I realise that some of you rarely consume audio at all, while others listen avidly to the radio or to podcasts. In recommending five of the podcasts I listen to on a regular basis, I hope that some of you may be inspired to listen to podcasts for the first time, while those of you who are already on the podcast bandwagon may discover something new.
I listen to podcasts using the PocketCasts app. I paid for it, but believe that it’s now available for free. Typically I listen to podcasts in English at 1.7x speed, and podcasts in French at 0.9x speed!
Displaced (Vox Media / International Rescue Committee)
This podcast explores issues and ideas within humanitarian work, through interviews with influential people within the sphere. I really appreciate the hosts, Ravi Gurumurthy and Grant Gordon. They ask good questions, seem caring and genuine, help to keep the tone light, and strike a good balance between talking about ideas and about experiences.
Invisibilia (NPR)
An exploration of “the invisible forces that shape our world,” Invisibilia covers topics from assumptions and ideas to beliefs and behaviours. The three main hosts – Alix Spiegel, Lulu Miller, and Hanna Rosin – are sharp storytellers who weave testimonies and science together to present quite fascinating episodes. Two particularly memorable, if sad, episodes are The Weather Man and The Remote Control Brain.
RadioLab (WNYC Studios)
The subject matter explored on the Radiolab podcast is quite wide-ranging, touching on science, philosophy, politics, art, and current events, from around the world. So, where to start?
Two suggestions:
The Cataclysm Sentence – this episode explore’s Richard Feynman’s question “If, in some cataclysm, all of scientific knowledge were to be destroyed, and only one sentence was passed on to the next generation of creatures, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words?”
The Other Latif – a six-part series in which Radiolab’s Latif Nasser investigates the story of a Guantanamo Bay detainee who shares his name.
The Moth
I value this podcast for the way it highlights humans and human experience through storytelling. Ordinary people submit their stories and are assisted to curate these and present them to audiences live on stage, at “The Moth” events. The stories presented vary widely. Some are hilarious, others profound and sad.
The Inquiry (BBC)
Like Radiolab, the subject matter addressed in The Inquiry is wide-ranging. However, there’s a concerted effort on the part of the producers to address “issues of the day” …i.e. trends or themes dominating the news cycle. This has led to several COVID19-related episodes in recent months.
The format is formulaic: addressing a central question to four “expert witnesses” in order to build up an overall perspective that has colour and depth. An episode that stood out for me was “Why was Qasem Soleimani killed?”
Happy listening!