During these socially isolating times when it is so important to stay indoors and away from others, the loneliness can sometimes begin to be a little overwhelming. Anyway, that’s what I’ve noticed now that I don’t have excuses to see my friends around campus every day. However, I feel I have found an excellent solution to this: podcasts!
Podcasts are obviously not a total replacement for social interaction (keep up the facetiming and zoom calls, folks!), but I’ve found them to be a lovely substitute from time to time. The more casual vibe plus the easy camaraderie between a lot of podcast hosts can make you feel like you’re having a fun conversation with friends. Here are some shows that I’ve found to be great for keeping you company while taking a solitary walk or cooking dinner for one!
- The Adventure Zone
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This is really a shoutout to all actual-play RPG podcasts out there. Listening to a group of friends play Dungeons and Dragons or some other role-playing game can not only be endlessly entertaining but can also make you feel like you’re at the table with everybody and in on the action. The Adventure Zone is my personal favorite because I appreciate the humor and the feeling of family that comes from three brothers and their dad all playing D&D together. However, there are plenty to choose from if that’s not quite your style! I’ve heard excellent things about Critical Role, Rusty Quill Gaming, Dimension 20, and Not Another D&D Podcast, if you’d like to give any of them a try.
- 2.0
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This category is dedicated to all the comedy podcasts out there with interesting premises. 2.0 is a show about two brothers trying to improve everyday things that . . . probably didn’t need to be improved. It’s hilarious and creative, and I love the journey from the beginning of an episode where you think you know where they’re going with an idea, to the end where you realize there was no way you could have predicted that. I also highly recommend The Flop House, about three friends who talk about terrible movies, and My Brother, My Brother and Me, a podcast wherein three brothers dispense sage advice . . . that you probably shouldn’t take. There are plenty of shows in this genre, and I highly recommend checking out one of these or finding your own.
- Wonderful!
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If you’re in the search for something a little softer, look no further! Wonderful! is a podcast that features a husband and wife talking about whatever couple things brought them joy that week, all while trying not to wake up their baby. It’s a lovely break from the stress of the week and it’s a nice reminder to sit back and appreciate the things around you. While this isn’t quite the same genre, I consider Wonderful! to be tangential to some other podcasts where people discuss interesting things they’re passionate about. The first is Sawbones, a “marital tour of misguided medicine,” all about interesting medical history. Another is Stuff You Missed in History Class, about incredibly interesting historical figures and events that you probably haven’t heard of. All of these and more like it can be incredibly fascinating, and it’s delightful to listen to people who clearly care a lot about a particular subject and are excited to share it with you.
- Wolf 359
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This is a shoutout to my personal favorite podcast genre, audio dramas. Wolf 359 is a stunning sci-fi audio drama featuring the communication log of Doug Eiffel, the communications officer aboard the U.S.S. Hephaestus space station orbiting the titular star, as odd things begin to happen to him and his friends on board. It’s a heartwarming show featuring plenty of humor but also a complex look into these characters and their relationships as they traverse fun sci-fi happenings. It, like every other audio drama I have listened to and enjoyed, is full of enough fascinating character development, interesting plot, and fantastic writing to immediately draw me in and keep me on the edge of my seat till the last episode. Other shows that feature uplifting friendships and relationships are King Falls AM, a show about a late-night radio show in a small, mysterious town full of paranormal occurrences, and The Bright Sessions, about a therapist for people with unique, supernatural abilities. (Special shoutout to my current favorite audio drama, The Magnus Archives, but this wonderfully written horror show is admittedly not likely to help with loneliness, and it might be best to stick to more uplifting content!) I have found these shows to be incredibly helpful right now, and I hope that you feel inspired to explore and find some of your own favorites!
- Stellar Firma
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This category is for the shows that are a little in-between the typical comedies and the audio dramas, featuring improv comedy with zany premises. Stellar Firma is one of my new favorites, a sci-fi-themed show about a clone frantically trying to help a man (who’s terrible at his job) design planets for their titular company in order to avoid being “recycled.” It’s a combination of improv comedy, fun worldbuilding, and a deceptively insidious overarching plot. Another show in a similar vein is Hello From The Magic Tavern, about a man who fell through a portal into a fantastical land full of wacky and interesting characters, somehow with just enough wifi signal to broadcast back to our world. Both are a lot of fun and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for something that feels familiar in every episode but that doesn’t need to be paid much attention like an audio drama might.
Well, I hope this helps! I’ve mentioned some of my favorite podcasts here that have kept me company through a lot of “trying times,” as email headings keep reminding us these are. This is just a reminder to keep in mind that podcasts are all made to suit different tastes! If you didn’t find one in this list that suits your fancy, I recommend you keep looking. There are some amazing creators out there with lots of interesting content to put out into the world. I’ve included extra suggestions with every main listicle item, but don’t be afraid to keep looking beyond that. I have no doubt that you’ll find something to keep you company while we’re all being responsible and compassionate citizens. Happy listening!