Re-reviewing the Podcasts


After months of ignoring this blagh,  it seems appropriate to weigh in again.

The field of fortean falderal continues to go on, but at times the weight of it seems hardly worth noting.  The non-fortean world demands a significant amount of attention and draws away the focus. 

Looking back on previous entries, one of the more interesting ones was on the podcasts which helped draw me back into this field.  Some of them have, to my way of thinking, begun to fade into the background in my consciousness, often for different reasons.

Paratopia is one that has fallen off my radar for a pretty straightforward reason---it's become a pay site.  I can't fault someone for wanting to make a buck on what can be a time consuming, as well as nominally costly preoccupation.  But unless I'm getting something of a regular, clear value, it's hard to justify putting out yet more bucks (hey, I have to pay for my internet access too!) and, every bit as importantly, the time.  One thing my daddy used to tell me was that the most valuable thing I own is my time, and I shouldn't let someone else waste it.  I'm perfectly capable of doing that on my own.

RedIceRadio  has the same suffered on my listening list for similar reasons.  They do still offer some interesting subjects, though I'm sad to see that some of their most interesting back podcasts are now only available to paying subscribers.  And quite frankly, lots of the subjects are taking on some rather bizarre elements that a little too out there even for my eclectic ear, i.e. hollow earth, pre-Columbian colonization of North America, the war on vitamins and nutrition.

One podcast which was of recurring interest was Gene Steinberg's The Paracast.  I really did enjoy this one, especially once he took on his co-host Chris O'Brien.  I'd still be listening to it, and at times still do with interesting enough guests.  Their lengthy back catalog is actually worth wading through and all in all I still would probably suggest it to anyone wanting to delve more into the arcane field of ufoology with a host who has been working in it long enough to give it some real perspective.  But alas, they taken to being a sponsored site.  Some ads I can deal with, others are so insulting to one's intelligence (or at least mine) that I just can't stomach them anymore.  Gun enthusiasts are one thing, apocalyptic ads selling products to get you through the impending collapse of civilization are interesting enough, but I drew the line at the recurring ad that kept telling me about how silica was the precursor of calcium in metabolism smacked a little too much of alchemical transformation of the elements for me. 

I still have a very soft spot in me for Binall of America.  I even still listen to it occassionally, and wholeheartedly recommend it's back catalog to a newbie just getting into the field of ufoology or a hardened old sceptic who'd just like to hear some intriguing interviews with some of the luminaries of this all-too-often not-so-bright subject.  But of late, some of the guest he's chose just really don't do it for me, though I'll grant that he has gone through some of the more interesting guests already.  And I hope, Tim, (can I call you Tim?  I feel like I know you on a first hand basis after listening to you for so long), that you won't take it the wrong way if I say that you are starting to come across as more gullible than open-minded at times. 

PsiOpRadio is one podcast that has become a regular for me, and SMiles Lewis and Mack White are even more enjoyable now that they've dropped those horrendous commercials from their podcast.  I can now listen to them without having to listen to Alex Jones trying to sell me seeds that will be worth more than gold once the government has driven society into a bad Mad Max movie.  A big plus for me is that they are Austin based, as am I, and they do a review of news stories that I wouldn't catch otherwise, sometimes for a good reason.  They don't have guests on as often as they used to, but when they do, they are generally of a pretty high caliber. 

One podcast did fall off the radar all together after a monster hack attack, yet has come back even better than ever.  RadioMisterioso is still a podcast that has this listener's unreserved recommendation.  Greg Bishop has a degree of open minded scepticism that is not only a breath of fresh air but inspiring as well.  I've even managed to put aside a prejudice against the ghost hunter fad that has been running rampant through the paranormal podcast field with some his recent interviews. Listen in, and while you're at it, make sure to get a copy of his book, Project Beta, which is one of the best books on the UFO phenomena to come out of the past decade.  Seriously, even if you don't beleive in UFOs or are a hard core skeptic, this is one book that is still worth reading.  The true beleiver in little grey men and government wars with UFOs in hidden underground tunnels in Dulce should definitely read it, though they might not find it quite as satisfying.