The Best Podcasts to Listen to During Quarantine
Being self-quarantined can be a struggle. While many of us will be home for an unknown amount of time, you may be getting a little stir crazy, and looking for some more sources of entertainment. If you're like us, you've probably been catching up on your favorite tv shows, spending more time on social media, or looking for some new books to read. Yet, if you're feeling like you're running low on entertainment resources you're not alone. Lucky for you, podcasts are a great way to occupy your time. Whether you're in the mood to listen to something funny like The Read or want to dive deep into a true crime story like Crime Junkie, we've got you covered. Here is a list of 15 popular podcasts of 2020 to keep you company during these unprecedented times.
Comedy
- The Read
- Hosted by Kid Fury and Crissle, The Read is your weekly breakdown of all things pop culture with a comedic twist. Recently, the podcast expanded, as the hosts premiered their new talk show, The Read with Kid Fury and Crissle West on the Fuse Network last year.
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Office Ladies
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Calling all The Office fans! Co-stars and real-life friends, Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela) host this re-watch podcast. Each week, Jenna and Angela break down an episode of The Office and give behind-the-scenes stories that will only reignite your obsession with the beloved show.
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Dolly Parton’s America
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This 9-part episodic journey into the "Dollyverse" gives you an inside look into the lives of one of America's greatest treasures, Dolly Parton. Some topics range from politics, fame, and her hit song Jolene.
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Educational
- Invisibilia
- Brought to you by NPR, Invisibilia is a science podcast that investigates the "unseeable forces that control human behavior and shape our ideas, beliefs, and assumptions." Fun fact: the word "invisibilia" is Latin for "invisible things," which is more than appropriate.
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Stuff You Should Know
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The title speaks for itself. This podcast addresses seemingly arbitrary topics that are not usually addressed in popular culture, but are definitely worth having a deeper knowledge on. Some episodes range from satanism, champagne, the Stonewall Uprising, LSD, and chaos theory.
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Language learning podcasts
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If you've ever wanted to learn a new language, now may be the time more than ever. With no shortage of options on languages to choose from, just typing in whatever language you're interested will render countless results. Looking for a great starting point? Try popular pods Duolingo Spanish Podcast and Coffee Break: Italian.
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Self-Help
- The Friend Zone
- A combination of both self-help and comedy, The Friend Zone is hosted by Dustin, Fran, and Assante. They touch on all things mental health including attachment theory and radical transparency. When the world is too heavy, they also include some "wild card" episodes that are light and fun, which keeps a much needed balance of comedic relief.
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Therapy for Black Girls
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Hosted by psychologist Joy Harden Bradford, Therapy for Black Girls is an incredible resource for anyone who seeking a little extra guidance in mental health, living and spirituality. Some episode titles include The Impact of Racial Trauma, Why Do We Procrastinate?, When You're Ghosted, and Chakras for Beginners.
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On Being with Krista Tippett
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On Being explores the "intersection of spiritual inquiry, science, social healing, community, poetry, and the arts." Some guest include author Rebecca Solnit and social justice advocate Ruby Sales.
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Pop Culture
- Still Processing
- The culture podcast produced by the New York Times features witty hosts Jenna Wortham and Welsey Morris talking about all things in pop culture that they're still processing. From Succession and Whoopi Goldberg to Black Panther and Dave Chappelle, there's an episode for all of your interests.
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Pop Culture Happy Hour
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This fun and lighthearted podcast touches on all things pop culture: books, TV, film, and music. The hosts also have a segment called "What's Making Us Happy" where they discuss a diverse but curated list of the things in media they're currently loving.
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Keep It!
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Every week, hosts Ira Madison III, Louis Virtel, and Aida Osman are joined by Hollywood's most interesting voices to discuss their careers, entertainment, politics and pop culture in society. Some recent (remote) guests include actress Jane Fonda and playwright Jeremy O. Harris.
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True Crime
- Serial
- Not for the faint at heart, this is an investigative journalism podcast hosted by Sarah Koenig that tells the stories of true crime cases. Over the course of a season, the hosts breakdown one nonfiction crime story. The latest and third season takes place in Cleveland, OH. Catchy episode synopses read: "A young woman at a bar is slapped on the butt. So why's she the one in jail?" keep listeners coming back for more.
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Crime Junkie
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Crime Junkie is a true crime podcast hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. This pod differing from other podcasts, each episode chronicles a different case, or theme. Some themes include "murdered," "captured," "conspiracy," and "wanted." – Listen at your own risk.
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My Favorite Murder
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One of the most popular true-crime podcasts is My Favorite Murderer. A merging of true crime and comedy, My Favorite Murder is a weekly podcast hosted by comedians and life-long fans of true crime, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. The most recent episode chronicles the mysterious death of Natalie Wood.
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