LISTENING TO PODCASTS FOR RESEARCH

I listen to art crime podcasts to farm for ideas and to research specific topics.  Here are a few I recommend:

The Art Law podcast is great. https://artlawpodcast.com/  

This next podcast needs no introduction. Inside the FBI, https://www.fbi.gov/audio-repository/inside-the-fbi-the-art-crime-program-110123.mp3/view

One of my very favorites, unfortunately, only had one season. Art Crime Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/art-crime-podcast/id1548411017) was by husband and wife, Mara and Baker.  These are well-researched and they’re very funny. This is where I got the idea for my short story, “How It Didn’t Happen: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Robbery.” I used Art Crime’s description of Gardner bringing in a group of blind children to check out the home/museum’s acoustics.

If I have time, I add in a few on the theft of cultural property.  Like, V&A’s Culture in Crisis podcasts, https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/culture-in-crisis-preservation-by-design.

How does a podcast get off my fave list?

• If I sniff out any partisan nonsense going on, they’ve lost credibility with me.  I’m not talking about legitimate issues, like ‘are encyclopedic museums (Met, Louvre) good or bad.’ Academics debate that.  I’m talking about –– well, you know. Believe me, there are  political rants masquerading as true crime podcasts.
• If the narrator’s voice gets on my nerves. Sorry, I’m only human. 
• If a podcast is light on facts.  I suspect them of being padded to fill the time or to add episodes.  

I’m not saying I have to strike gold with every episode, there are other benefits to using podcasts for research. I’ve noticed that with internet research rabbit holes seem to find me. That doesn’t happen when you’re driving or working out, while listening to a podcast. When I’m done, I’m done.  And when the episode is over, it’s over. 

I listen while I’m driving. Specifically, from Alexandria, VA to Lewes, DE.  (And back again.) And while working out.  Even if I don’t use anything I learn in an episode, my time’s not wasted. 

Any podcasts you want to recommend to us?

Lane