Does the pillow of an insomniac feel impotent?

August 15, 2018 6:03 AM

Everything is Alive is an unscripted interview show / podcast in which all the subjects are inanimate objects. In each episode, a different thing tells us its life story--and everything it says is true." There have been three episodes so far: 1. Louis, can of soda; 2. Maeve, lamppost; 3. Dennis, pillow. They're not "sequential," but I do suggest listening to them in order.
posted by dobbs (26 comments total)

Appropriate soundtrack.

Is a tree as a rocking horse
An ambition fulfilled?
And is the sawdust jealous?
posted by Grangousier at 6:15 AM on August 15, 2018

The radium cola bit (which is a real interview, by the way) is one of the most delightfully off kilter bits of audio I’ve heard in a while.
posted by q*ben at 6:26 AM on August 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

I listened to Louis, Can of Soda as a guest episode on another podcast and was delighted, subscribed to the whole thing. Much recommended.
posted by kandinski at 6:43 AM on August 15, 2018

I lost it in the lamppost episode when he said one was stolen and she corrected him with "kidnapped" and said they should be taping LOST posters to dogs..
posted by hypersloth at 6:51 AM on August 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

This is cool. Added to my playlist. But also it makes me think of this:

“I am Jack’s smirking revenge...”
posted by Fizz at 7:08 AM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

So, is the can of soda somehow related to the box-of-wine guy a few posts down?
posted by briank at 7:22 AM on August 15, 2018

This is amazing. I heard an ad for this a couple weeks ago but had already forgotten about it, so thanks for posting.
posted by noneuclidean at 7:29 AM on August 15, 2018

My husband and I started listening during a road trip and I had to ask him to stop after an episode and a half because I found the soda episode to be deeply disturbing. I really did not want to have to contemplate deeply held notions of death, loneliness and loss every time I reached into the fridge.
posted by Alison at 7:36 AM on August 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

This is just wonderful! Thanks for posting.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 7:37 AM on August 15, 2018

I thought I would really dislike this podcast

In fact I love it!
posted by rebent at 8:23 AM on August 15, 2018

CALLING ALL CROUTON PETTERS

Just downloaded this for tonight’s commute home. Thanks!
posted by ejs at 8:43 AM on August 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

I would probably enjoy this podcast if I could download it. Why is it that podcasters avoid download options on their otherwise expansive and lovely webpages.
posted by charlesminus at 9:50 AM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I heard the first episode because I subscribe to 99% Invisible, another excellent podcast. At the end of that episode, Roman Mars (99% Invisible host) discusses how the episodes are made. It's not scripted. The call with the guy selling Radithor actually happened.

The can of soda hooked me. I listened to it, then my kid and I listened (she loved it), then we listened to it again and exposed my wife and nephews to it. It's brilliant.

Maeve the lamppost also killed. She had such a different take on the interview. I loved her witticisms (The Washington Lamppost; "they should tape fliers to dogs and send them around the city"; "Oh she has 11 flashlights? She sounds really cool").

I've been waiting for this next episode to drop. In a way it feels like the show Drunk History, in that you have the same interviewer asking people about a topic they've sorta halfway researched and made it their own story.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:17 AM on August 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

I am an absolute fiend for podcasts and I made a series of hissing dismissive mouth noises at the first promos for the concept. Then, in a fit of being momentarily bored with my usual go-to podcasts, I gave it a go and made a few more hissing pfffts and pshhh sounds in the listening before being won over and eventually enchanted.
posted by sonascope at 10:21 AM on August 15, 2018

Nobody's going to talk about Maeve's flat-eartherism? That cracked me up. And I thought the end of the Louis episode was pretty deep.
posted by queensissy at 10:29 AM on August 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

I loved the can of soda episode at first, but he went on far too long. The episode should have just ended after the can discussed the different ways he might die--that really would have stuck the ending.
posted by LarryC at 11:08 AM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

It's not scripted. The call with the guy selling Radithor actually happened.


WHAT?!? That takes this to a whole other level. Fantastic!
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 11:29 AM on August 15, 2018

I would probably enjoy this podcast if I could download it. Why is it that podcasters avoid download options on their otherwise expansive and lovely webpages.


There are multiple buttons at the bottom of the page to various podcast apps that allow you to listen to them on your phone.
posted by dobbs at 11:36 AM on August 15, 2018

I would probably enjoy this podcast if I could download it. Why is it that podcasters avoid download options on their otherwise expansive and lovely webpages.

View page source is your friend. Search ".mp3", then just copy the filename into your browser address bar.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 12:20 PM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Also introduced to this via 99% Invisible and have it subbed. Everything is on hold right now though, as I blitz through the backlog of episodes for The History of English.
posted by linux at 12:42 PM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

View page source is your friend. Search ".mp3", then just copy the filename into your browser address bar.

Ta Da!
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 1:38 PM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I think the thing I love most here is that there's a segment in each episode that is a real, actual call. The Radithor guy in the Louis episode, the guy whose famous lamppost was stolen in the Maeve episode, and the guy who runs a feather company in the Dennis episode. Oh, and the Bill Kurtis cameo, that was great.
posted by noneuclidean at 3:20 PM on August 15, 2018

Just listened to the first two episodes and they were HILARIOUS. I could have listened to another hour of Maeve's bizarre beliefs and opinions (or I guess I could just read her book.) I hope you guys stayed after the credits on that one to hear Maeve's take on democracy.

I am going to recommend they interview a nuclear submarine, who I think should have a very interesting take on humanity.
posted by ejs at 4:58 PM on August 15, 2018

Yesterday I explained the concept to a coworker and he was adamantly against it. I insisted he just give episode 1 a shot.

Today he just told me he's hooked.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:59 AM on August 16, 2018 [2 favorites]

(There's a new episode up: Tara, Bar of Soap)
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 12:25 PM on August 28, 2018

I wish Ana had seen the stairs earlier.
posted by Going To Maine at 11:17 PM on September 11, 2018 [1 favorite]