Three Ear-Worthy Podcasts: We Came to The Forest, Hot Ones; Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver

 Today, we have three ear-worthy network-supported podcasts. The first show from Wondery deals with the controversy over the construction of a police training facility in the Atlanta Area.

The second show gives us Bad Bunny, one of the most socially conscious musical artists, in the 26 season premiere of Hot Ones.

I'm generally not a fan of celebrity podcasts. Too often, they are financed by a podcast network to take advantage of celebrity's name recognition, and are vanity projects that make for insipid podcasting.

Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver is the notable exception to that rule.

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 We Came to the Forest

The series, titled We Came to the Forest, explores the shooting of environmental protester Manuel Terán (Tortuguita), who was killed at the hands of Georgia law enforcement two years ago, and pulls back the curtain on the years-long fight between forest-dwelling activists and the construction of the facility – while touching on themes of how much one is truly willing to put on the line for a cause.

 In this new series, listeners will hear newly disclosed facts, perspectives, and nuances about the events that led up to the dramatic conflict between police and protestors, and ultimately Tortuguita’s death. Listen to the trailer here.

 The series is hosted by longtime ATL resident, podcast creator, writer, and Campside co-founder Matthew Shaer.

 Wondery, Campside Media and Tenderfoot TV are producing this six-part narrative series from award-winning podcast creator, writer, Campside co-founder, and longtime Atlanta resident Matthew Shaer (Suspect).

In early 2025, as Atlanta puts its finishing touches on Cop City, the second anniversary of Tortuguita’s killing approaches. As their family continues to fight their battle in court, We Came to the Forest peels
back the curtain and takes listeners deep inside the story that could define police and protester interactions for years to come.
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Hot Ones

Hot Ones is back for its season 26 premiere and Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and producer Bad Bunny is in the hot seat. He discusses his early days performing in elementary school talent shows, the signature sound of a Bad Bunny track, and his claim to fame as one of the best celebrity wrestlers the WWE has ever seen.

On the differences between Puerto Rican slang in Puerto Rico vs. New York (3:30):

“Definitely there’s a difference between slangs. Especially New York, there’s a lot of Dominicans too. The Puerto Rican slang with the Dominican slang, they mix each other. I think with the social media, like TikTok and all these platforms, we could be connected no matter how far we are, so…at the end of the day it’s the same slang.”

On his elementary school performance of ‘Mala Gente’ by Juanes (4:45):

“I was ten years old, and I was definitely more nervous that day than the Coachella performance…I don’t remember anything because I was in my own world. I just remember the floor ‘cause that was…I was looking at the floor the whole presentation. It was like a fear that I had to beat, like the fear to be in front of people…it was part of my evolution as a person and as an artist.”

On the signature Bad Bunny sound (6:45):

“Especially on this album there’s a lot of salsa, there’s all the rhythms that I’ve never done before…I think the fact that I’m doing it is what makes it different and new, like PIToRRO DE COCO is a [traditional folk music song]. I didn’t change anything but…a little bit of synth at the very beginning, but [then the cuatro comes in, and the güiro, and the bongos…but the fact that I’m doing these old rhythms makes it new.”

On his celebrity WWE wrestling moves (13:15):

“The Bunny Destroyer [wrestling move], that was a John Morrison idea, like ‘you should do the Canadian Destroyer and we call it the Bunny Destroyer.’ And we did it, we practiced it, I really learned a lot about him, about Damien Priest, The Miz, and all the guys that were coaching me.”

On the legacy he hopes to leave behind (18:07):

“For me, I don’t look at things that way. I’ve always said that I never changed, that I’m still the same kid that dreamed of shining and for the world to know who I am. I’m not looking for any kind of tribute or for my legacy to be remembered. My legacy is this: I was always Benito from Puerto Rico, from Vega Baja. And that’s how I was able to accomplish things never imagined before.”
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Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver

 

I'm torn here. Another celebrity interviewing people on a podcast? I think we've had about enough of that. Yet, I like Minnie Driver. As a celebrity interviewer, she’s much better than some of the tools who have drifted into podcasting for a fast buck or something to keep their name alive.

On what iHeart insists is her second season premiere, Minnie Driver questions actress and comedian Jane Lynch. In the episode, Lynch recalls her parents’ love letters to each other, discusses the process of quieting her inner narrator, and receives a visit from her dog, Mildred.

Check out Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver. It's so good I forgot she was a celebrity. New episodes release on Wednesdays.