I am late to this party, but finally, I am starting to see the appeal of podcasts on the regular. I have listened to podcasts but those were generally from bloggers, people whose blogs I followed, and then organically started listening to their podcasts.
But otherwise, I have trouble with just audio alone. I struggle with audiobooks and cannot pay attention to the speakers.
Turned out it was because I was trying to listen to podcasts while doing something else (like, cooking). And that doesn’t work for me. I am a poor multitasker at the best of times. However, I recently discovered (I told you I am late to the party) that I enjoy podcasts while driving. It diverts me from the terrible traffic and doesn’t distract me from driving. Also, for some reason, I am not as bothered if I miss some words. My biggest worry was that I would be rewinding and fast-forwarding while driving, but that hasn’t been the case.
It also helps that I have been very choosy regarding what I listen to.
Anyway, without further ado, here are some podcasts I like.
Sweet Bobby
I didn’t know true crime podcasts were a genre until I watched Only murders in the building. The show got me intrigued about podcasting in general. I googled online for recommendations and landed on Sweet Bobby – which seemed one of the less gruesome cases out there.
That doesn’t mean it’s not utterly absorbing. The podcast comprises six well-done episodes detailing the catfishing scam that almost destroyed Kirat’s life.
The length and breadth of the deception were astonishing. The number of years that Kirat lost to this scam and how broken she was by the end of her experience was even more heartbreaking.
This eye-opening series got me head over heels for other true crime podcasts.
On Being with Krista Tippett
From true crime to wellness, that’s quite a jump.
But I have been generally following a lot of literature on mental health, the mind-body connection etc., since the pandemic began, and so it makes sense that I would listen to podcasts on this topic as well.
I randomly stumbled on Whole Body Mental Health, which deals with gut health and its fascinating connection with mental health. And before I knew it, I was listening to all the episodes in the series.
Perfect if you’re in the mood for long, soothing, informative discussions about health, wellness, spirituality, and general well-being from various unconventional lenses.
The Run-Through with Vogue
If you’re looking for something fashionable, light, and fun but not too frothy, this might be the podcast for you.
I have just started listening to it – about three episodes in, and I like it overall. Their commentary on the Oscar red carpet fashion was snarky but not too snarky. I particularly liked one of the episodes about the struggles of a fashion designer from Ukraine.
If there is one beef I have with the series is that fashion is a mostly visual medium. When people talk about clothes, it’s a tad frustrating when I cannot visualize it. Also, for me, the variation in accents makes it a little hard to follow.
Still, despite these shortcomings, it’s quite an entertaining series. I am not quite addicted to it yet, but I see myself doing at least a couple more episodes before deciding whether the series is for me.
Most likely, it will be a yes.
