So I got this iPod, right? I actually won it in a drawing. No kidding. I guess I can’t say “I never win anything!” for a good long time. It’s cool, it’s a 30G video iPod, the black one. It’s shiny and it sounds nice and I guess I dig having a little soundtrack with me wherever I go. I like to listen to music and my favorite radio station, KCRW, does a song of the day podcast, so that’s cool.
But wait, there’s more.
See, I loaded Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me on the iPod before I hopped the plane just over two weeks ago, and that was fun. But boy howdy, was that the tip of the iceberg. Because whoa nelly, there is a vast ocean of podcasty goodness to be had out there.
When we were young whippersnappers, the sibs and I would sit under the picnic table listening to Mystery Theater on a tinny little transistor radio. I don’t know why we sat where we did, but sometimes, when it was hot, we slept in the backyard in a tent and also listened to radio theater.
As a grown up person, I always liked to take a radio to bed with me – especially when camping alone, which I’ve done lots of. (Yeah, I know, it’s, um, unusual for a woman to enjoy solo camping, but the boys think it’s hot.) Anyway, I always loved lying in the tent listening to someone else reading. And I have a soft spot for radio theater.
Well, hallelujah for the In-Ter-Net and my iPod. Because lately, I’m lying in bed listening to the hokey science fiction of X Minus 1 or getting the answer to “Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of men?” (It’s the Shadow. Duh.) This afternoon I sprawled on the balcony in the sun and listened to the wholesome comedy of My Favorite Husband and I’m pretty sure that was Lucille Ball’s voice.
I love this stuff. I could listen to it all the time. And there’s loads of it out there. Just start with NPR’s podcasts, then google for OTR (that’s Old Time Radio for you newbies). You are set. It is summer in 1974 and you are under the picnic table listening to Radio Mystery Theater hosted by EG Marshall.
When I first got my iPod, people asked over and over, “Don’t you LOVE it?” And I thought, meh, I like it okay. I mean, I don’t need to take 30G of music with me everywhere.
But 30G of classic radio? Oh my.
And now the answer is yes. Yes. I LOVE my iPod. Love it, love it, love it.
Note:Â About has a bunch of good OTR links here.
[tags]old time radio, iPod, podcasting[/tags]
Nerd!
(I’m just jealous cuz I never win anything)
I once won my dvd player… but like now, its worth next to nothing… so I’m due. I’d like $100,000 please.
Nice! I’d love to listen to that! There was a class in junior high school where they introduced us to radio theater, but I haven’t had the pleasure since…. Thanks for the tips.
Doug: Your point? 🙂 (Sometimes, when I think I can’t get any nerdier, voila!)
Gator: You’re entered in the contest. As soon as NEV has 100k to give away, we’ll have a drawing.
Victor: Go all crazy. But be careful, someone might call you a nerd.
Isn’t podcasting great?????
I’ve used it to catch up on all sorts of things I’m missing from the states.
THIS is why I should never get an iPod. I know it’s bizarre (considering who I live with) but I rarely listen to music anymore…but radio shows? Good god, I’d never have a life! Some of my best PDX memories are of summer nights with J and I sleeping in the tent in the backyard, the transistor dangling from a strap on the ‘ceiling’…calling forth some faraway show…while we listened to the train whistle in the distance and leaned our heads back to watch the stars. (sigh) Heaven.