V glamorous shot in the women’s workout room at Vasa

Podcasts are awesomeeeeeeee. If you don’t think so it’s just because you haven’t found the right one for you yet. I’d like to try to help you with that, because your life will definitely be better with the benefits of podcasts. I have been really into podcasts in the last year or so, and several other friends have posted about podcasts they like so I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you!

What is a podcast? Basically an audio show. I listen to mine on the iTunes Podcast app, but you can listen to them online, on Spotify, and other places. There are some that update weekly, biweekly, monthly, even daily! There are some that tell a single story or cover a single topic and they’re done. Some have multiple seasons. Some are shows that will go on forever and just feature new content and guests each week. There are podcasts on every topic you could ever imagine. In fact, that’s one thing that really intimidated me the first time I checked out podcasts – there are BILLIONS. It can be really overwhelming and you may not know where to start.

Maybe you can start here?

Danica’s Favorite Podcasts

Serial

It feels wrong to start anywhere else, because Serial is what got me started with podcasts. Everyone was talking about it and I was commuting from Orem to West Jordan, so I hopped on the bandwagon! Season 1 is about Adnan Syed who was convicted of killing his girlfriend but maintained his innocence. Very interesting! Season 2, about a deserting soldier Bowe Bergdahl, was super disappointing and I don’t think I made it more than 1.5 episodes in. But season 1 is still an excellent listen.

Criminal

For about a year after Serial I tried a few other podcasts on and off (Mugglecast, interesting episodes of This American Life) but it wasn’t until I found Criminal that I became a converted podcast listener. Criminal is SO GOOD. It’s my favorite podcast! Every single episode is a different story, somehow related to crime. And when I say different I mean ~different. There are episodes about Russian internet hackers, counterfeiters, the original “pot brownie” lady, a serial book thief, police dogs, stalkers, identity theft, and someone killing an ancient tree. I love that every episode is totally unique. Some of them are a little boring or uninteresting to me, but you can easily skip over those. Most of them are absolutely fascinating. BONUS: There are 54 episodes so you have plenty to binge listen for a road trip, but the individual episodes are usually about 20-30 minutes long making them the perfect listen for a workout or to clean your kitchen.

Accused

My MIL recommended this podcast to me once we were both caught up on Criminal and anxious for another podcast to talk about. This one is very much like Serial – a man was accused of killing his girlfriend, and when he was acquitted the police never reopened the case, asserting that they got it right and it was the jury who got it wrong. Her murder is still unsolved, and this podcast goes through the entire investigation to see what went wrong and to urge the case to be reopened. Like Serial, this is just a one season story so sometimes it’s nice if you just need a few episodes to listen to for a project or something that won’t be a long-term commitment.

Tanis

Another recommendation from my MIL – this one is different. I figured I should share at least ONE podcast that isn’t true crime. Tanis is a fictional story about a kind of supernatural cult (?) and all the weird things that happen in the Puget Sound area of the Pacific Northwest. The guy isn’t the best podcaster but it’s still really interesting, especially if you’re into creepy or weird fiction. This one is still going so you’ll catch up and then have to wait for new episodes.

In the Dark

Back to true crime podcasts, this one is all about the child abduction case that lead to the National Sex Offender Registry. Jacob Wetterling was abducted in 1989, and the case was mishandled for 27 years until THIS SEPTEMBER a man confessed. Frustrating, interesting, and informative.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

I don’t listen to this one religiously, but it’s great for days where you just need a little boost of something to kickstart your motivation or help you feel more productive than your tired old playlist. If you’ve read any of her stuff you already know her vibe, but it’s basically life hacks and self-help theories to help you just be… happier!

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

You had to know there was a Harry Potter Podcast coming. This one is an in-depth look at chapters and scenes from the Harry Potter books – basically like scripture study! I’m slowly making my way through these because I need to pay attention to them and I sometimes cry.

Stuff You Should Know

I only listen to some of these, but they’re super interesting! The latest two episodes, about action figures and HAM radios, are definitely on my listen list. I like that you can skip episodes and just go for the ones that appeal to you.

On my Listen List

I haven’t listened yet but I plan to when I wrap up my currently listening list!

• More Perfect – about the Supreme Course and pivotal cases
• Lore – about “dark historical tales” that created our superstitions and myths
• Hidden Brain – everyone is talking about this!
• Revisionist History – I like Malcolm Gladwell and I like history
• Anna Faris is Unqualified – a favorite amongst my twitter clique

Pick one that sounds interesting and give it a shot! It’s great for workouts, chores, road trips, nursing babies, anything. It makes you feel a heck of a lot smarter. Plus it gives you and me one more thing to talk about. Let’s talk about it. And send your recommendations my way plz thx.