May 3rd, 2023
Interview Podcasts
There are some interesting people out there, so here are podcasts that interview thosepeople and tell their stories. Podcast But Outside
Usually podcast hosts like to interview well-known people. This may include celebrities, politicians, or even an entrepreneur. This podcast, however, adds a bit of a twist. Podcast But Outside is exactly what the title says it is, a podcast that takes place outside. The show specifically interviews random strangers that walk past their booth. It is hosted by two individuals named Cole Hersch and Andrew Michaan. The two are comedians but from different backgrounds. Andrew would perform stand-up comedy while Cole would work on comedy videos and skits. The two eventually came together to create a new and fascinating podcast. Each episode is completely unique as no guest is ever the same. The two set up their booth in a random location and wait for people to willingly be interviewed. Their booth is also not just set up in one state but all around the U.S. One of the most memorable places, in my opinion, is Hawaii. It is fascinating to hear these strangers’ stories: who they are, what they do, and their thoughts about life. The two hosts always seem to support and know how to interact well with each interviewee. I will say the show can be crude, as the strangers are allowed to speak whatever is on their mind, but for me it feels more genuine as people are being themselves. Some people have a filter and some don’t. I will never stop looking forward to each episode that comes out.
—Emma Krueger, Podcast Editor
Recess TherapyRecess Therapy started out as a somewhat well-known Instagram account that found the Corn kid (a.k.a. Tariq, a now famous little kid who talks about corn on an episode, which was then turned into a song). It was created by 22-year-old Julian Shapiro-Barnum. He interviews children between the ages of 2 and 9 in New York City and has been sharing their stories online since 2022. He asks the kids with basic questions, such as, “What is your favorite food?” so they can further elaborate and take the wheel on where the conversations go. Recess Therapy is full of cute kids and their even cuter stories. If you love kids and the silly things they say, then this podcast (which is also a YouTube series) is for you! Recess Therapy also has an Instagram and TikTok if you’d like to give them a watch or follow. I rate the interviews with the little kids a solid 8.5/10. Each episode is sure to be entertaining and keep you intrigued.
—Jasmine Puls
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was created by Dreamworks, and the film actually ended up bringing in way more earnings than they’d originally expected seeing as this film was released at the same time as the new Avatar. This film was simply breathtaking and an easy movie to stay hooked on the whole time. If the animation and details didn’t keep you intrigued, then the snippets of adult humor and scenes with underlying serious tones that they sneaked in sure will. I personally love that they tried to add some details that adults would catch on to, so the movie is fun for all ages (well, maybe those 13 and up since it has some PG-13 themes). Not only that, but the movie has very good lessons for kids, including friendship, loyalty, valuing loved ones, and not being greedy. My personal favorite part of the film, though, is the depiction of anxiety. As someone with severe anxiety, I found that the attention to detail that the filmmakers gave Puss during his brief episodes made my friends and me honestly tear up. The anxiety-attack scene with Puss was the best representation I have seen so far, especially in a kid’s movie. The new character introduced with his own heartbreaking story, Parrito, also helps Puss to calm down and teaches him and Kitty, Puss’s ex-lover, to stop and smell the roses, literally. I strongly recommended that everyone go see this movie, no matter their age. I give this movie a solid 9/10 simply because I cried, and I never cry at movies. This film is unexpectedly deep for being a kids’ movie, and I feel everyone should go give this film a watch of their own.
Mother Earth’s Plantasia, subtitled “warm earth music for plants and the people who love them,” is exactly such. Composed by synthesizer pioneer Mort Garson, the album uses an early synth called a Moog. The Moog, as pictured below, was the first commercial synth, which differs from modern synths in the fact that it’s a giant room-sized cabinet. Mort got his pretty early on from the instrument’s inventor (whose last name really was Moog), and he quickly fell in love with its sound. He translated what he knew from classical arranging and conducting to the crazy new tech, which Plantasia showcases in full effect. The album has such a brilliant and bright sound, which has an almost protective aura to it. Its highs are very high, and it never breaks its feeling of sanguine freedom. There’s something about the nature aesthetic partnered with the bright, “bloopy” sounds of the synth that plants a big smile on my face every time. If you ever find your own houseplants being particularly sad, maybe throw this record on for them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll like it, too.
Kraftwerk is a German electronic and synth-pop band that was created in 1970 and is recognized as one of the groups that laid the groundwork for electronic music. The band is still actively touring 50 years later, including one of the founding members (now in his 70s) who continues to share fundamentally important music. The Man-Machine (1978) only contains six songs, creating a 36-minute album, but has been one of Kraftwerk’s most popular works. This band is known for their robot-like performances as well as the formal attire (suits and ties) worn during their shows that contribute to their rigid aesthetic, which matches their eccentric sound. My favorite song from this album is “The Model” because it has a catchy beat in addition to the refreshing composition that completes the glimmering album.
Do you enjoy a little bit of role-play, imagination, and romance? Fog of Love covers all three as a shared-narrative game. Between you and the other player, you will create and play two vivid characters who meet, fall in love, and traverse through the perils of making a relationship work.
You know what they say about any activity; it’s always better with a friend. In this case, you need a friend if you want to find A Way Out. In this cooperative video game, you and your friend play the role of two convicts who rely on one another to survive and escape prison. You’ve come to learn more about the characters you play, finding out how their stories intertwine with each other. You embark on a journey across the country, uncovering more about their past and finding a Way Out.
Heave Ho is a multiplayer game published by Devolver Digital. In this game, you and one to three other people play as a creature with only two arms whose goal is to get to the other side of the trench and not fall to your death. You control each hand individually as you grab onto different platforms, dragging yourself across the screen. It is best played with the maximum of four players as the more people working together, the easier it is to navigate. As you continue to play, the levels get more difficult, and each level has a unique style. There are coins to collect that allow you to unlock new costumes for your character and mini games within the game! Sometimes the game can get pretty frustrating, as it can be hard to navigate, but the game has you covered: once you spend enough time on a level, it starts to assist you in getting to the finish line. If teamwork isn’t your thing, then fret not, as there is a competitive mode! In this mode, you race your friends to the finish line, but the catch is that the platform at the end is made of ice, meaning if you’re not careful, your character will go flying off. I absolutely love this game, as I never know how things will end up depending on who I play with. When I play with my siblings, there’s a lot of arguing, yelling, and laughing, but with my friends, there’s a lot of laughing and crying tears of joy. Check out the game if you need something to spice up your get-togethers.
This is the podcast that took Tumblr (and 17-year old me) by storm. Join the dulcet-toned Cecil Palmer as he regales the desert city of Night Vale with its weekly news, interviews with the locals, and crushes on the new scientist in town, Carlos. Of particular note is fan-favorite segment “The Weather,” which features a song submitted by a different indie artist each episode. With a colorful cast ranging from Hiram McDaniels, the five-headed dragon, to Kevin, the radio host of sister city Desert Bluffs, to an ever-rotating cast of interns, there’s a character to relate to—or not—for everybody. Also, if you’re a fan of live shows, Welcome to Night Vale frequently tours, always with a stage-exclusive story and surprise guests. Its next stop? This Sunday in Madison. Anyone have $27 and a half-tank of gas they’re not using?
Written and performed by Jonathan Sims, The Magnus Archives is a fictional anthology series told through the lens of the new head archivist at the Magnus Institute, an organization that deals in the bizarre, the unnatural, and the frightening. As the podcast progresses, seemingly disconnected threads begin to connect into an overarching mystery that will keep you huddled under the covers into the early hours of the morning to reach its conclusion.
aranormal investigators and full-time weird specialists Greg and Dana Newkirk host this enormously fun podcast along with researcher Connor J. Randall. In addition to paranormal investigating and podcast hosting, the Newkirks run a traveling museum of the paranormal, which is the basis and inspiration for their podcast. Every two weeks, the Newkirks and Randall pick an item out of their vast collection of haunted objects and detail its place in the paranormal cannon, the story of the item, and its historical significance. The items that have warranted episodes so far have ranged from scrying mirrors to a plank from the Amityville house to a haunted clown doll and even historical merch from the 1980s sponsored hunt for the Mokele-Mbembe. Every episode is a chance to learn about cool paranormal history delivered in a fun and engaging conversation between these specialists. If you’re a fan of anything spooky, historical, or even just love a well-researched podcast, check it out!
Hannah Bellinger has gone her entire life as the “side character”. When it comes to both her work and relationships, she’s in the supporting cast. She helps her sister on her journey to find love, and she is always a shoulder to cry on for friends. She is even a production assistant, literally getting coffee for the leading actors in the films she works on. However, when she develops a close friendship with the handsome and carefree Fox Thorton while visiting her sister in the small fishing village of Westport, WA, things get complicated. Quickly. She realizes she is starting to have quite the crush on Fox and doesn’t really know what to do about it. Who would go for a supporting actress? To top it off, the filming crew she’s working on is moving the production from L.A. to Westport, and Hannah ends up having to crash at Fox’s place for a week. Will their friendship last the week intact or will they both make some mistakes? Will Hannah finally step into a leading lady role in her life?
Do you love the Bristol Renaissance Faire? Think it’d be oh-so-romantic to meet a significant other while wearing chain mail or a court jester costume? If you answered with a resounding, “Aye, m’lady!” I have a stupidly fun story for you. In Well Met, big-city girl Emily returns to her small hometown of Willow Creek, Maryland, to help her sister recover after an accident. She’s counting the days until her sister is back on her feet so she can get out of Hicksville, but then her niece ropes her into working at the local Renaissance faire. (And yes, “faire” always ends with an E in that context. Why? I have no idea. It just does.) She’s assigned to work as “Emma the tavern wench” at the drinks station, wearing a costume cut down to South America and watching the lucky women dressed as fairies or queens flit about the grounds while she’s hefting ale crates and slogging grog across the bar at unruly Vikings and elves. To top it all off, there’s Simon, a know-it-all English teacher in charge of the tavern, whom one Goodreads reviewer described as a “strict, pretentious d**chebag.” Needless to say, this is an enemies-to-lovers romance. 
Usually, one might assume that watching a sport would be more interesting than listening to people talk about one, but this podcast might surprise you. Go! My Favorite Sports Team is hosted by Mark Fischbach and Tyler Scheid. Mark is a YouTube influencer who also goes by the alias Markiplier while Tyler, who is a close friend of his, has a master’s degree in sports administration. In this podcast, Tyler explains and discusses different types and aspects of sports to Mark, who is someone who practically knows nothing about them. Not only is this show educational, but it is also absolutely hilarious as Mark tries to understand and interpret the information that is given to him. The two have great chemistry with each other and make something boring such as sports rules and technicalities into something funny and engaging. The podcast can be crude at times, which might cause some to turn away, but for me, it doesn’t ruin my enjoyment of the show. As someone who isn’t very interested in sports, I find it very enjoyable with the added bonus of actually learning about sports. It’s a show that has something for everyone.
Do you love psychological horror? Are you looking for a movie full of twists and turns? Well, look no further: Midsommar is perfect for you! The film follows a woman, Dani, whose sister commits suicide and kills their parents at the same time, which leaves Dani to grieve the loss of her entire family, while dealing with a very “interesting” relationship with her (in my opinion) terrible boyfriend. The boyfriend, Christian, invites Dani as a mean joke to his friend’s small compound community in Sweden to write his senior thesis. While at the compound, strange things keep happening with the other people there as they begin to celebrate Midsommar, the traditional festival the compound holds. What begins as a “retreat” ends as a cult basically brainwashing and using rituals to force newcomers to stay or die, depending on their choices. This movie is 100% worth the watch as long as you can keep up with the storyline and don’t mind gore or some disturbing scenes. I give this film a 8.5/10 and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good psychological horror movie, especially those who are fascinated by cult life.
Much like Tame Impala, Monster Rally is actually just one guy. He produces a type of music called “plunderphonics,” which, if you haven’t heard of it before, is not for pirates. Most of the music is made up of samples of other songs, twisted and mixed together into something brand new. It leads to a strange, yet wonderful mixing pot of sound. The album, like most of Monster Rally’s music, has a heavily tropical sound. The vibes are immaculate, like a vacation for the ears, beachside with your toes in the sand. It’s warm and inviting, never overstaying its welcome. Any way you slice this mango, it’ll be a tasty reminder of the warm weather yet to come.
Seth Haley, also known as Com Truise, is an American electronic DJ that has gained popularity since 2011. Much of his work contains little to no lyrics, giving his synthwave production the full spotlight. Com Truise’s sound is inspired by electronic genres from the 1980s, providing a contemporary but recognizable feel on his three studio albums released since 2011. Interestingly, Com Truise gained more recognition when he remixed a song with fellow electronic artist Daft Punk for the soundtrack of the film Tron: Legacy (2010).