I’m a huge fan of podcasts. I listen to them in the car, when I’m grocery shopping alone, when I’m doing mindless tasks, when I’m out walking in my neighborhood …
I have a degree in journalism, and in the mid-2000s podcasts were just being talked about as a new form of media. Back then, no one knew what a podcast was. Then several years ago, Serial emerged and was a huge hit, and I got hooked like everyone else. Since then, the podcast scene has exploded, and I love getting recommendations for new ones to try. I listen to a wide variety of podcasts that cover a range of topics, and here are some of my favorites:
Mom and Dad are Fighting
Hosted by three writers/editors of the online magazine, Slate, this show often provides hilarious and irreverent insights about parenting, but also examines serious topics as well, such as vaccines, divorce, and abuse. Each episode starts out with each host sharing a “triumph or fail” from their parenting lives. They do use some strong language, which doesn’t bother me at all, but it’s something listeners might want to be prepared for — don’t listen to this one with your kids!
Literary Disco
I’m a big bibliophile and I discovered this podcast last year. If you’re around my age (32) you probably watched Boy Meets World and remember Rider Strong, who is one of the three hosts. He and two of his friends from college have laid-back, rambling conversations about books they’ve read lately. They have also done a couple of episodes on their favorite children’s books!
Cafeteria Christian
This is a new podcast from Nora McInerny, a writer and podcaster I very much enjoy. (She also hosts another podcast called Terrible, Thanks for Asking, which is worth checking out for sure.) She and her friend, Lutheran Pastor Natalia Terfa, discuss different religious topics under the premise that in Christianity, you should take what you want and leave the rest, meaning: you should look critically at religion and know that you don’t have to subscribe to every belief, especially ones that have been used to oppress others. It’s funny but full of thoughtful discussion.
My Favorite Murder
Another one you shouldn’t listen to with the kids around! If you’re into true crime, this is one to check out. Two women discuss a different true crime story every week, with plenty of spicy language thrown in. While they are definitely fiesta, funny women, I also find them extremely sympathetic toward the victims of these crimes and tell their stories with a great deal of respect.
What should I read next?
Book aficionados will love this one. Host Anne Bogel acts as a literary matchmaker every week when she chats with a guest about what books they like and which ones they don’t care for, and then recommends new books for them to try. I’ve gotten tons of book recommendations from this podcast!
Modern Love
Modern Love is a column in the New York Times that publishes — you guessed it — love 
stories. This podcast features different celebrities reading these columns aloud, followed by brief interviews with the writers and editors of the columns. These are always moving, sometimes happy, sometimes sad.
