The comedy podcast universe is ever expanding, not unlike the universe universe. We’re here to make it a bit smaller, a bit more manageable. There are a lot of great shows and each has a lot of great episodes, so we want to highlight the exceptional, the noteworthy. Each week our crack team of podcast enthusiasts and specialists and especially enthusiastic people will pick their favorites. We hope to have your ears permanently plugged with the best in aural comedy.
WTF with Marc Maron - Iliza Shlesinger
Elizabeth: Marc sits down with Iliza Shlesinger to chat about making a career in comedy. They get deep into relationships and dating and Iliza talks about dating a sociopath and the challenges of living in a society that expects women to be open and vulnerable no matter how poorly they’re treated. She’s also frank about the highs and lows of being a woman in comedy, from being ignored in green rooms to a particularly horrific experience guest hosting on The View. There’s also plenty on the grind of being a comedian and building an audience, and why to be successful you need to treat comedy as work. The episode ends with Marc and Iliza talking about their definitions of success and the work that no one sees. [iTunes]
ManBuyCow - The Monster in the Cupboard
Marc: Part sitcom, part sketch show, and all quite mad, host Rufus and Howard are back with season 3 of the ManBuyCow podcast. (“That’s as in ‘man purchases cow’, not ‘man next to cow,’” explained Rufus in a recent interview.) Emanating in England, MBC is a wholly original mishmash that chronicles the misadventures of two mates who live in a house that comes equipped with strange devices such as the infamous Time Fridge, which features prominently in the new season’s first episode. It seems Rufus has been trapped in the past and it’s up to Howard — not the sharpest knife in the drawer — to use the Fridge to retrieve him. Along the way some recurring characters pop up, including Dennis Quaid (who sports a decidedly non-American accent), Tom Baker Doctor Who, and Grandpappy Doo. In the space of the half-hour-or-so show we’re treated to a demon wedding, a daring Time Fridge repair, and a commercial pushing “Dog Slots” — an online gambling site for betting your dog in order to try to win more dogs from a slot machine. Rufus and Howard (maybe their real names) are self-taught podcasters, who pull together their own music, sound effects and whack-a-doo characters with high production values and consistently funny shows that share some sketch comedy DNA with the likes of Monty Python, The Goon Show, The Young Ones, and maybe a little of The Simpsons thrown in. The episode ends with the first chapter in the latest adventure of Grett Binchleaf, “the hard-boiled detective with a crippling fear of pies” — a character and feature so popular it’s gotten its own spinoff series. [iTunes]
The Great Debates - The Stars of Friends Could Beat the Stars of Seinfeld in a Fight
Leigh: It’s probably safe to assume we’re all a little bit debated out by now. But hear me out. Each week on The Great Debates podcast, debaters Dave King and Steve Hely are joined by moderator Dan Medina to debate issues we actually care about. Mostly issues you’ve probably never thought about or didn’t really realize you cared about, but important issues nonetheless. Like this week’s issue: a fight between the cast of Friends vs the cast of Seinfeld. It’s also worth digging back into the older episodes to hear about the real value of parades, wizards vs knights, whether we have enough holidays or not and just how hard is it to be a weatherman. Each episode is proof that you can hold a successful debate without having to mention how big your dick is. [iTunes]
Cloverfeels - Absolutely NO Bits
Kaitlynn: Hosts Mike Falzone and Steve Zaragoza share their love of the Cloverfield movie franchise. The twelth episode of “Cloverfeels” the description has no description. If you can get over the audio quality that is punctuate by the guys leaning way too far into the mic, you’ll love this goof-cast. Five minutes into the episode Mike and Steve have stopped talking about the Cloverfield universe (at the same time I realized I have fifty more minutes of the episode left). What age is best to die at? Here’s a hint: look at your family to find your own future! These two are the best of friends who’re just hanging out, having laughs and going into tangents about nonsense. Punctuated by asking Siri questions and wondering what’s happening at their upstairs neighbours, these bro besties are having the time of their lives (or at least it sounds like it). Skip ahead if you want the Cloverfield theories, because surprisingly or not— there’s a heck of a lot of them. [iTunes]
Other Podcasts We’re Listening To:
The Nerdist - Sally Field and Michael Showalter
No Joke with Billy & Adam - Parenting
Who Charted - Webisode Camp w/ Horatio Sanz
The Manwhore Podcast - A Relationship Based on Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Kill Me Now with Judy Gold - Susie Essman
Got a podcast recommendation? Drop us a line at podcasts@splitsider.com.
Marc Hershon is host of Succotash, the Comedy Podcast Podcast and author of I Hate People!
Elizabeth Stamp is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York.
Kaitlynn E-A Smith is a writer/creator and (somehow) MA fashion grad, born and living in Toronto.
Leigh Cesiro is a writer living in Brooklyn who only needs 10 minutes to solve any Law & Order: SVU episode.
