%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Porn Music, Fritos, and More of This Week’s Podcast Highlights
Looking for a tall, frothy podcast to pair with your commute and/or sunny vacation? This week I round up notable episodes featuring Stephen Colbert, Willie Nelson, and other fine folks. For more recommendations, visit the archive.
In no particular order, enjoy these tidbits gleaned from recent podcasts:
THE INVENTOR OF FRITOS WAS A HEALTH-OBSESSED VEGETARIAN.
Fugitive Waves, July 14 episode
In a compelling ep hosted by famous Texans Willie Nelson and Robin Wright, we hear fascinating, Texas-based food tales, like Fritos’s origin story and another about how 7-Eleven went from being a Texas icehouse to a massive chain of convenience stores.
PORN MUSIC IS A DYING ART FORM.
iStock
How come pornographic movies are associated with bad funk music? In an episode titled “Bow Chicka Wow Wow,” Pitch gets to the bottom of X-rated soundtracks. Surprisingly (to me, at least), only a handful of porn composers are working today.
THE VIP AREA AT A U2 SHOW IS ALMOST AS EXCITING AS THE SHOW ITSELF.
U Talkin’ U2 To Me?, Episode 21
Getty Images
After a long break, hosts Adam Scott and Scott Aukerman return with a fantastic recap of U2’s iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour. The guys snagged VIP access before the show, where they spotted George Clooney, Cindy Crawford, and Anthony Kiedis—not to mention members of the band.
PLUTO IS A DOUBLE DWARF PLANET.
New Yorker Out Loud, July 20 episode
Getty Images
On this particularly informative ep, New Yorker senior editor Alan Burdick and contributor Nicola Twilley break down the New Horizons mission and tell us what we learned about Pluto—and why it’s important.
STEPHEN COLBERT LIKED HIS NEW BANDLEADER FROM THE MOMENT THEY MET.
Late Show with Stephen Colbert Podcast, July 22 episode
Getty Images
On the latest episode of the Late Show podcast, Stephen Colbert introduces his new bandleader, jazz musician Jon Batiste. Colbert says he liked him from the moment Batiste called him out on The Colbert Report for using cards instead of improvising, and it led to one of his favorite interviews he ever did on the show.
AT A BUFFET, GO FOR THE BACON.
iStock
Comedian Jim Gaffigan is known for his standup routines about food (Hot Pockets, anyone?). In this interview, he shares what it’s like to have dinner with five young children, what he eats before a gig, and his meaty strategy at all-you-can-eat buffets. “I find you can eat $10 or $12 worth of bacon,” he says.
MAINTAINING A MOVIE WEBSITE HASN’T GOTTEN ANY EASIER.
iStock
This show delivers an all-around great episode this week, which includes an in-depth review of Ant-Man and a roundup of Emmy snubs. And perhaps this is because of my own profession, but I was particularly intrigued by co-host David Chen’s breakdown of how independent news and entertainment sites (like his own, slashfilm.com) operate and why many (like, sadly, thedissolve.com) can’t sustain themselves.
PROFESSOR BLASTOFF HAS RETIRED.
Professor Blastoff, Episode 217
Anna Webber/Getty Images
After spending hundreds of hours talking about philosophy, science, relationships, and just about everything else, the long-running podcast ended this week. Co-host Tig Notaronsaid it was time for her to move on, and co-hosts Kyle Dunnigan and David Huntsberger decided it just wouldn’t be the same without her.
AND FINALLY, A BINGE-WORTHY SUGGESTION …
iStock
I’ve mentioned this podcast before, and now that I’ve heard every episode, I’ll suggest it again. Much like Serial, Breakdown is an investigative crime series that examines a real-life murder case and a man who may have been wrongly imprisoned. The story concludes after seven episodes, and fans who want to dig deeper can see documents and photos at breakdown.myajc.com.