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The kids wanted me to give them candy? Now you're just making stuff up.


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Host Brad Reed is a writer who writes and then talks to other writers who write and together they talk about writing. Inside Creative Writing has had topics like the Snowflake Method, "defamiliarization", when to use adverbs, and speaking with authors on how they captures moments that spark stories. Reed leads each episode well and engages the guests so that they willingly share their secrets to success and provide insight to the listening audience.

Inside Creative Writing is less straight up instructive than Writing Excuses, but there is still plenty to enjoy. The tone is friendly and conversational and it gives writers a chance to find a new POV on their craft (see what I did there? EH?). 

Content Rating:  Clean and grammatically sound. These folks really know where to put a preposition at.

Average Episode Length:  A sample of five episodes gives an average time of about 37 minutes. The episodes don't feel too short or too long, each topic gets a proper amount of time.

Drinking Game: Oh...well, gosh! I just can't think of any way to tie the craft of writing, and writers themselves, to drinking. Do writers even drink? Surely they perform their art stone-sober, to reflect the gravity of creating the written word. No, no, I don't think I can come up with any classical authors to which you might mimic their drinking patterns and/or choices in alcohol. Gosh.

Go get some tea, I suppose?

Release Schedule:  Weekly!  Yay!

Unintentionally Good Part:  All the picture of the host that I've seen have him wearing one of those newsboy caps, which I find to be a good fashion choice.

Unintentionally Bad Part:  If you are a writer, you will feel guilty that you're listening to this instead of writing.

Unrelated rating:  Five people pretending to write at Starbucks out of five.

BONUS CONTENT:  Seriously, there is a thing called NaNoWriMo and it starts tomorrow. Join up and prove you can write a novel! It's a good bit of fun and at the very least you can be a snot like me and read Tumblrs that mock people on the forums.

First off, allow me to play you the jam of my people:


Spoiler: Bill Nye is not featured as a guest or host on this podcast. There is, however, plenty of science and it is discussed by guys so I guess that's close enough. Right? Right.

This is Beta Sandwich Science Podcast.

Welcome to the Beta Sandwich Podcast, your source for news and trends in the Molecular Biosciences.  Join us as we wax poetic about all things sciencey (yes, that's a word).  We go in depth about diseases, viruses, medicine, pharmacology, biochemistry and pretty much anything else that moves, crawls, flies or has otherwise transformed this giant rock into a living ecosystem.  If you are a crazy scientist, or you just like crazy science, you've come to the right place :)

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Which is gross, but in a fascinating way.

Content Rating: Clean as the inside of a autoclave.

Average Episode Length: Around an hour.

Drinking Game: Any time the hosts say a word you don't understand, drink. Any time the hosts say a word that you smugly recognize, drink twice. Any time a university is mentioned by name, drink.

Release Schedule: Looks like it has a weekly release.

The hosts are friendly and easy to listen to despite their discussion matter which can sometimes get a little complicated. Scientific discoveries are explained to the listener in as-close-to-layman terms as one can expect from a crew of scientists and what they talk about really is cool to hear. There are all sorts of fascinating studies and experiments and findings going on in their respective fields and the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast is a wonderful way to hear about what's going on.

And in case you were wondering, a "beta sandwich" is a thing:

...

Okay, I just tried to find an explanation of what a beta sandwich is and I seriously couldn't find anything that I understood. Just trust me, it's a real term. The podcast explains it during an episode so you should go listen instead of me trying to stare down a picture of DNA on Wikipedia that I'll never comprehend.


Unintentionally Good Part: The section where they discuss how to handle grad school. It's funny and informative.

Unintentionally Bad Part: This podcast does not work for a "background" podcast where you can do chores or something as you listen. If you lose the thread of whatever they're discussing you often miss an important explanation and then can't follow the rest of the story. Not a bad thing, just one of my preferences.

Unrelated rating: Sixteen broken microscope slides out of seventeen.

All right, readers, I'm going to say a phrase, and it is going to let you know whether or not this podcast is for you. It's going to challenge some world-views, shake up some dialogues, that sort of thing, so be ready.

Are you appropriately clenched? Okay, here it is:

"Handcrafted food meta-discussion"

Were you struck blind? Wait, stupid question. But did that turn your lip up in a sneer or strike your fancy? I'm sure some of you have already moved on to watching cat videos, so I'll address those that remain. If you want to know more, then you'll want to check out The Food Craftsmen podcast.

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Remember: food is life, and life is great.

Discussions about the fat content of heritage pig breeds!

Learning the difference between Latin American and European styles of gourmet chocolates!

Did you know there is a big, annual competition in Ohio for sustainable food producers? I didn't have the slightest idea until I started listening to The Food Craftsman podcast.

At first, I was disappointed. I like to cook, and I was expecting a podcast that might offer me some cooking tips on how to improve my prosciutto-wrapped Hot Pockets. Instead I found a show featuring interviews with food producers that produce good foods in new and ethical ways. So I kept listening, and discovered that it is pretty cool to hear not only how people cook, but why they do it the way they do, and how they go about building and maintaining a successful business.

Host Ryan K. Parker guides the interviews expertly, and his earnest interest in each topic shows through in the discussion. Anything from store design to favorite recipes is up for discussion, and the conversations are natural and flowing.

Content Rating: Clean, although it would be really funny to hear an explicit version of this. #$!@$ SMALL BATCH CHEESE!

Ooh, wait! There is a single explicit episode! Dreams are coming true!

Average Episode Length: Approximately 25 minutes.

Drinking Game: Find yourself a locally brewed beer or two, then share it with friends. Make pretentious statements about the hops after each sip while listening to this podcast.

Release Schedule: Weekly, with no apparent set day of release.

Music: A very nice, smooth song for opening/ending. I like it a lot.

Unintentionally Good Part: The Food Craftsmen podcast is a great venue to hear about foods you didn't know about! With this whole Internet thing, you can find their site and order delicious foods to expaaaaaaaand your pallet.

What kind of wine pairs well with Lean Pockets?

Unintentionally Bad Part: It makes me really hungry to listen to this podcast.

Unrelated rating: Three Instagram photos of food out of three.

Hey, so, this podcast review is-

SHUT UP. NO ONE CARES. NO ONE CARES BECAUSE IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR

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Content Rating: Explicit, and tagged as such in iTunes.

Average Episode Length:  A quick glance tells me that the average length is about 50 minutes.

It is, as the kids say, 'off the chain'.

Dragon Con is the greatest 4 days of geekery you will be able to find east of the Mississippi, and The Unique Geek (UG) is here to give you the low-down on the hoedown. Any convention can be an overwhelming mass of people, events, and places and the UG is here to provide you with a helping guide to making the best of the 24 hour insanity that can be Dragon Con. They cover important topics ranging from the light hearted discussion of panels, to the super-super-incredibly-useful information about things like the disabilities services available at the convention.

Bonus Content: You can watch a Dragon Con staff member navigate a hotel bathroom in his wheelchair to show examples of accessibility. Interesting stuff, and an eye opener if you don't have to deal with it.

The hosts vary per their expertise on certain subjects, and features interviews with the President of Dragon Con, track directors, and people who get their hands dirty to make one of the nation's largest fan-run conventions function. Even if you're not going, it is a neat insight into how a horde of volunteers can entertain thousands of people for an annual weekend of nerdom.

Drinking Game:  Take a drink every time:

• The hosts mention a show you are a fan of
• You recognize a celebrity name
• The 501st are mentioned
• One of the hotel names is said

Release Schedule: Damn near every day. They take this '50 Days' thing seriously, folks.


Unintentionally Good Part: This podcast makes me think of Dragon Con, and I look forward to Dragon Con the same way little kids look forward to Christmas. I think I have it better, because although Santa is pretty rad, my holiday involves copious amount of alcohol and the guys from Myth Busters.

Unintentionally Bad Part: Some episodes have less-than-average mic quality. Not too bad, but I had to fuss with my volume a few times.

Unrelated rating: Four disturbing Leeloo costumes out of five.

Whether you have fitness goals, business goals, or personal dreams, this is your source for success!

I am eternally wary of people who wish to motivate me. My cynical nature forbids me to look at anyone who wants to tell me, however earnestly, to 'be the best me I can be' without my eyebrow raising up in reflexive skepticism. Maybe I don't want to achieve! Maybe it was my goal today to dip Fritos into a jar of cold queso! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!

But then again, it is nice to have someone tell you that you're free to be you (and me). Once in a while, I need to be reminded that, much like the kitten hanging from the branch, that I need to just hang in there, baby. There's a difference between trying to gird your loins against the iniquities of the world and hearing a voice that exists outside of your head agreeing with you. Sometimes, even when you know that all the weird body/wealth/swag related insecurities the world tries to press on you is bullshit, it is nice to hear someone else agree with you and let you know you're all right so long as you do your best.

That's nice. I like that kind of motivation. More talking about shaking off unreal expectations and maintaining good habits, less of the "bald eagle soaring majestically poster with a world like AMBITION" posters that are all over my workplace.

Trish Blackwell's Confidence on the Go wants a little bit of your time to help you realize the awesome within. 


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Content Rating: Clean, and marked as such in iTunes.

Average Episode Length:  A sample of five episodes show an average time of 34 minutes.

Drinking Game: There is something that feels sketchy about a drinking game tied to a motivational podcast. How about we say you set a goal for today, and tie the goal to a favorite snack. Once you complete the goal, you get the snack! Mmm, goal oriented cupcake...

The difference between you who is going to change and someone who is not is that you are going to make a decision to be open to change.

Host Trish Blackwell manages to walk the fine line of motivational catch phrases and earnest real-talk. I initially flinched each time that she used a phrase such as "accelerating my personal motivation" because saying things like "believe to achieve!" and "reach for the stars" is great and empowering, but that don't put money in the bank account or get a person off the couch and into the gym.

However! Blackwell is out to pin down the issues people are dealing with in their lives, and show how to move past them. Body image issues, tearing down the "facade of perfectionism" that hides real issues, all the stuff that you might acknowledge on the edge of your thoughts as negative influences, but can never really shake off. It's encouraging without being pandering, and I appreciate that.

Release Schedule:  Once a week, with no set day.

Unintentionally Good Part: Trish Blackwell believes in the power of reading, and that's awesome because books are awesome.

Unintentionally Bad Part:  Trish Blackwell is a personal trainer and does want you to pay her for her training services. The podcast is wholly free, but expect a little sales pitch at the end of each episode. There's nothing wrong with her trying to sell her services, I just want you to be aware so you don't get all jaded about it.

Unrelated rating: Those last 2 minutes out of a 6 minute mile you're working towards (you can do it!).

 Is it safe to say that board games are in a sort of revival period? I mean, I know it's been going on since before I realized there were games beyond Sorry! and Scrabble, but there are still loads of rad games coming out each year. There are Kickstarters to fund and help make new board games, forums devoted to the discussion of board games, and even digital version of board games for people who only interact with others via a keyboard or game controller. I'm sure someone wiser than I knows the span of board game history but I'm too lazy to Google for their wisdom.

Anyways, I think it is safe to say that board games are rad and becoming more rad every day. There are a lot of different places to find information on board games you might want to play and one of those sources is the Shut Up & Sit Down podcast.

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We do this show as a service, this is a bit of fun, but there's also there is a point here that we are telling people which games we think are good and bad and it's not very helpful to go "This game's great but you can't buy it!"

In the realm on in-depth reviews, Shut Up & Sit Down provides its audience with appetizers of the board games they're describing. Each game gets a fair share of time, but they don't drill down into the minutiae of each rule set. Enjoyable games are discussed, as are the games that are disliked in a sort of equal manner.  There's no bashing or super-hyped-up praising, just some gents who enjoy board games talking about their experiences. It's interesting and a fun way to find new board games to play.

What else do you NEED? The hosts are pleasant to listen to, they let you know where you can get games, they make jokes for your amusement! Go listen!

Content Rating: I am almost 85% certain this podcast is clean. At the very least I have no evidence of them being saucy with the language.

Average Episode Length: About fifty minutes to an hour. The shortest episode is forty-two minutes and the longest episode runs an hour even.

I get distracted like a cat in a place where cats are excited.

Drinking Game: I highly recommend Red Dragon Inn.

You've got some weakness for hexes and other small pieces.

Release Schedule: I'm going to guess it's a once a month podcast.

Unintentionally Good Part: Shut Up & Sit Down features delightful accents, which makes any podcast 30% more enjoyable. They add that imaginary 'r' to the end of 'idea' that I love.

Unintentionally Bad Part: You will start spending money on board games that you want to play then have to convince the rest of your family, who have only ever played Monopoly, that these games will be fun. They will be frightened by the rules and you will know true sorrow.

Unrelated rating: Five out of Six of the game pieces your dog ate and you had to replace with bottle caps and coins.


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• Is exercising in pollution bad for you?
• Caveman Fitness Lessons
• How to Run Barefoot
• Fitness Tips for Seniors

Content Rating:  Clean (and jerk).  This is a podcast that watches its posture carefully. 

Average Episode Length:  On average, the episodes are about six to ten minutes long, providing the perfect amount of content for you to take in while you slowly flex at your bathroom mirror. 

Drinking Game:  Get a bottle of Wheatgrass.  Every day that you don't do something to improve your health, take a swig of that stuff as punishment.  Glargh. 

Release Schedule:  Once a week on Saturday.

Music:  Get Fit Guy has this nice beat at the front and back.  It's good!  Reminds of when I walk by the Zumba classes.

Unintentionally Good Part:  This podcast inspired me to do a push-up.  I know!  I was surprised as you are!

Unintentionally Bad Part:  You will feel guilty about your neglected gym membership while listening to this podcast.

Unrelated rating:  Two ice cream sandwiches that you hid in the back of the freezer and forgot about until you really deserved them out of three.