History and Geography-
Dan Carlin's Hardcore HistoryShorter episodes than Hardcore History, this one is more Carlin's take on current events and various "what if?" scenarios. For what it is worth, there is also a "Hardcore History: Addendum" podcast that are shorter lectures.
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NPR Politics PodcastProbably doesn't need an explanation.
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538 Politics PodcastNate Silver and his team track political issues and trends. If you like statistics and surveying mixed in with your standard political coverage and discourse, this is a great podcast.
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Pod Save AmericaWant to hear a bunch of Obama's aides—Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor, and Dan Pfeiffer—talk about current politics? Yes you do. This podcast is great.
Math and Sciences-
StarTalk RadioIt's Neil DeGrasse Tyson! I am choosy on which episodes I listen to, but they can be really good.
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Breaking Math PodcastA few University of New Mexico teachers try to make advanced math and physics concepts accessible to everyone. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
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Flash ForwardRose Eveleth examines the future combining audio drama with journalism to unpack tomorrow's mysteries, like cleaning debris in earth's atmosphere, how warranties for sex robots might work, a California secession, or any number of doomsday scenarios.
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Twenty Thousand HertzA podcast about sound design. Listen to episode 61, "Dining on Decibels," and see if you like the show.
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Peter Attia DriveReally intelligent doctor talking to a number of really interesting guests. Listening to his three part interviews with Matthew Walker changed how I sleep, and the amount of importance I give sleeping.
Art and Leisure-
99% InvisibleA podcast about how unseen art fashions our subconscious and dictates our decisions. Love them all, but the ‘McMansions' episode is what got me hooked.
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How I Built This with Guy RazGuy Raz hosts introspective interviews with entrepreneurs and company founders. A good way to feel like you haven't accomplished enough.
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Off Camera with Sam JonesWell, every once in a while you may want to turn your brain off and see what your favorites celebrities think about this or that. As an interviewer, Sam Jones does a great job driving the narratives in unique directions.
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UnspooledPaul Scheer and Amy Nicholson tackle the AFI Top 100 films of all time, discussing the history, cinematography, and influence these films have had on the medium and modern life. Worth starting from the very beginning.
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Grierson and LeitchFilm critics Tim Grierson and Will Leitch discuss the newest movie releases and then revisit older films as well. Quite entertaining, though I do skip around to only catch what films I am interested in.
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Decoder RingA show that explores cultural mysteries. Why are people afraid of clowns? How did the laugh track come into existence? Find out the answers to these questions--and more!
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You Must Remember ThisKarina Longworth looks back at the forgotten histories of early Hollywood. Secrets and scandals abound.
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West Wing WeeklyJoshua Molina (who plays Will Bailey starting in season 4) and Hrishikesh Hirway discuss The West Wing episode-by-episode. They often bring on stars to discuss the plot arcs and roles and behind-the-scenes stuff as well.
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Song ExploderHrishikesh Hirway sits down with musicians to break down the creation and composition of singular songs. Pick and choose the ones you are interested in, because there is a lot of pop/punk/EDM.
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The Anthropocene ReviewedJohn Green (author, The Fault in Our Stars) explores two aspects of the human existence per episode, and rates them on a five-star scale. A good into episode is "Pennies and Piggly-Wiggly."
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Stuff You Should KnowProbably the most famous of the "two people effectively reading Wikipedia pages" format of podcasts, Chuck and Josh have a great rapport and a funny podcast. Pick the episodes that interest you, or listen to them all. Your call.
True Crime-
SerialThe podcast that made podcasts cool. Sarah Koenig investigates the murder of Hae-Min Lee (season 1) and the Bowe Bergdahl
desertion and capture (season 2). Season 3 got inside the criminal justice system in Ohio. Amazing investigative journalism and Koenig has the perfect radio voice.
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CriminalRather than exploring a crime (or series of crimes) by a whole season, each episode of Criminal is dedicated to a different crime. Some recent episodes are good jumping off points: "Stowaway," "Off Leash," and "He's Still Neutral" are all really interesting and different.
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Crime TownThough the approach feels a bit rudimentary at times, Crime Town tells the story of the mob in New England, largely focusing on the Patriarca Crime Family and Buddy Cianci, and Providence, Rhode Island's place in American gangland history.
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S-TownA reporter receives an e-mail from an eccentric man in Alabama about an unsolved murder in his town. Reporter Brian Reed investigates and finds himself deep in the inter-workings of the town and the eccentric's life.
Sports-
30 for 30 PodcastsBehind the scenes looks and introspectives on famous scenes in sports. If you only listen to one, listen to "A Queen of Sorts."
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Effectively Wild: A Fangraphs PodcastBen Lindbergh, Sam Miller, and Meg Rowley recount the current happenings in baseball. Dive into data, history, etc. Plus sometimes I they discuss stuff I contributed.
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The PosCastMichael Schur (Executive Producer of The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Good Place) and Joe Posnanski talk sports and draft random things. A total time-waster, and they'll make sure to remind you.
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The Infinite InningThe closest thing to a Dan Carlin podcast about baseball, Steven Goldman talks about the history of the game and about helplessness.
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The Wheelhouse with Jerry DipotoJerry Dipoto is the General Manager of the Seattle Mariners. You don't have to like the Mariners, but he is the only General Manager who has his own podcast. A great look into the interworkings of a front office.
Fiction-
HomecomingAwesome cast with Catherine Keener, David Schwimmer, Oscar Isaac, David Cross, Alia Shawkat, Michael Cera. Fictional story with a Total Recall/Serenity feel in a modern world. And hey! They're making it into a show with Julia Roberts!
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SandraAnother fictional "story" podcast, stars Kristen Wiig, Alia Shawkat, and Ethan Hawke. Definitely recommend; excited for season 2.
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Wolverine: the Long NightIf superhero fatigue hasn't set in with Marvel movies and whatnot, Wolverine: the Long Night is an audio play starring Richard Armitage as the titular character. Gave it a shot. The mystery was solid enough. The sound design was great. Second season just concluded.
Feel free to post some of your favorites as well!
-wtk