I never really appreciated the remarkability of podcasts until I started commuting to work every day. I got bored so easily on long train rides and music wasn’t enough to keep me entertained on my trip to and from Boston every day. Here are 8 podcasts to download available for free on Spotify guaranteed to cure boredom and keep you laughing, crying, or just intrigued for as long as you’re listening.
Why Oh Why is the first podcast I fell in love with and definitely suggest for podcasts to download. It’s hosted by Andrea Silenzi and focuses on dating and relationships. Each episode asks a question about modern dating and seeks out the answer; it’s very personal, and Silenzi often shares stories from her own dating life. She doesn’t pretend to know all the answers, and some of my favorite episodes are ones where she seeks advice from professionals about her own struggles with dating.
Each episode is both educational and endearing. Silenzi hosts guests on most episodes, some being licensed couples therapists and some being just regular listeners working though the trials and tribulations of dating in the 21st century. I’ve laughed and cried listening to this feel-good podcast, and I feel like there’s a lesson to take from every episode.
Where to start: Episode #41: Can You Fall in Love with Anyone?
Have you ever wanted to hear Adrian Pimento (Jason Mantzoukas) from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” talk about terrible movies? If so, this is absolutely the podcast for you. If not, try it out anyway! How Did This Get Made? is hosted by Mantzoukas along with Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael. The trio watches movies and reviews them, the only catch being that the movies are generally bad and their commentary is generally hilarious.
I’m not even a huge movie fan, but I’ve felt myself trying to suppress laughter on the train home from work more times than I can count. The episodes are funnier when you’ve seen the movie they’re featuring, but they give enough context and plot points to understand it nonetheless. Listening to this podcast feels jovial and outrageous, making it one of my favorite comedy podcasts.
Where to start: 105 Safe Haven (w/ Eliza Skinner, Jordan Rubin).
Girls Gotta Eat is another dating podcast, but it’s definitely more rooted in comedy than Why Oh Why is. Hosted by Instagram influencer Rayna Greenberg and comedian Ashley Hesseltine, the podcast features guests, life advice, and hilarious anecdotes. Nothing is off the table for Greenberg and Hesseltine to discuss and they speak openly about online dating, past relationships, and their own sex lives.
They cover everything from pop-culture to expectations in modern dating, and usually bring fellow comedians on as guests. The pair is brash and shameless and they manage to make even the most seemingly mundane topics entertaining to listen to. Also, the intro and outro song is an absolute bop.
Where to start: Young Dick Energy
A podcast about the internet, on the internet. Very meta. Reply All is hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman who explore all aspects of the ever-changing web. From social media, to the dark web, to cryptocurrency, to online communities who extend offline, Vogt ang Goldman leave virtually no subject untouched. Reply All is so informational and fascinating, and I think some episodes are a bit creepy just because of the sheer power and capabilities people have online. This podcast is perfect for those looking to dive deeper into the online world that we access everyday.
Where to start: #119 No More Safe Harbor (trigger warning: episode discusses human trafficking)
This podcast was recommended to me by a Tinder match, and I ended up loving it even though it strays a bit far away from the typical sex and dating podcasts I usually listen to. Hosted by Ben Kissel and Henry Zebrowski, this podcast deals with everything paranormal and horrifying. I’m usually not super into spooky stories of ghosts, aliens, or serial killers, but Kissel and Zebrowski turns gruesome tales into jokes you can’t help but smile at.
Their absolute hatred of serial killers is so apparent and funny throughout each episode that it takes the edge off some of the more spine-chilling stories. They include sound bytes from crimes (like 911 calls from victims) and paranormal recordings and they host fascinating guests. Overall, the podcast is a funnier take on some more heavy and creepy subject matter. I definitely recommend this as one of your podcasts to download.
Where to start: Side Stories: EARONS & Incels
The Heart is the most beautifully created podcast I’ve listened to. Each episode sounds more like an audio story including powerful imagery, sound effects, conversations, etc. Listening to The Heart makes you feel enveloped in another world and so close to the speaker; it feels like a friend is telling you a private story.
Kaitlin Prest hosts this self-described podcast about intimacy and humanity where each episode features the story of someone new. The Heart is also entirely created and produced by queer women and women of color. Each episode of The Heart takes a normal but extremely intimate occurrences, like death of a spouse or grappling with sexuxality and turns them into profound slices of life. This isn’t a podcast you just listen to, it’s a podcast you experience.
Where to start: Love, Harry
This is one of the podcasts to download for all the true crime fans out there. My Favorite Murder is hosted by comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, and each episode consists of an introduction where Kilgariff and Hardstark read news headlines, followed by each of them sharing their “favorite murder” for that episode with the other.
A lot of the subject matter is heavy and pretty dark (it’s a murder podcast) but their humor lightens it up a bit. Most episodes also feature a guest who tells a “hometown murder” story at the end of the show. It has the same vibe as BuzzFeed Unsolved videos, where it’s scary enough to still be a crime show but it’s not so spooky you won’t be able to sleep after binge-listening.
Where to start: 3 – Our Favorite Thirder
Dear Sugars is an advice podcast reminiscent of old-timey advice columns. This podcast is produced by the New York Times and WBUR and hosted by authors Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond. Each episode starts with a letter from a listener, then Strayed and Almond discuss the issue at large and bring in guests sometimes to offer professional advice. This podcast feels so endearing; the topics are personal, the hosts are thoughtful, and the advice is truly deep and heartfelt. This is a good pick-me-up podcast, and listening to it feels like a warm hug. This is one of the best podcasts to download.
Where to start: Trust Your Body — with Hilary Kinavey & Dana Sturtevant
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