Podcasts are a great way to stay educated and informed, while also learning to gain empathy through hearing other people’s experiences through storytelling. With these stories ranging from funny to sad podcasts have everything you’re looking for. With that being said, here are my favorite podcasts everyone should listen to!
S-town:
S-town is a small series of seven episodes hosted by Brian Reed from This American Life. Brian gets call from a man who sends an email to This American Life, asking them to help investigate a murder in his town in Woodstock, Alabama. This quickly seems like a murder-mystery, but quickly has a turn of events.
Episode to Start: Episode 1: “If you keep your mouth shut, you’ll be surprised what you can learn.”
Serial:
Serial has to be one of the most popular podcasts to date, with great reason. Hosted by Sara Koenig, it is an investigative journalism podcast ranging from episode to episode about various mysteries from murders to military POWs. There are currently two seasons out now. It’s a story whose characters don’t always turn out to be who you think they are. Another great thing about this podcast is since it is released on an episode to episode basis, the listener knows just about the same as the host does. This podcast is nearly impossible to pause, so proceed with caution and make sure you have nothing else to do that day.
Season to Start: Season 1, Episode 1: “The Alibi”
Hidden Brain:
Hidden Brain is different than any of the other podcasts, which is why it is one of my favorites. Hidden Brain, hosted by Shankar Vedantam, incorporates psychology and human behavior into storytelling and how the subconscious affects our everyday lives. If you like psychology, you’ll love this podcast.
Episode to Start: Season 1, Episode 58: ”Schadenfacebook”
Stuff You Should Know:
Stuff You Should Know is a podcast, hosted by Josh Clark and Charles Bryant that mostly tackles educational subjects, but nonetheless, that still makes it more interesting. I highly recommend this one because the episodes cover historical topics and goes further in depth than any of your classes in school have. This podcast is based on the creation of How Stuff Works, a podcast and website. You walk away from listening to any of these episodes feeling so much smarter.
Episode to Start: “How the Underground Railroad Worked”
Radiolab:
After hearing the episode, titled “Words,” in my sociology class in high school, I haven’t stopped listening to this podcast. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, Radiolab, combines science and storytelling in each episode. The episode titled, “Playing God,” is also probably one of my favorite episodes of any podcast.
Episodes to Start: Season 8, Episode 2 “Words” and Season 15, Episode 1:“Playing God”
This American Life:
I saved This American Life for last on the list because it is seen as the “holy grail” of all podcasts. This American Life, hosted by Ira Glass, set the stage for all other podcasts. Before this, the closest to any interesting conversation was on talk radio. They took that idea and brought stories from ordinary people with unordinary circumstances making this my favorite podcast.
Episode to Start: Season 1, Episode 360: “Switched at Birth”