What new bourbon are we pumped about? Which hiking trail are we exploring? Why is the next supercar so cool? The Manual is dedicated to helping men live a more engaged life. Each week, our editors and guests get together for a round-table discussion about what’s new, exciting, and unique in the men’s lifestyle world. So pop open your favorite brew, step into your man cave, and start streaming.
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For this week’s episode of Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast, the round-table — Food and Drink Editor Sam Slaughter, Managing Editor Nicole Raney, and host Greg Nibler — grab some steins, drink a ton of beer, and forget to record a podcast.
Just kidding. We wish we were drinking beer for this episode, but we chose to remain sober and discuss one of the best festivals in the entire world: Oktoberfest. First, the German-speaking Sam schools Nicole and Greg on the pronunciations of essential Oktoberfest terms (Reinheitsgebot, märzenbier, etc.) and walks us through a brief history of the volksfest (“people’s festival”). Why do Germans celebrate Oktoberfest in September with March beers? How old is this festival, really? Why did it start in Munich? What the hell is a Reinheitsgebot?
All of your questions are answered by Sam and horrible mispronounced by the other two. After chatting about some of the best places to celebrate Oktoberfest outside of Munich — the festival has truly become a global phenomenon — Nicole hits the boys with some Oktoberfest facts and forces them to compete in a short round of trivia. Who won? (Hint: It was the only person who can say Reinheitsgebot correctly.)
The Manual crew has also decided that we should probably host our own Oktoberfest. While it most certainly will not happen, if it did, our festival would have weiner dogs racing on horses. If you’re confused, you’ll have to tune in to figure out what we’re talking about.
And if you have a question for The Manual podcast folks, or if you’d like to share how you’re celebrating Oktoberfest, give us a shout at podcast@themanual.com — we’re always around! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and keep an eye out for our weekly podcast polls so you can join the discussion.
These gifts for men are perfect for the hard-to-shop-for guys in your life
Put a smile on your friends' and loved ones' faces with these gift ideas
Gifts for men can confound even the best present buyers. Many men are impossible to shop for, either because they have picky tastes, or because it seems like they already have it all. On top of that, many men are reticent to ask for what they want. Whatever the case, you might find yourself at a loss when trying to choose that special something. Thankfully, we've got you covered with a guide full of gifts for hard-to-buy-for men.
We're not saying that the man you're shopping for will love all of these, but the gift ideas span a wide range of tastes, so you should be able to find something among these options. On to the gifts!
A great podcast can help you kick off your day just right as you commute to work. It can remind you about what's important in life, or give you a new perspective on a challenge that you're working through at home. That's why, for many people, motivational podcasts are a must-have in their regular podcast rotation.
These shows can cover everything from career advice to health and how to keep your house clean, but what makes them great is how often they leave the listener inspired and ready to better their own life.
Best Motivational Podcasts on Spotify
How I Built This with Guy Raz
Featuring captivating career conversations, Guy Raz's podcast is a show for people who want to be inspired by brilliant minds who have accomplished huge things.
Listen
In a world where everybody with a microphone has their own podcast, there are certainly plenty of options to choose from, even when you're looking at a specific category. There are plenty of great board game podcasts, but even inside the narrow topic area of Dungeons & Dragons, there's a wide array of podcasts you can choose from. Those podcasts come in a range of styles and vary in length as well, but what may be even more important is whether you vibe with the personalities of the hosts.
There are plenty of intangible factors behind a good podcast, even beyond what looks good on paper. Some people like well-produced shows that are cleanly edited, while others are looking for something that's a little bit looser and feels more like a natural conversation. Thankfully, there's a podcast out there for you no matter what you like in a podcast and what you're looking for in a D&D podcast in particular. Below, we'll share with you our choices for the top D&D podcasts.
