#CYPTTW

[trashboatdax]

I don't have the time or energy to do a full review but this new podcast from Night Vale Presents is AMAZING Y'ALL. If you want African-American lesbian vampires destroying capitalism, you've come to the right place.

[castyourpodtothewind]

CYPTTW Review #8 - Welcome to Night Vale

Who the hell are you?! Hi! I’m Taylor and I recently dived headfirst into podcasts! I have since binged on several of them and decided to make reviews of the ones that really stood out. These are not going to be big, professional reviews (I’m lazy) but they should hopefully contain information to help you get into some great new listens!

Where do you listen to your podcasts? My personal recommendation for listening to podcasts is the Pocket Casts app, available for Android or iPhone. It costs $3.99 to buy, but I think it's super worth it, since it has a lot of great features and zero in-app ads, which to me is worth every penny. But if you like free apps or just don't have the scratch right now, my runner up is Podcast Addict. It's free and has some (but not all) of the features Pocket Casts has, plus you have to deal with the ads. But if you don't like either of those, do some searching! There's lots of options out there.

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Name of Podcast: Welcome to Night Vale

Creators of Podcast: Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor, Night Vale Presents

Genre(s): Horror, Humor, NPR-style

Start and End Date of Podcast: June 15th, 2012 - Present

Number of Episodes: 134 (as of 9/15/2018)

Release Schedule: New episodes every 1st and 15th of the month!

Where Can I Find It: http://www.welcometonightvale.com/

Donation/Patreon?: Can be found on their official site!

Age Rating: This show is notorious for getting pretty violent and creepy at times. PG-13.

Where I Am Now: Caught Up

Official Summary: Welcome to Night Vale is a twice-monthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events.

Representation?: AND HOW! This podcast has one of the best reputations for representation, and it’s well deserved. Whether it’s LGBT, Jewish, Muslim, POC, Non-Binary, People With Disabilities, any combination of those things and more, this show is extremely refreshing for those who love a diverse cast that is treated as the most normal thing in a strange town.

Transcripts?: There are two illustrated transcript books available for sale so far, but a diligent fan has been making up-to-date transcripts and they’re awesome, so go check them out! @cecilspeaks

Trigger Warnings?: Death, Body Horror, Gore, Unpleasant Sound Effects, Disturbing Content

How Long To Listen Before Giving Up?: I fell in love with this show instantly, but if you’re new, I would listen until at least episode 13-20.

Anything Else I Should Know?: They do tons of live shows and sell recordings on their Bandcamp page! They also have released two novels and the aforementioned transcript books. They have also confirmed that FX has picked them up for a TV series!

If You Like This, You Might Also Like: King Falls AM, Limetown, Alice Isn’t Dead

Pros

This show is known as “The Gateway Podcast”, and I feel that’s a very deserving title. This show was, like to many others, my first podcast, and it definitely deserves a lot of credit for opening our minds to what this medium could be. The show told a new story in a very creative way and I love how many people it’s inspired to make their own podcasts. While it eventually led us to find other series to sink our teeth into, I think we still definitely owe it praise for how much work got put into making this a very special series. It is still a wonderful podcast and if you’re new to the medium, this show is an excellent place to start and will probably be the first on people’s list of recommendations.

Changing Carlos’ voice actor was a great choice. For those who don’t know, Jeffrey Cranor, co-creator of the show, originally did Carlos’ voice, but stepped down from the role when he realized it wasn’t a good thing to have a straight white guy play a gay Latino character. Dylan Marron was brought in (and his voice is ADORABLE) and they even gave a believable canon reason for why the voice was different. It warms my heart to see people actually do the right thing as far as diverse casting is concerned.

Cecil and Carlos are CANON. It’s easy to take for granted, but still, it’s amazing. It’s a slow burn until their relationship really starts to take off, but I felt that was a very realistic view of them finding each other. The show is great at dropping little hints every now and then that they’re getting closer, then finally bringing it to the forefront when they become official. And you get to see their happy moments of domesticity, their adorable conversations over text and on the phone, hear why the two love each other more than anything, and even get to see realistic arguments and realizations of your partner’s flaws. I feel like their relationship is written very believably and Cecil Baldwin and Dylan Marron have excellent chemistry with each other. A lot of fans are divided about the Desert Otherworld arc, and while that arc did drag on for quite a while, I think it was a good way of showing conflict between the two of them without having them outright fight or go for cheap drama. Like Joseph Fink said on Twitter, (paraphrasing here as I can’t find the exact Tweet), “If you think being long-distance is the worst thing that could happen to a couple, you have a very dim view of relationships.” And as someone who was personally in an extended long-distance relationship until a few years ago (Hi Eileen~), that really hit home for me. It was nice to have that represented on the show.

If you’re one of those fans (like me) who missed the original piano riff that opened the show, it officially comes back in Episode 114. That was nice to hear again.

THE CONCEPT EPISODES, ESPECIALLY EPISODE 133. HOW DO THEY KEEP DOING THIS. THEY’RE SO GOOD.

Cons

The biggest complaints I can really think of with this show are arc fatigue and plot lull. While this show does have numerous plot threads (and the plot threads actually go somewhere, even if it takes a while) it can be a long time after you first hear about a plot before they ever mention it again, or, like with the Desert Otherworld arc, can take over a giant chunk of episodes where it seems like nothing is moving. This can also make things confusing, like in many cases where you can’t remember this person or thing the show is suddenly referencing if you haven’t listened to the show a second or more times.

Not really a complaint the show can do anything about, as I know he’s got his own projects going on and is technically a guest star….but I really wish Dylan Marron could do more episodes. As of Episode 133, there was a 33-episode gap between appearances.

MY RATING: 7/10 GLOW CLOUDS - This podcast will always have a special place in my heart. After a long break away, somehow I always keep getting drawn back to Night Vale. It’s a podcast that excels at taking you on a journey to a strange and mysterious place that seems frightening, but also comforting, where being who you are without questions or apologies seems like a fair trade for danger. I always recommend this show to people who are still confused about what a podcast is, and while many other shows have taken up my attention since, this will always hold the mantle of the first one to make me dive into the medium. So turn off the lights, turn on your radio, hide under the covers, pretend to sleep, and fall in love instantly.

[castyourpodtothewind]

Last Seen is an amazing podcast about the Boston Art Heist if anyone is interested in that sort of thing!

“The Concert” by Vermeer.  Found “Last Seen” podcast, about the unsolved Art Heist, of a small Gallery in Boston.  Fascinating.  The podcast only began last week, and I am on Episode 2.  Very beautifully written/narrated.  

[castyourpodtothewind]

CYPTTW Review #5 - The Ghost Radio Project

Who the hell are you?! Hi! I’m Taylor and I recently dived headfirst into podcasts! I have since binged on several of them and decided to make reviews of the ones that really stood out. These are not going to be big, professional reviews (I’m lazy) but they should hopefully contain information to help you get into some great new listens!

Where do you listen to your podcasts? My personal recommendation for listening to podcasts is the Pocket Casts app, available for Android or iPhone. It costs $3.99 to buy, but I think it's super worth it, since it has a lot of great features and zero in-app ads, which to me is worth every penny. But if you like free apps or just don't have the scratch right now, my runner up is Podcast Addict. It's free and has some (but not all) of the features Pocket Casts has, plus you have to deal with the ads. But if you don't like either of those, do some searching! There's lots of options out there.

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Name of Podcast: The Ghost Radio Project

Creators of Podcast: Gene Jeter and Dilan Taylor

Genre(s): Dystopian Future, Drama, Humor

Start and End Date of Podcast: August 14th, 2017 - November 7th, 2017 (On Hiatus until 2019/Indefinite)

Number of Episodes: 4 (Episodes will be re-recorded for better quality and re-released when the show FULLY premieres in 2019/Indefinite)

Release Schedule: On Hiatus until 2019/Indefinite

Where Can I Find It: https://ghostradioproject.com/ or check out their official Tumblr page at @ghostradioproject

Donation/Patreon?: The donation page they had up has since stopped working, and I wasn’t able to find one that did. (If anyone knows where it is, PLEASE DM me.)

Age Rating: This show deals with violence, exile from a hostile government and has profanity. R.

Where I Am Now: Caught Up

Official Summary: Nearly a decade after the economic, social, and ecological crisis known as the Collapse, a small group of unauthorized radio broadcasters move together through a post-Capitalism era in the southwestern United States, clinging to one another for survival. Due to the hard-line segregation between civilians living in government-run cities and those who remain outside the system, the region beyond the State's boundaries has become a desolate, impoverished place now called the Outlands by most everyone who tries to make a life there. Together, these pirate radio broadcasters form Ghost Radio, a mobile station carried from one frequency to the next as they make their way through the bright, arid lands of West Texas. Tune in to one of the last propaganda-free radio stations in existence. When you can find it, that is….

Representation?: Pretty much EVERY character on this show is either LGBT (including Non-Binary) or POC, and there’s also Autistic representation too.

Transcripts?: Official transcripts are available, but only for the first two episodes.

Trigger Warnings?: Government Exile, Violence

How Long To Listen Before Giving Up?: It’s only four episodes and they’re SO GOOD. Listen to the whole thing. I mean it.

Anything Else I Should Know?: Please read this post from the creators: https://ghostradioproject.tumblr.com/post/174931529609/friends-thank-you-for-your-patience-over-the-last

If You Like This, You Might Also Like: Alice Isn’t Dead, The Strange Case of Starship Iris, King Falls AM

Pros

This show starts strong and STAYS strong. A+ pilot, immediately gets you interested and makes you crave more. I adore the concept for this show. A bunch of queer, disabled, POC liberal fugitives, exiled from the government for being ‘unwanted’ and spreading the news of the resistance through secret radio channels in an RV in the Texas desert? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP!

All the characters share their unique traits in real life. Autistic character? Autistic actor. Non-Binary character? Non-Binary actor. POC character? POC actor. And this is by studio mandate, they make it explicitly clear that these characters must be these things in real life if they are to be acted that way. And these people live in a deep conservative state where actor choices can be slim, making their choice even more admirable.

The voice acting is INCREDIBLE, and for a low-budget podcast I was blown away by how great the production sounds. They rely solely on donations and money out of their own pockets, making it clear that they never want to have ads on this show. Having a podcast without ads is extremely difficult, so please donate to them when/if it becomes available!

The Ghost Radio Project doesn’t just spread news of the resistance, it also broadcasts the only music channels you can get after the government takeover. The soundtrack to this podcast is so good you won’t want to skip any of it.

Cons

None. I can’t think of a single thing I didn’t like about this podcast. It should be way more popular than it is and I hope everyone joins me in awaiting its full, updated release. 

MY RATING: 10/10 TRANSMITTERS - Holy DAMN this podcast blew me away. I devoured everything that was available and I’m still starving for more, and it breaks my heart that more people haven’t heard about this show. It’s got so much heart and has so many things going for it, and in today’s turbulent times I found it a very cathartic thing to listen to. The resistance needs this podcast. Listen. Survive. Mobilize.

[trashboatdax]

I started a side blog for podcast reviews! Check it out if you’re interested in learning about some cool new listens. :)

[castyourpodtothewind]

CYPTTW Review #3 - King Falls AM

Who the hell are you?! Hi! I’m Taylor and I recently dived headfirst into podcasts! I have since binged on several of them and decided to make reviews of the ones that really stood out. These are not going to be big, professional reviews (I’m lazy) but they should hopefully contain information to help you get into some great new listens!

Where do you listen to your podcasts? My personal recommendation for listening to podcasts is the Pocket Casts app, available for Android or iPhone. It costs $3.99 to buy, but I think it's super worth it, since it has a lot of great features and zero in-app ads, which to me is worth every penny. But if you like free apps or just don't have the scratch right now, my runner up is Podcast Addict. It's free and has some (but not all) of the features Pocket Casts has, plus you have to deal with the ads. But if you don't like either of those, do some searching! There's lots of options out there.

---

Name of Podcast: King Falls AM

Creators of Podcast: The Make Believe Picture Company

Genre(s): Humor, Talk/Radio Show, Horror, Suspense

Start and End Date of Podcast: May 1st, 2015 - May 1st, 2018 (On Hiatus, will return later this year)

Number of Episodes: 75 (plus various bonuses and minisodes)

Release Schedule: On Hiatus, will return “later this year/before 2019”

Where Can I Find It: http://www.kingfallsam.com/ (website not up-to date, complete episode list can be found here: http://podbay.fm/show/1016760065) or visit their official Tumblr page at @kingfallsam

Donation/Patreon?: https://www.patreon.com/KingFallsAM

Age Rating: This show contains profanity, sexual humor, occasional violence and is known for some pretty serious horror at times. PG-13.

Where I Am Now: Caught Up

Official Summary: (I couldn’t find an official summary, so here’s my own) Former DJ “Shotgun” Sammy Stevens moves to the small mountain town of King Falls, where he and Ben Arnold host King Falls AM, a late night AM talk show. They cover all the normal events of a small town, take calls from the residents, and also discuss and discover the many paranormal happenings that the townspeople have accepted as business as usual.

Representation?: This show has multiple canon LGBT characters and is extremely queer positive.

Transcripts?: No official transcripts exist, but fan made ones are available. Sadly, they are not current.

Trigger Warnings?: Body Horror, Abusive Relationships, Gaslighting, Animal Violence/Death, Homophobia (Greg Frickard could be a walking trigger warning on his own, I swear)

How Long To Listen Before Giving Up?: I was drawn into this show pretty much instantly, but the first 7 episodes seem a lot like it’s trying to emulate WTNV. After that point it definitely grows the beard and becomes its own unique thing, so I’d recommend listening until at least episode 10.

Anything Else I Should Know?: This show has a behind the scenes podcast called “Beyond the Falls” that occasionally comes out for free, but is otherwise a Patreon perk. I don’t have it, but everyone I hear talk about it says it’s worth it. Occasionally they’ll release an episode of it to the public, especially if they’re talking about something majorly relevant to the show.

If You Like This, You Might Also Like: The Ghost Radio Project, Limetown, Alice Isn’t Dead, Welcome to Night Vale

Pros

The voice acting in this show is KILLER, as well as a full cast with lots of unique voices - lots of them done by the same VA, which is impressive as hell

This show can go from hilarious to depressing to terrifying in the blink of an eye, and it tells a story that you’re eager to hear more details about.

MUSICAL. CHRISTMAS. EPISODE. With a soundtrack so good you’ll want to listen to it all year ‘round. ‘Nuff said.

If you like foreshadowing and podcasts with a ton of re-listen value, look no further. Episode 68 turns the ENTIRE premise of the show upside down and I was absolutely stunned by everything hinted at even from the beginning, but I won’t dare spoil it for you here.

Cons

The pacing with certain plots can be quite slow, unfortunately. My biggest complaint about this show is how it took until episode 75 to resolve a plot that began in episode 2, though the show has been good about dropping new details and developments to keep you interested.

The show is unfortunately on a hiatus, but the crew has made it clear it is only to make more episodes while not suffering total burnout, so the show is not going to disappear. While no official return date has been set, the crew has promised us that the show will return “later in the year/before 2019.”

MY RATING: 8/10 RAINBOW LIGHTS - This is one of the best podcasts I’ve listened to in a long time. I found it on several lists of podcast recs and gave it a chance, and from the very first episode I just could not stop listening. I finished all 60-odd episodes in around two weeks, and I’ve been suffering through the hiatus just like the rest. The cast and crew of this show are so talented and need way more recognition than they get. Please give this podcast a shot.

[castyourpodtothewind]

CYPTTW Review #2 - 36 Questions

Who the hell are you?! Hi! I’m Taylor and I recently dived headfirst into podcasts! I have since binged on several of them and decided to make reviews of the ones that really stood out. These are not going to be big, professional reviews (I’m lazy) but they should hopefully contain information to help you get into some great new listens!

Where do you listen to your podcasts? My personal recommendation for listening to podcasts is the Pocket Casts app, available for Android or iPhone. It costs $3.99 to buy, but I think it's super worth it, since it has a lot of great features and zero in-app ads, which to me is worth every penny. But if you like free apps or just don't have the scratch right now, my runner up is Podcast Addict. It's free and has some (but not all) of the features Pocket Casts has, plus you have to deal with the ads. But if you don't like either of those, do some searching! There's lots of options out there.

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Name of Podcast: 36 Questions

Creators of Podcast: Two-Up Productions

Genre(s): Musical, Romance, Humor, Drama

Start and End Date of Podcast: July 10th, 2017-August 6th, 2017 (Complete)

Number of Episodes: 3

Release Schedule: N/A, podcast is complete

Where Can I Find It: https://www.twoupproductions.com/shows/36questions

Donation/Patreon?: N/A

Age Rating: This podcast deals with some mature themes and subject matter, so I’d go with a PG-13.

Where I Am Now: Caught Up

Official Summary: In this three-part podcast musical starring Jonathan Groff and Jessie Shelton, a couple attempts to bring their marriage back from the brink of divorce using 36 revealing questions designed to make strangers fall in love.

Representation?: Both lead characters are confirmed to not be straight and the male lead has lesbian moms.

Transcripts?: Unavailable. (If anyone can find some or has made some, please DM me.)

Trigger Warnings?: Drug use, Death, Bad Parenting

How Long To Listen Before Giving Up?: It’s a three-act podcast, if you start you might as well finish it. If you have to have a place to bail, please finish act 2.

Anything Else I Should Know?: Not that I’m aware of!

If You Like This, You Might Also Like: King Falls AM, Alice Isn’t Dead

Pros

This is a revolutionary idea for a podcast. I immediately adored the thought of a podcast musical, but I had no idea just how well-executed it would be until I listened. The story and the lead characters are so engrossing that I found myself binging the three-hour musical in one go and felt quite sad when it was over. The fact that it was an audio-only podcast took nothing away from the story or the ability to enjoy it.

This podcast is from the same studio that created Limetown, so you KNOW it’s in good hands.

The lead female in the musical, Natalie, (played by Jessie Shelton) gave an incredible performance, and her emotions truly felt real. This is the first production I’ve ever heard her in and I hope that she shows up in more and more things soon. The lead male, Jase, (played by Hamilton alumni Jonathan Goff) also turns in exactly the same quality performance you’d expect from anything he’s in. The chemistry between the two is palpable and you genuinely get invested in their story.

I do not want to talk too much about the plot as it is very spoiler-heavy, but I found it incredibly unique and honestly very deep and heartbreaking the longer it goes on. By the end of it, you have no idea who you root for or what you want to happen. It’s a musical that I think will have many differing opinions on how the plot ends up going, and that is all I will say. (If anyone reading this wants to talk opinions with me or just gush over how great this musical is, send me a DM anytime.)

The 36 Questions are in fact real and you can find them in many places online. After listening, I immediately had an urge to share them with my girlfriend, but I’m going to wait until after I can make her listen to this podcast.

The songs are excellently written and beautifully performed, with the first two acts being very strong all the way through. Personally I felt the second act had the best songs (at least the ones that were my favorites) but this is a matter of debate.

Cons

I felt like the songs in act three, while still not terrible by any means, were definitely weaker than the songs in the first two acts. It made me wonder why they saved their more lackluster songs for the ending, when a strong musical finish would have really helped the podcast.

My Rating: 8/10 DUCKS - I LOVED this musical. It touched me in a very personal place and I immediately felt the urge to force everyone I knew to listen to it, and while I knocked some points off because act 3 didn’t have as great songs (and the ending, while still no spoilers, is rather divisive) but I felt it was very realistic and real. You honestly feel like you’re listening to real people, and I still find myself listening to the soundtrack and crying at the parts I love most. If you like Hamilton or just love musicals in general, please give this one a shot.

[trashboatdax]

I started a side blog for podcast reviews! Check it out if you’re interested in learning about some cool new listens. :)

[trashboatdax]

I started a side blog for podcast reviews! Check it out if you’re interested in learning about some cool new listens. :)

[trashboatdax]

I started a side blog for podcast reviews! Check it out if you’re interested in learning about some cool new listens. :)

[castyourpodtothewind]

CYPTTW Review #7 - Crimetown

Who the hell are you?! Hi! I’m Taylor and I recently dived headfirst into podcasts! I have since binged on several of them and decided to make reviews of the ones that really stood out. These are not going to be big, professional reviews (I’m lazy) but they should hopefully contain information to help you get into some great new listens!

Where do you listen to your podcasts? My personal recommendation for listening to podcasts is the Pocket Casts app, available for Android or iPhone. It costs $3.99 to buy, but I think it's super worth it, since it has a lot of great features and zero in-app ads, which to me is worth every penny. But if you like free apps or just don't have the scratch right now, my runner up is Podcast Addict. It's free and has some (but not all) of the features Pocket Casts has, plus you have to deal with the ads. But if you don't like either of those, do some searching! There's lots of options out there.

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Name of Podcast: Crimetown

Creators of Podcast: Gimlet Media

Genre(s): Non-Fiction, True Crime, Mafia

Start and End Date of Podcast: November 20th, 2016 - May 8th, 2017 (On Hiatus, Season 2 coming November 2018)

Number of Episodes: 18 (plus 7 bonus episodes)

Release Schedule: On Hiatus, Season 2 coming November 2018

Where Can I Find It: http://www.crimetownshow.com/

Donation/Patreon?: None (If anyone can find one I missed, please DM me)

Age Rating: This podcast is heavily focused around the mafia, so there is a lot of violence and profanity involved. PG-13.

Where I Am Now: Caught Up

Official Summary: Welcome to Crimetown, a new series from Gimlet Media and the creators of HBO’s The Jinx. Every season, we’ll investigate the culture of crime in a different American city. First up: Providence, Rhode Island, where organized crime and corruption infected every aspect of public life. This is a story of alliances and betrayals, of heists and stings, of crooked cops and honest mobsters—a story where it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Hosted by Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier.

Representation?: N/A as this is a non-fiction podcast

Transcripts?: Official transcripts are available for every episode on the website!

Trigger Warnings?: Violence, Child Abuse, Prison Life, Drugs, Murder

How Long To Listen Before Giving Up?: I was hooked on this show from the very first episode, it plays out like a Hollywood movie. If you must have a bail-out point, listen until episode 10.

Anything Else I Should Know?: Season 2 has been confirmed to begin in November, based in a different city, but creators are keeping it under wraps until the premiere. In the meantime, they have premiered a new podcast called the RFK Tapes, exploring the conspiracy that RFK’s shooter was not the real culprit. I listened to the pilot and thought it was promising, but ultimately didn’t have much interest in the subject matter. If that’s your kind of thing, though, I’d say go for it.

If You Like This, You Might Also Like: Heaven’s Gate, Limetown, The RFK Tapes, Serial

Pros

If you love non-fiction podcasts, this one is going to blow you away. The podcast is 100% real people and real events, but it plays out like a Hollywood mobster movie. It’s insane to realize that as little as 30-40 years ago entire cities were under mob rule, and most of those mobsters were right there in city hall. If you have any interest in the subject at all, you have hit the jackpot with this podcast.

The subject of Season 1 is the city of Providence, Rhode Island, focusing on the mayoral career of Vincent “Buddy” Cianci Jr. Most people remember Buddy Cianci for his various scandals, the least of which being his barely-concealed ties to organized crime, yet he was somehow re-elected after being forced to resign office. At first you listen and wonder how in hell he could have been re-elected, but as you get further and further and get to know the man in question, you think “damn, no wonder he got re-elected.” Buddy Cianci had charisma for days and did many amazing things for the city, things that people in Providence still have not forgotten.

You don’t just get to hear from Buddy Cianci, however, you also get exclusive interviews with former mafia members, detailing how they got into La Cosa Nostra in the first place, what their jobs and duties were, and explaining how the Raymond Patriarca crime family managed to infiltrate the mayor’s office. Every mobster we hear speak is startlingly human, and you honestly really start to get to know them and sympathize with their reasons for why they joined and why they did the things they did. Some of them hold regrets, others say they did what they had to and looking back isn’t going to help matters. The families of these mobsters were also interviewed, although many declined. But it’s not just the ex-wise guys you hear from, you also get to hear interviews from former FBI agents who managed to bring down the Patriarca crime family, and exposed the city hall corruption. The most startling and amazing part of the podcast, for me, was learning that the ex-mobsters and ex-law enforcers are actually good friends these days, having grown a liking and a respect for each other after playing cat-and-mouse all those years ago. They talk and laugh and get along swimmingly, even joking about old arrests and convictions with no ill will. It’s honestly quite heartwarming.

If you like hearing about exciting things like bank heists, armored car robberies, drug smuggling, and other such events, you are going to have a very good time with this podcast. The episodes where they detail how the Patriarca crime family pulled off some of the biggest heists of the century were among the most enjoyable episodes, and they plug multiple books written about the subject if that wasn’t enough for you.

One of the ex-mobsters converted to Paganism and is now a Dungeon Master in D&D, and he spends some of the podcast talking about his various RP characters in a stereotypical New York Italian accent. It is exactly as hilarious as it sounds. I think that guy was my favorite.

It’s a small thing, but I reeeeeally like the theme song for this podcast. It’s kind of perfect at setting the tone for the theme of the show.

Cons

There are numerous ex-cons on this podcast! Just kidding. In all seriousness, there wasn’t too much not to like considering that it’s non-fiction. It keeps you interested, there’s tons of content, and the only way this wouldn’t be enjoyable is if the topic doesn’t interest you.

MY RATING: 9.5/10 GOLD BARS - This podcast was a delight to listen to, and I remember being very disappointed when the first season ended because all I wanted was more. Buddy Cianci’s charisma just pours off the audio and it is almost unfathomable to realize that he was dead shortly before this podcast even started. When I finished the podcast, I immediately bought his autobiography just so I could learn more about such a complex and morally grey character. I can’t wait for season 2 and I hope you guys enjoy this season while you wait.

[castyourpodtothewind]

CYPTTW Review #6 - Heaven’s Gate

Who the hell are you?! Hi! I’m Taylor and I recently dived headfirst into podcasts! I have since binged on several of them and decided to make reviews of the ones that really stood out. These are not going to be big, professional reviews (I’m lazy) but they should hopefully contain information to help you get into some great new listens!

Where do you listen to your podcasts? My personal recommendation for listening to podcasts is the Pocket Casts app, available for Android or iPhone. It costs $3.99 to buy, but I think it's super worth it, since it has a lot of great features and zero in-app ads, which to me is worth every penny. But if you like free apps or just don't have the scratch right now, my runner up is Podcast Addict. It's free and has some (but not all) of the features Pocket Casts has, plus you have to deal with the ads. But if you don't like either of those, do some searching! There's lots of options out there.

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Name of Podcast: Heaven’s Gate

Creators of Podcast: Glynn Washington, Pineapple Street Media, Stitcher

Genre(s): Non-Fiction

Start and End Date of Podcast: October 18th, 2017 - December 27th, 2017 (Complete)

Number of Episodes: 10

Release Schedule: N/A, podcast is complete

Where Can I Find It: https://www.heavensgate.show/

Donation/Patreon?: None (if anyone finds one that I missed, please DM me)

Age Rating: This podcast talks about some VERY heavy subjects that even for adults could be too much to handle. Definitely not for kids, but people 13 and up should be okay if they feel they can handle the subject matter. It’s not sensationalized or graphic (except for one part I’ll go into later) but it’s still a podcast about a rather notorious cult, so...yeah.

Where I Am Now: Caught Up

Official Summary: In 1997, thirty-nine people took their own lives in an apparent mass suicide. The events captivated the media and had people across the planet asking the same question…’Why?’ 20 years later, those who lost loved ones and those who still believe - tell their story. Hosted by Glynn Washington of Snap Judgement.

Representation?: N/A, this is a non-fiction podcast

Transcripts?: None that I could find. If anyone knows where they can be or has made some, please DM me.

Trigger Warnings?: Suicide, Cults, Parental Abandonment, Castration (Please see special trigger warning below under Cons)

How Long To Listen Before Giving Up?: This is a short podcast and you are going to want to hear it from beginning to end. I was absolutely enthralled with the host’s insight and even though it hurt to finish I couldn’t stop until I had. I’m not even going to give you a bailout point here, just listen to the whole thing.

Anything Else I Should Know?: Glynn Washington, the host of the podcast, talks about his own experience being raised in a cult in this NPR article. It’s very interesting, so I highly suggest you check it out: https://www.npr.org/2018/01/29/581532036/for-heaven-s-gate-podcast-host-the-cult-story-hits-close-to-home

If You Like This, You Might Also Like: Crimetown, Serial, Limetown, King Falls AM

Pros

If you have reservations about this podcast because you’re concerned that this will be exploitative to the cult members or their families, I can confirm that you have nothing to worry about. The subject and the people involved are treated with the utmost respect, and all the family members interviewed make it very clear that they want to be talking about this and are not being pressured or made uncomfortable in doing so. Glynn Washington, the man who hosts the podcast, was actually raised in a cult himself, the Worldwide Church of God, before leaving in his late teens after the founder died. He wanted to tell this story both as a way of giving a voice to the members and their families, but also to try and explain to people that this kind of thing can happen to anyone, and the members of the cult don’t deserve to be ridiculed for the choices that they made. His warmth and empathy pour out of his voice and I was spellbound by his narration. 

The show features interviews with ex-members of the cult, as well as archival footage of the members/leaders and interviews with the members’ families, who are remarkably generous in sharing what information they have about what went on all those years ago. The families of these people are some of the strongest and most remarkable people you will ever get to know, and by the end of the show you honestly feel like you do know them on some level. The same is true when you listen to the people who decided to leave - or were asked to stay behind to look after affairs - and you realize that these were all real people with real voices and feelings beyond “crazy space cult.” And yes - some of them do still believe, or feel like they missed their chance on that one fateful day.

Since this involves very upsetting subject matter (pretty much everyone knows how this turned out) it can be an intense podcast for the squeamish. However, something this show does very well is telling the story in its proper order, meaning you start off by getting an introduction to the subject matter, talk about who these people were before they joined the group, how and why the leaders decided to start and how they got the followers they did, and the way they lived their lives for the next 20 years. The painful details of the mass suicide aren’t fully addressed until the end of the podcast, (and while many people don’t know this, mass suicide was not even part of the plan until very close to the cult’s end) and by that time you’re already sad because you know what’s going to happen to the people you’ve been getting to know, but you feel like you have to listen anyway.

Cons

Special Trigger Mention: There is a very graphic description of someone getting a botched castration in episode 9. The host warns you several times to skip over it, to the point where you think he’s overblowing it, but he’s not. You’re going to think, like I did, “oh this won’t be so bad, I’ve been to the far reaches of the internet, it’s fine”. It will not be fine. Listen to that part at your own peril.

MY RATING: 9.5/10 UFOs - I adored this podcast. I normally don’t listen to a lot of non-fiction, but this one sucked me in right from the start. I’ve always had an interest in the subject matter, but this was so much more in-depth than just reading about them on paper. Actually getting to hear these people and their families, getting to see just how and why they ended up the way they did, all tied together under a host that clearly cares very deeply about the topic, was so fascinating to listen to. Despite the depressing and at times harrowing subject matter, the podcast is actually quite relaxing to listen to and it’s never presented in a way that I would deem intense. Everything is forewarned beforehand and you get a mostly linear story. If you have any interest in learning about this topic, this is a wonderful podcast to choose. Enjoy.

[trashboatdax]

I started a side blog for podcast reviews! Check it out if you’re interested in learning about some cool new listens. :)

[trashboatdax]

I started a side blog for podcast reviews! Check it out if you’re interested in learning about some cool new listens. :)

[trashboatdax]

I started a side blog for podcast reviews! Check it out if you’re interested in learning about some cool new listens. :)

[castyourpodtothewind]

CYPTTW Review #4 - The Strange Case of Starship Iris

Who the hell are you?! Hi! I’m Taylor and I recently dived headfirst into podcasts! I have since binged on several of them and decided to make reviews of the ones that really stood out. These are not going to be big, professional reviews (I’m lazy) but they should hopefully contain information to help you get into some great new listens!

Where do you listen to your podcasts? My personal recommendation for listening to podcasts is the Pocket Casts app, available for Android or iPhone. It costs $3.99 to buy, but I think it's super worth it, since it has a lot of great features and zero in-app ads, which to me is worth every penny. But if you like free apps or just don't have the scratch right now, my runner up is Podcast Addict. It's free and has some (but not all) of the features Pocket Casts has, plus you have to deal with the ads. But if you don't like either of those, do some searching! There's lots of options out there.

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Name of Podcast: The Strange Case of Starship Iris

Creators of Podcast: Jessica Best, Procyon Studios

Genre(s): Space Exploration, Action/Adventure, Dystopian Future, Humor, Mystery/Thriller

Start and End Date of Podcast: Jan 9th, 2017 - August 3rd, 2018 (Ongoing)

Number of Episodes: 8

Release Schedule: Monthly, or when the episode is finished

Where Can I Find It: http://procyonpodcasts.com/starship-iris/ or visit their official Tumblr page at @iriscasefiles

Donation/Patreon?: https://www.patreon.com/starshipiris

Age Rating: This podcast contains profanity, talks freely about sex and sex-related subjects, has some very tense action scenes, and lots of mentions of war and violence. PG-13.

Where I Am Now: Caught Up

Official Summary: In 2189, Earth narrowly won a war against extraterrestrials, but at a tremendous price. Two years later, in a distant patch of space, a mysterious explosion kills nearly the entire crew of the science vessel Starship Iris. The only survivor is Violet Liu, an intrepid, sarcastic, terrified biologist. But as Violet struggles to readjust to life after the Iris, questions abound. Was that explosion really an accident? If not, just what is going on? And why does every answer seem to get more bizarre and more dangerous? If Violet and her newfound allies want to untangle the truth, they'll need courage, brilliance, and luck - and honestly, a couple of drinks.

Representation?: This show has multiple POC and LGBT characters, including creator-confirmed Asexual characters.

Transcripts?: Official transcripts are available on the show’s website!

Trigger Warnings?: Violence, Death, War

How Long To Listen Before Giving Up?: The show is still rather new, so you should have no problem listening to all of them. If you must have a bail out point, listen until AT LEAST episode 5.

Anything Else I Should Know?: The podcast is active, but it takes a little while for them to make new episodes, so please donate to them at the link provided above!

If You Like This, You Might Also Like: The Ghost Radio Project, Alice Isn’t Dead, Limetown

Pros

This show has an A+ pilot and sucks you in pretty much immediately, I was in from the word go.

The writing and voice acting are excellent, with a cast of characters you immediately relate to and want to root for. The cast is also very diverse, where POC and LGBT characters are played by people who share those traits in real life. Special props to Procyon Studio for making this an official policy of theirs.

For a low-budget podcast, the production quality is excellent. They also have the best way of doing their introductions and closing credits, but I do not want to spoil it for you. Please listen to the podcast to find out, but know that I was extremely happy with it.

This show has no ads and is dedicated to releasing the show entirely for free! Please donate to them!

Cons

The only real negative on this show is just the fact that episodes take a while, because this show was very addictive and I binge listened to it in a day.

MY RATING: 10/10 SPACE BEES - I LOVE this podcast. If you’re a fan of “GAAAAYS IN SPAAAAACE”, heartfelt and believable voice acting, and a plot that gets more and more interesting per episode, please give this podcast a shot. It’s worth every minute of the wait and there’s just so much to enjoy about it. Also, their inclusion in providing transcripts always does my autistic heart good. It breaks my heart that it isn’t more popular, so please spread the word!