Wilson.fm

The Cancelled Issue

Selected by:

Wilson

There’s so much cancelling today that we wonder if anyone has stopped to think what actually is cancel culture? What type of moral infraction deserves cancelling? What are the ramifications of those who gets cancelled? What are the motives behind those who are doing the cancelling? And what is it about this monolithic group think that threatens both individual livelihoods and societal concepts of freedom of speech. Enjoy and don’t cancel us please.

BLM

Selected by:

Wilson

There’s a lot that’s already out there about Black Lives Matter and the reforms that we, and the movement want – defunding the police, ending qualified immunity, repealing 50-A, and abolishing police unions. We don’t have a new angle on this issue and we’re not here to speak louder than those who are already speaking. This BLM ISSUE hopes to amplify those voices, and if you feel like we’re shouting in an echo chamber of our own social bubbles, then do make the effort to share these episodes with friends and family of yours that are conflicted with BLM. And if you haven’t already, go here for a list of ways you can help. P.S. This in particular is a BLM issue, but to prevent us from making this a trend, we promise to include POC voices in all our future issues.

Futurism

Selected by:

Wilson

First, we apologize for the long delay and we promise to continue our regularly scheduled programming from this week onwards. Second, we hope this overdue issue isn’t too late to publish! This week we’ll explore the threats and risks of the near-future, the cities and foods of the future-future, and the humanity of the past and future. We hope you have had a good year so far and that you’re ready for some juicy Wilson content coming in 2020.

Talk Magazine

Selected by:

Talk Magazine

Talk is Cheap is a show by Harry Gassel, Editor of Talk, a magazine about commercial art focused on the politics of style.

Terrestrial Being

Selected by:

Hudson Hemp

Reflection and exploration on human connection to the earth and to the self. Recognition that these two are one and the same. An issue by Hudson Hemp

Daily's

Selected by:

Wilson

So you’ve worked the Daily into your routine, and may even have started to get Vox’s Today Explained in there but you’re still jonesing for some new daily content that’s not about the actual news? This issue will introduce you to some new Daily podcasts that might be worth fitting into your mornings or your commutes. Enjoy!

Episode Ones

Selected by:

Wilson

Short, sweet, and simple. This week’s issue features the first episode of some of this year’s best serialized podcasts. If you happen to get hooked, just hit the Apple logo in the player to take you to the podcast directly. Enjoy.

The Impeachment

Selected by:

Wilson

There’s no way you haven’t heard about the Impeachment Inquiry but perhaps only in the way you’ve watched Blue Streak, in bits and overlapping pieces to put the shape of a plot together. This current event based Impeachment primer issue sets you up in one collective brain dump starting with first principles (what is impeachment) to evergreen questions like “Does the American political system have a remedy if we elect the wrong person to be president?” After running through this long but juicy five episodes, you’re guaranteed to be the next water cooler scholar. Enjoy!

Real Black Mirror

Selected by:

Wilson

We all feel like big tech is “bad” but we don’t really quite know why. Our tech usage hasn’t dwindled and company valuations have only sky rocketed. Even you using Wilson feels hypocritical to this week’s topic of the ‘black mirroring’ of tech. Each episode focuses on one Company and how the products they’ve built have impacted their customers, employees, and society. Trying to answer, is there anything inherently bad about technology or is it just the way we use it?

Higher Education

Selected by:

Wilson

It’s back to school season and we’re back with another Wilson issue. This week, we’ve curated episodes about higher education and the broken systems around it. The college admissions process has always been a black box and to add to that vague process, scammer parents and coaches, affirmative action debates, and a wide discrepancy between socioeconomic classes and you’ll end up with a system that seems to be pitted against people like us. These episodes dive deeper into the scams and the lawsuits to give you a richer understanding of an impossible situation.

The Amazon is on fire!

Selected by:

Wilson

Our best tool against Global Warming and reducing the effects of climate change, the Amazon rainforest is on fire. This year, deforestation initiatives have doubled in numbers since last, catalyzed by the newly elected Brazilian president all for the sake of profits. Often it seems like there’s nothing to do other than educating ourselves and donating to the cause that’ll send our own resources to a higher power, this is exactly what this issue will do. Learn about the the Amazon Rainforest below, Donate to The Amazon Conversation Team, and eat less beef.

Debate Again

Selected by:

Wilson

We’ve explored this topic in the past but it’s definitely a crowd please and worth an update so we bring to you once again the Debate’s Issue. Although not all episodes here are organized in a Affirm / Negate debate structure, the discussion and even interviews in some episodes are framed within a debate resolution. There’s not much more context to give about each episode without spoiling it other than the resolution that’s just within the title itself. Enjoy!

Immigration

Selected by:

Wilson

On the heels of two national tragedies of domestic terrorism in a single weekend that seem to stem from a hatred of immigrants, this week’s issue is an education on immigration. A buzzword that’s been politicized and militarized without too much greater civil understanding of just exactly how it works, who it affects, and the stories of those who have been affected. These five episodes talks about the basic steps and policies of immigration, the moral debate on whether it’s a human right and short touching personal immigration stories. Maybe this issue is preaching to the choir but nonetheless, enjoy.

Intellectual Dark Web

Selected by:

Wilson

We’re back this week with an issue that’s both culturally and politically spicy but most important of all interesting. The intellectual dark web (you may have heard of it, you may have not) is an amorphous, card and leaderless, collective of non-mainstream academics and “characters” that discourse around controversial topics like free speech, religion, identity politics, and of course Trump. Initially coined by Eric Weinstein (no relation to the molester), the ever growing “group” with a website maintained by “no one” span a wide range on the political spectrum and they generally have only their excommunication from Institutions in common. Whatever degree of Left you are aligned with, these 5 episodes bring a good plate of food for your thought. Enjoy!

Revolution Redux

Selected by:

Wilson

Not your mama’s history lesson of America, this issue goes in-depth and off track about the truth of America’s founding. Whereas most of our learned history taught in school as the easy broad stroke truth written by the victors is boring, we’re always fascinated with tiny gems of historical secrets and “never-heard-of-whos” that’ve played pivotal roles and had significant impact. We know you’re probably sick of this long holiday weekend about America, but no one’s ever sick of secrets and history so, enjoy!

G.O.A.T.

Selected by:

Wilson

An issue on the Greatest Athlete of All Time and by no means definitive. These are the most interesting podcast episodes of GOATS that takes you into their routine, their mindset, and the degree of preparation and mental strength that permeates into all aspects of their lives. Enjoy!

Psychedelic Mike & The Evolution of Conscious

Selected by:

Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson

This issue is an homage to the harrowing transformation of one of the fiercest warriors the world has ever known. After years at war with himself and the world Mike Tyson has found peace. This chapter of his life began with the Toad. A mystical creature of the Sonoran Desert held sacred for the 5MeO-DMT found in its venom. This playlist represents the insights Mike has gathered from the other side.

United Colors of Podcasts

Selected by:

Wilson

The idea is simple, an issue featuring episodes with topics representative of a color. Easy and like always, enjoy!

The Wind Down

Selected by:

Wilson

A post Memorial Day Issue that’s here for you if you’re on the way home from your R&R or still in doors from that staycation. You just need something to be played over the airwaves because the silence or the indecision making is unbearable. The episodes, curated by structure can remedy whatever situation you’re in. Enjoy!

Keep Abortion Legal

Selected by:

Wilson

As America is in the midst of a cultural fight for abortion rights the least we can do is dedicate this week’s issue to the cause, shedding light on abortion rights and supporting the women whose bodies are ultimately affected by this. The episodes curated this week are stories of real people behind the abortions. The emotional, physical, social, and financial toll it puts on an individual and what it feels like to come out the other end. Stories featuring doulas, OB-GYNs, mothers, a minister with a change of heart, and Jane Roe of Roe vs Wade. The episode title will be self explanatory and they are all tilltilatingly gut wrenching. Along with each episode is an organization, national and grass roots that are currently most in need of your help and could benefit from your donations. By no means are these all of them but this is a small start, and our little contribution from our small corner of the world.

Real Superheroes

Selected by:

Wilson

The Endgame spoiler ban got lifted last Monday so we’re in the clear to finally release this issue about the hypotheticals of Superheroes. Like if Superman is so strong, why doesn’t Superman take over the world? What is Spiderman’s spidey web made out of and how much carbon footprint do those chemicals make? What is the carbon emission the Batmobile? And where did all of these superheroes even come from? This issue puts a layer of ‘science’ and history over these fictional characters that have captured us whole for six decades. Enjoy!

Those who do, podcast

Selected by:

Wilson

You know podcasting is starting to be too typed when either a) people you’d never expect would make a podcast b) when people who have too much money takes the time to make a podcast c) when people who does youtube start making podcasts d) all of the above. This week’s issue features Podcast programs by people who’d you never expect would have a podcast or an active audience that would listen to their podcast! Well you’re wrong twice, but we hope you’ll enjoy some of their content that we’ve curated for you.

Origin Stories

Selected by:

Kickstarter

Here at Kickstarter, we just love a good story. Every idea that comes to life on our platform has a rich and deep story behind it. We’re also obsessed with great storytelling podcasts, and so many of these have created work through Kickstarter — from NPR’s Snap Judgment to Radiotopia’s podcast network. For our playlist, we picked a few of our favorite episodes made by Kickstarter creators (and made possible by Kickstarter backers). It wasn’t an easy task, given how many amazing shows have found support on Kickstarter over the last decade.

First Hand Losers

Selected by:

Wilson

Everyone at one point has lost something they thought they had won and can recognize that gutted sinking feeling that stays with you for months. This week’s Issue is nostalgic catharsis in Podcast form with first person interviews of some of today’s exceptionally rare upsets. From the most recent Presidential race to a comedian’s jokes told a decade ago. These interviews explores the context around the loss, how they managed the aftermath, and what they’ve learned from it since. Enjoy!

Alix Spiegel’s Favorite Things

Selected by:

Invisibilia

Alix Spiegel, host of the Invisibilia podcast, knows her way around the audio world. She’s an audiophile through and through! So, getting her to narrow down her favorites is no small task! But here are some of her favorites from some shows you’ve probably heard of and couple that might be new!

This thing of ours

Selected by:

Wilson

The Sopranos is two decades old this year but it only seemed like yesterday that AJ dropped out of College and developed a drug habit. And even though organized crime has been less front page news than before, their power and inner workings is still vastly interesting. This issue is an audio documentary of the Mafia, and the complete opposite of Omertà, with topics on their first ‘protective service, the first Mafia in the United States, and their massive power and influence in the political sphere and the courtroom. Enjoy!

MOLD - Future Foods

Selected by:

MOLD

MOLD is a food editorial that goes beyond your run of the mill, rustic inspired, trendy food magazines (imagine Bon Apptétit Magazine crossed with WIRED and the new Blade Runner movie). MOLD explores the scientific and technological apparatus of food through the lens of design and sustainability. Started in 2013 by LinYee (we’re big fans of her), and now with a web and global publication presence (the print copies are beautiful), we are delighted to present to you this issue curated by MOLD which also features their foray into podcasting. Enjoy!

Bootstraping 0 to 1

Selected by:

Wilson

All the popular success stories are too old enough now for it to be interesting and you just realized that Guy Raz’s How I Built This is just a large ad for Stanford’s MBA program so what’s left? Which “coming up” stories are successful enough for it to be “proven” but secret enough for it to be a gem? Well you’re in luck. This week on Wilson from how Paul Dejoria built Paul Mitchell (we know it’s big but the story has been less heard) to Christy Laurence on how she built Plann (it’s an Instagram Scheduling App) these five episodes, each with their unique business perspective will give you the inspiration you’ll need for the week. Enjoy!

A Women’s History Squad

Selected by:

Wonder Media

This Women’s History Month, we’re shifting focus away from the history-makers, and instead towards the patchwork of women’s lives and identities that, too, create our history. Every little moment in this crazy existence is a seed of creation, and the relationships we share, and the conversations we have are no less valuable than the thrusts of great moments. This week we trace dialogues between women from a panoply of backgrounds, to form a web of interconnected women, celebrating their manifold beauty throughout.

Why are we?

Selected by:

Wilson

Why do we behave the way we behave? How do we think the way we think? How come the party I’m at sucks and why wasn’t I invited to yours? What is it like being John Malkovich? And you’re acting like your mother! It seems like the things that we deliberately seek out to change about us through self-help books and countless therapy sessions barely shift the tectonics of our personality. But a new drawn line on the floor will tell me exactly where I should and shouldn’t walk. This week, we try to understand the walking contradiction of how we can be so easily impressionable and obnoxiously stubborn at the same time. Enjoy! If you don’t care about any of this, at least listen give the first one a try. It’s very good.

From Russia, With Podcasts

Selected by:

Radiotopia

Radiotopia is celebrating the release this week of its latest limited-run Showcase series, “Spacebridge” with a playlist highlighting stories about our complicated and intriguing relationship with Russia. “Spacebridge” takes us back to the Cold War and its eventual thawing in the late 1980s, and it reflects an enduring curiosity about life in the former Soviet Union. (It turns out the feeling is mutual.) The five episodes here capture the highs, the lows, the strange, and the ridiculous in the ever-evolving relationship between the citizenry of the two countries. We don’t always understand each other, but it never stops us from trying.

Millennial Scammers

Selected by:

Wilson

Scam and scammers have been around as long as time but they use to happen on the low. What captured our imagination previously was learning how they were able to stay under the radar while getting away with their grift. But what is infinitely more fascinating about this new generation of grifters is how present and publicly prolific they were about their scams. And it’s no coincidence that the millennial zeitgeist of influencer culture, #FOMO, social media, blended with the cultural cancer that is ‘WeWork’, hustle porn, and Forbes 30 under 30’s idea of success that our crop of scammers are so young, public, and overly ambitious. This issue is about them, and we’ll start off fully indulging ourselves with a Theranos K-hole. We’ll bite!

Embrace Transitions

Selected by:

[reads]

We’ve decided that being an entrepreneur in the 21st century feels like you’re always transitioning. We’re making a career for ourselves, we’re our own bosses, we’re inventing things as we go, we’re making and we’re doing— which means we’re moving, and fast. Our goal at READS is to Learn Forever and we believe that transitions allow us to do that, these are some of our favorite podcasts that will help whatever transition you find yourselves in.

Black History Month

Selected by:

Wilson

In recognition of Black History Month, this week’s issue features some of our favorite Black Hosted Podcast programs. In a medium that is overly represented by the stereotypical, coastal elitist, liberal leaning, blue apron sponsoring, ASMR whispering Terry Gross tone” there is a myriad of resounding black voices that resonate within this space. Sharing stories of black life, black culture, and black perspective on topics new and old. This issue is by no means comprehensive, but Podcasts in Color is where you can go to find a deeper directory. Enjoy!

Chicken Soup

Selected by:

Anchor

It’s a frigid winter. At Anchor, we’re choosing to spend our free time curled up with a blanket, some hot tea, and comfort food – some metaphorical chicken soup. As a podcasting creation platform, we get to see (and hear) a lot of new shows get made that challenge notions of what a podcast is supposed to be. So we’ve chosen a playlist of 5 episodes that center around food and beverage, but tap into much more than that. Bon Appetit!

Confirmed 2020

Selected by:

Wilson

We’re ways away from the Democratic Iowa Caucus where the official party nominee will be nominated for the 2020 Presidential election but the candidates are pouring in. So far, eight notable people are officially running with a slew of others “considering (Joe Biden)” and others who have yet to put their “official bid” in (Mr.Starbucks). This Issue is a TL;DR introduction accompanied with a podcast interview of each candidate so you can hear how they actually speak (some before their presidential bids so their motive may be a bit different). This issue is in reverse chronological order of announcement date and we’ll try to update this list as more candidates come in so keep your eyes out! Like always, enjoy!

Recommendation Redux

Selected by:

The Caret

As a website/newsletter dedicated to surfacing the best in digital culture, we get a lot of podcast recommendations—especially in our Lists section, where folks around the world divulge the contents of their online diet. Here, we revisit some of our favorites for Wilson FM.

Behind the Film

Selected by:

Wilson

You know the winter break that just happened two weeks ago when we all did nothing but watch movies. Incredibles 2? Hit me! Roma? Let’s go! The House with a Clock in Its Walls? I’m not mad at it. The break got us on a film bender that made us think what went on behind the movies. What were the Directors thinking? How did the Actors perform? What transpired on set and why isn’t there a gag reel for The Equalizer 2? The issue this week takes us there not in a snobby film buff way but more like a ‘Recitation Section’ it’s easy, come if you can make it cause it’ll be helpful for your midterms type of thing. Take a peep at what we’ve curated for you below, we think you’ll like at least one, enjoy!

New Year - New Me

Selected by:

Wilson

Welcome back! We’re excited to get this year going with some amazing content so we’ll begin with this inaugural Issue. The beginning of the year always have that optimistic smell that’s worth savoring as long as we can before it dissipates into despair by February and we’re all back on our bullshit. But before we lose it, perhaps we can at least attempt to be a better version of ourselves and maybe, just maybe this time we do start coming up Milhouse, isn’t that the point of optimism? To help, this issue is all about learning how to be a better you. Start with the Habits episode as that’ll lay a good motivational and actionable foundation that can manifest in any and all of your endeavors. Good luck on the year, and enjoy.

XMAS BREAK

Selected by:

Wilson

To our dear Wilson listeners and devotees, this will be the last Issue of the year. We’ll be back with you in 2019 with some amazing guest curators and new features that we hope will get to you around February and March. In the meantime, we have this Christmas issue that will hopefully hold you over through any type of situation you might find yourself in today or the for rest of the week. Again, thank you for being part of Wilson, thank you for tuning in with us each week, thank you for your support. Enjoy!

Origin Stories

Selected by:

Wilson

As the year winds down and everyone’s writing their 2018 round up list of best this and best that podcast episodes, we at Wilson are taking a more ‘Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end’ approach by showing you not one, but six beginnings of completely unrelated topics. This issue is all about Origins, which is slightly different from ‘Beginnings’ in that origins is less optimistic, more factual, and the answer to the more current ‘why?’ But less seriously, you know it can’t be a Wilson playlist without something funny, something new, some Hidden Brain, and something you. So this week we got the origin story of Curb Your Enthusiasm, DARPA, and Human Beings. Enjoy y’all!

How anything means anything

Selected by:

Wilson

I always despised the phrase “it’s just semantics” when used in an argument because that’s the entire point of using words, the semantics of it. Without semantics in our communication everything would be vague and meaningless as if we don’t already have a hard time getting our thoughts across. That’s why we feel cathartic when we hear a word or a phrase that perfectly encapsulates an emotional state we couldn’t have expressed otherwise. This week’s issue is the idea of communication and how we get meaning across not only with language itself but with sound and references as well. Enjoy!

Rap Beef

Selected by:

Wilson

The diss track; a culmination of all the drama, the conflict, the platform, and the talent that loops back into the music itself is the topic we’re focusing on this week. When the conflict becomes an artifact of the records that come out of it, we lose sight of the real hurt that it can cost people surrounded by it and its escalatory nature. From the slick personal attacks to actually taking away people’s lives this issue breaks down all the surrounding context that is often dismissed when rap beef is sensationalized. I definitely made this issue sound less enjoyable but I promise you it’s not!

The 411 on 420

Selected by:

Wilson

The effects of legalizing weed in the U.S. and Canada not only made your lives easier, but it also left greater economic and socio-economic effects that are less visible than the text you send to your “guy”. This issue touches on the medicinal purpose of CBD, the future of green stocks, and the role race plays in marijuana. Of course we can’t be too 411 on a 420 Issue so we’re topping you off with some episode of people high. Enjoy!

Science...but Funny

Selected by:

Wilson

I really thought I was going to have a tougher time finding content for this issue than curating it but who knew there were so many podcasts (and I mean more than you actually want because science should be serious and jokes shouldn’t be about science) that pair comedians and scientists together. This Issue is for the Nerd 3.0, the type that roasts the homies in the group chat but also can write that MLA cited senior bio thesis hungover. Enjoy!

Other Creative Process

Selected by:

Wilson

It feels good to be back! We know that your classic "Wilson" Issues have been recently replaced (and hopefully not disappointingly) by our dear friends, but this week we're delivering you the most interesting podcast episodes on your favorite player once again! This issue is all about the creative process, something that is often so private that when we hear a public whisper about how others go about making something, we make sure to triangulate it with our own creative process to make sure we’re “doing it right”. This issue have five episodes from different fields on how they think and go about making their work, be it a movie, another movie, an album, or a stand up set. Hopefully it’ll give you enough data points for you to believe in your own creative process. Enjoy.

Unexpected Connections

Selected by:

Maekan

Depending on who you ask, we often get caught up with the whole notion of “creativity.” To some, the concept is challenging and difficult to grasp and for others, it can be seamless and fluid, but challenging to explain. For MAEKAN, creativity is rooted in disparate subjects that when explored beyond the surface, are actually related. How can AI influence how we write? How can race and social media empower a new class of creators? It’s about the unexpected connections.

INSIDE DECODER RING

Selected by:

Decoder Ring by Slate

Decoder Ring is Slate’s documentary podcast about cracking cultural mysteries. Each month they take an idea, habit, or cultural object, and examine it to find out what it means and why it matters. Slate’s TV critic, Willa Paskin hosts the show, and it’s produced by Benjamin Frisch who also creates original artwork for every episode. Here, Frisch offers some commentary on each episode of the show so far:

WMN in the House

Selected by:

Wonder Media Network

Wonder Media Network (WMN) is an audio-first media company centered on women and politics, business, and culture - and one of the first ever women's media companies not borne of fashion, lifestyle or beauty. It is our fundamental belief that language and storytelling is at the center of human connection, and we seek to create content that - though couched in the political - fosters empathy and optimism. To start, we're telling stories of some of the record number of women running for Congress this November, alongside expert perspectives on why there are so few women in office to begin with.

Internet Past and Future

Selected by:

Are.na

Are.na is a web project with a background in Internet art, so we always like learning more about the subcultures that gave birth to the internet as we know it. We’re also one of many groups trying to work around the big platform companies to build a more people-powered web. This issue is both old school internet and brave new world, so we can think about where we came from and where we’re headed.

I Miss My President

Selected by:

Wilson

There’s four weeks left before the midterm election which also means in four weeks we’ll know if America is cancelled. So before that happens we’ll take you down memory lane to a better time with four different interviews from four different years with one of the greatest presidents in American history. There is catharsis in hearing a president that can speak in coherent, thoughtful, complete sentences. If after the four interviews and you still haven’t gotten your Obama fix, our fifth episode is from a 6 part mini series called ‘Making Obama’ in which they take you through a detailed journey of his come up, right up until his presidency. Enjoy this Issue and don’t forget to vote in November. #Change

Missing Mysteries

Selected by:

Wilson

I feel like we’re becoming the History Channel after the History Channel stopped being the History Channel, airing only conspiracy theories and unsolved historical mysteries. This week, we’ve got the greatest hits of mysteries from real people. Like how complict was Patty Hearst? Is Don Drapper D.B. Cooper? Amelia Earhart, where she go? The real Man in the Iron Mask, sans Leonardo Dicaprio and a hoaxy one about time-traveling. Enjoy!

Sit-Down , Stand-Up Comedy

Selected by:

Wilson

Want to look like a crazy person laughing by yourself? This week’s Issue will do that to ya. It’s a comedied out issue that all follow a similar format; the hosts does a funny story and then intros a guest who does their set with plenty of bullshitting in between. There isn’t anything insightful to say about this really, it’s just a good funny playlist that’ll smile you right up. Trust me you need this issue after the back-to-back dark issues. Get your laugh on.

Grounded as an Adult

Selected by:

Wilson

Wilson’s been on a ‘people are just people’ kick lately because inherently human experiences are interesting so this week...Prisons! We’re all intrigued and sympathetic by it because it’s a scaled up version of childhood. A hyper version of being grounded, disciplined, and isolated. We even schadenfreude over it when we see justice carried out. By isolating the daily experience of life in prison from the reason of why they’re there, it also by extension isolates the person from the crime. Plus it adds a bit of humanity back and we can realize that despite their actions, they’re just people too. Enjoy. All episode covers are taken from surrealist photographer Arthur Tress

Cults are just facebook groups

Selected by:

Wilson

Cults are always a crowd pleaser and they’re fascinating because it’s both simultaneously relatable and unrelatable. At the root of it, everyone just wants to belong, to be a part of something bigger than themselves. But cult leaders hijack the best part of our humanity and overwrites it with the worst part of being a human. From the outside we all think we’re better than those who are in cults, but then we turn around and do the tide pod challenge. Really what’s the difference? Most of the episodes this week are part of a series so make sure you tap that  button to get linked to the rest. Sidebar, check out the branding though. These cult leaders could’ve been great Creative Directors at an ad-agency, think about it!

No Time Off

Selected by:

Wilson

We’ve all hated our jobs before, whether it was our boss’ ineptitude, co-worker’s passive aggression, dumb meetings that resolve nothing, or just yourself because you’re better than this. This issue here is work and career catharsis in 6 (that’s right 6) episodes! Afterwards, you’ll feel sane, understood and relieved that you haven’t been screaming into the void all this time alone. Enjoy!

The Games We Play

Selected by:

Wilson

We’re exploring games this week in the most versatile sense of the word. There are the regular games we play as kids like chess and checkers. The love games we play as adults by keeping people on “Read”. The strategic business games from the C-suite, and the legend who we call Triple H, aka ‘The Game’. What they all have in common though are not the rules that bind them but the subtle dynamics of social constructs at play. The episodes selected in this Issue highlights those nuances in the form of a dating show, a D&D game, and the good ol’ fashion interview. Enjoy!

Epic Fail Compilation

Selected by:

@bobby

I’m sick of these sanded down, overproduced, NPR-ass podcasts hosted by Ira Glass clones named like Jethree Rutherford-Delmonico. That’s fake. I need something real, man. Give me a beautiful disaster. Give me splinters and nails jutting out at odd angles. Give me ninety minutes of failure so colossal it becomes a warped sort of victory. These five episodes aren’t especially valuable as representatives of their respective shows’ general vibes. But they make me laugh really hard, and I hope they do the same for you.

Riffraff! Street rat! Scoundrel!

Selected by:

Wilson

Back in my school days, I use to print basically a textbook at 5pt font, double sided and lay it out flat on the table covered only by the test paper itself to cheat on my exams. Look at how far I’ve come now! Making glorified podcast playlists for a living. Anyways this week’s issue is full of scammers, liars, and cheats! It’s all bad but bad stuff is fun and each of these episodes will make you think how you would’ve done it. And if you’re using Wilson™, you’re probably the type of person who’s got a real job but always stay scheming on the side so you’re going to love this issue. Enjoy!

Likeminds 3.0 Exchanges

Selected by:

Likeminds

Likeminds is an annual technology and creative conference in upstate New York with exceptional music, food, drink and speaker sessions. Each year we curate a theme to center speaker sessions around. This year’s theme is “exchanges” which easily relates to language, urban planning, time, trade-offs, currency, gratitude, sex. Likeminds is brought to you by Rachael Yaeger of Human NYC and Zach Pollakoff.

WHO'S WHO

Selected by:

Wilson

We all know who these people are, what they are famous or infamous for, but we know very little about the book ends of their lives. Dive into the biographies of these people, their backgrounds, their history, and how one guy died after drinking molasses for medicine. Basically you're going to learn about their core drive.

MIND BREAKS

Selected by:

Ben Pieratt

Since losing my faith almost a decade ago, I’ve spent much of my downtime chasing new concepts of the world, reality, consciousness, prehistory, and other religions. It’s astonishing how, once you’ve opened yourself up to hearing them, a few choice words can open vast new landscapes of imagination and understanding.

ART.MP3

Selected by:

Wilson

This week, you’re going to hear Art. The bad news is that you can’t see it. The good news is that the episodes are more about the elements, the thoughts, and the events that surround the art rather than the actual visual piece itself because, you know, you can’t listen to images. Enjoy!

Gotta Start Somewhere

Selected by:

Wilson

We're just getting started here. To celebrate that, this playlist is all about beginnings. We've selected the very first episode of a few famous podcasts that you either know or have heard of before (but have you ever listened to their first episode?). We're going to get deeper, more obscure, and more thematic as we continue to grow—we promise you that. But let's start off with something easy and familiar. Enjoy!

A JUSTICE SUPREME

Selected by:

Wilson

This week is not for the faint of heart, so select your episode by your interest as they are a bit longer than usual. We're talking Law, and Order, and other such things. With recent events happening within the court system today, from Justice Kennedy's retirement to the Border Ban, and the long forgotten (because of news speed) Gun Control. It's hard to keep up and to understand what's really going on. These episodes will definitely clear things up for you if you have any itching curiosity.

LGBTQts

Selected by:

Wilson

June is pride month. In honor of that, today is the pride playlist dedicated to all LGBTQ peeps. We got episodes about coming out, being discriminated against by the hetero-community as well as from within the gay community, and what masculine/feminine identity even means. Get woke, stay woke, no naps!

I Get Lonely Too

Selected by:

Wilson

It's difficult to explain how lonely you feel when you're not particularly 'alone.' And being surrounded by people doesn't help alleviate that feeling, either. But there's catharsis in feeling lonely together, despite how 'misery loves company' it sounds. So this week, we have 5 miserable episodes if you're in one of those slumps. People who, far from you in both time and distance, understand how you feel.

Father's Day

Selected by:

Wilson

What's cooler than Dad-Bods? Actual Dad-Bods. You know their physical and emotional presence in your life. So in honor of Father's Day, we have a playlist about Dads. It's not all ooey-gooey heart stuff. We have one gross NSFW one too.

Kicking and Screaming

Selected by:

Wilson

Trying to be more appropriate than predictable, and in celebration of the next month of drinking at 7AM to catch soccer matches, we made a playlist about everything around soccer. From what’s going on in Russia with the 2018 World Cup, to Jersey colors and micro-economics. Put on your cleats, strap on your shin guards, something something else, and insert a bad soccer joke pun here.

In Remembrance

Selected by:

Wilson

In light of the tragic deaths of both Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade, I want to dedicate a playlist to them as well as two other artists of our time that have touched our lives so deeply. I want you to hear their voices and their thoughts, and to remember them for their work, not their struggles.

Homeless Schoolmore

Selected by:

Wilson

Another small mini-series from the Q'ed podcast. These three episodes follow three students trying to get through the struggles of life and the difficulties of school, all whilst being homeless. These are definitely some grounding episodes.

No Time for Titles

Selected by:

Wilson

A big complaint about podcasts is that people don't have enough time to listen to them because everyone's soOOoOooo busy. Well, we've got some goodies here that are all under 10 mins. Gotta go! Bye!

Love Hurts Series

Selected by:

Wilson

We're going to do something a little different for this playlist. Instead of me casting a wider podcast net on a topic, we're going to focus on a specific mini-series. The original version of this aired in 2014, but the topic is timeless. Let's see if you like this stringing together a mini-series type of thing.

C.R.E.A.M.

Selected by:

Wilson

Money talks, and we listen, but you should also listen to this playlist about people talking about money. In fact, I wish people were less shy about it because from these episodes, money seems to be the basis of a lot of emotional issues that could've been surfaced more verbally if it weren't so taboo to bring up in the first place. That's just my two cents though. Enjoy these!

Just Phoning It In

Selected by:

Wilson

Tapping phone conversations is illegal, but we made a legal playlist of this. Listen in on intimate phone calls between the host(s) and stranger(s) without feeling bad about it! The charm of these episodes is how real and vulnerable strangers can be towards each other, and that kind of interaction is life-affirming, especially when everything around us isn't.

Tear Jerkers

Selected by:

Wilson

Put your sunglasses on, get some tissues in your pocket, and prepare to let your eye hole faucets run. This week, I prepared some episodes that will touch your 🖤

Fashion / Fashioff

Selected by:

Wilson

Summer's here, and everyone's changing out of their puffy layered jackets to their birthday suits, so I put together this little bespoke doodad and it's all about Fashion. Mainly it's about how some of these hot but not-too-loud Brands came to be. Taking you to the very beginning and then through it all. (The Tom Ford one isn't about how he started... but it's a Tom Ford interview so I couldn't not)

Everything but the Adventure

Selected by:

Wilson

Feeling a bit restless? This week we got some episodes that'll take you on an adventure, first within yourself, then into some local history, and finally we'll send your ass packing to everything except an actual trip. If you've been wanting to leave that job or go to that new place, we got catalysts here that'll inspire you.

People Arguing About Nothing.

Selected by:

Wilson

Imagine listening to a Lincoln-Douglas debate but better, as in completely unstructured and inconsequential. This week we want to show you some podcasts where two sides battle it out for absolutely no reason. The more interesting thing here is: After we pick a side that aligns with our moral compass, do we even listen to the opposing arguments? Am I just a bad person? What's the point? Oh god, who is Wilson?

Murders and Crimes That Are True. Not False.

Selected by:

Wilson

You're only guilty if you get caught, and these episodes show how other people got caught. So just do the complete opposite of what they did and you'll be fine. First of which is just to not commit murder. Two of the podcasts below are serialized, so we'll only start you off with the first episode. If you like 'em, just get them on your Apple Podcast App for now...

Everything happens "LIVE" once.

Selected by:

Wilson

For our devoted Wilson listeners (it's an app, we have analytics y'know?), we got another playlist for you this week. We wanted to curate a list with more "conversational" podcasts, but somehow during our very thoughtful curation process, we ended up with more episodes that skewed towards comedy and live audiences, so this is the dish we're serving today. Three out of the five podcasts tape in New York, but all of them tour. If you haven't gone to a taping, y'all oughta but don't tell anyone. It's not worth the roast. Aside from how these were selected, there isn't a very specific topic for this playlist. But we still think you'll enjoy them all...so enjoy them all!

The Sound of Music

Selected by:

Wilson

Wilsonites! This week we collected episodes about sound, listening, and the concept of hearing. When we hear, do we really listen? And when we read, whom are we listening to? These are questions that won't be answered in these episodes, but we will touch on how sounds can manipulate time. How language can change the way we hear. The creative process of Björk (by Björk), and the breakdown of a Kanye song (by not Kanye).

There's a Lot of Science in Life, Isn't There?

Selected by:

Wilson

This week, we bring to you Science. AKA fascinating things that happen in the world that we don't understand and never really tried to because that's just not what our actual lives are about. Science is cool only when it matters, so we've selected five episodes where it actually has something to do with your life one way or another. We try to touch on emotions: What even are they? Why do we eat them away like junk food? And how do I get to live in space?

A Different Perspective

Selected by:

Wilson

This week, we curated three episodes that talk about race & identity but don't get pedantic about it. These are interesting personal stories that hopefully can give us another perspective on the world and on the people around us. We hope you enjoy these.

Hard Work and a Little Bit of Luck

Selected by:

Wilson

Interviews with and stories of successful people, from the background of Serena Williams to the struggle of Jake Carpenter of Burton. We hope you enjoy these and pick up some of their life lessons, as well.

All the President's Crime

Selected by:

Wilson

The Trump investigation at this point has gotten too vast too fast to properly catch up to it. This playlist helps you get a broader and richer understanding of Trump, the election, the dossier, and the Muller investigation.

Week One

Selected by:

Wilson

The best episodes curated for you.