Charley Locke
Culture

Magic Portals, the Sounds of Yellowstone, and 3 More Must-Hear Podcast Tales

This week, listen to burbling mudpots, a shape-shifting badger, and why high school wrestling was instrumental in a DEA investigation.
Grand Prismatic Spring Yellowstone National Park
Aerial view, Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.Getty Images

Good morning! Ready to spend 20 minutes (or more) on a sweaty, crowded, possibly cricket-and-worm-infested subway car? Looking forward to getting stuck in traffic as you inch your way to the office? We didn't think so. Why not spend those precious moments somewhere else? This week's podcast roundup is here to take you to many exotic locations, from Yellowstone to Miami to the imaginary Land of Foon—which is, obviously, only accessible through a Burger King in Chicago.

  • Shea hears voices. Specifically, the voices of four imaginary friends: Jas, Doc, Varena, and Aeraya. Except to Shea, they aren’t imaginary, just imagined: She has tulpas, or “intelligent companions imagined into existence.” To psychologists, this seems like dissociative personality disorder; to her fellow sci-fi and fantasy loving tulpamancers, they’re healthy, lifelong companions. If someone is happy with the voices in their head, can it be a disorder? What’s the difference between an active imagination and mental illness? *Reply All* investigates.
  • On March 5, 2015, Arnie Niekamp fell through a dimensional portal behind a Burger King into the Land of Foon. Luckily, he still gets a weak Wi-Fi signal from the earthly Burger King, which he uses to bring listeners a weekly update from the Vermilion Minotaur Tavern. This week, Niekamp and his two co-hosts—shape-shifting badger Chunt and wizard Usidore—interview Germ Crust, a textural makeup artist specializing in feather beards, hailing from a wasteland populated by crumbs. If you’re a fan of Chicago comedy (which supplies the producers and actors behind the show) or Cards Against Humanity (which sponsors it), the deadpan, absurdist, raunchy tone of *Hello from the Magic Tavern* makes it a welcome addition to the improv-podcast ecosystem.
  • Grand Prismatic Spring Yellowstone National Park
    Getty Images

    Here & Now, "How One Audio Archivist Works to Preserve Yellowstone's Iconic Sounds"

    Didn’t make it out to the national parks for the centennial? No worries, *Here & Now* can bring Yellowstone to you. Just meet Jennifer Jerrett out by Old Faithful, where the Yellowstone archivist will invite you to listen to the sounds of the park: the singing of meadowlarks, the clacking of elk antlers, the burbling of mudpots, and the groaning of a grizzly bear. (That last one is sure to startle you right out of your morning grogginess, by the way.) [Listen here.](http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/08/22/audio-archivist-yellowstone)
  • Jay J. Armes is a detective who saved Marlon Brando’s son and inspired Charles Bronson’s character in *Breakout.* He also once owned a menagerie of leopards and a bullet-proof limousine. He's known to wield a gun instead of his right hand and a hook instead of his left. Or maybe not. *Snap Judgment* examines the man behind the myth (and action figure)—and whether, for the people in the community he loved, all his fabrications really matter.
  • Image may contain Advertisement Poster Human Person Flyer Paper and Brochure
    ESPN

    Pin/Kings, "Episode One: Off the Mat, Off the Grid"

    This series from ESPN Audio follows the lives of the former 1976 co-captains of the Palmetto High School wrestling team: Alex DeCubas, who went on to become the kingpin of a Miami cocaine smuggling operation, and Kevin Pedersen, who became the DEA agent pursuing him. Each episode of this 16-episode series covers a different aspect of the story, from the world of high school wrestling to south Florida’s historical role in drug smuggling to the logistics of a DEA-sponsored money-laundering operation. Settle into your seat and get ready to binge on the whole season. [Listen here.](http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play?id=17191397)
Charley Locke writes about growing up and growing old for publications including The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, and WIRED. ... Read More
Writer
TopicsComedypodcastsSports
Read More
The Best Duffel Bags for Commuters and Chronic Overpackers
Need to schlep some stuff? These field-tested duffels can handle your baggage.
Louryn Strampe
Quell the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air Conditioners
These are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Wireless Chargers to Refuel Your Phone (or Watch)
Stop fumbling for cables in the dark. These WIRED-tested stands and pads will take the hassle out of refueling your phone, wireless earbuds, and watch.
Simon Hill
Breathe Easy Thanks to the Best Air Purifier for Every Home
Protect your home against dust, pets, allergies, and more with the best air purifiers, tested firsthand.
Molly Higgins
All the Best Vacuum Cleaners We’ve Ever Tried
Looking for all our top recommended vacuums? Here are our favorites in every style we’ve tested, from stick vacs to robot vacuums.
Nena Farrell
The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for All Your Devices
Keep your phone, laptop, handheld gaming console, and other electronics running with these travel-friendly power banks.
Simon Hill
The Best Computer Speakers for Jamming Out in Your Home Office
These WIRED-tested computer speakers, from stereo speakers to surround sound, will suit any budget.
Simon Hill
The Best Meal Kits of 2026, Tested by a Former Restaurant Critic
Here are the best meal kits in 2026, including Martha Stewart’s delivery box, a GLP-1–supportive plan, and a budget-friendly option.
Matthew Korfhage
The Dyson Vacuums Worth Buying
Feeling the pull of a new clean machine? We’ll help you make sense of Dyson’s whirlwind vacuum lineup.
Nena Farrell
The Best Apple 3-in-1 Wireless Chargers for Your Next Trip
Keep your trio of Apple gadgets powered up wherever you go with these compact folding chargers.
Simon Hill
The Best Smart Rings for Tracking Your Health in 2026
A svelte smart ring can track important activity, sleep, and health metrics. Plus—unlike most smartwatches—it doesn’t need to be charged every day.
Boutayna Chokrane
The Creators of Hacks Really, Really, Really Hate AI
Ahead of the hit show’s finale, cocreators Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello talk about media consolidation, the perils of censorship, and why they find AI “deeply disturbing.”
Katie Drummond