Culture

A Stormtrooper Tell-All and 4 Other Essential Podcasts

Internet rabbit holes, fiction from the Eiffel Tower, and a trip to Tatooine. These are the podcasts you're looking for.
Image may contain Advertisement Poster and Text

If you're going to Tosche Station on Tatooine to pick up some power converters, who do you buy them from? Who is this guy? What should you do if you accidentally end a voicemail to your dentist with "I love you"? This week, we've got answers to all those burning questions. Plus, fiction from the ballroom at the top of the Eiffel Tower and the most honest marketing meeting of all time.

  • The best *Reply All* episodes are Internet rabbit holes explored to the extreme—and "Boy in Photo" does this by going all the way to Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. In 2006, an ILX message board rallied around a photo of two girls and one lonely-looking guy, whom the message board named "Wayne." They went on to follow the social media and lives of the characters for the next 10 years. In this episode, host PJ Vogt nervously travels to the Philadelphia suburb where he grew up to track down the real Wayne. Listen through for an unexpected turn at the end.
  • Image may contain Logo Symbol and Trademark
    NPR

    Radiolab, “Seneca, Nebraska”

    Is the solution to a nation divided to just let it divide? In this episode of *Radiolab*, learn about a town that did just that—or at least put it up to a vote. After small-town squabbles became irreconcilable differences, the residents of Seneca, Nebraska decide whether to unincorporate, and whether there’s any value in keeping the town together. [Listen here](http://www.radiolab.org/story/seneca-nebraska/).
  • *The Truth* offers strange, excellent fiction—and this week, there’s a selection of five pieces written and performed by funny people (including Scott Adsit, Tami Sagher, and Colin Nissan). Tune in for confessions couched in marketing buzzwords, a dangerously gibberish traffic report, and panicked, unrequited voicemails from a patient to his dentist.
  • This is the episode you’re looking for. In 1977, Anthony Forrest was the stormtrooper who first showed us the effects of a Jedi Mind Trick. In *I Was There Too*, Forrest talks about the difficulty of making eye contact with Alec Guinness while wearing a stormtrooper uniform and the backstory behind Fixer, Luke’s friend back at Tosche Station. Plus, his turn in *The Spy Who Loved Me*.
  • Julian hopes to be a part of it all: the ventriloquism lessons, the cricket translation machine, the bird who plays every instrument in an orchestra save the viola. But *Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air)*, the variety radio show broadcast from a ballroom at the top of the Eiffel Tower, has no place for a lonely, bumbling janitor. Told by Julian’s imaginary friend—or at least, imaginary narrator—the latest project from the *Welcome to Nightvale* team is as delightfully strange as you'd expect.

Comments

Back to topTriangle
Charley Locke writes about growing up and growing old for publications including The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, and WIRED. ... Read More
Writer
TopicspodcastsRadiolabStar Wars
Read More
Battle of the Branches: Best Artificial Christmas Trees 2025
WIRED brought 10 of the most popular artificial Christmas trees into a studio, had volunteers assemble them, then got three interior designers to pick the best through blind judging.
Best Housewarming Gifts for Any New Home
Make a house into a home with these gifts, whether your recipient is moving into their first house or a great new apartment.
The Best Gifts for Sleep
Sleep is the one thing every giftee needs, and you can help them get it. These are our tried-and-tested picks for giftable sleep aids, from masks to melatonin.
33 Best Gifts for Cat Lovers
Want to surprise your feline friend or find the perfect gift for a cat lover? WIRED has you covered.
32 Gifts Teens May Actually Like (According to Our Kids)
Teenagers can be scary and impossible to shop for. From gaming chairs to cologne to slippers, these adolescent-approved gifts can help.
Spore Yourself Rotten With WIRED’s Mushroom Gift Guide
We’re talking mushroom gummies, shiitake-infused cooking oil, and even an automated monotub for serious spore enthusiasts.
Go Pro With the Best Camera Gear for Your Phone
From mobile lenses to wireless mics, here’s everything you need for your portable, pro-grade photo or video studio.
The Best Gifts for the PC Gamer in Your Life
It’s dangerous to go alone! Take these headsets, keyboards, and mice and give them to your favorite PC gamer.
The Best Coffee Pod Machines for Hot and Cold Brew—Fast
Pod coffee makers are a convenient way to get caffeinated. Of the ones we've tried so far, the Bruvi BV-01 is our top pick.
Best Gifts for Women Who’ve Checked Out of Planet Earth
She’s seen enough. She’s had enough. She can’t fly through a portal to a different reality, but these gifts will help her transcend this world.
The Best Base Layers for Every Adventure
Whether you’re layering up for winter cold or looking for an ultralight summer system, we’ve tested and found the best base layers for all your outdoor adventures.
The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure
From strenuous hikes and serious summits to weekend rambles in the park, these boots help you make the most of your time outdoors.