Last updated on May 23rd, 2018

Pods Review Pods is a weekly segment where podcasters review fellow podcasts.

Hi! I’m Dorian Lafferre, an illustrator and designer from Columbus. I cohost PRE-DEAD BOYS, a lighthearted podcast about the history and culture of death and decomposition. We’re all gonna die, but that doesn’t have to be a bummer! My cohost Max McKenna and I research and discuss Tibetan sky burials, cryogenic freezing, mummification, and the death cultures of places like China and New Orleans – all in an effort to open up discussion about death and crack a joke or two along the way. Find us online @predeadboys and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Here’s three other shows that have fun investigating dark subject matter:

Play Dead Podcast

I don’t play video games as much as I used to, but there’s no doubt that game developers have come a long way. They’re exploring more interesting and uncharted territory than ever before, and that includes the subject of death. In Play Dead, Gabby DaRienzo and company interview developers and creators with some really fascinating perspectives and approaches. My personal favorite is the music episode, where they interview (amongst others) Disasterpeace, the creator of the soundtracks for Fez, Hyper Light Drifter, and It Follows. An excellent death-centric podcast that keeps things lively while it educates!

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Switchblade Sisters

I’m a big fan of horror, sci-fi, and other genre films. This podcast features film critic April Wolfe interviewing female filmmakers about Silence of the Lambs, Blood Simple, Raw, Pan’s Labyrinth, and pretty much all my other favorite movies! April has incredible insights of her own, but she always allows her subjects ample room to share their own perspectives. I recommend this heartily to any fellow film nerd, as well as anyone looking for some great movie recommendations.

Listen: Apple Podcasts

Here Be Monsters

Yes, there are a lot of podcasts about the mysterious and the macabre – but the best one is Here Be Monsters. It’s a weird and wonderful show about the unknown, part documentary and part drama, sometimes scary but always intriguing. The audio production is second to none; you’ll hear lush field recordings of private investigators, taxidermists, ghost hunters, and so many others. I don’t know of any other podcast quite like it.