PODCASTS! I can't get enough of them! It has only been about a year since I started listening and I am back with 10 more of my favorites! Making that 30 total podcasts. 4 Months ago, I released 10 More Podcasts You Should Listen to Today. About 6 months before that, in April of 2017, I wrote a post called, "Top 10 Podcasts To Listen To Today".
Both of these posts were all about my suggestions of the best podcasts I had been listening to. I have received suggestions from friends and I still continue to drive around, so here are my 10 favorite podcasts I have been listening to lately. Don't forget to check out 1-10 and 11-20! Now it is time to listen.
Update: Check out the fourth installment from October 2018
Update #2: Check out the newest 20 at Let’s Talk Podcasts #6 and Singular Story #5
"KEXP's Song of the Day podcast features exclusive in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent musicians that KEXP thinks listeners should hear along with songs from more well-known artists."
Seattle radio station KEXP releases a new song every Monday thru Friday. A great way to listen to new music and hear some new sounds. The genres of music vary week by week, from all around the world. KEXP also has a fantastic Youtube channel with tons of live performances. This is where I initially found out about this station. Check out one of my favorites of theirs lately. Deer Tick in the studio!
9. Spooked
"Spooked features true-life supernatural stories, told firsthand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves. Be afraid. Created in the dark of night, by Snap Judgment and WNYC Studios. "
Real stories from real people, Spooked has it's good episodes and it's great episodes. Some of the stories from across the globe will give you goosebumps. Highly suggest to listen during the night, especially on a drive home or when around the house. Each episode is a stand alone story and there are only 13 episodes out from season 1 right now, so go get spooked!
8. Dirty John
"Debra Newell is a successful interior designer. She meets John Meehan, a handsome man who seems to check all the boxes: attentive, available, just back from a year in Iraq with Doctors Without Borders. But her family doesn't like John, and they get entangled in an increasingly complex web of love, deception, forgiveness."
A six episode, true crime podcast series written by Christopher Goffard of the LA Times. It was initially a true crime story in the LA Times about a deceitful man who goes by the name of Dirty John. I didn't realize it until looking it up halfway through the podcast, but it is based on a true story. You can't trust just anyone. Fantastic story telling with thrilling scenes and descriptions. If you are in to crime story telling or crime podcasts, give it a listen. Plus, it's only 6 episodes, so go for it!
"Original sports audio documentaries and more from the makers of the acclaimed 30 for 30 series by ESPN."
I am a big fan of the short film series 30 for 30 by ESPN. While not as good as the short films, the audio spin of these sports stories are a intriguing listen. I recommend checking out some of the stories, as there are currently only 2 seasons with 4 episodes each, so skim through and see which episode interest you most. Maybe you will find one of the stories that is close to home for me, the Lights at Wrigley.
6. Planet Money
"The economy, explained, with stories and surprises. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, "Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy." Now imagine that's actually a fun evening. That's what we're going for at Planet Money. "
NPR goes in to discuss current events and things that effect the market with Planet Money. The economy and money all based around stories and events. Since I am trying to stay hip to the financial market and learn a little bit more about investing and budgeting, I have been enjoying this economic podcast. Episodes are stand alone, only about 20 minutes, and happen 2-3 times a week usually, check one out!
5. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law
"Professor Elizabeth Joh teaches Intro to Constitutional Law and most of the time this is a pretty straight forward job. But with Trump in office, everything has changed. Five minutes before class Professor Joh checks Twitter to find out what the 45th President has said and how it jibes with 200 years of the judicial branch interpreting and ruling on the Constitution. Hosted by acclaimed podcaster Roman Mars, this show is a weekly, fun, casual Con Law 101 class that uses the tumultuous and erratic activities of the executive branch under Trump to teach us all about the US Constitution."
A Radiotopia podcast by the creator & host of my favorite podcast ever, 99% invisible, Roman Mars. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law discusses things that Trump has been doing and how it can teach us about the constitution of the USA. They are only 18 episodes in, and each covers a different amendment or constitutional article. If you are you like me and can't stand what Trump is doing, maybe this podcast can help you understand what he can and can't do.
"From the producers of Up and Vanished, Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks present, ‘Atlanta Monster.’ This true crime podcast tells the story of one of the city’s darkest secrets, The Atlanta Child Murders. Nearly 40 years after these horrific crimes, many questions still remain. Host Payne Lindsey aims to find truth and provide closure, reexamining the disappearance and murder of over 25 African American children and young adults."
This new podcast is by the creator of Up and Vanished and former Youtube (Right Side of the Tree) star, Payne Lindsey. Atlanta Monster is a crime/mystery podcast that goes into detail about the 25 missing children of Atlanta during the early 1980s. It's story telling and Stranger Things-esque music has kept me drawn in during the first 7 episodes that are out so far. Be sure to listen starting at episode one since it goes in chronological order.
3. More Perfect
"Supreme Court decisions shape everything from marriage and money to public safety and sex. We know these are very important decisions we should all pay attention to – but they often feel untouchable and even unknowable. Radiolab's first ever spin-off series, More Perfect, connects you to the decisions made inside the court's hallowed halls, and explains what those rulings mean for "we the people" who exist far from the bench. More Perfect bypasses the wonkiness and tells stories behind some of the court’s biggest rulings."
"The Honorable, the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All persons having business before the Honorable, the Supreme Court of the United States, are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this Honorable Court!" This kind of stuff was so boring to me when I was reading a textbook back in middle and high school. But now that I am an adult and I can see how it all shaped the history of the USA, it is pretty darn interesting. More Perfect, hosted by Jad Abumrad, is a podcast all about the supreme court and the cases that helped shape the United States of America. Each of the 19 episodes is stand alone, although they do reference older episodes sometimes, but feel free to pickup wherever you like. Shoutout to John for showing me this one.
2. Showcase
"Showcase, from PRX's Radiotopia, features original series of all stripes, from emerging and leading producers around the world. "
Showcase is currently on the third season. Each season is 7 episodes about that are based aroudn a specific topic. My favorite season had to be season two. If you are at all into old arcade games, or mysteries, I suggest you start there. Season two is the story of the Polybius Conspiracy, an urban legend surrounding an arcade machine in Portland, Oregon where children supposedly were abducted. Season one, Ways of Hearing, is also very unique and insightful. It discusses all the different ways that humans hear and how audio has changed over the years. The current season, number three, is about Secrets. "The secrets we keep in our lives, and the overwhelming complexity of being human." These episodes need to be listened to chronologically by season, however, the seasons do not connect. Enjoy!
"Every Monday, Serial Killers takes a psychological and entertaining approach to provide a rare glimpse into the mind, methods and madness of the most notorious serial killers with the hopes of better understanding their psychological profile. With the help of real recordings and voice actors, we delve deep into their lives and stories."
And my number one podcast that I have been listening to as of late 2017 and early 2018 is.... Serial Killers. Creepy, I know. This podcast, as the title states, takes a deep dive into serial killers. Each killer gets two episodes about him/her. No need to go in chronological order, just look up one of the 25 killers they have covered, and give it a listen. They have covered killers from Jack the Ripper, to Ted Bundy, to the Zodiac Killer, and even the man who almost took my dad when he was a kid, John Wayne Gacy (Haven't heard the story? Ask him about it some time!) It's kind of weird I am in to this stuff, and I know that many people are not, but I find the psychological aspects fascinating. Some of the material is definitely disturbing, but if anything, I am learning how to not raise my kids to be a killer!
On top of Serial Killers, if you haven't checked it out on Netflix yet, I highly suggest Mindhunter, which goes into how the term serial killer was coined.
Hopefully you can take some time out of your busy life to listen to these podcasts. Remember podcasts are FREE! So download on itunes, listen on their websites (links provided above) or be like me and use the Podcast app on your phone.
That brings the total to 30 great podcasts that I listen on the daily. Remember, if you haven't already seen, check out my first 10 podcasts to listen to: Top 10 Podcasts To Listen To Today, or check out 10 More Podcasts You Should Start Listening To (Fall 2017).
As always, let me know what you are listening to! What am I missing out on? Tell me in the comments!
Get your headphones and get listening.
Josh