The Mastercast

This week we look at The Agent.If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agent/id1587714169Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out with this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onThe Agent - No spoilers ! It's been a minute and to welcome us back is a really good one. The Agent is a 2022 Webby Award honoree and so good that I had to borrow his book “Deep Undercover: My Secret Life and Tangled Allegiances as a KGB Spy in America” from the library. The 15 episode series tells the true story of Jack Barsky's life as a KGB spy during the cold war when he spent 10 years undercover leading two very different secret lives. It's this amazing narrative told by Barsky himself that weaves together Jack Barsky the person and Jasck Barsky the spy until something happens that leads him to have to choose between the two. The story is so immersive and wraps you up in his life. I didn't want it to be over even though in total the podcast is over 3 days' worth of audio content. It really does look at his whole life and not just what he did for work. That might be too much backstory for some, but I love glimpses into the lives of others, especially one this fascinating. It's a production of Imperative Entertainment and Windjoy and was the brainchild of Jason Hoch. Barsky, of course, plays a huge role in how the story is told. It has 4.7 out of 5 stars with 1,100 ratings but still had some common themes in the reviews. First, I think the show was once paywalled but isn't anymore. I was able to listen to all of the episodes on PocketCasts. Then there's some reviews about the Jack Barsky as a person but honestly we're not there to like Jack. Like most people his not a villain or a hero, he's just a person and this is his story. I don't think people get very far or learn anything from someone they just write off as one or the others and I encourage you to listen to the story holistically. I really appreciated his authenticity and humility. He's honest and acknowledges bad choices he's made and how that effected others. Some have labeled this as ego but putting asisde the fact that he was a spy and I'm sure that's a job requirement, I did not feel the same. Similar pods: Agent of Betrayal, To Die For, and The Miami Chronicles.All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Seasoned Souls and their brilliant song is called Haze. Please check out the show notes for how to find them and their music!  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.This week's artist: Seasoned SoulsSong: Hazehttps://www.instagram.com/seasonedsoulsofficial/?hl=enhttps://soundcloud.com/seasonedsoulsmusic/haze-1?in=seasonedsoulsmusic/sets/cryptic-defects-ep ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Have Murder Will Travel.If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://havemurderwilltravel.buzzsprout.com/https://www.instagram.com/havemurderwilltravel/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/have-murder-will-travel/id1634439656Have Murder Will Travel - No spoilers! This week we're looking at an American crime show that travels internationally to tell stories from every part of the globe. Like many of its fans, I found this podcast by recommendation from the Morbid podcast, who like me, is a big fan. The true treasure of this pod is its host Valeira Drake who is also a St.Louis based actor and dancer! She is so funny and charming and I love her voice. Some don't care for her tangents but I think they are hilarious and make the show. She's just saying what we're all thinking. I even named my monstera plant after her. So there hasn't been an episode in a while since May of 2023 actually but Valeria has mentioned on the show before about depression. Let's just be hopeful and supportive and maybe another episode will bless our feeds soon. There are episodes to burn through though! 43 in fact and I binged all of them in a couple of days. Most are about crimes. There are few disappearances, the rare spooky episodes, and even rarer still a survival story. My favorites are Episode 33: Deadly Cruise Ships: The Disappearance of Tammy Grogan, and Episode 12: Guatemala: Rodrigo Rosenberg although there are too many to name. Usually each episode has a great instagram post with it. When the show was really active they came out once a week. Apple Podcasts has a 4.7/5 with 94 ratings. There is swearing and of course the normal trigger warnings for true crime. Similar pods: Location Unknown, Lost in the Woods, Twisted Travel and True Crime.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at The Frankston Murders. If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-frankston-murders/id1678816681Transcript:The Frankston Murders - No Spoilers ! From Casefile Presents this gripping podcast looks at the serial murders of three women that took place over seven weeks in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, a case unfamiliar to most in the US. Its creator and host Vikki Petratis reported on the crime as it was happening and later wrote the best-selling book The Frankston Murders. In this podcast, she speaks with an array of people including family members, police officers, and prison guards to uncover unheard material and new victims stalked before the murders. It is a longer podcast made up of 11 episodes. I honestly usually avoid single-crime podcasts of this length because they tend to use a lot of filler but the pace and layout of this pod was incredible. Informed complete reporting with no repetitive information. It is one of the best-produced podcasts I've heard all year and with a rating on Apple Podcasts of 4.7 it's safe to say I'm not the only one who thinks so. There have been updates in the case as recent as this year which leaves Petretis asking for the listener's help. I do need to give a trigger warning for animal abuse. Similar pods: The Detective's Dilemma, West Cork, and Bowraville ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Bad Seeds.If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-seeds/id1680791653Transcript:If you're a true crime fan who loves plants, this might be your new favorite podcast. From iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans, Bad Seeds looks at what happens when living things become trendy. Every year millions of plants are poached to feed the black market that makes it possible to get whatever variety you'd like with a short trip to the store. Hosted by plant lover, author, and youtuber Summer Rayne Oakes, this podcast looks at the whole purchase process from smugglers to everyday buyers to shed light on the biological, ecological, and cultural exploitation that most who take part in the industry are unaware of. Personally, I had no idea plants were smuggled like animals but as this show explains even cartels are cashing in on the lucrative trade. It's an intersection of passionate hobbyists and harmful crime that I'm not sure I've seen in a lot of other instances. While this information is common knowledge to professionals in the field, this podcast makes it easy to understand the gravity of what is happening to everyone else. For its efforts, it's been well received with 4.8/5 stars and 149 ratings. The series has 8 parts that are about 32 minutes long and must be listened to in order. Similar pods: In Defense of Plants, Big Sugar, Field Trip ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Food, We Need To Talk.If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://www.foodweneedtotalk.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-we-need-to-talk/id1490621476Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out with this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onFood We Need To Talk - No Spoilers! This is a health podcast unlike any other. It really sucks to be despite to find facts and have to sift through clutter, hype, and misinformation. I've tried so many and it seems like everyone has a doctor from a prestigious school saying the opposite of what the last one said. I still don't know who to trust but over time I've come to believe common tips from trustworthy sources. This is one of the sources I've come to trust. Since saying it's science-based doesn't mean much, I'll just say I really think you should give this one a try. It was started in 2019 by Juna Gjata, a Harvard graduate in Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology and a minor in Music, and Dr. Eddie Phillips who has a long list of credentials. In every episode, they pick a topic such as genetics, stress, and exercise and speak to each other and experts on it. I love shows that take information and make them into beautiful tiny documentaries about everything you need to know and this show does it very well. Another thing that makes the show so relatable is how Juna sprinkles little bits of her experience throughout the episode and shares thoughts and questions I've heard everyone I know have. Produced by PRX, the show has a rating on Apple Podcasts of 4.7/5 with 1,800 ratings. Episodes used to come out biweekly but now come out once a week on Mondays. They're on average about 40 minutes long which makes it easier to capture all the information without being overloaded. I still really enjoy listening to the episodes twice, once to hear and think about what's said and another to better remember it. Also super helpful are the transcripts for every episode that can be found on their website. It really helps to look up the information mentioned. You can tell the pod is a little scripted but it's barely noticeable. My favorite episodes so far have been “Doomed If You Diet, Doomed If You Don't” and “This Is Your Brain On Cheesecake.” There have been accusations of harmful diet rhetoric but not only do I not feel this way, I think it's bluntly false. This show makes you feel like it's okay to mess up but with the correct information, you can make healthier choices for YOU. It tells you all the things you need to hear that are hard for you to believe but are true. Similar pods: Huberman Lab, Life Kit: Health, Making Sense with Sam Harris All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Hillside: The Investigation and Trial of the Hillside Strangler.If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hillside-the-investigation-and-trial/id1623494682http://www.hillsidepodcast.com/https://rephonic.com/podcasts/hillsidehttp://www.josephrodota.com/Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out with this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onHillside: The Investigation and Trial of the Hillside StranglerBetween October 1977 and February 1978 Los Angeles, California witnessed a group of serial killings that would leave 10 women assaulted and murdered in just a year. Due to many of the bodies being discovered among the city's surrounding hills, the linked murders were named by the media as the “Hillside Stranglings.” Since the crime and its record-long trial which lasted two years and two days, countless documentaries, books, films, and podcasts have been made about it. This 2022 show from Last 5 Percent Media uses narrative as well as interviews with family members of the victims, lawyers, prosecutors, jurors, and investigators to give a fascinating but respectful look at the case. I really appreciated that host and author Joseph Rodota gives a warning about the outdated language used in older recordings as well as graphic content warnings. The podcast has 4.9 stars on Apple Podcasts with 64 ratings. There are 10 episodes in the series, all about 39 minutes on average. My only critique would be there is music playing in the show when there shouldn't be. It just plays quietly in the background for most of the time. Similar pods: The Clown and The Candyman, Mind of a Monster: Aileen Wuornos, and Atlanta Monster All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Lore. If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://www.lorepodcast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lore/id978052928https://www.youtube.com/@lorepodcasthttps://www.unit5.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=22832&ViewID=5C8B25C6-C8F8-4BD5-923B-8A7C70A93DDA&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=31141&PageID=14927&Comments=trueTranscript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onLore - No Spoilers! From Grim & Mild Entertainment and host Aaron Mahnke, this week's review is on the award-winning podcast Lore. It is proof that history isn't just events and dates. Myths, legends, folk tales, and creatures are woven throughout our collective history no matter where you are from. In each episode, Mahnke picks one and dives into it, making a snapshot of its culture and psychology. Mahnke isn't just the host but is also the creator, writer, producer, and founder of its network Grim & Mild Entertainment. For those unfamiliar Mahnke has a distinct, divisive, but much-loved diction. If you find it bothers you, try to listen to only a couple of episodes at a time. I will say that so many people love the show it was adapted for television by Amazon, has a Youtube channel, and Penguin Random House has published it as a three-book set. It won Best of 2015 for iTunes, Best History Podcast for the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards as well as a handful of others. Some schools have even incorporated it into their curriculum. On Apple Podcast the show has 4.6 out of 5 stars with 43K ratings. So far there are 227 episodes available for free everywhere with paid episodes sprinkled in on Apple Podcasts. On average they are about 30-35 minutes long and release about once a week. A note on the factual nature of the show… It's a great starting place. It's well-researched and it can be hard to get everything into a 30-minute episode. The subjects it covers are also pretty subjective. That being said there have been many times where people have pointed out missed or falsely interpreted parts. I think it's a great introduction but definitely not the bible. The show's episode sources page on its website is huge and could be a great place to dig deeper if you'd like. Also, be aware a common complaint of the show is the jarring volume of the ads so sleepy listeners beware. My favorite episodes have been Episode 170: Into the Wild, and Episode 42: In the Bag. While there is no swearing the spooky nature of the show might require discretion for younger listeners. Similar Pods: Myths and Legends, Destination Terror, and Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Bomber from Vault Studios. If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://www.bomberpodcast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bomber/id1455252144Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onBomber - No Spoilers! In March of 2018, the city of Austin, Texas was rocked by a serial bomber who for 19 days used homemade explosive devices to kill and injure in the city's neighborhoods. Hosted by Jason Puckett and KVUE News Director Tim Ryan the 2019 series is produced by Vault Studios who is known for making popular true crime podcasts such as Bardstown and The Officer's Wife. Even for those who might have been living in Austin at the time, it's possible you only recall what needed to be communicated at the time. In each of the six gripping episodes of this podcast, you'll hear from eyewitnesses, victims, and investigators as they give an inside look at what it took to find and capture the perpetrator. Apple Podcasts has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 with only 459 ratings, a surprisingly small number of ratings for a network known for well-received podcasts. There was some discussion about how suddenly the series ended without much insight into who the bomber was. Many felt this was anticlimactic but I think the pod was just focused on not glorifying him in any way. By not mentioning the details of his life they were saying he didn't matter which I think was the proper way to handle such a sensitive topic. My only issue with the show was the music seemed a tad too dramatic although not intolerable. Similar Pods: Darkness: Austin Bomber, The Tylenol Murders, and Timothy McVeigh vs. The USAAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at investigative journalism piece Sold a Story from APM Reports. If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sold-a-story/id1649580473Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onSold a Story This mind-blowing, action inspiring podcast from APM Reports focuses on the alarming lack of literacy in the United States, a substantial issue for everyone to be concerned about. Hosted by Emily Hanford it investigates how methods sold by a handful of companies set the reading skills of millions of children irrevocably back years, wasted taxpayer money, and engrained false research into the American education system despite it being disproven decades prior by cognitive science. With 4.9 average stars from 4.6K ratings, the reaction to the show has been strong and positive. Reviews are filled with students, parents, and teachers realizing why so many around them seemed to have a hard time with reading comprehension. Instead of learning phonics many children were sight memorizing and fooling mentors until they were years behind where they should be. In this podcast you hear from parents and teachers who explain how unbelievably easy it was to miss this oversight. The original release of the show included six, one hour long episodes and later 6 more bonus episodes were published. Be sure to check out the show's website which includes supporting articles, a reading list, and a discussion guide for teachers and parents. This quality reporting is absent of any political agenda and is highly recommended for those with school aged children. It also begs the question..what about basic math? Similar Pods: Science of Reading: The Podcast, Educate, and MindShift PodcastAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode we look at Out Alive by Backpacker. If you'd rather read the reviews, check the show out on Instagram or Twitter. Links and sources:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-alive-from-backpacker/id1462484363https://rephonic.com/podcasts/out-alive-from-backpackerhttps://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/out-alive-from-backpacker-849518Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onOut Alive - No Spoilers! Animal attacks, getting lost, avalanches, forest fires. When you head out into the outdoors the possibility of an emergency could only be a split second away. Would you be prepared? Every episode of this podcast is a survival story from someone who was. With help from their rescuers, fellow adventurers, and the occasional assist from the narrator, these cautionary tales are some of the most brutal and inspiring you'll ever hear. Hosts Louisa Albanese and later Zoe Gates not only keep it from getting too dark but also steer the episodes into lessons you can use to not get yourself into similar situations. I would love to say that's my favorite part of this genre but savage appetites crave peril. I will say it is a bonus to identify the various different mistakes the experienced, inexperienced, and thoughtless make that lead them past the point of self recovery. Often it seems that people are too cautious in saying why they love these morbid and passive chances to experience danger without any risk. It is only appropriate to say you find it fascinating or love learning from it instead of just saying you enjoy it. Either way I'm glad this podcast is so well received. Sitting in the number 8 spot on the Apple Podcasts charts for Places & Travel, it has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 with 908 ratings. So far there are 44 episodes and on average they're about 40 minutes in length. Episodes that have stood out to me include “Their Plane Went Down in the Sea” and “Buried In An Avalanche.” One episode to avoid might be “Miracle on Mt. Hood” parts one and two. The episode received a ton of negative reviews for celebrating the irresponsible actions of its subject which put rescuers and others in harm's way unnecessarily. I'm inclined to agree. Like with so many precarious scenarios it is easy and common to have the “it'll never happen to me” mindset. I love pods that reset that. With compelling stories, great interviews, tips, and solid sound design, what's not to love. Similar pods: Not Today, I Survived, and What Was That Like All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode we look at The Ringer's 60 songs that explain the 90s. Socials:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themastercasthttps://www.instagram.com/themastercast/?hl=enhttps://twitter.com/mastercastpodsTranscripts: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is on60 songs that explain the 90sThis gem from The Ringer and hosted by music critic Rob Harvilla is a laugh-out-loud and witty look at songs that defined the 1990s. In every episode, a song is chosen and then covered in its entirety including things such as artist details, the state of society, and even some anecdotes from Harvilla himself about personal experiences he had with the songs and their artists when the songs came out. It also looks at the evolution of music overall, the bigger picture. Another big segment of the show is the last portion where a guest brings a new perspective. Some past guests have included singer-songwriter Amanda Shires and The New York Times' Caryn Ganz, to name a few. Harvilla is a cultural expert crossing topics and making analogies that you wouldn't have thought but everyone gets. His casual rhythm and brutal honesty about his biases are a huge reason the podcast is likely to make my list of top ten for 2023. Another is that it is both for those who fondly recall this decade as a time they live through and those who are only discovering the impact of its films, music, and other culture. Even if you grew up with this music, all the history and context gives you so much more to appreciate. There are some unusual characteristics the show has. For one there's no clean or clear intro with music or a statement about what show you're listening to. I think it adds to the casual conversation feel the pod has. There are also brief plays of the songs discussed in short clips which seem to line up with a misconception that music played in short bursts legally under the fair use laws. It seems like a pretty glaring error for The Ringer to make so maybe they have a special licensing that allows them to play short clips? I won't rule it out but most podcasts you hear do it are just willing to risk a Cease and Desist notice. Either way, I love that the music is included and often a single episode takes me two hours to listen to because I stop to listen to every song mentioned. So far the show has an average star of 4.6 with 206 Ratings. Generally, episodes come out weekly but one hasn't been released since FEB 22, 2023. Lucky for us the show has surpassed the number of episodes its title suggests. Currently, it sits at 91 but is rumored to be continuing to 120 after the show's massive success. Each are about an hour and twenty minutes long on average. My favorites have been “Firestarter”—The Prodigy, “Killing In The Name''—Rage Against The Machine, and Outkast—“Rosa Parks”. Obviously, the show has an incredible range of genres covered but when doing any sort of music history-style project I don't think it's possible to satisfy everyone. I'm sure anyone who listens will be begging to know why so-and-so wasn't covered. There isn't a pod where the episodes have to be listened to in order. You can skip episodes you don't find interesting although I challenge you to give them a try. Maybe you'll find an appreciation for the song you didn't know you had. I'm going to include some links temporarily in the show notes that you should check out including the show's website which has programming notes and transcript excerpts for each episode. There's also a companion playlist of all the songs mentioned on Spotify. It also seems a private party has made one on Youtube Music. I think it's pretty clear how cool I think this show is by the page-long review but please check it out. Let's collectively keep our fingers crossed for a “90 songs that explain the aughts.” Similar pods include: Questlove Supreme, History of the 90s, and Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources, or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listeningSources and important links: Check out this interview-based article on idea stream that goes into the detailed process of how the songs are chosen. A decision that if left up to me would leave me with all of my fingernails gnawed off. https://www.ideastream.org/arts-culture/2022-07-28/medina-native-rob-harvillas-podcast-takes-listeners-through-the-music-of-the-90shttps://www.theringer.com/60-songs-that-explain-the-90shttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/60-songs-that-explain-the-90s/id1635211340https://rephonic.com/podcasts/60-songs-that-explain-the-90s ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode we look at true crime puzzle Intent: The Tex McIver Case. Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onIntent: The Tex McIver Case  - No Spoilers! The question of who shot and killed Diane McIver in her vehicle in 2018 isn't a mystery. Everyone knows it was her husband 78-year-old Claud "Tex" McIver. He's admitted to as much. The real puzzle was his intent, hence the name of this podcast. Was it a malicious plot as the authorities of Fulton county Georgia believe or terrible decision-making as claimed by Tex? From Valut Studios and hosted by reporter Kaitlyn Ross, this show features experts and friends of the family weighing in on what they think happened as the case and its eventual trial are simultaneously covered. Every one of the 8 episodes is filled with information. This isn't a case that could be summed up in one or two 60 minutes episodes. Race, contentious divorces, privilege, guns, favoritism, and so so much money are all elements in this case. The pod's rating comes with a pretty notable asterisk because it was released as what seems like a second season to a different, very popular show The Officer's Wife. The case could be made that both involve domestic violence and questionable murder of spouses. However, many reviewers are quick to point out the obvious benefit using the same feed would mean for the performance of this newest segment of the feed. Some parts of the show do have a slightly sensational tone which isn't my favorite but isn't overwhelming either. Similar pods: Stolen Hearts, Death of an Artist, and The Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions.  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. Sources: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intent-the-tex-mciver-case/id1493193473https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/intent-the-tex-mciver-case-985675 ★ Support this podcast ★

Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onThe Kill List - No spoilers! On December 22nd 2020 Karima Baloch was found drowned near her home in Toronto but her mysterious death isn't like most. Baloch was a well-known dissident of Pakistan notable for speaking out against the oppressive government. Her death comes at the end of years of threats from the state. Coupled with the unexplained deaths and kidnappings of other activists and a leaked alleged kill list of those the Pakistani government wants to target, many think Baloch's death was actually a homicide. In this shocking six part series host Mary Lynk investigates how dangerous speaking out against the Pakistani government is, the country's horrifying intelligence agency, and whether or not its leaders are capable of killings of individuals of foreign soil. Under the cover of anonymity Lynk speaks with a variety of people who risk their lives to tell this story. It's an inspiring yet terrifying story that without the evidence presented would be hard to believe. I couldn't have imagined something so bold as the idea that a country would be willing to assassinate its opposing activists once they had fled to countries like Canada or Britain. I cluelessly thought once someone in danger like this made it to a Western country that they were safe as long as they didn't return to their homeland. This podcast reveals how silly of a thought that might be. The CBC show has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts with 114 ratings total. On average the episodes are about 47 minutes long and the entire pod has been published. A lot of places say this is a pay to listen podcast but I was able to listen to the full series on Pocket Casts. It's a piece of excellent journalism that tells of the inspiration Karima gave to her people in her life and even after her death. Trigger warnings for human rights violations, kidnapping, violence, and suicide. Similar pod: American Scandal, Who Killed Daphne? And Someone Knows Something (the latest season “The Abortion War”.)All right, guys, that's all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.Sources: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kill-list/id1631029367https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1065-the-kill-listhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/07/dissident-pakistani-exiles-in-uk-on-hit-list ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at BBC crime-esque series Lost at Sea.Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onLost at Sea - No Spoilers! This captivating seven-part series from the BBC examines the unsolved disappearance of fisheries observer Keith Davis who vanished 500 miles from shore while working on the tuna vessel The Victoria. Host New York journalist Rachel Monroe looks at the life and work of Keith Davis and other fisheries observers who spend months at sea monitoring the catches and activities of fishing vessels as the sole overseer for malpractice and mistreatment. It's far from easy work. Often seen as the enemy, fisheries observers are alone with crews who usually don't speak english with no way to contact anyone off the boat. Davis's disappearance isn't as rare as anyone might hope. On average in the last decade one fisheries observer has gone missing a year. This podcast looks not only at the disappearances and mysteries deaths of observers but other secrets of the global fishing industry like mistreatment of crew, smuggling, and human trafficking and slavery. Each episode is about 25 minutes long with the last episode coming out in November of 2022. They're made up of narrative backstory and interviews both anonymous and not. Tone and music are serious which is fitting. It's a gripping look at what could happen far from shore and watchful eyes. Similar pods: The Outlaw Ocean, The Kill List, and Captain on Deck. All right, guys, that's all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.Sources:https://www.bbcpodcasts.com/listen/lost-at-sea/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-at-sea/id1641072737 ★ Support this podcast ★

Please check out this week's musical guest Senrall! Links will be in the shows below. This week we look at short-form podcast 60-Second Science. Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is on60-Second Science Okay, let's start off by disclosing that this podcast from Scientific American hasn't had 60 second episodes in some time but they're still very short form at around an average length of six minutes. The slight change hasn't meant much to the listeners of this extremely popular pod that's so far ran for 16 years, debuting in 2006 and maintaining an average star of 4.4 out of 5. With such a span it's no wonder they've published over 3,000 episodes of summaries of the latest research in every subject of science including astronomy, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, mathematics, and so much more. If you want to hear the entire backlog you'll have to check out the show's website as many podcast players only have the last 500 available. It's hosted by a revolving cast of scientific journalists who have included Karen Hopkin, Christopher Intagliata, Jason G. Goldman, and Steve Mirsky. There are fascinating stories, interviews from experts, and the occasional pun. Despite its popularity, a common complaint about the show is that its political opinions make it less objective than it should be. I didn't find it to be unbearable but present. As is often the case, microphone quality improves with time but is lacking in earlier episodes. In the latest episode that was published just before the pod's winter break executive producer Jeffery DelViscio revealed that there will be some changes coming. The show will be getting a new name, podcast art, publishing schedule, and finally resign itself to making slightly longer episodes. There's no word yet when the next episode will be out, but it's promised to be soon. Episodes are meant to stay relatively short, and come out three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For longer episodes fans can always tune into the company's long-form science podcast Science Talk. Overall a great podcast that lets you stay up to date in science news without a ton of investment. I recommend sneaking in episodes in between some of the multiple episode series you listen to in a day for a little palette cleanser. Try starting with my favorite episodes “Artificial Intelligence Learns to Talk Back to Bigots” and “Coyotes Eat Everything from Fruits to Cats.” Similar pods include Babes of Science, Story Collider, and Transistor. All right, guys, that's all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from electronic music artist Senrall.  The song featured was “Electric Ocean.” For more from Senrall find them on soundcloud. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.Artists Links: Artist: Senrall Song: Electric OceanSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/senrallSources: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/60-second-science/id189330872https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/60-second-science/https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/60-second-science-12388 ★ Support this podcast ★

PLEASE check out this week's musical guest Daylin, links are below! Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onStrangeland - No Spoilers! This true crime podcast from Audiochuck covers the 2003 triple homicide of mother, her 2-year-old son, and their nanny in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Also known as the Mile Massacre or the Koreatown Slayings, the execution of almost an entire family has left the Koreatown community with a mystery for what has become two decades. Hosted journalist Ben Adair and interpreter Sharon Choi, the podcast covers not only the crime but how crime can effect immigrant neighbrohoods and the investigations into those crimes very differently. It's a crictal and well-deserved look at how different the experience of immigrants can be in our criminal justice system. There are outside interviews weaved into the narrative and without trying spoil anything I'll say the podcast plays a part in investigation. The show has 4.2 out of 5 stars with 1,300 ratings on Apple Podcasts. There is some criticism of what seems to be staged dialouge between the hosts but I didn't find that it made the pod unlistenable. There are ten total episodes that are about 34 minutes long on average. The last episode does mention new episodes will come out as there are updates in the case. Overall a podcast everyone should add to their queue. Similar pods: The Other Latif, Lost in Panama, and Tom Brown's BodyAll right, guys, that's all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from electronic music artist Daylin.  The song featured was “Social Distance.” For more from Daylin find them on soundcloud, or Instagram. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.Links and sources: https://soundcloud.com/daylynmusichttps://www.instagram.com/daylynmusic/?hl=enhttps://strangelandpodcast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strangeland/id1590577089 ★ Support this podcast ★

PLEASE check out this week's amazing featured artist Matt Baer here: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Soundcloud. Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onEverything, Everywhere DailyThis U.S podcast is a daily education show from Glassbox Media that gives crash courses on a variety of topics from any given subject including but not limited to history, geography, mathematics, biographies, and technology. It was launched in July of 2020 by its host Gary Arndt, the world traveler, beloved blogger, and photographer. His blog has received mentions and awards from many top journalism organizations such as Time, National Geographic, and the Lowell Thomas Awards. Since its debut it has gained over 10,000,000 downloads with listeners in almost every country. Apple Podcasts has 4.8 out of 5 stars with 393 ratings. Episodes are on average about 12 minutes long and so far there are 911 episodes. Some of my favorites include “Potemkin Villages'' and “The Greatest Buildings Never Built.” There's even a completion club for those who manage to finish the surreal backlog. Despite this brief length the podcast is jam- packed with information and often more thorough than shows five times its length. With so many episodes there's bound to be the rare error but Arndt mentions corrections gracefully when necessary. The show also has an extensive website with every episode broken down by release date, a detailed about page, photography, and coverage of every place he's visited. Theme song is short and the production quality got better with just a little bit of time. It is well-paced and its bite-sized 10 minute tidbits mean it's great for kids who love learning.. Or even the ones who don't. Similar pods: A Thousand Things to Talk About, 60 Second Science, and TEDx ShortsAll right, guys, that's all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Matt Baer.  The song featured was “Older.” For more from Matt Baer find them on Facebook, Twitter, soundcloud, or Instagram. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.Sources: https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-everywhere-daily/id1521870190https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/everything-everywhere-daily-1324776 ★ Support this podcast ★

Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onSNAFU with Ed HelmsThis nonfiction podcast from iHeartMedia, FilmNation Entertainment and Pacific Electric Picture Co is a blend of comedy and history. Hosted by actor and comedian Ed Helms, it aims to cover some of the most infamous and sometimes unknown blunders in history. The first season looks at the military exercise with the codename Able Archer 83 and why some historians consider it the closest the U.S came to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis. A harrowing drama, it is filled with interviews from those involved, old audio, and experts from both NATO and the Soviet Union. Despite the seriousness of the nation's nuclear fears, Helms is able to keep a balance of professionalism and comedy. Overall history is the prominent element. The finished series is pretty long at eight episodes that are on average fourty-five minutes long and the addition of two bonus episodes. This is due to the decent background given on the Cold War and the perspective of the two countries at the time. Apple Podcasts has it at 4.6 out of 5 stars with 498 ratings. Many, if not most, of the negative reviews are in defense of presdient at the time Ronald Regan. Although I didn't think the critique of his actions were all the critical. There should be a second season although confirmation has not been given. Overall an interesting and worth listing to podcast. A little campy at times and there is a recurring scream soundbite that comes about 3 times but isn't bad enough to avoid listening. Similar pods: Red Elvis, Infamous (Campside Media), and American Scandal. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Natura.  The song featured was “Still Breathing.” For more from Natura check out their soundcloud, or Instagram. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.Sources and Links:PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S AMAZING ARTIST NATURA! https://www.instagram.com/naturabeats/https://soundcloud.com/naturabeatshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snafu-with-ed-helms/id1635374692 ★ Support this podcast ★

The Lonely Palette - no spoilers! Before I found this podcast I only knew of art as something you learn to do. I didn't know that there was a way of thinking about it that didn't involve learning how to do it. Now I'm obsessed. This podcast is truly about appreciation of art and its history. Every episode starts with a piece of art and then goes into everything else about it including how it makes some feel, what you see, what it means (both when it was made and now), who the artist was, the type of art it is, social implications, and so much more. Do yourself a favor, look up the artwork for the episode. Take a good minute to look at it and think of what you see. You're going to learn way more listening than you have in any art history course. A member of the Hub & Spoke collective, it's hosted by Tamar Avishai, an art historian and adjunct lecturer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with production assistance from Debbie Blicher, an independent radio producer and essayist. One of my favorite things about the show is how it is so accessible. It's bringing a perspective of art some may never have heard, and it's letting you get to know pieces you may never be able to visit. For even more to enjoy, check out their website. There you'll find images referenced, links, artist interview transcripts, super cute merch, a virtual tour sign-up, and a newsletter sign-up. On Apple Podcasts the show has 4.9 out of 5 stars and 680 Ratings. That speaks for itself. Episodes are still coming out albeit slowly. The latest release was October 7th of 2022. So far there are 99 episodes that are on average about 31 minutes long. While most episodes are about examining an artwork, there are others that interview artists, and introduce other shows in the network. If you enjoy art and can't seem to get enough, let this be the self-care time you deserve. Similar pods: Art Talk, The Art History Babes, and ArtCurious Podcast. Sources: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lonely-palette/id1110780638https://twitter.com/lonelypalette?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthorhttps://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-lonely-palette-81381 ★ Support this podcast ★

Science Diction - No Spoilers! From WNYC Radio and Science Friday, this podcast is equal parts etymology and science. Newsletter turned podcast, every week host Johanna Mayer dived deep into a single word and the science behind it. Some words or ideas are clearly science-forward (Myers-Briggs, Ambergris, Mercury) but others are not (honeymoon, serendipity, etc). No matter what the subject, the show found the history and science behind the term. A lot of the words covered are interesting stories that don't meet the standard flashy news criteria and so otherwise would be stories that go untold. Facts, trends, predictions, and interviews are weaved together with the interruptions of music or ads. The show has 4.7 out of 5 and 588 Ratings. You may have caught the past tense and I have to confirm your future fears. The podcast said goodbye in April of 2022 with a mini-recap episode that looked back at all the show had done. During its run, a total of 42 episodes were published. On average they are about 17 minutes long. My favorites, which I recommend listening to first, were “Vocal Fry: Why I'm Not Getting A Voice Coach” and “Hydrox: How A Cookie Got A Name So Bad.” The episode on vocal fry is a must-listen! I won't go on my usual vocal fry rant but it isn't “hard on your ears.” It's a natural occurrence in women AND men (although women are almost exclusively judged for it) that can change the meaning of words in many different languages. The host was often criticized for her vocal fry but uses the opportunity to educate others on the topic. Honestly listening through I didn't notice anything. Similar pods: Surprisingly Brilliant, Distillations | Science History Institute, and Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast by Sam Kean. Sources: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/science-diction-1032503https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-diction/id1500919715 ★ Support this podcast ★

Short Cuts - No Spoilers! This podcast is a one of a kind show, in a category of its own, on the same caliber as The Moth and This American Life. Made under BBC Radio 4 and hosted by lovely Josie Long, a writer and comedian, it's a collection of audio art that includes all sorts of things from short documentaries, to weird and surreal soundscapes, to true stories, to poems, and absolutely everything in between. Each episode is based on a theme and is made up of usually three 9 minute clips that inspire an extraordinary range of emotions and appreciation for every aspect of life. The show seems perfectly adapted to the internet age attention span. Audio can have all the dimensions that regular art has. It can be abstract, a snapshot of life, or surreal. It can be more than just educational, entertaining, or interviewing famous people. This podcast showcases that. It's proof that there is no limit to what podcasts can be. Hidden gems of perspective and time that chronicle unheard sounds. Okay, enough gushing. The podcast has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts with 138 Ratings. There are currently 191 episodes that are on average about 30 minutes long. My favorite episodes are hard to choose but “Body Language,” “Rabbit Holes,” and “Lines of Communication” are all high on the list. Some episodes come with difficult subjects but all are covered with attentiveness. The only problem with the show is that there will never be enough. It's truly something you have to hear to understand.Similar pods: Anthems, The Kitchen Sisters Present, and Selected ShortsSources: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-cuts/id655015882https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/short-cuts-56083 ★ Support this podcast ★

The History Chicks - No Spoilers! This is podcast is made up of the history lessons you've always wanted but never got. Every two weeks Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider pick a woman from the thousands of year of human history and tell her story. From a variety of eras and backgrounds, everything about each woman is mentioned including interpretations, connections, and bias. The episodes start with a 30 second summary of what you can expect, goes into the birth, life, and later death of the individual, and then wraps with the sources used. One thing I really love about the hosts is that even though the stories are told mainly from the perspectives of a particular woman, Graham and Vollenweider recognize the bias in that. A character maybe perceived and presented as a villain in one woman's episode but be a hero in their own. This self-awareness plus in depth research is what makes this podcast so beloved among history fans. And I mean beloved. Starting in January of 2011, the show has 4.7 out of 5 stars and 6.9K Ratings. To keep such a high average over a long time is difficult for even the best pods. It's also been recognized with a handful of awards such as a finalist in The People's Choice Podcast Award, a finalist in The Academy of Podcasters Awards, and Mixcloud Online Radio Awards, Best Talk Show in the Education Category. They were finalist in The People's Choice Podcast Award for seven years straight. I highly recommend checking out their detailed websites and packed show notes for things like photos, videos, and news for every episode. Their Facebook group, History Chicks Podcast Lounge, is also such a friendly and inviting community. So far there are 263 episodes! On average they are about an hour long and while they are typically put out every two weeks, the day does vary. My favorite episodes have been “Laura Ingalls Wilder” and “The Romanovs (Part 1).” Audio is rough in the first couple of episodes but like with every podcast gets better with time. I really love this podcast and I'm so happy there are so many episodes. You could relisten a couple of times before I think you could begin to remember it all. It's comforting, relaxing, distracting, and interesting. What more could you ask for?Similar Pods: The Gilded Gentleman, What'sHerName, and Stuff You Missed in History Class. Sources: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-history-chicks-31814https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-chicks/id415983183 ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Tenfold More Wicked: Wicked Words.Full Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onHistorical crime is a hard thing to cover. With monotone hosts or lack of research it can too easily be made to seem like a story so far away in time and place that it never existed. That's why what host Kate Winkler Dawson has done with the Exactly Right network is all the more impressive. Dawson is professor, crime historian, author and has reported for the likes of The New York Times, WCBS News and many more. On the level of Crimes of the Centuries this podcast has everything expected of a grade A show (gripping narrative, well researched, voices from those close to the cases) and so much more. For those who find older cases to be boring or unrelatable this podcast will change that. In all honesty I do love a period piece but Dawson transports listeners through history without sounding like she's reading from a script. Instead every episode has the tone of a chilling true campfire story. Originally the show released case specific seasons that were 6 episodes long each but after the third season the podcast started a new series in the same feed made up of episodes that covered individual cases. These individual case episodes are now produced in between the main seasons and involve Dawson interviewing an expert in the case (usually an author). I've mentioned before how I generally am not a fan of interview podcasts but this is one of the good ones. Host and guest work together to tell very interesting stories. So far there are six main seasons and 58 standalone. On average, episodes are about 40 minutes long. It's difficult to tell the most popular episodes/season because of this uniquerelease schedule and Owltail's faulty algorithm. Moving forward I'm not sure Owltail can be trusted to reliable report the most popular episodes. My favorites are hard to choose because they are all so good. If you haven't heard the pod before I would start with the first season's first episode “All That is Wicked: The Schutts” or if you're looking for an individual case episode, try “Bryan Burrough: The Demon Next Door.” Music is perfect.Similar pods: Accused, Buried Bones, and Ye Olde Crime. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions.  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at "This Week I Learned."Full Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onThis Week I learnedNot to be confused with the weirdest thing I learned this week by popular science, this podcast from the magazine The Week is made up of fun bite sized bits on interesting and diverse topics. Some of the other shows The Week has include Seven minute explainer, The Week Unwrapped, and Seven-Minute Opinions. Host Lauren Hansen is a fun and charming host, coupled with lovely short music weaved into facts and the studies behind them. Science, history, and psychology are just a few of the subjects that were presented by the show during its run.  The podcast ended in 2017 but with 79 episodes all about 18 minutes long you have at least 23 hours of amazing content to listen to. My favorite episodes which I recommend starting with were “Ep. 74: This week I learned the dinosaurs could still be alive today if the asteroid had hit pretty much anywhere else, and more” and “Ep. 36: This week I learned why we're all suckers for the good cop/bad cop routine, and more.” For its short run the show has 4.2 out of 5 stars and 239 ratings. You should give it a listen and a review, you never know what shows can be brought back. Similar pods: The Fact of the Matter, Unexplainable by Vox, and NOVA NowAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions.  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at the Smithsonian Institute's podcast Sidedoor. Full Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onSidedoor - No spoilers! I've only been to the Smithsonian Institution in D.C. once as a kid but this bi-weekly podcast the museum produces makes you feel like you're walking through the halls. Perfect for those who are still cautious about going out. Not only does it cover an extreme variety topics (history, science, art, space, and nature to name a few) but it covers some that aren't on exhibit so even if you were to go you wouldn't experience these stories. How many could there possibly be I hear you ask. Well the archives of the museum are filled with around 155 million artifacts each one with a story to tell. The institution is made up of 21 museum and the natural zoo. This podcast pulls from all of them and puts the objects discussed into captivating narratives that make the information you learn stay with you. Host Lizzie Peabody weaves interviews with facts that will leave you passionately curious about whatever the topic. The show, which first aired in October of 2016, has  4.6 stars and 1,700 ratings. So far there 150 episodes each about 25 minutes long. Perfect for the average commute. Their website has the show coming out every other Wednesday but on Pocketcasts and other players the days seem more sporadic. Owltail has the most listened to episodes as “Special Delivery” and “The Curse of the Hope Diamond.” My favorites were “The Dinosaur War” and “Murder Is Her Hobby” Music is quick and unremarkable. No trigger warnings for this one.Similar pods: Museum Confidential, Museums n'That, and Museum ArchipelagoAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions.  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at..ourselves and culture with Decoder Ring. Musical guest is DJ Booda. Full Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onDecoder Ring - No Spoilers This recommendation shouldn't come as a surprise.I actually hesitated to review it because it's not like it needs any help reaching more people. It's a legend among those looking for mysteries that aren't crime related. Related to Endless Thread and Gimlet's short-run Mystery Show, Slate's Decoder Ring sets itself apart by focusing on cultural mysteries. The rise and fall of the mullet, the Karen, and why every professional on Linked in is expected to consider themselves a storyteller are just a few of the many topics covered so far. In each monthly episode Willa Paskin, the show's host, looks at an aspect of our lives, its lore and why it matters. I honestly can't think of another podcast that looks at something the way this one does, by dissecting something mundane that we take for granted and turning it into nostalgia for things, in some cases, you weren't even around for. There were episodes that didn't immediately jump out as interesting to me but I listened anyway for Paskin's charm and reasoning only to be thrilled with how fascinating they were. With 4.6 out of 5 stars and 1.5K Ratings, the show sits at #154 in the Apple Podcast charts for Society and cultural but #9 for documentary according to Chartable. The show currently sits at 59 episodes that are on average about 39 minutes long. Owltail has the most popular episodes as “Murphy's Law” and “Clown Panic.” Personally I think there are far better ones. Try starting off with “The Johnlock Conspiracy” or “The Incunabula Papers.” I also really loved this last season's bonus episodes in which Paskin discusses the philosophies and methods of the show. In the past the show's once a month release schedule had been a bit inconsistent at times which I suspect played into moving to a seasonal release schedule. Commercials are average bordering on a bit much but I promise it's a beloved podcast for a reason. Also ads allow you to listen to this for free and there is always fast-forwarding. Some think the podcast is too political but I don't. If I had to name a complaint it would be that sometimes I feel like the conclusions the host draws doesn't really sum up the whole topic, which can be a little underwhelming. It's rare but there. Like the show is trying to make something out of nothing but I just sum it up to me not getting the point. It's a show you can't help but love. Content warnings are different for each episode but have some have included sexual assault and mature language. Similar pods you may not have heard include: Spectacle, Shattered Souls (the older Thinking Sideways episodes), and Underunderstood. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from DJ Booda. The song featured is “We will see.” Please check him out on Soundcloud by searching DJ Booda. This link and info will also be in the show notes as well.  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. Artist: DJ BoodaSong: We Will SeeSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user370694015/we-will-see ★ Support this podcast ★

This week's review is on The Hopeful with musical guest DJ Natural Nate and Jiggabot. Full Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onThe Hopeful - One of the most precious treasures pasted down among the Omidvar family is the story of the perilous journey Amir Omidvar took to get from revolution-gripped Iran to North America. Young Amir dreamed of America since the age of 9 when he started work and learned about people leaving to find better lives there. Despite knowing the journey would not be easy even he couldn't have imagined the unrelenting hurdles between him and becoming a citizen. Sleeping in the restaurant he worked at in Spain, getting gravely ill in a Mexican prison, and being beaten by officials in Milan are only a couple of the trials Amir endured alone in the nearly two years it took him to reach his goal. Narrated by his daughter Shayda and produced with the Frequency podcast network, this six part series was voted as Apple Podcasts' Show of the Year in Canada for 2020. The well produced show has 4.7 stars on the Apple platform with 401 ratings. Each episode has an average length of about 36 minutes and must be listened to in order. It's a captivating documentation of what immigration for one man looked like that will have you laughing, crying, and inspired. Sure, you might know immigrating is hard but how many actually know what it looks like or understand what it involves? A story not only about honoring where you come from but also how you got there, it serves as a strong reminder to treat everyone you meet with kindness because you never know where someone is on their journey. Be sure to check on their instagram @thehopefulpodcast to see accomplish pictures. Content warning for suffering and violence. Similar pods: Indefensible, They Tried To Bury Us with Tamer Kattan, and Code Switch. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from DJ Natural Nat and Jiggabot. The song featured is very had pronounce but don't worry I'll link it in the show notes. You can find them on Soundcloud, and Facebook by searching DJ Natural Nate. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. Artist: DJ Natural Nat VS JiggabotSong: RITM OBE Extended DJ RemixSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj-natural-nate/free-download-ritm-obe-extended-dj-remix-dj-natural-nate-vs-jiggabot-mastered?si=bf0bda7049d04f27a22b3c4e704206d7&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharingFacebook: https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOfficialDJNaturalNate%2Fvideos%2F363162269158444&token=ecac1f-1-1662333029434 ★ Support this podcast ★

This week we look at Words to That Effect by Conor Reid and the Headstuff network. Musical guest is Ben Samples. Full Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onWords to that Effect - No Spoilers! I am surprised this podcast isn't in the top charts of Apple Podcasts although it has placed #10 and #23 in the arts categories for Ireland and Britain respectively. There's no warming up to the host or topics, you only have to hear it for it to become a new favorite. Part of the Headstuff network it was started in 2017 by Conor Reid, a writer and teacher, who lives and records the show in Dublin, Ireland. Reid covers the behind-the-scenes factors of what goes into the stories we hold dear and starts each episode with a question such as how can fiction save the world and why are there so many novels with "girl" in the title? There is a bit of a concentration on works and topics from the late 19th and early 20th century but more modern works are covered. The pod has 4.9 stars and 27 ratings on Apple Podcasts. So far there are 60 episodes with Season 6 on a bit of a delay but an update has promised many more episodes to come. When the show is active, episodes come out about every two weeks. You can search them by topic on the website. They're also evergreen which means they aren't time sensitive and can be listened to in any order. In amongst the others you might find a series of bonus episodes titled “A Word To That Effect” that covers the literary origin of a word or phrase. There's also the occasional guest and cross over episode. Owltail has the most popular by listen being “The Invention of Time” and “Irish Science Fiction.” My favorites so far have been “The Endless Influence of Robinson Crusoe” and “Dinosaurs (Palaeontology to Pyjamas).” If you can't get enough of the show head its website where you can sign up for the newsletter and get news on two upcoming projects. No content warnings for this one. Similar pods: All About Agatha, Words That Burn, and FiresideAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Ben Samples. The song featured was Traitor. You can find them on Soundcloud, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube by searching Ben Samples. These links will be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. Artist: Ben SamplesSong: Traitor Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bensamplesTwitter: https://twitter.com/djsamples Facebook: https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdjsamples&token=c23ec6-1-1661129552866Website:https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsamples.bandcamp.com%2F&token=78fb10-1-1661129552862 ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onBlack Box Down: No Spoilers!This podcast covers aviation disasters and the events that lead up to them and come after. It may seem like something the fearful of flying might want to stay away from as someone who does get super nervous I found it to be one of my favorite new pods. While discussing these various catastrophes the show actually shows you how intricate and well thought out everything in the aviation industry is. This may be apparent to some listeners but it isn't just magic that humans stumbled upon but a science of flight that has formed over arguably several hundred years ( the origins can be traced back to when kites were possibly first flown in China a long long time ago). The true crime--esque show also briefly covers the history of the field and touches occasionally on its evolution. All of this results in (at least for me) the podcast being a comfort and testimonial to the meticulous work ethic of the industry. The pod has two hosts, Gustavo Sorola, who is a self-proclaimed “lifelong aviation enthusiast” and brilliant co-host Chris Demarais. Passionate and knowledgeable about aviation Sorola presents cases while Demarais asks all the questions you're thinking. Their chemistry is some of the best I've heard in a while with nothing being off-topic. Itunes has 2,800 ratings and an average star of 4.9. So far the show has 32 episodes with new ones coming out every Thursday. On average length is about 34 minutes. My favorite episodes have been Missing Malaysian Flight and History of Hijackings. Music is strangely lacking for this pod but you won't miss it. The script is loosely done with conversation back and forth keeping it casual. Content warnings for maybe people who have issues hearing about crashes or maybe hijackings although the pod never goes into graphic detail about accidents.Similar Pods: Mobbed Up The Fight for Las Vegas, Always Open, Lights OutAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Base Jase. The song featured was Don't Say It's Too Late. You can find them on Soundcloud by searching Base Jase. This link will be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. Artist: Base JaseSong: Don't Say It's Too LateSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/basejase ★ Support this podcast ★

Full Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onThis Podcast Will Kill You - No Spoilers! This science podcast is about epidemiology but don't let the scientific term scare you. The show is all about make the history, biology, and all other aspects of diseases easy to understand. There is a major focus on infectous dieases although noncommunicable ones are included occasionally. A product of the Exactly Right network (home to My Favorite Murder and Tenfold More Wicked) is hosted by disease ecologists and epidemiologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke. Every episode the show starts with an account of a survivor which gives light to the all too often neglected human and social impacts. Then the two spilt the research they've done on the world's smallest serial killers and present it to each other and the listeners. It makes for a complete rundown of diseases we'll most likely never expierence thanks to public health initiatives. You'll also learn a themed drink recipe for each episode. Apple podcasts has 4.8 stars, and a little under 15,000 ratings. There's plenty of content with 134 episodes so far and new ones coming out every Thursday.. or Friday. On average the episodes are about an hour long although some episodes can go much longer. While the longer ones are hard to get through, the two are trying to be as thorough as possible. The most popular episodes according to Owltail are Ep 12 HIV/AIDS: Apathy Will Kill You and Ep 50 Antibiotics: We owe it all to chemistry!. The most interesting to me so far have been Ep 65 Sweating Sickness: Ready, Sweat, Go! and Ep 39 Toxoplasmosis: Calling All Cats. One of my favorite things a show can have is a book recommendation list of their sources on Bookshop.org and this one has one. Overall a really great podcast to add to your subscriptions although beware listening too much may cause anxiety for some. Similar pods: In Defense of Plants Podcast, Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine, and American Hysteria. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Leo Tebele. The song featured was Feeling Close. You can find them on Soundcloud by searching Leo Tebele. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. Musical Artist: Leo Tebele Song: Feeling Close Featuring Layla Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ltebele ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Wednesday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. Thank you so much for helping me create this show! I really appreciate now on to This week's review which isLost in the Woods Podcast- No Spoilers!This is my new favorite podcast! I listened to all 92 episodes in a little over a week, and I know a podcast is golden when I can't stop listening to it. It's a true-crime(ish) indie podcast that focuses on missing and murdered hikers. Done by a mother, Marie, and Daugther, Maddi, it is straight to the point and fascinating. If you love Missing 411, bone-chilling true stories, or survival stories, this is the show for you. These stories will keep you holding your breath until the end. Both share a passion and interest in what they're talking about. Avid hikers themselves their experiences, their own experiences definitely add to the stories. There's also a rare interview or two so far. Sprinkle in are some murder cases to keep it fresh. They give new details on cases I've heard a dozen times and thought I knew. The script is usually shared by the two telling a narrative story with some light-hearted banter. Full disclosure: the two have been outsourcing research for some of the latest episodes due to time constraints. It's fairly common for successful podcasts to do and since most podcasters consider reading a wiki paragraph research,  I think it's fair to give them a break here. There is the occasional misspoken word by Maddi (although Marie has slipped up once or twice) but honestly, I find everything the two do as adorable. I could only dream of having a kid who wants to podcast with me someday. Who cares if Maddi isn't a total bookworm? Forgive the small hiccups and I promise it's worth it. The podcast has 4.4 stars out of 5 on Apple podcasts with 248 ratings and 103 written reviews. Episodes are on average about an hour and new ones come out usually about twice a month. The pair are also very active on Patreon. They truly care about their listeners and show it by moving chit-chat to the end, considering KIND inputs from fans, and having minimal ads. There's always just been the one ad at the beginning that is easy to skip. Side note: The harassment the pair face is absolutely ridiculous. I will never understand sending unsolicited inappropriate photos but doing it to this wholesome adorable podcast is grounds to fight me. I could write a dissertation on this show but I think you can tell how highly I recommend it. I hope it never ends. Similar pods: Location Unknown, National Park After Dark, and Out Alive by Backpacker Magazine. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  Sources: Apple PodcastsPodchaserOwltail ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Pateron by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onEons: Mysteries of Deep Time - No Spoilers! This natural history podcast is done by PBS Digital Studios by Complexly and is distributed by PRX. It's hosted by Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, Kallie Moore, and Blake de Pastino, the same team that heads the Youtube version of the show, PBS Eons. This show is all about combining science with creative storytelling and draws you in at the beginning of every episode by setting the scene. Whether it's an ancient forest or a deadly tar pit, these stories (some of which are millions of years old) are made to seem as alive and fresh as ever. Every episode is packed with information but is inviting and approachable with language that's easy to understand. This combined with the interesting nature of the topics makes the show a big hit with little ones. Apple Podcasts has 4.9 out of 5 stars and 486 ratings. So far there are only 9 episodes but new ones come out bimonthly. On average they are about 19 minutes long in length. Some listeners want the episodes to be longer but I think they're perfect because if they were too long and detailed I think it could be too much information. There aren't enough episodes to determine the most popular by Owltail but my favorites have been “What Was The First Dinosaur?” and “The Extinct Human Species Discovered Deep Within A Cave System.” No content warnings for this one! Be sure to queue it up for a long car drive with anyone who loves history, nature or even the kids. Similar pods: SciShow Tangents, Sidedoor, and Completely ArbortraryAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's amazing music came from electronic music Jeepers. The song featured was In The Game. Jeepers has new music coming out soon so keep an eye out for that. You can find her on Soundcloud and Instagram by searching Jeepers Music. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  Sources: Apple PodcastsPodchaserOwltail  Music Attributions: Artist: JeepersSong: In The Game Instagram: @jeepers.musicSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jeepers_music ★ Support this podcast ★

Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Pateron by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onBad People - No Spoilers!This BBC true crime(ish) podcast is a mix of case coverage and psychology. Hosts Dr. Julia Shaw (she/her) and Sofie Hagen (they/them) both bring different expertise to the show as well as sometimes conflicting opinions. As her title suggests Shaw is a psychologist from Canada who has been an honorary Research Associate in Psychology at University College London since 2017 and was a contributor to Scientific American between 2015 and 2017. Hagen is award-winning Danish comedian and author. They are so sweet and one of my favorite parts of the show. The cases the two present often have challenging questions posed with them such as how should we punish kids and who marries a serial killer. To answer these questions Shaw cites relevant psychological experiments and brings in the rare guest. Apple podcasts has 4.5 stars, 136 ratings, and 28 written reviews. Episodes release weekly on Thursdays when the show is in season. So far there are 64 episodes and on average they are about 35 minutes long. Episode 14. Piggy's Palace 2: Are serial killers intelligent is the most popular but keep in mind it is the second part of a two-parter. My favorites were 63. No socks: Why do people confess their crimes and 4. Cannibal Cop: What is your darkest fantasy. I listened to all the episodes back to back in a couple of days. In celebration of Pride Month, the show is currently covering the history, science, and culture of bisexuality while still staying true to its criminal theme. The show is scripted but with only light clues to suggest it. You will find some comments targeting the way Shaw talks to Hagen in the pod's reviews but I didn't think it was bad. A lot of different extreme content warnings but briefed at the beginning of each episode and sometimes right before a particularly jarring segment. Music is short and fitting. Similar Pods - Killer Psyche,  Hidden: A True Crime Podcast, and Terror Talk: True Crime, Psychology, and Film. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Universal Music Productions. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  Sources: Apple PodcastsPodchaserOwltail  Music Attributions: Universal Music Productions ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Pateron by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onTooth and Claw - No Spoilers! Sometimes if I really love a podcast I get so nervous to recommend them because there's so much pressure to communicate how good it is. This is one of those pods. It's hosted by two brothers, Wes and Jeff, and their good friend Mike. Wes is actually a wildlife biologist whose professional knowledge coupled with the group's dynamic is what will make this podcast one of your favorites. Bimonthly they cover animal attacks and give the best tips on what to do if you ever get yourself into a sticky situation with an animal. Animal lovers don't fret! These guys aren't out to make the animals in these stories monsters. The show is actually meant to teach listeners about what went wrong in these situations and how we can learn to respect other life on this planet. It's easier to appreciate and not fear something when you know more about it. They do this with a good narrative and the best segments including rating the event in terms of pain (measured in ouchies!), how much they love and respect the animal (measured in claws), and their favorite pop culture reference of the animal, just to name a few! Every once in a while the crew will change it up or add something new. There's the rare guest (a parent, animal attack survivors, and other animal experts) and limited banter. Apple podcasts has 4.9 out of 5 stars, 1,769 ratings, and 643 written reviews. Episodes are on average about an hour and ten minutes long. The most popular episode according to Owltail is “Grizzly Bear Attack - The Todd Orr Double Grizzly Bear Attack.” The most interesting to me were “Polar Bear Attack - A Bad End to Polar Bear Camp” and “Oceanic White Tip Shark Attack - A Sharky Shipwreck Story.” Honorable mentions have to go their coverage of the lions of Tsavo and Harambe. Decently family-friendly minus the pretty grisly descriptions of injuries to humans and animals. I try to express how good I think every podcast I recommend is but you seriously have to listen to this one! I binged all the episodes in about a week! I couldn't pace myself!Similar pods: Force of Nature, Out Alive from BACKPACKER, and Nature Guys. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from Colorado Springs electronic music artist Apollo.  The song featured was Welcome to the Underworld. For more from them check them out on Soundcloud, and Youtube by searching Apollo or on Instagram @resurrection_of_apollo. This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  Sources: Apple PodcastsPodchaserOwltail  Music Attributions: Artist: ApolloSong: Welcome to the UnderworldYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC20H0eEFKAvLtjVEZGy4-VQ/featuredSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/apollo_666Instagram: @resurrection_of_apollo ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Patreon by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is onHistory of the 90's - No Spoilers! This great documentary-style history podcast from Curiouscast covers the 1990s with a calm but serious tone that has won the show such awards as Apple's list of Best Canadian Podcasts and Winner of Outstanding Documentary – 2021 Canadian Podcast Awards. In each episode host Kathy Kenzora covers a significant topic from the decade with the help of knowledgeable guests whose inputs are then edited into a seamless narration of history. The show is actually an extension of Kenzora's earlier podcast History of 1995 which was also very popular. Living through any period of time, it can be difficult to understand and keep track of the impacts of major events but this pod is trying to clarify that for all of us who remember the 90s as a blur. A wide range of topics has been covered including serious ones such as The Rwandan Genocide and The Unabomber and sillier subjects like Nickelodeon and Beanie Babies. Occasionally an episode is dedicated to the top ten stories of the year. There are currently 72 episodes that make up two seasons and are on average about 35 minutes long. Most of the episodes can be listened to out of order but I'd save the top ten ones for last. My favorite episodes were “The TTC Subway Crash” and “90's Rave Culture.” The episodes that have the most listens according to Owltail are “JFK Jr. The Prince of Camelot” and “Columbine.” I guess I should mention the podcast gets a little political according to some but not listening to a podcast because the host has a different opinion than you is just not the way to be. The show has 4.8 stars, 345 ratings, and 78 written reviews on Apple Podcasts and is super light on commercials. With professional sound and the standard of storytelling, this pod will make you terribly nostalgic for the decade. Trigger warnings vary by episode but are mentioned at the beginning of episodes. Similar Pods: The History of Fun, One Year, and History This Week. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com.This week's music is from Denver electronic music producer Stelouse. The song featured was Been so Long. For more from Stelouse checkout their Instagram and Twitter @stelouse, or find them on every major music platform by searching Stelouse. This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thank you so much for listening and supporting the show! Sources: Apple PodcastPodchaserPodnodsPodnewsOwltailListennotesMusic Attributions: Artist: Stelouse Song Been so long ★ Support this podcast ★

Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Patreon by searching the mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. Heeled - No Spoilers! Today's review is of 2020 miniseries that is hard to define. At its core is a crime, not violent but creepy. Surrounding that is high-profile gossip, NYC drama, and a laundry list of true plot twists that are stranger than fiction. Long before his political debut as U.S president, Donald Trump was the biggest celebrity in New York City but that doesn't mean politics doesn't play a bit of a role in this story. Marla Maples, an actress, model, and singer, met Trump in 1989 during his marriage to Ivana Trump. This affair was kept very discreet with the help of Maples's publicist and agent Chuck Jones. Maples could trust Jones with absolutely everything… or so she thought. In 1992 after months of stealing Maples's shoes, Jones was convicted of burglary, criminal possession of stolen property, and weapons possession. However, this was only the beginning. In this podcast hosts and former prosecutors, Trisha LaFache and Kevin J. Hynes take you through every twist and turn of the case. Hynes was actually the trial prosecutor on the Chuck Jones case and both hosts are compelling storytellers. The perfect blend of true crime and scandal, the level of celebrity gossip wasn't annoying and didn't outshine the facts of the case. It did take me an episode to truly be invested though. Apple Podcasts has 4.8 stars, 106 ratings, and 28 written reviews. The series has a total of seven episodes that are on average about 48 minutes long. Content warning for stalking and descriptions of sex. Similar pods: Gruesome Gossip, American Scandal, and Even the RichAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's music came from the electronic music duo Future Twist.  The song featured was Another World. To book them reach out to their booking agency Prism on their website https://www.prysmtalentagency.com/. For more from the two check them out on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Facebook by searching Future Twist or find them on every major music platform. . This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  Sources: Apple PodcastsPodchaserOwltailMusic Attributions: Artist: Future TwistSong: Another WorldWebsite: https://solo.to/futuretwistSpotify:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fartist%2F0hQcx4KqckqtXAAP4cKntg&token=f25ed8-1-1655086135483Facebook:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffuturetwist&token=5bc15a-1-1655086135484Instagram:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fwearefuturetwist&token=1b6ec9-1-1655086135485Twitter:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Ffuture_twist&token=8b4fd5-1-1655086135486Patreon:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Ffuturetwist&token=5c6001-1-1655086135487Bookings: https://www.prysmtalentagency.com/contact ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. I'm your host Marie and  If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. This week's review is on Impact Winter - No Spoilers! From Audible and Travis Beacham comes this breath of fresh air. With the caliber of some of the greatest audio fiction ever made, I haven't heard something this compelling since We're Alive. Blurring the lines between audiobooks and podcasts it has everything: suspense, horror, immersive audio, world-building, and so so much more. Because I felt like I loved figuring out what the story was about as I listened, I won't give away too much. Instead, I'll set the scene… In the British countryside, this story begins seven years after a comet hit the earth, plunging it into sunless darkness. A group of survivors has found refuge in an ancient castle but their struggles to find food in the shadows of what was is the least of the worries. They can't roam far or alone without the constant reminder that this new dim world bites back. This podcast is definitely a contender for my podcast of the year and one of the most suspenseful I've ever heard. It's not afraid to let a bit of eerie silence in and is a good example of how well podcasts do horror.  What you can't see is way scarier than what you can and having two earbuds in for this show will make you feel like someone is constantly creeping up behind you. The reviewing segment for this show will be a little different because it is an audible original. Apple Podcasts has 4.9 average stars, 513 ratings, and 61 written reviews. Audible's rating system has 4.7 stars (an average of the ratings of their overall, performance, and story categories) from 15,131 ratings. I couldn't find the number of written reviews but their website also categorizes reviews as being from different countries. Episodes are about 24 minutes long and so far the first season has been fully published that has fans begging for the next season. If you are one of those fans count yourselves lucky, the creators have indicated another is in the works although the medium in comes out is up for debate. A graphic novel is being finished though and covers what happens next as well as what comes before this podcast. Warnings for violence, and adult themes. Similar Pods:  End of All Hope, Apollyon, and The VelaAll right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week's came from a New York City pop-soul group called Big Stuff Band.  The song featured was Sliver Screen. For more from the group check out their Instagram and Facebook @bigstufftheband , or find them on every major music platform by searching Big Stuff. This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. Sources: Apple PodcastPodchaserPodnodsPodnewsOwltailListennotesMusic Attributions: Artist: Big Stuff Song: Silver Screen ★ Support this podcast ★

Transcript: Hey Pod lovers. If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods I'm your special guest host David and this week's I'm bringing you a review on Late Era.   I'm a sucker for good music podcasts, and I have a great one to show you today. Late Era, brought to you by Osiris Media, is a podcast that looks at late-career albums from legendary artists. Hosts Andy Cush, Sam Sodomsky, and Winston Cook-Wilson are all staff writers at the online music publication Pitchfork, and all have deep knowledge and great chemistry when talking about these albums. Sodomsky in particular has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of these artists and their work. While they can get personal sometimes, most of their dialogue revolves around the music itself, which I find enjoyable. The albums they cover can range anywhere from hidden gems deep in an artist's discography or an absolute flop, both of which are fun to explore. Some episodes feature guests as well, ranging from comedians like Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington to musicians like Open Mike Eagle. Some great episodes to start out with are Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail, Aerosmith's Honkin' on Bobo, and Bob Dylan's Under the Red Sky. Each episode ranges from 50 minutes long to an hour and a half, and it does not need to be listened to in order. For anyone interested in music history, I could not recommend this podcast more. Content warning for some strong language and occasional drug references. Currently, the show seems to be on hiatus with the last episode coming out in July 2021, but there is a chance they could come back at some point. Similar podcasts include the 33 1/3rd podcast, 155, and the Album Year. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com.This week's music comes from The Sickly Hecks. The song featured was Cyber Dating. For more from them, you can find them on Facebook and Instagram @thesicklyhecks or on their website. Their contact will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to show the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!Musical feature:Artist: The Sickly HecksSong: Cyber DatingInstagram: thesicklyhecksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesicklyhecks/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5H8jnN8bXbqu7WcO8fbjob?si=eNdf9Hs7QR-imlNzXBNUNQ&nd=1Email: thesicklyhecks@gmail.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Transcript:Hey Pod lovers. If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods I'm your host Marie and before we get to this week's review it's announcement time. This episode is actually the last episode that will be appearing under the KCSU network. KCSU is a student-run radio station from Colorado State University and while I was a student and worked there they hosted the show but now that I'm graduating I'm bringing the show with me and continuing it on my own. I'm really so grateful for everything KCSU has taught me and wanted to so thank you and I can't wait to see what the station continues to come up with because it is in really good hands. If you want to see what they're up to you can head over to KCSUFM.com and if you'd like to help out this newly independent show you can find me on buy me a coffee and pateron by searching The Mastercast. I'd really appreciate it. But on this week's review which is..Cowper This 2019 podcast could be pegged as true crime but it listens more as an investigative journalistic piece. Looking into who could be culpable in the second-worst road disaster in Australian history, the show by the Daily Examiner is a six-part series. 30 years ago near the small town of Cowper sometime between 3-4 am a semi-truck carrying pineapples drifted onto the opposite side of the road and collided with a commuter bus carrying 45 people. This caused the entire right side of the bus to be sheared off, passengers to fall out onto the roadway, and the vehicle to flip into a roll. 21 of the passengers were killed and the incident led to calls for upgrades to the road that would take three decades and hundreds of lives to make. This pod's intimate details of the last moments of the victims lives as well as those following the crash, is something I had to hear to get the gravity of. It is the brainchild of Jenna Thompson and narrated by Mary Gardiner with interview help from Kathryn Lewis, and Lesley Apps. The script writing was done by Michelle Gately. Side note: I LOVE when all involved with a show are credited both in audio and written somewhere. Not only is it easy to give them the credit they deserve in reviews like these but makes for a searchable text on the interwebs. Apple Podcasts has 5.0 out of 5 stars BUT ONLY ONE RATING which I can not believe. Episodes are all 29 minutes and commercials are average. One thing I do like about the breaks in this show is they have mental health hotline PSAs which with the topic covered is needed. The music is fitting and there's only one instance of the host seeming to use heavy emphasis for dramatic effect (just once). Trigger warnings for descriptions of injury, suicide, fear, and hopelessness. It's a hard listen but worth hearing the stories told of those affected. Similar Pods: Where's William Tyrrell?, Black Box Down, and On The Frontline. All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes or for the very last time KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com.This week's music was a song by Cincinnati artist Voosive. The song featured was Stray From the Path. Voosive has a brand new “thanks for 2k followers” release dropping today! That's definitely worth checking out. He'll also be at quite a few festivals this summer including Bigfoot Electro in Tracy City, Tennesse, Geek Out in College Corner Ohio, Tribal Connection at Wisteria Campground Pomeroy, Ohio, and a few more you can find on his socials which are Vusive on Instagram and Soundcloud and Vusivemusic on Twitter. Their contact will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. We have a very special episode coming next week where guest host David Samuth, KCSU's programming director brings us a review making him the first guest on the show so you won't wait to miss it. Anyways, Thanks for listening!Sources: Apple PodcastPodchaserPodnodsPodnewsOwltailListennotesMusic Attributions: Artist: VusiveSong: Stray From the PathInstagram: VusiveSoundcloud: VusiveTwitter: Vusivemusic ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! "The Mastercast" is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new, non-spoiler, binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods I'm your host, Marie, and this week I'm bringing you a review on …"Like a Version"This weekly music podcast is actually a recorded segment that is performed live on the Australian radio station Triple J. It was created by Mel Bampton for his show "Mel in the Morning" in 2004.Every set has artists, both international and local, play two songs, one of their own and a cover of someone else's in their own style (or version). It's similar to BBC's "Radio 1's Live Lounge" sets and Irish Today FM's "Even Better Than the Real Thing." The name is also said to be a play on “Like a Virgin” Madonna's 1984 album.Originally these performances were acoustic, but the style has since developed to include all sorts of music. The show's wide popularity has led to CDs as well as some of the covers making it onto the Triple J Hottest 100.It is also a podcast on most podcast players but a playlist on Spotify. While most sets can be found on Triple J's website as well as their YouTube channel, the online archive doesn't go back further than August 2006.Like most cover songs, you have to take the good with the bad. While there are some incredibly well-done ones, there are also misfires. I really enjoy when bands really try to cover a song in their own style instead of as close as they can to the original. It is like a version after all.Apple Podcasts has 4.6 stars and 32 Ratings. So far there are 577 episodes currently available with new ones coming out every Thursday, and on average they last about 20 minutes.OwlTail's most popular isn't working for this podcast, but my favorites are almost too hard to pick. I adore the CHVRCHES cover of Kendrick Lamar's 'LOVE' (their ‘Do I Wanna Know?' is also amazing), and Meg Mac's ‘Let it Happen' originally done by Tame Impala. Those are just two of the many stunning songs. Seriously, all worthy of checking out, but again some are better than others.No swears for this one but the nature of songs can vary. Side note: Triple J does another brilliant segment called "Bars of Steel" that features rappers and is worth checking out (I recommend A.Girl's set).Similar Pods: "Tiny Desk Concerts," "Live Lounge Uncovered" and "Headliners"That's all for this week, but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at themastercastpodlist@gmail.com.This week's music was a song by Colorado Springs artist Violet Wish. The song featured was "Freefall," which is a song from Wish's soon-to-be-released debut album “Long Distance,” which is set to drop May 28! You can also find them on Soundcloud and Bandcamp @violet wish and on Instagram @ violet_wish_music. Their contact will also be in the show notes.Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!Sources:Apple PodcastPodchaserPodnodsPodnewsOwlTailListennotesMusic Attributions:Artist: Violent WishSong: "Freefall"Soundcloud and Bandcamp @violet wishInstagram: @violet_wish_music ★ Support this podcast ★

Hey Pod lovers. If you're joining us for the first time, welcome! "The Mastercast' is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new, non-spoiler, binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3-minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the other reviews for the week on the show's Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. I'm your host, Marie, and this week I'm bringing you a review on:"The Crime Shack"Airing in November 2019, this independent true-crime podcast belongs on the list of best true crime podcasts, and it is more than worth it to become a Patreon. There are few cases I hear that can make me stop what I'm doing and throw my hands up, but this podcast has had me doing it multiple times.Solo host Michelle Pense has a brilliant radio voice that she couples with professional sound quality and editing. You might recognize her from her very successful TikTok @shellzcrimeshack where she covers crime in short videos.The podcast is the perfect blend of facts and the tiniest bit of commentary. It covers a range of crimes, including recent ones I hadn't heard of. No tangents and completely possible to spend a weekend lost in bingeing this show.So far there are 19 episodes, with new ones coming out monthly. On average they are about 40 minutes long. Episodes include chilling 911 calls as well as audio from interrogations with investigators.OwlTail's most popular episode according to the number of listens are EP06: Geza de Kaplany "The Acid Doctor" and EP05: “Christy Sheats and Cynthia Kessler Collier: Maternal Instincts.” I also found episode 5 as well as EP15: “The Strange Murder of Robert Eric Wone” to be especially intriguing.There is some mispronunciation of names in the Murdaugh episode, but it didn't bother me at all. That's the only episode I heard anything wrong with.The sponsors of the podcast are personal safety items like alarms and pepper spray, which is fitting.I love the website! It includes the blog with pictures from each episode, sources, transcripts, a place for case suggestions and the merch store. The retro sweatshirt design is iconic, and we love to see sources and transcripts.Apple Podcasts has 4.7 stars, 107 ratings and 16 written reviews. Music is short and inquisitive. Trigger warnings are included in the show but often cover crimes against children as well as sexual violence.Similar Pods: "CASEWATCH True Crime Podcast," "Carolina Crimes" and "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan"That's all for this week, but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode, be sure to check out the show notes or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended.You can also send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com. This week's music was a song by Colorado Springs artist Hemlock. The song featured was "Hex." For more from them, you can find them on Twitter, Instagram and Etsy @HemlockVale and on Soundcloud @Hemlock. Their contact will also be in the show notes.Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!Sources:Apple PodcastPodchaserPodnodsPodnewsOwlTailListennotesMusic Attributions:Artist: HemlockSong: HexTwitter: https://twitter.com/hemlockvaleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemlockvale/Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HemlockValeSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hemlockburn ★ Support this podcast ★

Transcript:Hey pod lovers. If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! "The Mastercast" is a podcast recommendation show that*record scratch*Okay pod lovers if you've listened to earlier episodes you know this is the part where I usually tell you what we're going to cover during the show, but I've got great news. I'm actually changing the show's format just a bit.You're still getting non-spoiler, binge-worthy reviews of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 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.But instead of seven reviews monthly, you can now expect one review every Monday. This review will be my top recommendation for the week. You can find the week's other reviews on the show's social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods.Anyway, now that little announcement is out of the way, let's get to this week's review which is ..."Paul McCartney: Inside the Songs"Did you know The Beatles' song "Yesterday" (widely regarded as one of the greatest pop songs ever written) shares history with Doctor Who? How about who the woman behind the song "Eleanor Rigby" really is?For the first time, master storyteller Paul McCartney relives what was really happening when he wrote some of the most popular songs of the 20th century, and nothing is left on the table. Drugs, love and the band's breakup are just a few things covered in these candid, short-form, off-script narratives produced by BBC Radio 4 in promotion for McCartney's upcoming book, "The Lyrics."I'm not even the biggest fan of The Beatles, but I adored this podcast from a music history perspective and appreciated the unique look into the making of 10 famous songs by the group.Apple Podcasts has 4.5 stars, 12 ratings, and only 1 written review, which I can't believe! It's also only available for one year from its original air date, which was October 25, 2021. Let's hope the Internet Archives squirrels this gem away for generations to come.The script is done in the style of some of my favorite podcasts; the interview questions either don't exist or have been edited out. It leaves a seamless recount that gives context to the culture and history of the time.All episodes were released the same day and are ready for you to listen. You can listen all the way through within an hour because the length of each one is only 4-9 minutes. I was amazed at how captivating each could be at such a short length.No commercials and surprisingly almost no music, with only a few clips of each song used throughout the series.Trigger warning drug use and murder.Similar Pods: "I am the EggPod," "Like a Version" and "Dissect"All right, guys, that's all for this week, but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode, be sure to check out the show notes or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com.This week's music comes from Tonguebyte, a band from Aurora, Colorado, that crosses genres of punk, jazz and alternative rock. The song featured was "Hot Vodka," and I thought it went really well with this week's musical podcast. For more from them, you can find them on Instagram @tonguebyteoffical or on any major music platform. Their contact will also be in the show notes. If you have the opportunity to see them live, they're a must-see. Really cool group of people.Remember to show the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!Sources:Apple PodcastPodchaserPodnodsPodnewsOwlTailListen NotesMusic Attributions:Artist: TonguebyteSong: "Hot Vodka"Contact here ★ Support this podcast ★

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 he goes on to sound like it should be a movie, only to end by proving why it's in the true crime category. No wonder he wrote a book. It could have been a movie.Not only is he a great storyteller but how the content was edited to unravel itself was masterful. They've made it the first season of a podcast called "The Miami Chronicles." All aspects of the crime are covered including backstory, complete timeline and possibilities of what the details and motives could have been.You find out information in the order Mike does but in a satisfying eight episodes instead of the 30 years it was for him. All episodes were needed and are essential to the story. Could it have been fewer episodes? Honestly, I don't think so. Sure, they might have been able to cram all the information into fewer episodes, but that wouldn't have done Richard Brush or this fascinating coming-of-age story justice.I didn't mind the episode previews with the show, which is a first for me. These actually sparked curiosity instead of giving away major spoilers. Big warning here: The music intro is a bit long in the first episode, but skip through it and it's worth it! I think the reason this podcast wasn't more popular was that some weren't willing to skip through it. In Ep 4 commercials start, and Ep 7 has sudden sound effects that help with parts of the story you didn't see before. I did not want this slow-burn sprawling podcast to end.Similar Pods: "Against The Odds," "Toxic: The Britney Spears Story," "Smoke Screen: I Am Rama""Russian for Cats""Russian for Cats" is my favorite podcast I've found in a while! It tells the story of a Russian Blue cat named Nadia (played by Olga Kochetkova) who has escaped from a torturous lab where agonizing experiments have given her the ability to talk. Shortly after her breakout, she meets Brian (played by Kyle Teichmann) the human, who has his own troubles and becomes Nadia's refuge.Everything about this podcast is great. From the plot to voice actors and, above all, its subtle way of teaching you Russian. It's so easy to miss because you're so captivated with the story, but while Nadia slips in some Russian and teaches Brian, she's actually teaching you too.Each episode is followed up with a recap of the vocabulary learned with a native expert, and I swear I'm a few episodes away from dreaming in Russian. The narrator, Alexander Doddy, and creator, Pam Cameron, have some amazing company such as Elena Vakhtina and Heather Henning as well as some off-script help from consultant Jeff Callahan.So far the show has 18 episodes, all about 17 minutes long and irresistible to binge. The podcast started up in 2019 and released the series finale in November. Music is very on-theme and only present at the beginning of the show. Quite a few bad words, so watch out for small ears while listening.A slight trigger for injury to animals.Similar Pods: "The Two Princes," "Grand Casino," "King Falls AM," "The Amelia Project""Order 9066"The historical podcast "Order 9066" from APM Reports and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is about an important part of American history that is rarely talked about in our schools. In February of 1942 president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, removing some 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry from their homes on the West Coast and sending them to “relocation” camps.Facilities and conditions in the camps were inhumane and overcrowded, meals were made up of meager rations and there was no plumbing or cooking equipment of any kind. This podcast looks at the three years the camps were open and the lasting effects on those who lived through them.I've read and knew a little bit about Order 9066, but hearing the voices and first-hand accounts from people who lived through it has such a huge impact. Narrators Sab Shimono and Pat Suzuki were both incarcerated at the Amache camp in Colorado and curate the accounts of racism as well as how those affected adaptable remarkably.The show has 4.8 average stars, 636 ratings and 81 written reviews. The powerful history is told on a very personal level throughout the podcast and on the website, which is full of resources like links to the contributing museums, digital collections from those museums, definitions and encyclopedias, and pictures and descriptions of objects that belonged to the prisoners.Eight episodes make up the series with five bonus episodes. All are about 22 minutes long and each episode tells a different part of life in the camps. This is a must-listen for everyone interested in history and constitutional rights. The enduring rippling destruction that immigrant incarceration had and still has on the lives of actual American citizens means our current political climate could really benefit from reexamining this atrocity.Trigger warnings include racism, violence and inhumane treatment and conditions.Similar Pods: "Melting the ICE," "Indefensible," "The Promise""My Gothic Dissertation"This educational podcast by University of Iowa Ph.D. Anna M. Williams is an audio form of William's dissertation about the problems with how graduate school works and how similar it is to a gothic novel.When I started the podcast I thought it was going to be a really long essay about gothic novels, and I honestly didn't think I was going to make it through, but man is this podcast full of surprises.Solo host William covers all sorts of points such as how many graduate students actually make it through the program, abuse of systems and people and a bit of psychology, all the while relating it to the suspenseful atmosphere, mysterious traditions and obsolete hierarchy of gothic works such as Anne Radcliffe and Mary Shelly.The seven-episode series has 5 out of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and aired its last episode just this past August. The script is done well, with several guests giving incredible insight. Music is very creepy, fitting and, well, gothic.The host seems to have a voice made for radio and only subtle triggers for harassment.Similar Pods: "Poetry Unbound," "The History of Literature," "How to Proceed"That's all for this week, but remember if you want to see any of the podcasts I've mentioned on the show be sure to check out the show notes or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can find my sources in the show notes there as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Sunday.This week's music came from Syncopika and Universal Production Music. If you would like your music to be a featured on the show, send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!Music Attributions:SyncopikaUniversalSources:Apple PodcastPodchaserPodnodsPodnewsOwlTailListennotes ★ Support this podcast ★

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 on 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 four episodes. We have some lengthy reviews, which means I was very excited about these podcasts, so let's get started."Your Brain on Facts"Trivia nerds rejoice! "Your Brain on Facts" is an educational podcast about facts and the stories behind them. Host Moxie LaBouche, covers a wide range of well-researched topics with perfect delivery that hooks you in every time. Subjects covered in the past have included music, history, parties and so much more. The writing and production are phenomenal. It's well-structured and informational with no small talk. Despite this, there is a fair bit of comedy in how the stories are told. While many people have credited the show with getting them into podcasts, LaBouche is also known for her amazing radio voice and does voice-over work as well. At first, I found her perfect radio voice a little too calming for work, but the facts are too interesting to make it a sleep podcast. Even the commercials are entertaining, and on a more important note, at a leveled volume. She also has a book out similar to the podcast worth checking out. Apple Podcasts has 4.7 out of 5 stars and 133 ratings. So far the show has 202 episodes all about half an hour long with new ones coming out weekly on Fridays. Some of my favorite episodes so far have been “We Can't Have Nice Things: Art & Antiquities Edition'' and “Project Pigeon and Acoustic Kitty” (trigger for violence against animals). OwlTail's most popular according to listens are “Meeting New Peoples'' and “hiStory.” The music is brief, as are commercials. The pod also has a great website with all of the episodes, scripts and sources. As a long-time listener, I highly recommend the show. Facts truly don't get much better than this.Similar Pods: "Damn Interesting," "Historical Blindness" and "The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong""Patient Zero""Patient Zero" produced by New Hampshire Public Radio is a deep dive look at Lyme disease; its history, origins, but also the precariousness that comes with the diagnosis. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that causes symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, skin rash and, when left untreated, heart, nerve and joint issues. I didn't know there could be so much controversy around a disease. I thought that in the medical profession there were knowns and unknowns, but it makes sense there are things up for debate. This podcast confronts this and so much more, like misinformation of this understudied illness. No matter what you're into, this podcast touches it a bit. It listens like true crime, but instead of crooks, the offenders are bacteria. That being said, I don't think the show is gross when it comes to the medical details at all. The eight-part series has three really great bonus episodes, but they should all be listened to in order. It's chock-full of compelling reporting and solid production quality, which comes as no surprise seeing as it came from the same team that produced "Bear Brook." Host and reporter Taylor Quimby is also a senior producer for NHPR's widely popular "Outside/In" podcast and comes to "Patient Zero" with personal experience. In 2017, Quimby had his own confrontation with the infection, which he speaks about lightly throughout the pod. The search for answers about the condition was a major motivation for the show. Apple podcasts has 4.1 stars and 1,300 ratings. It was also named one of the best listens of 2019 by the same. The average episode length is 33 minutes, and the music is discreet. The script involves some interviews and the host narrating the story of the disease. Sound effects were barely noticeable to me but bothered some. Trigger warnings for hopelessness and medical scenarios.Similar Pods: "This Much is True," "This Podcast Will Kill You" and "Emerging Infectious Diseases""Doomsday: History's Most Dangerous Podcast"I love "Doomsday: Historoy's Most Dangerous Podcst" so much! The morbidly funny 2020 show covers some of the most shocking days and disasters in history with wit and solid production quality. All of the episodes cover events I had never heard about. It's solo hosted by Brad Choma and part of the Funeral Kazoo Productions. Funeral Kazoo seems to pride itself in being different and also has another show, "Sleep Manuals: A How-To Guide to Sleep," which is intended to guide you to sleep. Watch out for their newest shows, "Inventors of Death" and "Spilled Milk," set to come out this year. I really love Choma's voice and humor. He also has a brilliant voice for radio, making the show something I can fall asleep to but also be entertained at work with. A bit of a warning though: the subject of this podcast and banter surrounding it is not for the fainthearted. I don't find it offensive or disrespectful in any way, but if jokes about disasters are not what you're trying to sign up for, maybe skip this one. That being said, this is one of the few podcasts that can actually make me laugh out loud. Apple Podcasts has an incredible 5/5 stars, 23 ratings and 12 written reviews. So far the show has 26 episodes, all about 24 minutes in length, with new ones coming out bimonthly on Fridays. OwlTail isn't able to calculate the most popular episodes yet with too few episodes, but the most entertaining to me have been “The Great Boston Molassacre of 1919” and “The Mandhradevi Temple Apocalypse of 2005.” Music is minimal.Similar Pods: "Short History Of…," "This Is A Disaster" and "Black Box Down""Short History Of…"I know I review a lot of history podcasts, but "Short History of..." one is something special. Host Paul McGann, who some may know from his other popular podcast, "Real Dictators," could make reading from the dictionary entertaining. It's as if he was born to narrate, but this, coupled with the brilliant writing and detailed sound design Nosier is known for, makes each episode feel as if you're watching a documentary instead of just listening to audio. It inspires vivid emotion as only the best-produced podcasts can. It dives into deeper questions of events instead of just retelling stories we're all familiar with. For example, how did the people of the time perceive the aftermath of the black death? Apple Podcasts has 4.9 stars and 532 ratings. Although the show description says new episodes come out every Monday, they have been every Sunday for me. This might be because of a time difference. So far there are 13 episodes that have an average length of about an hour: Perfect length if you have an hour commute. The most played according to OwlTail are “The Gladiators” and “Pompeii and the Vesuvius Eruption.” While I really enjoyed those episodes as well, my favorites are “Rosa Parks” and “The Space Race.” Expert guests are featured on the show, but their integration is so seamless I honestly never noticed they were there until I thought about it. Commercials are super short. I'm used to skipping a minute and a half of commercials, so quick 20 seconds to 45 seconds is great. Sound effects are present as mentioned but not distracting or annoying. Readers of my reviews might know that I usually wait for a podcast to have about 20 episodes before reviewing (I do this to make sure it's consistent for what I'm reporting and to make sure it's going to stick around), but for this one, I couldn't let you sleep on it. I hope it never stops! Trigger warnings for violence and death, but kid-friendly (older kids) and graphic.Similar Pods: "Flashback: History's Unintended Consequences," "American History Tellers" and "Killer Psyche""Killer Psyche""Killer Psyche" is true-crime podcast from Wondery hosted by Candice DeLong, who is a retired FBI agent, and focuses on cases through a behavioral science/psychology perspective. The forensic nurse-turned-profiler spent 20 years leading investigations and is now known worldwide as an expert in homicide. Before this podcast, which launched in 2021, DeLong was widely known as the host of "Deadly Women." Looking at what led the criminals to do what they did, she covers with confidence cases she was a part of and others she can only apply speculation to. This confidence — I'm sure — is something needed to work in such a field. Some listeners have expressed not caring for speculation, but it's a podcast about psychology, and psychology is a new science that, while based on research and experimentation, is still developing, so I think some speculation from a profiler is within reason. As with every podcast, there are some growing pains, and people need time to catch their strides. Earlier episodes are more of the stories of what happened as opposed to deep dives into the psyche involved. I think the show recognized the general disappointment in this and now concentrates a lot more on it. The host is a professional with opinions and sometimes bias. I'm sure she realizes that, but it is important for listeners to keep in mind as well. This isn't the gospel but rather a podcast with this professional's experience influencing it. She also shares distinct methods and techniques that are used to understand, predict and catch some of the country's most devious. The descriptions are clear and distinct but also explained in a way that even someone like me who has no training can understand. It's respectful but insightful. DeLong doesn't shy away from the brutality of the crimes but doesn't bog down in the gruesome details either. So far the show has 18 episodes with new ones releasing weekly on Tuesdays. OwlTail needs more episodes to figure out the most popular, but my favorite two are "The Lipstick Killer" and "The Tylenol Murders." "The Case of Gabby Petito" (which I suspect will be the most popular, at least for a while) is a drastically different format from how the other episodes are done. This one has a cohost while the others are just DeLong leading a narrative analysis of each case. I've seen a few places that have said the podcast had gone paid, but I checked Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Pocketcasts and have had no paid prompts on any of them. No audio issues. I don't like the heavy emphasis on words to make a point, but that's just my preference. It's really common in true crime and not a deal-breaker. There's no topping first-hand experience and a peek inside!Similar Pods: "The Philosophy of Crime," "The Forensic Psychology Podcast" and "True Crime Psychology and Personality""Strangeville""Strangevilile" is a brand new 2021 podcast from Vault Studios made up of strange, weird and crime-adjacent stories from around the United States with the high standard of production and storytelling Vault is known for. Vault Studios is the same network that created "Bardstown" and "The Officer's Wife." Will Johnson is the show's main host, but fellow "True Crime Chronicle" host Reed Redmond also makes an appearance. One thing I really like about it is that the topics aren't as dark or gruesome as they usually are with true crime. No one dies (although in one episode someone was already dead). Season 1 is complete, but there are eight episodes to catch up on while you wait for season 2. So far the episodes have been about 45 minutes in length and when releasing come out weekly on Thursdays. My favorite episodes were "The Missing Tiger" and "The Hidden Painting." The script is a lot like other shows from the network, with people involved or close to the event detailing the story. Apple Podcasts has the show at 4.8 stars out of 5 with 168 ratings. Music is a spooky-cute theme and the same every episode. It can really only be heard in the intro and outro. The commercial amount is average. Trigger warning for dealings with the deceased and possible animal cruelty.Similar Pods: "Criminal," "Mystery Show" and "Decoder Ring""My Amazing Body"The health science podcast "My Amazing Body" covers a different part of your body every episode with the help of medical professionals and stories from everyday people. The Australian podcast is produced by Queensland Health and started in 2019. Sadly, it looks like the podcast has ended or is on a very long hiatus. Before its untimely departure, 26 episodes were published, all on average about 30 minutes long. OwlTail has the most popular episodes for the show being "The Liver" and "Gender." My favorites are "The Ears" and "The Gut Microbiome." The last five episodes focused on mental health and were done really well. They have a Youtube channel, but I only saw a full episode or two posted.Apple Podcast has 5 out of 5 stars but only 6 ratings, which is crazy for such a well-done show. The script is narrative, with each episode starting out by explaining what the body part or system does and how it functions. I love the music and sounds used in the podcast. While there is an outro jingle, the intro is done with the sound of a beating heart, which I think is super cool. The only trigger warnings for this show are health-related and pretty clear by the episode title. So if you have a hard time hearing someone describe anxiety, that might be a good episode to skip. I really love this podcast and hopefully, with enough interest in it, we can get it to come back.Similar Pods: "Meat," "Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter" and "Life Kit: Health"That's all for this week, but remember if you want to see any of the podcasts I've mentioned on the show, be sure to check out the show notes or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can find my sources in the show notes there as well. Remember to share "The Mastercast" with the pod lovers in your life and lookout for the next episode. This week's music came from various artists on gameart.org/. Thanks for listening!Music by:Hardmoon / Arjen SchumacherTausdeiPatrick de Arteaga at patrickdearteaga.comVishwa JaiMatthew Pablo"Blueberries" composed, performed, mixed and mastered by Viktor Kraus ★ Support this podcast ★

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 on 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 three episodes. We have some lengthy reviews which I'm sure you know by now means I was very excited about these podcasts, so let's get started. "Surprisingly Brilliant""Surprisingly Brilliant is about science history, covering the hidden stories and unsung heroes of some of the greatest accomplishments of science. For iHeartRadio and Seeker, passionate hosts and writers Maren Hunsberger and Greg Foot take turns telling each other the origins of fascinating scientific ideas from all disciplines of science in a way that is not only easy to understand but jaw-droppingly entertaining. You don't have to have a background in science or have had gotten top marks in school to enjoy the topics. The detail in each hour-long episode is made greater by an esteemed guest from the field who helps tell the story lost to history books. It's so nice to hear a show coming from people who genuinely love science and have a dynamic that makes them sound like they grew up friends. Apple Podcasts has an average of 4.5 stars, 365 ratings and 80 written reviews. The 2020 show has two seasons so far and a total of 30 episodes, and Hunsberger confirmed via Twitter the show's third season is in the works. When releasing, episodes usually come out on Fridays. The most popular episodes according to OwlTail are "The Puzzle Beneath Your Feet" and "The Electronic Ear." I LOVED the electronic ear episode also. As a huge fan of audio, I thought it was fascinating to hear about implants and the preferred terms and language associated with them. I think it's so important to make the medium of podcasting more accessible. Music is subtle and comes in and out at important parts of the story. The commercial amount is average. I can't express how much I've enjoyed the show. I can't wait for season three to come out. If you've been a fan of Hunsberger 's YouTube, Seeker or "Science in General," this podcast is a must-listen.Similar Pods: "Short Wave," "SideDoor," "99% Invisible" and "Ologies""No Strings Attached"It's April 5, 2015, and Vicky Cilliers, an army captain, loving wife and mother goes to jump out of an airplane like she has so many times before. The experienced freefall instructor has completed 2,600 jumps safely, but on this Easter Sunday her parachutes have been tampered with causing them to fail. Will she survive the 4,000-foot fall? What looks like an accident leads detectives to uncover a story of infidelity, debt and manipulation when Cilliers' picture-perfect life turns out to be not what it seems. From ITV News and hosted by Rob Murphy, "No Strings Attached, the 2020 podcast has 4.8 stars from Apple Podcast, 17 ratings and only 2 written reviews. The hidden gem is completed with eight episodes total that average about 32 minutes in length. Each contains interviews from those involved with the case as well as insight into how the British legal system differs from the American system. Extra video content can be found on their website. No commercials and minimal music. Trigger warnings for abuse and violence.Similar podcasts: "Conning the Con," "The Sure Thing" and "Culpable""I Spy""I Spy" offers an amazing inside peek into the world of espionage and intelligence agency operations. It's produced by Foreign Policy, the makers of the news magazine and website by the same name. Each half-hour well-produced episode is a first-person account of a specific event they were involved in, and the subject is something completely original. What other podcast has behind-the-scenes access to secret missions? It's hosted by Margo Martindale who plays a very minimal role, doing only the intro and outro. The interview questions seem to be edited out, resulting in the guest telling a seamless, detailed story much like what's heard in "This is Actually Happening." The tales come not only from American agents but spies from other intelligence programs. No matter how you feel about some of the things done by different governments, it's neat to see how the inside functions. It's suspenseful but not true crime. The show will have you sitting in your car to finish an episode and frustrated anytime someone interrupts you. Gripping and binge-worthy, the stories cover a wide range of perspectives, such as politics and history, while being real-life action thrillers. So far there are 22 episodes from three seasons and no word if we can expect a fourth. Apple Podcasts has 4.7 out of 5 stars, 2,443 ratings and 216 written reviews. My favorite episodes have been "The Sleeper Agent" and "The Counterspy." OwlTail's most popular listed episodes are "The Man With the Antidote" and "The Narc part 1." There is music that I didn't find bothersome, but some do. Trigger warnings for violence.Similar pods: "American Jihadi," "Wind of Change" and "Spy Affair""LeVar Burton Reads"As a kid, I was a loyal "Reading Rainbow" fan. I never missed it, and now I can continue curling up to enjoy more of LeVar Burton in "LeVar Burton Reads," done with Stitcher. The show has 4.9 out of 5 stars for a reason. Every Tuesday, solo host Burton (with the help of his team, whom he never fails to credit) reads one of his favorite fictional short stories from a diverse selection of contemporary and classic writers. I've found so many more authors of color from this pod than I would have on my own. The support and inclusiveness is a goal to emulate. Production is excellent across the board with voice and soundscaping expertly done. Equal parts soothing and familiar, Burton's talented reading is another great staple of the show. It's perfect for every character regardless of which emotion is being conveyed, and the selection of stories always challenges listeners to think critically. Just a warning for those who are looking for happy ever after endings: The stories read usually spotlight science fiction, speculative fiction and fantasy, which sometimes results in suspenseful, unresolved conclusions. Despite this, one similarity between the tales is that they are all brilliant. So much so that I listen to them twice: once as I go to sleep and then again the next morning to hear what I missed. They're too good to be only for sleep. Beware of episode notes about content, which he reminds listeners of every episode. There is swearing, and once I heard a slur, but again it's all in the show notes and a part of the read story. At the end of every story, Burton gives his own opinions about the reading in a short debriefing that wraps everything up nicely. 146 episodes so far, all about 45 minutes on average with new episodes coming out weekly on Tuesdays. My favorite episodes have been "'Dark Spaces on the Map' by Anjali Sachdeva" and "'Jump' by Cadwell Turnbull." OwlTail's most popular are listed as "LIVE! in DC: 'A Dark Night' by Edward P. Jones" and "'Multo' by Samuel Marzioli." The commercial amount is average but never wakes me up. This pod is for anyone who considers themself a lover of books or fantastic narration.Similar Pods: "Fictional," "Book Cheat" and "Phoebe Reads A Mystery""Convicted: Across Borders"This 2021, five-part series is about some of the 3,000 Americans that are imprisoned abroad every year. "Convicted: Across Borders" is all about showing how a person doing what they think is living a normal life can cause them to be imprisoned by a legal system they know nothing about in a language they don't speak and with no one to help them, all of this while being told they'll never be able to leave. It's very similar to "Locked Up Abroad;" however, it features more wrongfully convicted stories. Produced by L.A. Times Studios and Treefort Media, it is funded by Focus Features and was made to accompany their new Tom McCarthy-Matt Damon film, "Stillwater," the same production Amanda Knox spoke out about as fictionalizing her murder trial in Italy. A few promos for the movie play throughout the series but aren't any longer or more bothersome than regular commercials.It's hosted by famed lawyer and bestselling author Marcia Clark who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. I don't recommend Clark's previous pod "The First 48," but as mentioned, this one is well done. A big part of that comes from how the stories are told in the first person from the men and women who lived through these nightmares. Additional guests are sometimes family, international affairs specialists or lawyers who helped with the case. The stories of suffering and heartbreak from everyone involved are upsetting but also inspiring. It has 4.9 stars, 86 ratings and eight written reviews on Apple Podcasts. Episodes were 33 minutes long on average. The show doesn't have the twenty episodes required for OwlTail to do the most popular calculations, but my favorites were "Nightmare in Nicaragua" and "Villian of Venezuela." Music wasn't disruptive and the show had an average amount of commercials. Trigger warnings for wrongful conviction and hopelessness.Similar Pods: "The World Beneath," "Kremlin File" and "Heist with Michael Caine""The Offensive""The Offensive," an award-winning show by Stak, is a mockumentary sports podcast that follows the fictitious premiere football club Ashwood City through the eyes of the CEO, sports director and director of communication with some help from a narrator. The show is absolutely hilarious but not for kids. I wasn't sure how a mockumentary would go on just audio because so much of my favorite shows depend heavily on visual cues, but I can confirm this pod nails it. It's what I put on when I'm having a really bad day. I actually tried not to binge it too quickly because I didn't want to run out of episodes, and that's the first time I've ever done that for any podcast. I kept thinking the show would fall off, but with 121 episodes and new episodes coming out every Monday, it doesn't look like the comedy is waning anytime soon. One of the best parts about the show is that if you're a fan of football, this show is accurate, but if you aren't, you're in luck as well because the rapid-fire snark is mostly about the relationships between the main characters that anyone can enjoy. There's so much backstabbing, scheming and stupidity that it's very much a combination of “The Thick of It” and “The League.” Writers of the show credit weekly happenings in real-life football as inspiration for some of the crazier calamities in the pod. The show has 4.8 out of 5 stars, 553 ratings and eight written reviews. As of August 2021, the show had reached over a million downloads, making it one of the most popular fiction comedy podcasts available. The content is exceptional, and the voice talent is as well with over 80 actors having parts throughout the show. Sometimes they're even recording in the same room. The show has a pretty creative Twitter account that is managed in-character with live tweets from “games” being made. Fans of the podcast respond in kind by tweeting back abuse. There's also a very well-done merch store with home and away shirts as well as mugs, hats, pop sockets and a few other items. Personally, I'm waiting on the scarf. Commercials start off really rare and then increase to average over time. The music is on-theme and usually comes after a cold open. I will mention that along with profanity there, is a fire alarm that sounds in one of the earlier episodes. I don't think it's excessive, but it could be a trigger warning.Similar Pods: "A Very Fatal Murder," "Dead Authors Podcast" and "Hello from the Magic Tavern.""Word of the Day"The "Word of the Day" podcast by Merriam-Webster is the audio version of their Word of the Day email newsletter, written to educate listeners on a fresh word every day. It covers the word's etymology and other fun facts about it. I really enjoy queuing a few at the beginning of my day's feed. All of the context for the words makes them really easy to remember. Even if I know the word, I can still learn something new about it. It might be one of the most useful podcasts I follow. Hosted by Peter Sokolowski, the show is 4.4 out of 5 and 952 ratings. Apple Podcasts only seems to have the latest 10 episodes, but through art19.com I was able to find every episode back to the show's air date on October 24, 2006. Since then the show has posted a word of the day every single day including holidays for 5,389 three-minute-long episodes total. The pod had some technical issues in the distant past but has since cleared them up including download issues, mistitled episodes and uneven volume for intro and ads. The pod is 15 years old, so some growing pains are expected. Ads seem to be the chief complaint among listeners, but I think they're fine, especially if you only listen to one or two a day.Similar Pods: "Spectacular Vernacular," "The Allusionist" and "A Way with Words."Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next month for the best of September. If you would like your music to be a feature on the show or a podcast to be recommended, send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com. Marie Tanksley, KCSU's podcast director can be reached at podcast@kcsufm.com. Sources:https://www.apple.com/apple-podcasts/https://www.owltail.com/https://www.podchaser.com/Art19.comhttps://stak.london/shows/the-offensive/https://podbiblemag.com/the-offensive-podcast/ ★ Support this podcast ★

Intro:Hey Pod lovers. If you're joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that consists of 7 non-spoiler binge-worthy reviews of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on 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 recommend checking out Episode One. Reviews:Just The Zoo of Us  - No Spoilers! This is one of my new favorite podcasts. This educational show is all about listening in as couple Christian and Ellen Weatherford review a different animal every episode. The show has a solid five stars on Apple Podcasts, with 67 ratings, and 38 written reviews and starts with each of them weigh the animal on a rating out of 10 on effectiveness, ingenuity, and aesthetics. The disclaimer at the beginning of the show lets you know they aren't animal professionals, but enthusiasts who hold the research of each animal as the most important aspect of the show. I think that is why their hilarious cute dynamic is so unexpectedly charming.  I never would have thought this adorable couple from Jacksonville, Florida would become literally my favorite couple of any media. Their knowledge and love for nerdy things like anime and dnd is something I hadn't seen in a podcast that wasn't specifically about those topics. If you listen to the show in order you will pick up on some subtle mentions of their private life. It starts with just the two of them, follows in their pregnancy, and then welcomes baby Finley into the world! I adore baby Finley who can occasionally be heard cooing in the background of some episodes. That is not all they are, either! Besides being well-researched, cute, and funny they also have good radio voices and production quality. The podcast is made knowing you might listen with little ones, so it does not contain profanity. The episodes do sometimes mention things like reproduction and predatory habits. I really like how (maybe because they are not experts) the language they use is super accessible and easily understood. That way I'm not lost in all the technical terms. Their website is well done and includes transcripts, coloring pages, and a message/animal submission/guest form. The couple is super active on Twitter and also has this email you can use to contact them. So far, the show has 91 episodes, all about an hour in length and new ones come out weekly usually at the end of the week. They also have experts come in, usually on a biweekly basis to have a deeper conversation about that week's animal. Expert guest episodes became the most common when the couple took a short break to spend with newly arrived baby Finley. Episodes can be found on all major platforms. The most popular episodes according to Owltail are 3: Praying Mantis & Giant Panda and 7: Asian Elephant & Immortal Jellyfish. My favorites were 70: American Bison & Giraffe-Necked Weevil and 1: American Alligator & Florida Manatee. Music is really well chosen and credited at the end of every episode. The show covers a ton of animals I never thought I would want to know anything about but hearing these two talk about them as if they were the coolest thing that is ever existed changed my mind. And I think it could do the same for you.   Similar Pods: The Wild Episode, Herpetological Highlights, and Nature GuysSearching for Rachel Antonio: This Australian podcast drops you into a Queensland family's search for answers in their daughter's 18-year-old cold case. Rachel disappeared after being dropped off at the movies. She was never seen again leaving her family with more questions than leads. They contacted David Murray, an investigative journalist working with The Courier-Mail in hopes the case will be given new attention or maybe even that developments would be made. This podcast is short and sweet but with the expected lengthy news recap and preview at either end of an episode (but it was only information). 6 episodes about 31 minutes apiece. I was surprised to see this podcast didn't have as many listens or reviews as I expected. Similar Podcasts: Blue Siren's Police Tape, Unravel True Crime, and Australian True CrimeDressed: This educational podcast talks about the history of fashion in the streamlined inviting tone I've grown accustomed to from YouTube and “Stuff You Should Know”. It really does an amazing job at looking at fashion through different lenses such as art, history, politics, function and so much more. The hosts really know their stuff as well with both having master's degrees in fashion studies. While I could have sworn one of the hosts was from “Stuff You Missed in History Class”, all my research seems to point to that not being the case. The shows are intertwined though with the origins of the show coming after an appearance April made on SYMIHC. Here's a pretty detailed account of how it happened from an interview April did for SimonSays: https://blog.simonsays.ai/behind-the-podcast-a-conversation-with-april-calahan-co-host-of-dressed-the-history-of-fashion-917c11ca7440. Anyway, the show has a little over 1,000 reviews and an average of 4.5-stars. New episodes come out every Tuesday (and sometimes Thursdays) on a year-round season so there's no shortage of juicy fashion knowledge in the foreseeable future. Currently, there are 198 episodes about 40 minutes long with a noticeable amount of commercials in them (I don't find it unbearable). My favorite episode is definitely the Smuggled in the Bustle: an interview with Hind Abdul-Jabbar that talks about how smuggling was actually a big part of fashion back in the day and sometimes still is.  Owltail has its two episodes as Freeing the Body: The Birth of Modern Dress, A Vanderbilt House Party--The Gilded Age, an Interview with Leslie Klingner, and Holiday Bonus FHM: The History of Glitter (I really liked this one). This podcast is about as loose on the script as they come without being completely unscripted or edited. The background music can be noticed sometimes throughout the earlier episodes, but I really only found it troubling on my laptop and I've listened to all of the episodes through headphones fine. Zero trigger warnings. One last note is that I do like the beginning episodes more than the latter but they're all good. Similar Pods: History of the 90s, Crime Culture, It Was Simple: The Betty Broderick MurdersTides of History: This history podcast is my new favorite to listen to as I fall asleep. It's polished with well-done audio like all of Wondery's shows and informative in a captivating way. It covers everything from ancient times to modern perspectives and origins stories on all sorts of things that make up the human experience. Ph.D. historian and host, Phil Wyman has an amazing voice backed up subtle sound effects and complimenting music that makes for the best soundtrack to fall asleep to that I've heard in a while. For those that don't know most platforms/apps have a sleep timer setter and for iPhones there's a “stop playing” option at the bottom of the alarm choices. Itunes has 4.5 thousand reviews and an average of 4.7 stars. New episodes come out Thursdays which is a huge plus for me (even though it usually takes me a few nights to get through them) because most of my favorite shows come out at the beginning of the week leaving me in a bit of a drought towards the end. 171 episodes all on average about 41 minutes long with Owltail's highest ranking being The Trials and Tribulations of the Late Medieval Church, The Wars of the Roses, and 1492: A Guided Tour of Europe on the Brink. My favorites have to be The First Farmers, and Who Were the First Americans? The latest episode came out this week and the show remains consistent in the type of content (storytelling and interview-based) with the topics of the episodes going from more modern to prehistoric. Similar Pods: Incredible Feats, It was Said, and American ShadowsThe Hyacinth Disaster - No Spoilers! The year is AD 2151 and some dozen or so supercorporations competitively mine the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter with a ruthlessness outside the laws governing Earth. Under their manipulation are thousands of mining ships fighting to get their big break. It's a normal day for the crew of one of these ships, the MRS Hyacinth, that is until a call comes in about a sister ship, MRS Corvus, being taken hostage by an opposing company while working in their territory. With the higher-ups in the corporation deciding to leave the MRS Corvus to the terrible fate its captors describe, the MRS Hyacinth decides to break some rules (all of them really) and mine an unsanctioned asteroid in order to pay the ransom and save not only their fellow coworkers but their friends. However, once they arrive things don't go as planned leading to sci-fi emotional audio drama that is The Hyacinth Disaster. I know you're thinking: not another space podcast! While the niche may be oversaturated at the moment this pod's ending sets itself apart enough to warrant being added to your listening collection. While a slow burn the show doesn't drag on for dozens of episodes. In just seven, half-hour parts it'll pull you in, make you feel like one of the team, and then rip your heart out. Each episode ends in a cliffhanger but don't worry the 2017 show finished up that same year and is ready to binge. If the self-contained story leaves you wanting more you'll be happy to hear that creator David Carlson intends to eventually produce more additions that explore more of the complex words we get a glimpse of in this series. The tear invoking podcast has 4.8 out of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and 223 Ratings. There are some moments of lesser audio quality not due to poor recording or producing but to fit parts of the story where the crew uses static radios to communicate. Not a deal-breaker for me but I could see it for some. The show has a really extensive website with a database full of non-spoiling backgrounds for the story. A true picture of a team with everyone having a niche and complicated relationships I think this Shakespeare-esque tragedy would make a great film. Similar Pods: Immunities, Station Blue, and PalimpsestThey Disappeared: I found this episodic podcast while looking for pods that covered the Elisa Lam case and really liked the voice of the narrator and the intro music. I love when the intro music is really catchy and leads into the pod well. I have a theory that pods with exciting intros and catchy intro/exit music make podcasts easy to binge because one leads into the next really well. As the title suggests the podcast is about people who've disappeared or gone missing and is currently releasing new episodes once a month. It's only just getting started with its first episode airing in December of last year and 13 episodes totally. The great part about that is that it's still in the “no commercial” phase I feel like I've grown accustomed to from new pods. All together episodes are on average about 28 minutes long with the shortest ones being only 10 minutes and the longer ones being almost an hour. To me, this is a sign the pod intends to be straightforward with not a lot of speculation which I like (there's a time and place for the pod: Down the Rabbit). Despite being not well known and episodes being posted roughly every 17 days, the pod can be found on every platform I could think of. The latest episode was also posted on August 5, 2020, a pretty decent sign we can expect more to come. I really like episodes “A Secret in the Mountains: The Disappearance of Deorr Kunz” and “The Lost Highway The Disappearance of Asha Degree” which are both listed in the top three episodes of the pod by Owltail. Similar Pods: The Day Helen Disappeared, Missing Person Cases with Chloe,  and The Abyss PodTwo Girls One Crossword: Wow. It is my proud and humble honor to probably introduce you to the unexpectedly fascinating world of crossword podcasts. This was my first one but since listening and falling in love with it I've subscribed to a few others. I really don't know how I started to listen but I normally wouldn't. I mean who wants to listen to someone read a crossword but this show isn't just for puzzlers. After giving the weekly brief of cultural happenings in the crossword world (say that ten times fast) then each of the hosts presents trivia on a topic they've researched. Often during the weekly brief, they will call out clues or answers that are outdated or bluntly sexist or racist (it's not long and I think it's cool they do it). They often explain the etymology behind some of the puzzles, and it leads to their topical discussions. 51 episodes about an hour apiece with new ones coming out usually Sunday or Monday. I listened to and fell in love with 49 - Crimes & Tattoos, 25 - Diamonds Are 5ever, and 24 - Unidentified Fanged Objects. 48 ratings on Itunes and all of them are 5 stars (the only times I've ever seen it while doing recommendations) and loosely scripted (like Morbid). Similar Podcasts: Stuff You Should Know etc., Stuff You Should Know About Greek Mythology, Stuff You Should Know About Therapy,Outro:All right, guys, that's all for this week but remember if you want to see any of the podcasts I've mentioned on the show be sure to check out the show notes or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can find my sources in the show notes there as well. Remember to show the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Sunday. This week's music came from Kim Lightyear, Snabish, and Matthew Pablo of Opengameart.com. If you would like your music to be a feature on the show send us an email at thmastercastpodlist@gmail.com. Thanks for listening! Sources:https://www.apple.com/apple-podcasts/https://www.owltail.com/https://www.podchaser.com/https://www.justthezooofus.com/https://www.davidecarlson.net/hyacinthhttps://blog.simonsays.ai/behind-the-podcast-a-conversation-with-april-calahan-co-host-of-dressed-the-history-of-fashion-917c11ca7440 ★ Support this podcast ★

“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 on everything you could want to know from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be.Podcasts covered in this episode include “Murder in House Two,” “We're Alive,” “List Envy,” “How To!” with Charles Duhigg, “Julie: the Unwinding of the Miracle,” “The Food Chain” and “Reasonably Sound.” This week's music came from Arches Audio, and the sources of the reviewed podcasts include Apple Podcast, Podchaser, Podnods, Podnews, OwlTail, American Public Media and Listen Notes. ★ Support this podcast ★

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 on everything you could want to know from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. Podcasts covered in this episode include: "Wife of Crime," "Duncan Trussell Family Hour," "They Will Kill," "Enthusiast!," "Shallow Graves," "The Pineapple Project" and "Girl in Space." This week's music came from Arches Audio, and the sources of the reviewed podcasts include: Apple Podcast, Podchaser, Podnods, Podnews, OwlTail and Listen Notes. ★ Support this podcast ★