Rob & Akiva Need a Podcast #129: Podcast Power Hour

Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) and Akiva Wienerkur (@Keev26) need a podcast and every week, Rob and Akiva spin a wheel of listener-submitted podcast ideas, and whatever the wheel lands on is what they podcast about next. This week, the wheel landed on “Podcast Power Hour” which resulted in Rob and Akiva taking it by themselves this week and listening to a dozen other podcasts, and then letting you know what you missed in the past week of podcasts across the internet. Below is the list of podcasts Rob and Akiva listened to in the episode:

Zack To The Future
- About
  - Mark-Paul Gosselaar who played Zack Morris goes through old episodes of Saved By The Bell for the first time since he taped the show in 80s-90s. He has a cohost who was the one that created Zack Morris is Trash series. Mark-Paul basically complains about the show which makes it really funny.
- Current Episode
  - On today’s show, Mark-Paul and Dashiell are joined by Rod Belding himself, as Ed Blatchford shares his memories from the iconic episode where Mr. Belding’s brother briefly wins over the gang as a substitute teacher.
Office Ladies
- About
  - The Office (the actresses that played Pam and Angela)
- Current Episode
  - This week we’re breaking down Did I Stutter? When Stanley snaps at Michael, Michael must stand up for himself as Stanley’s manager. Meanwhile Dwight buys Andy’s car, and Pam has to forgo contact lenses and wear her backup glasses to work. Angela rocks her original Did I Stutter? shooting draft, Jenna does a deep dive on Mad Libs and the ladies reveal The Office writing staff’s mantra: “small, real, relatable”
Imagined Life
- About
  - Biography of a famous person (with a twist)
- Current Episode
  - The Prisoner: Each episode guides listeners on an immersive journey through the surprising moments and challenges that shaped someone’s life before they were famous. Clues about your identity are dropped along the way, but only at the end will you learn who “you” are.
Urgent Care
- About
  - Advice Podcast
- Current Episode
  - This week Joel and Mitra / Mitra and Joel open up the kitchen as they offer advice on your boyfriend wearing dad jeans, navigating a long-distance relationship, period sex, and more.
Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer
- About
  - Stand-up comedian Nicole Byer (host of Netflix’s Nailed It and now Wipeout with Jon Cena) is smart, funny, beautiful but also somehow perpetually single. Each week Nicole talks with a guest – usually another comedian – about sex, dating, relationships in an honest (and often graphic) way while Nicole tries to figure out how she’s still single.
- Current Episode
  - Actress and comedian Jillian Bell (Workaholics, The Pole) joins Nicole to solve the reasoning behind their mutual singleness. They discuss the results of their recent psychic readings, how they confront people who aren’t wearing a mask, QAnon, and manifest qualities of their dream partner.
Who Weekly
- About
  - Pop culture
- Current Episode
  - Natasha Bedingfield, Nate Wonder & Holly Madison???
Frenemies
- About
  - YouTube/TikTok things going on
- Current Episode
The Daily
- About
  - NYT’s Daily Podcast
- Current Episode
  - Several months ago, The Times opened up a phone line to ask Americans what it’s really been like to raise children during the pandemic. Liz Halfhill, a single mother to 11-year-old Max, detailed her unvarnished highs and lows over the past year.
Dr. Gameshow
- About
  - Two comics – Jo Firestone and Manolo Moreno – host this podcast where they play ridiculous games submitted by fans with callers (currently recorded over Zoom). It’s very silly, weird, and family-friendly.
- Current Episode
  - Hosts Jo Firestone & Manolo Moreno play listener-created games with callers via Zoom! Games played: Cold Stone Steve Austin, Dr. Gameshow Me Your Talent, and Dr. Finger Tap
The Unmade Podcast
- About
  - The premise of the podcast is 2 guys discussing podcast ideas that they’ll never end up making. This is a perfect corollary to RAANAP. You may even get an idea or 2. Beyond that, these are experienced and entertaining podcasters with banter that often runs far from the initial premise.
- Current Episode
  - Tim and Brady discuss new trading cards, more weirdness from civilians, head-to-heads, a Dutch Sofa Shop cover, an architectural Spoon of the Week, a building demolition, ancestors, Brady’s convict roots, secret words, and a big finale.
Killer Role
- About
  - New podcast from NBC Dateline
- Current Episode
  - Indie filmmakers cast Wyn Reed as their star. What they didn’t know was that Wyn wasn’t Wyn.
My Favorite Murder
- About
  - Murder
- Current Episode
  - This week’s hometowns include a Night Stalker story and an earthquake tale.

After Rob and Akiva complete their power hour, they go through the mailbag to hear what new ideas should be added to the wheel and then spun the wheel to see what will be coming next week in episode 130.

For the link to the spreadsheet that Rob and Akiva use to compile ideas, check it all out here: Rob and Akiva Need a Spreadsheet (compiled by the great Will from America).