Welcome to Podcast Friday!, a weekly compilation of some of the more interesting podcasts from around the web, listed right here for your listening pleasure!
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All Songs Considered from NPR
Portlandia’s Carrie Brownstein And Fred Armisen Play DJ (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) — Portlandia isn’t a show about music, but there’s plenty in it for the rock nerds. The IFC comedy series, set and filmed in Portland, Ore., is the creation of Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen — both of whom have spent enough time in bands (Brownstein in Wild Flag and Sleater-Kinney, Armisen in the punk group Trenchmouth) to see the humor in amateur DJ nights and men with Pearl Jam tattoos. On this week’s show, the two sit down with Bob Boilen to talk about the music they grew up with, their favorite Portland bands, and a fateful trip to the home of punk icon Glenn Danzig.
Late Night Dispatches From SXSW 2012: Saturday (Sunday, March 18, 2012) — The final night at the South By Southwest music conference offered our team in Austin new favorites, classic performances and a few welcome surprises.
Late Night Dispatches From SXSW 2012: Friday (Saturday, March 17, 2012) — Day three at South by Southwest included death metal, hip-hop from Seattle, a set from the band with the number one song in the country and the emergence of a new All Songs favorite.
Book Reviews from The New York Times
Book Review Podcast (Friday, March 23, 2012) — This week, Jeanette Winterson discusses her new memoir; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Jonathan Haidt talks about his new book, “The Righteous Mind”; Charles McGrath revisits a golden age of golf; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.
Books Podcast from NPR
Steve Martin On Twitter, Jodi Picoult, Emancipating Lincoln and more (Monday, March 19, 2012) — 1) The Wild And Crazy ‘Tweets Of Steve Martin’; 2) Jodi Picoult Turns Tough Topics Into Best-Sellers; 3) Artful, American Essays From ‘When I Was A Child’; 4) ‘Emancipating Lincoln’: A Pragmatic Proclamation; 5) The Knives Come Out: Three Books About Betrayal.
Brain Stuff from HowStuffWorks.com
How Proton Therapy Works (Friday, March 23, 2012) — As a method of treating cancer, proton therapy has great potential. But how does it work, exactly, and what makes it superior to other forms of cancer treatment? Tune in and find out.
What is the worst invasive public species? (Wednesday, March 21, 2012) — From kudzu to cane toads, invasive species are changing the world. But which of these transplants is the worst for the local landscape? Tune in as Marshall Brain tackles invasive species across the world — and ultimately concludes which one is the worst.
Can picking a movie theater get any more complicated? (Monday, March 19, 2012) — With all the recent technological breakthroughs, choosing the right movie theatre has become increasingly complex. Why? Listen in as Marshall breaks down the different sound and video technologies available in modern movie theaters.
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
Keukenhof Gardens (Friday, March 23, 2012) — Located south of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof Gardens are some of the most beautiful in Europe. Open between late March and mid-May, they showcase tulips, lilies, daffodils and other spring flowers. Tune in to learn more about the Keukenhof Gardens.
Culturetopia from NPR
Pop Culture Happy Hour: You Know The Music, You Make Up The Words (Friday, March 23, 2012) — This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See’s Linda Holmes joins Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson and Mike Katzif to discuss their travels to Austin for the SXSW music and film festival — What bands were discovered? What films were loved? Then, a discussion about their love of television credit sequences, and What’s Making Us Happy this week.
Culturetopia: Curtain Call Edition (Saturday, March 17, 2012) — This Week on Culturetopia: Director Mike Nichols; the search for the next ‘Hunger Games’; the limits of literary license; the cultural politics of Zumba; a hat tip to the curtain call.
Film Junk
Episode 362: 21 Jump Street (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) — We pop on 21 Jump Street and discuss the Dark Shadows trailer, plus Michael Bay’s TMNT alien origins, Semi Pro, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky and The Last Temptation of Christ.
PopStuff from HowStuffWorks.com
Guilty Pleasures (Wednesday, March 21, 2012) — Psychologists agree: Guilt is actually good for you. So go ahead and indulge your love of Weekend at Bernie’s and other low-brow entertainment. Tracy and Holly will get you started by confessing what trashy things they love.
Violence in Children’s Books (Monday, March 19, 2012) — It’s natural to want to shield kids from evil and darkness, but could there be a place for such themes in media aimed at young people? Tracy and Holly have researched the value of violence, and noticed how much of it there is in well-loved children’s entertainment.
Science Talk from Scientific American
Fukushima Anniversary: We Listen Back (Sunday, March 11, 2012) — Scientific American editor David Biello takes us through newly released audio from the first week of the nuclear meltdown crisis at Fukushima Daiichi.
Sound Opinions
Sound Opinions with Nick Lowe (Sunday, March 18, 2012) — Jim and Greg talk to English singer, songwriter and producer Nick Lowe about his long career—from the punk and new wave scenes in the ‘70s to his most recent album The Old Magic. Plus, they review the new album from controversial Irish singer.
Stuff To Blow Your Mind from HowStuffWorks.com
Organisms: Heavyweight Division (Thursday, March 22, 2012) — Just how big can an Earth organism get? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Julie and Robert look at some of the heavyweight contenders for the largest life form on the planet – and the answer isn’t “blue whale.” What is it? Tune in to find out.
Godzilla vs. Kong vs. Barbie (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) — Are you terrified of giant monster attacks? Well, this is the episode for you. Join Robert and Julie as they calm your fears with a healthy dose of science. Listen in as they examine the morphological limitations of gigantic creatures (and more).
Stuff You Missed in History Class from HowStuffWorks.com
From Diplomacy to Black Diaries: Roger Casement (Wednesday, March 21, 2012) — Roger Casement was an Irish-born British diplomat. He eventually became an Irish nationalist. After his arrest, he was sentenced to die. To stifle support for Casement, the government also released the “Black Diaries” which outed Casement as gay.
Frida Kahlo: An Introspective Life (Part 2) (Monday, March 19, 2012) — Frida Kahlo took pride in caring for her husband Diego. In 1930, the couple went to the United States. When they returned to Mexico, their rocky relationship affected Frida’s health. As her marriage worsened, Frida’s star in the art world gradually rose.
Stuff You Should Know from HowStuffWorks.com
How Tipping Works (Thursday, March 22, 2012) — Tipping is commonly expected in some places, such as U.S. restaurants. Yet this practice varies across cultures. Join trivia gurus (and former waiters) Josh and Chuck as they take a closer look at the history, practice and controversy surrounding tipping.
How Comic Books: Live from SXSW 2012 (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) — Although you might not be a fan of comic books, there’s no denying that they have a fascinating place in American history. And — as if that wasn’t interesting enough — Josh and Chuck decided to break down the story of comic books live at SXSW.
WNYC’s Radiolab
The Turing Problem (Monday, March 19, 2012) — Alan Turing’s mental leaps about machines and computers were some of the most innovative ideas of the 20th century. But the world wasn’t kind to him. In this short, Robert wonders how Turing’s personal life shaped his understanding of mechanical minds and human emotions.