow well.

Constantly trying to listen to audio books and just can't crack it

Get distracted, have to rewind bits, etc.

For some reason I've no problem concentrating on a podcast

Haha yeah. I just fought my way to the end of one yesterday. Amazing how easy it is to drift off even when it's interesting. Why are podcasts so much more captivating?
 

catalog

Well-known member
Urbanomic has been doing podcasts called ‘plague pod’, ive been listening a bit, some good tunes
 

WashYourHands

Cat Malogen
Main gripe with podcasts is that language can’t encapsulate the entirety of human experience. Their plasticity can serve like cling film or plastic sheeting wrapped around life. Just a personal gripe. Prefer to catch up & read the infinite number of books yet to be read like a fucking swat, but there’s enough chatter in the world these days, it’s enough trying to tune out from it all.
 
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