Our Favorite Podcast Episodes of 2017
Podcasts are our favorite way to use your ears here at Lifehacker. Previously, we shared with you our favorite series , but occasionally some scenes really catch the eye. These powerful podcast episodes made us think, laugh, cry, reflect, and even shudder in 2017.
Election of Personal Finance Writer Alicia Adamchik
“ We Discuss NPR’s Greatest Female Albums, ” Still In Progress: Jenna Worthham and Wesley Morris took NPR’s list sincerely, although they still wondered why such a list was needed at all.
Maggie Haberman , Longform : It was a thrilling look at how political reporter Trump just can’t leave, gets into his head and breaks the news (literally, she breaks the news during an interview for this episode).
My favorite murder became my podcast when I had a little free time and wanted to expand on a serial killer or two (and who doesn’t). I am so happy to be a part of the Murderino community.
Parenting Editor’s Pick Michelle Wu
“ Where is Richard? Missing Richard Simmons: Yes, the whole project ended up being morally questionable, but heck, that first episode was amazing. Director Dan Taberski embarked on a journey to find a friend that no one else has heard of: fitness icon Richard Simmons. The interviews, the storytelling, the fact that Simmons was a bigger figure than life, we felt like we had grown up – it was totally exciting.
Editor-in-Chief Melissa Kirsch’s Choice
“Talk to me in French ”, where do we start? with Esther Perel: I was skeptical about where to start? – won’t it be boring, or, if not boring, then too intimate to listen to sessions of pair therapy? I’m so glad that someone I met at the party insisted I give it a try – Esther Perel is a genius, a generous empath whose relationship theories are fresh and touching. In this episode, a young evangelical couple does not have sex and Esther leads them through a role-play exercise so beautiful that I cried. If I were to describe it in detail, it would sound completely silly. Just listen to this and change.
Assistant Editor’s Choice Alice Bradley
” Gary Gulman – a brilliant comedian and inefficient attacking laynmen” , “cheerful world depression”: This is one of my favorite podcasts, and Gary Gulman – one of my favorite comedians (if you have not seen his performance on Conan O’Brien’s postal abbreviation , you have to figure it out.) So naturally I was thrilled to hear this episode in which host John Mo interviews Gary. Although I didn’t know that Gary was a fellow traveler in the land of depression, I can’t say I was surprised. But I was surprised to learn that during the show, Gary was in the midst of a pretty heavy depressive episode during this recording. This interview can be exciting, hilarious, frustrating and heartbreaking. I highly recommend this.
Staff Writer Nick Douglas’s Choice
” Episode 3 – dc Talk (with Gabe Gandaker)” Good Christian Fun : This podcast is critical to anyone who grew up in a Christian culture such as the books VeggieTales and The Left Behind . Because hosts Kevin T. Porter (from the Gilmore Guys podcast) and Caroline Eli are Christians, they don’t get overly nasty, but they are still edgy, fun, and adorable. In this early episode, the MCs listen to Christian rap group dc Talk with charming guest comedian Gabe Gundaker. They have a great vision of what works and what doesn’t for Christian music in the 90s / 00s.
Moshe Kasher ‘s Personal Hell (This is Heaven) is good : This is one of the few comedy podcasts that goes into great detail about the comedy process. And the smallest of the harshest is Moshe Kasher’s Personal Hell (This is Heaven) , which explains how the specific routine of speaking about religion (sorry) has evolved over the years. Incidentally, these links lead to detailed episode descriptions so you can read before listening.
Broken Avery Edison , The Guilty Feminist Introduces Loud Voices : The script for the audio-comedy series, the precursor to the television sitcom, begins to return. Comedian Avery Edison has written an amazing audio pilot that I really hope will continue as a series. It’s about a young woman with a habit of burning her life around her, and it’s as warm and sophisticated as all TV shows with the same premise.
Editor’s Pick Virginia K. Smith
“ Who is there: Melora Hardin and Trisha Paitas? “ Who? Weekly : This is one of the few podcasts I’ll listen to as soon as the new episode comes out. In other words, I love almost all of the episodes, but their June issue of Melora Hardin is special. Did you know that the actress who played Jan in The Office (and most recently Jacqueline in The Bold Type ) also has an entire standalone career as a jazz singer with a YouTube archive that includes songs with very sexy, cat-themed expressions? I, of course, did not know, but we all have this information richer.
Beth Skoreki’s Health & Fitness Editor’s Pick
Episode 3: Paint Your Cheeks , I Only Listen to Mountain Goats : This podcast is awesome if you like Mountain Goats, which is what I love. Each episode of the first season is dedicated to one song from the 2001 album All Hail West Texas , so you should probably start with episode 1 “The Greatest Death Metal Band in Denton.” It would be a great choice. But I especially loved the episode about Paint Your Cheeks, a song about the ideas of travel and immigration, hospitality and refuge. It was not written with a specific political crisis in mind, but it seems particularly relevant for 2017. Each episode ends with a cover of a different artist’s song, and this one from Afro-punk band Ibibio Sound Machine is beautiful and amazing. …
Staff Writer Patrick Allan’s Choice
” Friend in the Woods ” Scared : Shane Dunphy, an Irish social worker, tells the story of a boy named Gregory who befriends another boy whom no one has seen for years. In fact, they still don’t see him. Gregory tells Shane that the boy lives in the nearby forest and claims that he spends time with him every night … This is a great first-hand ghost story filled with secrets and many creepy moments. There is even a book about this whole ordeal .
The Real Thing , Dirty John : This research podcast from the Los Angeles Times delves deeply into the world of the sociopathic swindler who is quickly capturing the heart of a wealthy woman in Southern California. The first episode really hooks you as much as the first season of the series, and the story just gets weirder and weirder.
Colors , Radiolab : This episode of Radiolab Season 10 literally changed the way I see the world. You will learn about how Sir Isaac Newton pierced his own eye to understand how we see color (a physical thing or just in our minds?), You will learn about how other animals can see many more colors than we do, listen a woman who can see thousands of colors more than the average person, and you will learn the fascinating story (or lack thereof) of the question “why is the sky blue?” This is not what you expect.
These are our favorites, but we also want to know which one you picked! Share your favorite 2017 podcast episodes in the comments below!