choice – Pete's Blog

Over the years there has been a lot written about what our choice of music says about us. If you like Wagner does that make you an aggressive Teutonic? If you prefer Strauss does that make you weak willed and airy fairy? Does a taste for the Beatles mean you are out of date? Does liking Taylor Swift mean you an empowered feminist or a young teenager? Many of us claim to have eclectic music taste because we think we like such wide ranging genres. The reality is that if someone else looks at our music collection they can see a definite style, that reflects who we are and where we have come from.

I have a feeling that our taste in podcasts says even more about us. Here are some of mine.

I was an early adopter of podcasts. They arrived as an option in iTunes in June 2005 and I immediately started downloading them to my iPod so that I could listen on walks with the dogs. Many of the early ones were just repeats of radios programmes and I subscribed (not followed in those days) to several Radio 4 programmes, some of which you can still see above. I think “Last Word” was one of the first made available. I also remember the exciting day when after several years of waiting, the BBC added “The Archers” to its podcast list.

It was pretty easy in those early days because there were not that many podcasts available, so I had time to listen to all the ones I liked. In recent years, the number of podcasts has just exploded. I am now a complete old fogey because I write a blog instead of hosting a podcast. Why do so many people do podcasts? I am sure the top podcasts make a lot of money, but for many I suspect it is just an ego thing, or maybe, like this blog, it is a satisfying way of sharing what you are thinking with a few friends. What it does mean is that there is huge choice.

You can see above that my selection covers politics, drama, history, current affairs, film, comedy, science. What is the common thread? I think that all the podcasts I choose are entertaining, not too difficult to listen to, not too long. Back when I was working, I used to listen to business podcasts, but they have now gone. I am surprised I do not listen to a narrowboat podcast. Perhaps I am just bored of all the boat vloggers.

And what does my choice says about me? Maybe that I have eclectic taste. Or not.

I would welcome feedback this week. What do you think about my choice of podcasts, and what do you prefer yourself?

When I was a child, my birthday was my second favourite day of the year after Christmas. I would look forward to the surprise presents, the party food (jelly and ice cream), and being treated as the special one in our family of six. These days, now aged 58, there is always a risk that my birthday will be a disappointment. After all, I have all the “stuff” I want, so any surprise presents are difficult to choose, likely to be a let down, and take up needed space in our narrowboat.

Mandy, my wife, was particularly stressed about the day because she couldn’t think of what to do. So this year I took control, determined to choose my own best birthday.

There were a few presents after all, which had been very well chosen. A bottle of Arran 10 whisky from my youngest son, and some chocolates from my Mum, neither of which will not take up space for very long! And a board game all about narrowboating from one of my brothers, which is unusual and great fun.

But what made the day was the things I chose to do. Instead of moving the boat, we stayed for the day in Devizes, a lovely small market town in Wiltshire. Firstly we went out for breakfast. I had my favourite Eggs Benedict, and a real cup of coffee (normally I have decaf). Then I took the dogs for a long walk through the countryside to a farm where I had read they make excellent ice cream. I was not disappointed with my salted caramel brownie sundae, while the dogs had a special doggy ice cream. Coming back to the boat I chilled out for a while, doing a bit of baking (cornish pasties and banana walnut bread since you ask) and then went to visit the Wadworth brewery, which makes one of my favourite real ales – 6X. They weren’t doing tours but I sat outside in the sun, talking to the locals, and quaffing two 1/2 pints and three 1/3 pints so that I could try their selection without getting too drunk. Mandy then joined me and we went out to look for somewhere to eat, but in the end we just had another drink and came back to the boat to eat the pasties, and watch a lightweight Nicholas Cage film.

I went to bed, feeling really good. I think in future I will always plan my own birthday, and get what I really want.

What about you? Do you prefer surprises and to be treated by others, or to choose your own delights?

Tag: choice

What do my podcasts say about me?

How to enjoy my 58th birthday