September 30th, is International Podcast Day and to celebrate I want to inspire you to try something new. Podcasts are online audio broadcasts, similar to radio but delivered in a different way. If you’re already an avid listener you may be familiar with some of my favorites. If you haven’t gotten hooked on podcasts yet I’d love to tell you how to go about it and why they might appeal to you.

My current favorites

Funny Pop Culture 

You’re Wrong About – two very smart and funny people do a deep dive into people and news stories that were a big deal in the 1990s when they were kids. I didn’t really have interest in the subjects before but Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes are so delightful that we’ve listened to every episode, support them on Patreon, and wait with bated breath for every new episode.

History

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History – New episodes come out maybe once or twice a year but he has an awesome back catalog. He does exhaustive research on all of his subjects then tells the stories in fascinating way. His series span the millennia. Who knew the Persians and Celts could be so interesting? 

Music

Strong Songs– Kirk Hamilton breaks down familiar pieces of pop music and shows you how they were constructed and what makes them iconic. He’s very sweet and enthusiastic and plays a million instruments. Most of his shows are about one song but he often does rapid-fire listener question episodes.

Politics

There are many good ones but that’s not my jam. One I listen to now and then is Now and Then by historians Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman. They put current events in an historical context. I’m a big fan of Richardson’s newsletter and the podcast is good too.

True Crime 

I first started listening to podcasts because of the podcast Serial. The medium is ideal for investigative journalism with a cliffhanger ending. A recent favorite is West Cork, about the unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. There are lots of other gripping true crime podcasts.

First Person Narrative

I’ve recently become a fan of Mementos, a beautifully produced show from Lori Mortimer. In each episode the guest tells the deeper story behind a precious keepsake. It’s lovely and moving.

Why Podcasts?

There are two million podcasts available now and the number keeps growing. They range from general interest to the very specific niche. Not all are great but there really is something for everyone. If you like audio books you’ll like podcasts. They are wonderful for listening in the car, while you’re exercising, doing dishes, or other mindless tasks. (I’ve been devouring them while ripping ivy off our olive trees.)

How To Listen

Your phone most likely has a built-in app to play them. There are dozens of other apps available with various features. Many podcasts are also available on You Tube– mine is. It doesn’t have video but you can listen there.

If you’re not sure how to listen or want to know if your favorite subject matter has a good podcast please let me know and I’ll gladly walk you through the process of getting started.

I’d love to hear your current favorites and recommendations.

P.S. If you’ve been wondering about starting a podcast of your own I have tons of resources for you. Message me.