"If the book Theatre in the Mind took that initial step toward a bronze age of looking at podcasts as a scholarly subject this book takes the second, larger leap toward a golden age of podcast and audio studies. . . . From the beginning, the wealth of knowledge and interesting tidbits are abundant and constant." -- Audio Drama Reviews "Thus, in many ways, this book is a pioneering work in guiding media students [ to] critically read podcasts. In fact, the concepts proposed in this book take podcast studies beyond an exposition of storytelling modes and integrates technological, cultural, and political implications in understanding the podcast medium." -- RadioDoc Review "Narrative Podcasting in an Age of Obsession convincingly demonstrates how podcasts of this ilk trade on infatuation, where the hosts' fascination with even the smallest details transfers to listeners primed to find significance everywhere. Summing up: recommended. All readership levels." -- CHOICE "Just as with podcasting, a book on the subject needs to distinguish itself from the saturated field. In this case, the radio, audio and podcasting nerdiness that Neil assembles is next level. . . the mind of a Neil Verma is a treasure." -- Kim Fox, Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast & Audio Media "Posing a central questions that runs throughout his main chapters, Verma asks, "How should a scholar respond to a podcast, and what should a 'critical' listening consist of?" Narrative Podcasting in an Age of Obsession compellingly (and yes, obsessively) narrates one scholar-listener's process of reaching answers to that question. Those answers have deep roots in the book's precise historical and aesthetic context and wide branches in the inventive set of perspectives Verma has applied to it." -- Journal of Radio & Audio Media "Part of the reward of reading Verma's book comes from the hard thought he puts into his analyses of the medium." -- Literary Journalism Studies "Verma applies sharp analytical insight throughout, informed by his deep knowledge of radio and sound history and audio aesthetics. His lively prose shows sensitive and careful attention and the confidence that comes from having listened to practically every episode of any worthwhile podcast." * Michael Z. Newman, JCMS: Journal of Cinema and Media Studies *