If you could call a number and say you’re sorry, and no one would know…what would you apologize for? For fifteen years, you could call a number in Manhattan and do just that. This is the story of the line, and the man at the other end who became consumed by his own creation. He was known as “Mr. Apology.
Podfluence podcast review of NECRONOMiPOD, one of the best true crime comedy podcasts available
PodFluence podcast review for #truecrimetuesday featuring “Drinking the Koolaid”
A few weeks ago we featured and reviewed a different type of podcast than you would typically see on Podfluence. That said, pi_rational has quickly become one of our favorite podcasts that we have stumbled on this year. This fictional series strays away from our typical true crime recommendation, but there’s a good reason for it…pi_rational is a work of art.
This anthology series explores a different fictional story each season. With a new Christmas themed episode dropping on December 22nd, we recently sat down with podcast writer Kat to learn more about what inspired the idea for pi_rational and how the podcast has grown over the course of the past year.
Check out our Q+A and stay tuned for pi_rational’s new Christmas episode: Sacrifice – A Witch’s Christmas Story!
Podfluence: What inspired you to start your show? What were some of your influences?
I always appreciated a great story and love fiction. It became clear to me that the fiction genre had started to shift away from books and onto other media, such as podcasts. I wanted to be a part of this movement and to provide a great and fun listening experience to others. It so happened that I was a fan of Crawlspace podcasts, and it made sense to become a part of the network since their goal was also to engage others and help them establish themselves. If it was not for Crawlspace I would probably never have started the podcast in the first place, so certainly a huge influence on Pi_Rational. They saw the potential and also wanted to dive into the world of Pi.
Podfluence: What paths have you taken to grow your audience?
I try to engage on social media as much as possible. I also work with other podcasts on the network to spread the word.
Podfluence: Is there a special episode of yours that you recommend new listeners to check out?
I have a special attachment to every season because I wrote all the stories. I’ve always been very attached to Season 2, which is the story called “Bathtub”; it is the first story I had ever written.
Podfluence: What has it been like to be a part of the Crawlspace Network? What is your favorite podcast on the Crawlspace network (besides your own)?
Without the support of Crawlspace network, and especially Lance, pi_rational would never exist. I have always appreciated the guidance and the honest feedback that I get. I think all the podcasts on the Crawlspace network are great to work with and we are keen on helping each other grow.
It is so difficult to answer the last question because there are so many great shows! I would have to go with “Even the Podcast is Afraid”. I love their funny banter and their ability to make even the hardest topic easy to digest. The topics are thought-provoking and well written.
When Missing Maura Murray first launched in July of 2015, there was no telling how popular Tim Pilleri and Lance Reenstierna’s first podcast would become. But as you can imagine, they wanted to branch out from just covering the case of Missing Maura Murray. So in 2017 they decided to launch their second podcast: Crawlspace. Crawlspace was meant to continue their deep dives into missing persons cases, murders, robberies, and other mysteries.
It’s important to note that Lance and Tim have incredible chemistry and that oozes out of your earbuds upon your first listen. But as appealing as Tim and Lance’s chemistry is, one of my favorite factors of Crawlspace is the variety of topics that they cover. The podcast initially launched covering the disappearance of Brianna Maitland, a teenager who went inexplicably missing in Vermont in March of 2004; a case that is eerily similar to that of Maura Murray. However, Tim and Lance have expanded into a variety of unsolved cases that they approach with the same passion they have for Maura Murray.
With variety being the spice of life, listeners can expect to hear guests ranging from criminologists, podcasters, victims, and government officials. Tim and Lance have a unique ability to draw information out of their guests while making them comfortable. This creates fantastic conversations with troves of valuable information. As a listener, it’s a great product to digest. Each episode is about an hour-long making it an easy podcast to add to your rotation.
Both Missing Maura Murray and Crawlspace have a very loyal fan base and take time to engage their audience. It’s more than just a podcast, which is why we love them here at Podfluence. If you want to check them out, check out GetVokkl on Thursday evenings. The two do a live show and it’s a great opportunity to interact with the hosts and whatever subjects they may be exploring that given week.
We were admittedly late to the party, but Incel has quickly become one of the more fascinating listens in our podcast lineup. It takes a very special person to take on such a complex topic. But that’s exactly what host Naama Kates is! We recently connected with Naama to learn more about what inspired her to start Incel, and what her podcasting journey has been like over the last 2 years. Check out our Podcaster Spotlight for Naama Kates of Incel!
Podfluence: What inspired you to start your show? What were some of your influences?
I actually started getting really into podcasts at the end of 2018 with Tim and Lance’s “Missing Maura Murray,” which was wisely recommended by my Apple podcast directory. I knew a bit about the story as a fellow true crime fan from New England, and I’m also a very “deep dive” kind of person so the fact that it was all about one case was enthralling. I have a background in film and I’ve produced and directed in that medium, so I became really interested in the challenge of vividly telling a story with only audio. Shows like Serial, Dirty John, S-town, and Caliphate were really influential with their use of interviews, editing, music, and sound design. I kind of knew I wanted to work in that space and found the subject of incels just fascinating and unexplored… but actually, I’d started having and recording my conversations with one incel without consciously realizing why. I played them for a friend and they said, you have to make a documentary or something out of this, and that’s how it began!
Podfluence: What paths have you taken to grow your audience?
Choosing guests who have some following with whom I can cross-promote is a great way, including other podcasters who cover interesting topics (CSN obviously has a bunch of great ones) or content creators of other kinds, from YouTube, radio, or blogs. I’m also fortunate to have picked a pretty niche topic (and named my show with that single word!) which has been the subject of some very serious news lately, so it’s gotten attention in many academic, law enforcement, and political circles. Early on the show got a New York Times write-up which was immensely helpful too.
Podfluence: Is there a special episode of yours that you recommend new listeners to check out?
I think that ep. 1: “Bluepilled AF,” ep. 6: “GoneER,” and ep. 8: “The True Believer” are all great places to start for true crime fans and for the story… and maybe ep. 15: “The Chadfishing Experiment,” for something a bit lighter.
Podfluence: What has it been like to be a part of the Crawlspace Network? What is your favorite podcast on the Crawlspace network (besides your own)?
As I mentioned, Crawlspace is where I first developed my taste for podcasts, even as a fan, so being a part of the network is really a dream come true. Tim and Lance, our pod bosses, are so easygoing and helpful, and smart and funny, and as with every production, the tone of the organization is established at the center and runs throughout, so I think everyone involved is wonderful too, and I’m honored to be included in this group of fantastic shows. Among my favorites are MMM and Crawlspace, Empty Frames, LA Not So Confidential, and Criminal Perspective.
More Reviews On Incel!
