20 Podcast recommendations that will have you laughing, learning, and growing!
Have you ventured into the world of podcasts? It’s a great medium to learn about literally any topic and a great way to broaden your knowledge even as it relates to your own program of study!
Taking some time to explore a new topic or further your knowledge in an area of interest can really reinvigorate your mind! Plus, they make doing things like laundry, dishes, or commuting just that much more interesting.
There are so many great podcasts out there it can be hard to figure out where to start, so here are a few recommendations from an avid podcast listener!
Media
1) This American Life – “When I’m trying to explain our program to someone who doesn’t know it, I stammer a bunch of words like ‘entertaining,’ ‘funny,’ ‘surprising plot twists,’ ‘true stories but not boring I swear’ … and then I just give them this list.” — Ira Glass
2) Radiolab – A show that focuses on topics of a scientific, philosophical, and political nature. The show attempts to approach broad, difficult topics such as “time” and “morality” in an accessible and light-hearted manner. A stellar example of deep-dive journalism.
3) Song Exploder – A podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made.
Design
4) 99% Invisible – Design is everywhere in our lives, perhaps most importantly in the places where we’ve just stopped noticing. 99% Invisible is a weekly exploration of the process and power of design and architecture.
Business
5) How I Built This – The stories behind some of the world’s most well-known companies.
6) Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly – Under the Influence gives listeners a rare backstage pass into the hallways, boardrooms and recording studios of the ad industry. Host and adman Terry O’Reilly bring together fascinating (and humorous) stories that connect the dots between pop culture, marketing and human nature.
Science
7) Science vs – There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions out there, but then there’s SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show that does the hard work of sifting through the science to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between.
8) Overheard at National Geographic – Dive into one of the curiously delightful conversations overheard at National Geographic’s headquarters, follow explorers, photographers, and scientists to the edges of this big, weird, beautiful world.
9) Outrage + Optimism – Conversations about the climate crisis that will educate and inspire, from environmental, political, and cultural leaders from around the world.
Culinary
10) The Sporkful – The Sporkful isn’t for foodies, it’s for eaters, a podcast that explores food deeply to learn more about people.
11) Home Cooking – Chef and Author Samin Nosrat (Salt Fat Acid Heat) and Hrishikesh Hirway (creator and host of the podcast Song Exploder), bring a mini-series to help you figure out what to cook—and keep you company—during the quarantine.
12) Gastropod – Food with a side of science and history. Learn about the hidden history and surprising science behind a different food- or farming-related topic, from aquaculture to ancient feasts, from cutlery to chile peppers, and from microbes to Malbec.
Something for Everyone
13) Code Switch – Challenging and important conversations about race hosted by journalists of colour. This podcast explores how race impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and everything in between.
14) Stuff You Should Know – The title says it all. Josh & Chuck are ready to explore everything from chilli peppers and housing discrimination to satanism and plastic pink flamingos.
15) Planet Money – 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.
16) TED Talks Daily – Change your perspectives, ignite your curiosity, and learn something new every day.
Because Everyone Needs a Laugh
17) Because News – Canada’s funniest news quiz!
18) The Debaters – Part stand-up, part quiz show, and part comedy competition.
In Case You Missed Them
These are completed podcast series that you should check out if you missed them at the height of their popularity!
19) Serial – Hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial unfolds one story – a true story – over the course of a whole season. The show follows the plot and characters wherever they lead, through many surprising twists and turns.
20) The Dream – Hosts Jane Marie, an alum of This American Life, and Dann Gallucci, have created a series that dives deep into various systems of capitalist exploitation.
