I chose to listen to “The Handsome Family” podcast on NPR’s website. I chose this podcast from the Fresh Air segment of NPR because I have listened to NPR since I was little, riding around in the car with my dad and waking up to it in the mornings and Fresh Air was always the most interesting to me. As a kid, of course, I was never interested in the current events and political discussions on NPR, but the calm, unhurried voices discussing art and culture in artistic detail always appealed to me, even as a child. The first podcast to pop up was also what seemed the most interesting to me.
The description talked about the married couple Rennie and Brett Sparks who write music and the influence of their desert life on their songs. I could already tell that I would enjoy the segment and its detailed topic. The Handsome Family exceeded my expectations, discussing not only their musical sound, but also their individual mental illnesses, religious influences, and life as a couple. The interview was incredibly well-rounded and kept me extremely interested. Afterwards, I was ready to look up the band and download a few songs!
Voiceovers:
- Terri Gross– NPR’s Fresh Air, interviewer
- Rennie Sparks– vocalist and musician of The Handsome Family
- Brett Sparks– vocalist and musician of The Handsome Family