The 13 Best Podcasts to Listen to Right Now
Bored in Self-Isolation? Check out 13 of our favourite podcasts to transform the mundane into something more merry.
Podcasts have been around for years, but if you haven’t found yourself streaming regularly, there has never been a better time to get into them. Whether you need a pick me up during home chores, something to keep you company on your socially distant walk, or just a little break from work, we’ve curated our favourite podcasts to make your isolation days more fruitful. So grab your AirPods, and have a listen to our top picks:
This business podcast from NPR (National Public Radio, U.S.) features hundreds of stories about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists - and the movements they built. This podcast peels back some of the mystique surrounding business success, exploring the highs and lows of innovators along the way. Expect stories from brands you know and love like Shopify, AllBirds, AirBnb, Ben & Jerrry’s and more. Speaking directly with founders, you will hear the story in their own words, from beginnings, through stumbles, to eventual success. A great podcast for some entrepreneurial motivation!
2. WARDROBE CRISIS BY CLARE PRESS
Clare Press is the Sustainability Editor at Large for Vogue Australia. Each week Clare interviews guests about fashion, culture, sustainability, ethics, activism, and the environment. Featuring interviews with Fashion Revolution’s Carry Somers, #MeToo’s founder Tarana Burke, economist Raj Patel, and inclusivity advocate Sinead Burke, Wardrobe Crisis is the go-to to learn about all things sustainable fashion and the potential of fashion to be a force for good.
3. DUOLINGO
DuoLingo is best known for its easy language learning app. If you are ready to hone your listening skills, check out its beautiful podcast in French and Spanish. Each episode is a real-life story narrated in the language with English explanations. More than a simple language lesson, it is a brilliant way to acquaint yourself with common phrases and pronunciation while following fascinating true stories. Bonne chance!
This podcast is a round-up of various TED talks linked to different topics. Some of our favourite episodes include:
- Circular Systems: We live in a linear economy where growth and production towards a GDP is the hallmark of success. But at what cost? In this episode, you will hear from TED speakers exploring circular systems that regenerate and re-use what we already have. (Like this topic? Check our Wardrobe Crisis for more interviews)
- What is Original: We are probably all familiar with that adage that imitation is the highest form of flattery - but when it is thievery and when is it genius? In this episode, TED speakers explore how sampling, borrowing, and riffing make all of us innovators. The hour kicks off with Mark Ronson discussing why more than 500 artists - from Snoop Dogg, to Miley, to Beyonce - have sampled the same Slick Rick song, and its role in the evolution of hip hop.
- Open Source World: The era of the world wide web, data sharing, and open source has led to countless innovations as global collaboration and the free sharing of knowledge is available at the tip of your fingers. But with so much freedom, how do you determine what works and what is chaos? In this episode, TED speakers explore how open source is changing how we build, collaborate and govern.
From award-winning author Malcolm Gladwell, Revisionist History is a “journey through the overlooked and misunderstood.” Spoken by Malcolm in his soothing voice, it takes an intricate deep dive into the past to re-examine our initial understanding of something. If you are a fan of chips (and who isn’t?) prepare to have your mind blown in the episode, “McDonald’s Broke My Heart.”
6. FAKE HEIRESS
From the BBC, Fake Heiress investigates the scandalous rise and fall of Anna Delvey, the fake heiress who conned NYC’s elite out of more than $200,000. Explore how Anna Sorokin convinced everyone she was a German multi-millionaire heiress, from her origins to her eventual imprisonment. TV rights have been sold to her story, making this a good primer for the juicy special that is soon to come.
7. REDHANDED
Branching out from the average true crime cases, Redhanded covers “all manner of macabre madness.” Featuring serial killers, well-known cases, smaller whodunits, mysteries, and other curious crimes (think, hauntings and possessions), Redhanded covers gruesome cases in great detail. Well-researched and witty, the natural flow and rapport of the two hosts make it an easy listen
8. REPLY ALL
In the words of The Guardian, Reply All is “‘a podcast about the Internet’ that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it.” Hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman narrate untold stories with compelling plots and interesting characters. We highly recommend you start off with their most popular episode "Snapchat Thief", a wild story about securing identity in the modern digital world.
9. OPRAH'S SUPERSOUL CONVERSATIONS
Oprah doing what she does best. Listen to informative, thought-provoking, and beautiful conversations with inspiring people such as Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Sheryl Sandberg, and RuPaul. With a seemingly deeper focus on spiritual growth, Season One (2017) encompasses interviews with global leaders on how to live fully, build resilience, free yourself from anxiety, and find joy after loss. We really enjoyed her talks with shame researcher Dr. Brene Brown, thought leader Eckhart Tolle, and the two-part interview with Alchemist author, Paolo Coelho.
10. SHAMELESS
Australia’s Most Popular Podcast of 2019, Shameless is a podcast “for smart women who love dumb things.” If you haven't already been bingeing it, now is the time to start. Zara and Michelle are still spinning out amazing episodes remotely to keep you company during your self-iso. New episodes are on Monday (recapping the week in celebs), and Thursday (chatting things inspiring and interesting).
A podcast for women, by women, that we absolutely adore. No topic is off-limits for host Yumi Stynes as she "dive(s) head first into the tricky topics we often avoid talking about." Told with humour, sensitivity, intelligence, and personal stories, Ladies, We Need to Talk is the podcast "for women who feel the squeeze between work, their private life, and their pelvic floor." Be prepared for frank discussions on a wide range of topics and to learn more about the beauty and power of woman.
12. ABC NEWS
ABC has podcasts for most of its news programmes. We like ABC News In-Depth for breaking down global news that matters in a digestible (and compact!) way.
13. SKIMM THIS
Breaking down the most important news stories and why they matter in an easy and accessible manner, 10-20 minutes segments.
BONUS: NATURE SOUNDS FROM U.S. NATIONAL PARKS
For those of us missing our time in nature, check out this soothing collection of sounds from the U.S. National Parks. Not only does listening to nature sounds increase productivity and reduce stress and anxiety, but it is also grounding emotionally. In the words of former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, “while confined in the International Space Station: ‘My colleagues liked to play a recording of Earth sounds, like birds and rustling trees, and even mosquitoes, over and over. It brought me back to earth.’”
Stay Merry everyone!
