 | December 06, 2024 | | This newsletter will take around four minutes to read.
Can’t make time right now? There are new episodes of Personally: Short Sighted. All episodes of Someone Knows Something and PlayME are now available. In case you missed it, check out CBC Massey Lectures with Ian Williams on Ideas. You can pop this link and this link open in a new window for later. | | | | |  | | | ‘Tis the season of the binge | | | "It’s nesting season. It’s homebody season. It’s slow-down season. The days are short, the summer is over — it’s time for us binge listeners to shine. So grab a sweet treat, pull out a fun craft project, and open your favourite listening app. We also recommend throwing an ambience video such as this on your TV to complete the vibe. Here’s what the Sounds Good editors are digging into these days:
I can’t get enough of So True with Caleb Hearon — which is why the dozens of episodes in the back catalogue are so pleasing to me. Just about every word out of Caleb’s mouth is funny, and his show format is comfortingly simple: each episode a new guest joins him and the two just riff, making one another laugh, swapping stories and hot takes. His episode with Drew Afualo is particularly good, but really you can’t go wrong with whatever episode you decide to listen to first. I recommend pairing this listen with a frosty glass of cranberry ginger ale and a seasonal jigsaw puzzle.” - Émilie
“You might find yourself in a scenario this festive season — a 17-hour flight, an attempt to make the entire New York Times holiday cookie box, learning to crochet because you’re gonna crochet all your gifts this year because that’s a great idea and people love homemade gifts — where you just need hours of content to get you through it. The podcast that can rescue you is Artholes. Billed as a recklessly deep dive into art and art history with someone who has absolutely no background in either topic, I will warn you that host Michael Anthony isn’t kidding when he says a ‘recklessly deep dive.’ I listened to his 7-part series on Frida Kahlo and the first episode (clocking in at a whopping two hours) is a refresher on 8,000 years of Mexican history just to set us up. But dare I say, all of it is necessary…and interesting!? The precise and minute details Michael fishes out of his research create startling fresh portraits of some of the world’s most famous artists, the places they lived in, and answer why their legacies endure. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll be compelled to Google every single painting mentioned.” - Roshini
“My New Year’s resolution is to limit my watch time of The Office. Until then, I will continue to seize every opportunity to annoyingly quote and make reference to the show. If watching holiday episodes of The Office this time of year brings you as much joy and comfort as it brings me, check out the Office Ladies podcast! Actors Jenna Fischer (who played Pam) and Angela Kinsey (who played Angela) unpack behind-the-scenes stories from every episode. By far one of my favourite episodes of the podcast is their breakdown of Secret Santa. The ladies recently wrapped up their coverage of the entire The Office series with a two-part finale. It was a hilariously heartfelt, yet emotional ride — it’s worth a listen this holiday season.” - Anna | | | | | | | New episodes this week | | |  | Illustration by Ben Shannon. Graphic Design by: Jon Lee. | Speaking of binging — we know there’s a subset of listeners who hold out until the final episode of a series is released before they dive in. So for those bingers, this week is your week now that the finale episode of Season 9 of Someone Knows Something is here. - In the final episode of The Christine Harron case, host David Ridgen is joined by Christine’s mom Mary Ann to embark on a search for Christine’s body near the suspected kill site. Listen now. You can now also watch both parts of Ridgen’s original 2012 television documentary — Confession to Murder — that this season of the podcast is based on.
- Personally: Short Sighted is host Graham Isador’s (VICE, GQ) intimate memoir on what it feels like to lose your vision. In this week’s episode, Graham talks to blind artist Devon Healey, who makes dance shows for people who don’t see. Technically, the last episode is out on December 17, but if you can’t wait you can binge the whole season via CBC Stories Premium on Apple Podcasts.
- The haunting conclusion of PlayME’s Tunnel Runners is here. Cam’s journey through the underworld of addiction, survival, and family reaches its breaking point. Deep in the collapsing sewers, he confronts his estranged father in a battle that forces them both to face hard truths. As the tunnels crumble, Cam is forced to confront the shadows of his past—some things can’t be outrun…
| | | | | | | ICYMI: Ian Williams 2024 CBC Massey Lectures | | |  | | | Award-winning novelist and poet Ian Williams explores the art of conversation in this year's CBC Massey Lectures, What I Mean to Say: Remaking Conversation in Our Time.
The Canadian writer says he's done with small talk. His five-part lectures, which he took on the road last month, investigate what makes good communication, the importance of having difficult conversations, and how to connect with strangers even when you disagree with them — leaving space to maybe even change your mind.
In one word, Williams says, the most essential part of a conversation is: listening. This applies to social media, too. | | | | | | | | | | | What we’re listening to | | | Jorge Barrera, CBC News journalist, recommends: Hunting Warhead: | | |  | | | | “This is a truly gripping investigative journey. You follow the host and the lead investigative journalist through several layers of gut punching facts about a very dark realm of our world. However, it also managed to deal with a very difficult subject in a straightforward, but also deft and sensitive way. It was also brilliant storytelling.” | | | | | | | Have a great weekend!
Until next time,
Rosh, Anna and Emilie | | | Share this newsletter | | or subscribe if this was
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