So this morning I am enjoying myself planning on finishing my essay and listening to podcasts (didn’t finish either). I was super excited to see that Decoder Ring Theatre (decoderringtheatre.com) has a new Red Panda Adventures podcast (Yayness!). I can’t get  enough of the Amesome Canadian superheroes and their hectic but fun lifestyle. Especially Kit Baxter, the Flying Squirrel. She’s my idol. I saw that the title of the episode was named Operation: Cold Feet. Of course that made me nervous because there’s a big wedding planned and I don’t want to spoil it for you who don’t listen to The Red Panda Adventures but YOU need to listen to them. I know you will love them like I love them. They are hilarious and addictive. As much as I just promoted them, however, I am afraid that after listening to this episode that they jumped the shark. 

Don’t get me wrong now. I still love the show but this episode was uncomfortable for me. I’ll just go right out and say it but the Red Panda and the Flying Squirrel get a visit from the future great-granddaughter known only as the Red Squirrel. It doesn’t end there. The Red Squirrel even goes so far as to tell them that she was told stories by the Flying Squirrel later in life. Hold the phone.

The Red Squirrel first came to us in an earlier episode to help the hot couple out of a tight spot. I dismissed the character because we didn’t really get conformation that she was related to the Red Panda or Flying Squirrel anyway. Now we know she exists and is the offspring of the two. Not only that but she was told stories by the Flying Squirrel and Red Panda. That means Flying Squirrel and Red Panda have to live long enough to old age to tell her stories and that now we know they can’t die from all they’re crime-solving, building-leaping superhero duties. Not that I thought they were going to perish before, but this just makes us doubly sure of that.

Not only that, but if the Red Squirrel really is the great-granddaughter of the couple, then they have to start having kids very soon if they’re grandchild is going to have a granddaughter that lives to be old enough to remember stories from her great-grandmother. I’m not saying it can’t happen but realistically this situation has to fit in a certain timeframe. 

Please, don’t think that I hate the red Squirrel character. I love her. She is cute and funny and the hope for the survival of the relationship between the Flying Squirrel and the Red Panda. I definitely want the couple to stay together. The whole time they spent apart in the beginning of the series was torture! But they are fun no matter whether a couple or separate. And this episode does not make me want to stop listening to the podcasts altogether. I am still a loyal and happy fan of Decoder Ring Theatre. I just think that they may have shot themselves in the foot with this because now that we know they live to old age with a long family line, what’s next? Has DRT run out of story ideas for the masked duo? I hope not! I love you guys who perform the show and make it happen and I wish you wealth and success.

1.) Decoder Ring Theater – This podcast is great because it makes the listener feel like one is tuning in from an old radio. It is a modern take on old radio dramas with loveable superheroes or witty, fast-talking gumshoes and a brave, independent space man. the comedy in all these adventures is not to be missed either. What’s not to love? Don’t forget to visit decoderringtheater.com for more information and goodies.

2.) Wormwood – This is the story of a town, Wormwood, and the delightful and frightening people that live there. Xander Crowe and Sparrow come to the town to try to decipher the mystery and strange events occurring within. The suspense and comedy are very addicting. Go to wormwoodshow.com.

3.) Stuff You Should Know – Truly, the title says it all. This podcast answers any questions about deja vu, Graceland, altruism, altitude sickness, economics, tongue twisters, ponzi schemes, and way more. The hosts, Josh and Chuck, are really fun to listen to and enlightening. They are both writers for the website howstuffworks.com which hosts this podcast. 

4.) On This Day In Blues History – This podcast by PW Fenton is incredibly informative and simply awesome. He gives one podcast every day, which are two minutes each, and he plays blues music in each podcast. I love the music and learning about blues history. See bluesland.net for more information and downloads. 

5.) MPR The Current Song of the Day – For all needs involving indie music and rare music this is your stop. There is one song each day from a dazzling, eclectic mix. Minnesota.publicradio.org is home to this podcast and much more. 

6.) The Official LOST Podcast – This is for all the LOST fans in the world. It’s never enough to watch the episodes without creating theories and trying to find more hidden secrets or behind the scenes facts online. In this podcast the executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof provide “answers” to viewer questions and re-hash the episodes and shed light on some of the dark mysteries of the show. Answers is in quotation marks because more often than not “Darlton” as the executive producers are nick-named give sketchy and unclear responses to the listeners so as not to spoil the show. Abc.go.com has extra tidbits and cool things. 

All of these podcasts can be downloaded for free from the itunes store. I learn a lot from these and they brighten my day. I have been called a podcast junkie, but I don’t see what’s wrong with that. Hmm…