I’ve been listening to podcasts for a very long time now. Man, it’s been years. They’ve been with me on runs, bike rides to work, car trips in and out of town, and through a hell of a lot of chores. I’m not the biggest music man. I really have no grasp on current music and I’m fine with that. I listen to soundtracks while I write and otherwise I usually prefer talking. I’m not a dancer who wants to just go out and practise ‘the clock’ with his friends on school nights. I like information, I like entertainment, and I like discussions. Podcasts were quickly my preferred method of getting through exercise, chores, or other monotonous activities. Rather than music, podcasts give me a laugh or some very insightful information and I appreciate that. I truly do.
Below are a list of podcasts I’m currently enamoured with. Ones, when there is an update, I really make the time to listen to them. But before I get to that, I should shill:
Image Addiction-The Process
My own podcast, THE PROCESS co-hosted with Kurtis J Wiebe and Jeremy Holt, is about writing comics and is home on the Image Addiction network of podcasts. I love being on my podcast and sickly enough love listening to it – especially the ones I’m not on. I think, if you are here, you would dig it. Get on that. I also like the actual Image Addiction podcast, it’s just a roundtable chat of recent Image comics, so nothing revolutionary, but it’s fun. Definitely check it out, especially if you read Image comics.
Now, on with the list.
Word Balloon
This comic book creator interview podcast is hosted by John Siuntres. Mostly, this pod gets me in for the guests. I think John does a great job with the guests, making them feel comfortable and allowing tangents to flow easily. At times, he can be too genial and nice to them, but this isn’t the SnarkFest 3000 podcast, this is a gentleman’s radio show. With regular, and in depth chats, with the likes of Brubaker, Fraction, Rucka, etc, I’m finding out plenty of good stuff. This podcast nearly always jumps the queue because I love hearing these creators just chat process and what they like. That’s good listening, every time.
The Q&A
Jeff Goldsmith, who did a superb job running the Creative Screenwriting podcast, chats about movies but the brilliant thing is he does it with the writers, not the stars. This podcast is like the movie version of Word Balloon. It’s got great guests, plenty of insight, and tangents to keep you going all day. This one is THE movie writing podcast.
iFanboy – Make Comics
I generally don’t check out iFanboy, to be honest. It’s just weekly comic chatter and I’ve been phasing that out because it’s like reading WHO magazine, but y’know, for comics. I already read comics and check Twitter, I don’t need more insight. It gets downloaded and if I’m having a long week short on listening or the pick of the week particularly interests me I’ll dip in but otherwise I am never caught up. But this isn’t me telling you what I DON’T listen to. The iFanboy network recently added a series of MAKE COMICS episodes where Josh Flanagan and Andy Schmidt talk about some of the intricacies of making comics. It’s really short and very insightful. Loads of tips you can use.
MOMBcast
I’ve been listening to this one since day dot and still enjoy it. Probably helps I enjoy the people who are talking most of all. This is just comic chatter from three friends in the UK. That is all, but it’s fun.
PKD Philosophical Podcast
This is a very new one, and Australian to boot. Each episode tackles a new Philip K Dick short story and reads excerpts while analysing the whole thing. The episodes are about 40 minutes and the discussion about the stories is good. They go a little overboard with some of the sound effects, especially early on, but overall I find myself enjoying both the tales and the chatter more and more. If you dig PKD then you pretty much MUST give this one a try.
SequArt
The SequArt podcast picks a theme about comics every episode and then really breaks it down. It’s nice to hear really smart people deconstruct the form. There is no gushing here, just straight up smart analysis. There aren’t enough episodes yet for my liking but I’m sure more will be coming soon.
3 Chicks Review Comics
My good friend Kelly Thompson, with friends, discusses comics through a female perspective. I like this pod because it gives me another view on comics. Seeing these passionate women react to things that I would not have really thought about massively informs my own writing. I honestly often think to myself, while writing, what would Kelly think about this. I then often explicitly seek her feedback but it’s nice to have a specific audience in mind because it keeps me in check. Not every lead needs to be a dude and not every chick needs to die for motivation. This podcast, and her friendship, keep me on my toes and have made many stories immeasurably better for the new thought she brings to my process. Oh, and they often have some pretty damn good guests.
CLOSE CALLS
Hollywood Babble-On
This is funny and lets me catch up on entertainment news. I’ve fallen off it a little but will dip in when I can.
SModcast
Yeah, I listen to this one. I know it’s become cool to hate Kevin Smith but the dude informed so much of my teens — and Chasing Amy remains a movie I love unashamedly. I admit Smith is losing his mind a little, and he always devolves to the same 3-4 jokes, but I honestly hit this show up because of Scott Mosier. He’s the draw for me now. He’s smart and well read and still damn funny. I’m glad to see him finally branching out and doing some of his own things — like writing some episodes of the new Spider-Man cartoon. I haven’t checked this pod out in some time but I hear Joe Casey was on recently so that needs to be checked out.
The Nerdist Network
I’d dipped in and out of this stuff. Just getting back into it and finding it a delight. Especially the Nerdist Writer’s Podcast, where they chat with television writing teams. Those chats are always fun to listen to.
The Fantasticast
I haven’t even listened to this one yet but the premise is they are reading all the FANTASTIC FOUR issues starting from the start. I’ve got the first 15 issues on my iPad so I want to read and then play along. I’ll get the time…eventually.
The Other Murdock Papers Podcast
Run by Christine, how could I not check this out? It just started, it’s all about Daredevil, and it’s quirky/cute.
Hmm, seems like that’s all I’ve got. There are a ton of old defunct podcasts on my feed – A Comicbook Orange, Behind the Black Mask, Out of the Past, The Splash Page Podcast — and ones I gave up on — not worth mentioning — and ones I’m about to/will sample — The Geek Savants, Radiolab, WTF.
I’d say I think I need to sit down and find some new podcasts but the truth is I don’t have the time. I have a new system where I catch up on the important pods and then I crush an audio novel, which can take a little while. I’m trying to think of some other areas I’m interested in to listen to pods about — comics, writing…? — and maybe I’ll add some more. To be honest, the chatter shows just aren’t what I’m after right now. I’m taking a break, so if there’s something with knowledge, or something with a theme, I’m in, but two guys talking about stuff isn’t going in my ears right now. Maybe later.
What are you listening to?
Posted on March 21st, 2012 by ryan
Filed under: podcasts | 1 Comment »
