Drifting Off with Joe Pera Podcast Review

The Pitch:

Joe Pera lulls you to sleep with his low-key comedy.

The Product:

Every so often a podcast comes along that makes you feel like it has been made exclusively for you. Here at Podcasteroid HQ, Joe Pera has long been a favourite, serving up his atypical style of slow, anti-comedy, that gets funnier the more you take in.

Joe Pera has been described as “grandfatherly” and the point here is that it’s meant as an absolute compliment. For many comedians aged 35-ish, this description would be a death knell. But Pera’s pondering, awkward but optimistic energy has the warm feeling of a well-meaning, elderly relative.

A few years ago, Joe released a bathroom book, for people using the bathroom as an escape. We’ve all been there. The accompanying audiobook is a (gentle, soothing) tour de force in calming, sleep-aid media. It has literally calmed the anxiety of this reviewer countless times.

There’s a lot of set up here, and for good — if selfish — reason. We love Joe Pera, and everything he puts into the world. We desperately wanted a Joe Pera podcast. We got a Joe Pera podcast; a serene monthly journey into mundane topics like soup and — again, made for our Irish contingent — a rainy trip around Ireland.

The one downside, and this is painful to get into, is the audio production. While the music is beautiful, and Joe’s commitment to this softly spoken, pure character is absolute, something is just a little off in the final audio product. The soundtrack competes with Joe’s low monotone, and the finished product lacks some of the crisp warm clarity of his audiobook. It’s a toasted cheese sandwich that is crying out for a delicious tomato soup.

It’s early days in the podcast so we’re hoping this can be ironed out. Regardless, this podcast is still unmissable.

We love Joe Pera the way that Joe Pera loves tomatoes.

Can You Sleep To It?

You absolutely can, we’re delighted to report.

Recommended Episode:

It’s the type of show where you rummage around and pick an episode with an interesting topic.

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