Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
podcast setup on a wooden table
podcast setup on a wooden table
Photo by Austin Distel from Unsplash
Cal State Chico | Culture > Entertainment

My Favorite Podcasts (from an avid listener)

McKenzie Kirsch Student Contributor, California State University - Chico
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cal State Chico chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

My biggest fear is getting approached by those TikTokers who go up to random people wearing headphones and ask, “What are you listening to?”. Not because I have a weird taste in music, but because I am definitely listening to a podcast. I am a podcast girly down to my core. I don’t know how or when this happened, but I simply cannot do anything productive without a podcast on. Folding laundry? Podcast. Walking to class? Podcast. Driving home for break? You guessed it, another podcast. Seriously, if my airpods are in, there’s a 99% chance that I’m not listening to music. 

If you’re wanting to get into podcasts and are looking for some recommendations, I have compiled a list of my favorite podcasts, in a few different categories, so that you have some options! I’ve listened to all of these, and these are my go-tos on a weekly basis!

woman with purple hair speaking into a microphone
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Girly Talk/Wellness/Advice

Giggly Squad

Giggly Squad features TV personality, Paige Desorbo, and comedian Hannah Berner as they talk about their lives, pop culture, media, wellness, and a variety of other related topics. This podcast makes me laugh on a weekly basis, hence the name Giggly Squad. It truly feels like a FaceTime call with two of your best friends, and they talk about such relatable topics and offer s a glimpse into their lives. They are polar opposite best friends, and you find yourself wondering “Am I a Paige or a Hannah??” after each episode. This pod uploads once a week!

Happy Hour with Gretchen Geraghty

This is my newest podcast fixation. Gretchen is a NHL wag, and gives the best advice and self motivation talks during her episodes. Topics range from relationships, to self love, and is overall just such an open and honest vibe, it feels like a conversation with a friend. She is such a relatable influencer, and has the cutest golden retriever!

Cheers! With Avery Woods

If you love DITL influencers like I do, then you probably love Avery Woods. Not only do I love her content on Tik Tok, but her podcast is so interesting and keeps me laughing. She talks so openly about girly topics such as relationships, sex, wellness, and does advice columns pretty regularly! It’s so fun to hear about her life experiences, and this podcast definitely feels like big sister advice. Her podcast is a great way to get to know her and to learn a little more about the personality behind the influencer. 

cowomen QziaoZM0M44 unsplash 1
CoWomen via Unsplash

True Crime

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie is hands downmy favorite podcast. I love true crime documentaries, and getting a new mystery each week keeps my brain occupied, as I try to solve the case alongside hosts Ashley and Brit. This podcast is filled with cases that have so many twists and turns. They even have a 3 hour long episode dedicated to the JonBenet Ramsey case, which kept me enticed during a flight a few months ago. I look forward to listening to this pod every week! 

Mr. Ballen: Strange, Dark, and Mysterious

A friend introduced me to Mr. Ballen’s podcast a few months ago, and I loved it instantly. While it does have some episodes on true crime, there are also very interesting episodes on witchcraft, mysteries, survivals, and other sinister events. The diversity in episodes is enthralling, and this pod uploads twice a week! 

CounterClock by AudioChuck

Made by the same production company as Crime Junkie, investigative journalist Delia D’Ambra dives into one case per season, with several episodes helping unfold an unsolved mystery. Each season I’ve listened to so far has had the most insane, twisting cases, and each episode I am dying to hear more to solve the case. 

dark hair, reading, coffee, girl
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez from Unsplash

Other

Scamanda

I saw this podcast while browsing through Apple podcasts, and it sounded so interesting, so I listened and became obsessed. This pod is definitely binge worthy. Scamanda follows the story of a mother who faked cancer, committed fraud, and got thousands of dollars from people who were sympathetic towards her. This story is actually insane, and there are so many twists that kept me listening throughout the story. 

The Basement Yard

After always seeing clips of Joey and Frankie on Tik Tok, I became an avid listener of The Basement Yard. This podcast is so funny, and literally each episode makes me laugh. My sister and I both love this pod, so we love listening to it when we’re driving somewhere together. Each week, two grown men sit down and talk about their lives, crazy news headlines, and other interesting topics. 

Hopefully if you’re trying to get into podcasts, you consider listening to a few of my favorites! I am always open to more recommendations, but these pods are so incredible to me!

McKenzie Kirsch

Cal State Chico '25

McKenzie (Kenzie) Kirsch is the current Editor-in-Chief for the Her Campus Chico Chapter. Kenzie is a fourth-year at Chico State, studying English Education in hopes of being an English teacher. Kenzie has also picked up a minor in Child Development, and has made the Dean's List for five out of six semesters at Chico State. She likes having fun, but is also very serious about her studies as well. She is originally from a small town in Northern California called Wheatland, about 30 minutes north of Sacramento, CA. She loves the community of Chico and is very happy to be spending her college years here. Kenzie is also an active member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and has made lifelong memories there.

Outside of school, she likes to bake, read and write, workout and hike! Chico is the perfect place to explore and meet new people. She is so excited to be a member of Her Campus and continue her writing journey!