This is an archived page from 2019. Find out more
(By PBJ Editorial Director Ed Ryan) I love to let our great audience know when I’ve gotten hooked on a podcast. The ones that pull me in to where I have to listen to every episode of every season. So far those podcasts include Crime Town, Bomber, Dr. Death, Over My Dead Body, Conviction, and the second season of Serial. Here’s my latest favorite.
On Tuesday, I had just finished listening to the second season of American Public Media’s In The Dark when word came down that the show was nominated for a Peabody. That made total sense to me. Season two of In The Dark follows the story of Curtis Flowers, a black man tried six times for the same crime by a white district attorney in Mississippi.
The case is now before The United States Supreme Court, so before that ruling is handed down (most likely in June) go back and listen to every episode. The case prompted Justice Clarence Thomas to ask a question – something he had not done in years.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away in this report. What I did want to share was how I could not put my phone down. Whether in the car, at the gym, at the NAB in Las Vegas, or on a plane. When you actually download full episodes so you can listen on a plane you know the content is strong. And the content was strong. Very strong.
Host Madeleine Baran is an amazing reporter. She’s also an amazing storyteller. And that’s what kept me hooked. It was how she told the story, how she asked the questions, how comfortable she made everyone feel speaking to her, even those who said they wouldn’t speak to her but still did. How she covered the story, and injected details, as the Supreme Court listened to the attorneys argue the case was riveting.
I try to listen to as many podcasts as possible. For me, podcasts are like a book. I have a short attention span. If I’m not hooked in early on, I’m out. I move on to the next book, or I delete that podcast from my app.
The 2019 Peabody winners will be announced Tuesday, April 23.
By the way, Season 1 of In The Dark was equally enjoyable and won a Peabody in 2016. Yes, you should listen to that season as well. Follow the case of Curtis Flowers HERE.
American Public Media has mastered the podcast formula.