I’ve been a fan of podcasts for a long time, but starting my own podcast What Should I Read Next? has seriously increased my appreciation for a well-executed episode.
Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite episodes of late.
A note about the logistics of podcast listening: my favorite way to listen is through the free Overcast app, because it’s easy, intuitive, and—most importantly—gives me a finer degree of control over listening speed than the native iTunes podcasting app.
(I’m an iPhone user, but I hear from my Android-using friends that the free Podcast Addict app has similar features.)
1. Pantsuit Politics
Episode: Election Reform: Make Those Votes Count
I still can’t believe I subscribe to a political podcast, but I love this one. Each week Sarah from the left and Beth from the right dive deep into political topic. They’re interesting, opinionated, respectful, and nuanced, and that combination works. I feel like a better-informed citizen after each episode, and I mean that seriously (no snark this time!) My husband is hooked, too, and the episodes have prompted some great conversations.
2. StartUp
Episode: Pirate Needs Pirate
Confession: I’m not loving this season of StartUp. But this episode was fantastic. It’s about a Canadian named Mike who’s effectively set up a Trader Joe’s outpost in Vancouver. Trader Joe’s doesn’t operate in Canada, so Mike keeps his store stocked by making regular trips across the border to American stores, buying thousands of dollars worth of groceries at a time. Trader Joe’s isn’t thrilled with his operations. So interesting!
3. The Simple Show
Episode: Big City Simple Living
In this episode Tsh interview Kristen Kill, who is living in Manhattan with her large family and loving it. This episode was all about living a simple life—and navigating large family life—on the Upper West side. I adore NYC, but I keep thinking if I lived there for months on end—instead of a week at a time—that would once and for all disabuse me of the idea that living there would be pretty awesome. In that sense, this episode is dangerous, because Kristen sure makes it sound awesome.
I listened to this one twice: once on my own, and once with my kids, who want to know when we can go back.
(If you want another episode to listen to: Tsh had me on earlier this month to discuss everything summer reading. Listen to it here. So fun.)
4. The Popcast with Knox and Jamie
Episode: Ep. 142 TV Series Finales, LOST Finale, Justin Timberlake Music and Pregnant Janet Jackson
Every week Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden discuss the things that (in their words) entertain, but do not matter, and they take it very, very seriously. I adored their conversation about the best and worst of tv series (not season) finales: they covered two of my all-time favorite series, The Office and Friday Night Lights, and I found myself nodding along (and—I’ll admit it—talking back to them in my car).
5. Sorta Awesome
Episode: Leigh Kramer Answers Your Enneagram Questions
Megan Tietz consistently puts out a friendly and entertaining show, but when she brought on my friend and enneagram enthusiast Leigh Kramer for her newish Extra Awesome Friday show she definitely brought it up a notch. Megan has a warm personality, a voice made for radio, and consistently interesting topics.
6. What Should I Read Next?
Episode: What DID they read next (and how did they like it?)
Okay, I wasn’t going to include my own because how could I pick a favorite episode?? But I’m going to cheat, and point you towards this fun recent episode where I brought back a half dozen guests from the show’s first ten episodes to find out what they really read next after they were on the show, and whether my picks for them were on-target or total bombs.
This was the first of many recap episodes to come, and I promise not to make you wait three whole months for the next one.
Are YOU a podcast fan? What are your recent favorites? Point us to the shows and episodes that you loved. Any that made you listen twice?
24 comments
I don’t have favorite episodes of these podcasts, but these are my favorites that I listen to every episode: Happier with Gretchen Rubin, What Should I Read Next, Relevant Podcast, and The Simple Show.
(Shameless self-promotion to follow…) I have a podcast called “Go Forth with Heather and Becky.” We interview people with amazing stories about how they are trying to live as disciples of Jesus or how God has worked in dramatic ways in their lives. Many are about how they found joy in suffering and all have challenged me to look for God in my daily life. Episode 25 is a great one about a woman whose boyfriend committed suicide and how she was able to find light in that darkness. I’d encourage anyone to check it out!
I love your podcast! I have always been a reader but the podcast has sparked a lot of renewed excitement for me.
I’ve been listening to a few episodes of Surprisingly Awesome — they delve into topics that should be boring but are surprisingly awesome. Like mattresses and adhesives. They are quite entertaining and fuel my love for learning!
I just learned of Pantsuit Politics from the Mom Hour a couple weeks ago and promptly binge listened to several episodes. Anxious to listen to the episode you mention as I don’t think I’ve heard that one yet. I also really liked The Simple Show New York episode. (We are visiting for the first time in August!) I found it particularly fascinating when she spoke of the older woman who was retiring in NYC and all the reasons she made that choice.
Anne, I was super excited to hear your podcast mentioned on the final episode of Books on the Nightstand! I had goosebumps (even though I felt pretty sure they would mention WSIRN)! ? Congrats on your success and broadening influence.
Have a wonderful time in New York!
Also, gotta love some Sorta Awesome Show! ❤️✨
Great choices!! I am totally hooked on podcasts now and love great recommendations. Interestingly, YOUR awesome podcast is the very first one I listened to! I found The Popcast from your interview with Jamie Golden and I’ve been listening to a number of podcasts since then! Definitely an addiction! 🙂
Thank you so much for the shout out!!! As you know podcasts are some WORK, it’s always so wonderful to know people are listening and enjoying! Plus, our target audience is people who don’t typically like political discussions so that was the ultimate compliment!
Awesome Etiquette is really interesting, so many different scenarios and opinions.
I’ve never heard of that one, thanks for sharing!
I love Awesome Etiquette too! I was so excited when they answered one of my questions in an episode.
Thanks for shouting out the episode of Sorta Awesome I was on! It’s always fun talking with Megan, especially when we geek out on the Enneagram.
Did you hear that you got a shout-out from Books on the Nightstand last week? They endorsed you as a book podcast that people could turn to now that they’re going off the air!
That made my day! I love their show so much.
I love This American Life. Their most recent episode titled Tell Me I’m Fat was fantastic. These human interest stories have touched me, and opened my mind up to the way other people live.
I just wanted to say, I had already listened to the simple show episode you listed and I loved it so much too! I finished it and immediately relistened to it. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.
Yay! Thanks for letting me know.
I’ve been wanting to listen to WSIRN, but I haven’t read most of the books discussed. Do I need to worry about spoilers?
Nope, you’ll be fine.
But you’ll have a GIANT to-be-read list 🙂
LOL, I already have about 1,000 books on my GoodReads list! I really should stop reading and adding book lists but I just can’t help myself!
Look up “BrainStuff”! They are short, but fun! Something I think the kids will love!
Popcast has a recent episode about Book to Movie adaptations! Perfect! Thanks for the heads up about this podcast.
That Simple Show episode with Kristen Kill nearly did me in. I have LONG dreamed of living in the city, and the thought of doing it with the 7 kids still at home had me drooling. We live way out in the woods on acreage with no neighbors in sight.
I listened to it, then let my kids listen to it. Half wanted to move right away, the other half said they’d rather pitch a tent and stay here. HAHA!!
I can see myself listening to it again….that is if I were to ever get caught up on podcast episodes from all the others I love!!