a list of really good podcasts
From a girl that's put in her 10,000 hours
At some point in 2016, I replaced music with podcasts. It was an unintentional shift that happened slowly and then all at once. There’s something about having a conversation in my ears that I find deeply comforting. Podcasts quiet my brain in a way that music can’t quite manage, and the hours seem to melt away.
I’m not an expert in many things, but podcasts? Podcasts, I know. I’ve curated a list of my top podcast episodes, covering a range of genres and topics—although fair warning, I’m not much of a true crime fan if you’re into that. I love these podcasts, and I think you’ll love them too, so give them a listen on your next long travel day.
10 Podcast episodes I think you’ll love:
Extremes: The ATM glitch millionaire
This is one of my favorite podcast episodes of all time. It’s a fascinating exploration of what I imagine is a lot of people's dream—endless money.
Women Who Travel: The wild swimming phenomenon
Essentially female friendships are the best and wild swimming is really good for you, but in an eloquent way.
The Trojan Horse Affair - Part 1: The letter in the brown paper envelope
Okay, this is actually a podcast series, but you’ll be hooked from the first episode. I don’t want to give too much away—but if you’re interested in the rise of Islamophobia in the UK, British politics, and investigative journalism, this one’s for you.
Science Vs: The funniest joke in the world
What actually makes a joke funny? I know science podcasts don’t have a reputation for their humor, but this is a genuinely funny and insightful exploration of humor and the human condition.
S-Town: Chapter 1
S-Town captures the complexity, beauty, and uncertainty of one man's life in a small Southern town. The storytelling is incredible, and Brian Reed portrays John and all the other characters in the town in a way that feels deeply honest. Be prepared to cry
The Lazarus Heist: Hacking Hollywood
This series investigates a suspected North Korean hacking syndicate, allegedly responsible for the 2014 Sony Pictures hack. It’s the closest thing to true crime you’ll get from me.
The Psychology of your 20s: How to have better conversations
Having good conversations can be hard. This episode gives you five practical tips on how to have better conversations, all informed by science and psychology.
Not Past it: The LSD no hitter
Not Past It is my favorite history podcast. Each episode picks a moment from that week in history and explores how it shaped our world today. This forgotten story about baseball and LSD (!!!) could have easily passed me by, but I’m so glad it didn’t
Search Engine: Should this creepy search engine exist?
This episode of Search Engine is terrifying and will make you want to wipe all your social media pages (and all your other internet activity).
If you’re looking for something with more levity, I’d recommend Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain?
Off Menu: Munya Chawawa
This episode summed up in one word? Chaos (and hilarious, but that’s cheating). Munya Chawawa is so unintentionally funny and shares lots of travel stories about growing up in Zimbabwe, so of course, it’s one of my favorites.
Let me know if you listen to and enjoy any of these episodes. I’m always happy to recommend more podcasts.
- Folly
See You Next Time,
If you made it this far, thank you! Below is a list of other essays I’ve written that you might enjoy and a couple of ways for us to stay connected.
Other Essays You Might Like:
Stay Connected:
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I typically spend more time searching for a decent podcast than I do actually listening to the podcast itself, so this is very helpful! Thanks!
these were great recs!! thank you lovely!!