Judge John Hodgman - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I have been listening to this podcast for years and I love it as much now as ever. The number of times listening to this show has lead me to stifle a laugh, only to result in full-body spasms and tears of joy is innumerable. This tends to happen in crowded, quiet places (e.g. waiting rooms, airplane, watching my kid’s gymnastics class with other parents). One such instance was on a flight from one US coast to another. It was the episode with the girl who collects scary dolls, and Hodgman’s reaction to the photos left me a puddle of a human being in my window seat (I’m certain my middle seat neighbor started scanning the plane for empty seats). I tell everyone I know about this show and some have even started listening.

I’ve been listening to this podcast with my son since he was 10 years old. He’s now 15 and we still listen on every car ride together. It’s a wonderful way to share some laughs, a lot of laughs actually. And for a comedy podcast, John Hodgman’s verdicts are surprisingly sagacious and always rooted in kindness.

In the spirit of helping in the way you are asked to help, I'm rating this podcast. I just came out of a meditation retreat, and my heart is filled with gratitude for the wisdom that Judge Hodgman has shared over the years. His established law of being mindful of the work you leave for others, of not trying to change people, and so many more precedents are beautiful and helpful lessons in the Dharma. Thank you for your gentle and light-hearted presence.

I’ll be perfectly frank, when I first gave this podcast a listen several years ago it just didn’t click with me. I gave it a second chance and now the deep kindness and thoughtfulness of this show shine through and have made me very fond of this podcast. For many reasons right now, it is a great comfort to hear two men demonstrate such care and friendship to each other and to the litigants each episode.