5+ podcast episodes I’ve loved lately

I’ve been a podcast fan since back when I listened to them on my original iPod, but since I started my own podcast What Should I Read Next? I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for what makes a podcast, and an individual episode, work.

Today I’m sharing five-ish of my recent favorite episodes. I can’t wait to hear yours in comments.

(I share all about how to subscribe to podcasts in this post right here.)

1. The Rewatchables: You’ve Got Mail

This fairly new podcast is devoted to movies we can’t stop watching. A friend recommended this episode because they knew I loved You’ve Got Mail, and it didn’t disappoint. (Currently queued up: their recent episode devoted to the Emma retelling Clueless.

2. Pantsuit Politics: #TakeAKnee: Kaepernick, Curry, and Trump

I’ve shared Pantsuit Politics before, and I love the show, but I especially appreciated a recent in-depth and non-political conversation between Beth and Sarah about the sorrow and shame of accidental killings—the grief that results when a person is involved in something that takes a human life, even if they weren’t at fault, like in any number of accidents involving cars or bicycles or handguns. The conversation veers into miscarriage and medicine as well. It’s a sad conversation, but the way Beth and Sarah articulate feelings we often have a hard time putting into words is well worth listening to. (This is the New Yorker piece that prompted the discussion.)

3. Note to Self: I didn’t see your text.

A friend recently turned me on to the short and pithy Note to Self podcast. I’ve enjoyed their recent “bored and brilliant” conversations about our all-too-common smartphone addiction, but this recent episode about how easy it is to ghost friends and family these days was my favorite.

4. The Next Right Thing: Record what you learn.

I love Emily Freeman’s newish podcast The Next Right Thing; her voice is perfect for podcasting and her message is so often exactly what I need—like this episode about what happens in our heads and our hearts when we’re overwhelmed. It’s possible I’ve been overwhelmed a lot lately, and I appreciate Emily’s tips and encouragement on steadying myself.

5. Song Exploder: The Killers – Rut.

I’m a longtime West Wing Weekly fan, but my husband only recently turned me on to Hrishikesh Hirway’s original podcast Song Exploder. In each episode, a musician tells the story of how a song was made, and as a podcaster myself I’m so impressed at how Hirway edits himself out of each interview to leave behind short, seamless stories told by the musicians themselves. I love The Killers, so Will said this episode was a must-listen (yep); I also loved this episode about The Fools Who Dream from La La Land.

A few more podcasts I’ve been on lately

I have my own podcast, What Should I Read Next, but lately I’ve been a frequent guest on other people’s shows. Here’s a few episodes to check out:

• I talk to Tsh Oxenreider for her new How You Do You segment on The Simple Show, Episode 95.

• I talk to Sarah Stewart Holland on Pantsuit Politics about how understanding personality brings a whole lot more nuance to political conversations.

• On Episode 215 of How to Be Awesome at Your Job I talk to Pete Mockaitis about expanding self-awareness using the top personality frameworks.

Happy listening!

P.S. You can now listen to What Should I Read Next on Spotify. And stay tuned for more audio goodness: tomorrow I’m sharing 15 short audiobooks you can listen to in 6-ish hours or less.