Ten podcasts you need to download in 2017

Here at The Blurb we usually concentrate on music when it comes to aural entertainment. It would however be remiss of us to ignore the fastest growing and possibly most exciting form of audio available – podcasts. For the uninitiated (and yes, I realise there probably aren’t many of you), podcasting is like radio without the shock jocks, talkback callers and tedious promotions. Think of it as a chance to curate your own listening experience, free from the heavy hand of focus groups and ratings numbers.

There are so many podcasts out there now accessible via your mobile device, that you can find (at least) dozens of programs to pique your interests, no matter how niche. Comedy, crime, storytelling, the Renaissance, politics, sport, therapy, travel – you name it, there’s probably a podcast about it. But that’s the problem – there are so many podcasts out there, how do you choose? Here are ten suggestions for podcasts (with an unashamedly popular culture bent) we think are pretty great – give them a try.

1. The Memory Palace – From one of the best podcast collectives going around (Radiotopia from PRX), Nate DiMeo produces and narrates one of the most extraordinary podcasts going around. The Memory Palace is a collection of short (usually around 10 minutes) stories of forgotten or misunderstood moments from history, all set to remarkable soundscapes. While it is American and has a predominantly American focus, The Memory Palace transcends boundaries by making its stories achingly real and personal. Always excellent, often simply brilliant and occasionally heartbreaking, this podcast will change your life. Try starting with Episode 4 “Itty Bitty Bombs” before Ep. 45 “Heard, Once”,  Ep. 82 “The Wheel” and Ep. 88 “Open Road”.
2. Pop Culture Happy Hour – American radio stalwart NPR brings us Pop Culture Happy Hour,  a podcast about the latest and greatest in movies, television, books and music. The show uses a round-table discussion format, hosted by the indefatigably perky Linda Holmes. Each show usually discusses two main items, followed by “What’s making us happy this week” – snippets of things to try out. It’s informative, provocative and quite often hilarious (thanks mainly to panellist Glen Weldon). Start with the latest episode.
3. Phoebe’s Fall – The Aussie version of Serial, Phoebe’s Fall is a major (6 full episodes and 5 mini-updates] by Melbourne’s Age newspaper into the death of Phoebe Handsjuk, a young woman found dead in the garbage chute of a luxury apartment building. While perhaps not as in-depth as Serial, it has nonetheless had real-life ripple effects, and how far they extend remains to be seen at time of writing. You’ll need to start this one from the beginning.
4. The Binge – For TV addicts, The Binge plugs itself as “a safe space for anyone who loves TV”. Part of Mia Freedman’s Mamamia network, The Binge is hosted by Rosie Waterland and Sarah-Jane Collins and provides a distinctly Australian take on what’s on the box. From My Kitchen Rules to Westworld, this is a podcast to listen to before getting into those “water cooler” conversations at work. Stay current and start with the latest episode.
5. The Bugle – Has the post-truth world got you down? Then dive into a little pre-truth comedy with host Andy Zaltzman. This weekly look at the absurdity of the world in general and politics in particular sees Zaltzman joined by a rotating roster of comedic talents to explore current world affairs. Its tagline: “audio newspaper for a visual world”, pretty much sums up what you can expect. Brit-centric but nonetheless broad-ranging (the show recently tackled India’s decision to basically wipe out half its bank notes overnight, for example), this acerbic little show is an antidote to the rancour of much of today’s political discourse. A word of warning though – not one for fans of Nigel Faraage. The Bugle incidentally once featured the talents of one Mr John Oliver, before he went on the bigger things.
6. Invisibilia – Another NPR production, Invisibilia taps into the invisible forces that control human behavior – ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions. Co-hosted by Lulu Miller, Hanna Rosin and Alix Spiegel, this is a blend of scientific research and narrative storytelling – a way to make science more accessible if you like. The show has a dedicated following, and its delivered in small seasons of around 10 episodes over the Northern Hemisphere summer (May – August). That means you’ve got plenty of time over the Australian summer to catch up. Try “The Secret Emotional Life of Clothes” as an entree.
7. This American Life – Yeah, I know – in the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it world of the Internet, this podcast is almost antediluvian. But there’s a reason for that – it’s simply great. TAL is apparently the most popular podcast in America, with around 2.5 million downloads of each episode – and that’s not counting Serial. Just be aware that episodes have a limited shelf-life of a couple of weeks; although you can pay ($US0.99) for back episodes. Each ep usually features a single story told from many different perspectives. Meticulously researched and searingly honest, this is one of those “must haves” in your podcatcher.
8. Harry Potter and the Sacred Text – One for the Potter-philes out there. Each week, Vanessa Zoltan, Casper ter Kuile and Ariana Nedelman read a chapter from one of J.K. Rowling’s series (in order) as if it were the Torah, Bible or Koran; dissecting it for meaning and nuance. They’ve set themselves a massive task (aiming to complete all 199 chapters), but if you’re a true fan, you’ll want to tune in. Of course, start with ep. 1.
9. You Must Remember This – A podcast we’ve shouted out a couple of times here on The Blurb, YMRT tells “the secret and/or forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century”. It’s hosted by writer and broadcaster Karina Longworth, and takes a loving but clear-eyed look at the stories of Hollywood in the 20th Century, with particular emphasis on the so-called “Golden Era” from the 1940s through to the 1960s. The podcast is particularly remarkable for its deep dives – one on Charles Manson’s Hollywood, one on the infamous Hollywood Blacklist and recently on Joan Crawford. I suggest easing in with the complementary episodes 13 and 14 (“Bogart, Before Bacall” and “Bacall, After Bogart”), but don’t miss the Manson episodes. The show is taking a short break until late January, so you have some time to catch up before new episodes drop.
10. Reply All – Although there may be an element of preaching to the choir here, Reply All is a podcast about the Internet, and more particularly, the bizarre, perplexing and just plain worrying aspects of it. Hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman delve into the lesser known corners of the Internet to expose its inherent and sometimes scary weirdness. You could start anywhere with this one, but I suggest ep. 29, for nothing more than its Australian connection.

David Edwards