September 21, 2017: Podcast Recommendations

After our first and second installments of Podcast and Episode recommendations, my playlist has grown considerably. I listen to podcasts while walking my dogs and while cooking, and I find that sampling new shows is both fascinating, affirming, and intimidating. Fascinating because I learn about so many new cool things, affirming because I’m so excited when there are new shows, and intimidating because I pay closer attention to finer details of my own podcast after I listen to a new one.

But! I always love finding new episodes to recommend, either from shows I’ve already subscribed to, or shows that I’ve just discovered. Here are a few recent favorites.

Still Processing Podcast header with photographs of the two hosts back to backI’ve already recommended Still Processing from the NY Times, hosted by Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham. You can listen on the NYT website, on Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you haven’t tried Still Processing, please, please try the episode titled, “We Care For Ourselves and Others in Trump’s America.”

Morris and Wortham talk about the concept of self care, the co-opting of the term, and the history of personal, physical, and spiritual care for marginalized people. They also have a guest, Matthew Steinfeld, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, talk about diagnosis and care – and about the mental and emotional toll of contentious conversations, and the personal cost of doing the work to engage with people who hold views that are toxic and bigoted. I have listened to this episode, no lie, three straight times. It’s mind blowing.

Adrift podcast I’ve also tried a new show: Adrift, with Geoff Lloyd and Annabel Port. It’s a comedy podcast that seems to be partly about social awkwardness and embarrassment, and partly about random comedy. The two were radio DJs or presenters, and their show ended in March of this year.

The first episode featured stories about Annabel’s dog that had me laughing so hard I couldn’t go up my stairs until I calmed down. It’s sort of silly absurd comedy mixed with stories of social hesitance, and for the most part the two episodes I’ve listened to so far have been quite funny.

Rough TranslationAnd finally, also new: Rough Translation, a new podcast from NPR about issues affecting countries around the world that have a parallel with issues we’re facing in the US.

The first two episodes, “Brazil in Black and White,” and “Ukraine vs. Fake News,” were so interesting, I kept shushing the dog who was whining at me. Then I realized he was whining because I was standing completely still in my kitchen, holding his food bowl, stuck in place trying to fully process what I was listening to. Poor dog (yes, I fed him and his brother).

You can find Rough Translation on NPR’s website, on iTunes, and on Stitcher.

What podcast episodes have rocked your brain lately? Got any to recommend? 

Comments are Closed

  1. Ans says:

    Thank you so much for these! They all look amazing.

  2. Jill Q. says:

    I mentioned these in the last “whatcha reading?” but I really love the fiction podcasts “Jules and James” (kind of romancy in a “Before Sunrise” sort of way) and “The Black Tapes” (“Serial” meets “The X-Files”).

    I tried “Jules and James” because they were a “Smart Podcast, Trashy Books” sponsor and the ad made it sound intriguing. Now I’m addicted and fretting over there only being a couple of episodes till the season finale and then a long wait. So well done

  3. Lisa says:

    Reading Glasses is a must for any reader. They just interviewed Gail Carriger.

  4. Stacey says:

    OMG, you have to try “Little House on the Podcast” on the Extra Hot Great/Previously.TV family of podcasts. I listen to a number of their podcasts, and this is one is soooo good! Kim Reed is basically recapping the entire Little House on the Prairie series; she just started the second season. Her brand of humor is right up my alley, and they time out at a great length for me – 12-20 minutes or so. I anxiously await the arrival each week, and she tells the story of the episode so well, I feel transported back to the 1970s, watching the show while sitting on the shag carpet in my family’s living room.

    I’m also a big fan of their true crime podcast, the Veronica Mars rewatch, Making the Sausage, and more.

    http://previously.tv/podcasts/

  5. Hazel says:

    I tried the Still Processing episode, and have already spread the word. Thank you, Sarah.

  6. Audrey says:

    @Jill Q. I downloaded a couple of episodes to listen to after I read your comment on that thread. It’s so so good. Their relationship has got me so hooked!

    Anyone know any more romance-y fiction podcasts like this?

  7. Jill Q. says:

    @Audrey,yay, my first convert! I’ve been talking to everyone about it. Flirty dialogue is one of my favorite things about romances and I love that this podcast has that and you get to feel like you’re eavesdropping. 😉

    I don’t know of any other romance focused podcasts, but I hope if someone does, they’ll speak up!

  8. JoanneBB says:

    In general science interest, Science for the People episode 438 Big Chicken blew my mind and I ordered Maryn McKenna’s book based on this interview. Really interesting look at 20thcentury agriculture and antibiotic use!

  9. Karen says:

    Geoff and Annabelle’s radio show was really good and they weren’t too manic (which is a common problem I have with many UK radio presenters). They also have great comic timing and chemistry as a duo too so I’m excited to listen to their podcast! I think the other two sound really interesting, especially Still Processing. I have a long journey this weekend so it’s great to have some things to listen to!

  10. Kira says:

    I’ve been really into The Guilty Feminist podcast (http://www.guiltyfeminist.com/)

  11. JoAnn says:

    Yes! Rough Translation is amazing! Book lovers will find the episode Anna in Somalia especially poignant – two men in prison and their “reading” of Anna Karenina.

  12. HL says:

    Just found a new one called Stay Tuned with Preet. This is the US Attorney Preet Bharara who was fired by Trump. Only one episode available so far, but if it’s an indicator of future episodes this is going to be really really good.

  13. Jess says:

    I’m a big fan of podcasts, Rough Translations is one of my faves. I’ll have to check out the Jules and James one Jill recommended.

    My recs are :

    Ear Hustle – A podcast about life in prison made by prisoners

    LifeAfter – A thrilling fictional podcast

    The Librarian Is In – two New York Public Librarians talk about books and interview interesting people. They have great chemistry !

    I also second The Black Tapes, the first season is the best !

  14. Marja says:

    @Jill Q THANK YOU for recommending Jules and James! I am hooked! Gawd, I love the chemistry of the charachters. I’m like, “get on the damn plane already!”.

  15. Katie C. says:

    I highly recommend the This American Life episode #625 Essay B and the Planet Money episodes #647 Hard Work is Irrelevant, #628 This Ad’s for You, #792 The Ransom Problem and #652 The Hydrox Resurrection.

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