Podcast Recommendations
I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts. Like, a lot. I’ve pulled together some of my favorites, along with a few comments about each, in order to share some of the great content I’ve stumbled upon. This list is generally organized with stronger recommendations at the top, although it is not strictly ordered.
Opening Arguments
This is by far my favorite podcast, and without a doubt my most important resource in understanding what is going on today. Hosts are a talkshow host and a lawyer who are super clear on distinction between his view and his opinion, and very effective at reading out the news from a legal perspective. 1 hour on Tuesdays and Fridays. Friday’s are (often) about Trump, Tuesday’s are usually deep dives on policy issues.
Reply All
I don’t know if they have a schedule, but its close to once a month. It’s always a long form story on some piece of the rapidly changing culture in 2018. Usually its centered around something internet related (eg they did this amazing piece on how people steal really rare social handles and sell them). Reporting is extraordinarily deep and the story telling is very good.
It could happen here
Part journalism, part fiction, this podcast creates a fictional near-future world exploring a second American Civil War. Drawing on testimonial and reporting from historical US racial unrest, Syria, Iraq, US Border, Robert Evans sketches out a terrifying future. Topics include everything from religious militias, implications of war in American megacities, and the concept of an American refugee, this podcast paints a clear picture of a realistic, worse case scenario.
The Report
A podcast to listen to in lieu of reading the 2018 Mueller Report, and to add a ton of context even if you read it. 50% narrative framing of the Mueller Report itself (primarily direct quotes), 50% reporting and interviews with people to give context and supporting evidence of events. Strong recommend for every American.
Brexitcast
A very accessible look in to the inner workings of what is going on inside the government of the UK. Really helpful understanding of how the specific politicking in British Parliament in Brexit and its aftermath.
Risk!
The premise here is simply for people to share stories they thought they would never tell. The stories are always incredible, emotional and uncensored. This is by far my favorite podcast to grapple with the real, hard issues people deal with every day.
Today Explained
20 mins every weekday about a current event. Usually 10 mins about the event and 10 about the underlying issue. It’s always super interesting and very high quality.
Lawfare Podacst
This is a very dry legal podcast but it’s probably the most interesting and important one I listen to. Takes entirely legal perspectives on current events, and helps you understand what’s going on in a way that’s impossible from the news (eg they have an unbelievable episode about the war in Yemen and how in a lot of ways the Saudis are the good guys... or at least that the situation is complicated and SA pulling out will have disaster for the people there).
Drilled
Investigative reporting on the oil and gas industry, geared towards uncovering and understanding how much they knew about climate change and what they did about it. Spoiler alert, it is a really hard story of business decisions to actively suppress the data and deceive the public, going back decades.
Hardcore History
Concept here is Dan Carlin goes IN DEPTH about a specific period (eg WWI, Persian Emperors, Celts, etc). He always picks one that has a huge amount of emotional impact that the progression of history has really de-nuanced. For example, his WWI telling is really good and helping you imagine what it was like to be in a battle where poison gas comes with no warning, where literally hundreds of thousands died the day before, how you’ve been living in cold, rainy mud for months... and then you get the order to charge. Super interesting, super compelling. Warning, episodes are like 6 hours long so it’s an investment, but worth it.
The Weeds
Hour long show 2x week by the same people that do Today Explained. This show is really think and dry political commentary, with a specific focus on “the weeds” of policy.
Caliphate
This is so good everyone should listen to it. If you’ve ever had the thought “you know, it would be really interesting to actually sit down with someone involved with extreme Islamic terrorists and ask, non combatively, ‘what is going on in your head because I just can’t imagine why you do this.’” I don’t think it’s particularly satisfying and didn’t have me feeling any different about it, but I was grateful for the opportunity.
Rational Security
A deep dive on the legal aspects of foreign policy and national security. Another great podcast that spotlights important issues from a legal frame, comprehensively — a particularly helpful way to understand the implications of the changes happening in our global society.
All the President’s Lawyers
A show hosted by lawyers that look specifically at the developments in the legal cases against President Trump and his family.
Trump Inc
A group of ProPublica reporters who are aggressively investigating Trump’s finances. These guys are actually a big deal, like contributing to House and Senate reports. I heard about the Trump Tower Moscow deal back in August 2018 from them.
Fivethirtyeight
Nate Silver is a statistician that became famous for his work in basketball statistics that translated to election predictions. He’s super famous now because of a track record for accuracy. This podcasts’ importance is directly tied to how close to an election we are (they got 2018 almost exactly right)
Planet Money
A deep dive in to an economic issue 1-2x a week. Together with 'The Indicator', they are a good Economics-lite regiment.
The Impact
“States are the laboratories of democracy” this podcast finds local and state policies that are actually addressing the big hairy problems we all take about (eg deep dive in to a Seattle law that provides citizens with campaign dollars to give to local candidates in order to combat private interests and dark money).
Throughline
This podcast traces one “headline” through its historical context, in order to give a more completed, nuanced understanding of what is going on today. In general, the topics are current hot topics, including the opioid crisis, North Korea, etc.
Worldly
A weekly international podcast deep diving the most interesting, topical news story, usually including a nuanced historical perspective.
The Ezra Klein Show
This is the guy who created the company that does Today Explained and The Weeds (Vox Media). He does this talk show now; 2x week, long form (1-2 hours) where he interviews someone, usually about the news, society or culture (sometimes more esoteric like the concept of self). He loves to hear himself talk and it’s intellectual to a fault.. but if you can get passed that it’s always very smart, interesting and thought provoking.
Pod Save America
Flagship Crooked Media Podcast, former Obama staffers, on a talkshow podcast format. The show is about domestic issues, with topics including politics, policy, current events, etc, through the lens of progressive activism.
Pod Save the World
Part of Crooked Media, Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor and National Security Council spokesperson talk global current events and give the progressive commentary on what global affairs are important and how the US responds.
Bundyville
An NPR podcast that examines some of the more notable clashes between far right extremism and the federal government. Season 1 focuses on the Bundys, a family who came to fame after an armed standoff with the federal government in 2014 and an armed occupation of federal lands in 2016. This podcasts explores those events, putting them in to context with Ruby Ridge and Waco, and attempts to explain the far right.
The Indicator
A daily podcast where they pick one economic indicator and talk about it.
Hidden Brain
1-2x week, 40min-1hr, deep dive in to a social or cognitive topic. In general, the structure is “social scientists/common sense have always said this. However the data says this. Here’s how social science is changing to reflect that.”
Why’d you Push that Button
The premise is to look at behaviors around technology we take for granted, talk to some random people and some experts about why the do it (eg why do you turn on read receipts, or when do you delete tweets). The premise sells the show... at first I listened to it despite the hosts, but I’ve come around and realized they make is so much better.
The Habitat
One of the science problems of sending people to Mars is we aren’t really sure of the psychological effects of living in like 800 square feet with 5 other people for 10 months. So apparently NASA is doing this missions on remote mountain sides in Hawaii where they put 6 nasa scientists in a simulation for the whole ten months. This is that story, heavily featuring real recordings. Super cool.
The Wilderness
A Crooked Media production, this podcast sets to define a modern democratic party, drawing on the history and traditions of the Democratic party since the civil war (with more emphasis on more recent history). This podcast aims to take a critical look at the failures of the democratic party that led to the election of Trump and the changes needed to succeed in the 2018 Midterm elections.
Trojan War
This is a retelling of the story of the Trojan war. If you liked that Brad Pitt movie Troy, you’ll like this. I’m a Greek mythology nerd so I loved this but it’s definitely a situation where your enjoyment is directly correlated with how much you like the Iliad and odyssey stories.
Revolutions
Ok this is super meaty but it’s great. Each “season” is a real in-depth look at a revolution (eg English, American, French, Haitian, etc. I think he’s on season 9 and it’s Mexico). It’s really relevant and interesting to learn about what happened given today in context.
The Industrial Revolutions
This podcast gives really deep, conclusive history of the industrial revolutions, focusing on the UK, but touching on France, the new world and other important contributors. Beginning with the fundemental concepts (like canals, the steam engine, textile processing techniques) building up to the world we know today.
History of the Crusades
Another long form, historical narrative podcast, this time walking through the Crusades. Over 300 episodes and counting, she does a great job of cutting 20-40 min episodes that walk through the very complicated and very obscure history in a way thats easy to follow. Highly recommend, as so much of these historical events shaped the Middle East, and many of its issues, as it is today.
Serial
This is the podcast that created modern day podcasts about 6 years ago. It did it because the story choice is great, the reporting is great, how she tells it is great, and it’s all around gripping. 3 seasons, season 2 is about Bowe Bergdahl which if you follow military news at all was a big deal.
S-Town
I would recommend this to everyone but especially anyone that has any person connection to small town life. It’s about this crazy, brilliant, bizarre man in this tiny Alabama town. It starts as a kinda boring… and then unexpectedly there’s like death and intrigue. In the end I felt like it was a really good story that gave me clarity in to the human condition.
Song Exploder
Every show they sit down with an artist and take apart a single song. Super cool to hear what the artist was thinking and what was important. Enjoyment (for me) is entirely based on how familiar I am with the song they are exploding.
Household Name
Each episode is a deep dive in to a brand that has gone through some pretty extreme changes that we filter to the background (eg TGI Friday’s used to be like the hottest place for singles to find and pick each other up). I have no idea how often episodes come, and they are SUPER hit or miss... but I stay subscribed and just delete the ones that sound boring to me.
Heavyweight
The idea is to identify really hard conversations that someone needs to have with someone else, but they are scarred, been putting it off, etc. the show is the people having that convo (who obviously agree to be recorded). All true. Just really interesting to be able to watch really vulnerable, human moments without having any stake in it. It’s a unique experience.
Bag Man
The story of Spiro Agnew, his crazy and somewhat untold corruption, and the decisions by the Justice Department to quickly take action before Watergate was resolved.
Slow Burn
A feel for how it felt from the perspective of someone getting the news during times of Presidential scandal. The idea is to give you the storyline as it was developing back during Watergate and the Clinton Impeachment.