In an era where smartphones have taken the place of radios and TVs all at once, the options for entertainment and information are seemingly endless. But through all of the music and movie streaming, there is a form of media that is quickly rising: the podcast.
For those who don’t know, podcasts are generally made up of a few people, usually the same people, talking about a common topic over the course of the show. The episodes tend to be solely for audio purposes, but there are some instances of podcasts with a video element, but with a firm focus on audio. With all of that being said, the rules of podcasting are very loose and there are a lot of possibilities when it comes to listening to and creating podcasts.
When it comes to finding a podcast that covers the subject matter that you are interested in, the possibilities are endless. Do you want to learn about the effects of global warming? There are options for you. Do you want to listen to a podcast that will have you laughing from beginning to end? There are options for you. Without any required format and with the low barrier to entry for creators to make their podcast available to the public, just about any auditory experience you can imagine is available in the form of podcasts.
Now that I have spent the first part of this article telling you all about the endless number of podcasts to choose from, I’m sure you are now thinking about how there are far too many options and there’s no point to starting because you don’t know where to start. Have no fear! Here are a few podcasts I recommend to get you accustomed to the medium.
How I Built This
Produced by NPR and hosted by Guy Raz (yes, he has the classic NPR voice), "How I Built This" is a show about entrepreneurs and how they built their legacy. Each episode focuses on an entrepreneur and their story. Documenting their journey from ideation to the present day. Guests that have been on the show so far include Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Airbnb’s Joe Gebbia, Chipotle’s Steve Ells, and many more recognizable names.
The Habitat
The giant podcasting company Gimlet offers a 7 episode miniseries of podcasts that focuses on the 6-person mission to the closest thing the world has to Mars: a remote part of Hawaii. Six volunteers from around the world spend one year together in as near to a Martian simulation as we can accomplish on Earth. The series documents everything you would want to know about such an interesting mission.
Lore
If the phrase “sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction” appeals to you, so will this podcast. Host and writer Aaron Mahnke creates a compelling narrative for some of history’s strangest stories. Each episode is heavily reminiscent of stories you would hear around a campfire.
Now that you have a few options, look around for yourself on the Google Play Store or iTunes and enjoy your new commuting entertainment.
