Languages - Show Time Spanish

Taking the next step


http://radiolingua.com/shows/spanish/show-time-spanish/

Show Time Spanish is the sequel to Coffee Break Spanish (see June, 2008). Like Coffee Break, it is also a Radio Lingua production and is also hosted by Mark Pentleton. But this is a far cry from the previous series. For me, it is a very challenging step up with some interesting and diverse twists.

In keeping with the Show Time theme, there are two acts and an intermedio. In the first act, Mark (who is Scottish and that is where the podcast is recorded) has a conversation with Alba (a native of Spain). They have good chemistry, but I still miss Cara from Coffe Break Spanish Mark and Alba usually begin with “What did you do last semana” and then it is off on the topic of the week (holidays, vacations, smoking laws). The dialogue is at normal speed and for a learner like me it is sometimes hard to keep up, but that is how you improve.

Their conversation is followed by a brief section where Mark summarizes what Alba has said and vice versa (el resumen). Later in the podcast, during the second act, Mark discusses grammar points about sentences or word usage that arose in the natural course of the first act conversation (reflective pronouns, uses of the subjunctive, think academic in this section). It is an effective way to bring the whole show together.

I apologize for the A-B-C nature of this review, but it is the sectional nature of Show Time Spanish which makes it a compelling way to learn. To continue, there is the intermedio, which runs between the two acts and serves a breather for the listener. This section has featured tongue twisters (trabalenguas), jokes and movie reviews (of movies in Spanish, of course). The intermedio also has one of my favorite features… the phrase of the week. Jose runs this segment and gives the listener a native speaker’s way of expressing themselves, something more distinguishable like “no podria estar mejor”, instead of “muy bueno”, for instance.

There is yet another twist to Show Time Spanish. Every five weeks they drop the format and present an episode of their own podcastnovella, entitled “Verano Español”. The plot involves a bilingual family who goes to spend the summer in Spain at a house the father inherited. It is low on the drama meter, but it does put different voices into the podcast, and functions effectively as a change of pace for the regular episodes.

And there’s more. As you know I am all about the Free when it comes to podcasts. However, for Show Time Spanish, I splurged and became a premium member (during one of the Radio Lingua sale periods, naturally). This allowed me access to PDF guides and other “bonus materials”, as they like say. It is very helpful to me to see the dialogue and intermedio in a printed format accompanying the audio. And I can now download the Encore podcast, which is Mark flying solo presenting some exercises which relate to the grammar points from the main podcast.

In conclusion….I apologize again for the “what it is” rather than reviewing the quality points of Show Time Spanish. I will just say it works for me. It is personable and has a non didactic tone. I can attest that my comprehension of everyday Spanish has greatly improved. My speaking ability is nowhere near that, but that is not the fault of Show Time Spanish. Give it a try.

When was the last time someone read you a story?

The New Yorker: Fiction

http://www.newyorker.com/online/podcasts/fiction

The New Yorker: Fiction podcast combines two of my likes. Every month, much like the weekly publication, The New Yorker presents a short story, a work of short fiction. The short story is a format I particularly enjoy, as reader, as a writer and as a participant in a short story group sponsored by my local library.

And, since it’s a podcast, the short story of the month is read aloud. Audio fiction is something I was drawn to out of necessity. I once had a job that required a lot of time in my car. Looking for additional distractions besides the radio, I turned to audio books and have developed a permanent t soft spot for the medium.

The twist The New Yorker puts on the podcast is that instead of the author or a professional narrator reading the story, they get another author to pick the story and to read it. It’s great to hear T.C. Boyle or Tobias Wolfe or E.L. Doctorow read Joyce Carol Oates or Vladimir Nabokov or James Thurber but there is a downside to this as well. As I learned through my experience with audio books, if the narrator is bad, it kills the story. And some of the guest authors, while probably whizzes at being writers, prove themselves to be not very good at reading aloud. Reading in a monotone with little inflection is the principal fault I have come across.

But fortunately, that does not happen very often. And when it does, the failure to deliver is ameliorated by the segment after the story. Here, for the remaining eight to ten minutes or so, there is a discussion between the guest author and the moderator. Topics usually touched on in this segment are the cause of the choice of story, some anecdotal background on the author, the guest author and the involvement of either or both with The New Yorker, as well as some breakdown of the story itself. This section is always strong and informative and really helps put some context and zip into the short story format being showcased.

One brief complaint though. The iTunes podcasts have titles which are different from the story itself. I would suggest that the story title, the author and the guest author/reader should be what appear on the iPod scroll, not the vague title they are now using. Many times I want to review this information and I can only do it using the version of the podcast saved on my hard drive.

That said, this one is an easy recommend. It’s monthly and usually less than thirty minutes so time is not a constraint. For me, it is very enjoyable to hear all the different approaches and themes the featured writers use to spin their craft. Learning something about two authors at the same time certainly is an efficient way to expand your knowledge to say the least. And you don’t have to be a little kid to enjoy having a story read to you. So give it a try.

Spanning the Globe...NPR's Foreign Dispatch

NPR: Foreign Dispatch Podcast


Did you know that in order to buy a gun in Mexico, legally that is, you have to go to the only gun store in the country, which is on an army base near Mexico City?

Did you know that in Berlin after World War I, there was a rise in demand for prostitutes who were missing limbs or were otherwise disfigured? This has been attributed to the increase in the population of war veterans who had been maimed during the conflict.

Did you know that the only way to become a citizen of Palau, which hosted a season of “Survivor”, is to have been born there? And although they have a restrictive citizenship policy, the residents of Palau enjoy a special favored status with the United States, including being able to serve in our armed forces.

                                   http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=6661111

I learned these disparate facts listening to National Public Radio’s Foreign Dispatch podcast. A weekly roundup of reporting from around the globe, the podcast runs a very manageable twenty minutes and usually contains four segments, each from a different region of the world. And it is global; NPR’s correspondents are all over the place.

As might be expected, the podcast always contains some news from the current war zones. These segments generally depict how culture and politics interact and are affected by military actions. For example, there was a story in a recent podcast about the improvement of traffic patterns in Tehran after the removal of concrete blast barriers from the downtown area. They had been there so long that younger residents were unsure of what streets were on the other side of where the barrier had been.

From there, the podcast hops around the globe a few times. Maybe a discussion of how Norway avoided the recent financial crisis. Maybe a view of the effects of Twitter on dissent in China. Believe me, it is nothing if not diverse.

The final segment generally deals with an aspect of popular culture or the Arts. It might be about musicians in a different part of the world (Camilo Lara’s Mexican Institute of Sound), or a profile of a writer ( Philip Kerr, author of the Detective Gunther series). It’s usually something that makes me want to make a note of a title or a person who is speaking or being discussed. All segments make full use of the audio capabilities of radio, with background noises and clips from the people involved in the story. It is not a voice droning o and on. It is a true multi layered experience for the listener.

I get most of my news from the internet and it tends to be a very general level of information. Foreign Dispatch drills down into many subjects I have only a cursory knowledge of. I thank NPR for helping round off my understanding of a least a few things that are happening on our planet.

Boys will be Boys - The Adam Carolla Podcast

The ACP    http://www.adamcarolla.com/

Adam Carolla does not need my love. His podcast has hundreds of thousands of downloads and is consistently in the iTunes top ten. But I am going to give him big props anyway because he cracks me up.

I first came across Adam, when he was cohosting The Man Show along with Jimmy Kimmel. Now, certainly Kimmel has gone on to much success and that success made me feel a little bad for Adam, almost like he got left behind.

But things seem to have turned out pretty well for Adam, who, despite losing a radio gig, has a pilot in the works for CBS, and his enormously successful podcast (if only he could find a way to make money at it!).

The format of the Adam Carolla Podcast is part of its success. It’s Adam in his home office with one or sometimes two guests. And they just riff off anything that could be part of a conversation with or about said guest for about an hour. Adam’s long time friend Donnie runs the technology and provides occasional commentary.

The podcast has been running a couple of months now with five shows a week which is a lot of material and a big commitment for a listener. I listened to the first dozen episodes but now, due to the time constraints all my podcast listening creates; I pick the show based on the guest.

After all the listens, though, I see a dichotomy developing in the ACP (my made up acronym for the Adam Carolla Podcast). At its core is a raunchy, brutally honest give and take on sexuality, growing up and often crappy life experiences. This seems to work best if the guest is a comedian. With other types of guests, it becomes more of an interview. Not that Adam doesn’t try and see if he can get back in the gutter with that day’s guest. He probes subtly and backs off if the guest isn’t biting. Both approaches feature ample stories about Adam, because, after all, it’s his podcast and he is not pretending to be Larry King (though he has excellent interviewing chops).

Here are a few examples of how the show can go. In one of the early episodes, the guest was comedian (and fellow Dancing With The Stars alum) David Allan Grier. He is a personal friend of Adam’s and the hour was a slug fest of dysfunctional family humor. Absolutely hilarious. But race car driver Danica Patrick has also been a guest (Disclaimer: I have met Danica Patrick). She is not going to talk (at least on a recording) about drugs and masturbation. In that episode, Adam, showed his versatility and shifted into gear head mode. The result was also a good listen and Adam’s interviewing skills showed Danica in a very positive light.

One of my favorite podcasts featured Lynn and Alex, two gay men who run laragmag.com. In the early part of the conversation, the two guests were pleasant and funny, but they know Adam’s reputation and there was an undercurrent of…where is this going to go? Not to worry, Adam found his opening, and after asking with all sincerity about power bottoms, everything snapped into place. The ensuing conversation about gay sexuality was classic ACP. You laugh and you learn.

Contrast that with the podcast featuring George Takei of Star Trek fame. While topics like coming out to colleagues and family were discussed, it was in no way as down and dirty as the episode with Lynn and Alex. But again, this episode showed the other head of the ACP dragon.

In Adam’s shows you can learn things, like inside information on racing with Danica Patrick or aspects or the Japanese internment during World War II from George Takei (great Tokyo Rose story in this episode by the way). There a human element that Carolla brings to the podcast because he sometimes goes over board and the show jumps the tracks. With George Takei, Adam got into a corner covering the motivation behind the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Adam kept trying, unsuccessfully, to put into words his concept that the actual internment was evil but that the motivation behind it was not. Fortunately, Takei was having none of that. In another podcast, Adam had a lingering rant about Mexico needing more Jewish people. I guess you could rationalize that it’s comedy, you try and see what parts of the envelope you can push, sometimes though, you need to leave with your dignity intact.

One other point, the guest list for the ACP is very impressive. Obviously the guy has connections. In addition to some of the guests I have mentioned, other notables who have shared Adam's office include the aforementioned Jimmy Kimmel, Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane and boxer Mike Tyson (as opposed to Tyson from Survivor).

Yes, it’s usually raunchy, sometimes abrasive, occasionally enlightening and always funny. I don’t know if he will keep podcasting if the TV show gets picked up, but for now, I will enjoy the hell out of the ACP.

Advice on Sex and Sexuality - MTSS

The Midwest Teen Sex Show            http://midwestteensexshow.com/

This video podcast is a frank and funny look at all aspects of sex with an approach that is skewed towards all teens, not just those in the Midwest. Each five to ten minute episode deals with a specific topic and believe me, MTSS gets around. If there is some angle to be explored on sexuality, sexual practices, sexual behavior, you name it, it’s all here. And if it’s not, I am sure they will get to it shortly.

There are two principals in every show. First there is Nikol Hassler, who serves as host, narrator, voice of reason and occasional extra in that week’s skits. The facts about a particular topic (Breasts, Homosexuality, Breakups, Virginity) are illustrated by a series of sketches and asides starring Britney Barber who has a chameleon like ability to play an intriguing range of characters. The characters are usually engaging in behavior that MTSS would like to focus on as inappropriate for the topic of the week (unprotected sex, sex for the wrong reasons, etc.). That sounds a little dry but it certainly is not presented that way. Not to compare MTSS’ humor with a particular comedian (comedienne) or show, just think Funny on a cable network without a lot of restrictions. In fact, I would not be surprised if these two did not pop up in something else

And while their approach may occasionally be zany, their avowed purpose is not. The Midwest Teen Sex Show wants to provide a forum for young people to get practical answers on sexual matters. MTSS is well written and informative (kudos also to the third wheel, Guy Clark). Nikol strikes the right note as a person who can give advice and keep confidences as well. This is a vital quality to have on a show that deals with sensitive subjects every week.

So please try The Midwest Teen Sex Show. I know I became a dedicated viewer when I saw the episode titled “Older Boyfriends”. MTSS advised “Don’t have one”. Simple, straight forward, good advice.

Movies - Filmspotting

Filmspotting            

http://filmspotting.net/

Let’s face it, there are many, many venues you can go to in order to get your movie discussion fix. And since it is the avowed purpose of this blog to sift through the vast universe of podcast material available about any given subject, I have sampled many, many of the episodes of the movie podcasts that are out there. Now my work is done and I am presenting for your enjoyment my favorite: Filmspotting. Why have I picked this show out of all the possible choices? I will admit there is a subjective component here, but I like what I like. What draws me to Filmspotting is its outstanding execution of two key elements… Content and Presentation.

Content wise, Filmspotting does indeed adopt the standard movie podcast format of discussing new releases for that week. However, the hosts, Adam Kempenaar and Matty Robinson, expertly avoid the formulaic by concentrating on one or two films and providing a lengthy, informed and informative look at the week’s choices. This is not the “two minutes with selected clips” version you get in a televised review. It’s not fast food, so be prepared for a meal of several courses.

In addition to the main event, Adam and Matty build onto the beginning and launch into other segments which make the show fun and give it a unique vibrancy. There’s usually a weekly Top Five with a variety of topics (Five Best Spike Lee Scenes, Five Best Supporting Actresses of 2008, etc.). There’s Listener feedback (voicemail and email). There are marathons that stretch over several episodes (currently they are holding an “Angry Young Men” marathon which has featured, among others, “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning” and “Look Back in Anger”).

And then there’s “Massacre Theater”. Each week Adam and Matty read a scene and invite the listeners to guess what film the lines they have just butchered came from. Correct answers are entered in a drawing and there is a prize so test your movie knowledge here.

Presentation wise, the host’s personalities and film knowledge bring a lot to the table in Filmspotting. It would be wrong to categorize Adam and Matty as being one thing over another. But I feel I can say that Adam is a member of The Cult of Director Love and that movies for children are not on his radar. Matty is a little harder to pin down but he doesn’t suffer fools. Listen to a few episodes and you will hear what I mean.

Each podcast is a little over an hour, so every listener will have to figure out how that fits their schedule. Filmspotting never bogs down and has consistent, excellent pacing. Episodes are sometimes segmented with interstitial music featuring an artist of the week, some of whom I have added to my Ipod (for example, Sunny Levine). The Filmspotting website, which is quite comprehensive, gives a listing of the songs used on each podcast, with links to the artists showcased, a feature that is very helpful because you do not have to take notes.

Speaking of the Filmspotting website, I am heading over to the Merch section to see what kind of T shirt selections they have. Why don’t you stop by as well.