theo|digital

Possibly my favorite form of media is my podcasts (snottier way to say it: “new audio”). Here is what I’m currently listening to (in iTunes alphabetical order), including links to each! (click the pic):

Garrison’s Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac
Garrison Keillor recounts the literary highlights of this day in history and reads a short poem or two. Perfect — as expected from the master of vocal inflection.

Aristotle’s Philosophy of Friendship
“What is Friendship?” by Mark Vernon. Aristotle’s lecture notes on friendship are in Books VIII and IX of his Nichomachean Ethics, and dull-voiced Mark Vernon is about to explain. He begins with the “perils and promise” of friendship, starting with a thoughtful definition, and builds quickly. Don’t let the awkward choral interludes distract you: this content is worlds better than the production quality.

Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
“Grammar Girl here.” Grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a “better and more successful writer,” if not simply envious of her dry (and insane) example sentences. Occasional staid voicing is instantly forgiven by her humble segment conclusions, where she admits imperfection, and practically invites you to google for her number.

NPR: Religion
Explores the intersection between religion and society, with stories from Morning Edition, All Things Considered and other award-winning NPR programs. Worth it.

NPR: Story of the Day
Funny, moving, exceptional, or just offbeat — the NPR story people will be talking about tomorrow. The best of Morning Edition, All Things Considered and other award-winning NPR programs.

NPR: Technology
Perspectives on digital culture, research news, the tech industry and more. The best of Morning Edition, All Things Considered and other award-winning NPR programs. Not all nerdy.

Pandora Podcast Series
A new one: The Music Genome Project starts explaining the methods behind it’s popular free music online player. Each episode will explore (they’ve done only one so far) a musical concept in an engaging, educational and digestible way.

The Onion Radio News
Doyle Redland reporting. “A daily podcast featuring a short news clip from The Onion’s award-winning 24-hour radio news network”. Always amusing, but hits a home-run only about once a week. Probably with illegal medical assistance.

The RELEVANT Podcast
Features the editors of RELEVANT magazine talking about the latest news, issues and entertainment that matters to your life- an extension of RELEVANT magazine covering covering “God, life and progressive culture”. Good topic selection, but the editor’s banter can make you switch windows and forget you were listening. Worth a shot.

This American Life Podcast
Official free, weekly podcast of the award-winning radio show “This American Life.” First-person stories and short fiction pieces that are touching, funny and surprising. Hosted by Ira Glass, from WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. This free version is new to me: I’m a massive fan of the full one-hour show, broadcast on NPR weekends, and available in storable audio only when purchased. Perhaps this version chooses only 1/3 of the show’s segments?

now non-specifically referred to as the restroom, is the subject of the 2nd historical picture-book co-authored by my Aunt Sharon. The premise, seriously, is exploring things found in artifact digs around… outhouses. Amazing the things you’ll find.

She also co-authored a book about the history of Naperville, using authentic old postcards they dug up from libraries, shops, and post-card shows.

This is funny, because my friend Nick just posted about my new music fascination. I heard about them from my sister, who doubtless will want to post quickly, claiming that she was first. My friend Matt thinks they’re really cool. And my friend Ty, after shoved my iPod earphones at him, bought the CD from iTunes in 24 hours.

I’d like to be all cynical about corporate-plotted viral marketing using personal relationships for financial gain. But it turns out maybe I really did like them, so I told everyone I knew, regardless of whether I was playing into larger (greedy) hands.

And of course, now I’m posting here. :-7

The first three songs of The Weepies CD “Say I Am You” – Garden State-ish singer/songwriter/pop folk of the kind I like best – can be heard at their website www.theweepies.com.

is “on tour.” which sounds a little bit weird. I mean the “on tour” part – just because it’s not like he plays killer riffs or something. But I could be okay with it. Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago on the 30th of June. They’re calling it the Everything is Spiritual tour, which, for a title, sounds like a good start.

Rob has been something of a thought mentor for me for several years – mainly through his audio from his church Mars Hills, his DVD shorts called “Nooma“s and then a time that I got to latch on to a chance Ty got to go hang out with him for a period of two days in Michigan. Ty and I got to watch him speak, eat dinner with his family, and talk to him about how he forms his stories – his narratives about the Real. It was enough to make him a minor hero of mine – someone I want to be more like.

Anyway, he’s on tour.