The Playlist: Staci's 2017 Podcast Picks
Since Jen is pretty much the podcast queen, I typically leave the podcast playlists up to her. But I recently discovered one podcast in particular that inspired me to offer you my own podcast suggestions to keep you company during any travel you've got coming up in the new year.
Yes, since I'm a masochist, I'm still regularly listening to Slate's Political Gabfest and Trumpcast in order to stay in the loop regarding the decline of our country and probably western civilization. But sometimes I need a break and the following podcasts have given me the dose of escapism (but still intelligent escapism!) that I'm looking for.
STUFF YOU MISSED IN HISTORY CLASS
How I feel about history is one of those lies I tell myself. In my head, history is boring and stale. But when I look at some of the things I consume and enjoy, like "The Crown" on Netflix or the Outlander books, the historical periods in which they take place are a large part of what I enjoy about them. When my boyfriend first told me about "Stuff You Missed in History Class," I didn't really give it a shot. But when we were cooking dinner over the holidays and he turned on "The Krampus and Friends Holiday Special, Part 3," I got hooked. The hosts Holly Frey and Tracy V. Wilson discussed some not-so-jolly un-Santa-like figures that children all over the world heard stories about over the years, and it was darkly entertaining. Overall, the podcast delves into little-known bits of history that have truly interesting stories. Episode to start with? I personally enjoyed "Rejected Princesses" about some badass female figures in history who would never make good Disney princesses.
STUFF MOM NEVER TOLD YOU
"Stuff Mom Never Told You" is the podcast I mentioned earlier -- the one that inspired me to write this post. If you've never heard of it, I highly, HIGHLY recommend. Like "Stuff You Missed in History Class," SMNTY is part of the HowStuffWorks family. When I was discussing the upcoming Women's March on D.C. with a friend, she suggested I listen to the SMNTY episode "Do Women's Marches Matter?" The hosts Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin are just fucking brilliant. I really can't say enough. The podcast on the whole dives into the history of women's issues and how we got where we are. It's smart, sharp, and witty, and Conger and Ervin make me laugh at least once an episode. I particularly enjoyed the episode "Man Haters" because duh, I bathe in male tears. Super unfortunately, the podcast came to a close with 2016. I am kind of devastated I discovered it too late. But on the flip side, there are over 830 SMNTY episodes and most of them are evergreen issues not tied to current events, so if you're looking for me, I'll be binge listening.
GASTROPOD
It wouldn't be a recommendation list from me if I wasn't suggesting you consume some kind of food-related media. On Jen's recommendation, I started listening to "The Sporkful," and on host Dan Pashman's recommendation, I found "Gastropod." In keeping with the previously mentioned podcasts, this one also has a history bent with a dash of science thrown in -- but it's all about food. A LaCroix addict, I was fascinated by the "Gettin' Fizzy With It" episode, and I'll also be binging on their extensive archives in the months to come.
EATER UPSELL
As you know if you frequent HTJL, the way most people are fascinated with celebrity culture and lifestyle, I'm endlessly fascinated by the lives of chefs and restauranteurs (despite the fact that I enjoy eating more than cooking and the fact that I loathed waiting tables back in the day). I've been listening to the "Eater Upsell" for quite some time in which hosts Helen Rosner and Greg Morabito interview the biggest names in the culinary world like my fav, Anthony Bourdain, and others like Mario Batali, Ted Hall, and Alton Brown. Rosner and Morabito are top-notch interviewers and I love the real talk you hear from the chefs when they're not on TV.
What are you listening to this year?
-Staci
