(Under Rachel Illingworth)
Podcasts are digital audio files made for downloading to a device for listening enjoyment. Podcast listeners may elect to download a podcast series all at once, in installments, or as podcast episodes become available. You’ll find a treasure trove of subjects and genres of podcasts in both iTunes and the Google Play Store – ranging from comedy, horror, fantasy, news shows, reviews, and more. Listeners can choose from literally millions of engaging podcasts, so we’ve volunteered to sift through the choices to find our favorite story-telling podcasts of 2016. And here they are, in no particular order:
Modern Love
50 episodes into its first season, Modern Love is considered a huge success in the audio world. WBUR Modern Love host Meghna Chakrabarti and New York Times’ Modern Love editor Daniel Jones clearly work hard to create a worthwhile listen.
Each episode focuses on a story written for the popular New York Times column with the same name. The NYT column’s stories explore love in today’s fast-moving world, each written by a different author. The podcast episodes are celebrity-narrated, making for a more imaginative and tonal listen.
Who doesn’t love a healthy dose of romance in their life? One of our favorite episodes is Modern Love episode 5, “The Plunge,”. This romance is a bit different because it was written by an 18-year-old girl discussing her first faithful leap into the world of love. And boy did she fall … literally. She jumped off a cliff with her first boyfriend for fun and ended up in a body cast for much of the remaining summer. She likens her fall off the cliff to her fall into love, and it is beautifully written. The story is read by actress Dakota Fanning, who injects just the right amount of fragility and strength throughout.
Another memorable episode revolves around caring for a single goldfish in a fishbowl, and not knowing how to help that fish continue to want to live. “One Last Swirl”, Episode 2, is more of a narrative of caring for our aging parents and coping with the results of that. Jason Alexander narrates this episode with thoughtfulness, patience, and compassion. The story hits me in the feels each time I’ve listened to it – and I’ve listened to it a few times.
Final thoughts
If you’re a romantic at heart, and love hearing stories of bungling and successful relationships alike, Modern Love is the podcast for you.
99% Invisible
Good design is 99% Invisible. Each of the hundreds of episodes highlights some of the best, worst, and most discussed designs in our world, throughout history.
Roman Mars and ArchSign, his architectural firm in San Francisco, bring forth the most intriguing topics, covering everything from Thomassons to Miss Manhattan.
99% Invisible encourages you to open your eyes and think about the design that went into the croissant you’re holding. We have favorite episodes you should keep an eye out for as you’re listening for the first time.
How did our food industry get to where it is today? How is it that we get perfectly ripe bananas from South America without spoilage? “Reefer Madness” discusses the global food chain. It’s surprisingly mesmerizing to hear about the strides we’ve made in transporting and keeping foods fresh across long distances.
You see your front lawn every single day, but I’m sure you’ve never thought about why everyone uses grass for lawn coverage. Or we bet you’ve never heard the history behind our front yard. In “Lawn Order,” this topic becomes interesting after hearing that English barons grew grass around their castles in the 15th century because they saw it in a painting from Italy.
Millions of comics, movies, and tv scenes feature a therapist’s couch in some form. “Freud’s Couch” discusses how Sigmund Freud first came upon psychoanalysis and how he was gifted his first psychologist couch by one of his patients. Psychology and couches have been irrevocably intertwined for the past century and a half.
Final thoughts
99% Invisible shines a light on design – from concept to planning, to the final product.
Imaginary Worlds
Imaginary Worlds is the entire basis of our childhoods. Eric Molinsky dives head-first into his favorite childhood topics, covering his most-loved television shows and games to memorable characters from books and comics.
One of our favorite episodes covers ideas on the political leanings of Game of Thrones characters. In the “Politics of Thrones,” Molinsky talks with Dan Drezner, who teaches at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Tim Westmyer, hailing from the Rising Powers Initiative. Daenerys Targaryen’s leadership is discussed, as well as Joffrey’s choices as the king.
Any fan of the canceled Firefly and Serenity series might swoon to listen to an interview with Joss Whedon. Well, Molinsky interviewed the “Freaks and Geeks” director back in April of 2007. Finally, in 2015, he released the interview on Imaginary Worlds’ “Joss Whedon ‘07”. In it, Whedon has yet to direct any big Hollywood superheroes movies, so he talks about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic he is producing.
In this vivid and imaginative audio play, a group of self-identified vampires talks about what their life is like as pariahs of society. They’re provided blood directly from the city if they choose to live in a government government-facilitate use. These poor vampires live under constant police supervision.
The “True Vampires of New Haven” is tongue-in-cheek perfect.
Final thoughts
If you like variety and interesting conversations, check out Imaginary Worlds.
Radiolab
Covering philosophy – but with a scientific flair, Radiolab hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich take listeners on an audio-ethical journey. Every show features guest speakers, scientific evidence, and flawless audio enhancements. Originally produced for the radio on the NPR channel, some memorable episodes to check out include:
In this Season 2 “Morality,” Robert and Jad visit a state penitentiary, watch three-year-olds argue over toys, and feed chimps berries. Robert and Jad end this podcast episode with a little more understanding of all of humanity’s morals and ethics.
Because we couldn’t describe Season 6’s “After Life” any better, we pulled Radiolab’s episode description directly from the website. “What happens at the moment when we slip from life…to the other side? Is it a moment? If it is, when exactly does it happen? And what happens afterward? It’s a show of questions that don’t have easy answers. So, in a slight departure from our regular format, we bring you eleven meditations on how, when, and even if we die.”
Much of the time, people think that other living things are fueled by competition. But in this Season 9’s “The Good Show,” Jad and Robert talk to guests like Robert Axelrod and Richard Dawkins about what causes kindness and sharing in the animal and plant world. Does our Mother
Earth reward cooperation?
Jad and Robert explore the draw of our life source – “Blood,” in this Season 12 episode. They move from the topic of medicine to movies and bring in experts on a variety of topics that ties to the red life force running through our veins.
Final thoughts
Radiolab is stupidly popular, and for good reason. One sure-fire way to find this great podcast is to go to the Top Charts section of the Podcasts app, Radiolab is consistently at or near the top ranking podcasts produced.
Strangers
You know that old phrase, “you don’t really know a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes”?
Well, the Strangers podcast takes this oft-used proverb and turns it on its ear. Host Lea Thau guides listeners through stories and interviews with people who reimagined themselves. After listening to an episode of Strangers, you’ll think about how you have transformed as you’ve grown older.
Lea Thau garnered critical praise for her previous work as Director of the Moth, a storytelling podcast series. Thau stayed true to her storytelling roots as she introduces listeners to “Strangers.”
Our very favorite episode happens to be an unintentional three-part mini-series about a charismatic and loveable woman named Jenni. Jenni shows nothing but unbreakable positivity as she battles life-threatening cancer. Her determined spirit continues to live on within these three special episodes, which were spaced several months apart. In the end, Jenny was no longer our stranger.
However, we don’t want to give you the wrong impression. More often than not, you’ll find that Strangers’ episodes focus more on the positive differences of strangers. Some lighter and funnier episodes include “American Morman – International Mr. Leather,” “Big Jim and Smokey Joe,” and “Gay Talese: Committed Voyeur.”
Final thoughts
Moral of the story, if you enjoy exploring personal subjects and reimagining yourself, you will enjoy the Strangers podcast, part of KCRW’s Independent Producer Project and PRX’s Radiotopia collective.
Lucky for us all, podcasts are gaining more popularity every day. They’re simultaneously entertaining and educational. Listening to a podcast while doing various chores is the epitome of multi-tasking, really. Many personal development fanatics use podcasts as a measurement tool for finishing tasks. So you’re in the right place if you’re looking for the best sustainable and entertaining story-telling podcasts of 2016. We at TCC enjoy selecting our favorites for your enjoyment. Listening to the world’s people share their stories is what life is all about. Read our “50 best podcast apps” for more information on the best podcast players available for your device.
