Changing Tunes

The changing of the seasons marks a shift in the weather and habits, up to and including, as it turns out, what we're listening to. Patrick recently noticed that he's been fully changing the rotation of his podcasts amidst a drought of interesting news about football, which has prompted him to completely change his spring listening habits.

Would you be surprised to learn Rob is going about it differently?

Patrick: This is a beautiful time of year for a very specific reason and it has nothing to do with the weather. It’s the time of year where every single football podcast is talking about the NFL draft, an event I cannot be bothered to give a shit about beyond a cursory interest in what the Chicago Bears might do. In some ways, that’s a reflection of the team being good (I hope), but even in the worst of times, I cannot bring myself to listen to an hour of potential linebacker banter. I have put in the work to care more deeply about football—but even I have my limits.

Those football podcasts take up a huge chunk of time during the season, as I bounce between my favorite local beat reporters (Hoge & Jahn), The Athletic Football Show (mostly because of Robert Mays, who’s one of the folks who got me “deep” into football) Mina Kimes, Dominique Foxworth, and yes, at times the habit I can’t give up because it’s gone on so long, Bill Simmons.

It brings me great joy, in fact, to delete one of these podcasts multiple times a week. Yet another dive into what might happen in the first round of the draft during picks nine through 15? See ya!

Which leaves me time to catch up on the podcasts that have, over time, stacked up. With The Filmcast, which splits up its film conversations between non-spoiler and spoiler sections, I start working through the spoiler sections of movies I’ve finally seen. I learn more about more weird and horrible parts of the internet from Panic World. I get another history lesson in the seemingly neverending pit of grossness that is the Republican party with Know Your Enemy. Insight into what an aspiring leftist should think about the ongoing war with Iran on Left Anchor. On it goes.

This is a cycle that plays out over and over every year. I try to cull my football podcasts, but if the Bears are good, I actually end up listening to more football podcasts. Alas. The other shows stack, outside of what I can dip in and out of, and then I simply gorge during the many additional running and walking excursions I’m engaging with as the weather allows such adventures.

I actually don’t know if you’re much of a podcast guy, so take this however you like. Do the changing seasons, sports, and your time inside and outside alter your listening habits much?

P.S. If people have any podcast recommendations, let ‘em rip.

Rob: I don't have as much time for podcasts as I used to. I am bad at multitasking with podcasts going in the background so anything that requires anything more than mental autopilot is not something I can really do while enjoying a podcast. And for whatever reason they've never been my preferred entertainment while on a drive, I think because again I don't like the mild distraction they offer.

That said, since we moved to the new place and a had bit more room to set up our sound system, we're listening to more music and that means it's time to go through the entirety of Kirk Hamilton's Strong Songs, which might be one of my favorite podcasts of all time? MK and I tend to treat it a bit like a seminar where we listen to the episode on a song, then crank it on our sound system and listen to the track a few times with Kirk's notes fresh in our minds. Crucial context: MK and I went to a school with a well-regarded music conservatory so there's an element of this where Kirk is simultaneously half the kids we were friends with and also has the vibe of a favorite professor at a tiny liberal arts college.

Speaking of music, that does tend to change a bit with the seasons.