Who Loves Podcasts?

 In hearing one of my peer's using SoundCloud audio in their weekly blog post, it made me realize how much another Web 2.0 element plays in my life.  Thanks to smartphones and unlimited* streaming data, the radio has yielded to the podcast in my car.  When I had to commute to the office, I learned quickly that the rush-hour radio in South Florida was unreliable at best.  The music I wanted to hear - and remembered from the fleeting trips to Miami from my childhood - was hidden behind flighty signals, interminable commercials, and unimaginative DJs.  Starting with podcasts from favorite DJs, I replaced the unreliable with digital mixes.

Then my tastes began to evolve.  Longer trips in the car can make even the best record spinning monotonous.  For those, I started to find the talk shows.  Politics, faith, and pop culture were the spaces I migrated to for these moments.

Then the pandemic came and uprooted my daily routine.  The talk shows became more important.  With the silence, the time at home, and the problems of society right in our faces, I personally looked for catharsis.  Hosts gave voice to things I would whisper to myself in isolation and echoed back at me that people agreed with me.  As we emerge into a new phase of life with COVID, I opt to mix my listening still between tracks and podcasts.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Crooked Media

I first found Pod Save America and the network it was on through a 2018 election special series on HBO.  Crooked Media was founded by former speechwriters and staffers for President Obama and reflects my political values.  So many of my frustrations they shared.  Best of all, their fundraising and activism does something about it.  And it’s not all Washington intrigue: Crooked covers history, pop culture, and great stories as well.


I occasionally listen to the first podcast that drew me in, but the network is robust and can cover nearly every day with their shows.  I start my day with What a Day.  I look forward to Keep It on Wednesdays and Offline on Sundays.  I save Pod Save the World for long trips and Lovett or Leave It is the highlight of weekend errands.  Maybe America Dissected or Takeline.  I’ve seen Lovett or Leave It live in Los Angeles twice, most recently (above) in March.  Also, please do yourself a favor and listen to both seasons of This Land and learn about indigenous rights.

Yo, Is This Racist?

Racism is a serious subject and one I wouldn’t believe it possible to laugh at easily.  However, Andrew Ti and Tawny Newsome do their best to keep it light.  Both are comedy writers and Tawny entertains us in front of the camera on several popular shows.  Yo, Is This Racist is a call-in show where listeners leave voicemails of their racism questions.  A bit better than just yelling at your car speakers: laughing at them.

The Dream

Have you ever bought something from a friend or family member and been asked to jump into a business opportunity with them?  Did it work out?  The Dream is an award-winning podcast that delved into the world of multilevel marketing and the dangers of the practice.  The show also scratches my political itch by tying the movement to who funds and supports it in government.  You’ll never look at that Facebook invite or text from a friend selling you something the same way again.

And Many More

There are several I listen to that help me explore my faith, including questioning it and reconciling it all over again.  And I can’t forget those by my favorite DJs in Toronto and in South Florida.  Several of my favorite influencers give advice and crack jokes.  And the ultimate in pop culture: The Read (on hiatus for mental health).

What can designers glean from where podcasts have reached in the culture?  Podcasts are incredibly flexible: places to insert series of microlearning, engage along long-term programs, and inspire them to create on their own.  (Did I mention that I tried to start my own?). One major advantage is the implied authenticity.  Nearly all the podcasts on my list (including the religious ones) speak frankly and don’t hold back on language.  Opinions are expected and encouraged.  It’s a healthy risk that can be an engagement tool on its own.  Indeed, if one can imagine an accessible onramp to becoming a produser, podcasting can be a great one.  It’s as close as a smartphone and a voice away.

Comments

  1. cathcosgJuly 11, 2022 at 9:24 AM

    Yes! Love podcasts and am guilty of writing about them in the past. I hear about Crooked Media all the time but haven't checked it out. I think this is my sign to do so.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LeelocinJuly 13, 2022 at 3:26 PM

    This is an awesome review of podcasts, you listen to a lot of them! I'm going to save this for my archives and definitely check out some of these for when I take the dogs for a walk or am at the gym!

    ReplyDelete

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