7 Best Podcasts of Jan 2016!

7 Best Podcasts of Jan 2016!

KNIFEPOINT HORROR ‘These tales of supernatural suspense by Soren Narnia adhere to the most primal element of storytelling: a single human voice describing events exactly as it experienced them. The stories, stripped of even proper titles, spill forward as taut, uninterrupted confessions. Knifepoint Horror leaves nothing but the story’s riveting spine to compel and chill you to the core. Music by Kevin MacLeod.’

BOOK RIOT‘Book Riot – The Podcast is a weekly news and talk show about what’s new, cool, and worth talking about in the world of books and reading, brought to you by the editors of Book Riot.’

WTF

11’OCLOCK COMICS ‘VinceB, David Price, and Jason Wood talk comics and stuff.’

B-MOVIE CAST ‘The B-Movie Cast is a website podcast and forum devoted all things B-movie and cult move related.’

THE BLACK TAPES PODCAST ‘The Black Tapes is a weekly podcast from Pacific Northwest Stories and Minnow Beats Whale, and is hosted by Alex Reagan. The Black Tapes is a serialized docudrama about one journalist’s search for truth, her enigmatic subject’s mysterious past, and the literal and figurative ghosts that haunt them both.’

COMIC GEEK SPEAK ‘Comic Geek Speak (CGS) was started in March, 2005 when Bryan and Peter decided to try their hand at the then-new world of podcasting. They quickly invited their friends to join them and then the show was complete.

CGS is far more than just a few friends in a room with microphones. CGS is now a worldwide community of comic fans that helps to foster and grow the love of comics that is vital to the industry’s success.’

2015 Podcasts the Year in Review: Old Favorites ended and New ones discovered

 

Looking back over the ten year history of this blog I’ve praised my share of podcasts, and seen quite a few shuffle off this mortal coil.

2015 seemed to be a volatile year, with many of my long standing podcast favorites either no longer releasing episodes on a regular schedule or hanging up their mics.

Among some of the great ones that seem to be on hiatus or done are:

 

• HORROR ETC
• SIDEBAR

 

 

All of these shows are and were great, and will be missed. And join other great departed podcasts such as:

 

• INDIE SPINNER RACK
• GEEK SYNDICATE
• MONDO MOVIE
• FREQUENCY OF FEAR

 

But I completely understand, these podcast and blogs, while dearly loved, require HUGE expenditures of time and energy, and sometimes… life gets in the way. And considering most of these podcasts are not a revenue stream, it is understandable that when the effort exceeds the rewards… it’s time to stop doing it. What is amazing is that some of these shows have gone as long as they have.

All that said, you may or may not still find old episodes online. I recommend grabbing them if you can. SIDEBAR particularly interviewed some great artists, and for those interviews to be not easily accessible, seems… a loss.

INDIE SPINNER RACK  had the best interviews with both Alan Moore (One of the greatest and most influential writers in the comics/graphic novel medium – it is a crime that companies, marvel and dc, are releasing books missing his name , and shorn of his insightful interviews. the reasons for this are both well documented and trivial. yes, alan moore can be something of a bridge burner, but his brilliance makes him worth the effort to mend those fences. when he passes off this mortal coil, as we all must, no one wants to be remembered as the company that stole his characters, and froze him out of work. pay alan moore and get him at least authorizing director’s cut versions or writer approved versions of his most celebrated works. it’s one of the reasons i will not part with my swamp thing paperbacks, it is because later introductions are devoid of his introductions, which are as entertaining and informative as his stories. )

and Stephen Bissette (Who remains to this day, with his run on swamp thing, one of the greatest and most influential artists to work in the medium).

 

So the above are the podcasts lost in 2015. Here are some select podcasts enjoyed in 2015:

 

Head over to the German Music Magazine GROOVE and pick up two of the best mix tapes of 2015:

• http://groove.de/2014/12/17/groove-podcast-37-tevo-howard/
• http://groove.de/2015/10/15/alex-banks-groove-podcast-47/

 

DECONSTRUCTING COMICS – anytime you get the chance to hear Stephen Bissette speak, take it. Not only one of the great superstar artists of the 80s with his game changing work on Swamp Thing, but simply an informed, erudite speaker on a number of topics.. including the history of horror and cinema. This Sept 2015 podcast is a recommended listen. They also have an episode of huge interest to any fan of either Edgar Allen Poe or Richard Corben. They also offer a Transformers episode that offers reviews on recent transformer comics.

 

• http://deconstructingcomics.com/?p=4985
• http://deconstructingcomics.com/?p=4947
• http://deconstructingcomics.com/?p=4674

 

THE DOLLAR BIN (Also a show that appears to be on indefinite hiatus) had a couple intriguing episodes in 2015, one covering HIP HOP FAMILY TREE, and one with Golden Age artist Allen Bellman:

 

• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/2015/7/14/heroescon-2015-hip-hop-family-tree-panel
• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/2015/4/1/sc-comicon-2015-allen-bellman

And if these guys really are  done producing new shows, some of their classic shows that you want to get, while avaiilable, are:

• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/2014/2/19/episode-326-interview-with-steve-englehart

I grew up on Steve Englehart comics and you don’t get today’s sophisticated comics, without first going through him. One of the first to help transition comics from kids entertainment to college and beyond entertainment.

• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/2014/1/28/episode-325-interview-with-todd-mcfarlane

Not one, but two interviews with one of the most elusive, and one of the most talented and innovative writers in comics, Christopher Priest (His SPIDERMAN VS WOLVERINE remains one of the joys of my collection, as well as his excellent run on BLACK PANTHER and QUANTUM AND WOODY).

• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/interview-christopher-priest-part-1.html
• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/interview-christopher-priest-part-2.html
• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/2013/12/12/episode-322-interview-with-christopher-priest-2013

 

A Bob McLeod interview (Made important because Bob McLeod’s work on the NEW MUTANTS is burned into my brain. That fight with the New Mutants and the Sentinels in a mall, blew my mind as a kid. And as an adult, those images still define for me what great artwork and storytelling should be.)

• http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/interview-bob-mcleod.html

So quite a few of my favorite podcasts slowed down or completely stopped in 2015. However when one door closes another, as they say, opens.

So some podcasts I started listening to in 2015, and have added to my subscriptions are:

 

• THE COMICS ALTERNATIVE- Their monthly preview episodes helped me all last year put in my monthly comics order
• INKSTUDS- Interviews with Comic Book  Creators… some really indispensable interviews.
• READING LIVES- Interviews with Writers… LOVE IT.
• WTF- I think without argument the most listened to and successful podcast, with guests from  comedians, musicians, actors, and now a sitting president, Marc Maron out of his garage has created podcast as both high art, and passionate conversation.
• FILMSPOTTING:SVU- Reviews for the streaming age
• GILBERT GODFREY PODCAST – I do not find Gilbert Gottfried funny, but his knowledge and love for classic film and television, means he interviews people I want to hear, and he has had some GREAT gustd this year. Thankfully co-host Frank is there to get the podcast back on track when Gilbert starts amusing himself and no one else
• FAT MAN ON BATMAN- Kevin Smith’s love for the creative process and all things Batman… is an addictive listen
• HOUSE TO ASTONISH – A comic book podcast from across the pond

AND WRAPPING UP MY 2015 REVIEW, WANT TO GIVE ACCOLADES TO SOME OF MY FAVORITE, AND LONGEST RUNNING PODCASTS THAT ARE STILL GOING STRONG. ALL AWARD WINNING PODCASTS (they all won my Welles Award a few years back, and in my mind have been award winners every year since):

• CGS – Comic Geek Speak -one of the oldest podcasts, and with great losses, and welcome additions, still an eagerly awaited listen
• 11′ OCLOCK- One of the most informative and jam-packed and fun of any podcast. The chemistry these three have… works.
• B-MOVIE CAST – Love this podcast on classic, crazy, genre cinema. Wonderful chemistry between the hosts.

Well folks, that is the podcast scene here as 2015 ends and 2016 takes the stage. Please use this list to see what was special about those shows we lost, and to jump aboard and support those we still have.

Thanks for reading and be well!

FAVORITE & THE BEST : Favorite July Podcasts! Part 1 of 2!

July’s FAVORITE podcasts Part 1 of 2!

B MOVIE CAST– A great 2+ hours of B-movie celebration. A long running and well enjoyed favorite, that I have praised for years, that I look forward to every week. Consistently one of the best!

COMIC GEEK SPEAK – One of the earliest podcasts and still one of the most popular and enjoyable, this one is a bunch of friends letting you in on their love of all things comics. With closing in on 1500 episodes, this show has seen many changes and many moments memorable and heartfelt. Dedicated to Jamie D, this show will always be one of the best.

FILM SPOTTING – One of the newer movie podcasts I’m trying, after the hiatus of a couple other movie podcasts.

FILM SPOTTING SUV – For those of us who have cut the cable bill and have embraced all things streaming this is an informative listen, keeping you abreast of the latest movies and shows to watch… courtesy of streaming.

HORROR ETC – Another long running show, this Canadian horror movie podcast is up there with B MOVIE CAST as being one of the best, while still being very unique. Always a highly recommended listen.

SIDEBAR – A trio of impressively versed art lovers, helm this excellent process show, with interviews and commentaries of some of the most acclaimed cartoonists, pencilers, painters, etc. A must have addition to anyone’s podcast rotation!

Podcast of the Day: SIDEBAR interviews Artist Extraordinaire Thomas Blackshear

Podcast of the Day: SIDEBAR interviews Artist Extraordinaire Thomas Blackshear

I’ve praised SIDEBAR before. along with shows such as COMIC GEEK SPEAK, B-MOVIE CAST and 11 O’CLOCK COMICS, it’s a show that I’m always thrilled to get new episodes of.

And this Blackshear episode is a MUST listen. Just brilliant, informative and fun

(it does segue-way a bit into the artist’s faith and I, being a well-known heathen, that part of the conversation does nothing for me.

This idea that God’s going to listen to your request for royalties, or what painting to paint, in a world where he doesn’t give a damn if people get massacred in Rwanda, or children starve in Philadelphia, has always struck me as an uncomfortable combination of misplaced ego, conceit and bullshit.

But hey, I get the same reaction when football players or boxers or any athlete thanks God, for their win, as if God has nothing better to do in a world drowning in blood, than give a damn who wins a sporting event.

So yeah that bit of the conversation while I don’t embrace it, neither do I mind it, people believe what they believe, I let them, and take from the conversation what does work for me. And there is much to take away from this conversation.)

Listen to this 68 minute podcast here, and you can thank me, and them… when you’re done. 🙂 Tell them HT sent ya!!

And you can subscribe to their great show by using this RSS feed in your podcast player of choice. :)!

BEST PODCASTS OF 2011: Comic Geek Speak Best Episodes of 2011!

From episode 995 to episode 1169 (as of this writing), The gang of the popular comic book pod-cast Comic Geek Speak, managed to crank out a staggering 174 episodes in 2011. And they will likely sneak in a couple more before 2011 arrives.

That is just a staggering amount of work, and a staggering labor of love, particularly when you factor in they are providing all this great entertainment free to you the listener. But for them it is definitely costly in terms of time, energy, and expense.

I realize the massive expenditure of time and energy and effort, and yes expense, that a blog can take, so a multi-cast pod-cast is an even more staggering commitment of time and energy, that you have to try and juggle in between your pay the bills jobs, and responsibilities of hearth, home, and family.

So yeah, the crew at CGS deserve much appreciation, and respect for their work ethic, because it is a massive undertaking. Made all the more impressive because not only are they prolific, one of the most prolific pod-casts of any kind, but they do it while also putting out a consistently excellent and fun to listen to product. And here they are in 2011, years later, still going strong. And still gaining new listeners.

Now all that said, a 174 episodes could could make it daunting for people coming in to CGS in 2011 and trying to decide where to start. The obvious question to most newcomers trying to get a handle on a new show is… ‘What episodes are the keepers?’.

Well that’s going to change depending on everyone’s interests. Some people like to start from the first episode, some people from the latest episode.

But most everybody at some point wants a best of list.

Recently needing to free up some drive space, I had to delete some episodes, which gave me a good excuse to go through 2011 and determine, which episodes for me were keepers. Which episodes did I see myself listening to or referring to again?

So it was a good bit of house cleaning I’ve just completed (freeing up gigs of Data), and I’ve decided to share the results with you.

As far as which type of episodes factor most prominently in my too-keep list?

Well, for purchasing reasons I find the ‘Previews’ episodes good ones to revisit, as they help me when I’m looking for stuff to pick up in trade or collections, that I might have missed the first time around. So the bulk of the episodes I’ve saved from 2011 are ‘Previews’ episodes ( A preview episode is, as the name implies, an episode where they look at upcoming books to be released).

Also the ‘Drunk Cap’ and ‘Uncle Sal’ episodes figure high on my to keep list. So I’m going to give you a string of numbers, and your mission if you choose to accept it is to head over to the CGS site (link below) where they give you the description and download link to the episodes I recommend.

So without further ado my biased list of the essential Comic Geek Speak episodes of 2011:

995,996,998,999,1000-1003,1005,1011-1012,1016-1017,1019,1031-1032,1035-1036,1050,1057,1059,1065-1068, 1071-1072,1089,1095,1098-1100,1110-1111,1118,1126,1135,1143,1145,1150,1154,1155,1159,1164,1165

Go here to get details on the episodes mentioned!

THE END OF PODCASTS?

It’s worth noting that a lot of the podcasts that I was a fan of, have given up the ghost or are giving up the ghost.

Particularly if you go back and look at my Welles Award Winners, quite a few of those shows have moved on. Which is, to be fair, only natural that what amounts to a hobby, something you started to have fun, should be stopped when it stops being fun, and/or becomes a drain on you… time or money wise.

That said I do worry when the landscape of podcasts is shorn of the people who started it for the love. I think that will only leave the people, and big companies, that use it solely as a form of marketing.

So here’s a roll call of the fallen dead:

MONDO MOVIES -Welles Award Winner

FREQUENCY OF FEAR -Welles Award Winner

Q & A with Jeff Goldsmith

WATCHING THE DIRECTORS

COMIC BOOK SAVANT

GEEK SYNDICATE (closes shop in September, will be missed, easily in my top 3)- Welles Award Winner

So if those are the ones that are gone, what remains? We’ll cover that… next installment. See you then! 🙂 .

p.s. I had incorrectly listed BATTLESHIP PRETENSION as a defunct podcast, but the host of the show corrected me. The guys are alive and well and you can view them here. I recommend trying them out.