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
New Mix: Sigur Ros, Norah Jones And Danger Mouse, More (Tuesday, March 27, 2012) — It’s been two years since Iceland’s dreamscape sound artists Sigur Ros scrapped the band’s sixth album and went on indefinite hiatus. But the group is back now with plans for a new record this year. Hear a sneak preview of the new music on this week’s All Songs Considered, plus a collaboration between Danger Mouse and Norah Jones.Also on the show: Former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman returns with a solo album under the name Father John Misty; We spin new music from our favorite artist from this year’s South by Southwest festival, Patrick Watson, and one of our most surprising discoveries, Gashcat; and NPR Music’s most recent member, Saidah Bount, joins us to share one of her favorite new discoveries.
Book Reviews from The New York Times
Book Review Podcast (Friday, March 30, 2012) — This week, Mark Leyner discusses his new novel, The Sugar Frosted Nutsack; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Meg Wolitzer on the cultural reception of fiction written by women; Tim Weiner talks about his new history of the F.B.I.; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.
Books Podcast from NPR
The Real ‘Mad Men’, How Creativity Works and Kevin Smith (Monday, March 26, 2012) — Stories in this episode: 1) The Battle Of The Sexes: When Women Out-Earn Men 2) ‘How Creativity Works’: It’s All In Your Imagination’ 3) Damn Good Advice’ From One Of The Real ‘Mad Men’ 4) Two Books That Delight In New York City’s Dirt 5) That’s All, Folks: Kevin Smith On Leaving Filmmaking
Brain Stuff from HowStuffWorks.com
Will space tourism become a reality? (Friday, March 30, 2012) — With private companies frantically searching for new ways to take people into orbit, it seems that space tourism could become a reality (for those who can afford it). But will it ever really happen? Tune in and learn more in this podcast.
What is a restraining order, and how do you get one? (Wednesday, March 28, 2012) — Restraining orders are cropping up in the news more and more frequently, but how do they work? Join Marshall Brain as he breaks down the legality of restraining orders — and how to get one.
How does someone become a saint? (Monday, March 26, 2012) — Many religions bestow a special status on people who demonstrate a life of almost perfect virtue — but how does canonization actually occur? In this episode, Marshall breaks down the process used to officially recognize a person as a saint.
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
Kazakhstan: More than “Borat” (Friday, March 30, 2012) — Although not well known in the West, Kazakhstan is larger than all of Western Europe combined. Why does the architecture in the capital, Astana, look so futuristic? What is the “Little Brother of the Grand Canyon”? Tune in to learn more about Kazakhstan.
Culturetopia from NPR
Pop Culture Happy Hour: The Hunger Games And Regrettable Television (Friday, March 30, 2012) — This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour: The Hunger Games makes its inevitable appearance with NPR Monkey See’s Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham go through what worked, what didn’t and how it compared to the book. Then another round of the beloved Regrettable Television Pop Quiz. Plus, What’s Making Us Happy this week.
Film Junk
Episode 363: The Hunger Games and The Raid: Redemption (Tuesday, March 27, 2012) — We compete in The Hunger Games and spar with The Raid: Redemption, plus we also discuss Act of Valor, Pleasantville, The Sweatbox, more TMNT news and the Cosmopolis trailer.
PopStuff from HowStuffWorks.com
Manic Pixie Dreamgirls (Wednesday, March 28, 2012) — She’s quirky, nutty and totally unfettered. She shows brooding screen heroes that life is full of fun and wonder. She’s Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and her roots as a cinema archetype go back further than you probably suspect.
Wanna go to prom? (Monday, March 26, 2012) — It’s exciting, it’s a rite of passage, it’s expensive and often a letdown. Few people look back on their proms and think “That was one of the greatest nights of my life!” Tracy and Holly relay memories of their proms and the origins of this tradition.
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 Recaps SXSW 2012 (Sunday, March 25, 2012) — Jim and Greg have survived another trip to Austin, TX for the SXSW Music Conference. Tune in to hear what they think was the best of the fest. Plus, they review the latest from indie darlings The Shins.
Stuff To Blow Your Mind from HowStuffWorks.com
Virtual Sex and Linked Dreaming (Thursday, March 29, 2012) — Imagine a future in which astronauts engage in virtual encounters with Earth-bound spouses. What sort of technology will make this possible? In this episode, Julie and Robert discuss computer-mitigated sexual experiences and linked dreaming.
The Seven Deadlies: Lust! (Tuesday, March 27, 2012) — Are we slaves to our desire? Can we resist our passions, or should we go full-satyr and embrace the inner goat? Join Robert and Julie as they journey through the maelstroms of Dante’s Inferno and into a scientific discussion of the “sin” called lust.
Stuff You Missed in History Class from HowStuffWorks.com
Charles Dickens Takes America (Wednesday, March 28, 2012) — Charles Dickens is best known for chronicling life in London, but he also wrote about the United States – and not in a flattering light. When touring the U.S. and Canada with his wife, Dickens found many American customs repugnant. Tune in to learn more.
Belle Starr: A Bad Rap for the Bandit Queen (Monday, March 26, 2012) — Belle Starr is often remembered as a notorious outlaw who spent her free time carousing in saloons. But new accounts suggest that, while she wasn’t a saint, she also wasn’t the “female Jesse James” some biographers made her out to be. So what’s the truth?
Stuff You Should Know from HowStuffWorks.com
How Music Sampling Works (Thursday, March 29, 2012) — Today music sampling is a common practice, especially in electronic or hip-hop music. But how does it work? After all, other artists made the original music, and most of them would presumably like to be paid. Tune in to learn more about music sampling.
10 Big Cases of Revenge (Tuesday, March 27, 2012) — Who doesn’t love a good story about comeuppance? Whether served cold or piping hot, revenge is an ancient idea — and history is filled with acts of vengeance. Join Josh and Chuck as they trace the concept of revenge from the bygone days of Hammurabi to the modern era.
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.