My Favourite Podcasts

My Favourite Podcasts

When I have the privilege of traveling alone (be it a short drive or a long flight), I am a huge fan of listening to podcasts. I’ve even started putting on my headphones and listening while I grocery shop – Is that anti-social? Some are entertaining and leave me howling in public while others educate and inspire me. There are so many fantastic podcasts out there are I could literally rattle off a million different podcasts that I love but who has time for all of that? Instead I thought that I could list my top ten podcasts for you in hopes that you may give one or two a listen on your next solo adventure. My Favourite Podcasts

Available on iTunes and your favourite podcast app, in no particular order, here they are: My Favourite Podcasts

1. My Dad Wrote A Porno

The title is pretty self explanatory. Jamie Morton’s Dad wrote a series of porno novels called ‘Belinda Blinked.’ Together with BBC Hosts Alice Levine and Jamie Morton, the trio reads a chapter a week, and it is the funniest thing you’ve ever heard. The book is full of cringeworthy plot holes, stereotypical characters and poor writing in general. The commentary is side splitting. I have honestly had to pull over because I was guffawing too hard and have cried tears of laughter. Please listen to this podcast- You won’t regret it.

2. Radiolab

Since 2002, Radiolab has been focused on investigating our strange world. Created by Jad Abumrad and hosted by Jad and Robert Krulwich, Radiolab has won Peabody Awards, a National Academies Communication Award “for their investigative use of radio to make science accessible to broad audiences,” and in 2011 Abumrad received the MacArthur Genius grant. The show has an archive of hundreds of episodes and has toured in sold out shows nationwide.

3. Canadian True Crime

This fairly new podcast has taught me a lot about Canadian True Crime and introduced me to cases that I didn’t know much about or happened in the decade I was living abroad. This podcast follows a one-person narrative format with ambient background music, mainly focuses on solved cases and is very good at sticking to the facts of the crime. The host is an Australian living in Canada who covers everything from Paul Bernado and Dellen Millard, to Robert Pickton and Paula Gant. Although it can be an explicit listen, I find it captivating and well written.

4. Levar Burton Reads

If you were a fan of Reading Rainbow then this podcast is a dream come true. Levar Burton, and his voice as smooth as coffee, read his favourite short stories week by week. Each week has a different theme but overall, the common thread is that Levar likes these tales and want to share them with his captivated audience. Perfectly relaxing and definitely comforting.

5. Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo

A CBC podcast, this investigatory series delves into Native Canadian history, residential schools, adoption within the community and more. I have learned so much about Canada’s Native history and the deplorable circumstances that these people have had to endure. I didn’t know and I feel guilty that as a Canadian, I didn’t know. This podcast has helped me become an informed citizen. This particular story attempts to track down Cleo, a Native child adopted into the States in the 1970’s. Her family wants to know what exactly happened to her and reporter, Connie Walker, follows her intriguing journey. You should too.

6. Reply All

From the award winning Gimlet Media in New York, this show is all about the internet, how it affects our modern life and how to navigate the maddness. It is funny, insightful, playful and informative. The hosts Alex and PJ have a great on-air chemistry and create an interesting and relatable  narrative.

7. Revisionist History

How can I possibly say it better than the genius that is Malcolm Gladwell himself? I can’t so here is the description of the show from the website: Welcome to Revisionist History, a podcast from Malcolm Gladwell and Panoply. Each week for 10 weeks, Revisionist History will go back and reinterpret something from the past: an event, a person, an idea. Something overlooked. Something misunderstood.

8. Under The Influence

Another CBC winner, this podcast is hosted by former advertising king, Terry O’Reilly. This show explores the magical world of marketing, how it has changed over the past century and how it affects our current habits and influences our lives. Full of facts, anecdotes and marketing myths & truths, this is an interesting and enjoyable, easy-listening Canadian podcast.

9. This American Life

I’ve been listening to this podcast for years and while it is ‘American,’ this podcast explores social issues that cross cultural boundaries and borders. With people at the centre of these stories, each week focuses on a different theme. Relevant and compelling journalism, this podcast forces all the feels and will take you from tears to laughter, an emotional ride from start to finish. This podcast makes me feel connected to the world around me and for a moment, disconnected from my immediate surroundings: We all need that sometimes.

10. The Documentary

This series is from BBC World Service and investigates the latest in global developments, issues and affairs. Top journalists travel all over the globe to uncover, explore and tell stories that the whole world needs to hear. No country, matter or topic is off limits. I always feel like a slightly more informed global citizen after listening to this internationally assembled docuseries. While it isn’t always heart-warming, it is always informative. My Favourite Podcasts

What about you? What do you listen to when you are traveling? What is your favourite podcast?

My Favourite Podcasts