On Podcasts

On Podcasts

 

Now those who know me, know I like podcasts. Those who didn’t know that, just learned. I discovered podcasts like so many others: By discovering something was absolutely free on iTunes. Yet, I ended up getting hooked. Now I love podcasts. I love the concept of having weekly installments to shows that are very entertaining or very informative or, in most cases, both. All of the ones I mention below are well worth listening to and like I mentioned, they’re all free.

 

Battleship Pretension

I’m really enjoying this podcast. It starts off sorta rough, which they often admit, but it quickly evolved to a really intelligent and fun program. This show has two guys—Tyler and David—picking a topic and discussing it each week. They could discuss the dynamics of documentaries, heist films, or movies about revenge. Also every fifth episode they devote an episode to an individual. (Their episode on Orson Welles was a lot of fun.) What sets their show apart from others is that the hosts are a lot of fun. They joke with each other and are obviously having fun doing this.
Favorite Episode: #31 – Where they talk about vampire and werewolf films
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=260603969
Website: http://www.battleshippretension.com/

Creative Screenwriting Magazine

This one is an absolute must for anyone who wants to be a writer. The entire podcast is a Q&A with the screenwriters of a movie that came out this weekend. They are in depth and masterfully moderated by Jeff Goldsmith. This is a great way to learn about the screenwriting process and also how scripts are actually sold and made. (Yes selling a script and having it made into a movie are two very different things.) Also these can be a lot of fun. The Hot Fuzz, Cloverfield, and Oscar panel episodes are evident of that.
Favorite Episode: John Logan - Sweeney Todd Q&A
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=77837603
Website: http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/

F That Movie

Of all of the film podcasts I listen to, this is probably the funniest. Do not expect incredibly scholarly insight in these podcasts. With this podcast Jake, Dylan, and their occasionally silent producer Brooke have created the perfect set up. Have a list of movies to review, continue to drink alcohol throughout the episode, and spend most of the episode off topic with hilarious anecdotes. The only issue with this podcast is that they don’t update regularly enough.
Favorite Episode: Episode 46. You hear some great Comic Con stories and some lovely insight into a Lindsay Lohan movie.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=129950465
Website: http://fthatmovie.libsyn.com/

Filmspotting

This is one of the most popular podcasts out there and I say it’s worthy. This is what At the Movies should be. They have had 258 episodes over the course of many years. They stick to a structure very similar to an actual radio show. Each week Adam and Matty (Former host was Sam), intelligently discuss a movie that came out that week. They also have a contest where you can win a free DVD if you can guess what screenplay that are “massacring” with their acting. They also talk about an older movie in one of their marathons and have a unique Top 5 lists each week that are a lot of fun.
Favorite Episode: #110 – You’ll hear the greatest review of The Lake House
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73330112
Website: http://www.filmspotting.net/

The Hollywood Saloon

If I had to rank the podcasts I listen to, I would probably rank this as the highest. For it’s so well done. It’s amazingly edited and always feels like a definitive source on the topics. Andy and John do a lot of research before each show and always talk about fascinating topics. I love the ways they coin their own phrases about the current state of Hollywood. Now the deal breaker of their episodes is their lengths. I happen to love that they spent six hours discussing all of the Bond films and their history. The great thing about podcasts is that you don’t have to listen to them straight through. It took me a week or two to finish their three hour look on the Halloween films. Yet they are always worth the time.
Favorite Episode: Fury Road – Car Chases at the Movies. This will make you further love car chases, as if that was possible.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=79137529
Website: http://www.hollywoodsaloon.com/

I Love Movies

This one really isn’t about movies, I swear. Seriously, ignore the title. Each week Doug Benson, a stand up comedian who you may recognize from VH1 shows, invites two or three comedians and they goof off and occasionally talk about movies. They have had great guests like David Cross, John Hamm and Patton Oswalt. This always provides a great (and sometimes too short) block of comedy.
Favorite Episode: “Bob Odenkirk and Chris Hardwick guest” Here they truly break down Titanic and how it’s actually about Alzheimer’s.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=281816774
Website: http://ilovemovies.blip.tv/

KCRW’s The Treatment

From what I have noticed in the world, there are interviewers and there is Elvis Mitchell. Elvis is the man. Each week he talks to someone in the entertainment industry and really breaks down what they do on a deep level. He really provides some intelligent introspection to their work. Even last week he had Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and it was still a very intelligent (and fun) conversation about how he views the world.
Favorite Episode: Andrew Stanton
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73330616
Website: http://www.kcrw.com/

Nowhere in Mulberry

This really is one of the most entertaining shows out there. It’s a lot like The Soup but two to three hours in length. Three good friends get together and talk about the latest in entertainment, TV shows, truly bizarre news, and DVD releases. They always do it in a hysterical and occasionally spastic manner. Every episode has some sort of nostalgia clip they keeps interrupting/commenting on their show. They also occasionally go way off topic talking about video games or have Eugene call in. I wish I could accurately describe Eugene, but it’s almost impossible.
Favorite Episode: Whatever episode they were attacked by the Cloverfield monster.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=129403911
Website: http://www.gcast.com/user/nimpodcast/podcast/main

The Official LOST Podcast

Yes! I’m a loser! I get it. I adore the show LOST and every week after the episode airs I listen to the brief podcast they put up. No, they don’t reveal any mysteries or give major clues. What the two showrunners (Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse) do is play around with the fans. They goof off and give silly answers to questions that are asked and they simply joke with each other. It’s light, enjoyable, and definitely funny.
Favorite Episode: I don’t have one. Sorry. I have favorite episodes of the real show, though.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=90673892
Website: http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index

SModcast

Now I’m a big fan of Kevin Smith (Clerks, Zack and Miri Make a Porno.). He’s one of my favorite filmmakers working today. No his films aren’t on the same level as The Coen Brothers, Woody Allen, or Marin Scorsese but he consistently makes me laugh. Now if anyone has seen An Evening With Kevin Smith, will know what to expect from this podcast. Each week he talks (usually) with his producer Scott Mosier as they talk about some of the most random topics. Sometimes it’s insanely personal stories from their past, something weird they heard on the news, or they role play some hysterical scenarios. (Who knew Mosier had so many voices?) This isn’t a podcast talking about movies; it’s just great comedy.
Favorite Episode: I have never laughed harder on this show than #14. I won’t say why.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=215010467
Website: http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/category/smodcast/

This American Life

This is the only one I listen to that really has nothing to do with movies. I tried a few book related podcasts, but they ended up being disappointing. Yet this is a masterpiece. It’s a radio show that airs every week from Chicago Public Radio. Each week Ira Glass tells stories that all fit a certain theme. Now the remarkable thing is that all of the stories he tells are true stories from across America. Sometimes they have bigger names like David Sedaris or Mike Birbiglia tell well written stories, but the ones that I always remember are the really personal stories from average people. I don’t know how they find these stories and I hope they one day make a documentary about this show, but it’s worthy of all of its praise.
Favorite Episode: #304: Heretics. It was the full episode devoted to a Reverend who stopped believing in hell and was cast aside from his church.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=201671138
Website: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/