The Scene staff
In the past year, I have found myself getting more excited about new episodes of podcasts – shows consisting of audio only – than I get about new episodes of television shows.
Originally, I listened to podcasts only when I had trouble sleeping. Now I listen to them while doing homework, commuting to school and working on chores.
I think the reason I have become such a big fan of the handful of podcasts I enjoy is the intimacy they offer. In many cases, the “stars” are people sitting in a room, just having a conversation. That excites the people-watcher in me.
There are a ton of podcasts to choose from, but here are my favorites:
YOU MADE IT WEIRD
“You Made it Weird” is comedian Pete Holmes’ vehicle to talk about comedy, relationships and religion, his three favorite subjects.
One of this show’s biggest selling points is Holmes’ vibrant personality. He radiates joy and is constantly laughing with his guests, who vary widely. Past guests have included theoretical physicist Brian Greene, comedian Zach Galifianakis and nutritionist David Wolfe.
While Holmes is a comedian, he brings well-informed questions and a genuine curiosity to the table. Of course, he is always looking to make a joke, which keeps the show light and fun.
Holmes’ strongest quality is his honesty. He has delved extensively into his divorce, his anxieties and his falling out with religion. After listening to hours of “You Made It Weird,” I feel like I know him personally.
Some of my favorite guests have included Patrick Walsh, Mike Birbiglia, and John Mulaney.
HOW DID THIS GET MADE?
If you love making fun of bad movies, “How Did This Get Made?” is the perfect podcast for you.
During each episode, comedians Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas sit down with a guest and point out everything that is terrible about a particular movie.
These hosts have experience as television writers, so they bring up things I wouldn’t have thought of before listening to the podcast.
For example, they often point out the poor sense of timing in some films, like when a main character achieves an insurmountable number of things in an hour while a trip across town takes all day.
Of course, the podcast is also hilarious. Mantzoukas’ overuse of the word “literally” and Raphael’s focus on bad wigs worn by actors are sure to make me laugh.
My episode suggestions for getting started with “How Did This Get Made” include “Burlesque,” “88 Minutes” and “Speed 2: Cruise Control.”
PLANET MONEY
When I am tired of hearing jokes, my go-to podcast is “Planet Money,” a National Public Radio show about economics.
I know this may not sound thrilling, but topics are as much about people as theories. The content is so good, episodes have been used in undergraduate economics courses throughout the country to drive home various concepts.
“Planet Money” was created to cover the 2007-08 financial crises, but it soon took on a life independent of that issue. By listening, I have learned how accounting was invented, why I can’t buy just one cable channel and what is wrong with car dealerships (they overcharge consumers in America by a billion dollars a year).
My favorite episode is titled “Why Coke Cost a Nickel for 70 Years.” It is so good, I often regurgitate what I learned from it when I run out of interesting things to say in a conversation.
PROFESSOR BLASTOFF
“Professor Blastoff” is a podcast hosted by three comedians: Kyle Dunnigan, Tig Notaro and David Huntsberger. It covers topics from science, religion and politics. Every episode centers around a subject and includes a knowledgeable guest.
If you are interested in a serious conversation about the subject, you may be out of luck. But if a physicist being interrupted by someone doing a Donald Trump impression sounds hilarious, this is the show for you.
The hosts have great dynamic, starting with Notaro’s dry sense of humor. Dunnigan is a ham who is constantly doing impressions and characters, and Huntsberger is the straight man who keeps the show on track.
If you start listening in the middle of an episode, it might take you a while to get used to the countless inside jokes, but once you get a feel for it, you will be laughing like a lunatic. I often listen to “Professor Blastoff” in public, and I have come to terms with being viewed as a deranged person.
This is by far my favorite podcast on the list. I am just shy of listening to all 179 episodes. Some of my favorites are titled “Anxiety,” “Voice” and “World Travel.”