My most curmudgeonly opinion is that people laugh too much on podcasts. I'd listen to more if there wasn't so much laughing. Let me know if you want any other curmudgeonly opinions I have plenty.
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Agreed in principle. But then there is @iandunt.bsky.social, the exception that proves the rule. An entire hour of his hyena cackle with the odd politically acerbic comment mixed in for good measure, I would listen to on repeat as a pure tonic on down days
Often feel there’s too much laughter on Woman’s Hour on radio 4. Seems to me it arises when the presenters are embarrassed facing guests talking about difficult subjects which said presenters aren’t sure how to respond to.
Reminds me of George Melly's response when Jagger was explaining that his creased face was actually due to laughter lines: "Nothing can be that fucking funny, Mick!"
I increasingly find myself reading the transcripts in order to cut to the chase. Most podcasts have about 30 seconds of interesting information and the rest is guff.
Too many podcasters are full of themselves, focused on having a good time rather than trying to entertain or convey anything to their audience. Most could use better editing as well.
Most podcasters don't have the skills of radio presenters to make an audio show. There's often lots of stuff that could be edited out not least the social chit chat and anecdotes.
I host a podcast for work and wondered if it didn't sound jolly enough, because there's not as much laughing as other people's work podcasts. So I'm glad you said this.
I agree in principle buttttt I host a podcast and hate my laugh (obviously), yet when I don’t laugh and the contributors don’t either, the atmosphere is really off
hmmm, well maybe there's a happy medium somewhere - I dunno, the occasional gentle chuckle or something. All I know is when people all start guffawing at each other I'm out!
No. Your outbursts are pure and often very funny. I like them. The forced laughs prevalent in "Politics Joe" for eg, made me switch off, even when Ava et al are vg journos their aimless banter casts too long a shadow over the points of discussion.
Sorry Simon but your Best of 2024 Confessions podcast over Xmas is the worst example of this I've ever heard. I appreciate your co-presenters are trying to generate some atmosphere but that was quite painful listening.
Mine is those tik tok floating head videos. I'm not a big fan of people's videos of them just spouting off their opinions on whatever, but those are especially annoying to me. I have in irrational hatred of tik tok
Can't bear a podcast with endless hilarity especially when things are not that funny and you know it is just nervous laughter. There was a time when people trained to be on the radio so that they would know how annoying that is.
Agreed and some of the laughs are like wolf's bane to me. A couple of podcasts that I listen to have become visually unbearable because of the cackle. Great casts shame about the laugh...
I was a guest on a podcast once where one of the presenters was in a constant state of hyper-amusement over pretty much anything that was said, by anybody, including himself. I'm sure he wouldn't do that during a normal conversation, so I've no idea why he felt it necessary on a podcast. Bizarre.
I suspect you've hit the key point here. If it sounds like laughter as part of a natural conversation then fair enough, if it feels put on it's offputting and feels more of a performance?
Though my early podcast appearances were probably nervy and I'd have laughed more than usual because of that..
Zoo format radio has much to answer for.
I never understood why Wright felt the need to surround himself with wit-free people whose names we never remembered or cared about.
As a survivor of 70s and 80s dentistry, I have had a vast amount of remedial dental work done in recent years. The most painful thing in all of it was having Steve Wright on in the background. 😄
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Or lack of vibes.
‘Just reflecting on the past twelve months …’
‘Please tell me how amazing/strong/extraordinary I am as I reel off a list of minor achievements.’
Can't bear a podcast with endless hilarity especially when things are not that funny and you know it is just nervous laughter. There was a time when people trained to be on the radio so that they would know how annoying that is.
Though my early podcast appearances were probably nervy and I'd have laughed more than usual because of that..
I never understood why Wright felt the need to surround himself with wit-free people whose names we never remembered or cared about.