Cracked Podcast

Notable Episodes: "Why You Don't Know What You Look Like", "Statistics that Prove We're Wrong About Everything", "Decisions Your Brain Makes Behind Your Back", "The Gun Show"

If you like all the information and even-handedness of NPR's slew of podcasts, but wish that the delivery was a little less pretentious (and the humor a little more juvenile), the Cracked Podcast might be your favorite new show.  If you can get past their painfully click-baity, advertisement-filled website, you will likely find the show to be incredibly well-researched, unbiased, and informative.  That is, if you're listening to an episode about how our brains trick us into liking people that ask us for favors or sample bias.  If you're listening to a pop-culture-geared episode, all bets are off.  No one is giving the Star Wars prequels a fair shake.  It's the rare show that can handle topics like gun politics and facts, the evolution of modern fear, the awful truths learned from dating site data, why pre-election polls are bullshit, the realities of time travel, how LBJ was a monster and a badass, and how many Marty McFlys Doc had to kill to ensure the proper Marty makes it to Back to the Future II, all with the same attention to detail and sense of humor. It's always engaging, enlightening, and, most impressively, straightforward.  It was even recently given the well-earned distinction of being named a Top Podcast of 2015 by iPodcasts or Apple Podcasts or Casts by Dre or whatever Apple calls its podcast service/app (iTunes).  Not that that matters, but, still.  The Cracked Podcast is an Earwolf production, so it is released weekly for free.  

How Did This Get Made

Notable Episodes: "Face / Off" "TMNT", "Staying Alive", "Wild Wild West", "Safe Haven"

How Did This Get Made started by doing the impossible: proving that something good could come from the Robin Williams/John Travolta cringefest, Old Dogs.  Apparently, after watching what could be the worst movie to be released in the last 10 years, four friends had a blast wondering aloud how the movie made it through writers, boardroom pitches, studio execs, test audiences, and Robin Williams all the way to theaters.  Three of the friends, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael, created this podcast.  The other, Casey Wilson, went back to filming the short-lived, bonkers-great (best-sitcom-of-the-last-decade great), Happy Endings.  What resulted is the most consistently entertaining podcast in existence.  From the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the Nicholas Sparks cry-fest Safe Haven, the show delivers hilarious factoids and mostly just "what the fuck" discussion from Mantzoukas, Scheer, and Raphael.  Friends in real life (or more, as Scheer and Raphael are married) their dynamic is comfortable and engaging.  Listeners may be relieved to know that Scheer and Mantzoukas have much softer personalities outside of the characters they portray on The League.  Some of the best moments come from Mantzoukas's real-life persona being a big ol' softy, albeit one that talks about "tits". A lot.  The film picks aren't always obvious, or even kind-of well known, which can be just as much fun.  Who doesn't want to know how someone green-lit, and the Canadian government funded, the horrible (and horrifying) Gooby?  Still, whether they're talking about the Sly-Stallone-directed, totally real, 2-hour-musical-montage follow-up to Saturday Night Fever, or breaking down the big three of Con Air (hair, muscles, tank-top), HDTGM is an absolute blast.  Guests drop by from time to time, with a near-perfect success rate.  HDTGM is Earwolf podcast, so it released weekly for free.  However, they follow a big-small-big rotation: full episodes are dropped every other week, with mini-episodes in between. 

JV Club

Notable Episodes: "Allison Brie", "Cara Santa Maria"

Its probably fair to mention up top that this is a show that you will either love or hate based almost completely on the host.  Older listeners may remember Janet Varney as the cohost of TBS's wonderful, long-running Friday-night program, Dinner and a Movie.  Younger listeners might recognize her as the voice of the titular character in Legend of Kora.  Others may recognize her because of her work on the Thrilling Adventure Hour.  However you know her, or if you don't know her at all, she's an absolute joy.  Varney is a natural host, with an easy charm that pairs well with almost anyone.  This makes her an ideal host, especially for a show built around one-on-one conversations with (mostly) female guests about their lives growing up (hence the name, JV Club).  This is where Varney utilizes her other strongest asset: disarming self-deprecation and vulnerability.  Varney doesn't treat the conversations like interviews, and often jumps right in to share her own embarrassing memories, feelings, and thoughts.  It puts both the listener and the guest at ease.  Listeners might be surprised to learn that not every guest is a friend of Varney's.  That's because even guests that don't know Varney beforehand end up talking with her like an old friend, with as much candor and openness as you'd expect from that sort of decades-long familiarity.  The low-key setting and formula, if it even qualifies as one, allow each episode to flow as it will, with some conversations moving into more serious, philosophical territory, where others mostly stick to constant riffing on "we should totally make" movie ideas.  The two recommended episodes represent both poles, with Brie's episode spent talking about never-going-to-happen movies and tv pilots, and Santa Maria's episode dealing with she and Varney's shared history in, and then out, of the Mormon Church.  The JV Club is a Nerdist podcast that is released weekly for free with no real seasons.

Spontaneanation

Notable Episodes: "A Denny's Parking Lot" "Savannah, Georgia", "The Student Lounge at a Performing Arts High School"

For those familiar with Paul F. Tompkins's work (No, You Shut Up; Comedy Bang Bang; The Thrilling Adventure Hour, any of his stand up specials) won't need anything other than his name attached to be sold on the show.  That should mean something to those that aren't familiar with his work, too.  He's the type of super talent that demands that sort of loyalty.  Spontaneanation's format is as simple as its name isn't, with a guest interview at the top followed by a long-form improvised narrative that begins in a guest-given setting.  As with any improv, the quality of the show hinges on the chemistry of the improvisers, and if there's one problem with the show, its that the group changes week-to-week.  However, Paul F. Tompkins is always around to keep things moving and fun.  Plus, no one here is an amateur, so even the floor-level episodes are still pretty entertaining.  Spontaneanation is an Earwolf podcast, so its released weekly for free without any real delineation of seasons.  

Comedy Bang! Bang!

Notable Episodes:  Any episodes with Jason Mantzoukas and Andy Daly, Paul F. Tompkins and Gillian Jacobs, or Lauren Lapkus. 

One of the first podcasts to really find an audience, Comedy Bang Bang is almost impossible to explain.  Or, rather, it's impossible to communicate what the show is like without making it sound awful.  Host Scott Aukerman welcomes one or two guests per week to engage in an interview, which is always interrupted by absolutely batshit additional guests.  These can range from an octogenarian personal trainer who may or may not be an embodiment of pure, metaphysical evil to Gary Marshall, beloved director of lighthearted cinema classics like "Pretty Woman"  and "Overboard", who also happens to be a dimension-traveling monster hunter.  Seriously.  Each episode largely follows the same format, but the outcome varies wildly depending on the guests' ability to improvise well with pretty much anyone.  Not everyone has a skill set that translates well into this absolutely bananas world of "yes, and", but regulars like Paul F. Tompkins, Lauren Lapkus, and Andy Daly are usually there to keep things moving, sometimes into the weirdest places imaginable.  Plus, it's always a super pleasant surprise when someone handles the show well.  Guests and "guests" also tend to keep consistent mythologies, which makes return appearances all the more enjoyable.  You'll just have to try it. Comedy Bang Bang is released weekly, and they've been going for about a decade. You'll never run out. 

Open Run

You know that super handsome guy from Grey's Anatomy and Cabin in the Woods with the dreamy blue eyes? Well, that guy, Jesse Williams, knows a lot about basketball. He and his buddy, Stefan Marolachakis (writer for ESPN and Nylon) have one of the most enjoyable sports podcasts around.  They don't stick to surface-level Lebron-and-Kobe stuff, so die-hard fans should find the show entertaining and relatively informative.  They also don't alienate moderate fans with boatloads of stats for obscure dudes riding the Bucks' bench, either.  That delicate balance, along with their easy, buddies-hanging-out charm really makes the show a potential weekly highpoint for any NBA fan.  They also happen to be the world's premier nickname givers, which is a real bonus.  Open Run is released (almost) weekly throughout the NBA's regular season and playoffs.

The NoSleep Podcast

Notable Episodes: "The Whistlers"

How heavily does a host, more-than-sometimes voice actor, factor into your enjoyment of a podcast?  If you lean toward the host-makes-or-breaks-the-show side, the NoSleep Podcast may not be for you.  Then again, if you don't like "horror" -- the broad, not likely to scare you, but totally likely to include lots of ominous music and death type of horror -- this podcast won't be for you, anyway.  That said, NSPC can be great.  The Whistlers is one of the best short-story episodes available on any podcast.  However, inconsistent, try-hard narration and overblown production can often put a damper on your listening experience.  If you thought Tanis had oh-my-gosh-I-get-it-someone-just-realized-something-spooooky sound design, wait until you hear this.  That said, NSPC is released regularly and is always more-or-less listenable, which is great for desk jockeys looking for something to help them through the work-day monotony.  NSPC is in the middle of its sixth season, and all past episodes are available for download for free.  If you're real hard-up for something, anything to have playing throughout your overlong commute or weekly-report Fridays, listeners also have the option of paying to unlock double the segments per season.  I hope you don't need them. For you. 

The Message

Notable Episode: "The Brothers Booth"

For listeners looking for short, expertly narrated blurbs on not-so-well-known moments in history, there is no better podcast than the Memory Place.  The stories are punchy and Nate DiMeo is simply the best podcast host/narrator alive. Admittedly, the production can be a bit shoddy at times, so beware the episode-to-episode volume shifts. That said, the few random audio-jolts do little to tarnish the perfection of the Memory Place.  Episodes are released sporadically, but they've got quite the backlog built up to ensure you hours of listening pleasure.  All episodes are available for download for free. 

Black List Table Reads

Notable Episodes: "Three Months", "Chrome Noir", "Terrible Parents"

For those unfamiliar with the Black List, it's an organization that compiles the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood.  The Black List Table Reads podcast turns those screenplays into fully produced audio plays.  The podcast's tagline, "movies for your ears", is an apt description, as each one feels like a really well made movie. The narration, somebody has to read the stage directions, does a great job of setting every scene without really playing a role in it.  The voice talent --Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, Colin Hanks, Rose McIver, June Diane Raphael, and Zachary Levi to name a few -- mixed with the expert craftsmanship of both the audio production and writing make BLTR an always-enjoyable, occasionally mind-blowing listen.   Every "movie" may not be great, but when they are, they are the best podcast episodes around.  You'll likely find yourself having to explain why you're losing your shit (laughing or crying, depending on the episode) in the middle of your cubicle block.  You've been warned.  BLTR is in the middle of its second season, with all episodes from Season 1 and 2 available to download for free.

Knifepoint Horror

Notable Episodes: "staircase", "bargain"

In the world of podcasts, no one does horror better than Soren Narnia, yep, on his podcast, Knifepoint Horror.  Honestly, there might not be anyone that does horror better period.  There isn't a single author, director, or composer that has a more acute understanding of what makes something scary.  Each story is told from a first-person perspective with minimal production.  The scaled-back music and effects mixed with the straightforward, I-was-there storytelling help the episodes to land. Hard.  As fans of horror know, after your first dive into the genre, you're mostly just chasing those early highs with stories, films, and shows that set the right mood or create the right aesthetic for you to enjoy for a bit.  Every once in a while, though, someone comes along and floors you.  Or scares the shit out of you.  Narnia, I can hear your eye rolls, does both.  Unfortunately, Knifepoint Horror just released its last episode, but there are plenty to enjoy before you start filling the email inbox of Mr. Narnia -- trust me, I get it --  with pleads for more.  All episodes are available for download for free. 

Limetown

Notable Episodes "Scarecrow", "Cost-Benefit Analysis"

Limetown is another Serial-style fiction podcast that delves into the mysterious disappearance of an entire community in the mid-oughts.  Like Serial, the show follows its host, Lia Haddock, on her quest to figure out what actually happened through conducting a slew of interviews all over the country.  Also, like Serial, the host is likely the most polarizing part of the show.  Haddock isn't exactly likable, but she performs her role well as the audience's point-of-view character.  The story is so spread out that it seems to lull at points, but that all makes sense as it becomes clear toward the end of Season 1 that everything was carefully placed in service of what might be the best season finale of any show in 2015, podcast or otherwise.  Limetown was released irregularly, and has concluded its first season.  Season 1 is available for download for free.  

The Black Tapes

Notable Episodes "The Unsound", "Board to Death"

Pacific Northwest Stories have really made a name for themselves over the last few years.  With the release of their first podcast, The Black Tapes, they produced a still-running, long-form fiction narrative told in the style of modern non-fiction investigative podcasts.  They also created two likable and, more importantly, believable characters in host Alex Reagan and producer Nic Silver.  The story follows Reagan as she co-investigates a group of difficult cases with a professional skeptic and perpetual scene-stealer, Dr. Strand.  The voice acting is usually pretty good, though some guests occasionally make ill-advised attempts at accents.  Occasionally, listeners may get frustrated as it's relatively easy to see where almost everything is going far before the hosts "figure it out".  That said, the story is strong and characters have enough easy chemistry between them to keep most people invested.  The first several episodes are a little slow, as the show takes a bit to find its footing.  Once the show hits its stride, though, it chugs along toward a solid finale.  Season 2 just started, and Season 1 is available to download for free.  The Black Tapes is released every other week.  

Tanis

Notable Episodes "Raywood, WA", "The Girl in the Hightower"

Tanis, a spin-off of The Black Tapes, is hosted by character-in-common Nate Silver, who investigates the myth of Tanis.  It might seem like it would be tough to get into a fictional investigation of a made-up myth, but the show is consistently entertaining.  As with The Black Tapes, the best characters are the supporting cast, with "information specialist" (hacker) MK stealing every "scene"(?) she's in.  The one major hiccup is the production, or more specifically, the comically-on-the-nose sound design.  A little too over the top to play a siren sound effect every time law enforcement is mentioned?  Think it might be so obvious that it could possibly undermine your story if an Inception-style "DUUHN" deep-bass sound played every time a "significant" piece of information is revealed?  The people at Pacific Northwest Stories don't think so.  In their defense, they are Canadian.  Degrassi wasn't known for its subtlety.  Off-putting production choices and regional biases aside, the show is fun and, often, gripping in spite of it's quirks.  One big reason for that is its kitchen-sink approach to conspiracy theories.  It's pretty cool to tie a few late-night-talk-radio type ideas together into a single narrative.  It's absolutely stunning to weave into one cohesive story what feels like every batshit thing you've ever heard yelled by that flat-earth truther that's always looking for signatures at your farmer's market.  The show may be bonkers, but it's the fun type of bonkers.  Tanis is released every other week and is in the middle of its first season. 

Lore

Notable Episodes: "Covered Mirrors", "The Castle"

At it's core, Lore is essentially a spooky campfire story time.  For each episode, Aaron Mahnke pulls a few stories connected to a general theme found in popular or, at times, super obscure folklore (hence the name).  He tells them in a conversational, nonjudgmental way, never outright claiming the more fantastical elements as fact, nor shying away from more logical explanations.  The subtle, somber score that plays underneath each story helps to set the mood without getting in the way.  Mahnke has some vocal tics that might grate on some listeners, but he's a great storyteller, and one of the better podcast hosts out there.  The result is a consistently entertaining, usually great podcast.  Lore is released every other week, and its complete backlog of episodes are available to download for free.

The Truth

Notable Episodes / Segments: "Call of Dating", "Where Have You Been?", "Enjoy the Suffering"

The Truth is a fiction podcast that pulls short, fully produced segments from a variety of sources to deliver one of the most unique podcasts available.  To the people at The Truth, the method of delivery is as important as the story itself, and each episode features a spot-on production style to match the narrative.  Be advised, though, this means that every episode will be completely different.  A recent segment with a video-game aesthetic, with pitch-perfect sound effects and MIDI music, was immediately followed by a straight-forward first-person narrative with minimalist ambient sound.  It's both a plus and a minus, as it's almost impossible for all of them to resonate with the same listener.  Still, different as they may be, the episodes are universally great.  Again, these episodes and segments can sneak up on you, so be advised that you might occasionally feel something (lose your shit).  The Truth follows an irregular release schedule, but all past episodes are available to download for free.  

The Message

Notable Episodes: "Episode 5", "Episode 2"

What if the government had received an encoded alien message in the 1940s? What if that message's existence suddenly became declassified? What if a random podcaster decided to interview a cryptology firm, who had just happened to be asked to decrypt that message?  That's a lot of what-ifs, and maybe none more unbelievable than the existence of a decoding firm (with fans!).  That said, The Message is a top-notch long-form fiction podcast that is as intriguing as it is well produced.  The voice acting is solid and the story is relatively gripping.  The almost comically unbelievable premise is handled matter-of-factly, which helps to ground the show.  Fans of one story told over the course of an entire season should find The Message a pleasantly brief trip into a bonkers world where aliens exist and cryptology firms are profitable.  The Message's first season is finished and free to download.  As previously noted, the season follows one story, episode by episode. So, you know, start at the beginning.

Mystery Show

Notable Episodes: "Belt Buckle", "Source Code"

Fans of This American Life might recognize Starlee Kine as the adorably voiced host that once interviewed Phil Collins about how to write a broken-hearted love song.  She carries the same quirky charm over into her new podcast, providing listeners with a new offbeat mystery to solve each week.  These aren't standard mysteries, though.  There are no murders or even crimes.  Kine is far more interested in the types of everyday "I wonder" mysteries we all encounter, but never take the time to investigate.  From nailing down Jake Gyllenhall's apparently dubious height to finding the owner of an eccentric belt buckle, Kine's personality and wit carry the listener through each peculiar quest for answers. Don't let the low-stakes premise fool you, though.  A couple of the episodes hit you straight in the feels. Mystery Show's first season is over and free to download. 

Nocturne

Notable Episodes: "Letting Go", "Alter Hours"

Host Vanessa Lowe's podcast takes a look at how different life can be at night.  The premise is broad, but she handles each subject and episode with a loving intimacy that allows each to breathe.  Sometimes funny, often moving, and occasionally devastating, Lowe gives each subject enough time to get as intimate as they'd like.  Spare a few episodes, Lowe's presence is intentionally secondary.  This makes the podcast feel like you're hanging out at Lowe's house, hearing new acquaintances informally tell stories.  The show's tone matches the after-dark subjectmatter, setting a quiet mood that often feels like a dream.  The approach allows the stories to really land with listeners, which can result in some at-work tears if you aren't careful.  Nocturne follows an irregular  schedule, so even though you can't count on a new episode every other week, each release is a pleasant surprise.