I’ve been a fan of podcasts for a long time, but starting my own podcast What Should I Read Next? has seriously increased my appreciation for a well-executed episode.
Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite episodes of late.
A note about the logistics of podcast listening: my favorite way to listen is through the free Overcast app, because it’s easy, intuitive, and—most importantly—gives me a finer degree of control over listening speed than the native iTunes podcasting app.
(I’m an iPhone user, but I hear from my Android-using friends that the free Podcast Addict app has similar features.)
1. Pantsuit Politics
Episode: Election Reform: Make Those Votes Count
I still can’t believe I subscribe to a political podcast, but I love this one. Each week Sarah from the left and Beth from the right dive deep into political topic. They’re interesting, opinionated, respectful, and nuanced, and that combination works. I feel like a better-informed citizen after each episode, and I mean that seriously (no snark this time!) My husband is hooked, too, and the episodes have prompted some great conversations.
2. StartUp
Episode: Pirate Needs Pirate
Confession: I’m not loving this season of StartUp. But this episode was fantastic. It’s about a Canadian named Mike who’s effectively set up a Trader Joe’s outpost in Vancouver. Trader Joe’s doesn’t operate in Canada, so Mike keeps his store stocked by making regular trips across the border to American stores, buying thousands of dollars worth of groceries at a time. Trader Joe’s isn’t thrilled with his operations. So interesting!
3. The Simple Show
Episode: Big City Simple Living
In this episode Tsh interview Kristen Kill, who is living in Manhattan with her large family and loving it. This episode was all about living a simple life—and navigating large family life—on the Upper West side. I adore NYC, but I keep thinking if I lived there for months on end—instead of a week at a time—that would once and for all disabuse me of the idea that living there would be pretty awesome. In that sense, this episode is dangerous, because Kristen sure makes it sound awesome.
I listened to this one twice: once on my own, and once with my kids, who want to know when we can go back.
(If you want another episode to listen to: Tsh had me on earlier this month to discuss everything summer reading. Listen to it here. So fun.)
4. The Popcast with Knox and Jamie
Episode: Ep. 142 TV Series Finales, LOST Finale, Justin Timberlake Music and Pregnant Janet Jackson
Every week Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden discuss the things that (in their words) entertain, but do not matter, and they take it very, very seriously. I adored their conversation about the best and worst of tv series (not season) finales: they covered two of my all-time favorite series, The Office and Friday Night Lights, and I found myself nodding along (and—I’ll admit it—talking back to them in my car).
5. Sorta Awesome
Episode: Leigh Kramer Answers Your Enneagram Questions
Megan Tietz consistently puts out a friendly and entertaining show, but when she brought on my friend and enneagram enthusiast Leigh Kramer for her newish Extra Awesome Friday show she definitely brought it up a notch. Megan has a warm personality, a voice made for radio, and consistently interesting topics.
6. What Should I Read Next?
Episode: What DID they read next (and how did they like it?)
Okay, I wasn’t going to include my own because how could I pick a favorite episode?? But I’m going to cheat, and point you towards this fun recent episode where I brought back a half dozen guests from the show’s first ten episodes to find out what they really read next after they were on the show, and whether my picks for them were on-target or total bombs.
This was the first of many recap episodes to come, and I promise not to make you wait three whole months for the next one.
Are YOU a podcast fan? What are your recent favorites? Point us to the shows and episodes that you loved. Any that made you listen twice?