As somebody who goes to school in Central Florida but has family and friends in South Florida, I spend a whopping 120 hours a year driving to and from Gainesville and Miami. That equates to five precious days spent inside of an air conditioned box on wheels.
Driving for long periods of time gets seriously boring, so finding entertainment is of the utmost importance, competing closely with not dozing off at the wheel. Music is all well and good, but staying sane during long drives is doable only with some stimulation (get your mind out of the gutter), which is where podcasts come in.
Podcasts are essentially episodes of glorified AM talk radio, but they’ve nonetheless completely changed my Gainesville-Miami journeys and, arguably, my life. In the past, the thought of making yet another five-hour trek filled me with dread and sadness, but podcasts have neutralized my thought process because they provide solid, entertaining brain food whilst I drive.
According to Wikipedia, the über legit encyclopedia we all know and love, there are over 150,000 podcast shows currently in existence. These 150,000+ programs are categorized into 16 different genres, all of which have more specialized genres. There’s a ton to listen to and new podcasts are created every day, but I, however, am one of the few hoes who is indeed loyal, so I stick to a handful of podcasts.
I suggest you welcome the following programs into your own life immediately, if not sooner.
Bret Easton Ellis podcast
Via: Gun Shy
Bret Easton Ellis first gained notoriety in 1985 with his debut novel “Less Than Zero,” which inspired Michiko Kakutani, New York Times book critic, to write “This is one of the most disturbing novels I’ve read in a long time.” The sensibilities that gave birth to “Less Than Zero” and “American Psycho” are on display on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast, where, each week, influential figures of the entertainment industry discuss with Ellis pop culture, modern society and various zeitgeist-y issues.
BEE’s debut episode in November 2013 with Kanye West is what initially attracted me to the program, but its content easily stands on merit alone, independent of the celebrity aura surrounding guests like West. It’s a constant source of thought-provoking, insightful and relevant discourse, and for that reason, I’m a faithful listener.
Recommended episode(s): Adam Carolla – 4/14/14
This American Life
Via: OnSugar
Whenever I bring up This American Life in conversation, as I often do, I struggle to give an overview of what the podcast is about. Even its website has a hard time describing it. This American Life, put simply, is about people. Each episode has a theme and three acts, each one a true, or sometimes fictional, story relating to the theme. Themes range widely, from intercontinental love affairs to sleep away camp, but what they all have in common is that they bridge the gap between “us” and “them.” This podcast is my go-to when I need a dose of humanity and a break from self-centeredness. It has, on more than one occasion, blindsided me with a whole lot of feelings and even more thoughts. I rarely, if ever, walk away unimpressed or unaffected.
Recommended episode(s): #486: Valentine’s Day; #317 Unconditional Love
Longform
Via: Every Writers Resource
For those who aspire to be in the media or literary field, the Longform podcast can be an exercise in quelling opposing emotions. Each episode, the program’s hosts talk to successful writers, editors and reporters about their recent works or their careers in general. It’s often more than enough to make you feel both inspired and envious at the same time. Episode #85 with Tavi Gevinson was a good source of that, seeing as she’s done more with her life in six years than many of us will do with 80. She began what was arguably one of the first fashion blogs ever at 12, and at 18, she created what is now a successful digital publication called Rookie.
So yeah, that’s what Longform is all about: rubbing others’ success all in your face, but, you know, in a nice, inspiring way.
Recommended episode(s): Episode 85: Tavi Gevinson; Episode 64: Gay Talese
Freakonomics
Via: Home-Truths
It was initially a book, titled “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything,” then it was a documentary, called “Freakonomics,” and now it’s a podcast called “Freakonomics.” Maybe variety and creativity aren’t economist Stephen Dubner’s strong suits, but exploring and explaining the the ins and outs of stuff is. Each episode tackles a different topic, some small and others grandiose and complex, using logic — remember logic? Talking heads devalue it, ignorant people label it elitist, but economists embrace logic and demonstrate just how far some number crunching and rational thought can go. The Freakonomics podcast demystifies enigmas of the world, like marriage, beauty ideals and suicide, through professional insight, humor and third-person anecdotes. It’ll educate and entertain you to a higher plane of understanding.
Recommended episode(s): “Freakonomics Goes to College” Part I and II
Honorable mention:
The B.S. Report - A healthy dose of sports analysis, testosterone and humorous banter.
WTF with Marc Maron - Honest and funny conversations with writers, comedians, actors and other creative types.
Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast - Technical and informative fitness and diet talk, just in time for bikini/cutting season.
Featured photo courtesy of: The Overanalyst
