Atlantica - 01.05.2007, Page 21

20 a t l a n t i c a
Podcasts iLike
By Jonas Moody
This AmericAn Life – Originally a weekly show
on US National Public Radio and now a television
series on the network Showtime, This American
Life (TAL) has carved out a niche for itself among
audiences for its quirky but touching stories and the
trademark summative musings of host Ira Glass. From
babysitting to crack houses, from POW camps to
star-crossed lovers, there is no subject too large nor
too small for TAL to tackle. Other public radio shows
haven taken the cue from TAL and begun releasing
their content as podcasts as well, like Fresh Air, the
quiz show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, Car Talk, and A
Prairie Home Companion. thislife.org
sAvAge Love – This is another podcast born of
a previous manifestation, but this time an advice
column. Dan Savage, known for his firebrand advice
on love, sex and dating, takes his acerbic wit to the
airwaves. Callers leave their questions for the razor-
tongued Dear Abby, with topics ranging from foot
fetishes to unplanned pregnancies. But be warned,
Savage Love has a tendency to turn the tables on
its callers by undermining pop psychology. If you’re
looking for Oprah, you’ll find no soft shoulders here.
thestranger.com/savageLove
JApAnesepod101 – Language instruction has
long been a staple in any traveler’s bag, be it a
phrasebook or Berlitz’s Swahili on 10 cassettes. This
podcast/vodcast’s take on language instruction is
fast-paced and maintains an engaging tone, touching
on elements like pop culture and slang. While this is
certainly no immersion technique, it is a fun way to
get some insight into the culture and people of Japan,
linguistically speaking. japanesepod101.com
hArdcore hisTory – Some are enthralled not so
much by what happened in history, but more by what
didn’t happen. In Hardcore History, host Dan Carlin
narrates the endless fractals of virtual history with
dramatic booms and pauses. From the decline of the
Bronze Age to the Cold War, Dan knows not only his
dates and facts, but how to captivate an audience. It’s
not for everyone, but if you’re a history buff then it’s
like having your favorite professor right in your pocket.
dancarlin.com
The sounds in my heAd – There are countless
music shows in the podcast universe, but this one
is particularly well done. Host Daniel provides
entertaining background info between songs and
frequently has special episodes on a theme, like
Egyptian music and Japanese chick bands. If you hear
something you like, which is likely, Daniel has set up
an extensive website with details on the music he
plays. thesoundsinmyhead.com
on the fly
In recent years the veritable smorgasbord of podcasts (files downloaded from the
Internet to play anytime anyplace on your iPod) has been overwhelming. And with
the dawn of video iPods comes the vodcast (video podcast) making the magnitude of
selection daunting, with show topics running the gamut from expecting mothers to
amateur woodworkers. Anyone can make a podcast, which is one of the reasons for this
boom in number and outlandish variety. But Atlantica has done all the pointing and
clicking for you. Here are our picks.
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