Podcasts | Weekly Filet. The best of the week, in one newsletter.

The most popular song in the world

Switched On Pop

A brilliant, detailed musical analysis of arguably the most popular song in the world, with one billion plays a day (!) at its peak: the Nokia ringtone. Yes, that one. This is an older and somewhat atypical episode of my new favourite podcast, «Switched On Pop». A musicologist and a songwriter go deep into the anatomy of popular songs (usually not ringtones) and explain what makes them hits and «help listeners find a-ha moments in the music». They are at their best when they cross-examine songs – like in «Hotline Hello: Drake and Adele».

Published in Weekly Filet #242

Music

Podcasts

The Money Fixers

Planet Money

Inside the curious world of the «Mutilated Currency Division». I wasn’t aware of this: You can send in destroyed money (meaning: burned, shredded, digested by a cow, even) and if those people can establish it’s real money, you are reimbursed.

Published in Weekly Filet #239

Podcasts

Edward Luce on The Retreat of Western Liberalism

Conversations with Tyler

I haven’t yet read the book, but after hearing this interview, I will. The Financial Times’ chief US columnist Edward Luce on the future of liberalism and why recently the US and the UK have been more susceptible to populism than other countries.

Published in Weekly Filet #237

Europe

Global Issues

Podcasts

USA

Planning the Perfect Death

The Daily

Days before he was scheduled to die, John Shields had a surprising idea. He wanted to have a wake for himself. And he would be there. Alive.

Published in Weekly Filet #234

Podcasts

In collection: Unputdownable Stories

S-Town Podcast

Serial, This American Life

I was completely hooked on season 1 by Serial. I fell out of love in season 2. Now S-Town, not exactly season 3, but a co-production by Serial and This American Life, sounds very promising again. Will drop as a binge-able bundle on March 28.

Published in Weekly Filet #233

Podcasts

Dear Economist, I Need A Date

Planet Money

Actual dating advice from an economist. Lovely.

Published in Weekly Filet #233

Love

Podcasts

David Miliband explains the global refugee crisis

The Ezra Klein Show

We tend to talk too much about immigration and too little about what causes it.

Published in Weekly Filet #229

Global Issues

Podcasts

The Daily

The New York Times

After little more than a week, the NYT’s new podcast has become a daily habit already. Give it a try (I thought the Goldman episode was the strongest so far, so I’m linking to that one).

Published in Weekly Filet #227

News

Podcasts

We have locked in centuries of climate change

The Ezra Klein Show

You’ve probably heard the news: 2016 has been the hottest year on record. For some context, I highly recommend this hour-long interview with Elizabeth Kolbert, one of the best-known writers on climate change, who won a Pulizer Prize for her book «The Sixth Extinction». Enlightening and trenchant. The quote that stuck in my mind: «We live in yesterday’s climate.»

Published in Weekly Filet #224

Climate

Global Issues

Podcasts

Flip the script

NPR

What if you countered islamic radicalisation with…empathy? That’s how two Danish policemen started a fascinating experiment in Aarhus, after dozens of young men had gone missing, presumably joining ISIS in Syria. A brilliant episode of the always fascinating Invisibilia podcast.

Published in Weekly Filet #-1

Podcasts

Psychology

Society

In collection: Think Different