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
Guest DJ Peter Gabriel (Wednesday, October 17, 2012) — Last week on All Songs Considered we talked about how much we love Peter Gabriel’s classic album, So, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special deluxe edition and live tour. This week, Peter Gabriel himself joins us to share some of the music he loves by other artists, including early music by The Beatles, soul legend Otis Redding and the inimitable jazz singer Nina Simone. We also check out that deluxe version of So (out Oct. 22), which includes remastered versions of the original songs, a concert DVD and some amazing outtakes, or what Gabriel calls the “DNA” of his songs.
Book Reviews from The New York Times
Book Review Podcast (Friday, October 19, 2012) — This week, Chris Ware talks about Building Stories; Parul Sehgal has notes from the field; Dexter Filkins discusses Mark Owen’s No Easy Day; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.
Books Podcast from NPR
NPR: 10-18-2012 Books (Thursday, October 18, 2012) — Stories: 1) A Startling Gap Between Us And Them In ‘Plutocrats’ 2) Some Book! ‘Charlotte’s Web’ Turns 60 3) A Year’s Worth Of Facts From An NPR Librarian 4) Jerusalem: A Love Letter To Food And Memories Of Home 5) Thousands Line Up For Rare Rowling Appearance
Brain Stuff from HowStuffWorks.com
How Sea Monkeys Work (Friday, October 19, 2012) — Sea Monkeys are a type of brine shrimp. These shrimp create remarkably resilient eggs called cysts. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast and learn more about the secret behind Sea Monkeys.
What is a Nor’easter? (Wednesday, October 17, 2012) — Nor’easters are storm systems that frequently occur in the eastern United States during winter. In this episode, Marshall explains where Nor’easters get their name, how they work and why some Nor’easters are more powerful than others.
What is the heat index? (Monday, October 15, 2012) — Your body has efficient ways to release excess heat, but high temperatures and high humidity create a sticky situation. Find out how the heat index keeps you abreast of dangerous heat situations in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
The Leapin’ Lemurs of Madagascar (Friday, October 19, 2012) — In the movies, lemurs from Madagascar have a penchant for busting a move. Find out why that’s not too much of a “leap” of logic in real life — and why Madagascar is cool — in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
Culturetopia from NPR
The Nature Of Suspense And Our Love Of Cover Songs (Friday, October 19, 2012) — This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR’s Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and guest Barrie Hardymon talk about the nature of suspense, from Hitchcock films to Ben Affleck’s ‘Argo.’ What’s the difference between surprise and suspense, and how does it work in film and books? Also, they talk about what makes a good cover song. They share some of their favorites, even some that only exist in their imaginations. All that plus, What’s Making Us Happy this week, including Tig Notaro Live, FX’s The League, the documentary Beauty Is Embarrassing, and the etymology of “superhero” (or is it super-hero?).
Film Junk
Episode 390: Argo, Samsara and The Imposter (Monday, October 15, 2012) — We give Argo the go ahead, marvel at Samsara and review The Imposter (again), plus we also discuss Little Shop of Horrors, 30 Minutes or Less, E.T., The Poughkeepsie Tapes and In the Mood for Love.
Freakonomics Radio
Lying to Ourselves (Wednesday, October 17, 2012) — We rely on polls and surveys to tell us how people will behave in the future. Too bad they’re completely unreliable.
PopStuff from HowStuffWorks.com
Hello Kitty and the Culture of Cute (Wednesday, October 17, 2012) — You can get Hello Kitty everything. Everything. Tracy and Holly talk about the famous cat’s beginnings, staying power and her many Sanrio friends. Just how did a feline with no film or television origin get so popular in the first place?
PopStuff’s Downward Dog (Monday, October 15, 2012) — Neither Tracy nor Holly is really into yoga, but they’re both fascinated by its history and culture. Do you have to be flexible to get something out of yoga? Why is yoga’s history in the U.S. so scandalous, and is practicing yoga beneficial or dangerous?
Science Talk from Scientific American
The 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Wednesday, October 10, 2012) — The 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Robert J. Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors, which are the portals by which information about the environment reaches the interior of cells and leads to their responses. About half of all drugs work by interacting with G-protein-coupled receptors.
The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics (Tuesday, October 09, 2012) — The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded jointly to Serge Haroche and David J. Wineland for experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems.
The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (Monday, October 08, 2012) — The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.
Sound Opinions
Sound Opinions with Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit (Sunday, October 14, 2012) — Jim and Greg host Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos at the Sound Opinions studios. Michael opens up about his production style and mental health struggles, and gives one of our favorite stripped-down live performances ever.
Stuff To Blow Your Mind from HowStuffWorks.com
Cartocacoethes: Map Mania! (Thursday, October 18, 2012) — Do you see a Thailand-shaped birthmark on Gorbachev’s forehead? Do clouds remind you of Australia and Indonesia? You may have cartocacoethes, the compulsion to see maps everywhere.Join Robert and Julie as they discuss the past, present and future of maps.
The Map-addled Brain (Tuesday, October 16, 2012) — Maps show us familiar places as well as far-flung locales that quietly beckon, intertwining the past, present and future. Join Julie and Robert as they explore how our brains work on maps, from neurons to the role of memory and storytelling in mapmaking.
Stuff You Missed in History Class from HowStuffWorks.com
Who was America’s Lucrezia Borgia? (Wednesday, October 17, 2012) — When Mary Frances Creighton was arrested for poisoning her brother, the tabloids went crazy, comparing her to Lucrezia Borgia. Mary was also accused of poisoning her mother-in-law and her work caught up with her when she struck again, years later.
Madame Lalaurie and the Haunting of Royal Street (Monday, October 15, 2012) — In 1834 a fire broke out at the Lalaurie house in New Orleans. Firefighters found mistreated slaves inside, and the family was banished. Wild rumors spread afterward, and now it’s known as the most haunted house in America — but are the rumors true?
Stuff You Should Know from HowStuffWorks.com
How Lion Taming Works (Thursday, October 18, 2012) — Bossing a lion around in front of a crowd at a circus has been an attraction for 200 years, but exactly how lion tamers get their captive wild animals to comply has evolved over time. Take a peek in the jaws of this odd profession with Josh and Chuck.
How Black Holes Work (Tuesday, October 16, 2012) — It wasn’t too long ago when black holes were strictly predictions in theoretical math. Over decades, astronomy has gotten better at uncovering these cosmic phenomena. Learn about how black holes form and their ability to spaghettify you in this episode.
WNYC’s Radiolab
Shorts: Dark Side of the Earth (Monday, October 08, 2012) — 200 miles above Earth’s surface, astronaut Dave Wolf — rocketing through the blackness of Earth’s shadow at 5 miles a second — floated out of the Mir Space Station on his very first spacewalk. In this short, he describes the extremes of light and dark in space, relives a heart-pounding close call, and shares one of the most tranquil moments of his life.