I enjoy a good podcast, but finding one to listen to can be a bit of a challenge.
That’s because these days it feels like everyone has a podcast, and to be honest, not all of them are very good.
There’s a real podcast out there called “The man who leaves chocolates in his shoes for the mice”. Basically, what happens is a man leaves chocolate in his shoes for the mice. Then, in the morning, he records himself as he puts the shoes on and finds out whether or not the mice ate the chocolate. There’s a laugh track that plays in the background.
If you want to punish yourself and listen to that one, be my guest. Also, you should know that it’s in Dutch, even though ‘the man’ is clearly not a native speaker.
Or…you could listen to one of the following podcasts from TIME‘s list of ‘The 50 Best Podcasts to Listen to Right Now’.
Here are our top five:
The Argument
Political podcasts are a dime a dozen these days thanks to the terrible state of world politics. This one is a little bit different, though.
Opinion columnists David Leonhardt, Michelle Goldberg and Ross Douthat debate every week on a different, timely topic. Though some stances will surely infuriate listeners, everyone will learn how the other side thinks.
It’ll get you thinking.
Listen here.
Bodies
This shows looks into medical conditions that primarily affect women, in an interesting way.
As host Allison Behringer delves into various “medical mysteries,” it becomes clear that the show’s true objective is to examine why medical professionals have failed to sufficiently study and treat women’s ailments, from debilitating menstrual cramps to trouble breastfeeding. The show begins with Berhinger’s own medical dilemma: It hurts when she has sex, and the doctors she sees dismiss her struggle.
Women will relate, and men will learn.
Listen here.
Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness
Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness is amazing.
He brings the same energy and emotional intelligence to his talks with Reese Witherspoon as he does to his interviews with, say, an expert on Latin American politics. No matter the topic, he’s eager to learn more. Episodes have catchy titles like, “How Can We Be Less Rude to Bees?” and can make overwhelming topics like mental health issues or climate change feel more accessible to the casual listener.
If he’s as engaging on his podcast as he is on TV, then you can’t go wrong with this one.
Listen here.
In The Dark
True crime enthusiasts, this one is for you.
The best podcast to emerge from the true crime boom, In the Dark examined the case of Curtis Flowers, a black man tried six times for the same murder by the same white prosecutor. Host Madeleine Baran takes an admirable boots-on-the-ground approach to the material, moving to Winona, Miss., to insinuate herself in Flowers’ community and glean the sorts of information that drop-in reporters simply cannot. Baran and her team added more episodes this past spring when the Supreme Court took on Flowers’ case.
Gripping and fast-paced.
Listen here.
The Horror of Dolores Roach
The best horror is the kind that takes the ordinary and makes it weird.
Dolores Roach is no exception. After serving a 16-year prison sentence for pot possession, Dolores Roach returns to her old home in Washington Heights, only to find the neighborhood has gentrified. Dolores struggles to contend with the change — in fact, she descends into madness, at which point the podcast takes a Sweeney Todd-esque turn. Daphne Rubin-Vega, who played Mimi in the original Broadway production of Rent, brings true humanity to a bonkers story.
Thrilling and well-written.
Listen here.
Load those up on your phone and you’ll never be bored in traffic again.
[source:time]
