The Wirecutter Podcast Debuts: Product Reviews We Can Use

 I have a New York Times subscription. I use the publication every day. Yet, I have a confession to make. My first stop there is not to check out their excellent news coverage, investigative journalism, and vibrant opinions page. 

Instead, I start with Connections, Wordle, Spelling Bee, and The Wirecutter, which is my consumer advice bodyguard. If you don't know, The Wirecutter provides recommendations for a wide range of products that are both obsessively researched and simply presented.

 The Wirecutter was founded in September 2011 by Brian Lam, a former editor at Gawker Media’s Gizmodo, and he self-funded the company’s growth. After forming an editorial partnership with The New York Times in 2015, The Wirecutter was acquired by the Times in October 2016 for a reported $30 million.

With The New York Times making deeper investments in podcasting, it was no surprise -- and a delight -- to hear that The Wirecutter Show debuts August 21 with two episodes, followed by weekly episodes highlighting its best-in-class journalism and talented newsroom.

The Wirecutter Show offers expert advice on everyday products to make your life better. Hosted by Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset, along with producer Rosie Guerin, this weekly podcast brings together Wirecutter’s top journalists and guest experts to provide actionable advice, surprising life hacks, and delightful product discoveries.

The Wirecutter says: "From doing your laundry to cleaning the air you breathe to traveling with pets, our experts will dish on their years of independent research and rigorous (sometimes over-the-top) testing."

 The first episode will cover tips and tricks for how to do your laundry right, featuring Wirecutter staff writer Andrea Barnes, and the second episode will focus on how to keep your indoor air clean and healthy to breathe with Wirecutter staff writer Tim Heffernan.

Each episode covers a wide range of topics, from choosing the perfect stand-mixer to tips for traveling with pets, and even the truth about smart home devices. Like the NYT column, the hosts and guests will provide straightforward solutions based on years of rigorous and independent product testing by more than 140 Wirecutter journalists.

Good advice can go a long way to improving your life—which is exactly the premise that this new podcast, The Wirecutter Show, is built on.

The Wirecutter admits: "Yes, we’ll always give our unbiased, definitive opinions about the best and worst products we’ve tried (we are Wirecutter, after all). But The Wirecutter Show, just like the rest of our journalism, isn’t necessarily about buying products. We’re here instead to help you cut through the noise—and hopefully have a little fun along the way."

Follow the show here and tune in every Wednesday, starting August 21.

Check out The Wirecutter Show. If the podcast is anything like the column, listeners should find the show ear-worthy.