It’s vacation season and the beach bug is starting to get me. My happy place is sitting on the beach, with my feet in the sand and a good beach read in hand. I used to make sure that along with my beach chair, umbrella, and sunblock, I packed a stack of books to read. I eventually graduated to loading up my Kindle with a selection of summer beach reads (so many books in one little device!). But this year I’m going to do something I’ve never done before – I’m going to explore the world of podcasts. I’ve dipped my toes in podcasts and have a few favorites, but this summer I’m going to dive into the deep end of the podcasting world and hopefully add a few more shows to my subscription list.
These are the shows I already listen to. I plan on searching their back catalog for some interesting episodes from years past:
Stuff You Should Know – Is a fun listen that will help you ace trivia night. It covers a variety of sometimes obscure subject areas. According to the website “If you’ve ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime, and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.” This podcast has been going on for over a dozen years so there’s a large catalog to explore.
The Daily – Is a New York Times news podcasts that drops every day at 6am. Yay! New content every single day! I like this one because it keeps me up to date on the latest news topics but digs deep into a single topic (usually 25-45 minutes) for a more thorough and in depth understanding of that topic.
Smartless – Who doesn’t love Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett? The trio takes turns bringing on guests and talking with them. Simple, right? The guest is a surprise to two of the hosts, yet the conversation still feels unstructured and thoughtful at the same time. It doesn’t hurt that just by being themselves they add a little humor along the way.
Dateline – Great podcast for crime junkies. I especially like the 9-part series “The Thing About Pam” which I listened to before the Dateline TV show aired. I really liked Keith Morrison’s narration. I recommend this one for a long car ride!
LaVar Burton Reads – The “best voice in podcasting” handpicks short fiction stories. His narration blends with gorgeous soundscapes to the bring the stories to life. Each episode stands on its own and lasts approximately 30-50 minutes. Just enough for an escape but without a long-term commitment.
Here are some shows I haven’t listened to yet, but I’ve added them to my subscription list in preparation for vacation:
This American Life – I’m probably late to the game here, I’ve seen this podcast on practically every “best of” list. It is a weekly public radio program and podcast. Each week a theme is chosen, and different stories are put together around that theme. According to their website, “Our favorite sorts of stories have compelling people at the center of them, funny moments, big feelings, surprising plot twists, and interesting ideas. Like little movies for radio. ”It’s been on the air for decades and has over 700 episodes in its archives, definitely enough content to keep me busy!
Your Wrong About – We all have misconceptions about history. Mike and Sarah are journalists obsessed with the past. Every week they reconsider and event, person, or phenomenon that’s been miscast in the public imagination. My favorite musical, Wicked, tells the ‘true’ story of one of the greatest villains of all times, the Wicked Witch of the West, from a different perspective so that we learn to love and understand the person, Elphaba, behind the “villain.” This podcast seems right up my alley, I think I’m going to like it.
Chameleon Wild Boys – I’ll be honest, I think I started this one in the past. Maybe this vacation is the one where I’ll finish it. It’s a story that took place in the rural British Columbia town of Vernon, sometime in the early 2000s, when two boys suddenly appeared in the community claiming to be born of the wilderness. The town took them in, and the whole affair eventually became a media sensation. Of course, nothing is what it seems. Once I finish it, I may try some of Chameleon’s other grifter and scam episodes.
With a packed suitcase, a loaded Kindle and my Podcast list full, I’m ready to hit the beach! In the meantime, don’t forget to contact A3 Media to learn more about podcast advertising. You don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to reach your customers when and where they are, even if they’re on vacation! Happy listening to everyone!
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