Commuting for an hour or two every day throughout the week can be plain boring (but, read here about how using your metropass can open your eyes to the wonders of your city!). One thing I love to do is listen to podcasts. Podcasts are digital audio files you download and listen to; the best part, most podcasts are actually free and can be downloaded right onto your phone or other listening device, so you can listen to it from the subway without needing any cell or internet signal. So, here are 9 podcasts you need to start listening to:
Planet Money
This podcast by NPR is not just about debt or economics but it’s about why things are the way they are, and apparently “you’ll meet high rollers, brainy economists and regular folks.” An episode I recently listened to was called “How To Steal A Million Barrels Of Oil.” No, I’m not trying to steal a million barrels of oil! It was just fascinating to hear how this worked in some countries and why people do this.
Rating: 4
TEDTalks
Get inspired and get fantastic ideas by listening to your favourite TEDTalks! This podcast is a good one because each podcast is short, sweet and gets to the point. Reviewers say, “Introduces fascinating topics with bits of presentations from some impressive speakers.”
Rating: 4+ & a load of inspiration and motivation to fuel what might have been an unproductive day.
Psychobabble
Need a laugh? In Psychobabble, Youtube sensation Tyler Oakley and his best friend Korey Kuhl talk about pop culture trends, share their stories and give you a giggle. Although it is a fairly new podcast, Youtube fans and pop culture fanatics will love this. When I listen to Tyler and Korey on the subway, I literally start laughing in my seat. Warning, listening to funny podcasts can be awkward when people start staring at you and it gets embarrassing… but who cares! YOLO. Warning: can be a little explicit.
Rating: 4+
Ear Biscuits
Not much of a pop culture fan but still want the Youtuber goodness? With over 50 episodes, Rhett and Link get personal interviewing popular Youtubers like Shaycarl, Grace Helbig and many more. I couldn’t even tell you which one my favourite episode is because they were all seriously too good!
Rating: 4+
This American Life
Countless unheard and stirring stories are revealed in this podcast hosted by Ira Glass. This American Life is a great place to start if you are not too familiar with podcasts. The producers describe it as “First-person stories and short fiction pieces that are touching, funny, and surprising.”
Rating: 4+
Radiolab
Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich give an informative podcast discussing experiences, people and stories. The reason why I included this podcast was because I’ve read tons of great reviews and because they have loads of podcasts to choose from. The Guardian says, “Radiolab: the podcast that makes science fun and geeking out socially acceptable.”
Rating: 4+
Not Too Deep
If you’re into comedy and Youtube, you’ll love Grace Helbig’s podcast Not Too Deep. The Youtube star makes jokes, asks the most random questions and plays games with your favourite internet stars. The fun thing about this one is that it is also a visual podcast! So, you can watch it on Youtube as well as listening to it on iTunes.
Rating: 4
Stuff You Should Know
Co-host Charles Bryant gives you answers to life’s most random things from how shark attacks work to how language evolved. You’ll learn a lot through this podcast while you commute to school. Remember, knowledge is power! The episodes I found quite interesting were “How Ebola Works” and “How Panic Attacks Work.” The best thing about this podcast is they don’t just answer the questions and give a simple answer, they actually dig into each topic.
Rating: 4+
Canadaland
With a new podcast every Monday, Canadaland, by Jesse Brown, discusses all things trending news and media criticism in Canada. An episode released in July called “Muchmusic isn’t dead, but we should probably kill it” is on my next-to-listen-to list! Also, the perfect thing about it is that each episode is roughly around the time it takes me to commute downtown. Awesome.
BONUS: Serial
If you haven’t already listened to Serial, a podcast by NPR’s This American Life, stop everything right now and listen to Episode 1. Serial is the number one podcast after just one season! Serial “tells one story – a true story – over the course of an entire season.” The first season follows a murder case in Baltimore, USA and you’ll be hooked after Episode 1.
Did you find what you’re looking for from this list? There are so many more podcasts out there, these are just some of our favourites! Plus, now you have endless entertainment when commuting to school. Let us know your favourite go-to podcast @RUStudentLife or in the comments below 🙂
