Wild Card with Rachel Martin - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I’m not sure how I stumbled on this, but it sent me into a deep-dive of previous episodes. Absolutely fascinating and very personal takes from smart & successful artists and creators. Sprinkled with raw, unscripted emotions and stories along with brilliant guidance & questions from the host. This is a national treasure! First of all - is there a feedback button for who we’d love interviewed next? I have a percolating list…
And second - has NPR made the deck of cards into a game yet? I would buy sets for my whole family!
I appreciate the gentle tone and probing guidance!
I’ve already written down some very beautiful life wisdoms from your thoughtful guests.

I started listening to this podcast as soon as it dropped, but since then it has become my go to calming and centering podcast. It already has conversations about the existential thing that I love to ponder and think about, and then when we’re in this crazy world of upsetting news every other day, it is the best escape. These are the things that really matter.

This podcast launched around the same time as the New York Times’ “The Interview,” and I vastly prefer this one. Where “The Interview” is somewhat haughty, self-important, and indulgent to the point of parody, this podcast is fun, lighthearted, yet deeply sincere. It takes you placed you’d never expect and teaches you things you didn’t even know you didn’t know. I love it.

I love the guests and interviews I’ve heard on this podcast so far. Great choice of interviewees!

Two ruses need reconsideration: the first time you listen, having the rules explained is fine. Upon the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, it’s a little unbearable to sit through all of that, but also to hear interviewees pick a card from three choices. Why pick a card from 3 downturned cards? You don’t need this—let your guests pick the top card (or from three upturned).

Second—interviews are not about the host unless that host is famous and their presence is why guests come on the show. That’s why guests don’t choose the “flip” option (to flip a question on the host). Martin has had to awkwardly ask a guest if they want the card flipped. Guests don’t know who Martin is or want her opinion on a tough question—that’s info you want to hear from people you are close to in some way, not strangers. The audience wants to hear what guests have to say. I see why Martin would have thought that could be useful…but it misperceives the point of an interview.

Lose some of the ruse and this will be an exceptional podcast.

I tried, but I just can’t believe how bad this is. The idea is that guests choose a card with a question, and this is what they talk about. The questions are faux-deep and invite all sorts of self-centered, over-long answers about nothing. If you like to hear C-list celebrities prattle on, encouraged by a fawning host, this is for you. Otherwise, stay away!