Comments on: maybe I should have donated money to NPR

By: Chris Sanders

Chris Sanders — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:15:34 +0000

So I’m the type that needs music to run, but I do like something in the ears while I work on the house. These have all kept me sane:

1. This American Life
Best show on the radio. The podcast is great, but be sure to visit their website for their archives, particularly “Giant Pool of Money”, “Notes from Camp” and “Fiasco”. Has its bittersweet moments, but they usually throw in some David Sedaris or Sarah Vowel to keep things light.

2. Radiolab
A bit more cerebral than TAL…think 3-2-1 Contact for grownups, on the radio. Be careful, tho, this might have a limited run, but there are several hours to churn through. Start with “Earworms”, “Sleep”, or “War of the Worlds”.

3. Car Talk
Yeah, they’re obnoxious, but you might enjoy some Tom & Ray in the last mile or so when your brain goes mush. I keep these around as a reserve.

By: Kristabella

Kristabella — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:19:51 +0000

I love Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me. I saw it here in Chicago.

Also, I would have laughed at you falling. People falling is funny. Always.

By: pam

pam — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:37:11 +0000

wait, wait is great (ooh a rhyme)

i love fresh air, usually

definitely this american life

slate’s spoiler specials

hmm, that’s all i got for now…

By: Deadra

Deadra — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:36:58 +0000

Okay so I married a geek and I own an MP3 player but I have NO CLUE how to use it beyond listening to the music I’ve asked Adam to upload to it….
that being said my suggestions maybe totally useless.

Anyhow what about books on tape that aren’t really on tape but are still recorded and can be listened to on your Ipod? Whenever we go for long drives, (long like to Canada) we listen to books on tape on CD because listening to music just drives home to me how much further we have.
So that’s my contribution, books on tape, get fit and literary!

By: RGP

RGP — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:30:34 +0000

Definitely get Wait, Wait. Might just be once a week but c’mon, it’s awesome! Also have to agree with the commenter that suggested Car Talk. I love that show so much and I couldn’t care less about cars.

There’s this fantastic talk music show that plays on NPR down south and I’ve been trying to find it for ages now. If I can find it, I’ll let you know. It’s genius.

By: oscar

oscar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:45:33 +0000

I agree with the others; WWDTM is great! I’m not a fan of electronic music, but I often play it while I’m working because I tend to sing along to songs I actually like; perhaps that’ll work with your runs too?

I also enjoy “This American Life” and “American Routes with Nick Spitzer”. Spitzer is a professor at UNO. Unfortunately, American Routes doesn’t have a podcast because of expense of copyrights for all those songs, so I’ll probably donate some cash to the Electronic Frontier Foundation to make myself feel better.

By: anne

anne — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:54:25 +0000

Agreed on WWDTM - HILARIOUS! I exercise to it and you don’t know that 45 minutes have passed. As for TAL - WATCH OUT. Seriously - it can be super entertaining or it can leave you so depressed and crying while running down the street.