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THE POD REPORT #12345_20260803
FOR RELEASE AUG. 3, 2026
BYLINE: By Dana Block 
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THIS WEEK'S CATEGORY: New and Noteworthy
Summer's almost over (although my thermostat doesn't acknowledge this fact), but July and August have introduced us to several new podcasts. It's time to catch up with what's new and downloadable before a dozen more podcasts are launched this fall:
"Better in Person with Stephen Dubner" -- What makes this one-on-one interview podcast different? The host, journalist/author Stephen Dubner ("Freakonomics"), invites his guests into his home "for a kind of conversation that's hard to find -- curious, free-wheeling, even profound." They talk, play, eat and drink, which leads to "less interview" and "more shared discovery." Launched just this past July, "Better in Person" has already featured a wide variety of guests, including stand-up comic/mental health advocate Gary Gulman, executive chef Hillary Sterling, and Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. (Freakonomics.com)
"Intimacy Coordinator" -- Actor Joel Kim Booster ("Scrubs") has reformatted his podcast "Bad Dates," allowing him to explore more stories of love, sex and relationships with some of his favorite guests -- as well as new ones! Guests include fellow podcasters Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers in an episode titled "Sharing Culture," where they discuss the shows, movies and games that "double as relationship litmus tests." In another episode called "Partner Checklists," Booster is joined by three comedians who share their observations on dating red flags, despite having a firm set of standards on how to avoid them. (SmartLess.com)
"Government That Doesn't Suck" -- The government gets a bad rap, but professors Greg Jackson and Lindsey Cormack are gathering "the sharpest thinkers to reveal the real-world impact of the American government, one episode at a time." When it's not trying to divide us, the government's responsible for necessary matters like our roads and other infrastructure. In the premiere episode called "We the Founders," we're treated to a refresher course on the United States Constitution -- and how it was intended to "insure domestic tranquility" and "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." (PAVEStudios.com)
Don't Forget These Gems
"Interesting Jobs the Podcast" -- Host Tiffany Babb has a list of interesting jobs herself. In addition to podcasting, she's a poet, a culture critic, and a comic book reviewer. She's selected a wide variety of guests to kick off her new podcast about fascinating occupations. There's the hot dog vendor from Wrigley Field, the president of the Avian Conservation Center in South Carolina, and book designer Katie Klimowicz (just to name a fascinating few). (RSS.com)
"Jackass the Podcast" -- Coinciding with the release of their movie "Jackass: Best and Last," Johnny Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine relive all the hilariously dangerous stunts they've filmed now that they're safely behind a microphone. Guests include members of the original "Jackass" cast, behind-the-scenes crew, and TV and film execs. Reminisce with Knoxville about the time he broke a plate over director Spike Jonze's head, or how fellow stunt performer Steve-O got fired from a carnival and stalked his way into the group. (ART19.com)
(c) 2026 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
