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Good podcasts?

8 years ago

Lately I have been enjoying listening to podcasts on my commute to work. I generally listen to the New York Times podcast, The Daily. Also Preet Bharara's excellent show Stay Tuned with Preet, and occasionally various NPR offerings.

Does anyone listen to podcasts that they would recommend? It doesn't have to be news/current events. Just smart and engaging.

Comments (53)

  • 8 years ago

    So funny because I was going to start a thread like this as well! Anyway, I really like Science Friday, Big Picture Science, The Pulse, and On the Media.

  • 8 years ago

    Many many podcasts are so good: On The Media, and all the Marketplace offerings are my top faves. I love This American Life and RadioLab too.

    Lately I'm digging Slow Burn from Slate - a riveting revisiting of Watergate that's very resonant with today's issues.

    The Moth is terrific, isn't it? I also enjoy Reply All, Freakonomics, Hidden Brain & 99% Invisible.

    If you like true crime, Crimetown is awesome - wonderfully produced account of the underworld of Providence, RI and its flamboyant mayor, Buddy Cianci.

    WTF is great - long-form interviews w/ a great variety of folks, mostly comics, but actors, musicians, producers, directors, writers, and the former president too.

  • 8 years ago

    I too was going to start a topic on this!!

    Serial. (Connected to this American Life). I have listened two different 11-12 part stories. The first about Adnan Syed, a high school student accused of murdering his ex girlfriend and I am just finishing an 11 part series on Bowe Bergdahl. Be sure you listen to the episodes in order. They are very well done and make my daily walk fly by. Also, S-Town, produced in conjunction with This American Life is a good one.

  • 8 years ago

    justretired, I LOVE Serial. I can drive for hours and not even notice. For me that is a big deal. Sarah Koenig is an amazing story teller.

  • 8 years ago

    Some that haven't been mentioned yet

    Planet Money

    Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me

    Fresh Air

    Radiolab

    The Allusionist (podcast about language)

    Lexicon Valley (also about language, I'm working my way through the old episodes, and haven't heard any by the current host)

    Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell

    I also have several BBC podcasts on my podcast app. The one that I use on my android phone is Podcast Addict.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Another vote for Serial Planet Money and S***town here as well!

    Another I love is Backstory, tho I haven't listened in a while because I just don't have enough time for all these great programs.

  • 8 years ago

    My favorites are Wait wait don't tell me and Hidden Brain. I used to listen to Science Friday a lot too.

    I don't like Ask Me Another as they get into pop culture stuff that is completely over my head...makes me feel old and out of touch (which I am!)


  • 8 years ago

    I like long-form interviews. My favorites are:

    The Axe Files with David Axelrod (former Chi Trib reporter/ Obama aide) - great discussions with Condoleeza Rice, M. Albright, Gary Hart but also will feature non-political guests.

    Katie Couric has a podcast, as does Alec Baldwin ("Here's The Thing"). They have A-list guests as well as more obscure interview subjects.

    The Nerdist (Chris Hardwick) (recently renamed ID10T) - more A-List celebs (Bill Gates, Paul McCartney).

    I also like Death, Sex and Money. referred to me by a friend who does estate law. Those are the three things we don't talk about and should.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    POSSIBLE SERIAL SPOILER



    Aktillary/Carol: Do you think Adnan is guilty? If not, who?

  • 8 years ago

    I don't like Ask Me Another because I think that the host just plain isn't funny. Her jokes all fall flat to me.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    How do podcasts make money?

  • 8 years ago

    Most of the ones I listed have advertisers (ads are either read by host or played before and sometimes in the middle of podcast.) Katie Couric = Crane and Canopy (high end bedding), etc. A lot of times the host has several other things going on, so maybe they don't all need ads? Just MHO.

  • 8 years ago

    Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations

    Happier with Gretchen Rubin

    Happier in Hollywood (Gretchen Rubin's sister who is a television writer)

    Decorating Tips and Tricks

    And I am a Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fan so I have been enjoying:

    Pod Save the Queen

    When Meghan Met Harry

  • 8 years ago

    The Splendid Table (mostly Francis Lam although Lynn Rossetto Casper still does an occasional episode)

    Make Me Smart (I’m a big Kai Ryssdal fan!)

  • 8 years ago

    I was going to suggest Make Me Smart too - loved that 'cast. And another smartypants podcast is The Uncertain Hour.

  • 8 years ago

    If you enjoyed Serial, I recommend the podcast Undisclosed did on the case. Three attorneys (one of whom, Rabia Chaudry, was a friend of Adnan's family) did a very deep dive into the minutiae of the case, closely examining timelines, evidence, the investigators, competency of Adnan's attorney, etc. It was on the basis of the findings of this trio that the case has been reopened. (There are some astonishing discoveries about Hae's new boyfriend and fabricated evidence at his workplace on the day of her disappearance.)

  • 8 years ago

    Thank you, kkay. Adan's story keeps turning over in my mind- and it's been years since I heard the Serial podcast about it. It never seemed like he could be guilty to me and I can't wait to hear this new perspective.

  • 8 years ago

    You have to have a stomach for detail; they ARE lawyers! But I found it gripping because I was also transfixed by Adnan's story. After a day trip to Baltimore my husband and I found ourselves driving near Leakin Park. I hopped out to have my picture taken next to a park sign. The park is just as creepy and gloomy and forbidding as you might imagine from listening to Serial.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    A little ot...I only listen to podcasts from my laptop, but I know people listen in their cars through their phones, I guess? How do you get the phone to play through the car speakers? My car is a late model with all the bells and whistles, so i'm sure whatever you need, I have, but I just can't figure it out. Do I need a cord or does it use bluetooth?

    I don't know if anyone mentioned Livewire? Hosted by Luke Burbank who is often on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. I always loved Vinyl Cafe, too; so sad when Stuart McLean died. Not sure if the old episodes are available, but if so, highly recommend it.

    Well, I stopped being lazy and checked. They are available. They are timeless, so no worries about when they were recorded. Great, funny story telling:


    http://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/vinyl-cafe

  • 8 years ago

    Olychick, I listen through Bluetooth. I don’t know how it works, but it does. I need my IT department (a/k/a son-in-law) to teach me how to get podcasts to play one after the other. I have 2 drives that I make frequently; one is 1.5 hrs; the other is 2.5 hrs. I have figured out how to start a podcast while I’m still in the garage, but once it is finished, that’s all until I start another. Surely there is a way for me to queue them up!

  • 8 years ago

    oh no more content

  • 8 years ago

    kkay, thanks for the heads-up re: Undisclosed. I always wondered about the boyfriend. I just don’t feel like Adnan is guilty, so glad he is getting a new trial. I believe it is this spring? Fascinating story.

  • 8 years ago

    Justretired, I lean towards no. However, I am not 100% sure but do no see him as a killer.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    My car (and I believe all newer cars) has a jack that you can plug your device into. I use it for my tiny iPod shuffle, and it works for my phone too. Then I choose the aux(iliary) setting on the radio/cd player. I referred to my car's manual for instructions. You need a cable jack like this - they do not cost very much - and it plugs into the headphone jack on your device...

    HTH

    P.S. I am slightly ambivalent about the question of guilt or innocence (leaning toward innocence), but I certainly believe it looks like a mistrial.

  • 8 years ago

    Thx bbstx & carolb

  • 8 years ago

    Another vote for S-Town.

    wellRED

    Snap Judgement

    Pod Save America

  • 8 years ago

    We've enjoyed several of the ones mentioned here. Thanks for the leads on some new ones. One that we did enjoy on a long trip that hasn't been mentioned is Missing Richard Simmons.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Radio Lab, Fresh Air, This American Life, Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, On the Media and Serial. I’m an npr junkie. So a lot more of npr.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I listen to some rock podcasts: Eddie Trunk and 2 Hours with Matt Pinfield, though Eddie Trunk more.

    I follow a political/social show The Edge with Mark Thompson.

    HER Mind/body/life with Dr. Pamela Peeke on RadioMD

    Just downloaded a series on food history called Food: A Cultural Culinary History Podcast. Really excited about this.

    Preet Bharara seems very interesting! I'm going to check him out for sure.

  • 8 years ago

    Another NPR fan here and many of my favs are already listed above. Thought I would add Left, Right and Center. Civilized, provocative discourse.

  • 8 years ago

    Thanks for all the great suggestions. I have added many of them to my list.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I've enjoyed Leonard Lopate's podcasts. Also, Science Friday.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Want to add Useless Information, which hasn't been updated lately, but has a huge archive of evergreen strange and fascinating stories culled from old newspapers and narrated by a wonky HS teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed his nerdiness and the stories are remarkable. He also plays old radio & TV ads from the past as well and has written a couple of books on the topic.

    Another I love that also has a huge evergreen archive is The Memory Palace, which is poetically narrated historical stories of art & culture.

    P.S. Invisibilia is also great. New season starting March 9.

  • 8 years ago

    I love The History Chicks!!! Absolutely entertaining way to listen to the History of fascinating women.

  • 8 years ago

    Adam and Dr. Drew show!!

  • 8 years ago

    I would like to thank those above who recommended both S-town and Serial. I had been trying for months to remember the names of both of those because I had heard them advertised on NPR in association of This American Life. I started S-town last week and it was great in many different ways. I felt like each segment had some really interesting things in it. Today I started Serial and boy am I hooked.

    I've been taking my hike up in the woods by myself for a few months since DH's hip replacement, and these podcasts really make it easier to put the miles in.


  • 8 years ago

    I started listening to Serial and so far so good! Thanks!


  • 8 years ago

    TED talks.

  • 8 years ago

    LOVE TED Talks! Especially fond of the one by Amy Cuddy. Watch it on You Tube if you can’t find it as a podcast. So inspiring!

  • 8 years ago

    Following!

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

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  • 8 years ago

    Since this has been resurrected, I have another podcast to add: How I Built This with Guy Raz. I find it fascinating to learn how some of the more famous companies were started and the struggles the founders faced.


  • 8 years ago

    Coming back to this I have to comment on how addicted DH and I are to Undisclosed. We started listening to it after listening to Season 1 of Serial about Adnan. And now we are on Season 2 of Undisclosed about a completely different case. It is so interesting, and we have now acquired our law degrees (ha.)

    And as another interesting aside relating to another thread, this one about [hearing aids[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-with-hearing-loss-and-hearing-aids-information-dsvw-vd~5323467?n=26), I got a pair about 2 months ago and not only are they great, with the phone app I get to listen to the podcasts, or music, or whatever that's downloaded on my phone through my hearing aids!! It is so cool!!

  • 8 years ago

    Another Wait Wait don't Tell Me fan, actually going to see him tonight at Summertime Series here. Love the Moth too!

  • 8 years ago

    Here comes a second resurrection of this thread! I am currently listening to Death in Ice Valley. It concerns a semi-burned body of a woman, found in a remote area in Norway. No identification, labels removed from clothing, body surrounded by a variety of items. It is 10 parts, I am finished with #5. Who is she? Is she a spy? Entertaining while I walk...

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    On the lighter side, I have really been enjoying The Sporkful. Dan Pashman is a very engaging host with an infectious laugh. The podcast's goal is using food to learn more about life.

    http://www.sporkful.com/

    A good recent one to start with is "A Marriage Built on Rum Cake" with Alan and Arlene Alda. http://www.sporkful.com/a-marriage-built-on-rum-cake-alan-alda/

    He also has a newer podcast, Ask Mimi, where "famously opinionated 92-year-old food critic Mimi Sheraton offers advice on food and life to audience members, callers, celebrity chef guests, and comedians in a podcast taped live on stage."

    https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher-premium/ask-mimi

    CBC hosts an informative food podcast, The Fridge Light. The episode Green Gold on this history of lettuce was surprisingly fascinating!

    https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/arts-culture/the-fridge-light/

    Another newer podcast, Unspooled, sees comedian Paul Scheer team up with former LA Weekly film critic Amy Nicholson to watch all of the AFI top 100 movies.

    https://www.earwolf.com/show/unspooled/

    For a much sillier experience, Scheer, his wife June Diane Raphael (from Frankie and Grace), and their friend Jason Mantzoukas, host How Did This Get Made where they talk about terrible movies. Just an hour of funny friends ripping on terrible choices.

    https://www.earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made/

  • 8 years ago

    Robo: I think I need some lighter stuff! I am going to check out some of your suggestions:)

  • 8 years ago

    I am a few episodes into Wooden Overcoats. Silly, fun British comedy.

  • 8 years ago

    The first two eps of Serial S3 will post on 9/20. ‘Serial’ Season 3 Podcast Premiere Date Set

  • 8 years ago

    Thanks, Diane!