Thursday, March 3, 2016

Wherein I Disclose that I Don't Like Podcasts

At home, in bed, still feeling like crap. Scott just came back from the doc with a script cuz he has bronchitis. I'm not getting bronchitis, btw. I am fighting and winning against aches and fever and sore throat. (Just putting it out there.) You know of my anxious feelings about illness but, have to say, when I can sidestep the hovering dread, there's much to be discovered on the internet.

I came across this series of podcasts on a new-to-me blog called Woolful. The site is gorgeous in that "ideal creative-town America" kind of way (you know Ashville, NC or any of the Portlands). All of the photos are crunchy-yarn delicious and perfectly simple.

Lord, podcasts are boring. Here's the thing - I've got a continual podcast running through my mind (it's called having a conversation with myself) and it's way more interesting than most of what any actual podcast has to say - even when I am sick. Furthermore, I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned this but, one of my less gracious qualities is that I cannot stand the timbre of some people's voices. OK, many people's voices. Anything nasal or flat is a no go. Vocal fry makes me homocidal. Women who reflexively speak in questions need to stop that shit. Men with effete voices drive me up a freakin' wall. I routinely turn off TV shows because I don't need the irritation. Look, I realize that everyone has a unique voice and it's not his or her job to make it pleasant to my ears, but the thing about radio is that they actually choose those people because they have (generally) good tone and they know how to carry on a conversation. Your average grass-roots podcast-talker? Not so much.

At any rate, listening does pass the time and it's free and if I don't appreciate it, I should just keep my mouth shut, I realize.

Point is that one of the podcasts alerted me to a blogger called Felicia who does this thing called The Craft Sessions and has also put together this awesome "stash awareness" series. I was already to get shirty with her for stealing my idea :-) and then I realized she started her own stash busting journey a year and a half ago. Wish I'd seen this sooner! There's nothing quite as delightful as discovering a great new knitting blog, one that's pedigreed with a deep archive of posts, except (perhaps) one that speaks your language. FWIW, Felicia's voice is in no way annoying. She has an adorable cadence.

In my bed-lazing travels, I also came across this hilarious video advertisement for StashBot:



It's an enjoyable, and possibly relatable, 4 minutes.

11 comments:

  1. I hope you feel better soon!!!!
    I can't get into podcasts, either... I get bored the moment they start. Or I get distracted, and realise I've been ignoring the podcast entirely... just not for me! ;)

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    1. Here's what I've discovered - they're not bad if you feel crappy and you need to lie down with your eyes closed because they will inevitably put you to sleep FAST.

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  2. I'm with you on the podcasts. TV or books for me or music . . .

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    1. I'm actually in a phase of rediscovering music (not that it ever really went away) because my kid is introducing me to artists she likes. (That makes it sound like we have some lovely friendship going on, which is entirely not the case 90 per cent of the time. But the other 10 per cent of the time...)

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  3. Aww! I hope you feel better. I'm on the upswing from over a month of flu, so I feel ya.

    I love podcasts, but usually only ones with two hosts, great banter, and lots and lots of profanity. I haven't found a sewing one that quite meets those criteria, although the seamwork one is pretty cute. ;)

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    1. OK - don't tell me you've had the bug for a month! This totally sucks and I'm miserable. BTW, they should start swearing in these knitting podcasts! It couldn't hurt. And I did try the seamwork podcast (the latest one popped up in my browser). LORD, T. Don't listen to the latest one or you will lose your mind. The guest exemplified the worst of everything. I lasted 30 seconds. Sarai is quite professional though.

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  4. OMG, the voices! I'm right there with you! Especially the turning of every sentence into a question - HATE that, and it seems to be a female thing. Don't even get me started . . .

    Anyhoo . . . I also used to be anti-podcast, and I have to agree that most knitting-related podcasts I've listened to are a snooze fest. But last year I tried out a (non-knitting, non-craft) podcast on the suggestion of a friend and found myself engrossed - to the point that I became, and continue to be, a binge listener. And this from someone who operates visually. But I find that all the podcasts I enjoy are made by people who are actually in the broadcasting biz (usually NPR), and are focused on history or science.

    None of that is to convince you to try other podcasts. You like what you like and dislike what you dislike. I guess I really just wanted to ruminate on my change of stance . . . and maybe distract you for a few more minutes from being sick. Feel better soon!

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    1. You're so right about trying the professional podcasts. And science and history are my topics of choice. So I'm going to give them a chance. I'm sure that if we put together a podcast about knitting it would be fascinating - and I'm not joking. We're articulate, we speak clearly and we have a lot to say. I only wish that the average knitting podcast could boast the same.

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  5. I struggle with podcasts... I've tried a few knitting and sewing podcasts, but they're always so boring and they really suffer from lack of editing! So I tend to listen to more professional podcasts about things that I don't know so much about, or I listen to audiobooks. I wish I enjoyed podcasts more because I work from home a lot and I get so bored when I work!

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    1. I often think that they would be really good to have on in the background at work - you know, so that you can tune in and out. Then I put one on and the voice tenor bugs me or the topic is wan. I agree that professional podcasts are the way to go.

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  6. Hey there. I'm behind the times so hope you're feeling better (Scott too!).
    I am very much on the fence about podcasts. I listen to the Archers (a radio "soap opera" about English country folk...much better than it sounds and an institution this side of the pond) and Desert Island Discs....another great English classic. I've got Serial lined up too, but haven't started that yet.
    Get well. x

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