Listens We Can’t Stop Talking About

A Collection of our Tribe's Favorite Podcasts

As of January 2022, there are over 2,000,000 podcasts and over 48 million episodes. With statistics like this, it's nearly impossible to narrow it down to the best of the best. Don't fret. We've got you. We have an obsession with not only devouring podcasts and audiobooks, but then subsequently talking about them, and we've curated this collection just for you. A collection we've affectionately named "Listens We Can't Stop Talking About." Enjoy.

We are that friend who likes to drop weird and interesting facts into casual conversation. We get our facts from our beloved podcast, Gimlet's Every Little Thing. Host Flora Lichtman answers those questions that we didn't know we needed answers to, like, what is sand made of? Why do we cry? Is your pet a righty or lefty? Is my cat trying to murder me? With winter just around the corner, we loved learning about how squirrels track their nuts. This is seriously strategic, I mean, could you keep track of 10,000 items you buried? We can't even find our keys! See? We're telling you, this is the quality content you didn't know you needed.

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Love it or hate it, Reality TV has shaped our culture over the last 4 decades. Yes, that's 40 years. The first reality show, An American Family, hit the PBS airwaves in 1973 and even then it was filled with drama. Host Mariah Smith takes us through the long journey of how the reality tv genre has infiltrated our lives and become the place to see social and political moments play out in real-time. From racial tensions on The Real World New York, to finding a mate in record time with cameras always rolling, and like with every train wreck, we just can't look away. Is it because we want to be like the "characters" or do we loathe them? The answer is personal.

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It's no secret that we love all things Malcolm Gladwell and this episode of Revisionist History only strengthens our infatuation. Oh Howard, You Idiot! is the tale of one of the wealthiest orphans in America, a billionaire turned recluse that has a chance encounter with a minor novelist. You've probably heard bits and pieces about Howard Hughes, aviation aficionado and Hollywood playboy but as he aged his hermit-like lifestyle opened the door to the greatest autobiography that you've never read. This episode has twists and turns, and leaves you asking "what is true?"

Kentucky waterfall, the Camero crash helmet, the beaver paddle, the ape drape and the neck warmer. All slang for our favorite love-to-hate hairstyle - The Mullet. Host Willa Padkin sets out to crack the cultural mystery of the origin of this business in front, party in the back situation and you're in for a surprise. It's part hockey lore, Ziggy Stardust fad and iconic rap song that elevated this coif to its current legendary status. And for those in the know . . . it's making a comeback. So, this begs the question, would you rock the Tennessee top hat?

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What do 415 coffins, 3 bottles of Joy, 23 teachers, a $25 tip and 12 million Thank You meals all have in common? The pandemic. In this episode of This American Life, guest host Chana Joffe-Walt talks with a varied collection of essential workers and how they managed to feel less alone during the darkest days of COVID. From a school carpenter in New York, to a manager at a McDonalds in Michigan and early childhood educators - the pandemic forced jobs to change, and what none of us noticed was that the workers changed too. These are the stories of moments unseen.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! No Place Like Home follows the wild story behind the biggest heist that ever hit Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Hint: It has to do with some fancy footwear. Hosts Ariel Ramchandani and Seyward Darby bring you into the world of Hollywood memorabilia and the market for lost and stolen art. Plus a crash course in all things Judy Garland, so plan on winning trivia night when she is the category. This 8-part series will beg the question; is there a movie prop you would risk stealing?

When it comes to content about Mt. Everest or K2, we eat it up with a spoon. We all know the feeling of not being able to put down Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, hanging on every word with an overwhelming need to soak up every detail of a mountain that takes no prisoners. While listening to Against the Odds, K2: The Savage Mountain, we noticed the exact feeling taking over. This 4-part series hosted by Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol chronicles the tragic run for the K2 Summit in 2008. Seasoned hikers from around the world embarked on a bucket list adventure that is stymied by unpredictable weather, summit fever and bad communication. This tale is told with an all time high intensity. We threw off our buds thinking we can't listen anymore, only to jump right back in after a few deep breaths. K2 is the grave for a staggering one out of four people. So we ask you, would you play those odds?

This week, we talked with our friends over at Truth + Media about their new show - Truth + Tribe with Mike Sarraille, a 20-year military veteran with the US Navy SEALs and member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Can we just say, we really like this Mike guy! His mission is to teach us how to balance achievement and happiness. And isn't that exactly what we're all seeking? He gets to the heart of powerful stories that change lives and the perseverance that breeds positivity through everyday living. Truth + Tribe is a glimpse into military life, how events shape Everyday Warriors as well as the importance of finding your tribe. In the debut episode, Mike is joined by his brother and retired Navy Seal, Dan Luna. It's humbling to listen to these two bada** guys, talk about the events that have shaped who they are today. It puts the challenges in our lives into perspective and really morphs the "don't cry over spilled milk" adage into "how are you going to use that spilled milk to grow and better your life?" After listening to this show, you'll ask yourself - How do I become an everyday warrior and who is my tribe to help me get there?

Chameleon: Season 2 High Rollers is the next jaw dropping podcast you've been waiting for. This 10-part series takes you to the corner of where truth meets stranger- than-fiction. As each episode begins with that familiar theme song, we can't wait to hear where the story will take us. Journalist Trevor Aaronson dives into a crazy tale of money laundering, FBI informants, diet-clinics and revengeful yelp reviews. A story of imposters and con-artists, people who hide in plain sight, hence the name "Chameleon." We're talking about a two-year FBI undercover investigation that went bust. Starting on the East Coast and ending in Vegas, this podcast will leave you asking - who are the good guys?

We've all tried the echinacea infused tea when we feel a sore throat coming on or popped a zinc during the winter months to ward off nasty germs. How can we not? They're sitting right there next to the register at Whole Foods. And what about Vitamin D? Is it the superhero that can squash COVID? The "immune boosting" culture skyrocketed during the pandemic and was all over social with their magic berries and vitamin supplement cocktails. One thing we know is true, we like to FEEL like we're doing something to combat viruses. Host Wendy Zuckerman brings it back to science and answers if there are any truths behind these over-the-counter remedies on this episode Science Vs.

It's nearly impossible for Americans to imagine a TV show with no plot, no characters, no tension. A world where you as a viewer can set the narrative - focusing and feeling what you want. It is something that is raw and not present in this day and age where producers script every minute. Co-hosts Kia Miakka Natisse and Yowei Shaw explore slow tv born in Norway, and it all started with a seven hour train ride. What exactly is slow tv? It's unedited life. REALity tv without the manufactured plot twists, suspenseful music and too many Bachelor roses. Think about breathing in the landscape, the weather, the real life un-drama of spectacular television. Are you on board?

By now, it should be safe to assume that we've all seen the movie, My Octopus Teacher, and fell in love. Well, in our case, we've become obsessed with all things octopi. While driving cross country, Radiolab For Kids - Octomom was top on the list. I know what you're thinking – Radiolab For Kids – take our word for it – it's great for Gen X too! This is a fascinating story of what began as a simple act of motherhood turned heroic feat that has never been equaled by any known species on Earth. Don't believe us? The giant Pacific octopus can have over 50,000 babies at one time, and spends months guarding those eggs, so yeah, heroic indeed.