Since my personal computer is still actively dying, today’s post will be a bit different. We’re talking podcasts! Here’s a list, in which each of the titles are hyperlinked.
Political Podcasts
The BBC’s Global News Podcast
It’s nice to stay broadly informed, and the BBC does a delightful job of canvassing the globe with their reporting. Goes great with a cup of coffee or a morning jog.
The NYT’s The Daily
Want an in-depth look at the looming infrastructure plan, the fallout in Afghanistan, or Britney Spears’ conservatorship? Look no further than The Daily. It’s to the point, clear, informative, and a bit left-of-center.
The Dispatch Podcast
This is a new one for me. I’ve read The Dispatch for many months now, but their podcast provides a slightly-right-of-center take on many of the same topics covered in The Daily or the Global News Podcast, but with the same rigorous pursuit of excellence.
How to Citizen with Baratunde
I love this guy. Baratunde helped keep me sane during the 2020 election cycle. Baratunde sees citizenship as a verb (citizen-ing?), not just a status. It’s something you do. And whether talking about food, police, love, voting, campaign finances, or (coming in season 3!) technology, How to Citizen is so hopeful and empowering.
History Podcasts
Ben Franklin’s World
Want to learn about early America? Liz Covart is your person! Each episode, Covart brings on guests to talk about anything from enslavement and the Revolution to environmental history and inoculations. I’ve found so many books through this one.
The BBC’s In Our Time
I’ve mentioned this one before, but Melvyn Bragg’s discussions on history, science, and philosophy are always a delight. The other day, I listened to “The Evolution of Crocodiles” - never thought I would care to learn that much about crocs, but it was downright fascinating.
NPR’s Code Switch
This one could have easily fit into the political category, but most of Code Switch’s episodes do deal in the American past. The podcast “tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor,” and I always walk away feeling like I just had an insightful conversation.
The Last Archive
I’ve only heard a few episodes of this one, but Jill Lepore is a fantastic historian and her episodes explore “the history of truth” in the modern world. 10/10 recommend.
Technology Podcasts
Your Undivided Attention
Brought to you by the same folks who made The Social Dilemma, Your Undivided Attention has revolutionized how I see technology. And it’s not just doom-and-gloom, get-off-Facebook discussions. These guys are trying to find solutions and find out what “humane technology” really looks like. Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin—keep up the great work.
Lock and Code
This one comes from Malwarebytes, a cyber security firm that has great apps and browser plugins. They have interviewed folks across the humane technology landscape and provide lots of practical insights about how to secure your data and ensure your privacy online.
Under CTRL
Tresorit, an encrypted cloud storage company, supports this podcast. They haven’t updated it in a bit, but like Lock and Code, Under CTRL has a great archives of interviews with folks from several tech firms—such as Protonmail, DuckDuckGo, Brave, Bark, and CryptoHarlem.
Environment Podcasts
Edge Effects
Edge Effects is a leading environmental history podcast from the Center for Culture, History, and Environment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Full disclosure, I wrote a piece for their site last year! They are delightful folks. If you want to learn about rewilding, indigenous landscapes, environmental justice, or tortoises—these are your people!
Sustainababble
Ever had a feeling that corporate or governmental environment policies are probably meaningless bull? Want to find out what actual change looks like? Sustainababble has your back! Ol and Dave have uncovered green-washing and joked-their-way-to-hope for 225 episodes. They’re a hoot, and I’ve learned so much from them.
Your Brain on Climate
This might be cheating, but it’s another podcast from Sustainababble’s Dave—this time on psychology and the climate crisis! It’s brand-new, with episodes so far on food, grief, change, and conflict.
Catholic Podcasts
Ask Father Josh
I’ve also talked about Fr. Josh in the past, here. Fr. Josh is a priest in Louisiana, and on this podcast from Ascension Press he answers questions people may have about the spiritual life, life as a Catholic in the Church, or life in general. He prays, sings, laughs, and I always take away something to integrate into my day. It’s a real blessing.
The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Another podcast from Ascension Press, Fr. Mike’s brief episodes are like mini-meditations on life in the world. Again, always an insight and blessing here. He also has the Bible in a Year podcast—but I think I’m still woefully behind, there, somewhere in February.
The Jeff Cavins Show
Why not make it three from Ascension? I’ve had a Jeff Cavins episode on this link-drop before. If you ever worried that Catholics didn’t engage Scripture enough, look no further! Cavins invites listeners to partake in meditations on the Word, and I’ve found it to be so fruitful.
Podcasts That Don’t Fit Other Boxes
The Jocko Podcast
We talked about a Jocko book a few weeks ago. Jocko Willink and his friend Echo Charles have been talking about military books, jiu-jitsu, discipline, exercise, and life-at-large for just over 300 episodes. Episodes are long but the takeaways are gold.
NPR’s Fresh Air
I grew up listening to NPR. Fresh Air was often on when we ran errands. I don’t listen to every episode, but Terry Gross and Dave Davies have the best interviews. Never a bad decision to play this one.
Levar Burton Reads
As with many millennials, I know Levar Burton through Reading Rainbow. In this podcast, Burton reads fantastic short stories for adults—often scifi and fantasy, always the good stuff. Episodes like “The Paper Managerie” have absolutely made me cry. I can’t recommend it enough.
Well. I thought this post would be a short one. Turns out I listen to an outrageous number of podcasts. Good to know. But I hope this list is useful for you!
What podcasts do you listen to? What would you add? Let me know in the comments!
That’s all for this week.
Have a great weekend!
See you next week.