Plunge Into...podcasts on advice, Taylor Swift, Adelanto, and more
Your podcast recommendations...recommended.
Hi Plungers,
It’s Juneteenth! If you want to honor this day via podcast listening, check out the list of recs that Justin Richmond, host of Started From The Bottom, curated for my other newsletter, EarBuds Podcast Collective.
Let’s get to this week’s reader-generated podcast recommendations.
Shoutout to Eric, Aakshi, Shira, Jason, JR, Dan, Andreea, and Devin, for sharing recommendations in the comments section of last week’s issue.
Next week…could it be you?! Comment on this post to find out.
Here’s what you recommended:
Recommender: Eric Johnson, editor of
Podcast: Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out
Episode: Ira Glass Part 3: The Best Advice
Why: I highlighted this one in my newsletter because it *could* have just been two famous guys hanging out... that would have been fine, but I was delighted to get a lot more than I expected. Mike and Ira have collaborated many times before, and most of that work is hidden from public view. The last 20-30 minutes of this episode are a live feedback session on a story Birbiglia has been working on for This American Life; it's a must-listen for anyone working in narrative nonfiction, particularly in audio. Before that, there's also a hilarious story about going to the theater together, and a fun bit where Ira audits the quotes that have been attributed to him online.
Recommender: Shira Moskowitz, host of Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle
Podcast: Every Single Album: Taylor Swift
Episode: Speak Now
Why: This Taylor Swift series may be old (it's from early 2021) but if you, like me, are experiencing post-Eras Tour depression, it's a perfect fix. The hosts, Nora and Nathan, go through each album, analyzing the songs, providing industry and historical context, and of course, sharing their favorite Taylor easter eggs. I chose the “Speak Now” episode because like the hosts, I agree that this is a slept-upon album, but really you should just listen to all of the episodes.
Recommender: Jason Whissell, host of It's Not That Bad and There Can Only Be One
Podcast: My Weekly Mixtape
Episode: The Ultimate 90's Movie Soundtracks Playlist (w/ Ryan Pak of the Soundtrack Your Life Podcast)
Why: The concept of the show is fun: Brian and a guest create a 20-song "mixtape" based on a theme (the link is their 90's Movie Soundtrack Songs episode). The idea is to create a flow based on the songs as they get added to the list. Aside from Brian's extensive music knowledge and passion for the songs, both as a curator and a musician, the podcast has almost a "game show" feel to it. You find yourself calling out songs at the podcast player. It introduces the listener to new music as well as rekindles their passion for the songs they love from the genre/theme of the show.
Recommender: Jess M., author of
Podcast: How To Talk To People
Episode: How To Make Small Talk
Why: A relatively new podcast from The Atlantic, this show dives into ideas about community, connecting, and conversing, why we're awkward about it, and maybe how to go about practically addressing that. It's an interesting listen for anyone who enjoys an audio culture study done in a lighthearted, interview-based format with different voices examining such a nebulous topic from different angles.
Recommender: Dan Delgado, host of The Industry (New mini-season coming soon!) and The Jockey Club (Completed forever! No more seasons ever!)
Podcast: Dreamtown: The Story of Adelanto
Episode: Bug’s Plan
Why: This narrative series about a small California desert town deciding to increase their town's income by letting weed grow there is fantastic. There are colorful characters, great, easy-to-follow storytelling, and shady small-town legal nonsense going on. What's not to like? Start with episode one in which a guy named Bug (!) comes to town, decides to run for office, and has the idea of letting the weed grow.
Recommender: Andreea Coscai, Podcast Marketer at Tink Media
Podcast: The Ten News
Episode: Pride Month with Drag Story Hour's Lil Miss Hot Mess 🏳️🌈
Why: This episode of The Ten News was a perfect mix of excitement, education, and entertainment. It celebrates Pride Month, educates us on current events, and tickles our brains with trivia. The team absolutely nailed it by bringing Lil Miss Hot Mess on board! Her infectious energy and candid stories about Pride had me hooked. I couldn't help but smile and feel inspired by her passion and love for the community. It's a reminder of the resilience, strength, and beauty that this community embodies. On top of that, host Ryan's breakdown of the Disney vs. DeSantis debacle was very informative and captivating. He perfectly navigated the complexities of the issue that is so relevant and many of us can't even keep up with.
Recommender: Devin Andrade, author of
Podcast: Expectant
Episode: The North
Why: I just finished the last episode of this six-episode series and it was one of the most emotionally rich pieces I've listened to in a long time. It straddles the fence between fiction and non-fiction, as the main character debates the question of having a child during the climate crisis we're facing. You hear personal conversations between this main character and her mother, friends, activists, scientists, and partner. Each episode has you switching between feelings of optimism and worry. And the part that really pulled me in was the sound design of the entire show. You feel the intensity of how much the character is struggling because there are moments of very raw audio, racing thoughts, montages of facts, and the music highlights it all perfectly. The whole thing is around two hours long and will leave you thinking about it for days after.
Recommender: Aakshi, podcast listener and marketer at Tink Media
Podcast: Radio Headspace
Episode: Create 'Flexible' Thinking, with Dr. Jenna Glover
Why: Pride Month feels hard this year. It's always an up-and-down process of how comfortable and joyful I feel about my queerness. This episode is for you if you feel stuck in your journey to feel most like yourself, especially right now. Maybe it's because of your circumstances, maybe it's internal, or maybe it's both; I hope this episode gives you a way to think that feels helpful and comforting. Dr. Jenna Glover talks about how we can approach certain things in our lives through a non-binary lens and practice simultaneously holding two or more contradicting things as true, as well as the importance of language in helping us shift our thinking. <3
Now, for your recommendations! Here’s what you can do for this newsletter:
Comment on this post with a recommendation of your own. Here’s the format:
Your Name
Podcast Recommendation
Episode Link
Why You Recommend It
Comment on this post with your thoughts on one of the episodes I recommended
Like this post
FAQs:
Can I recommend my own podcast?
Within reason. i.e. if it makes sense.
Can my recommendations be selected week after week?
Yes. Just keep on commenting.
Happy listening, y’all!
For more recommendations, subscribe to my weekly podcast recommendation newsletter in which each issue is curated by a different person.
Happy listening,
Arielle Nissenblatt
Your Name: Ayo Oti, Publisher at Sounds Like Impact
Podcast Recommendation: Embodied - Unpartnered: Building A Full, Single Life
Episode Link: https://pod.link/1525727534/episode/ceba5117dc6173e6cecc045ac9f89d9b
Why You Recommend It: Our society--okay, most societies--are obsessed with romantic partnership. Quite literally I was asked the other day by my parents when I was getting married so I can have children... But this is not about me. I loved that Embodied spoke to people from different racial and gender identities about what building a fulfilling life outside of romantic partnership can look like.
Recommender: Arielle Nissenblatt
Podcast: Talk Easy
Episode: A Father's Day Special with Sarah Silverman
Why: This episode made me laugh and cry. I also love hearing about how Sarah Silverman makes friends in Hollywood. And it's just a blast to know that she enjoys playing pick-up basketball.