Best Diamond Destiny Podcasts (2024)

1
2024 Mid-Year Picks (Adrianne Lenker, Pet Shop Boys, The Black Crowes) 48:24

1h ago48:24

48:24

Happy mid-new-year-ish! We’re taking a short break from the Summer of Don to look back on the first half of 2024. Join us as we highlight some of our favorite new releases. Shabaka – Perceive It’s Beauty, Acknowledge It’s Grace Les Amazones d’Afrique – Musow Danse The Decemberists – As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again The Brother Brothers – The Jan…

1
Longlegs 18:11

28m ago18:11

18:11

Longlegs is the rare psychological horror movie that truly gets under your skin. Featuring an instantly iconic performance by Nicolas Cage, the movie creates an ominous atmosphere with the help of a measured pace and an unsettling reliance on silence. We discuss the film’s grounded first act and its rapid descent into full-blown supernatural horror…

1
David Bowie – Blackstar 36:57

7d ago36:57

36:57

Bowie’s final studio album left us all a bit speechless when it came out back in 2016, just a few days before his passing. Join us as we regroup and take a closer listen to the record and discuss its impact. There’s a blackstar shinning in the night sky, as the Summer of Don David Bowie – Blackstar Nadine Shah – Filthy Underneath Kneecap – Fine Art…

1
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA 36:30

21d ago36:30

36:30

Springsteen’s landmark 1984 album Born in the USA has become an iconic piece of American culture. The album art and long series of hits were hard to escape in the mid-80s and still play a part in modern day society. Join us as we discuss the album and some other things we’ve been digging on. Turn on the grill and break out the SPF – the Summer of D…

1
Stevie Wonder – Innervisions 34:52

28d ago34:52

34:52

Stevie Wonder had a pretty amazing stretch of albums during the early 1970s. One of our favorites from the period is 1973’s Innervisions. We talked about it a bit a few years ago, but the Summer of Don has given us a chance to talk about it a bit more. Stevie Wonder – Innervisions Caroline Shaw – Rectangles and Circumstances Ulcerate – Cutting the …

1
Maharaj 23:40

21d ago23:40

23:40

They might as well have called Maharaj “Junaid Khan’s Launch Vehicle” because naming it after the villain makes even less sense. We discuss the film’s many irredeemable flaws, which include shaming the victim of sexual abuse, projecting a red flag male character as the protagonist, and resorting to the problematic trope of “fridging.” We also talk …

1
Kota Factory Season 3 22:32

23d ago22:32

22:32

In its third and potentially final season, Kota Factory seems to be responding to past criticism. We discuss the show’s sudden bout of self-reflection, and the confused manner in which it examines the harsh realities of towns like Kota and the industries they service. We also talk about its aversion to human moments, and why the handful of them thi…

1
Pearl Jam – Ten 37:40

1M ago37:40

37:40

Pearl Jam’s debut record became an iconic part of the alternative rock (yes, grunge) movement of the early 1990s. Their anthemic hooks, flashy guitars and emotive vocals made them fan and media favorites. Join us as we look back on the album, the era and how it all holds up after three decades. The Summer of Don shines on! Pearl Jam – Ten Joey Vale…

1
LSD2: Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 22:07

1M ago22:07

22:07

Dibakar Banerjee is going to have to make two good movies to compensate for whatever hellish assault on the senses Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 was. We discuss the film’s muddled social commentary, the frustration oozing out of every frame, and the general incoherence of the arguments. We also compare LSD2’s aesthetic and thematic shortfalls, especially w…

1
Sade – Diamond Life

1M ago

—

Sade’s debut record Diamond Life stood out from the rest of the 1984 musical landscape in the US and UK. Join us for a discussion on the landmark album as well as some other records we’ve been enjoying. The Summer of Don rolls on. Sade – Diamond Life La Luz – News of the Universe Aespa – Armageddon – The 1st Album Nathy Peluso – Grasa Big Head Todd…

1
Chris Stapleton – Traveller

2M ago

—

Chris Stapleton’s debut record back in 2015 was influential both on the podcast’s musical taste and on the future of country music. It helped expand our palettes and pushed the genre forward. Join us as we revisit the record and discuss our thoughts after all these years – the Summer of Don carries on! Chris Stapleton – Traveller Joywave – Permanen…

1
The Doors – LA Woman 32:19

2M ago32:19

32:19

What better way to kick-off the Summer of Don then to talk over a record that has a bit of a special place on the show. The Doors final release, LA Woman, served as a bookend to their celebrated career and a goodbye to the city that shaped them. Join us as we discuss the record and some other things we’ve been digging on. The Doors – LA Woman The L…

1
Crew 18:09

2M ago18:09

18:09

Crew, the new heist movie starring Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kriti Sanon, effectively weaponises middle-class angst against corporate overlords. We praise the film’s dedication to punching up, the instant relatability that it is able to generate for its characters, and its tightly constructed first half. But we also criticise its endless produ…

1
90s Soul (Macy Gray, Simply Red, Rahsaan Patterson) 42:17

2M ago42:17

42:17

Like all popular genres, R&B and Soul music has morphed over time to fit modern sounds under it’s wing. In the 90s, the inclusion of hip-hop into popular music had started to ripple out into the surrounding genres; like soul music. Join us as we talk over some of our favorite soul records from the 1990s. Macy Gray – On How Life Is (Andy) Simply Red…

1
Madgaon Express 19:23

2M ago19:23

19:23

Writer-director Kunal Kemmu’s Madgaon Express smartly avoids taking the sleazy route and mostly succeeds in finding the soul of its cartoonish characters. We talk about the film’s familiar set-up, and how it transports a Hangover-like premise to India. We also discuss the performances of Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi and Avinash Tiwary, while noting the…

1
Double Albums (The Rolling Stones, Donna Summer, Metallica) 49:21

2M ago49:21

49:21

Double albums – the topic so nice, we had to cover it twice. Join us as we discuss another round of some of our favorite double LPs. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street (Andy) Donna Summer – Bad Girls (Don) Metallica – …And Justice for All (Dude) What do you think of these double albums? What’s your favorite double album? Let us know on our w…

1
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar 25:57

2M ago25:57

25:57

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s big-budget streaming debut, is yet another high-profile Netflix failure. A summation and culmination of Bhansali’s lifelong ambitions, the show represents everything that is wrong with his sensibilities and style-over-substance storytelling. We discuss the show’s flawed understanding …

1
Double Albums (Miles Davis, The Cure, The Beatles) 49:48

3M ago49:48

49:48

Time to get comfy and put on some double albums. On today’s show we discuss some of our favorite (dare I say classic) double albums. Miles Davis – Bitches Brew (Andy)The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (Don)The Beatles – The Beatles (Dude) What do you think of these double albums? What’s your […]By Album Nerds

1
Civil War 22:10

3M ago22:10

22:10

In addition to being a thought-provoking movie about how close we are to disintegrating as a society, Alex Garland’s Civil War is a rollicking cinematic experience. We discuss the film’s affection for journalism, the intricate character work that Garland is able to accomplish via action sequences, and the film’s stand-out moments. One of them invol…

1
Record Store Day (Freddie Gibbs, Mavis Staples, Dio) 48:16

3M ago48:16

48:16

Happy Record Store Day, Nerds! On today’s show we celebrate independent record stores by exploring some of the holiday’s special releases. Here’s our picks: Freddie Gibbs – Pinata (Andy)Mavis Staples – Have a Little Faith (Don)Dio – The Last in Line (Dude) What do you think of these records? What RSD albums are you excited […]…

1
Amar Singh Chamkila 27:07

3M ago27:07

27:07

Is Amar Singh Chamkila a long-awaited return to form for director Imtiaz Ali, or is it another let-down from the once-promising filmmaker? We discuss the film’s inventive approach to the music biopic genre, if not narratively then at least formally. We also talk about Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra’s central performances as the slain husband-w…

1
We Are Family (First Aid Kit, The Isley Brothers, Oasis) 43:17

4M ago43:17

43:17

From the The Carter Family to the Jackson 5 and the Jonas Brothers – families have found success in the music industry for decades. On today’s show we highlight some of our favorite family-made albums. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar (Andy)The Isley Brothers – Go For Your Guns (Don)Oasis – (What’s The Story) […]…

1
Aattam 22:04

4M ago22:04

22:04

Aattam, the latest Malayalam-language gem that further solidifies the industry’s artistic stronghold on the cinema landscape of the country, offers an inventive spin on the whodunnit genre. We discuss the film’s gripping narrative, ambitious social commentary, and director Anand Ekarshi’s bold voice. We also talk about the many moral quandaries tha…

1
2012 Top Albums (The Black Keys, Rihanna, Adele) 48:50

4M ago48:50

48:50

Turns out 2012 wasn’t the end of the world, but it may have seemed like it at the time. With hurricanes, mass shootings and the music of Drake and Luke Bryan dominating the pop charts, I think we all felt the end was nigh ;). Join us as we discuss our favorite best selling albums […]By Album Nerds

1
Yo! MTV Raps (Ultramagnetic MC’s, Eric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr) 46:30

4M ago46:30

46:30

During the late 80s and early 90s, Yo! MTV Raps helped to bring the quickly evolving genre of hip-hop into the living room. On today’s show we talk over the TV program and a handful of records from artists featured on the initial run of episodes. Ultramagnetic MC’s – Critical Beatdown (Andy)Eric B. & Rakim […]…

1
Fighter 29:46

4M ago29:46

29:46

Is Fighter another in the long and increasingly problematic line of hyper-nationalistic Indian action movies, or is its biggest problem that it can’t look beyond star Hrithik Roshan? We discuss the many missteps that director Siddharth Anand makes in his follow-up to Pathaan, the unnecessary songs and the momentum-killing asides, but we also talk a…

1
Murder Mubarak 24:20

4M ago24:20

24:20

Murder Mubarak lowers the bar even further for Netflix India, and feels like a particularly annoying missed opportunity. We talk about the inept filmmaking, the strange structure, and the over-the-top performances of its ensemble cast. We also wonder how the finished film can look like something that was snatched away from director Homi Adajania an…

1
2000s Electronic (LCD Soundsystem, Editors, MGMT) 47:58

4M ago47:58

47:58

Plugin the synths and polish up that disco ball, we’re going electronic on today’s show. (Well, as electronic as we three rock fans can get). Join us as we explore albums that blend electronic components with familiar sounds. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver (Andy)Editors – In this Light and on This Evening (Don)MGMT – […]…

1
Ireland (Nealo, Van Morrison, Fontaines D.C.) 47:30

5M ago47:30

47:30

Ireland’s rich cultural heritage has produced lots of great art, with music being no exception. On today’s show we highlight a handful of Irish artists that we’ve come to love. Happy St. Paddy’s Day! Nealo – November Medicine (Andy)Van Morrison – Astral Weeks (Don)Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia (Dude) What do you think of these […]…

1
Merry Christmas 21:14

4M ago21:14

21:14

Merry Christmas, director Sriram Raghavan’s follow-up to the critical and commercial hit Andhadhun, is nothing to celebrate. We discuss the film’s lack of discernible aesthetic, the complete absence of any spark between stars Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, and its baffling climax. Along the way, we discuss the decision to reduce an important ch…

1
Dune: Part Two 31:46

4M ago31:46

31:46

Dune: Part Two is being called one of the greatest sequels ever made. It isn’t. We discuss the problems that we’ve had with both Dune films, our issues with their cold tone, the seemingly rushed plot despite a nearly three-hour run-time, and the sheer number of characters to keep track of. But we also appreciate director Denis Villeneuve’s handling…

1
Bromances (Jan & Dean, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Queens of the Stone Age) 42:49

5M ago42:49

42:49

Great popular music is often a result of creative partnerships. From Gilbert and Sullivan to Lennon and McCartney, men have joined forces and inspired each other to amazing heights. Join us as we discuss records from some of our favorite bromances. Jan & Dean – Little Old Lady From Pasadena (Andy)Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark […]…

1
All India Rank 22:47

5M ago22:47

22:47

All India Rank, the feature directorial debut of Varun Grover, is a refreshing change of pace for Bollywood, but still not as good as it could have been. We discuss all the ways in which the coming-of-age drama avoids making the same mistakes as 12th Fail or Kota Factory, its ability to evoke a particular time and place, and its reliance on tried-a…

1
Relationship Stages (Father John Misty, Meat Loaf, Alanis Morissette) 47:56

5M ago47:56

47:56

As unique as each relationship is, all relationships go through stages. From infatuation to heartbreak and everything in between, music does a great job of expressing the emotions of love. On today’s show we discuss three albums that closely deal with the different phases of a relationship. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear […]…

1
Dunki 28:42

5M ago28:42

28:42

Dunki, the third and final Shah Rukh Khan film of 2023, wastes all the goodwill he had built with Pathaan and Jawan. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, Dunki ranks among the worst films we’ve covered on the podcast and is outdated to the point of being offensive. We talk about the film’s most insensitive scenes, Hirani’s disinterest in taking real-life g…

1
Band Romances (Tom Waits, Jefferson Airplane, The White Stripes) 46:26

6M ago46:26

46:26

Sometimes the spark of making music together can kindle a romance. Bands like Fleetwood Mac, Abba, and Wings all had their romantic pairings – and oftentimes splits. Join us as we discuss some of our favorite records forged in the fires of romance. Tom Waits – Alice (Andy)Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow (Don)The White Stripes […]…

1
Bhakshak 19:41

5M ago19:41

19:41

Bhakshak, starring Bhumi Pednekar, is the latest socially conscious call-to-action from Shah Rukh Khan’s production company, and even though it’s a more grounded film, its sensibilities aren’t too dissimilar from Jawan. We discuss what we liked and disliked about the film’s portrayal of hyperlocal journalism, its depiction of real-life atrocities, …

1
Sensual Serenades (Air, Cigarettes After Sex, Marvin Gaye) 43:57

6M ago43:57

43:57

What makes music sound sensual? A deep groove? Hazy production? Romantic lyrics? Of course its going to vary by listener, but on today’s show we try to find some common ground. Join us as we discuss three albums we think have sex appeal. Air – Moon Safari (Andy)Cigarettes After Sex – Cigarettes After Sex (Don)Marvin […]…

1
R.E.F.O.C.U.S. The American Dreamer™ Snippet 5:51

6M ago5:51

5:51

Join us for a sneak peek into our upcoming full episode of the 21st Century Woman EmpowerCast, Reimagine Your Life Show, hosted by Dr. Mikayla Diamond. In this snippet episode titled "R.E.F.O.C.U.S. The American Dreamer," we introduce a transformative framework designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurial leaders. Discover how reformation, empowerm…

1
Expand Your Voice™ 3:04

6M ago3:04

3:04

Listen to a snippet of the future full episode of the 21st Century Woman Signature EmpowerCast, hosted by Dr. Mikayla Diamond. In this preview of "Expand Your Voice," we'll dive into the transformative potential of podcasting for entrepreneurial leaders. Join us as we explore how to leverage this powerful medium to increase brand visibility, establ…

1
Write Your Legacy™ Snippet 4:24

6M ago4:24

4:24

In this snippet episode, we'll dive into the transformative power of embracing your unique brand story. From Oprah Winfrey to Michael Jordan, we'll explore how adversity and resilience shape iconic personas and how you can harness your own experiences to create a magnetic brand narrative. Discover how trauma can become the catalyst for personal and…

1
Joram 16:10

5M ago16:10

16:10

Joram, the fourth feature film from director Devashish Makhija, juggles multiple tones and narratives. But is it successful at it? We discuss Manoj Bajpayee’s mostly silent central performance as a displaced tribal man running for his life, and the film’s heavy handed socio-political commentary. We also wonder if the movie would’ve worked better as…

1
Animal 29:21

6M ago29:21

29:21

Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, is hardly as offensive as director Sandeep Reddy Vanga probably intended it to be, but it’s aggravating on many levels nonetheless. We discuss the film’s infantile approach to its themes and Vanga’s dedication to being edgy at the expense of storytelling and character development. We also talk about the film’s unbear…

1
Solid Gold (Rick James, Madonna, Twisted Sister) 44:37

6M ago44:37

44:37

Besides the fabulously be-dazzled Solid Gold Dancers, the TV show of the same name featured a wide variety of popular artists of the early to mid 1980s. Even though the performances were lip-synced, the program exposed audiences to all sorts of new music. On today’s show we discuss three albums from artists that appeared on […]…

1
VMA Winners (Taylor Swift, REM, The Cars) 42:14

6M ago42:14

42:14

Over the last few decades, the VMA’s have been a plentiful source of meme-worthy moments from the day’s most popular musicians. On today’s show we discuss records from three Video of the Year winners and talk over some of our favorite music videos. Taylor Swift – Midnights (Andy)R.E.M. – Out of Time (Don)The Cars – […]…

1
Salaar 24:47

6M ago24:47

24:47

Is Salaar the worst movie we’ve covered on the podcast? It might be. We discuss the incomprehensible plotting, Prashanth Neel’s overwhelming direction, and debate about the film’s three major action set-pieces. We also eat our words about Salman Khan’s dedication and Zack Snyder’s poor world-building after having seen a disengaged Prabhas and an un…

1
Country Storytellers (Marty Robbins, Brandy Clark, Sturgill Simpson) 43:12

7M ago43:12

43:12

Country music is particularly great at telling a story. Whether it’s gunslingers in the old west, or troubled relationships in a modern day setting, country music is great at shining a light on the lives of everyday people doing everyday things. On today’s show we discuss 3 albums that have plenty of good stories to […]…

1
Tiger 3 26:47

7M ago26:47

26:47

Shockingly, Tiger 3—the fifth overall instalment in the YRF Spy Universe—isn’t entirely unwatchable. But the movie could’ve been so much better with just about any other star in the lead role instead of Salman Khan, who not only struggles to emote but also seems pained to move physically. We talk about the film’s Pathaan-like progressive politics, …

1
Cover Albums (Angelique Kidjo, The The, Metallica) 42:29

7M ago42:29

42:29

Cover albums are essentially love letters from a band to their influences. Some pull from a variety of artists, others focus on one. Some even go as far as doing a track-by-track rendition of the entire record. On today’s show we explore one of each type of cover album. Angelique Kidjo – Remain in Light […]…

1
12th Fail 24:55

7M ago24:55

24:55

Is 12th Fail actually one of the best Hindi movies of 2023 or is it massively overrated? We find ourselves wondering why writer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s latest film is getting rave reviews, because all we could see was a deeply problematic, all too simplistic story about a young man let down by society. We also talk about Vikrant Massey’s perf…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Diamond Destiny Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide