It’s the last week of September and we’re mostly looking forward to spending more time outdoors. Here are four new podcasts that will keep you company while you’re sunbathing at the beach.
SyFy 25’s Origin Stories
Syfy, the science-fiction network turned 25 this month, and it’s kicking off a monthlong celebration with the release of a new podcast called Syfy25: Origin Stories. Hosted by Adam Savage, co-host of the hit Discovery TV show MythBusters, the 15-episode podcast features in-depth discussions with some of the biggest names in the science fiction genre. Guests include the likes of Neil Gaiman, author of fantasy and science fiction titles like The Sandman, American Gods; Frank Oz, the puppeteer and voice behind Yoda of Star Wars; Ron Moore, the Emmy Award-winning screenwriter known for his work on Battlestar Galactica; Jonathan Frakes, actor and director best known for Star Trek: The Next Generation; and Sana Amanat, Marvel’s director of content and character development. The episodes are mostly under half-an-hour, making for a quick binge on hilarious and heart-warming discussions on why we love science-fiction and what initiated these greats into the genre.
Spooked
Looking for new ghost stories to tell at your next camping trip or pyjama party? Snap Judgement’s limited-run series (11 episodes) Spooked has arrived right in time for Halloween, where you can listen to supernatural stories right from the mouths of the people who lived them. I listened to some of the episodes in broad daylight and I’m not sure if I’ll get any sleep over the next week. The stories range in theme and locations: brothers who make a death pact, a mother who doesn’t return home, a disembodied voice in the forest, and more.
Radiorama
Ever since Futurama wrapped up for good in 2013, fans have been waiting for a reunion; and since a TV reboot seems unlikely, a podcast will do just fine, we say. The 42-minute-long, one-off podcast episode Radiorama is a laugh-out-loud, meta concoction that pays tribute to both the world of Futurama and podcasts. The play will reunite Fry, Bender, Leela, Professor Farnsworth, Zoidberg, Amy and Hermes as they try to stop Klaxxon (voiced by The Nerdist’s Chris Hardwick, a self-confessed Futurama fanboy), a being made up of soundwaves from podcasts from the 21st century bent on destroying Earth.
We Still Like You
A live comedy show based out of Chicago, We Still Like You takes place anywhere from shady bars to people’s living rooms or backyards. Hosted by podcast producer Jesse Betend, the show’s format involves comedians each recounting a true, embarrassing story from their lives. Each episode follows a singular theme. The result is often times hilarious, but more than that the relatability of these stories will have you choking on your own tears. Topics have varied from misadventures on dial-up internet age’s chat rooms, pranks that have gone horribly wrong to morbid topics like death. We especially enjoy the raw feel of the production, where the reactions from the listeners are as important to the end product as the story being told itself.
