8 of My Favorite Podcasts

I have been meaning to write this post for awhile now. I have given friends podcast suggestions while they have been on road trips or needed something to listen to while working. I have to say I’m a very big fan of the medium, so I listen a lot. Plus, it makes housework go by a little quicker when I’m engaged in a story.

The following list has a few Gimlet Media podcasts, which I love. I have excluded some of the good ol’ tried and true (This American Life, Serial, On Being, Radio Lab, Ted Radio Hour), not because I don’t listen anymore, but because I think you know about them already.

These are not listed in any particular order –

START UP

The first season is all about Gimlet Media and how they were starting their business. It’s good for anyone who has been down this road before, is curious about starting their own business, or just curious in general. The second season was good, but not quite as good as the first. I love the updates.

MYSTERY SHOW

The Mystery Show has everything I love. Mundane life mysteries taken to the extreme. Starlee Kine is the host and some of her earlier work on This American Life (The Break-Up) I reverence all the time. I hope you love it as much as I do. The season was much too short IMHO. Hopefully it’s back asap.

REPLY ALL

This is a show about the internet and how it effects us and we effect it. I like the hosts and I’m always pleasantly surprised by the stories. Most of the episodes are 25-40 minutes long. Rainbow Pug up above was from this week’s podcast.

HAPPIER

I read Better Than Before and loved it, so when I saw that Gretchen Rubin had decided to do a podcast with her sister, Elizabeth Craft, I was excited. It’s a podcast about happiness and habit formation. I enjoy the back and forth of a sister team. I have also found it helps me check in with myself more regularly.

DEAR SUGAR RADIO

I read Dear Sugar and loved it on Rumpus. After listening to this podcast a good friend sent me I bought Tiny Beautiful Things on audio and loved it even more. Dear Sugar Radio is almost a better version of the column because you get both Steve and Cheryl, plus a guest to weigh in on a writer’s conundrum. I don’t always agree with the advice, but it does get me thinking.

MAGIC LESSONS

Magic Lessons only has 12 episodes, but it deserves a post all it’s own. It’s a companion piece to Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic and I highly recommend it. I think my favorite episode is episode 10 with John Hodgman (John also has a fun podcast that’s kind of his version of The Peoples Court).

INVISIBILA

I devoured the first season of Invisibila and I can’t wait for it to start again. This podcast is about all the unseen things that have a bearing on human behavior. Favorite episode is Entanglement. I really can’t stop thinking about it.

WTF

This is a favorite of mine that I have listened to from the beginning. I have even blogged about it before. Marc’s interview with James Taylor is really good.

I would love to hear which podcast(s) you are listening to right now. Comment or email me.