While studying in Boston this fall, I fell in love with podcasts. Each day on the train, I would put in my headphones and tune into the plethora of information available at my fingertips. Since then, I’ve continued listening to podcasts almost everyday. They’re perfect when you’ve got time to kill or when you’re in need of a mindful moment. Sometimes I listen in the morning, and sometimes I listen before bed. But no matter what, I always seem to learn something new. The iPhone has a convenient podcast app, but you can also stream podcasts online or on popular platforms such as Spotify. For those of you who might be interested, here are some of my favorites that I’ve been listening to frequently:
- Modern Love
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This is one of the first podcasts that I really got into. The podcast is based on the popular New York Times column that shares reader submissions based on love, loss, and redemption. Not only will you hear stories about romantic love, but also about friendship, family, and the kindness of strangers. One of the best parts of the podcast is that you’ll hear some of your favorite celebrities such as Tan France, Alicia Keys, and Amanda Seyfried tell their favorite Modern Love stories. The column and podcast have such a strong following that there is even an Amazon Prime original series based on some of their most-loved stories.
My favorite episodes: “Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am” and “The Night Girl Finds a Day Boy”
- Hidden Brain
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As a psych major, I’m a sucker for any opportunity to learn more about human behavior and what makes us who we are. Hidden Brain explores psychology in a very approachable way, and applies it to contemporary findings in other fields such as economics, education, politics, and many more. Have you ever wondered if that personality test you took is actually accurate? Or what skills could help you be most successful in life? If you find yourself asking questions of this sort and craving more information about the world around you, your relationships, and even yourself, then this is the podcast for you.
My favorite episodes: “The Sorting Hat” and “Zipcode Destiny”
- Call Your Girlfriend
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This podcast is created by long distance bffs for long distance bffs. Each week, hosts Aminatou and Ann call one another to share their perspectives on all things from pop culture to politics. These two are opinionated and unapologetic feminists, unafraid to discuss all aspects relevant to womanhood. If you ever find yourself missing heart to heart chats with your best friend outside of the Colby bubble, then you’ll love this podcast, too.
My favorite episodes: “Know Her Name” and “Can a Woman be President?”
- Oologies
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Who knew that you could seamlessly combine science and comedy in one podcast? That is exactly what Alie Ward has done here. She highlights the study of practically any topic you can imagine and brings in experts in the field to share their knowledge. You want to learn about bison? “Bisonology” has got you covered. Maybe you’re a hardcore scientist and “Astrobiology” or “Microbiology” would be more up you’re alley. My personal favorites are the episodes that focus on human nature and our relationships with others. If any of this sounds interesting to you, this podcast won’t disappoint. Alie Ward’s quirkiness and humor are a major plus as well.
My favorite episodes: “Personality Psychology” and “Fearology (Part 1 and Part 2)”
As you can see, podcasts come in all varieties. There is pretty much a podcast for any topic under the sun. If you’ve never listened to one, I would highly encourage you to explore on Spotify, the Podcasts app for iPhone, or a streaming source of your choice. Hopefully these suggestions have given you somewhere to start!