Pod-Alization: The Whale Freak, Land Of The Giants, Pen Pals Podcast

Freakonomics Radio completes three-part series on Whaling

Freakonomics Radio wraps up its special three-part series "Everything You Never Knew About Whaling."

Along the journey, the show visited the last remaining American whale ship; looked at the rise of the environmental movement; and spoke to, among others, a Moby Dick scholar, a journalist in a remote Japanese whaling town, and the infamous "eco-warrior" Paul Watson.

Catch up on all three episodes now, and find more info on the series below.

• Ep 1: The First Great American Industry

Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” How did the U.S. come to dominate the whale market? Why did whale hunting die out here — and continue to grow elsewhere? And is that whale vomit in your perfume?

• Ep 2: Why Do People Still Hunt Whales?

For years, whale oil was used as lighting fuel, industrial lubricant, and the main ingredient in (yum!) margarine. Whale meat was also on a few menus. But today, demand for whale products is at a historic low. And yet some countries still have a whaling industry. We find out why.

• Ep 3: What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life?

In the final episode of the whale series, listeners learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why Moby-Dick is still worth reading.

Once you listen to this fascinating three-part series, your challenge is to meet up with friends or family and try to work whaling into the conversation. 

Thar she blows!

Land Of The Giants podcast shines its light on Tesla
Remember when Elon Musk could actually make things work. That's before Twitter, or X, or whatever it will be called next week. Once upon a time, Musk began Tesla with a government loan (he hates to include that part.) 

Land Of The Giants is the Vox podcast that, for six seasons, has examined the DNA of our biggest tech giants -- from Apple to Amazon. In season seven, Land of the Giants: The Tesla Shock Wave examines the past, present and future of the company that jumpstarted the shift to electric vehicles. Automotive journalists, Tamara Warren and Patrick George team up to explore how exactly Tesla snuck ahead of the competition, the unique role Elon Musk has played in the company’s success, and the twists and turns that lie ahead in its race for EV dominance.


New episodes drop every Wednesday.


Pen Pals podcast joins iHeartPodcast Network

Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network (BMP) welcomes The Pen Pals Podcast to the iHeartPodcast Network, with all new and previous episodes available on the iHeartRadio app and podcast platforms everywhere.

“The Pen Pals Podcast” has hosts Rory Scovel and Daniel Van Kirk responding to the letters listeners send them on topics ranging from free will to freeway etiquette, from mental health to manatees; and so much more. These letters could be seeking advice, telling a story or simply venting – Scovel and Van Kirk are ready for whatever listeners throw at them.

The duo also welcomes an array of celebrity guests to talk through listener letters, including Will Ferrell, Conan O’Brien, Mandy Moore, Rose Byrne and many more. The latest episode features Nick Kroll, in which he reads a letter about his connection to his baby-to-be. The show’s next episode will feature Sarah Silverman.

  Daniel Van Kirk is a stand-up comedian from Rochelle, Illinois. His album, "Thanks Diane" debuted at #1 on Apple Music, and he's been named a “Comic To Watch” by Comedy Central and one of JFL’s 42 in Toronto.

Love the show, but do Millennials and Gen Zers know what pen pals are? 

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Podcast recommendations

1. Freakonomics Radio

2. Land Of The Giants

3. The Pen Pals

Graphic of headphones over a podcast mic with a frequency wave in the background

 

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