Whether you’re on a long drive back home, spring cleaning for a few hours or trekking all the way to the other side of campus through the snow, podcasts are a great way to fill your mind with something educational or just purely entertaining.
Podcasts can provide news, entertain niche interests or just allow your mind to unwind. Here are short reviews of five recommended podcasts so you don’t miss out on all that the audio world has to offer.
1. Serial
Each season of this podcast focuses on a specific murder or crime, so you’ll have to commit to a whole season if you want the full story. This podcast currently ranks as one of the top podcasts in the U.S., a testament to the dedication of true crime fans.
It might not be for the faint of heart, as it goes extremely in-depth with each case. However, it’s sure to be enjoyable for anyone with an interest in criminology.
2. The Daily
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From The New York Times, this podcast is an alternative medium many people use to easily get caught up on relevant news every day. At 20 minutes long, The Daily episodes are easily manageable to fit around a busy schedule.
Ranked as the number one podcast in the U.S., it is a great way to quickly get information from one of the top news organizations in the world. The best part? The podcast is completely free, no subscription required.
3. RadioLab
From WNYC Radio, RadioLab finds strange, usually scientific stories and presents them in a compelling way to listeners. Their researchers go out of their way to interview people with a variety of stories, from raccoon issues in foreign countries to a story on how legislation was passed decades ago.
If you’re a bit of a science nerd and enjoy listening to stories, this is the podcast for you.
If you are the quiet one in a group and you simply enjoy listening to people, you might enjoy Hello Internet. Hosted by YouTube content creators Brady Haran and C.G.P. Grey, it is basically two guys sitting down and talking about whatever random things they feel like in the moment, from puppies to books to interesting life stories.
Even on the show, the hosts talk about how there is no way to describe this podcast, but you might learn something.
Want a comedic podcast that is a bit on the nerdy side? Then this is the podcast for you. It also happens to be a personal favorite of mine.
Brothers, authors and content creators Hank and John Green answer people’s real questions with a hilarious take on each topic. The iconic duo mostly focuses on positive news, from Mars exploration to amazing sports feats. Unlike Serial, a listener may begin at any episode and still fully enjoy the experience.
Sierra Staatz is a freshman in chemical and biological engineering. The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
