Self-described “accidental podcaster” Aaron Mahnke is leading the medium into what many argue is its natural evolution: television adaptations. It is not that unusual for radio shows to make the crossover from audio to visual platforms. Little Britain, The League of Gentlemen, The Mighty Boosh and Knowing Me, Knowing You all made their bow on BBC radio before leaping onto the picture box. If you go even further back in time and take a trip across the pond, you would also hear the likes of I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger as shows to gather around the wireless for before they were on the idiot-box.
Comparisons between radio and podcast formats is a contentious issue for some creators – after all, you don’t need a pricey radio licence from Ofcom to broadcast your own podcast, arguably allowing for greater creative freedom (albeit with substantially less quality control) – but the progression to visual content would appear to be the way forward for many podcast producers. Video is indeed the future, so they say, with Facebook and YouTube vloggers increasing in popularity and cyber-dominance.
Nevertheless, Lore is a series of supernatural essays written and performed by Mahnke which regularly hits 5million downloads per month. Launched in 2015, the series is now less than a month away from its first TV episode courtesy of Amazon. But just like original radio programmes, the transition to TV is not the only measure of success for podcasts. Here is a mix of five current podcasts that Set The Tape recommends you try out for yourself.
Aye, Dead On
There are many professional, industry specific and techie podcasts out there from established production companies, such as This American Life, Soulful PR and a veritable plethora on offer from the Big British Castle – a few more of which appear on this very list – but the indie, do-it-yourself, bedroom podcast scene has a million and one options available too. The trick is knowing which ones to pick. Sacrificing that swish high-end studio quality audio in favour of doing things on the cheap doesn’t necessarily equate to a lesser listener experience.
For example, take a look at Aye, Dead On. To describe it as two Northern Irish mates sat in the front room talking “at great length about nothing in particular” for 20-60 minutes would not be too wide of the mark, but that informality is also something you just cannot get on almost any other comparable medium. No ad breaks, no ludicrous sponsorship deals with razor companies or mattress providers, but plenty of laughs from two hilarious hosts, Jonathan Cardwell and Adam Fox.
An idea for a drinking game: Listen to the ‘Quest for Adamus’ episodes and neck a shot every time one of Adam’s character voices makes you laugh. You will be in a state of serious inebriation before the first part is close to being over.
The Totally Football Show
Hands up who else was worried when it was announced that everybody’s favourite football presenter was no longer going to host The Guardian’s flagship Football Weekly podcast? That will be everybody with an interest in the sport who has ever subscribed to their free twice-weekly show, then.
AC Jimbo and Producer Ben joined (regular Football Weekly guest) Iain Macintosh’s Muddy Knees Media output for the Totally Football Show which launched in August this year. Max Rushden may be an able replacement in James Richardson’s former seat at The Guardian, but for those of us craving deadpan puns at a rate of knots with our football analysis, from football writers, journalists and pundits, then crave no more.
Additionally, for fans of clubs outside the top division, a new Totally Football League Show dedicated to the lower echelons of the football pyramid launches tomorrow, hosted by the aforementioned Macintosh.
The Movie Crypt
GeekNation’s The Movie Crypt is a weekly industry-related podcast hosted by Adam and Joe (no, not that podcast-pioneering Adam and Joe). Filmmakers Adam Green (Hatchet, Frozen, Victor Crowley) and Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2: Left for Dead, Knights of Badassdom, Everly) bring in different guests each episode to chat about the business.
Described as “brutally honest” about the filmmaking process, as well as life and work in Hollywood, The Movie Crypt does not solely appeal to genre movie fans, nor film students looking for extra curricular education, but also offers something to anybody remotely interested in listening to insightful and often funny guys chat about how films get made.
The Adam Buxton Podcast
The original Adam, of Adam and Joe fame, is the reason lots of people in this country even know what a podcast is. There was a time that the iTunes charts were dominated by The Ricky Gervais Show, Richard Herring’s AIOTM (AIOTM!), and Adam and Joe (Cornish)’s XFM and later BBC 6 Music podcasts.
These days, Doctor Buckles can be found with microphone in hand interviewing a wide variety of guests for some ramble chats, soundtracked by his catchy jingles. Guests have ranged from podcast God and WTF host Marc Maron, to Brian Eno, Louis Theroux, Michael Palin and Sharon Horgan.
After a short hiatus, the show returned for a brand new series recently and is a great jumping on point for new listeners.
The Black Tapes
Not all podcasts have to be dudes sat around a table, discussing a topic they know a lot about, making each other laugh in the process. If you’re a fan of Lore, The X-Files and podcast phenomenon Serial, then you should be listening to The Black Tapes podcast from Pacific Northwest Stories and Minnow Beats Whale.
Currently two episodes into its third season, the docudrama series follows journalist Alex Reagan as she investigates the eponymous black tapes belonging to ghost-hunter and paranormal debunker, Dr Richard Strand. The series features an overarching narrative; and much like The X-Files, each episode has its own mystery that needs unravelling. It’s spooky, well plotted and keeps you guessing all the way to the end.
Do you agree with our choices or have we missed out your favourite podcast? Let us know what you think in the comments below.