I am often asked simple questions during the end of the year holiday period such as what did you read this year? or have you read any good books this year? Since I always struggle to answer these questions, last year I did what any reasonable person would: I reviewed my reading list, picked out a few winners, and compared my favorites to lyrics from a basically unknown band.
I’m still working out the exact details for how the 2017 version of this list will play out. I suspect it won’t involve music lyrics. But in these uncertain times, who am I to make predictions? In any event, reader, expect to see my 2017 ‘books of the year’ list sometime before the end of the month.
For today, I’ll return to a long-dormant feature and provide what might be the first of many annual updates on podcasts.
2017 TOA Podcast Awards
One of the great features of podcasts is how the staggered release schedule helps me understand which shows I prefer to others. If two favorite shows release an episode on the same day, I have to pick one to listen to first, you know? Over the course of the past decade, paying close attention to my own decisions has helped me understand the internal hierarchy I have for the shows I listen to. In the footnotes, I’ve broken up my current podcast roster into this general hierarchy (1).
But first, let’s hand out some awards.
Rookie Of The Year: Book Fight
It was a crowded field in this category and strong challenges came in from newcomers such as The Tim Ferriss Show, House of Carbs, and On The Continent. I should also note how much I’ve enjoyed Call Your Girlfriend over the past couple of months (and suspect, had I started listening to the show earlier in the year, that I would have given it stronger consideration for this ‘honor’).
Book Fight, hosted by Mike Ingram and Tom McAllister, is a worthy winner. It fits my criteria for a good podcast – two people having a conversation – and the show’s stated purpose of reviewing books (done in the manner described by the show’s tagline – ‘tough love for literature’) fills a very specific niche for me. I’d give it a light recommendation in general and a very strong recommendation for any episode where they cover a book, article, or essay you’ve read.
Most Improved: EconTalk
Over the course of a given year, I estimate I stop listening to between twenty and forty percent of the podcasts on my roster. I think I’ve been on the verge of dropping EconTalk around fifteen times during the last decade or so. With turnover such a defined feature of my podcast experience, I’m surprised in a way to see the show so high on my current list.
And yet, this podcast keeps finding its way back into my good graces. In 2017, I think EconTalk turned a corner of sorts and its current spot among my favorites feels permanent. I can’t pinpoint one exact reason for this ascent. It might be how I’ve come to appreciate host Russ Roberts and his ability to draw the best out of his guests. Or, perhaps it is the variety of topics covered by the show, all linked in some way to the stated topic of economics. It could be how the political events of 2017 have made understanding the policy questions EconTalk so frequently covers seem especially relevant.
But whatever the exact reason, I look forward to each Monday’s episode more than ever before. No matter what happens during the hour-long show, I know I’ll learn something new or interesting. Here’s to more of the same in 2018.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Men In Blazers
Football fans around the world were stunned on a dreary fall Tuesday as a combination of unexpected results – the top three teams in the North America standings going into the night all lost games to opponents in the bottom three – saw the United States tumble out of the World Cup for the first time since I was born. As I rubbed my eyes and tried to understand what was happening, I remember this thought ran through my head – I need to know what the Men In Blazers have to say about this.
So, who are these guys? Well, they are both from England, a fact that lends instant credibility to their commentary on the world’s game. And over the years, I’ve greatly enjoyed their show. Though they boast an endless number of positive qualities, their humor is the standout characteristic. Roger Bennett and Michael Davies are the funniest pair of hosts among all the podcasts I listen to. Every week is like a new stand-up act vaguely about football with frequent escapes into their preferred distractions of baldness, pies, and poet-philosophy.
The most important quality they bring to the show is enthusiasm. They love football, they love to share their passion for the game, and they love this current project of theirs to bring the sport to our shores. As they’ve established their strange presence on the USA’s unique football landscape, this enthusiasm has never waned. And so, on that dark, dreary night in October, I checked my podcast feed and grimly downloaded their hastily recorded ‘emergency’ show.
What does it say about the sport in this country that I would turn immediately to the thoughts of two foreigners in the aftermath of the biggest disappointment in the national team’s history? Why – in a country where everyone insists they love all things America – is the US national team the exception to The Rule of Blind Patriotism?
For some reason, it remains acceptable to say the team sucks or is a disgrace or is an embarrassment, comments that littered the national airwaves after the team’s exit. It remains acceptable for the so-called great American sportswriter to take a break every four years to write a fantasy article about how Team USA would beat Brazil 10-0 if LeBron James played left back instead of power forward. When the USA basketball team failed to win the gold medal in 2004, did the national press write about how much better we would be with Randy Moss on the court? Did we dismiss losses to Argentina and Lithuania on the account of their GDPs?
Winning the World Cup would be a great achievement. But nothing great is achieved without enthusiasm. Right now, in this country, there is not enough enthusiasm for the sport. This is reflected most clearly in the national media’s attitude to the game. And why would anyone want to listen to someone who doesn’t really give a shit talk about such a disappointing, hurtful result?
That's why these two bald gentlemen from England are so important. Whether it is through their weekly podcast, their irregularly scheduled TV program, or the occasional live event – like the 'What Happened' show in November to analyze the World Cup failure – the Men In Blazers are building a foundation for the sport’s success in this country, one enthusiastic piece at a time.
Maybe someday, their fine work will culminate with the USA knocking England out of a World Cup quarterfinal in the only possible way – on penalties...balds win, balds lose…love you Dave-O, love you Rog…
2017 Most Valuable Podcast: 'GM Street' via The Ringer NFL Show
'GM Street' features Mike Lombardi, a longtime NFL front office executive, in conversation with host Tate Frazier. The two discuss helmet football on a variety of levels a few times a week during the NFL season (and hopefully, will maintain a semi-regular schedule during the off-season).
Lombardi first came to my attention through guest appearances on Bill Simmons’s podcasts. His style immediately appealed to me – conversational but full of information, a fast, talkative type yet never needing to hear himself talk. His analysis, anecdotes, and analogies are always a little off the wall but highly entertaining (2). If things get out of hand, Lombardi is the first to show that he is in on the joke.
In some ways, he is the perfect podcast host because he balances the sitcom-character level of consistency needed for a regular program with his consistent ability to express what he thinks or feels. I think I’ve enjoyed watching helmet football a little more this year because of his insights and I hope for more of the same in the coming year.
Footnotes / cop outs / something I'm 75% sure happened
0. Controversy!
Reader, you may be wondering why my award for the best podcast overall – 'GM Street' – went to a new show yet the award for the best new podcast – Book Fight – went to a different show. Surely, if 'GM Street' was the best show overall AND it was a new show, it should also have won the best new podcast award?
Well, my response is: go find something better to worry about.
1. The current podcast breakdown…
This one got away from me a little bit so I am going to cut it out into its own separate 'leftovers' post. Keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks...
2. I'm sure Cardinals fans loved this bit of analysis...
Who could forget the time Lombardi declared Arizona never was 'the home of the free or the land of the brave, in terms of winning'?
Lifetime Achievement Award: Men In Blazers
Football fans around the world were stunned on a dreary fall Tuesday as a combination of unexpected results – the top three teams in the North America standings going into the night all lost games to opponents in the bottom three – saw the United States tumble out of the World Cup for the first time since I was born. As I rubbed my eyes and tried to understand what was happening, I remember this thought ran through my head – I need to know what the Men In Blazers have to say about this.
So, who are these guys? Well, they are both from England, a fact that lends instant credibility to their commentary on the world’s game. And over the years, I’ve greatly enjoyed their show. Though they boast an endless number of positive qualities, their humor is the standout characteristic. Roger Bennett and Michael Davies are the funniest pair of hosts among all the podcasts I listen to. Every week is like a new stand-up act vaguely about football with frequent escapes into their preferred distractions of baldness, pies, and poet-philosophy.
The most important quality they bring to the show is enthusiasm. They love football, they love to share their passion for the game, and they love this current project of theirs to bring the sport to our shores. As they’ve established their strange presence on the USA’s unique football landscape, this enthusiasm has never waned. And so, on that dark, dreary night in October, I checked my podcast feed and grimly downloaded their hastily recorded ‘emergency’ show.
What does it say about the sport in this country that I would turn immediately to the thoughts of two foreigners in the aftermath of the biggest disappointment in the national team’s history? Why – in a country where everyone insists they love all things America – is the US national team the exception to The Rule of Blind Patriotism?
For some reason, it remains acceptable to say the team sucks or is a disgrace or is an embarrassment, comments that littered the national airwaves after the team’s exit. It remains acceptable for the so-called great American sportswriter to take a break every four years to write a fantasy article about how Team USA would beat Brazil 10-0 if LeBron James played left back instead of power forward. When the USA basketball team failed to win the gold medal in 2004, did the national press write about how much better we would be with Randy Moss on the court? Did we dismiss losses to Argentina and Lithuania on the account of their GDPs?
Winning the World Cup would be a great achievement. But nothing great is achieved without enthusiasm. Right now, in this country, there is not enough enthusiasm for the sport. This is reflected most clearly in the national media’s attitude to the game. And why would anyone want to listen to someone who doesn’t really give a shit talk about such a disappointing, hurtful result?
That's why these two bald gentlemen from England are so important. Whether it is through their weekly podcast, their irregularly scheduled TV program, or the occasional live event – like the 'What Happened' show in November to analyze the World Cup failure – the Men In Blazers are building a foundation for the sport’s success in this country, one enthusiastic piece at a time.
Maybe someday, their fine work will culminate with the USA knocking England out of a World Cup quarterfinal in the only possible way – on penalties...balds win, balds lose…love you Dave-O, love you Rog…
2017 Most Valuable Podcast: 'GM Street' via The Ringer NFL Show
'GM Street' features Mike Lombardi, a longtime NFL front office executive, in conversation with host Tate Frazier. The two discuss helmet football on a variety of levels a few times a week during the NFL season (and hopefully, will maintain a semi-regular schedule during the off-season).
Lombardi first came to my attention through guest appearances on Bill Simmons’s podcasts. His style immediately appealed to me – conversational but full of information, a fast, talkative type yet never needing to hear himself talk. His analysis, anecdotes, and analogies are always a little off the wall but highly entertaining (2). If things get out of hand, Lombardi is the first to show that he is in on the joke.
In some ways, he is the perfect podcast host because he balances the sitcom-character level of consistency needed for a regular program with his consistent ability to express what he thinks or feels. I think I’ve enjoyed watching helmet football a little more this year because of his insights and I hope for more of the same in the coming year.
Footnotes / cop outs / something I'm 75% sure happened
0. Controversy!
Reader, you may be wondering why my award for the best podcast overall – 'GM Street' – went to a new show yet the award for the best new podcast – Book Fight – went to a different show. Surely, if 'GM Street' was the best show overall AND it was a new show, it should also have won the best new podcast award?
Well, my response is: go find something better to worry about.
1. The current podcast breakdown…
This one got away from me a little bit so I am going to cut it out into its own separate 'leftovers' post. Keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks...
2. I'm sure Cardinals fans loved this bit of analysis...
Who could forget the time Lombardi declared Arizona never was 'the home of the free or the land of the brave, in terms of winning'?
