“To leave a lasting imprint takes time. Otherwise we’re merely left with a façade, where the superficial is mistaken for substance.”
In an age of information bombardment, gifs, 30-second video clips, and an endless stream of headlines as we peruse through various apps, I feel that media content is moving in a circle and we’re veering our attention back to one of humanity’s first sources of mass information: radio — in the form of podcasts.
There is a beauty to long-form content in that it provides context and nuance, and gives us pause to think over what is being discussed. For, no matter the insightfulness of an article or video, if it only captures our attention for a minute or two, it’s too short to leave a lasting imprint. Our reactions will be visceral in nature, stirring our emotions more than our reason.
So, it is without further ado, I’d like to recommend a few of my favorite podcasts:
Topping the list is This American Life, which I find endearing due to its simplicity and breadth in the topics it covers, from major events like the 2001 WTC attacks to more mundane matters such as cops creating chaos over capturing squirrels. The topics are boundless and you’re never quite sure the direction the next episode will take you in.
Another reason why This American Life is my favorite is because there’s a timeless quality to it. Though the syndication started in 1995, listening to the majority of episodes from back then do not feel outdated since the topics center around human nature and general American themes (for free access to its full library, go to https://www.thisamericanlife.org/).
As a noted insomniac (in my post Night Owls), I enjoy listening to This American Life before I go to bed or have trouble sleeping. With my mind deported elsewhere, I soon find myself fast asleep.
A favorite of mine while I’m commuting to and from work is Hidden Brain. The topics are psychologically driven and reveal the impact our unconscious drives, biases, and contexts have on our decision-making, perceptions, and feelings. The topics don’t veer too far into the abstract but present scientific findings in a casual setting.
Radiolab is another scientific podcast but far more philosophical and abstract in nature, with some cool sound effects that enrapture you into its mood. I’d say Radiolab covers the scientific topics of a Hidden Brain but does so in a This American Life fashion, which is to leave audiences resonating with their content while taking us on unexpected turns.
I like to listen to Radiolab when I’m traveling, stuck at airports, or exploring new city routes and hiking trails. Something about the podcast instills an urge to explore the unknown.
Lastly, we have the podcast, Criminal. As can be determined from its title, this series covers various criminal acts but not in a dumbed-down fashion geared to gore or ghastliness. Instead, the podcasts give us moments of pause as we learn more about the character and contexts behind various crimes or acts of insubordination, which examine much more about human nature than the raw brutal actions we may commit.
If, for nothing else, listen to Criminal for the host’s soothing voice. After a long or stressful day, Phoebe Judge’s calming tone puts me straight to sleep as I dream of murders and mayhem.
After listening to such content, thoughts of the normal unhinge to The Weird, which I am all in favor of exploring.
