Sam Dingman of 'Family Ghosts' on lingering stories and secrets that haunt families
Dingman joins us to share his favourite podcasts
Family Ghosts is a haunting podcast, but not in the way you would expect. Despite its name, Family Ghosts isn't necessarily about ghosts. It's about the lingering stories, secrets, myths and legends that haunt families — sometimes for generations.
Sam Dingman, the podcast's host and creator, helps people explore their family histories to find some resolution and understand themselves a little more. He joins us as a guest curator this week from his friend's guesthouse in Upstate New York (accompanied by many, many farm animals!)
We talk all about Family Ghosts, his love for storytelling, and his favourite podcasts. You can find his picks below.
— Kelsey Cueva, associate producer, Podcast Playlist
Podcasts featured this week:
Family Ghosts: "Family Ghosts is a documentary-style storytelling podcast. In each episode, we'll investigate the true story behind a mysterious figure whose legend has followed a family for generations. Grandmothers who were secretly jewel smugglers, uncles who led double lives, siblings who vanished without a trace, and other specters who cast shadows over our lives in ways that might not be immediately obvious. We are all formed in part by our familial collections of secrets, intrigues, and myths. By engaging with each others' legends, perhaps we can see each others' realities more clearly."
Tanis: "It's not easy to keep a premise as loose as Tanis's going for five seasons, but they did it. Through a deft balance of psychological horror, immersive production, and intoxicating intrigue, Tanis builds a world I never want to end, without ever quite revealing what they're driving towards."
Unwell: A Midwestern Gothic Mystery: "Lots of fiction podcasts have thrilling conceits and gripping narratives — both of which Unwell has in spades - but what I love most about it is the depth and attention to detail of the character development. Unwell's plot moves at a snail's pace, which I'm fine with, because every time there's a new episode, I find myself just excited to spend time with this bizarre collection of misfit humans."
Seek Treatment With Cat & Pat: "No show makes me laugh out loud more consistently. But Cat and Pat's comedy isn't the only thing I love about this show - what keeps me coming back is their consistently frank and unblinking honesty about the vagaries of their creative journeys, and the personal vulnerabilities they struggle with as they make their way. It feels authentic rather than ironic in the way other shows attempt the same thing, and makes me love them both so much."
The Paris Review: "So many magazines have tried to transform the appeal of their publication into a viable and engaging audio product, and for my money, almost all of them have failed. But with its exquisite sound design, thoughtful casting, and rejection of a personality-driven editorial viewpoint, The Paris Review gives me exactly what I want: the best writing in the world in my ears, buttressed by rich production that elevates the work without getting in its way."
Which podcasts are on your recommendation list? Email, tweet us @PodcastPlaylist, or find us on Facebook.
For more great podcasts, check out CBC's podcast portal, subscribe in Apple Podcasts.
