I’ll admit it, I’m addicted to podcasts. No matter what time of day it is, I need something playing in my ears to either keep my mind preoccupied while I’m doing dishes or to drown out the noises in my office while I’m working. If I didn’t have podcasts I would probably have a shorter attention span because of distractions, or I’d be less likely to actually finish doing the dishes on a regular basis. I listen to podcasts of all different kinds. Some of my favorite podcasts are about food and cooking, books and writing, health and wellness, or life and home. Today, I’ll be talking about my favorite home & entertainment podcasts.
Whether they tell slice-of-life stories or discuss the intricacies of living in this day and age as an imperfect feminist, the below home and entertainment podcasts help get me through my days at work, menial tasks like washing the dishes, or mind-emptying activities like driving in my car. Here are 5 that I’m loving right now:
- This American Life: The epitome of NPR podcasts, This American Life continues to reinvent what good storytelling is to me. The host, Ira Glass, is a radio veteran and his stumbling, almost nerdy way of talking continues to delight me every time I listen in to an episode. The stories I like most of all come from the farthest flung places in America; they are stories about things that will make you think. The reporters will go to any lengths to get their stories, including following a U.S. senator around during his last months in office, investigating the world of street harassment, and endemic racism in today’s society. Here are two of my favorite episodes that I think you should start out with: You Had Me at Hello and Tell Me I’m Fat. This was the first podcast I ever listened to, and it certainly hasn’t proven to be my last. It is a gateway drug which leaves me hungry for more great journalism.
- Serial: Produced by some of the same people that bring us This American Life, the first season of Serial is famous in the world of podcasts. It follows the investigation of a murder in Baltimore, MD and includes interviews with the accused, his friends and family, and the investigators on the criminal investigation. I honestly believe that Serial is responsible for all of the new crime drama podcasts we’re seeing on the scene lately like My Favorite Murder and Dirty John. Plus, people love hearing the grisly details involved in death and destruction, it’s in our human nature. The second season followed the story of Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier, who had been a prisoner of the Taliban for nearly five years. Or had he? And now the third season, which I’ve just started listening to, is diving deep into the criminal justice system itself. It is produced so well and the host, Sarah Koenig, is one of the best journalists I’ve had the pleasure of following. She does not hesitate to ask the questions we’re all thinking and she usually doesn’t stop until she gets the real answer to questions. If you’ve heard the hype, you’ll know what I mean, It’s fabulous and you should give it a listen.
- The Guilty Feminist: Deborah Frances-White is a powerhouse of an Australian comedian who hosts a recorded-live-on-stage podcast that continues to delight me. Every week she has special guests, and sometimes a guest host, come onto the stage with her and talk about a specific subject. They’ve discussed things like Visibility, Jealousy, and Money, just to name a few. She’s written a book by the same name, The Guilty Feminist, and she is also doing great works with the refugees in Calais and urges her listeners to get involved in helping with a multitude of different humanitarian efforts. Quite frankly, listening to this podcast has helped to make me a better feminist because it is constantly changing my opinion on different topics and stretching my mind to think about others who have a different experience of life than I do.
- Young House Love Has a Podcast: What can I say about the wonderful John and Sherry Petersik? They are hilarious without trying too hard, they give the best realistic DIY advice, and they give honest opinions about design and decorating. When I first discovered their podcast (I had never really been a devoted reader of their blog) I thought it was a little strange, I’ll admit it. How does one have a DIY podcast? Like, how does DIY work without visuals? But I have to say that it works so well. They utilize their show notes to give further details of what they describe on the podcast, they put polls in the show notes to get feedback from their listeners, and they often have great links or suggestions in their “I’m Digging” section. I’ve heard some great recommendations for books, movies, other podcasts, and shows from them as well. They are all around great people who give on-point advice for decorating and renovating.
- You Must Remember This: I haven’t been listening to this podcast for very long, I’ll admit it. But the episodes I have listened to have fascinated me to no end. The host, Karina Longworth, researches old Hollywood in such great detail that it’s hard to imagine that anyone has this amount of time and energy for research. I first heard about her podcast on NPR’s Fresh Air on my way home from work one day a month or so ago, but ever since, I’ve been hooked. I suggest you start with the Joan Crawford/Bette Davis episode. I can’t wait to listen to more fascinating recounts of old Hollywood history!
If you listen to any of the podcasts above, what are your favorite episodes? Are there any other food-related podcasts that you think I should be listening to? Tag me or message me on Instagram (@bookishkitchen #thebookishkitchen) or leave a comment below! I love to hear from our followers.
