10 episodes
BETA Wisconsin Public Radio
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 32 Ratings
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"BETA" comes from producer/host Doug Gordon. BETA is a polyphonic mosh pit where high culture and low culture collide, taking an immersive, innovative, playful and provocative approach to exploring arts, culture and technology.
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Episode 613: Greg Proops, Reggie Watts, Myriam Gurba
Comedian Greg Proops talks about his hilarious album, ‘French Drug Deal.’ Also, comedian and musician Reggie Watts shares his memories of growing up in his memoir, ‘Great Falls, Montana.’ And Myriam Gurba on her thrilling, no-holds-barred essay collection, ‘Creep.’
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Episode 701: Nadirah Simmons, George Pelecanos, The Blues Brothers
This week on BETA, hip-hop historian Nadirah Simmons highlights the game-changing ladies that made history in pop music. And one of crime fiction's greatest writers, George Pelecanos, talks aout his most autobiographical work yet. And journalist Daniel de Visé on the history of The Blues Brothers.
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Episode 612: Aparna Nancherla, ‘Telemarketers,’ ‘Sucker’
Comedian Aparna Nancherla talks about her battle with impostor syndrome. Also, “Telemarketers” director Sam Lipman-Stern gives us the lowdown on the shady side of the business. And Daniel Hornsby on his scathing Silicon Valley novel, 'Sucker.'
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Episode 624: Zach Woods, Steph Tolev, Scott Guild
This week on "BETA," actor and comedian Zach Woods on his pitch-perfect NPR parody, “In the Know.” Also, comedian Steph Tolev on being filthy and funny. And Scott Guild on his multimedia novel, "Plastic."
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Episode 611: Sarah Rose Etter, murder ballads, Walter on Walter: ’48 Hrs’
Sarah Rose Etter talks about her surreal novel, ‘Ripe.’ Also, visual artist Kristine Potter shares the haunting reality behind murder ballads. And film critic Walter Chaw returns for another installment of ‘Walter on Walter.’ Today, he talks about Walter Hill’s film, ’48 Hours.’
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Episode 623: Moshe Kasher, Sloane Crosley, Tommy Orange
This week on "BETA," Comedian Moshe Kasher on being a "Subculture Vulture." Also, Sloane Crosley explores love, loss and grief. And "There There" author Tommy Orange on his long-awaited followup, "Wandering Stars."
Customer Reviews
My favorite arts and culture podcast - insightful questions
Excellent way to discover new artists (authors, musicians, filmmakers) and gain novel insights about artists you might already know. Doug Gordon does his research and I’m often inspired to look up more about the guests and related topics after the show. The conversations are surprisingly in depth within a short amount of time and I find myself listening more than once Ito soak in the multifaceted content. The well-placed and playful sound clips really increase the entertainment value and make the show fun. I also appreciate the way Gordon treats each guest with kindness and curiosity— he manages to cover edgy topics without being cynical or pretentious. I’m a big fan.
Smart and engaging
Beta is a truly unique show from WPR. Fun and relevant, beta balances playful banter with deep discussions with diverse guests. This is my favorite look at art and culture today from the perspective of creators themselves
Beta is the Alpha in my book!
Playful and smart, quirky and complex- I so enjoy Beta! The topics and interviews are wide ranging. The conversations, questions, and quips show Doug Gordon’s interest and preparation for his guests. I find myself thinking about the episodes long after I listen to them, and am often inspired to dig even further to learn more about the historical event, book, comedian, podcast, etc. that was highlighted. I like that you can tune in during the middle of an episode to catch the next segment, and you also don’t have to listen to the episodes in any order. Even the theme song is catchy! Kudos to WPR for supporting this fun and innovative program.