Welcome to another edition of the Podcast Sommelier! I’m Ashley and I’m the co-host of The Kindred Spirit podcast, which is available on the podcaster of your choice. On The Kindred Spirit, we explore history, one drink at a time. (Sneak peak – our next few episodes are going to be about beer!) But here I recommend a new podcast and a wonderful libation for you to consume, while enjoying that podcast.
Thanks to my co-host, Claudia Berger, I was able to go see Radiotopia Live last month, and I was reminded by how much I love Roman Mars. That man’s voice is smoother than any whiskey.
Since we’ve talked about wonderful things, murder and thirst object … it’s time to talk about the things that we don’t think about. The things that we take for advantage or have never stopped to explore it further. It’s time to talk about 99% Invisible.
As described on their website, “99% Invisible is about the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about – the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.” I don’t just love 99% Invisible because of Roman Mars’ voice, even though it is amazing. It’s really the topics that drew me in. I never know what I’m going to be listening to that week. Even if it’s a topic that I’m on the fence about the episodes average about thirty minutes, so it’s a quick listen to get a different take or learn something new. Which most of the time, I end up learning learning about something I never knew about.
With 309 episodes and counting, I was overwhelmed with which episodes to recommend. This is where Claudia came to my rescue recommending two older episodes. The two episodes are on the shorter side, fifteen and seventeen minutes respectively. It seems like all of my podcasts are hitting the hour and a half mark, it’s refreshing to hear a fully researched story in such a short amount of time.
The first episode is 140- Vexillonaire. I know….that is the longest word that will ever be in one of my articles. This episode is all about flag design! Rather than focusing on flag design as a whole, there is a quick recap of what makes a good flag design. And then, Roman Mars heads to Portland, Oregon where he interviews Ted Kaye. This is where the episode focus begins. Ted Kaye is from the Portland Flag Association and he is a Vexillonaire. A Vexillonaire is someone who actively advocates that flags should be redesigned and improved. He began a campaign to make Portland’s flag better. Even relistening to this story to write this article, I’m shocked that it’s only fifteen minutes. And I mean that in a good way!
The main reason I love this episode so much is because of Roman Mars. This is something he is super passionate about and it shows. At one point after Ted Kaye makes a point, Mars just exclaims, “Damn, right!” It’s hard not to feel sucked in when the host is so involved. Another time, Kaye is explaining what the Portland Arts Commission was looking for and in between each bullet point Mars’ whimpers, or tsks, or just says no. It’s hilarious and you find yourself shaking your head as well.
The second episode is 156- Coin Check. This episode focuses on “challenge coins”. Challenge coins are not currency, they are kind of like souvenir coins. The challenge coins tend to be given by certain members of the military and are palmed in the hand and given in a handshake, like giving a tip to a maître d’ at a fancy restaurant. It is meant to be a token of gratitude. These challenge coins can be given to civilians, hence Roman Mars getting his hands on one.
I feel like this is a great two parter not only does Radiotopia has their own challenge coin, but because it highlights the other side of 99% Invisible. While Vexillonaire was mainly Roman Mars interviewing and commenting. During the episode, they interview quite a few more people and Avery Trufelman, a 99% Invisible producer, takes the lead on the interviews. Trufelman and Mars work perfectly together. Telling the story of how challenge coins came to be and what is their role in the current society and how they humanize the military. It really shows that 99% Invisible is a group, and they welcome all ideas so if one producer pitches an idea, they are allowed to see it through.
99% Invisible is one of those podcasts that I immediately recommend to people who are new to podcasts or who want something new to listen to. It’s super easy to get into to, while I chose two earlier episodes you could easily just start with the newest and go from there, and it’s always something different. It’s always a story from a different point of view. 99% Invisibile explores the things that no one thinks about, how often do you look at your state flag? Did you even know you had a state flag?
While you are thinking about the things that no one notices, why don’t you make yourself a cocktail. For this Podcast Sommelier I am recommending a drink called “Beautiful Nerds Negroni”. I wanted something that was as smooth as Roman Mars’ voice and also something that needed to be assembled properly and had a story to it and is used for something good. Today we are making negronis!
To make a “Beautiful Nerd Negroni”
- 1 oz Gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Sweet Red Vermouth
- Orange
Directions:
- Pour Gin, Campari, & Sweet Red Vermouth into a shaker with ice and stir until chilled
- Strain into a glass with a block of ice
- Garnish with Orange Peel
Alteration:
- If the negroni is too bitter or herbal for you, just top it off with soda water, to make it a fun spritz.
Thanks for joining me and I know that this one was late going up so we have another one coming out in the next two weeks and then we’ll be back on schedule! Feel free to add your comments below or reach out to me on Twitter at anwarren87.
Check out the Kindred Spirit on Instagram, Twitter, or the podcaster of your choice! If you do make this cocktail, or drink any cocktails, post a photo with the hashtag #KindredSips for a chance to be featured on our Instagram or Twitter.
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