7 Podcast Channels to Listen to as a Couple

Co-author of one of the most groundbreaking books in the last 20 years (Freakonomics) Stephen Dubner hosts this weekly podcast that is a live recording of contestants presenting surprising facts to a rotating panel of celebrity intellectuals (Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, etc.) in an effort to win the top prize: A Certificate of Knowledge “Suitable for Framing”.  The rules are simple: it must fit in the theme for the night (past themes include Wordz, Stupid Stuff, and Money), interesting, worth knowing, and true (there’s a real time fact checker on stage to check the contestants work – which is just someone Googling random stuff and coming back with funny stories that pertain to the topic).  You’ll find yourselves learning and laughing together.  Afterwards, quiz each other on the theme as well to see if you can stump one another on a fact.

With over 600 podcast episodes you’re sure to find some that interest you.  This American Life has been sucking people into the podcast world since infancy of the new form of media over twenty years!  The premise is simple, stories about Americans, and America’s influence around the world.  Each episode is around an hour long and features 1-5 true stories.  What happens to people when they go on testosterone treatments?  What happened to certain individuals when the Travel Ban occurred?  Dive into stories that will lead to bigger conversations and open your minds.

Young podcast powerhouse network Gimlet fell in love with host Wendy Zukerman and her Australian podcast of the same name; so much so that they imported her talents and her show.  In the show Wendy tackles a new topic each week that is often argued about at Thanksgiving dinners around the world (ok, around the US…fun fact, Canada has Thanksgiving too but it’s on October 9).  Past topics include climate change, immigration, and antidepressants.  Wendy meets with experts in various scientific and sociological fields to try and reach a verdict on divisive issues that backed up by science.  The content is interesting on its own but Wendy’s use of humor by referencing her favorite animal (octopuses), to brief references to pop culture like Top Gun, to her patented (not patented) use of the word “but.”  The episodes are entertaining and open the conversation to deeper thoughts and reactions.

Mike Rowe, that “Dirty Jobs” guy, is a hilarious and extremely articulate individual.  For proof, search “QVC Mike Rowe” and you’ll have a full evening of laughter.  As for his podcast, The Way I Heard It is a collection of true, fascinating, and unknown stories about famous people.  Not only are they well written stories and fun to listen to, but they are also only about ten minutes each so the commitment is minimal.  In every episode, Mike leaves the listener in suspense by holding off the person for whom the story is about until the very end.  So, to add another level of fun to your listening experience pause the episode right before he reveals who the mystery subject is so that you can each guess.

Another Gimlet installment Reply All is a show that investigates anomalist and forgotten stories within a loosely parameter of technology.  The stories are engaging, probably stories you’ve never heard, and the hosts feel like friends you’ve just made.  One of the most entertaining segments they will often do is what they call “Yes, yes, no” which is when their boss Alex Blumberg presents them with a confounding tweet he stumbled upon this week.  Alex reads the tweet to the hosts (one also named Alex, the other PJ) and it is their job to break down what the puzzling and cryptic message is referring to.  The three joke their way through the explanation and you walk away learning something you probably wish you hadn’t: like something about Kim Kardashian.

This is the show that shook the podcast world and for good reason.  There have only been two seasons and they are easy to binge through, but start with the first season.  It’s a true story that tackles the mystery behind the death of a high school girl in 1999 and her ex-boyfriend and killer who is serving a murder sentence.  What’s the catch?  He says he didn’t do it and podcast host Sarah Koenig is starting to believe him.  It’s a brilliant showing of audio journalism that uses phone calls, in person interviews, and police recordings to tell this confusing story.  So did he do it?  Listen yourself and discuss.

Now we’re just getting silly.  Michael and Sarah wanted to make a unique podcast so they thought of something no one else thought of: let’s watch every DuckTales episode and record a recap and our reactions after each episode.  It sounds stupid, well, it is stupid.  But these two are quippy and funny throughout each episode.  If you have any memory of obsessing over the class Disney series then you will love this podcast.  Sarah likes to keep track of the duckstacks (when Huey Dewey and Louis stack on top of one another; it happens more than you remember), while Michael likes to point out how much of a jerk Duckworth is (it’s also pointed out that while his name is Duckworth he’s not even a duck, what’s that about?).  Laugh and reminisce through each episode of It’s a Duck Blur.