My Favourite Podcasts

Are you a podcast fan? I have been listening to podcasts for a few years now and I have a few different ones on rotation now.  When I used to drive to work, I would listen to them in the car.  Then when I took the subway to work on a regular basis I would occasionally download them to listen to on the ride in.  Now that I've been at home, I mostly just fit them when I can - doing some work at my desk that is somewhat mindless, folding laundry or making dinner, walking to do errands, and yes, I will even listen in the shower. 

So here are the ones I'm listening to now and why I like them:

The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge - I've mentioned this one before and I am slightly partial to it because Peter has read my letters a few times on the air so that was neat.  This podcast started out in 2019 as a daily show that discussed the Canadian Federal election that took place that fall.  I was always a fan of his when he was on the CBC so I was keen to hear him again.  After the election, the podcast turned into a weekly one that was going to address current events.  When the pandemic started in March of 2020, Peter started putting out episodes Monday thru Friday, mostly on Covid related things, but occasionally on other current events.  I found that he offered reliable information and I could sort out what was important to me throughout these past few months when the various news stories were hectic and confusing. 

The Daily by the New York Times - I check the topic each day but only listen to the ones that are of interest to me.  I appreciate the deep dive into different stories.  They just did one about the residential schools in Canada which was neat to hear from a US perspective.

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd and Monica Padman - I have always loved interviews with celebrities that go behind the scenes and are more than just a promo for their latest project.  Dax and Monica get to spend a lot of time with their guests so they get into some good conversations. They also often have non-celebrity types, but actual experts on various things so I will listen to those episodes.  They have also had other iterations - Monica and Jess Love Boys, Nature vs. Nurture, We are Supported By, and Armchaired and Dangerous - and I usually listen to those as well. 

The Bestie Breakdown with Shay Shull and Erika Slaughter - I have read Shay and Erika's blogs for years and they recently started a podcast.  Their topics aren't super hard-hitting, and pretty superficial, but I like hearing their banter even if I don't always agree with what they say.

Serial - there have been a few seasons of this show, the first one was the most popular about the murder of Hae Min Lee and the alleged wrongful conviction of Adnan Syed.  The most recent season was about a PAC (politcal action committee) in South Carolina.  It's pretty obscure for me in Canada, but I do enjoy things about the Southern US and US politics so it was good to put on and go through the episodes.  

An honourable mention to This American Life.  I used to listen to this all of the time but then got out of it and I just haven't jumped back in yet.  Plus I have so many other podcasts to listen to I can't keep up!