PAPO Podcast Transcript: Episode One

Transcript: Episode one of the Pop A Pod On Podcast.

This is a transcript of episode one of the Pop A Pod On Podcast. It contains 3 podcast recommendations covering pop culture, the Elizabeth Holmes trial, and inspiring interviews with the changemakers of today.

Jump straight to:

Podcast Recommendation 1

Podcast Recommendation 2

Podcast Recommendation 3

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to the Pop A Pod On Podcast, your weekly dose of podcast recommendations. I'm your host, Mary-Jane Rewa, and in this show I will be musing over the podcasts that I've been listening to, enjoyed, and think others might like too… essentially, this is the podcast about podcasts.

I aim to keep the weekly episodes relatively short and sweet around 10 to 15 minutes or so with just enough information, you need to pique your interest. I promise there won't be deep analysis or any spoilers for that matter.

But who is Mary Jane Rewa? Well, I'm not a broadcaster, journalist, producer, writer, podcaster, or anything like that. What I am though is an avid consumer of content, media… information in general, but I especially love the podcast medium.

The one thing I'm constantly frustrated about in this wonderful world of podcasts is discoverability, in-app discovery of new content is limited to say the least, and Google searches serve up pretty much the same listicles across all of the big media outlets. So it can therefore be a bit difficult to find something new, to listen to which isn't that dope.

My hope with this podcast, is to remove a little bit of that barrier to podcast discoverability.

Thank you so much for taking a chance and clicking on this podcast today. I hope you enjoy it. And with that said, let's get into this week's recommendations.

Recommendation 1: Bad Blood – The Final Chapter

Today's first recommendation is Bad Blood: The Final Chapter.

If you have even a passing interest in the Theranos scandal and the subsequent Elizabeth Holmes trial, then this podcast needs to be on your radar. Bad Blood: The Final Chapter is hosted by John Carreyrou, the journalist that first broke the story about the immense fraud that was Theranos.

In this podcast, we are taken courtside into the trial of Elizabeth Holmes, who currently faces charges of defrauding investors and patients through what we now know was non-existent Theranos technology.

For those who need a quick recap, at a very high level, Theranos, and Holmes for that matter, were for a while, the darlings of Silicon Valley. They claimed to have invented technology that could run diagnostic blood tests off of a single drop of blood from a finger prick. This house of cards came crashing down after Carreyrou, multiple whistleblowers, and the medical profession revealed the lies and exposed the fraud. In time Holmes and her then-boyfriend and COO of Theranos, Sunny Balwani were charged with over 10 counts of fraud-related charges against investors and patients.

Now with the case against homes having started, I think we're about six weeks into the trial, Carreyrou, armed with more knowledge than most, discusses the potential tactics either side might employ to argue the cases, identifies key people, and analyses critical elements or pieces of evidence in the case that may shape the outcome.

Episodes run about 40 to 50 minutes long, and it's impossible not to be drawn into Carreyrou’s nuanced, analytical, and meticulously researched commentary.

Gossipy. It is not.

Recommendation 2: The Rich Roll Podcast

Today's second recommendation is the Rich Roll Podcast. I'm going to read directly from the show description because I think it probably explains things better than I could.

So the show description reads

…a master class in personal and professional development, ultra athlete, wellness, evangelist, and bestselling author, rich role delves deep with the world's brightest and most thought provoking thought leaders to educate, inspire and empower you to unleash your best, most authentic self.

And you know what? This podcast really delivers. Rich interviews some of the most interesting and dynamic people of our time. He's a skilled interviewer and listener, and possesses an incredible talent for making his guests feel comfortable or safe enough to be vulnerable.

Guests speak with candor on their field of expertise and reveal the true realities of some of their lived experiences, the good, the bad, and the not so perfect. It is just, incredibly real.

His guests span top chefs, athletes, doctors, artists, gurus, lawyers, and a whole heap more. And with such a broad assembly of guests comes equally as wide-ranging topics that are up for discussion. Think mental health and addiction to sleep and training. Finding purpose and meaning in life to food and nourishment, the power of the collective versus the individual.

There's really so much to listen to and unpack with this podcast.

The episode that really drew me in was Rich's interview with Selema Masekela an accomplished action, sportsman things, skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, etcetera. He's also a broadcaster and musician. You name it, he seems to have done it. He's lived a great many lives.

In this episode, Selema spoke frankly of his experiences as a black man making his way in America, the influence of his family (his mother was an alternative health advocate, his stepfather a man of deep faith, and his father an extremely accomplished musician and political activist).

He also speaks about some of the pivotal moments in his life, establishing his place and the competitive action sports world, and so much more. It is a wonderful listen.

Another episode that I really enjoyed was with Daniel Hume, owner of three Michelin star restaurant, 11 Madison Park in New York City. In this episode, Hume muses over his extraordinary life that took him from competitive cyclist in Switzerland to one of the top chefs in the world.

His story takes an even more interesting arc as the pandemic hit last year. In the middle of the chaos Hume did what can only be described as pivot. He developed and reopened 11 Madison Park, post-pandemic, with a completely vegan menu, not only retaining the restaurant’s, Michelin star status, but also introducing a scheme that ensures that for every meal purchased at the restaurant, more meals are provided for new Yorkers facing food insecurity.

There is so much more to the story. So if you find yourself wanting more, head over to The Rich Roll Podcast.

A quick note, the Rich Roll episodes are really long, like nearly Joe Rogan long. They typically run for at least 90 minutes and that's a minimum, but honestly, the interviews are so compelling and natural that you barely notice the time pass. They are perfect for popping on in the background. As you go about your morning commute, or on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

One last thing you need to know about The Rich Roll Podcast is that the back catalogue is extensive. So if you like what you hear, there are hours and hours of content, just waiting for your little ears to find them.

Recommendation 3: Comments By Celebs

And finally for those of you interested in pop culture, today's final recommendation might be right up your alley.

Let me introduce you to the podcast Comments By Celebs hosted by Emma Diamond and Julie Kramer, the creative minds behind viral Instagram account also named Comments By Celebs. Their podcast covers all things, pop culture from what's going on in the Bravo reality TV world, to Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and general pop culture news. If there's a pop culture story to be told or analysed they are your girls.

What I really like about diamond and Kramer's commentary is that it's not that bitchy or mean, they comment on what's happening in the pop culture sphere with as little judgment as you possibly could, a good dose of generosity of spirit, and a solid tablespoon of humour. They don't take themselves too seriously and they just have a bit of fun with it.

Whether you're interested in what's happening with Machine Gun Kelly and Meagan Fox, or you're following the Erika and Tom Girardi situation or you’re curious to hear about what people thought of Kim's SNL monologue, these things will be discussed and you will be amused.

Episodes are about 45 minutes to an hour long and are uploaded three times a week.

There's a general pop culture series, a Kardashian bonus show where they discuss an old episode of KUWTK, and my favourite, the Comments by Bravo series where Diamond and Kramer review the week that was across the various Bravo shows or franchises, including the Housewives, Below Deck, Vanderpump Rules… you get the drift.

It's a bit of light-hearted banter that doesn't require much brainpower from the listener, and therefore fits very heavily in the entertainment realm.

OUTTRO

And that brings me to the end of this first episode. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to this podcast. I really didn't think that anyone would. So if you got here, thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

All of the podcasts mentioned in today's episode will be linked in the show notes below. If you liked what you heard, please subscribe. And if you really liked it, please give us a review over on Apple Podcasts. It really helps others to find me.

If you have any podcast recommendations of your own or any feedback on today's episode, please get in touch with your social media or email.

All of the details about how to find us will be in the description box as well.

Finally, the song you hear on this podcast is called Glow by Sensho, which I sourced through upbeat.io.