The days of radio talks passing time in the traffic and listening to pop music at your desk are over. Welcome your newest entertainment addiction: the podcast. Basically audio series that are released in schedules, these top podcasts will change your life.
The founding father of all podcasts was recorded in 2003 by Open Radio Source host Christopher Lydon, with software developer Dave Winer, in their desire to explore the internet’s potential as a broadcasting platform. The world took notice, and podcasts have been on the rise ever since.
What you need to know about podcasts:
- The best sites through which to access podcasts are Podbay, SoundCloud, and PodBean.
- Most podcasts are absolutely free, so this is the best form of entertainment that doesn’t strain your wallet. Typically, listeners can pay to enjoy episodes without advertising or can donate money to the podcast production team.
- You don’t need to download an episode, although you certainly can do so. Most podcasts are streamed online, so all you need to access them is an internet connection.
- There’s no time limit on podcasts, and they won’t disappear after a given period. You can tune into any available episode anytime you want.
The best thing about podcasts? There’s truly something for everyone.
Here are a few of our top podcasts to get you started…
For the health-conscious:
Women Seeking Wellness with Dr Stephanie Maj
Whether you’re living in a constant state of aches and pains or just want to improve your general health, this is your daily reminder to take care of yourself. Chiropractor, health and wellness expert, nutritionist and author Dr Stephanie Maj wants to encourage all women to put their health first, and does so with charm and humour.
Listen on: PlayerFM
Don’t know your health indicators? Here’s why you should?
For the true crime addict:
Hosted by journalist Phoebe Judge, this chilling series examines “stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle”. Episodes rarely run for longer than 30 minutes, making this the perfect podcast for the time-deprived, but each one is researched, polished, and delivered to perfection.
Listen on: Criminal
For the comedy queen:
Spontaneanation with Paul F. Tompkins
You’ll never see these laughs coming, and neither does the host. Together with his special guests, comedian, actor and writer Paul F. Tompkins is improvising his way from monologue to narrative sketch, with side-splitting mistakes, mispronunciations, and musings along the way.
Listen on: Earwolf
For the current affairs connoisseur:
It’s always good to be keyed up on what’s happening in the world right now (especially if you need an emergency small-talk topic), and political commentator Dan Carlin doesn’t disappoint on delivering that much-needed information. There’s no ‘left or right’ branding here, just current affairs contextualised, researched, and examined in brilliant objectivity.
Listen on: Podbay.fm
