The Last Podcast on the Left
Self-Description:
“The Last Podcast on the Left covers all the horrors our world has to offer both imagined and real, from demons and slashers to cults and serial killers, The Last Podcast is guaranteed to satisfy your blood lust.”
Review:
Alright, so let me start this review off by stating that if, like me, you thought this was a political podcast due to the title, then you’re dead wrong. This is NOT a political podcast. For years I’d been scrolling past this show while browsing the iTunes top 100, dismissing it as yet another left-leaning political commentary podcast without reading the description, and I’d probably be doing the same thing today if my local bartender hadn’t turned me onto it (thanks Sarah!). But luckily, she did, because rather than the title referring to the political left, it is instead referencing the Wes Craven slasher film The Last House on the Left. Craven’s film is solidly in the horror genre, and The Last Podcast follows suit, exploring the full extent of the horrors humanity is capable of, as the self-description states, as well as every conspiracy theory under the Sun. Let me also make clear, though, that this is a comedy podcast. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it’s at least as much a comedy podcast as it is one of horror and conspiracy. Just as these guys explore the darkest places of the human psyche, they also push the limits of black comedy. This is where I’d put a trigger warning if I were the kind of person to do that sort of thing, but the show is just so goddamn funny, and I’ve literally laughed out loud so many times, that I’d recommend it regardless. It’s that good.
Beaming out of Long Island City’s The Creek and The Cave in New York, Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski host The Last Podcast on the Left, and each contributes to the show uniquely. Henry is definitively the podcast’s star and is a comedic powerhouse who fully commits to each and every episode. His character bits are hilarious and well done, but it’s his quick wit, off-the-cuff jokes, and sheer level of enthusiasm for the topics at hand that make the show what it is. You know that scene in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia when Mac and Charlie get jobs in the mailroom of a corporate office, and a caffeine-addled Charlie thinks he’s uncovered a conspiracy and tries to lay it all out for Mac using a large cork board with lots of pins and red string connecting the various aspects of the conspiracy? That’s Henry in The Last Podcast.
Marcus’ role in the podcast is for the most part research-oriented, though his underlying interest and enthusiasm is also evident. Ben plays more of the responsible skeptic’s role, and seems to be something of a showrunner, corralling Henry and Marcus (but mostly Henry) when they get too rowdy or off-topic. As such he puts up with a lot of ribbing (mostly good-naturedly) from the other two.
If you’re not interested in conspiracy theories, cults, and serial killers, first of all: I probably don’t want to be your friend. Second of all, this podcast definitely isn’t for you. Because that’s pretty much all it consists of. It’s more or less Henry, Marcus, and Ben shooting the shit about these three topics with an astounding amount of research and lewd, dark jokes thrown in. And come on, if you can’t make humor out of this stuff, then all you’re left with is the horror. Anyway, needless to say, I now know more about the Reptilians, the Illuminati, the various alien races vying for power over our world (including short and tall Greys), Jonestown, and John Wayne Gacy than I ever thought I needed to know before listening to The Last Podcast. And I’m glad of it. So if you sheeple want to keep bleating away instead of waking up to the growing power of the NWO and laughing your ass off the entire time to boot, then be my guest. But the rest of The Last Podcast listeners and I will be honing our Chaos Magick skills while glancing around shiftily on the train, trying to identify which one of you is a demon/vampire/multi-dimensional being trying to gangstalk us into insanity. It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you.
Seriously though, don’t make the same mistake I did and pass up on this for years before checking it out. The Last Podcast on the Left is an absolute must-subscribe. Hail yourselves!
Production:
Production doesn’t really come into this one. It really is just three guys having a conversation.
Consistency:
Very high. Every episode I’ve listened to has drawn a laugh even if the topic itself wasn’t what I was interested in. That said, I tend to gravitate more toward the conspiracy and cult episodes than the rest.
Hosts:
This show is very host-centric, and I pretty much covered this in the review. I’ll just add that listening to this podcast is like getting stoned and talking about a conspiracy with your best friend, only these guys are way way funnier.
Driveway Moments:
If you’re into this stuff, you won’t want to hit pause at all.
Future Potential:
Extremely high.
Special Notes:
The humor really is exceedingly dark, so to like this podcast you need to accept no-limits comedy.
Episode Length:
1-2 hours
Overall Score: 9.2/10
Notable Episodes:
Pretty much all of them, but here are a few to get you started:
The four-part L Ron Hubbard series (episodes 261-264)
- Episode 26: 911
- Episode 34: Heaven’s Gate
- Episode 40: The Alien Agenda
- Episode 55: The Great Beast 666
- Episode 66: The Dark World of Internet Fetish Sites
- Episode 77: Japanese War Crimes
- Episode 112: Gangstalking
If you like this podcast, you’ll probably like:
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- Rabbits
The Last Podcast's Website
