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[caitspodcastlist]

Cait’s Comprehensive Podcast List

I. Pre Podcast Notes

II. Crime

A. Criminal (Radiotopia)

B. Last Podcast on the Left (Last Podcast Network)

C. My Favorite Murder (Earwolf)

D. Serial (NPR)

III. Feminism

A. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (Timbuktu Labs)

B. Guys We Fucked (Sorry About Last Night)

C. Ladies, We Need to Talk (ABC Radio)

D. Stuff Mom Never Told You (How Stuff Works)

E. Women at Work (Harvard Business Review)

IV. History

A. The Kitchen Sisters (Radiotopia)

B. Stuff You Missed in History Class (How Stuff Works)

V. Politics

A. Abe Lincoln’s Top Hat (Last Podcast Network)

B. Trillbilly Worker’s Party (independent)

C. Pod Save America (Crooked Media)

D. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law (Radiotopia)

VI. Pop Culture

A. Books and Music

1. My Dad Wrote a Porno (Acast)

2. Potterotica (Yak Channel)

3. Song Exploder (Radiotopia)

B. Celebrities

1. Missing Richard Simmons (independent)

2. Nerdette (WBEZ)

3. Pop Rocket (Maximum Fun)

4. Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellassai (Pineapple Street Media)

5. Who? Weekly (Headgum)

C. Internet

1. The Butterfly Effect (Audible)

2. Mystery Show (Gimlet)

3. Reply All  (Gimlet)

4. Why’d You Push That Button? (The Verge)

D. Movies and TV

1. Strangers to the Multiplex (independent)

2. The West Wing Weekly (Radiotopia)

E. Race

1. The Barber Shop Show (WBEZ)

2. Culture Kings (How Stuff Works)

3. Ethnically Ambiguous (How Stuff Works)

4. Yo, Is This Racist? (Earwolf)

F. Sports

1. 30 for 30 (ESPN)

2. NFL Show (The Ringer)

VII. Self Help and Life Stuff

A. Bossed Up (independent)

B. Death, Sex, and Money (NPR)

C. Duolingo (independent)

D. Friendshipping (independent)

E. Ideacast (Harvard Business Review)

F. Millennial (Gimlet)

G. The Pineapple Project (ABC Radio)

H. Sleep with Me (Amazon)

I. Startup (Gimlet)

J. This American Life (NPR)

K. This Is Love (Radiotopia)

VIII. Other

A. 99% Invisible (Radiotopia)

B. Curious City (NPR)

C. A Lot You Got to Holler (Newcity Design)

D. Love and Radio (Radiotopia)

E. Part Time Genius (How Stuff Works)

F. Science VS (Gimlet)

G. Strangers (Radiotopia)

H. Spooked (Snap Judgement)

I. Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! (NPR)

Notes Before We Get Into Podcasts

A lot of people ask me what my preferred method of listening to podcasts is. I generally use the Pocket Casts app (shoutout to Meika for turning me on to that) on my Android phone. It’s $3.99, but I used the money I get from my Google Survey Rewards app. I’ve heard that Apple Podcasts is good if you have iOS devices. If you want to listen to This American Life, I’d recommend getting their app. I bought it for $2.99 on Google Play, again using my Google Survey Rewards money. I should also say that at the time of this writing, I am currently not listening to podcasts about murder or politics because my mental health is garbage, and I am trying to fix that. :) My top five podcasts that are currently in production (in no particular order):

Criminal

99% Invisible

Reply All

Stuff Mom Never Told You

Culture Kings

Crime

Criminal

thisiscriminal.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s review: 5/5

“Criminal is a podcast about crime. The show tells stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle, from Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer. Based in Durham, NC.” -Radiotopia’s Website

Criminal is hosted by Phoebe Judge, who has the most soothing voice out of any host on this list. I could listen to her for days. The show tells stories about crimes, and while there are a lot of podcasts that do this, Criminal talks about crimes that are out of the ordinary. Some of my favorite episodes:

That Crime of the Month - 10:49 - Woman commits a crime and attributes it to PMS.

He’s Neutral - 16:15  - A man illegally sets up a Buddha statue in his neighborhood in Oakland to prevent people from dumping trash in an empty lot next to his home. Probably my favorite episode of Criminal.

Triassic Park - 20:17 - People steal fossilized wood from a park, and they are “cursed” afterward.

Deep Dive - 21:03 - A guy who dives for the police department has to dive in a tar pit to find criminal evidence.

Either/Or - 25:49 - In 1983, a judge gives people convicted of sexual assault option to either be castrated or spend 30 years in prison.

Pappy - 23:53 - A rare bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle, how hard it is to get, and the criminality that surrounds it as a result.

Walnut Grove - 32:55 - Poorly-run, privately-owned prisons.

420 - 15:56 - The origin of the phrase “420”.

Milk Carton Kids - 17:23 - How missing children came to appear on milk cartons.

Bully - 27:10 - This is legit like a real-life version of the bad guy in Road House.

The Procedure - 23:33 - Clergy who helped women get abortions in the 1960s.

A Bump in the Night - 17:55 - A girl who had a person secretly hiding in her house.

Last Podcast on the Left

lastpodcastontheleft.com

From The Last Podcast Network

Caitlin’s Review: 3/5

“The Last Podcast on the Left covers all the horrors our world has to offer, both imagined and real. From demons and slashers to cults and serial killers, The Last Podcast is guaranteed to satisfy your blood lust.” -Last Podcast on the Left’s website

This show is really good for murders. Their JonBenet episodes were amazing. Aside from murders, they do some stuff on the occult and conspiracies. As someone who loves conspiracy theories, I appreciate this. I will say that I don’t always think the hosts are that funny, and they use some non-PC language (calling people the R word, etc), which bums me out. Some of my favorite episodes:

JonBenét Ramsey Part 1 - And Hence (1:01:08) and JonBenét Part 2 - The Last Bulb on the Christmast Tree (1:05:04)

David Bowie and the Occult (1:19:30)

9/11 Part One - The Day (1:40:04), 9/11 Part Two - The Conspiracy (1:44:20), and 9/11 Part Three - Six Degrees of Baphomet (1:11:14). Basically all you need to know: Dick Cheney is satan.

My Favorite Murder

myfavoritemurder.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Lifelong fans of true crime stories, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell each other their favorite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans.” -Stitcher

My Favorite Murder is where I hear most of the murder stories I like. It’s a really addicting show, and I even saw the hosts when they did a live event at the Palace Theatre. They do a good job of talking about heavy stuff while keeping things lighthearted and ending on a good note. They are also working to normalize speaking about mental health, which is pretty cool. I had a hard time when I first started listening to them because I didn’t think they were that funny, and they seem kind of full of themselves. Not to go on a feminist rant, but I honestly think that was my “Why should women be confident?” societal training kicking in. There’s no denying that the women have great chemistry together, and why shouldn’t they be full of themselves? They’re consistently in the top 10 on iTunes.

Live at the Palace Theatre in Columbus (1:29:46) - They won’t stop talking about the Pumpkin Show in Circleville. Not all the episodes are this long; just the live ones.

Serial

serialpodcast.org

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“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.” -Serial website

If you’ve never listened to a podcast before, start here. Serial is what started the podcast boom and what got me hooked on podcasts. I binged the first season in one day, only stopping when I fell asleep late at night in the middle of the last episode. Each episode is about an hour long, and there’s 11-12 episodes per season. The first season is about a murder that takes place in Baltimore, Maryland in 1999. Adnan Syed was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. Sarah Koenig dives deep into the case, potential race issues surrounding the trial, and other fallacies that Adnan faced. Decide for yourself if he should have been convicted or acquitted. The second season goes over the Bowe Bergdahl case. I found this one to be a bit drier, but it was still interesting.

Feminism

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

rebelgirls.co/pages/podcast-1

From Timbuktu Labs

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“A fairy tale podcast about the women who inspire us.” -Rebel Girls website

This is a podcast based on the NYT-bestseller. It’s geared toward children, but I’ve been listening to it and really enjoying it. It’s nice to hear stories about badass women around the world who have or are currently defeating stereotypes that women are weak. The episode about Yusra Mardini (18:25) gave me goosebumps. Truly amazing.

Guys We Fucked

sorryaboutlastnightcomedy.com/guys-we-fucked

From Sorry About Last Night

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Guys We Fucked is a weekly self-produced podcast during which Corinne and Krystyna interview men they’ve slept with and titans in the comedy and sex industry, discuss sexual taboos, and create a sex-positive environment for their million plus listeners worldwide.” -Sorry About Last Night website

Unlike Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, this one is not aimed toward youngins. I used to be really into GWF, and I think they’re doing a good job at breaking the stigma regarding women being sexual beings, but it’s been hit or miss for me lately. Their interviews are what make the show, so I would suggest starting 8-10 minutes in so that you can miss all the ads and a bit of the intro.

GWF: HOW DOES CENSORSHIP AFFECT FEMINISM? w/ Former ACLU President Nadine Strossen - 1:37:08 - Interesting interview that talks about why the ACLU is against censorship, even when it comes to Nazis. Just an FYI, the interview doesn’t start until 38 minutes in.

GWF: HOW CAN YOU DIP YOUR DICK IN STEAK? Live from Moontower Comedy Festival w/MATT BELLASSAI - 1:48:00 - Matt Bellassai (same guy from Unhappy Hour) used to host a Buzzfeed segment called Whine About It where he gets wine-drunk and bitches about things. He reminds me of Billy Eichner (Craig from P&R). I was nearly in tears while listening to this.

GWF: YOU LOST YOUR VIRGINITY TO A MATTRESS? w/Bert Kreischer - 2:40:44 - This one also almost had me in tears. Bert Kreischer is hilarious, and he tells a great story about his daughter in the hospital with an amazing plot twist.

GWF: THERE’S A HUMAN PUNCHING YOU FROM THE INSIDE? - 1:56:20 - Interview with a very pregnant comedian who talks about all the awful pregnancy things that I always ask my child-bearing friends about and how she got fired for getting preggo.

Bonus: Bert Kreischer - The Machine - 13:51 - Bert talks about getting involved with the Russian mafia. (This is a YouTube video, but you can just listen to it if you want. He’s doing standup.)

Ladies, We Need to Talk

abc.net.au/radio/programs/ladies-we-need-to-talk

From the Australian Broadcasting Company

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“Ladies, We Need To Talk is a podcast for women, by women, that isn’t afraid to dive head first into the tricky topics we often avoid talking about … With sensitivity, personal stories, and serious smarts, this is for women who feel the squeeze between work, their private life, and their pelvic floor.” -ABC website

So the first thing you need to know is that this is an Australian show, and the host, Yumi, is Australian, which just means listening to the show is aurally pleasing in general due to the lovely accents. That aside, I love this podcast. Yumi talks about things that are generally taboo among women, e.g. drinking, being fat, menstruating. I think everyone should listen to the episode that talks about how women generally deal with a bigger mental load than men, and men don’t even realize it (27:00). This podcast really opened my eyes to some key differences between men and women that I had never even considered. If you’re not a lady, it might give you some insight.

Stuff Mom Never Told You

stuffmomnevertoldyou.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“A research-driven rundown of the ever-evolving challenges facing women today and throughout history, paired with smart, strategic solutions to further women’s lives, careers, and activism.” -Stuff Mom Never Told You website

SMNTY is one of my favorites because I think I would actually enjoy hanging out with the hosts in real life. Like Good Night Stories, it tells stories of real, badass ladies who are breaking glass ceilings, and it empowers the listener to do the same. Some of my favorites:

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Silicon Valley Sexism Part 1 (53:19) and Part 2 (51:14). This made me so angry but also gave me some great resources to help me feel empowered. It talks about sexism in tech in general, not just in California.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Campus Sexual Assault & Title IX (30:29). Something very near and dear to my heart.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Problematic Faves: Taylor Swift (1:03:34). I know this sounds stupid, but I am a firm believer that you need to help your fellow woman, not pit them against each other the way that society often does. I never really considered how Taylor Swift evolved from writing songs about how she’s better than other girls to #squadgoals, but there are lots of problems in there, too. I don’t even like Taylor Swift. I don’t like her music, so I never pay attention to her, but this was interesting af.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: The Women of Walmart (and Modcloth) (59:33). Walmart is evil. The end.

Women at Work

hbr.org/2018/01/podcast-women-at-work

From Harvard Business Review

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“In this six-episode podcast, HBR editors and guest experts untangle some of the knottiest issues around being a woman at work.” -HBR website

I only listened to a couple of the six episodes, but I liked what I heard. I don’t know what it was, but unlike SMNTY, I didn’t come away feeling really empowered and upbeat. The whole idea of the podcast is just depressing. Sometimes it’s hard to think about the ways I’ll be disadvantaged thanks to something I cannot control. The podcast does provide good resources, though, and they said they may bring it back for a second season.

History

The Kitchen Sisters

kitchensisters.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s rating: 2/5

“Stories from the b-side of history. Lost recordings, hidden worlds, people possessed by a sound, a vision, a mission. The episodes tell deeply layered stories, lush with interviews, field recordings, and music.” -The Kitchen Sisters website

This kind of fell off my radar because the titles of the stories didn’t catch my eye the way other podcasts did. If you’re super into history, I’m sure this is a good pick for you. I did listen to the episode about Ruby Bridges First Day of School, 1960, New Orleans (15:37), and I enjoyed it.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

missedinhistory.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“The Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast takes a look at lesser-known historical people and events.” -Stuff You Missed in History Class website

Another one that’s hit or miss for me but will probably be really appealing to history buffs. I did find some good episodes that I thoroughly enjoyed, but they weren’t as prominent as the ones I skipped. Some recommendations:

Stuff You Missed in History Class: Haunted Mansion, Part 1 (27:24) and Part 2 (35:55). It’s about the construction of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride.

Stuff You Missed in History Class: Jane Austen (42:19). Love her.

Politics

Abe Lincoln’s Top Hat

soundcloud.com/top-hat

From The Last Podcast Network

Caitlin’s rating: ??

“Politics! We know you love them just as much as we do. Join comedian Ben Kissel and radio man Marcus Parks each week as they discus what’s going on in politics and the world of social issues.” -The Last Podcast Network website

I haven’t listened to this since I’ve been on hiatus from murder and political podcasts, but it’s hosted by two of the same guys who do Last Podcast on the Left, so it’s probably pretty similar in tone.

Trillbilly Worker’s Party

soundcloud.com/user-972848621-463073718

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Rehabilitated white trash podcast.” -Trillbilly Worker’s Party SoundCloud

Appalachian commies talking politics and how much they hate Donald Trump. What more could you want? Recommendation:

Episode 4: No Sympathy for Coastal Elites (w/ special guests: Caroline Rubens + Lil Prosperino)

Pod Save America

crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/

From Crooked Media

Caitlin’s rating: ??

“A political podcast for people not yet ready to give up or go insane. A no-bullshit conversation about politics … that breaks down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how to help.” -Crooked Media website

TBH, I’ve only listened to one episode of Pod Save America, but I knew Ian would get upset if I didn’t include it. It seems fine, but my political knowledge is by no means great, so I didn’t really understand what the hell they were talking about. I will say if I get asked to use the Cash App one more time, I’m going to punch someone in the throat. :) :) :)

What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law

trumpconlaw.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s rating: ??

“Professor Elizabeth Joh teaches Intro to Constitutional Law and most of the time this is a pretty straight forward job. But with Trump in office, everything has changed. Five minutes before class Professor Joh checks Twitter to find out what the 45th President has said and how it jibes with 200 years of the judicial branch interpreting and ruling on the Constitution … This show is a weekly, fun, casual Con Law 101 class that uses the tumultuous and erratic activities of the executive branch under Trump to teach us all about the US Constitution.” -What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law website

Again, I’ve not listened to this because of my hiatus from political podcasts, but I love, love, LOVE Roman Mars. Aside from Phoebe Judge, he’s probably my favorite host. His voice is so soothing, and I’ll bet this is the best podcast in the group of political shows.

Pop Culture

Books and Music

My Dad Wrote a Porno

mydadwroteaporno.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“Imagine if your dad wrote a dirty book. Most people would try to ignore it - but not Jamie Morton. Instead, he decided to read it to the world in this groundbreaking comedy podcast. With the help of his best mates, James Cooper and Alice Levine, Jamie reads a chapter a week and discovers more about his father than he ever bargained for.” -My Dad Wrote a Porno website

I have cried laughing so many times listening to this. Jamie’s dad appears to have no knowledge of human anatomy or how sex works. E.g., in one of the books, Rocky writes “He grabbed her cervix.” Wot. There’s three books. Listen to them in order.

Potterotica

potteroticapodcast.com

From Yak Channel

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Erotic fantasies, Harry Potter characters, sarcastic commentary—this is the formula for The Potterotica Podcast. From unlikely romances to steamy love scenes, join us as we read a work of erotic Harry Potter fan fiction (aka potterotica) chapter by chapter.” -Potterotica website

This is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. I don’t listen to it regularly, but it’s certainly good for a laugh when you need one.

Song Exploder

songexploder.net

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode is produced and edited by host and creator Hrishikesh Hirway in Los Angeles. Using the isolated, individual tracks from a recording, Hrishikesh asks artists to delve into the specific decisions that went into creating their work.” -Song Exploder website

I love this podcast. The problem is, most of the songs are not songs that I know or by artists that appeal to me. The Peter Bjorn and John (19:54) episode (19:54) was decent, as was the Norah Jones episode (15:08). But my music taste seems to be a bit different than that of the creators’.

Celebrities

Missing Richard Simmons

missingrichardsimmons.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared. He stopped teaching his regular exercise class at Slimmons, cut off his closest friends, and removed himself from the public eye. Nobody heard from him - and no one knew why he left. Filmmaker Dan Taberski was a Slimmons regular and a friend of Richard’s. Missing Richard Simmons is Dan’s search for Richard - and the deeper he digs, the stranger it gets.”-Missing Richard Simmons website

Holy butts, this podcast. There are only six episodes, each ~30 minutes. It’s like Serial meets Richard Simmons, which I know sounds insane, but it’s everything you didn’t know you needed. I knew who Richard Simmons is, but I had no context to know anything about him. My closest interaction was seeing a small clip of him in Space Jam. I walked away from this podcast worried about the guy and more curious than ever. Like Serial, you’ll have to draw your own conclusions, but the podcast bio is no lie. It gets stranger and stranger.

Nerdette

wbez.org/shows/nerdette

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Interviews with your favorite authors, artists, astronauts and more. Because everybody is a little nerdy about something.” -WBEZ website

This is a solid show. I’m all about nerdy girls talking nerd stuff with celebrities. I don’t listen to it regularly, but that may be because I wasn’t super impressed with the John Hodgman episode (29:00). That had nothing to do with the hosts though. I just thought the guy was kind of annoying. There are definitely some other episodes that look promising:

Rainn Wilson: All About That Bassoon (31:00)

SCOTUS Edition: Muppets V. Supreme Court Justices (32:00)

Author Margaret Atwood Says ‘The Harvey Weinstein Moment’ Will Last (26:00)

Pop Rocket

maximumfun.org/shows/pop-rocket

From Maximum Fun

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Pop Rocket is a high-octane weekly discussion of the culture we all love to love. Combining comic, journalistic, academic and digital media expertise, the Pop Rocket team will keep you up-to-date on what’s most exciting in pop culture this week.” -Maximum Fun website

To be honest, I don’t really understand everything they talk about in this show, but I still find it hilarious. Plus, that’s kind of the point of pop culture podcasts, I think. To learn. None of the hosts on the show are heterosexual white males, so it offers a different perspective than what we are generally fed. I just started listening to it this week after hearing Guy Brannan on Unhappy Hour, and I thoroughly enjoyed the two episodes I listened to:

A Nonagenarian Named Oscar with Chris Schleicher (1:07:33)

An Excellent Adventure in Time Travel (1:05:55)

Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellassai

Unhappy Hour on iTunes

From Pineapple Street Media

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“From professional whiner and award-winning drunk Matt Bellassai comes Unhappy Hour, the podcast about everything we love to hate. Join Matt and his special guests as they vent about all things political, personal, and cultural. Because nothing brings people together like good alcohol and good complaining.” -Pineapple Street Media website

Matt used to work for Buzzfeed and get drunk at the office and just scream about things. It was a segment called Whine About It. Now he has a podcast where he does this but with less alcohol. Each episode has made me laugh out loud, even when I’m by myself. You may have heard me laughing so hard I was crying when he was talking about Kellyanne Conway slithering out from the canoe she lives under. My favorite is A Very Drag Spectacular (with Nico Tortorella) (38:27), which talks about how dumb gender norms are.

Who? Weekly

whoweekly.us

From Headgum

Caitlin’s rating: 2/5

“A podcast dedicated to deciphering and celebrating pop culture’s greatest (and not-so-greatest) Whos and Thems. Everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t.” -Headgum website

So a Who is a celebrity that you see a lot in the tabloids/on the interwebz, and they’re around so frequently that you know their face, but you don’t necessarily know their name, and you don’t know what their job is. They get coverage that does not reflect how famous they actually are, so when you see their picture, you say “Who?” A Them is a traditional A-list celebrity like George Clooney or Angelina Jolie. They don’t get a ton of coverage because they don’t put themselves out there the way Who’s do. They might do a Vanity Fair spread or something classy, but you don’t see them all the time, and you still know who they are and what they’ve done. It is hard to transition from a Who to a Them. This podcast talks all about Who’s and is trashy and delightful. It’s not the kind of thing that I can listen to every day because I feel that I am subjected to Who’s enough, and generally I just don’t care. But you know how sometimes you just need some trashy reality television? Sometimes you need a trashy podcast.

Internet

The Butterfly Effect

jonronson.com/butterfly

From Audible

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Welcome to The Butterfly Effect. It’s sort of about porn, but it’s about a lot of other things. It’s sad, funny, moving and totally unlike some other nonfiction stories about porn - because it isn’t judgmental or salacious. It’s human and sweet and strange and lovely. It’s a mystery story, an adventure. It’s also, I think, a new way of telling a story. This season follows a single butterfly effect. The flap of the butterfly’s wings is a boy in Brussels having an idea. His idea is how to get rich from giving the world free online porn. Over seven episodes I trace the consequences of this idea, from consequence through to consequence. If you keep going in this way, where might you end up? It turns out you end up in the most surprising and unexpected places.” -Jon Ronson’s website

With eight episodes, each ~20-40 minutes, I found this podcast to be really interesting, but it’s definitely not the kind of thing I could binge. The idea of porn is a bit icky to me (just my personal opinion; take it or leave it), and it was made even more so by hearing how mistreated some of the people are. However, I found diving into the consequences of one action to be a really good podcast idea, and hearing how this played out for Ronson was fascinating. I am excited for the second season and to see what he tackles next.

Mystery Show

gimletmedia.com/mystery-show

From Gimlet

Caitlin’s rating: 2/5

“Each episode, Starlee solves a mystery that has been bedeviling someone for years. But Starlee knows what any true fan of mystery knows: the solution isn’t the point of the mystery, it’s the journey to the solution where all the delight is to be found.” -Gimlet website

With only six episodes, Mystery Show was short lived. I listened to one episode I liked and one episode that I didn’t. The intro is stupid, but the premise is good; a woman solves mysteries without using the internet. It kind of throws me off because I think the host sounds like Louise from Bob’s Burgers. Recommendation:

Case #2: Britney (49:13) - If you don’t love Britney Spears, stay the fuck away from me.

Reply All

replyall.limo or replyall.soy. They both go to the same place, but they always pick interesting domain names. Also replyall.fyi.

From Gimlet

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“A podcast about the internet.” -Gimlet website

When a new episode of Reply All comes out, I drop everything and listen to it right away. Alex and PJ have a rapport that cracks me up while ensuring me that they genuinely care about each other. They are both pretty responsive on Twitter, as well, which is pretty cool. Reply All is about the internet but covers a wide range of pop culture topics. Their segment Yes, Yes, No is my favorite. They both understand a tweet and their boss doesn’t, so they have to explain the tweet and get to Yes, Yes, Yes. Often times these are silly memes. They also do a segment called Super Tech Support in which Alex fixes someone’s strange tech problem, like “Why is my Uber app all in Russian?” Here are some of my favorites:

Shine on You Crazy Goldman (44:19) - PJ and Phia microdose on LSD.

In the Tall Grass (31:50) - A man tries to unite the United States with an app. Also an explanation of Pepe, which I thought was the best part.

Voyage into Pizzagate (51:37) - An explanation of pizzagate and the subreddit the_donald

The Russian Passenger (38:52) and Beware All (39:46) - Uber, hacking, and the deep web

Long Distance (46:43) and Long Distance, Part II (47:31) - One of those fake support people who install viruses on your computer when you allow them to remote in calls Alex. He eventually goes to India to track the guy down.

Why’d You Push That Button?

theverge.com/whyd-you-push-that-button

From The Verge

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Why’d You Push That Button? is a podcast about the choices technology forces us to make, featuring interviews with consumers, developers, friends, and strangers … Why’d You Push That Button? asks the hard, weird, occasionally dumb questions about how your tiny tech decisions impact your social life.” -The Verge website

I liked this podcast, but it kind of reminded me of how much of a hold social media has on our lives, and that’s a bit disconcerting. I know I’m not the only one who, when I wake up in the middle of the night, immediately checks my social media before trying to go back to sleep. Or, have you accidentally typed Facebook’s url into your browser when you were on autopilot? The episode I listened to, Why do you stalk people on Venmo? (30:24), was good, but also unsettling.

Movies and TV

Strangers to the Multiplex

Strangers to the Multiplex on iTunes

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 2/5

“Join the Strangers collective on an exploration of the geeksphere.” -iTunes I don’t think this is in production anymore, but the Star Wars episode (45:00) was interesting. It was hard for me to get into it. I can’t really put my finger on why. I like podcasts that I can listen to while I clean or shower or whatever, but this one didn’t hole my focus as well. I hope another episode comes out. I’d be willing to give it another chance.

The West Wing Weekly

thewestwingweekly.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s rating: ??

“The West Wing Weekly podcast is an episode-by-episode discussion of one of television’s most beloved shows, co-hosted by one of its stars, Joshua Malina, along with Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder.” -The West Wing Weekly website

I haven’t listened to this podcast yet, but I recently started watching The West Wing, and I love it! It has so many good actors and actresses, and once I get past season one, I’ll probably give this podcast a go. It’s from Radiotopia, so I know it can’t be bad.

Race

The Barber Shop Show

wbez.org/shows/the-barbershop-show

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin’s rating: 2/5

“Coming to you live from Carter’s Barbershop in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, The Barber Shop Show brings you a weekly dose of real talk, straight from the shop floor. No punches are pulled and no topic is considered off-topic.” -WBEZ website

I think if I lived in Chicago or knew it better, I would have a better appreciation for this podcast. Maybe that will change!

Culture Kings

culturekingspod.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“Culture Kings is a show for the culture, by the culture and about the culture. Who’s the culture? Well, black people, but also just people. Each week, comedians Jacquis Neal, Edgar Momplaisir and Carl Tart dive into topics ranging from sports and music to what’s the best way to eat a taco? (Head straight up or askew) WE DO IT FOR THE CULTURE!” -Culture Kings website

These guys are so funny! Most of the things they talk about are things that I’ve never experienced or even necessarily considered, and it’s prompted a lot of interesting conversations with my friends that are POC. The guys are super interactive on Twitter, which is so much fun, and for as silly as they act, they really are smart. I told them that I trying my best to be a woke white person. Edgar responded and said “I’ll say this. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to be “woke”. Cause when you 'fail'—you won’t learn from it. You’ll just become bitter. I’d say reframe it and say I want to be open. I want to learn. Cause we’re all flawed and learning. That’s the best we can do :)” There are only a few episodes out right now, so go listen to all of them. Queen of the Week is my favorite segment mostly because I love hearing Carl sing it every time.

Ethnically Ambiguous

ethnicallyambiguouspod.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Anna and Shereen want you to know what it’s like to be a modern Middle Easterner living in America. They take their ridiculous perspective on life and dive deep-ish into current US politics that relate to being brown in this country, tackle politics of the Middle East, break down Middle Eastern stereotypes, and take on other brown folk’s personal experiences in relation to their own.” -Ethnically Ambiguous website

This one is hit or miss for me. Generally the information is really interesting, but there have been times when I question the validity of what the women are saying. That’s nothing against them; it just goes to show that as an audience, you really need to double check everything you hear or see in the media now. I do find Anna and Shereen to be funny, and I especially like their childhood anecdotes. Recommendations:

We Are Alaa Khaled (1:36:12) - The women interview Alaa Khaled, an actor who is also DJ Khaled’s brother. His dad seems hilarious.

We Are Aladdin (59:14) - The women talk about how it’s problematic that an Indian is playing Jasmine in the live-action Aladdin movie and the first same-sex Muslim marriage.

Yo, Is This Racist?

earwolf.com/show/yo-is-this-racist

From Earwolf

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Every Wednesday, Ti and his guests answer questions from fan-submitted voicemails and emails about whether or not something is, in fact, racist.” -Earwolf website

I like this podcast, but it’s long as hell. I know I’ve already listed several podcasts that have episodes over an hour long, but this one just feels long. They do have the guys from Culture Kings on the show as guests, so that’s cool.

Sports

30 for 30

30for30podcasts.com

From ESPN

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Original audio documentaries and more from the makers of the acclaimed 30 for 30 series. Sports stories like you’ve never heard before.” -iTunes

30 for 30 is pretty great if you like sports/stuff that is on ESPN. Even if you’re not super into whatever sport they’re talking about (e.g. poker), the episodes are still fascinating. Recommendations:

Yankees Suck (51:00) - an episode about the Red Sox fans who started selling Yankees Suck tshirts illegally at Fenway Park.

A Queen of Sorts (46:00) - a famous poker player and a con woman who pulled of a scheme that won them $20 million.

Hoodies Up (31:00) - The Miami Heat post a picture with their hoods up to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin. Also Gabrielle Union is awesome.

NFL Show

theringer.com/the-nfl-show

From The Ringer

Caitlin’s rating: ??

“The Ringer NFL Show features a rotating group of Ringer NFL experts, including Michael Lombardi, Robert Mays, Kevin Clark, and Danny Kelly. The show will also feature ex-players and coaches, among others, as guests.” -SoundCloud

I haven���t listened to this. I couldn’t keep up with it every week, especially since I didn’t pay very much attention at all to the NFL this year (Cincinnati fan). It was recommended to me by people in the My Favorite Murder Facebook group though, so it’s probably solid.

Self Help and Life Stuff

Bossed Up

bossedup.org/podcast

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Our Founder & CEO, Emilie Aries, sits down with industry experts to tackle a new #careerconundrum each week in Bossed Up, the podcast. Tune in for research-driven, relatable advice to craft your career and life like a boss!” -Bossed Up website

Founded by one of the former SMNTY hosts, Bossed Up helps women in the workplace by giving training and resources to empower us. Sexism is real, and Bossed Up helps us get through it and combat it, paving the way for future generations. The podcast gives real life examples of problems that women see at work and how to deal with them. Emilie is charming, and while listening to this can remind me of the situation that I’m in and bum me out, I always leave feeling empowered and determined. It’s a pretty new podcast, so I recommend all the episodes!

Death, Sex, and Money

wnycsstudios.org/shows/deathsexmoney

From WNYC Studios

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Death, Sex & Money is a show that gets very personal about the dilemmas we all share.” -WNYC website

This show covers all kinds of topics, ranging from workplace rage to heroin to coming back from the war in Iraq. Some of the episodes can be a bummer, but overall I like it, and I like the host, Anna Sale a lot. She has a good voice and asks good questions. Recommendations:

Finding Love, and a Kidney, on Tinder (28:38) - A young couple starts their relationship with an organ donation.

Sharing DNA, and Nothing Else (24:17) - Woman finds out she has more family than she thought after taking the Ancestry.com DNA test.

Lena Waithe Says Have a Dream … And a Sponsor (24:00) - Lena Waithe. Enough said. I adore her.

Opportunity Costs: The Class Slide After Divorce (27:49) - A divorce forces a woman change in perspective when her financial world changes due to losing access to her husband’s income.

Gabrielle Union is Fed Up (39:57) - Gabrielle Union talks about race, surviving rape, self-care, and raising a family with Dwyane Wade

Duolingo

podcast.duolingo.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Fascinating stories in easy-to-understand Spanish.” -Duolingo website

Duolingo tell stories in Spanish and then explain them in English to help the listener better learn Spanish. The downside is there aren’t podcasts for other languages, and since it’s a learning tool, the stories don’t go too deep into controversial topics the way that some of my other suggestions do. It is a good learning tool though. Each episode is ~20 minutes.

Friendshipping

friendshipping.simplecast.fm

Independent podcast

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Every week Jenn & Trin answer your questions about friendship! We try to advise on the tricky stuff that’s making you feel weird.” -Friendshipping website

Honestly, I find Jenn and Trin’s energy exhausting. However, they are all about self-care and their advice is solid! I don’t listen regularly because I found that a lot of the questions are questions that I can’t relate to. If I had a question about relationships, I wouldn’t have a hesitation asking Jenn in Trin though.

Ideacast

hbr.org/2018/01podcast-ideacast

From Harvard Business Review

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.” -Harvard Business Review website

I like this show a lot. Even in a public sector job, I can relate to a lot of the troubles that private sector businesses seem to experience, and I have found that Ideacast gives tangible action items to better your workplace. These suggestions can be translated across all office environments. I often feel far removed from the private sector, and it made me a feel a bit better to know that my organization isn’t the only one with issues. Recommendation:

Make Tools Like Slack Work for Your Company (33:21) - Communication is important, and a lot of companies are utilizing social media tools like Slack to help improve communication. Of course, there are good and bad ways to do this, and this episode gives examples of both.

Millennial

millennialpodcast.org

From Gimlet

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“Millennial is a podcast about coming of age.” -Millennial website

Millennial covers many topics, basically giving advice on how to navigate your twenties. This appealed to me for obvious reasons, but I became even more interested when I found out that the host, Megan Tan, is from Columbus. She talked about how it’s hard to go back home because she’s not the same person she was when she lived there, which is something I relate to when I think about going back to where I’m from. There were also a few episodes featuring Chuck, her boyfriend’s father, who cracked me up and reminded me quite a bit of my dad. Suggestions:

When Would We Get Married? (25:45) - Dealing with all of your relatives asking when you’re going to tie the knot and then subsequently having that conversation with your partner.

Good Cop, Bad Cop (28:37) - Buying your first car, which is something I just did last year!

You Can’t Go Home Again (23:20) - Moving out and away from your hometown is usually a celebrated milestone because it likely means you’re chasing your dreams, but what if that means you’re also growing apart from your family?

Saying Goodbye (16:47) - Saying goodbye to something that was once a big part of your life.

The Pineapple Project

abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-pineapple-project

From the Australian Broadcasting Company

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“Does the word ‘budget’ make you microsleep? Have you never, ever looked at your super? Do you avoid dealing with your finances because it seems too hard, and boring, and annoying? Welcome. It’s time to get it together with money. Claire Hooper is on a mission. To learn what rich people know, how poor people think, and how you can take control of your coin. From how to save smarter, to earning more, and setting yourself up for a secure future, it’s all the money skills no one ever taught you.Why pineapples? Good question. Because like money, they can be sweet. But they’re also a prick to deal with if you don’t know how to handle them. (Also, in Australia, a $50 note is known colloquially as a pineapple. Delicious. Let’s build ourselves a huge pineapple pile, mkay?)” -ABC website

Overall, this podcast has lots of good tips and a great playlist, but it’s not something I can listen to every day because it reminds me that I need to be budgeting, and I just don’t have the energy to sit down and work on that right now lol. Claire Hooper is really funny, and she keeps the discussion interesting. It also helps that she’s completely open about her own financial woes, so she’s relatable. Like Ladies, We Need to Talk, it’s produced by the Australian Broadcasting Company, so we get those lovely Aussie accents, too, which enhances the whole experience.

Sleep with Me

sleepwithmepodcast.com

From Amazon

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“A lulling, droning, boring bedtime story to distract your racing mind.

” -Sleep with Me website I honestly couldn’t tell you what this podcast is about because it always puts me to sleep when I listen to it! Of course that’s the whole point, so I’d definitely recommend this if you’re having trouble sleeping. I used it on a cross-country flight, and it saved my butt. I woke up for a few minutes during the middle of the flight, and he was talking about what fall leaves look like in every state, so I think that he must just blabber on about nonsense.

Startup

gimletmedia.com/startup

From Gimlet

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“A show about what it’s really like to start a business.” -Gimlet website

I have only listened to one episode of this show, but I really liked it. Based on the show’s premise, it doesn’t seem like something I’d be into, but similar to Criminal, I believe the show covers topics that are related to the premise but are unordinary examples. The episode that I listened to, Bootstrapping a Better Vaccine (29:58), told the story of a guy trying to make a better flu vaccine using pigs in Guatemala.

This American Life

thisamericanlife.org

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“This American Life is a weekly public radio program and podcast. Each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme.” -This American Life website

I gave this 4/5 because there are some stories that are really, REALLY good, but overall the show is a hit or miss for me. Shoutout to Tom for putting together a really good recommendation list:

129 Cars (73:36) - A car dealership tries to hit their monthly quota

Somewhere in the Arabian Sea (58:59) - Life on an aircraft carrier

Doppelgängers (57:49) - Is it pig anus, or is it calamari?

My Pen Pal (57:28) - A ten-year-old girl in Michigan becomes penpals with Panamanian dictator Manuel Noreiga

The Magic Show (58:25) -  Magicians, including Penn and Teller and how David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear

Mr. Lie Detector (58:50) - A polygraph expert starts teaching people how to get around the tests

Once More, with Feeling (57:36) - Woman confronts men who catcall her

Becoming a Badger (57:44) - Man tries to live his life as a badger

Anatomy of Doubt (58:46) - A woman reports a rape. Police doubt her, her family doubts her, town doubts her, and she begins to doubt herself.

There’s also a list of This American Life staff recommendations, which is pretty solid.

This Is Love

thisislovepodcast.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“An investigation into life’s most persistent mystery.” -This Is Love website

This podcast is just like Criminal (talked about above), except that it’s about love, not crime. Again, hosted by Phoebe Judge, who is my favorite podcast host and has the most soothing voice, This Is Love talks about love in unconventional ways that may not cross our minds when we typically think of love. It’s only in it’s first season, but they’re working on the second, and while I’d recommend every episode, Something Large and Wild (23:05) is my favorite.

Other

99% Invisible

99percentinvisible.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“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.” -99% Invisible website

Aside from Phoebe Judge, Roman Mars is probably my favorite podcast host. He is so talented, and 99% Invisible tells so many interesting stories that as soon as I listened to my first episode (Squatters of the Lower East Side), I was hooked. There are so many things around us that we neglect to notice, and Roman Mars gives us all a chance to learn more about our surroundings. This podcast helps you stop and smell the proverbial flowers. Favorites of mine:

The Trials of Dan and Dave (57:01) - In 1992, Reebok had an ad campaign with two decathalon athletes. Super interesting. I’ve asked several people if they remember it (not old enough myself) and most of them say yes, so it’s amazing to see how much of a lasting effect this ad campaign had. The power of advertising! This is a 99% invisible/ESPN 30 for 30 episode.

The Pool and the Stream (34:46) - Swimming pools changed skateboarding.

In the Same Ballpark (29:34) – The evolution of baseball parks in America. I love love love this episode.

Squatters of the Lower East Side (30:32) - People were illegally living in NYC and eventually came to own the places they were staying in basically by relentlessly defending their residence. POSSESSION IS 9/10 OF THE LAW.

Curious City

wbez.org/shows/curious-city

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“[Curious City’s] mission is to include the public in editorial decision-making, make journalism more transparent and strengthen multimedia coverage about Chicago, the surrounding region and its people (past or present).” -WBEZ website

Again, a hit or miss for me, probably because I don’t live in Chicago. Listeners send in their questions about Chicago (e.g. Where does all the poop go?), and Curious City answers them.

What Happens to the Lincoln Park Zoo Animals in the Winter? (5:39)

Chicago Bathhouses: More Than a Century of Sanitation, Sex, and Sweat (13:37)

What Happens to “Number 2” in the Second City? (9:03)

A Lot You Got to Holler

design.newcity.com/a-lot-you-got-to-holler-podcast

From Newcity Design

Caitlin’s rating: ??

“The podcast explores Chicago’s singular history of architecture, design and urbanism, with an emphasis on pop culture.” -Newcity Design website

To be honest, I never listened to this one, but it’s on my list because it sounds like a Chicago version of 99% Invisible.

Love and Radio

loveandradio.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Love and Radio features in-depth, otherworldly-produced interviews with an eclectic range of subjects, from the seedy to the sublime. You’ve never heard anything like it before. New installments are added monthly.” -Love and Radio website

Love and Radio is interesting because there’s very limited narration. The story starts, and you basically have to figure it out as it goes on. I’ve liked the episodes I’ve heard, but it hasn’t hooked me like some of the other shows. Recommendation:

Relevant Questions (46:05) - Polygraph expert helps people cheat the system. This is the same guy who is in the polygraph episode of This American Life mentioned above, but not the same broadcast.

Snakes!!!!!!!! (33:48) - Guy self-immunizes with snake venom.

A Girl of Ivory (42:16) - Polyamorous relationship with an unexpected twist.

Part Time Genius

parttimegenius.show

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“Every episode packs incredible research, fun-filled quizzes, nerdy interviews and a giant, head-scratching question into one superfun show.” - Part Time Genius website

I don’t particularly like the humor in this show, but it does have some interesting fun facts, and I definitely learned something new every time I listened. Recommendations:

Was Mr. Rogers the Best Neighbor Ever? (41:52) - BRB sobbing

What are the Greatest Things We Just Learned about Japan? (40:41) - OMG at the baseball story. That cracked me up.

How Did Putin Come to Power? (42:32) - Between this and watching Icarus, Putin terrifies me.

Is Recycling Worth the Hassle? (47:11) - Shoutout to this episode for putting me on even more of an environmentalism kick. I am especially trying to reuse plastic grocery bags now and, sadly, throwing them in the trash whenever they’ve finished their purpose.

What Are the Most Surprising Jobs at the White House? (43:39) - I already knew some of this thanks to Veep. :) But it was still good.

Science Vs

gimletmedia.com/science-vs

From Gimlet

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“Science Vs takes on fads, trends, and the opinionated mob to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between.” -Gimlet website

I LOVE Science Vs! Another show with an Aussie host, this show is pleasant to listen to and always helps me learn more. Wendy interviews doctors, scientists, and other experts to back up her material. They break down the science-based evidence in a way that any audience can understand without being condescending. Favorites:

Opioids: How America Got Hooked (45:56) - Did you know that in 2016, opioids killed more people in America than AIDS did in its most dangerous year?!

The Bee-pocalypse (31:44) - Bees are dying, and you should care.

Vaccines - Are They Safe? (35:09) - Short answer: Yes.

The Rise of Anti-Vaxxers (32:24) - My eyes are rolled all the way back into my head right now.

Abortion: What You Need to Know (46:07) - Understanding the process is important, in my opinion, especially in this political climate. Don’t make claims for one side or the other until you know the facts of how it works!

Strangers

storycentral.org/strangers

Formerly from Radiotopia, but now from Story Central

Caitlin’s rating: 5/5

“Each episode is an empathy shot in your arm, featuring true stories about the people we meet, the connections we make, the heartbreaks we suffer, the kindnesses we encounter, and those frightful moments when we discover that WE aren’t even who we thought we were.” -Story Central website

Strangers is so fascinating to me. It tells the stories of people. Usually they’re stories that I can’t relate to, but the people in these stories still have the same feelings that we all experience, so the stories aren’t irrelevant. They’re funny, they’re said, they made me angry. Any time of show that evokes this type of emotion is a winner in my book. Lea’s voice is soothing in the same way that Phoebe Judge’s is. She talks about her personal life some, and I know that’s appealing to some listeners. Personally, I’m more “Get to the story!” but that’s okay. The wait is worth it. Favorites:

Franky Carillo - Life (34:39) and Franky Carillo - Life Now (29:35) - Guy serves 20 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Kugel vs Khaled (37:52) - Alaa Khaled aka Alec Ledd talks about how he had to change his name to hide his ethnicity and break into acting.

Claire Obscure (57:31) -

Twelve Years On (33:44) - A refugee Somali family moves to a white neighborhood in Vermont

Eleven Up (1:07:51) - A family adopts children from another family, and then the families make plans to move in together.

The Truth (50:03) - A family divides when a member gets accused of the worst thing possible

Lex (35:06) - What do you do when you think your child is capable of being violent?

Claire Obscure (57:31) - Girl grows up with very abusive family, changes her identity so that her dad never finds her. Super intense.

The Son, The Goddess, and Leopoldo (47:37) - Guy is born into a lesbian witch coven, lives in communes with his mother, and eventually becomes an attorney.

Spooked

spookedpodcast.org

From WNYC Studios and Snap Judgement

Caitlin’s rating: 4/5

“True-life supernatural stories, told first-hand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves.” - Snap Judgement website

Whether you believe this kind of stuff or not, the stories are interesting and creepy. As a huge Stephen King fan, this appealed to me. The narrator, Glynn Washington, is amazing. He also hosts a show about Heavens Gate, which I tried to listen to, but it gave me nightmares about the cult I used to be in. Womp womp. Anyway, here are my favorite Spooked episodes:

Spooked: A Friend in the Forest (29:56) - Weird appearance of a boy who was supposed to be dead. Narrator is Irish.

Spooked: Lost in Time (36:37) - Two people walk into a bar that time warps.

Spooked: Final Act (35:26) - An EMT gets lost and someone who is supposedly dead helps her.

Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!

npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me

From NPR

Caitlin’s rating: 3/5

“NPR’s weekly current events quiz. Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what’s real and what we’ve made up.” -NPR website This one’s okay. I subscribed to it so that I could prep for bar trivia (don’t judge). I like that they have celebrity guests on the show. The newest episode has LeVar Burton (9:44), and I am stoked to listen to that! Bradley Whitford’s episode was good, too. He’s so problematic for me because I love him in West Wing, but I hate him in Get Out. Such a skilled actor.

[caitspodcastlist]

Other

99% Invisible

99percentinvisible.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"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." -99% Invisible website

Aside from Phoebe Judge, Roman Mars is probably my favorite podcast host. He is so talented, and 99% Invisible tells so many interesting stories that as soon as I listened to my first episode (Squatters of the Lower East Side), I was hooked. There are so many things around us that we neglect to notice, and Roman Mars gives us all a chance to learn more about our surroundings. This podcast helps you stop and smell the proverbial flowers. Favorites of mine:

The Trials of Dan and Dave (57:01) - In 1992, Reebok had an ad campaign with two decathalon athletes. Super interesting. I've asked several people if they remember it (not old enough myself) and most of them say yes, so it's amazing to see how much of a lasting effect this ad campaign had. The power of advertising! This is a 99% invisible/ESPN 30 for 30 episode.

The Pool and the Stream (34:46) - Swimming pools changed skateboarding.

In the Same Ballpark (29:34) – The evolution of baseball parks in America. I love love love this episode.

Squatters of the Lower East Side (30:32) - People were illegally living in NYC and eventually came to own the places they were staying in basically by relentlessly defending their residence. POSSESSION IS 9/10 OF THE LAW.

Curious City

wbez.org/shows/curious-city

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"[Curious City's] mission is to include the public in editorial decision-making, make journalism more transparent and strengthen multimedia coverage about Chicago, the surrounding region and its people (past or present)." -WBEZ website

Again, a hit or miss for me, probably because I don't live in Chicago. Listeners send in their questions about Chicago (e.g. Where does all the poop go?), and Curious City answers them.

What Happens to the Lincoln Park Zoo Animals in the Winter? (5:39)

Chicago Bathhouses: More Than a Century of Sanitation, Sex, and Sweat (13:37)

What Happens to "Number 2" in the Second City? (9:03)

A Lot You Got to Holler

design.newcity.com/a-lot-you-got-to-holler-podcast

From Newcity Design

Caitlin's rating: ??

"The podcast explores Chicago’s singular history of architecture, design and urbanism, with an emphasis on pop culture." -Newcity Design website

To be honest, I never listened to this one, but it's on my list because it sounds like a Chicago version of 99% Invisible.

Love and Radio

loveandradio.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Love and Radio features in-depth, otherworldly-produced interviews with an eclectic range of subjects, from the seedy to the sublime. You’ve never heard anything like it before. New installments are added monthly." -Love and Radio website

Love and Radio is interesting because there's very limited narration. The story starts, and you basically have to figure it out as it goes on. I've liked the episodes I've heard, but it hasn't hooked me like some of the other shows. Recommendation:

Relevant Questions (46:05) - Polygraph expert helps people cheat the system. This is the same guy who is in the polygraph episode of This American Life mentioned above, but not the same broadcast.

Snakes!!!!!!!! (33:48) - Guy self-immunizes with snake venom.

A Girl of Ivory (42:16) - Polyamorous relationship with an unexpected twist.

Part Time Genius

parttimegenius.show

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Every episode packs incredible research, fun-filled quizzes, nerdy interviews and a giant, head-scratching question into one superfun show." - Part Time Genius website

I don't particularly like the humor in this show, but it does have some interesting fun facts, and I definitely learned something new every time I listened. Recommendations:

Was Mr. Rogers the Best Neighbor Ever? (41:52) - BRB sobbing

What are the Greatest Things We Just Learned about Japan? (40:41) - OMG at the baseball story. That cracked me up.

How Did Putin Come to Power? (42:32) - Between this and watching Icarus, Putin terrifies me.

Is Recycling Worth the Hassle? (47:11) - Shoutout to this episode for putting me on even more of an environmentalism kick. I am especially trying to reuse plastic grocery bags now and, sadly, throwing them in the trash whenever they've finished their purpose.

What Are the Most Surprising Jobs at the White House? (43:39) - I already knew some of this thanks to Veep. :) But it was still good.

Science Vs

gimletmedia.com/science-vs

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Science Vs takes on fads, trends, and the opinionated mob to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between." -Gimlet website

I LOVE Science Vs! Another show with an Aussie host, this show is pleasant to listen to and always helps me learn more. Wendy interviews doctors, scientists, and other experts to back up her material. They break down the science-based evidence in a way that any audience can understand without being condescending. Favorites:

Opioids: How America Got Hooked (45:56) - Did you know that in 2016, opioids killed more people in America than AIDS did in its most dangerous year?!

The Bee-pocalypse (31:44) - Bees are dying, and you should care.

Vaccines - Are They Safe? (35:09) - Short answer: Yes.

The Rise of Anti-Vaxxers (32:24) - My eyes are rolled all the way back into my head right now.

Abortion: What You Need to Know (46:07) - Understanding the process is important, in my opinion, especially in this political climate. Don't make claims for one side or the other until you know the facts of how it works!

Strangers

storycentral.org/strangers

Formerly from Radiotopia, but now from Story Central

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Each episode is an empathy shot in your arm, featuring true stories about the people we meet, the connections we make, the heartbreaks we suffer, the kindnesses we encounter, and those frightful moments when we discover that WE aren’t even who we thought we were." -Story Central website

Strangers is so fascinating to me. It tells the stories of people. Usually they're stories that I can't relate to, but the people in these stories still have the same feelings that we all experience, so the stories aren't irrelevant. They're funny, they're said, they made me angry. Any time of show that evokes this type of emotion is a winner in my book. Lea's voice is soothing in the same way that Phoebe Judge's is. She talks about her personal life some, and I know that's appealing to some listeners. Personally, I'm more "Get to the story!" but that's okay. The wait is worth it. Favorites:

Franky Carillo - Life (34:39) and Franky Carillo - Life Now (29:35) - Guy serves 20 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Kugel vs Khaled (37:52) - Alaa Khaled aka Alec Ledd talks about how he had to change his name to hide his ethnicity and break into acting.

Claire Obscure (57:31) -

Twelve Years On (33:44) - A refugee Somali family moves to a white neighborhood in Vermont

Eleven Up (1:07:51) - A family adopts children from another family, and then the families make plans to move in together.

The Truth (50:03) - A family divides when a member gets accused of the worst thing possible

Lex (35:06) - What do you do when you think your child is capable of being violent?

Claire Obscure (57:31) - Girl grows up with very abusive family, changes her identity so that her dad never finds her. Super intense.

The Son, The Goddess, and Leopoldo (47:37) - Guy is born into a lesbian witch coven, lives in communes with his mother, and eventually becomes an attorney.

Spooked

spookedpodcast.org

From WNYC Studios and Snap Judgement

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"True-life supernatural stories, told first-hand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves." - Snap Judgement website

Whether you believe this kind of stuff or not, the stories are interesting and creepy. As a huge Stephen King fan, this appealed to me. The narrator, Glynn Washington, is amazing. He also hosts a show about Heavens Gate, which I tried to listen to, but it gave me nightmares about the cult I used to be in. Womp womp. Anyway, here are my favorite Spooked episodes:

Spooked: A Friend in the Forest (29:56) - Weird appearance of a boy who was supposed to be dead. Narrator is Irish.

Spooked: Lost in Time (36:37) - Two people walk into a bar that time warps.

Spooked: Final Act (35:26) - An EMT gets lost and someone who is supposedly dead helps her.

Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!

npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me

From NPR

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"NPR's weekly current events quiz. Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up." -NPR website This one's okay. I subscribed to it so that I could prep for bar trivia (don't judge). I like that they have celebrity guests on the show. The newest episode has LeVar Burton (9:44), and I am stoked to listen to that! Bradley Whitford's episode was good, too. He's so problematic for me because I love him in West Wing, but I hate him in Get Out. Such a skilled actor.

[caitspodcastlist]

Self Help and Life Stuff

Bossed Up

bossedup.org/podcast

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Our Founder & CEO, Emilie Aries, sits down with industry experts to tackle a new #careerconundrum each week in Bossed Up, the podcast. Tune in for research-driven, relatable advice to craft your career and life like a boss!" -Bossed Up website

Founded by one of the former SMNTY hosts, Bossed Up helps women in the workplace by giving training and resources to empower us. Sexism is real, and Bossed Up helps us get through it and combat it, paving the way for future generations. The podcast gives real life examples of problems that women see at work and how to deal with them. Emilie is charming, and while listening to this can remind me of the situation that I'm in and bum me out, I always leave feeling empowered and determined. It's a pretty new podcast, so I recommend all the episodes!

Death, Sex, and Money

wnycsstudios.org/shows/deathsexmoney

From WNYC Studios

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Death, Sex & Money is a show that gets very personal about the dilemmas we all share." -WNYC website

This show covers all kinds of topics, ranging from workplace rage to heroin to coming back from the war in Iraq. Some of the episodes can be a bummer, but overall I like it, and I like the host, Anna Sale a lot. She has a good voice and asks good questions. Recommendations:

Finding Love, and a Kidney, on Tinder (28:38) - A young couple starts their relationship with an organ donation.

Sharing DNA, and Nothing Else (24:17) - Woman finds out she has more family than she thought after taking the Ancestry.com DNA test.

Lena Waithe Says Have a Dream . . . And a Sponsor (24:00) - Lena Waithe. Enough said. I adore her.

Opportunity Costs: The Class Slide After Divorce (27:49) - A divorce forces a woman change in perspective when her financial world changes due to losing access to her husband's income.

Gabrielle Union is Fed Up (39:57) - Gabrielle Union talks about race, surviving rape, self-care, and raising a family with Dwyane Wade

Duolingo

podcast.duolingo.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Fascinating stories in easy-to-understand Spanish." -Duolingo website

Duolingo tell stories in Spanish and then explain them in English to help the listener better learn Spanish. The downside is there aren't podcasts for other languages, and since it's a learning tool, the stories don't go too deep into controversial topics the way that some of my other suggestions do. It is a good learning tool though. Each episode is ~20 minutes.

Friendshipping

friendshipping.simplecast.fm

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Every week Jenn & Trin answer your questions about friendship! We try to advise on the tricky stuff that's making you feel weird." -Friendshipping website

Honestly, I find Jenn and Trin's energy exhausting. However, they are all about self-care and their advice is solid! I don't listen regularly because I found that a lot of the questions are questions that I can't relate to. If I had a question about relationships, I wouldn't have a hesitation asking Jenn in Trin though.

Ideacast

hbr.org/2018/01podcast-ideacast

From Harvard Business Review

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management." -Harvard Business Review website

I like this show a lot. Even in a public sector job, I can relate to a lot of the troubles that private sector businesses seem to experience, and I have found that Ideacast gives tangible action items to better your workplace. These suggestions can be translated across all office environments. I often feel far removed from the private sector, and it made me a feel a bit better to know that my organization isn't the only one with issues. Recommendation:

Make Tools Like Slack Work for Your Company (33:21) - Communication is important, and a lot of companies are utilizing social media tools like Slack to help improve communication. Of course, there are good and bad ways to do this, and this episode gives examples of both.

Millennial

millennialpodcast.org

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Millennial is a podcast about coming of age." -Millennial website

Millennial covers many topics, basically giving advice on how to navigate your twenties. This appealed to me for obvious reasons, but I became even more interested when I found out that the host, Megan Tan, is from Columbus. She talked about how it's hard to go back home because she's not the same person she was when she lived there, which is something I relate to when I think about going back to where I'm from. There were also a few episodes featuring Chuck, her boyfriend's father, who cracked me up and reminded me quite a bit of my dad. Suggestions:

When Would We Get Married? (25:45) - Dealing with all of your relatives asking when you're going to tie the knot and then subsequently having that conversation with your partner.

Good Cop, Bad Cop (28:37) - Buying your first car, which is something I just did last year!

You Can't Go Home Again (23:20) - Moving out and away from your hometown is usually a celebrated milestone because it likely means you're chasing your dreams, but what if that means you're also growing apart from your family?

Saying Goodbye (16:47) - Saying goodbye to something that was once a big part of your life.

The Pineapple Project

abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-pineapple-project

From the Australian Broadcasting Company

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Does the word ‘budget’ make you microsleep? Have you never, ever looked at your super? Do you avoid dealing with your finances because it seems too hard, and boring, and annoying? Welcome. It’s time to get it together with money. Claire Hooper is on a mission. To learn what rich people know, how poor people think, and how you can take control of your coin. From how to save smarter, to earning more, and setting yourself up for a secure future, it’s all the money skills no one ever taught you.Why pineapples? Good question. Because like money, they can be sweet. But they’re also a prick to deal with if you don’t know how to handle them. (Also, in Australia, a $50 note is known colloquially as a pineapple. Delicious. Let’s build ourselves a huge pineapple pile, mkay?)" -ABC website

Overall, this podcast has lots of good tips and a great playlist, but it's not something I can listen to every day because it reminds me that I need to be budgeting, and I just don't have the energy to sit down and work on that right now lol. Claire Hooper is really funny, and she keeps the discussion interesting. It also helps that she's completely open about her own financial woes, so she's relatable. Like Ladies, We Need to Talk, it's produced by the Australian Broadcasting Company, so we get those lovely Aussie accents, too, which enhances the whole experience.

Sleep with Me

sleepwithmepodcast.com

From Amazon

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"A lulling, droning, boring bedtime story to distract your racing mind.

" -Sleep with Me website I honestly couldn't tell you what this podcast is about because it always puts me to sleep when I listen to it! Of course that's the whole point, so I'd definitely recommend this if you're having trouble sleeping. I used it on a cross-country flight, and it saved my butt. I woke up for a few minutes during the middle of the flight, and he was talking about what fall leaves look like in every state, so I think that he must just blabber on about nonsense.

Startup

gimletmedia.com/startup

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"A show about what it’s really like to start a business." -Gimlet website

I have only listened to one episode of this show, but I really liked it. Based on the show's premise, it doesn't seem like something I'd be into, but similar to Criminal, I believe the show covers topics that are related to the premise but are unordinary examples. The episode that I listened to, Bootstrapping a Better Vaccine (29:58), told the story of a guy trying to make a better flu vaccine using pigs in Guatemala.

This American Life

thisamericanlife.org

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"This American Life is a weekly public radio program and podcast. Each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme." -This American Life website

I gave this 4/5 because there are some stories that are really, REALLY good, but overall the show is a hit or miss for me. Shoutout to Tom for putting together a really good recommendation list:

129 Cars (73:36) - A car dealership tries to hit their monthly quota

Somewhere in the Arabian Sea (58:59) - Life on an aircraft carrier

Doppelgängers (57:49) - Is it pig anus, or is it calamari?

My Pen Pal (57:28) - A ten-year-old girl in Michigan becomes penpals with Panamanian dictator Manuel Noreiga

The Magic Show (58:25) -  Magicians, including Penn and Teller and how David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear

Mr. Lie Detector (58:50) - A polygraph expert starts teaching people how to get around the tests

Once More, with Feeling (57:36) - Woman confronts men who catcall her

Becoming a Badger (57:44) - Man tries to live his life as a badger

Anatomy of Doubt (58:46) - A woman reports a rape. Police doubt her, her family doubts her, town doubts her, and she begins to doubt herself.

There's also a list of This American Life staff recommendations, which is pretty solid.

This Is Love

thisislovepodcast.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"An investigation into life's most persistent mystery." -This Is Love website

This podcast is just like Criminal (talked about above), except that it's about love, not crime. Again, hosted by Phoebe Judge, who is my favorite podcast host and has the most soothing voice, This Is Love talks about love in unconventional ways that may not cross our minds when we typically think of love. It's only in it's first season, but they're working on the second, and while I'd recommend every episode, Something Large and Wild (23:05) is my favorite.

[caitspodcastlist]

Sports

30 for 30

30for30podcasts.com

From ESPN

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Original audio documentaries and more from the makers of the acclaimed 30 for 30 series. Sports stories like you've never heard before." -iTunes

30 for 30 is pretty great if you like sports/stuff that is on ESPN. Even if you're not super into whatever sport they're talking about (e.g. poker), the episodes are still fascinating. Recommendations:

Yankees Suck (51:00) - an episode about the Red Sox fans who started selling Yankees Suck tshirts illegally at Fenway Park.

A Queen of Sorts (46:00) - a famous poker player and a con woman who pulled of a scheme that won them $20 million.

Hoodies Up (31:00) - The Miami Heat post a picture with their hoods up to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin. Also Gabrielle Union is awesome.

NFL Show

theringer.com/the-nfl-show

From The Ringer

Caitlin's rating: ??

"The Ringer NFL Show features a rotating group of Ringer NFL experts, including Michael Lombardi, Robert Mays, Kevin Clark, and Danny Kelly. The show will also feature ex-players and coaches, among others, as guests." -SoundCloud

I haven't listened to this. I couldn't keep up with it every week, especially since I didn't pay very much attention at all to the NFL this year (Cincinnati fan). It was recommended to me by people in the My Favorite Murder Facebook group though, so it's probably solid.

[caitspodcastlist]

Race

The Barber Shop Show

wbez.org/shows/the-barbershop-show

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Coming to you live from Carter's Barbershop in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, The Barber Shop Show brings you a weekly dose of real talk, straight from the shop floor. No punches are pulled and no topic is considered off-topic." -WBEZ website

I think if I lived in Chicago or knew it better, I would have a better appreciation for this podcast. Maybe that will change!

Culture Kings

culturekingspod.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Culture Kings is a show for the culture, by the culture and about the culture. Who's the culture? Well, black people, but also just people. Each week, comedians Jacquis Neal, Edgar Momplaisir and Carl Tart dive into topics ranging from sports and music to what's the best way to eat a taco? (Head straight up or askew) WE DO IT FOR THE CULTURE!" -Culture Kings website

These guys are so funny! Most of the things they talk about are things that I've never experienced or even necessarily considered, and it's prompted a lot of interesting conversations with my friends that are POC. The guys are super interactive on Twitter, which is so much fun, and for as silly as they act, they really are smart. I told them that I trying my best to be a woke white person. Edgar responded and said "I’ll say this. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to be “woke”. Cause when you 'fail'—you won’t learn from it. You’ll just become bitter. I’d say reframe it and say I want to be open. I want to learn. Cause we’re all flawed and learning. That’s the best we can do :)" There are only a few episodes out right now, so go listen to all of them. Queen of the Week is my favorite segment mostly because I love hearing Carl sing it every time.

Ethnically Ambiguous

ethnicallyambiguouspod.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Anna and Shereen want you to know what it's like to be a modern Middle Easterner living in America. They take their ridiculous perspective on life and dive deep-ish into current US politics that relate to being brown in this country, tackle politics of the Middle East, break down Middle Eastern stereotypes, and take on other brown folk’s personal experiences in relation to their own." -Ethnically Ambiguous website

This one is hit or miss for me. Generally the information is really interesting, but there have been times when I question the validity of what the women are saying. That's nothing against them; it just goes to show that as an audience, you really need to double check everything you hear or see in the media now. I do find Anna and Shereen to be funny, and I especially like their childhood anecdotes. Recommendations:

We Are Alaa Khaled (1:36:12) - The women interview Alaa Khaled, an actor who is also DJ Khaled's brother. His dad seems hilarious.

We Are Aladdin (59:14) - The women talk about how it's problematic that an Indian is playing Jasmine in the live-action Aladdin movie and the first same-sex Muslim marriage.

Yo, Is This Racist?

earwolf.com/show/yo-is-this-racist

From Earwolf

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Every Wednesday, Ti and his guests answer questions from fan-submitted voicemails and emails about whether or not something is, in fact, racist." -Earwolf website

I like this podcast, but it's long as hell. I know I've already listed several podcasts that have episodes over an hour long, but this one just feels long. They do have the guys from Culture Kings on the show as guests, so that's cool.

[caitspodcastlist]

Movies and TV

Strangers to the Multiplex

Strangers to the Multiplex on iTunes

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Join the Strangers collective on an exploration of the geeksphere." -iTunes I don't think this is in production anymore, but the Star Wars episode (45:00) was interesting. It was hard for me to get into it. I can't really put my finger on why. I like podcasts that I can listen to while I clean or shower or whatever, but this one didn't hole my focus as well. I hope another episode comes out. I'd be willing to give it another chance.

The West Wing Weekly

thewestwingweekly.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: ??

"The West Wing Weekly podcast is an episode-by-episode discussion of one of television's most beloved shows, co-hosted by one of its stars, Joshua Malina, along with Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder." -The West Wing Weekly website

I haven't listened to this podcast yet, but I recently started watching The West Wing, and I love it! It has so many good actors and actresses, and once I get past season one, I'll probably give this podcast a go. It's from Radiotopia, so I know it can't be bad.

[caitspodcastlist]

Internet

The Butterfly Effect

jonronson.com/butterfly

From Audible

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Welcome to The Butterfly Effect. It's sort of about porn, but it's about a lot of other things. It's sad, funny, moving and totally unlike some other nonfiction stories about porn - because it isn't judgmental or salacious. It's human and sweet and strange and lovely. It's a mystery story, an adventure. It's also, I think, a new way of telling a story. This season follows a single butterfly effect. The flap of the butterfly's wings is a boy in Brussels having an idea. His idea is how to get rich from giving the world free online porn. Over seven episodes I trace the consequences of this idea, from consequence through to consequence. If you keep going in this way, where might you end up? It turns out you end up in the most surprising and unexpected places." -Jon Ronson's website

With eight episodes, each ~20-40 minutes, I found this podcast to be really interesting, but it's definitely not the kind of thing I could binge. The idea of porn is a bit icky to me (just my personal opinion; take it or leave it), and it was made even more so by hearing how mistreated some of the people are. However, I found diving into the consequences of one action to be a really good podcast idea, and hearing how this played out for Ronson was fascinating. I am excited for the second season and to see what he tackles next.

Mystery Show

gimletmedia.com/mystery-show

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Each episode, Starlee solves a mystery that has been bedeviling someone for years. But Starlee knows what any true fan of mystery knows: the solution isn’t the point of the mystery, it’s the journey to the solution where all the delight is to be found." -Gimlet website

With only six episodes, Mystery Show was short lived. I listened to one episode I liked and one episode that I didn't. The intro is stupid, but the premise is good; a woman solves mysteries without using the internet. It kind of throws me off because I think the host sounds like Louise from Bob's Burgers. Recommendation:

Case #2: Britney (49:13) - If you don’t love Britney Spears, stay the fuck away from me.

Reply All

replyall.limo or replyall.soy. They both go to the same place, but they always pick interesting domain names. Also replyall.fyi.

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"A podcast about the internet." -Gimlet website

When a new episode of Reply All comes out, I drop everything and listen to it right away. Alex and PJ have a rapport that cracks me up while ensuring me that they genuinely care about each other. They are both pretty responsive on Twitter, as well, which is pretty cool. Reply All is about the internet but covers a wide range of pop culture topics. Their segment Yes, Yes, No is my favorite. They both understand a tweet and their boss doesn't, so they have to explain the tweet and get to Yes, Yes, Yes. Often times these are silly memes. They also do a segment called Super Tech Support in which Alex fixes someone's strange tech problem, like "Why is my Uber app all in Russian?" Here are some of my favorites:

Shine on You Crazy Goldman (44:19) - PJ and Phia microdose on LSD.

In the Tall Grass (31:50) - A man tries to unite the United States with an app. Also an explanation of Pepe, which I thought was the best part.

Voyage into Pizzagate (51:37) - An explanation of pizzagate and the subreddit the_donald

The Russian Passenger (38:52) and Beware All (39:46) - Uber, hacking, and the deep web

Long Distance (46:43) and Long Distance, Part II (47:31) - One of those fake support people who install viruses on your computer when you allow them to remote in calls Alex. He eventually goes to India to track the guy down.

Why'd You Push That Button?

theverge.com/whyd-you-push-that-button

From The Verge

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Why’d You Push That Button? is a podcast about the choices technology forces us to make, featuring interviews with consumers, developers, friends, and strangers . . . Why’d You Push That Button? asks the hard, weird, occasionally dumb questions about how your tiny tech decisions impact your social life." -The Verge website

I liked this podcast, but it kind of reminded me of how much of a hold social media has on our lives, and that's a bit disconcerting. I know I'm not the only one who, when I wake up in the middle of the night, immediately checks my social media before trying to go back to sleep. Or, have you accidentally typed Facebook's url into your browser when you were on autopilot? The episode I listened to, Why do you stalk people on Venmo? (30:24), was good, but also unsettling.

[caitspodcastlist]

Celebrities

Missing Richard Simmons

missingrichardsimmons.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared. He stopped teaching his regular exercise class at Slimmons, cut off his closest friends, and removed himself from the public eye. Nobody heard from him - and no one knew why he left. Filmmaker Dan Taberski was a Slimmons regular and a friend of Richard’s. Missing Richard Simmons is Dan’s search for Richard - and the deeper he digs, the stranger it gets."-Missing Richard Simmons website

Holy butts, this podcast. There are only six episodes, each ~30 minutes. It's like Serial meets Richard Simmons, which I know sounds insane, but it's everything you didn't know you needed. I knew who Richard Simmons is, but I had no context to know anything about him. My closest interaction was seeing a small clip of him in Space Jam. I walked away from this podcast worried about the guy and more curious than ever. Like Serial, you'll have to draw your own conclusions, but the podcast bio is no lie. It gets stranger and stranger.

Nerdette

wbez.org/shows/nerdette

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Interviews with your favorite authors, artists, astronauts and more. Because everybody is a little nerdy about something." -WBEZ website

This is a solid show. I'm all about nerdy girls talking nerd stuff with celebrities. I don't listen to it regularly, but that may be because I wasn't super impressed with the John Hodgman episode (29:00). That had nothing to do with the hosts though. I just thought the guy was kind of annoying. There are definitely some other episodes that look promising:

Rainn Wilson: All About That Bassoon (31:00)

SCOTUS Edition: Muppets V. Supreme Court Justices (32:00)

Author Margaret Atwood Says 'The Harvey Weinstein Moment' Will Last (26:00)

Pop Rocket

maximumfun.org/shows/pop-rocket

From Maximum Fun

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Pop Rocket is a high-octane weekly discussion of the culture we all love to love. Combining comic, journalistic, academic and digital media expertise, the Pop Rocket team will keep you up-to-date on what's most exciting in pop culture this week." -Maximum Fun website

To be honest, I don't really understand everything they talk about in this show, but I still find it hilarious. Plus, that's kind of the point of pop culture podcasts, I think. To learn. None of the hosts on the show are heterosexual white males, so it offers a different perspective than what we are generally fed. I just started listening to it this week after hearing Guy Brannan on Unhappy Hour, and I thoroughly enjoyed the two episodes I listened to:

A Nonagenarian Named Oscar with Chris Schleicher (1:07:33)

An Excellent Adventure in Time Travel (1:05:55)

Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellassai

Unhappy Hour on iTunes

From Pineapple Street Media

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"From professional whiner and award-winning drunk Matt Bellassai comes Unhappy Hour, the podcast about everything we love to hate. Join Matt and his special guests as they vent about all things political, personal, and cultural. Because nothing brings people together like good alcohol and good complaining." -Pineapple Street Media website

Matt used to work for Buzzfeed and get drunk at the office and just scream about things. It was a segment called Whine About It. Now he has a podcast where he does this but with less alcohol. Each episode has made me laugh out loud, even when I'm by myself. You may have heard me laughing so hard I was crying when he was talking about Kellyanne Conway slithering out from the canoe she lives under. My favorite is A Very Drag Spectacular (with Nico Tortorella) (38:27), which talks about how dumb gender norms are.

Who? Weekly

whoweekly.us

From Headgum

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"A podcast dedicated to deciphering and celebrating pop culture's greatest (and not-so-greatest) Whos and Thems. Everything you need to know about celebrities you don't." -Headgum website

So a Who is a celebrity that you see a lot in the tabloids/on the interwebz, and they're around so frequently that you know their face, but you don't necessarily know their name, and you don't know what their job is. They get coverage that does not reflect how famous they actually are, so when you see their picture, you say "Who?" A Them is a traditional A-list celebrity like George Clooney or Angelina Jolie. They don't get a ton of coverage because they don't put themselves out there the way Who's do. They might do a Vanity Fair spread or something classy, but you don't see them all the time, and you still know who they are and what they've done. It is hard to transition from a Who to a Them. This podcast talks all about Who's and is trashy and delightful. It's not the kind of thing that I can listen to every day because I feel that I am subjected to Who's enough, and generally I just don't care. But you know how sometimes you just need some trashy reality television? Sometimes you need a trashy podcast.

[caitspodcastlist]

Books and Music

My Dad Wrote a Porno

mydadwroteaporno.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Imagine if your dad wrote a dirty book. Most people would try to ignore it - but not Jamie Morton. Instead, he decided to read it to the world in this groundbreaking comedy podcast. With the help of his best mates, James Cooper and Alice Levine, Jamie reads a chapter a week and discovers more about his father than he ever bargained for." -My Dad Wrote a Porno website

I have cried laughing so many times listening to this. Jamie's dad appears to have no knowledge of human anatomy or how sex works. E.g., in one of the books, Rocky writes "He grabbed her cervix." Wot. There's three books. Listen to them in order.

Potterotica

potteroticapodcast.com

From Yak Channel

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Erotic fantasies, Harry Potter characters, sarcastic commentary—this is the formula for The Potterotica Podcast. From unlikely romances to steamy love scenes, join us as we read a work of erotic Harry Potter fan fiction (aka potterotica) chapter by chapter." -Potterotica website

This is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. I don't listen to it regularly, but it's certainly good for a laugh when you need one.

Song Exploder

songexploder.net

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode is produced and edited by host and creator Hrishikesh Hirway in Los Angeles. Using the isolated, individual tracks from a recording, Hrishikesh asks artists to delve into the specific decisions that went into creating their work." -Song Exploder website

I love this podcast. The problem is, most of the songs are not songs that I know or by artists that appeal to me. The Peter Bjorn and John (19:54) episode (19:54) was decent, as was the Norah Jones episode (15:08). But my music taste seems to be a bit different than that of the creators'.

[caitspodcastlist]

Politics

Abe Lincoln's Top Hat

soundcloud.com/top-hat

From The Last Podcast Network

Caitlin's rating: ??

"Politics! We know you love them just as much as we do. Join comedian Ben Kissel and radio man Marcus Parks each week as they discus what’s going on in politics and the world of social issues." -The Last Podcast Network website

I haven't listened to this since I've been on hiatus from murder and political podcasts, but it's hosted by two of the same guys who do Last Podcast on the Left, so it's probably pretty similar in tone.

Trillbilly Worker's Party

soundcloud.com/user-972848621-463073718

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Rehabilitated white trash podcast." -Trillbilly Worker's Party SoundCloud

Appalachian commies talking politics and how much they hate Donald Trump. What more could you want? Recommendation:

Episode 4: No Sympathy for Coastal Elites (w/ special guests: Caroline Rubens + Lil Prosperino)

Pod Save America

crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/

From Crooked Media

Caitlin's rating: ??

"A political podcast for people not yet ready to give up or go insane. A no-bullshit conversation about politics . . . that breaks down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how to help." -Crooked Media website

TBH, I've only listened to one episode of Pod Save America, but I knew Ian would get upset if I didn't include it. It seems fine, but my political knowledge is by no means great, so I didn't really understand what the hell they were talking about. I will say if I get asked to use the Cash App one more time, I'm going to punch someone in the throat. :) :) :)

What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law

trumpconlaw.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: ??

"Professor Elizabeth Joh teaches Intro to Constitutional Law and most of the time this is a pretty straight forward job. But with Trump in office, everything has changed. Five minutes before class Professor Joh checks Twitter to find out what the 45th President has said and how it jibes with 200 years of the judicial branch interpreting and ruling on the Constitution . . . This show is a weekly, fun, casual Con Law 101 class that uses the tumultuous and erratic activities of the executive branch under Trump to teach us all about the US Constitution." -What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law website

Again, I've not listened to this because of my hiatus from political podcasts, but I love, love, LOVE Roman Mars. Aside from Phoebe Judge, he's probably my favorite host. His voice is so soothing, and I'll bet this is the best podcast in the group of political shows.

[caitspodcastlist]

History

The Kitchen Sisters

kitchensisters.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Stories from the b-side of history. Lost recordings, hidden worlds, people possessed by a sound, a vision, a mission. The episodes tell deeply layered stories, lush with interviews, field recordings, and music." -The Kitchen Sisters website

This kind of fell off my radar because the titles of the stories didn't catch my eye the way other podcasts did. If you're super into history, I'm sure this is a good pick for you. I did listen to the episode about Ruby Bridges First Day of School, 1960, New Orleans (15:37), and I enjoyed it.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

missedinhistory.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"The Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast takes a look at lesser-known historical people and events." -Stuff You Missed in History Class website

Another one that's hit or miss for me but will probably be really appealing to history buffs. I did find some good episodes that I thoroughly enjoyed, but they weren't as prominent as the ones I skipped. Some recommendations:

Stuff You Missed in History Class: Haunted Mansion, Part 1 (27:24) and Part 2 (35:55). It’s about the construction of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride.

Stuff You Missed in History Class: Jane Austen (42:19). Love her.

[caitspodcastlist]

Feminism

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

rebelgirls.co/pages/podcast-1

From Timbuktu Labs

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"A fairy tale podcast about the women who inspire us." -Rebel Girls website

This is a podcast based on the NYT-bestseller. It's geared toward children, but I've been listening to it and really enjoying it. It's nice to hear stories about badass women around the world who have or are currently defeating stereotypes that women are weak. The episode about Yusra Mardini (18:25) gave me goosebumps. Truly amazing.

Guys We Fucked

sorryaboutlastnightcomedy.com/guys-we-fucked

From Sorry About Last Night

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Guys We Fucked is a weekly self-produced podcast during which Corinne and Krystyna interview men they’ve slept with and titans in the comedy and sex industry, discuss sexual taboos, and create a sex-positive environment for their million plus listeners worldwide." -Sorry About Last Night website

Unlike Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, this one is not aimed toward youngins. I used to be really into GWF, and I think they're doing a good job at breaking the stigma regarding women being sexual beings, but it's been hit or miss for me lately. Their interviews are what make the show, so I would suggest starting 8-10 minutes in so that you can miss all the ads and a bit of the intro.

GWF: HOW DOES CENSORSHIP AFFECT FEMINISM? w/ Former ACLU President Nadine Strossen - 1:37:08 - Interesting interview that talks about why the ACLU is against censorship, even when it comes to Nazis. Just an FYI, the interview doesn't start until 38 minutes in.

GWF: HOW CAN YOU DIP YOUR DICK IN STEAK? Live from Moontower Comedy Festival w/MATT BELLASSAI - 1:48:00 - Matt Bellassai (same guy from Unhappy Hour) used to host a Buzzfeed segment called Whine About It where he gets wine-drunk and bitches about things. He reminds me of Billy Eichner (Craig from P&R). I was nearly in tears while listening to this.

GWF: YOU LOST YOUR VIRGINITY TO A MATTRESS? w/Bert Kreischer - 2:40:44 - This one also almost had me in tears. Bert Kreischer is hilarious, and he tells a great story about his daughter in the hospital with an amazing plot twist.

GWF: THERE'S A HUMAN PUNCHING YOU FROM THE INSIDE? - 1:56:20 - Interview with a very pregnant comedian who talks about all the awful pregnancy things that I always ask my child-bearing friends about and how she got fired for getting preggo.

Bonus: Bert Kreischer - The Machine - 13:51 - Bert talks about getting involved with the Russian mafia. (This is a YouTube video, but you can just listen to it if you want. He's doing standup.)

Ladies, We Need to Talk

abc.net.au/radio/programs/ladies-we-need-to-talk

From the Australian Broadcasting Company

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Ladies, We Need To Talk is a podcast for women, by women, that isn’t afraid to dive head first into the tricky topics we often avoid talking about . . . With sensitivity, personal stories, and serious smarts, this is for women who feel the squeeze between work, their private life, and their pelvic floor." -ABC website

So the first thing you need to know is that this is an Australian show, and the host, Yumi, is Australian, which just means listening to the show is aurally pleasing in general due to the lovely accents. That aside, I love this podcast. Yumi talks about things that are generally taboo among women, e.g. drinking, being fat, menstruating. I think everyone should listen to the episode that talks about how women generally deal with a bigger mental load than men, and men don't even realize it (27:00). This podcast really opened my eyes to some key differences between men and women that I had never even considered. If you're not a lady, it might give you some insight.

Stuff Mom Never Told You

stuffmomnevertoldyou.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"A research-driven rundown of the ever-evolving challenges facing women today and throughout history, paired with smart, strategic solutions to further women’s lives, careers, and activism." -Stuff Mom Never Told You website

SMNTY is one of my favorites because I think I would actually enjoy hanging out with the hosts in real life. Like Good Night Stories, it tells stories of real, badass ladies who are breaking glass ceilings, and it empowers the listener to do the same. Some of my favorites:

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Silicon Valley Sexism Part 1 (53:19) and Part 2 (51:14). This made me so angry but also gave me some great resources to help me feel empowered. It talks about sexism in tech in general, not just in California.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Campus Sexual Assault & Title IX (30:29). Something very near and dear to my heart.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Problematic Faves: Taylor Swift (1:03:34). I know this sounds stupid, but I am a firm believer that you need to help your fellow woman, not pit them against each other the way that society often does. I never really considered how Taylor Swift evolved from writing songs about how she’s better than other girls to #squadgoals, but there are lots of problems in there, too. I don’t even like Taylor Swift. I don’t like her music, so I never pay attention to her, but this was interesting af.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: The Women of Walmart (and Modcloth) (59:33). Walmart is evil. The end.

Women at Work

hbr.org/2018/01/podcast-women-at-work

From Harvard Business Review

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"In this six-episode podcast, HBR editors and guest experts untangle some of the knottiest issues around being a woman at work." -HBR website

I only listened to a couple of the six episodes, but I liked what I heard. I don't know what it was, but unlike SMNTY, I didn't come away feeling really empowered and upbeat. The whole idea of the podcast is just depressing. Sometimes it's hard to think about the ways I'll be disadvantaged thanks to something I cannot control. The podcast does provide good resources, though, and they said they may bring it back for a second season.

[caitspodcastlist]

Crime

Criminal

thisiscriminal.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's review: 5/5

"Criminal is a podcast about crime. The show tells stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle, from Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer. Based in Durham, NC." -Radiotopia's Website

Criminal is hosted by Phoebe Judge, who has the most soothing voice out of any host on this list. I could listen to her for days. The show tells stories about crimes, and while there are a lot of podcasts that do this, Criminal talks about crimes that are out of the ordinary. Some of my favorite episodes:

That Crime of the Month - 10:49 - Woman commits a crime and attributes it to PMS.

He's Neutral - 16:15  - A man illegally sets up a Buddha statue in his neighborhood in Oakland to prevent people from dumping trash in an empty lot next to his home. Probably my favorite episode of Criminal.

Triassic Park - 20:17 - People steal fossilized wood from a park, and they are "cursed" afterward.

Deep Dive - 21:03 - A guy who dives for the police department has to dive in a tar pit to find criminal evidence.

Either/Or - 25:49 - In 1983, a judge gives people convicted of sexual assault option to either be castrated or spend 30 years in prison.

Pappy - 23:53 - A rare bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle, how hard it is to get, and the criminality that surrounds it as a result.

Walnut Grove - 32:55 - Poorly-run, privately-owned prisons.

420 - 15:56 - The origin of the phrase "420".

Milk Carton Kids - 17:23 - How missing children came to appear on milk cartons.

Bully - 27:10 - This is legit like a real-life version of the bad guy in Road House.

The Procedure - 23:33 - Clergy who helped women get abortions in the 1960s.

A Bump in the Night - 17:55 - A girl who had a person secretly hiding in her house.

Last Podcast on the Left

lastpodcastontheleft.com

From The Last Podcast Network

Caitlin's Review: 3/5

"The Last Podcast on the Left covers all the horrors our world has to offer, both imagined and real. From demons and slashers to cults and serial killers, The Last Podcast is guaranteed to satisfy your blood lust." -Last Podcast on the Left's website

This show is really good for murders. Their JonBenet episodes were amazing. Aside from murders, they do some stuff on the occult and conspiracies. As someone who loves conspiracy theories, I appreciate this. I will say that I don't always think the hosts are that funny, and they use some non-PC language (calling people the R word, etc), which bums me out. Some of my favorite episodes:

JonBenét Ramsey Part 1 - And Hence (1:01:08) and JonBenét Part 2 - The Last Bulb on the Christmast Tree (1:05:04)

David Bowie and the Occult (1:19:30)

9/11 Part One - The Day (1:40:04), 9/11 Part Two - The Conspiracy (1:44:20), and 9/11 Part Three - Six Degrees of Baphomet (1:11:14). Basically all you need to know: Dick Cheney is satan.

My Favorite Murder

myfavoritemurder.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Lifelong fans of true crime stories, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell each other their favorite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans." -Stitcher

My Favorite Murder is where I hear most of the murder stories I like. It's a really addicting show, and I even saw the hosts when they did a live event at the Palace Theatre. They do a good job of talking about heavy stuff while keeping things lighthearted and ending on a good note. They are also working to normalize speaking about mental health, which is pretty cool. I had a hard time when I first started listening to them because I didn't think they were that funny, and they seem kind of full of themselves. Not to go on a feminist rant, but I honestly think that was my "Why should women be confident?" societal training kicking in. There's no denying that the women have great chemistry together, and why shouldn't they be full of themselves? They're consistently in the top 10 on iTunes.

Live at the Palace Theatre in Columbus (1:29:46) - They won't stop talking about the Pumpkin Show in Circleville. Not all the episodes are this long; just the live ones.

Serial

serialpodcast.org

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"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." -Serial website

If you've never listened to a podcast before, start here. Serial is what started the podcast boom and what got me hooked on podcasts. I binged the first season in one day, only stopping when I fell asleep late at night in the middle of the last episode. Each episode is about an hour long, and there's 11-12 episodes per season. The first season is about a murder that takes place in Baltimore, Maryland in 1999. Adnan Syed was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. Sarah Koenig dives deep into the case, potential race issues surrounding the trial, and other fallacies that Adnan faced. Decide for yourself if he should have been convicted or acquitted. The second season goes over the Bowe Bergdahl case. I found this one to be a bit drier, but it was still interesting.

[caitspodcastlist]

Pre Podcast Notes

Notes Before We Get Into Podcasts

A lot of people ask me what my preferred method of listening to podcasts is. I generally use the Pocket Casts app (shoutout to Meika for turning me on to that) on my Android phone. It's $3.99, but I used the money I get from my Google Survey Rewards app. I've heard that Apple Podcasts is good if you have iOS devices. If you want to listen to This American Life, I'd recommend getting their app. I bought it for $2.99 on Google Play, again using my Google Survey Rewards money. I should also say that at the time of this writing, I am currently not listening to podcasts about murder or politics because my mental health is garbage, and I am trying to fix that. :) My top five podcasts that are currently in production (in no particular order):

Criminal

99% Invisible

Reply All

Stuff Mom Never Told You

Culture Kings

[caitspodcastlist]

Cait’s Comprehensive Podcast List

I. Pre Podcast Notes

II. Crime

A. Criminal (Radiotopia)

B. Last Podcast on the Left (Last Podcast Network)

C. My Favorite Murder (Earwolf)

D. Serial (NPR)

III. Feminism

A. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (Timbuktu Labs)

B. Guys We Fucked (Sorry About Last Night)

C. Ladies, We Need to Talk (ABC Radio)

D. Stuff Mom Never Told You (How Stuff Works)

E. Women at Work (Harvard Business Review)

IV. History

A. The Kitchen Sisters (Radiotopia)

B. Stuff You Missed in History Class (How Stuff Works)

V. Politics

A. Abe Lincoln's Top Hat (Last Podcast Network)

B. Trillbilly Worker's Party (independent)

C. Pod Save America (Crooked Media)

D. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law (Radiotopia)

VI. Pop Culture

A. Books and Music

1. My Dad Wrote a Porno (Acast)

2. Potterotica (Yak Channel)

3. Song Exploder (Radiotopia)

B. Celebrities

1. Missing Richard Simmons (independent)

2. Nerdette (WBEZ)

3. Pop Rocket (Maximum Fun)

4. Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellassai (Pineapple Street Media)

5. Who? Weekly (Headgum)

C. Internet

1. The Butterfly Effect (Audible)

2. Mystery Show (Gimlet)

3. Reply All  (Gimlet)

4. Why'd You Push That Button? (The Verge)

D. Movies and TV

1. Strangers to the Multiplex (independent)

2. The West Wing Weekly (Radiotopia)

E. Race

1. The Barber Shop Show (WBEZ)

2. Culture Kings (How Stuff Works)

3. Ethnically Ambiguous (How Stuff Works)

4. Yo, Is This Racist? (Earwolf)

F. Sports

1. 30 for 30 (ESPN)

2. NFL Show (The Ringer)

VII. Self Help and Life Stuff

A. Bossed Up (independent)

B. Death, Sex, and Money (NPR)

C. Duolingo (independent)

D. Friendshipping (independent)

E. Ideacast (Harvard Business Review)

F. Millennial (Gimlet)

G. The Pineapple Project (ABC Radio)

H. Sleep with Me (Amazon)

I. Startup (Gimlet)

J. This American Life (NPR)

K. This Is Love (Radiotopia)

VIII. Other

A. 99% Invisible (Radiotopia)

B. Curious City (NPR)

C. A Lot You Got to Holler (Newcity Design)

D. Love and Radio (Radiotopia)

E. Part Time Genius (How Stuff Works)

F. Science VS (Gimlet)

G. Strangers (Radiotopia)

H. Spooked (Snap Judgement)

I. Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! (NPR)

Notes Before We Get Into Podcasts

A lot of people ask me what my preferred method of listening to podcasts is. I generally use the Pocket Casts app (shoutout to Meika for turning me on to that) on my Android phone. It's $3.99, but I used the money I get from my Google Survey Rewards app. I've heard that Apple Podcasts is good if you have iOS devices. If you want to listen to This American Life, I'd recommend getting their app. I bought it for $2.99 on Google Play, again using my Google Survey Rewards money. I should also say that at the time of this writing, I am currently not listening to podcasts about murder or politics because my mental health is garbage, and I am trying to fix that. :) My top five podcasts that are currently in production (in no particular order):

Criminal

99% Invisible

Reply All

Stuff Mom Never Told You

Culture Kings

Crime

Criminal

thisiscriminal.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's review: 5/5

"Criminal is a podcast about crime. The show tells stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle, from Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer. Based in Durham, NC." -Radiotopia's Website

Criminal is hosted by Phoebe Judge, who has the most soothing voice out of any host on this list. I could listen to her for days. The show tells stories about crimes, and while there are a lot of podcasts that do this, Criminal talks about crimes that are out of the ordinary. Some of my favorite episodes:

That Crime of the Month - 10:49 - Woman commits a crime and attributes it to PMS.

He's Neutral - 16:15  - A man illegally sets up a Buddha statue in his neighborhood in Oakland to prevent people from dumping trash in an empty lot next to his home. Probably my favorite episode of Criminal.

Triassic Park - 20:17 - People steal fossilized wood from a park, and they are "cursed" afterward.

Deep Dive - 21:03 - A guy who dives for the police department has to dive in a tar pit to find criminal evidence.

Either/Or - 25:49 - In 1983, a judge gives people convicted of sexual assault option to either be castrated or spend 30 years in prison.

Pappy - 23:53 - A rare bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle, how hard it is to get, and the criminality that surrounds it as a result.

Walnut Grove - 32:55 - Poorly-run, privately-owned prisons.

420 - 15:56 - The origin of the phrase "420".

Milk Carton Kids - 17:23 - How missing children came to appear on milk cartons.

Bully - 27:10 - This is legit like a real-life version of the bad guy in Road House.

The Procedure - 23:33 - Clergy who helped women get abortions in the 1960s.

A Bump in the Night - 17:55 - A girl who had a person secretly hiding in her house.

Last Podcast on the Left

lastpodcastontheleft.com

From The Last Podcast Network

Caitlin's Review: 3/5

"The Last Podcast on the Left covers all the horrors our world has to offer, both imagined and real. From demons and slashers to cults and serial killers, The Last Podcast is guaranteed to satisfy your blood lust." -Last Podcast on the Left's website

This show is really good for murders. Their JonBenet episodes were amazing. Aside from murders, they do some stuff on the occult and conspiracies. As someone who loves conspiracy theories, I appreciate this. I will say that I don't always think the hosts are that funny, and they use some non-PC language (calling people the R word, etc), which bums me out. Some of my favorite episodes:

JonBenét Ramsey Part 1 - And Hence (1:01:08) and JonBenét Part 2 - The Last Bulb on the Christmast Tree (1:05:04)

David Bowie and the Occult (1:19:30)

9/11 Part One - The Day (1:40:04), 9/11 Part Two - The Conspiracy (1:44:20), and 9/11 Part Three - Six Degrees of Baphomet (1:11:14). Basically all you need to know: Dick Cheney is satan.

My Favorite Murder

myfavoritemurder.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Lifelong fans of true crime stories, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell each other their favorite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans." -Stitcher

My Favorite Murder is where I hear most of the murder stories I like. It's a really addicting show, and I even saw the hosts when they did a live event at the Palace Theatre. They do a good job of talking about heavy stuff while keeping things lighthearted and ending on a good note. They are also working to normalize speaking about mental health, which is pretty cool. I had a hard time when I first started listening to them because I didn't think they were that funny, and they seem kind of full of themselves. Not to go on a feminist rant, but I honestly think that was my "Why should women be confident?" societal training kicking in. There's no denying that the women have great chemistry together, and why shouldn't they be full of themselves? They're consistently in the top 10 on iTunes.

Live at the Palace Theatre in Columbus (1:29:46) - They won't stop talking about the Pumpkin Show in Circleville. Not all the episodes are this long; just the live ones.

Serial

serialpodcast.org

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"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." -Serial website

If you've never listened to a podcast before, start here. Serial is what started the podcast boom and what got me hooked on podcasts. I binged the first season in one day, only stopping when I fell asleep late at night in the middle of the last episode. Each episode is about an hour long, and there's 11-12 episodes per season. The first season is about a murder that takes place in Baltimore, Maryland in 1999. Adnan Syed was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. Sarah Koenig dives deep into the case, potential race issues surrounding the trial, and other fallacies that Adnan faced. Decide for yourself if he should have been convicted or acquitted. The second season goes over the Bowe Bergdahl case. I found this one to be a bit drier, but it was still interesting.

Feminism

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

rebelgirls.co/pages/podcast-1

From Timbuktu Labs

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"A fairy tale podcast about the women who inspire us." -Rebel Girls website

This is a podcast based on the NYT-bestseller. It's geared toward children, but I've been listening to it and really enjoying it. It's nice to hear stories about badass women around the world who have or are currently defeating stereotypes that women are weak. The episode about Yusra Mardini (18:25) gave me goosebumps. Truly amazing.

Guys We Fucked

sorryaboutlastnightcomedy.com/guys-we-fucked

From Sorry About Last Night

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Guys We Fucked is a weekly self-produced podcast during which Corinne and Krystyna interview men they’ve slept with and titans in the comedy and sex industry, discuss sexual taboos, and create a sex-positive environment for their million plus listeners worldwide." -Sorry About Last Night website

Unlike Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, this one is not aimed toward youngins. I used to be really into GWF, and I think they're doing a good job at breaking the stigma regarding women being sexual beings, but it's been hit or miss for me lately. Their interviews are what make the show, so I would suggest starting 8-10 minutes in so that you can miss all the ads and a bit of the intro.

GWF: HOW DOES CENSORSHIP AFFECT FEMINISM? w/ Former ACLU President Nadine Strossen - 1:37:08 - Interesting interview that talks about why the ACLU is against censorship, even when it comes to Nazis. Just an FYI, the interview doesn't start until 38 minutes in.

GWF: HOW CAN YOU DIP YOUR DICK IN STEAK? Live from Moontower Comedy Festival w/MATT BELLASSAI - 1:48:00 - Matt Bellassai (same guy from Unhappy Hour) used to host a Buzzfeed segment called Whine About It where he gets wine-drunk and bitches about things. He reminds me of Billy Eichner (Craig from P&R). I was nearly in tears while listening to this.

GWF: YOU LOST YOUR VIRGINITY TO A MATTRESS? w/Bert Kreischer - 2:40:44 - This one also almost had me in tears. Bert Kreischer is hilarious, and he tells a great story about his daughter in the hospital with an amazing plot twist.

GWF: THERE'S A HUMAN PUNCHING YOU FROM THE INSIDE? - 1:56:20 - Interview with a very pregnant comedian who talks about all the awful pregnancy things that I always ask my child-bearing friends about and how she got fired for getting preggo.

Bonus: Bert Kreischer - The Machine - 13:51 - Bert talks about getting involved with the Russian mafia. (This is a YouTube video, but you can just listen to it if you want. He's doing standup.)

Ladies, We Need to Talk

abc.net.au/radio/programs/ladies-we-need-to-talk

From the Australian Broadcasting Company

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Ladies, We Need To Talk is a podcast for women, by women, that isn’t afraid to dive head first into the tricky topics we often avoid talking about . . . With sensitivity, personal stories, and serious smarts, this is for women who feel the squeeze between work, their private life, and their pelvic floor." -ABC website

So the first thing you need to know is that this is an Australian show, and the host, Yumi, is Australian, which just means listening to the show is aurally pleasing in general due to the lovely accents. That aside, I love this podcast. Yumi talks about things that are generally taboo among women, e.g. drinking, being fat, menstruating. I think everyone should listen to the episode that talks about how women generally deal with a bigger mental load than men, and men don't even realize it (27:00). This podcast really opened my eyes to some key differences between men and women that I had never even considered. If you're not a lady, it might give you some insight.

Stuff Mom Never Told You

stuffmomnevertoldyou.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"A research-driven rundown of the ever-evolving challenges facing women today and throughout history, paired with smart, strategic solutions to further women’s lives, careers, and activism." -Stuff Mom Never Told You website

SMNTY is one of my favorites because I think I would actually enjoy hanging out with the hosts in real life. Like Good Night Stories, it tells stories of real, badass ladies who are breaking glass ceilings, and it empowers the listener to do the same. Some of my favorites:

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Silicon Valley Sexism Part 1 (53:19) and Part 2 (51:14). This made me so angry but also gave me some great resources to help me feel empowered. It talks about sexism in tech in general, not just in California.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Campus Sexual Assault & Title IX (30:29). Something very near and dear to my heart.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: Problematic Faves: Taylor Swift (1:03:34). I know this sounds stupid, but I am a firm believer that you need to help your fellow woman, not pit them against each other the way that society often does. I never really considered how Taylor Swift evolved from writing songs about how she’s better than other girls to #squadgoals, but there are lots of problems in there, too. I don’t even like Taylor Swift. I don’t like her music, so I never pay attention to her, but this was interesting af.

Stuff Mom Never Told You: The Women of Walmart (and Modcloth) (59:33). Walmart is evil. The end.

Women at Work

hbr.org/2018/01/podcast-women-at-work

From Harvard Business Review

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"In this six-episode podcast, HBR editors and guest experts untangle some of the knottiest issues around being a woman at work." -HBR website

I only listened to a couple of the six episodes, but I liked what I heard. I don't know what it was, but unlike SMNTY, I didn't come away feeling really empowered and upbeat. The whole idea of the podcast is just depressing. Sometimes it's hard to think about the ways I'll be disadvantaged thanks to something I cannot control. The podcast does provide good resources, though, and they said they may bring it back for a second season.

History

The Kitchen Sisters

kitchensisters.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Stories from the b-side of history. Lost recordings, hidden worlds, people possessed by a sound, a vision, a mission. The episodes tell deeply layered stories, lush with interviews, field recordings, and music." -The Kitchen Sisters website

This kind of fell off my radar because the titles of the stories didn't catch my eye the way other podcasts did. If you're super into history, I'm sure this is a good pick for you. I did listen to the episode about Ruby Bridges First Day of School, 1960, New Orleans (15:37), and I enjoyed it.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

missedinhistory.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"The Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast takes a look at lesser-known historical people and events." -Stuff You Missed in History Class website

Another one that's hit or miss for me but will probably be really appealing to history buffs. I did find some good episodes that I thoroughly enjoyed, but they weren't as prominent as the ones I skipped. Some recommendations:

Stuff You Missed in History Class: Haunted Mansion, Part 1 (27:24) and Part 2 (35:55). It’s about the construction of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride.

Stuff You Missed in History Class: Jane Austen (42:19). Love her.

Politics

Abe Lincoln's Top Hat

soundcloud.com/top-hat

From The Last Podcast Network

Caitlin's rating: ??

"Politics! We know you love them just as much as we do. Join comedian Ben Kissel and radio man Marcus Parks each week as they discus what’s going on in politics and the world of social issues." -The Last Podcast Network website

I haven't listened to this since I've been on hiatus from murder and political podcasts, but it's hosted by two of the same guys who do Last Podcast on the Left, so it's probably pretty similar in tone.

Trillbilly Worker's Party

soundcloud.com/user-972848621-463073718

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Rehabilitated white trash podcast." -Trillbilly Worker's Party SoundCloud

Appalachian commies talking politics and how much they hate Donald Trump. What more could you want? Recommendation:

Episode 4: No Sympathy for Coastal Elites (w/ special guests: Caroline Rubens + Lil Prosperino)

Pod Save America

crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/

From Crooked Media

Caitlin's rating: ??

"A political podcast for people not yet ready to give up or go insane. A no-bullshit conversation about politics . . . that breaks down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how to help." -Crooked Media website

TBH, I've only listened to one episode of Pod Save America, but I knew Ian would get upset if I didn't include it. It seems fine, but my political knowledge is by no means great, so I didn't really understand what the hell they were talking about. I will say if I get asked to use the Cash App one more time, I'm going to punch someone in the throat. :) :) :)

What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law

trumpconlaw.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: ??

"Professor Elizabeth Joh teaches Intro to Constitutional Law and most of the time this is a pretty straight forward job. But with Trump in office, everything has changed. Five minutes before class Professor Joh checks Twitter to find out what the 45th President has said and how it jibes with 200 years of the judicial branch interpreting and ruling on the Constitution . . . This show is a weekly, fun, casual Con Law 101 class that uses the tumultuous and erratic activities of the executive branch under Trump to teach us all about the US Constitution." -What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law website

Again, I've not listened to this because of my hiatus from political podcasts, but I love, love, LOVE Roman Mars. Aside from Phoebe Judge, he's probably my favorite host. His voice is so soothing, and I'll bet this is the best podcast in the group of political shows.

Pop Culture

Books and Music

My Dad Wrote a Porno

mydadwroteaporno.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Imagine if your dad wrote a dirty book. Most people would try to ignore it - but not Jamie Morton. Instead, he decided to read it to the world in this groundbreaking comedy podcast. With the help of his best mates, James Cooper and Alice Levine, Jamie reads a chapter a week and discovers more about his father than he ever bargained for." -My Dad Wrote a Porno website

I have cried laughing so many times listening to this. Jamie's dad appears to have no knowledge of human anatomy or how sex works. E.g., in one of the books, Rocky writes "He grabbed her cervix." Wot. There's three books. Listen to them in order.

Potterotica

potteroticapodcast.com

From Yak Channel

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Erotic fantasies, Harry Potter characters, sarcastic commentary—this is the formula for The Potterotica Podcast. From unlikely romances to steamy love scenes, join us as we read a work of erotic Harry Potter fan fiction (aka potterotica) chapter by chapter." -Potterotica website

This is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. I don't listen to it regularly, but it's certainly good for a laugh when you need one.

Song Exploder

songexploder.net

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode is produced and edited by host and creator Hrishikesh Hirway in Los Angeles. Using the isolated, individual tracks from a recording, Hrishikesh asks artists to delve into the specific decisions that went into creating their work." -Song Exploder website

I love this podcast. The problem is, most of the songs are not songs that I know or by artists that appeal to me. The Peter Bjorn and John (19:54) episode (19:54) was decent, as was the Norah Jones episode (15:08). But my music taste seems to be a bit different than that of the creators'.

Celebrities

Missing Richard Simmons

missingrichardsimmons.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared. He stopped teaching his regular exercise class at Slimmons, cut off his closest friends, and removed himself from the public eye. Nobody heard from him - and no one knew why he left. Filmmaker Dan Taberski was a Slimmons regular and a friend of Richard’s. Missing Richard Simmons is Dan’s search for Richard - and the deeper he digs, the stranger it gets."-Missing Richard Simmons website

Holy butts, this podcast. There are only six episodes, each ~30 minutes. It's like Serial meets Richard Simmons, which I know sounds insane, but it's everything you didn't know you needed. I knew who Richard Simmons is, but I had no context to know anything about him. My closest interaction was seeing a small clip of him in Space Jam. I walked away from this podcast worried about the guy and more curious than ever. Like Serial, you'll have to draw your own conclusions, but the podcast bio is no lie. It gets stranger and stranger.

Nerdette

wbez.org/shows/nerdette

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Interviews with your favorite authors, artists, astronauts and more. Because everybody is a little nerdy about something." -WBEZ website

This is a solid show. I'm all about nerdy girls talking nerd stuff with celebrities. I don't listen to it regularly, but that may be because I wasn't super impressed with the John Hodgman episode (29:00). That had nothing to do with the hosts though. I just thought the guy was kind of annoying. There are definitely some other episodes that look promising:

Rainn Wilson: All About That Bassoon (31:00)

SCOTUS Edition: Muppets V. Supreme Court Justices (32:00)

Author Margaret Atwood Says 'The Harvey Weinstein Moment' Will Last (26:00)

Pop Rocket

maximumfun.org/shows/pop-rocket

From Maximum Fun

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Pop Rocket is a high-octane weekly discussion of the culture we all love to love. Combining comic, journalistic, academic and digital media expertise, the Pop Rocket team will keep you up-to-date on what's most exciting in pop culture this week." -Maximum Fun website

To be honest, I don't really understand everything they talk about in this show, but I still find it hilarious. Plus, that's kind of the point of pop culture podcasts, I think. To learn. None of the hosts on the show are heterosexual white males, so it offers a different perspective than what we are generally fed. I just started listening to it this week after hearing Guy Brannan on Unhappy Hour, and I thoroughly enjoyed the two episodes I listened to:

A Nonagenarian Named Oscar with Chris Schleicher (1:07:33)

An Excellent Adventure in Time Travel (1:05:55)

Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellassai

Unhappy Hour on iTunes

From Pineapple Street Media

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"From professional whiner and award-winning drunk Matt Bellassai comes Unhappy Hour, the podcast about everything we love to hate. Join Matt and his special guests as they vent about all things political, personal, and cultural. Because nothing brings people together like good alcohol and good complaining." -Pineapple Street Media website

Matt used to work for Buzzfeed and get drunk at the office and just scream about things. It was a segment called Whine About It. Now he has a podcast where he does this but with less alcohol. Each episode has made me laugh out loud, even when I'm by myself. You may have heard me laughing so hard I was crying when he was talking about Kellyanne Conway slithering out from the canoe she lives under. My favorite is A Very Drag Spectacular (with Nico Tortorella) (38:27), which talks about how dumb gender norms are.

Who? Weekly

whoweekly.us

From Headgum

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"A podcast dedicated to deciphering and celebrating pop culture's greatest (and not-so-greatest) Whos and Thems. Everything you need to know about celebrities you don't." -Headgum website

So a Who is a celebrity that you see a lot in the tabloids/on the interwebz, and they're around so frequently that you know their face, but you don't necessarily know their name, and you don't know what their job is. They get coverage that does not reflect how famous they actually are, so when you see their picture, you say "Who?" A Them is a traditional A-list celebrity like George Clooney or Angelina Jolie. They don't get a ton of coverage because they don't put themselves out there the way Who's do. They might do a Vanity Fair spread or something classy, but you don't see them all the time, and you still know who they are and what they've done. It is hard to transition from a Who to a Them. This podcast talks all about Who's and is trashy and delightful. It's not the kind of thing that I can listen to every day because I feel that I am subjected to Who's enough, and generally I just don't care. But you know how sometimes you just need some trashy reality television? Sometimes you need a trashy podcast.

Internet

The Butterfly Effect

jonronson.com/butterfly

From Audible

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Welcome to The Butterfly Effect. It's sort of about porn, but it's about a lot of other things. It's sad, funny, moving and totally unlike some other nonfiction stories about porn - because it isn't judgmental or salacious. It's human and sweet and strange and lovely. It's a mystery story, an adventure. It's also, I think, a new way of telling a story. This season follows a single butterfly effect. The flap of the butterfly's wings is a boy in Brussels having an idea. His idea is how to get rich from giving the world free online porn. Over seven episodes I trace the consequences of this idea, from consequence through to consequence. If you keep going in this way, where might you end up? It turns out you end up in the most surprising and unexpected places." -Jon Ronson's website

With eight episodes, each ~20-40 minutes, I found this podcast to be really interesting, but it's definitely not the kind of thing I could binge. The idea of porn is a bit icky to me (just my personal opinion; take it or leave it), and it was made even more so by hearing how mistreated some of the people are. However, I found diving into the consequences of one action to be a really good podcast idea, and hearing how this played out for Ronson was fascinating. I am excited for the second season and to see what he tackles next.

Mystery Show

gimletmedia.com/mystery-show

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Each episode, Starlee solves a mystery that has been bedeviling someone for years. But Starlee knows what any true fan of mystery knows: the solution isn’t the point of the mystery, it’s the journey to the solution where all the delight is to be found." -Gimlet website

With only six episodes, Mystery Show was short lived. I listened to one episode I liked and one episode that I didn't. The intro is stupid, but the premise is good; a woman solves mysteries without using the internet. It kind of throws me off because I think the host sounds like Louise from Bob's Burgers. Recommendation:

Case #2: Britney (49:13) - If you don’t love Britney Spears, stay the fuck away from me.

Reply All

replyall.limo or replyall.soy. They both go to the same place, but they always pick interesting domain names. Also replyall.fyi.

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"A podcast about the internet." -Gimlet website

When a new episode of Reply All comes out, I drop everything and listen to it right away. Alex and PJ have a rapport that cracks me up while ensuring me that they genuinely care about each other. They are both pretty responsive on Twitter, as well, which is pretty cool. Reply All is about the internet but covers a wide range of pop culture topics. Their segment Yes, Yes, No is my favorite. They both understand a tweet and their boss doesn't, so they have to explain the tweet and get to Yes, Yes, Yes. Often times these are silly memes. They also do a segment called Super Tech Support in which Alex fixes someone's strange tech problem, like "Why is my Uber app all in Russian?" Here are some of my favorites:

Shine on You Crazy Goldman (44:19) - PJ and Phia microdose on LSD.

In the Tall Grass (31:50) - A man tries to unite the United States with an app. Also an explanation of Pepe, which I thought was the best part.

Voyage into Pizzagate (51:37) - An explanation of pizzagate and the subreddit the_donald

The Russian Passenger (38:52) and Beware All (39:46) - Uber, hacking, and the deep web

Long Distance (46:43) and Long Distance, Part II (47:31) - One of those fake support people who install viruses on your computer when you allow them to remote in calls Alex. He eventually goes to India to track the guy down.

Why'd You Push That Button?

theverge.com/whyd-you-push-that-button

From The Verge

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Why’d You Push That Button? is a podcast about the choices technology forces us to make, featuring interviews with consumers, developers, friends, and strangers . . . Why’d You Push That Button? asks the hard, weird, occasionally dumb questions about how your tiny tech decisions impact your social life." -The Verge website

I liked this podcast, but it kind of reminded me of how much of a hold social media has on our lives, and that's a bit disconcerting. I know I'm not the only one who, when I wake up in the middle of the night, immediately checks my social media before trying to go back to sleep. Or, have you accidentally typed Facebook's url into your browser when you were on autopilot? The episode I listened to, Why do you stalk people on Venmo? (30:24), was good, but also unsettling.

Movies and TV

Strangers to the Multiplex

Strangers to the Multiplex on iTunes

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Join the Strangers collective on an exploration of the geeksphere." -iTunes I don't think this is in production anymore, but the Star Wars episode (45:00) was interesting. It was hard for me to get into it. I can't really put my finger on why. I like podcasts that I can listen to while I clean or shower or whatever, but this one didn't hole my focus as well. I hope another episode comes out. I'd be willing to give it another chance.

The West Wing Weekly

thewestwingweekly.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: ??

"The West Wing Weekly podcast is an episode-by-episode discussion of one of television's most beloved shows, co-hosted by one of its stars, Joshua Malina, along with Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder." -The West Wing Weekly website

I haven't listened to this podcast yet, but I recently started watching The West Wing, and I love it! It has so many good actors and actresses, and once I get past season one, I'll probably give this podcast a go. It's from Radiotopia, so I know it can't be bad.

Race

The Barber Shop Show

wbez.org/shows/the-barbershop-show

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 2/5

"Coming to you live from Carter's Barbershop in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, The Barber Shop Show brings you a weekly dose of real talk, straight from the shop floor. No punches are pulled and no topic is considered off-topic." -WBEZ website

I think if I lived in Chicago or knew it better, I would have a better appreciation for this podcast. Maybe that will change!

Culture Kings

culturekingspod.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Culture Kings is a show for the culture, by the culture and about the culture. Who's the culture? Well, black people, but also just people. Each week, comedians Jacquis Neal, Edgar Momplaisir and Carl Tart dive into topics ranging from sports and music to what's the best way to eat a taco? (Head straight up or askew) WE DO IT FOR THE CULTURE!" -Culture Kings website

These guys are so funny! Most of the things they talk about are things that I've never experienced or even necessarily considered, and it's prompted a lot of interesting conversations with my friends that are POC. The guys are super interactive on Twitter, which is so much fun, and for as silly as they act, they really are smart. I told them that I trying my best to be a woke white person. Edgar responded and said "I’ll say this. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to be “woke”. Cause when you 'fail'—you won’t learn from it. You’ll just become bitter. I’d say reframe it and say I want to be open. I want to learn. Cause we’re all flawed and learning. That’s the best we can do :)" There are only a few episodes out right now, so go listen to all of them. Queen of the Week is my favorite segment mostly because I love hearing Carl sing it every time.

Ethnically Ambiguous

ethnicallyambiguouspod.com

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Anna and Shereen want you to know what it's like to be a modern Middle Easterner living in America. They take their ridiculous perspective on life and dive deep-ish into current US politics that relate to being brown in this country, tackle politics of the Middle East, break down Middle Eastern stereotypes, and take on other brown folk’s personal experiences in relation to their own." -Ethnically Ambiguous website

This one is hit or miss for me. Generally the information is really interesting, but there have been times when I question the validity of what the women are saying. That's nothing against them; it just goes to show that as an audience, you really need to double check everything you hear or see in the media now. I do find Anna and Shereen to be funny, and I especially like their childhood anecdotes. Recommendations:

We Are Alaa Khaled (1:36:12) - The women interview Alaa Khaled, an actor who is also DJ Khaled's brother. His dad seems hilarious.

We Are Aladdin (59:14) - The women talk about how it's problematic that an Indian is playing Jasmine in the live-action Aladdin movie and the first same-sex Muslim marriage.

Yo, Is This Racist?

earwolf.com/show/yo-is-this-racist

From Earwolf

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Every Wednesday, Ti and his guests answer questions from fan-submitted voicemails and emails about whether or not something is, in fact, racist." -Earwolf website

I like this podcast, but it's long as hell. I know I've already listed several podcasts that have episodes over an hour long, but this one just feels long. They do have the guys from Culture Kings on the show as guests, so that's cool.

Sports

30 for 30

30for30podcasts.com

From ESPN

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Original audio documentaries and more from the makers of the acclaimed 30 for 30 series. Sports stories like you've never heard before." -iTunes

30 for 30 is pretty great if you like sports/stuff that is on ESPN. Even if you're not super into whatever sport they're talking about (e.g. poker), the episodes are still fascinating. Recommendations:

Yankees Suck (51:00) - an episode about the Red Sox fans who started selling Yankees Suck tshirts illegally at Fenway Park.

A Queen of Sorts (46:00) - a famous poker player and a con woman who pulled of a scheme that won them $20 million.

Hoodies Up (31:00) - The Miami Heat post a picture with their hoods up to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin. Also Gabrielle Union is awesome.

NFL Show

theringer.com/the-nfl-show

From The Ringer

Caitlin's rating: ??

"The Ringer NFL Show features a rotating group of Ringer NFL experts, including Michael Lombardi, Robert Mays, Kevin Clark, and Danny Kelly. The show will also feature ex-players and coaches, among others, as guests." -SoundCloud

I haven't listened to this. I couldn't keep up with it every week, especially since I didn't pay very much attention at all to the NFL this year (Cincinnati fan). It was recommended to me by people in the My Favorite Murder Facebook group though, so it's probably solid.

Self Help and Life Stuff

Bossed Up

bossedup.org/podcast

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Our Founder & CEO, Emilie Aries, sits down with industry experts to tackle a new #careerconundrum each week in Bossed Up, the podcast. Tune in for research-driven, relatable advice to craft your career and life like a boss!" -Bossed Up website

Founded by one of the former SMNTY hosts, Bossed Up helps women in the workplace by giving training and resources to empower us. Sexism is real, and Bossed Up helps us get through it and combat it, paving the way for future generations. The podcast gives real life examples of problems that women see at work and how to deal with them. Emilie is charming, and while listening to this can remind me of the situation that I'm in and bum me out, I always leave feeling empowered and determined. It's a pretty new podcast, so I recommend all the episodes!

Death, Sex, and Money

wnycsstudios.org/shows/deathsexmoney

From WNYC Studios

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Death, Sex & Money is a show that gets very personal about the dilemmas we all share." -WNYC website

This show covers all kinds of topics, ranging from workplace rage to heroin to coming back from the war in Iraq. Some of the episodes can be a bummer, but overall I like it, and I like the host, Anna Sale a lot. She has a good voice and asks good questions. Recommendations:

Finding Love, and a Kidney, on Tinder (28:38) - A young couple starts their relationship with an organ donation.

Sharing DNA, and Nothing Else (24:17) - Woman finds out she has more family than she thought after taking the Ancestry.com DNA test.

Lena Waithe Says Have a Dream . . . And a Sponsor (24:00) - Lena Waithe. Enough said. I adore her.

Opportunity Costs: The Class Slide After Divorce (27:49) - A divorce forces a woman change in perspective when her financial world changes due to losing access to her husband's income.

Gabrielle Union is Fed Up (39:57) - Gabrielle Union talks about race, surviving rape, self-care, and raising a family with Dwyane Wade

Duolingo

podcast.duolingo.com

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Fascinating stories in easy-to-understand Spanish." -Duolingo website

Duolingo tell stories in Spanish and then explain them in English to help the listener better learn Spanish. The downside is there aren't podcasts for other languages, and since it's a learning tool, the stories don't go too deep into controversial topics the way that some of my other suggestions do. It is a good learning tool though. Each episode is ~20 minutes.

Friendshipping

friendshipping.simplecast.fm

Independent podcast

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Every week Jenn & Trin answer your questions about friendship! We try to advise on the tricky stuff that's making you feel weird." -Friendshipping website

Honestly, I find Jenn and Trin's energy exhausting. However, they are all about self-care and their advice is solid! I don't listen regularly because I found that a lot of the questions are questions that I can't relate to. If I had a question about relationships, I wouldn't have a hesitation asking Jenn in Trin though.

Ideacast

hbr.org/2018/01podcast-ideacast

From Harvard Business Review

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management." -Harvard Business Review website

I like this show a lot. Even in a public sector job, I can relate to a lot of the troubles that private sector businesses seem to experience, and I have found that Ideacast gives tangible action items to better your workplace. These suggestions can be translated across all office environments. I often feel far removed from the private sector, and it made me a feel a bit better to know that my organization isn't the only one with issues. Recommendation:

Make Tools Like Slack Work for Your Company (33:21) - Communication is important, and a lot of companies are utilizing social media tools like Slack to help improve communication. Of course, there are good and bad ways to do this, and this episode gives examples of both.

Millennial

millennialpodcast.org

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Millennial is a podcast about coming of age." -Millennial website

Millennial covers many topics, basically giving advice on how to navigate your twenties. This appealed to me for obvious reasons, but I became even more interested when I found out that the host, Megan Tan, is from Columbus. She talked about how it's hard to go back home because she's not the same person she was when she lived there, which is something I relate to when I think about going back to where I'm from. There were also a few episodes featuring Chuck, her boyfriend's father, who cracked me up and reminded me quite a bit of my dad. Suggestions:

When Would We Get Married? (25:45) - Dealing with all of your relatives asking when you're going to tie the knot and then subsequently having that conversation with your partner.

Good Cop, Bad Cop (28:37) - Buying your first car, which is something I just did last year!

You Can't Go Home Again (23:20) - Moving out and away from your hometown is usually a celebrated milestone because it likely means you're chasing your dreams, but what if that means you're also growing apart from your family?

Saying Goodbye (16:47) - Saying goodbye to something that was once a big part of your life.

The Pineapple Project

abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-pineapple-project

From the Australian Broadcasting Company

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"Does the word ‘budget’ make you microsleep? Have you never, ever looked at your super? Do you avoid dealing with your finances because it seems too hard, and boring, and annoying? Welcome. It’s time to get it together with money. Claire Hooper is on a mission. To learn what rich people know, how poor people think, and how you can take control of your coin. From how to save smarter, to earning more, and setting yourself up for a secure future, it’s all the money skills no one ever taught you.Why pineapples? Good question. Because like money, they can be sweet. But they’re also a prick to deal with if you don’t know how to handle them. (Also, in Australia, a $50 note is known colloquially as a pineapple. Delicious. Let’s build ourselves a huge pineapple pile, mkay?)" -ABC website

Overall, this podcast has lots of good tips and a great playlist, but it's not something I can listen to every day because it reminds me that I need to be budgeting, and I just don't have the energy to sit down and work on that right now lol. Claire Hooper is really funny, and she keeps the discussion interesting. It also helps that she's completely open about her own financial woes, so she's relatable. Like Ladies, We Need to Talk, it's produced by the Australian Broadcasting Company, so we get those lovely Aussie accents, too, which enhances the whole experience.

Sleep with Me

sleepwithmepodcast.com

From Amazon

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"A lulling, droning, boring bedtime story to distract your racing mind.

" -Sleep with Me website I honestly couldn't tell you what this podcast is about because it always puts me to sleep when I listen to it! Of course that's the whole point, so I'd definitely recommend this if you're having trouble sleeping. I used it on a cross-country flight, and it saved my butt. I woke up for a few minutes during the middle of the flight, and he was talking about what fall leaves look like in every state, so I think that he must just blabber on about nonsense.

Startup

gimletmedia.com/startup

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"A show about what it’s really like to start a business." -Gimlet website

I have only listened to one episode of this show, but I really liked it. Based on the show's premise, it doesn't seem like something I'd be into, but similar to Criminal, I believe the show covers topics that are related to the premise but are unordinary examples. The episode that I listened to, Bootstrapping a Better Vaccine (29:58), told the story of a guy trying to make a better flu vaccine using pigs in Guatemala.

This American Life

thisamericanlife.org

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"This American Life is a weekly public radio program and podcast. Each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme." -This American Life website

I gave this 4/5 because there are some stories that are really, REALLY good, but overall the show is a hit or miss for me. Shoutout to Tom for putting together a really good recommendation list:

129 Cars (73:36) - A car dealership tries to hit their monthly quota

Somewhere in the Arabian Sea (58:59) - Life on an aircraft carrier

Doppelgängers (57:49) - Is it pig anus, or is it calamari?

My Pen Pal (57:28) - A ten-year-old girl in Michigan becomes penpals with Panamanian dictator Manuel Noreiga

The Magic Show (58:25) -  Magicians, including Penn and Teller and how David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear

Mr. Lie Detector (58:50) - A polygraph expert starts teaching people how to get around the tests

Once More, with Feeling (57:36) - Woman confronts men who catcall her

Becoming a Badger (57:44) - Man tries to live his life as a badger

Anatomy of Doubt (58:46) - A woman reports a rape. Police doubt her, her family doubts her, town doubts her, and she begins to doubt herself.

There's also a list of This American Life staff recommendations, which is pretty solid.

This Is Love

thisislovepodcast.com

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"An investigation into life's most persistent mystery." -This Is Love website

This podcast is just like Criminal (talked about above), except that it's about love, not crime. Again, hosted by Phoebe Judge, who is my favorite podcast host and has the most soothing voice, This Is Love talks about love in unconventional ways that may not cross our minds when we typically think of love. It's only in it's first season, but they're working on the second, and while I'd recommend every episode, Something Large and Wild (23:05) is my favorite.

Other

99% Invisible

99percentinvisible.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"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." -99% Invisible website

Aside from Phoebe Judge, Roman Mars is probably my favorite podcast host. He is so talented, and 99% Invisible tells so many interesting stories that as soon as I listened to my first episode (Squatters of the Lower East Side), I was hooked. There are so many things around us that we neglect to notice, and Roman Mars gives us all a chance to learn more about our surroundings. This podcast helps you stop and smell the proverbial flowers. Favorites of mine:

The Trials of Dan and Dave (57:01) - In 1992, Reebok had an ad campaign with two decathalon athletes. Super interesting. I've asked several people if they remember it (not old enough myself) and most of them say yes, so it's amazing to see how much of a lasting effect this ad campaign had. The power of advertising! This is a 99% invisible/ESPN 30 for 30 episode.

The Pool and the Stream (34:46) - Swimming pools changed skateboarding.

In the Same Ballpark (29:34) – The evolution of baseball parks in America. I love love love this episode.

Squatters of the Lower East Side (30:32) - People were illegally living in NYC and eventually came to own the places they were staying in basically by relentlessly defending their residence. POSSESSION IS 9/10 OF THE LAW.

Curious City

wbez.org/shows/curious-city

From WBEZ Chicago

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"[Curious City's] mission is to include the public in editorial decision-making, make journalism more transparent and strengthen multimedia coverage about Chicago, the surrounding region and its people (past or present)." -WBEZ website

Again, a hit or miss for me, probably because I don't live in Chicago. Listeners send in their questions about Chicago (e.g. Where does all the poop go?), and Curious City answers them.

What Happens to the Lincoln Park Zoo Animals in the Winter? (5:39)

Chicago Bathhouses: More Than a Century of Sanitation, Sex, and Sweat (13:37)

What Happens to "Number 2" in the Second City? (9:03)

A Lot You Got to Holler

design.newcity.com/a-lot-you-got-to-holler-podcast

From Newcity Design

Caitlin's rating: ??

"The podcast explores Chicago’s singular history of architecture, design and urbanism, with an emphasis on pop culture." -Newcity Design website

To be honest, I never listened to this one, but it's on my list because it sounds like a Chicago version of 99% Invisible.

Love and Radio

loveandradio.org

From Radiotopia

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Love and Radio features in-depth, otherworldly-produced interviews with an eclectic range of subjects, from the seedy to the sublime. You’ve never heard anything like it before. New installments are added monthly." -Love and Radio website

Love and Radio is interesting because there's very limited narration. The story starts, and you basically have to figure it out as it goes on. I've liked the episodes I've heard, but it hasn't hooked me like some of the other shows. Recommendation:

Relevant Questions (46:05) - Polygraph expert helps people cheat the system. This is the same guy who is in the polygraph episode of This American Life mentioned above, but not the same broadcast.

Snakes!!!!!!!! (33:48) - Guy self-immunizes with snake venom.

A Girl of Ivory (42:16) - Polyamorous relationship with an unexpected twist.

Part Time Genius

parttimegenius.show

From How Stuff Works

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"Every episode packs incredible research, fun-filled quizzes, nerdy interviews and a giant, head-scratching question into one superfun show." - Part Time Genius website

I don't particularly like the humor in this show, but it does have some interesting fun facts, and I definitely learned something new every time I listened. Recommendations:

Was Mr. Rogers the Best Neighbor Ever? (41:52) - BRB sobbing

What are the Greatest Things We Just Learned about Japan? (40:41) - OMG at the baseball story. That cracked me up.

How Did Putin Come to Power? (42:32) - Between this and watching Icarus, Putin terrifies me.

Is Recycling Worth the Hassle? (47:11) - Shoutout to this episode for putting me on even more of an environmentalism kick. I am especially trying to reuse plastic grocery bags now and, sadly, throwing them in the trash whenever they've finished their purpose.

What Are the Most Surprising Jobs at the White House? (43:39) - I already knew some of this thanks to Veep. :) But it was still good.

Science Vs

gimletmedia.com/science-vs

From Gimlet

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Science Vs takes on fads, trends, and the opinionated mob to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between." -Gimlet website

I LOVE Science Vs! Another show with an Aussie host, this show is pleasant to listen to and always helps me learn more. Wendy interviews doctors, scientists, and other experts to back up her material. They break down the science-based evidence in a way that any audience can understand without being condescending. Favorites:

Opioids: How America Got Hooked (45:56) - Did you know that in 2016, opioids killed more people in America than AIDS did in its most dangerous year?!

The Bee-pocalypse (31:44) - Bees are dying, and you should care.

Vaccines - Are They Safe? (35:09) - Short answer: Yes.

The Rise of Anti-Vaxxers (32:24) - My eyes are rolled all the way back into my head right now.

Abortion: What You Need to Know (46:07) - Understanding the process is important, in my opinion, especially in this political climate. Don't make claims for one side or the other until you know the facts of how it works!

Strangers

storycentral.org/strangers

Formerly from Radiotopia, but now from Story Central

Caitlin's rating: 5/5

"Each episode is an empathy shot in your arm, featuring true stories about the people we meet, the connections we make, the heartbreaks we suffer, the kindnesses we encounter, and those frightful moments when we discover that WE aren’t even who we thought we were." -Story Central website

Strangers is so fascinating to me. It tells the stories of people. Usually they're stories that I can't relate to, but the people in these stories still have the same feelings that we all experience, so the stories aren't irrelevant. They're funny, they're said, they made me angry. Any time of show that evokes this type of emotion is a winner in my book. Lea's voice is soothing in the same way that Phoebe Judge's is. She talks about her personal life some, and I know that's appealing to some listeners. Personally, I'm more "Get to the story!" but that's okay. The wait is worth it. Favorites:

Franky Carillo - Life (34:39) and Franky Carillo - Life Now (29:35) - Guy serves 20 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Kugel vs Khaled (37:52) - Alaa Khaled aka Alec Ledd talks about how he had to change his name to hide his ethnicity and break into acting.

Claire Obscure (57:31) -

Twelve Years On (33:44) - A refugee Somali family moves to a white neighborhood in Vermont

Eleven Up (1:07:51) - A family adopts children from another family, and then the families make plans to move in together.

The Truth (50:03) - A family divides when a member gets accused of the worst thing possible

Lex (35:06) - What do you do when you think your child is capable of being violent?

Claire Obscure (57:31) - Girl grows up with very abusive family, changes her identity so that her dad never finds her. Super intense.

The Son, The Goddess, and Leopoldo (47:37) - Guy is born into a lesbian witch coven, lives in communes with his mother, and eventually becomes an attorney.

Spooked

spookedpodcast.org

From WNYC Studios and Snap Judgement

Caitlin's rating: 4/5

"True-life supernatural stories, told first-hand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves." - Snap Judgement website

Whether you believe this kind of stuff or not, the stories are interesting and creepy. As a huge Stephen King fan, this appealed to me. The narrator, Glynn Washington, is amazing. He also hosts a show about Heavens Gate, which I tried to listen to, but it gave me nightmares about the cult I used to be in. Womp womp. Anyway, here are my favorite Spooked episodes:

Spooked: A Friend in the Forest (29:56) - Weird appearance of a boy who was supposed to be dead. Narrator is Irish.

Spooked: Lost in Time (36:37) - Two people walk into a bar that time warps.

Spooked: Final Act (35:26) - An EMT gets lost and someone who is supposedly dead helps her.

Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!

npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me

From NPR

Caitlin's rating: 3/5

"NPR's weekly current events quiz. Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up." -NPR website This one's okay. I subscribed to it so that I could prep for bar trivia (don't judge). I like that they have celebrity guests on the show. The newest episode has LeVar Burton (9:44), and I am stoked to listen to that! Bradley Whitford's episode was good, too. He's so problematic for me because I love him in West Wing, but I hate him in Get Out. Such a skilled actor.