The Best Finds of October 2021

The Mastercast

Transcript:

Hey Pod lovers. If you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that consists of seven non-spoiler, binge-worthy reviews of the best podcasts in a short-and-sweet two- to three-minute summary of everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. For more details and more reviews, I highly recommend checking out the first five episodes of "Mastercast." Let’s get started.

"A Piece of Work"

Abbi Jacobson knocks it out of the park with this approachable podcast, "A Piece of Work" done for WNYC Studios in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art. Fans of "Broad City" might recognize Jacobson as one of the show’s main characters, whose wit and charm carry over into real life. She’s an art major, but it’s clear her talented voice was made for radio.

One of the best parts about the show is that it is always so refreshing to hear someone speak about something they clearly adore. For most of us, art can seem intimidating, but this funny, down-to-earth pod says art is for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you dislike art or work full time in an art museum, Jacobson makes informative and comprehensive cases for all sorts. Her passion for creating a podcast about art that educates while it captivates in a way that isn’t pretentious is the sort of attitude the subject needs.

The show gives an inside look into MoMA with the help of some of Jacobson’s friends. She brings them along to gauge their reactions to some of the works she discusses. It’s so interesting to hear the different impressions and perspectives. Guests include Hannibal Buress, RuPaul and Questlove to name a few. Everything they have to say is useful and adds to the presentation, unlike what I’ve seen in other shows.

I’ll admit I was skeptical about how hearing people talk about art would be with just the audio, but this 10-part series is out to prove anyone with the same doubts wrong. While it’s completely possible to enjoy the show without viewing the art, a quick Google search gives you so much more to appreciate. For an easy way to make sure you’re looking at the right piece, I recommend checking out the show’s website.

Apple Podcasts has 4.8 out of 5 stars, 1.4 thousand ratings and 278 written reviews. Episodes are about 20 minutes long, commercials are average for the length and music was minimal. You can listen to the episodes out of order with slight nods to guests from older episodes being the only building information.

OwlTail can’t generate the most popular episodes for this short series, but my favorites were “Samantha Irby Gets High on Light” and “How Questlove Learned to Love Silence.”

No trigger warnings for this one. I’m sure it’s obvious by the length of the review that I loved this show. It is definitely in the running for my podcasts of the year. I would give it 10/5 stars if I could.

Similar Pods: "The Art History Babes," "ArtCurious Podcast," "The Week in Art," (bonus YouTube recommendation) "The Art Assignment"

"Newton’s Law"

"Newton's Law" is a brand-new eight-part series from iHeartpodcasts and is a perfect blend of history, true crime and action. It follows the lesser-known occupation of famous British scientist Isaac Newton (yes, that Isaac Newton), as lawman and Warden of the Mint.

While the position doesn’t exist anymore, this podcast makes it feel more real than ever as it brings to life late 17th century culture and customs. For example, did you know that coffee shops were the social media of the day? Lords (ladies were rarely permitted) would print pamphlets to distribute there as well as gather to talk politics or gossip.

It might seem like this time is a world away from us today, but the story told by this show is one we are all familiar with: the law vs. the criminal. Newton takes the job thinking it will be cake and give him plenty of time for his other interests.

However, he has his work cut out for him tackling the rampant counterfeiting trend happening and more when he meets William Chaloner, a legend among the underbelly of the country. The two led a relationship filled with cunning back and forth that leads to you wanting to know when will Newton get his man.

Apple Podcasts has 4.7 stars and 109 ratings. Linda Rodriguez McRobbie is both host and researcher for the show, a dual role she pulls off seamlessly. Episodes are on average about 42 minutes long, and make sure to listen to the series in order.

The script is narrative with some voiceovers by Newton in character. Music is a fitting alternative groove by Elise McCoy, which I really liked.

Similar Pods: "Blood on the Tracks: The John Lennon Story," "American History Tellers," "Finding Fred"

"BBC Earth Podcast"

The "BBC Earth Podcast" is nature like only BBC Earth can do it. Who doesn’t love to kick back with tea and Planet Earth? Well, now you can experience that same feeling of amazement on the go with some of the best storytelling and audio production out there.

Started in 2018 and just finishing up its fourth season, it presents close-up encounters and surprising insights into not only nature but the science and human condition surrounding it. Meticulous attention is given to the immersive soundscape, with every volume and direction of sound added to put the listener inside the narrative.

Apple Podcasts has 4.8 out of 5 stars, 209 ratings and 20 written reviews. Solo host Emily Knight guides the show through a set of related stories each week on Mondays with topics ranging from the bottoms of oceans to the peaks of the highest mountains in the world. The show currently has 37 episodes, all about 30 minutes in length.

My favorite episodes have been “Can anything last forever?” and “Finding what doesn't want to be found.” OwlTail’s most popular episodes are “The planet where it rains diamonds'' and “Looking Up.”

No word on when the next season can be expected, but with no final goodbye it seems that another is coming. The music is so great I’m going to refer to it as a score, and commercials are average in quantity. Perfect for sleep or work. I can't recommend it enough.

Similar Pods: "Discovery," "Overheard," "The Life Scientific"

"The Miami Chronicles: Booby Trap"

I found "The Miami Chronicles: Booby Trap" from the Apostrophe Podcast Company with Acast really fascinating before I knew why. Now I realize it's because the main narrator, Michael Fragomeni, starts it out by making it sound like he's your college roommate recounting his wild childhood, then ...