Top 10 Podcasts to Listen to Today (2017)

A couple of months back, my wife turned me on to listening to podcasts. With over an hour drive to and from work, this was something much needed that I had the ability to do every day. Prior to podcasts, I had been listening to a lot of book on CD, but was tired of changing the discs and how lengthy they were. Because of this, I have been listening to a lot more podcasts these days. Here are my "Top 10 Podcasts To Listen To Today" as of April 2017.

UPDATE: Be sure to check out my suggestion for 10 more podcasts to listen to (Fall 2017) after you read this! And 10 more from 2018!
Update #2: Check out the fourth installment from October 2018
Update #3: Check out the newest 20 at Let’s Talk Podcasts #6 and Singular Story #5

10. The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
"All good stories have a twist, and all great storytellers are just a little twisted. Join me for a different take on the people and events that you thought you knew, from pop culture to politics, Hollywood to history… The Way I Heard It is a series of short mysteries for the curious mind with a short attention span."

I really enjoy these short stories by Mike Rowe. Each 9-12 minute episode begins with an ad, but each ad is actually a story in itself, so it is pretty enjoyable to listen thru. After that we get to the actual episode which is usually 5-10 minutes long. Mike is a great story teller and I really appreciate how quick these podcast episode stories are.

 

9. Embedded
"Hosted by Kelly McEvers, Embedded takes a story from the news and goes deep. What does it feel like for a father in El Salvador to lie to his daughter about the bodies he saw in the street that day? What does it feel like for a nurse from rural Indiana to shoot up a powerful prescription opioid? Embedded (EMBD) takes you to where they're happening."

Although this is less than 10 total episodes, Embedded listens like an interactive news story. Each story does what the description says, they go deep, into the specifics and details of each specific topic they cover. The latest season is covering police videos. Listen up for a story from the front lines of the action.

8. All Songs Considered
"Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton spin new music from emerging bands and musical icons."

A great way to discover new music and learn about the origin and details of the newest festivals/bands of today. This is a must listen for anyone who has the slightest interest in the music scene. Episodes range from just a few minutes to over an hour long depending on the topic.

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7. This American Life
"This American Life (TAL) is an American weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass."

This weekly program tells fantastic stories about specific events happening in the world today. Each episode has it's own theme that these journalists do a lot of research on, then providing us with a quick 60 minute story.

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6. TED Radio Hour
"The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage, each show is centered on a common theme – such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, power shifts, or inexplicable connections. The TED Radio Hour is hosted by Guy Raz, and is a co-production of NPR & TED."

Interested in new technology and ideas? This is the show for you, as each episode explores new inventions and new ways to think about things in today's world. This show will provide you with an hour of fresh material every week.

5. The Moth
"The Moth Radio Hour features our most beloved tales and the stories behind the stories. The series debuted in 2009 and is now airing on more than 400 stations nationwide. The Moth Radio Hour is co-produced by Jay Allison at Atlantic Public Media and presented by PRX."

Listening to others tell stories can be happy, sad, inspiring, depressing, and even get your skin crawling. The Moth podcast provides the listeners with a variety of stories from stand-up shows happening nation wide. Even some of the stories in episodes are recorded right here in Chicago. Check out and be inspired by other people's stories, and maybe even have the courage to tell your own.

4. Up and Vanished
"Up and Vanished is an investigative podcast that explores the unsolved disappearance of Georgia beauty queen and High School teacher, Tara Grinstead, an 11 year old mystery that is the largest case file in Georgia's history."

If you've heard of Serial, you're going to love this podcast. This podcast is told by a former Youtube rapper (Right Side of the Tree), and video producer Payne Lindsey. This is Lindsey's first podcast and he ends up hitting it big, as his investigative work leads to the eventual solving of this murder case that had gone cold over 10 years ago. Some may say he didn't have anything to do with it, but his work brought the interest of this case to a national level and uncovered many long forgotten details. Although there are some extra episodes with interviews and case evidence that I found repetitive and skipped over, the main episodes are quite the treat. Funny to hear the voice of a kid who was making hilarious rap videos back in 2007, but if you don't know Payne from his YouTube days, you will be able to take this one more seriously right away. One of my favorite podcasts of 2017.

3. Serial
"Serial is a podcast from the creators of This American Life, hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial tells one story—a true story—over the course of a season. Each season, we follow a plot and characters wherever they take us. We won’t know what happens at the end until we get there, not long before you get there with us. Each week we bring you the next chapter in the story, so it's important to listen to the episodes in order."

This podcast has gone through two seasons. While season one was significantly better, discussing the arrest of Adnan Syed for the murder of his ex-girlfriend back in 1999, which he ensures us he is innocent of. Season two focuses on a army soldier Bowe Bergdahl who leaves his outpost in the middle of the night, eventually being captured and needing rescue. This podcast is by far one of my favorites of all time. I highly suggest this one, especially if you enjoyed Up and Vanished.

2. How I Built This
"How I Built This is a podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built. Each episode is a narrative journey marked by triumphs, failures, serendipity and insight — told by the founders of some of the world's best known companies and brands. If you've ever built something from nothing, something you really care about — or even just dream about it, you'll love this podcast."

A very inspiring podcast that I enjoy listening to on my morning commute. Each episode is about a particular company, and covers it's evolution through a 20-40 minute epiosde. This gets the creative juices flowing and will surely make you think you should drop everything and start your own business. It is awesome to see how so many famous companies today started from nothing so long ago. If you are an innovator or have your own business, I highly suggest this awesome podcast. One of my favorites of 2017.

1. 99% Invisible
" 99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world"

My number one podcast to listen to in 2017 is 99% Invisible. Roman Mars and the rest of the staff at 99PI do an incredible job of putting together a new story every week. This is my favorite podcast for a few reasons. One, each week every topic is super interesting and they have a unique way of telling the story that keeps me entertained and listening. Two, episodes are the perfect length and ads are at the end. Podcasts with ads at the very beginning and very end are perfect because you don't have to do any unnecessary listening. 99 PI does just that, which makes it easy to hear nothing more than the 20-30 minute episode. Number three, I genuinely enjoy listening to Roman Mars tell each tale every week. Whether it is Roman or the other guests on the show, I find the amount of content they present perfect and it is told in a way that really catches my ear.. If you are interested in architecture or design at all, I highly highly recommend this podcast. If you aren't like me, but are looking for a great podcast, I suggest this podcast!

I hope that you can take some time out of your busy lives to listen to these wonderful podcasts. Each production crew has done an amazing job to make the stories unique and an enjoyable experience for their listeners. And above all, they are FREE! Just download them on itunes, listen on their website links which I provided above, or listen through a Podcast app on your phone like me.

Know of some great podcasts that I didn't mention? Let me know about them in the comments as I would love to listen to some new material on my way to and from work.

Until next time.

Josh

UPDATE: Be sure to check out my suggestion for 10 more podcasts to listen to (Fall 2017)