photo courtesy of flickr.com
Podcasts have been around for years now. It is only over the past year in which I've really started to fall in love with them, fully exploring the world around me via the internet.
In fact, the amount of choices out there can feel overwhelming at times. I've started and stopped a few, mostly because I've become sidetracked when I find another one that interests me. Starting down a podcast rabbit hole is quite an infliction and sometimes podcasts get pushed out of the scope of my attention.
While there are certainly more nationally recognized ones I stick to, such as the Missing Richard Simmons podcast or the recently released S-Town podcast (in which I listened to all seven chapters in the course of 24 hours), there are other ones I listen to on a regular basis. These tackle a wide range of topics and tell very different stories, but they are podcasts I try to never miss. They might be lesser known (though many have begun to earn recognition), they are entertaining, insightful, and informative.
Thin Air
First airing in January 2016, Thin Air releases an episode every two weeks. Their focus: missing person cases around the world.
Hosts/Creators Daniel Calderon and Jordan Sims, both writers and journalists, take the time in researching cases and interviewing the people related to the case(s). They do so with integrity, wisdom and compassion, helping to tell a story in roughly an hour's time.
Each episode, for the most part, focuses on a different missing person. Narrative driven stories are the focus of the podcast, helping bringing to light cases involving runaways, murders, and, in one episode, a look into the story of the great D.B. Cooper.
This is a definite recommend for those interested in true crime. The podcast has been featured on Buzzfeed and continues to tell people's stories in an interesting and insightful way.
To find out more, visit the Thin Air podcast website.
That Baseball Show
Take some baseball, mix it in with a little pop culture and add a dash of politics and you'll get what is collectively an episode of That Baseball Show.
Hosts Matt Melton and Jimmy Bowman have been talking baseball over the internet airwaves for a few years now. The show, while centered around baseball, often uses the sport as a jumping off point for pop culture in general.
If you're looking for a stats heavy podcast, this might not be for you. Stats are involved, but they are not going to spend 45 minutes droning on about wins above replacement or a player's average on batted balls in play.
Both are very knowledge when it comes to the sport, though, and are very affable when it comes to speaking about the sport. Two to four episodes generally appear per month. To learn more, head over to their Facebook page.
Flight School
Formerly known as The Sesh, Flight School is the type of podcast to listen to if you want to kick back for thirty or so minutes and imagine you're hanging out with some friends.
The podcast focuses on no particular topic and that is part of the beauty of the podcast. It truly is a group of friends telling stories, looking up Craig's List missed connections, exploring the world of Tinder without photos, and, as the kids say, chillin'.
Specific narratives don't necessarily travel from one episode to the next, the group at Flight School knows how to entertain. They might be just hanging out with the caveat of being recorded, but at no point does the listener think any of this is forced or being "put on". And for that, the time spent with them stays fresh.
Sound Cloud it up here.
These are just a glimpse into my listening pleasures. They might not be for everyone, but if you give all three a try, I hope at least one will pique your interest to continue listening.
And if not? Well, there is always plenty of blogs to catch up with on this very site. (Shameless self-promotion guaranteed.)
Comments