Podcasts are just about the only content I have time to consume these days, and I devour them at an alarming rate. Whether I’m cooking, washing dishes, cleaning my house, walking around the neighbourhood, driving to school, or grocery shopping, I can pretty much guarantee you that I am plugged into a podcast. I am currently subscribed to 25 different podcasts about everything from pop culture to politics to history to life advice; here are the ones that I literally never miss an episode of.
Office Ladies
In what could be the greatest podcast ever made, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, who played Pam and Angela on the hit TV show The Office, recap an episode of this beloved fan favourite each week. It is honestly like watching the TV show over again, but with my ears. They answer listener questions about how certain scenes were produced, have their former co-stars as guests where they reveal how they got their part on the show, play audio clips of bloopers, and even read the script’s deleted scenes and alternative jokes. Fischer and Kinsey have a wealth of funny and heartwarming stories about everyone that made the show possible, from the actors, to the script supervisor, to the caterers and directors. If you’re a fan of The Office, you’ll be a fan of this podcast.
The Endless Honeymoon
This podcast had me bursting out laughing in the cereal aisle. Moshe Kasher and Natasha Leggero are a hilarious husband and wife comedian duo that give relationship advice to listeners who call in. They give practical, straightforward advice while simultaneously poking fun at and loving their callers. There are also “secret dump” episodes where they will play secrets listeners have left them on their public voicemail. Some secrets are disgusting, a lot have me questioning their listeners’ morals, but they are always a riot to listen to.
Ear Hustle
The only serious podcast on this list, Ear Hustle was born in San Quentin State Prison, California’s oldest maximum-security correctional facility. Produced by visual artist Nigel Poor and the formerly incarcerated Earlonne Woods, Ear Hustle gives listeners a fascinating look into the prison system and the lives of those who are inside. I have been listening to this podcast since it first aired in 2017, and I feel like I’ve heard the evolution of some of the inmates that they regularly feature. Woods, for example, was still an inmate when the show first aired, and is now producing episodes on the outside after he was granted parole. The show features everything from heartbreaking stories of guys who were just dealt the wrong cards in life, music written by inmates, and horror stories of cellmates that make any roommate situation on the outside seem bearable.
Good Christian Fun
Kevin T. Porter and Caroline Ely are “not here to make fun of you or make you go to church,” they just want to have some good Christian fun. Each week they dissect a piece of media created by, for and/or about Christians, whether it be a Christian film with a horrifically cringy script or a Christian punk-rock band’s album. They even have high profile guests like Amy Grant and Kirk Franklin on to talk about their careers and laugh about the horribly awkward parts of Christian pop culture. This podcast is like a soothing balm to my religious trauma.
The Happiness Lab
Dr. Laurie Santos is a professor at Yale who developed an extremely popular course called “The Science of Well-Being.” In my opinion, listening to this podcast is the equivalent of taking that Ivy League school’s course for free, as it explores the scientific research done on happiness and how humans can truly achieve it. There is nothing I love more than a well-researched piece of content with rich interviews from leading experts in their field. So, if you’re looking for a cure for the sads, this might be the podcast for you.
Even the Rich
This podcast gives us a detailed and intimate look into the lives of celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Paris Hilton, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Madonna, and, currently, Mariah Carey. This is not just a celebrity gossip podcast; it is like listening to the biography of these ultra-famous celebrities — some of their rags-to-riches stories, the sacrifices they had to make to get to the top, and the perseverance it took to stay there. Brooke Siffrinn and Aricia Skidmore-Williams allow listeners the chance to peek into the parts of these celebrities’ lives that are often overlooked.
Lifekit
NPR’s Lifekit produces short and sweet episodes (averaging about 15 minutes apiece) that give us practical advice on how to live better. Exploring a vast range of topics from “How to start hormone replacement therapy,” or “How to receive feedback,” or “How to rent smarter,” this podcast talks to experts each week that each give constructive take-aways on how to improve the way you live.
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
