The podcast industry has been booming the past few years, and it feels like everyone and their mother is currently producing their own show as a side project. That being said, the huge amount of choice available can be overwhelming to people who are just jumping into this medium. Furthermore, when those feeds start filling up with dozens (if not hundreds) of un-played episodes, it's obvious that quality over quantity is essential. Here are some suggestions to get you started with (or get you back into) this awesome and relatively new form of media consumption. I recommend using Downcast as your podcatcher.
1. RadioLab.
This is one of those radio shows that just seems to pull you in. I have often found myself parked in my driveway, listening to the last eight minutes of an episode. The show specializes in sharing information on science, technology, philosophy, and the human experience in a unique and captivating way.
2. The Moth Podcast.
Their tagline is "True Stories Told Live." The people at "The Moth" celebrate the art of story-telling by giving people an opportunity to share their stories with the world. The podcast version shares voice recordings of the most impactful and moving stories to ever be shared on the several Moth stages around the country.
3. Freakonomics Radio.
The best way to explain "Freakonomics" is to say that it shares interesting experiments, new ideas, and fascinating points of view by merging economics with... well... everything else. Some of their most popular episode titles include "How Much Does the President of the US Really Matter?" "How to Save $1 Billion Without Even Trying" and "Is College Really Worth It?"
4. TED Radio Hour.
If you love TED Talks, check out their podcast. Technology, entertainment, and design. Fascinating new ideas, presented in an easily digestible format. Every week, Guy Raz presents several TED Talks based around a certain theme, delving deeper than video by adding background information, providing context, and interviewing speakers to ask them follow-up questions.
5. Dear Hank and John.
A podcast hosted and produced by the Vlog Brothers? Say no more.
6. Daily Tech News Show.
For all things geek and tech, "DTNS" has you covered in the podcast department. As its name suggests, a daily episode is released covering the most prominent tech news of the day. It's a great show to listen to in the morning to impress people with your tech savvy.
7. StarTalk Radio.
Hosted by celebrity astrophysicist, writer, and science educator Neil DeGrasse Tyson, "StarTalk" is the number one podcast resource for all things space, planets, sun, and everything in between.
8. This American Life.
Every week (as its host will remind you every episode), they choose a
9. Invisibilia.
The title of the podcast means "all the invisible things" in Latin, and that is precisely what this show occupies itself with. Each week, Lulu Miller and Alix Spiegel delve into the unseen forces that drive and condition our behavior.
10. Planet Money.
Tagline: The Economy Explained. Normally, talking about spreadsheets, bank accounts, deferred payment plans, and anything else in the finance sector can be a really boring conversation unless you're an accounting or economics major. However, the hosts over at "Planet Money" share this information in fun an unique ways, making their show both engaging and educational.
Bonus: Serial.
A spin-off of "This American Life," "Serial" took over the iTunes podcasts charts when it first came out. The show is an addictive multiple-episode series on a controversial topic. Their first twelve episodes cover the story of Adnan Syed, a high school senior charged with the murder of his
For a greater list of awesome podcasts, visits the iTunes charts, Stitcher Radio's top 100 shows webpage, and NPR.
