LAUGH TRACKS

Words by Alex Marinkovich-Josey (he/him)

The bewilderment others experience when I tell them I’m listening to a comedy podcast never fails to surprise me. On the way home from an overseas school trip, I was listening to D&D is for Nerds, an Australian, comedic Dungeons and Dragons Actual Play podcast. Man, was it funny. So funny in fact, that it was only after I noticed the perplexed look from my homeroom teacher in the row opposite that I realised just how much I’d been laughing out loud. She seemed to find the notion of a comedy podcast unbelievable.

The Worst Idea of All Time—
Hosted by Guy Montgomery and Tim Batt

How could I discuss comedy podcasts without mentioning Kiwi comedians Guy and Tim. What is that titular ‘worst idea’? Watching Grown Ups 2 once a week for an entire year. What starts out as your run of the mill bad idea turns into the rapid descent to madness of two men trapped in their own commitment to the bit.

The Real Pod—
Hosted by Jane Yee, Duncan Grieve, and Alex

It's okay to enjoy reality television, and it's even better when you’ve got weekly recaps and discussions from the team at The Real Pod. Not to be confused with Salient’s own FOR REAL?, The Real Pod takes a look at the latest and greatest in reality television, and often the absolutely pressing pop culture news.

Maia and Fran’s Unedited Sessions—
Hosted by Maia Ingoe and Francesca Pietkiewicz

Every week, you can take a peek behind the scenes at Salient and explore the
wild stories behind some of the latest articles. This week, Maia chats with comedian Kura Turuwhenua about getting into comedy, the NZ International Comedy Fest, Pōneke, and the mentors and influences that helped Kura get to where she is now. Kura advocates for younger comedians getting a foot in the door, so if you’re thinking about starting your stand-up career, this is a great listen!

Piña Colada Town—
Hosted by Ben Stubbing and Michael Turnbull

We all know ‘Escape (The Piña Colada Song)’: a couple fall back in love after discovering the things they had in common all along. Such is the journey of Ben and Michael, as they peruse Wellington city through the views and experiences of people who still love it. This usually amounts to hilarious and revealing conversations that explore the exciting life and events of our home city.