I’m an avid consumer of media in all shapes and forms, and if you’re a regular visitor to the site, you’ll know that I’ve talked at length about music, books, television, film and games. One area I’ve woefully neglected however are podcasts, and so I thought I’d spend some time chatting about various different podcasts which have taken my fancy. Unlike my other Top 10s which are focused on a particular topic, this one will be far more personal because they are my favourite examples from a wide array of options. However I’m eager to share, promote and talk a little bit about them, so that you might, if you haven’t already, check them out for yourself.
1. The Delta Flyers
It’s hard to describe how important Star Trek is to me, throughout the multiple shows and iterations it’s made me feel safe and protected at points in my life when I wasn’t either of those things. Voyager especially was my introduction to the franchise, and I fell in love with the show. In fact even today it’s still a comfort to watch it. So I was off the charts excited when I saw that Garrett Wang and Robert Duncan McNeill, who played Ensign Harry Kim and Lieutenant Tom Paris on Star Trek: Voyager would be co-hosting a podcast around the show. They are fantastic hosts, balancing entertainment with insight and behind the scenes details that enrich the experience especially for fans. As of August 2023 they finished the run of recapping Voyager, and added on fellow Star Trek alums, Terry Farrell and Armin Shimerman who played Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax and Ferengi Bartender and all around wheeler-dealer Quark on Voyager’s sister show Deep Space Nine. WIth the new focus, and the additional co-hosts the show has gotten even better. I cannot recommend this podcast highly enough, especially if you’re already a fan of Star Trek, and so for all those reasons and more it scoops the top slot on this Top 10 list.
2. Leighton Night with Brian Wecht
I was aware of both co-hosts of this podcast for a while due to their associations with Game Grumps, and I’ve covered Brian (or rather his alter ego Ninja Brian) extensively through his work with Ninja Sex Party and Starbomb and so I went into the first few episodes with a fair amount of good will towards both of them. However it totally works on its own merits, Leighton Gray and Brian Wecht have such a natural comedic chemistry that really made this one stand out for me. But more than that, it’s not just funny, it’s insightful and good. The pair are obviously very intelligent, but they are also very different people, their points of view juxtaposing at times, and yet overall they have such seamless synergy and back and forth. Honestly, I usually put podcasts on as background filler while I’m working, but I’ve had to stop putting Leighton Night on for that, one because I just want to actually focus 100% on the podcast but also I’ve noticed I end up stopping what I’m dong to listen, defeating the purpose of having it on to help me work in the first place.
3. Small Beans Podcast
So within the past six months this platform has undergone a massive rebrand, and refocus. As part of that I’ve been going back, and updating and improving old content, and where relevant removing things to ensure that I’m constantly (and retroactively) producing only the best that I’m capable of producing. So if you’ve read this Top 10 list before then you’ll notice that it has been radically updated. However, Small Beans is one of the few entries that have remained over this updating process, and because I’ve been a fan for several years, it’s more than earned its place so highly on the Top 10. Swaim in particular has always been an influence on me, for his comedic strength, his wit, and sharp writing, for his creativity and for his honesty about dealing with things like anxiety and depression. The whole Small Beans team, which has evolved from just Michael Swaim, Abe Epperson and Adam Ganser to include a variety of talented creators, several of whom are also past contributors to Cracked, are all a part of what makes the Small Beans community so worth listening to. Speaking of which, the Small Beans podcast is engaging and insightful while also being perhaps the most topically diverse and diffused of the podcasts on this list. It is so clearly the product of enthusiastic, and talented creative minds who have a deep desire to entertain and inform. I think especially as podcasting has become more mainstream and accessible (which to be clear is a good thing) it’s meant that the market has been somewhat flooded by anyone who has something to say, and that oversaturation can be something of an issue, but I’ve never listened to an episode of Small Beans where I’ve felt it was unnecessary or unwelcome. I sincerely wish the best for all the creators, many of whom I’ve followed and enjoyed for years now.
4. Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum
Since he also features on this list a second time, further down with Talk Ville I’ll avoid going into extensive detail about his career, particularly his role as Lex Luthor on Smallville, but suffice to say, Michael Rosenbaum is an intelligent, charismatic and incredibly awesome person. I actually missed this podcast for the longest time, it started in 2018 but I think it was mid 2019 before the relevant algorithms sent it my way. The casual and informal set up really serves the podcast well, I think the breadth of guests who’ve appeared on the show, mixed with Rosembaum’s strong hosting skills and naturally inquisitive personality all work together to make something that’s incredibly interesting. I tend not to really watch interview content because it always feels inorganic and artificial, but Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum is such a clear exception to that, because he never feels like he’s leading the conversation, or pushing a narrative, instead he creates a lively, engaging dialogue between him and the guests. I particularly like how honest and uncensored the whole thing is, particularly Rosembaum talking about mental health, and his willingness to open up, as much as he does encourage his guests to do the same.
5. Quick Question with Soren and Daniel
Much like Swaim, with his Small Beans podcast, Quick Question with Soren and Daniel, is hosted by two former Cracks alums, Soren Bowie, and Daniel O’Brien. They are both incredibly talented, and awesome people, and so I was super excited to check out their podcast. I’m a big fan of the personable approach to media, where you get a feel for the person or people involved, and what really sells this isn’t how funny it is, although, it’s obviously very funny, it’s not even the interesting topics they discuss, but rather the friendship and chemistry between Soren and Daniel that really makes Quick Question such a superb show for me. That being said, it is all those other things, the pair have a strong pedigree in comedy, and as writers, and this experience is felt in each episode, even as they casually riff on the topic(s) up for discussion. Since Cracked, I’ve always enjoyed their particular dynamic, and the interplay, juxtaposition and overlap between the pair and particularly how well they compliment and appreciate one another.
6. Talk Ville
Similarly to The Delta Flyers podcast which also appears on this list, Talk Ville features two of the actors from Smallville, Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, who played Clark Kent and Lex Luthor respectively as they revisit, recap and discuss the show at length. I’ve already discussed Michael Rosenbaum’s other podcast ‘Inside of You’ and talked about how he is a highly adept host, and an incredibly engaging storytelling, but equally talented is Welling, who is honest, intelligent and down-to-earth. The pair share a variety of trivia and behind the scenes details from Smallville which is a must listen for any fan of the show, but perhaps my favourite thing about the podcast other than the genuine chemistry and friendship between the pair is that they are so honest, more than willing to be critical of their performance should they feel they didn’t meet a certain standard, and they just have a casual and light banter that really brings the whole thing together.
7. Bad With Money With Gabe Dunn
I’ve followed Gabe for years, I became more familiar with them due to their work on Buzzfeed, however I actually first came across them thanks to their 100 Interviews project over on Tumblr, they were one of the many people who inspired me to keep pursuing my goal of becoming a journalist. You see I was so used to seeing sterilised, impersonal interviews with a tacked on agenda or forced focus, but Gabe’s interview series was the type of journalism I knew I wanted to do. However I’m losing focus, so let’s return to their podcast ‘Bad with Money’, firstly it’s so relatable, this is obviously reflective of Gabe’s personality, they have a bright, engaging and vibrant personality which elevates the already superb content of the podcast even further. As the name suggests, this podcast has a financial focus, but honest it’s just as much about your own personal situation, about life as it is about finances, and Gabe and the team do an incredible job of sourcing interviews, and finding people to discuss topics which people need to know about, and relating that information to the listeners without coming across like they have all the answers. I’ve learned a great deal by listening to the podcast, and whether we are being given solid advice or just getting to listen to people passionate about their area of expertise it’s always interesting to listen to Bad with Money.
8. The Basement Yard
This is probably the newest entry on the list, and much like what I like about Quick Question with Soren and Daniel, the true strength of this podcast lies in the friendship and chemistry between Joe Santagato and Frank Alvarez. I was first drawn to the podcast because so many clips from it popped up on Instagram or on YouTube, and I’ll admit that I was immediately enderead to it by the authentic and good natured energy of the pair. They are funny, and as I’ve said several times on this Top 10, I’m a huge fan of casual and improvisational podcasting, where you’re seeing an unfiltered and honest dynamic between the hosts.
9. Kanzenshuu – The Original Dragon Ball Podcast
Dragon Ball in all its forms has been an important part of my life since I was a kid and so I was on the lookout for a podcast on Dragon ball, and by luck I came across Kanzenshuu, which has been going on in some form or another since late 2005. Kanzenshuu is hosted by a diverse range of knowledgeable and passionate people all of whom bring their love of the franchise to every episode. I’m consistently amazed by the breadth of knowledge as well as their dedication to Dragon Ball and because of all that they’ve more than secured me as a regular listener.
10. My Brother, My Brother And Me
So as you may have gathered from the previous entries on this list, I have three specific things which factor into what I like in a podcast; passion, authenticity and chemistry, and much like the other entries which make up my Top 10 podcasts, My Brother, My Brother and Me, or MBMBaM for short has all of that in spades. The McElroy brothers; Justin, Travis and Griffin are just an absolute delight, and they have never failed to brighten my day regardless of what else has been happening. MBMBaM is just superb, the brothers just have just a positive vibe about them, and the advice show format allows them to talk about a diverse array of topics. It’s truly such a rich and engaging show, and I would honestly recommend it to anyone.
Honourable mentions go to Welcome to Night Vale, I Am All In with Scott Patterson and Who Shat On The Floor At My Wedding? And Other Crimes which I also really enjoyed but didn’t quite make the top 10 list.
Indie Light 
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