the strip
Posted by podcastfanatic on December 30, 2006
The Statistics
What’s it Called? The Strip
Where can I find the show? http://www.stevefriess.com/podcast/
When was the first episode produced? September 2005
How long is the average episode? Around an hour
How often is an episode released? Once week
The Review
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have at least a handful of pictures in my head of how different America is from the country I grew up in: Disneyland; acres of enormous 2-storey houses with only 4 people living in each one; men dressed as Santa Claus ringing bells while snow falls; and the myriad lights and dancing girls of the Las Vegas Strip.
Listening to a single episode of The Strip soon dispels the myth that Vegas is all lights and show girls. The podcast is hosted by Steve and Miles, who both have day jobs working in the media. The professionalism of these guys shines through in their podcast.
Each week there is at least one in-depth interview with someone who has something to do with making Las Vegas tick. It might be a celebrity who’s got a show coming on the strip (Johnny Mathis, Harvey Fierstein, Rich Little, Carrot Top, George Martin) or an up-and-coming chorus member in one of the dozens of shows always playing. Alternatively, Steve and Miles will tackle one of the power-brokers of Vegas (Steve Wynn or the Mayor). Often, I’ve not heard of the subject of the interview but I can only recall one occasion where I stopped listening because I had no frame of reference for what the interviewee was discussing.
In addition to the interviews there’s regular segments like the top secret tourist tip of the week, a trivia question designed to get listeners involved with the show and the hosts’ reviews of shows, restaurants and local attractions.
Neither Steve nor Miles was born in Vegas but both come across as sincere in their desire to show off their adopted city in the most positive light possible.
Steve and Miles have a great chemistry on the air and consequently I enjoy the interviews they do together more than the ones Steve does on his own (sometimes Steve pre-records the interviews which he conducts for his other journalism work).
The sound quality is great when the guys are in the studio (or their walk-in closet!) but the audio for some of Steve’s pre-recorded interviews is occasionally problematic. A couple of the interviews sound like they’ve been conducted in a crowded bus terminal which probably highlights the problems finding decent, portable recording equipment.
The Rating
Will stay subscribed and, almost always, listen right through.
Reviewer: Bernadette
Date review first published: June 2006 (at Podcast Alley)
Post Review Update (August 2006): One of the best podcast interviews ever has to be Steve’s interview with a somewhat bitter Chubby Checker (3 August 2006 episode). It’s a great episode to try if you’re at all curious about this podcast (or at all curious about the man who gave us The Twist).
