So you want to get into Podcasts?

A GUIDE TO HELP YOU START LISTENING TO PODCASTS

8 min readFeb 5, 2019

Everyone is talking about Podcasts. You want to be part of the conversation but it’s hard to know where to start. Luckily, I have friends who showed me the light and helped me get started. I’ve put together all of the Podcast wisdom and tips I’ve collected from friends over the past few years into a guide to get you started.

If you know me, you know that I’m a Podcast fiend. Anecdotes from Podcasts sneak their way into most, if not all, of my conversations. As much as I like to think it’s endearing, it’s gotten to the point where it’s embarrassing how much of the content I consume is auditory. Sometimes I now tell a white lie and say I read the information somewhere, but you can bet I most likely heard it in Podcast-form.

But this development is relatively recent for me. About three years ago, I was out of the loop when I kept hearing my cool, progressive friends talk about things they heard on this-or-that Podcast. But I had no idea how to get started. Which Podcast should I listen to? Where do I get started? How do I even listen to them? Can I listen to them offline?

Then I struck gold. An E-Mail from a good friend (hi Mali!) arrived in my Inbox. It had a list of her favo(u)rite Podcasts with a short commentary on each to get me started. This was exactly what I needed. Around the same time, I started commuting between Cambridge and London a few times a week. This was the perfect time to dip my toes into the world of Podcasts.

I started listening to Serial (the gateway Podcast) and devoured the first season within two days. I was trying to listen to it during every free moment — when I was brushing my teeth, getting dressed, at lunch — basically, I was hooked. I then tried out a few of the others on the list and figured out what I liked through trial and error and snowballing from recommendations from Podcasts I liked and other friends. It doesn’t have to be so difficult though. I’ve put together this diagram to get you started and troubleshoot along the way.

Why should I listen to Podcasts?

Easy. You, like me, will have plenty (too many) of anecdotes to throw into each conversation. Some Podcasts will help you keep up with current events, others will inspire you with their storytelling, and some will make you feel like you just watched a documentary. You can press play whenever you want and download episodes so you have access to them offline. They’re great for when you are commuting, working out, or doing work around the house. I find they make for perfect company when I am home alone and cleaning or cooking.

How do I listen to Podcasts?

I tend to listen to Podcasts in the Apple Podcasts App, though I will be the first to say that the App is not great (a conversation for another day). I know that Spotify and Stitcher, amongst others, are other options for listening to Podcasts, but I have yet to try it yet (out of pure habit and laziness). I subscribe and download the Podcasts I listen to, in order to make sure that I have access to them offline, without killing all of my data.

Okay, now I’m sold! How do I find my Podcast soul-mates?

Below you can also find descriptions of each Podcast, and favo(u)rite episodes, where relevant.

Podcasts in bold are the ones I regularly listen to and go into detail below. The rest are honourable mentions that I listen to now and again.

Serial
The gateway podcast. If you’ve never listened to podcasts before, this is a good one to start with. Like I mentioned above, I listened to the first season in about 2 days. The first season is particularly good. It chronicles a real-life murder case, and brings new light to the legal system, the way evidence and witnesses are handled and the many improvements that are left to be made when it comes to trials (especially in the US). The third season covers more day-to-day life in court, and while it hasn’t sucked me in, other (especially lawyer) friends seem to like it. It’s very important to go in chronological order while listening to Serial.
Favo(u)rite episodes: Season 1
Invisibilia
Three (now two) badass gals host this show about the ‘invisible forces’ around us. Some episodes are about more scientific ‘forces,’ others are about emotions or culture. It’s a real mix but definitely a goodie.
Favo(u)rite episodes: Outside In, Entanglement
The Moth
The Moth is a story-telling phenomenon. They host events around the world, and people get on stage and tell a story. The stories can be hilarious, or extremely emotional. The first time I listened to an episode, it made me start bawling in the bus (consider this a warning). Most episodes have a theme, and of course some stories are better than others, but it’s an incredibly humane and heartwarming show. The Moth can be listened to in any order, since the stories are not related to one another.
Favo(u)rite episodes: This is such a mixed bag, it’s hard to remember the ones I liked most, especially as most episodes contain several stories. Just try a few random ones.
99% Invisible
This is a cult classic. Roman Mars has an incredible voice and is a bit of a God in the design world. The Podcast is in general about design but covers a wide range of topics. I initially started with the early episodes, but I wouldn’t recommend this because they were only 5–6 minutes and I found that there were too many commercials. Start with the more recent episodes and go back.
Favo(u)rite episodes: #44-The Pruitt-Igoe Myth, #66-Kowloon Walled City, #269-Ways of Hearing, #308 Curb Cuts
Start Up
The first season of Start Up chronicles a producer from This American Life (another well-known podcast) who went out on a limb to start his own podcasting company. It’s refreshingly honest (think: him recording himself crying at 3 am because of the stress and recording clumsy pitches to investors). I really enjoyed hearing about his growth and that of the company. Following seasons focus on different companies (i.e. a dating company, a new company started by the founder of American Apparel) or specific moments in a company’s life (i.e. the moment you have to decide whether to give up or invest everything). The latest season is about how churches can also be entrepreneurial, and while the storytelling is good, it didn’t really draw me in. I miss the first season and the honest, behind-the-curtains look at starting your own business. I would start with the first season and go from there.
Favo(u)rite episodes: Season 1
Reply All
Reply All is a Podcast made by the podcasting company the guy from Start Up started. I would recommend starting at the beginning, as this helps you learn to love the two hosts. I know that sometimes I’ve just played a single episode to someone and they found the hosts a bit annoying, but I really love them and often end up laughing out loud on my own. The show is generally about the internet, but it has a broad range of topics, and I find that it can be good for keeping on top of current events. They often have fully produced story, but sometimes they do tech support episodes, where they try to help someone figure out a technical problem, or a segment called ‘Yes yes no,’ during which their boss comes to them with a tweet he doesn’t understand and they try to explain it to him. You have to like the hosts to fully enjoy this Podcast, so I would start at the beginning. My biggest bone to pick with Reply All is that they (at least seemingly) haven’t been releasing many episodes in the last year or two.
Favo(u)rite episodes: #23 and 24-Exit and Return, #44-Shine On You Crazy Goldman, #53-In the Desert, #57-Milk Wanted, #99-Black Hole, New Jersey
Heavyweight
This one is maybe more niche. At first I wasn’t so sure, but I grew to love it. The guy who does it just spends each episode trying to help people (or himself) with a personal issue, but what makes it gold is the writing and the deadpan delivery.
Favo(u)rite episodes: #14-Isabel
Freakonomics
From one of the guys who wrote the book Freakonomics. The show has a range of topics, but in general interviews scientists or economics about a certain topic. Freakonomics also features many issues related to behavio(u)ral economics and decision-making. Many episodes feature interviews with leading figures in the gield, including an insightful mini-series on CEOs.
Favo(u)rite episodes: #316-A Conversation with PepsiCo C.E.O. Indra Nooyi, #359-Should America Be Run by Trader Joe’s?, #355- Where Does Creativity Come From?
Radiolab
Radiolab is also another diverse Podcast in terms of topics. I find it can be a bit overproduced, but some of the stories are really good. I particularly like the more scientific stories.
Favo(u)rite episodes: From Tree to Shining Tree, Antibodies Part 1 and 2: CRISPR, Parasites, Birthstory
How I Built This
Stories of how companies got started, obstacles along the way, and lessons learnt. I have mostly skipped around with episodes of this one but find a lot of the stories can be inspiring (though some make me just think that there were a million more opportunities in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s). The format is mostly interviews with founders of different companies. Whether you are toying with entrepreneurial thoughts of not, I think the stories told can offer something interesting for everyone.
Favo(u)rite episodes: I find all of them more or less interesting.
Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
I know, I’m really exposing myself by admitting my love for this Podcast. It can be really kooky (read: Oprah) and some episodes can dive pretty deeply into spiritualism, so I would skip this one if that’s not your thing. That being said, there are some great episodes that I think can be more widely appealing. I find it can give me some tools and guidance on self-management. It can feel like a bit of a therapy session, which you may or may not want from Oprah.
Favo(u)rite episodes: Jeff Weiner: Leading With Compassion
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain takes a closer look at topics related to psychology and our mind. The topics covered are really broad and can include topics related to bias, habits, motivation, preferences and more from related social sciences. Episodes are not connected and can be listened to in any order.
Favo(u)rite episodes: The Edge Effect, You 2.0 Originals, Grit

Still can’t get enough?

Below are some honorable mentions of shows I listen to now and then (read: when I’ve run out of content from the other shows) but haven’t fully gotten into yet. I can’t vouch for them as much as my regular Podcasts, but word on the street is that they’re good!

Give me more design!
Design Matters
Method Podcast
Design Notes

I want to learn more shit
BBC Analysis
Stuff You Should Know
Planet Money
Fresh Air
The Daily

I’m into that crime
S-Town
Criminal
Teacher’s Pet
Caliphate
Dirty John

The mixed bucket
This American Life
The Kitchen Sisters
The Guilty Feminist
Mystery Show
TED Radio Hour

I hope this helps you get going — there’s a lot to discover out there!

Already a seasoned pro? Please share your favo(u)rites with me below. I’m always looking for new leads.