The Mastercast

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 on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Pateron by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

Tooth and Claw - No Spoilers! 

Sometimes if I really love a podcast I get so nervous to recommend them because there’s so much pressure to communicate how good it is. This is one of those pods. It’s hosted by two brothers, Wes and Jeff, and their good friend Mike. Wes is actually a wildlife biologist whose professional knowledge coupled with the group’s dynamic is what will make this podcast one of your favorites. Bimonthly they cover animal attacks and give the best tips on what to do if you ever get yourself into a sticky situation with an animal. Animal lovers don’t fret! These guys aren’t out to make the animals in these stories monsters. The show is actually meant to teach listeners about what went wrong in these situations and how we can learn to respect other life on this planet. It’s easier to appreciate and not fear something when you know more about it. They do this with a good narrative and the best segments including rating the event in terms of pain (measured in ouchies!), how much they love and respect the animal (measured in claws), and their favorite pop culture reference of the animal, just to name a few! Every once in a while the crew will change it up or add something new. There’s the rare guest (a parent, animal attack survivors, and other animal experts) and limited banter. Apple podcasts has 4.9 out of 5 stars, 1,769 ratings, and 643 written reviews. Episodes are on average about an hour and ten minutes long. The most popular episode according to Owltail is “Grizzly Bear Attack - The Todd Orr Double Grizzly Bear Attack.” The most interesting to me were “Polar Bear Attack - A Bad End to Polar Bear Camp” and “Oceanic White Tip Shark Attack - A Sharky Shipwreck Story.” Honorable mentions have to go their coverage of the lions of Tsavo and Harambe. Decently family-friendly minus the pretty grisly descriptions of injuries to humans and animals. I try to express how good I think every podcast I recommend is but you seriously have to listen to this one! I binged all the episodes in about a week! I couldn’t pace myself!

Similar pods: Force of Nature, Out Alive from BACKPACKER, and Nature Guys. 

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 Colorado Springs electronic music artist Apollo.  The song featured was Welcome to the Underworld. For more from them check them out on Soundcloud, and Youtube by searching Apollo or on Instagram @resurrection_of_apollo. This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  

Sources: 
Apple Podcasts
Podchaser
Owltail  

Music Attributions: 

Artist: Apollo
Song: Welcome to the Underworld
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC20H0eEFKAvLtjVEZGy4-VQ/featured
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/apollo_666
Instagram: @resurrection_of_apollo

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 on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Patreon by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on

History of the 90’s - No Spoilers! 

This great documentary-style history podcast from Curiouscast covers the 1990s with a calm but serious tone that has won the show such awards as Apple’s list of Best Canadian Podcasts and Winner of Outstanding Documentary – 2021 Canadian Podcast Awards. In each episode host Kathy Kenzora covers a significant topic from the decade with the help of knowledgeable guests whose inputs are then edited into a seamless narration of history. The show is actually an extension of Kenzora’s earlier podcast History of 1995 which was also very popular. Living through any period of time, it can be difficult to understand and keep track of the impacts of major events but this pod is trying to clarify that for all of us who remember the 90s as a blur. A wide range of topics has been covered including serious ones such as The Rwandan Genocide and The Unabomber and sillier subjects like Nickelodeon and Beanie Babies. Occasionally an episode is dedicated to the top ten stories of the year. There are currently 72 episodes that make up two seasons and are on average about 35 minutes long. Most of the episodes can be listened to out of order but I’d save the top ten ones for last. My favorite episodes were “The TTC Subway Crash” and “90's Rave Culture.” The episodes that have the most listens according to Owltail are “JFK Jr. The Prince of Camelot” and “Columbine.” I guess I should mention the podcast gets a little political according to some but not listening to a podcast because the host has a different opinion than you is just not the way to be. The show has 4.8 stars, 345 ratings, and 78 written reviews on Apple Podcasts and is super light on commercials. With professional sound and the standard of storytelling, this pod will make you terribly nostalgic for the decade. Trigger warnings vary by episode but are mentioned at the beginning of episodes. 

Similar Pods: The History of Fun, One Year, and History This Week. 

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. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at [email protected] week’s music is from Denver electronic music producer Stelouse. The song featured was Been so Long. For more from Stelouse checkout their Instagram and Twitter @stelouse, or find them on every major music platform by searching Stelouse. This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thank you so much for listening and supporting the show! 

Sources: 

Apple Podcast
Podchaser
Podnods
Podnews
Owltail
Listennotes

Music Attributions: 

Artist: Stelouse 
Song Been so long

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 on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy me a coffee and Patreon by searching the mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. 

Heeled - No Spoilers! 

Today’s review is of 2020 miniseries that is hard to define. At its core is a crime, not violent but creepy. Surrounding that is high-profile gossip, NYC drama, and a laundry list of true plot twists that are stranger than fiction. Long before his political debut as U.S president, Donald Trump was the biggest celebrity in New York City but that doesn’t mean politics doesn’t play a bit of a role in this story. Marla Maples, an actress, model, and singer, met Trump in 1989 during his marriage to Ivana Trump. This affair was kept very discreet with the help of Maples’s publicist and agent Chuck Jones. Maples could trust Jones with absolutely everything… or so she thought. In 1992 after months of stealing Maples’s shoes, Jones was convicted of burglary, criminal possession of stolen property, and weapons possession. However, this was only the beginning. In this podcast hosts and former prosecutors, Trisha LaFache and Kevin J. Hynes take you through every twist and turn of the case. Hynes was actually the trial prosecutor on the Chuck Jones case and both hosts are compelling storytellers. The perfect blend of true crime and scandal, the level of celebrity gossip wasn’t annoying and didn’t outshine the facts of the case. It did take me an episode to truly be invested though. Apple Podcasts has 4.8 stars, 106 ratings, and 28 written reviews. The series has a total of seven episodes that are on average about 48 minutes long. Content warning for stalking and descriptions of sex. 

Similar pods: Gruesome Gossip, American Scandal, and Even the Rich

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 the electronic music duo Future Twist.  The song featured was Another World. To book them reach out to their booking agency Prism on their website https://www.prysmtalentagency.com/. For more from the two check them out on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Facebook by searching Future Twist or find them on every major music platform. . This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening.  

Sources: 
Apple Podcasts
Podchaser
Owltail

Music Attributions: 

Artist: Future Twist
Song: Another World
Website: https://solo.to/futuretwist
Spotify:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fartist%2F0hQcx4KqckqtXAAP4cKntg&token=f25ed8-1-1655086135483
Facebook:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffuturetwist&token=5bc15a-1-1655086135484
Instagram:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fwearefuturetwist&token=1b6ec9-1-1655086135485
Twitter:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Ffuture_twist&token=8b4fd5-1-1655086135486
Patreon:https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Ffuturetwist&token=5c6001-1-1655086135487
Bookings: https://www.prysmtalentagency.com/contact

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 on the show and want to help out this newly independent show you can find me on Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. This week’s review is on 

Impact Winter - No Spoilers! 

From Audible and Travis Beacham comes this breath of fresh air. With the caliber of some of the greatest audio fiction ever made, I haven’t heard something this compelling since We’re Alive. Blurring the lines between audiobooks and podcasts it has everything: suspense, horror, immersive audio, world-building, and so so much more. Because I felt like I loved figuring out what the story was about as I listened, I won’t give away too much. Instead, I’ll set the scene… In the British countryside, this story begins seven years after a comet hit the earth, plunging it into sunless darkness. A group of survivors has found refuge in an ancient castle but their struggles to find food in the shadows of what was is the least of the worries. They can’t roam far or alone without the constant reminder that this new dim world bites back. This podcast is definitely a contender for my podcast of the year and one of the most suspenseful I’ve ever heard. It’s not afraid to let a bit of eerie silence in and is a good example of how well podcasts do horror.  What you can’t see is way scarier than what you can and having two earbuds in for this show will make you feel like someone is constantly creeping up behind you. The reviewing segment for this show will be a little different because it is an audible original. Apple Podcasts has 4.9 average stars, 513 ratings, and 61 written reviews. Audible’s rating system has 4.7 stars (an average of the ratings of their overall, performance, and story categories) from 15,131 ratings. I couldn’t find the number of written reviews but their website also categorizes reviews as being from different countries. Episodes are about 24 minutes long and so far the first season has been fully published that has fans begging for the next season. If you are one of those fans count yourselves lucky, the creators have indicated another is in the works although the medium in comes out is up for debate. A graphic novel is being finished though and covers what happens next as well as what comes before this podcast. Warnings for violence, and adult themes. 

Similar Pods:  End of All Hope, Apollyon, and The Vela

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 came from a New York City pop-soul group called Big Stuff Band.  The song featured was Sliver Screen. For more from the group check out their Instagram and Facebook @bigstufftheband , or find them on every major music platform by searching Big Stuff. This contact information will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening. 

Sources: 

Apple Podcast
Podchaser
Podnods
Podnews
Owltail
Listennotes

Music Attributions: 

Artist: Big Stuff 
Song: Silver Screen

Transcript: 

Hey Pod lovers. 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 I’m your special guest host David and this week’s I’m bringing you a review on Late Era.  
 

I’m a sucker for good music podcasts, and I have a great one to show you today. Late Era, brought to you by Osiris Media, is a podcast that looks at late-career albums from legendary artists. Hosts Andy Cush, Sam Sodomsky, and Winston Cook-Wilson are all staff writers at the online music publication Pitchfork, and all have deep knowledge and great chemistry when talking about these albums. Sodomsky in particular has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of these artists and their work. While they can get personal sometimes, most of their dialogue revolves around the music itself, which I find enjoyable. The albums they cover can range anywhere from hidden gems deep in an artist’s discography or an absolute flop, both of which are fun to explore. Some episodes feature guests as well, ranging from comedians like Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington to musicians like Open Mike Eagle. Some great episodes to start out with are Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail, Aerosmith’s Honkin’ on Bobo, and Bob Dylan’s Under the Red Sky. Each episode ranges from 50 minutes long to an hour and a half, and it does not need to be listened to in order. For anyone interested in music history, I could not recommend this podcast more. Content warning for some strong language and occasional drug references. Currently, the show seems to be on hiatus with the last episode coming out in July 2021, but there is a chance they could come back at some point. Similar podcasts include the 33 1/3rd podcast, 155, and the Album Year. 

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 or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at [email protected] week’s music comes from The Sickly Hecks. The song featured was Cyber Dating. For more from them, you can find them on Facebook and Instagram @thesicklyhecks or on their website. Their contact will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to show the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!

Musical feature:
Artist: The Sickly Hecks
Song: Cyber Dating
Instagram: thesicklyhecks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesicklyhecks/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5H8jnN8bXbqu7WcO8fbjob?si=eNdf9Hs7QR-imlNzXBNUNQ&nd=1
Email: [email protected]

Transcript:

Hey Pod lovers. 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 I’m your host Marie and before we get to this week’s review it’s announcement time. This episode is actually the last episode that will be appearing under the KCSU network. KCSU is a student-run radio station from Colorado State University and while I was a student and worked there they hosted the show but now that I’m graduating I’m bringing the show with me and continuing it on my own. I’m really so grateful for everything KCSU has taught me and wanted to so thank you and I can’t wait to see what the station continues to come up with because it is in really good hands. If you want to see what they’re up to you can head over to KCSUFM.com and if you’d like to help out this newly independent show you can find me on buy me a coffee and pateron by searching The Mastercast. I’d really appreciate it. But on this week’s review which is..

Cowper 

This 2019 podcast could be pegged as true crime but it listens more as an investigative journalistic piece. Looking into who could be culpable in the second-worst road disaster in Australian history, the show by the Daily Examiner is a six-part series. 30 years ago near the small town of Cowper sometime between 3-4 am a semi-truck carrying pineapples drifted onto the opposite side of the road and collided with a commuter bus carrying 45 people. This caused the entire right side of the bus to be sheared off, passengers to fall out onto the roadway, and the vehicle to flip into a roll. 21 of the passengers were killed and the incident led to calls for upgrades to the road that would take three decades and hundreds of lives to make. This pod’s intimate details of the last moments of the victims lives as well as those following the crash, is something I had to hear to get the gravity of. It is the brainchild of Jenna Thompson and narrated by Mary Gardiner with interview help from Kathryn Lewis, and Lesley Apps. The script writing was done by Michelle Gately. Side note: I LOVE when all involved with a show are credited both in audio and written somewhere. Not only is it easy to give them the credit they deserve in reviews like these but makes for a searchable text on the interwebs. Apple Podcasts has 5.0 out of 5 stars BUT ONLY ONE RATING which I can not believe. Episodes are all 29 minutes and commercials are average. One thing I do like about the breaks in this show is they have mental health hotline PSAs which with the topic covered is needed. The music is fitting and there’s only one instance of the host seeming to use heavy emphasis for dramatic effect (just once). Trigger warnings for descriptions of injury, suicide, fear, and hopelessness. It’s a hard listen but worth hearing the stories told of those affected. 

Similar Pods: Where's William Tyrrell?, Black Box Down, and On The Frontline. 

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 or for the very last time KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at [email protected] week’s music was a song by Cincinnati artist Voosive. The song featured was Stray From the Path. Voosive has a brand new “thanks for 2k followers” release dropping today! That’s definitely worth checking out. He’ll also be at quite a few festivals this summer including Bigfoot Electro in Tracy City, Tennesse, Geek Out in College Corner Ohio, Tribal Connection at Wisteria Campground Pomeroy, Ohio, and a few more you can find on his socials which are Vusive on Instagram and Soundcloud and Vusivemusic on Twitter. Their contact will also be in the show notes as well. Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. We have a very special episode coming next week where guest host David Samuth, KCSU’s programming director brings us a review making him the first guest on the show so you won’t wait to miss it. Anyways, Thanks for listening!

Sources: 

Apple Podcast
Podchaser
Podnods
Podnews
Owltail
Listennotes

Music Attributions: 

Artist: Vusive
Song: Stray From the Path
Instagram: Vusive
Soundcloud: Vusive
Twitter: Vusivemusic

Hey Pod lovers. 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 I’m your host, Marie, and this week I’m bringing you a review on …

"Like a Version"

This weekly music podcast is actually a recorded segment that is performed live on the Australian radio station Triple J. It was created by Mel Bampton for his show "Mel in the Morning" in 2004.

Every set has artists, both international and local, play two songs, one of their own and a cover of someone else’s in their own style (or version). It’s similar to BBC’s "Radio 1's Live Lounge" sets and Irish Today FM's "Even Better Than the Real Thing." The name is also said to be a play on “Like a Virgin” Madonna’s 1984 album.

Originally these performances were acoustic, but the style has since developed to include all sorts of music. The show’s wide popularity has led to CDs as well as some of the covers making it onto the Triple J Hottest 100.

It is also a podcast on most podcast players but a playlist on Spotify. While most sets can be found on Triple J’s website as well as their YouTube channel, the online archive doesn’t go back further than August 2006.

Like most cover songs, you have to take the good with the bad. While there are some incredibly well-done ones, there are also misfires. I really enjoy when bands really try to cover a song in their own style instead of as close as they can to the original. It is like a version after all.

Apple Podcasts has 4.6 stars and 32 Ratings. So far there are 577 episodes currently available with new ones coming out every Thursday, and on average they last about 20 minutes.

OwlTail’s most popular isn’t working for this podcast, but my favorites are almost too hard to pick. I adore the CHVRCHES cover of Kendrick Lamar’s 'LOVE’ (their ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ is also amazing), and Meg Mac’s ‘Let it Happen’ originally done by Tame Impala. Those are just two of the many stunning songs. Seriously, all worthy of checking out, but again some are better than others.

No swears for this one but the nature of songs can vary. Side note: Triple J does another brilliant segment called "Bars of Steel" that features rappers and is worth checking out (I recommend A.Girl’s set).

Similar Pods: "Tiny Desk Concerts," "Live Lounge Uncovered" and "Headliners"

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 or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at [email protected].

This week’s music was a song by Colorado Springs artist Violet Wish. The song featured was "Freefall," which is a song from Wish’s soon-to-be-released debut album “Long Distance,” which is set to drop May 28! You can also find them on Soundcloud and Bandcamp @violet wish and on Instagram @ violet_wish_music. Their contact will also be in the show notes.

Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!

Sources:

Apple Podcast
Podchaser
Podnods
Podnews
OwlTail
Listennotes

Music Attributions:

Artist: Violent Wish
Song: "Freefall"
Soundcloud and Bandcamp @violet wish
Instagram: @violet_wish_music

Hey Pod lovers. 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 other reviews for the week on the show’s Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods. I’m your host, Marie, and this week I’m bringing you a review on:

"The Crime Shack"

Airing in November 2019, this independent true-crime podcast belongs on the list of best true crime podcasts, and it is more than worth it to become a Patreon. There are few cases I hear that can make me stop what I’m doing and throw my hands up, but this podcast has had me doing it multiple times.

Solo host Michelle Pense has a brilliant radio voice that she couples with professional sound quality and editing. You might recognize her from her very successful TikTok @shellzcrimeshack where she covers crime in short videos.

The podcast is the perfect blend of facts and the tiniest bit of commentary. It covers a range of crimes, including recent ones I hadn’t heard of. No tangents and completely possible to spend a weekend lost in bingeing this show.

So far there are 19 episodes, with new ones coming out monthly. On average they are about 40 minutes long. Episodes include chilling 911 calls as well as audio from interrogations with investigators.

OwlTail’s most popular episode according to the number of listens are EP06: Geza de Kaplany "The Acid Doctor" and EP05: “Christy Sheats and Cynthia Kessler Collier: Maternal Instincts.” I also found episode 5 as well as EP15: “The Strange Murder of Robert Eric Wone” to be especially intriguing.

There is some mispronunciation of names in the Murdaugh episode, but it didn’t bother me at all. That’s the only episode I heard anything wrong with.

The sponsors of the podcast are personal safety items like alarms and pepper spray, which is fitting.

I love the website! It includes the blog with pictures from each episode, sources, transcripts, a place for case suggestions and the merch store. The retro sweatshirt design is iconic, and we love to see sources and transcripts.

Apple Podcasts has 4.7 stars, 107 ratings and 16 written reviews. Music is short and inquisitive. Trigger warnings are included in the show but often cover crimes against children as well as sexual violence.

Similar Pods: "CASEWATCH True Crime Podcast," "Carolina Crimes" and "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan"

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 or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended.

You can also send us an email at [email protected]. This week’s music was a song by Colorado Springs artist Hemlock. The song featured was "Hex." For more from them, you can find them on Twitter, Instagram and Etsy @HemlockVale and on Soundcloud @Hemlock. Their contact will also be in the show notes.

Remember to share the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!

Sources:

Apple Podcast
Podchaser
Podnods
Podnews
OwlTail
Listennotes

Music Attributions:

Artist: Hemlock
Song: Hex
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hemlockvale
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemlockvale/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HemlockVale
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hemlockburn

Transcript:

Hey pod lovers. If you’re joining us for the first time: Welcome! "The Mastercast" is a podcast recommendation show that

*record scratch*

Okay pod lovers if you’ve listened to earlier episodes you know this is the part where I usually tell you what we’re going to cover during the show, but I’ve got great news. I’m actually changing the show’s format just a bit.

You’re still getting non-spoiler, binge-worthy reviews of the best podcasts in a short and sweet 2-3 minute summary of everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be.

But instead of seven reviews monthly, you can now expect one review every Monday. This review will be my top recommendation for the week. You can find the week’s other reviews on the show’s social on Instagram @themastercast and Twitter @mastercastpods.

Anyway, now that little announcement is out of the way, let’s get to this week’s review which is ...

"Paul McCartney: Inside the Songs"

Did you know The Beatles' song "Yesterday" (widely regarded as one of the greatest pop songs ever written) shares history with Doctor Who? How about who the woman behind the song "Eleanor Rigby" really is?

For the first time, master storyteller Paul McCartney relives what was really happening when he wrote some of the most popular songs of the 20th century, and nothing is left on the table. Drugs, love and the band’s breakup are just a few things covered in these candid, short-form, off-script narratives produced by BBC Radio 4 in promotion for McCartney’s upcoming book, "The Lyrics."

I’m not even the biggest fan of The Beatles, but I adored this podcast from a music history perspective and appreciated the unique look into the making of 10 famous songs by the group.

Apple Podcasts has 4.5 stars, 12 ratings, and only 1 written review, which I can't believe! It’s also only available for one year from its original air date, which was October 25, 2021. Let’s hope the Internet Archives squirrels this gem away for generations to come.

The script is done in the style of some of my favorite podcasts; the interview questions either don’t exist or have been edited out. It leaves a seamless recount that gives context to the culture and history of the time.

All episodes were released the same day and are ready for you to listen. You can listen all the way through within an hour because the length of each one is only 4-9 minutes. I was amazed at how captivating each could be at such a short length.

No commercials and surprisingly almost no music, with only a few clips of each song used throughout the series.

Trigger warning drug use and murder.

Similar Pods: "I am the EggPod," "Like a Version" and "Dissect"

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 or KCSUFM.com. There you can tell us if you have music you would like played on the show or submit a podcast to be recommended. You can also send us an email at [email protected].

This week’s music comes from Tonguebyte, a band from Aurora, Colorado, that crosses genres of punk, jazz and alternative rock. The song featured was "Hot Vodka," and I thought it went really well with this week’s musical podcast. For more from them, you can find them on Instagram @tonguebyteoffical or on any major music platform. Their contact will also be in the show notes. If you have the opportunity to see them live, they’re a must-see. Really cool group of people.

Remember to show the show with the pod lovers in your life and tune in next Monday. Thanks for listening!

Sources:

Apple Podcast
Podchaser
Podnods
Podnews
OwlTail
Listen Notes

Music Attributions:

Artist: Tonguebyte
Song: "Hot Vodka"
Contact here

Transcript:

Hey Pod lovers. If you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! The Mastercast is a podcast recommendation show that consists of seven non-spoiler, binge-worthy reviews of the best podcasts in a short-and-sweet two- to three-minute summary of everything you could want to know, from the number of hosts to on average how long you can expect each episode to be. For more details and more reviews, I highly recommend checking out the first five episodes of "Mastercast." Let’s get started.

"A Piece of Work"

Abbi Jacobson knocks it out of the park with this approachable podcast, "A Piece of Work" done for WNYC Studios in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art. Fans of "Broad City" might recognize Jacobson as one of the show’s main characters, whose wit and charm carry over into real life. She’s an art major, but it’s clear her talented voice was made for radio.

One of the best parts about the show is that it is always so refreshing to hear someone speak about something they clearly adore. For most of us, art can seem intimidating, but this funny, down-to-earth pod says art is for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you dislike art or work full time in an art museum, Jacobson makes informative and comprehensive cases for all sorts. Her passion for creating a podcast about art that educates while it captivates in a way that isn’t pretentious is the sort of attitude the subject needs.

The show gives an inside look into MoMA with the help of some of Jacobson’s friends. She brings them along to gauge their reactions to some of the works she discusses. It’s so interesting to hear the different impressions and perspectives. Guests include Hannibal Buress, RuPaul and Questlove to name a few. Everything they have to say is useful and adds to the presentation, unlike what I’ve seen in other shows.

I’ll admit I was skeptical about how hearing people talk about art would be with just the audio, but this 10-part series is out to prove anyone with the same doubts wrong. While it’s completely possible to enjoy the show without viewing the art, a quick Google search gives you so much more to appreciate. For an easy way to make sure you’re looking at the right piece, I recommend checking out the show’s website.

Apple Podcasts has 4.8 out of 5 stars, 1.4 thousand ratings and 278 written reviews. Episodes are about 20 minutes long, commercials are average for the length and music was minimal. You can listen to the episodes out of order with slight nods to guests from older episodes being the only building information.

OwlTail can’t generate the most popular episodes for this short series, but my favorites were “Samantha Irby Gets High on Light” and “How Questlove Learned to Love Silence.”

No trigger warnings for this one. I’m sure it’s obvious by the length of the review that I loved this show. It is definitely in the running for my podcasts of the year. I would give it 10/5 stars if I could.

Similar Pods: "The Art History Babes," "ArtCurious Podcast," "The Week in Art," (bonus YouTube recommendation) "The Art Assignment"

"Newton’s Law"

"Newton's Law" is a brand-new eight-part series from iHeartpodcasts and is a perfect blend of history, true crime and action. It follows the lesser-known occupation of famous British scientist Isaac Newton (yes, that Isaac Newton), as lawman and Warden of the Mint.

While the position doesn’t exist anymore, this podcast makes it feel more real than ever as it brings to life late 17th century culture and customs. For example, did you know that coffee shops were the social media of the day? Lords (ladies were rarely permitted) would print pamphlets to distribute there as well as gather to talk politics or gossip.

It might seem like this time is a world away from us today, but the story told by this show is one we are all familiar with: the law vs. the criminal. Newton takes the job thinking it will be cake and give him plenty of time for his other interests.

However, he has his work cut out for him tackling the rampant counterfeiting trend happening and more when he meets William Chaloner, a legend among the underbelly of the country. The two led a relationship filled with cunning back and forth that leads to you wanting to know when will Newton get his man.

Apple Podcasts has 4.7 stars and 109 ratings. Linda Rodriguez McRobbie is both host and researcher for the show, a dual role she pulls off seamlessly. Episodes are on average about 42 minutes long, and make sure to listen to the series in order.

The script is narrative with some voiceovers by Newton in character. Music is a fitting alternative groove by Elise McCoy, which I really liked.

Similar Pods: "Blood on the Tracks: The John Lennon Story," "American History Tellers," "Finding Fred"

"BBC Earth Podcast"

The "BBC Earth Podcast" is nature like only BBC Earth can do it. Who doesn’t love to kick back with tea and Planet Earth? Well, now you can experience that same feeling of amazement on the go with some of the best storytelling and audio production out there.

Started in 2018 and just finishing up its fourth season, it presents close-up encounters and surprising insights into not only nature but the science and human condition surrounding it. Meticulous attention is given to the immersive soundscape, with every volume and direction of sound added to put the listener inside the narrative.

Apple Podcasts has 4.8 out of 5 stars, 209 ratings and 20 written reviews. Solo host Emily Knight guides the show through a set of related stories each week on Mondays with topics ranging from the bottoms of oceans to the peaks of the highest mountains in the world. The show currently has 37 episodes, all about 30 minutes in length.

My favorite episodes have been “Can anything last forever?” and “Finding what doesn't want to be found.” OwlTail’s most popular episodes are “The planet where it rains diamonds'' and “Looking Up.”

No word on when the next season can be expected, but with no final goodbye it seems that another is coming. The music is so great I’m going to refer to it as a score, and commercials are average in quantity. Perfect for sleep or work. I can't recommend it enough.

Similar Pods: "Discovery," "Overheard," "The Life Scientific"

"The Miami Chronicles: Booby Trap"

I found "The Miami Chronicles: Booby Trap" from the Apostrophe Podcast Company with Acast really fascinating before I knew why. Now I realize it's because the main narrator, Michael Fragomeni, starts it out by making it sound like he's your college roommate recounting his wild childhood, then ...