Return of the Podder: More of my favourite Podcast Shows (Part 2)
KCRW’s BOOKWORM
Umberto Eco
Nicole Krauss
Bret Easton Ellis
Identity (Series of 10)
This is where the big guns of literature come out to bat. Or to talk.
KCRW’S Bookworm is a major literary podcast show. It features serious, detailed discussions on literary matters, featuring big-name authors.
One of their longest, most fascinating series was the recent 10-part series on Identity. Each episode of slightly less than 30 minutes focussed on one aspect of Identity. Hispanic identity, Asian identity, mixed-race identity, and so on.
Authors featured ranged from relative unknowns like Maxine Hong Kingston, Don Lee, Nina Marie Martinez, to heavy hitters like Camille Paglia, Alan Hollinghurst, Margaret Atwood, John Banville…
The discussions are always interesting, ‘provocate book-talk’ to quote their own tag line, and well worth the listening.
THE RADIO ADVENTURES OF DR. FLOYD
This one’s a bit more of an acquired taste.
I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, and at times, if I’m not in the mood, even I press ‘next’ on my iPod, or remote, to bypass the latest episode.
But if you’re in the mood for some light, chatty, even whacky talk about Science Fiction, often without any definite point, then this pod show is reasonably good TP.
If you’re not interested in SF, though, you’re not going to like it.
THE SECRETS: THE PODCAST FOR WRITERS
Like Dr. Floyd above, but less irritating in tone and style, The Secrets is a series of under-15 minute episodes offering advice on various aspects of the writing craft.
It’s a great series if you’re a wannabe writer, or even just a blogger.
Nothing earth-shattering, mind you. But informative and entertaining.
And again, with special interest for writers (or editors, or publishers, or even just readers) of SFFH.
In fact, one of their feature podcasts is a special focus on SF/Fantasy news.
THE WEEK IN WHEDON
This is one I’m probably going to unsubscribe from soon. But since it’s still on my Podcasts Playlist…
Joss Whedon is best known as the writer-creator of TV serials like Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, and Angel. Though he’s also a highly paid screenwriter for blockbuster movies as well.
(Look up his IMDB page for more info if you’re interested.)
This pod show is a series of weekly updates on what’s happening in Whedon’s world, including his upcoming shows, scripts in production, syndication of older shows, etc.
I subscribed to find out if there was any truth to the rumour that he was going to start a spin-off show called Tales of The Watcher featuring characters from both his Buffy and Angel series.
(Apparently not.)
Or how close he was to the long-awaited Buffy movie starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.
(Nowhere in sight.)
Or whether it was true that his short-lived but highly popular SF show Firefly was being made into a big-screen movie.
(Yes, but still unsure of whether production is underway or only ‘green-lighted’.)
The trouble with the show is that it rambles on in such detail about such trivial things that only a hardcore Whedon fan would be interested.
It’s definitely not for you if, like me, you’re just a fan of his shows and not into hero-worship.
And worst of all, Whedon himself barely figures in the shows – this is almost entirely a fan enterprise.
Skip this one.
But I would still be eager to subscribe to a podcast featuring an author I’m more “into”, like, say, Stephen King.
Anybody know about anything like that?
Remember, file-sharing is caring!
That’s it for the pod shows for now. But keep looking. And keep in touch!
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 31st, 2005 at 6:27 pm. It is filed under Ashok.
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