In the age of “Netflix and chill,” we aren’t very accustomed to consuming media entertainment while on the go. Lying down on the bed to watch an episode or four of Gilmore Girls is enjoyable, but as we all know too well, doing so can turn out to be quite a commitment. Netflix and chilling requires one to have a substantial chunk of time, a readily available bed or sofa on which to recline, and a streaming subscription (or access to one, at least).
As it turns out, there exists a Netflix alternative that is not quite as demanding: podcasts. Podcasts win the award for being the most convenient media source: they’re free, accessible on nearly any smartphone or computer, and forgiving of the multi-tasking folk. Not to mention, they’re educational in the most sophisticated and glamorous way. Whether you want to be learning about science as you walk to class in the morning, giggling to yourself as you drive to the grocery store, or brushing up on your current events as you drink your morning coffee, there is a podcast that will suit your needs.
If you have yet to listen to a podcast you like, you’ve come to the right place. There tons and tons awesome podcasts these days, but you can’t go wrong with these ones:
- TED Radio Hour
With its weekly, hour-long episodes, this podcast features a graceful combination of snippets of TED talks and conversations with the brilliant people who gave them. It’s the same TED we all know and love…in podcast form! What could be better?
Listen to it here: http://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/
2. Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! quizzes it’s listeners on current events. It’s the hilarious and unconventional newsource you’ve been waiting for your whole life.
Listen to it here: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/10/110997427/about-wait-wait-don-t-tell-me
3. Radiolab
This podcast addresses riveting topics in the realms of science and philosophy in a relaxed, light-hearted fashion. If you’re the slightest fan of Carl Sagan or Neil deGrasse Tyson, you’ll love this.
Listen to it here: http://www.radiolab.org/
4. This American Life
Hosted by Ira Glass, everyone’s favorite public radio personality, This American Life features a wide variety of journalistic non-fiction. The show touches upon various themes and story types, but all are fascinating.
Listen to it here: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/
5. The Heart
This one goes out to all of the romantics. The Heart is organized into several series, all of which include honest stories “about the terrors and triumphs of intimacy, the bliss and banality of being in love, and the wild diversity of the human heart.”
Listen to it here: http://www.theheartradio.org/
6. Serial
One of the most popular podcasts today, Serial offers a gripping investigative journalism story that will knock you off your feet. You won’t believe that it’s a true story.
Listen to it here: https://serialpodcast.org/
7. The Moth
The Moth’s hour-long episodes spotlight everyday individuals around the world by giving them a chance to tell their own, true and personal stories. Listen to one episode and you’ll be laughing, crying, and hungry for more.
Listen to it here: https://www.themoth.org/
8. Story Collider
The Story Collider is basically the Moth, but only with stories relating to science in some way. Don’t be scared away if you’re not a science geek, right-brained people will enjoy this too.
Listen to it here: http://www.storycollider.org/