five favorites :: podcasts

For some reason I just can’t get into audio books (I love reading hard copy books in bed at night!), but I adore podcasts. Whenever I’m doing housework, walking or driving somewhere, or just hanging around, I like to put on a podcast. Here are my top five podcasts that I keep going back to.

Quick note: these are all ongoing podcasts where each episode stands alone. There are lots of great podcast series (um, Serial!) but I’m leaving those out of this list.

one. // Up First {NPR} - Available by 6am ET every day except Sunday, this news podcast covers the top three news stories of the day. An episode is about 15 minutes long, and I find it a good way to make sure I don’t miss any big news. I usually throw it on when I’m doing the breakfast dishes or after I’ve gotten the kids off to school.

two. // How to Save a Planet {Gimlet} - This is hands-down my favorite podcast. It came out about a year ago, and each episode tackles an issue related to climate change and breaks down the science in very accessible language. Hosts Alex Blumberg and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson ask the big questions: “what do we need to do to solve the climate crisis, and how do we get it done?” They end each episode by asking one of the experts they’ve interviewed, “how screwed are we?” It’s a balanced and educational podcast for people interested in learning more about a whole host of issues: electric vehicles, regenerative agriculture, kelp farming, recycling, eating vegan, sustainable seafood, etc. etc.

three. // The Daily {The New York Times} - I pick and choose episodes from this podcast, which does in-depth episodes on significant current events. I listen to episodes on issues of interest to me, and enjoy the perspectives the NYT journalists provide. It’s a very well-produced, well-researched podcast.

four. // Rough Translation {NPR} - This podcast “explores cultural mistranslations and what we can learn from them.” Past seasons have explored issues across the globe, but the current season is looking at the cultural divide between American civilians and the military. Episodes drop every two weeks, so it’s easy to keep up with.

five. // Short Wave {NPR} - Despite being a big believer in science (a phrase I would have never used a few years ago), science content isn’t what always piques my interest. I’m not one to listen to an hour-long science podcast, but the quick Short Wave episodes (all about 10 minutes) are really enjoyable. The hosts break down scientific data and concepts into very basic terms and I always find myself sharing with others what I’ve learned from the episodes.

How about you? What podcasts do you listen to regularly?