Any other podcast lovers out there? Considering how long podcasts have been around, I’m late to the game. I started listening to podcasts regularly last winter after getting a new phone that had storage space for fun things like apps and photos. A friend told me about podcasts she loved while walking her dog, so I figured I’d download a few and see what I thought. I had time to kill and nothing to lose…. Well, about 200 listening hours and 20 or so podcasts later, I can officially say podcasts are amazing, so here are a few that hooked me after just one episode.
5 of the best podcasts out there
Photo credit (above and feature image): Shutterstock.com / spaxiax
Just like how I told you I love reading mysteries, I equally enjoy the true crime genre of podcasts like so many other people out there, so you’ll see a few of those below. In all honesty, before getting into podcasts, I figured I wouldn’t like them that much. I don’t know why, but recorded radio programming and stories didn’t seem that interesting to me. I’ve never listened to an audiobook in my life, so I assumed podcasts weren’t for me.
Wow, how wrong my snap judgment was. I love listening to podcasts when I’m walking the dog or cleaning. They’re a great way to pass the time when you’re stuck doing some mundane task.
All 5 of my top podcast picks are expertly produced and worth your time:
Uncover is an investigative podcast that just wrapped up its second season. Season 1 is about a woman’s escape from Keith Raniere’s NXIVM cult, but not without some serious consequences. Was it really a cult? Is she as much of a victim as she seems? Fascinating story.
Then, Season 2 switches gears and digs into the unsolved bombing of a Canadian commercial passenger plane in 1965, killing all 52 people on board. You’ll hear from families of the victims and suspects while learning top theories about who may be to blame and why.
Fun fact: Maybe it’s weird I listened to most of Season 2 while on a plane, but it was just that good. From the hosts themselves to the way they edited interviews and even how they transitioned between topics, I found myself wanting more every time an episode ended. Both seasons were captivating.
Guy Raz is the host of this NPR podcast that tells the stories of entrepreneurs who founded top companies that you know and love. Their struggles, successes, and funny stories along the way are woven into a “narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.” You’ll hear from the founders of companies like Glossier, Whole Foods Market, RXBAR, and more. I love the question that Guy asks the entrepreneur at the end of each episode: How much of your success is due to hard work/smarts/your efforts and how much of a role did pure luck play?
This Australian podcast tells the story of the 1980 murder of 38-year-old Maria James who was stabbed to death in her suburban Melbourne bookshop. To this day, her killer has not been found. The expertly told story was gripping and I really feel for her two sons who had to grow up without a mother. I’m really hoping that the podcast helps the family to get closure after all these years. In fact, the Victorian Coroner reopened the investigation as a result of the podcast.
This podcast puts the spotlight on a surgeon who never should have even been allowed to practice medicine. His name is Christopher Duntsch and he’s currently in prison where he belongs, but the story that explains how he got there will leave you horrified. This Texas doctor took malpractice to the next level and left over 30 patients seriously injured and 2 dead. Was he grossly incompetent or some kind of psychopath? You decide.
At first, John Meehan seemed like the perfect boyfriend to Debra Newell. He was a handsome doctor who was a good listener and seemed to have it all. But something wasn’t quite right and Debra’s family knew it. Little by little, John starts showing his true colors and their lives unravel becoming more dangerous by the minute. Not everyone makes it out alive. If you loved the podcast, check out the Bravo show of the same name that just came out based on the story.
2 TV Shows
Bodyguard
Richard Madden plays David Budd in the new Netflix show Bodyguard: “After helping thwart a terrorist attack, a war veteran is assigned to protect a politician who was a main proponent of the very conflict he fought in.” I don’t want to give much away, but I started watching it on a whim, not expecting much. Well, it delivered! Action, suspense, and Richard Madden’s Scottish accent (swoon!) had me focused on every minute right until the end.
The Little Drummer Girl
I’ve loved Alexander Skarsgard since before his True Blood days, so when I saw that he stars in The Little Drummer Girl, I had to watch. It’s on Canal+ in France and I’m a few episodes in. Set in 1979 in Europe and based on the 1983 book by John le Carré, it’s a spy story where an English actress is recruited by the Israelis to infiltrate a Palestinian terror cell.
***
What podcasts and shows have caught your eye lately? Share your recommendations in the comments!
My other “quick pick” posts from the holiday week:
The Moth is a storytelling podcast. People from all over the country participate in Story Slams and various storytelling competitions and the best ones make it to the podcast. They range from 5-15 minutes in length and almost all of them are good and some are great. I like to listen to them when I’m driving or walking the dog.
I always have a podcast going–via bluetooth in the car, while exercising, while doing housework, while cooking, even while showering and getting dressed. I “fast-cast,” setting the speed to 1.5x, so I can squeeze in more, and yet I sometimes run out. A lot of my favorites are from NPR, which I listened to constantly in the U.S. I’m not much for crime, but I can’t get enough of news.
Fresh Air — Terry Gross is the world’s best interviewer, and the topics are vast. I always learn something.
This American Life — sometimes funny tales of humanity, sometimes investigative journalism, always great.
99% Invisible — stories about design, but design is just the hook for exploring bigger issues.
The Moth — storytelling, mostly by nonprofessionals, but very good.
Planet Money — economics, but interesting.
Here’s the Thing — Alec Baldwin is an excellent interviewer (though Terry Gross is by far the best)
Hidden Brain — psychology, with stories
The Earful Tower — France, especially Paris
Serial — the last season, about the court system in Ohio, was eye-opening.
I also listen to How I Built This and TED Radio Hour, both with Guy Raz.
And that’s just about a third of my list.
I have never listened to a podcast ever
For podcasts, I like My Favorite Murder. It’s hosted by two women who basically are fascinated by murder and just spend an hour telling each other stories of murders. But they are both pretty hilarious. I know -sounds strange!
For TV, I just discovered Un Village Francais – 7 seasons!! It’s fantastic! A look at a french village under the Vichy regime. Very nuanced look at how people survived and collaborated, without really understanding fully what they were doing. HIghly recommend!
Uncover and How I Built This sound great! I also love Let Me Google That, which talks about pretty much everything; it’s by Abby Norman who has the kind of curious mind that likes to delve into all sorts of subjects. The Good Place’s podcast is great if you’re a fan of the show (and if you haven’t watched it, I recommend that too!). I also quite enjoy The Inquiry by the BBC World Service.
Thank you, I will look those up!!
I used to spend 2 hours a day commuting. I found podcasts a great way to make that time pass more quickly so I had a long list of favorites. Now, that I’m retired, I listen to podcasts when I’m walking, cooking, doing dishes, etc, but have definitely cut back on the number.
About 8 months ago, I switched to listening only to podcasts in French (with 1 exception).
2 from France Culture, “Du grain à moudre” and “Entendez-vous l’éco.” Those keep me up to date on French news, politics, and economics.
“One Thing in a French Day,” which provides stories about everyday life from a woman who lives near Paris with a husband and her 3 children (1 in primaire and 2 in college). It’s a charming (very short) podcast.
“La Poudre,” a podcast about remarkable (mostly but not exclusively French) women.
In the self help category, I like “Change ma vie : Outils pour l’espoir.”
For high tech news, I listen to “L’apéro du Captain.” It’s a funny, chaotic, definitely R rated view of high tech.
The 1 podcast I listen to in English is “The Earful Tower,” by Oliver Gee, an Australian living in Paris. It’s mostly about Paris, but his honeymoon season featured his and his wife’s honeymoon trip around France on a red scooter.
2 TV shows: “Dix pour cent,” on France 2. Also on Netflix in the US (American title is “Call Your Agent”) I cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s creative, funny, and dramatic.
“Plan cœur”, a French original show on Netflix. It’s funny and heartwarming.