January Golden Giraffe for Audio

The Browser newsletter celebrates the best writings and listenings from around the web, pieces of lasting value on any topic that surprise and  delight. Every month we choose a written winner and an audio winner, from the Browser’s expertly curated selection, for a cash prize of $100. At the end of the year, we select the best of the year for a grand prize.

The Winner of the Golden Giraffe for Audio, January 2019 is….

Blúiríní Béaloidis for "Otherworld Islands In Folk Tradition"

Episode: ”Otherworld Islands In Folk Tradition” | Podcast: Blúiríní Béaloidis | 72m59s

Bewitching, soothing podcast about Irish folklore. It’s told bilingually, partly in English and partly in the Irish language, with plenty of music and poetry woven through. This episode deals with the recurring idea of “otherworld islands” in Norse and Celtic legends, where souls travel after death and happiness lasts for ever (72m59s)

Congratulations to Jonny Dillon, Claire Doohan and the whole Blúiríní Béaloidis team! Our two runners-up are the outstanding….

Flash Forward for "Spawn of Sponcon"

Episode: “Spawn of Sponcon” | Podcast: Flash Forward | 48m46s

Futurist podcast looks at the likely evolution of advertising. Via a fictional reconstruction and interviews with real-life commentators, host Rose Eveleth explores the idea that influencer marketing could move offline and into normal conversation. People are rewarded financially for mentioning products positively, while their smartphones listen constantly to verify (48m46s)

This is Love for "How to be Alone"

Episode: ”How To Be Alone” | Podcast: This Is Love | 25m51s

Beautifully produced interview with a man named Billy, the only inhabitant of a remote and abandoned mining town in Colorado. He moved there 40 years ago wanting to be alone. He’s still there. The daily weather information he collects is his only regular way of communication — it’s used by scientists. For him, knowing they read his figures makes his data a kind of conversation (25m51s)

Have a podcast you’d like to submit for consideration for future prizes? Please submit here. Congratulations to all of this month’s winners, and happy listening!