just a really long list of podcasts i've liked
sometimes reading books is hard and that’s why podcasts were invented
The Podcasts I Subscribe to and Listen to As Soon As There’s a New Episode
The original podcast. A series of stories--or sometimes just one story--loosely based around a weekly theme. Recommended episodes: Fiasco, Switched at Birth, House on Loon Lake, Plan B, Harper High School, Cars, No Coincidence No Story.
A podcast about tech mysteries and the weirdest corners of the internet. Favorite episodes: Zardulu, Boy in Photo, The Case of the Phantom Caller, Making Friends.
An examination of race in America with two of the most endearing hosts in radio. Some recent episodes I’ve loved: To Love and Not Forgive, What Does It Mean to Be Latino?, Show Me the Money.
A deeper look at pop culture and news phenomena from the recent past. Their bread and butter is blighted ladies of the 90s and aughts--Anna Nicole Smith, Princess Diana, Monica Lewinsky, etc.--but they also have fascinating episodes about Enron, the DC snipers, Anastasia, and Killer Clowns.
*The rest of the podcast recs in this email are for single seasons or complete stories that just tackle one topic and aren’t making new episodes anymore--perfect for binging!*
My Favorites of All Time
S Town - a guy in the middle of nowhere doing really weird things
Ballad of Billy Balls- hard to describe but a quintessential East Village in the 70s story
Mystery Show- six adorable episodes of inconsequential mysteries
The Dream Season 1 - an exposé of MLMs
Apology Line - a guy who sets up a confessional answering machine
Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen - that fake producer who lured people to Indonesia for a few dollars
The Big Payback - reparations
Serial Season 2 - Bowe Bergdahl
Podcasts About True Crime (no descriptions, no spoilers)
Podcasts About Cults
Heaven's Gate - the Nike sneakers suicide cult
Escaping Nxivm - Keith Raniere (great accompanying piece to the HBO series The Vow)
The Gateway: Teal Swan - some internet lady who coached people to kill themselves
The Guru - that guy who killed people in a sweat lodge in Arizona
The Opportunist: Sherry Shriner - a crazy internet conspiracy lady who is involved in the deaths of her followers
Podcasts About Wellness
The Dream Season 2 - an expose of fake wellness trends
Maintenance Phase- an expose of diet culture and freaky diet and wellness trends
Podcasts About Celebrities
Missing Richard Simmons- this is so sad and fascinating and I still think about it every once in a while
Dolly Parton’s America- this is so cute and endearing and will turn you into a Dolly fan if you aren’t already
Podcasts About Creeps
Believed - Larry Nasser
Bikram - the rapey yoga guru
The Missionary - fake doctor Renee Bach and the kids she experimented on in Uganda
What am I missing? Send me an email with your favorite podcasts and I’ll send out another list of reader recs!