Five podcasts that helped me survive 2020
Five podcasts that helped me survive 2020
Here are some holiday listening tips....
It’s time for another best of the year list, and what I’m really hoping is that you’ll help me discover a whole bunch of new podcasts that I can listen to over the holidays. Tell me your faves in the comments below please, I need recommendations! Anywhere, here are my favourite podcasts of 2020…
Wind of Change
I love podcasts that involve journalists trying to unravel a rumour they just can’t get out of their heads (I’m trying to make one myself - if you can help me get it made, get in touch lol). Wind of Change did exactly that, as New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe asked whether the CIA really did write a power ballad for German rock act The Scorpions. This one’s so good it’s being turned into a TV show.
The Daily
Back in March, I watched with dismay as my daily podcast feed was replaced by one Covid-19 commentary after another. I needed blessed relief from viruses, not more examinations of it. But the only one worth listening to was The Daily, Michael Barbaro’s calm update from the New York Times’ newsroom. Solid, in-depth interviews and reasoned analysis that provided plenty of cool heads during the chaotic American election cycle. Fuck yes, journalism.
Dead Eyes
Connor Ratliff once got fired by Tom Hanks from the set of Band of Brothers for having “dead eyes”. For two seasons of this exceptionally funny, guest-heavy podcast, he’s been asking why, and the results are diabolically deadpan. For light comic relief and regular lols, Dead Eyes has been my go-to. Will Ratcliff ever get to confront Tom Hanks for this afront? That seems to be his podcast’s natural conclusion, but thankfully, we’re not there yet.
Song Exploder
God I love the name Hrishikesh Hirway. I could say it all day. He’s the host of Song Exploder, a bedroom podcast that’s still diving into the minutiae of pop songs after all these years. Just recently, Hirway’s had some of his biggest gets yet, with Billie Eilish, Deftones, Jewel and Common showing up. I can thoroughly recommend his accompanying Netflix series too, especially the recent episode examining Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt.
Heavyweight
The best podcast of them all has to be Heavyweight, but for a while there a fifth season seemed uncertain. During lockdown, Jonathan Goldstein and his team pivoted to personal stories, calling in for check-ups from their own homes. It was different but remained just as emotionally wrought as ever. The fifth season landed recently, and it’s still brilliant, as Goldstein ties up loose ends, finds long lost people, and helps solve puzzles of the past.
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Another podcast by Hrishikesh Hirway - Home Cooking - has been one of my favourites this year. It's a cooking podcast with Samin Nosrat (of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat fame). The Anthropocene Reviewed has been a fantastic listen as well. Also enjoying Armchaired and Dangerous.