In the ways that things have of coming full-circle, fictionalized podcasts are the new dramatized radio shows of our great-grandparents generation.

Fictionalized podcasts are having a moment right now. If you are one of the 40% of Americans listening to podcasts (according to Edison Research), then you already aware of this fact. If you aren’t yet part of the initiated, you might not be aware of just how big a phenomena podcasts are.

In fact, if you haven’t be exposed to or checked out the latest podcast offerings, you might think that podcasts are just NPR shows like “This American Life”. While I certainly don’t have anything against “This American Life,” (I, in fact, love it), there is a world beyond what the show does–especially for those who like fiction.

Fiction lovers should really take note of the plethora of offerings in the world of fictionalized podcasts. Lest you think that fictionalized podcasts are just like audiobooks with ads, think again. Fictionalized podcasts honor the tradition of a serialized show like the radio dramas or soap operas of the past. While you certainly can binge-listen to a fictionalized podcast, just like with any Netflix show, there is so much more you can get from listening to it with breaks in between the episodes. 

If you don’t want to just take my word for it, give fictionalized podcasts a try. I have put together a list of the some of the most-worthy listens to get you started. Give these podcasts a listen via a podcatcher like Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Stitcher, or Spotify, which are available via your app store.

5 Fictionalized Podcasts Worth a Listen

1. Homecoming

“Homecoming” is a psychological thriller from Gimlet Media (a big name in the world of podcasting), and Season Two also stars some big names from Hollywood including Catherine Keener and David Schwimmer. This podcast is probably the best place to start for an introduction into fictionalized podcasts.

2. Welcome to Night Vale

“Welcome to the Night Vale” can be described as “The Prarie Home Companion” of fiction podcasts, but much darker. One of the very first fiction podcasts, the show featured updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, which includes weather updates, crime reports, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and more.

3. Limetown

A modern-day “The War of the Worlds,” this podcast will leave you wondering is it real or not. The story chronicles the disappearance of over three hundred men, women and children from a small town in Tennessee, never to be heard from again and a reporter’s quest to find out what happened.

4. The Black Tapes

“The Black Tapes” is a docudrama about a paranormal investigator. Think of “The X Files” without all the science fiction and in a serialized podcast format instead of a serialized television show. There are three seasons of “The Black Tapes” in which to get lost!

5. Tanis

“Tanis” is a spin-off of “The Black Tapes,” so if you like the one, keep going with the other. “Tanis” is another fictionalized exploration of mysteries that can be found in the world all around us. It’s set in the Pacific Northwest and chronicles the quest to understand the myth of Tanis.

Related on EcoSalon

8 Fun Things You Could Do Other Than House Cleaning
5 of the Best Podcasts You Should be Listening To Now
7 First-Rate Political Podcasts to Get You Woke (and Make You Laugh)

The post Fictionalized Podcasts Are Having a Moment (And We Can’t Get Enough of Them) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Keep up with the latest news by listening to these political podcasts.

We’re all super busy, but now more than ever it is critical to keep up on what is going on in the world. While Twitter and Facebook can be part of where you get your news, they should not be your only sources. That’s where political podcasts come in. While some news is the breaking kind, most of us can benefit from a deeper look at the latest news. Political podcasts can provide a way for busy folks to get that much deeper analysis.

You can listen to political podcasts while commuting, working out, or doing housework. And lest you think all political podcasts are dry and boring, think again. The podcast world is full of hilarious shows that manage to deliver deeper examination of the world’s news with levity.

Listen to these podcasts with your favorite podcatcher (Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and others).

7 Political Podcasts

1. Pod Save America

A self-proclaimed no bull podcast for people not yet ready to give up or go insane. Hosted by former President Obama staffers, this pod is full of current events with a definitive irreverent approach.

2. Reveal

A deeper podcast revealing the hidden stories from our world. Produced by The Center for Investigative Reporting with the mission to engage and empower the public through investigative journalism and groundbreaking storytelling.

3. FiveThirtyEight

The “FiveThirtyEight” podcast is for people who want to know about the numbers. Each week, the pod breaks down that week’s news topics using polling analysis.

4. Radio Atlantic

“Radio Atlantic” is a new podcast produced by The Atlantic magazine. This podcast translates the thoughtful news commentary found in the magazine into weekly conversations with leading journalists and thinkers to make sense of the history happening all around us.

5. On The Media

“On the Media” looks at current events through the lens of the media. It is a thoughtful and insightful podcast that will help you become a more informed media user. It is definitely one of the top podcasts you should be listening to.

6. The New Washington

Much like “Radio Atlantic,” this is another new Trump-era podcast. It’s a new interview series from “The Daily,” which is a daily news podcast from The New York Times. “The New Washingtonian” will take you inside Trump’s Washington with interviews from the political characters you want to hear from most.

7. Lovett It or Leave It

Produced by Crooked Media, the same people who produce “Pod Save America,” this podcast is for those who want a lot of snark in their political podcasts. Recorded each week in front of a live audience, this podcast features regular games like the “Rant Wheel” and “Too Stupid to be Congress”.

Related on EcoSalon

7 ‘Game of Thrones’ Podcasts To Get Your (Mostly Spoiler-Free) Fix
‘Missing Richard Simmons’ is Our Latest Podcast Obsession
5 of the Best Podcasts You Should be Listening To Now

The post 7 First-Rate Political Podcasts to Get You Woke (and Make You Laugh) appeared first on EcoSalon.

We have a tendency to take our food pretty seriously these days. To add a bit more fun to your table, Joel Miller, Executive Chef of the Wallace in Los Angeles, and stand-up comedian Karl Hess, have teamed up for a creative new comedy and food podcast: “Yelling About Pâté.”

While pairing food and comedy might not seem quite as natural as peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese and tomato soup, with a bit of thought, uniting these two trades actually makes a lot of sense – a concept that Miller and Hess explore in their first episode.

“They’re both kind of renegade professions in their own way,” explains Hess. “When everyone else is off work and enjoying themselves, you’re at work: you’re providing the pleasure, the hospitality, the food, the laughs, for those people.”

Add to that the fact that “both comedy and food have reached a new level of coolness,” according to Food Republic (see the podcast’s episode exploring chefs with tattoos for more details), and you have a recipe for success.

But this food podcast is far more than two dude-bros chatting about how cool their jobs are. With guests ranging from SNL alum Brooks Wheelan to Chef Nick Erven of LA’s formerly vegan Erven to food writer and social media veteran Esther Tseng, Hess and Miller have created a nice little corner of the cyber-universe for people who love food but don’t love all those affected frills surrounding it – and that starts with the name of the podcast.

“It kind of started as a joke,” explains Hess, who notes that when he first brought the idea of launching a food podcast to Miller, they figured that the show would “probably just end up being me, drunk, yelling about pâté.”

While Hess’ admitted passion for cured meats doesn’t feature as often as the podcast’s name would have you believe, the team does explore such far-ranging topics as the agony and ecstasy of family meal, a profound defense of Lunchables, and the supremacy of the bodega breakfast sandwich.

One of the show’s strongest suits is the natural rapport between these long-time friends who met – as Hess tells it – when they “instantly bonded over talking shit and quoting the Simpsons.” The rapport bleeds into the guests they select.

“I’ve tried to choose comics who are passionate about food or have a connection to food,” says Hess. “And then in terms of chefs, we want to find chefs who are fucking funny and have funny stories or are just engaging to talk to.”

The fact that the podcast so often features three people who know one another very well means that it’s the prime space for good-natured jabs, a rapport that’s commonplace in both professions.

“The currency of tearing each other down in a loving way is a big thing in the kitchen and also in the comedian world,” explains Hess, who also notes that one of his favorite episodes so far has been witnessing Miller and Ted Hopkins, executive chef of the Bellwether in Los Angeles “ripping on each other.”

Walking the line between comical derision and overt meanness can be a tough balance to find, but Hess and Miller do a fantastic job not only of putting the fun back in “making fun” but also removing some of the self-importance that is so often associated with food.

“Yelling About Pâté” updates every Thursday and is available for download via iTunes.

Related on EcoSalon
7 ‘Game of Thrones’ Podcasts to Get Your (Mostly Spoiler-Free) Fix
‘Missing Richard Simmons’ is Our Latest Podcast Obsession
5 of the Best Podcasts You Should Be Listening to Now

The post ‘Yelling About Pâté’ is the Food Podcast for People Who Play with Their Food appeared first on EcoSalon.

Season 7 of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is upon us and with only 7 episodes this season, it’s going by quickly. Get your fix with “Game of Thrones” podcasts.

Whether you are a book and/or television fan of “Game of Thrones,” the likelihood that you can’t get enough of Westeros is high. If you are looking for some insights into the latest episode or want something to enjoy when the season is over, podcasts help to flesh out the world of Westeros created by George R. R. Martin.

7 Game of Thrones Podcasts

1. Podcast Winterfell – A true fan’s podcast, after each new episode of GoT airs, followers get a week of three different shows, including an initial reaction podcast,  a fan call-in show (where you can share your latest theories), and a deeper dive with additional analysis.

2. A Storm of Spoilers – As the title indicates, this podcast may contain spoilers. The Spoilers’ team (made up of Joanna Robinson from “Vanity Fair,” Dave Gonzales of Thrillist.com, and Neil Miller from Film School Rejects) tries their best to present spoilers (and theories) from the George R. R. Martin books, as well as other pop culture sources.

3. Nerdette Recaps Game of Thrones with Peter Sagal – Peter Sagal from NPR’s “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me” joins Greta Johnson and Tricia Bobeda from the Nerdette podcast for a thoroughly entertaining weekly recap of the latest GoT episode.

4. Game of Thrones Coffee Klatch Crew – Hosted by Jason Pistorino and Cristina Lomangino, the self-proclaimed “two dopes that actually put too much time into this cast,”  are the Coffee Klatch Crew. A thoughtful, entertaining, light cast that is the perfect thing to listen to while enjoying your morning cuppa. It’s almost like you are there.

5. Game of Owns – Owns is more than just a podcast about HBO’s GoT series. Hosts Hannah Panek and Zack Luye get super into the GRRM books, as well as hosting special guests from the series and from other podcasts. There is also an impressive archive of over 370 shows.

6. Sistah Speak: Game of Thrones – Sistah Speak is the latest iteration of the Sistahs Entertainment Review (S.E.R.) podcasts. Sistah Speak includes a series of podcasts produced and hosted by Sistah J and Sistah K. The Sistahs get into GoT, as well as “The Walking Dead” and “American Gods” among other pop culture phenomenons.

7. History of Westeros – This GoT podcast is a bit unique in that it is live-streamed and there is a podcast forum so there are plenty of opportunities to get in on the action.

Related on EcoSalon

The 7 Best TV Shows to Binge Watch
Women on Film: Daenerys Targaryen Shows Us Strength
The 10 Best Streaming Documentaries on Netflix Right Now

The post 7 ‘Game of Thrones’ Podcasts To Get Your (Mostly Spoiler-Free) Fix appeared first on EcoSalon.

In case you haven’t heard the news, Richard Simmons is missing. Not missing in that no one knows of his whereabouts, but more like he is missing from public life–and has been for several years now.

A longtime mainstay of late night TV and shock jock radio, the lovable Simmons has been missing from radio and television airwaves for three years. The exercise guru’s home was a perpetual stop on the Hollywood celeb bus tours, and Simmons could be counted on to entertain the tourists regularly. He also taught a weekly exercise class at his studio, Slimmons, and was actively in contact with friends and fans around the world–and then he wasn’t. Simmons suddenly, without any warning, retreated to his Hollywood mansion. What is disturbing to some is not that he retreated from his fame, but that he retreated from those to whom he was close.

Enter “Missing Richard Simmons,” a new podcast called the “next cult audio obsession” by The New York Times. Filmmaker Dan Taberski was a Slimmons regular and a friend of Richard’s. Before Simmons disappeared from public life, he and Taberski had been in talks about a documentary featuring Simmons. “Missing Richard Simmons” is a continuation of that work and is Dan’s search for Richard–the deeper he digs, the stranger it gets. Simmons was last seen in public on February 2014, and the podcast premiered three years later almost to the day.

The show has not debuted without criticism, though. Wired magazine’s headline on the story sums up the disparagement best, “’Missing Richard Simmons’ is gripping. And also kinda icky.” Taberski is at the center of the of it all with critics claiming that the podcast is less the work of a friend and more the work of self-serving exploitation. I say, it’s a lot more complicated than that.

For many, Simmons might have been thought of as a has-been, a caricature, a wacky figure to ignore, but through Taberski’s storytelling, a much more complex and layered picture of Simmons emerges. While the exploration of someone’s life (and retreat from public life) without their consent seems wrong, the humanizing of a figure many have easily dismissed has merit. The podcast, just like the man it seeks to find (or more accurately to lure out of seclusion), is much more complicated than it first appears to be.

There are many theories behind the disappearance of Simmons, and for more on those you will need to listen to “Missing Richard Simmons.” The podcast will feature just six episodes, and you can catch each one on iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Related on EcoSalon

5 of the Best Podcasts You Should be Listening To Now
8 Fun Things You Could Do Other Than House Cleaning
The Best Stay-Cool Workout Gear for Hot Sweaty Active Days

The post ‘Missing Richard Simmons’ is Our Latest Podcast Obsession appeared first on EcoSalon.

Podcasts have been around for a while now, but they took some time to capture the imagination of the American people.

That all changed in the fall of 2014 with the debut of Sarah Koenig’s premiere season of “Serial” that told the story of the murder of young girl and the young man who was accused and convicted of her murder. Then, in the summer of 2015, the President of the United States appeared as a guest on Marc Maron’s “WTF” podcast–a show that is recorded in Maron’s garage, by the way.

Podcasts, which used to be most common with techies, library nerds, and NPR geeks, have now captured the attention of more mainstream listeners. They are great to listen to in the car, while cleaning the house, during workouts, or while laying on the beach.

Whether you prefer true crime, are a political junkie, or appreciate the storytelling aspect of podcasts, 2016 is going to be the year of the podcast–already more than a third of Americans are listening to podcasts. But what are the best podcasts? We share some of our favorite must-listen-to podcasts.

5 of the Best Podcasts

1.   Serial

If you haven’t yet listened “Serial,” start with season 1 that outlines the case of Adnan Syed, a high school student who was arrested and convicted for the murder of his high school ex-girlfriend. After season 1, then you can move onto season 2, which is a recounting of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl’s capture by the Taliban. Season 2 is underway now.

2.  Undisclosed

This podcast picks up where “Serial” left off with the case of Adnan Syed, who is still in prison but whose case is now under review. Undisclosed takes a closer look at the legal issues surrounding the case. Even though it is produced by family and supporters of Adnan Syed, it’s worth a listen.

3. Here’s the Thing

“Here’s The Thing” is an interview show hosted by Alec Baldwin. Baldwin is no Terry Gross (from NPR’s “Fresh Air”, another great podcast), but that’s a high bar to reach. For each show he interviews a different artist, policymaker, author, or performer in a surprisingly engaging manner. That’s not to mention that his voice is so perfect for radio, which is reason enough to listen, in our opinion.

4. On the Media

“On the Media” takes a very self-aware and introspective look at the world of media and reporting. The show cover topics ranging from how junk science makes its way into our news coverage to how and why Donald Trump seems to be the media darling of the 2016 GOP primary season. This is one thoughtful and insightful podcast that while help you become a more informed media user.

5.  Radiolab

“Radiolab” is a difficult show to describe, but mostly it’s a podcast that looks at the interconnectedness of science, philosophy, and the human experience. “Radiolab” is a show for curious people who are interested in big picture concepts and thinking about things in an abstract way.

Related on EcoSalon

How to Start a Podcast About Food: Foodie Underground

8 Fun Things You Could Do Other Than House Cleaning

5 Important People Who Aren’t Kim and Kanye (But So Worthy of Your Attention)

Image: Teenager with Headphones via Shutterstock

The post 5 of the Best Podcasts You Should be Listening To Now appeared first on EcoSalon.

The hard working contributors, columnists and editors at EcoSalon are earning their green stripes, blazing the trails and taking their proven commitment to sustainable living beyond the daily blog. Our strides are so darn exciting, we simply can’t keep them to ourselves.

Ready, set, kvel!

Fashion Editor Amy DuFault has stepped over to the other side, opening her own eco haunt, Shift Boutique. Sure to be the next Hyannis, Mass. hot spot, the store peddles sustainable products by Prairie Underground and Dahl, to name just a few emerging green lines. Amy also hosts events through her lifestyle consulting company, Greenover. If that didn’t keep her busy enough – she is signed up in January to teach eco fashion enrichment at her local middle school, helping 12-year-old girls create recycled fashion to showcase on a catwalk at a fashion show.

Contributor Susan Chaityn Lebovits is developing and implementing ways Boston University can reduce its environmental footprint. Susan is the Communications Specialist for Sustainability at the university, and is working to launch a new website in January that will house everything from research on renewable energy to classes that touch on sustainability and energy-saving building retrofits. The site will even help visitors locate bike racks and recycling stations. Meantime, Susan is producing a 15-stop Green Campus Tour Podcast, which covers locations such as the university’s geothermal building.

Anna Brones, our newest contributor, gets all of our votes as the people’s representative for the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. HuffPost in conjunction with Hopenhagen is sponsoring the competition and voting ends December 4th, so cast yours as well! If chosen, Anna would report back daily from the conference as a HuffPost citizen journalist. Anna is the co-founder of Under Solen Media, where she develops social media marketing strategies to positively align brands, causes and adventurers. She’s also been busy helping the Save Our Wild Salmon campaign in the ongoing litigation process to come up with a scientifically sound plan for restoring Columbia-Snake River salmon.

Senior Editor Luanne Bradley will soon appear with her husband, Edwin, in a San Francisco Chronicle article on eco power couples. The feature highlights their daily work for green change. Edwin is an environmentalist and lawyer and Luanne writes the column Life in the Green Lane, a humorous look the modern family going green in the city. Luanne continues her green design consulting, having completed a teacher’s lounge with healthy fibers and vintage Mid-Century furniture.

The Green Plate Columnist Vanessa Barrington is on a daily mission to make the small changes that add up, riding her bike everywhere she can, finding “the car is merely a taxi for the dog to go on walks.” She is limiting her meat and processed food consumption and still working to get one hold-out member of her family to see the joy of giving to charity instead of “stuff” for the holidays. Her garbage can is minuscule and she only fills it once a week! She uses bathwater to flush her toilet and when she is cold, she puts on a sweater instead of cranking up the heat. Of course, she can also make a steaming bowl of delicious soup from one of her dozens of dynamite recipes.

EcoMeme Columnist Lora Kolodny is in a holiday mood, trying to knit a gift-scarf out of bamboo yarn, and looking forward to the Green Drinks holiday party Dec. 8th in NYC. She recently convinced a Manhattan restaurant manager to stop serving coffee in disposable cups by default. Now only to-go patrons get the paper. When not writing for EcoSalon and her blog at the New York Times, she also volunteers for God’s Love We Deliver.

Publisher and EIC Sara Ost has been busy building the green community at EcoSalon through Trashless Tuesday on Twitter (a la Meatless Monday), drawing chuckles and questions cruising around the Bay Area in her Smartcar, hosting Treehugger’s Carnival of the Green recently, and turning up as one of Greenopia’s Green Women We Love. Next up is convincing the neighbors they really, really need the Omlet.

Check back soon for more updates on the green goings-on from all our contributors. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

The post Getting Our Green On at EcoSalon appeared first on EcoSalon.