Comedy - The best comedy podcasts

Our favorite podcasts ranging from the profound to the ridiculous

Marc Maron was the last guest on Creative Loafing’s “Another Comedy Podcast,” hosted by contributor/comedian Noah Gardenswartz from June 2010 through February 2011. Among the other podcasts in the Atlanta humor scene, Vortex owner Michael Benoit and Laughing Skull manager Marshall Chiles interview comedians on “The Hidden Track Podcast.” Comedian Mike Speenberg and actor/producer Brian Stephens share stories and sample beers on “The Suds and Buds Podcast.” Actor/comic Cris Gray interviews comedians, animators, and stage actors for his “Crash Comedy Podcast.”

Nationwide, podcast shows prove strikingly diverse. Here are some of our favorites.

“The Adam Carolla Show”
?The former co-host of “The Man Show” earned bragging rights from the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloaded podcast in the world, with more than 50 million downloads a year. The daily show tracks closely to a talk radio format, with Carolla and his sidekicks interviewing guests and either riffing or ranting on the news of the day.

“Sklarbro Country”
?Identical twin stand-up comedians Randy and Jason Sklar apply their enthusiasm for sports, alternative music, and comedy to breezy, wide-ranging conversations that prove consistently compelling, even for listeners who care nothing about sports.

“The Pod F. Tompkast”
?”Master of ceremonies” Paul F. Tompkins takes on a slightly fussy, old-fashioned persona for this show that includes stream-of-consciousness rambles, sketches, conversations, and prerecorded live routines such as “Google Voice Theatre” (performances of famous movie scenes as translated by the Google Voice Program).

“Mike and Tom Eat Snacks”
?Wry comic Michael Ian Black and his “Ed” co-star Tom Cavanagh blend hyperanalytical skills with improv gifts on this in-depth discussion of snack foods. A typical episode might cover the merits of Häagen-Dazs ice cream, then launch onto a digression about a workaholic German ice cream maker who gradually learns to cut loose.

“The Flop House”
?”The Daily Show” writers Dan McCoy and Elliott Kalan, along with their earthy co-host Stuart Wellington, dissect Hollywood’s lamest would-be blockbusters. While capable of insightful observations, the trio’s strength lies in its chummy conversation, improvised silliness, and snappy patter.

“Judge John Hodgman”
?The author, character actor, and “resident expert” of “The Daily Show” takes a page from Judge Wapner in this “People’s Court”-style broadcast. Exaggerating his tweedy hauteur, Hodgman mediates personal disputes that can involve hilariously arcane subjects like whether or not machine guns qualify as robots. Hodgman not only draws out the maximum amount of whimsy from the “court cases,” he often reaches genuinely Solomonic rulings.

“The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd”
?This family-friendly spoof of an old-fashioned radio serial unfolds in short chapters in which brilliant inventor Dr. Floyd pursues the scheming Dr. Steve through history.