Since ya’ll were digging the shows we’re obsessed with, we figured it only made sense to share our favorite podcasts. No surprise here, there are some seriously creepy choices (it’s Jen), but you’re bound to learn something or at least pick up some ideas for the next big crime you plan to commit.
Lore
You remember sitting around a campfire as a kid and listening to ghost stories? Or learning about that creature in the woods? Imagine that, but as a podcast. Lore is a podcast by Aaron Mahnke that breaks down all the cool and creepy stuff that people have talked about for centuries. Expect hauntings, vampires, cryptids, and a whole lot more.
The Magnus Archives
For when fictional horror is easier to swallow than non-fictional horror stories. The Magnus Archives follows Jonathan Sims, who has been hired to be the head archivist at an institute that collects people’s stories about the weird things they’ve seen in the world around them. The podcast is told through Jon’s cassette tape recordings and the commentary that happens around the statements he reads. Buckle up for a crazy ride with this one. Some of the episodes may make you lose a few hours of sleep.
Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Why not learn something with your podcast and support a badass woman doctor while you do? Sawbones is a podcast by Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her non-doctor husband, Justin, where they explore all the weird medical stuff we’ve tried as a species. Sydnee covers topics like different plants, diseases, medical techniques, FAQs, and even misconceptions around current events, all while Justin tries desperately to understand what the hell she’s talking about. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you may even get some cool vacation ideas while you do.
The Penumbra Podcast: The Juno Steel Saga
Remember all those film noir detective stories you grew up reading or watching with your grandparents? Imagine them as a podcast drama…and now set them in the future and on Mars. Add it all up, and you’ve got The Penumbra Podcast. This podcast is broken into two completely different storylines, but we’re here to talk about the Juno Steel episodes. You’ll follow a sassy, fast-talking, self-deprecating, ex-cop-turned-detective as he tackles some of the galaxy’s biggest cases. It’s one of those shows that you’ll want to binge for sure.
Red Web
This one’s for all the internet buffs and conspiracy theorists out there. Red Web follows Trevor Collins and Alfredo Diaz, two internet personalities, as they analyze some of the unanswered questions of our world. Trevor knows the story and the theories, and Alfredo knows nothing before they record, which means you get a lot of thought-provoking and hilarious commentary. If you’re looking for an episode to start with, check out the Dyatlov Pass Incident or Cicada 3301. They’re both bound to leave you scratching your head.
Sword and Scale
This true-crime podcast is not for the faint of heart and includes some of the most insidious acts of human nature. This is one of the podcasts you’ll definitely want to have headphones for unless you want your coworkers to have serious concerns. This podcast is an immersive audio experience covering the dark side of humanity. The stories delve deep into the worst of the worst and include murder, rape, dismemberment, and cannibalism. Did we mention that this is all TRUE crime? This is the podcast that reveals that the worst monsters are real.
S-Town
From the people who made the famous Serial podcast, S-Town is a genuinely weird and interesting true-life murder mystery that takes place over three years with wild characters that evolve as the podcast host gets entwined into the heart of the story.
S-Town is a podcast from Serial and This American Life, hosted by Brian Reed, about a man named John who despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it. He asks Brian to investigate the son of a wealthy family who’s allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder. But then someone else ends up dead, and the search for the truth leads to a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man’s life.
What A Day by Crooked Media
What A Day is where you can get big news in a short podcast every weekday. Want to feel more well-read on current events and the news but also want to do that in a time-saving, palatable way that sprinkles in a healthy amount of humor? Then Akilah Hughes and Gideon Resnick are your new BFFs. Each morning Gideon and Akilah break down the biggest news of the day, share important stories you may have missed from the previous day, and in their own words, “show you what “Fox & Friends” would sound like if it were hosted by two people whose parents read to them as children.”
All jokes aside, Gideon and Akilah tackle hard topics as well as the lighter-hearted ones and do mental health check-ins with one another and their listeners each day. These aptly coined “temp-checks” are a perfect breather in the middle of the episode because with the COVID-19 pandemic, literal space shrapnel falling to Earth, and all the other craziness of our day-to-day lives, we look forward to a quick moment of zen.
It gets even better as What A Day is not only a great daily news podcast, but they also have a nightly e-newsletter so that you can catch up on all of the day’s happenings in the evening as well.
Absolutely Not with Heather McMahan
Someone on the team didn’t want to share this because they want to keep Heather McMahan their secret. But if you like laughing, self-deprecating humor, and talking about wine, Heather is for you.
It’s a talk show-style podcast that follows Heather’s hilarious life as an actor and comedian living with her 70+-year-old mother. She takes caller’s requests for their “Absolutely Nots” in life, and then she tends to roast them on air. It’s a great, lighthearted number to break up all of you weirdo’s that like to hear about people killing other people. You’re welcome in advance.
My Brother, My Brother and Me
This one’s been around for ages. Like, for almost as long as the late, great (terrible, absolutely, terrible) Yahoo Answers. It’s definitely not a novel suggestion, but over the years, these good, good boys have helped Skye through some tough times with their goofs and gaffes.
An advice podcast for the modren (yes, modren. Don’t ask.) era, the three McElroy brothers take audience-submitted questions and turn them, alchemy-like, into wisdom. If by wisdom, you mean discussing the merits of microwaving grapes, deciding if horses should go to college, and unpacking the latest and greatest innovations in brand eating. These boys are guaranteed to pick you up when you’re down with their promise of “No bummers” plastered right on the tin.
What do you think? Any thoughts on what we missed? Let us know.
