Happy International Podcast Day Everyone!
That’s right. There is a day for everything. Even podcasts. And so, today, I’m going to stray just a bit from our regular inclusion programming to give you some podcast recommendations.
I almost said favorite podcasts, but that is not what I really mean because saying you have a favorite podcast is kinda like saying you have a favorite song and the current number of songs I have on my “liked” songs list on Spotify is close to 1,100.
Y’all...it’s been quite a month. I had my second root canal in just over a year, and it threw me for a loop. But September has not been all bad.
Here is the good stuff... mostly podcast-related.
I started to record interviews for Think Inclusive episodes that will be published in early 2023. Yep. I’m that far ahead of schedule. I’ve got some great guests lined up so stay tuned for who is dropping by the TI studio very soon.
Also, I took my first trip out of state to do field recording for our new podcast series, tentatively called Inclusion Stories. This new series tells the stories of families and school districts who are committed to full and authentic inclusive education.
And as long as it is International Podcast Day, here is a 3-minute trailer:
MCIE's Audio Documentary Podcast Series
Excited? Me too. If you are interested in sponsoring this new podcast series, email me at tvillegas@mcie.org.
Speaking of trailers. Arielle Nissenblatt and I are collaborating on a new podcast called The Trailer Park where we share podcast trailers that were never made into full-fledged projects, ones that are looking for funding, and complete podcasts that you need to add to your feed right now. This podcast is in production, and we will have our own trailer for Trailer Park very soon.
And now for my podcast picks for this special International Podcast Day edition of The Weeklyish. These will be in alphabetical order... so they are totally not ranked.
First up is American Hysteria by Chelsey Weber-Smith. This podcast explores how fantastical thinking has shaped our culture – moral panics, urban legends, hoaxes, crazes, fringe beliefs, and national misunderstandings. One of my favorite episodes is about the Satanic Panic published a few years ago now... but scroll through the episode titles to see what intrigues you.
Next is Creative Pep Talk by illustrator Andy J. Pizza. Each week, Andy delivers a piping hot solo cast chocked to the brim with fresh stories, creative tips, tricks, and a side of secret dipping sauce of pep to boot! I’m a sucker for a great podcast theme song, and this one is fantastic. I’ve always thought that educators are among the most creative people. So, pick an episode and see how you feel afterward.
I can’t say enough about Everything is Alive, an “unscripted” interview show in which all the subjects are inanimate objects. In each episode, a different thing tells us its life story—and everything it says is true. 😉 The episode with Sal (the sock) stuck with me. Everything is Alive might just be your favorite new podcast.
My next rec is The Loudest Girl in the World by Lauren Ober, a new podcast that tells the story of Lauren’s journey to understand what the hell it means to be on the autism spectrum and how to live life as a newly diagnosed autistic person. This one is in collaboration with Pushkin Industries (which is Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast network), so you know it will be top-notch.
A big shout out to my friend Darien Southerland and his crew at the BG Ad Group who produce the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. That is my local paper. I believe what they are doing is the future of local news and journalism and I think they do a stellar job.
Another recommendation is The Popcast with Knox and Jaime, a weekly pop culture podcast seeking to educate on things that entertain but do not matter. This is my wife’s favorite podcast, and it is the closest thing we have to a must-listen podcast for both of us. They just dropped their Fall Movie Preview episode so if you need some movie recs... look no further.
Let me just get these out of the way … Radiolab, Snap Judgement, This American Life, and Revisionist History. All fantastic but if you listen to podcasts you probably already know about them.
Here is another one. Rep is a thoughtful investigation of our beliefs and understandings and how they exist within the dynamic of politics, pop culture, and public opinion brought to you by journalist Noor Tagouri. Noor began by examining the misrepresentation of Muslims in the US media and how this impacts American culture. She discovered a fuller exploration of the ever-evolving story of America, which challenged the stories we’ve known...and revealed how the stories we tell affect all of us.
Can’t forget to mention Science Vs, a show from Gimlet that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. They do the hard work of sifting through all the science, so you don’t have to and cover everything from 5G and Pandemics to Vaping and Fasting Diets. A recent favorite episode was about hydration and how much water we all should really be drinking.
I loved, loved, loved, Tiffany Dover is Dead*. Back in December of 2020, a nurse named Tiffany Dover fainted on camera while she was talking to reporters after getting her first COVID shot. She got right back up and gave another interview, but it was too late. A conspiracy theory was already racing around the world: Dover had died. She’d been replaced by a body double. And an ever-expanding list of conspirators was in on the cover-up, including the drug companies, the hospital, the media, and maybe even the Pope. Tiffany Dover is alive and well, but she’s stayed silent through it all. And now her story has been hijacked by total strangers trying to make people doubt the safety of the COVID vaccine. In this first season of Truthers, a podcast project about misinformation and conspiracy theories, NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny sets out to show what’s true and what isn’t—and how one person’s life became a weapon in a global information war.
And finally, What Was That Like, by Scott Johnson. First-hand true stories - a plane crash, a mass shooting, a bear attack, a train derailing, and more. The guest tells Scott exactly what happened and answers the question, What Was That Like?
That’s all the podcast recommendations we have time for today. And no extra show notes links this week. Writing this edition was all I could handle.
If you have questions or comments, email me at tvillegas@mcie.org or go to mcie.org to learn more about how we can partner with you and your school or district.
Thanks for your time, everyone. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with another edition of The Weeklyish.
Have a great week!
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The Weeklyish is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is a production of MCIE.
Our intro stinger is by Miles Kredich.
And our outro is by REDProductions.
For information about inclusive education visit mcie.org and check out our flagship podcast, Think Inclusive, on your favorite podcast app.
