The Wizards of Pod: Recent Episodes
Wizards of Pod
A podcast for book lovers and literary explorers!
Led by Sara, Colleen, and Dave, each episode whisks you into the magical world of books. Whether searching for your next captivating read or looking for books similar to your favorites, our hosts are here to guide you through the expansive universe of literature. This month, we will discuss Biographies and Memoirs.
Welcome to Episode #24 of the “Wizards of Pod Podcast.” Join us as we discuss new and
noteworthy podcasts and information about Libraries in general…
- We’ve returned after a 2-month break for the holidays and an additional 3-month hiatus due to…. Things.
- But we’re back and ready for another season of the Wizards of Pod Podcasts!
Link to Episode notes
This month, we have an exciting theme for you – "Most Streamed Podcasts of 2023." Colleen has cross-referenced three reputable sources, Edison Research, Forbes, and Pew Research, to develop our podcast contenders. So, without further ado, let's dive into the world of podcasting and discover what's making waves this year.
The Top 5 Podcasts of 2023:
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- Crime Junkie
- The Daily
- This American Life
- Morbid: A True Crime Podcast
Now, you may be wondering which podcast will reign supreme in 2023. To find out our winner, be sure to tune in to the full episode!
Please note that we will be on hiatus in December & January for the holidays. We will be back in February with new podcast reviews!
We had the crazy thought that it would be fun to ask our colleagues to tell us their favorite podcasts so we could butcher them, err, I mean to rank them according to our systematic review process (LAUGH). Needless to say, we thought it would be really fun! And if any of our coworkers would like to join us to make their case about why their podcast should be ranked higher, we would LOVE to have them on next month’s show!
Since we ranked our top 5 book-based podcasts in August, we decided, for our September show, to rank five podcasts randomly chosen from Podbiblemag.com’s article “10 of the best watch-along podcasts for TV fans.”
The shows we randomly selected are,
- Buffering: A Rewatch Adventure
- Office Ladies
- Dragoncast
- HBO’s Succession Podcast
- Talking Sopranos
Don’t forget to check out The Guardian’s article 'It's one big conversation': the unstoppable rise of the TV podcast
Podcast Reviewed
Music for this podcast was brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music at www.bensound.com
For August, we decided our theme would be “Best Book Podcasts,” so we looked at the following three articles to pick five worthy podcast candidates.
- Top 10 Book Podcasts to Listen to in 2023 by bookscouter.com
- The 27 Best Book Podcasts from townandcountrymag.com, and
- Podcastreview.org The 10 Best Book Podcasts
These articles contain many great podcast suggestions, making choosing five podcasts a difficult enough experience, so we suggest checking them out.
Welcome to Episode #19 of the “Wizards of Pod Podcast.” Join us as we discuss new and noteworthy podcasts and information about Libraries in general…”
Please excuse the poor audio quality. We accidentally recorded the show using the laptop microphone.
This month’s theme is sustainability. Join us as we discuss some of the best sustainable podcasts we could find.
Welcome to Episode #18 of the “Wizards of Pod Podcast.”
Join us as we discuss new and noteworthy podcasts and information about Libraries in general…”
March is “National Foreign Language Month,” a time to discuss the joys of learning a new language and to bring awareness to the importance of studying foreign languages. Therefore, we could not resist discussing podcasts everyone can use to learn a new language!
Welcome to Episode #17 of the “Wizards of Pod Podcast.”Join us as we discuss new and noteworthy podcasts and information about Libraries in general…”
New Year, New You! Check out our favorite productivity podcasts for tips on staying productive in the New Year!
Welcome to Episode #16 of the “Wizards of Pod Podcast.”
Join us as we discuss new and noteworthy podcasts along with information pertaining to Libraries in general…”
This month, we are celebrating Spooky Podcasts - Part Deux! And will be sharing more of our favorite spooky podcasts!
Welcome to Episode #15 of the “Wizards of Pod Podcast.”
Join the Wizards of Pod as we welcome our special guest - Colleen.
Colleen is the Westhampton Free Library’s Art Gallery & ESL Liaison.
This month, we are celebrating HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!
We will be sharing our favorite podcasts hosted by and centered on members of the Latinx community!
A Podcast Of Professional Librarians Talking About... Podcasts!
Sara & Dave discuss new and noteworthy podcasts along with information pertaining to Libraries in general…”
Last August, we celebrated National Dog Month by discussing our favorite doggy-themed podcasts during the dog days of summer. This year, we decided to give some love to our feline friends by discussing our favorite cat-themed shows because CATS RULE AND DOGS DROOL ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!!!
Podcast Reviews
Dave - Cat Café Podcast
The Community Cats Podcast
1bike1world
Sara - The Purrrcast The Purrrcast
Nine Lives with Dr. Kat
Cattitude
Library News and Programs of Note * The Library’s “Movies On The Great Lawn” film series continues every Monday at dusk throughout August. * Saturday, August 20 from 9 am - 1 pm, we will be hosting a Plant Swap at the Westhampton Farmers Market. * KIDS ON THE GREEN also continues throughout August on Tuesdays beginning at 5:30pm. * Teen Programs taking place in August include… + OREO COOKIE CRABS on Sunday, August 7 from 2:00-3:00 pm. + WATERMELON PIZZA on Sunday, August 28 from 2:00-3:00 pm. * Be sure to check our Library’s newsletter and homepage for all the great Children’s and Tween programs for August. There are just too many to list!
Next Month’s Theme * HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH! We share our favorite podcasts hosted by and centered on members of the Latinx community!
Music for this podcast was brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music at www.bensound.com
Welcome to Episode #13 of "The Wizards of Pod Podcast" - A Podcast Of Professional Librarians Talking About... Podcasts!
With the return of the Library’s annual “Movies on the Great Lawn” film series, we decided this month’s theme should be MOVIE MADNESS! - so we’ll be talking about our favorite movie-themed podcasts!
Episode Notes
Hi Everyone, We apologize for releasing this a day late, but thank you for joining us for another episode of The Wizards of Pod! This month, we are celebrating everything Star Wars by checking out our favorite Star Wars-related podcasts.
If you’re asking why we decided to choose Star Wars as this month’s theme, May fourth, otherwise known as “Star Wars Day,” is an informal commemorative day observed annually to celebrate the Star Wars media franchise created by founder and former chairman and CEO of Lucasfilm, George Lucas.
To give you a little history, Star Wars Day originated as a pun to the popular Star Wars "May the Force be with you." Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977. Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans around the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday. It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and parent company Disney as an annual celebration of Star Wars. The first recorded reference to the phrase being used was on May 4, 1979, the day after Margaret Thatcher was elected as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in the London Evening News saying "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."
Links used for the episode https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Day
This month, we are celebrating National Financial Literacy Month!
National Financial Literacy Month is recognized annually to highlight the importance of financial literacy and teach citizens how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits.
Throughout the month of April, organizations across the U.S. conduct a variety of events and carry out initiatives designed to improve financial literacy, especially among our nation’s youth, while also promoting financial well-being for all consumers.
Music for this podcast was brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music at www.bensound.com
Download Show Notes: WOP Episode: 11
Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Wizards of Pod! In this episode, we are celebrating National Women’s History Month by reviewing podcasts created by, and promoting celebrated women throughout history!
Women's History Month is an annual, declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8. In Canada, Women's History Month is celebrated in October, corresponding with the celebration of “Persons Day“ on October 18.
Music for this podcast was brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music at www.bensound.com Download Show Notes: WOP Episode #10
Podcast heme of the Month: Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Wizards of Pod! And, welcome to our first episode of 2022. It is February and that means it is Black History Month! For this occasion, we wanted to round up some podcasts that are run by Black creators. Although the black community is only given one, and unfortunately the shortest month of the year, as a dedication to their history. We believe it is important to remember that this community has fought to have a place in America and still is fighting to this day! Much of American culture is taken from the black community, including music, style, cuisine, dance, and even vernacular, and the community deserves much more credit than they actually get from society. Today, we are here to celebrate members of the black community and encourage others to check out the podcasts that we will be discussing.
Podcast Reviews: Sara: * The Black Creators Club * Jemele Hill is Unbothered * It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders
Dave: * LeVar Burton Reads * The Stoop * Seizing Freedom
Next Month’s Podcast Theme * March is National Women's History Month, so we will be sharing our favorite podcasts about women's history! + Let us know about your favorite podcast about National Woman’s History Month!
Music for this podcast was brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music atwww.bensound.com Download Show Notes: WOP Episode #9
Show Notes Link Podcast Theme of the Month Since we celebrated Oktoberfest and discussed our favorite drink podcasts for October, we thought that November could focus on all things spooky. And, of course, the Spooky season is the best season. Luckily, most of the podcasts that Sara listens to are spooky, whether it be about the paranormal or true crime-related. So, she is very excited about this episode!
Podcast Reviews: Sara: * My Favorite Murder * Haunted Places * The NoSleep Podcast
Dave:
- LORE
- Magnus Archives
- Old Gods of Appalachia
Feedback & Upcoming Library Events Thank you all for listening to episode 8! We would like to hear what the listeners think about our podcast and if you have any suggestions, please send us a message on our Twitter @PodWizards!
Our next episode will be out on Thursday, December 2
If you didn’t already know, the Westhampton Free Library offers Library cardholders access to many museums across Long Island and New York City.
- We have passes to the Fink’s Farm, Long Island Children’s Museum, the Parrish Museum, as well as the Museum of Modern Art, and the American Museum of Natural History!
- Call the Adult Reference Desk to ask us all about our passes at (631) 288-3335 x4.
Don’t miss out on the programs that the Westhampton Free Library has for the months of November and December!
- On Saturday, November 20 from 12:00-3:00 pm, a Bide-A-Wee adoption van will be visiting our parking lot. It’s never too late to introduce a new friend into your life and a FUR-ever friend is one of the best kinds, that's F-U-R-ever, of course. Your new best friend could be waiting for you!
- Wednesday, December 8 is our Do Your Own Thing Bus Trip to New York City, registration is $28.00 with the Adult Reference Department. This program usually fills up fast, so register as soon as possible if you’re interested!
- And, if you’re looking for some family events for the holidays,
- On Saturday, December 4 between 1:00-3:00 pm there will be a Family Holiday Wreath program where you can get all the fixings to make a wreath for $10.00 per kit. Registration for this program is limited to one wreath per family, and you can register through the Children’s Department.
- On Friday, December 10 from 6:00-7:00 pm we will be holding a holiday gingerbread house kit for $15.00 per kit. Sign up with the Children’s Department now!
Registration for these programs is now open, so call the library at (631) 288-3335 and choose the department you’d like to speak with!
- You can also register online at westhamptonlibrary.net/programs. Or, stop in and visit us to register in person!
For more podcast News and updates, follow us on Twitter @PodWizards.
- Music for this podcast is provided by Bensound royalty-free music
- Take a look at their great collection of music atwww.bensound.com
- Spooky background sounds provided by freesound.org.
Podcast Theme of the Month”
This month, we are celebrating Oktoberfest. If you want to learn more about beer but don’t know where to start? Podcasts are a great way of gathering information from experts.
Sara's Podcast Reviews: * The Swirl Suite * Life Behind Bars * The Speakeasy
Dave's Podcast Reviews: * The Sour Hour * The Beerists Craft Beer Podcast * Unreserved Wine Talk
Next Month’s Theme: Thursday, November 4: BOO! It's Spooky Season! Our Favorite Spooky Podcasts of 2021 (Spooky Season Forever!) * If you have a favorite Spooky-themed podcast, let us know on Twitter @PodWizards, and we’ll include it with ours!
Music for this podcast is brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music atwww.bensound.com Download “The Wizards of Pod” Episode 7 Notes”
Podcast Theme of the Month: This month, we decided to go with an art theme in honor of the Library’s upcoming Art Bus Trip to attend the Van Gogh Exhibition: The Immersive Experience in New York City, and then attendees will head to the Nassau County Museum for a guided tour of Andy Warhol: A Life in Pop Exhibition.
- This trip is scheduled for Thursday, September 23rd and tickets are on sale now for $70 and that includes the bus seat and access to both exhibits. So, if you are interested you can come to the Library to register in person, or give the Adult Reference Desk a call at (631) 288-3335 ext. 4. You can also register online at westhamptonlibrary.net/programs.
- We believe art is fascinating because even the concept of art has been around since the Paleolithic period when it was said that these pieces of art were being made with paint, shells, and stones and now, there are so many art styles and art forms that artists can dip into and try their hands at.
- An artist might paint, draw, sculpt, do pottery, or even use a whole other avenue to create their art form, and we think it's wonderful how versatile artwork can be!
Podcast Reviews: Dave: * ArtCurious * Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood * Hashtag Authentic
Sara: * The Great Women Artists Podcast * The Potters Cast * Talk Art
Next Month’s Podcast Theme Bottles of Beer, Anyone? Our Most Enjoyed Adult Beverage Podcasts of 2021 (It’s Oktoberfest!)
- For October, we will be reviewing podcasts based on our most enjoyed Adult Beverages in celebration of Oktoberfest.
- If you have a favorite Adult beverage-themed podcast, let us know, and we’ll include it with ours!
Visit the library for a look at September’s Artist of the Month, Robert Knepper, on display in the Reference Department.
Music for this podcast was brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music atwww.bensound.com
“The Wizards of Pod” Episode 6“The Wizards of Pod” Episode 6“The Wizards of Pod” Episode 6“The Wizards of Pod” Episode 6
Download Show Notes
We have a special guest with us today - Nola! Nola works with Sara and Dave at the Westhampton Free Library as the library's Adult Program Coordinator.
Podcast Theme of the Month: NATIONAL DOG MONTH
According to NationalDayCalender.com, August is National Dog Month, allowing us to celebrate our loveable canine pals smack in the middle of the dog days of summer!
NATIONAL DOG MONTH HISTORY The J.M. Smucker Company, makers of the Milk-Bone brand dog biscuits, founded National Dog Month in 2020 to recognize all the ways dogs improve our lives. The Registrar at National Day proclaimed National Dog Month to be observed each year in August.
Here are a couple of awesome facts about our amazing canine colleagues:
- Dogs are the #1 most commonly owned pets on the planet, and
- Scientific studies prove our canine companions make us happier, less stressed, and more optimistic.
- The list of benefits to spending time with a dog goes on and on, but it all proves one thing––that a month-long celebration of our furry best friends has been a long time coming.
- Whether your dog burrows under the blankets with you at night, plays in the sprinkler, or alerts you to a health need, we know they are constantly improving our lives and making them more fun.
- The companionship and affection we share with them make not only our lives, but their lives better, too.
- Dog lovers know life without dogs is a life missing something special, and that’s a fact worth celebrating.
WAYS TO OBSERVE #NationalDogMonth: * Take an extra-long walk.
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Play fetch or spare an extra Milk-Bone treat.
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Get your dog the toy he’s been wanting or visit the dog park.
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Speaking of visits, make your next veterinarian appointment to ensure your pet stays healthy and strong.
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Donate to your local shelter or to a larger dog nonprofit.
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You can also volunteer your services. Not only will the dogs appreciate the support, but so will their future human companions.
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However you celebrate, be sure to use #NationalDogMonth to post on social media
Podcast Reviews Sara: Can I Pet Your Dog?, The Woof Meow Show, Wag Out Loud Pawdcast
Nola: Dogwomen Unleashed, Down and Back with a special mention for Dogworks Radio, A Dog’s Life, with 5 especially recommended episodes
Dave: Animal Writes, DogCast Radio, The Puppy Training Podcast
July’s Podcast Theme As Sara and I started discussing a theme for this month’s podcasts, we discovered that surprisingly, July is celebrated for many things other than just Independence Day, and that many have one thing in common - FOOD!
Our research showed July has many national food holidays, including:
- National Grilling Month
- National Horseradish Month
- National Baked Bean Month
- National Culinary Arts Month
- National Hot Dog Month
- National Ice Cream Month
- National Watermelon Month
- National Pickle Month
Furthermore, there’s different food celebrated every day beginning July 1 with National Gingersnap Day and ending July 31 with National Cotton Candy Day.
With so many food celebrations, we just had to come up with a list our some of our favorite food-related podcasts to discuss.
Podcast Reviews Sara: * A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich * The Sporkful * Wine for Normal People
Dave * The Splendid Table * Doughboys * Gastropod
Announcements July/August newsletter is out, so don’t forget to register for our upcoming Link and Learns and exercise classes! A couple of the classes will be offered as in-person meetings at Roger’s Beach Pavilion and our Sunday Sunrise Yoga class is back at the Westhampton Dunes.
Our Monday Night Movies at the Great Lawn on Main Street will be July 12 through August 30. Movies include:
- Shrek 2,
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,
- Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde,
- Toy Story 2,
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,
- Paddington 2,
- Back to the Future II, and
- How to Train Your Dragon 2.
There is no registration required for the movies, and we will be providing attendants with bagged popcorn, too.
You can visit the library website at westhamptonlibrary.net and our events calendar, which is accessible from our homepage, at westhamptonlibrary.librarymarket.com.
We also welcome any and all feedback on our episodes and if anyone would like to hear about a certain podcast topic, please let us know!
Podcast Theme of the Month - National LGBTQIA+ Pride Month This month we are celebrating National LGBTQIA+ Pride Month which is a tribute to the Stonewall Riots of 1969 when Marsha P. Johnson threw “the shot glass that was heard around the world” in response to the New York City Public Morals Division police raid of the Stonewall Inn on June 28 of that year.
The Stonewall Riots are widely considered one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the twentieth-century fight for LGBTQIA+ rights in the United States.
Pride Month is celebrated every June in tribute to those involved in the Stonewall Riots.
For those who are wondering what LGBTQIA+ stands for, this acronym equates to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual and Asexual. Sometimes, the Q stands for Questioning and the A stands for Ally.
Sara’s Reviewed Podcasts: * And That’s Why We Drink * Queer Serial: American LGBTQ+ History Before Stonewall * Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Dave’s Reviewed Podcasts: * Geeky Gay * Making Gay History: LGBTQ Oral Histories from the Archive * A Gay and NonGay
Resources 1. About LGBT Pride Month from the Library of Congress 2. Acronyms Explained from Out Right Action International 3. About Martha P. Johnson from Queer Portraits in History
“The Wizards of Pod Podcast - A Podcast Of Professional Librarians Talking About... Podcasts!
Sara Zarowin and Dave Jones are the hosts of The Wizards of Pod. Join us as we discuss new and noteworthy podcasts along with information pertaining to podcasts and Libraries!
Episode 2 Show Notes
Mental Health Awareness Month (Wikipedia Article) has been observed in May in the United States since 1949. The month is observed with media, local events, and film screenings.
Mental Health Awareness Month began in the United States in 1949 and was started by the Mental Health America (MHA) organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health). Each year in mid-March Mental Health America releases a toolkit of materials to guide preparation for outreach activities during Mental Health Awareness Month. During the month of May, MHA, its affiliates, and other organizations interested in mental health conduct a number of activities which are based on a different theme each year.
Sara's Podcasts - The Hardcore Self Help Podcast with Duff the Psych, Celeste The Therapist, and Radio Headspace
Dave's Podcasts - The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, Mental The Podcast to Destigmatize Mental Health, and No-Bullsh!t Vegan
Library News
- Recently, the Westhampton Free Library will allow patrons to enter the building without an appointment beginning Monday, May 10, 2021.
- It will be very exciting to actually have people in the library again at a larger capacity.
- The pandemic surely put a damper on many activities that people would be used to, such as coming to the library, and quarantining has been tough on many that struggle with mental health.
- Many people look forward to using the library for not only books but for social interaction and there wasn’t much room for that in the last year, but we are hoping to see more of that with safety precautions included!
Helpful Links
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please know that you are not alone and there are some great resources for you to access for help and guidance.
- https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
- https://www.samhsa.gov/
- https://findtreatment.gov/
Music for this podcast was brought to you by Bensound royalty-free music. You can check out their great collection of music at www.bensound.com
Podcast Titles Discussed In This Episode Sara:
- Spectacular Failures
- In Machines We Trust
- Who Is?
Dave:
- Film Sack
- The Popcorn Diet
- The Podcast of Surprise
Library News
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The Public Library Association (PLA) is partnering with the Public Policy and Advocacy (PPA) office of the American Library Association to launch a new project for census data literacy. http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/03/free-training-boost-census-data-literacy-skills-improve-planning-and-programs.
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The Joint Council of Librarians of Color (JCLC), a non-profit affiliate of the ALA, was awarded with the 2021 American Library Association Equity Award, consisting of $1,000 and a framed citation. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/03/joint-council-librarians-color-named-winner-2021-ala-equality-award
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New York State Citizen Public Health Training Program by Cornell University. Cornell University’s Public Health Program has developed a four-part online training program to help build community-led initiatives and support surrounding prevention, detection, and response in the event of public health emergencies. With two hours of content per week, each module will build up your core knowledge, skills, and abilities, along with specific “calls to action” to help you translate learning into action within your community and network. Each module will also have one or more live (and recorded) conversations with experts to share up-to-date information and to answer key questions. https://nypublichealth.cornell.edu/nyspublichealth/