The Mastercast

This week we look at BBC crime-esque series Lost at Sea.

Transcript:

Hey Pod lovers. I’m your host Marie and  If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

Lost at Sea - No Spoilers! 

This captivating seven-part series from the BBC examines the unsolved disappearance of fisheries observer Keith Davis who vanished 500 miles from shore while working on the tuna vessel The Victoria. Host New York journalist Rachel Monroe looks at the life and work of Keith Davis and other fisheries observers who spend months at sea monitoring the catches and activities of fishing vessels as the sole overseer for malpractice and mistreatment. It’s far from easy work. Often seen as the enemy, fisheries observers are alone with crews who usually don’t speak english with no way to contact anyone off the boat. Davis’s disappearance isn’t as rare as anyone might hope. On average in the last decade one fisheries observer has gone missing a year. This podcast looks not only at the disappearances and mysteries deaths of observers but other secrets of the global fishing industry like mistreatment of crew, smuggling, and human trafficking and slavery. Each episode is about 25 minutes long with the last episode coming out in November of 2022. They’re made up of narrative backstory and interviews both anonymous and not. Tone and music are serious which is fitting. It’s a gripping look at what could happen far from shore and watchful eyes. 

Similar pods: The Outlaw Ocean, The Kill List, and Captain on Deck. 

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from Universal Music Productions because I forgot to find an artist for this week. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.

Sources:

https://www.bbcpodcasts.com/listen/lost-at-sea/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-at-sea/id1641072737

Please check out this week's musical guest Senrall! Links will be in the shows below. This week we look at short-form podcast 60-Second Science. 

Transcript:

Hey Pod lovers. I’m your host Marie and  If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

60-Second Science 

Okay, let’s start off by disclosing that this podcast from Scientific American hasn’t had 60 second episodes in some time but they’re still very short form at around an average length of six minutes. The slight change hasn’t meant much to the listeners of this extremely popular pod that’s so far ran for 16 years, debuting in 2006 and maintaining an average star of 4.4 out of 5. With such a span it’s no wonder they’ve published over 3,000 episodes of summaries of the latest research in every subject of science including astronomy, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, mathematics, and so much more. If you want to hear the entire backlog you’ll have to check out the show’s website as many podcast players only have the last 500 available. It’s hosted by a revolving cast of scientific journalists who have included Karen Hopkin, Christopher Intagliata, Jason G. Goldman, and Steve Mirsky. There are fascinating stories, interviews from experts, and the occasional pun. Despite its popularity, a common complaint about the show is that its political opinions make it less objective than it should be. I didn’t find it to be unbearable but present. As is often the case, microphone quality improves with time but is lacking in earlier episodes. In the latest episode that was published just before the pod’s winter break executive producer Jeffery DelViscio revealed that there will be some changes coming. The show will be getting a new name, podcast art, publishing schedule, and finally resign itself to making slightly longer episodes. There’s no word yet when the next episode will be out, but it’s promised to be soon. Episodes are meant to stay relatively short, and come out three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For longer episodes fans can always tune into the company’s long-form science podcast Science Talk. Overall a great podcast that lets you stay up to date in science news without a ton of investment. I recommend sneaking in episodes in between some of the multiple episode series you listen to in a day for a little palette cleanser. Try starting with my favorite episodes “Artificial Intelligence Learns to Talk Back to Bigots” and “Coyotes Eat Everything from Fruits to Cats.” 

Similar pods include Babes of Science, Story Collider, and Transistor. 

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from electronic music artist Senrall.  The song featured was “Electric Ocean.” For more from Senrall find them on soundcloud. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.

Artists Links: 
Artist: Senrall 
Song: Electric Ocean
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/senrall

Sources: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/60-second-science/id189330872
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/60-second-science/
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/60-second-science-12388

PLEASE check out this week's musical guest Daylin, links are below! 

Transcript: 

Hey Pod lovers. I’m your host Marie and  If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

Strangeland - No Spoilers! 

This true crime podcast from Audiochuck covers the 2003 triple homicide of mother, her 2-year-old son, and their nanny in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Also known as the Mile Massacre or the Koreatown Slayings, the execution of almost an entire family has left the Koreatown community with a mystery for what has become two decades. Hosted journalist Ben Adair and interpreter Sharon Choi, the podcast covers not only the crime but how crime can effect immigrant neighbrohoods and the investigations into those crimes very differently. It’s a crictal and well-deserved look at how different the experience of immigrants can be in our criminal justice system. There are outside interviews weaved into the narrative and without trying spoil anything I’ll say the podcast plays a part in investigation. The show has 4.2 out of 5 stars with 1,300 ratings on Apple Podcasts. There is some criticism of what seems to be staged dialouge between the hosts but I didn’t find that it made the pod unlistenable. There are ten total episodes that are about 34 minutes long on average. The last episode does mention new episodes will come out as there are updates in the case. Overall a podcast everyone should add to their queue. 

Similar pods: The Other Latif, Lost in Panama, and Tom Brown’s Body

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from electronic music artist Daylin.  The song featured was “Social Distance.” For more from Daylin find them on soundcloud, or Instagram. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.

Links and sources: 

https://soundcloud.com/daylynmusic

https://www.instagram.com/daylynmusic/?hl=en

https://strangelandpodcast.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strangeland/id1590577089

PLEASE check out this week's amazing featured artist Matt Baer here: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Soundcloud. 

Transcript: 

Hey Pod lovers. I’m your host Marie and  If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

Everything, Everywhere Daily

This U.S podcast is a daily education show from Glassbox Media that gives crash courses on a variety of topics from any given subject including but not limited to history, geography, mathematics, biographies, and technology. It was launched in July of 2020 by its host Gary Arndt, the world traveler, beloved blogger, and photographer. His blog has received mentions and awards from many top journalism organizations such as Time, National Geographic, and the Lowell Thomas Awards. Since its debut it has gained over 10,000,000 downloads with listeners in almost every country. Apple Podcasts has 4.8 out of 5 stars with 393 ratings. Episodes are on average about 12 minutes long and so far there are 911 episodes. Some of my favorites include “Potemkin Villages'' and “The Greatest Buildings Never Built.” There’s even a completion club for those who manage to finish the surreal backlog. Despite this brief length the podcast is jam- packed with information and often more thorough than shows five times its length. With so many episodes there’s bound to be the rare error but Arndt mentions corrections gracefully when necessary. The show also has an extensive website with every episode broken down by release date, a detailed about page, photography, and coverage of every place he’s visited. Theme song is short and the production quality got better with just a little bit of time. It is well-paced and its bite-sized 10 minute tidbits mean it’s great for kids who love learning.. Or even the ones who don’t. 

Similar pods: A Thousand Things to Talk About, 60 Second Science, and TEDx Shorts

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but  remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from Matt Baer.  The song featured was “Older.” For more from Matt Baer find them on Facebook, Twitter, soundcloud, or Instagram. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.

Sources: 

https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-everywhere-daily/id1521870190

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/everything-everywhere-daily-1324776

Transcript: 

Hey Pod lovers. I’m your host Marie and  If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

SNAFU with Ed Helms

This nonfiction podcast from iHeartMedia, FilmNation Entertainment and Pacific Electric Picture Co is a blend of comedy and history. Hosted by actor and comedian Ed Helms, it aims to cover some of the most infamous and sometimes unknown blunders in history. The first season looks at the military exercise with the codename Able Archer 83 and why some historians consider it the closest the U.S came to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis. A harrowing drama, it is filled with interviews from those involved, old audio, and experts from both NATO and the Soviet Union. Despite the seriousness of the nation’s nuclear fears, Helms is able to keep a balance of professionalism and comedy. Overall history is the prominent element. The finished series is pretty long at eight episodes that are on average fourty-five minutes long and the addition of two bonus episodes. This is due to the decent background given on the Cold War and the perspective of the two countries at the time. Apple Podcasts has it at 4.6 out of 5 stars with 498 ratings. Many, if not most, of the negative reviews are in defense of presdient at the time Ronald Regan. Although I didn’t think the critique of his actions were all the critical. There should be a second season although confirmation has not been given. Overall an interesting and worth listing to podcast. A little campy at times and there is a recurring scream soundbite that comes about 3 times but isn’t bad enough to avoid listening. 

Similar pods: Red Elvis, Infamous (Campside Media), and American Scandal. 

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from Natura.  The song featured was “Still Breathing.” For more from Natura check out their soundcloud, or Instagram. Links will be in the description as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.

Sources and Links:

PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S AMAZING ARTIST NATURA! 

https://www.instagram.com/naturabeats/

https://soundcloud.com/naturabeats

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snafu-with-ed-helms/id1635374692

The Lonely Palette - no spoilers! 

Before I found this podcast I only knew of art as something you learn to do. I didn’t know that there was a way of thinking about it that didn’t involve learning how to do it. Now I’m obsessed. This podcast is truly about appreciation of art and its history. Every episode starts with a piece of art and then goes into everything else about it including how it makes some feel, what you see, what it means (both when it was made and now), who the artist was, the type of art it is, social implications, and so much more. Do yourself a favor, look up the artwork for the episode. Take a good minute to look at it and think of what you see. You’re going to learn way more listening than you have in any art history course. A member of the Hub & Spoke collective, it’s hosted by Tamar Avishai, an art historian and adjunct lecturer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with production assistance from Debbie Blicher, an independent radio producer and essayist. One of my favorite things about the show is how it is so accessible. It’s bringing a perspective of art some may never have heard, and it’s letting you get to know pieces you may never be able to visit. For even more to enjoy, check out their website. There you’ll find images referenced, links, artist interview transcripts, super cute merch, a virtual tour sign-up, and a newsletter sign-up. On Apple Podcasts the show has 4.9 out of 5 stars and 680 Ratings. That speaks for itself. Episodes are still coming out albeit slowly. The latest release was October 7th of 2022. So far there are 99 episodes that are on average about 31 minutes long. While most episodes are about examining an artwork, there are others that interview artists, and introduce other shows in the network. If you enjoy art and can’t seem to get enough, let this be the self-care time you deserve. 

Similar pods: Art Talk, The Art History Babes, and ArtCurious Podcast. 

Sources: 

http://www.thelonelypalette.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lonely-palette/id1110780638

https://twitter.com/lonelypalette?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-lonely-palette-81381

Science Diction - No Spoilers! 

From WNYC Radio and Science Friday, this podcast is equal parts etymology and science. Newsletter turned podcast, every week host Johanna Mayer dived deep into a single word and the science behind it. Some words or ideas are clearly science-forward (Myers-Briggs, Ambergris, Mercury) but others are not (honeymoon, serendipity, etc). No matter what the subject, the show found the history and science behind the term. A lot of the words covered are interesting stories that don’t meet the standard flashy news criteria and so otherwise would be stories that go untold. Facts, trends, predictions, and interviews are weaved together with the interruptions of music or ads. The show has 4.7 out of 5 and 588 Ratings. You may have caught the past tense and I have to confirm your future fears. The podcast said goodbye in April of 2022 with a mini-recap episode that looked back at all the show had done. During its run, a total of 42 episodes were published. On average they are about 17 minutes long. My favorites, which I recommend listening to first, were “Vocal Fry: Why I’m Not Getting A Voice Coach” and “Hydrox: How A Cookie Got A Name So Bad.” The episode on vocal fry is a must-listen! I won’t go on my usual vocal fry rant but it isn’t “hard on your ears.” It’s a natural occurrence in women AND men (although women are almost exclusively judged for it) that can change the meaning of words in many different languages. The host was often criticized for her vocal fry but uses the opportunity to educate others on the topic. Honestly listening through I didn’t notice anything. 

Similar pods: Surprisingly Brilliant, Distillations | Science History Institute, and Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast by Sam Kean. 

Sources: 
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/science-diction-1032503
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-diction/id1500919715

Short Cuts - No Spoilers! 

This podcast is a one of a kind show, in a category of its own, on the same caliber as The Moth and This American Life. Made under BBC Radio 4 and hosted by lovely Josie Long, a writer and comedian, it’s a collection of audio art that includes all sorts of things from short documentaries, to weird and surreal soundscapes, to true stories, to poems, and absolutely everything in between. Each episode is based on a theme and is made up of usually three 9 minute clips that inspire an extraordinary range of emotions and appreciation for every aspect of life. The show seems perfectly adapted to the internet age attention span. Audio can have all the dimensions that regular art has. It can be abstract, a snapshot of life, or surreal. It can be more than just educational, entertaining, or interviewing famous people. This podcast showcases that. It’s proof that there is no limit to what podcasts can be. Hidden gems of perspective and time that chronicle unheard sounds. Okay, enough gushing. The podcast has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts with 138 Ratings. There are currently 191 episodes that are on average about 30 minutes long. My favorite episodes are hard to choose but “Body Language,” “Rabbit Holes,” and “Lines of Communication” are all high on the list. Some episodes come with difficult subjects but all are covered with attentiveness. The only problem with the show is that there will never be enough. It’s truly something you have to hear to understand.

Similar pods: Anthems, The Kitchen Sisters Present, and Selected Shorts

Sources: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-cuts/id655015882
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/short-cuts-56083

The History Chicks - No Spoilers! 

This is podcast is made up of the history lessons you’ve always wanted but never got. Every two weeks Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider pick a woman from the thousands of year of human history and tell her story. From a variety of eras and backgrounds, everything about each woman is mentioned including interpretations, connections, and bias. The episodes start with a 30 second summary of what you can expect, goes into the birth, life, and later death of the individual, and then wraps with the sources used. One thing I really love about the hosts is that even though the stories are told mainly from the perspectives of a particular woman, Graham and Vollenweider recognize the bias in that. A character maybe perceived and presented as a villain in one woman’s episode but be a hero in their own. This self-awareness plus in depth research is what makes this podcast so beloved among history fans. And I mean beloved. Starting in January of 2011, the show has 4.7 out of 5 stars and 6.9K Ratings. To keep such a high average over a long time is difficult for even the best pods. It’s also been recognized with a handful of awards such as a finalist in The People’s Choice Podcast Award, a finalist in The Academy of Podcasters Awards, and Mixcloud Online Radio Awards, Best Talk Show in the Education Category. They were finalist in The People’s Choice Podcast Award for seven years straight. I highly recommend checking out their detailed websites and packed show notes for things like photos, videos, and news for every episode. Their Facebook group, History Chicks Podcast Lounge, is also such a friendly and inviting community. So far there are 263 episodes! On average they are about an hour long and while they are typically put out every two weeks, the day does vary. My favorite episodes have been “Laura Ingalls Wilder” and “The Romanovs (Part 1).” Audio is rough in the first couple of episodes but like with every podcast gets better with time. I really love this podcast and I’m so happy there are so many episodes. You could relisten a couple of times before I think you could begin to remember it all. It’s comforting, relaxing, distracting, and interesting. What more could you ask for?

Similar Pods: The Gilded Gentleman, What'sHerName, and Stuff You Missed in History Class. 

Sources: 
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-history-chicks-31814
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-chicks/id415983183

This week we look at Tenfold More Wicked: Wicked Words.

Full Transcript:

Hey Pod lovers. I’m your host Marie and  If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that brings you a brand new non-spoiler binge-worthy review every week of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary on everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. New episodes come out every Monday. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. If you like what you hear and want to help out this independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

Historical crime is a hard thing to cover. With monotone hosts or lack of research it can too easily be made to seem like a story so far away in time and place that it never existed. That’s why what host Kate Winkler Dawson has done with the Exactly Right network is all the more impressive. Dawson is professor, crime historian, author and has reported for the likes of The New York Times, WCBS News and many more. On the level of Crimes of the Centuries this podcast has everything expected of a grade A show (gripping narrative, well researched, voices from those close to the cases) and so much more. For those who find older cases to be boring or unrelatable this podcast will change that. In all honesty I do love a period piece but Dawson transports listeners through history without sounding like she’s reading from a script. Instead every episode has the tone of a chilling true campfire story. Originally the show released case specific seasons that were 6 episodes long each but after the third season the podcast started a new series in the same feed made up of episodes that covered individual cases. These individual case episodes are now produced in between the main seasons and involve Dawson interviewing an expert in the case (usually an author). I’ve mentioned before how I generally am not a fan of interview podcasts but this is one of the good ones. Host and guest work together to tell very interesting stories. So far there are six main seasons and 58 standalone. On average, episodes are about 40 minutes long. It’s difficult to tell the most popular episodes/season because of this uniquerelease schedule and Owltail’s faulty algorithm. Moving forward I’m not sure Owltail can be trusted to reliable report the most popular episodes. My favorites are hard to choose because they are all so good. If you haven’t heard the pod before I would start with the first season’s first episode “All That is Wicked: The Schutts” or if you’re looking for an individual case episode, try “Bryan Burrough: The Demon Next Door.” Music is perfect.

Similar pods: Accused, Buried Bones, and Ye Olde Crime. 

All right, guys, that’s all for this week but remember if you want to see the cover art, sources or the written transcript for this episode be sure to check out the show notes. You can also send us an email at [email protected]. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. This week’s music came from Universal Music Productions.  Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening