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| Paul F. Tompkins |
More than any other media, the 2010's was the period that saw the rise of the podcast. While there were the few who created theirs prior, the field felt like it became more crowded by the week as every comedian and celebrity felt the need to hop on a bandwagon and give their own spin to the medium. While it's difficult to narrow the list down to a manageable 10 from the hundreds that entertain on a monthly basis, the following is a breakdown of 20 shows that I personally found enjoyable and made a difference in the past 10 years. They have helped to shape the medium by entertaining and informing in new and accessible ways. While this is only a small amount of my favorites, I hope that you share yours in the comments.
1. You Must Remember This
Since the show's inception, Karina Longworth has been at the top of the podcast pile. Her show has a simple premise of exploring the secrets and/or forgotten the history of Hollywood's first century. With the several miniseries, Longworth has explored the complicated relationship that Hollywood has had with the world by dissecting Song of the South, Charles Manson, dead blondes, and the correlation between the actresses Jean Seaberg and Jane Fonda. There's so much to learn not only in these stories but from Longworth's flawless production on a regular basis. This is the future of history lessons: broken down into hour-long episodes with so much focus to detail that nothing goes overlooked. Many have come close to matching her talent, but none have given the sensitive passion to the underdogs of the system quite like her.
2. WTF with Marc Maron
More than anyone comedian, the podcast felt made for Marc Maron. After decades of a stand-up career and many fraught relationships, he had no choice but to turn on a microphone and vent to whoever would listen. He did it out of his garage and the rest is history. As one of the formative voices in the medium, he helped to shape how the interview show was molded by taking celebrities of every ilk and profession and ask them personal questions in order to better understand what drives them. The show is as much a collection of essential interviews as it is the growth of a man coming to terms with his own anger problems and success. For those who have the time to witness the growth, it's one of the most inspiring stories of its kind. Oh yeah, and he interviewed President Obama at one point. He's definitely a big deal.
3. Dissect
While we're way past the old adage of "rap is crap," it does feel like the mainstream market has yet to fully appreciate it as an art form. Cole Kushna has decided to right some wrongs by taking some of the genre's essential records and answer the question: why is this essential? The detail that goes into an average series is an example of music theory hiding in plain sight. To look at the works of Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamarr, and Frank Ocean from a musical and historical perspective allow every episode by creating a deeper understanding of where art comes from. It may not convince you that this music is good, but it will at least convince you of the effort put into making music that matters, and that it's not just improvisational lyrics and sampling. There's a lot that goes into music, and this is one of the few essential shows that proves it.
4. Operation Kino/Fighting in the War Room
If one was to ask themselves who would be some of the most influential film critics in the next 10 years, they'd be lucky to guess that a lot of them came from this show. The quartet met in New York and felt the need to make a show discussing their opinion on all types of film ranging from blockbusters to obscure arthouse. The show is as much about deconstruction as falling in love with the different personalities, who all clash in a friendly manner and form certain bonds over the love of different media. Their Quarter Quells are a chance to hear them get personal and understand why we love film, to begin with. Still, the charisma of its hosts is unprecedented and has lead to major figures writing for Vanity Fair (Katey Rich), Indiewire (David Ehrlich), Polygon (Matt Patches), and the enjoyable Game of Thrones/Lost podcast Storm of Spoilers (Da7e Gonzales). It's hard not to find something to love about this show, and while their reviews may have been cut back, it's in part from their private lives becoming parents. It's a sweet little twist of fate and one that shows just how media grows and changes as things change.
5. Firewall & Iceberg
By the end of the decade, Alan Sepinwall will have published multiple books on the subject of TV criticism that are essential. Even at the start of the decade, he was one of the premier voices as he wrote recaps for HitFix on the many "Peak TV" series that have defined this decade. While this show with The Hollywood Reporter's Dan Fienberg may have not made it to the final half, it reflects criticism on a level that can't be captured on the page. It's the work of two friends forming inside jokes with fans and finding different trends that they love. It was as much a chance to form a love of new and obscure shows as it was to hear the joy resonating from the hosts. While they have each had additional shows since then (Sepinwall with TV Avalanche, Fienberg with TV's Top 5), there is something representing lightning in a bottle with this particular show that hasn't been emulated fully. Then again, both have become even more essential in the time since, though one could only hope they find a way to work together in the future somehow.
6. The Dead Authors Podcast
The cross-section for humor and knowledge never felt as sublime as when Paul F. Tompkins came up with the crazy idea to play H.G. Wells interviewing his guest, who often arrived by time machine. Everyone who appeared on the show was comedians who could be trusted to deliver a laugh. However, there as a sliding scale for how accurate the jokes would be to a personal character. Still, Tompkins did his best to reel it all in and in the process created something special. He created a love of literature by discussing bizarre literary decisions as well as various figures' egos. If nothing else, the show featured many memorable gags, such as a two-part episode on the life of L. Ron Hubbard that is bizarre. You don't have to love books to appreciate this show, but seeing as Tompkins is one of the essential hosts of the decade, you may as well try so that you can have a deeper laugh.
7. Amy Nicholson
The Canon, Unspooled,
Halloween Unmasked, Quentin Tarantino's Feature Presentation
It's difficult to pick just one show that Amy Nicholson has been involved with from the past decade. While she's been a film critic for much longer, her brief work in the podcast world has produced many essential shows, often diving into film history and discussing what makes art a wonderful and complicated medium. Even The Canon (hosted by the now infamous Devin Faraci) found ways to discuss art by trying to determine what traits a great movie had. It continued more effectively on Unspooled where she joined Paul Scheer in tackling the A.F.I. Top 100 list. Beyond that, her work on Halloween Unmasked and Quentin Tarantino Presents has found a way to explore the personal side of film history and brought out interesting perspectives on beloved figures. No matter what she does, she seems destined to be one of the essential critics of the film, whether in print or audio, when all is said and done.
8. Breaking Bad Insider Podcast
No show has been as definitive for the decade quite like Breaking Bad. It has helped to create the definitive anti-hero and the many spin-offs have only helped to improve the image of this world. However, it also helped to revolutionize the podcast by having creator Vince Gilligan join his cast and crew on a regular basis to deconstruct every episode in detail. What you got was a look behind the scenes and an appreciation of the craft that made every episode an essential use for fans of the show. It revealed how plots were born and how shots composed, and it was just a refreshing look at a crew who loved working together. Breaking Bad was a special show that seems greater with these episodes in memory. Yes, there's also a Better Call Saul show, though your enjoyment on said show will depend on how much you like the show. Even then, it can't compare to the crazy things they came up with the first time around.
9. The Dana Gould Hour
On the flip side of the dispensable, accessible podcasting spectrum is Dana Gould. While the show originate as something resembling an hour, the average one now is thrice that length and is published on a monthly basis. With that said, he remains one of the more charismatic hosts whose mix of experience in comedy and classic horror leads to some nerdy conversations that are silly and weird. What should seem exhaustive ends up being a look inside the mind of a man with so much passion that he can't help but share. Some of it even gets personal, such as a period where he got divorced and needed money. It's the perfect show for those who love to be immersed in a conversation, flowing in and out when things get boring or tedious.
10. The Fogelnest Files
There was a brief period in the early half of the decade where clip-show comedy was more common. It was used to fill in punchlines and laugh at random people on the internet. There was one man however who was fascinated by the absurd in a different way. Jake Fogelnest sought to explore these videos through themes that fit his guests and allowed the audience to join in the sometimes baffling work that's out there. Even then, Fogelnest seems to have a love for the avant-garde that keeps any of it from feeling mean-spirited. He revels in the detail, imagining the joys of being young and naive, wondering how they came up with the idea. It's a celebration of bad choices without bad feelings. It's the type of show that only he was really good at.
11. Extra Hot Great
If one show deserves to be the gold standard for the TV criticism variety show, it's this one. Over the course of many websites and hosts, the show has covered the spectrum of series from modern classics to old-timey nonsense, all accompanied by delightful clips. The show is a celebration of why we turn on the TV in the first place, finding heated opinions mixing with comedic bits that all create its own magical show. It even ends regularly with a game-time where they compete for glory. You don't have to love the show they're talking about to have a good time. In fact, it's likely to move onto another topic in 15 minutes. You just need to love the tube and everything high and low brow to get the most out of this show's love for a medium that seems to change more often than not. Thankfully, the charm of this show never goes out of fashion.
12. The Pod F. Tompkast
While Paul F. Tompkins hasn't gone anywhere, his original outing as a solo podcaster feels like a bygone relic at this point. He was known for guesting on everyone else's show, so when he released his own project it felt special. In that way, these feel timeless by featuring the id of a comedian slowly unraveling with Ebin Schletter accompanying on piano and Jen Kirkman providing random stories as well. The world that he created so intricate with detail that it became one of the first that felt serialized and would grow with appreciation with each listens. It's a show that unfortunately disappeared slowly and gave way to other projects that continue to prove Tompkins' gift as an entertainer. The only issue is that a lot of the bits that made this show special don't appear on them, and thus a crucial piece of early podcasting is missing. Still, he still knows how to have a good time no matter who he's talking to.
13. Score: The Podcast
The world of podcasting is full of shows wanting to interview actors and directors, but what about the people behind the scenes? Following the successful release of Score: The Movie, the creators decided to take to podcasts to interview the various composers who have made the greatest music put to film. What results is a nice mix of lectures on craft and a dive into how they got started. Considering that everyone seems to come from the same community, it becomes a friendly exchange that knows no bounds. It's the exploration of how film can impact our emotions of films and why we should be thankful that these creators are so generous to one another. It's a show that makes a discussion of film scores more accessible and interesting in ways that hopefully will continue to grow in the decade to come.
14. With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus
Before Lauren Lapkus became a great supporting actress, she was one of the best voices on podcasts. Following random stints on shows like Comedy Bang Bang, she followed the novel idea of being "the host but also the guest, but she's also the host, so she's not really the guest." It's less confusing than that sounds and it allows her to explore some of the weirdest characters in podcasting. What you don't realize is that it's also very funny and the improvisation allows the stories to go down in some of the weirdest diatribes possible. While Lapkus is starting to get her due, it's hard to not love where things started and the many characters she helped bring to life in memorable and often profane ways.
15. The Auteurcast
Until an abrupt and unexplained cancellation that wiped most of the back catalog off the internet, The Auteurcast was essential listening. Following the familiar advice of Cahiers du Cinema, the hosts chose to ask the question: what makes an auteur? They didn't just tackle the familiar voices, such as Quentin Tarantino. They chose to get into more mainstream acts like Michael Bay to try and understand what made his insane vision so compelling. They were some of the most enjoyable conversations out there, leading to very informed opinions that felt essential. The only shame is that the show never quite got to the status of popularity that it deserved before its disappearance, and thus never got the respect it deserved. Still, if one can track it down, it should be essential listening to any of the films referenced. They only enhance the experience.
16. The Gimlet Media Empire
Crimetown, Every Little Thing, Heavy Weight, Homecoming,
Mystery Show, Reply All, Science Vs., Surprisingly Awesome,
Twice Removed, Undone
To be honest, there's a handful of podcasting empires that could be on this list thanks to some great shows. However, none have felt like they struck on brilliance as much and often as Gimlet. Following the On the Media spin-off Reply All, the network slowly began to explore short-form information shows that taught everything possible from local crime (Crimetown) to science (Science Vs.). The hosts were some of the most enjoyable in the business, and their chemistry together only made things better. Still, if one wanted to get a crash course on any subject, they would do worse than to start here. It even featured a pre-Oscar win Adam McKay (Surprisingly Awesome) on a show that should've stuck around a little longer. There's so much to enjoy and every show deserves a spot on this list for redefining the way we consume information.
17. Stand By Your Band
More than film, music is a subjective medium that may be hard for everyone to appreciate. That's why this stands out as one of the most interesting shows about embracing that difference. With several comedians coming together to look at usually maligned artists, it's a great time of friends understanding that sometimes what makes great music isn't the artist, but the experience and the moment that it's discovered. The average episode is sure to fill the listener with a few laughs as well as some deep thoughts on why music remains an essential part of life. Even when it gets critical and even insulting, there's an underlying sense of love that's hard to ignore, making this one of the best warm hugs you could possibly give to those who like things that you don't.
18. 80s All Over
Up until its unfortunate end earlier in 2019, this was one of the greatest achievements in ambitious podcasting. The goal was to watch every film released during the 1980s and discuss how they mattered to the greater culture. The results covered only a few years, but in that time the audio clips and analysis all helped to drop the viewer into a bygone era as they tried to understand trends of film and how things have changed in the years since. If nothing else, it was one of the best places to get recommendations for obscure cinema that you weren't likely to get elsewhere. The 1980s were a very weird time for cinema, and this show loves most of that experience. If it ever comes back (which isn't likely), it could go down as one of the best shows of its kind. Even without that distinction, it's still a great use of time.
19. This Had Oscar Buzz
There's a lot to uncover in the history of The Academy Awards. With the ceremony approaching its 91st year, many shows have taken to looking at the films that have defined eras with deep dissections. They're usually good, but none get to the heart of what makes any season great quite like this one. With two passionate hosts, they decide to focus on films that miss the boat entirely, exploring how trends have changed over the years to reflect what defines Oscar-bait. Sometimes it's not even that. Sometimes it just misses the boat by bad timing. Whatever the case may be, this is a great show about the films that have otherwise been forgotten by the public. Without a show like this highlighting why they were once considered special, they'd be lost to history. While the show posits that a lot of what they cover should, there's still a joy in thinking that we're doomed to fall for this every year and that they will never run out of new buzz.
20. Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period
W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery created one of the greatest tributes to a single actor ever in podcast form. While they never quite got to interview Denzel Washington before the show reached its conclusion, it did manage to bring a community of fans together that ranged from the familiar Spike Lee fans to Russian citizens who run their fan websites. It's a chance to discuss racial representation on film as well as what makes Washington a singular actor capable of winning over any viewer. The show was about many things in its existence, and in the process celebrated black art in all of its forms. It may have had a limitation that it eventually couldn't get over, but in those few years, it was an essential listen full of entertaining conversations and moments that remind us that part of what makes Washington great is that this is what he does. We just happen to be lucky enough to see it.
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