Anyone who knows me knows I can’t go more than a few hours without listening to a podcast. Whether I’m walking around campus or doing my laundry, I always have my headphones on. When I was first introduced to podcasts, I was definitely a true crime fanatic. After realizing that listening to horrific stories of violence was not great for my overall mood, I decided to switch to podcasts with slightly less dark themes. Here are some of my favorites, with three of my favorite episodes from each!!
(Image Credit: Sounds Like a Cult)
- Sounds Like a Cult
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Hosted by author Amanda Montell and comedian Isa Medina, this podcast has exactly the right balance of analysis and hilarity. Montell is the author of the book Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism which provides the framework for the episodes. The two hosts examine how everyday companies, institutions, clubs, and more can become “culty.” Everything from Starbucks to heterosexuality itself is fair game for analysis. After they do a deep dive into why this particular group might be considered “culty,” they place the group into three categories: “live your life,” “watch your back,” or “get the f*ck” out.”
Notable Episodes: The Cult of Instagram Therapists, The Cult of Teal Swan, The Cult of Momfluencers
(Image Credit: Rehash)
- Rehash
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Rehash is a podcast about “the social media phenomenons that strike a nerve in our culture, only to be quickly forgotten – but we think are due for a revisiting.” The two hosts (Maia and Hannah) examine major internet moments that have left Twitter reeling for 2 months and were completely discarded. They provide important nuance on discussions that previously had one prevailing public attitude and examine the cultural zeitgeist that may have gotten us to that conclusion.
Notable Episodes: Lindsay Ellis and the Wrath of Twitter, The Try Guys, Bye Sister
(Image Credit: Binchtopia)
- Binchtopia
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Ever wanted to feel like you’re in a college seminar listening to two fantastically funny girlies talk about sociological and psychological analyses of current pop culture moments? I sure didn’t, until I discovered Binchtopia. Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb (they self-describe themselves as “Plato and Aristotle if they had internet addictions”) examine the fascinating experience of being on the internet during late-stage capitalism. They are both extremely funny to listen to, but also provide important analyses on contemporary issues ranging from feminism to smartphone addictions. In their words, “B*tches hate nuance.”
Notable Episodes: Liberating the Almond Moms, Hopeful Vocal Fry (w/ Rayne Fisher-Quann), In My Old Hag Era
(Image Credit: This Ends at Prom)
- This Ends at Prom
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Calling all film fanatics! This podcast looks at “teen girl” and coming-of-age movies from “queer, feminist, cisgender and transgender perspectives.” BJ Colangelo and Harmony Colangelo are two wives who love film. Movies that are aimed at teenage girls are often cast aside as low-brow media, but BJ and Harmony analyze them as products and reflections of our current and past cultures. This gives “teen-girl media” the respect that it deserves!
Notable Episodes: Twilight (2008), Jennifer’s Body (2009) w/ Jordan Crucchiola, Mean Girls (2004)
(Image Credit: American Hysteria)
- American Hysteria
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One of my favorite topics of discussion are moral panics. Remember when we thought that people were putting razorblades in Halloween candy, or that kids listening to Metallica were “devil worshippers?” Hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith, this podcast examines the “moral panics, urban legends, hoaxes, crazes, fringe beliefs, and national misunderstandings” that left America reeling. This podcast is extremely well-researched and presented engagingly.
Notable Episodes: Satanic Panic: Part One, Satanic Panic: Part Two, On Haunted Houses with Carmen Maria Machado
