Podcast roundup: The best this week, from The Documentary to Someone Else's Movie, and The Inquiry

Podcasts have seen a rapid upsurge in popularity in recent years. From true crime to design, popular culture and modern relationships, fiction to in-depth reportage, podcasts have proliferated to the point where no matter how esoteric the subject, there’s bound to be a show that deals with it. Amid this cornucopia of audio delights, however, how do you pick the podcast that’s most worth your while? This is where our weekly curated playlist steps in; it’s a lowdown on the best episodes from a selection of podcasts that deserve a listen. Ready to tune in? *** —  Someone Else’s Movie James Hurst on Donnie Darko About the podcast: Hosted by Norm Wilner (senior film writer for NOW Magazine), each week, an actor, director, screenwriter, critic or industry observer discusses a film that he or she admires, but had no hand in making. About the episode: In the longest episode of the podcast yet, writer and producer James Hurst (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Flashpoint, Wynonna Earp, Frankie Drake Mysteries) has an in-depth discussion on the mysteries and complexities of Richard Kelly’s incredible mind-bending 2001 project, Donnie Darko (both versions). Runtime: 109 minutes Listen to the episode here.

—  The Documentary New York’s Flower Market: Things my Father Loved About the podcast: Documentaries investigating global developments, issues and affairs from the BBC World Service. About the episode: What does it take to make a living in the New York flower market? The city’s historic 28th Street flower market opens early, and the sidewalk is a rush of colour by 5 am, packed with cheerful yellow sunflowers, frothy lime-white hydrangeas and vibrant lilies. Office workers pick their way to work round tropical plants and tall leafy palms sway in the city breeze. Cathy FitzGerald hears the market’s incredible stories, and finds out what it takes to make it in this very beautiful — and very tough — business. Runtime: 27 minutes Listen to the episode here.

—  The Film Reroll Ep 51: John Wick (Part 1) About the podcast: Podcast hosts Paulo Quiros, Jocelyn Vammer, Jon Miller and Pitr Strait take famous movies and plays through them as if they were a role-playing game. Instead of all writers carefully crafting a plot, they let the dice decide and go from there. Inevitably (and hilariously), it all goes completely off the rails. About the episode: The podcast plays through reverse John Wick. Vammer (as Viggo Tarasov) buys a hotel, while Quiros (as Iosef Tarasov) purchases a dog! With Andy Hoover as the Dungeon Master. Runtime: 158 minutes Listen to the episode  here.

—  The Inquiry Are We Heading for Another Mass Extinction? About the podcast: The Inquiry — a documentary podcast — explores the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world. About the episode: Vanishing species prompt dire warnings about life on earth. In the first of a two-part series, the podcast examines the evidence of species loss and compare it with the geological record. Runtime: 24 minutes Listen to the episode  here.

—  WTF with Marc Maron Episode 982 - Seth MacFarlane About the podcast: A weekly podcast and radio show hosted by stand-up comedian  Marc Maron in his garage, where he interviews celebrities, artists and fellow comedians while venting out some voices in his own head. Lock the gate! About the episode: Seth MacFarlane tells Maron why he has always enjoyed making trouble through comedy, how that impulse got him into hot water when Family Guy started, and why many of the things he’s doing now — studio recordings, live performances, his show The Orville — are rooted in his respect for the past. He also talks about making Ted, hosting the Oscars, the evolution of offensive comedy, and the influence of The Far Side. Runtime: 96 minutes Listen to the episode  here.