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.
Can I Pet Your Dog? - Tindog and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Elizabeth: If you love comedy and cute dogs, there’s finally a podcast to satisfy both your interests. In the debut episode of Can I Pet Your Dog?, comedians Allegra Ringo and Renee Colvert (the former a dog owner and the latter a dog lover) start by chatting about the dogs they’ve met that week, including a failed therapy dog named Ozzie, and the latest in dog technology, Tindog. Ss I’m sure you can guess, Tindog is Tinder-like app for dogs to set up playdates with other local dogs, although it’s unclear whether you’re supposed to respond as your dog, or whether it’s more about the human’s getting together than connecting their animals. Later the show’s producer Travis McElroy, a former dog trainer, gives tips for getting your pet to behave and they speak with Tony winner, “Hamilton†creator and star, and most importantly, dog owner, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda tells the story of meeting his dog, Tobillo, on the beach in the Dominican Republic, and how her “beach dog†instincts return whenever they take her back to the island. Finally they debate the age old question, “big dog or little dog,†and make case for a Broadway musical about dogs. Best of all, if you’re curious about the dogs mentioned on the show (or just want to look at cute puppies), you can go visit @CIPYDPodcast on Twitter to see pics.
Word with Friend - Gregarious with Emily V. Gordon
Leigh: Word with Friend is not the iPhone game you play on the toilet. It’s a podcast hosted by Julian Stern that you should be listening to (where you listen is your business). Each week Stern sits down with a comedian and discusses the etymology and definition of a different word. This week on the show it’s The Meltdown producer Emily V. Gordon and boy do things get gregarious! That’s most definitely not the correct use of that word. I know that because I’ve already learned all the right ways to use it, so I don’t want to ruin it for you. Gordon also explains just what her job as the producer of The Meltdown entails, both the live show and the TV show, shares some very helpful writing tips, some dumb things she did at 22, the origins of her Twitter handle (@thegynomite), and gives advice about fully reading headlines and life in general. She and Stern also swap Instagram recommendations. Most importantly, you’ll learn that a group of zebras is called a dazzle and it’s high time we start talking more about this. This episode is a great place to get that ball rolling.
Jordan, Jesse, GO! - Slamtastic Four with Joe Randazzo and Asterios Kokkinos
Pablo: Earlier this month, I found myself at Denny’s in an attempt to recover from a hectic Independence Day. But before I could shove a resuscitating Grand Slam in my mouth, I noticed a menu insert that was disturbing on two levels: 1. They’re making another Fantastic Four movie and 2. Denny’s is celebrating this movie, only made to prevent the loss of property rights, by devoting a whole menu to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s beloved characters. While I literally couldn’t stomach a Thing Burger, comedian Asterios Kokkinos bravely ate every item on the Slamtastic Four menu for the latest episode of Jordan, Jesse, GO! Besides The Thing Burger (complete with Thing Sauce), the menu also includes a Human Torch Skillet and an Invisible Woman Slam with a clear citrus glaze, because one of the tenets of the restaurant industry to have at least two entrees that remind you of cum. Despite being the leader and namesake of the Fantastic Four, somehow Mr. Fantastic does not have his own meal, which I think is a scathing indictment of Hollywood’s attempt to make Miles Teller a movie star. But I digest, I mean digress. Halfway through the 6,860 calorie meal, Kokkinos’ hands literally began to tremble from the tie-in pig-out feast. A mere mortal would’ve thrown in the towel, or dingy ass cloth that Denny’s calls a napkin, but somehow he found the strength to jam the Dr. Doom Lava Cake down his gullet in honor of that horny doctor from Nip/Tuck. Rest in peace, Asterios Kokkinos. You (presumably) died eating the culinary equivalent of a racist YouTube comment about The Human Torch being played by a black guy.
Ear Biscuits – KingBach
Marc: The new media landscape can be a confounding place, with new apps and ways to reach people constantly emerging, shifting, and changing. Who’s keeping track of the players making a difference? “Internetainers†Rhett and Link (Rhett McLaughlin and Charles “Link†Neal) and their Ear Biscuits podcast, that’s who. The hosts are new media heavyweights in their own right — their well-known YouTubery has garnered over 455 million views — so it’s fitting that they usher in others for us to meet. This week it’s Andrew Bachelor, AKA @KingBach, an actor and comedian best known for his Vines. With almost 13 million followers, his self-produced “vidiettes†are legend, ranging from shamelessly goofy to politically poignant. Hollywood’s awareness of him is ridiculously high, which has resulted in him getting steady acting work, including developing a new TV show produced by Key and Peele. Bach is smart and savvy – he comes from a family of accountants – and funny to boot. Hearing him share his story of using new media to leverage his way into the still more lucrative old media is worthy of a movie all its own. Or at least a Periscope.
You Better DON’T! - Technology: Good or Bad=383error?
Kaitlynn: Short and sweet; podcasts don’t usually follow this word of phrase. The You Better DON’T! podcast drops a seven minute episode every week. The unscripted musings and banter cover a range of topics with delightfully old-timey intro music. Host Steven Shehori is a comedy writer and producer, writing original scripts for TV and working on a variety of notable Canadian television comedies. Co-host Lisa Schwartzman is a writer, host and editor and her bio states she has been chased by a number of Russians and even a cow for a travel show. This week, Lisa talks about helping an older lady at an ATM when she accidentally put her card in the receipt slot and couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t coming out. This turns into a hypothetic conversation about older versions of themselves and what they will have trouble comprehending as a senior citizen. I don’t think I can write much more for such a short podcast, listen to it yourself. Spend seven minutes listening to an episode, even though the phrase seven minutes may trigger memories of seven minutes in heaven (or likely an awkward encounter in a closet at a teenage party). Sorry for the flashback.
Other Podcasts We’re Listening To:
Who Charted - Natasha Leggero
Classic Loveline - Rick James
How to Be a Person - Emmy Blotnick - How to Self-Help Yourself
The Duncan Trussell Family Hour - Andy Kindler & Bert Kreischer
Comedy Bang Bang - Bongo vs. Bongos
Nerdist Writers Panel - Orphan Black Panel from ATX Television Festival
Lou Reads the Internet - A Looner Minisode
Chillpak Hollywood Hour - #428
Beef and Dairy Network Podcast - Dr. David Pin
Got a podcast recommendation? Drop us a line at [email protected].
Elizabeth Stamp is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York.
Marc Hershon is host of Succotash, the Comedy Podcast Podcast and author of I Hate People!
Leigh Cesiro is a writer living in Brooklyn who only needs 10 minutes to solve any Law & Order: SVU episode.
Pablo Goldstein is a writer from Los Angeles, CA.
Kaitlynn E-A Smith is a writer/creator and (somehow) MA fashion grad, born and living in Toronto.