The Guardian presents a selection of the best podcasts for the week, covering various topics such as comedy, video games, and more. The article is divided into two main sections: unscripted podcasts and video game culture. These podcasts offer something for everyone, from comedy and video game culture to unscripted and improvised performances.
Podcast Picks of the Week
Unscripted Podcasts
Rachel Aroesti’s Choices
Rachel Aroesti chooses five of the best unscripted podcasts, from a long-running improv sketch show to a musical podcast with a difference.
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Off Book: The Improvised Musical – Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino masterfully ad-lib an entire musical from scratch in each episode.
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Dear Joan and Jericha – A comedy duo behind Dear Joan and Jericha, offering frank advice on life’s problems.
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Three Bean Salad – A mild-mannered threesome riff on random themes sent in by listeners, resulting in restlessly funny chat rich with references.
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It Can’t Just Be Me – A frank life advice show from Anna Richardson, host of couldn’t-be-franker nude dating show Naked Attraction.
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We Live Here Now – Progressive journalists Lauren Ober and Hanna Rosin meet their election-denying, January 6-linked neighbours.
Video Game Podcasts
Graeme Virtue chooses five of the best podcasts on video games culture, from a history of Grand Theft Auto to a Desert Island Discs for game dorks.
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Bugzy Malone’s Grandest Game – A seven-part BBC Sounds series illuminating the 1990s origins and innovations of Grand Theft Auto.
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Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast – A long-running podcast with an emphasis on fun and inclusivity, covering RPG gaming news and reviews.
Other Recommendations
Other podcasts worth checking out include:
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Comedy Bang Bang – A long-running show from Scott Aukerman featuring offbeat interviews with famous guests.
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HyperFixed – A new getting-to-the-bottom-of-things show from Reply All’s Alex Goldman.
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Deals with Max and Ivan – Double act Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzalez host a deeply weird shopping channel in this podcast.
These podcasts offer a variety of formats and styles, but all share a commitment to unscripted comedy and engaging storytelling.
Introduction
This article from The Guardian presents a selection of the best podcasts for the week, covering various topics such as comedy, video games, and more. The article is divided into two main sections: unscripted podcasts and video game culture.
Off Book: The Improvised Musical
Off Book is a musical theatre podcast hosted by Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino. Each episode sees the hosts masterfully ad-lib an entire musical from scratch, accompanied by an equally talented guest. Their ability to create hilarious yet convincing songs and scripts on the spot makes for spellbinding listening.
Comedy Bang Bang
HyperFixed
Three Bean Salad
Three Bean Salad is a unique podcast hosted by a mild-mannered threesome – Mike Wozniak, Henry Paker, and Benjamin Partridge. The format involves the hosts riffing on random themes sent in by listeners, creating restlessly funny, rich with references, and often surreal conversations.
Dear Joan and Jericha
Dear Joan and Jericha is hosted by two ageing agony aunts played by Vicki Pepperdine and Julia Davis. Despite being largely made up on the spot, the podcast is one of the most gleefully transgressive comedies in recent history, with the pair’s advice often being mesmerically inappropriate.
Video Game Culture
Bugzy Malone’s Grandest Game
Axe of the Blood God hosts Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen provide a weekly roundup of RPG gaming news and reviews with an emphasis on fun and inclusivity. Their long-running podcast is a natural fit for computers and consoles, where microchip processors can take care of all that pesky dice-rolling and statistic-tracking.
My Perfect Console With Simon Parkin
My Perfect Console has a long way to go before it matches Desert Island Discs, but in a similar vein, it invites a guest to nominate and discuss five of their favorite games. Simon Parkin draws out intriguing insights while providing useful context for those not immersed in gaming.
Conclusion
These podcasts offer something for everyone, from comedy and video game culture to unscripted and improvised performances. Whether you’re looking for a new podcast to add to your playlist or just want to explore different genres, this selection is sure to satisfy your curiosity.
