This is why I almost exclusively listen to podcasts that are scripted, like casefile, freakonomics, this American life, radio lab, wait wait don’t tell me, etc.
Before this, all too often I would find myself listening to people aimlessly chatting about what they had for breakfast and such, and I realized those that scripted their episodes made for a tremendously better listening experience.
I think radiolab is largely unscripted and also they leave a lot in that other podcasts would edit out. Imo this all makes the show as good as it is. It feels more authentic to me than a show like freakonomics for example. It’s more like hanging out with several people who are mostly really intelligent and who ask good questions of others who can often provide smart answers. I love radio lab so much… just my two cents as to why it’s that good.
If it’s “very much scripted” that would make me think there aren’t utterances not written down ahead of time. I don’t doubt a lot of it is scripted/outlined, but if it really is strictly so, they’re absolutely crazy good at consistently hiding it.
Oh there’s a lot of off-the-cuff/improvised stuff for sure! But the structure of every episode is very much scripted. Also I’m sorry some douche downvoted you, you’re not at all wrong.
I agree that the structure is very planned. Definitely a lot of intentional decisions going on there. Thanks for the validation! Sometimes Lemmy puzzles me with the things people are so quick to dispute, and often it’s really just a matter of describing things slightly differently like we did here.
It really is such a good show. I forget so many episodes until I listen to them again years later! I think I’ve heard both of those, judging by their summaries online but I can’t be sure right off. My memory is crap but I always have loved the episode where they talk about color and how different animals experience it. I’ve listened to it maybe 3 times and it gives me chills each time. So damned good.
Yesss! I JUST MINUTES AGO commented on a post about Mantis Shrimp, replying to a comment with a comic about how they have TONS of cones and can see sooooo many more colors than we can comprehend.
“I’ve seen some of the colors they can see! I can still imagine them.
Disclaimer: I saw them the first time I fully broke through on DMT.”
I appreciate the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast, which has scripted readings punctuated by the hosts talking about the story being read.
Two important factors that make it work: First, the hosts are knowledgeable and engaged with the topic, which means their commentary actually feels like it contributes something. Second, when they do start to ramble too long, the editing just hard cuts them off and goes back on topic.
Casefile is a slog. I think its fascinating but it will eat away at your soul after a while and the host knows it cause it’s everything he can do to stay sane.
The others are top tier podcasts but once you’ve caught up, if you last that long, it’s forever between releases.
This is why I almost exclusively listen to podcasts that are scripted, like casefile, freakonomics, this American life, radio lab, wait wait don’t tell me, etc.
Before this, all too often I would find myself listening to people aimlessly chatting about what they had for breakfast and such, and I realized those that scripted their episodes made for a tremendously better listening experience.
The only unscripted podcasts I listen to are D&D sessions
Adventure AI
I think radiolab is largely unscripted and also they leave a lot in that other podcasts would edit out. Imo this all makes the show as good as it is. It feels more authentic to me than a show like freakonomics for example. It’s more like hanging out with several people who are mostly really intelligent and who ask good questions of others who can often provide smart answers. I love radio lab so much… just my two cents as to why it’s that good.
Radiolab is very much scripted and it’s one of the best podcasts ever forever
“Loops” is my favorite episode.
If it’s “very much scripted” that would make me think there aren’t utterances not written down ahead of time. I don’t doubt a lot of it is scripted/outlined, but if it really is strictly so, they’re absolutely crazy good at consistently hiding it.
Oh there’s a lot of off-the-cuff/improvised stuff for sure! But the structure of every episode is very much scripted. Also I’m sorry some douche downvoted you, you’re not at all wrong.
I agree that the structure is very planned. Definitely a lot of intentional decisions going on there. Thanks for the validation! Sometimes Lemmy puzzles me with the things people are so quick to dispute, and often it’s really just a matter of describing things slightly differently like we did here.
Radiolab is SO GOOD THO. If you haven’t listened to “Loops”, please do! It’s so hilarious and interesting.
“The Living Room” made both my partner and myself cry, as well.
It really is such a good show. I forget so many episodes until I listen to them again years later! I think I’ve heard both of those, judging by their summaries online but I can’t be sure right off. My memory is crap but I always have loved the episode where they talk about color and how different animals experience it. I’ve listened to it maybe 3 times and it gives me chills each time. So damned good.
Yesss! I JUST MINUTES AGO commented on a post about Mantis Shrimp, replying to a comment with a comic about how they have TONS of cones and can see sooooo many more colors than we can comprehend.
“I’ve seen some of the colors they can see! I can still imagine them.
Disclaimer: I saw them the first time I fully broke through on DMT.”
Oh, also the episode where they discuss the symbiosis in forests and how in a sense the forest is almost like a super organism. So fascinating!
One of the best! So incredible!
(Also I just noticed your name. When I was a young’un, I had Dick Tracy bedsheets.)
NPR podcasts are generally made as audio documentaries, which is a combination of scripted sections and edited interviews.
Yusss. And I love them.
I appreciate the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast, which has scripted readings punctuated by the hosts talking about the story being read.
Two important factors that make it work: First, the hosts are knowledgeable and engaged with the topic, which means their commentary actually feels like it contributes something. Second, when they do start to ramble too long, the editing just hard cuts them off and goes back on topic.
Casefile is a slog. I think its fascinating but it will eat away at your soul after a while and the host knows it cause it’s everything he can do to stay sane.
The others are top tier podcasts but once you’ve caught up, if you last that long, it’s forever between releases.
Isn’t wait wait don’t tell me a game show?
Well there’s your problem. It’s partly scripted. They have an agenda to go through, but they do some improvisation.