Podcasts: Name me some

[AWS260]

I've really been enjoying the new Empire podcast, about the history and legacy of the British Empire. They are focused on India for the time being, but plan to explore other regions in the future.

There are episodes about the East India Company, Gandhi, and the morbidly entertaining history of the Kho-I-Noor diamond. The host are experts on the intertwined histories of India and Britain, and they have great chemistry. Highly recommended.

[hepcat]

I discovered a new one to me this past week. Mobituaries

CBS News correspondent Mo Rocca has always loved obituaries. Each episode of Mobituaries covers his favorite dearly departed people and things, from the 'Latin Lover' who redefined Hollywood masculinity in the 1920s to the TV dog who introduced kids to literature in the 1990s. Every Wednesday, hear fresh takes on famous legacies and uncover people worthy of their overdue moment in the spotlight. Even if you know the names, you’ve never understood why they matter until now!

I enjoyed his episode on deaths in sitcoms, but he covers all types of things that have ended in some way.

[Jaymann]

Your Mom's House is Tom Segura and wife hosting comedians.

Lex Fridman (yes, that's how it's spelled) does excellent interviews with great guests on everything from AI, physics, chess, poker, astrology, UFO's, music, philosophy, etc.

Very Bad Wizards is a philosopher and a psychologist discussing everything, such as books, movies, pop culture, philosophy, psychology, and best of all The Trolley Problem.

[Formix]

I know "All NPR/PRI" has been mentioned (and is a great idea) but I'd like to put a plug in for my favorite - https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain Almost always fascinating, and he has a great presentation.

[AWS260]

I've been listening to the Going Rogue podcast about the making of Rogue One. It's really well-researched and entertainingly presented. Apparently it was so well-received that it's now an ongoing series covering other movies, but I haven't gotten to those yet.

[hepcat]

My current podcast obsession is Ridiculous Crime.

True Crime is more than blood, guts, mayhem, and murder. Zaron Burnett and Elizabeth Dutton share outlandish tales of capers, heists, and cons that shine a light on the absurd and outrageous side of criminality. Always 99% murder-free and 100% ridiculous, this is Ridiculous Crime, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

My favorite episodes so far have covered the historical origin of the word (and crime of) "Shanghaied", the background story on Sealand (a self-proclaimed sovereign island nation off the coast of England that sells diplomatic passports and arose from the days of Pirate Radio), and tales of the early years of Rick James (who led a FAR more interesting and bizarre life than I thought).

The hosts are actually quite funny to boot.

[AWS260]

Oh, that sounds great. I don't find true crime remotely enjoyable, but I love stories about morons and weirdos.

[hepcat]

There's an entire episode about a guy who won a magic the gathering tournament while high on shrooms, and another about the social experiment that was "sex raft". I also learned from the show that in the early 1900s there was no restriction on radio transmitter strength, so some stations would broadcast a signal so strong that you could hear a broadcast from New Mexico all the way to New York and beyond....birds would literally drop dead if they got too near the towers. I love the show for the weird history stuff myself.