Each month, Podcast Review’s staff offers recommendations on the best new shows to listen to. Here are our favorite podcasts for December.
I’ll be the first to admit that we don’t cover enough Australian podcasts. Let Fan to Fan, a new music commentary show, be a first step in rectifying this imbalance. Fan to Fan is a show for music diehards hosted by AFL footballer Alex Pearce and radio/tv presenter Bridget Hustwaite. They discuss their latest album obsessions and unforgettable live shows, as well as the latest developments in the music industry. There are a lot of music podcasts out there, but we reckon Fan to Fan‘s passion has potential to make an impact.
Speaking of Australian podcasts, here’s a new six-part series from CBC and ABC Australia. I’m a sucker for a good art heist the way that others binge cult documentaries. The art world is a bizarre microcosm, complete with its own internal politics and celebrities. In Forged, host Adrian Stimson, a painter from the Siksika Nation, tells the unfolding story of legendary Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau and how criminal fraudsters copied his work. The resulting scheme became one of the largest art fraud in the world. Forged is instantly gripping and easy to devour. Overall, I’ve been impressed by most of CBC’s output this year, and I hope next year yields similar gems.
Fiction podcast Table Read returns for the festive season after the huge success of last year’s Christmas offering. In case you need a reminder, Table Read gathers real actors to perform a live script reading of original screenplays. Not only is it entertaining, the show gives under-the-radar manuscripts a platform to shine. Their latest script, ‘The Understudy,’ is described as “Freaky Friday meets Center Stage.” The story follows Natalie Primavera, a ballerina with a million followers and perfect technique. She is contrasted with Ava Ross, a dancer down on her luck and wishing her life was different. A magical snow globe grants them the opportunity to swap places. Much like famous body swap stories The Prince and the Pauper and Your Name, chaos quickly ensues.
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Alice Florence Orr is Managing Editor of Podcast Review