Before my sophomore year of college, I never would have imagined that I would listen to podcasts on a regular basis. I had always thought of them as boring and something only those obsessed with academia or my parents' generation, listened to. However, after discovering the vast number of podcasts out there discussing topics that interested me, it's safe to say I have been converted. For the last week I have been trying out some new podcasts, here are my thoughts.
My Favorite Murder
This was the podcast that got me interested in podcasts. Before I listened to My Favorite Murder I thought podcasts were boring and something that only my parents' generation listened to. The idea of discussing murders sounds super dark and kind of depressing but Georgia and Karen's sense of humor is what makes this podcast so successful. I love that there interact so much with their listeners which I feel has really shaped the podcast well. Not only do they read "Hometown Murders" sent in by listeners but they also invite listeners to send in other strange experiences they've had such as finding large amounts of money in weird places and almost being murdered. I also like that they do both full-length episodes and minisodes as it gives the listeners some options. The minisodes are typically around 20-30 minutes and are the perfect length to fit in right before class, while the full-length episodes are anywhere from 1-2 hours.
"U Up?"
This podcast is pretty funny but it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea. So if you hate millennials and everything about them, this podcast is not for you. What I like is that you never really know what you're going to listen to. They discuss a vast number of topics from whether some Halloween costumes are politically incorrect or funny too how to handle your parents trying to hijack your 21-run. The only thing I didn't love about this podcast was that the episodes tend to be around 45 minutes, which is kind of a time commitment when you're first testing out a podcast.
"And That's Why We Drink"
I'm going to start this out by saying that I'm not super into horror movies or anything related, however, this podcast is pretty great. Em and Christine are able to add pretty amusing spins to otherwise terrifying stories and messed up stories. The title is fairly self-explanatory as they discuss a mix of paranormal activity and true crime that helps you realize how messed up the world is and gives you a reason to drink. Think Buzzfeed Unsolved but as a podcast.
"Stuff You Should Know"
I like this podcast because, as you could tell from the name, it's more of an informative podcast. It's the type of thing you could listen to with your parents or grandparents and it wouldn't be weird. Josh and Chuck are funny but in kind of a dad-jokes-meet-millennials-humor sort of way. They cover many different topics, ranging from narwhals to King Arthur to Frida Kahlo to how tsunamis work.
"Lore"
I was not super into Lore at first, but now I'm hooked. The title is fairly self-explanatory as Aaron Mahnke discussed folklore from around the world and the history behind it. What I love is that he discusses more popular topics such as vampires and werewolves, but he also discusses folklore that is not as well-known. The episode that really hooked me was "Dinner at the Afterglow" which discussed Afterglow Vista near Roche Harbor, a strange monument I had seen on vacation many times as a child, and its connection to Hotel de Haro, a historic hotel within the city. Having the background of both the hotel and monument, as well as the myths behind them, explained was informative and eye-opening. This podcast has everything: a creepy Riverdale-vibe, good background music (other than the first episode), solid research, reliable sources, and some sarcasm from Aaron.
