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
Brass Bed, Bombino, KEN Mode, Waxahatchee, More (Tuesday, February 19, 2013) — This week, All Songs Considered, is brought to you in part by the letter B. Robin Hilton starts it off with Louisiana natives Brass Bed and the group’s addictive rock-pop stylings with the song “Cold Chicory.” Bob Boilen introduces a track that he can’t help but shout about by the Nigerian artist Bombino. The Tuareg guitarist supplies an edgy new cut from his new record Nomad, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. We also hear a track off of the new record from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds called Push The Sky Away; and Waxahatchee draws us in with the heartfelt and intimate “Hollow Bedroom.”
Book Reviews from The New York Times
Book Review Podcast (Friday, February 22, 2013) — This week, Teddy Wayne talks about his novel The Love Song of Jonny Valentine; Leslie Kaufman has notes from the field; Caryn James discusses Gods Like Us, Ty Burr’s new book about movie stardom; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.
Books Podcast from NPR
NPR: 02-21-2013 Books (Thursday, February 21, 2013) — Stories: 1) ‘The Dinner’ Asks: What Will You Do To Protect Your Family? 2) Control The Chaos With ‘Secrets Of Happy Families’ 3) Days With John And Yoko: A Writer Remembers 4) Uncovering A Dead Father’s Secrets In ‘After Visiting Friends’ 5) Tales Of Transformation Make ‘Vampires In The Lemon Grove’ A Stunner
Brain Stuff from HowStuffWorks.com
How do artificial flavors work? (Friday, February 22, 2013) — Artificial flavors imitate natural flavors and are found in many processed products. Learn more about the chemistry of flavors, both natural and artificial, in this episode of BrainStuff.
How do nail penny measurements work? (Wednesday, February 20, 2013) — Nails are measured by a unit called a penny. This podcast from HowStuffWorks.com explains what the penny designation means — and where it comes from.
What can you do to make yourself really unhappy? (Monday, February 18, 2013) — There are lots of articles and research on happiness these days, but what about unhappiness? What makes us unhappy, and will avoiding it make us happy? In this episode, Marshall points out three behaviors that are sure to create unhappiness.
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
The Grand Canyon (Friday, February 22, 2013) — The Grand Canyon offers visitors a gorgeous, unparalleled slice of geological history. Explore the many layers of the Grand Canyon and take a walk in the sky in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
Culturetopia from NPR
Our Oscars Omnibus (Friday, February 22, 2013) — This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See’s Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon devote the whole show to the Academy Awards and run through all nine Best Picture nominees. They’ll talk about about Steven Spielberg, story structure, the presence and absence of music, and a VIP (Very Important Pigeon). They’ll also share their favorite film of the year. All that, plus What’s Making Us Happy This Week.
Film Junk
Episode 405: A Good Day to Die Hard and Side Effects (Monday, February 18, 2013) — We get kicked around by A Good Day to Die Hard and experience Side Effects plus The Internship trailer, House of Cards, Identity Thief, Top Gun 3D, True Lies, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and The Last Boyscout.
Freakonomics Radio
The Downside of More Miles Per Gallon (Wednesday, February 20, 2013) — The gas tax doesn’t work well, and it’s only going to get worse. What’s next?
PopStuff from HowStuffWorks.com
PopStuff’s Oscar Costumes 2013 (Wednesday, February 20, 2013) — It’s that time of year! Tracy and Holly run down the 2013 Oscar nominees for Best Costume and wax rhapsodic about hand stitching. With everything from giant epic musicals to odd versions of the Snow White story, the field is wide open.
The Cheese Stands Alone (Monday, February 18, 2013) — Have critics and audiences panned your favorite film? There are some things so universally disliked that only crazy people would be into them, right? Well, Tracy and Holly are outing themselves on the embarrassing things they love.
Sound Opinions
Sound Opinions with Jimmy Cliff (Sunday, February 17, 2013) — Fresh off a Grammy win for Best Reggae Album, Jimmy Cliff is our personal guide through reggae history. Plus Jim and Greg review guitar great Richard Thompson’s latest effort, and Jim sends the late Troggs singer Reg Presley off in style.
Stuff To Blow Your Mind from HowStuffWorks.com
Ghost in the Genetic Machine: Animals (Thursday, February 21, 2013) — Between the code and the creature lies the epigenome, where environmental impulses alter genetic expression. Join Robert and Julie as they introduce epigenetics and gene memory. Join them as they discuss Lamarckian Evolution, mice, rats and flat worms.
The Memory of Slime (Tuesday, February 19, 2013) — So you’re telling me slime molds can solve mazes and recreate trade routes? Yes, indeed we are. In this episode, Julie and Robert explore the “intelligence” of slime molds and why they force us to re-think the evolution of intelligence.
Stuff You Missed in History Class from HowStuffWorks.com
Pablo Fanque’s Fair (Wednesday, February 20, 2013) — The Victorian age offered few opportunities for Black-Britons, making Pablo Fanque’s circus all the more impressive. Born William Darby, he was a talented equestrian performer, acrobat and show-runner. In fact, one Fanque’s playbills inspired John Lennon.
Okichi, the Tragic Geisha (Monday, February 18, 2013) — Okichi’s story is filled with embellishment and hazy details. Sent to serve Townsend Harris, the first U.S. Consul to Japan, she was shunned after Harris left. Yet Okichi is now honored with an annual festival and has become a national symbol.
Stuff You Should Know from HowStuffWorks.com
What would happen if the world stopped spinning? (Thursday, February 21, 2013) — Over 400 million years, the day has grown two hours longer thanks to Earth’s slowing axial rotation. While it will be a long time before it stops spinning, it never hurts to plan. Listen to Chuck and Josh discuss what a still Earth would look like.
How Surfing Works (Tuesday, February 19, 2013) — You know the Beach Boys and you’ve seen Hang Ten shirts, but there’s a lot more to surfing. Join Josh and Chuck to learn more about surfing, from how to pop up on the board to the physics of waves and the Sport of Kings’ Hawai’ian origin.
WNYC’s Radiolab
Shorts: Speedy Beet (Tuesday, February 19, 2013) — There are few musical moments more well-worn than the first four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. But in this short, we find out that Beethoven might have made a last-ditch effort to keep his music from ever feeling familiar, to keep pushing his listeners to a kind of psychological limit.