My Favorite Pods

There are a myriad of podcasts out there. Here are a bunch I listen to: 

HISTORY AND TRUE CRIME

Last Podcast On the Left

Hosts: Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, Henry Zabrowski

Recommended episodes: Jonestown, The Donner Party, Dean Corll, Albert Fish, Richard 'Iceman' Kuklinski

All of your twisted little interests in one place. Serial killers, cryptids, conspiracies, UFOs, exorcisms. Told with a mixture of irreverant humor and straight to the gut fact that makes these hosts memorable. Their early episodes (1-100) were a little rough around the edges as far as research goes. They have only improved. 

Behind the Bastards

Hosts: Robert Evans

Recommended episodes: Behind the Police, How the Dulles Brothers Created the CIA and Destroyed Everything Else, Special X-Man Non-Bastard: Raoul Wallenberg

There's no shortage of bastards in history. Where Last Pod sets their sights on guys like Dahmer, Chikatilo and Gein, Behind the Bastards exposes systems and their architects. 

The Dollop

Hosts: Dave Anthony, Gareth Reynolds

Wanna be the cool kid in history class? This is the podcast for you. Anyone who says history is a boring subject should listen to this.

FILM

Pure Cinema

Hosts: Elric Kane, Brian Saur

The official podcast of the New Beverly. I have never been to the New Beverly. It's a bucket list item. Every month I see the schedule of films lined up and every month I cry inside out of jealousy. The theater is owned by Quentin Tarantino who appears as an occasional guest here.

You Must Remember This

Host: Karina Longworth

Recommended episodes: Bela & Boris, Jean & Jane, Fake News: Fact Checking Hollywood Babylon, The Blacklist

You film history class is here. There are a cavalcade of 'casts on filmmaking in the 70s through the modern era. Lucky for us, Karina focuses largely on the silent era through the emergence of the New Hollywood era. The stuff you'll find on Turner Classic Movies. I have been laregely ignorant of this period because everything from the 60's thru the 90's is where I find my happy place. Karina's extensive research and compelling dives into history has changed this and turned me onto movies I wouldn't have watched otherwise.  

Twitch of the Death Nerve

Hosts: Samm, Charles, Jon

Recommended episodes: City of the Living Dead, The Untold Story, The Candy Snatchers, The Spook Who Sat By the Door

I know of Samm Deighan from her commentaries on various boutique blu rays like Arrow and Vinegar Syndrome. The depth and scope of research she puts into every commentary gives each movie historical context. So when she announced a podcast, it was inevitable I'd check it out. Each episode is a dive into a movie considered to be a part of psychotronic cinema. 

The Movies That Made Me

Hosts: Joe Dante, Josh Olson

Recommended episodes: Bill Hader

Dante has been a director whose films I've been watching since I was six. Josh Olson is the writer of the script for A History of Violence. Together they have a wealth of cinematic knowledge. Each guest they have on is asked about a random list of their favorite films. Could be favorite noir films, the 5 films that influenced them the most. It's always informative. 

The Projection Booth

Host: Mike White

For those with a more arthouse bent, this podcast has you covered. They do delve into genre fair from time to time but for the most part, this is a classy affair. Eat your vegatables. 

WTF with Marc Maron

Host: Marc Maron

This is a tricky one. Marc has one of the longest standing and most popular pods out there. His ability to attract big names from both the film and music industry is what sets this one apart from most. 

DIRTY TALK

The Rialto Report

Hosts: Ashley West

The best podcast about the porno chic and the adult film industry days of yore. The exploits of the people interviewed could make for dozens upon dozens of books. Or screenplays if that's your bag. You'll hear about the legendary Jamie Gillis. How an armored vehicle was robbed to finance Centurians of Rome. Jennifer Welles cutting all ties and disappearing from the New York scene. Randy Spears' newfound Christian lifestyle and how he looks back on his role in over 1500 adult films. There are too many to list here, so I'll give the best place to sample the first 100 with the episode Rialto Turns 100.

Holly Randall Unfiltered

The first episode I watched of this show was an interview with Alina Lopez. What caught my eye was a Battle of Algiers poster. But it wasn't just any BoA poster. It was an Italian print. When the background of a room during an interview can change the way you look at the interviewer, it's something special. And that's just the room. Holly's guests go into deep dives about themselves. Their past, their relationship with the parents before and after getting in the industry, their religious beliefs, etc. If you enjoyed 'casts like Rialto Report, then this is the next logical step at a look toward stars of the modern adult film industry. 

MUSIC

No Dogs In Space

Hosts: Marcus Parks and Carolina 

Extensive deep dives into bands like Dead Kennedys, The Beastie Boys and Velvet Underground and the historical context they have within the music scene. 

Something About the Beatles

Host: Robert Rodriguez (no relation to the filmmaker)

An invaluable resource when I did my Beatles master post. It's a cornucopia of history for any devotee of the Fab Four. 

BOOKS

The KingCast

The first King centric podcast I listened to was the Stephen King Cast. Every book, collection and movie are given thorough discussions by the host. So I have to give that one a shout out. KingCast is a show from Fangoria where celebrity guests get to voice how a certain King novel or adaptation had an impact on them. 

The Dark Word 

Host: Philip Fracassi

The newest of the podcasts listed here, Fracassi has carved out a name for himself in the modern horror scene with his collections Behold the Void and Beneath A Pale Sky. Here he interviews horror writers about the form, how they write, and much more.