So we arrive at the final instalment of this Podcast Purview diversion, the ‘New ‘rrivals.’ Having covered those shows undergoing triumphant rises and returning to heartening acclaim, we now find ourselves looking at those podcasts who only recently dived into the pool, within the last year and a bit at least. We’ll cover a dark comedic exploration of life, a frequently tear jerking storytelling adventure and a dance around the informational merry-go-round, so won’t you joint us for a moment?
Gelmania: The Poetic Misanthrope
Brett Gelman is one of those comedians whose pops up on various sitcoms, but whose act you would never dream of. Something of a melodramatic visionary, Gelman’s podcast is a work of doomsaying and hilarious genius, one of those feted few truly trying to make something completely abhorrent to the medium’s norm. A psychopathic, drug induced journey through a maddening purgatory, the show is equal parts quietly depraved and utterly maniacal. With monologues, performances and readings uttered with a crazed, fearful loucheness, ludicrously aggresive content and an unwavering, unbelievable commitment to content that is Gelman’s absolute calling card.
Brett Geeelman!
Particular highlights include the ‘Dusty Bubble’ in which he and a blisteringly intense Brian Huskey play a pair of desperate and cripplingly broken semi-lovers, whose approach to every part of their lives is some combination of violence and anger. An aggravated assault on the senses and modern humanity, the portrayal has a distinct whiff of Gelman’s trademark amalgam of pretentiousness and prophetic lunacy crossed with his delicate coalescence of deliciously stupid comedy and soot black humour. As one of the few podcasts truly avoiding the expected, this show is difficult to like but easy to admire. It isn’t charming, nor twee, it’s not even particularly friendly; instead it seeks to make you realise the overwhelming darkness of life before you laugh in its face. Gelman’s occasional podcast is forming a hilarious and filthy niche all to itself, and long may his voice continue to be one of such admirable greatness.
KCRW’s Strangers: The Story Telling Tear-Jerker
Being a rather lovely public radio outlet, public radio station KCRW has been running an ‘independent producer’ programme, a venture which allows them to trade significant exposure and air time for quality radio and free content. One of the delights of such opportunities is the ability to find new content makers and getting interesting people to make interesting things at less of a cost to the broadcaster. And this spiel is what brings us to this podcast! ‘Strangers’ is a story-telling podcast, fostered by host Lea Thau, focusing on a strange life or a uncommon tale; it is a show that is frequently heart wrenching, often awe-inspiring and constantly incredible. Most episodes unravel a tale of self-surpassing tragedy or strangeness, with stories focusing on ideas of difference, becoming different, or being the one who was always the outsider, thereby becoming the ‘Stranger’ of the title. Partnering an unerring ear for interesting, heart-breaking and unusual tales, whose content unerringly ratchets up in unpredictable ways, retaining those shocks of surprise and novelty that infuse the podcast with such a heady sense of shape, scale and spectacle. ‘Strangers’ is also an example of a producer seeking to find their own voice as well, doing slightly different things with a mildly expectable format, whilst showcasing her ability to uncover and curate amazing stories. A great example of what can be done with a minimal budget, a decent amount of patience and a little investigation, it is a great reminder of how not very much can be turned so decisively into a lot.
PRI/Wisconsin Public Radio: To the Best of Our Knowledge: An Informational Quizmaster
Having fallen into a wormhole of public radio podcasts (as suggested by the previous consideration), I also stumbled across this intriguing example of scientific and cultural examination, hosted primarily by Wisconsin Public Radio and funnelled through PRI. Taking a slightly different jumping off point than its peers, TTBOOK oftentimes focuses on ideas like ‘Neighbours,’ societal phenomena like memes or cultural icons such as Marshall McLuhan, rather than on scientific or anthropological ideas. This allows for more various starting points, redoubled by the interviews being recorded separately, meaning that the broadcast tends to split itself in multiple different directions. But, rather than making for a show which feels bitty and unfocused, it instead makes for one which manages to round itself out because of this difference of tack. It is also a show which values and relishes space, with the interviews going by unchopped and largely unedited, meaning thoughts are more fully explored and realised by those considered experts, rather than being cherry picked and followed with a booming of bass or the sparkle of a few piano keys to indicate significance. It’s remarkably simple radio, wherein issues are wholly considered, the audience free to formulate their ideas with the maximum of information but a minimum of analysis. Whilst not perfect in any sense TTBOOK is at least trying to forge it’s own spin on one of the commoner public radio documentary tropes, it’s loose conversational style and segmented format both lending themselves well to being listened to as separate parts or on multiple occasions.
Honourable mentions this week go to International Waters, the MaxFun broadcast of cross-atlantic rivalry all wrapped up in an increasingly confident and able panel show; and to the various podcasters who have returned o the scene for a run at the Edinburgh Fringe that is currently ongoing.
All these podcasts are on iTunes as well as being hosted by outside websites. You can, and should, find Mr Brett Gelman on twitter @brettgelman, whilst the other program creators are accessible through their relative websites.