10 Great Podcasts

I listen to a lot of podcasts. When I’m working out, I listen to podcasts. I’m trying to get my own podcast off the ground. I think it will be devoted to the greatest movie that ever graced the silver screen. No, I’m not talking about a Citizen Kane-themed podcast. I’m talking about a podcast devoted to C.H.U.D. II: Bud The Chud starring Brian Robbins from Head of The Class. It shall be called: All Your CHUD Are Belong To Us.

Don’t expect to see the standard podcasts that everyone else loves on my list. I don’t listen to Keith & the Girl or Diggnation. Not that I’m knocking those shows. I just don’t listen to them. Most of the shows on this list are movie-themed podcasts (with a strong emphasis on genre cinema). You’ll find a few other general themed shows on the list. If you’re looking for new shows to check out, I’d recommend each and every one of these podcasts. So grab your iPod or Zune, a beer, and download some podcasts to make your day just a little brighter.

1. Night of the Living Podcast

Night of the Living Podcast is a horror themed podcast and bills itself as your source for all things horror. The show has been around for almost 2 and a half years now. It’s currently hosted by five friends in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In the past there have been as many as eight or nine hosts at a time. It gets a bit wild and raunchy at times but that’s most of the fun. A typical episode includes horror news and reviews. A few of the horror celebrities interviewed on the show: Tony Todd (the Candyman), Doug Jones (Pinhead), Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface), Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jason Mewes.

Highlights include the crew’s hate-filled review of director Kevin Kangas’s masterpiece, Fear of Clowns. In another episode, the vitriol is spewed at director Ryan Nicholson. In the end, Kangas befriends the show and Nicholson becomes a mortal enemy. Good times are had by all.

# of episodes: 112

2. ShowShow

ShowShow is a podcast about movies. It’s one of the craziest podcasts you’ll ever hear. You will laugh, you WILL be offended. The show is hosted by four friends in Long Beach, California. ShowShow defies the odds and defies logic. You will be confused but you will laugh your ass off. This is probably my favourite podcast at the moment.

Typical episodes include reviews of movies released in theatres. Reviews are in-depth, thought provoking, and interesting. Fortunately, mayhem usually ensues and everyone is thrown off topic. Listener feedback from superfans Tony Hex, T Van, and The Het plays a large role in recent episodes. Most episodes will include a Top 5 of a topic usually chosen on the spot and a game called The Most Dangerous Game in which the loser of the game is forced to watch a terrible film.

Highlights include the infamous “Food go here” episode (no words can describe this moment in podcast history), Miles sings along to MIDI files, poop stories, and a Top 5 in which a film would be improved by a bear attack. Stay tuned for the upcoming 2nd annual Howloween Spooktacular in which these young people will review a horror film for each day in October. Scary & bound to descend into drunken madness. This just in: host Miles Lemaire reveals he will be interviewing Charlie Kaufman & Catherine Keener (40 Year Old Virgin) for a future episode.

# of episodes: 62

3. Bloody Good Horror

Bloody Good Horror is a podcast about horror movies. Hosted by four friends in various parts of the United States. Bloody Good Horror is the spinoff podcast of the horror website Bloody Good Horror. BGH is one of the best horror movie podcasts online. You will not be disappointed if you’re a fan of the genre.

Typical episodes will include reviews of horror movies released to theatres. For the next month, the show is reviewing films handpicked by each of the hosts. Last week’s pick was the Uwe Boll classic Postal. This week’s episode was a review of Something Wicked This Way Comes. Other segments on the show include listener feedback, shenanigans, DVD releases, Jon Schnaars’s Word of the Day, and The Google Report (in which host Mark Newell discusses the top 5 misguided keywords people have Googled to find their way onto the BGH website – “fire shooting tail porn“, “boner notebook movie“, “bloody asshole trailer porn“).

Highlights include the review of the Prom Night remake in which hosts Eric & Jon almost come to blows (luckily they’re in different parts of the country), a review of the Ruins, and a drunken episode in which the 4 gents finally meet in the same place to review the ultra-violent French film À l’intérieur.

# of episodes: 42

4. Stuck In the ’80s

Stuck In the ’80s is a throwback to a simpler time. Hosts Steven Q. Spears and Sean Daly travel through time to relive the past. Spearsy and Daly will regale you with stories from their personal lives. And you will hear some of the funniest stories known to man.

Typical episodes focus on a theme. Shows will be devoted to a single movie, a band, or interviews with celebrities famous in the ’80s. This week, the gents interview ex-Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor. Previous shows have seen interviews with Huey Lewis, Debbie Gibson, Tom Wopat, and Kenny Loggins.

Highlights include Sean Daly’s tale of seeing a pre-pubescent Norwegian girl topless while on exchange to Norway (Mama No!), an interview with Brian Johnson of AC/DC, the Red Scare episode (devoted to Communist-themed movies from the 1980’s), a bizzare look at the Weird Science, and Steve’s recap of his recent trip to Vegas. You will never find a finer podcast devoted to the 1980’s. This has it all.

# of episodes: 143

5. The Chrissy & Brian Show

I only recently discovered The Chrissy & Brian Show. It is, without a doubt, the funniest podcast online. Hosted by Chrissy & Brian (duh!), two “friends” from New Jersey who work in New York City.

Brian thinks Chrissy is a left-wing feminazi British wannabe. Chrissy thinks Brian is a right-wing neo-con slacker. They don’t agree on ANYTHING, yet somehow they remain friends despite the verbal bloodbath that ensues every week. How long can this insanity go on before they totally lose respect for each other?

Episodes are not structured. This free-for-all show details the lives of Chrissy & Brian in hilarious fashion. Frequent topics include: Chrissy’s supposed alcoholism, Brian’s hatred for virtually everything, Brian’s insane hobbies (including filming a sitcom with his dog Sunny), and Brian’s trip to Amish country.

# of episodes: 84

6. The Greatest Movie Ever! Podcast

The Greatest Movie Ever! Podcast is hosted by Paul Chapman (The Goob) and an assortment of guest hosts (including Paul’s Mom). This show is devoted to films that Paul and his co-hosts have declared “the greatest movie ever!”

Each episode is approximately half an hour long. Paul and his guest will discuss various points of interest in a given film. The hosts on the show are incredibly knowledgeable and often descend into discussions that only nerds would love. Paul is a walking encyclopedia of anime culture and can spew facts at the drop of a hat.

Highlights include reviews of Tank Girl, Mazes & Monsters, The Last Starfighter, The Wizard, and The Warriors.

# of episodes: unknown (well over 130 at this point)

7. Seoul Podcast

Seoul Podcast is podcast devoted to all things Korea. It is hosted by Joe McPherson and Jennifer Young. Joe & Jennifer welcome a guest onto the show each week to discuss live as ex-pats living in South Korea. The show is primarily geared to people looking to teach English in Korea.

Typical episodes include recent news from Korea, reviews of Korean food, discussion of teaching English in Korea, Korean pop culture.

Highlights include The Top 10 Things To See & Do In Korea, an EPIK tale (interview with English teacher Justin Sowers), and a discussion with Stanley Crocker who explains how to live a healthy lifestyle while living in Korea.

# of episodes: 21

8. Outside the Cinema

Outside the Cinema is a weekly podcast devoted to genre cinema (horror, blaxpoitation, Naziploitation, Hitchcock). Hosts Bill & Ryan come to you live from Massachusetts.

Typical episodes are devoted to themes and will generally review 2 main films. Listener feedback plays a large role in the show. As well, Top 6 lists are revealed in which the hosts talk about a topic of interest and list their Top 6 films.

Highlights include the most disturbing things ever caught on film, Childhood favourites month, and a review of the Korean classic Oldboy.

# of episodes: 34

9. Cinema Diabolica

Join your hosts F13 and DZ  as they cover the best (and worst) in Horror, Giallo, Exploitation, Euro-Crime and Worldwide Cult cinema. Cinema Diabolica covers some of the more disturbing films ever released.

Despite the subject matter, both hosts are very intelligent offer excellent commentary on cult cinema. DZ is a perv and F13 is a megalomaniac. Together, they form a perfect union. Typical episodes review 2 cult films.

Highlights include an episode devoted to guilty pleasures, an episode covering jungle cannibal films, and a listener request episode.

# of episodes: 44

10. Mail Order Zombie

Mail Order Zombie is a podcast devoted to straight-to-DVD zombie movies. Great concept for a show. I’m glad I’m not the one watching all these crappy zombie movies. The show is hosted by Brother D and co-hosted by his wife Bren. The two make a cute couple. A typical episode of MOZ includes The Zombie Beat (all zombie news, all the time), reviews of zombie movies, and listener feedback. Brother D and Bren offer insightful and witty commentary for a genre that can be dull, even at the best of times. Highlights include Brother D’s calls to Netflix (in which he tries to find out why certain films are categorized as zombie movies when they clearly are not at all zombie movies – hilarity ensues) and the Night of the Living Dead Spectacular. In this episode, Brother D and a handful of special guests analyze the importance and significance of George Romero’s 1968 cult classic. Clocking in at almost 3 hours, this is a treat for any zombie fan. Highly, highly recommended.

# of episodes: 34

11. Colin & Matt Show

This is a relatively new podcast. It’s hosted by two friends in the UK aptly named Colin & Matt. Typical episodes are not typical at all but are pretty damn funny. Highlights include a segment entitled Sex or Tennis and Colin’s Crusade.

# of episodes: 16