The Aspiring Cinephile...A New Podcast

 It's been a while since I've blogged about a podcast, or a particular episode of a podcast. I used to listen to more podcasts, and a larger variety than I do now, but as I've gotten older, I've trimmed down what I spend my time listening to, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Time is a valued resource.

And because I haven't started listening to many new podcasts, I've not had a reason to blog about the same old ones as I once did. Also, since I'm listening to fewer and fewer podcasts, it takes a lot for me to try a new one. I subscribed to a new podcast last week, mostly because of two things...I like the subject of the podcast--movies--and I know the person behind the mic.

The podcast in question is, The Aspiring Cinephile and I've heard two of the three available episodes so far. I'm also enjoying it so far. The production is the brainchild of Zach Watts. Zach and I met years ago--we were brothers in a local production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I was Issachar...I can't remember which brother Zach portrayed. I didn't know at the time but I met Zach's mother decades earlier while in college...wonderful person.

To the podcast. Since I've only heard a couple of podcasts, I don't have a lot to go on, but I can say Zach's style is very conversational. He mentioned in the first episode one of the reason's he's doing this in the first place is to gain a better understanding of the art form that is film, hence, the "aspiring" cinephile. Zach may not know everything about the subjects, but his passion comes through. It's as if you're sitting in a Denny's at 11:45pm after having a late-late dinner and you're just hearing him talk about what he likes and why, and because there's no one else in the restaurant and you've already paid the bill and they're not closing, the staff lets you just sit in the booth and chat about films and what makes them great.

Podcasts evolve as I suspect The Aspiring Cinephile will do. Zach wants shorter episodes, but if he keeps talking about all the things he likes, they won't get shorter--he'll have to either decide to make them longer, or make some cuts. Also, it would be fun for him to have guests from time to time, and the guest don't need to be "experts" in the field, but friends with the same passion as he has.

In short, I've enjoyed spending my time listening to this new podcast. If you'd like to give it a shot, click the link: HERE. Maybe it's not your thing, and that's okay. Based on the love Zach has for film, He'll keep talking about it whether you're listening or not. Well done, Zach! I'm excited to hear more.

That Old Mouse Magic Podcast...A New Way To Get Your Disney Fix

There are many out there that are experiencing withdrawals. Their addictions cannot be satisfied in the time of Covid. They frit and fumble, they moan and mumble, and they yearn for the time when they can, once again, be gratified.

I'm not talking about things most people think about when they hear the word "addicted." 

I'm talking about Disney.

Yes, we have the movies, and the app, and pictures of vacations past, but for many, the inability to visit the parks, the resorts, even the cruises cause them angst. I know it's not a replacement, but help is on the way.

In the form of a new podcast, That Old Mouse Magic.

Jim Christian, a walking Disney encyclopedia, is your host and guide. If you know Jim, you understand there's not a better person for these roles. His love of the Disney universe is infectious, and I know he'll bring that attitude and experience to each episode.

The podcast is new, only three installments, but more are coming. Even if you don't know Mr. Christian, if you love Disney, subscribe. You won't be disappointed. And it may just help with the addiction many of you have.

Found K.M Weiland's "Helping Writers Become Authors" Podcast...It's A Good one

Since podcasts in 2020 are what blogs were in 2005, it seems everyone has a podcast now. That's not necessarily a bad thing. More podcasts means more perspectives, more opinions, more advice. But, that also means more noise to sift through to find content that really helps.

I don't bemoan anyone who begins a podcast. Heck, I even started my own. It lasted less than ten episodes. It was fun, but a lot of hard work. So when I heard about K.M Weiland's podcast, Helping Writers Become Authors, I had to check it out. The fact that she just released episode #496 is a testament to her dedication.

I'm late to the party so I haven't heard many of Weiland's previous episodes, but even if I only heard today's offering I would be subscribing. In addition to the podcast, Weiland has a blog where you can read the podcast content. You can access her website by clicking: HERE. Today's episode was especially timely and helpful. She discussed the value of writing, sometimes it's for profit, sometimes it's not, but it's always important--you just have to realize the worth of what you've created. In addition, today's podcast included six beliefs to foster creativity and growth--worth the price of admission right there!

Another thing I like about the podcast is the length. It's not too long. This is important to me because when you subscribe to several podcasts, brevity is helpful. If I can listen to a podcast under ten minutes (even at double speed...), I can glean from it what helps and move on to the next.

I'm sure there are many podcasts out there that will help me to become a better writer. K.M. Weiland's Helping Writers Become Authors is a great one. I highly recommend it.

Checking Out A New Podcast...The Reclaimers

When you involve yourself in creative endeavors, you end up meeting people and forming relationships with others who feel that need to create--it's in their D.N.A. I recently heard of a new podcast, created by some people I know and others I know of. It's call The Reclaimers.

I was instantly intrigued.

Today, I was able to download the three available Reclaimers podcasts on the app I use to listen to podcasts. And, to be honest, I wasn't sure exactly how I was supposed to feel after I was done.

Let me explain. First, the podcast is very well produced, well written and recorded. I dig the intro music and the voice actors are as good as any out there. Being a voice actor is a tough job--not everyone can do it. These actors definitely can.

Part of the reason I was a little confused is the set up...I think I was expecting something else. The podcast series tagline is: 

What if emotional abuse was a crime?

And what if survivors had the support of a team of caring empaths to help them heal?

From the podcast website, you can access by clicking: HERE, the following information is posted:

WHAT IS THE RECLAIMERS PODCAST ABOUT?

Set in the near future, where emotional abuse is appropriately deemed a crime, some humans have developed an empathy superpower, enabling them to provide support to survivors of such crimes. This story-based podcast was created to offer both validation and tools/methods for healing and breaking free.

So, I'm thinking dystopian, at the very least. I'm imaging people with superpowers working with victims of crimes. I'm also thinking this may be a little Minority Report-eske, especially if good intentions go wrong and innocent people are punished because of those intentions.

I need to say that I thought these things, partially from other future, alternative reality podcasts I've heard. The Reclaimers isn't this. I'm thinking those who wrote and performed these stories are thinking something like, "Wouldn't it be cool if we could present stories and instead of superheroes, we have people who want to fix problems with their hearts and minds, instead of their muscles and bravado." Because this is what The Reclaimers does. There's a safe place called Haven and people talk through their issues, hopefully coming to a better and healthier conclusion in the end.

I personally have not gone through counseling. This is not to brag or convey a deficiency--I only say this because if I had spent time in counseling or with a professional, I might have understood better what the creators of this podcast were doing when I began listening. Maybe not--just a thought I had.

I can definitely say, The Reclaimers is not your usual podcast. It's complex, imaginative, well-written, thought-provoking, and for me, a little confusing. Maybe that's exactly what it's supposed to be.

Checked Out "The Griddle" Podcast Today...Down-Home Fun!

Podcasts are to this decade what blogs were to the last decade. That's not a bad thing--in fact, it's great. Now anyone can become a broadcaster and content creator, all you need is a microphone and the internet. Heck, you can do it all from your phone.

Having said all that, I finally got around to listening to a new podcast called, The Griddle Podcast. You can access it from the Apple Store, or by clicking: HERE. It stars Merle Maples and Harley Hanks as two conversationalists who dispense down-home wisdom like rain from the heavens. And just like rain from the heavens, you'll get wet whether you want to or not.

There's a couple of things this podcast has going for it. First, it's length. The first four episodes last a total of 1 hour and 24 minutes, averaging twenty-one minutes each. It's just about perfect for their format. Second, it's very folksy, and by folksy, I mean folksy. As you listen, you feel as though you've walked into the pair as they sit at the local gas station/fast food joint shooting the bull talking about anything, everything...basically, whatever comes across their collective minds. And even when the episode concludes, you have the impression that Merle and Harley are still jawing, still flapping their gums, still having a good time.

That's the podcast's biggest strength, I think. It's the two men having a good time. You'd have to when covering topics like, Idaho not existing, conspiracy theories, bum sticks (yeah, I wrote that correctly...), scary stories, and even a game show.

If there's one criticism I have it's that it's best not to listen to the podcast on double-speed, or even three-quarter speed. There's definitely a charm hearing the men just chat, at their own speed. I hardly ever listen to a podcast at normal speed--I've got too many to listen to. This one, well...it's good to take your own sweet time, just like Merle and Harley do.

"Cox & Friends" The Answer To The Question...Does The World Need Another Podcast?

I used to listen to a lot of podcasts, and not only were there a lot, but I was religious in my dedication to making sure I heard each and every one. It got to the point where I was running out of time to do much of anything else (as far as listening goes...). I wasn't getting any reading done--reading audiobooks, that is. 

So, I'm a little more discerning when it comes to trying new podcasts. I used to hit "Subscribe" before I even listened to the new selection. I'm now older. I'm now wiser. I heard about a new podcast primarily from Spencer Cox, the Lt. Governor of Utah. I've followed him for some time on Twitter--he's able to walk a fine line between Utah's big three most controversial topics: religion, politics, and sports. He's got supporters and followers on each end of the religious/political/sports spectrums and everywhere in between. That's not an easy thing to do.

Based on that, I thought I'd give his new podcast called Cox & Friends a shot.

I'm glad I did.

If you'd like a little taste of what Spencer and his friends discuss, just go to iTunes and look at the topics of the nine podcasts so far.

I mean--mule deer, boy scouts, the Utah Jazz, LDS Church, book club discussions--something for everyone. I especially liked their last offering. They talked about several lawsuits taking place in Utah due to upcoming ballot initiatives. I haven't heard a lot about the lawsuits so I found it not only interesting, but informative. The team also discussed several start-ups from Utah that, if they catch on, have almost unlimited potential. It's nice to hear about the locals doing amazing things.

If you're interested in Utah politics, give Cox & Friends a chance. They've held my interest though nine episodes. It took a few weeks for it to get it on iTunes, but now every episode is downloadable. One thing that I especially enjoy about this--or any podcast--is not knowing what the next edition will bring. I get that from Cox & Friends. I think I'll keep on listening. So, to answer the question--yes, I think the world (or our little corner of it...) needs at least one new podcast.

Navigating The Magic...Another New Podcast

Last week I spotlighted a new podcast that focuses on traveling and Disney. This week I began listening to another new podcast. This one's entitled Navigating the Magic. There are many similarities between the two podcasts--both focus heavily on all things Disney, both are local (to me...), both have hosts married to each other, and I've personally done shows with both couples.

And both are making entertaining podcasts.

Navigating the Magic is a little more "seasoned" than the other podcast, Adventure is Out There. As of this writing Navigating has eleven recorded podcast, Adventure has two. 

Navigating the Magic is hosted by Holly and Jace. I met Holly two and a half years ago when she was a performer in Lagoon's Hackenslash Halloween show and I worked as a House Manager. If you know Holly, you know this woman cannot be stopped--in a good way. And because Jace is a supportive spouse, he was a regular guest at many a show. They're good people and they are more than excited about Disney.

Holly and Jace talk a lot about many of the "behind the scenes" of Disney. Holly worked in their Disney University program. And because we live in Utah and have a incredible amount of Disney fans--many of which have also been involved in both their university programs and shows--Holly and Jace have had guests with similar experiences on the podcast. It's been fun to hear about what it's like to be there, to do something very few can do.

The hosts are upbeat and excited in their topic, which is a good thing when creating a podcast, because if they aren't interested and interesting, you won't be interested in their podcast as a listener. If you've ever wondered what it's like to work on the parks, interact with the patrons, and distribute that Disney magic, give this podcast a try. 

"The Message"...A Pretty Cool Podcast

Those who know me know I love podcasts. I only discovered the coolness of podcasts a few years ago and I've been hooked ever since. Over the years on this blog I've recommended several podcasts, some I still listen to--others I've stopped. So when I find a new podcast that I like, I feel its important to let people know about it.

I'm going to date myself, but how many of you remember listening to CBS Radio Mystery Theater back in the day? I didn't camp by the radio for it, but whenever we found ourselves riding in a car at night, somehow whoever was driving turned on the show. 

I LOVED those shows! They hired quality actors and the stories were first-rate. It's maybe why I love the format of this new podcast. It's a throwback to those old radio programs, except this one is drawn out over several episodes.

It's a story of researchers who are tracking down a message that's come from outer space. But it's more than just trying to figure out who sent the message and who is supposed to hear it. There's a consequence for those who have heard the message.

If there's one drawback to  The Message, it's the length of the episodes. They are, in a word, short. The average time of each episode is about thirteen minutes long. I know it takes a lot of time and effort to create one quality episode, so I can't be too critical. Still, I would love to listen to seven hours of this story instead of just over an hour.

If you're interested in this podcast, go to their website: HERE. And, if you're a fan of the old Mystery Theater, I found a website where you can download all 1,399 episodes. You can go to this site: HERE.

If you like story told to you in podcast form, give it a shot. I hope you like The Message as much as I have.

Welcome To Night Vale, A New Podcast...Genius!

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Anyone who knows me knows I love podcasts. Every once in a while I'll try out a new one--several I've tried lately have not been keepers, however...

I came across a new podcast today.

It's a keeper.

It's called Welcome To Night Vale and it's amazing.

I'm not one who is always hip to the latest trends. Apparently this podcast, that debuted June 15, 2012, has been around a while and its popularity is skyrocketing. I decided to give it a shot.

If you know of the podcast, you know what it's about. If not, basically a lone man reads the news over the radio for an imaginary town in the American southwest.

Benign, you might think. Boring comes to mind. Perish the thought--it's anything but! I'm about 1/2 way through the entire podcast library and each episode presents a chance to experience something completely new. My brain has so many thoughts rushing through it when I think of this podcast, I can't even begin to list them because if I start, I won't be able to stop. Needless to say, it has inspired me.

Just so you know, if you want to start listening, it's very weird, but it is genius writing. I'm enjoying it so far. And if you've got a twisted sense of humor, you just might like it, too.

* Picture used without permission from: http://commonplacebooks.com/welcome-to-night-vale