The Pod Files - Monday 8 December 2025

 

The ‘casts -

(Notes spoken to Siri, and edited later if I remember

(Changed tactic now where starred dialogue denotes quoting from the show’s own notes

The Divide - Season 1 Episode 8: 5 December 2025: *This Was Always How It Was Going to End - Geoff Harker makes his move. Paul Wilder makes his choice.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day - 8 December 2025: bravado

StarDate - 7 December 2025: Moon and Jupiter

A Murder Most Foul: The Life of a Hitman - 20 September 2025: *Chapter 30: Then-Happiness is Hard to Take - In this emotionally charged episode, Notch wakes up disoriented and reflects on the strange turns his life has taken. As he lies in bed, he recalls a night over ten years ago when he was alone in the Continental, waiting to be shipped back to the States, and wondering about Gabriella...

New Podcasts - 3 December 2025: *Season's Readings: Christmas Stories and Holiday Tales - When the world turns cold, Season's Readings - Christmas Stories and Holiday Tales is your fireside refuge from the season's noise — a handpicked collection of classic and original tales, read with warmth and heart by voice actor Don McDonald. Experience stories, both joyful and bittersweet, that remind us why light, laughter, and love matter most when the nights grow longest.

Rock n Roll Book and Documentary Reviews - episode 80: 12 August 2025: *Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born To Run Book Review - Springsteen's Born To Run was made under the presence of a ton of record label pressure. It was do or die time for Bruce. This is the story about how after selling roughly 50K of his first two records, he created this career defining masterpiece. 

The Stupid History Minute - 8 December 2025: Bratz Dolls

7 Good Minutes - 30 September 2025: How to Clear Mental Clutter for Inner Peace

New Podcasts - 8 December 2025: *The Rest Is History - The internet is abuzz with news that The Rest Is History has solved the mystery of the identity of Jack the Ripper. _The Times_ goes into detail in a paid article. They're more than 230 years too late, disappointingly, for justice to be served.

Beauty Unlocked the podcast - Bonus: 7 December 2025: *The House of 1000 Screams: The Smurl Family Haunting - Welcome, my ghoulish fiends. / The Smurl family claimed their West Pittston duplex was overtaken by a violent, calculating force that wanted more than their fear, it wanted their bodies and their faith. / Over fourteen years, they reported whispers, apparitions, assaults, and a darkness that grew stronger the longer it was ignored. Even seasoned investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren called it one of their most disturbing cases. / In this episode, I dig into the documented chaos, the Church's hesitation, and the terrifying question that still lingers on Chase Street. Was something truly hunting the Smurls... or does evil simply wear the face of an ordinary home? / Listener Discretion is Strongly Advised. 

Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You - season 3 episode 6: 8 December 2025: *A Tip For Making Better Sandwiches - Ever wonder why deli sandwiches taste better than homemade ones? Ned thinks it's because the ingredients get a moment to hang out together. Let your sandwich rest for a minute or two after assembly-the flavors blend, the dressing soaks in, and everything comes together for a better bite.

Comicbook Nation - season 7 episode 47: 5 December 2025: Kofi, Matt, Janell, and Evan. Netflix bought Warner Brothers. An interesting aside to this since this episode was recorded is that allegedly Paramount have put in a bid that is around an extra twenty billion dollars. Evan says that nobody buys DVD’s or BluRays. I do because older films aren’t available on streaming platforms, so I have to find them somehow. Also, it’s easier than paying for all of those streaming platforms, as well as a television licence. Updates about The Batman 2. Scarlett Johansson confirmed to be in the film. First look at the new Supergirl suit. Calum Tatum possibly cast as the new James Bond. Reaction to the latest episode of Pluribus. Latest episode of Welcome To Derry. Isn’t Kofi mentioning “how good Madeline Stowe still looks” a bit ageist? Most recent episodes of Stranger Things. New documentary about P Diddy discussed. Reaction to a new Five Nights At Freddie’s film. Zootopia 2 reactions. Discussion about the latest Wiccan comicbook. 

BirdNote Daily - 4 July 2023: *Bald Eagles' Daredevil Cartwheel Flight - Two eagles locking talons high above the ground might look like they're risking injury, but it's a normal courtship behavior called the "cartwheel display." Fully entangled, the two birds begin spinning to the earth, disengaging just before they smack the ground. Their clasp could last for hours. At last, the eagles unlock talons and fly off. Rival adults sometimes perform the same flight.

Podnews Daily - 5 December 2025: *The Rest is History crowned "Show of the Year" - Apple Podcasts recognises a show that isn't from the US. 

Science Quickly - 12 February 2015: *Contraception Could Prevent 15 Million Unwanted Pregnancies Annually - Fifteen million unwanted pregnancies in 35 low- and middle-income countries could be avoided if women had access to and freedom to use contraception. Cynthia Graber reports. 

Daily Dad Jokes - 20 August 2022

7 Good Minutes - 30 September 2025: 7 Good Minutes: Extra - A cluttered mind cannot...

Womanica - 24 May 2021: Elizabeth Robinson

MinuteEarth - 16 April 2025: You Are A Fish

Sounds Profitable - 5 December 2025: *Keeping Podcasts Mobile, Patreon's Public RSS Feeds, & More - Today in the business of podcasting: "creator fade" is a problem for podcasting, avoiding video super-serving, Acast and Little Dot Studios team up for YouTube managed campaigns, and iHeartMedia launches a "guarenteed human" core branding message.

Prince Andrew Audio Biography - 2 December 2025: *Prince Andrew Stripped of Titles: The Stunning Fall of the Duke of York - Prince Andrew has experienced a dramatic fall from grace in recent days, marking the culmination of months of escalating pressure surrounding his ties to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. On December first, King Charles delivered what insiders are calling a stunning humiliation by stripping Andrew of his final remaining titles and honors. The monarch revoked Andrew's membership in the Order of the Garter, Britain's oldest and most prestigious chivalric order, along with his title as Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. These moves follow the revocation of his Prince title just a month earlier in October. / Andrew is now officially a commoner, simply known as Mr Andrew Windsor. He has been struck from the roll of peerage and lost his Duke of York dukedom, with palace insiders suggesting the Royal Navy may soon strip his honorary vice-admiral rank as well... [I will admit that this is the first time I’ve listened to a show from Inception Point AI for a while.  This show did have some bad glitches, which I pointed to their ceo WILLIAM Corbin. The glitches have gone, but the voice is still blatantly AI, because the cadence is wrong. That’s just a personal thing, and I’m sure that some people won’t mind that as much as I do. The information is right, and I suppose that’s what matters? I suppose?] 

Literally! With Rob Lowe - episode 291: 27 November 2025: *Josh Richards: Too Handsome - Rob says Josh Richards is too handsome for his own good! The businessman, podcast host, actor, and social-media star joins Rob Lowe to discuss dropping out of high school and coming of age on TikTok at the "Sway House," his popular Barstool Sports podcast, talking P.P. (popularity and prestige), a hypothetical Rob vs. Dave Portnoy boxing match (winner gets to play Josh's dad in a movie), and much more.

 

5 Minute Advice for Authors - season 1 episode 38: 10 July 2024: *Renée Marino on Mastering the Art of Communication - In this episode of "5 Minute Advice for Authors," Renée Marino, author of "Becoming a Master Communicator," touches on the vital importance of choosing the right medium for communication-knowing when to text and email and when to engage in direct, face-to-face conversations. She emphasizes that true connection and success in relationships and business begin with effective communication. / Renée's advice for aspiring authors is to start with the very first sentence and keep pushing forward. Lastly, Renée explains her experience in creating her audiobook with Twin Flames Studios. She highlights the supportive environment that allowed her to express her words authentically, making the process not only manageable but enjoyable.

Daily Life Pro Tips - 25 October 2025

5 Good News Stories - 1 May 2025: Dachshund Parade, Bottle Kicking and the Best Pizza is in Montreal?

Daily Facts - 27 October 2025

BirdNote Daily - 5 July 2023: *Isaiah Scott on Birds in Gullah Geechee Culture - Isaiah Scott is a twenty-year-old birder who already runs a popular Instagram account called Ike's Birding Hikes. He has a passion for learning more about his Gullah Geechee heritage. The Gullah Geechee are the descendants of enslaved West Africans living on the coast of North and South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. Isaiah is working on a field guide to birds in Gullah Geechee culture, as birds are important cultural symbols to the Gullah Geechee.

Happy Place - season 7 episode 6: 8 June 2020: *Alicia Keys - After finding chart-topping success at a formative age, Alicia Keys has spent a lot of time thinking about the high expectations we put on each other. From her own people-pleasing tendencies in her early career, to her very recent breakthroughs in valuing her own self-worth. / In this conversation with Fearne, held under lockdown conditions, they explore those discoveries, her book More Myself, and her forthcoming studio album, Alicia.

Audio Poem of the Day - 31 August 2025: The Boat Merchant's Wife by Khaled Mattawa

PodCube™ - 27 November 2025: 11.27.2066 CHRIS_WECTMAN_OF-FICE

Science Quickly - 13 February 2015: *Triskaidekaphobia Plays Role in Paraskevidekatriaphobia - Some random historical facts about the number 13 may be behind some people's irrational aversion to Friday the 13th. Karen Hopkin reports.

Hitmaker Chronicles - 27 September 2024: *Eminem "Lose Yourself" - From Detroit's meanest streets to the Oscars stage, this cinematic narrative chronicles Eminem's rise and his definitive anthem "Lose Yourself." Pulling back the layers on his troubled youth, underground battle rap ascendance, and mainstream meteorite with The Slim Shady LP, it explores how "Lose Yourself" transcended the 8 Mile film to become a primal exhortation of perseverance. / Deconstructing its haunting opening, frenetic lyrical vignettes, and vocal/production's rallying urgency, the episode showcases how Em's words transformed into an immortal motivational totem - soundtracking championships, propelling generations to seize fleeting dreams through sheer unbridled creative force. [an absolute stone cold classic song to me. A fantastic song!] 

Merry Christmas! Daily Christmas Stories - 2 December 2025: *Folk Lore of Christmas Tide by Alexander Francis Chamberlain - Scottish folklore has it that Christ was born at the hour of midnight on Christmas Eve, and that the miracle of turning water into wine was performed by him at the same hour… 

Naked Scientists In Short - episode 181: 4 September 2012: *Monitoring your Mobile Phone - With 40% of adults in the UK now using smartphones, and similar figures worldwide, we discover how easy it is to track and profile peoples' movements using information given away in public by their mobile phones. We learn how hackers can use your phone's wifi connections to track where you go, who you contact and even get images of where you live!

Question of the Week - episode 540: 17 November 2023: *Why isn't it possible to go faster than light? - Thanks to Tony Padilla for the answer!

The Daily Poem - 14 October 2025: *The Weaver's Heart: An Eternal Dance of Threads and Gratitude - Today's poem is about Gratitude in the style of Rabindranath Tagore. / Poems generated from OpenAl ChatGPT API with proprietary prompts. / This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios. 

7 Minutes For Yourself - 9 June 2024: Melodies for the Mind: How Music Therapy Can Transform Your Life

Consider This from NPR - 8 December 2025: *The fight for the future of Warner Bros. just got messier - There's a growing fight in Hollywood over some of the biggest characters on screen, like Tony Soprano, Daenerys Targaryen and Harry Potter. All feature in shows and films owned by Warner Brothers Discovery, and now two companies are fighting to get a piece of the action. / First, on Friday, Netflix struck an $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Brothers Studios and HBO. Then, just days later, Paramount upped the ante with a higher bid of $108 billion for Warner Brothers Discovery - which includes not just the movie studios and HBO, but also WBD's cable channels, like CNN. / As corporate giants vie to take over Warner Brothers, we ask: What are the stakes for Hollywood and the news business?

Seasons readings - 12 November • 14 min left

Two Thanksgiving Gentlemen - A Classic Holiday Short Story by O.

Henry - In this beloved O. Henry tale, two men meet every Thanksgiving to share a meal — a tradition rooted in charity, pride, and an unexpected twist of fate. "Two Thanksgiving Gentlemen" is both humorous and touching, a timeless reminder that generosity often runs deeper than appetite. / This story was performed by voice actor, Don McDonald for "Season's Readings" - classic and original holiday stories read with warmth and heart. [there is something really interesting about this show, other than the fact of the Christmas stories, and that is the fact that the errors are left in. I don’t mean anything negative about that, but just that when the narrator has said something incorrectly, he has then corrected it, but not taken out the mistake. That is very human, but could irritate some people, although to be honest not me. It’s real.] 

Christmas pop-up channel - 28 November 2025: From the Christmas Worst Gifts Ever to love in a snowed-in airport [this 5 good news Christmas stories episode has a AI voice on it as opposed to the usual Johnny Mac. Now, I like the way that colour ogre shark media use AI voices when they do, but in this case I’m missing the jovial Fun humanity of John‘s voice in this. That’s just personal bias perhaps, but I get more into it with John‘s voice if I’m being honest, although I’m wondering if I’ve not heard the show with John‘s voice before this time, then would that still be the case?] 

Toppermost of the Poppermost - forthcoming show feature

Toppermost of the Poppermost - final edit of August 1965 Side B