Netflix has been a staple in American society for the last 20 years. Most college students that I know (myself included) have a healthy relationship with Netflix, and probably spend more time watching it than they care to admit. I am only slightly ashamed to admit that according to my iPhone I spent roughly six hours watching Netflix last week.
While podcasts are a relatively new media platform, they have gained popularity in recent years. According to an article on Medium there are over 525,000 podcasts as of 2018. A whopping 73 million Americans, listen to podcasts monthly, and 48 million people, listen weekly. It looks as if podcasts aren’t going anywhere either: podcast audience has consistently grown at a rate of 10 to 20% per year, a trend which seems likely to continue into at least the near future.
There are podcasts about every topic. I, personally, have listened to everything from podcasts about serial killers, polyamorous relationships, and the Pope.
No matter what your current Netflix obsessions are, there is a podcast out there for you. Here are 3 suggestions of kickass podcasts that you should listen to based on your current Netflix obsessions.
If you are currently obsessed with: The Ted Bundy Tapes, Forensic Files, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, Mindhunter, You
You should listen to: My Favorite Murder
My Favorite Murder is a true crime/comedy podcast. True crime and comedy are an odd couple, and some assume that the podcast is about laughing at victims of crimes. In actuality, avid true crime enthusiasts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark discuss the most heinous crimes in a way that welcomes others into the conversation through employing comedy while processing difficult topics. The podcast addresses topics that are not often addressed – such as violence against Native Americans and murder in under-served areas of the United States – and Karen and Georgia are open and honest about mental health and addiction. Both of these badass ladies were once addicts, and have candid discussions about the importance of self care, therapy, and having a good support system. My Favorite Murder is also an excellent podcast to start with because Karena nd Georgia often recommend other podcasts, shows, and books that are also related to true crime, as well as books about self care. With a background in comedy, these women are some of the funniest podcasters around, and their podcast creates a space in which two friends discussing crime in an honest, relatable way through storytelling that emphasizes the strength and importance of remembering victims and empowering survivors becomes a way to tell stories about the beauty and pain of the human experience.
One of the most amazing things about My Favorite Murder is that once you become a “murderino”, which is what fans of the podcast call themselves, you suddenly find yourself in a world of strong, supportive people who quickly become friends and family. To say that the fans of MFM are “sweet baby angels” (a favorite phrase of Georgia) is an understatement. Some of the most caring, passionate people that I know are people that I have met through the community of Murderinos, and I am so thankful for what this podcast has added to my life. I look forward to Mondays and Thursdays when the MFM team releases new content, and I am a proud member of their “Fan Cult” which is essentially a fan club in which you can get exclusive content, talk to other Murderinos all over the world, and get first access to tickets to their live shows.
Do yourself a favor and #SSALTMFM (stay sexy, and listen to my favorite murder).
If you like: Sex Education, Dear White People, After Porn Ends, The Hunting Ground, Sex and the City, OITNB, Grace and Frankie
You should listen to: Guys We F*cked
Guys We F*cked, the anti-slut shaming podcast, discusses sex and sexuality in a way that is relatable to most women. On their website, Krystyna Hutchinson and Corinne Fisher describe Guys We F*cked as “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”. GWF is one of the longest-running podcasts that I know of, and consistently ranks in the top 5 on Apple Podcasts.
I define the way that Corinne and Krystyna talk about sex as the way girls talk about sex with their best friends after a few glasses of wine. Candid, open, and honest, Corinne and Krystyna interview people who are in the field of sex, such as pornstars, sex educators, and sex workers. They also interview celebrities, activists, sexual assault survivors, and most notably: guys that they have f*cked. Corinne and Krystyna use their space to have conversations with people in their lives as well as people who are in the public eye. Some of my personal favorite episodes include their infamous interview with Amber Rose in which she discussed “sex with Kanye West,” Amanda Knox, Stoya (the famous pornstar ex-girlfriend of Krystyna’s current boyfriend), their parents, Dan Savage. They also released a book entitled Fucked: Being Sexually Explorative and Self-Confident in a World That’s Screwed in which they share stories that they have heard and lessons that they have learned from the last 6 years of the Guys We F*cked podcast.
Listening to this podcast for the last 3 years has made me a more confident, kind, and sexually expressive individual, and listening to their candid conversations is an absolute must for women in college and their 20s.
If you like: Stand-up comedy (Ellen DeGeneres, Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, etc.), Arrested Development, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
You should listen to: Conan O’brien Needs a Friend
Conan O’Brien needs a friend, and I would like to volunteer as tribute. The former SNL writer turned beloved talk show host is one of the most intelligent, charming people that you’ll ever listen to. His six minute interview window with celebrities on his show never allowed him the time to showcase his wit and humor, and his new podcast is the perfect platform for his delightful, slightly raunchy humor and his intelligence to shine through.
The premise of the podcast is Conan trying to find a real, genuine friend in the people that he has worked with over the years. He has interviewed people such as Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Amy Schumer, Kristen Bell, Stephen Colbert and many other huge names in comedy and media. When you listen to the podcast, you truly feel as if you are sitting at a table with friends, grabbing drinks and chatting about life. The expansive knowledge that Conan brings to the podcast is immense, and his charm makes it impossible not to fall madly in love with him. You might even learn something about US history too, because Conan is an expert in history.
If you’re a pop culture/comedy junkie like I am, Conan’s podcast is a perfect choice for you. Listening to some of the greatest comedians of the last century talk about their lives is endlessly fascinating, and with a host like Conan O’Brien it is impossible not to laugh out loud at their conversations. Although all of the people on the podcasts are huge celebrities, this podcast illustrates how similar the human experience is, and how valuable friendship is in life. I am fully #TeamCoco and you should be too.