10 Recommended podcasts (in no particular order)
Podcasts are all about putting things on your ears and listening – and it’s best if it is attentive listening. So, it shouldn’t be too surprising that I like podcasts that are about sound, or just sound great. Here is a list I would personally recommend today.
Sound/Music related
Twenty Thousand Hertz
A new podcast that tags itself as “The stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds.” This shows is created by a sound design team and definitely requires use of headphones.
The World According to Sound
Yes, the first thing you will notice about the podcast is episodes are just 90 seconds long. They introduce a sound and play the sound.
Sound Opinions
A good music criticism show from WBEZ in Chicago. The hosts, Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis do a good job of expanding my musical awareness. Like most music critics, they have a fondness for music that I think only music critics enjoy.
Great Sounding podcasts
The Memory Palace
It took me a little while to warm up to this show, but I’m now a devoted fan. The stories are fascinating pieces historical research and the writing and the narration are wonderful to listen to.
Here Be Monsters
Love + Radio
I’m going to confess, I sometimes get these two podcasts mixed up, but that is because they are both wonderfully audio-rich explorations of often-challenging subjects. Before beginning an episode from either show I pause and assess whether I’m ready for this.
Religious
Spiritual Steps
Each episode is a brief invitation to a spiritual discipline. Steven Hovater is a gentle teacher and okay, some of the charm is his southern drawl.
The Rhythm Divine
Combining my appreciation of audio and spirituality, this show from Australian Broadcasting Corp Radio National features spirituality and music from many different traditions. And yes, here you get to listen to a lovely Australian accent.
Miscellaneous
How to Be Amazing
Michael Ian Black is my favorite interviewer (sorry Terry Gross.) He really listens to the people he’s interviewing and asks insightful, follow-up questions. I also appreciate that he is quick to ask clarification questions when he doesn’t understand something. (I loved his interview with Krista Tippett.)
HowSound
HowSound is the “How it’s Made” of radio storytelling. In each episode, Rob Rosenthal dissects a radio piece. It is a wonderful and learning opportunity to listen to radio stories through his critical, professional ears.
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